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Service & Parts
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Roomy, comfortable and surprisingly adept, the Honda Pilot is among the most recommendable midsize SUVs. - Kelley Blue Book
Gillman Honda Fort Bend is a Rosenberg, TX Honda and used car dealer. We provide quality vehicles, as well as auto parts, auto repair and service, and auto loans or leases.
See Dealer for details. Tax, title, license, dealer adds, and dealer documentation is not included in sale prices. All pricing subject to modification without notice. New vehicle pricing includes all offers and incentives. Tax, Title and Tags not included in vehicle prices shown and must be paid by the purchaser. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at (832)361-3804 or by visiting us at the dealership.
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Absolute Beginning Yoga with Ilana Smith at Room To Move
Absolute Beginning Yoga with Ilana Smith, LMP, CYT
New Series Begins each Month
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:30 am - 12:45 pm
More info re Cost & Registration on RTM website, https://roomtomoveyoga.com/classes/
Getting Started. These classes are for beginning students and for students who have taken a long break from yoga. With basic movement, breath and meditation, the focus of these classes will be on developing concentration, flexibility, strength, inner stability and balance. By the end of this series of classes you will have received a good introduction and foundation to continue your yoga study. No yoga experience necessary.

subset: commoncrawl


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Agencies looking to expand their computing power can now consider modular and prefabricated data centers as a lower cost, fully controllable option that can be up and running quickly in almost any available space.
Schneider Electric has created several ready-made data center designs with up to two megawatts of capacity. In all, there are 14 new configurations that the firm said it can bring to almost any existing space. They are made up of of 15 prefabricated modules that work together like large building blocks.
Schneider officials said that most designs can be brought on site and be up and running in 12 to 16 weeks, depending on how much site preparation needs to be done and the complexity of the configuration.
"Today's business environment demands data centers that are increasingly more flexible and scalable with an emphasis on deployment speed," Kevin Brown, vice president, Data Center Global Offer and Strategy, Schneider Electric, said in a statement.
According to Schneider, prefabrication technology and factory testing reduces human error and on-site construction risks while improving compliance, safety and efficiency. Design and manufacturing are also closely coupled in order to minimize uncertainty, the firm said, which results in a more predictable performance of the data center.
All of the new designs feature a data center infrastructure, including processing modules, power regulation and integrated cooling. Schneider also offers StruxureWare, its software to help manage the data center infrastructure.
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Q&A with Kevin Klein
Related Links
Saturday, for just the second time, both the UC San Diego men's and women's cross country teams will be competing at the NCAA Division II Championships in the same season. This year's event will be held on the campus course of
Q�How does it feel to be making your first trip to the NCAA Division II Championships?
KLEIN� The last time the men's team went to Nationals was the year before I was a freshman so this is a new experience for all of us. We've all been really excited since the Regional race. This is the pinnacle of collegiate competitive running so it doesn't get any better than this. I'm really proud of everything the guys have accomplished this season.
Q�The team raced at a meet in
KLEIN� Although there is little overall elevation change, it's a deceptively technical course. It takes a lot of concentration to run the course well, but if you stay focused the course rewards you with a very fast time. Also it's entirely on fairway-length grass, which is easy on the feet.
Q�UCSD was able to get the last of the three NCAA berths out of the West Region. It was a tight finish. What were the keys to the team's success in that race?
KLEIN� We stuck really well to our racing strategy of getting out in a good position for the first mile and then having certain people lead surges throughout the race to keep our pace up. I think the reason that it worked so well for us is that we all believed that we deserved to go. In the end, it was our ability to run a really tight 1-5 pack time (23 seconds) that was the reason we were able to edge
Q�How much strategy is involved in a typical cross country race?
KLEIN� With races that can last anywhere from 24 to 32 minutes, you need a plan for your team and yourself in order for to maintain the focus necessary to run your best race. Keeping your pack together, getting around turns as fast as possible, running hills well and other strategies can do a lot to either make or break a race for you and your team.
Q�In gauging the performance of an individual cross country runner, what type of relationship exists between speed, training and mental toughness?
KLEIN� I think, of those, mental toughness is the most important. If you have enough drive and determination you will be able to get the most out of your training which will lead to good performances. Also, in races, if you're tougher than the guy running next to you, you have exactly what it takes to beat him every time.
Q�Which of your teammates do you feel has had the most consistent 2007 season and which has the most upside going into the NCAA meet?
KLEIN�Daniel Anderson has undoubtedly had the best season on our team. He has finished as our No. 1 runner in four out of the six races he has run. And both Jesse Morrill and Greg Geldman are coming off best-of-the-season races at the Regional so I think they have the momentum to do really well at Nationals.
Q�Did you participate in other sports prior to college?
KLEIN�I played club soccer for a long time and also played baseball and wrestled in high school.
Q�What elements do you like most about cross country?
KLEIN�My favorite thing about cross is the team-oriented nature of the sport. You have successes or failures as a team and work together to overcome challenges. Running for your teammate next to you is ultimately more rewarding than running for yourself. Also, running races across challenging terrain makes racing more interesting than just running circles around a track.
Q�Were you surprised at the retirement of long time Triton cross country coach Ted Van Arsdale this past summer and having former Asst. Coach Nate Garcia take over the program?
KLEIN�Ted was definitely a well-liked and respected coach by both his runners and other coaches around the nation and I don't think many of us were expecting him to retire yet. However, already having a track season with Nate as our coach and because he has had experience with the program for several years, our team was able to make the transition fairly easily.
Q�What factors were involved in your decision to attend UCSD?
KLEIN�I knew I wanted to major in a scientific field and knew of UCSD's outstanding national reputation in the sciences. I also really wanted to experience something new and different from Seattle and you can't beat UCSD in its location and San Diego for good running weather.
Q�You're an aerospace engineering major. How challenging have you found that program at UCSD? What are your short and long term career plans?
KLEIN�I don't think anyone enrolls in this major because they think it is easy. Engineering at UCSD is notoriously challenging but the faculty and the opportunities extended to us as students are as good as any in the nation. As far as a career, I would really enjoy working with composite/lightweight materials in either a design or a testing position.
Q�You have all sorts of interests and list cliff jumping as one of your hobbies. What's the scariest experience you've had in the great outdoors?
KLEIN�On a backpacking trip in Washington when I was 16 a few of us kids went exploring and met two black bear cubs and their mother. We were within fifty feet of the bears and didn't really know what to do. Luckily when they saw us they were just as scared of us and after staring us down for a few seconds took off into the woods.
Q�From both a team and individual perspective, what do you feel would make Saturday's NCAA Championship a success?
KLEIN�Our goal all season has been to make it to the National Championship race so we feel like this season has been a success already. As far as the race is concerned, I think, team-wise, we're capable of placing as high as the top 10, if we all run strong races. Personally, I'm looking to improve on my time from the last race and to test myself against the top runners in the nation.
Previous Q&A Articles
Kim Adams (Women's Volleyball) November 7, 2007
Ben Miller (Men's Water Polo) October 31, 2007
Alie Avina (Women's Soccer) October 19, 2007
Charity Elliott (Women's Basketball Head Coach) October 15, 2007
Jason Le (Men's Soccer ) October 3, 2007
Rebecca Bailey (Women's Volleyball) September 18, 2007
Amanda Burkhardt (Women's Cross Country) September 10, 2007
Curtis Williamson (Men's Water Polo) September 4, 2007
Ali Lai (Women's Soccer) August 25, 2007
Nate Garcia (Head Coach of Cross Country) August 13, 2007
Tony Choi (Men's Soccer) July 25, 2007
Natalie Facchini (Women's Volleyball) July 9, 2007
Chris Carlson (Head Coach of Men's Basketball) June 22, 2007
Madeleine Flint (Women's Track and Field) April 30, 2007
Leah Llach (Women's Crew) April 22, 2007
Natalie Hockett (Women's Water Polo) April 9, 2007
Jenny Maze (women's softball) April 2, 2007
Zach Johnson (Men's Crew Head Coach) March 18, 2007
Michelle Osier (Women's Basketball) March 7, 2007
Brooks Dierdorff (Men's Volleyball) March 1, 2007


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If your employees don't have more degrees than a thermometer, you may soon want to turn up the heat on your training programs. By the time your workers acquire the proper letters behind their names — that come with the knowledge needed to keep up with advancing technology and workflow processes — you may already be feeling the pressure from your competitors. Building a team of multi-disciplined employees may be the key to future success.
Between layoffs in the lean years of the early '00s and early retirement of baby boomers, many electrical contracting and engineering firms — especially facilities and plant management crews — relied on employees trained in more than one discipline or task to carry them through shortened production schedules and ramped-up projects. Ask any of these companies what they most want from new hires today, say electrical industry training experts, and you'll most likely hear the terms "well-rounded" and "cross trained." Companies want to hire and retain the proverbial jacks of all trades.
A multi-discipline or varied-task approach to electrical work is also what some firms and plants claim will get them through the looming labor shortage many industry experts claim is inevitable. And even if a few lucky companies successfully recruit new employees, they're still going to require more varied knowledge. "They're probably not going to ask the new 22-year-old to do the work of three people," says Skip Mathews, owner, Resource Acquisition & Management Services (RAMS), Tampa, Fla. "That wouldn't make a lot of sense. But everyone is looking for faster and safer, which can happen when somebody has two or three skill sets — not one."
Pipe dreams
Mathews is in the unique position of knowing about the business of contracting as well as training. RAMS offers both services. The privately held company runs a pre-apprenticeship program for electricians, pipefitters, and plumbers and, as an electrical contractor, deploys 900 full-time, fully benefited employees for project completion, acting as a subcontractor to a stable of specialty contractors — basically a sub-subcontractor. Now, the company is preparing to roll out a program for its pre-apprenticeship applicants — a post-pre-apprenticeship program — which aims to bring workers with anywhere from four months to a year-and-a-half of experience to higher levels of production faster. Accelerated Competency Programs is a 32-hour program, held in the company's mobile labs on Saturdays, that focuses on hands-on mechanical skills — dexterity lessons not necessarily taught in traditional electrical apprenticeship programs, which can make these pre-apprentices more valuable on the jobsite.
"When you talk to commercial and industrial electrical companies, you hear an awful lot about pipe," Mathews says "Pipe, pipe, pipe, pipe, pipe. It's mechanical, and it's repetitive. But a lot of these kids can't do the math, so we blast them with highly repetitive mechanical skills that make them more functional on the jobsite."
The first students who went through the accelerated program were all graduates of RAMS' six-month pre-apprenticeship program, Jumpstart. After completion of the program, they were sent to the jobsites of various RAMS' customers. Approximately 75% of them were working about two skill levels higher than their counterparts, says Mathews. With that success under its belt, RAMS has scheduled the next round of beta classes for mid-February. This time, the class will comprise six current Jumpstart alumni and four students from RAMS' labor pool whose experience ranges from six months to one-and-a-half years on the job.
The ultimate goal of the program is to take workers with one year of experience and have them perform as if they've been on the job for three years. The workers' pay rates will rise, and the specialty contractor will reap the benefit of a more experienced employee for less pay. According to Mathews, however, the program is no substitute for actual electrical apprenticeship programs. "The mechanical side — the repetitive side of construction — can be taught quickly," he says. "But you still have to learn the electrical theory and practical knowledge. This program merely increases the value of the people in the schools and offers more to the person paying the bills."
Cross training
Although Mathews believes strongly in strengthening workers' skill set through cross training, students that attend his electrical pre-apprenticeship program have never turned around and signed up for the plumbing program. He attributes this to the difference between cross training those working in electrical construction compared to those working at plants and facilities.
Before RAMS, Mathews spent time in plant maintenance. There, he learned that what a company required from in-house workers varied greatly from the work it wanted from subcontractors. "We were cross training in-house maintenance employees 25 years ago," Mathews says. "We were cross training electrical, mechanical, and welding people so that they could handle an entire line or an entire building so we could subcontract out less work."
According to Jay Smith, instructor at Linton, Ind.-based Lewellyn Technology, there are some maintenance people who still specialize in specific areas, but more recently the focus has been on a multi-discipline skill set. "There's been a trend toward the multi-skilled," he says. "You know, the 'wear every hat-type' maintenance guy. In the past, there's always been an electrical group, a mechanical group, and an HVAC group, whereas now — over the past several years — it's been more the guy who can do everything."
This line of thinking isn't confined to those in the field or in the plant. Because of the very nature of some design projects, many electrical engineers, out of necessity, are required to perform work outside of their original field of expertise. According to Paul Kostek, senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), member of the IEEE board of directors, and former president of IEEE-USA, Washington, D.C., many engineers go back for additional degrees or receive less formal on-the-job training from colleagues in other fields. "I've known mechanicals who've become more electrical in background over the years without picking up an electrical engineering degree, just based on the work they do, through seminars or training courses. I've also seen electricals become more mechanical if they're in that type of situation."
Kostek uses his wife's career as an electrical engineer as an example. She works for a local utility and has become more mechanically adept through her work with the gas industry. "She's worrying about flows and all sorts of things that electricals never worry about," he says. "She hasn't had formal training. It's been more on-the-job. People do a lot of their learning by sitting down and talking to people who are doing what they're interested in doing."
On-the-job training isn't the only way to expand your repertoire. Certification is also a route some engineers take for a change in field or specialization. This can be especially helpful to engineers who will be keeping the same type of job in a different industry. "They need to go back and pick up courses and seminars online or face-to-face to get themselves with the right skills," Kostek says. "It's almost a vocabulary issue. The different industries talk about the same things in different ways, so people need to pick up the vocabularies they need."
Kostek says, however, that plenty of engineers are going back for formal training and graduate degrees. These engineers are usually changing their focus or specializing in a new area such as software. "Even though their background is hardware-related, they go back because of so much integration between hardware and software," he explains. "Companies want people to understand software."
Telecom training
Speaking of software, Paramus, N.J.-based IBEW Local 164's teledata training recently has consisted of new trends in video and security, spurred by the changes made in buildings post-9/11. It is also starting training with residential work — an audiovisual course geared toward the residential market will be introduced this year. But the biggest change will be courses in software. "We're going to start getting into not only training in the hardware to install the infrastructure for the systems, but we're also going to start getting into the software side of the house because software is really where the technology is heading," says Paul Lagana, assistant training director of IBEW Local 164's telecommunications division. "Obviously, we have computer classes — some basic and some advanced — and that dovetails into the technology with software that we're going to start."
In fact, some of the classes are so advanced that some technicians come back for updates. "Once they get out of the four years, they come back and are wanting to take different types of training to specifically hone their skills on disciplines that they're not normally doing out in the field," he says.
Higher-tech learning
Not only is what the workforce in the electrical field is learning changing, but how they're learning it and in what language is also on the verge of a major overhaul. Online and correspondence courses are a growing fit for an industry that spends most of its time out of the office. Many of the electricians' courses are also now available in Spanish.
Since 1979, Tom Henry has been preparing electricians for their contractor's licensing exams through correspondence courses and face-to-face seminars. President of Orlando, Fla.-based Tom Henry's Code Electrical Classes, Inc. & Bookstore, he writes many of the books his company uses to train wannabe contractors. Recently, he hired a translator to make the modules accessible to Spanish speakers. Henry plans to promote the translated materials heavily in California, Florida, and Texas. "More and more Latinos are interested in laboring in the electrical industry," he says. "We need to be able to train them to do the work."
With the ubiquitous nature of the Internet, many correspondence courses, regardless of the language, have morphed into online offerings. "There is a lot more education being done online to give people more flexibility," Kostek says. "A lot of universities are using the CD method where they tape a class and then send a CD off to people for them to watch at their convenience."
Recently, Bob Baird, national vice president of apprenticeship and training, codes, standards, and safety for the Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC), Alexandria, Va., wrote an article for the organization's magazine urging IEC instructors to use computers in the classroom. "At least initially [the use of computers] will be phased in over a period of time. We're just encouraging the instructors to use laptops, PowerPoint, and Web-based resource material in their classrooms to enhance instruction."
The use of computers will also allow the IEC to increase its use of simulation software for training. "As time goes by and the simulation techniques become more sophisticated, I'm sure that many more things will be able to be computerized, but you can't very easily demonstrate to somebody how to torque down a connection and have them practice it or wire up a circuit physically over the computer," Baird says. "You can simulate it, certainly, but those things take time. So for a good while, classroom instruction is going to stick with us, but there are cases where we are forced to use some sort of correspondence mechanism."
Tuition reimbursement
A change in training that has happened more slowly over the last 15 years is that many employers who were more than willing to pay for their employees' continuing education classes have pulled back their budgets for non-credit courses. "Companies tend to not have a budget for continuing education in the subject area in which their employees are working," says Greg Vaughn, junior member at large of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America (IEEE-USA) board of directors, Washington, D.C. "Instead, they tend to rely on the employee benefits, such as the educational benefit that offers to pay 80% of your tuition if you take a course for credit as part of a degree or some other higher education program."
This trend seems to encourage engineers to seek degree programs outside of their main field instead of keeping themselves up to date through continuing education-type courses. It also cuts down on company-requested courses. "There's no budget for keeping the engineers in a department up to date in their own subject area, but there's money in the personnel budget for educational benefits," says Vaughn, who has been involved in higher education for the last 30 years. "We're getting hardly any contracts to go to a company and give them a course in what's new in a certain area. Instead, the individuals in the company are coming to take classes for credit. That's changed the way many universities are dealing with the continuing education market."
According to Vaughn, the way the majority of universities are handling the change in the market is by offering fewer non-credit continuing education courses. "There may be a few particularly niche areas of engineering where there are a few non-credit courses taught, but in general there's not as many as there were 10 years ago by a long shot," he says. "Some universities offer online courses, but I think the fact that they're online is incidental. The main difference is whether they're for credit hours or not. "
The only remaining market for non-credit credit courses may be in the area of certification exam preparation. Because only 10% to 20% of engineers are licensed, the profit margin for credit hours to ensure licensure is low. Add to that the lack of continuity among states for what constitutes acceptable hours, and that brings it even lower. "Many states that require continuing education for licensure will accept a wide variety of educational activities, such as attending conferences, going to technical meetings, or going to credit classes," Vaughn says. "Some of them even accept in-house technical seminars companies run for themselves. There are some states, like Florida, where the provider has to be pre-approved, but even with that, I haven't noticed an increase in demand for non-credit continuing education courses."
Safety training
The latest big-budget item for companies is safety training. Recently, Smith noticed a decline in the overall number of requests for general training. This seems contrary to all the reports of the retirement of baby boomers requiring companies to train new employees. Smith attributes the decline to companies pouring training budgets into safety-related programs versus general training. Not only are employees required to know the skill set for their particular field, but they're also required to know all aspects of safety on the job.
"Safety has been the biggest trend within the past three years," Smith says. "It's become our No. 1 request, which used to be general electrical training or other types of general training. Out of all the requests we get, probably three or four out of five requests are for a safety class."
Safety is now a built-in component of the pre-apprenticeship program run by RAMS. Jumpstart, the company's six-month pre-apprenticeship program, offers participants a paid mentoring program, which includes simulator training, a basic electrician's tool set, and OSHA 10 training. The company also mandates that the 900 employees of its electrical contracting arm are safety trained. Every new RAMS employee must sit through a safety training component upon being hired, and then is required to participate in another one within 90 days.
Whether employees are adept in one, two, or three skills seems insignificant in comparison to the increased demand for safety training. Across the board — maintenance worker, contractor, or engineer — companies want their employees to work faster and safer, something that can only come with advanced safety training. "We've seen an increase in contractors wanting workers with safety training," says Mathews. "We've seen a significant increase in general contractors demanding that subs have the training and to prove it. We love it when general contractors demand the project superintendent be OSHA 30 trained and that all foremen be minimally OSHA 10 trained. Besides being the right thing to do, it saves lives and money."


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Understanding the Firefighter Hiring Process
After filling out an initial application for a firefighting job, candidates vying for a position within a fire department can expect to take several qualifying exams. To be hired as a firefighter, you must pass all these tests, exams, and interviews. The following table outlines the types of exams and gives you a general overview of what to expect during each exam:
|Exam Type
|What to Expect
|Written Exam
|An exam featuring multiple-choice questions in a variety of
subject areas; it lasts at least 2.5 hours
|Physical Ability Test
|Typically a timed exam that assesses candidates' physical
fitness, including strength, endurance, and flexibility, to ensure
that they're physically capable to begin a fire training
|Oral Interview
|An interview with a hiring panel that may include fire
department leaders, local government representatives, and local
|Medical Exam
|A complete physical performed by a certified physician to check
candidates for a variety of medical conditions and to ensure that
they're healthy enough to train to become firefighters
|Psychological Evaluation
|A personality questionnaire and/or an interview with a
psychologist or psychiatrist to ensure that candidates can mentally
handle the stress of firefighting


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syngo Volume Perfusion CT Neuro
Clinical Application
Allows the user to differentiate hypoperfused tissue at risk from the non-perfused brain tissue.
- Most complete 3D stroke evaluation software in the market – the only application with two calculation models implemented1
- 3D Auto stroke for therapeutic decision without complex user interaction
- No motion - Safe decision: Integrated automated motion correction compensates patient movements
- All relevant perfusion parameters in one view, CBF, CBV, TTP and MTT
- Night shift and 24/7 service ready
- More confidence with 3D Tissue at Risk Evaluation: Mismatch model allows for 3D differentiation between Cerebral Tissue at Risk and Core infarct
- Dynamic 3D evaluation of brain tumors: Distinction between necrotic areas and neoplastic growth areas
General Requirements
Minimum Software Version
(one of following)
syngo 2008B (VE30A)
syngo CT 2008G (VA20)
syngo CT VC28
Please Note: Additional technical pre-requisites may apply. Upon receiving your request, your local Siemens representative will clarify whether your system meets the requirements.
syngo Volume Perfusion CT Neuro is part of the CT Neuro Engine that also features the workflows:
syngo.CT Neuro DSA
syngo Neuro PWM
syngo.CT Dynamic Angio
Related Products, Services & Resources
1The deconvolution model and the maximum slope model.


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Marion Tuu'luq
Canadian, 1910–2002
Thirty Faces, 1974
wool felt, embroidery floss, thread on wool stroud on wool
141 x 124 cm
Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery
Marion Tuu'luq was the wife of respected Baker Lake artist Luke Anguhadluq, and over the years her drawings and textiles have come to be as well recognized as her husband's graphic art. The couple moved to Baker Lake in 1961, and Tuu'luq was one of the first women to make wall hangings in a sewing project between 1966 and 1967. In 1969 she began using coloured beads to create designs in clothing, and the stylized, geometric patterns carried over to her wall hangings. A motif that reoccurs in her fabric designs is the abstract human head, as seen in this work, which also reveals her tendency toward formalized compositions with repetition of motifs and colours. Tuu'luq's art was featured in a solo exhibition, Marion Tuu'luq, and a tour organized by the National Gallery of Canada in 2002.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


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Fixed Income: Insurance Solutions
Insurance Solutions
Our Global Fixed Income Insurance Solutions are designed to address challenges driven by a distinct set of liability funding profiles, financial objectives and risk tolerances. We believe our experience, approach and collaborative culture provide our clients with essential information to help make well-informed investment decisions.
Our approach to insurance investment strategies
Our Global Fixed Income Insurance Solutions team uses its deep experience with insurance clients and consultants to construct portfolios tailored to the specific constraints and objectives of insurers globally.
We combine the skills of insurance portfolio managers, resources of a dedicated insurance client service team and infrastructure of a well-established risk management process.
Investment decisions are based on internally generated fundamental, quantitative and technical inputs, with risk allocations driven by a rigorous and methodical portfolio construction process that includes in-depth understanding of individual business and investment objectives, full integration of asset-liability management and proactive management of insurance constraints.
This disciplined investment philosophy emphasizes transparency and risk management and is fully supported by best-in-class technology and operational infrastructure.


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Alaska is the largest state in the union. At more than 586,000 square miles, it is approximately one fifth the size of the lower 48 states, more than two and a half times the size of Texas and larger than the next three largest states combined. There are approximately 47,300 miles of coastal shoreline. Based on size alone, Alaska, indeed, lives up to the name "The Great Land."
Of Alaska's more than 365,000,000 acres, over 322,000,000 acres (about 88 percent) are held in public trust by the federal government and the State of Alaska. Alaska is home to over half the parklands, preserves and wildlife refuges in United States. Much of the national forest lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service are locked away from commercial development by "wilderness" designations, inaccessibility, and exclusions in the Tongass and Chugach National Forest land management plans. Developable lands in Alaska constitute a very small percentage of the state's landmass.
The Chugach region comprises approximately 10 million acres, or roughly 2.5 percent of the state. Within the Chugach region, Chugach Alaska Corporation is entitled to approximately 378,000 acres of full fee estate and 550,000 of subsurface estate to be managed for economic opportunity and growth for our more than 2,000 shareholders.
Chugach Department of Land and Tourism
The Chugach Department of Land and Tourism's goal is to benefit our shareholders through sound land management practices, maintain ownership and control of our lands and resources, and preserve our culture and heritage. As stewards of the land and resources, we work to maintain a balance between development and conservation of the area's natural character. In these days of fashionable and popular politics, Chugach relies on science and research to make the best-informed decisions regarding the use of our lands. While Chugach has developed some timber and mineral resources, much of our land remains in a wild and untouched state. We will continue to employ sound land management practices and conservation principles to maintain our lands for subsistence and natural processes while providing economic opportunities for shareholders. It is fitting that the resources developed in the Chugach region benefit the Chugach people.
Chugach holds title to full fee and subsurface estates within the boundaries of the Chugach National Forest, Kenai Fjords and the Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. The presence of wild and pristine places in the Chugach region is critical to Chugach shareholders and their heritage, as are areas that remain available for responsible development.


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Etan Patz: ModeForensics Help Authorities Reinvestigate Disappearance 33 Years Ago
(NEW YORK) -- Thirty-three years after Etan Patz disappeared, all eyes are on the basement at 127 Prince Street in New York City as authorities use technological advances that can even detect if a body was moved to reinvestigate the cold case.
Patz, who was 6, disappeared on the morning of May 25, 1979, soon after leaving his parents' apartment at 113 Prince St., the first time he was to walk to the school bus stop by himself. The boy's 1979 disappearance sparked a massive citywide search that decades later led authorities back to handyman Othneil Miller's small basement workshop -- this time to excavate it after cadaver dogs detected the smell of human remains.
Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensic scientist at John Jay College Criminal Justice in New York City, said vast improvements in technology since Patz disappeared, including agents that detect traces of blood and ground penetrating radar, are allowing investigators to crack "relatively old" cold cases by looking beyond what the eye can see.
"Back then there was every reason to look [in the basement] but there was no reason to break down the ground or the walls at that time." he said. "If you see something you could swab it. If anything was visible they'd be able to bring it up."
Investigators likely used ground-penetrating radar at the scene to look below the surface of concrete and drywall, he said.
"What the instrument does is it sends ultra high frequency radiation into the ground and essentially the waves, the energy travels down until it hits a discontinuity. If it hits a skeleton, they will bounce back. You can see an image on a monitor. It will go right through concrete, very, very deep into the ground," he said.
The technology is so sophisticated it is even able to detect voids in areas where a body temporarily may have been hidden, Kobilinsky said.
"If a body has been moved, that means the ground has been disturbed. A discontinuity can be picked up. It tells you this is a place worth looking at," he said.
And if the excavation finds human remains, a forensics team will be able to isolate mitochondrial DNA and match it to a maternal relative of Etan, who would share the same mitochondria.
Even traces of blood may yield clues.
"Certainly they were spraying either Luminol or BlueStar. This is a blood detection system," Kobilinsky said, adding that either agent would be able to detect traces of blood, even after 33 years.
Not only does blood remain traceable, but so does the human scent. An interview with handyman Othneil Miller two years ago after the case was reopened prompted the FBI and NYPD to put special odor-absorbing pads in his old workshop for four days.
When those pads were presented to cadaver dogs, they signaled the odor of human remains. The dogs were then brought to the basement where they again indicated the scent of human remains in an area a source said was resurfaced with concrete at or shortly after Patz disappeared.
Lynne Englebert, who trains and handles a human remains detection dog with the Institute for Canine Forensics, said cadaver dogs working cold cases is a relatively new coupling and one that was formed in the last decade.
Dogs train for their certificiation for one to two years and practice finding "old crunchy bones" with their handlers, Englebert said.
"We as human beings never lose our scent. If [a body] had been there for a while, that scent would still be there," she said, indicating that even if investigators do not find remains in the basement, it is possible human remains may have once been there before being moved.
But not everyone is prone to throw their trust to the dogs.
Kobilinsky said it wasn't clear whether the dogs are reliable.
"I'm not terribly optimistic they'll find a body. I think they will alert to things other than human remains, [such as] animal decomposition or rotting organic material," he said.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


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Surf World Gold Coast is Queensland's only surfing museum. The exhibition includes an extensive collection of surf boards highlighting the evolution of design and technology from the early 1930s to today. There's also amazing photography depicting early surf scenes, art works including surf movie posters and album covers, cinematography and other memorabilia. Learn about the history of Queensland's surfing and beach culture and check out contemporary art works and the gallery of photos showcasing today's surfing champions.
|Opening Hours
|All year
|10am - 5pm
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Rasmussen syndrome is a form of childhood epilepsy that causes
frequent, severe seizures. The seizures damage one side (hemisphere) of the
brain, often resulting in gradual loss of movement and sensation on one side of
the body, problems with mental development, partial loss of vision in one eye,
and speech and language problems.
Children with Rasmussen syndrome usually develop seizures before
age 10. Infections such as meningitis and encephalitis may play some role in
causing the condition.
Drug therapy is almost never successful in treating Rasmussen
syndrome. For some children with the condition, though, a type of brain
surgery called hemispherectomy can prevent seizures and improve some of the
problems that may occur with the epilepsy.
Last Revised:
August 26, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics & Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Cognitive impairment problems can be caused by
multiple sclerosis (MS) and may include difficulty
These problems are often quite mild early in the course of the
disease. But they may get worse with time, depending on the location of tissue
damage (MS lesions) in the brain.
Neuropsychological tests may help identify specific
problems. Side effects of medicines used to relieve physical MS symptoms may
cause cognitive problems.
Emotional problems may include:
Treating your emotional problems is as important as treating other
symptoms of MS. Family counseling and counseling by other people who have MS
are both available. If you need help finding a counselor or support group,
contact your doctor or the National Multiple Sclerosis
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Last Revised:
February 15, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Some more notes on the Betz from publications.
Wine Spectator says:
Brisk and appealing for its zesty style, offering currant and blueberry flavors on a lively frame, finishing with an espresso coffee note. Drink now through 2010. 850 cases made. –HS
They give this wine 89 points.
Wine Advocate says:
While I found the 2003 Clos de Betz to contain worrisome levels of rustic, hard tannin, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is an impressively powerful, chunky wine. Containing 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot in the blend, this medium to full-bodied wine is dense, concentrated, and deep. Its blackberry liqueur and tar flavors linger throughout its long, tannin-studded finish. Projected maturity: 2010-2022.
They give this wine 92 points.
I will get my notes up in the next few days.
New Year's Blogging Part I - 2003 Betz Përe de Famille continued
Some more notes on the Betz from publications.
Back to California we go. Here is what Spectator has to say:
Offers a medley of berry fruit. Firm, ripe and plump, with dense red currant and red cherry flavors. Then grapey currant and hints of blackberry emerge. Finishes with firm, tight tannins. Drink now through 2009. 3,870 cases made. –JL
86 points
Taking it up a notch, we have opened the Cayuse 2003 Armada.
Wine Spectator says:
Firm in texture, with chewy tannins that cover an earthy range of flavors, showing only modest levels of plum as the finish tightens up. Best after 2008. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 192 cases made. –HS
Wine Advocate says:
Baron's last Syrah is the 2003 Syrah "Armada Vineyard" which spent 2.5 years in puncheons obtained from Cote-Rotie's Rene Rostaing. The Armada Vineyard is the most densely planted in the Walla Walla AVA. The wine itself is beautifully perfumed, plush, super-rich, with layers of sweet black and blue fruits. This Syrah is at a level of quality achieved only by Sine Qua Non and Alban in the United States, by Chris Ringland in the Barossa, and by Guigal and Chave in the northern Rhone.
Wine Spectator rating? 83 points. Wine Advocate rating? 99 points.
I will get my notes up on this wine in the future.
The 2003 Betz Pere de Famille is drinking absolutely beautifully. I will get some notes on it later. We are currently letting it sit and have moved out of the state (and country) with the following wines:
- Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
- Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2006
- Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre 2005
Okay, first up for New Year's Eve is the 2003 Betz Pierre de Famille. Below is what Mr. Betz has to say about this vintage.
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Përe de Famille
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates this vintage in more than percentages would indicate: color, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel all identify this wine as Cabernet Sauvignon (77%). While it blends four of the classic Bordeaux varieties (Merlot 13%, Malbec 8% and Petit Verdot 3%) it still shouts Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Cabernet fraction is predominantly from Red Mountain, from the Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards' rows that we have used for most all the past vintages. Their power and depth contributions are unmistakable. They also provide the tannic spine essential for our goals for this wine. Their muscular ways are tamed by a fraction of the Cabernet that comes from the Alder Ridge Vineyard, located in the Horse Heaven Hills: it provides length and complexity.
While the other two varieties are minor players, their contribution is distinctive: Malbec adding juiciness, and the Petit Verdot, with its black skin, adds color and a spicy/peppery fragrance.
Red Mountain depth dominates the blend of all varieties at 68%, followed by 24% from the Horse Heaven Hills and 8% from the Yakima Valley. And it shows. In the glass, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon has an opaque black/red core. A huge currant, black cherry aroma emerges, carrying along spice, minerals and leather. It's thick and rich, with plenty of youthful tannin, yet finishes with a ripe lushness and sweet black cherry, tobacco flavor. It evolves as it opens in the glass, a sign for this taster that it has years of evolution ahead of it in the cellar.
REMINDER: The 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year poll closes when the ball drops at midnight!
For New Year's Eve, I am going with the theme "...the year was 2003." I have a lot of wine from this vintage so it will present some dilemmas. Current front runners include:
- Betz Përe de Famille
- Cayuse Armada
- Spring Valley Frederick
Happy New Year! Be safe.
Last day for voting - 2008 Reader Survey Washington Wine of the Year
As 2008 comes to a close, so does our 2008 Reader Survey Washington Wine of the Year. You can read more about the finalists here. Polls close tomorrow at 12am when the ball drops whereupon we will declare the winner. Last call!
Here are two 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Wahluke Slope AVA (pronounced WAH-luke). This AVA, authorized in 2006, is located just north of the Yakima valley. At present only two wineries operate within its boundaries - Fox Estate Winery and Ginkgo Forest Winery. However, grapes from Wahluke Slope constitute twenty percent of the total of the annual harvest in Washington state and make their way into a large number of wines. Wineries sourcing fruit from this AVA include Chateau Ste Michelle, Desert Wind, Isenhower Cellars, K Vintners, Northstar, and Syncline Cellar to name just a few. Some of the notable vineyards include Milbrandt, Indian Wells, and Weinbau.
Gilbert Cellars – whose 2005 Cabernet featured here is one of the finalists in our 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year – sources most of its grapes from the Wahluke Slope AVA. Brothers Sean and Nate Gilbert started Gilbert Cellars in 2004. Gilbert Cellars has an annual production of approximately 3,000 cases.
Nefarious Cellars is located in Chelan, Washington. Dean Neff makes the reds and Heather Neff the whites.
Both wines sampled at 62 degrees.
Gilbert Cellars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope 2005
A funky Bordeaux-inspired nose with mushroom, black pepper, and graphite. Fairly light on the fruit on the nose but rich with it on the taste. A very tight, compact profile that finishes and then hangs. 15.1% alcohol.
Nefarious Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope 2005
Spicy dark cherry, white pepper, and light cassis on a nose that starts out somewhat subtle until the wine opens up a bit. Very well put together on the taste with a pleasing weight to the wine. The finish is a bit of a let down on an otherwise enjoyable wine. 15.1% alcohol. 175 cases produced.
Voting continues...Finalists 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year
Voting continues on our finalists for 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year. Shortly I will be posting my notes on the 2005 Gilbert Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the only wine on the finalists list that I had not previously tried.
William Church Bishop's Blend 2006
The 2006 William Church Bishop's Blend was the top vote getter in the first heat of 27 wines nominated for 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year (Note: As this wine is not yet released, I excluded it from the survey of finalists). I provided information about the other top vote getters. However, I was unable to provide detail on the Bishop's Blend as this wine was not yet released. Since that post, I received information about the wine from Leslie Balsley, co-owner of William Church. I have included this information below.
The 2006 Bishops Blend will be released in March of 2009. Based on the positive response after its pouring at the St. Nicholas event weekend, this will be one to look for. This wine is currently available for order at the pre-release price of $18.
Please remember to vote for the finalists for the 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year if you have not already.
William Church Bishop's Blend 2006 $18 (pre-release price)
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Syrah and 2% Sangiovese. Aged 15 months in new and used oak.
Washington Sparkling Wines
Christmas wine
Well, I ended up opening the Cougar Crest Anniversary Cuvee 2003 for Christmas. Somehow I couldn't bring myself to drink a bottle of plonk for the holidays. I can't say that I had fully recovered from my cold so my senses were somewhat affected. Still, it was quite an enjoyable wine. I have had a good deal of 2002 and 2003 Cougar Crest wine of late. The 2002 Cougar Crest Cabernet when we paired it with other Washington 2002 Cabernet seemed like it was quite past its prime. Additionally, when I had the 2003 Cougar Crest Syrah in the past few months, it has seemed as if it is on the downward path and wasn't overly enjoyable after being exceptional about a year and a half. This was a wine that I had truly loved, so I was a bit surprised to see it drop off so quickly. I was interested to see how the 2003 Anniversary Cuvee was holding up. Overall the color of the wine definitely showed some age with some browning along the edges. Quite interesting for a wine that is only five years old. Still, it had the classic Cougar Crest nose of spice and birthday cake along with a mouth coating taste filled will cherry. The wine is clearly past its peak, but I would say still has one to three years to be very drinkable and enjoyable.
Leave a comment and let me know what you ended up opening.
Christmas wines - What are you planning to open to celebrate the holidays?
Okay you Christmas celebraters, the day is almost upon us. I am interested in hearing what wines people are planning to open for the holiday. Personally, I have a bottle of 2003 Saviah Une Vallee and a 2003 Cougar Crest Anniversay Cuvee on standby. However, I have a cold that has left me unable to taste much of anything so they may stay in the cellar. Leave a comment and let me know what you are planning to open tomorrow so I can live vicariously. Happy holidays to all.
Finalists - 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year
Okay folks, I have launched a survey of the finalists for the 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year.
By the powers invested in me, I have made several executive decisions. First, I have removed two wines from consideration whose release date is in 2009 - the William Church Bishop's Blend 2006 and Efeste Joile Bouche Syrah 2006. What you say? These were the top two vote getters! Fear not, this type of capricious rule change to affect the outcome of an election has a long and proud history. These two wines will be incarcerated until next year's survey. Given the positive responses they both received from the pouring at the St. Nicholas event weekend, these will be wines to seek out. Secondly, rather than having a survey of the top three vote getters as I had previously indicated, I have listed the top four as there was a tie for third.
Given that this is a holiday week, I am thinking that the chances of a Garnet Revolution in the blogosphere are minimal.
I have provided below additional information about the finalists where it was available. If you know of any locations these wines are still being sold, let me know in case people who haven't had them want to give them a try. This survey will be open until 11:59pm on December 31st whereupon we will declare the winner. Let the voting begin!
Gilbert Cellars 2005 Estate Syrah
Gilbert Cellars 2005 Estate Cabernet
Brothers Sean and Nate Gilbert started Gilbert Cellars in 2004. Their first release was a 2004 Claret which was followed by a 2005 Malbec, Petit Verdot, Estate Syrah, and Estate Cabernet. The latter two wines are finalists for in our survey. Gilbert Cellars has an annual production of approximately 3,000 cases and sources most of its grapes from the Wahluke Slope AVA. Gilbert Cellars' Tasting Room is located in Yakima. Gilbert Cellars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $26 92% Cabernet; 8% Syrah. 312 cases produced. Gilbert Cellars Estate Syrah 2005 $26. 100% Syrah. 260 cases produced.
Forgeron Cellars Zinfandel 2005
Forgeron gets its name from the French word for "blacksmith." Forgeron Cellars, founded in 2001, is a Walla Walla winery. Marie-Eve Gilla is part owner and winemaker. The winery produces approximately 4,500 cases annually. Forgeron Cellars Zinfandel 2005 $30 100% Zinfandel from Alder Ridge, Clifton, and Les Collines vineyards. 485 cases produced.
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Quilceda Creek was founded in 1978. The 2005 Cabernet is the winery's third vintage to receive a perfect 100 point rating from Robert Parker in the last four vintages (the 2004 vintage was off a step at 99 points). This is an accomplishment no other winery in the world has matched. Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $115. 97% Cabernet; 3% Merlot. Champoux, Galitzine, Klipsun, and Taptiel vineyards. 22 months in 100% new oak. 3,400 cases produced.
Honorable Mention (To Be Released in 2009)
William Church Bishop's Blend 2006
William Church, established in 2005, is a Woodinville, Washington winery. The winery is named after the owners' fathers, William Edgar Balsley and John Church Lind. William Church produces approximately 1,000 cases annually. William Church Bishop's Blend 2006 Information about this wine not currently available.
Efestē Jolie Bouche Syrah 2006
Efestē, pronounced like the letters F-S-T strung together, was named after the last names of founders Ferrelli, Smith, and Taylor. Efestē is located in Woodinville, Washginton . Their winemaker is Brennon Leighton. Efestē has an annual production of approximately 6,000 cases. Efestē Jolie Bouche Syrah 2006 100% Syrah primarily from Boushey Vineyard with a small amount from Ceil du Cheval Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel and stored in French oak for 18 months (25% new). Unfined and unfiltered. To be released in February 2009. Information graciously provided by Brennon Leighton.
The first heat of the 2008 Reader Survey Wine of the Year is complete. First let me say I was impressed by the diversity of the entries. This is a statement on just how much good Washington wine is out there. There were 27 entries and 163 votes received. Below are the tallies with votes listed after the wines and percentages in parentheses. Next up, a survey of the finalists.
William Church Bishop's Blend 2006 - 82 (50%)
Efeste "Jolie Bouche" Syrah 2006 - 30 (18%)Gilbert Cellars Syrah 2005 - 21 (12%)
Gilbert Cellars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - 19 (11%)
Forgeron Cellars Zinfandel 2005 - 7 (4%)
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - 7 (4%)
Long Shadows Chester Kidder 2005 - 4 (2%)
Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - 3 (1%)
Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 2004 - 3 (1%)
Dunham Cellars Lewis Vineyard Merlot 2005 - 3 (1%)
Chateau Rollat Edouard de Rollat 2005 - 2 (1%)
Ch Ste. Michelle Riesling Cold Creek Vineyard 2007 - 2 (1%)
Fielding Hills Cab Sauvignon 2005 - 2 (1%)
Fielding Hills Wahluke Slope Syrah 2005 - 2 (1%)
JM Cellars Tre Fanciulli 2005 - 2 (1%)
Nicholas Cole Cellars Camille 2004 - 2 (1%)
Abeja Cabernet Reserve 2005 - 1 (0%)
Betz Family Le Parrain 2005 - 1 (0%)
Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - 1 (0%)
Darighe from Woodhouse Family Cellars 2003 - 1 (0%)
K Vintners The Boy 2005 - 1 (0%)
Watermill Reserve Syrah 2005 - 1 (0%)
Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet 2005 - 1 (0%)
JLC Spofford Station Syrah 2004 - 0 (0%)
Nodland Cellars Private Blend 2005 - 0 (0%)
Owen Roe DuBrul Vineyard Merlot 2006 - 0 (0%)
Ross Andrew Syrah Boushey Vineyards 2006 - 0 (0%)
Off-topic: Lake Washington swim streak ends at 911 days
Long time readers of this blog will note that this is my first off-topic post.
For the last nine hundred and eleven days, Michael Sullivan, my brother, has swum in Lake Washington every day without fail. The Swim Streak, also referred to as The Streak!, began on June 24th 2006. The Streak began in the summer but evolved into a daily, year round day ritual. Michael had said a long time ago that he would stop swimming when the water got too cold. Somehow it never did, despite reaching temperatures in the low forties and many cold, snowy days and nights. Throughout the winter, Michael swam in gloves, booties, a cap, and neoprene shorts. The streak received news coverage from the Seattle PI and Evening Magazine. Ironically, Michael's front page picture on the Seattle PI showed him standing in the snow at the waterfront.
Yesterday, December 21st, the streak came to an end, a casualty of four consecutive days of snow - the Snowpocalypse - that has visited western Washington depositing over a foot of snow in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Determining that it would be foolish to attempt to drive over the many hills and dales to get to the lake, Michael brought the streak to an end.
Doing anything every day for a year requires an enormous amount of energy and commitment. Doing it for over two and a half years is almost unimaginable. Swimming in Lake Washington every day for nine hundred and eleven days was an amazing accomplishment. Michael, I am proud of you and your commitment to doing something you loved. We all enjoyed following the streak's many statistics - the night swims, the rain swims, the snow swims. Today, we salute you. Long live The Streak!
To read more about my brother's Swim Streak, go to www.swimstreak.com. Don't forget to leave a comment and congratulations.
Washington Wine Round-up - December 14th to 21st
A summary of articles from December 15th to 21st on Washington wine.
In my featured article this week, Terry Christiani fom Famous and Non-famous Strangers writes a compelling article about wine's carbon footprint and what you can do to help minimize it. Among other things, Christiani says it is time to start thinking out of the bottle and into the box.
From around the country…
The Nashville City Paper recommends some Washington wine with callouts to Dunham and Magnificent Wine Company.
The Gloucester Daily Times writes about looking for bargain sparkling wine with callouts to Mountain Dome and Domaine Ste. Michelle.
Meanwhile the Cleveland Plain Dealer recommends Domaine Ste. Michelle's Brut.
The San Jose Mercury News writes about ices wines with callouts to Hogue and Eroica.
The Rocky Mountain News also writes about dessert wines with a callout to Kiona.
From the blogosphere…
Wine Press Northwest reports on Chateau Ste. Michelle harvesting grapes for ice wine and the cold weather snap.
Paul at Swordfern writes about trying a Corliss Estate barrel sample and Dusted Valley Vintners 2006 Chardonnay.
Beyond the Bottle writes about Seven Hills 2005 Syrah.
Wine Peeps writes about Boudreaux Cellars 2004 Cabernet and Quilceda Creek's 2002 Cabernet.
Spirit of Wine reviews the Randall Harris 2006 Merlot.
Cork Savy writes about women winemakers with callouts to Washington's Holly Turner (Three Rivers), Marie-Eve Gilla (Forgeron), and Virginie Bourgue (Bergevin Lane).
Berkshire Review writes about Rainier Ridge Cabernet.
The Seattle PI blog writes about local wine bars.
Washingtonwine.us writes about kosher wine with a callout to Pomum.
Fight Hangovers writes about the implications of climate change on the wine country in the Northwest.
A Meal Without Wine writes about Columbia Crest's Two Vines Vineyard 10 Rose 2007.
The Wine Curmudgeon writes about sparkling wines with callouts to Domaine Ste. Michelle.
Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about Lowden Hills "See You There" Syrah.
Wino writes about wine and charity.
Dan the Wine Guy writes about Yakima Valley and Rattlesnake Hills wineries with callouts to Airfield Estates, Portteus, Thurston Wolfe, and Silver Lake.
From the locals…
The Eastside Business Journal also writes about the ice wine harvest.
KIMA TV reports on Zillah-area wineries collecting food for Northwest Harvest.
KEPR TV reports on the winter weather in Walla Walla.
The Seattle Times writes about the federal report on the Black Rock reservoir project.
Reininger Winery is located on the way in to Walla Walla. The winery was founded in 1997 by Chuck Reininger, a Walla Walla native. The Reininger brand focuses on Walla Walla fruit whereas their second label, Helix, focuses on fruit from the Columbia Valley.
Sandhill Winery is a small, family owned winery located in the Red Mountain AVA. The winery has an annual production of approximately 3,000 cases.
Cougar Crest is located close by Reininger on the way in to Walla Walla. The winery was established in 2001 by Deborah and David Hansen.
In the blind tasting, the Sandhill was the clear favorite of the group. This wine was drinking beautifully and appeared to have a lot of life left. The wine was classic Red Mountain with abundant floral notes and beautiful structure. The Cougar Crest on the other hand every one in the group agreed appeared to be past its prime. The Reininger was harder to pin down. It was an intriguing wine but was hard to get a sense of where it was overall on its lifecycle.
We finished the tasting off with a 2002 Whitman Port which is 100% Cabernet from Red Mountain. While some would correctly object to this wine being called a Port as others would if a Washington wine were called a Bordeaux, it was an enjoyable finish to the tasting.
Obviously Washington is a reasonably young wine region with a lot of new wineries. It remains to be seen how well many of the wines will stand up over time. Overall, my sense is that, not surprisingly, how the wines age is specific to the winery's style. The Sandhill was doing exceptionally well and seemed if anything better than the last time I had tried it. At the same time, this is not surprising as their wines have a solid tannin profile and structure. The Cougar Crest on the other hand was a disappointment where the wine seemed to have trailed off dramatically since I last tried it several years ago. However, this was one of the winery's first vintages and Cougar Crest's wines tend to be more fruit forward and have less of a tannin profile.
|Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2002
|Tobacco and touches of oak on the nose along with generous amounts of black and sour cherry. On first pour, there is also a bit of earthiness and black pepper. On the taste, the wine is marked by cherry and black olive. 92% Cabernet; 5% Cabernet Franc; 3% Carmenere. 1,340 cases produced.
|Sandhill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain 2002
|A beautiful nose with floral notes, spice, earth, and dried fruit. On the taste, the wine has an elegant, European style with lots of tannins and structure without being overpowering.
|Cougar Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2002
|On the nose there is a lot of black pepper and an herbaceous quality. The wine seems a bit untoward and uneven. One the taste, there is a quick attack but it trails off quickly.


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Mark your calendars! The RACE: Are We So Different? exhibit is coming to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is summer.
Are you interested in conversations about science, history, and culture? Have you heard that the RACE: Are We So Different? traveling exhibition will open this month at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History? Please join us for a special lecture and discussion with Dr. Yolanda T. Moses on Friday, June 17 from 10-11am in Natural History's Baird Auditorium.
Dr. Moses is the American Anthropological Association's lead curator for the RACE exhibition, and a professor of anthropology and Vice Provost for Conflict Resolution at the University of California-Riverside. She will be speaking about the history and making of RACE: Are We So Different? After the program, attendees are invited to explore the exhibition.
RACE: Are We So Different? opens to the public on Saturday, June 18. The exhibition is a project of the American Anthropological Association, created in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota and funded by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation.


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천안출장맛사지✐예약금없는출장샵✲평택 여관【카톡mxm33】➳【fкh846.сом】╒천안동대구 모텔↓천안예약▀천안대구 여관☴천안포이 펫 카지노 롤링ル천안태국 에스코트 걸
It used to be easy being a tree. Of course, that was before cities and all the stress that comes with them. Cars, road salt and lawns manicured with weed and feed. So while trees should be able to live far beyond our lifespans, it's become more difficult for today's trees to withstand the kind of rough weather and insect attacks they used to shrug off. That's why they need your help. When you ask Pacesetter to look after your trees, you're getting certified arborists who have the education and the experience to keep your trees healthy for generations to come. We consider that not just our occupation, but our duty. Long live trees.


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BofA's insider loans zoomed in 2008, but no one will say why
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bank of America vaulted into the top 10 banks for insider lending last year with an increase of more than $358 million, much of it coming as credit markets froze and mounting financial calamity threatened the industry's survival.
For at least seven years, the bank's quarterly insider lending never exceeded $300 million and was often less than half that. But by the end of 2008, it had jumped to $624 million.
The dollar gain was the biggest of any bank in the country, a 135 percent hike from a year earlier. The average for all banks with insider loans was 5.7 percent.
The bank wouldn't say what drove the doubling. The bank's lead director, Temple Sloan, did not respond to two calls for comment.
The bulk of the gain came in the third quarter, when the financial sector entered its meltdown. Wall Street titan Lehman Brothers toppled. Washington Mutual failed. Wachovia experienced a "silent run" on deposits as concerns grew about its stability. Merrill Lynch floundered, and Bank of America agreed to buy it.
The government began talking about billions in aid to rescue banks, to reignite lending. In October, the bank received $15 billion in tax dollars, the first part of a government infusion that now totals $45 billion. Under pressure from lawmakers to demonstrate lending, Bank of America has said it made more than $115 billion in new loans in the fourth quarter alone.
Governance expert Nell Minow was surprised by the size of banks' insider lending in general and especially the biggest lenders, including Bank of America's $624 million. The sizeable dollars at stake and the potential for abuse compel disclosure, said Minow, co-founder of The Corporate Library, a corporate governance research firm.
"No loan of that amount can be considered routine on the borrower's side," she said "You need to have very, very extensive disclosure on this."
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill banking professor Lissa Broome said insider lending laws are strong enough to deter favoritism. Broome, whose students debate insider lending issues, said it would be reasonable to consider more disclosure for banks receiving Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. But, she said, there's nothing out of line with increased insider lending by TARP recipients because the point of the aid money is to spur lending.
"I don't think it matters if the loan is to the bank's board of directors or somebody else," she said.
By definition, insiders are banks' executives, directors and any very large shareholders, and their companies.
Bank directors typically account for the biggest insider borrowing because they are often top executives with major companies, which routinely need bank loans. Bank of America's board, for example, includes the CEO of pharmacy giant CVS/Caremark, a senior adviser to brewer MillerCoors and the CEO of South Carolina real estate and investment firm The Barnet Co.
In a federal filing, the bank said "that in the ordinary course of business" it may provide loans and other services to directors, their family members or their businesses. No loan details were revealed. The directors, the bank said, found "none of these relationships was material."
Every quarter, banks have to report insider lending to regulators, but they don't have to say much. They report the total amount and the number of large borrowers, typically those with loans or credit lines of more than $500,000. But no names are reported, except upon request. Even then, they need only identify executives and major shareholders with large loans. Directors and their companies do not have to be revealed, and they are usually the biggest borrowers.
Bank of America reported six major borrowers for each of the last five quarters. At The Charlotte Observer's request, the bank had to name the three who are executives. They are mortgage head Barbara Desoer, chief financial officer Joe Price and Keith Banks, head of global wealth and investment management.
Insider loans to executives are much more limited than those to directors, their companies and shareholders with more than 10 percent of the stock, who can borrow hundreds of millions or more. Executives can borrow for their homes and to pay tuition for their children. Beyond that, their loans are limited to $100,000.
However, executives can borrow far more to fund other businesses they own. In those cases, they're subject to the same limits of other insider loans. Experts and regulators said it is unusual but not unheard of for top bank executives to run a side business.
Bank of America wouldn't say whether Desoer, Price and Banks have other business interests. A check of public records found no businesses, but ownership is often not readily apparent in those records.
JPMorgan, the only firm near the size of Bank of America, volunteered that its four executives with disclosable loans held a total of less than $4 million in home loans, all at least five years old. Its other three major borrowers are directors or their companies. In federal filings, JPMorgan names directors and companies to whom it makes loans but doesn't reveal the terms.
Bank of America wouldn't say which of its insider borrowers accounted for the $358.6 million leap last year. Experts said it was probably directors or their companies.
"The bulk of (insider) loans are to directors, not management," said Tony Plath, a University of North Carolina-Charlotte banking professor, who has worked for banks. "It's corporate borrowing."
Directors may have found that business financing dried up elsewhere, or that they could legitimately get a better rate by consolidating loans with the bank they serve, Plath said. However, he added, "It's incumbent on the bank to make sure in this environment, you're not providing credit to an insider that you wouldn't provide to a non-insider."
UNC professor Broome said the bank's insider lending might have grown because directors brought their financing needs to the bank as a show of support.
"Like the CEO of Bank of America publicly saying I'm buying more stock," she said of Ken Lewis' recent purchases of 400,000 shares.


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In the Sherman Hines Museum of Photography. Located in the Historic Town Hall (219 Main Street) of Liverpool in Nova Scotia, Canada. The museum is a non-profit organization and part of the Rossignol Cultural Centre. It consists of several galleries: Print, Hologram, Main Gallery, Gallery 1 and 2. On permanent display is an extensive collection of photographic artifacts and striking contemporary work. A variety of exciting new work is regularly exhibited in the Main Gallery.
The capital of Canada is Ottawa, in the province of Ontario. There are offically ten provinces and three territories in Canada, which is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area.While politically and legally an independant nation, the titular head of state for Canada is still Queen Elizabeth.On the east end of Canada, you have Montreal as the bastion of activity. Montreal is famous for two things, VICE magazine and the Montreal Jazz Festival. One is the bible of hipster life (disposable, of course) and the other is a world-famous event that draws more than two million people every summer. Quebec is a French speaking province that has almost seceded from Canada on several occasions, by the way..When you think of Canada, you think of . . . snow, right?But not on the West Coast. In Vancouver, it rains. And you'll find more of the population speaking Mandarin than French (but also Punjabi, Tagalog, Korean, Farsi, German, and much more).Like the other big cities in Canada, Vancouver is vividly multicultural and Vancouverites are very, very serious about their coffee.Your standard Vancouverite can be found attired head-to-toe in Lululemon gear, mainlining Cafe Artigiano Americanos (spot the irony for ten points).But here's a Vancouver secret only the coolest kids know: the best sandwiches in the city aren't found downtown. Actually, they're hidden in Edgemont Village at the foot of Grouse Mountain on the North Shore."It's actually worth coming to Canada for these sandwiches alone." -- Michelle Superle, VancouverText by Steve Smith.


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- (serves 4-6)
- About 8 tbsps butter, or more to taste
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup semolina flour
- 1 cup freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano cheese
- 4 large eggs (use only the yolks)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ teasp of grated nutmeg (if liked)
Heat the milk in a saucepan with 5 tbsps of butter and ½ teaspoon salt.
When the milk is hot, pour in the semolina slowly, whisking continuously (use a whisk and not a spoon to prevent clumps); cook for about 15 minutes, or until cooked; as the mixture becomes too thick for a whisk, switch to a wooden spoon.
Remove the mixture from the heat, add salt if needed, and add half the grated cheese and all the egg yolks, combining well.
Pour and spread the semolina mixture onto a tray or counter lined wet parchment.
With the spatula, spread it to a thickness of about ½" to a maximum of 2/3, and allow to cool.
Cut the cold semolina into circles with a round cookie cutter.
Arrange the gnocchi in a buttered baking pan, slightly overlapping, and top with some butter flakes, the remaining grated cheese, a touch of grated nutmeg and a little black pepper.
Bake in a pre-heated 425 F oven for about 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden-brown.
You can dress and bake the trimmings in the same way; I serve the nicely round gnocchi to guests and enjoy the trimmings on my own the next day!


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Conducting maintenance procedures at certain time intervals will improve engine generator set reliability and lengthen unit life.
The failure of an engine-generator set to start because of an improperly charged battery or faulty fuel pump is inexcusable. In many facilities, this failure can be an expensive experience. In a medical facility, it could result in loss of life.
Gen-set reliability hinges on proper maintenance. To verify this work is being done properly, you should develop a comprehensive performance and documentation plan. Since standby power and emergency generator sets typically run infrequently, the times for performing specific maintenance tasks are usually scheduled in daily, weekly, monthly, semiannual, and annual time frames, rather than in hours of operation.
Establish daily checks
Most of the maintenance work on a generator set is not complicated. Common sense and paying attention to the gen-set's visual indicators can avoid problems. On a daily basis, you should walk by the engine-generator set and verify that there are no coolant, fuel, or lubricating oil leaks. An oil or coolant leak often indicates a serious problem and should be addressed immediately. Fuel leaks can be dangerous and also need to be fixed promptly. We're not talking about arrangements to clean up the spill; we're saying you should correct the cause of the problem immediately.
The gen-set should be checked for proper operation of coolant and crank case oil heaters (when used). This is done by touching the engine block or engine oil pan (assuming that the gen-set has not been in operation for awhile); the block and oil pan should be warm to the touch. If they're not, then it's possible the auxiliary heating system is not operating. On a cold day, and on a relatively warm day of 70 [degrees] F, failed heaters can increase the starting time or cause the unit to be unable to pick up load.
Maintain proper site conditions
It's tempting to use the room where the engine-generator set is located for storage of just about anything. This is prohibited by NFPA 110, Art. 5.2-1, for critical applications. Take steps to make sure generator rooms are never used for storage because it's potentially dangerous. We've seen a situation where a gen-set was completely buried under cardboard boxes. At another site, the gen-set was surrounded by tables and chairs, and the facility's technician couldn't get to the unit to check its condition.
On a walk through the generator room, all loose items should be noted so they can be removed. And, after noting loose items, you should follow-up to make sure the items were removed. Even a loose rag used for checking the oil level of the engine can be blown into the radiator, causing overheating and possible failure. Make sure the generator room is not only free from loose items but also clean as well.
Finally, check that someone has not turned the gen-set or its battery charging system off. Most sets installed in emergency applications have a flashing light on the control panel to indicate the unit is switched OFF and will not automatically start. Battery charging circuits may or may not be automatically monitored or, if monitored, the monitor may not be working. Check to make sure the battery voltage is satisfactory. A simple procedure such as this may save you much grief later.
Importance of weekly checks
You should also perform a more comprehensive weekly check of the gen-set. This should include checking the oil level in the engine (and the governor, if it's a hydraulic type) and coolant level in the radiator. Check the air cleaner for obstructions and ventilation system for blockage. Also, drain the exhaust system condensation traps.
If the above conditions are satisfactory, you should start and run the gen-set under load. It's important that all sets, even those used in critical emergency applications, be tested under load. Ideally, the test should be run with the actual emergency load that would be served when a utility failure occurs. However, such testing will usually cause momentary power disruptions to these critical loads and is potentially dangerous if not planned in advance and well supervised. In spite of the potential problems, many authorities and relevant organizations, such as the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, recommend this practice. If there is a problem with the emergency system, it's best to learn about it when utility power is available.
The time to arrange a procedure for testing the set under load is when the engine-generator installation is being planned. The ideal way to test an emergency or standby power system is by using the test/exercise controls normally resident in the transfer switch, which signals the generator set to start and then transfers all the emergency or standby loads over to the generator. Recognizing that this is often not done, investigate how best to carry out a load test without disturbing critical loads. Be sure the gen-set can operate all the emergency loads, and that it has enough load on it (at least half of its nameplate rating) to prevent engine problems caused by light load operation.
The engine should reach normal operating temperatures during the test/exercise period, This means the engine will need to be run for approximately 30 min at 50% of the full load applied. Regular exercise keeps engine parts lubricated, ensures a fresh fuel supply at the engine, prevents oxidation of electrical contacts, and provides more reliable engine starting.
As the generator set is running, check for proper operation of the ventilation system dampers, unusual noises in the engine, smoke in the engine exhaust, leaks in the exhaust system, etc. Be sure the engine fuel system is working properly and the day tank (if used) is being refilled properly. As the engine is running, record the values shown on all the generator set meters, as well as the ambient temperature in the generator room and outdoors. Finish the job by completing the test report documents that show what you did and how the equipment worked for that test period.
You might opt for fitting the engine, generator set with a data gathering panel, with connections to the automatic transfer switch(es) and to a monitoring system for the starting battery. This can be networked to a computer and will automatically log the test data to provide comprehensive reports. An important advantage of such systems is they can show trends on how the generator set is operating, which could be useful for planning replacement of key components. These systems greatly simplify report gathering for health care facilities and other applications that demand regular comprehensive operating reports. Contact your generator set vendor for more information.
Features of monthly checks
In your monthly check of the gen-set, you should perform a closer inspection of engine conditions. Because this inspection is more thorough, you must recognize that the set may start at any time (unless it is disabled). This can cause severe injury or death. OSHA requires that the gen-set be locked out. This usually involves taking steps to prevent the engine from starting by placing the control switch in the STOP position, disconnecting a battery cable, and tagging prior to servicing the unit. Note that NEC Sec. 700 5(b) requires a portable or temporary power source (usually another generator temporally installed) be provided whenever an emergency generator is out of service for major maintenance or repair. When maintenance of the unit has been completed, return the generator set to automatic operation.
Check the specific gravity of the engine coolant with a hydrometer. Note any unusual conditions, such as rust foaming. Examine condition of hoses and clamps, making sure there are no leaks and they are tight and properly fitted. Also check the battery condition with a battery hydrometer (if the battery is not sealed). The specific gravity should be 1.260.
Check all battery terminals for clean and tight connections, as loose or corroded connections create resistance that can hinder starting. If the connections are loose, clean and reconnect the battery cables. Always disconnect both ends of the grounding battery cable. When reconnecting this cable, first connect one end to the battery, and then connect the other end to the grounding point. Thus, any arcing will be away from the battery and unlikely to ignite explosive battery gases, which can cause severe personal injury. Do not smoke while servicing batteries.
Finally, all tools used for servicing the gen-set should be in their proper location.
Procedures for conducting semiannual maintenance
Many gen-sets customarily receive what might be termed "an in-depth maintenance review" in the spring and fall each year, before the more stressful operating periods of summer and winter. At these times, the gen-set and associated control equipment should be physically cleaned and checked for proper operating condition.
All control and supervisory equipment should be checked for proper operation. This includes inspecting the governor linkage to be sure it's clean and moves freely. You also should check the operation of all alarm and status lamps and replace any lamps having failed elements. Actually, a good idea is to replace all such lamps and verify that the new ones light.
If qualified electricians are available, they should visually check the condition of the automatic transfer equipment and distribution switchboards. This inspection should reveal any indication of arcing or burned contacts, loose connections, etc.
At this time, the engine and governor oil and filters should be changed (even if the engine operation hours don't warrant the change). The coolant filters, if used, and the engine air filters should be checked and replaced if necessary. Drain sediment from the day tank(s) and change the fuel filters. Check the fuel supply and return lines for leaking or loose fittings.
During the semiannual maintenance review, you should perform a full-power failure test. During this test, power to the automatic transfer switch(es) is physically interrupted so that the emergency/standby power system has to respond to a true power failure. This procedure not only tests the ability of the gen-set to start and assume all available load, but it also checks the operation of automatic transfer switches, related switchgear and controls, circuits, and all other components of the emergency or standby power system. This type of testing will result in a loss of power to critical loads of about 10 sec in duration. Careful planning and coordination with all concerned personnel is important here. The test should be carried out by qualified technician(s) with close supervision to help assure no problems will result.
Semiannual inspections may be more than your in-house staff maintenance personnel are able to handle. Rather than not conducting such a full-maintenance review, it's possible to get service contracts from gen-set suppliers to perform this work.
Performing the annual maintenance inspection
Recommended annual maintenance procedures are only a bit more detailed than the semiannual work. The components involved are the engine, alternator, and distribution equipment, including automatic transfer switches.
All procedures should be followed as called for in the weekly, monthly, and semiannual maintenance inspection/testing. The engine exhaust manifold and turbocharger cap screws should be tightened per manufacturer's recommended practice. All engine hardware should be tightened. The engine itself should be cleaned. The fan hub, drive pulley, and water pump should be checked, and the cooling system should be cleaned. Vibration isolators should be checked and readjusted if necessary. When performing such examinations, you must exercise extreme care to avoid injury and follow OSHA guidelines.
As with previously scheduled maintenance that calls for the gen-set to be disabled for a short period of time, annual maintenance also has this requirement. If the gen-set is serving emergency loads, NEC Sec. 700 5(b) is in effect, thus requiring a portable or temporary power source. Obviously, you should make arrangements to perform this maintenance as fast as possible so the generator set(s) are available again to pick up load as needed. However, after the maintenance, adequate testing should be carried out.
Electrical load and control wiring connections between the gen-set(s) and transfer switches should be retightened. Alternator bearings should be greased (if they are not sealed), and the alternator insulation resistance should be checked/recorded.
Switchgear and transfer equipment should be checked for excessive wear and high operating temperature. This equipment should be shut down and cleaned according to manufacturer's instructions.
Gen-sets that operate at less than a third of rated capacity should be connected to a resistive load bank and operated for at least 1 hr at close to their standby rating. This may require temporary connection of auxiliary loads so the gen-set can be fully loaded. Operating a gen-set under a light-load condition can cause excessive lube oil consumption and, in diesel engines, incomplete combustion. When this occurs, the unburned engine fuel is deposited on the engine injectors and/or the exhaust system, resulting in poor engine performance and even a fire hazard.
Performing inspections with the gen-set running
At various times here, we've recommended the system operator or maintenance technician check the generator set while it's running. This is not a job for just anyone. Be sure the person doing this work knows how to do it safely, what is involved when the gen-set is operating an emergency load during testing, and what to look for to prevent problems with the equipment.
Be sure the maintenance technician has reviewed all operation manuals, particularly any safety warnings. Generator set suppliers often can provide training sessions for operating people to help them understand their equipment better. The operator should know how to start and stop the equipment and how to accomplish an emergency system shutdown.
Remember, gen-sets and their rooms are noisy, and the equipment has hot surfaces and rotating belts, fans, etc., that can cause injury. Hearing protection will probably be necessary in the generator room when the set is operating. No loose clothing should be worn around gen-sets.
What to inspect when the set is running
Exhaust system. Inspect the entire exhaust system visually and audibly, including the exhaust manifold, muffler, exhaust pipe. Check for leaks visually, by smell, and also by listening for unusual sounds at all connections, welds, gaskets, and joints. Make sure exhaust pipes are not excessively heating the surrounding areas. If any leaks are detected, shut down the gen-set and correct the leaks. Warn personnel performing the tests that inhalation of exhaust gases can result in serious personal injury or death. Deadly exhaust gas must be piped outside and away from windows, doors, or other inlets to the building.
Mechanical system. With the set running, listen for any unusual noises that may indicate mechanical problems and frequently check the oil pressure. Investigate anything that indicates possible mechanical problems. When the generator set is not running (but remembering, you may have to take steps to prevent it from starting automatically and carry out all associated precautions), check for loose belts and fittings, leaking gaskets and hoses, or any signs of mechanical damage. If any problems are found, correct them immediately.
Fuel system. Inspect the fuel supply lines, return lines, filters, and fittings for leaks. Check any flexible sections for cuts, cracks, and abrasions, and make sure they are not rubbing against anything that could cause breakage. If any leaks are detected, correct them immediately. Warn your testing personnel that fuel ignition can cause a fire or explosion, resulting in serious personal injury or death, and/or serious equipment damage. Do not permit any flame, cigarette, or other igniter near the fuel system.
Electrical system. While the gen-set is running, you should check for proper operating voltage and frequency. Most sets are provided with permanently mounted meters for this purpose. If your set doesn't have such meters, then getting this data will usually require using a qualified electrical technician. When viewing meter outputs, you should note not only that the unit is operating at proper voltage and frequency, but also that voltage balance on all phases is correct. The current output of each phase should be noted and permanently recorded. You also should verify all indicating lamps in the system function properly for each of the operating modes.
A properly trained operator can make minor voltage and frequency adjustments, but should probably leave other electrical adjustments on the generator set alone. Indiscriminate adjustment of other controls on the gen-set can cause improper operation or nuisance shutdown of the equipment.
Richard Demot is Technical Service Manager, and Gary L. Olson is Technical Counsel, Onan Corp., Minneapolis, Minn.


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With Our Lady of Mt Carmel
We're going to be putting poetry under a microscope to discover it's not so tough as it likes to think it is. We'll play with a few different styles and finish up with a small collection of poetry, at least one of which be submitted to the wonderful Red Room Poetry competition.
This is a closed school workshop series.


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A very special sub-genre of the sports movie, the racing film attempts to translate the thrill of pushing souped-up thrill machines around a track – or in some cases, down civilian streets – into celluloid-based entertainment.
Here, in no particular order, are our 25 favourites…
Cars (2006)
Pixar's automotive animation was something of a passion project for director John Lasseter, a dedicated petrolhead who wanted to pay homage to the American highway. So he created Cars, in which the small town of Radiator Springs is being destroyed by the soulless Interstate – until race car Lightning McQueen fetches up there. Packed with automotive in-jokes and cameos, Cars is perfect for tutoring kids (of all ages) in the ways of the petrolhead.
Speed Racer (2008)
Emile Hirsch stars as the titular Speed Racer – a young man who's completely obsessed with racing, to the exclusion of all else – in this live-action adaptation of Japanese Anime Mach GoGoGo. Speed Racer flopped at the box office – audiences were baffled by the Wachowski brothers following up The Matrix trilogy with this candy-coloured confection. But they were missing the point somewhat – Speed Racer's physics-defying lunacy and eye-popping palette were a perfect translation of the anime to live action.
Speedway (1929)
This late-period silent movie stars William Haines as Bill Whipple, a wannabe racing driver who reckons he can take on the best at the Indianapolis 500. But will he be able to woo flapper Pat (Anita Page)? 'Course he will. For racing buffs, this film's particularly interesting – it features scenes shot at the actual Indy 500, and cameo appearances from racing drivers of the day.
Senna (2010)
Asif Kapadia's documentary on Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna feels almost like a fictional biopic. Thanks to the vast amount of footage shot of Senna, Kapadia was able to cut the film like a feature, alternating between wide shots, close-ups and in-car views. It's particularly effective during the final act, when a series of accidents at the San Marino Grand Prix lend the film a feeling of impending doom, in the build-up to Senna's fatal crash.
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Sure, Paul Walker wasn't a believable tough guy, and Vin Diesel is far too big to be good at racing in those light cars. But somehow The Fast and the Furious was still a positive evolution in the car chase film genre. Thanks to special effects taking us through the engine, more modded cars than at Santa Pod, and a love of street racing, it's spawned four sequels to date.


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A Lush, Fall Wedding at a Private Residence in Tabernash, Colorado
Isnaraissa (Sparky) Moir (30 and works in newspaper publishing) and Noah Spears (33 and a product manager at MRP Bike) wed on Noah's parents' property decorated with luscious blooms. "The views are stunning, and the location really reflects the organic and elegant vibe we wanted to bring to our wedding," Sparky says. "Having our celebration at a family's home also allowed us the opportunity to really customize our day and choose vendors that echoed our vision." The couple splurged on florals, knowing it would help create the natural, simple "fall harvest" atmosphere for their at-home wedding inspired by the autumnal outdoors. Centerpieces incorporated long wood boxes and seasonal fruit to produce a farm-to-table feel. "My little nephew enjoyed eating the fresh Colorado peaches and plums used to decorate the tables," Sparky says. An abundance of cakes, cookies and s'mores satisfied everyone's sweet tooth on the dance floor.