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Reference Publication: Khattar, M K, M V Swami, and N Ramanan, "Another Aspect of Duty Cycling: Effects on Indoor Humidity." FSEC-PF-118-87, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. ASHRAE Transactions, January 1987.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and are not intended to represent the views and opinions of the Florida Solar Energy Center.
Another Aspect of Duty Cycling:
Effects on Indoor Humidity
M. K. Khattar,
M. V. Swami, and N. Ramanan
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
The effects of two readily available air-conditioner control strategies on dehumidification performance are discussed: fan "auto," in which the indoor air circulation fan cycles on and off along with the compressor, and fan "on," in which the fan operates continuously regardless of the on or off status of the compressor. Measured performance data are presented on two air-conditioning systems - a packaged terminal direct expansion, constant volume air conditioner without capacity modulation and a unitary direct expansion air conditioner with dual-speed compressor and indoor air fan motors. Measurements of the condensate removal from the air conditioner as well as its transient sensible and latent cooling performance tuning cycling operation showed that the net moisture removal was reduced significantly when the fan operated continuously compared to when the fan cycled off with compressor. The average moisture-removal performance was relatively independent of the compressor run-time fraction in the fan "auto" mode, but it varied significantly in the fan "on" mode. The air-side transient performance measurements for the packaged terminal air conditioner showed that in a 20-minutes air-conditioning cycle - with the compressor on for 10 minutes and the fan operating continuously for the remaining 10 minutes - 19% of the moisture condensed turning the compressor "on" cycle was re-evaporated back into the conditioned space. In another 10-minute cycle with only 5 minutes of compressor run time, condensate-side measurements showed that the moisture removal rate was reduced by 44% in fan "on" mode, compared to the fan "auto" mode.
The re-evaporation rate increased with increased number of cycles.
The indoor humidity level was higher in fan "on" mode compared
to the fan "auto" mode. It can be concluded that most air-conditioner
duty-cycling devices, which let the indoor air fan operate after the
compressor turns off, will re-evaporate some of the condensed moisture
on the cooling coil and in the drain pan back to the conditioned space.
Such devices will result in increased indoor humidity level and associated
Several air-conditioned duty-cycling devices have appeared in the market that claim to reduce energy consumption. Most of these devices purport to use stored cooling in the cooling coil of an air conditioner. Generally, these devices let the indoor air fan continue to operate while forcing the compressor to cycle on and off with certain predetermined or even self-adjusting schedules. The argument used to support this approach is that once the cooling coil is cold, the compressor may be shut off, and the stored cooling due to thermal mass of the cooling coil may be recovered by letting the indoor air fan operate. This approach, of course, fails to account for the fact that energy would be consumed in cooling the thermal mass of the cooling coil after the re-start of the compressor. On an overall thermodynamic point of view, this approach does not seem to provide any energy benefit. On a micro-level, however, there may be some gains in the efficiency of the vapor compression cycle due to the resultant increase in the average cooling coil operating temperature.
On a typical residential air-conditioner thermostat, two modes of operation are readily available. In "auto" mode, the indoor air fan cycles on and off along with the compressor on demand from the thermostat for cooling. In the fan "on" mode, the indoor air fan operates continuously, while the compressor cycles on and off on demand from the thermostat.
The air conditioner's "auto" and "on" operating strategies maybe considered as two extreme forms of duty cycling as far as their effect on moisture removal is concerned. The fan "auto" represents no duty cycling, and fan "on" may represent a duty cycling mode in which the indoor air fan never stops. In some duty-cycling devices, the fan may be allowed to operate for only a certain period after the compressor turns off.
Although there are several advantages and disadvantages of operating an air conditioner in "auto" or "on" modes, some of which are summarized here, special attention is devoted to the moisture removal, or dehumidification, aspects of the air conditioner's performance. The advantages and disadvantages of duty cycling devices may be in between the two modes of operation.
Advantages and Disadvantage
Performance data from air-conditioning systems of two buildings at the Florida Solar Energy Center were obtained. One building (PV House) is a typical 1,300 ft2 manufactured frame house with packaged terminal air conditioner. The house was used as office space during office hours. Its air conditioner was set to operate 24 hour a day during the test period. The other building (office) is a 1,580 ft2 trailer-type office building with two-speed unitary air conditioner. This system, however, is set to operate only during the office hours. The relevant air-conditioner design parameters are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Air conditioner design parameters at ARI rating
(Indoor: 80 F dry-bulb, 67 F wet-bulb; Outdoor: 95 F dry-bulb)
Total Capacity
|1. PV House
|Single-speed capillary tube expansion device
|2. Office
|High-speed comp/indoor fan
|Low-speed comp/indoor fan thermostatic expansion valve
The PV house air conditioner is a single zone, constant volume, direct expansion system that is controlled by a single-stage thermostat. The office air conditioner is also a single zone, direct expansion system, but can operate at two compressor speeds, corresponding to two indoor airflow rates. It is also controlled by a single, but two-stage, thermostat. Since the air conditioner can drop to lower speeds at low loads, the air conditioner's compressor ran almost continuously throughout the experiments.
Two levels of instrumentation were used. One level of instrumentation was designed to obtain long-term performance data of the system under two modes of operation. The instrumentation consisted of a compressor-run time clock, an energy meter, indoor and outdoor dry-bulb/wet-bulb psychrometer, and a condensate gauge. A tipping bucket rain gauge with an electro-mechanical counter was calibrated and used as a condensate gauge. It was located below the air conditioner's condensate discharge pipe and provided a measurement resolution of 1/100 of a pound of condensed water. The air conditioner was operated at one temperature setting with fan "auto" for one week. During the next week, the fan switch was set to "on" without disturbing the temperature set point. The experiments were repeated at the same temperature set point, as well as at other set points, from May to September l983. The indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity were measured frequently with a hand-held dry-bulb/wet-bulb psychrometer. At the same time the cumulative amount of energy used, compressor run time, and amount of condensate collected were recorded.
For measuring air-side transient response of the air conditioner during cyclic operation, return and supply air dry-bulb/wet-bulb temperatures were scanned and reported every 10 seconds. The dry-bulb/wet-bulb temperatures were measured with an aspirated psychrometer consisting of two thermocouple tips, one bare and the other covered with a wet cotton wick soaked in water. Air was drawn over the thermocouple wires with a small blower.
The relative response time between the dry-bulb and wet-bulb thermocouples was measured. The aspirated dry-bulb/wet-bulb sensor was placed in an airstream and allowed to reach steady-state value. A resistance heater upstream of the sensor vas turned on. It increased the sensible temperature but did not change the air dew point temperature. The data were scanned every 10 seconds. At each 10-second time interval, the air dew-point temperature was calculated from the current dry-bulb reading, but previous wet-bulb temperature readings were used to account for slow response of the wet-bulb sensor. The lag time interval for wet-bulb data was varied from 0 to 40 seconds in steps of 10 seconds. The time lag of 10 seconds provided the best results in calculating dew-point temperature. The experiment was repeated with a data scan rate of 3 seconds and time lags of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 seconds. The time lag of 9 seconds provided the best fit for calculating dew-point temperature. Therefore, the time lag of 10 seconds for wet-bulb temperature measurements was used in calculating the psychometric properties of cooled and dehumidified air in cyclic mode.
The condensate was measured with a tipping bucket rain gauge. The condensate cannot be measured instantaneously. It collects on the coil surface and runs down into the drain pan, which overflows into the rain gauge. There is a time lag between moisture condensation on the coil surface and its measurement by the rain gauge. In long-term measurements, this delay is not significant. In transient measurements during cycling, however, it cannot be neglected. Therefore, to compare fan "on" and "auto" modes, the air conditioner was operated continuously until steady flow of condensate was obtained before starting the cyclic tests. No attempt was made to maintain any specified indoor condition during cyclic measurements, but the cyclic tests under two modes were carried out in mostly identical indoor and outdoor conditions.Results and Discussion
The moisture removal rate versus compressor run-time fraction in each of the two operating modes in the PV house is plotted in Figure 1. This data is also summarized in Table 2.
Table 2. Summary of moisture removal data.
Indoor Temperature
Fan "Auto" Mode
Fan "On" Mode
Average Indoor Humidity1
Average Indoor Humidity1
Comments: The air conditioner operated alternatively for at least one week in each of the two modes: fan "auto" (fan cycles with compressor) and fan "on" (fan operating continuously regardless of compressor turning on or off). Normal office use, and direct control of internal loads or load pattern.
2 Compressor Run-time Fraction = Accumulated compressor run-time hours divided by the total hours during test period.
3 Moisture Removal Rate = Condensed moisture colleted below drain divided by the total kWh energy used by the condensing unit and the indoor fan. Indoor air fan motor is rated for 3.4 full load amperes versus 15.6 for the condensing unit.
The moisture removal rate is shown in pounds for each kWh of energy used by the air conditioner's indoor fan and compressor. The compressor run-time fraction is defined as the fraction of the total number of hours during which the compressor operated. It is proportional to the load factor, or the ratio of the cooling load to the air conditioner capacity. At a fraction of about 25% compressor run-time, the air conditioner in fan "auto" mode removed more than 2.5 times the moisture it removed in fan "on" mode. The fan "on" mode degraded the moisture removal rate by over 60%. It also increased the resulting indoor humidity from 55% to 65% However, at higher compressor run-time fractions, the moisture removal in the fan "on" mode improved. At 50% compressor run-time fraction, for example, the moisture removal at fan "on" was about 30% lower than in fan "auto." At 80% compressor run-time fraction, however, the moisture removal rate in fan "on" and fan "auto" as well as the indoor conditions were nearly the same.
Figure 1. Moisture removal vs. air-conditioner compressor run-time fraction.
At a lower compressor run-time fraction, the compressor cycles more frequently due to lower cooling demand. Every time a compressor turns on, it takes some time before the cooling coil temperature is lowered below the air dew point and moisture condenses out. In this period, it provides more sensible and less latent cooling. Since the compressor stops in a short time, some of the condensed moisture on the coil and drain pan re-evaporates back into space. The compressor off-cycle being longer helps to re-evaporate a larger fraction of condensed water that is trapped in drain pan. The location of the drain pipe on the drain pan of most air conditioners is such that it drains water only if the water level is above a certain level, say 1/4" or 3/8". Therefore, home condensate is always trapped in the pan, which slowly evaporates during long compressor off-cycles.
The transient performance of the PV house air conditioner is shown in Figure 2. The normalized total capacity, fractional sensible capacity, and fractional latent capacity versus time after start of the compressor are plotted. The sensible capacity rises quickly to its steady-state value in about 30 seconds. The moisture removal begins slowly after 20 seconds of compressor start and increases to its steady-state value in about 3 minutes. The air conditioner's sensible heat ratio, SHR, also varies during the initial period. It begins at 1.0 for pure sensible cooling, immediately after the start of the air conditioner, and reaches steady-state value in about 3 minutes. The average SHR during the first few minutes is lower than the steady-state SHR value. Therefore, when the compressor cycles more often, the effective moisture removal is lower.
Figure 2. Air-conditioner transient performance during start-up.
The air conditioner's moisture removal rate in fan "auto" did not vary significantly with compressor run-time fraction. An attempt was made to model the moisture removal rate as a function of indoor temperature and humidity and outdoor temperature. The model showed only weak dependence on indoor and outdoor conditions. It was also noticed that the PV house air conditioner's average SHR, as calculated from measured moisture condensate and energy consumption and from rated energy-efficiency ratio, was only 0.80, as opposed to manufacturer's published data of 0.75. Similarly, for the two-speed trailer office air conditioner, the average SHR was measured to be about 0.84 compared to 0.75 in the manufacturer's published data. It is noticed that the average SHR in the field will be lower than expected from steady-state values. This reduction in moisture-removal capacity can be attributed to compressor cycling effects.
The average indoor air conditions maintained under fan "auto" and fan "on" mode in the PV house are shown on a psychometric chart in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Average indoor air conditions under fan "auto" and fan "on" control strategies.
At a higher temperature setting of about 80 F, the fan "auto" maintained 55% RH whereas the fan "on" maintained 65% RH At this higher temperature setting, the cooling loads are low and the compressor cycles more frequently. The higher humidity may prompt a lower temperature setting for comfort. At lower temperatures the compressor cycling lowered and the gap between the indoor humidities in fan "on" and fan "auto" modes reduced. At 71 F temperature, when the compressor run-time fraction was 80%, the indoor humidity maintained in both modes was nearly same.
There are some other points of observation. First, the indoor conditions maintained were outside the ASHRAE summer thermal comfort zone, which is also plotted on the psychometric chart in Figure 3. It shows that the air conditioner maintained higher humidity even in fan "auto" mode. Therefore, air conditioners with a higher dehumidification fraction or lower SHR are required in warm, humid climates. Second, at low temperature settings, although the absolute humidity was reduced, the indoor relative humidity actually increased slightly. It provided experimental verification of analytical results, which showed that the indoor air relative humidity increases when the temperature set point is reduced (Khattar 1984). The reason is believed to lie in the fact that, at lower temperatures, the ability of air to hold moisture reduces. Therefore, although absolute moisture level reduces, the relative humidity, which is the ratio of actual moisture level to maximum moisture level that the air can hold at that temperature, actually increases.
Transient performance of the PV house air conditioner cycling under fan "on" mode is shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Air-conditioner moisture removal and moisture re-evaporaton under fan "on" operating mode during one compressor cycle (10 minutes "on"/10 minutes "off").
The compressor was cycled on and off every 10 minutes while the fan operated continuously (50% thermostat cycling rate). The normalized total fractional sensible, and fractional latent capacities are plotted against time. The capacities were normalized with respect to steady-state total capacity at the end of the 10-minute cycle. After the unit is turned on at 0 sec, the sensible capacity reached steady state or close to the same value within 30 to 40 seconds. The latent capacity slowly rose to steady-state value in about 150 sec. When the compressor was turned off at 600 sec and allowed the indoor fan to continue, condensed moisture re-evaporated. It is represented as negative latent capacity in the Figure. Moisture evaporation provided positive sensible cooling equal in value to the negative latent cooling. However, some positive net cooling results from thermal mass of the coil. The net cooling would reach zero in some time and eventually become negative because of beat addition from fan.
In this experiment, 19% of the moisture collected during the compressor on-cycle was added back to the space during the compressor off-cycle. The steady-state SHR during the compressor on-cycle was 0.63, while the effective SHR over one complete cycle of compressor on and off was 0.73. The unusually low steady-state SHR value of 0.63 was obtained under humid indoor conditions of 80o F dry-bulb and 68.9 F wet-bulb temperatures, and ambient temperature of 82 F during testing. The indoor temperature was maintained at 80 F and relative humidity was not controlled. A slow rise in fractional sensible capacity and lowering of the fractional latent capacity with the passing of time can be attributed to the fact that the indoor relative humidity began to reduce once the compressor was turned on. During the long-term experiments, however, the moisture removal in the fan "on" mode, as observed from Figure 1 at 50% compressor cycling rate, was nearly 27% less than fan "auto" mode. The higher degradation in moisture removal rate can be attributed to frequent cycling with compressor run-time much lower than 10 minutes during the compressor "on" cycle.
Figures 5 and 6 show the moisture removal histories as measured by the condensate gauge for the two strategies of fan "auto" and fan "on" respectively, for the air conditioner in the PV house. In both cases, the air conditioner was allowed to run continuously for 20 minutes to achieve steady-state operation before any attempt was made to study the effects of the control strategy. The figures also show histographically the times when the compressor and fan were cycled on and off.
At the outset, it must be remarked that even though the figures show some spread of data, the difference in moisture removal trend is clearly established for both strategies. This data spread was traced to the erratic swaying the free hanging drain tube from the air conditioner due to winds, which resulted in the uneven flow of condensate from the drain pan. Also, the effect of the compressor starting or stopping can be observed on the figures, which is marked by a sudden increase in the condensate flow rate. It may be caused due to vibrations associated with starting or stopping of the compressor in the package terminal unit.
The total moisture removed during three cycles (5-min off/10-min on, 5-min off/5-min on, 5-min off/5-min on) for a total period of 35 minutes (from 10 to 45 min on the figure) in the fan "auto" strategy was 2.41 lbs, while in the fan "on" strategy it was only 1.49 lbs. The moisture removal during the fan "on" mode is only about 62% of that of the fan "auto" mode for the same period of compressor cycling. It can be assumed that the rest of the moisture is re-evaporated back into the conditioned space.
It was noticed that when the compressor is turned off, the rate of moisture removal falls more steeply in the fan "on" mode. The draft from the circulating air in the fan "on" mode slows down the condensate drain from the cooling coil surface and re-evaporates the condensed moisture back to the space. In addition, some of the condensed moisture in the pan may also re-evaporate. As expected, the slopes of the ascending curves (i.e., the slopes turning times of increasing moisture removal) do not show considerable differences between fan "on" and fan "auto" modes.
When the compressor comes on, both modes show a lag before the moisture removal begins to increase. However, in the fan "on" mode, the lag time is substantially longer than for the fan "auto" mode: more than 5 minutes versus about 2 minutes. It can be mainly attributed to the fact that the coil is warmer in the fan "on" mode, and it takes longer to cool before beginning of the condensation after re-start of the compressor. Therefore, the coil performs only sensible cooling for a longer time in the fan "on" mode. In the fan "auto" mode, the coils are left cooler and, therefore, the time taken for the coil to reach dew-point temperature is much smaller and condensation of moisture begins earlier. Another reason could be that some of the moisture in the drain pan may be evaporated, lowering its level during fan "on" mode. After the restart of the compressor, it takes time to fill the drain pan before drain overflow may begin. Also, if the cycling time is smaller than the time required for the coil to reach temperature below which moisture may condense, no moisture may be removed. The above two effects can be seen in Figure 5 for the "on" time between 30 and 35 minutes.
Figure 5. Air-conditioner condensate removal rate vs. compressor run-time in fan "auto" mode.
The effect of this "on" time is felt much later and then only for a short time. As the absolute compressor run time decreases, the moisture removal is adversely affected in the fan "on" mode.
One-on-one comparison of Figures 5 and Figure 6 reveals that the moisture removal in the fan "on" mode is continually lower than the fan "auto" mode for each of the "on" and "off" periods.
Figure 6. Air-conditioner condensate removal rate vs. compressor run-time in fan "on" mode.
The difference is highest turning the second "on" period, lasting 10 min when the fan "auto" mode removes .78 lbs but the fan "on" mode removes only .34 lbs. Figure 7 shows this one-to-one comparison of the two modes between 10 to 25 min including the second compressor "on" period from 15 to 25 min.
Figure 7. Air-conditioner condensate removal rates in fan "auto" and fan "on" modes.
The moisture removal was 0.4 lbs and 0.34 lbs, respectively,
during the preceding five-minutes "off" period from 10 to
15 min. Also during a 5-min on/5-min off cycle from 30 to 40 min, the
moisture removal was reduced by 44% in the fan "on" mode
compared to the fan "auto" mode. Subsequent moisture-removal
rates are smaller in the "on" periods than in the "off" periods
for both cases. This is due to the fact that the cycling times are
smaller and the lag in moisture removal spills into the "off" periods.
The spillage is more pronounced in the fan "on" mode.
The above discussion and experimental results lead to one major conclusion. For better dehumidification and reduced fluctuations in the indoor humidity, cycle compressor and fan together in unitary air-conditioning systems. To increase air movement for thermal comfort, use local ceiling or paddle fans. Also, the air conditioner dehumidification fraction in the field is lower than what is expected from steady-state tests due to compressor cycling.
It can also be concluded that certain duty-cycling devices, which cycle the compressor off and let the fan operate in order to pick up cooling from the thermal inertia of the cooling coil, would raise indoor humidity. While it is not contested that letting the fan operate will extract the stored cooling in the coil, it will be at the expense of increased indoor humidity. In warm and humid climates, indoor humidities are usually high and duty cyclers may further raise the humidity. High indoor humidities may pose risk to occupant health due to increased chances of mold, mildew, and Fungus growth. It can also prompt lower temperature settings, which will be counterproductive to energy savings. Also, at lower temperature settings, the indoor relative humidity will further increase. Besides, when the compressor turns on again, it would have to do extra work to bring the cooling coil back to a lower temperature.
Further research is recommended to find out other fan control strategies that can maintain better humidity. Fan speed control is one strategy that can improve dehumidification. At lower fan speeds or airflow rates, the air conditioner provides better dehumidification.
Also, modeling of effective air-conditioner SHR, which takes into account
the compressor cycling rates, is recommended. It is the effective SHR,
not the design steady-state SHR, which governs the indoor air-humidity
in air-conditioned buildings.
Khattar, M.K., and Swami, M. 1984. "Impact of passive cooling strategies on air conditioner performance in warm, humid climates." Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Technical Conference at the ASME Solar Energy Division, April 9-12, Las Vegas, NV.
Khattar, M.K., 1984. "Residential air conditioning energy calculations." ASHRAE Transactions 1984, Vol. 90, Part 2B.
* Presented at:
ASHRAE Winter Meeting
January 18-21, 1987
New York, NY.


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The Nigerian Army has inaugurated internet protocol desktop telephones at the 8 Task Force Division in Northern Borno to enable troops communicate with their families with ease.
Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, stated this on Friday in Maiduguri.
Nwachukwu said in a statement that the facility was inaugurated by Brig.-Gen. Abu Nani, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division in Monguno.
"The Nigerian Army has inaugurated the first set of internet protocol desktop telephone in some locations of the 8 Task Force Division in Northern Borno.
"The essence is to alleviate the sufferings of troops who spend two to three hours travelling to Maiduguri to communicate with their families on phone.
"The telephone system, which comprises of a very small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and a Grand Stream handset, were installed at the headquarters of the taskforce in Monguno, in 7 Brigade Baga and 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte.
"Each of the call centres provides five terminal points for officers and soldiers to communicate with their families from the front lines,'' he said.
Nwachukwu said that the provision of the facility had resolved the nightmare of troops being cut off from their families and friends.
"It has mitigated the rigour of travelling several hours by troops to Maiduguri to access telecommunication facility to communicate with their loved ones,'' he said.

subset: commoncrawl


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What is Rainwater Catchment?
The rainwater cistern is historically an underground basin of water, but it can also be an above ground barrel or tank. Much like an artificial well, cisterns are used to make sure that water is not contaminated nor suffers from evaporation. Probably the most effective but overlooked form of rainwater storage in the modern era rainwater cisterns are practical and can be aesthetically concealed below ground, behind fencing or trellis. Good materials for cisterns include plastic liners or membrane material in wood frames, ceramic, fiberglass, "food grade†plastic and poly-tanks, as well as other potable liquid materials.
The two main reasons why people use cisterns are either for the sake of survival in a place where the only potable water is rainwater, or ecological awareness in search of sustainability. Either people need a cistern, or want one because they are concerned about how they (or others) are consuming water. A rainwater basin needs to offer enough capacity to collect enough useable water from a catchment surface. Rain barrels are exceptional tools for not only excess cistern water, but if connected together can catch enough rainwater to filter for using for cabins and other weekend getaways.
The rainwater cistern can hold large amounts of water and is completely sealed from contaminants, except those in the water itself. Where evaporation and external contamination can be issues with basins, the most practical thing about a cistern in all this is both size and location. Historically cisterns are put underground because it is one of the safest places to put something that is to be kept under constant temperature. Nowadays, we have giant rainwater cisterns that can be bought from manufacturers and become a wonderful element to add to your backyard, or barn, there is no reason not to be proud your rainwater harvesting tank.
Accumulated water is wealth in some places, and among the people of the sand in Africa, water is synonym for the word God, so important is this natural resource. Eskimos have more than 30 different words for snow, so important is it in their way of life.
In the average American family of four, anywhere from 900 to 1200 liters of water are consumed daily. So much water, what if it doesn't rain for six months? Well, calculate the amount of cubic liters needed to safely use a cistern year round according to catchment size, rainfall, and daily consumption. The longest dry season, will determine the longest length of time without water, and that multiplied by days and liters would give the total size of any given rainwater cistern.Rainwater catchment is the term used to describe any system that acts as a kind of sky net to capture and impound rainfall. What exactly is it that can be a rainwater catchment system? Are catchments strictly artificial, or can they be found in Nature as well? What about today? In today's world, what is it that can be considered a catchment? Are there more common types of catchments that have been used throughout history, and what is most common today? What about the term efficiency? What is the efficiency of a rainwater catchment system?
The very earth itself in this definition of "rainwater catchment" works as one giant rainwater catchment system sustained by plentiful mountains and valleys across the many continents. The sky is so important to civilization, so omnipotent, that it has even become the foundation for hundreds of thousands of millions of different polytheisms since the dawn of humankind. Oxumare, the afro-brazilian goddess of rain and the rainbow is said to be a monster for six months out of the year and a beautiful woman named Bessem the other six. Probably due to the way the ancient African Jeje people would deal with rain, six months rainy season and six months dry season.
It is no wonder the etymological origin of the word catchment reconstructs mental images of "the hunt" and the animal being caught. As if a net were being furled like a sail in a horizontal fashion in expectation of the falling monster Oxumare who then replenishes the body to give life and beauty as when the rainbow appears after a storm and the smell of steam rises from the intense spring heat which evaporates upon the leaves and forms dense clouds of condensation upon flower petals and gently roll down into the center.
During the heavy rain the mountain remains firm and solid forming rivers down its side into gullies and ditches that eventually take to underground reservoirs and rivers into springs and surface going rivers that run for miles and miles to finally find their way to the everlasting sea. Yet in the sea as well, Oxumare finds her monstery form and then settles into the gentle rocking of mother Yemanja (goddess of the sea).
We humans make reasons for these things that happen in nature. And we imitate. Rainwater catchments in today's reality no longer accept the poetic explanations of our primitive ancestors. Now things are based on the logic of a new and superior god known unto all as SCIENCE. It is HE who defines the truth, and it is He who tells us how a catchment system should be. Mostly, they are but imitations of the mountain top, the valley, gullies, underground reservoirs, rivers and springs.
Look closely at the roof of any house, or at the shape of rainwater harvesting cistern's lid, and the whole mystery is reviled. Just a few things however need to be understood about the rainwater catchment system as a whole when used on roofs. First the catchment area, the area is the space on the roof that water hits. This includes the overhang and the gutters. The gutters organize the flow of water caught by the roof, and direct it into a downspout, where it is filtered like a kitchen sink drain and then finally stored in a barrel, or any other collection recipient. All of these elements make up the rainwater catchment system, area, gutters, downspout and reservoir. It's a very simple process and any household can implement one with a little bit of common sense and start making use of roof in this fashion.
Not all rainwater catchment systems are roofs on top of houses as mentioned, some are surface water catchment systems for fields to improve irrigation. But essentially all of them need these four elements: AREA, SLOPE, DRAIN and STORAGE. Area, gives the water a place to land. Slope gives it gravitational pull, so that it can pick up speed and momentum, thereby flowing toward the drain. Drain, channels rainwater in an organized fashion so that it can actually form a consistent body. Storage is the final resting place for the flowing bodies of water that come from the drain. Stored water can then be used for any variety of daily needs, baths, dishes, plants, animals, drinking (when clean enough).
Another interesting factor in the development of any rainwater catchment system is taking into account the efficiency of the system as a whole. Efficiency is a term that refers to the amount of water lost in the process from the time the water first hit the collection area to the time it finds its way into storage. Water collection efficiency in this sense, is more related to water that goes flying away from the system, or escapes in some way, before reaching storage, such as in the case of too much slope and the water over shoots the drain. When water hits the overhang near the edge, the velocity is usually so high that not all of it is collected by the slope, and also ends up lost. Faulty gutters are another reason for rainwater catchment efficiency loss, improperly installed downspouts, mechanical filters that are just stuffed with debris can be a problem as well. Seepage, evaporation and contamination are also efficiency factors, but have more to do with rainwater harvesting in the general sense, rather than the catchment system itself.
As the catchment system is meant to simply hunt and capture the water as in times of old, when water had to be found for the gathering tribe to survive. Rainwater catchment systems today try to imitate nature as if hunting a primitive monster. In nature, mountains, land, even the sea, are all forms of collecting and storing rainwater, but in urban dwellings, the roof, the gutters and a barrel can do the same job, for one family. In cities, rivers are dammed and community reservoirs distribute water for the whole population. On farms they can capture water from the barn roof or just an enormous cistern. All systems revolve around the concept of efficiency. Especially household rainwater catchments, as they must be carefully calculated in order to be more useful, that is more efficient (water lost is water unused). Water is a gift to us, to all creatures on the earth. We must learn to use it efficiently and responsibly if we want to see a more sustainable future for those who will inherit this earth.


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Benefits to Active Duty Military and VA Patients
CareMeridian offers active duty servicemen and VA patients specialized care from skilled medical and rehabilitation professionals in a non-institutional setting.
At CareMeridian we:
- Are able to receive patients from the Veterans Home that have become too medically complex
- Can be utilized as a holding facility for patients waiting for an open bed at the Veterans Home, allowing them to continue to have their medical and rehabilitation needs met by experienced, caring staff
- Are part of the recovery continuum for returning wounded warriors
- Accept patients for short- or long-term stays and patients with complex long-term medical issues for permanent living options
- Assist injured soldiers in the community re-entry process through home and workplace evaluations combined with community integration to provide maximum independence and safety upon discharge
Our Care Programs for Veterans and Military Personnel
- Acquired Brain Injury (traumatic, anoxic, aneurysms/bleeds, cerebral vascular accidents)
- Spinal Cord Injuries (all levels, including Halo care)
- Complex Wound Care (including Vac therapy)
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Download our brochure to learn more about CareMeridian's services for active duty military and VA patients.


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Jacko Hooper – From Home EP + Interview
You may or may not remember Jacko Hooper from some of our earlier posts. Specifically, his wonderful acoustic sessions we filmed out in the woods not too long ago, and as lovely as those sessions were out in the (semi) wilderness, his debut trumps them in almost every way.
Should we be admitting to such things? Well in this case we're happy too because of quite how intimate and well put together his first effort is. The fact Jacko has been around music for most of his life is no clearer than in the marvellous instrumentation and variety of the EP. From the stripped back piano of Lullaby to the beautifully subtle birdsong and glockenspiel throughout The River, here's an artist that not only loves his craft, but has the talent, breadth of knowledge and know how to create the music just as he wants it. This might only be something that snotty music bloggers with a massive nerdy streak appreciate, but the production and recording quality of this debut EP also really is sublime. This i'd argue also matters more than you think, a professional sounding product will inevitably be taken more seriously than something recorded through your MacBook's built in mic (admit it, we've all been there).
Because of how much we enjoyed Jacko Hooper's music, especially this new EP, we thought it'd be a great idea to get in touch with Jacko to discuss his first outing as a solo act. Big named artists always scoop the interviews, but there's definitely something to be said for those just starting out, those initial times often the ones that shape the 'big' bands in their years of success. Are we trying to demonstrate our prescience then in interviewing Jacko? Not really, but we thought it'd be great to see it from the artists initial perspective:
And so that's Jacko Hooper and his exquisite EP From Home which you can pick up from his Bandcamp HERE. It's a wonderful initial outing and we can't wait to hear more.


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In need of a subject matter expert? Councils support ASIS' vast knowledge base. By focusing on specific security practice areas, councils offer channels to contribute your expertise, resources to increase professional effectiveness, and programming relevant to your sector of security management.
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Security on the Internet of Things: An ESRM Perspective
IT Security Council, 2018
According to the paper, "The uses of the IoT to build this Smart World are convenient and bring a new level of mobile management to every aspect of consumer and business activities. However, the IoT brings with it, not just convenient access for users of the things, but also convenient access for those wanting to exploit those things. More access points provide more opportunities for attackers to get in. More communication provides more online traffic to siphon information from. More control provides more ability to hijack that control."


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Joy Szabo had a normal vaginal delivery for her first child, then an emergency c-section for her second, followed by a successful VBAC for her third. By the time she was pregnant with her fourth, the hospital in her town had banned VBACs. Yes, the same hospital where she had just had a successful VBAC two years earlier. So she decided to go out and make some noise about it.
Her local newspaper wrote an article about her situation. The Unnecesarean posted excerpts from her story and contact info for the hospital, prompting a Twitter response from the hospital's PR person (read all the way down the entry). Now the ICAN blog has Joy's story in her own words. Here's a bit from her second meeting with the hospital CEO:
...I asked why they are doing labor and delivery if they cannot offer a timely cesarean. She defended the hospital, saying that they can do emergency cesaereans, but did not want to accept the risk of VBAC. I asked what the hospital policy is if I show up and just refuse to consent to a cesarean. She said they would seek a court order. She repeated to me that Page Hospital does not have the facilities nessasary to handle an emergency.
(My translation: "Can Page Hospital handle an emergency c-section?" "Yes! No! Depends on who's asking! Go away or I'll get a court order!")
The newspaper article features a photo of the kick-ass message she's painted on her minivan, equating her hospital's threat to get a court order for a cesarean with rape. Because of the VBAC ban not only in her hometown, but on multiple hospitals closer to where she lives, as of now Joy Szabo has decided to try to find an OB/hospital in Phoenix - a 5 hour drive from her home - that will work with her VBAC.
The ICAN blog has links for "mom-sized" activism (or really, any busy-person-sized). Tell Page Hospital and the Banner hospital system that forcing a mom with 3 children to travel hundreds of miles just to give birth as her body intended, and threatening her with a court order for unwanted surgery...well, that's just Not Cool. And yes, that last part does sound a lot like rape.


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Women warned: Don't delay the next try following a miscarriage
After the trauma of a miscarriage many women take a break to recover before they begin to try again for a baby.
But they may in fact be increasing their risk of having another pregnancy with complications, research has found. Women who conceive within six months of a miscarriage have the best chance of a healthy pregnancy with the lowest likelihood of another miscarriage, according to the British study. The team from Aberdeen University analysed data for almost 31,000 women who had suffered a miscarriage and fallen pregnant again.
Those who conceived within six months after a miscarriage were 44 per cent less likely to have a second one than those who had an interval of six to 12 months before falling pregnant again.
They were also 52 per cent less likely to have an ectopic pregnancy – where the foetus lodges in a fallopian tube and has to be removed – or a termination.
The study found women who conceived within six months were 10 per cent less likely to need a Caesarean or to have a premature baby, and 16 per cent less likely to have a low birthweight baby.
Women with an interval of more than two years were around twice as likely to have an ectopic second pregnancy or a termination. The study, published online in the British Medical Journal, concludes: 'Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best reproductive outcomes and lowest complication rates in a subsequent pregnancy.
To read more go to http://bit.ly/aGO9KQ


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Akismet and blog spam
I've been using the Akismet comment spam plugin for about ten days now and am pleased to note that it's blocked nearly 1,000 comment spams from being posted.
What that means is that, once you install the Akismet plugin and enable it on your blog, it moves those comments that it determines to be spam from the comment queue page to a separate Akismet comment queue page and holds them there for fifteen days — you may review the comments in that time or, after 15 days, Akismet will simply delete them.
This is a terrific, terrific plugin. It's changed my feeling about blogging; I simply hadn't realized that the onslaught of mostly-ridiculous comment spam was actually bothering me. But it bothers me no more, because it's all caught without my having to comb through my WordPress comment queue to ensure that I don't inadvertently delete legitimate comments.
However, I have one nagging thought: since I would assume that most comment spam is automated, if the comments are accepted by the blog (but not posted), does this not give blogspammers the idea that they're actually being posted?
I don't know the answer to this, and I'm not going to pester Matt at Akismet about it, but it's a lingering question. Does anyone know the answer?
5 Comments to "Akismet and blog spam"
Add the Bad Behavior plugin to the mix and many of the trackback spammers won't even complete their first form post. :-)
Hi, HandySolo, and thanks.
I haven't tried Bad Behavior, but I will. I don't so much get trackback spam as automated comments. But anything can help. :)
[…] Unfortunately, it also meant that I had to skim through dozens of comment spams in the internal Akismet page every day — but I'd wondered, in my Akismet and blog spam post in December: I have one nagging thought: since I would assume that most comment spam is automated, if the comments are accepted by the blog (but not posted), does this not give blogspammers the idea that they're actually being posted? […]
Heh. Had to approve my own pingback to this post because it contained the offending BB code url. :)
I wanted to add a link to Andy Beard's excellent Akismet – the Danger of Collective Intelligence (and why I don't use it).
As Andy points out, improper use of Akismet's spam designation can lead to people not being able to post comments. A good and detailed must-read. In particular, read Matt Mullenweg's comments.
Have your say ...
First-time comments will be held for moderation (but comments are appreciated). Otherwise, just be courteous. If your name is a bunch of keywords, your comment will be deleted. Don't post links unless highly pertinent. Posters must be 16 or older.


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Take a look at this picture...I am always doing goofy stuff with my photoshop. Can you see what I did? Nothing spectatular....I just think I like it better this way.
I am in a very strange place...viewing the world with eyes that are deceptive....
I just have to get some stuff off my chest…and please don't read anything into what I'm babbling about. It's mostly therapy for myself…although if you do recognize something about you in my diatribe and it makes you want to change a behavior, then by all means…it's about you. HAHAHA….ok that makes my PMP* So, basically I have no one to tell all the inane crap that spews from my head so…guess what? Here it is….I have been in some of the most bizarre relationships. The most obvious term to use is one sided relationships…I give and give and I get taken. Not the least of which was my marriage…I'm not finger pointing and in all reality I know I was a bitch with a capital B. But if I learned nothing else….it was about energy…like E=MC2…you get out of it what you put in to it. I used to laugh when my husband cheated on me. He would spend several hours online picking the slut of the week. Then, he would send her flowers and special trinkets and wine and dine her. Tell her this incredible story about an uncaring wife and children. While I sat at home, alone, wishing he would pay a minute's attention to me. If he brought me a happy meal toy, I would have done anything he wanted. I tried almost everything he ever suggested. In the end, he said it was because he knew he could have me anytime. So basically he said I was not worth the effort. But at the same time, when I threatened to leave, he would be good. He would even tell me that I was the best he could ever hope to have. I fought and fought myself for years…denying myself and denying who I am. What I need….I wouldn't ever go back. I don't need any grand gesture….I want to trust….trust for me is knowing how the other person is going to respond. As a result I decided that I had to be totally and completely honest with my significant other. If we are to truly have a future then he must know and accept everything and vice versa. This is sharing my secrets and to be totally accepted. Now I'm afraid, I've given him a weapon…so does he protect me with it or make me bleed. I just don't want him to think I am someone I am not…been there…I want to be 'me'…I am a GREAT me. And at the end of the day…I have had loved ones carve me up. Guess what happens the next day…The sun comes up again.
*pissing my pants
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I am a GREAT me!
Take a look at this picture...I am always doing goofy stuff with my photoshop. Can you see what I did? Nothing spectatular....I just think I like it better this way.
Posted by Brenda K at 12:05 PM


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If you haven't tried creating a slide show with Scrapbook Max, give it a try. Keep a general theme, but each page can be different. This program is so much easier to use than Powerpoint. You can also easily print a jpg picture of each slide. I use slide shows for special birthdays, anniversaries, and class reunions. You can easily create an autoload CD of the show. The most recent slide show had 50 slides with music and worked perfectly. Enjoy giving this a try.
No announcement yet.
Creating Slide Shows
new posts
This is a great idea and super as gifts also to family. I've been meaning to give it a try but never got to it yet. It's on my "TO DO LIST". LOL
Thanks for bringing it to my attention again. LOL. HugsKind wishes from Carena
Scrapbook Max Digital Designer
Visit me in the store Here also grab my blinkie if you wish.
Sorry for the delay. I am working on another Slide show in Powerpoint and wish I could start over in SBM. SBM is so much easier to use. Start by making more than one page in this program. Create the first page. Then click on Page, Add, blank page. Keep adding pages until you used all your picture available. I used 50 pages in my last show. Next, add music by clicking the music button on the top of the screen. It looks like a note. The music must be OGG format. A lot of free music programs will convert any music to OGG. It will only play in written order or random. You can't select a slide like in Powerpoint. I used it more for mood music anyway. For the school reunion, I played 50's music. Next step is to create a slide show--FILE, PUBLISH TO, SLIDESHOW. That saves it to the computer. i prefer to save it to a CD (Publish to CDSLIDESHOW). Be sure to use a CD-R and not a rewrite disk. Saving to a CD creates an automatic slide show that anyone can use. Please let me know how you enjoyed trying this feature. It makes a great gift or wonderful entertainment for a special celebration. If you want to see an example, I will post three slides in the "Look at my Layout" forum. I used the 8 x 10 size in case anyone wanted copies of the pages.Last edited by grannywin; 11-07-2011, 11:40 PM.
Here a few examples of pages I used in the last slide show for a school reunion. Our colors were purple and gold. The theme stayed the same, but the slide designs changed throughout the show.


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Van Persie helps Feyenoord to Dutch Cup win
Robin van Persie scored to lead Feyenoord to a 3-0 Dutch Cup win over AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.
Robin van Persie scored to lead Feyenoord to a 3-0 Dutch Cup win over AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.
The Dutch Cup featured an extraordinary turn of events when two sides were forced to replay a penalty shootout three weeks after the original match.
Vitesse Arnhem collected a major trophy for the first time in their 125-year existence by beating AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Cup final on Sunday.
American defender Matt Miazga put Vitesse Arnhem ahead early in the first half of a 4-0 win over fifth-tier Jodan Boys in the Dutch Cup.
Dutch football authorities want video replay officials in next season's Dutch Cup competition.
Feyenoord won their first piece of silverware since 2008 after defeating FC Utrecht 2-1 in the KNVB-Beker final at De Kuip on Sunday.
The Dutch FA (KNVB) is still hoping to lead the way in the use of video technology by training referees for its use from next month.


text: Jason Garrett-Glaser wrote: > On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 11:06 AM, Baptiste Coudurier > <baptiste.coudurier at gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi, >> >> Michael Niedermayer wrote: >>> On Mon, Dec 01, 2008 at 02:18:02PM -0800, Jim Radford wrote: >>>> This patch adds support for parsing vorbis comments in plain flac >>>> streams. Only metadata packets are parsed leaving the frame data to >>>> be parsed in raw 1024 byte chunks like before. >>> this wont work with flac in any container short of raw flac. >>> Thus IMO this is unacceptable >>> >> It's not like flac would be put in another container > > FLAC is used in MKV all the time for HDDVD/Blu-ray rips' raw audio > (people recompress from DTS-HD/similar)... "raw audio" ? FLAC is not raw. HDRIPs' around use AC3 and are forced to keep original bluray's track. -- Baptiste COUDURIER GnuPG Key Id: 0x5C1ABAAA Key fingerprint 8D77134D20CC9220201FC5DB0AC9325C5C1ABAAA checking for life_signs in -lkenny... no FFmpeg maintainer http://www.ffmpeg.org


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Chief Marketer Listline Aug. 19
Chief Marketer and NextMark offer a selection of files new to market. The criteria for selection for Chief Marketer Listline is:
- New list to market in past 7 days
- Exclusive to list manager
- Data card quality score 85 or higher on NextMark
- Data card publicly available online
AAII Dividend Investing
These paid subscribers are interested in discovering stocks with a history of raising their dividend payments to investors.
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Datacard: http://lists.nextmark.com/market?page=order/online/datacard&id=389797
Countryside Publications Masterfile
Countryside publishes four magazines that cater to the self-sufficient homesteader and hobby farmer—Backyard Poultry, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, sheep! and Dairy Goat Journal.
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Creative Kidstuff offers educational and developmental toys that are innovative and imaginative.
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This lifestyle magazine for connected homes has an emphasis on audio/video and home theater.
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Casey McClay is a client success director at NextMark.


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How did you get started designing?
|Pyropa shawl pattern, from Knitty First Fall 2016.
|Mina shawl, available on Ravelry
|Rhodora shawl, from Twist Collective Spring/Summer 2016
When reading lace charts for the first few times, it can be helpful to color code the stitch symbols so that you can easily identify all those similar-looking symbols. Removable highlighter tape or sticky note placed on the chart can be great help in keeping track of the row you're currently working on, and placing stitch markers on the needles to separate the pattern repeats will help you keep the stitch count correct. These are just a few ideas that helped me when I started knitting lace. Give it a try and in no time you will be creating masterpieces.
|Belarra shawl, from Twist Collective Spring/Summer 2014
This month, one lucky blog reader will win a set of Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers! To enter, leave a comment on this blog post sharing the name of your favorite Susanna IC pattern (click here to view them all on Ravelry). Be sure to also include your Ravelry ID or email address so that we can contact you if you win.
We will randomly select the winning comment to announce here on the Knitter's Pride blog on Friday, August 26. Good luck!


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Unit B: Living Things in Their Environment
Why doesn't a polar bear slip on the ice when it runs?
1. Get Set to Explore
- adaptation: A body part or behavior that helps a living thing survive in its environment.
- Arctic: The region of Earth that is near the North Pole; the Arctic is a cold environment with much ice and snow.
- environment: All the living and nonliving things that surround an organism.
- habitat: A place where an organism lives.
Building Background
- Let volunteers describe where polar bears live, and list different traits polar bears have that allow them to live there. Write the list on the board.
- Go over the vocabulary words and their definitions. Refer to the list of polar bear traits on the board and ask students to use it to find examples of some of the words. For example, the white fur of the polar bear is an example of an adaptation; the polar bear lives in the Arctic; its habitat is the snow-covered land and the icy water.
- Explain that many different animals have feet that help the animal survive in a particular environment. Polar bears are one such animal. Tell students that in the simulation, they will learn how the feet of polar bears help the bears survive. The simulation teaches about adaptations other animals have, as well.
- Present the Discover! question and encourage students to come up with answers. Write their ideas on the board. If possible, link their ideas to the list of polar bear traits that students generated earlier in the discussion. Keep both lists up on the board.
2. Guide the Exploration
- Tell students to launch the Discover! Simulation. Explain that they will be matching each of five different feet to the environment that an animal with that type of foot has adapted.
- Point out that students can learn more about each foot and each environment by moving the cursor over the picture of each and clicking. Students should spend some time studying the different feet before trying to match each to the correct environment. Encourage students to take notes based on what they learn from the simulation.
- Go over how all of the five different feet help the animals adapt to particular environments. Students should refer to their notes from the simulation during the discussion.
3. Review/Assess
- Review Step 3's Wrap-up text with the class. Refer to the lists of polar bear adaptations students made before doing the simulation, and allow students to add to or revise these lists. Talk about the specific adaptations polar bears have for running on ice: fur helps prevent slipping; paw size helps prevent polar bears from falling through thin ice.
- Challenge students to do the Extension activity. Elicit this information in class discussion.
- Polar bears have thick fur, which helps the bear survive in cold weather; their white color helps them blend into the snowy environment and to sneak up on their prey; having partially webbed feet makes it easier for the bears to swim.
- Mallards have webbed feet, which makes it easier for them to swim; the webbing prevents the duck from sinking in mud; oiling the feathers waterproofs the bird.
- Iguanas have clawed feet, which help them climb trees; they can also harm attackers with their claws.
- Camels have broad, flat feet to prevent them from sinking in the sand; the leathery pads prevent the camel from being burned by the hot sand.
- Mountain goats can have split hooves, which move separately to provide a good grip on steep or slippery rocks; they have pads on their feet, which also help prevent slipping; their wooly coat helps them stay warm in the cold environment.
If time permits, present students with the following activity and question:
- Critical Thinking Classify List two adaptations of mallards that involve body parts; list two adaptations of mallards that involve behavior. Answer: The webbed feet and the ability to produce oil involve body parts; closing the toes to prevent the webbing from pushing against the water and rubbing oil on their feathers are adaptations involving behavior.
- Inquiry Skill Compare Compare the adaptations of polar bears with those of mountain goats. How are they similar and how are they different? Answer: Polar bears have fur on their paws to prevent slipping on flat but slippery surfaces; mountain goats have split hooves that can move independently for better grip on steep, slippery surfaces. Both have thick coats of fur for warmth.
4. Reaching All Learners
On Level: Visual/Logical Learners
As students do the simulation, they should make a chart listing the different environments. Have students use the pictures to describe or figure out important features of each environment. Next, students should list the different types of feet and the different adaptations, noting how each might be useful. Then they should use their two lists to match each foot to the correct environment.


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(Editor's Note: The cacao bean (also known as cocoa bean) is where cocoa solids and cocoa butter come from. As Gayle explained in posts on What Is White Chocolate? and Real Chocolate: How Can You Tell?, cocoa solids and cocoa butter are what make chocolate, well... chocolate. We asked Gayle more about these remarkable beans.)
Question: Where do cacao beans come from?
Gayle: All beans are grown within 20 miles of the equator. There's actually a new cacao chocolate trend that focuses on making chocolate derived from a single region.
Question: What type of beans are used to make chocolate?
Gayle: There are two main categories of cacao beans that are derived from four different types of cacao trees.
Question: What are the trees called and where are they from?
Gayle: First is the Forastero tree, which was discovered in the Amazon jungle but is primarily refined in Africa.
Question: It's in Central America too, right?
Gayle: Yes! Then there's the Criollo tree, found in Central America and some parts of the Caribbean. Finally there's the Nacional, a fragile tree found in South America and the Andes. And the Trinitario, which came into existence in 1730 after an accidental cross-fertilization of criollo and forastero cacao trees in Trinidad.
Question: What are the two types of cacao beans?
Gayle: Well, 90% of commercial cacao beans are referred to as Bulk Beans. They are produced mainly in the West African country of Côte d'Ivoire.
Question: The Ivory Coast. I didn't know that.
Gayle: That's why we're talking! The other 5-10% of commercial cacao comes from Flavor Beans. Flavor Beans are found in Ecuador, Colombia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Grenada and some Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Question: Flavor Beans. Why that name?
Gayle: Well, their taste depends on lots of factors. They're fueling the cacao chocolate trend.
Question: What are the factors?
Gayle: Things like the soil, the temperature, sunshine, the amount of rain. Things like that. Also how the beans are dried and fermented.
Question: So, climate influences the taste of the chocolate?
Gayle: Absolutely! And there's a new chocolate trend that's starting to gain some steam called single source origin.
Question: Single source?
Gayle: Right. The cacao chocolate trend is like wine tasting. Specialty chocolate made with cacao beans from just one single region creates a different chocolate experience. As I mentioned, different regions and climates create different aromas and flavors. I'm heading to San Francisco to buy some single source chocolate at the end of August.
Question: What will you make with it?
Gayle: Some new types of truffles.
Cacao Chocolate Trend - Going Further
(Editor's postscript: After chatting with Gayle, we found more info on comparing the single-source cacao chocolate trend to wine tasting. Check out this recent article from Candy Industry to learn more.


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Meet the people that make this for you.
Fits true to size, we suggest ordering your normal size.
It's official: leopard print is a modern neutral, so not only does this timeless skirt work with black, it also looks great with stripes and spots. You'll love its stretchy waistband and the fact that you can wear it all year round with boots in winter and sandals come summer.
- Printed premium jersey
- Midi length
- Gathered detailing
- On-trend leopard print
Meet the people that make this for you. Watch the video.


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The reporter called late afternoon and the light was fading and I wanted a photo using natural light taken in my house rather than using flash which casts shadows so getting it done yet yesterday was out of the question. I had planned to have John take the photos for me but he had commitments all morning and after lunch too so that didn't work out either. My only choice then was to take them myself.
Got the tripod and the wireless shutter release all set up and the camera positioned in front of my design wall that I cleaned off for this photo shoot….well, partially cleaned off anyway. Next decision was what to wear and took shots of 3 different tops and scarves before deciding the brown with the scarf was the best choice. Decided a scarf hid my turkey skin neck a bit so wore one for the final photo. Here are a few of the many goof up photos that wouldn't work for various reasons and you can see how hard it is. After all how do you smile naturally when there is no one there and then there is holding the quilt straight, position of the hands, backgrounds, hair, etc. to think about.
Head cocked a little too cutsie and don't like the red scarf. Wooden smile too.
Problem with a finger in each of these…whoops!
Forgot to lower my hand that was holding the shutter release plus holding onto the back of the quilt makes it look like it is floating in air. "Look ma, no hands" and it is tipped again. I had a big problem holding the quilt level in a lot of the photos.
My scarf was overlapping the quilt in these two photos.
Too far to one side and the stuff I left on the design wall is showing. (I know, a real mess right now!) Plan to crop the photo but even cropped this would present a problem. Had a hair appointment this afternoon to get a hair cut so decided to snap a few more when I got home and they do look better, I didn't realize how frumpy my hair was before. Actually, the one I cropped and sent to the newspaper reporter was the very last photo I took. Finally I smiled naturally, held the quilt level and removed more stuff from the design wall so it wouldn't interfere before I snapped the photo.
Here is what my photo shoot set up looked like...now don't laugh too much. Hard to believe there is so much stuff on my sewing table but I didn't want to move it as I am in the middle of another project and it wasn't showing in the photo anyway. I had to sit on a pile of magazines to make me higher too. I did have the blind up when I shot the photos but for this one I needed it down so you could see the room and all it's amenities.
Until Later,


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Tarot-Tea, the perfect combo. You are cordially invited to Tarot & Tea with Jacqueline Fairbrass
But first, let's answer some questions.
What is Tarot and why would I want a Reading?
Tarot is a practical tool for bringing more joy and clarity into your life.
Seems a good reason to want a reading. Read on for more clarity…
Tarot is a snapshot of your life as seen through the eyes of your Guardian Angels. I use Tarot as a tool. In fact, I use the Dreams of Gaia or Angel Tarot to connect you with your Angel Guides.
We all have Angel Guides. Every one of us. In a Tarot Reading, your Angel Guides, speak to my Angel Guides and I tell you what they have to say. It's not about me, it's all about you.
And even if you don't believe in Angel Guides, it still works. It doesn't oppose any religious or spiritual paths and embraces them all.
And what has Tea got to do with it? Gazing out the window, while sitting at my kitchen table (in the heart of a riotous blackberry patch) with a good friend, sharing a pot of tea and chatting, (or a good 'natter' as we Brits say) is my version of heaven on earth. Simple, warming, heart-warming. That's how I work with the Angel Guides. I sit, have a cup of tea and chat with them.
On-line or in-person, Tarot & Tea is a unique opportunity to explore your life with Holistic Coaching and Angel Tarot.
Tarot & Tea will help you to:
Fill your heart with love. Bless your body. Live in radiant health. Find the joy and happiness you deserve…Life isn't meant to be a struggle.
I'd like to introduce you to the wonder of using the Angel Tarot in your life. I'm an intuitive who uses the Angel Tarot as a tool to help me help you. I've also spent more than 40 years living an Holistic Lifestyle, 20 of those years as a Naturopath (retired from that now, phew!) and I've tons of certifications in healing arts. My unique niche is Coaching and Teaching with Angel Readings, Hypnotherapy, Holistic Lifestyle and Magic.
And I love Tea!
Each morning I start my day with Meditation, Tarot and Tea. Some days I throw in some Yoga too, but always Meditation, Tarot and Tea. Join me for a cup of tea and an exploration in how your Angel Guides can help you thrive and blossom in your life.
My Angel Readings are personalized, individual snapshots of your life, love, relationships, career, family…any question that you wish answered. Not your run of the mill Tarot Readings, working with me you receive Coaching, Exercises, Tips and Advice on how to make the most of your life. We explore the energy and and how you can embrace it, and make the most of it.
Your Angel Guides are itching to get this information to you. Shh…can you hear them cheering because you are here and ready to sign-up? Yay! I can.
Let's check out how I can help you…
My joy is to be of service, so I have a little or big something for everyone.
Tarot & Tea:
Let's start by explaining a little about how the Angel Reading works. We all have Guides around us, a celestial group of beings that are our personal cheering crew! The higher vibration beings are known as Angels, and these are who I connect with to do a reading.
My Angels talk to your Angels.
Tea & Tarot Angel Readings are like taking a snapshot. At any time you have the ability to change what the cards say, because we have free will, so decision making becomes easier. Bring clarity to an issue, or a new focus to your life. Know that your Angels are with you, cheering you on and that you are loved.
Sparkle Up Your Life Tarot & Tea Reading
What do I get from a Sparkle Up Your Life Tarot & Tea Reading?
Good question! We address the big question…
What's blocking my Sparkle?
A Personal Tarot & Tea Reading that's oozing with love, blessings and tons of exercises to bring that Sparkle out.
Whatever is blocking your Sparkle, whether in Romance, Life Purpose or General Info, your Angels will spill the truth. Get ready to Sparkle!
Once you sign-up, within 24 hours you will receive a confirmation from me that I'm tuning in to your Angel Guides. Then within the next 2 or 3 days, you receive by email, a beautiful personal PDF with a detailed Angel Tarot Card Reading, along with your own personal Healing Crystal Recommendation. And I'll include a beautiful image of your cards and your personal healing crystal. Perfect to add to your Vision Board!
Valued at $150, yours for $85 for a limited time only, so grab it while it's hot!
And you can only find it here!
Also available in-person at Bramble Cottage, SnoValley
(Limited Time Offer) and you will, of course, get a nice cup of tea.
Instant Tarot & Tea Angel Card Reading
You're stuck and you need some instant advice. The Tea is steeping, your Angel Guides are dancing and singing, and the cards are ready…
Need a quick answer? Any Question…a quickie 3 card reading from your Angel Guides. Instant answers.
Once you sign-up, within 24 hours you will receive a recorded MP3 with your answers.
Clarity Angel Tarot Readings at Selah Gifts
Got a burning question? Like, what's in store in my love life? Do I have a divine purpose? What's holding me back? Then a quickie with me is exactly what the doctor ordered. Do you believe in Angels? Yes? Me too! In fact, we all have Angel Guides. With an Angel Reading, I get your Angel Guides to talk to my Angel Guides and we have a little look at what's stopping you from being in all your glorious fabulocity.
Clarity Angel Tarot Readings are first Saturday of the month 10 to 2 at Selah Gifts, North Bend. Great way to try a sample.
Book a time by calling 206-883-3482 or drop in.
Daily Divination Diva
Feeling those first thing in the morning blues?
Grab your cup of tea or hot beverage of choice…at this time of day I'm not going to argue with you coffee drinkers…and head over to join me on Facebook where I post Daily General Tarot & Tea Angel Card Readings. Hit the 'like' button and visit daily.
What do you get? This is the energy of the day and here's how you can embrace it and make the most of it.
Disclosure Statement: A tarot professional/psychic/medium cannot predict the future with certainty and you should not rely on a tarot reading to make any decision that would affect your legal, financial, or medical condition. If your inquiry involves the law, finance, or medicine, then you should seek the advice of a licensed or qualified legal, financial, or medical professional. Also, tarot reading cannot replace qualified mental health care. A tarot reading can only facilitate how you cope spiritually with a given situation. In certain jurisdictions, a tarot professional is required to disclose to you that tarot readings should be for entertainment purposes only, and if such a law applies to your reading, then you are hereby on notice thereof. Your tarot professional is bound by a self-imposed code of ethics, which can be provided to you upon request. Jacqueline Fairbrass, Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC and/or any of our affiliates are not responsible for what you do with the information you receive.


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Open vSwitch
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The Xen Project allows vendors to advertise services and software that use Xen Project software and/or build on top of Xen Project software to advertise their services and/or software in the Xen Project Directory. For more information read the vendor notes.


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- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 1/4 cup hulled green pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds or pine nuts
- 1/2 cup crushed pecans or walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins, or chopped dates
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or blueberries, or combination
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a large bowl stir together oats, almonds, coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, cinnamon and salt. In a small saucepan melt butter with honey over low heat, stirring. Add vanilla and pour butter mixture over oat mixture and stir until combined well.
- On a large baking sheet, spread the granola evenly in a thin layer. Bake, stirring every 5 minutes to keep from sticking or burning, until golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. (Do not overcook; the granola will crisp more when cooled.) Cool the granola on the pan on top of the stove and stir in dried fruits. Granola may be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Serve at room temperature in a bowl with milk, or as a snack.
Recipe Details
- Source: Emeril Live EM1E01e
- Dish Type: Baked Goods
- Cuisine: American
- Cooking Method: Baking
- Occasion: Any
- Effort Level: Simple
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Emeril's Homemade Granola Bars
Apple And Pecan Spoonbread
Apple And Oatmeal Crisp
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Cheddar Pecan Crackers


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Please join us in congratulating Ayanna Woods and Timothy Page, the two composers selected for our 2017/18 Emerging Composers Partnership! We will be collaborating with both Ayanna and Timothy to create new works by each, which will premiere next season. Read more about these incredible music makers below, and click their names above to hear some of their music.
We received 190 applications for the partnership this year, more than twice the number we received last year! Applications were sent from over a dozen countries on 5 continents. We were all blown away by the sheer quantity of excellent music that is being created today. Thank you to everyone who submitted their music and ideas this year.
The deadline for submissions to the next round of the program (projects to be completed in the 2018/19 season) will be October 31, 2017.
Ayanna Woods is a composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, IL. She recently earned her BA in music at Yale University, where she studied composition with Andy Akiho, Kathryn Alexander and Konrad Kaczmarek. Woods' pieces have been performed by the Wet Ink Ensemble, the Chicago Children's Choir, and the Nightingale Trio (a Balkan singing group), among others. Her music explores the spaces between acoustic and electronic, traditional and esoteric, wildly improvisational and mathematically rigorous. Currently, Woods is writing works on the theme of peace for the Chicago Children's Choir and its alumni, and scoring a short film.
Chicago-born composer, musician, and performance artist Timothy Page creates works that revolve around play with style and context, body, physical materials, and space. After a brief career in physics, Page left the U.S. for Finland to study composition with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He wound up putting down roots for nearly a decade, establishing himself in the Nordic contemporary music scene with performances and commissions throughout Scandinavia and Europe. He has worked with many of the leading Nordic ensembles and represented Finland around the world in festivals such as Nordic Music Days, ISCM, NYCEMF, ICMC, June in Buffalo, and Ostrava Days. In 2013 he returned to Chicago to pursue a PhD program in composition at University of Chicago, where he has studied with Augusta Read Thomas and Anthony Cheung. His work has recently taken a performative turn – but even at its most theatrical, it is typified by a primacy of sound and a preoccupation with rhythm.
Third Coast Percussion's Emerging Composers Partnership is made possible by generous underwriting provided by Louise K. Smith, Cindy Sargent, and the Sargent Family Foundation.


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Published on: 18 Aug 2011 by ravenousgirl1
There are no rules to what hairstyles you should do for each season. Here are some links to youtube, with my favourite hair tutorials and beauty gurus.
Curly hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgnO3xP82vw
Wavy hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftIbppV55RI&playnext=1&list=PLF382A1959BFB9C10
bun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrlDSajseYg


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OMAHA, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The first major snowstorm of the season inundated parts of the United States Tuesday and was blamed for at least four deaths, officials said.
Highways from California eastward were closed because of snow, ice and rains, law enforcement agencies told several media outlets.
The early-winter storm has been blamed for four deaths from weather-related accidents, media outlets reported. The first two occurred Sunday in northern California, the area first hit by the weather. The third and fourth happened Monday near Indianapolis and Santa Fe, N.M.
Officials also reported numerous traffic accidents and power outages along the storm's path that stretched from the Plains states into the Upper Midwest, AccuWeather.com reported.
The first blizzard in at least a decade was declared for Flagstaff, Ariz., the Flagstaff Daily Sun reported Tuesday. The storm was predicted to bring between 12-28 inches of snow to Flagstaff and other northern Arizona areas before it cleared out.
AccuWeather.com reported snow began blanketing an area from Denver to Green Bay, Wis., and disruptive blizzard condition will smack the area later Tuesday into Wednesday.
The storm that already left 1-3 inches of snow in a line from northern Illinois to Iowa and northern Missouri was still ginning up at midday Tuesday, weather forecasters said.
Forty-mph winds whipped up the powdery snow, forecasters said. Portions of Interstates 29, 35, 70, 79, 80, 90 and others were already snow covered and slippery in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport reported flight delays of up to 2 1/2 hours at midday -- causing a rippling effect across much of the country.
In the Northeast, residents can expect a mix of snow, ice and rain, again accompanied by the potential for major travel headaches by Wednesday. Forecasters said rain would fall mainly along the coast, transitioning to ice and snow over much of the interior.
Thunderstorms will rumble across the South all day Tuesday, forecasters said. Severe weather was expected to be confined to parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, but other Southern cities could expect another round of heavy rain.


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So there in the spirit of the idea behind the quilt here is my QuiltCon entry.
Linking up to: Fabric Tuesday, WIP Wednesday, TGIFF, Crazy Mom Quilts
What a great story! I love that you entered it. Someone had recommended that I enter a quilt that I made earlier this year. I went through that same thought process. I didn't enter it, but not for those reasons. It was a special quilt that I made for my hisbsnd, and I would be heartbroken if something happened to it. Your quilt is beautiful! Good luck!ReplyDelete
Ummm....that should say husband, not hisbsnd.ReplyDelete
I love it! And the quilting is amazing. I hope it does get chosen so others can hear the story behind it, too. Probably a bit of a culture change to your new city where the mayor pardons tofurkey on Thanksgiving!ReplyDelete
I admire everything about this quilt, the bold modern design, the story behind it, the quilting, the way you finished it (must check that out) and your bravery in entering it to Quiltcon (so worthy). I so love your work
oh it's awesome! I'm so glad you made it and glad that you entered it! Love what your quilting did to the simple design!ReplyDelete
I think this is really beautiful and give high fives for submitting it!ReplyDelete
Ohh, I LOVED seeing this quilt in person before it was done, and I'm so glad you've finished it in time for QuiltCon! Thanks for telling the story behind it.ReplyDelete
I saw your photo on IG and knew I had to check in and see the real deal. This quilt speaks to me. The colours, the design, the quilting. I love how you've faced the quilt as a deliberate design element. The display with the three pant hangars...we've all done that. This is sublime Rachel. My fingers are crossed for you to get to show your quilt at QuiltCon. Thanks for sharing the quilt and its story with us.( Annoriginal265 on IG )ReplyDelete
It is fantastic. Congrats for entering it in Quiltcon. It's the experience that counts and what you learn from it. Also, whether you get in or not you will always have this wonderful quilt!!ReplyDelete
This is fantastic! I love the colour blocking and the concentric quilting is super cool!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for telling us the inspiration behind this quilt! I was drawn to the quilting, which is amazing, so I have no doubt your entry will fit right in with the others. You should be proud of your work! But more so for creating something with so much meaning. :)ReplyDelete
That quilting! Wow. That must have taken soooo long.ReplyDelete
that looks great! I agree with Kat, that quilting would have taken forever!ReplyDelete
I love it. Fabulous quilt! I am glad you shared your story and the meaning of the quilt - I really enjoy knowing where quilters inspiration comes from and how it translates in their work xx.ReplyDelete
I love it!! The story is great, and it's so cool you made a quilt with that as its inspiration. The quilting is fantastic. I love that you put so much thought into the quilting. I'm sure it took hours but it is so worth it. Congrats on your finish and good luck on your entry!ReplyDelete
Your quilt is really eyecatching and then I saw the quilting, awesome. When I see this quilt among the QuiltCon entries I'll be able to say,"I know the story behind that quilt."ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing! I love hearing & learning the stories behind quilts. And your quilt is just gorgeous.ReplyDelete
Like your quilts in the past, this is awesome and the quilting is phenomenal.ReplyDelete
This is gorgeous! Good luck with the entry~ReplyDelete
Great story and congrats!
My hubby used to be a banker. It's nice to have him home every night, and for dinner no less!
It's stunning and will be so great to see it at QCon in austin, congrats!!! What fab design & workmanship, R! Funny how it's the simple things we see each day that inspire us.ReplyDelete
I love this quilt! It's everything s modern quilt should be! Congrats on making it into Quiltcon!ReplyDelete


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Florida Sealing Products started in 1988 with one vision for our customers: reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, and lower operating budgets.
Today, we continue do business under this same philosophy of enriched productivity, offering a series of products, services, and training courses that reflect our highest standards of quality.
Centrally located in Lakeland, Florida, we offer sales and service throughout the state, as well as expansive offerings for The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Our warehouse and offices house 14,000 square feet of capacity to address any number of unique needs. From paint spray booths, sandblasting, and coating utilities, to 13 acres of space for storage, laydown, and prep, Florida Sealing Products has the ability to complete any job of any size, and an expertise that is second to none.
In our constant quest for quality, Florida Sealing Products proudly represents A.W. Chesterton products. With roots dating back to 1884, Chesterton lends the industry more than a century of dedicated experience as a global leader, manufacturing high performance specialty products in more than 100 countries around the world.
In 2013, Florida Sealing Products embarked upon another industry partnership, joining the FCX Performance family of companies. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and providing product solutions and services throughout the United States, FCX is the leading provider of process flow control solutions.
3810 Drane Field Rd. Suite 7, Lakeland, FL 33811 | P | (863) 425-9611 | F | (863) 425-0507
Copyright © 2012-2019 Solares Florida Corporation


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Expert Perspective by Grahall's OmniMedia Editorial Board
Although the media has moved onto other topics (from the renewed vigor of the markets to rumors about the role Michael Jackson's doctor played in his untimely death) the HR Consulting community continues to boil over with conversations and considerations about how to take advantage of the pending merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt.
Much to the delight of the developers of 5500 and other federal reporting databases, consultants are furiously purchasing, parsing and studying government filings to extract information about the Towers and Watson clients in order to determine where there might be overlap of services that could lead to new client opportunities. Certainly Towers and Watson are working equally as furiously to secure and support client relationships in the face of what they know will be a coming onslaught. So who will be in the ring for the "battle royale"? Certainly we'll see Hulk Hewitt, Merciless Mercer, Brutal Buck, among others as part of this epic rumble.
So will Grahall be part if this "smack down"? Well we certainly believe that our approach is best and, in fact, the market is moving towards our strengths: rigorous scientific method and ability to tailor programs to a company's business and people strategies. We want to serve companies who desire to better align their business and people strategies with comprehensive rewards strategies rather than just deliver "me too" rewards program. We will certainly share our perspectives with any and all companies who are interested in a custom, surgical, highly risk managed approach to total rewards linked to business strategy.
"Ambulance chasing" behind the pending Watson and Towers merger is not the only, and certainly not the best opportunity presented to compensation consultants today. We think that consultants, and in particular compensation consultants, are on a precipice of major change. As a Chinese businessman once shared with Grahall's Michael Graham, the future is happening today, you just have to find where it is happening and open your eyes to see it. We see demand for compensation consultants growing dramatically in the coming years. A recent Equilar report [www.equilar.com] shows that most Boards of the Fortune 1000 companies retain compensation consultants and that also for these companies there is a growing demand on the part of management to retain consultants as well.
Presently 18% of the Fortune 1000 management teams retain compensation consultants. We see this percentage moving upward and would not be surprised to see this number at or even above 50% in the next few years. Then beyond this, we see a situation for the top CEO's much like the "free agency" system much favored by sports stars and Hollywood celebriities. We predict that Super Star CEO's will hire "agents" (i.e. consultants), to help manage their careers and their compensation.
Is this coming increase in advisors a good thing? Well certainly for the compensation consultants it is. Not only will more consultants be hired to work for management, but with these more adversarial situations, the fees for these assignments will increase as well. But beyond this "Executive Compensation Consultant Full Employment Act", with each party having its own advisor we expect there to be an increase in objectivity, honesty and transparency in the process. And that's a good thing for everybody.
Email Grahall's Editorial Board Director at firstname.lastname@example.com


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This article originally appeared on Apartment Therapy and was written by Nancy Mithcell.
Nothing makes a room quite like a big, bold piece of art — and nothing makes a room look frumpy quite like a lonely, undersized print floating in a big expanse of white wall. But the problem, as you probably know, is that big pieces of art come with big price tags. What's a designer on a budget to do? Read on.
1. Engineering prints.
There's a reason you keep seeing these oversized photographic prints all over the internet: they look great, and they're super cheap. Go to a print shop with a photo you like, and ask for an engineering print (they're also known as architectural prints, or blueprints). You'll pay as little as $8 for a 36" by 48" print. The downside is that the quality won't be as high as a traditional photographic print — but the upside is that because of this, the image resolution won't matter as much. Joni at Lay Baby Lay made a set of inexpensive hanger bars for her large-scale print (pictured above): you can find the DIY here.
2. Get a big poster mounted on foamcore for a professional look.
Now that you're not in college anymore, having posters tacked up on the walls can seem a little sophmoric. But there's a great way to get posters to look classy: take them to a copy shop and have them mounted on foamcore boards. The prices for this will vary depending on where you live, but they should run you about $40-50 for a 36" by 36" print — much less than a framed artwork of the same size.
3. Turn an interesting piece of fabric into an artwork.
Take an interesting piece of fabric and stretch it on stretcher bars, like an artist canvas, for an inexpensive, professional-looking wall hanging. You can buy stretcher bars in different sizes at art supply shops — and if you're having trouble finding a fabric you like, Textile Arts has a great selection of Marimekko prints (like 'Tuuli', the one pictured above). Find instructions for how to stretch a canvas here.
4. Try wallpaper.
These days, it's not hard to find wallpapers that are worthy of being framed and displayed like artwork. You can hang a piece on a wall (use double sided tape if you want to be able to take it down later) and add molding to create a frame. Bam — instant oversized artwork.
5. Hang a blanket or rug.
Vintage quilts or rugs (like this boucherouite rug spotted on Bolig) often have great color and texture, and hanging one on the wall is a great way to instantly elevate your space — without breaking the bank.
(Image credits: Lay Baby Lay, Nancy Mitchell, Bolig )
Related: The Mermaid Pillow Is Your New Home Decor Obsession