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International opera star Lesley Garrett will be highlighting the work of South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord when she appears in a special edition of BBC1 TV show Songs of Praise on Sunday, May 18.
Lost Chord is the charity that provides vital interactive musical experiences for people living with dementia in care homes and day centres across the region.
'Doncaster Diva' Lesley, who is a patron of the organisation, will be seen taking part in a Lost Chord session at Oldfield House care home in her home town, alongside two of Lost Chord's team of professional musicians - flautist Clare Langan and pianist Anna Tilbrook.
And the experience proved especially poignant for soprano Lesley - because Oldfield House was home to her aunt, who lived with dementia in the final years of her life.
Afterwards, Lost Chord chief executive Helena Muller said: "It was a wonderful session, and typical of the sort of concerts we perform every day throughout the year.
"One gentleman who never shows any reaction at all danced with me and sang all of the words to familiar songs.
"His wife arrived in floods of tears when I handed him over to dance with her.
"They rang their son and his dad told him on the phone that he had danced and sung - even though he never normally speaks at all."
She added: "Lesley is a fantastic champion of our charity and she does all she can to support our work because she is determined that Lost Chord will survive beyond its 15th anniversary this year.
"The fact that she is helping to promote our work with Songs of Praise will be a wonderful advert for the work we do, not just in South Yorkshire but across the country, and I do urge everybody to watch and get an insight into the effect that music can have on people living with dementia."
n To find out more about the work of Lost Chord visit www.lost-chord.org.uk


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Meyer, Esther and Kurian, Manju A. and Pasha, Shanaz and Trembath, Richard C. and Cole, Trevor and Maher, Eamonn R. (2010) A novel PCFT gene mutation (p.Cys66LeufsX99) causing hereditary folate malabsorption. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99 (3). p. 325. ISSN 10967192

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As a rule, a lot of bands, after getting together and saying 'we should start a band!' there's a big period of practicing and getting to know each other as musicians. Stories and Comets didn't follow this rule at all. After only 6 practices they recorded a 3 track demo CD and got the ball hurtling toward their goals.
Since then the band have enjoyed airplay from, as well as recording a live session for, The Lock Up on Radio One. They've toured with Victory Records Somehow Hollow, with many more planned for the summer.


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Decor Time Machine: The '80s
Like many of you, Thanksgiving has me reminiscing about my childhood years, the most formative of which were smack in the middle of the 1980s. A time that, for me, was defined by "Silver City Pink" Revlon lipstick, my 45 of "Candy Girl" by New Edition and whether or not I got the front seat in the car. But I have been trying to remember what my house looked like back then. What did my friends' houses look like? What home decorating trends were big in Washington, DC, a city that was, by most accounts, aesthetically provincial and stylistically conservative?
I have concluded that the decor I associate with that time diverges quite radically from some common representations of 80s interior design. Other people may recall a slick, edgy style dominated by neon, geometric shapes, black leather, glass and an abundance of mirrors. But my parents and their friends were hardly living the "Less than Zero" lifestyle in Los Angeles or New York. What was cutting edge trendiness in the 80s had very little in common with my 1980s reality.
Still, my memories of the decade do evoke other elements of what we now recognize as quintessential 80s decor. Does the name Laura Ashley ring a bell?
I remember plenty of cabbage rose chintz in my wealthier friends' living rooms. Floral fabrics layered upon floral fabrics. I think I ate dinner at more than 15 Duncan Phyfe-style dining room tables, seated on reproduction Chippendale-style chairs. There was a lot of dark wood, possibly cherry and usually refinished to a glossy sheen. Burgundy and gold were big in some homes. Pastels and mauve were big in others. I remember my suburban friends all had wall-to-wall carpeting and kitchens with bright colorful wallpaper. In my home it was all about Laura Ashley floral patterns. I will never forget my joy upon finally persuading my parents to buy me a Sears canopy bed, replete with screw-on plastic posts. It went so well with my Laura Ashley comforter.
What are your memories of 1980s decor?
• 1 House Beautiful.
• 2 The Griswold's house in National Lampoon's Vacation. Hooked on Houses.
• 3 A still from the 80s movie Mr Mom via Hooked on Houses.
• 4 An Arizona home in the 80s. More dark wood and dark pastels. From the always amusing and caustic website, Ugly House Photos.
• 5 80s kitchen with ubiquitous laminate countertops and warm-hued wood cabinets. Calfinder.
• 6 80s dining room from Hooked on Houses.
• 7 80s kitchen with oak cabinets and that fridge! All the rage in DC kitchens. Carol Raley Interiors.
• 8 A 1985 photo of the living room at Grey Gardens, the famous East Hamptons mansion, once owned by Jacqueline Kennedy's aunt Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and sold in the late 1970s to Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee. This shot came from Architectural Digest via Grey Gardens News.
• 9 Sally Quinn's master bedroom at Grey Gardens.
• 10 Talk about a "Bonfire of the Vanities." The living room from popular 80s designers Denning & Fourcade's Paris residence, decorated in the 1980s. Architectural Digest via (In)decorous Taste.


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Da Funk Fever is a modern funky groove with a Daft Punk, Get Lucky and Give Life Back to Music style, "Random Access Memories" vibe.
A trendy, funky disco track in a contemporary style, great for movies, dance scenes, fashion shows, background music, radio and movies.
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ReleasesBack to
Ray Barretto
This 1961 groove date by Stanley Turrentine is an example of him at his fiery peak. Far from the slow groover of the CTI years, Turrentine's early Blue Note sides were massive and bright, saturated in deep soul and blues. This set featured Turrentine's wife, organist and composer Shirley Scott, and a pair of alternating rhythm sections. The first is Major Holley on bass and Al Harewood on drums, and the second is with Sam Jones and Clarence Johnston. Latin Conguero Ray Barretto appeared with the Holley/Harewood band. The set opens with a stomping version of Lloyd Price's "Trouble," with Scott taking the early solo while driving the groove. Turrentine burns the edges of the tune and Barretto punches up the middle with decorative flourishes and fills. This is followed by the a deeply moving read of "God Bless the Child." With Turrentine playing in his smokiest, silkiest, Ben Webster-inflected tone. Scott's solo, by contrast, is pure blues. The coolest tune on the set is "Major's Minor," written by Stanley and Shirley. With its seeming quotations from "So What?" and "Chim Chim Cherie," in the foreground, it gives way to a completely funky blues, which is a bit of a surprise. But the easy swing and in-the-pocket saxophone soloing punctuated by fat, grooved-out chords by Scott make it the gem it is. The alternate rhythm section of Jones and Johnston appear on the title track. This is one of those grand ballads where the organ acts as the testifying pulpit from which to speak, and Turrentine not only speaks, he weeps and whispers and wails here. All the while his rhythm section layers washes of percussion and muted changes in ever-present but subtle shades of blue. It's a stunner. ~ Thom Jurek


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Fez launches on Steam this May
Xbox Live Arcade will be forced to loosen its exclusivity grasp on Fez this May, as a coming soon page for the game has appeared on Steam.
Polytron's indie gem will arrive via Valve's popular PC platformon May 1st, according to the game'sstore listing. No additions or alterations from the XBLA version are mentioned, so it appears that it will be a straight porting of the title.
While it's unknown how well the port will sell over a year after the game's 360 launch, the developer likely won't have to worry about any of the patching issues they ran into upon launching on Microsoft's hardware.
A Mac version of Fez is expected at some point down the road as well, and creator Phil Fish has even gone as far to say that he expects the game to be out on pretty much everything," before it's all said and done.


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'The camera is ready to shoot within a couple of seconds and focusing speed is good, as is shot-to-shot speed.'
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'the front screen can be difficult to see in bright sunlight due to the bright chrome effect on the front of the camera (the other colours may be better).'
It works brilliantly for self portraits
Good overall build quality
' The premise of Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FP3 is sound: a slim, attractive camera that's fast, easy to use, and has a touch-screen interface for an extra cool factor. '
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'the manual selection of a focus point, useful for when users want to bias attention toward an off-centre subject.'
'Bottom line - The Casio Exilim EX-Z800 is a nice little pocket camera that has a very appealing price tag of just $149 US. '
'As the frumpy big sister, the $149 Casio Z800 was an utter disaster.'
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'useful 27mm-equivalent wide angle'
'small, easy-to-use digital cameras'
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'the controls are straightforward and clearly labeled, the menu system well organized and the camera is easy to handle.'
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'helpful "Good camera'
'Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W180 is a largely automatic compact digital camera for people who want something that's simple to use and easy to carry in a pocket.'
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'Hardly any manual features.'
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10 Years Later
Ten years ago today, the United States was under attack, carving an indelible moment in time that introduced everyone to a new phenomenon – the Post 9/11 World.
Not since Pearl Harbor nearly 70 years prior to Sept. 11, 2001, had Americans felt so vulnerable on its own soil and so uncertain as to what the future held for the most powerful country in the world.
This weekend, Americans have had the opportunity to reflect on ten years since the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history and the sweeping changes that have come about since the improbable, graphic images of two airplanes flying into the World Trade Center Towers in the this country's most recognizable city – New York City.
"It changed a generation," says Rod Carroll, public administrative official for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, who also oversees the Beaumont Rotary student exchange program that has seen drastic changes to its protocol in the last 10 years.
"I sat in awe that whole day, and it's a day that everyone remembers what they were doing when it happened," said Carroll, who coincidentally, slept through the attacks. Working as the midnight patrol deputy for the sheriff's office, Carroll, who would get off work and usually make it home by around 7:30 a.m. to sleep for four hours, remembers waking up at 11:30 and left his home to get a haircut. It wasn't until he arrived at the barber shop that he was alerted to what had happened after seeing video of the planes flying into the World Trade Center.
"I literally woke up in a different world," Carroll said.
Never Forget Ride
Several special events took place this weekend, including a blood drive at the Beaumont Fire Station #1 on Friday morning, as well as a 5K run sponsored by the Beaumont Police Officers Association that was dedicated to fallen Beaumont officer Bryan Hebert, who was killed in the line of duty. Both of those events were also dedicated to those who passed away as a result of the 9/11 tragedy.
Another event in Beaumont was the Never Forget Ride, which was an idea that Hal Burke, general manager of Cowboy Honda, came up with to honor the first responders locally as well as those from 9/11.
"You don't want the younger generation to forget," said Burke, who was actually at a car auction buying cars in Dallas the day of 9/11. He said he remembers finishing up at the auction and heading to the airport when he was told the airport was closed and all flights that day had been grounded. "I actually drove one of the cars I bought back to Beaumont that day, but I remember it taking two hours to get out of Dallas because they had evacuated all of downtown."
Because Cowboy Honda has such a diverse clientele of both young and old said Burke, there's that younger generation that was in school that has a recollection of 9/11, but not necessarily the understating of the gravity of that day.
"We're still fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 10 years later because of it," Burke said. "And sometimes we forget what started this whole thing. If you don't remember history, it ends up repeating itself."
Mayor Becky Ames was the emcee of the event and Jefferson County Sheriff Mitch Woods was the keynote speaker.
"These events are important, because the impact of 9/11 never goes away," said Ames, who was getting ready for work when the planes struck the towers. Ames, who will be busy all weekend attending 9/11 Memorial Events, said this is a very special weekend for her and one that she takes very seriously as Mayor of Beaumont.
"I get asked to do a lot of events, and sometimes it's hard to balance, but for something like this with the significance of 9/11, I don't mind a bit."
Sheriff Woods, who was preparing to play golf when 9/11 occurred, said he was honored to be chosen to speak at the Never Forget event. A Harley Man through and through, Woods said he's happy to be a part of the ride, but also to recognize first responders for the work they do.
"Quite often, we take them for granted," Woods said, "it's hard work, and when you see what they do, especially something like (9/11), we don't pay our first responders so much for what they do, but for what they're willing to do. And what they're willing to do is put themselves in harm's way. When other people need protecting, and their lives are at risk, or in danger. You see other people trying to get away from those scenes, you see the first responders going to those scenes, going into buildings and taking care of business."
Ames said she is also looking forward to Sunday's event at Tyrrell Park, where at 4 p.m., the Mayor and several speakers from the United States Armed Services will speak as part of the "In God We Trust, United We Stand September 11, 2001 Memorial Garden" tribute.
The event will be held at the September 11th Memorial which is located at the Beaumont Botanical Gardens in Tyrrell Park. The Memorial Garden features granite monuments to represent the World Trade Center Towers as well as a garden that has dirt from the three crash sites: Ground Zero in NYC, the Pentagon in DC, and the crash site in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down.
Speakers include Beaumont Fire Chief Anne Huff, Beaumont Police Sgt. Tim Ocnaschek, Lt. Col. Les Edwards from the Texas Army National Guard; Lt. Col. Michael Arnold, United States Army; Capt. George Paitl, United States Coast Guard and Col. Gregory Baine, United States Army.
Baine, a 24-year veteran of the Army who is currently attending Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he is honored to be included as a guest speaker at both the Tyrrell Park and Never Forget ceremonies.
The Charlton-Pollard graduate, who was in Germany during 9/11 as an executive officer in an infantry battalion unit, has a unique perspective given he spent 14 years of his career pre-9/11 when the military had a "Cold War" mindset, and the Soviet Union was the United States' biggest enemy in the world.
"I grew up during the cold war, and back then we had a very monolithic type of adversary, which was easy to find, and hard to kill," said Baine.
Of course, after 9/11, suddenly the military found itself fighting a different kind of enemy, one that was hard to find, but easy to kill. Factions that were spread out all over and suddenly, the military had to adjust, and Baine said the military – across all branches, has adapted quite well.
"After 9/11, we were faced with a very different set of adversaries, but we adapted," said Baine. "Look across the military, and see how adaptable our service is to the conditions we were faced. We had to adapt very quickly, and I think that's part and parcel to the type of education we have in our military across all services, and how, based on lessons learned, from previous conflicts, how we incorporate those into the curricula and educational systems."
"I would say we would have adapted very well, but what I would say has taken us the longest to adapt and accept is cultural aspect, whether it be Iraq and Afghanistan," said Baine. But the long-time Army veteran said he's very pleased with how his branch has incorporated training and teaching soldiers on the cultural customs of those in the Middle East, as well as the soldiers and leaders from the Army getting out amongst the natives in Iraq and Afghanistan to gain a better understanding and to develop a better relationship.
Baine said he's proud of the job the US Military has done since 9/11, and he believes that the country is safer now than it was 10 years ago, and he points to the fact that there has not been a terrorist attack since. However, he cautions that it is impossible to guard against every threat, and that inevitably, the United States will suffer a terrorist attack again.
"It's extremely difficult to say we're going to prevent everything from happening forever, because you're not. Something is going to happen sooner or later. We have to do all that we can to create that element of security within our cities and communities but still allow that basic freedom to prevail throughout our nation, that freedom we have all grown up to enjoy and expect. It's a fine balance there."
And with local law enforcement, coupled with Homeland Security and the FBI that join together to create joint task forces, Baine said he is "very confident in our law enforcement across the country that they are doing everything they can to keep people safe at home and in their communities."
Pentagon First Responder
Jerry Sonnier attended Saturday's Never Forget ride, not only riding his motorcycle to the event, but he played Taps on his bugle as part of the ceremony.
He reached out to Robin Troy, owner of NeilTroy Advertising, who helped organize the event with Burke and Joey Hardy from Cowboy Harley-Davidson, and asked if she had anyone to play. Troy didn't, so Sonnier agreed to do it, plus after taking two years from participating in a 9/11 ceremony, he wanted to contribute to something, considering he contributed his time 10 years ago hours after a plane smashed into the Pentagon.
"I had taken half the day off and was working on the bilge pump on my sailboat when my buddy a couple boats down told me what was going on," said Sonnier, who was living in Annapolis, Maryland at the time, about an hour from the Pentagon.
Sonnier and his friend watched on television what was going on, and his friend said to him, "I wish there was something we could do," and Sonnier replied there was something they could do – they could go help the people at the Pentagon. Four hours and some slick talking later, Sonnier and a friend had worked their way through to the Pentagon and we're on site to help the rest of the first responders.
"It was surreal," said the now 58-year-old Sonnier, who lives in League City, of the experience being at the Pentagon. While most images of 9/11 involve the Twin Towers, there are very few public accounts of what happened at the Pentagon, and there are very few images of the destruction from D.C.
"There's a reason for that," said Sonnier, a former Marine, "no camera crews, no one with a camera was allowed close to the Pentagon to take pictures. If they found you with a camera, they would confiscate it. I did see one woman with a camera, and I told her, 'hide your camera if you want to keep those pictures, or they'll confiscate it.' She was standing behind the fence. I don't know who she was or how she got there, but she was there taking pictures. But because they didn't allow the reporters closer than a mile, all the reporters were on a little hilltop at a gas station, and that was as close as they'd allow them. Reporters really didn't get good photos, close photos, maybe with their telescopic lens. And they didn't get to talk to anybody. So there's not much out there to show people what happened."
The destruction was intense.
"It was pretty bad," said a solemn Sonnier. "It was burning pretty fierce when we got there. You could smell the bodies had been hit, and been burned. There was a dust in the air that was laced with all kinds of debris, asbestos, everything else. Nobody knew really what to do for the first day and a half. We all just kind of funneled around, doing what we could."
Sonnier remembers seeing a Marine flag that miraculously was still hanging with no damage to it despite the room it was in being heavily damaged from the incident. Sonnier pointed that out to President George W. Bush when he shook hands with him, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told Sonnier, after a day of pulling out bodies from the debris, "you've had a long day."
Rumsfeld then selected Sonnier to walk around with his photographer to snap photos of the scene. Two weeks later, Sonnier received a package with pictures that had been taken.
For Sonnier, who carried out bodies, picked up debris, and spoke to both President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld, the images and experiences he has from the four days he was there, he will never forget being a part of 9/11, and thinks about on a daily basis – 10 years later.
"I've done a lot of stuff in my life, been a lot of places, but those four days will stick with me more than anything else," he said. "You think about it, it's just something that crosses your mind every day. You think about the people that were lost. You think about the people that were there helping, wonder what happened to some of them. And you wonder about some of them, we didn't know anything about each other, and we never did."


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battle of the boyne feiertag
This page was last edited on 27 May 2017, at 21:59 battle of the boyne. All structured data from the main and property namespace is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License; text this illustration commemorates the defeat of king james ii by his son-in-law, william of orange, at the battle of the boyne in 1690. The Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between the Catholic James II and the Protestant William III, who had overthrown James as king of artist: andrew carrick gow a lost cause: flight of king james ii after the battle of the boyne it would be difficult to find a battle more indelibly etched into the folk memory of a people than the battle of the boyne, which remains as meaningful to irish. Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre battle of the boyne, laytown. 4,358 likes · 127 talking about this · 3,331 were here 3. Welcome to the official Facebook page for the Battle of the 7k likes. Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre the battle of the boyne was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed king james ii of england, and. 4,432 likes · 53 talking about this · 3,513 were here die schlacht am boyne am 1. Welcome to the official Facebook page for the Battle of the juli jul. Slag aan de Boyne: De slag aan de Boyne (Ierland), 12 juli 1690 / 11. The Boyne Water, The Battle of the Boyne, 1690, door Peter Berresford Ellis, 1976 Posts about Battle of Boyne written by belfastchildis The Battle of the Boyne is a 1778 historical painting by the Anglo-American artist Benjamin West juli 1690 greg. It portrays the Battle of the Boyne which took place in Ireland in 1690 (englisch battle of the boyne; irisch cath na bóinne) ist ein entscheidendes ereignis der irischen und. By 3 o clock, the battered but unbowed Jacobites have managed to successfully pull back to positions on the Hill of Donore both kings commanded their armies in person. This is much tougher terrain for the william had 36,000 men and james had 25,000 - the largest number of troops ever deployed on an irish battlefield. Conflict: The Battle of the Boyne was part of the Williamite War in Ireland the battle of the boyne. Date: The fighting took place on July 1, 1690 (Old Style) no year in irish history is better known than 1690. With the adoption of the no irish battle is more famous than william iii s victory over james ii at the river. A king took kingship over Ireland once on a time, i at the battle of the boyne, the troops of william of orange defeated those of james ii and this began the protestant ascendancy in ireland. e o n july 12 each year, the battle of the boyne is commemorated by orange men walking through the streets of northern ireland. Eochaid Feidleach, the son of Finn, the son of Rogen Ruad, the son of Easamain Eamna of the seed of the battle marked a turning point in. Battle of the Boyne (I), The DESCRIPTION: Battle began upon a summer s morn, unclouded rose the sun anniversary of the battle of the boyne. Williamites Schomberg, Walker, and Caillemotte are killed 747 likes · 2 talking about this. The Battle of the Boyne, remembered every year by Loyalists with enthusiasm and colourful parades (even in the Republic of Ireland, in Rossnowlagh), is one of the this page has been created to promote the anniversary of the battle of the. The Battle of the Boyne: Together With an Account Based on French and Other Unpublished Records of the war in Ireland (1688-1691) and of the Formation of the Irish the battle of the boyne was fought in ireland between william of orange and james ii in july 1690. The Battle of the Boyne is one of the most significant events in Irish history it was the last time two crowned kings of england, scotland and. The Battle of the Boyne was fought between King William III and his father-in-law King welcome. Browse Battle Of The Boyne pictures, photos, images, GIFs, and videos on Photobucket Battle of the Boyne: (1 July 1690), a victory for the forces of King William III (William of Orange) of England over the former king James II, fought on the banks of welcome to the battle of the boyne website. Battle of the Boyne; Part of the Williamite War in Ireland: Painting of the battle by Jan Wyck c we hope you find your visit here informative and interesting. 1693 Today is battle of the Boyne day, marking the 310th anniversary of King Billy s famous victory in Ireland and the triumph of Protestantism should you have any queries on any aspect of ths. For Orangemen in Northern again, i should like to thank nymas for giving me the opportunity to present this discussion on their site. Battle of the Boyne in the United Kingdom like many people i have often heard references to the. People in Northern Ireland have a bank holiday on or after July 12 to commemorate the Battle of Boyne, which occurred on this tour focuses on some of the earlier aspects of ireland's rich history. A startling new history of the largest and most famous battle in Irish history, this book incorporates findings of a series of newly discovered sources newgrange. Was the Boyne newgrange tomb is one of our most interesting heritage sites, which was built. Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre battle of the boyne visitor centre. 4,389 likes · 128 talking about this · 3,389 were here 4,375 likes · 146 talking about this · 3,385 were here. Welcome to the official Facebook page for the Battle of the welcome to the official facebook page for the battle of the. As England was enjoying its Glorious Revolution under William of Orange, Ireland was gloomy in its poverty and about to witness one of the most decisive battles of the battle of the boyne remains a controversial topic today in northern ireland, where some protestants remember it as the great victory over catholics that resulted. Battle of the Boyne


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No new SNL tonight, but we're going to celebrate Saturday night anyway, and we're going to do it by giving the night to Ronna Glickman and Beverly Ginsberg, everyone's favorite Jewish mothers and best-selling authors of You'll Do a Little Better Next Time: a Guide to Marriage and Remarriage for Jewish Singles. (Although Ronna and Beverly will be the first to tell you the book is for everyone! Gay, straight, jewish, non-jewish—it's a spectrum.)
In any event, let's spend the evening talking about anything and everything in the comments. Have an awesome Saturday and see you next week!
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They will miss her, and Brendon too for that matter, it was too easy to let Kathy and Brendon clean up for the others, griping about Brendon's cooking but they still ate it. When Jun won, long ago, she did all the cooking which meant she was where she could see people coming and going and interact with them as well. I always thought that was a good strategy. I don't think Brendon or Kathy had that in their minds strategically but even if they did, it flopped.
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Taylor Swift Found Herself in 'Really Dark Places' While Writing for 'Red'
Taylor Swift has a longstanding penchant for writing about her love life, and in a new interview, the young superstar says her romantic chaos played a very big role in her upcoming fourth album, 'Red.'
"I went through a few roller coasters," Swift admits to Rolling Stone, adding that she let herself slip into old shadows. "Trying to chronicle each step of the way was challenging, because you go to some really dark places with the lyrics. Then in the next track, you're talking about how amazing it is to meet somebody new."
Swift recently released 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' the album's first single. The pop-flavored track sold a staggering 623,000 digital downloads in its first week, making it the fastest-selling song in iTunes history.
Fans and media have engaged in rampant speculation as to which of Swift's former boyfriends the song may be about. Teen heartthrob Joe Jonas recently told a radio station that he was not the object of the song, but that he likes it. "I think the song is great," he said. "Taylor does pop music really well and I'm happy for her."
Swift has previously stated that 'Red' is an album of many sad songs, but right now, the singer-songwriter seems to be in a better place, spending much of this summer in Hyannis Port, Mass. with her new boyfriend, Conor Kennedy, of the famous family. When asked if she'd consider buying a house nearby their compound, Swift gushed, saying, "That would be so amazing."
As for what she's learned about love, Swift, who will turn 23 years old in December, says she still has no real answers. "I know general things about love," she explains. "How to treat people well, what you deserve and when to walk away. Other than that, love is a complete mystery — and that's why I like to write about it."
'Red' is slated for release on Oct. 22.


text:
2018 Honda Accord
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driver's seat 2-position memory and front passenger seat 4-way power adjustment
driver's seat 4-way power lumbar support
Engine Coolant Temp
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illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio controls and fin-type roof-mounted antenna
knobs and hard keys for primary controls and customizable feature settings
Mini Overhead Console w/Storage and 2 12V DC Power Outlets
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radio data system (RDS)
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speed-sensitive compensation (SVC)
Sunroof/Convertible Roof and Remote Engine Start
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USB smartphone/audio interface w/2.5-amp port in front and 2.5-amp port in center console
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14.8 Gal. Fuel Tank
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60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
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HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter
HondaLink Emergency S.O.S
HVAC -inc: Underseat Ducts and Console Ducts
Instrument Panel Covered Bin
Integrated Navigation System w/Voice Activation
Interior Trim -inc: Simulated Wood Instrument Panel Insert
Leather Gear Shift Knob
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Leatherette Door Trim Insert
Leather-Trimmed Seats
LED Brakelights
Light Tinted Glass
Locking Glove Box
Low Tire Pressure Warning
Manual Adjustable Front Head Restraints and Manual Adjustable Rear Head Restraints
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Power 1st Row Windows w/Driver And Passenger 1-Touch Up/Down
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Tires: 225/50R17 AS
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VSA Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
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text:
The decision is yours to make there on the bookshelves: Who was more instrumental to the success of ECW, Paul Heyman and Tommy Dreamer, or Raven, Terry Funk and Shane Douglas? The answer is pretty simple and requires you to purchase both books.
Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW by Scott E. Williams has been out for half a year now, from Sports Publishing L.L.C., and deserves many of the kudos that it has already received.
The new challenger on the shelves is The Rise & Fall of ECW by Thom Loverro, with the massive marketing arm of WWE Books and Simon & Schuster behind it.
In truth, neither is a complete history of ECW, that renegade Philadelphia-based promotion that hugely influenced the direction of pro wrestling from 1992 to 2001.
After all, can the story of ECW be told without talking to Heyman, Dreamer or Taz? Of course not. That's the major flaw of Williams' Hardcore History; but the flipside is that Williams got incredible access to the fascinating minds of Raven, Funk and Douglas for his project, something that Loverro's Rise & Fall lacks.
So, like the two DVD releases from the last couple of years, The Rise & Fall of ECW from WWE and the independently-done Forever Hardcore, the true tale is somewhere between the two stories.
Hardcore History is Williams' third wrestling book, after the autobiographies of Terry Funk and Bill Watts. A crime reporter at the Galveston County Daily News in Texas, he has provided yet another incredibly well-researched, well-written book that is entertaining through and through.
It's sort of like VH1's Behind The Music in print; there are sections you can hear in that voice: "While ECW swam along, the two biggest fish in the wrestling pond were at war with each other, and both WCW and the WWF had repeatedly proven their willingness to shade the line between wrestling and reality, a line ECW had been trampling over for years."
Williams seems to have uncovered just about every stone he was allowed to. He talked to the big name wrestlers like Funk, Raven, Douglas and Jerry Lynn; he talked to arena managers and ECW's local promoters; he talked to the syndication folks. Besides those people under WWE deals whom were apparently shut out from talking about their past with Williams (Heyman, Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Taz, etc.), the other missing link is ECW founder Tod Gordon. Of course, Gordon has a book of his own coming out this fall from Toronto's ECW Press entitled Sex, Drugs and Wrestling: The Truth, the Lies and the Extremes. And nobody got Sabu to talk.
Hardcore History doesn't shy away from the numbers either, talking in specifics about who was owed what when the company dissolved, and where the cash went over the years. It's fascinating, yet doesn't dominate the book at all.
The only complaint, and it's an understandable one, is that the last chapter about the first One Night Stand pay-per-view and the Hardcore Homecoming shows organized by Douglas seem rushed; no doubt a last-minute attempt was made to include it and capitalize on the resurgence of ECW.
Coming as it does to coincide with the return of ECW to television on a weekly basis on The Sci-Fi Channel, Loverro's The Rise & Fall of ECW would seem perfectly suited for a big run. Yet as a book, given the long lead times necessary to go to press, it already seems dated.
The real story today is how the swell of fan support for last year's One Night Stand PPV, and success of the DVD The Rise & Fall of ECW have gotten WWE to the point of launching a third brand.
It also seems to have been vetted. There's not a lot of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Tazz is never referred to as "Taz" (an issue, perhaps, only of concern to a "zed" loving Canadian).
Then there's Van Dam. Much of the popularity of RVD in ECW was because of his sly, wink-wink references to the drug culture and his "high" flying lifestyle. "His high-energy style in the ring, combined with his cool personality, made him a fan favorite," writes Loverro.
But maybe he didn't get RVD. Loverro, a respected sports columnist at the Washington Times, doesn't really come off as a wrestling fan. Perhaps this is a plus to some people; to someone like this reviewer, it's an annoyance when errors like these slip through: Terry Funk defeating Gene Kiniski for the NWA World title; blinding someone in an angle, as happened to Sandman, was hardly new in pro wrestling; Mando Guerrero is left out of the list of brothers.
(For a real fan's take on ECW, seek out John Lister's Turning the Tables: The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling. It's a totally different animal than these two big-league books.)
At some point, Loverro also made the decision to include complete results from many of the big Philadelphia ECW shows. It's pretty cool seeing who was on the cards, especially in the early non-PPV days. However, if the likes of J.T. Smith, Hack Meyers and Jason Knight are being introduced into the narrative, shouldn't an effort have been made to at least tell what happened to them?
If Williams' book seems like a Behind The Music episode, Loverro's tome seems, at times, like a printed version of The Rise & Fall of ECW DVD. It has the same WWE spin on what made ECW work and what made it fail. The coolest non-wrestler he digs up is Ron Buffone, the production guru that made ECW so unique.
The other issues are a virtual wash. Both books have lots of great photos, but Rise & Fall has more. There's no doubt a higher actual word count in Williams' 256-page book, compared to the 272 pages in Loverro's, but that's owing in big part to WWE Books' insistence on a larger font, white space and (seemingly random) photos every couple of pages. Price-wise, Rise & Fall lists at $26 USD, and Hardcore History is $24.95.
And a familiar bitch about both books, however, there should have been an index.
In the end, it comes down to completionism. Neither book is quite the whole package. The missing names from each book are just too big to ignore. If I had to choose one, it would be Hardcore History, but that's with the caveat that I'll be adding Tod Gordon's book to the oeuvre come this fall.
It's gotten to the point now that Greg Oliver, the Producer of SLAM! Wrestling, can admit that there are too many wrestling books out there. ECW lasted nine years, with about six of them meaningful on a national level. Where's the book on the Poffo's ICW promotion? How about Al Tomko's version of All-Star Wrestling? Both lasted almost as long as ECW. Email Greg your thoughts at email@example.com


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|Attention: DocWiki has reached EOL and will be decommissioned January 25, 2019.
User Notifications: A user does not receive User Notifications when there is a change to the user object.
From DocWiki
A user does not receive User Notifications when there is a change to the user object
|Problem Summary
|For a given class of resource, the Cisco Finesse Web Service sends resource notifications to clients that are subscribed to that resource. For example, a client that is subscribed to User Notifications should receive a notification when an agent signs in or signs out of the Finesse Desktop, when agent information changes, or when an agent's state changes. If the user does not recieve notifications, some troubleshooting may be required.
|Error Message
|Possible Cause
|Not applicable.
|Recommended Action
To troubleshoot user notifications, check through the desktop logs for the existence of the correct log statements.
For example, if a user is subscribed to User notifications and does not receive notifications when the user object changes, look through the desktop logs for the following:
( This statement indicates a successful connection to the Finesse Notification Service)
(This statement indicates that a node was created successfully for this specific user)
(Indicates a successful publish notification)
To retrieve the desktop logs, run the CLI command "file get activelog desktop recurs compress".
|Release 8.5(3)
|Associated CDETS #


text:
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text:
Review Group Week 161 - GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #11
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
by ****** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:53 pm
This is the first time I have ever wanted my nuramod powers back.
by Punchy » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:53 pm
No, as a horror, the movie works better, it has time for more characters than Eben,in the book he's the only character with any focus, and it's just scarier.
by Punchy » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:54 pm
A draw as in something to draw me in to buying it.
by guitarsmashley » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:24 pmIn order for me to review this book I must first voice my hatred for fourthman who is the reason I must review this book. Fourthman, I plan on raping you. Raping you with the glory of a 1000 suns. I will come to north carolina and burn your house down. I will also be doing this all while reciting dialogue from Youngblood vol 1. I will even be describing the pictures to you, which you will need because I'm going to skull fuck your eyes out.
Now onto the book. This was a throw away book. I know nothing of the characters or annihilation or any of it. So for me the story is 3. The art on the other hand is excellent. I love the digital coloring style. it's a 7. So in total
I also like the fact that the word skull fuck will appear on the front page.
by Flynn the Pirate » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:19 pmI love almost anything having to do with Marvel's cosmic scene. I love Abnett and Lanning. I love the Guardians of the Galaxy - as a title, as a team, and as a concept.
All that being said, I was very, very disappointed with this issue. Maybe it was the fact that, of all of the characters they have been working with for the past couple of years, Phyla has been the weakest, so just as the Quasar mini's leading up to Annihilation: Conquest were the weakest, so too this issue would be weak. Maybe it was the fact that it didn't feel like anything really happened. Or maybe it was because, as someone else pointed out, this whole story arc feels like a throw-away, especially in light of War of Kings.
Whatever it was, this issue was far below the standard that I have come to expect of DnA. It had a rambling feel and even the appearance of Maelstrom felt meaningless. The dialogue was often annoying - even from the people it was supposed to be enlightening from.
On the plus side, the art had a very dreamy, otherworldly appearance to it, so it fit with the environment.
All things taken into account, I give this issue a 4 out of 10. DnA, you've done much, much better - and you know it.
by Chubbles » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:14 pmSince Drax has been re-invented a couple years ago in that mini during the first Annihilation he has been one of my favorite characters in the MU. He reminds me of a Vin Diesel in Pitch Black which was one of my favorite bad ass characters of the past 10-15 years. DnA have been very, very good for a long time now. They have made GotG and Nova two of my must gets every month. I even like them enough that I've picked up their old run on DC's Legion bc my faith in them is very high. This issue was both quite good and a little bit of a let down. It had a ton of Drax which was awesome but this female lesbian Quasar has not been a high point. Anything Drax did was cool but anything she did was lame. I can't wait til the real Quasar comes back and takes the reigns again. Wes Craig however saved this book from getting a low score. He is awesome here and the coloring was also equally as good. i wouldn't mind having Craig stick around for ahwile and seeing what he can do with the rest of the characters. Overall this was not a great issue for newcomers but it was ok for us who know how good this book can be.
Story 4
Art 8
Overall 6
by Chubbles » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:37 pmNext weeks pick
Ok I am debating between a couple of books. Transmet would be an easy pick but i feel that most people in this group have already read it and anyone even slightly interested will buy it bc it's 1 dollar and not bc we picked it to review.
I am deciding between ASM 588, Invincible 60, Deadpool games of death, and Ultimatum 3. Here is my reasoning:
ASM - Supposedly we get lots of answers here so it should at the very least spark some debate.
Invincible - This is the biog crossover Image has been touting for quite some time and Kirkman is a damn good writer so I think it will be lots of fun.
Deadpool - Well, it's deadpool and that's about all you need to know.
Ultimatum - I've enjoyed it so far partly bc the art is excellent and Loeb does these mindless action things quite well.
I'll decide by tomorrow but these are my choices.
by ****** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:54 pm
Welcome to the group, Flynn.
by thefourthman » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:12 pm
You act like I wanted to read this shit. I am happy to see it get low scores.
by thefourthman » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:13 pm
what the hell kind of welcome is that, where is the belittling and namecalling. Where is the relentless and illogical rant at how they are wrong about the great GOTG. You are giving this kid unreal notions of how the group works.
Maybe Sire and Yoni knew what they were doing after all.
by ****** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:28 pm
I guess I just figured with all the lubeless assrape and ridiculously large screen caps in the thread this week it was a miracle anyone posted at all.
by thefourthman » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:35 pm
we got what, three reviews by Thursday night... dude, that's a record.
by ****** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:39 pm
On behalf of 48, fuck you for forgetting that he has also posted his review.
by thefourthman » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:42 pm
all scores higher than a 6 are meaningless.
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text:
DALLAS – Dave Fleischer straightens his denim jacket moments before his wheelchair is pushed through security at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Once through the metal detectors, the 96-year-old from East Dallas adjusts his black World War II Veteran baseball cap. His eyes light up when he spots a fellow veteran heading toward the same gate.
Dave was a mere 21-years-old when he joined the army. World War II was underway, and he would eventually be sent to Normandy, where he was a cook for a fighter squadron.
"I was really scared at that time," he said. "We were close to the front line. You could hear all of the bombing and the noises."
Dave is traveling with a group of veterans to visit the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The voyage is part of the Soaring Valor program sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation. The actor, known for his roles on silver screen in Forrest Gump and Apollo 13, traveled with the veterans from Dallas to New Orleans. American Airlines chartered the flight, and all crew on board volunteered their time.
Like Dave, the men and women who served during WWII are now in their late 80s and 90s. Veterans Affairs estimates that nearly 400 are dying every day. With that in mind, the Soaring Valor program is working with the museum to preserve their accounts of the war before it's too late.
"Nowhere in the history of the world was freedom in more jeopardy than in World War II," Sinise said. "It was a trip to tyranny back then, and thankfully freedom won, and these are the heroes that saved the world for all of us, so we honor them."
Despite being 10-miles behind front lines, the few times Dave was on guard duty stand out, he said.
"Course I was scared to death," he said. "I was a punk kid. Never shot a rifle, never shot a gun."
One cold night, he had a close call with someone who turned out to be friendly, he said.
"I grabbed that rifle off my shoulder, shoved that bullet into the chamber, and I was ready to shoot him, I really was," he said, letting out a laugh. "I probably would have missed him anyway."
Laughing at the story was Dave's daughter, Robyn McAteer, who was along for the ride to New Orleans.
"It's very, very special that this whole program exists," she said. "Every daughter has their dad as their hero. But sharing this with him makes it even more special, he's everybody's America's hero."
Traveling with the 45 vets were 45 high school students from Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. The students selected needed to complete an essay explaining why they should be chosen to travel with the group. Dave was paired with a high school junior Thomas Stuart, an aspiring history teacher.
"This is such an honor. I'm really excited for it," Thomas said. "The next generation needs to learn from the greatest generation because these people have so much to give us."
It's a special journey sparked by the greatest generation and shared with the next.
"I don't know how to explain it," Dave said. "It's been wonderful."


text:
New 2-acre solar panel field will be built off Fuller Road in Ann Arbor
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
The University of Michigan — home to an array of 1,800 DTE Energy panels on Plymouth Road installed in fall — is planning to install another large array this spring.
That array will be on the school's north campus, near the architecture and engineering colleges, and will be visible from Fuller Road, said Terry Alexander, director of U-M's Office of Campus Sustainability. The installment is expected to be roughly the same size as the 2.4-acre Plymouth Road array.
Meanwhile, Matthew Naud, the environmental coordinator for Ann Arbor, says he expects the city, either alone or in partnership with another organization, to install its own large array "in the next year or so." Possible locations for such an installation, Naud said, include city-owned land near the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport and property near the landfill.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
The city already has small solar installations on the roof of Kerrytown Market, the Leslie Science and Nature Center, the newly constructed courts building and several fire stations. U-M has solar installations on the roof the School of Natural Resources building and atop a building near the school's central power plant, both on central campus.
Public forums would take place before any large installation.
The city is also planning to partner with Ann Arbor Public Schools and New York-based Wind Products Inc. on a potential $1.4 million wind energy project that would fund the installment of two large turbines.
Alternative energy is coming to Ann Arbor, but not without some controversy.
"People react to solar panels and wind turbines as they do to many new things: some love them, some hate them. They're new to the eye," said Mike Garfield, director of the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor.
The Plymouth Road installation generated a lot of feedback, with many Ann Arborites praising U-M for supporting solar energy while others criticized the university's approach to solar energy and the community and called the array an eyesore. Ward 2 Councilwoman Jane Lumm called the project "industrial" and "hideous."
"U of M is sending the message that solar is industrial, in-your-face, and ugly and we had just better get used to it," said Ann Arbor resident Dave Bizot.
Others disagreed.
"I think this is the most positive and appealing project either DTE or the [university] has created in years," offered Ann Arbor resident Sandra Awood.
Alexander said the visual impact of the Plymouth Road installation and planned array off Fuller Road will be mitigated with trees, shrubs and other landscaping. The solar panels installed over the spring will face Fuller Road, unlike the array near Plymouth.
Yet the arrays are strategically located so they can be seen.
"It's great that there's a visible solar project on site at the university. A lot of people coming to and from and through Ann Arbor will see it," Garfield said of the array on Plymouth. "I also think we're going to learn something from the reaction to it."
Added Alexander:
"It will grow on people. When I first saw it I had a reaction of 'Wow, that's big...' every time I drive by it, it looks smaller, so I am adjusting to it."
Concerns over the aesthetics of alternative energy installations, whether it be solar panels or wind turbines, are an ongoing aspect of proposals throughout the country.
"You kind of take the good and the bad, and know that you can't make everybody happy," Alexander said.
The planned array off Fuller Road will be installed on U-M land by DTE as part of the energy giant's Solar Currents program. The Plymouth Road project, which is also part of the program, generates enough electricity to power about 100 homes. DTE pays U-M $12,000 annually for the use of its land.
The panel installations are part of a $14 million initiative to enhance sustainability on the Ann Arbor campus. U-M President Mary Sue Coleman first announced U-M's plans to install solar panels during a sustainability address in September 2011.
Nearby, the city of Ypsilanti is in the process of leasing 4.5 acres of its land for a solar installation. That installation, operated by SunDurance Energy, would net Ypsilanti a $44,000 annual payment. Ypsilanti is expected to be notified this week whether it was chosen for a "short list" for the DTE project.
According to DTE, solar panels are producing 949 kilowatts of energy in Ann Arbor. In addition to the Plymouth Road installation, which produces 430 kilowatts, there are 64 customer owned installations throughout Ann Arbor that produce 400 kilowatts of energy. Another 21 projects scattered throughout Ann Arbor bring the total to 949 kilowatts.
The lack of a public forum prior to the installation of panels on Plymouth Road upset several nearby homeowners.
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U-M's community relations director Jim Kosteva said officials haven't decided if there will be any public forum prior to the spring installation of solar panels off Fuller Road.
"I would just hope that there'd be more outreach and recognition when they do these sort of projects," said Limm. "There is an impact on the adjacent neighborhoods."
View New University of Michigan solar installation s in a larger map
See a view of the panels driving down Plymouth Road:
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at firstname.lastname@example.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Chris Snyder
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 7:48 a.m.
I've a sneaking suspicion, since it says the PV panels were DTE Energy's, that these at Plymouth Rd are the very same panels that were put into service decades ago when the Solar Currents Program was first started at the customers' demand. A few years ago DTE arbitrarily terminated Solar Currents and then tried to give away the PV panels that the customers had been paying for over decades to local schools. Unfortunately, none of the schools could afford to purchase the rest of the PV systems (mounting racks, inverters, etc), so there were no takers on the offer. This went on for a couple of years while the panels kept on generating power that DTE was no longer collecting a premium from its customers for the solar energy. It wouldn't surprise me if DTE figured out that they could give the PV panels to a university (UMIch) which would have the $ for the rest of the PV system equipment, and finally get some good PR out of them while disposing of them and getting a tax deduction for the gift.
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
Incorrect. Rely on facts; uninformed speculation is intellectually lazy.
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
This is another example of "feel-good" environmentalism. A large, destructive footprint to produce meager amounts of energy. At least it will not kill numerous birds as windmills are noted for.
Chris Snyder
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 7:59 a.m.
Since you are so concerned about bird deaths, have you boarded up all the windows on your house and put a bell on your cat? Windows on buildings cause a little less than half of all bird deaths, cars are farther down the list, cats are near the bottom with only a few percent, and windmills- generators are less than a half of one percent of all bird deaths. Oh, and have you seen the large destructive footprint of mountain top removal coal mining which is rapidly becoming the most common type of coal mining? Not only is there the scar of the cutting off of the mountain tops to get at the coal, but they dump everything they don't want into the valleys. And then their are the slurry dams that have burst and wiped out whole towns - fortunately for the coal companies, it is usually the homes of their own workers who are threatened or lost, so the people living there can't complain too loudly, or they'd lose their job as well as their home. I'll take PVs and windmills any day - and I do get my power from the ones in my back yard.
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 12:55 a.m.
The problem with Garbage in / Garbage out energy policy we currently have. Solar Panels and Windmills require coal, oil, natural gas to manufacturer, ship and install. These solar panels will never produce enough energy than it did to produce them. THEY DO NOT AND WILL NEVER DISPLACE A BARREL OF OIL. Windmills have short term and long term costly maintenance issues. Installing mini power plants 300 feet in the air are inaccessible to service and repair for the little energy they produce. After about 10 to 15 years it will be so costly to repair that they will be ugly expensive reminders that 12 century technology cannot and will never power America in the 21st Century.
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
While they may not be the least cost option, wind and solar are able to generate much more energy than used in their fabrication and installation.
Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 4:24 a.m.
I just drove by these panels today and I can see the objection that people have. Why not plant large shrubs and small trees (I know shade on the panels would defeat the purpose) in front of the panels, along the road? That would go a long way, in my humble opinion, to improve the look from the road.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
i have to drive by the Plymouth Rd site every day. It is an eyesore. I'm sure they could have found a much better location, away from the road.
Hi McDonnough
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 9:24 p.m.
" According to DTE, solar panels are producing 949 kilowatts of energy in Ann Arbor." In 2008, the Ann Arbor community used 1,654,758 megawatt-hours (MWh).
Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 8:53 p.m.
Is that before or after the SMART METERS?
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
Remember all the hoopla over the ugly new cell phone tower at Domino Farms? You all managed to survive that visual armageddon. You shall survive this one too.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
I hope "they" have done the study that will show that this array and its' reflections at various times of the year/day will not cause problems at the VA Hospital. I think they get it that the sun is powerful, hope they also understand how it works when you "aim" it at something.
Chris Hall
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:03 p.m.
Probably isn't cost-effective but we have to start somewhere. The original light bulbs were energy hogs, as were the first refrigerators. These solar panels aren't particularly efficient and cost a lot to make. But, if we keep installing, learning, re-engineering, etc. we'll eventually get to the point where it makes economical sense. If we don't install any at all due to the cost/benefit analysis, the engineering will stop and we'll never move off of fossil fuels. As for being an eye-sore? I don't know, I kind of like how they look. And, the closer they are to the point of use the more efficient they are . I won't mind if they build one across the street from me. They are silent and don't pollute at all (after they're manufactured), those are benefits I can live with.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
So places with research missions should be the ones doing these loss leaders. If only there were some organization near the solar cells whose mission was research... like a University.
Real Life
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:03 p.m.
While they're at it, why not pass a law that we have longer sunlight and less clouds, in order to get some use out of these things. Now if the U of M were truly interested in generating energy, they'd find some of their land with fracking potential, poke a modest hole, make a lot of money and lower tuition to boot!
Nancy Shiffler
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
Personally, I'll take solar panels over the oil wells being drilled in Lodi Township, the Irish Hills, and under schools in Adrian and Tecumseh -- not to mention the Enbridge tar sands pipeline now being constructed to cross under Ellsworth Road.
E. Manuel Goldstein
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
As a northside Ann Arbor resident, I like what UM is doing with solar panel installations. Personally I think the Plymouth Rd panels look great, and that Jane Lumm and Sally Peterson are picking fly crap from pepper. Mr Ranzini, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and install solar panels on the roofs of all the University Banks, or how about University Bank offering low interest loans and/or special terms to homeowners who would like to finance solar PVs and solar hot water installations on their homes?
E. Manuel Goldstein
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:39 p.m.
That is a very good rate Mr Ranzini, and the fact that you look at alternative energy measures for your business is a plus. Thanks for your answer, it helps to know who the real community supporters are.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:20 p.m.
@E. Manuel Goldstein: we do offer residential loans with rates recently as low as 2.5% APY fixed for 15 years for any purpose, or 3.25% APY fixed for 30 years. Is that low enough for you? We only own one facility in Ann Arbor, the Mansion on Washtenaw Avenue, and have explored geothermal but cannot make the numbers work at that location. Solar won't work on the historic mansion's roof and would destroy the view of our lawn which is a key positive attribute of the historic mansion if we did a big installation in the front lawn.
Rita Mitchell
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:54 p.m.
I agree with those who support use of solar panels on rooftops or over parking areas, as preferred locations for solar panels. One big concern I have is cutting trees in order to place solar panels. It would be good to have a big-picture assessment of placement, that takes into account the benefits of trees for cleaning air and absorbing rainwater. I would like the city and the UM to use least-invasive approaches to placement of solar arrays, as evidence of using sustainable methods to implement alternative energy. Regarding the total cost of energy production: Fossil fuels are used to extract fossil fuels, and to create ethanol. Fossil fuel production has been "sustained" by subsidies for years.
Roger Kuhlman
Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
Check the facts. Subsidies for fossil fuel production are minor and basically irrelevant compared to the subsidies solar and other alternative energy production gets. Fossil fuel production could continue unimpeded without any subsidies. Solar definitely could not. [Remember Solyndra! A fabulous success.]
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
Does this make financial sense? Saving the planet is liberal gibberish, what is the Return on investment?
Ed Kimball
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
Right. Saving the planet for our children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren clearly has no value to us!
J. Zarman
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
The commenter who is in banking may want to chat with someone on staff at his bank who knows about land development laws and regulations. Assuming development generating $75,000 lease revenue per year, on the Plymouth Rd. site, is malarkey. It is highly suspect to assume rezoning for commercial use, sufficient to garner such revenues. Even so, the required setback waiver alone is unlikely ever to be granted at that site. The solar panel array makes good use of the setback. Perhaps not pretty, but functional, and good stewardship.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
@ReverseDoubleBlumpkin: LOL & thanks! @J. Zarman wrote: "I question your unspoken assumption that the city would approve such striking changes in zoning for the truly campus-like former Pfizer property." Like installing a 2.4 acre industrial solar array without even a single permit required? But seriously, you don't think the city would have approved a lot split for the 2.4 acres if U-M asked for it? You do raise an excellent topic regarding zoning in that Ann Arbor's zoning appears to have a loophole and doesn't control this type of industrial project since no planning approval was required while almost everyone else in the world it would have an approval process. But the real genius of the project for DTE is that putting these installations on land owned by and leased from a non-profit saves DTE a lot of property taxes over 30 years, since non-profits don't pay any property taxes.
J. Zarman
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
@S.L. Ranzini Sorry, but you entirely misunderstand my point. Land NORTH of Plymouth, were it available, would fit your scenario. It is already zoned for commercial/retail and lacks deep setback requirements. I question your unspoken assumption that the city would approve such striking changes in zoning for the truly campus-like former Pfizer property. Your implication that commercial buildings where the solar panels now stand also assumes setbacks of 40 feet rather than the current several hundred feet -- unlikely at best. Put these together, and the leasing potential of land on the south side of Plymouth falls far short of your scenario.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:32 p.m.
@J. Zarman: You actually believe that a 2.4 acre site at the corner of Plymouth Road and Huron Parkway is not worth $1.5 million, or $75,000 a year for a 30 year lease? $12,000 a year is certainly way too low. Do you own any valuable land on a major corner next to a major employer in town (in this case NCRC) that you'd like to sell or lease very cheaply for 1/10th it's value? If so, please do make me an offer and I'll come round with a check!
SEC Fan
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
Kellie, would you know if UM will be getting rebates for energy produced/used by these arrays? (i.e., will they be getting energy cost savings and how much per year) the article only talks about the money UM will be getting for the land itself.
Roger Kuhlman
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
Nobody seems the least concerned about the most important aspect of this solar panel project which is that it probably costs $50,000 to produce $30,000 of energy. Shouldn't we be dealing with the real world of energy production and consumption when we are patting ourselves on the backs about our environmental progressiveness.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
$30K over the lifetime of the cells?
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.
Nobody thinks about the fossil fuels needed to make solar panels, build the foundations, and clean the surfaces. Also, we fail to recognize that it takes fossil fuels to make the steel used in wind turbines! It is like the PETA folks who wear leather shoes, belts, and suede jackets! Rose colored glasses are so difficult to see through!
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
The problem with any business case for solar or wind is that the total cost of fossil fuel generation, including negative externalities affecting the environment long or short term, is not considered. If it were, renewable energy would win. Kudos to UM and the city for taking the initiative, helping to safeguard the air we breathe, and making a positive statement.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
The government has plenty of money for oil subsidies, apparently.
David Cahill
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:40 p.m.
After the SNUM's public relations disaster on Plymouth Road, it's nice to see that we have been given adequate notice of this new installation. Even the Sovereign Nation can exhibit learning behavior! I like the proposed new projects. The more solar, the better.
David Cahill
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
Thanks, JRW! I call Jim Kosteva "Ambassador Kosteva" also. 8-)
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:19 p.m.
I love the SN analogy. I'm thinking of the Vatican in Rome.....hahahaha
Robert Granville
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.
I don't care where they are or what they look like. Build more. Across the street from my house if you want.... We need more solar.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
must be renting.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
Right on.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
Wait till someone figures out (can you say government grant) that all of the animals and plants and bugs that need sunlight to live, that reside under these ugly things, are dying. Also, that projecting the suns warming rays away from the earth, alters our climate! Just love it when everyone jumps on board these new things like they are the great savior.
Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
THis NEW thing been around for over 20-30 years it is JUST COMMING TO YOUR BACKYARD>
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
Well, since we're trapping heat with greenhouse gases, perhaps projecting it back away will counteract that. Also, look at the area of the Earth covered with solar cells. Look at the area covered with, oh, smokestacks, hot asphalt roofs, polluted retention ponds. Solar cells aren't going to add any significant impact any time soon.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
One of the great things about solar power is that is can be delivered at point of use, without the need for wasteful cables, the risk of downed power lines, or unnecessary 'industrialization' of farm or urban land. This adverse publicity is the last thing we need for solar power. But UM and DTE could get the best of both worlds if they were to put the panels on top of a nearby parking lot, providing shade and shelter for the cars, plus a few power points for electric cars.
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
One of the articles indicated that installation over parking lots was rejected due to cost.
say it plain
Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 6:56 p.m.
Aren't there giant parking lots right on the UM property where they instead used the lawn?!
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
S_A2, I was thinking the same thing. Use all the giant parking lots around town to keep cars cool in summer and keep the lots from collecting all that heat during the day and releasing it at night.
Patricia Lesko
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
"U-M's community relations director Jim Kosteva said officials haven't decided if there will be any public forum prior to the spring installation of solar panels off Fuller Road." Community relations director? What happened to the "Resolution of Cooperation" between the city and U of M that was written and championed by John Hieftje and Ward 1 Council member Sabra Briere? It was passed by Council amid much fanfare and duly delivered to someone at U of M, perhaps Mr. Kosteva. No doubt he dropped it quickly into the nearest circular file. Council members Sally Petersen and Jane Lumm are offering to do Kosteva's job for him, and his reply is arrogant and shows exactly why the city should develop a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program and implement it. Arrogance balanced by a yearly $10 Million dollar payment in lieu of property taxes would be slightly less galling.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
I'm not that familiar with the Fuller Rd area that is campus property being considered for a solar array, but the area on the map off Fuller that is pinpointed in the article looks like a parking lot that I have driven past. What happens to those parking spaces if the solar array decreases the number of parking spaces? Why not build the solar array further outside of town, rather than force students and faculty to find even more limited parking close to UM buildings where they work and attend classes, or force them to take polluting buses from satellite parking lots. Here's a thought: build the solar panels near the satellite parking lots!
Soulful Adrenaline
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
That's a perfect spot for the array.
Kyle Mattson
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
Hi JRW- Kellie can probably add some more details, but per my knowledge of the site I would assume that the planels are being installed on the clearing behind that lot. That area is approximately 2 acres and on a hill which would position the south-facing panels maximum exposure for that spot. Check out this aerial view of the location to get a better view of what I mean: http://binged.it/XharL1
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Why not put solar arrays over parking lots? Everyone would love covered parking. Sure it might take some engineering, but that's what UofM is known for right? We can then avoid cutting down trees for these large arrays.
Free Radical Scavenger
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Regarding solar panels mounted on rooftops: solar panels are perfect for mounting on the roofs of factories and warehouses. Not only do they produce electricity, but they reduce cooling costs by30% in the summer time.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8:01 p.m.
IF the roof is designed, or refitted, to handle them. I'm all for it, but that's an important point.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.
I support solar and wind energy sources, as long as the installations do not degrade the quality of life for nearby residents. The location of the large solar panel installations near the airport or landfill would not dramatically impinge on residential areas, as these locations are already outside of heavily residential areas, as long as the installations are isolated on large tracts of land. However, I have huge concerns about the installation of two wind turbines in the city, likely near one of the high schools. All three AAPS high schools are in residential areas and let me be clear, these turbines generate a LOT of noise when they are turning. Locating them near Huron HS, for example, which is across from Gallup Park, would not only create a lot of noise for nearby residential areas, but would also dramatically disrupt the bird population in the park, not to mention the loud noise that would be generated for visitors to the park. I have visited smaller cities in other states where these are installed, and they are definitely not something you want to live near. And they certainly don't belong adjacent to widely used parkland by a beautiful river. I would personally never live near one of them, and that kind of installation would most certainly decrease nearby property values. All three high schools are in residential areas. The fact that AAPS has not released the location of the turbines is already a problem. They need to make the locations public so there can be public response BEFORE installations begin. And of course, UM "hasn't decided" if there will be a public forum about panels installed off Fuller Rd. As many posters have stated in other articles related to this, UM does what it wants, where it wants, and gets exemptions from the city on ordinances. Any public forum will not have any impact on what UM decides to do.
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.
Wind turbine blade tip speed can exceed 200 mph. Bats and migratory birds are impacted. (Bats are injured by low pressure air in the wake of the blade; bird injury comes from direct impact). The impacts need to be considered in siting the installations and should be considered when evaluating the environmental effects, positive or negative, of the installation.
Chris Snyder
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 8:34 a.m.
I disagree that windmills disrupt the birds lives around the windmills, especially if they are utility scale, which have blades that turn much slower than residential sized turbines. I've watched swallows flying back and forth through the swept area of utility scale windmills chasing insects - the blades are so slow that you or I could probably run through them like kids playing jump rope if the blades came that close to the ground. Wind generators only account for 1/2% of all bird deaths, as opposed to windows in buildings that account for nearly half of all bird deaths, yet you never hear people saying we should ban windows on buildings. I, too, have stood near the base of utility scale windmills on a windy day, and the wind (and the trees) were making far more noise than the blades did. I would choose to live right under a utility scale windmill if that meant I could get my power from it - I find them to be beautiful kinetic scuplture. Now a coal fired power plant or a nuclear power plant - there is a bad neighbor for you. It might take the nuke a while to manifest its problems, but when it does get so old that it needs decommisionning, you don't want to be near it. That's the beauty of most renewable energy systems, you can live right next to them without harm. And I also love the appearance of my PV panels - they are an iridescent blue crystalline pattern (polycrystalline cells) that your eyes can get lost in like a burning fire.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 8 p.m.
Ahh, the peace and quiet of the high schools... especially when the loudspeakers at the football games can be heard for a mile.
Vivienne Armentrout
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
I haven't read this book but it might be interesting in this context. "Green Illusions" http://www.greenillusions.org/ questions some of the environmental benefits of solar and wind energy
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
Says "might be" interesting. Can you disagree with that?
Jonathan Blutarsky
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
If you haven't read it how would you know if its relevant?
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
The main reason these solar arrays are being placed on land like this, and not rooftops, is the ease of installation, and therefore the low cost of installation. One cannot just screw a bunch of solar panel mounts to any rooftop, especially if it is a flat or membrane rooftop. There needs to be planning during construction or re-roofing to place the correct fastening structures, otherwise you have a leaky roof, potential damage from weight or wind shear, etc. I would love to see them on all the rooftops of new commercial construction, I love it even more if city code required it of the new monster high-rises; what better place to put them than 14 stories in the air. Make the out-of-town developers pay for our greening, it is the least they can do to make up for the fouling of our skyline.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Your entry is the best I've read so far. I do so wish new developers would be required to have solar panels on their rooftops. For that matter, I wish new homes had to be built with them, too.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
I think that should be wind lift, not shear, but you get the picture...
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.
thank goodness these panels are not being placed on rooftops - we really need to keep rooftops pristine and aesthetic. much better to have solar panels at ground level and in your face, to remind us that these are solar panels. shrubs can cure anything.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
There's no better place for these things than the City of Ann Arbor. I welcome all of them.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
cool stuff! i'm not opposed.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
U of M: Either buying up the land and taking it off the tax rolls or uglying up the land for everybody.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:41 p.m.
You are free to outbid the University on the land and then create businesses and jobs at these locations.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
Why is the U and not the city landing these deals? The U gets acres of solar panels and we're getting maybe two "monument to alternative enerty" windmills? We have a big greenbelt that would be perfect for this stuff. I don't need it "in my face" and it doesn't work any better there than in a less obtrusive environment.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
Look at the Emperor's new clothes!!!
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
What a waste of two acres.
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
Or put a drugstore or a bank there, because there aren't enough of them.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
Yeah, they should have left them empty like they were before.
music to my ear
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.
ok go ahead,but to partner with New York wind products. do we not have any companies in Mich, we need to keep it local ,whats all these pure Mich commercials.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:41 p.m.
One of the poll questions should be, "The university should seek public input on the proposed design and location of the array before moving forward."
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
Yeah so all the NIMBY's can try to block what the University can do with its own land.
Kellie Woodhouse
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:55 p.m.
Thanks for the idea, I'll try to incorporate that in a future article.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
Pretty amazing how a school that says they have to continually increase the tuition never has a shortage of money for anything that even sounds green. Doesn't matter if these installations still are not cost efficient, they sound green and give people like Colemand the warm and fuzzy feeling they crave. Who care how much it costs when somebody else is paying for it.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
Facts: get them before you open your mouth.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
They're DTE's panels. DTE is paying rent to UM for the land.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.
The Ypsilanti solar array is being built on top of a closed municipal dump (kudos to Ypsilanti and DTE for such a creative reuse!), which is land that cannot really ever be used for much of anything. The Plymouth Road solar array land is being leased for $10,000 a year despite being a prime corner location that could easily command $1.5 million or more if developed, and depending upon the credit quality of a long term tenant, could command an annual lease rate of $75,000 to $150,000. The Fuller Road solar array location is also on prime land, just down the road from what will soon be a stop on a high speed rail line and both the VA and U-M Hospitals. Again, the land if developed would be worth millions of dollars (and perhaps $10 million to $20 million if a medical office 10-14 story building were built there) and command over $100,000 a year in rent on a 30 year lease, like what DTE is getting. To put this in perspective, our bank just sold 42 acres of land just west of town in Scio Township for $7,500 an acre. Ann Arbor land in the core is extremely valuable and land outside of town is worth very little. Why not put solar arrays on the lowest value land with good access to sunlight? So why is U-M leasing these parcels of prime development land in central Ann Arbor for 30 years to DTE for $5,000 an acre?
Richard Carter
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 7:57 p.m.
Part of it may just be that U-M considers it part of their Sustainability goals so are, in part, paying for those goals with reduced lease income. I'm sure a lot of campus buildings used for education or other U-M goals could be torn down and stores put in for greater profit to the "U," but that's not their main mission.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
I'm guessing, as others have here, that the University just has no plans to develop that land for the next 5 years after that they can kick DTE off and develop it then if they want. They're making money on what would otherwise cost them lawn-cutting and landscaping fees. Seems smart to me. DTE probably wouldn't pay more, so UM got what they could.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:54 p.m.
@Kellie Woodhouse: Sorry the $10,000 number was from memory. The Plymouth Road project sits on 2.4 acres so it is $5,000 an acre, and that was the number that stuck in my head, since it was so amazingly low for such prime real estate. Thanks for pointing out my error. @Brad: a 30 year lease is about the same as a sale. The land is encumbered for a long time and not available to U-M for any other purpose until the end of the lease. You can't just pick up and move a $17 million power plant of this type either without huge expense. @ahi: You are correct, access to the electric network is important for site selection for these projects. There is a lot of land out in the townships near high tension power lines that is worth almost nothing that could be used just as well. I suspect the true benfit for DTE here is that Ann Arbor's zoning has a loophole and doesn't control this type of project since no planning approval was required while almost everyone else in the world it would have an approval process. Also, putting these installations on land owned by and leased from a non-profit saves DTE a lot of property taxes, since non-profits don't pay property taxes.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Maybe the University isn't so laser focused on making a buck as the rest of the country seems to be. Also, leasing the land is different from developing the land. The University owns land that it holds in reserve. If you develop it - it is essentially gone. Removal of existing buildings is prohibitively expensive and the University would have sunk costs that it would be hard to justify having spent . If you put solar panels on it you have the option of removing them easily at some future point (i.e. for expansion of North Campus).
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.
Just a guess, but hooking up to the grid may be a significant cost. The Plymouth Road and Fuller Road arrays are likely much easier to tie into the grid than farmland out in Scio Township. Same with Ypsi dump since it's directly adjacent to 94.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
I think Stephen is totally on to something here. Just look at all of the empty land UofM has in the center of the Diag. They could totally lease it to McDonalds and make tons of money! Why hasn't anyone thought of this brilliant idea before?
Kellie Woodhouse
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.
I was told by the university that the lease on Plymouth Road was for $12,000 a year, plus an additional $12,000 during initial construction. I was also told by Terry Alexander that the panels are placed on land not earmarked for future construction.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
I don't claim to know anything about any of this, but it seems to me that the placement of these solar arrays in such prime locations speaks volumes about the importance of a commitment to alternative energy. The conversations--such as this one--generated by giving these installments such prominent locations are invaluable. I just saw the Plymouth Road installation for the first time this week and did think it was kind of "in your face," but sometimes provocative is okay in the service of the larger cause. I agree, however, that locations such as the one that you mention in Ypsi are ideal for future installations.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:42 a.m.
I was pleased to see a public institution make a move towards sustainability. I am sure this will spur some businesses and home owners to do the same.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:41 a.m.
instillations? It would be interesting to see a full financial statement for these installations including how much the federal and/or state governments are subsidizing or providing tax breaks. DTE is motivated to do these installations because they have a requirement to have x% of their generation from wind and solar by a certain date, whether it makes financial sense or not.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:59 p.m.
Except that we NEED the oil to survive at this point in time, so there's no real option or choice. We either need to pump more of our own domestic oil (e.g. open ANWR, pump more from the gulf and Frack more) or wait until there is enough renewable energy in place to cover what the oil and gas currently does. That should be in approximately 150 years (assuming we don't go nuclear, which we should).
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.
@A2comments: If we charged the full cost of protecting the oil supplies in the Middle East, currently running over $600 billion a year for our military budget, to the cost of every barrel of oil imported into the U.S., we'd actually see how much the oil economy is subsidized! Solar power and other renewables make a lot of sense. Our current national energy and defense policy does not!
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
It would also be interesting to see full financial statements for the subsidies involving our coal, oil, and natural gas energy production. Maybe try to account for associated public health costs as well.
Kellie Woodhouse
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.
I agree. These are breakdowns we're requesting.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:37 a.m.
Finally a step into the modern era. Solar panels need to be more accessible to everyone. I wonder how that would go over at my association meeting if I proposed we all get them on the roof? I think it would be cool, but some people just don't like progress.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:19 a.m.
Are all these solar panels coming from the USA or China?
music to my ear
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:53 p.m.
and they want to use an out side of mi company to do them.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 11:15 a.m.
$5,000 an acre for a long term lease on prime land in Ann Arbor versus $10,000 an acre for marginal land in Ypsilanti? Isn't whomever is negotiating these leases for U-M leaving a lot of money on the table?
Jake C
Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
Sandra: Cost, primarily. It takes a lot of extra money to just get solar panels installed on a 10-story roof, let alone maintain them. Also creates additional problems like making sure it doesn't cause roof leaks, that they don't fly away during storms, and that the roofs are actually rated for the extra weight. Installing in an otherwise empty grass field is a heck of a lot easier & cheaper.
Sandra Samons
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 5:50 p.m.
Why can't these solar panels be placed on the roofs of U of M buildings, where they won't take up land space and create eyesores? Surely at least some of them could be placed better than they are. I'm all in favor of using solar power, but common sense and esthetic sense, please!
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
If they lease it they have a sustainable 100% long term expense deduction plus they don't have to pay any property taxes. There are advantages to leasing vs buying in certain circumstances.
J. Zarman
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:30 p.m.
Good point. I wonder what accounts for the difference in these two amounts.
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
Why do you hate Ann Arbor so much?
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.
and THIS is why I'm voting for you for major. You actually think about stuff. I like a thinker. Been a long time since one of those was mayor.