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Breaking new ground this fall, Portland State became the first university in Oregon to join the statewide Healthy Purchasing Coalition, an effort to align large organizations in the shared goal of increasing demand for innovative products that tread lightly on the environment.
The coalition, formed in 2012 as part of the Healthy Purchasing Initiative, promotes sustainable purchasing and addresses the issue of toxic chemicals found in products we use every day.
According to the research cited by the Oregon Environmental Council, which leads the Healthy Purchasing Coalition, there are approximately 83,000 chemicals used in everyday commerce, but the federal government has health hazard information for less than 10 percent of them.
One goal of the coalition is to create demand for non-toxic products and better disclosure of product information by aligning the purchasing policies of large organizations.
Portland State joins Multnomah County, the Port of Portland, Portland Development Commission and the cities of Portland, Eugene, and Hillsboro as a member of the coalition.
Darin Matthews, director of contracting and procurement for PSU, said membership in coalition formalizes a lot of the work that the University is already doing through its sustainable procurement policy.
"I'm a geek, I love this," Matthews says. "We got a report about how we're doing in different areas in our green purchasing and it became very clear to me that a lot of people care about this and we're doing a lot of good things."
Matthews said that PSU was active in the coalition before formally joining the group. The group provides a forum for sharing best practices in purchasing and procurement.
"As the largest university in Oregon, Portland State University can make a big impact in the marketplace through its purchasing decisions," said Colin Price, Oregon Environmental Council's director of research and market innovation and a graduate of PSU's Master of Urban and Regional Planning program.
Will PSU be the only university in the coalition for long? Probably not, Matthews predicts.
"I would not be surprised to see the other big universities sign on," he said. "I would like to think that they'll follow our lead."


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Plan for the inevitable. Expect the unexpected.
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Discover helpful videos & guides for your family.
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Returning home after a major disaster can be both physically dangerous and mentally difficult.
Families must seriously consider emergency preparations for pets as Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of...
Advance planning will make evacuation procedures easier. First, you should have your family disaster supply kit and...

subset: commoncrawl


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ACR-F (ELFEXT) - CableIQ
How does CableIQ measure ACR-F?
The measurement is done in the time domain by looking at the amount of reflected FEXT which comes from the end of link, where all the FEXT piles up. There is a low power DSP chip in the remote adapter which enables CableIQ to take advantage of time domain measurement techniques.
ACR-F is an important parameter for ensuring successful transmission of 1000BASE-T.
For further information on how CableIQ works, click here
If you are required to provide ACR-F as part of a certification test, this is done using the DTX CableAnalyzer.


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Search the Chicago Transit Authority's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Directory by entering search terms and clicking Search. You must select at least one certification type.
Search results may be downloaded to Excel, by clicking the "Download Results to Excel" button after your search results are displayed. To download the full Certification Directory do not enter search criteria, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Download Entire Directory to Excel" button.


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In Brooklyn's Coney Island, there's a bizarre Boardwalk attraction called "Shoot the Freak," which lets beach revelers fire a paintball gun at a guy scurrying in a pit below as he tries to dodge pellets and ward them off with a splattered, makeshift shield.
It's low-rent, sadistic – and almost impossible to stop watching.
Which is also what you could say about much of Reality TV.
Well, get ready for a strange, new reality: An interactive, Reality TV-inspired website called Prank House, which, as clever as it might seem, is even more cruel. Billed as "the first reality video game," computer users can buy virtual tokens allowing them, via robotics, to shock, toss water balloons and, yes, shoot paintballs at "YouTube celebrities" living in a house, "Big Brother"-style.
Let's consider for a moment what constitutes a YouTube celebrity. Prank House residents include the likes of ShayCarl and Onision, whose videos have a following – but not enough success that the participants could pass up this exercise in live-streamed humiliation.
Prank House is a creation of its time, tapping into "Big Brother," "Survivor," "Punk'd," Burger King's Subservient Chicken
But the site seems more like a twist on a Stanley Milgram-type exercise gauging human cruelty delivered from a distance – even if nobody really gets hurt badly by "pranks" that include delivering light shocks during foosball games and using robotic arms to smear faces with Magic Markers. Adding to the group psychology element, Prank House is divided into teams – red and blue – and your remote actions ostensibly are aimed at helping your crew win competitions.
We're a little surprised that Prank House is being promoted on YouTube, which has used the considerable power of its platform for such nobler efforts as assembling a virtual orchestra, a digital art competition and the "Life in a Day" movie project. But there's a wide tent, we suppose, in the do-it-yourself circus.
Prank House isn't the worst thing we've ever seen online – or even in Coney Island. But we'll ask the same question that wafts along the Boardwalk when we find ourselves thinking about grabbing that paintball gun: Is the real freak the one dodging the paintball pellets or the one firing them?
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NY City News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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Credit to Kicksave for the sweet Pens-centric pic.
Stewie Griffin wrote:Now then, I'm going to do something I call the "compliment sandwich", where I say something good, then talk about where you need improvement, and then end with something good.
Sabres at Pens, a 5-2 win
Something good: Firing on all cylinders. The Pens got contributions from all of their forward lines. Scoring chances, energy, physical play, it was all there.
Where they need improvement: Defensive Coverage. The Pens held Buffalo to 2 goals on 23 shots, which is pretty good. However, both goals and 6 other shots came from inside the house (draw a rectangle from the face-off dots and down to the goal line). Fortunately, Fleury was up to the task and made some key save, most notably on Maxim Afinogenov.
Something good: Malkin's Dominance. Sure, he had a goal a 3 assists on 4 shots and was +2. He also fired 2 more shots wide and had 2 more blocked. He's starting to fire from everywhere, and the more he does that, the more are going to hit the net, and that's only going to lead to good things for this team. Malkin also won 83% of his face-offs.


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Military Families in All Shapes and Sizes
When you marry someone in the military, there are things about your life that will change pretty drastically. We all know that. How you live, where you live, how long you'll get to stay at a job, whether you'll even find a job—these uncertainties, and many more, come with the territory. Even the presence or absence of your spouse in your household is no longer something you always get to decide.
Military spouses and military children are expected to make these sacrifices for the sake of our Nation's military every day. The missed birthdays, the school play Mom or Dad couldn't come see, the graduations, births, deaths, joys and disappointments we experience without members of our families all come with this life. Some of our brothers and sisters face the enormous challenges of welcoming home a beloved service member who must now rebuild their lives because of a war-related injury, or cope with unimaginable heartbreak when a loved one doesn't come home at all.
One of the ways the military has traditionally acknowledged these sacrifices is to assure military members that, come what may, their families will be taken care of. From the routine—PX access, health care, housing allowances—to the extreme—SGLI, survivor benefits—military families know that their basic needs will be met. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it doable. That is, unless your spouse is the same gender as you are.
I reached out to Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC), an organization that provides support, resources, education and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military partners and their families, because I know how hard this life can often be, even with the benefits extended to heterosexual married service members and their families. I also got in touch because every day I look around our beautiful neighborhood in San Diego and see the joy, companionship and acceptance woven into the fabric of this diverse community as couples of every variety hold hands, fall in love and share their lives. All military members can now openly experience this joy in their relationships, too, and that's an enormous step forward. But we need to do more.
June is LGBT Pride Month. It is a perfect time to renew our commitment to support ALL military families. Families serve too and military families deserve to be given the gratitude and the benefits to which they are entitled, regardless of their family composition. They've earned it, just like heterosexual partners and families have, and the American public wants to thank them the same way they thanks us. In fact, there should be no "them" or "us." MPFC is working to make this ideal a reality and I'm proud to stand with them as an ally military spouse.
Guest Post by Kim Place-Gateau, MPFC ally. A wanderer by nature, Kim grew up on three coasts and two continents, and has no plans to settle. She is a former restaurant owner, caterer, wrangler of at-risk teenagers, Ropes Course instructor, legal dweeb and tutor, and is now a writer. Her work has appeared in Military Spouse Magazine, The Broad Side, Front Porch Fredericksburg and wherever old newsletters, menus and flyers from her popular restaurant still exist.
Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC) is the only organization founded by partners of active duty service members. The MPFC mission is to provide support, education, resources, and advocacy for partners and children of LGBT service members – including families of service members on active duty, in the reserves, national guard, and veterans. The National Military Family Association is a member of MPFC and works with them to raise awareness of the needs for support for all military families. We applaud Kim Place-Gateau, an MPFC ally spouse, for working to create an awareness and a welcoming spirit in her community for LGBT service members and their families.
0 CommentsAdd yours
All spouses, all families, deserve the same rights. They go through the same deployment and reintegration issues as the rest of us.
It's long overdue, and I will raise a glass to toast the change when it comes. We will have a much stronger military when ALL Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coasties don't have to worry about their family members being recognized as such.
[…] From the National Military Family Association website […]


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Every day, I gather together all my favorite things into my morning and evening roundups. Those posts are filled with things meant to make you laugh, think, smile, and debate. I also try to keep those collections *fairly* family-friendly so that anyone and everyone can enjoy them. But, c'mon…
A lot of the funniest things I find are a little more on the RACY side: f-bombs, sexual innuendo, and all that good stuff. Instead of skipping over those finds completely (and since a lot of us do laugh at these kinds of things as much as the next awesome person), I've included them in a single weekly (or semi-weekly) roundup. That's what this is.
Go ahead. Laugh. Snicker. Send 'em to your friends. Life isn't all flowers and gum balls and classy things.
By the way, many of these were shared with me by all of you! So… Thank you for that (you damned pervs). Life is so much better when we all join forces to laugh inappropriately together. And please be sure to share your favorite racy memes in the comments over on Facebook!


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LEBANON, Maine — One person was sent to the hospital Wednesday after a vehicle crash during foggy conditions with low visibility on Carl Broggi Highway.
At around 4:15 p.m., a 23-year-old woman from Springvale was driving a Ford Taurus on Carl Broggi Highway, when a Jeep Wrangler, which was coming from Lower Middle Road, struck the side of the Taurus, said Rescue Assistant Chief Jason Cole.
"The Taurus spun around several times, coming to rest in the ditch," said Cole. "At the time of the accident, it was extremely foggy and low visibility."
The 23-year-old woman who was driving the Taurus was transported by Lebanon ambulance to Goodall Hospital in Sanford.
The driver of the Jeep, a Farmington woman in her 30s, was shaken up from the accident but did not require medical transport.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident, and both vehicle airbags deployed.
Traffic was closed on Carl Broggi Highway for some time, and initially, emergency crews had to try to make their way through about a mile of stopped traffic on the busy road to get to the scene. Traffic was rerouted down Creamery Hill Road.
Both vehicles were heavily damaged and had to be towed from the scene.
Carl Broggi Highway was reopened in both directions at 5 p.m. after the vehicles were removed and all emergency units had cleared the scene.
"This intersection has seen several serious accidents over the past few years. Within a half mile there has been several fatal and very serious accidents," Cole added.
Lebanon Rescue Department, York County Sheriff's Department, and the Lebanon Fire Department responded to the scene.


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Mexico bird flu outbreak affects 2.5 million chickens, 1 million destroyed
Article Shared From: The Washington Post
By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, July 5, 12:45 PM
MEXICO CITY — ?An outbreak of the H7N3 bird flu virus in western Mexico has infected about 2.5 million chickens and led authorities to destroy or dispose of almost a million birds.
The country's Agriculture Department says that 129 farms in the western state of Jalisco have been inspected. Flu was confirmed in birds at 24 of the sites, and tests continued on most of the rest.
The outbreak has caused price increases in chicken and egg products in Mexico.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.


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Ç'kemi and welcome to Tirana, Albania's thriving capital city! In the years since the country emerged from isolationist seclusion in the early 1990s, Tirana has played a key role in Albania's remarkable transformation into a busy and gregarious member of the global community. However, the city is still something of a mystery to many outsiders, with tourism and foreign investment only recently coming to the forefront. This may make relocating to Tirana feel rather intimidating — which is where InterNations comes in. Our unique platform supports expats living and working in Tirana, with a host of useful resources designed to make your transition to the Albanian way of life as smooth as possible. Simply join InterNations and you'll be able to find the answers to a host of important questions you might have about Tirana — such as what to expect from Albanian business and social culture, where to find the best international schools and which districts to look at for buying or renting property. You can also share your own experiences by becoming an active member of our community. Whether you're here for business opportunities, due to family connections, or simply to experience one of Europe's hidden corners, Tirana is an excellent city to spend time in, from the colorful buildings and busy shopping districts to the magnificent countryside right on your doorstep.
With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you move to another city or go on a business trip somewhere — our communities are there to make you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Feel free to also check out our other vibrant InterNations Communities like the ones in Jakarta or Bangkok.
Attend our monthly events and activities for Tirana expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Tirana expat forums.
To walk through the bustling pedestrianized center of modern Tirana, it's difficult to believe that just over two decades ago the city was in the grip of a repressive and highly insular communist regime. In recent years, the city has wasted little time in opening up to the modern world, resulting in a fascinating clash of bright modern architecture and big-city aspirational living, with the lingering visual remnants of the nation's past. Some hangovers remain — corruption can be a problem in Tirana, and many of the city's public services aren't quite up to modern Western standards. However, the overall quality of life is high, and a friendly, welcoming spirit is central to the Albanian cultural identity, making Tirana a great city for expatriates. Many expats are drawn by development and investment opportunities in key industries including textiles, pharmaceuticals and the production of machinery. The English language is also highly valued but not yet widely taught, meaning teaching it as a foreign language is also a popular career move for many expats. Like most of Albania, Tirana is still something of a hidden gem, but Europe is increasingly waking up to the many charms of this ambitious and forward-looking capital.
InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities across the globe. Get to know fellow internationals in your city, before you're moving, or when traveling somewhere and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Vienna or Geneva, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.
At InterNations, we specialize in helping expats make meaningful business and social connections at home and around the world. The safety and security of our community is of paramount importance, which is why we place the key principles of honesty, ethical behavior and mutual respect at the very core of our platform. Feel free to use our service to ask any questions you might have about living in Tirana. You may need advice on obtaining private healthcare or a place for your child in a high-quality international school. You might also be wondering what to expect from Tirana's roads, or looking for job opportunities in the capital. Alternatively, you may wish to meet fellow expats in person to trade tips and insights over coffee, or to form a walking group to explore the city's beautiful surroundings. Whatever you need, InterNations members will be happy to share their knowledge. Why not sign up for our next InterNations Official Event in Tirana? We host events regularly, providing a fun communal space in one of Tirana's many attractive venues, where you can mingle with fellow expats and take the first steps towards becoming a part of the city's thriving international community.


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Split up: Divide and conquer (the mall, that is)
The key to an enjoyable joint shopping experience is to be aware of your differences. This also applies if you are planning a day's shopping with the girls. Not all women enjoy traipsing round the shops, and some men are known to revel in the retail experience!
Why not decide who is going to find the presents for each person on your Christmas list before you leave the house? It may also help to have a frank discussion of what you both hate about shopping. You may find that you can split tasks up so you each avoid the things that bug you most.
An obvious tactic is to split the presents up by gender. This will allow your partner to spend an afternoon playing with gadgets, flipping through CDs, and loitering at Lowe's or Tractor Supply while you find equally stereotypical presents for the female relatives.
Either way, meeting up for a food or drink stop halfway through allows you to draw breath, compare what you've bought, and most importantly, enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. If there's time at the end, go out together and buy some fun stuff for the two of you. If you can't face that much shoping togetherness, go out on a separate trip without the pressure of finding that perfect present for Uncle Elwood, wear your Santa hat with pride, and have some fun.
If you try everything and he still looks as if you've stolen his remote control, it may be wise to compromise. You can agree to do the majority of the shopping if he accepts some of the Christmas tasks that require him to focus on one task. He can write the Christmas cards, wrap the presents, or make the eggnog.
Even better, you can demand his undivided attention by getting him to treat you to a special night out, or an extra long massage to lower your stress levels.


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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Quarterback Travis Murphy passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in Methodist University's 40-22 football win over visiting Guilford College Saturday.
Murphy, who also ran for a game-high 109 yards, completed 10-of-22 passes for 200 yards in the Monarchs' (1-1) home opener. He threw a 47-yard strike to Adam Thomas late in the first quarter that opened a 17-0 Methodist advantage. Murphy connected with Thomas again from 12 yards out early in the third quarter to open a 24-8 edge.
Guilford made it a 27-16 game early in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Zac Halbert to Ben King, but Methodist responded with a 38-yard scoring pass from Murphy to Vaughn Cross. Murphy broke multiple tackles and ripped off a 71-yard scoring jaunt midway through the quarter that effectively put the game out of reach.
Guilford's Quan Parker returned a fourth-quarter punt 56 yards for a touchdown that capped the game's scoring. The runback marked Guilford's longest punt return and first for a touchdown since Sept. 2008.
Methodist's defense forced five Guilford turnovers, which led to 20 Monarchs points. Navahri Holden returned an interception 10 yards for the game's first score 6:05 into the contest. Roderick Sawyer returned a third-quarter interception down to the Quakers' 30-yard line, which set up Tyler Mosko's career-long 45-yard field goal. He kicked a 35-yard first-quarter field goal that followed the first of two Guilford fumbles.
The Monarchs' active front line stymied held the Quakers' running game to 62 yards on 41 attempts . Methodist's run defense and Guilford's deficit resulted in more passing by the Quakers Saturday as Halbert completed 22-of-38 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. King was his favorite target as the redshirt junior made 10 receptions for 118 yards, both game highs. He now has six career contests with 10 or more catches and seven with at least 100 receiving yards. Lawrence Blake added five grabs for 92 yards, both career highs.
Guilford freshman Jordan Farmer (9 tackles) shared game-high tackling honors with Methodist's Holden. Classmate Hunter English contributed seven stops, three behind the line of scrimmage, and recovered a fumble. Justin Williams-Blackwell had a first-quarter interception.
The Quakers return to Greensboro next Saturday (9/17) to host Averett University in a 7:00 p.m. nonconference contest. The game marks the first home game for rookie head coach Chris Rusiewicz.


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Calculate and Monitor Your Food Truck's Weekly Food Costs
When you're running a food truck business, to make sure you're keeping up on your food costs, you need to calculate them every week. If your monthly profit and loss (P&L) statement shows that your food costs have increased, it may be too late to correct the problem because you're probably four to six weeks beyond the point that the problem surfaced.
By reviewing your costs weekly, you're able to find the problem and eliminate it as soon as possible.
An easy way to monitor your food costs every week doesn't need to take much time, either. Here is a simple form you can put together in a spreadsheet to record and keep track of daily purchases. To use this log, list each of your food invoices in the left-hand column and add their totals into the appropriate subsection on the right.
At the end of the week, you simply total the food column to get your total food purchases for the week. You can then use a form similar to the following to list your daily sales figures, food purchases, and the beginning and ending inventory for the week. First, place your daily sales numbers in the top row of the worksheet; add them up and put the sum in the Total column on the right side.
Then, take your total food purchases total fand place it in the Purchases column in the Food row in the Cost of Sales section. Add your inventory figures to the Beginning Inventory and Ending Inventory spaces. Add your beginning inventory to your purchases; subtract your ending inventory from this number. Now, divide this total by your weekly sales and you're left with a percentage that represents your cost of goods.
Prepare this report every Monday morning so you can see your food cost from the previous week. If something is out of line, such as a huge spike in your beef cost from the previous week, you'll know about it right away and will be able to act on it for the current week.


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Happy New Year! ~ We Thank You for Visiting us during our 2008 Season!
The Chalet Club is Closed for the Winter
Please check back for the yet-to-be-announced 2009 Rates & Dates
The Chalet Club is a unique blend of an all-inclusive, family oriented resort and small inn or B&B. Located at Lake Lure, North Carolina on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Chalet and seven surrounding guest cottages are nestled on the mountainside at an elevation of 1,500 feet and five hundred feet above the lake and valley floor. The guest rooms and cottages have modern amenities, antique or period furnishings, fireplaces and balconies with spectacular views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Chimney Rock. Hiking, tennis, swimming, fishing and boating are all onsite with a short drive to golf and horseback riding. Guests can also choose which meals they may wish to enjoy at the Chalet's dining room or terrace.
Since 1934, the Chalet has served as a haven for travelers from around the world. They have retreated here to escape life's pressures in our tranquil environment where no more than forty guests can totally relax or enjoy a wide array of recreational activities between our chef's delicious meals.
If this is the type of vacation spot that interests you, then please enjoy our site. We think you will celebrate your discovery.
The Chalet offers five guest rooms upstairs, all with private baths.
Room Three has a private balcony and fireplace. The Chalet's living room and library with a big screen television are at the west end of the hallway with spectacular views of the gorge that can be enjoyed from inside or on the porch. The dining room is downstairs - as well as the dining terrace which is enjoyed from spring through the fall.
The Chalet's seven guest cottages range in size and architecture from a one bedroom log cabin to this three bedroom ranch style house - Farview - which lives up to its name with panoramic views of the mountains from every window in the house. All cottage accommodations have balconies or terraces, wood burning fireplaces, refrigerators, coffee makers, microwaves, and central heating and air conditioning. Some do not have televisions; as requested by those who wish to vacation in out tranquil setting, and leave the outside world behind.
Please proceed to the Lodging page for more details and images - including a Virtual Tour.
Breakfast is served in the Chalet's dining room or on the terrace. Guests may select the rate package that suits their vacation plans to include breakfast and activities or simply lodging.
Whether you choose the B&B Plan or European Rate Plan, a nice variety of dining establishments are within a five minute drive from the Chalet.
First-time guests are usually surprised by the Chalet's numerous recreation options.
The trailhead for the hiking trails is just outside the front door of the main lodge. Dug out of the mountain with hand tools by four generations of the Washburn family and Chalet staff, the seven mile network of trails goes to spectacular overlooks such as this one on our South Ridge Trail.
Tennis, platform tennis, horseshoes, basketball, shuffleboard ping pong, billiards and exercise equipment. provide other pastimes that may be enjoyed.
Two swimming pools, a swimming beach, two docks for lounging or fishing are available for all guests. Chalet WaterSports, LLC offers two canoes, four sit-on-top kayaks, a bass boat, two Duffy Electric boats, a state-of-the-art ski boat, and a pontoon boat for the water sports minded patrons.
Our family has been teaching water skiing to beginners and experienced skiers since the early 1960's and enjoy sharing our love of the sport.
Please explore all of your recreation options -which may be included in your vacation package - on the "Recreation" page.
Come Discover Our Mountain Paradise
The Chalet Club has been enjoyed by those seeking an intimate weekend getaway, family vacation haven or a corporate retreat. We cordially invite you to discover this incredible vacation spot that has been the mission of our family for over seventy years. It would be our pleasure to serve you.
For immediate information and reservation assistance, please utilize the e-mail link or toll free number below.
Please utilize the many pages of this site to explore the numerous vacation options at The Chalet Club.
Contact Information
We are happy to answer any reservation requests or questions by e-mail and we look forward to the hearing from members of the Chalet Family, both old and new via any means you choose.
Due to conditions beyond our control; should any of the chaletclub.com e-mail addresses fail, please resubmit any inquiries to email@example.com or feel free to call us between 9am and 2pm at 800-336-3309
Questions? Send mail to
OR call 800-336-3309 between 9am & 2pm -
Please leave messages - We will return your call!


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don williams necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 47 diseños de 19 diseñadores freelance.
We had great success with our new logo design through 99designs and we're excited to see what the designers create this time. We are looking for a new clean site that goes along with our two tag lines 1 – "Insuring your peace of mind" 2 – "Insuring those who ensure our future". Please see all the attached documents and links in the description section.
Insuring Your Peace of Mind
- There are two sites that I like http://www.techinsurance.comand http://www.sitepoint.com – The techinsurance company design has most of what we need on our homepage; a prominentquote section, easy to read testimonials, an insurance resource section, andlimited clutter.
- I've created a sketch of the homepage with the sections Iwould like – http://www.falconewilliams.com/sketch.pdf please do not let this limit your creativity. The positioning, size, color, font, imagery is totally up to you. I just wanted to include all the sectionsnecessary.
- Our new logo: http://www.falconewilliams.com/fwlogo.ai
- Our current website: http://www.falconewilliams.com - not much inspiration here – we want atotally new look – see logo.
- FYI: I will be working on a quoting system using PHP andMySQL that will be incorporated into the new site. We will probably need the winner to help codethe main page and design the interior pages and navigation flow.
- Classes of business we serve: We are a trusted choice(www.trustedchoice.com) independent insurance agency that provides Home, Auto,Life and Business insurance. Ourbusiness insurance specialty niche is high tech and eco-friendlycompanies. We also provide personalinsurance high net worth customers in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte(homeowners, auto and life insurance)
- We like blue… see our logo
- We'll also need a third complementary color –maybe some shade of green to go with our second tag line
- Simple navigation like techinsurance site
- The site must look good and be readable in800x600 as well as higher resolutions
- Clean images or icons – simple, unique
- A little white space… ..
- To many images or photos
- Bright or loud colors – a finebalance between not looking to stodgy and still conveying trustworthiness


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Tuesday is starting to loom large. We meet with the surgeon on Tuesday to learn The Husband's biopsy results and to discuss next steps. Most likely, that evening my life will resemble yet another episode of "Parenthood" (telling a kid with Asperger's that a parent has cancer? check!) and we'll be having a conversation that nobody ever wants to have. So, things are a little subdued around here, to say the least.
I tried to distract myself with Bloggiesta this weekend but I confess, I wasn't quite feeling it this time around. That's absolutely no reflection on the awesome job that Danielle and Suey did in organizing this event - quite the contrary. I saved all of the mini-challenges to do later, because they look fantastic.
I managed to get a few things accomplished on the blog front, which I'm happy about, but today I had to get out of the house. There was a children's consignment sale being held not too far from us so Betty and I went down to see what they had. She needed some new pants and tops. Since today was the third day of the sale (it started Friday night), I wasn't sure what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised. I wound up getting 17 items (mostly all name brand pants, tops, sweaters, etc.).
I'm ending September and starting October by reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home, a coming-of-age novel by Carol Rifka Brunt about a 14 year old girl who is trying to make sense of her beloved uncle's death from AIDS in 1987, when we didn't know much about this epidemic.
Yeah. I know.
When I heard about Tell the Wolves I'm Home earlier this summer, there was a part of me that sort of collapsed inside. If you've read any of my posts about The Novel in Progress, you know that this is incredibly, incredibly similar to the novel I'm writing - and have been, on and off, for the past 10 years or so. I don't think it's anything other than coincidental.
Still, I wasn't sure if I was going to read Tell the Wolves I'm Home, if I wanted to read it, or if it was even a good idea for me to read it.
But when I saw it in the library - face out on the New Books shelf, no less - I grabbed it and I realized what my hesitation was about.
I was afraid.
I was afraid that Tell the Wolves I'm Home would be better than my story, that it would make me abandon my novel, which I really don't want to do.
Which I can't do.
My reaction to this one so far is hard to explain. It's a highly personal one, and for me, Tell the Wolves I'm Home is a hell of an emotional ride on several levels. But even though I'm only on page 53, I'm enjoying the wolves. (How could I not? Junie is me, absolutely.) And overall, I'm glad I'm reading it, because although the storyline has some definite similarities, there are some differences too. I wouldn't have known that if I refused to read the book.
I would have remained afraid.
Sometimes you have to let the wolves in rather than pretending they're not there.
copyright 2012, Melissa, The Betty and Boo Chronicles. If you are reading this on a blog or website other than The Betty and Boo Chronicles or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.


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When enableind crond and choosing to edit the crond.cfg there is an error mossage displayed.
: no such file or directory
This error does not effect the way it functions in any way other than to be annoying. It can just be ignored. It is now fixed, but will not be seen until the next version of FREESCO.


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McNeese State University Employee Benefit Fact Sheet
All eligible employees are required to participate in a Louisiana state retirement system plan in accordance with the guidelines for such. The employee contribution is currently set at 8% of gross and is tax sheltered. The employer contribution rate is set annually.
Classified Employees
Current state laws require all eligible employees to enroll in the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (LASERS). LASERS is a defined benefit plan which guarantees a benefit based on your age, years of service, and final average compensation at retirement. For more information regarding LASERS benefits, you may visit the website at www.lasers.state.la.us. You may register for a pin number on the active member's webpage that will allow internet access to important personal membership account information.
Unclassified Administrators, staff, and faculty
Current state laws require all eligible employees to enroll in the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL), or an Optional Retirement Program which is an alternative retirement plan provided by a private carrier. TRSL is a defined benefit plan which guarantees a benefit based on your age, years of service, and final average compensation at retirement. For more information regarding TRSL benefits, you may visit the website at www.trsl.org. You may register for a pin number on the member's webpage under member's access that will allow internet access to important personal membership account information.
The State of Louisiana has entered into contract with the following companies to represent the Optional Retirement Program:
- AIG-Valic (www.valic.com)
- TIAA-Cref (www.tiaa-cref.org)
- ING (www.ingretirementplans.com)
The ORP is a defined contribution plan. These contributions are invested by the designated ORP carrier in the options chosen by the member. The performance of the member's investments determines the retirement benefit.
There are limited exceptions to membership in either state retirement plan based on age at hire and/or prior participation/vesting in another federal or state retirement system program.
State of Louisiana regulations do not allow withholding for FICA tax (Social Security) when the employee participates in a mandatory state retirement system.
Government Pension Offset: reduction for spouse's or widow(er)'s benefit
Normally, when your spouse retires on Social Security, you are eligible for 51 percent of your spouse's benefit if you are at least age 62. However, since you are eligible for a benefit from TRSL, you may be subject to the Government Pension Offset. You will not have a reduction in your benefit from Social Security, if you meet one of the following conditions:
You were eligible to retire before December 1982, and you meet all the requirements for Social Security spouse's benefits in effect in January 1977. (A divorced woman's marriage must have lasted at least 20 years, and a husband or widower must have received one-half of his support from his wife.); or
You were eligible to retire before July 1, 1983, and were receiving one-half of your support from your spouse.
Windfall Elimination Provision
If you receive a TRSL retirement benefit, a modified benefit formula, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), is usually used to reduce your own Social Security earned benefit.
The WEP was gradually implemented beginning in 1986 and is now in full effect when you reach age 62 or become disabled. The WEP does not apply in the following situations:
You were age 62 or disabled before 1986; or
You qualified for a TRSL retirement benefit (including a reduced benefit) before 1986, even if you continued to work beyond 1986 (excludes LSA-R.S. 11:272[D], as amended by Act 132 of 1995). You can call TRSL at 225-925-6446 or toll-free at 1-877-ASK-TRSL (1-877-275-8775) to request a letter verifying your earliest retirement date; or
You have at least 30 years of "substantial" earnings in a job where you paid Social Security taxes. If you have 21 to 29 years of "substantial" Social Security-covered earnings, you won't be subject to the full reduction. The full reduction is on the order of 50 to 60 percent of the Social Security benefit you would otherwise be due.
The WEP formula is complex, so we recommend that you contact the Social Security Administration for explanations of possible reductions.
TAX DEFERRED ANNUITIES (403B): Payroll deductions for tax-deferred annuities:
- AIG-Valic (www.aigvalic.com)
- TIAA-Cref (www.tiaa-cref.org)
- Aetna-ING (www.ingretirementplans.com)
Employee pays full contribution.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (457): Payroll deductions for the State of Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan. The plan is a defined contribution pension plan where the participant assumes the investment risk. Employee pays full contribution. For more information please visit: www.louisianadcp.com
GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: Group health insurance/major medical is available to all full-time university employees (working 75% - 30 or more hours per week - 120 or more consecutive days per year). Premiums are paid through employee and employer contributions. Premiums are payroll deducted. State of Louisiana Office of Group Benefits currently offers three (3) health plans:
- PPO, administered by Office of Group Benefits
- CD-HSA, administered by United Health Care
- HMO, administered by BCBS of Louisiana
More information on each plan may be obtained by visiting www.groupbenefits.org.
Insurance coverage is NOT automatic; IT MUST BE APPLIED FOR WITHIN 30 DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT in the Office of Human Resources. Coverage for each employee who completes the applicable Enrollment Form and agrees to make the required payroll contribution is to be as follows:
If employment begins on the first day of the month, coverage is effective the first day of the following month.
If employment begins on the second day of the month or after, coverage is effective the first day of the second month following employment;
Employee coverage will NOT become effective unless the employee completes an application for coverage within 30 days following the date of employment. An employee who completes an application after 30 days following the date of employment will be considered an overdue applicant.
PREMIUM CONVERSION: Tax free deduction on eligible insurance premiums.
GPFSA/DCSAFSA ACCOUNTS: Health Care Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Spending Accounts are available to full time employees after one year of employment. A debit card is provided for reimbursement on the Health Spending Account. There is a minimal annual charge to participate in spending accounts which is payroll deductible.
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE: Offered through Prudential Life.
Eligible employees may choose Basic Life or Basic plus Supplemental Life Insurance. The life insurance includes special payment provisions for cases of accidental death or dismemberment. Rates and coverage amounts are based on salary. Premiums are paid through employee and employer contributions.
Optional dependent life insurance is also available with employee paying full contribution.
Employee pays full premium.
Current vendor participation:
- Zurich AD&D
- American United Life (AUL)
- AIG Life (rates based on age)
SHORT TERM DISABILITY: Employee pays full premium.
Current vendor participation:
- Conseco
VISION INSURANCE: Employee pays full premium.
Current vendor participation:
- AFLAC Vision Care
- American Vision Source (AVS/Spectera)
The Eye Clinic currently offers, at no cost to the University or the employee, a discount on services.
DENTAL INSURANCE: Employee pays full premium.
Current vendor participation:
- AFLAC Dental
- Delta Dental
- Crescent Dental
- Dina Dental
COBRA - Benefits under all insurance plans for a covered employee will terminate on the last day of the calendar month during which employment terminated voluntarily or involuntarily, the employee no longer meets the definition of an employee or coverage under a leave of absence expires unless the covered employee elects to continue at the employee's own expense. Employees terminated for gross misconduct are NOT eligible for COBRA. Employee must notify the Office of Human Resources Services prior to termination/resignation. COBRA and portability applications can be obtained in Human Resources.
WORKERS COMPENSATION: All employees are covered, free of charge, under the State of Louisiana, Office of Workers Compensation in accordance with applicable rules and regulations related to on the job injury or illness. Lost time payments and payment of medical bills will be made to employees for covered injuries or illnesses which occur during the scope of employment.
FEE REDUCTION WAIVER: A McNeese employee may enroll in the University with the approval of his/her immediate supervisor or department head, and dean or vice president/President.
UNIVERSITY PRIVILEGES: The following is a brief summary of available privileges:
- Bookstore discount on selected purchases/free gift wrapping/charge accounts
- Discounted Athletic Tickets
- Dining Facilities
- ID card Library Services
- Join Recreation Complex (payroll deductible)
- Direct Deposit
- Join MSU Federal Credit Union
- Internet Service-Personal (payroll deductible)
- Federal Post Office
- Banners Series (payroll deductible)
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): The Employee Assistance Program is available to all employees and their immediate family. The services provided by the members of the Counseling Center are free of charge. You can locate the MSU Counseling Center in Kaufman Hall, Room 167 or they can be reached by phone at(337) 475-5136.
The State of Louisiana also offers the following EAP programs. Eligibility requirements must be met:
- LaCHIP: Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program. No-cost health insurance for children.1-877-252-2447.
- LaMOMS: Helping Pregnant Women Have Healthier Babies. No-cost Health Insurance for Pregnant Women. 1-888-342-6207.
- Medicare Savings Program (MSP): Pays for your Medicare Part B premiums. 1-888-544-7996.
- Medicaid Purchase Plan: Full medical coverage for workers with disabilities. 1-888-544-7996.
- Region V Office for Addictive Disorders: (337) 475-3100, www.dhh.state.la.us
- Office of Group Benefits Members: (337) 475-8052, www.groupbenefits.org
Employees accrue leave according to employment type. Leave accrual rates are based upon years of state service. Classified and Unclassified administrators and staff (12 month employees) accrue both sick and annual leave each pay period in accordance with accrual rate schedule. Faculty members (9 month employees) accrue sick leave only in accordance with accrual rate schedule. Faculty members who teach summer school accrue additional sick leave for the summer session. Leave accrual is pro-rated for part time employees according to FTE percentage.
Upon separation from employment, eligible employees are paid leave as follows:
- Classified employees may be paid up to 300 hours of annual leave.
- Unclassified Administrators and Staff (12-month) employees may be paid up to 300 hours of annual leave and upon retirement or death only up to 200 hours of sick leave additionally.
- Faculty members may be paid up to 200 hours of sick leave upon retirement or death only.
Leave payoff amounts are dependent on leave balances at time of separation.
Benefit eligibility is determined by employment type and percentage of time employed. Please contact Human Resources for information regarding benefit eligibility, benefit programs offered, and current rates. The university strives to provide benefit programs for all employment types.
Contact Information
Charlene Abbott - Director of Human Resources, firstname.lastname@example.com, 337-475-5977
Yvonne Jacobs - Administrative Coordinator 4, email@example.com, 337-475-5105 Located in Smith Hall


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Transborder Fund: US/Canada
OSI's Transborder Land Protection Fund seeks to chart a new path for conservation. The Fund, which provides grants for land conservation transactions, has been shaped by an emerging body of science that suggests the need for larger and more connected protected areas, and for coordinated action between conservation organizations in Canada and the US.
Grants Application
The Transborder Fund offers grants and loans for projects that will enhance the protection of the Northern Appalachian Acadian eco-region of the eastern United States and southern Canada.


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Lethe's Joined Fanlistings |
Lazy placeholder layout featuring Shampoo to make this page look halfway decent. 8D (I totally didn't copy it from one of my shrines sshhh.)
Showing listings under the Video Games: Characters category...
Joined 435 fanlistings total (4 pending).
Ranma ½ © Rumiko Takahashi | Patterns | Cutie Patootie Font


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A Whirlwind Papal Journey Concludes
- The crowded agenda of the Pope's first visit to the United States ended in Philadelphia, where he met with victims of sexual abuse, spoke to inmates and celebrated a Mass in the heart of the city.
- Sunday culminated a six-day, three-city tour, where, in his public appearances, he continued to call for unity and underscore the importance of family.
- While hundreds of thousands of people were moved by the opportunity to pray with the pope, he left America with a blessing and his signature request: "Pray for me."


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05/14/2009 (09:31PM - 10:00PM) (Thursday) : SEASON THREE FINALE: MILTON'S (GUEST STAR ALAN ALDA) HEALTH IS AT RISK, WHILE LIZ (TINA FEY) ENJOYS NEW FOUND FAME AS A RELATIONSHIP EXPERT. SHERRI SHEPHERD, SHERYL CROW, MARY J. BLIGE, ELVIS COSTELLO, CLAY AIKEN, ADAM LEVINE GUEST STAR WITH OTHER SURPRISE MUSICAL GUESTS.
As Jack (Alec Baldwin) begins to build a relationship with his biological father, Milton's (Alda) health hangs in the balance. Despite Liz's (Fey) relationship track record, she draws public attention as a relationship expert after a talk show appearance. Meanwhile, Tracy's (Tracy Morgan) high school invites him to speak at graduation and Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) must help him overcome embarrassing memories from his high school experience. Jane Krakowski and Katrina Bowden also star.


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The Ravens lost a heartbreaker in Pittsburgh, coming oh-so-close to handing the Steelers their first Monday Night home loss since 1924 (or something like that). They dominated for roughly 80% of the 4-plus quarters, leading 13-3 at halftime, and allowing something like 60 yards of offense by the Steelers for the first 38:10. At that point, though, the wheels fell off and rolled into the Allegheny River for an extremely brief, but extremely critical span that saw Pittsburgh put up 14 points in 1 minute and 40 seconds, and that left all of B'More saying, "WTF JUST HAPPENED??"
Here is WTF happened:
Cheap shot artist Hiney Ward said something that got under the skin of Ravens LB Jarrett Johnson, and Johnson shoved Ward after the whistle. Johnson was tagged with a 15-yard personal foul (the first of his 6 year career, so you know Ward had it coming), that set Pittsburgh up at the B'More 44, their first trip into Ravens territory since their opening drive. Three plays later, Baby Ben hit Santonio Holmes for a 38 yard touchdown, on a play where the Ravens put on the worst display of tackling we can ever remember seeing from them. Fabian Washington just missed getting a hand on the pass. Chris McAlister whiffed with the chance to stop the play for a 10 yard gain. Then, Ed Reed slipped and tackled air, blowing the opportunity to halt Holmes after 15 yards. Nothing but daylight after that.
Still, the purple and black held a 13-9 lead. Counting the extra point attempt AND ensuing kickoff, that lead would last all of 2 plays. Joe Flacco would be hit by James Harrison on the Ravens next snap, causing a fumble that was scooped-and-scored by Lamar Woodley.
And, just like that, a 13-3 lead had turned into a 17-13 deficit. It was a stunning turn of events, one that had the towel-wavers nearly choking on their french fry sandwiches. It had been a magical, glorious chorus of boos from 'yins donton as the Steelers limped to the locker room at halftime, but all that was quickly erased in less than 2 minutes of game time.
And that, B'More faithful, is WTF happened.
Does anyone else feel like, if this had been last year's Ravens team, that would have been all she wrote? That the inevitable from that point was more boneheaded penalties, fruitless drives, and easy touchdowns for the home team? Well, one of the many positives that can be taken from this game for us Ravens fans is that that is exactly what didn't happen. Instead, "Joe Cool" regained the composure he had shown for the majority of the game and brought the Ravens back with a 9-play, 76 yard drive, culminating with a Le'Ron McClain 2 yard bull-run that tied the game at 20 with 4 minutes remaining.
You know the rest. Overtime ensued, and although the Ravens won the toss and appeared to be set up near midfield by a clutch Yamon Figurs return, the refs again tossed a few
terrible towels flags on the play, and that was all she wrote. Zero first downs and punt for the good guys later, the Steelers took over and moved into Jeff "Manscape" (NSFW) Reed's field goal range, and he snuck a 46 yarder just inside the left upright to win the game and give those shitheads the AFC North lead.
Maybe its' the fact that the world economy is about to crumble, but we feel a strange sense of calm here at the Nest the morning after. Sure, our blood was boiling just like yours at about 12:15 AM today, but aren't you encouraged by all the positives that we can take from this game?
- Joe Flacco held his own against one of the best defenses in the NFL, in his first road start, in prime time, in front of the most hostile crowd imaginable. His 12-second scramble and improvisation that culminated in a 26 yard completion to Derrick Mason showed that he isn't nearly as statuesque in the pocket as some had believed.
- The defense came to play yet again, allowing only 46 yards in the first half and harassing Baby Ben all night. Haloti Ngata notched his 2nd career interception, and appears to be becoming 100% unblockable. Ray Lewis also looks to have regained any half-step he may have lost. Aside for a key whiffed sack opportunity by Bart Scott and the aforementioned stupid penalty by Johnson, the entire linebacking unit had another stellar night.
- The reemergence of Derrick Mason, although seemingly coming at the expense of all the other Ravens route runners, is encouraging moving forward. It appeared to us watching on TV at least, that John Harbaugh should have challenged the near-TD catch to Derrick that was ruled incomplete due to juggling in the 1st quarter. Even Tom Jackson on the ESPN halftime show noted that it looked like Mason did in fact make the catch.
Of course, it was still a loss, and some legitimate questions were also raised.
- Did John Harbaugh make his first real gaffe as a head coach by not challenging the Mason play? Again, the booth must have seen something that we didn't see on TV, and Mason didn't protest much either, so…
- What was up with the play-calling in the 2nd half? For all the success Cam Cameron was having with keeping the Steelers off-balance with underneath throws and screens (the Ravens were 7/17 on 3rd down – not too shabby all things considered), the sequences that we saw when the Ravens were 1) leading by 10 points, and 2) tied and having possession in the final 2 minutes, seemed a bit off.
- What happened to the Ravens' special teams? Yamon Figurs seemed hesitant and muffed a punt. They held on several occasions, and when they didn't, the Steelers found huge holes in the wedge and hit Figurs before he even got to the wall. Sam Koch had some boomers, but also a short 27-yard shank that got the ball rolling down the Duquesne incline.
- Is Willis McGahee going to be alright? His eye looks terrible, but he also went off the field with an unspecified injury, and, although he would return, was a non-factor afterwards.
The grapes in our purple Kool-Aid are a little sour this morning, that's for sure. Pittsburgh did just enough to win, which is what good teams do. But, moving forward, all the "6 wins this year will be a miracle" gloom-and-doom predictions from the preseason seem like eons ago, right?


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- home
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Colliers West Michigan names director
There's a new director of operations at Colliers International West Michigan.
The job was filled this month by Jamie Stiles, who will be responsible for the office's daily operations.
Stiles was formerly Colliers' human resources manager and a member of the management team. She will continue directing HR in her new role.
Stiles was previously a listing/closing coordinator and has been with the commercial real estate and property management firm since 2007.
"Jamie has been an integral part of our management team for many years," said Colliers International West Michigan President and CEO Duke Suwyn. "We are greatly benefitted by her steady and thorough approach to the management issues that we deal with on a regular basis. We are delighted to have her take on these additional leadership responsibilities."


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Official criticizes school board search process
Governor's adviser says search for superintendent made in 'curious way'
Gov. Terry Branstad's transparency adviser is criticizing the search process for the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools.
Bill Monroe's job is to recognize areas the governor's administration could be more open with the public, and he has turned his attention to the school board after they chose interim Superintendent Thomas Ahart to remain in the job.
"The more transparent you can be as an agency, as a government body, the more trust and confidence you're going to get from the people you serve," said Monroe.
Monroe said he is not saying the Des Moines School Board wasn't open at all in its search for a superintendent, but he noted that the most important part of the search was done behind closed doors.
"I'm surprised they didn't go overboard, above and beyond what typically would happen," said Monroe. "In this particular situation, while the interviews were held in public, and there was time for public input, at the 11th hour, the decision was made, (and) it was made in a curious way."
A spokesman for the Des Moines Public Schools said the board went above and beyond the legal requirements, noting that the only part of the search that has to be public is voting on a final contract.
Monroe, however, said it should all be public.
"The people who own that school system, the people should be able to see what's going on as often as possible," said Monroe. "Instead, (the board) made the decision, apparently in secret session, and then scheduled a vote for the following week. I don't think I've ever heard of that before."
Because of the closed session, Monroe said the public doesn't know which board members supported Ahart or why.
"I think it's unfortunate for the person who's going to be the new superintendent that these things were handled this way because there's sort of a cloud over everything that didn't need to be there," said Monroe.
Ahart is set to make $260,000 a year, and his contract will be formally presented to the School Board Tuesday.


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CONAKRY, Guinea -- Two new deaths from the deadly Ebola disease were announced Monday by health authorities in Guinea and Sierra Leone, raising fears that the first outbreak in West Africa is not yet under control. The new fatalities are far from where the outbreak began.
There are also several other deaths suspected to be from Ebola that have not been confirmed by tests.
The death announced Monday in Sierra Leone is the country's first official confirmed case, though it had been on high alert ever since the disease appeared in Guinea.
Guinea said Monday that at least one new death emerged in Telimele, 270 kilometers (167 miles) from the region where the outbreak first occurred. Guinea also has eight new suspected Ebola deaths. Medics are observing 86 people because they are suspected to have been exposed to the deadly disease, according to Guinean health officials. In addition to the death, two deaths suspected to be Ebola are in Telimele and and six are in Macenta, at the epicenter of the crisis.
Guinea has had most of the 170 deaths from Ebola in the current outbreak in West Africa. There have been a few deaths in Liberia and now at least one in Sierra Leone.
The case in Sierra Leone was announced on radio Monday by the Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Amara Jambai. He said the confirmed Ebola death was near Sierra Leone's border with Guinea.
More than 10 other deaths suspected to be from Ebola are in that area of Sierra Leone, according to a local newspaper. A medical team has been sent to the Kenema District to try to contain any further spread of the disease.
The new cases are a setback to the efforts to control the Ebola outbreak.
There is no cure and no vaccine for Ebola, which causes a high fever and severe bleeding. The current outbreak is unusual for West Africa as the disease is typically found in the center and east of the continent.
Ebola can incubate for up to 21 days before an infected person shows any symptoms. Doctors like to wait 42 days -- two incubation periods -- after the last known infection before declaring an outbreak over.
The mortality rate for this outbreak thus far is close to 70 percent, according to the World Health Organization.
Macaulay reported from Freetown, Sierra Leone.


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Natural gas leak on El Paso controlled
Sunday, Dec. 23, about noon, a Beaumont Fire Department new release reported that Centerpoint Energy workers had gained control of the natural gas leak in the 4300 block of El Paso street. Just before 9 a.m. that morning, a city of Beaumont crew hit a natural gas line, causing a leak. Beaumomt Fire Rescue responded and monitored air quality in the area and stood by while Centerpoint Energy worked to stop the leak. Local residents were allowed to shelter in their homes.


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Zimbabwe: Water Shortage Stunts Growth
Ambuya: "Women suffer a lot, they fetch water from boreholes which are far away in the next village.�
[Africa News Update: Development Challenges]
As with most African countries, getting clean, safe water everyday poses a major headache for many rural households in Zimbabwe.
For people in the Murefu, Mubvumbi and Chikakayi communities in Domboshawa, a rural area about 20 to 30 miles north of the capital, the unavailability of safe and clean water has exposed people to many waterborne diseases. Lack of water has over the years also affected gardening ventures.
Soon after independence, the government with the assistance of international partners embarked on a number of projects to improve access to water and sanitation facilities in most rural areas.
But over time, owing to a number of challenges including funding, some of the project were not completed or never managed to reach out to needy rural communities.
"Some wards have boreholes others don't have here in Domboshawa," says Ambuya Celia Chinamora of Chikakayi village in Domboshawa. She said it is the women who carry the burden of ensuring there is adequate water in most rural homes.
"Women suffer a lot, they fetch water from boreholes which are far away in the next village. It's difficult and we are happy now that non-governmental organization working together with our government are coming to assist us."
Amon Motsi of the same area says maintenance and rehabilitation of most boreholes is now required to help improve access to water and sanitation as well as to improve their vegetable garden operations which are key to their survival.
"Here in Domboshawa we are blessed. Our area is well known for having hard working people who grow vegetables –onion, carrots, grape, beans, strawberries, herbs and fruits which are sold at," Mbare, a popular market in Harare, he says. "But for us to feed people in the capital we also need boreholes, we need spares and grease to maintain boreholes."
Some of the problems that were reported in other rural wards of Domboshawa include the breakage of borehole stands and pulley ropes, damaged pistons, poor maintenance of water sources to prevent build up of dirt, algae and weeds which clog the pump and pipe during suction, and breaking down owing to suction of mud.
In 2007, the District Development Fund estimated that it required at least $300 billion Zimbabwe dollars to repair 15, 000 boreholes and water points across the country. The
fund was allocated $556 million for borehole maintenance, a figure which was too small to cover the expenses.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority estimates that there are between 40, 000 and 50, 000 boreholes in the country. Most of these boreholes are no longer working and need to be repaired to increase water supply for people in rural areas.
In 2004, DDF and the Rural Capital Development fund targeted to repair 3, 742 borehole pumps and 2, 200 non-functional water points, but this goal was not achieved owing to limited funding.
Statistics from the 1980s and 1990s indicate that Zimbabweans use up to 30 percent of ground water and 70 percent surface water for agriculture, industry and domestic purposes.
Globally, contaminated water kills almost 2 million people per year. According to a 2005 United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) report, more than 4, 000 children every day because they do not have access to adequate supplies of clean water.
In Africa alone, 43 percent of children drink unsafe water and one in five die before their fifth birthday culminating in about 1.6 million preventable child deaths each year. Despite the challenges, there is great hope in some wards of Domboshawa.
Some local and international NGOs have over the years played a significant role in the development of boreholes, water points and to provide support rural communities to play their part in rehabilitating communal water infrastructure.
This has resulted in the drilling of boreholes and opening up of wells in various districts across the country. The European Commission undertook a project to rehabilitate more than 600 boreholes in the remote parts of Gokwe, Binga and Kariba districts while in 2004, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society facilitated the sinking of 148 boreholes in the
country's rural areas.
After the installation of boreholes in some wards some villagers have managed to increase their produce with dramatic impact on their quality of life.
"I've managed to pay for my child doing his A' levels at Makumbi High School," says a widow in the Mubvumbi ward of Domboshawa. "I have also bought goats, built a two room house and pay fees for my other children at primary school."
Tsiko is The Black Star News's Southern Africa correspondent based in Harare.
To comment or to subscribe to or advertise in New York's leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, or to send us a news tip, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to firstname.lastname@example.com
Also visit out sister publications Harlem Business News www.harlembusinessnews.com and The Groove music magazine at www.thegroovemag.com
"Speaking Truth To Power."
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There's a lot being said about Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the upcoming film "The Social Network," especially since the film is based on Ben Mezrich's critical novel "The Accidental Billionaires: Sex, Money Betrayal and the Founding of Facebook."
While the Internet is rife with details about how the 26-year-old billionaire will be portrayed in the movie (mostly dwelling on various forms of interest in the opposite sex), Eisenberg has reassured Zuckerberg -- who has a lot on his mind these days -- that he doesn't have to worry about the movie...Really. "The movie is not incendiary," Eisenberg tells PopcornBiz. "This is not some kind of expose. It's just an interesting story."
"I'm hoping (Zuckerberg) sees the movie and he appreciates the depiction."
Of course, you'd probably say the same thing if you were playing a man who could send his own private army of tanks to chase you like a wild dog forever. But Eisenberg insists: "I have reverence for Mark (Zuckerberg) because he created this really interesting thing."
He's never met Zuckerberg, but his first-cousin works for Facebook (at least until the movie comes out). "My cousin only has wonderful things to say about Zuckerberg and that's my opinion as well," says Eisenberg. "He's brilliant."
Eisenberg admits he doesn't have a Facebook page due to privacy issues. But these are of the movie-star variety, not the privacy issues which have become a subject of friction for the billions of site users. "I'm in movies and I cherish the parts of my life that no one knows about," says Eisenberg. "For that reason I don't have a page."
Eisenberg, who calls his limited experience on Facebook "addictive," even downplays the problems the site has experienced due to privacy concerns.
"Whatever controversy surrounds the site is sort of par for the course of creating something so incredibly ubiquitous," he says. "(Zuckerberg) created something that revolutionized socialization."


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[A previous version of this blog post cited a report from Boston Consulting Group with numbers from 2012. This post has been updated to reflect the latest wealth numbers for 2013.]
Boston Consulting Group's annual report on wealth management this week notes rebounding equity markets boosted global private financial wealth 8.7% in 2013 to $152 trillion.
The total number of millionaire households hit 16.3 million, or 1.1% of all households in 2013. The U.S. had the most millionaire households, at 7.1 million, followed by China, with 2.4 million. Japan fell to third with 1.2 million millionaire households.
Offshore wealth, assets held in a country where the investor doesn't have legal residence, rose to $8.9 trillion. The overall share of private wealth held offshore fell to 5.9% of total global private financial wealth.
Switzerland is still the most popular destination for offshore wealth, with $2.3 trillion resting comfortable alongside cows, chocolate and cuckoo clocks in 2013.
However, Singapore and Hong Kong are expected to see their share grow as more wealth is created in the Asia-Pacific region. The two locations are expected to hold roughly 20 percent of global offshore wealth by the end of 2018, vs. 16 percent in 2013. After the Asian wealth centers, which hold $1.4 trillion in offshore assets, come Panama and the Caribbean, with $1.2 trillion. The Channel Islands and Dublin, Ireland, are fourth, with $1.1 trillion. The U.K. rounds out the top five homes for offshore assets with $1 trillion.
BCG's 2012 study noted that offshore wealth remains "viable" because clients in the high-net-worth segment (at least $1 million in wealth) and the ultra-high-net-worth segment (at least $100 million) "will continue to seek diversification, along with broad private-banking capabilities, specialized expertise, high-quality service, discretion, and domiciles with relatively high levels of economic and political stability." However, "offshore wealth management as an industry remains under intense and increasing pressure, particularly from tax authorities in the U.S. and Western Europe."
-- Tom Bemis
Follow The Tell @thetellblog
Follow Tom Bemis @TomBemis
More from MarketWatch:
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Hiring hits fastest pace in almost 6 years


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With a little over 18 months to go until the next IUCN World Conservation Congress kicks off in Jeju, IUCN and the Republic of Korea today launch the logo and theme of the Congress.
The Republic of Korea also today officially launches their Organizing Committee for the Congress, headed by Mr Hongkoo Lee from the Seoul Forum for International Affairs with Mr Maanee Lee, Minister of Environment, as vice-Chair.
The stunning new logo represents nature and its beauty in a positive and enlightening way. The colourful symbol, evoking at the same time a flower and a bird, also incorporates traditional indigenous Korean patterns.
The IUCN Congress will bring together people from all sectors, and from over the world, to debate, discuss and decide on real on-the-ground change for people and nature.
The Congress theme is to be Nature+, a simple and memorable slogan that captures the fundamental importance of nature and its inherent link to every aspect of our lives.
Nature is naturally strong. Even the most delicate looking plant, animal or ecosystem is relatively tough, their survival instincts honed over generations of evolution. But many years of human civilization have undermined our environment and the fundamental natural infrastructure that supports our lives, communities and economies.
Nature+ is about boosting the resilience of nature – improving how quickly nature and people adapt to change. Better use of the inherent robustness of nature leads to healthier natural systems, better results from ecosystem and biodiversity restoration, and healthier people, communities and economies.
The Congress will explore many of our most pressing environmental and development challenges from this perspective and how strong and resilient nature is intricately linked to solving these issues. Nature+climate; nature+livelihoods; nature+energy; nature+economics: these are just some of the issues that the IUCN Congress will address.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world's largest and most important conservation event. Held every four years, the Congress aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development.
The IUCN Congress will be held from 6 to 15 September 2012 at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Jeju, Republic of Korea.


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Senior Member
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Posted: 19 March 2005 at 10:06am
I do not believe that I need to choose a train of thought (sect of Islam) to be on the straight path. I want to only go strickly by the Quran and Sunnah. Some say you must choose, I do not believe so. My question is, since I do not categorize myself in any sect, is it wrong for me to pray with Sunni Muslims at a local mosque?
Thank you in advance to anybody who answers.
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Assalamu alaikum,
Allah Knows Best, if you follow the Qur'an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet, salallahu alaihi wassalam, you are by definition a Sunni Muslim and should have no hesitation about praying with other Sunnis.
However, you might consider following one of the Sunni madhhabs. The following link provides some excellent information on the wisdom of following one:
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I have been a muslimah for 20 years, and I have prayed beside Sunnis, Shiites, and others. We follow the Imam, and I have always been comfortable and often spritually uplifted by group prayers.
Al-Hamdulillah (From a Married Muslimah) La Howla Wa La Quwata Illa BiLLah - There is no Effort or Power except with Allah's Will.
Senior Member
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Thank you for replying. My main point was that I DON'T call myself a Sunni, and I don't want to be called a Sunni, not because I don't like or agree with something they believe, because that's not true, but because I want to make sure I stay on the straight path and by going only by the Quran and Sunnah, I know I am on the straight path.
Can anybody find anything in the Quran that gives me a definite answer on the topic?
Senior Member
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Salamz, hey I totally agree.. you are either a Muslim Brother/Sister or you are not.
Islam is about submitting yourself totally to Islam, or not... believer or non-believer (ie. not both).
if you get my drift...???
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Yes I feel what your saying and agree.
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Joined: 20 March 2005
Location: Pakistan
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Asalam Aalaikum
According to my understanding and knowledge, it is not necessary to follow a perticular School of Thought because that restricts a persons mental approach to several issues.
A person then doesnot use his own intellect and only depends on the opinions and teachings of the Imam or Scholar of that School of Thought.This is also dangerous for our intellectuality.
Their are several verses of the Qur'an that are encouraging Muslims to ponder and pay heed.
Some people who follow a School of Thought might advise others to also pick or chose a School of Thought and justify his advise by quoting some references from the Qur'an.
They usually quote a verse of the Qur'an(Iam sorry I donot remember the exact reference from the Qur'an) which says "Ask those who know". They use this phrase to convince others to chose a School of Thought but I donot agree with this idea since no where in the Qur'an, Allah(swt) encourages and advises Muslims to follow a perticular set of thought introduced by perticular groups of people.
As far as this phrase "Ask those who know" is concerned, this refers to Scholars and knowledgable people who have good knowledge about the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh).
If for the sake of argument we assume that this phrase of the Qur'anic verse is refering to Schools of Thought, then how will you justify which School of Thought this verse of the Qur'an is refering to?
I hope it helps,
who call themselves superior are actually inferior in the eyes of Allah.Those who call themselves slaves of Allah are superior not only in the eyes of Allah but also superior in the eyes of man.
Joined: 19 March 2005
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Salamu Alaykum!
Knowledge01, you are ABSOLUTELY right, you are a MUSLIM and pray to Allah to keep you on His straight path.
But, I like to clarify a few things. Your local mosque, the people there are also Muslim, they follow the sunnah like you. They may call themselves SUNNI to distinghish themselves from others or to enphasize that they follow the sunnah. Names are not that important, it's your beliefs that are crucial.
In ISLAM, there are no, SUNNI, SHIA, SUFI, SALAFI, MADHABI, HANAFI, WAHABI, JIHADI, HIJABI, NIQABI, ....., whatever,.... MUSLIM.
Yes MUSLIMS have all of these names they use but YOU are not required to use them to be guided to the straight path.
I can come up with a long list of names to use such as, I am a:
american, african, female, tall, educated, pious, devout, white, latin,...Muslim. All of these are descriptive names that one identifies with, but without the main name MUSLIM, they are worthless in the hereafter.
There are no MADHABS in ISLAM, they tell you choose one of the FOUR madhabs, why FOUR? who said so? Those who advocate following a madhab, say any madhab is OK but follow mine, mine is better than the other three. We start to develop an allegiance to the madhab more than to ISLAM, to the sheikh/mufti/alim more than to the PROPHET.
"say (to them, oh MOHAMAD) If you really love ALLAH then FOLLOW ME, ALLAH will make you BELOVED to HIM"
So who do YOU follow?
Anyone who ask you to follow someone? this should be your response:
I will follow THEM as long as THEY follow HIM, and when THEY don't follow HIM, I will still follow HIM. (you will be rewarded for your Intentions).
HIM: is our belove prophet MOHAMMAD
THEM, THEY: are all OTHER humans, those who passed and those who shall come.
Do not let devil confuse you ISLAM is straight and simple.
seek and you shall find, ask and it shall be given to you.
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Fabulous piece in the Standard on Tuesday which found that, to no surprise of those of us who do like to walk in the city, walking was actually quicker than the tube for seven common London routes.
Unlike the forms of exercise favoured by Kapitalism (quick energy burns in the gym so that you are fit for work the next day), walking is a form of energetic activity which has no relation to work whatsoever. Those arch opponents of work, the situationists, were correct to settle on 'aimless walking' (the derrive) as a strategy against zombie consumerism. There is no product, no goal; walking is the very defintion of a plateau.


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It happens to all of us at one point in time. We get into an automobile collision and need the best auto body shop in Berkeley Heights. Hopefully, it is not too bad and we are not seriously injured. But usually the car does not fare as well and comes away with significant damage.
What is the next step after your collision and you need an auto body shop?
Likely, after informing the insurance company you take your vehicle to one of their "approved" vendors.
Here is what happens next. You tell the insurance company what company you choose. By this time they have already taken phones of the car and know how extensive the damage is. If you need an expert to take a look, make sure you go to a repair shop in Berkeley Heights.
They have a computer system that gives them a printed estimate stating what the replacement parts and labor will be based upon a set hourly rate.
This statement is given to the body shop. It comes with a break down of what the labor and parts "should" be and the company has to usually be able to totally fix the car for that price.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Pressure
Keep in mind that what is printed out represents the best case scenario and doesn't allow for items on the car that was missed or problems that come up.
Now here are some things to watch out for. a local auto body shop in Berkeley Heights is operating under very, very thin margins and the incentive to "cut corners" is huge. Getting an extra $300 off a job can really add up over the course of the month when you are talking about doing at least 3-5 vehicles every week.
Laser Wheel Alignment: Chassis Mounted Vs Wheel Mounted
Replacement Parts in Auto Body Shops
Make sure the parts being used on your car are OEM parts. These are replacement auto body parts in Berkeley Heights are sent directly from the car manufacturers and are designed with the same specs as the vehicle came with.
Aftermarket parts can be significantly cheaper yet are not the same quality and make not hold up the same in the event of another accident.
No Realignment? Talk to Your Auto Repair Team!
The frame is usually somewhat bent when a car goes through an accident of any kind. It needs to be properly realigned. You need a serious all hands on deck auto body shop to take care of you here.
Unfortunately, because the money made off one car can be very little the propensity to skip this step is very high. Later down the road this will cause your car to not drive straight but at a tilt and your tires will wear prematurely. So if you need to brush up on some tire repair, ask your mechanic straight away.
Using Bondo (Fillers) Instead of Replacing the Part
Filling any damage in with bondo is not bad in itself. If you know what the auto body shop in Berkeley Heights is doing, they tell you, and this is what you are paying for then it is fine.
The problem comes in when you think you are getting a vehicle back that is 99.9% the same as before it was wrecked and it is not. Filling a damaged part in with filler rather than replacing the expensive part is a common tactic and you want to make sure it is not done on your vehicle.
Prevent Common Problems with Body Filler
All damaged parts should be replaced unless you are paying a lower price for the car to just be fixed (in the case you want the cheapest price and do not care about having a car exactly the same as before). Again, you should really speak to your best auto body shop nearest you!
Keep in mind that most auto body repair shops are honest and are surviving in a tough industry.
Tire balancing and wheel alignment are some of the most common auto repair services offered by technicians. When you buy new car tires, you may consider performing a wheel alignment. Having an alignment done can save you a lot of costs in the long run.The Importance of Wheel AlignmentHaving a wheel alignment done will help to significantly increase the life of your new tires. During the wheel alignment, the steering and suspension of your vehicle is going to be adjusted in order to ensure that the tires don't wear out overtime. Alignment is also important because it ensures the car handles corners smoothly.Wheel alignment is needed overtime because as you drive, your car's steering and suspension systems are pushed causing the ball & socket joints, bushings and other mechanical links to wear out. This makes the alignment deflect from the factory specifications. If nothing is done to improve the alignment, your car will have poor cornering and handling which also makes the tires wear out.Tire imbalance can occur when the rubber that is used in making it wears off overtime. That is why it is important to check your tires for imbalance every 6 months and ensure they are rebalanced. Tire imbalance can cause severe accidents especially when the car is driven at fast speeds.Tire balancing and wheel alignment can be done together. These services will help you to avoid budgeting for new tires soon. Even though they can be pretty expensive, they'll prevent serious accidents and increase the service life of your car. Just ensure you visit a well known auto repair shop and find a technician who is skilled and equipped to offer these services.Copyright (c) 2014 Crawfordville Auto and Tire
Mechanic's Liens - Friday's Free Form - Notice of Intent to Lien - General Contractor
The insurance companies nickel and dime them at every turn and they are made to give them at time ridiculous discounts to get any business. That's why having an auto body shop in your corner can't be stressed enough.
Nevertheless, all an auto body shop should be on is your side and corners should not be cut at your expense and being watchful is just a smart way to go.
Your Auto Body Shop In Berkeley Heights Should Help You With What Car Needs Exactly?
What makes auto body shops so difficult to heat during the cold season? To shop owners, the answer is obvious. Auto body shops are characteristically dusty, breezy, high heat-loss environments. To make the indoor air more breathable and safe for workers, fresh air must be introduced through use of exhaust fans and/or raising overhead doors to help dissipate and eliminate contaminants. The problem is, as contaminants are pulled out, so is the heated air. Seemingly a "no win" scenario right?
So what's the most effective and efficient way to heat body shops?
Answer: Infrared radiant tube heaters.
Why Infrared?
To help answer that question, let's review what "infrared" is and how it works.
Infrared (IR) is electromagnetic wave energy that travels at the speed of light until it strikes an object. Upon striking an object, the IR energy converts to heat and is either reflected or absorbed. Dark and opaque objects (i.e. asphalt, concrete, etc.) readily absorb radiant IR heat energy, whereas highly reflective objects such as chrome and polished aluminum are poor absorbers and tend to reflect that energy away.
The most familiar IR emitter (heater) is our own sun. The sun radiates its IR energy through our atmosphere to the earth's surface, uninhibited by wind. As the earth's surface absorbs that energy, our air becomes warm.
During our North American winters the sun's rays are less dense due to the angle of the sun in the sky and our air temperatures are much cooler. But by summer solstice the sun's rays are at their peak angle and absorption is at its highest, resulting in warmer air temperatures.
Why use infrared tube heaters for your body shop?
1) Ceiling suspended infrared tube heaters mimic the warmth of the sun by warming up tools, machinery, floors and people directly, thereby warming the air indirectly.
2) Unlike forced air heaters, infrared tube heaters do not blow air throughout the space. That's a big plus in body shops where dust in painting areas is a problem.
3) Quicker heat recovery. As infrared energy absorbs into floors, tools, vehicles, etc., heat is recovered much more quickly when overhead doors are opened and closed again or when exhaust fans are cycled on and off periodically. That's because surfaces in the direct path of the infrared rays become a "heat sink". In other words, stored heat in objects re-radiates to warm the surrounding air.
4) Energy efficiency - an infrared tube heating system can save as much as 50% or more in fuel savings compared to conventional forced air. This is especially true in body shops where air exchanges are very high.
5) Infrared heaters can increase production. A carefully designed infrared tube heating system can be used to decrease drying times and enhance paint job quality. Placing vehicles in the path of infrared radiation warms cold metal surfaces. Paint applied to warm metal surfaces is less likely to run or drip than when applied to cold surfaces. And because infrared heaters don't move air around, there is less opportunity for dust particles to mix with newly applied paint.
We should note that gas infrared tube heaters are NOT to be used inside paint booths or paint mixing rooms. Tube heater emitters can reach 900 to 1100 Degrees F, well above the flash point of solvent-based primers and sprays. Spraying should be contained in a designated paint room with a filter bank and exhaust system to carry away potentially explosive fumes. Once spraying is done and the booth is ventilated with fresh air, vehicles and components can then be moved out of the spray booth to an isolated drying area where the infrared heaters are located.
Are some infrared tube heaters better than others for heating body shops?
Yes indeed.
That's where you need to do a bit of homework. A thorough review of the various infrared tube heater manufacturers can turn up some surprising differences between brands and product offerings. In your search, ask about burner design (are controls isolated from the air stream? They should be.), emitter tubing (heat-treated aluminized or cheaper hot-rolled steel?), reflector efficiency (50% efficient or 100%), and warranty (10 years is better than 5 years).