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Most photovoltaic (PV) power system manufacturers sell their equipment through either specialized solar distributors or electrical distributors that have a solar
|These solar panels are being connected to a ballast-type racking system on a commercial rooftop.
department. Then, this equipment is typically installed and maintained by companies that specialize in solar. However, general electricians are often called upon after the fact to work on the related wiring of these systems as part of a service call or renovation request.
If you receive this call, are you prepared to accept the job? Or are you going to have to pass this valuable lead on to someone else? Given the declining price of PV components, these systems are becoming much more common. Therefore, at minimum, electrical contractors need to know how to safely shut down PV systems in order to perform other electrical work. Savvy contractors looking for new revenue streams will take things a step further and gain new business.
This article provides a basic understanding of how these systems are designed and how they operate. It focuses on one of the basic types of PV systems — a string inverter-based system — that uses a single inverter to connect PV modules to the electric utility grid without a battery backup component.
Basic System Design
The Figure shown in the SIDEBAR: PV System Notes, shows the basic 3-line diagram of a string inverter PV system where one or more series strings of PV modules are used to generate a DC voltage output of 250V to 500V. The text next to the diagram describes the function of the components and some of the special considerations to be aware of when working with this type of system.
These systems function automatically and do not require any user or owner interaction. If the electric utility power is interrupted — or is not within the normal limits of voltage and frequency — the system will stop operating until these values return to stable limits. The inverters are designed to detect a ground fault within the PV array and its associated components and cease operation.
Troubleshooting a Non-Working System
Typically, you'll be contacted by the owner of this type of system when it has stopped working. Most of the time, the call will come in because one of the following five problems has occurred:
- The inverter is no longer connected to AC power within the normal limits of voltage and frequency.
- The inverter may have detected a ground fault on the DC side of the system.
- The inverter may have failed.
- Either the inverter, disconnects in the AC circuit, or breakers in the AC circuit may have been turned off.
- A fuse in the system has opened.
Many string inverters have a simple digital display and a few LED indicators to show system status. Check these first, and correct any external problems. If the inverter appears to be non-functioning, check the AC power circuits, and measure the voltage across the output terminals of the inverter. An absence of AC voltage indicates a problem with the AC circuit. Fuses might have opened or breakers in the AC circuit may have been turned off. It is unlikely that the frequency of the power system has caused the outage. Inverters should be listed to UL 1741 and have a label that indicates the acceptable AC and DC voltage ranges the unit can operate within. If you do find AC supply voltages that are out of specification, notify the electric utility of the problem.
If the inverter indicates a ground fault condition, this situation is a little more difficult to address. It also requires you to follow safety procedures (see SIDEBAR: Safety Warning) to limit your exposure to the potential high voltages of the array. On one hand, the situation may be transient, due to moisture or pressure on wire insulation that is not normally present. However, oftentimes the 1A fuse in the inverter has opened. If so, replace the 600VDC fuse (verify proper size by referring to the inverter manual), and follow the reset procedure outlined per the manufacturer's instructions.
If the system has more than two strings of PV modules, there should be fuses for each string. They will be located in the inverter or in a separate DC combiner enclosure. Turn off all switches (DC and AC) and use an insulated tool to snap open all DC fuse holders. (Warning: There is a possibility of a long arc appearing if a ground fault is located between the DC combiner and the inverter — or within the inverter itself.) If a long arc does appear during this operation, close the fuse holder quickly, and cover the entire array with opaque material so the system stops producing electricity. At this point, it is now safe to start opening the DC fuse holders again.
Once all fuses have been removed, go ahead and remove the opaque material you placed on top of the panels, and measure the voltage output of each string. A string with a ground fault will have a lower voltage. If a ground fault is not detected, use a high-voltage resistance tester to check all wiring and the PV modules. The general procedure is to isolate all wiring from ground and test all circuits. (Caution: The inverter must be isolated, because it may be damaged by the high voltages of resistance testing.)
Most UL-listed PV modules are rated for use in systems up to 600VDC and can withstand test voltages of twice that voltage. The typical test procedure is to connect the negative lead of the tester to ground and the positive lead of the tester to the negative lead of a string — and then test at 500V. A new system with good insulation should indicate more than 2,000 MΩ; however, readings greater than 200 MΩ are acceptable. Lower values should be investigated by disconnecting modules and testing parts separately until the source of the low reading is pinpointed.
You may have to consult the inverter manufacturer if there are other error codes displayed on the inverter. Some units have fans that can fail, which may be indicated by either a fan fail code or a high temperature code.
Handling Poor Performance Issues
It is often hard to distinguish between real and perceived performance issues. Many string inverters have displays that indicate
|Typical PV system with two inverters, AC combiner, AC and DC disconnects, and data system.
power output in watts. You might expect that on a clear day at noon, for example, the display will equal the rating of their PV array. However, this is not the case, given the fact that the ratings are at 25°C, and the sunshine on the PV array will warm the PV array to well above 25°C.
To determine if a PV system is performing as intended requires the use of either special equipment, which can measure the solar irradiance on the PV array and the module operating temperature, or a study of the available performance data. The study method requires the measurement of the energy (kilowatt hours) produced over a specific period and comparison to system energy specifications. Many inverters display the accumulated energy delivered to the electric utility system, and systems may have a kilowatt meter on the inverter output. The recording of these readings over a period of time will provide the energy produced per day by the PV system. This can be compared to either the system's energy specifications provided by the original installer or to energy calculations made over the same period, using either custom software or the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's publicly available PVWatts calculator (www.nrel.gov/rredc/pvwatts). Even during a poor solar weather month, the output of the PV system should be within 15% of the predicted output for the location and system specific hardware.
Direct measurement of irradiance on a PV array requires a calibrated pyranometer or reference cell and a means of measuring operating cell temperature. The use of a handheld infrared temperature sensor typically produces an acceptable measurement value. Measure operating DC voltage and current with a clamp-on DC ammeter. Calculate the DC power output. Then, correct for irradiance (1,000 W/m² is reference irradiance), correct for cell temperature (-0.5% per degree Celsius from 25°C is a good estimate if the PV module temperature coefficient is not available). Compare results to the PV array power rating.
If the above calculations indicate a performance problem, then you should turn your attention to one or more of the following areas:
- Dirt or shadows on the array are limiting PV module performance. Generally, the least illuminated section of a module or string of modules affects the total string output.
- Inspect for module problems, such as cracked cells, open cell-to-cell connections, and shorted bypass diodes. Be aware that these problems can be difficult to identify in the field. Most PV modules use special connectors that do not expose the live parts for measurements while connected, making it difficult to test individual PV modules. If a PV module failure is suspected, contact the manufacturer and inquire about any long-term warranties that might be in effect.
- Look for melted plastic in the junction boxes. Some modules have been recalled due to connection problems in these boxes.
- The PV array may be incorrectly wired. Make sure all strings have the same number of modules, or check voltages in the DC combiner enclosure with the system off and the fuseholders open.
- Inspect for open fuses or loose connections in the DC combiner enclosure.
Inspect the inverter and focus on these two areas:
- The inverter may have multiple power sections and one may have failed in a manner not detected by the main inverter controller. This type of inverter will operate correctly at lower power levels but limit total operation of the system.
- Inverter fan or ventilation failures (check for blocked filters) may also limit operation at high power levels.
- Look for conduit fittings that may have become separated due to thermal cycling and wind.
- Check for loose connections that may allow water to enter the conduits or other system components.
It is also recommended that you leave a copy of any measurements taken at the site as an aid to others who may have to service the installation at a later date.
The bottom line is that most electrical contractors and technicians can handle the first level of troubleshooting for a PV power system, provided they follow the proper safety precautions and understand the basics of PV system operation. Take advantage of this niche market by educating yourself and your employees.
Kaszeta is the president of Photovoltaic Resources International in Mesa, Ariz. He can be reached at [email protected]
SIDEBAR: PV System Notes
All module frames must be bonded — lugs and wire shown — but other methods, such as special clips, may be used. The allowed number of series modules depends on the inverter design and local low temperature values.
Most inverters have the ability to display operational data and fault information on a digital display. A typical string inverter design is shown in this example. Note: There are other designs available, such as microinverters. The inverter may be marked for positive or negative ground (some PV modules perform better with a specific polarity). Note: No polarity is shown on this diagram. The inverter will likely have a fuse for detecting an array wiring ground fault. Some inverters do not ground reference either polarity of the array and use other methods to detect a ground fault.
Wiring exposed to sunshine must be rated for this exposure. Conduits and junction boxes must be bonded if containing conductors rated 250V (applies to both AC and DC systems) or greater. Note: Exposure to sunshine affects required wire size.
More than two module strings in parallel must have fuse protection per module listing. Fuses may be located in a DC combiner enclosure or in the inverter. DC disconnects may be separate, or part of the combiner or inverter.
The drawing illustrates a 3-phase system, but a single-phase system follows the same general design.
A separate kWh meter may be included in the design to record the energy generated by the PV system.
Many electric utilities require the inclusion of a separate lockable AC disconnect switch that is readily accessible to utility crews. These disconnects typically do not have fuses, and access may be locked by an electric utility padlock. Some utilities require a separate GEC bond from the inverter to the main service ground.
The drawing shows a load side connection of the inverter circuit to the service entrance. The circuit breaker is typically required to be on the opposite end of the distribution buss from the main circuit breaker and must be marked.
Labels specifying voltage and current values are required on many components in the system.
Refer to NEC Art. 690 for additional requirements.
SIDEBAR: Safety Warning
The systems outlined in this article use high DC voltages that cannot be simply turned off. This discussion is limited to test techniques that do not require disassembly of the PV array, but there is some exposure to terminals within the equipment that will normally have high voltages. Any work on roofs requires fall protection for safety.


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Obama: 'Trayvon Martin could have been me'
Nearly a week after George Zimmerman was acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin, President Barack Obama made his feelings about the situation clear: race and racism had a lot to do with Martin's death, and the country needs to start grappling with what that means.
In arguably the most direct and personal comments about race he's ever made as a public official, Obama went deeper Friday into his personal experience than he had in his famous 2008 speech on the issue.
Story Continued Below
He spoke of being followed through stores, about hearing people lock their car doors when they saw him coming down the street — him, not "black men," not "people," but Barack Obama, a black man himself.
( PHOTOS: Trayvon Martin rallies)
Trayvon Martin wasn't just the son he might have had, as he said last March. "Another way of saying that," Obama said in his surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, "is, Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."
Obama addressed the issue under some constraint. With the Justice Department exploring civil rights charges against Zimmerman, as Attorney General Eric Holder pledged to do in the wake of the verdict, the president could endanger any future charges by seeming to influence the investigation.
Aware of this, many black leaders had held off publicly pushing the White House to say much, in an effort to avoid sabotaging the only remaining chance to see Zimmerman serve time for Martin's death.
( PHOTOS: George Zimmerman trial)
The president explicitly avoided the legal issues Friday, stressing in a continuing call for calm that he wasn't going to take issue with the behavior of the people involved in the Florida trial.
"The judge conducted the trial in a professional manner. The prosecution and the defense made their arguments. The juries were properly instructed that in a case such as this, reasonable doubt was relevant, and they rendered a verdict," Obama said. "And once the jury's spoken, that's how our system works."
He could have left it there. He could have heeded his own observation Friday that it wasn't always "particularly productive when politicians try to organize conversations."
( Also on POLITICO: Obama weighs in on race, reluctantly)
Instead, in unscripted remarks that seemed to embrace his role as the first black president in a way that some concerned about race relations had all but given hope he might, he said clearly, "I do recognize that as president, I've got some convening power."
That power, he said, wasn't standing in front of the country to present "some five-point plan." And he admitted Friday that he wasn't going to get into specifics because he's "still bouncing around" ideas with his staff.
But even people who've criticized him for not saying enough about race say his Friday afternoon comments alone have started to change the conversation.
( Also on POLITICO: Fleischer: Obama AWOL on race)
"What the president is trying so desperately hard to do is to have people acknowledge that we have a great deal of racism in this county," said Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.). "I don't think it could be more personal to a black person than when he talks about, Trayvon would look like a son if he had a son, or he could be Trayvon."
Whatever legislative or other efforts the president might hope to pursue, Rangel said, they'll never be much use without the kind of frank discussion of racism that Obama embraced on Friday.
"The president has said that the problem that we have in this country is not Zimmerman — it's what creates the situation of Zimmerman," Rangel said. "The president has taken advantage of the opportunity to say that we can do better, but we cannot do better if we say there is no problem."
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who had been among those urging caution to avoid interfering with the DOJ investigation, said he thought the president had managed to do that, while also delivering remarks that would mean a great deal to fellow African-Americans and the country as a whole — balancing "his role as president of the United States and his existence as a black man."
Jeffries called Obama's statement "heartfelt, thoughtful, powerful and respectful of the judicial process… He spoke from the perspective of Trayvon in a way that the prosecution failed to do."

subset: commoncrawl


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Unique undergraduate course shows how imagination informs scientific discovery.
How to describe Stephen Ragsdale's Creativity in the Sciences and Arts class in one word? Cupcakes, perhaps? At least one student thought that developing a novel recipe for these tasty treats serves as a fine example of how science and art act in harmony. The science involved testing hypotheses about the proper blending of various ingredients (fats, sweeteners, flour, eggs, leaveners, flavorings, etc.) that react upon heating to create an edible piece of art with the proper shape, texture and taste. The art came from the personal touches, such as the special mix of spices and decorative icing, which provide the cupcake with a unique taste and appearance. It became a perfect example of hypothesis-driven art/science. A discussion on the chemistry of baking may not be on the syllabus in a typical biology class, but it's exactly the outside-the-box discussion that makes Ragsdale's class, part of the honors program at the University of Michigan, so unique.
Josh Buoy, a junior in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan, presents a piece of multimedia artwork that reflects the collective creativity of the people in his life.
Ragsdale's seminar-style class, which he teaches every fall, features guest lecturers who come in and, through an energetic talk and Q&A session, discuss their work and how creativity influences it.
In some cases, like when music instructor and jazz musician Geri Allen talked about the importance of improvisation in both jazz and in her life, the connection between work and creativity seemed obvious.
However, as the students (and sometimes even Ragsdale) surprisingly learn throughout the semester, creativity permeates all manner of academic pursuits, as demonstrated by faculty, from departments like chemistry, physics, history and dance, who have graced the class over the years. In his class, students learn quickly how greatly imagination informs scientific discovery. Atmospheric scientist Sushil Atreya described his work on a NASA mission to send a probe into Jupiter to detect the elements in its core and learn about the nature and origins of the universe. Physicist Mark Newman, author of "The Atlas of the Real World," discussed how he uses statistics and cartography to examine how we perceive our world. Students also begin to recognize how much planning and precision is required in a work of art, as when poet A. van Jordan revealed his difficulties in developing the right voice for his award-winning book "M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A" and the importance of following an impulse to tell the story in reverse for eventual acceptance of this work by the publisher.
"Science, whether it's biological, physical or social, is fundamentally a creative process," says Ragsdale, a professor of biological chemistry. "Why can't we engage students and teach them that fact?"
The impetus for Ragsdale's efforts can be traced back to his youth, when he sat through many prepackaged science lectures that seemed to lack passion and energy. "I remember one instance where the topic was the Krebs cycle," he notes, "and the lecturer made it seem so very cut and dry, like there was nothing left to discover.
"And I was thinking, what are the lingering controversies with this pathway? What are the boundaries that scientists today are exploring? That's what I wanted to hear."
John Jurkas, a microbiology major at the University of Michigan, presents his creative project: a puzzle with pictures that demonstrate examples of emergent properties in science and art.
Years later, when he was a biochemistry professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ragsdale read a National Science Foundation report that bemoaned the percentage of students that were leaving science and moving to other disciplines because they felt their science courses were not engaging enough, that courses felt geared too much toward vocation as opposed to education.
"The other problem is that many of our brightest students sell themselves short by choosing a major and eventually a career that does not foster their creativity – that, in the words of Carlos Castaneda, lacks a heart."
Ragsdale teamed up with a like-minded colleague in Nebraska's history department, Patrice Berger, who headed the honors program, and developed his idea for a class aimed at studying the role of creativity across the disciplines of science and art. An accomplished musician as well as a scientist, Ragsdale knew a lot of individuals in the science and arts departments who could come in as guest speakers, and the class became a big hit.
In fact, the class was one of the harder items to leave behind when Ragsdale moved to Michigan with his wife, Ruma Banerjee, in 2007 to take on a new position, though he is happy to hear that Berger and NAS member Jim Van Etten have continued running the Nebraska course to great acclaim. "But after just one year, I missed teaching the class so much I had to bring it back," he says. When he presented the idea to Tim McKay, head of the honors program at Michigan, he realized that he had found a new home for the course. Given Michigan's strong academic reputation in both arts and sciences, he figured rounding up potential speakers wouldn't be a problem. "And at the least, I figured as a new member of the Michigan faculty it would be a good way to meet some of my colleagues."
In the years since the course's revival, Ragsdale has tweaked the original guest speaker format to provide a further sense of engagement with the students.
For example, after each lecture series, the students choose a specific topic from the discussion and write a reflection about that class. "It's not just a recap or a response paper," Ragsdale explains. "I want the students to come up with something different and original, such as relating the lecture to something personal in their own life or following up on an argument raised in the talk and either defend it or defeat it."
"A Manifesto of Simplicity," by Julien Lafortune, an economics major at the University of Michigan.
Then, in alternate weeks between the guest speakers, Ragsdale teams up with instructors from Michigan's Sweetland Writing Center and divides the class into small workshop groups that collectively discuss and edit their reflections.
The editorial back and forth provides a great opportunity for the students, who, like the speakers, come from a wide range of academic departments, to interact with their peers and learn more about other disciplines. It also prepares them for their culminating course project, in which they creatively expand on a concept presented during the course. Projects have included statistical surveys assessing the role of intuition in a creative work, multimedia investigations of the importance of uncertainty in the creative process, drawings illustrating simplicity or attention, musical compositions exploring the nature of listening, platonic dialogues on the nature of creativity and films depicting giving. Basically, students may develop their projects and reflections in any genre that seems appropriate, including visualizing the concept of harmony through cupcakes.
Though Ragsdale initially was unsure if the course in Michigan could match the success it had in Nebraska, he holds no such doubts today. At the beginning of each semester, his small class, with an enrollment limit of 22, typically ends up with a waiting list twice that size, while at the end of the semester, the Creativity in the Sciences and Arts course regularly receives the highest marks in year-end reviews.
"I've had people ask me if I can teach this course to a thousand students each year and not just 22," he jokes. And while he won't go as far as switching the class to a big auditorium lecture, he is open to considering ways to bring the course to a wider audience.
However, he is worried about the loss of intimacy if the format is changed to accommodate more students; furthermore, he already has a full plate managing an active research group and teaching a graduate-level course in critical analysis of the scientific literature.
"As much as the students hopefully get out of this course, I get even more," he says. "I get to take part in lively debates, meet some fascinating university faculty, and see young people discovering their passion and expressing their own creativity."
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We promise to pay you 100% of the price quoted or we'll send your Apple Watch back free of charge. No disappointing 'up to' inflated prices, hidden costs or catches. The price you see is the price you get.
To sell your Apple Watch here at Trade in, select the device condition from the menu to see how much we value your Apple Watch at. If you're happy with our price, choose the 'Sell Now' option to sign in or to register your details so that we can send you one of our totally FREE postage pack.
Don't forget that at Trade in we also accept faulty or damaged Apple Watches. Follow the same process as outlined above to send us a damaged Apple Watch. Thanks to our price promise, if you're not satisfied with our offer then we'll send your Apple Watch back to you FREE of charge.
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MISSOULA, Mont. — A judge has sentenced a former University of Montana football player to 30 years in prison with 20 years suspended for raping a female friend in his apartment.
Beau Donaldson pleaded guilty in September to sexual intercourse without consent after admitting to the 2010 rape in a phone call monitored by police.
The Missoulian reports Donaldson began to cry as District Judge Karen Townsend handed down the maximum sentence sought by the prosecution.
He will be eligible for parole after 2 ½ years in prison.
Friday's sentencing hearing lasted 6 ½ hours during which the 23-year-old victim, her mother and best friend testified.
The victim says she pretended to be asleep out of sheer terror while Donaldson raped her, then she fled barefoot when he left the room.
-- The Associated Press


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Family Dollar Store (est. 2000)
[38.2315, -79.1679] famili, dollar, store, pawn, shop, discount, varieti, groceri, laundri, deterg, tide, bodi, lotion, suav, toilet, paper, scott, product, parti, suppli, cereal, kellogg, hous, home, juic, veget, drink, hawaiian, punch, gain, depart
my family. my family dollar.
(540) 337-8565 17 Scenic Hwy, Churchville, VA 24421 Sunday: 09:00 Am 09:00 Pm, Monday: 08:00 Am 09:00 Pm, Tuesday: 08:00 Am 09:00 Pm, Wednesday: 08:00 A Official site
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Ct6357 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 31 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
The Baby Sleep Solution is an audio program for parents that teach them how to get their baby to sleep.
The audio program has been selling successfully for over 4 years but I feel that the website is now looking it's age and so I want it to have a much more up to date design.
Parents with young babies.
Product is selling direct to the consumer who is very often female.
I want to keep the wording and the flow of the website as it is currently but you're free to be creative on the look and feel of the site.
For the color scheme I would expect it to be kept to delicate pastel colors.
You will see that on the original site there is an image of a sleeping baby in the header and this carries through with the cover of the CD etc further down the page. Again I'd like a new version of these but will still need to include a sleeping baby image.
The page is the actual sales page for the site which is also the home page.
I still want to keep the following on the page although I want them to look a lot sharper and more modern .... the testimonials, the 2 boxes where they can sign up for a sample of the audio, the bonuses (although I am in the process of updating some of these too).


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You must have Flash installed on your computer in order to view this course. This may not play on mobile devices. Sorry for the inconvenience.
We'll cover the many profitable reasons to market your products and services online. Many small businesses mistakenly assume their company may not benefit from using a transactional (e-commerce) website. However, all businesses can achieve new vitality and increased sales using an effective online presence.
Even worst case situations generate new and important information about your current and potential customer universe. This data will also help you jumpstart and rejuvenate sales if you act on this information.
This workshop will also introduce a wonderful marketing model that you can use to increase your sales and profits. Techniques to jumpstart sales are so valuable, you cannot afford to miss this workshop. Even if your business is currently widely successful, you'll benefit from learning alternative marketing tactics.
Using Technology to Jumpstart Your Sales is one of five Tech Made Simple workshops, each focusing on a different way that technology can help grow your small business.
Register for one of our other Tech Made Simple Workshops:
- Tech Made Simple: Using Technology to Improve Your Cash Flow
- Tech Made Simple: Boosting Your Business Using Technology
- Tech Made Simple: Building the Perfect Website for Your Small Business
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Every August, spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island for Hamilton Island Race Week - Australia's largest offshore keelboat regatta.
The week includes a full and diverse calendar of onshore events, including lunches and dinners presented by celebrity chefs, fashion shows, golfing competitions and wine tastings.
The Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Marina are the home of the regatta during this exciting week - perfect spots for watching the races, and coming together with other racegoers.
Download all Hamilton Island's press releases relating to the event, and learn more about specific event highlights.
Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia's favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. Competitors, family and friends come together to enjoy the convivial atmosphere and unique camaraderie of the event's on-water and off-water carnival. Every August, spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island for Hamilton Island Race Week - Australia's largest offshore keelboat regatta.
Perfectly situated on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, amongst Queensland's 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, fine food and wines, and activities almost too numerous to mention.
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Freshwater finish to saltwater series at Hamilton Island Race Week 2018
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It is common practise for a number of crews to fly in on the day of the first race. Unfortunately flights from most destinations do not arrive until midday or later. This will be too late to get onboard your boat for the first race. The start times on other days will vary, but will generally be between 1030hrs and 1130hrs.
Yes, and you'll have lots of company. Each year hundreds of yachties live aboard, and the marina is a lively place. There are showers and toilets ashore which you can use.
No. Yachts may enter for one class only.
Yes, you can change to a different handicap class (provided your boat is eligible) at any time up to the day before the racing starts. Should you wish to change class, just send us an email to let us know.
The handicap committee sets handicaps in the Performance Racing, Super Yachts, Cruising and Non-Spinnaker classes. The IRC Handicapped boats have their handicap pre-set by their IRC certificate (please ensure your IRC Certificate is current).
No, lodging your entry alerts us to the fact that you are coming, and gives us the dimensions of your boat. The marina staff works out a mooring plan to fit the boats into the marina, but there's always a degree of rafting involved. We do try to put all the relevant groups of boats together as much as possible - such as all the boats of a particular class (for example the Farr 40's, the Beneteau's, etc).
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Two competing yachts at Hamilton Island Race Week will each be going home with an impressive trophy without having started in a race on the day.
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18 hour 3 day Intensive driving course
This one week intensive driving course includes:
- Double your chances of a first time pass with free unlimited access to Theory Test Pro training, support and practice tests for 28 days
- Free driving theory test
- Driving Theory Test appointment usually about 14 days after booking course at a test centre near you.
- £23 deposit discount if not required
- Free practical driving test
- Usually booked for the last afternoon of your course unless you request otherwise
- £62 deposit discount if not required.
- 18 hours one to one in car driving tuition with a fully qualified local independent DVSA approved driving instructor
- pick up and drop off from your home
Who is the 3 day / 18 hour intensive driving course for?
If you can answer yes to all of the following this course should suit you
- I have taken one or more driving tests
- I have a Driving Theory Certificate which will be current for my next practical test
- My last driving test was less than 6 months ago
- On my last practical driving test I scored
- 1 or less 'Dangerous Faults'
- 3 or less 'Serious Faults'
- 10 or less 'Driver Faults'
- I am pretty comfortable with all aspects of driving
- I have had at least 30 hours of professional driving tuition
About your intensive driving course
Course days are normally Monday to Friday. Each day of this intensive driving course will usually be 6 hours total driving time. No more than 2 hours without at least a 15 minute break and at least a 1 hour lunch break. All between 8 am and 6pm. Exact schedule to be agreed with your driving course instructor who will contact you at least 14 days before the start of your course to introduce him or her self and confirm the details.
To prepare you for your practical driving test, your instructor will carry out part of the training around your test centre area and may carry out a mock driving test. Your instructor will talk and act just as the examiner will on your test day. So when you take your test for real, it will feel as if you have already done a test and you will be able to relax and drive to the best of your ability.
Your Practical Driving test
Your Practical Driving Test will normally be arranged for the last afternoon of your intensive driving course if possible. If that is not possible the last day may be held over until the actual test day. It is not possible to book a practical test until the theory has been passed so it is essential that you tell us you have passed the theory test as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delay between the end of your course and your practical driving test.
Your practical driving test will be booked at a nearby driving test centre.


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When I was in my 20s, I dreaded turning the big 3-0. I was somehow under the impression that everything that was acceptable in my 20s (like partying until the wee hours of the morning and then dragging myself into work) would be frowned upon once climbing into the next decade. However, now that 35 is around the corner, it's safe to say that life is better than ever and I've fully embraced this adulthood thing.
But a new problem crept up: wrinkles. And did I mention that my face is still greasy and has a tendency to break out like an adolescent? Ugh.
Over the years, I've been trying to solve the zit-wrinkle conundrum through trial and error. Traditional, fancy-schmancy anti-aging creams were too rich and caused breakouts, while over-the-counter anti-acne potions didn't address my newfound, mature lady problems. Through the years, I've meticulously scoured through department counters, trying every acne + wrinkle zapper I could find — and I succeeded. Click through for the all-star products that'll keep your crow's feet, hyperpigmentation, and pimples at bay, because seriously — who wants senior citizen acne?


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Natural Spin Dance Shoes & Fashion Shoes Outter Soles
We offer suede outter sole for all Natural Spin Dance Shoes, as all dancers know suede shoes are flexible and good for dancers. But we also offer leather outter sole for some of our popular heels. Many tango dancers love to choose leather sole which allow them better spin on the floor, also fashion designer shoes lover choose our leather sole to make our shoes their lovely designer shoes on the street, office, party and weddings!
Pls. see below pictures for our suede sole and leather sole pictures:
- This is our suede sole, flexible for better dancing!
- This is our leather outter sole, which allow tango dancers better spin on the floor and fashion shoes lovers own our their very special designer fashion shoes in different occasion.
Natural Spin Dance Shoes and Dance Wear on Facebook


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Indiana Man Dubbed 'Internet Casanova' to Face Charges
(INDIANAPOLIS) -- The man dubbed the "Internet Casanova" for breaking hearts online is now facing charges for not just stealing women's hearts but also their money.
Authorities allege that Ray Holycross, 29, who also went by the names Ray Cross and Ray Tompson, scammed and robbed more than 38 women in at least seven states.
Holycross, of Plymouth, Ind., will be arraigned on Friday in an Indiana courtroom on one charge of theft, accused of stealing the camera of Theresa Bridegroom, a woman from Mishawaka, Ind., according to ABC News affiliate RTV6.
Police say Holycross spent years logging onto dating websites to meet women before moving in with them and then stealing from them.
Bridegroom, 35, began dating Holycross in September. Police arrested him at the apartment they shared on Tuesday after Bridegroom discovered he pawned her camera and turned him in, RTV6 reports.
Holycross is also wanted in Oregon on two counts stemming from an identity theft charge.
"I think he relies on girls that he meets on the Internet to provide him with what he needs to get through life," Lt. Michael Budreau of the Medford Police Department in Oregon told ABC's Good Morning America in August as the first reports of his alleged fraud emerged.
Jennifer Clark told GMA in August that she met Holycross on the online dating site PlentyofFish.com. She was smitten, she said, and the two quickly moved in together.
"We lived together in my house," she said. "I decided I wanted to help him."
Clark told GMA that Holycross convinced her to sell her home and her car and promised to move to Chicago with her. Instead, he took her laptop and iPhone, withdrew nearly $1,000 from her bank account, and then vanished, she said.
"He made me feel like he was going to take care of me and, instead, I was left with absolutely nothing," Clark said.
Many of the women who met Holycross online told a similar story. They said he is an online charmer who took off with their cash once they let him into their lives and homes.
ABC News has also learned of allegations against Holycross from male victims, who claim he swindled them out of money and other possessions.
Even his own brother refused to defend him.
"He digs holes, gets into lies and it's just a non-stop thing," David Holycross said. "My heart goes out to all the victims. And if anyone has the opportunity to avoid my brother after seeing this, do so."
Attempts to reach Ray Holycross were unsuccessful.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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Customization of Processes for Structural MechanicsWhile ANSYS Workbench provides a number of standard tools for structural mechanics simulations, many users have developed practices which requires customization of the user interface. Whether you want to add taylored loads and boundary conditions, specific post-processing procedures, reuse existing APDL scripts in a user friendly way or even integrate some in-house codes, the Application Customization Toolkit (ACT) will help you achieve these goals.
Join us for a one hour webinar to discover how ACT can help you customize ANSYS Mechanical. A general introduction to the underlying concepts as well as a number of examples will be explained.


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Remember when a Michigan man was arrested after police caught him making sexy time with a car wash vacuum cleaner? Well his name is Jason LeRoy Savage and he just got 90 days in jail.
LeRoy was arrested back in October when witnesses observed him, er, making love to a car wash vacuum cleaner in the wee hours of the morning. Caught red-handed by police called to the scene by the horrified witnesses, he admitted to the lewd act and got tossed in the slammer. Yesterday in Saginaw County Circuit Court, the 29-year-old was sentenced to 90 days in jail along with mandatory drug testing after pleading no contest. You can't make this kind of thing up folks. [DetNews]


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missing translation for 'onlineSavingsMsg'
Learn More
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Thermo Scientific™ Pierce™ Standard Binding NeutrAvidin Coated Plates
Capture biotinylated antibodies or probes for ELISA and other target-specific assays with pre-blocked NeutrAvidin protein-coated plates.
Marca: Thermo Scientific™ 15401
Detalles adicionales : Peso : 0.10000kg
DescripciónBiotin-binding plates are ideal for applications when direct adsorption to polystyrene denatures antibodies or the target molecule. Thermo Scientific NeutrAvidin™ Protein is avidin that has been deglycosylated to prevent nonspecific lectin-binding. NeutrAvidin Protein has a near-neutral pI (6.3), resulting in lower nonspecific interactions in certain applications compared with streptavidin. NeutrAvidin Protein has an additional advantage of lacking the bacterial RYD sequence found on streptavidin, which eliminates nonspecific binding due to the RGD binding domain of adhesion receptors present in a variety of cells. Pierce NeutrAvidin Coated Plates are available in clear, white and black plates for use with colorimetric, chemiluminescent and fluorescent detection methods, respectively.
- Easy and gentle immobilization of biotin-containing conjugates
- Lowest nonspecific binding properties of all biotin-binding proteins
- Thermo Scientific NeutrAvidin Biotin-Binding Protein has no carbohydrate and an isoelectric point of 6.3
- No denaturing of the protein component of a conjugate upon binding to the plate
- Ideal for binding small hydrophilic molecules (e.g., peptides) that typically exhibit poor binding directly to polystyrene
- Pre-blocked with your choice of Thermo Scientific Blocker BSA or SuperBlock Blocking Buffer
- Available in 96- and 384-well formats
|White, 384-well plates, coated with 50uL of NeutrAvidin Protein and blocked with 100uL of SuperBlock Blocking Buffer
|Binding approx. 10 pmol biotin per well
|Pierce NeutrAvidin Coated Plates, White, 384-Well
|5 plates


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Your skill will accomplish
what the force of many cannot
comment on
|( #3333=superdoc: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
Re John's comment immediately preceding, "it's not clear to me what the bug(s) is/are ...."
Sorry, that's rooted in my inadequate explanation. There are some infelicities, but not, TTBOMK, any bugs to find.
Rather, as a candidate for first script in a series, this one is aimed solely at familiarizing the user with the use of w(atch), l(ist) and company.
But you're absolutely correct that any such effort should include some simple scripts with obvious bugs and some more with more subtle problems... albeit, all in the class that is discoverable with straightforward use of the distribution's debugger. (I say "straightforward" because I'm quite sure some of our most skilled colleagues make the debugger jump thru hoops and do discovery-acrobatics well beyond the little I've learned.)
In reply to Re^2: RFC: debugger_trainer
by ww


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Sunrise Trader
Trader trading the trend. Trade in a state of grace. Family friends laughter health and time to play important to me. Living life in alignment with 'what is' My posts are not advice. My opinions your wallet.
- West Coast
- Equities, Technical, Swing Trader
- Member since November 3rd 2009


text: Cédric Villani – "The Living Art of Mathematics" University of Bologna – Cerimonia di apertura del 930° Anno Accademico dell'Alma Mater. Advertisements Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Related Published by martin56jones "The mathematician's patterns, like the painter's or the poet's, must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or the words, must fit together in a harmonious way. " G H Hardy, A Mathematician's Apology (London 1941). View all posts by martin56jones


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As I was running with my dog this morning, I had to stop, one, because she needed to take care of some business, and, two, because I heard a sound that I had never heard before. As I stood there listening, my dog staring at me with her head cocked to the side, I could only assume this sound had slowly built to a crescendo over the past couple of weeks, and I had simply failed to notice it being preoccupied with other things.
Letting the sound wash over me, I tried to find a way to characterize the sound. It was at the same time, deafening, yet soothing. Startling, yet exceedingly comforting.
I raised my arms, tilted my head back and closed my eyes, simply enjoying the noise and the feeling of peace it brought me. I have no idea how long I stood there listening, but after some time, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Oblivious to anything around me other than this glorious, auditory outburst I was experiencing, I had failed to realize a man and woman had been asking me for some time what I was looking at.
"Looking at? I'm not looking at anything." I smiled."I'm listening."
The couple looked at each other, puzzled looks on their faces.
"What are you listening too? We don't hear anything."
Now it was my turn to look puzzled.
"You can't hear that? Seriously?"
"No, we don't. Hear what?"
'That sound. That amazing, fantastically beautiful, sound. Listen. Can you hear it now?"
"Ummm…no. Are you okay?"
'Am I okay? I'm ecstatic. You really can't hear it? It's how I imagine the tails of 1,000 unicorns' swishing with Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles playing live in the background would sound."
The couple slowly backed away. Puzzlement had now turned to concern, for themselves or for me, I couldn't tell.
"Okay, well, you have a nice day with your unicorns."
'Thank you. I really hope you can eventually hear it because it really is wonderful."
I continued my run, a wide smile on my face, the sound echoing in my ears. I began to notice that others along my route didn't seem to share my elation much like the couple I had talked to. Was this true? Was I the only one that was able to hear it? I began to ask people I passed. "Do you hear it?" or "Can you hear that sound?" No one could, and they all seemed to shy away from me when I asked. Maybe they were scared to admit it and admit how great it made them feel. Or maybe they were just scared of me and my slightly deranged look, sporting my bedhead and covered in sweat. Regardless, not one person I passed was able to hear this sound.
So, I now ask you, do you hear it? I have to know. Listen closely. Can you hear that? It's brilliant. It's magnificent. If you try harder, maybe you can. Just concentrate. Now?
No? …seriously? You can't hear it?
It's the sound of not one single Packer fan complaining about Jermichael Finley. If you can't hear it, then I feel sorry for you because it's truly one of the best things I've heard (or not heard) in a long time.
Go get 'em, 88.


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Horse Shoe Surround - Gift Wrap
Horse Shoe Surround - Gift Wrap
Monogram gift wrap is the perfect touch for holidays, parties, special events, and every day gifts to your favorite people! Gift Wrap is available in a variety of colors, with either a full color or white background. Color options and monogram styles are shown below.
To fully customize your gift wrap, choose a background option and sheet quantity then click "Personalize and Add to Cart" to select your color, monogram style, and initials on our details form.
20" x 29" sheets
Production time, 10 to 12 business days
Monogram gift wrap is custom printed and non-refundable.
All orders are shipped directly from our gift wrap printer.
*Please Note: If you choose the Custom Monogram lettering option, this will require additional design/production time and a separate custom artwork fee. See our monogram page for more details. If you already have a custom monogram by Allison R. Banks Designs, please indicate this on the gift wrap details form.
*Many of our custom products are shipped directly from our vendors. Please be aware that for this reason, products may arrive at separate times in separate packages.


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New Students Discover All Stevens Has to Offer at Fun and Informative Orientation Events
Throughout the month of August, newly-admitted students are receiving a grand welcome to Stevens – the place where they will expand their horizons, launch their careers, form forever friendships and ultimately call their home – at a series of orientation events hosted by the Undergraduate and Graduate Offices of Student Life.
Stevens' orientation programs serve two purposes – to help the newest members of the Stevens community transition smoothly and settle into life on campus, and to introduce them to peers who will share their journey.
Led by Stevens staff members and student volunteer orientation leaders, events range from moving into residence halls, registering for classes, and picking up Stevens-issued laptops and ID cards, to career development workshops and other informational sessions dedicated to academics and extracurricular activities, to what all incoming students most look forward to – exciting recreational and social events on campus, in Hoboken and New York City.
"Orientation is your launch-pad to college," said Evan Nelson '15, orientation coordinator. "Having a good Orientation experience is extremely important for how a freshman student ends up committing to campus. It is the very first thing that makes them feel like a part of the university community."
Orientation leaders say forming immediate friendships in a stress-free environment and getting situated on campus are some of the biggest assets to the Stevens orientation experience.
"At orientation, new students get to interact with the upper-class students who have a wealth of knowledge about things to do on campus and in the area," said Nelson. "And since they were once in your shoes, too, you also get to see how they adapted to college life, which can be very reassuring."
"Stevens is a small enough school that we can really offer freshmen a close-knit experience where they can learn hints, tips and tricks to succeed which would be difficult to learn on their own," added Brian Juzefyk '15, a third-year orientation leader.
Many undergraduates choose to participate in pre-orientation, a special, early introduction to the community and traditions at Stevens. Participants spend a few days together before the rest of their classmates arrived on campus engaging in a host of experiences for people with every imaginable interest.
"Pre-orientation at Stevens truly offers something for everyone," said Holly Nelson, assistant director of student life. "It's a chance to make connections and friendships with people who share your interests and will be embarking on this great college journey with you."
The Outdoor Adventure groups canoed, backpacked, mountain biked and rock climbed in Adirondack State Park, while the Performing Arts group toured the famous Apollo Theater, attended Broadway shows and even took acting, music and dance classes with professionals. Meanwhile, the City Life group got the New York City tour of a lifetime and the Sports and Fitness group worked out on the Brooklyn Bridge, biked through Central Park and caught a professional baseball game.
First-year student Reeba James of Elmwood Park, N.J., who was part of the City Life group, said she started pre-orientation knowing only one person at Stevens and left it with a solid group of friends.
"We saw the city together and really bonded throughout the experience," she said. "I was nervous to begin college at first, but after moving in and meeting so many great people, I felt super comfortable right away. I would recommend it to anyone."
All incoming undergraduates take part in the traditional Stevens orientation, held from Aug. 21-25, in which they socialize at a campus-wide barbeque, compete in a silly outdoor contents in the Summer Super Bowl, do community service, take part in a Hoboken-wide scavenger hunt powered by the digital app, play Bingo and other game shows, and enjoy comedians, hypnotists and other performers.
A new event this year is the Around the World Event, a social featuring food, music and entertainment from four different regions. Many students will also off-campus excursions like trips to Six Flags Great Adventure, Broadway shows, the Jersey Shore beaches and tubing on the Delaware River.
There are also plenty of sessions to make sure students would be ready to succeed at Stevens, focused on the Stevens Honor Code, academic offerings, cooperative education opportunities, entrepreneurial opportunities, financial aid, study abroad, student clubs, Greek Life, getting around Hoboken, maintaining healthy relationships, and virtually every other aspect of university life.
Some offerings are intended specifically for certain student groups, such as international undergraduates who receive their own welcome dinner, and socials for transfer and commuter students.
And of course, all undergraduates get a chance to meet with their advisors, peer mentors, faculty members and deans, as well as Stevens President Nariman Farvardin.
Graduate students, many who of them come to Stevens from all over the world, also take part in an orientation intended to help them not only transition to Stevens, but to America. Workshops and networking events are held to get students settled into their housing and address questions about academics, career services, U.S. culture, and much more. Faculty and staff are also on hand to meet personally with both international and domestic graduate students and welcome them to campus.
More than 30 international graduate students also took part in the Stevens American Graduate Experience (SAGE), held in late July, which immersed students in the American language, culture and academics for three weeks prior to the start of classes. Visits to famous New York City landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Times Square were some of the highlights, but there were also many more practical sessions, covering topics like international processing, signing a lease, or expectations in an American classroom.
Although it only lasts a few days, orientation participants say the experience significantly shapes years afterward that they spend at the university.
"Orientation and pre-orientation definitely affected my transition to college in an extremely positive way," said Scott Russell, a first-year student from Newport Beach, Cali. who was part of the Sports and Fitness pre-orientation group. "Being part of a small group helped me get to know people on a personal level. And being on campus early with only the other freshmen got me comfortable with being here and familiar with the campus and the local area before beginning classes."


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Medical Office Manager (CPPM) (Vouchers Included) includes:
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) (Voucher Included)
Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)
Medical Terminology
Microsoft Word 2016 Certification Training
Microsoft Excel 2016 Certification Training
Medical Office Managers and Administrative Medical Assistants are versatile and valuable members of the healthcare team who can handle a broad range of duties, including patient registration, telephone, scheduling, medical records, accounts receivable, data entry, compliance regulations, human resources, and health information.
This in-depth program combines several programs, Microsoft Word 2016, Microsoft Excel 2016, Medical Terminology, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS), and Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM), to give you the foundation and training needed to be a Medical Office Manager.
Upon completion of this program, you will be ready to take the Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM) exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and the Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) national certification exams offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You will receive the study guide materials, access to practice exams, AAPC membership and a voucher for each exam.
Managing a physician's office requires a wide range of skills. This course covers the competencies required including, effective patient flow, revenue cycle management, compliance regulations, human resources, health information, and general business processes.
Microsoft Office skills are important skills to have in any profession or workplace. Being able to work with Office programs is a must in today's workplace, you will learn essential introductory and advanced Office skills in Microsoft Word and Excel 2016 programs. You will be prepared for the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification exams 77-727 and 77-728 (Excel) and 77-725 and 77-726 (Word), the fees for these exams are not included in this course.
Medical Terminology will give you a full understanding of word origins to their application. You'll learn the correct terms and spelling for all of the body systems, major pathological conditions, disorders, treatments, medications, and more.
In Certified Medical Administrative Assist (CMAA) you will learn how to handle the increasing complexities of healthcare management and patient care in offices of physicians, offices of other providers, clinics, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers, hospital departments and emergency rooms, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, educational institutions and group homes.
You will get hands-on practice using real EHR software and learn the benefits these systems provide compared to traditional paper records and understand not only medical terms themselves, but also their application.
Certified Physicians Practice Manager (CPPM) will cover the requirements of managing the revenue cycle, compliance regulations, human resources, health information, and general business processes that make practice management a challenging yet rewarding profession.
Upon completion of this course, you will be ready to take the Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM) exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and the Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) national certification exams offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You will receive study guide materials, practice exams, AAPC membership, access to the Practicecode tool, and a voucher for each exam.
Hardware Requirements:
Software Requirements:
Instructional Materials
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
Note: Access to the electronic health record (EHR) software within the course is only available using Internet Explorer.
In order to sit for national certification exams, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; therefore, it is recommended you have this before enrolling for this program. A minimum of two years' health care experience is strongly recommended.
Microsoft Word and Excel
Tracy Berry has helped many organizations optimize and streamline data solutions. She teaches both onsite and online courses and has her CTT (Certified Technical Trainer) certification. Tracy specializes in teaching graphics, desktop publishing, web design, reporting/productivity applications, Microsoft Office, as well as the creation of online courses with software from leading vendors.
Tracy has been a senior graphic designer/programmer, instructor, and consultant since 1993. She has developed hundreds of logos, marketing materials, websites, and multimedia solutions for customers worldwide, including involvement in large corporate software rollouts. Tracy is also an expert in all Microsoft Office programs.
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant/Medical Terminology
Nancy Smith has almost 30 years of experience in healthcare education. After graduating from college with a degree in vocational education, she taught administrative medical programs in vocational schools and community colleges. In addition, she has professional experience as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, medical records auditor, and medical office manager. She is a member of AHIMA and has a CCS-P coding certification.
She currently does coding for ambulatory surgery center and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute.
LaTisha's field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.
Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration, including billing and coding, for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems and a master's degree in Leadership. She is an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer and is a member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM). She owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Education Services, Inc.
She is currently completing a textbook on the new ICD-10 coding system and is completing a bachelor's degree in Health Information Management with a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification.
LaTrisha Howard has over 10 years' experience in the healthcare industry. LaTrisha has expertise in coding Inpatient, Outpatient, and ER medical records. In addition to Ms. Howard's experience in coding, she has experience in chart auditing and physician education.
She is currently working as an ER Coder/Auditor for a physician billing and consulting service, and currently holds the CCS and CPC certification, as well as being a member of AHIMA and AAPC.
Shonda Miles is a Certified Professional Coder, Certified Professional Medical Auditor, and holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration, Master's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (Management).
Shonda Miles has over 6 years in the healthcare industry. Shonda has expertise in coding and chart auditing Inpatient, Outpatient, and ER medical records. She is a member of AAPC, NAMAS and ACHE. She is currently employed with a university hospital as a Compliance Auditor. She resides in Shreveport, LA.
Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. Lydia currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center in Northeast Louisiana. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision.
Lydia has mentored hundreds of nurses throughout the course of her nursing career. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. She performs revenue cycle fundamental and charging education to department directors and hospital staff. Lydia collaborates with the business office to rectify billing edit issues. She performs managed care reviews for accurate payment. Lydia also serves as an independent charge master and reimbursement consultant to area outpatient service centers. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and HFMA.
Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She ensures that all charges are captured using appropriate CPT, ICD-9 codes, and modifiers.
Bunny has trained and supervised entry-level coders at St. Vincent Medical Center in Staten Island and currently trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center. She has many years of experience in inpatient and professional coding.
In 2007, Ms. Reeves became a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) through the nationally known organization, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA has over 30 years' experience in the medical field. She has a Master's Degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994.She is originally from Chicago, Illinois and has worked in the United States Army. Sharon joined the US Army when she was 20 years old and was an active duty Clinical Specialist for 10 years. She was trained at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., and her first duty station was Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a Labor and Delivery nurse. She also worked in Ft. Devens, Massachusetts in a Combat Support Hospital and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in both the Troop Medical Clinics and Family Practice on the Island of Oahu.
After 10 years' active duty she worked as a Hemodialysis Technician at Parkland Hospital in the Outpatient Dialysis Unit. She has worked in Rheumatology, Surgical Oncology, and Family Practice, and has been the Practice Administrator of Neurology, Cardiovascular, and Urology Practices.
She was a Medical Assisting Instructor for various Allied Health Schools in the Metroplex in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. She has been the Director of Education of two proprietary schools Remington College in Shreveport, LA and Ultrasound Diagnostic School in Irving, Texas. She moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College was promoted to Campus Director.
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Jennifer Della'Zanna
Facilitator Credentials: Certified Professional Coder, Certified General Surgery Coder, Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist, Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Jennifer has worked in the allied health care industry for more than 20 years in every capacity from receptionist to practice manager. Currently, she writes and edits courses and study guides about medical coding, transcription, electronic health records, and the use of technology in health care. She also regularly contributes online and print articles about these topics and has actively helped prepare industry professionals for the conversion to the ICD-10 coding system.
Rachael Delekta
Facilitator Credentials: MBA in Healthcare Administration, Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Rachael has been in the health care field for over ten years. She has worked mostly on the insurance side of things, as a customer service manager for dental insurance, a claims and customer service coach, and a workers' compensation case management biller and auditor. She works daily with medical records and healthcare software.
Certified Physician Practice Manager
Leanne Walls, CPC, CHC, has over twenty years of experience in coding, compliance and practice management. She currently manages a large multi-specialty group practice with over 100 physicians. She has contributed education support in reviewing curriculum, writing practice management related articles and presenting on coding and practice management topics.
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popeye necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 84 diseños de 42 diseñadores freelance.
The Andy Wallace Foundation
The Andy Wallace Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Pennsylvania that provides scholarships to young students in grade school and college. The foundation's namesake, Andy Wallace, tragically passed away at age 27. The Andy Wallace Foundation aims to keep Andy's legacy going through investment in young, promising students and student athletes who share his personality traits for living life to the fullest and with passion and heart.
Donors and students interested in applying for scholarships
Logo must read The Andy Wallace Foundation
Design MUST incorporate one of the following -- either the number "7" (Andy's soccer number) -- OR a spartan helmet (the Spartans were the mascot for Andy's childhood soccer team and remained important to him throughout his life). Design does not have to incorporate both "7" and spartan helmet. (We don't want a crowded logo).
The end goal is a vibrant, but simple & elegant, logo. The logo should be inviting and vivid -- not somber or muted. The logo should reflect the person that Andy was -- funny, outgoing, gregarious, and truly one in a million.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Panthers Acquire RW Jimmy Hayes & D Dylan Olsen From Chicago In Exchange For RW Kris Versteeg & LW Philippe Lefebvreby Staff Writer / Florida Panthers
|Forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers Executive VP/General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the club has acquired RW Jimmy Hayes and D Dylan Olsen from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for RW Kris Versteeg and LW Philippe Lefebvre.
"We are pleased to welcome both Jimmy and Dylan to the Panthers," said Tallon. "Jimmy is a young, strong, hardworking, versatile forward who brings both size and skill to our team. Dylan, a former first round draft pick, is a young, solid defenseman who adds further depth to our blue line. We thank Kris for his contributions to the Panthers, including helping us win 2011-2012 Southeast Division Championship, and wish him the best of luck in his return to Chicago."
Hayes, 23, has played in 43 career NHL games, all with Chicago (2011-2014) scoring six goals with seven assists and 16 PIM. The 6-foot-6, 221-pound forward scored 25 goals and registered 45 points in 67 games for Rockford (AHL) last season. This season, Hayes has recorded eight points (4-4-8) in 13 games with Rockford (AHL), while also appearing in two games for the Blackhawks.
The Dorchester, Massachusetts, native played three years of college hockey at Boston College (2008-2011) registering 81 points (42-39-81) in 117 games played. Hayes won a NCAA Frozen Four Championship during his sophomore season. He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (60th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Olsen, 22 has played in 28 career NHL games, all with Chicago (2011-2012), registering one assist and six PIM. He has played in 18 games with Rockford (AHL) this season recording eight assists and eight PIM.
The 6-foot-2, 214-pound blue liner, who was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, played two seasons (2009-2011) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth recording 24 points (2-22-24) in 53 games played. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (28th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Florida Panthers Social Media is powered by Ford - follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Home to the Florida Panthers Hockey Club and internationally recognized concerts and events, the Broward County-owned BB&T Center is one of the top ranked venues of its kind in the world.


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2010 world junior silver medallist and Penn State senior Casimir Loxsom, who had a subpar junior year last year as he struggled with iron issues, sent a statement out today at the Nittany Lion Challenge as he opened up his individual 2013 campaign with a stellar 1:46.98 clocking at Penn State. Loxsom's previous indoor pr was a 1:47.46 that he ran in 2011, when he'd go on to run 1:45.31 outdoors in placing 5th at NCAAs.
The 1:46.98 clocking is the fastest time by a collegian indoors on a 200 meter track in at least 3 years. No collegian ran that fast on a 200 meter track in 2012, 2011 or 2010, and that's as far back as we can find stats.
Even on oversized tracks, the 1:46.98 mark has only been bettered twice in the last three years. Minnesota's Harun Abda ran 1:46.97 last year and Andrew Wheating ran 1:46.36 in 2010.
Section 2 - Men's 800 - 2013 Nittany Lion Challenge
1 Loxsom, Casimir SR P S U 1:46.98P
2 Kidder, Brannon FR P S U 1:48.17M
3 Dawson, Owen U N A 1:50.87
-- Fuller, Kevin U N A DNF
-- Negley, Samuel JR Pittsburgh DNF
If you know the last time a collegiate athlete ran faster than 1:46.98 on a 200 meter track (the NCAA allows oversized tracks to be used), please post it on this thread as we can't find the 2009 or 2009 NCAA POP lists.
Live meet results (the meet is still going on) can be found here: http://www.gopsusports.com/liv...allenge13/


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1. On appeal from a summary judgment ruling by the district court, an appellate court applies the same standards as the district court to determine if there is any genuine issue of material fact and whether the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
2. Uninsured motorist coverage protects an insured for losses caused by a negligent driver who has no auto liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage provides compensation to an insured who suffered damages as a result of a negligent motorist whose insurance is insufficient to pay the damages.
3. Highly summarized, K.S.A. 40-284(a) requires that all Kansas auto liability policies provide uninsured motorist coverage equal to the policyholders' liability limits under those policies. However, insurers need not offer coverage in accordance with K.S.A. 40-284 in umbrella policies which do not provide primary auto liability coverage.
4. The plain language of K.S.A. 40-284 makes it clear that uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are not mandatory in an umbrella policy which does not provide primary liability coverage for specified insured vehicles. Such an umbrella policy does not become the primary policy simply because the insured has exhausted the limits of the insured's primary auto liability policy.
5. The declaration of public policy is primarily a legislative function.
6. In construing any statute, courts seek to understand the legislature's intent by applying the commonly accepted meaning of the words used, absent an indication that they bear some special meaning.
7. The construction of an insurance policy and whether the policy is ambiguous are issues of law. On appeal, an appellate court considers these issues de novo.
8. An insurance policy is ambiguous if, when applying a reasonable construction to the policy's terms, a reasonably prudent insured would have doubts about the meaning of those terms or if the policy's terms conflict. In considering whether an ambiguity exists, courts do not examine policy terms in isolation but rather view them in the context of the policy as a whole. Nor do courts strain to find ambiguity when common sense dictates otherwise. Courts do not conclude there is ambiguity simply because the parties disagree on the meaning of the policy's terms.
9. If an insurance policy was not ambiguous on its face at the time of the event purporting to give rise to benefits under the policy, a later change in the policy does not retroactively create ambiguity.
Appeal from Johnson District Court; WILLIAM O. ISENHOUR, JR., Judge. Opinion filed September 15, 2006. Affirmed.
Joseph R. Borich III, of Overland Park, and Thomas Francis Sullivan, of Leawood, for appellants.
Dale L. Beckerman, of Deacy & Deacy, LLP, of Kansas City, Missouri, for appellee.
Before RULON, C.J., McANANY, J., and KNUDSON, S.J.
McANANY, J.: Joseph M. Fiorella was insured under an auto policy, a homeowner's policy, and an umbrella policy issued by Safeco Insurance Company. In 1995, Fiorella changed carriers and obtained auto, homeowner's, and umbrella coverage through Phoenix Insurance Company, an entity owned and operated by The Travelers Insurance Company. The Phoenix umbrella policy, identified as the "Personal Liability Umbrella Supplement" to the homeowner's policy, insured all automobiles, recreational vehicles, watercraft, and premises owned by Fiorella. The Phoenix umbrella policy made no mention of uninsured motorist coverage (UM) or underinsured motorist coverage (UIM).
In 1998, Phoenix issued a new form of umbrella policy that explicitly excluded UM and UIM coverage. However, the pre-1998 form of Fiorella's policy was in effect at the time of Fiorella's accident in January 1999.
In January 1999, Fiorella sustained serious injuries in an automobile accident due to the fault of Troy Deaton, an 18-year-old high school student who was insured under an auto insurance policy issued by State Farm Insurance Company with a liability coverage limit of $100,000.
At the time of the accident, Fiorella's Phoenix auto policy had a liability limit of $500,000. The Phoenix auto policy also provided UM and UIM coverage, as well as personal injury protection (PIP) and medical pay benefits. In addition, Fiorella had in effect his Phoenix homeowner's policy. That policy provided liability coverage up to $300,000 per occurrence.
Liability coverage under the Phoenix umbrella policy dovetailed with the auto and homeowner's policies. The umbrella policy applied to auto claims after exhaustion of the $500,000 liability limit on Fiorella's auto policy and to personal claims after exhaustion of the $300,000 liability limit on his homeowner's policy. The liability limit on the umbrella policy was $1 million per occurrence. As noted earlier, the policy form of Fiorella's umbrella policy at the time of the accident made no reference to UM or UIM coverage.
State Farm tendered, and Fiorella accepted, its policy limit of $100,000 for Fiorella's claims against Deaton. Due to Deaton's lower limits of liability coverage and the extent of Fiorella's injuries and loss, Phoenix then paid to Fiorella the policy maximum of $400,000 in underinsured motorist benefits under its auto policy. Phoenix also paid to Fiorella $12,000 in medical pay and $22,475 in PIP benefits under its auto policy. The parties agree that Fiorella's total damages exceed the amount he has collected so far.
In April 1999, the then current policy period of the Phoenix umbrella policy expired. Phoenix issued to Fiorella a new umbrella policy rider which contained the explicit exclusion of UM and UIM coverage adopted in 1998.
Fiorella commenced this action to obtain a judicial declaration that the Phoenix umbrella policy provides additional UIM coverage. He seeks recovery of the full $1 million in coverage under the umbrella policy for his losses and injuries from the accident.
Phoenix moved to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. The district court determined there was no genuine issue of material fact and granted Phoenix's motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the umbrella policy provides no UIM coverage. Fiorella appeals.
The standards for summary judgment are well known to the parties, so we will not repeat them here. On appeal, we apply the same standards as the district court to determine if there is any genuine issue of material fact and whether the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Bracken v. Dixon Industries, Inc., 272 Kan. 1272, 1274-75, 38 P.3d 679 (2002).
Statutory Construction of K.S.A. 40-284
Fiorella argues K.S.A. 40-284 requires UIM coverage in an umbrella policy. He admits that K.S.A. 40-284(a) specifically excludes umbrella policies from the requirement of UM coverage. He contends, however, that the statute does not exclude UIM coverage from the required coverages in an umbrella policy.
UM coverage protects an insured for losses caused by a negligent driver who has no auto liability insurance. See Bartee v. R.T.C. Transportation, Inc., 245 Kan. 499, 514, 781 P.2d 1084 (1989). Similarly, UIM coverage provides compensation to an insured who suffered damages as a result of a negligent motorist whose insurance is insufficient to pay the damages. See Jones v. Automobile Club Inter-Insurance Exchange, 26 Kan. App. 2d 206, 208, 981 P.2d 767, rev. denied 268, 887 (1999).
In Barte, our Supreme Court, in considering an earlier version of K.S.A. 40-284(a), see L. 1986, ch. 173, sec. 1, held that UM coverage was included in an umbrella policy that required the maintenance of an underlying primary policy. 245 Kan. at 515. Bartee does not control. The current version of K.S.A. 40-284 was adopted in 1988. L. 1988, ch. 152, sec. 1. Highly summarized, the current version of subsection (a) of the statute requires that all Kansas auto liability policies provide UM coverage equal to the policyholders' liability limits under those policies. However, insurers need not offer coverage in accordance with this section (i.e., K.S.A. 40-284) in umbrella policies which do not provide primary auto liability coverage. Subsection (b) requires UIM coverage in any policy that provides UM coverage. Subsections (c) through (f) relate to the rejection of coverage by the insured, coverage limitations, and subrogation matters not at issue in this case.
The plain language of K.S.A. 40-284(a) makes it clear that the exclusion from mandatory coverage in umbrella policies applies to both UM and UIM coverages. The statute explicitly excuses umbrella policies from the requirement to provide "coverage conforming to this section." (Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 40-284(a). The section to which this refers is the entirety of K.S.A. 40-284, including subsection (b) which deals with UIM coverage. In oral argument before us, Fiorella conceded that K.S.A. 40-284(a) is a subsection of that section of the statutes denominated as K.S.A. 40-284. Thus, the statute exempts umbrella policies from the requirement of providing UM and UIM coverages.
Furthermore, Fiorella's argument that UIM coverage is mandatory in every umbrella policy is contrary to a logical construction of the statute. K.S.A. 40-284(b) requires UIM coverage only in conjunction with UM coverage. Fiorella agrees K.S.A. 40-284(a) makes UM coverage in an umbrella policy optional. Thus, if there is no mandatory UM coverage in an umbrella policy and UIM coverage is only required in conjunction with UM coverage, it logically follows that UIM coverage likewise is not mandatory in an umbrella policy.
Fiorella's claim that the public policy of Kansas requires that he recover UIM benefits under his umbrella policy is also unsupported. "'The declaration of public policy is primarily a legislative function.' [Citations omitted.]" Marshall v. Kansas Med. Mut. Ins. Co., 276 Kan. 97, 104, 73 P.3d 120 (2003). The legislature clearly stated our state's policy when it excluded umbrella policies from the type of policy in which the insurer must offer UM and UIM coverages.
The Umbrella Policy as a Primary Policy
Fiorella points out that K.S.A. 40-284(a) exempts from the requirement of UIM coverage an umbrella policy "which does not provide primary motor vehicle insurance for liabilities arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of a specifically insured motor vehicle." He argues that once coverage has been exhausted on his auto policy, the umbrella policy becomes the primary insurance. From this he concludes that once the umbrella policy becomes primary, K.S.A. 40-284(a) requires that the policy provide UIM coverage. One of the problems with this argument is that in order to be a primary policy, the policy must refer to "a specifically insured motor vehicle." Fiorella's auto liability policy is his primary policy. Its declarations page specifically lists Fiorella's vehicles as a 1991 Acura Legend L and a 1997 Ford Expedition, each with specific VIN numbers. It identifies the principal driver and the primary use of each vehicle and where the vehicles are garaged. Fiorella's umbrella policy provides no such specificity. It applies to all automobiles, recreational vehicles, watercraft, and premises owned by Fiorella.
Further, Fiorella's use of the term "primary" is contrary to the commonly understood meaning of the term. In construing any statute, including K.S.A. 40-284(a), we seek to understand the legislature's intent by applying the commonly accepted meaning of the words used, absent an indication that they bear some special meaning. Webster defines primary as "first in order of time or development." Fiorella's primary auto policy is the one which paid him $400,000 in UIM benefits. It is the first of his policies to which he looked for recompense. The Phoenix umbrella policy does not become the primary policy upon exhaustion of the auto liability policy any more than a relief pitcher becomes a starter simply by taking over for a fading starting pitcher. The umbrella policy is not a primary policy.
Policy Ambiguity
Fiorella next claims that the umbrella policy is ambiguous as to whether it includes UIM coverage and, therefore, should be construed to include UIM coverage. Whether the policy is ambiguous is a question of law which we review de novo. See Liggatt v. Employers Mut. Casualty Co., 273 Kan. 915, 920-21, 46 P.3d 1120 (2002).
The Phoenix umbrella policy is ambiguous if, when applying a reasonable construction to the policy's terms, a reasonably prudent insured would have doubts about the meaning of those terms or if the policy's terms conflict. We do not examine policy terms in isolation but rather view them in the context of the policy as a whole. Nor do we strain to find ambiguity when common sense tells us otherwise. Finally, we do not conclude there is ambiguity simply because the parties disagree on the meaning of the policy's terms.
Fiorella claims the umbrella policy's numerous references to the underlying auto insurance coverage created an expectation of UIM coverage. Such an expectation requires the policyholder to ignore the very title of the policy: "Personal Liability Umbrella Policy." (Emphasis added.) Such an expectation flies in the face of the policy's terms, and a reasonably prudent insured would not harbor such an expectation. The mere fact that its liability coverage dovetails with Fiorella's auto policy so as not to create a "doughnut hole" in the continuum of his liability coverage does not support the notion that the umbrella policy provides ongoing UIM coverage once the limit of his primary auto policy has been exhausted.
Fiorella's primary auto policy provides UIM coverage in the insuring agreement, which states: "We will pay damages which an 'insured' is legally entitled to recover from the owner of operator of an 'uninsured motor vehicle' because of 'bodily injury': 1. Sustained by an 'insured'; and 2. Caused by an accident." (Emphasis added.) This contrasts with the insuring agreement in the umbrella policy, which provides: "[W]e will pay damages for which the 'insured' becomes legally responsible due to 'bodily injury', 'property damage', or 'personal injury' caused by an 'occurrence.'" (Emphasis added.) The umbrella policy provides liability coverage for claims by third parties against the insured. No reasonable insured who has read the policy would be left with the expectation that the umbrella policy covers the insured's claims against the insurer for the insured's own losses and damages. Fiorella's strained construction of the term "legally responsible" to include his responsibility to pay his own hospital and medical bills is unreasonable when viewed in light of the policy as a whole.
Similar language was considered in Allstate Ins. Co. v. Johnston, 339 F. Supp. 2d 1191, 1195 (D. Kan. 2004). There, the insuring agreement provided that Allstate "will pay when an insured becomes legally obligated to pay for personal injury or property damage caused by the insured." (Emphasis added.) This limited recovery under the policy applies to claims for which the insured becomes liable to a third party. Similarly, the insuring agreement now before us limits coverage to damages for which the insured becomes legally responsible due to bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury caused by an occurrence, i.e., an accident. The fact that the umbrella policy provides third-party liability coverage for claims made against its insured rather than first-party UIM coverage is underscored by policy exclusion 13, which makes it clear that the policy does not apply to bodily injury and personal injury to any insured. See Ball v. Midwestern Ins. Co., 250 Kan. 738, 740, 829 P.2d 897 (1992).
Finally, Fiorella argues that the umbrella policy is ambiguous because Phoenix subsequently amended his policy to explicitly exclude UM and UIM coverage. If the policy was not ambiguous on its face at the time of the accident, a subsequent policy change does not retroactively create ambiguity. See Liggatt, 273 Kan. at 921-23 (construing the insurance policy and amendments in effect at the time of the accident).
The district court correctly concluded that Phoenix was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Fiorella's claim for UIM coverage on his umbrella liability policy.
The Expert Witness
Fiorella claims the district court erred in granting summary judgment without considering the testimony of Professor Jeffrey E. Thomas of the University of Missouri - Kansas City Law School. Specifically Fiorella states the court should have considered Thomas' opinion that "the construction of an insurance policy is not always a matter of law but also can be a question of fact especially when there is ambiguity, interpretation, or unclarity [sic] in the insurance contract or the group of inter-related contracts in question."
Professor Thomas' opinions were contained in his deposition which was taken during the course of discovery. His deposition was attached to Fiorella's brief in opposition to Phoenix's summary judgment motion. When asked for some indication in the record that the district court did not consider Thomas' deposition testimony in ruling on Phoenix's motion, Fiorella conceded in oral argument before us that there was none. His true complaint is not that the district court failed to consider Thomas' opinions, but rather that the district court did not agree with them.
Thomas' testimony goes to the ultimate issue of ambiguity and interpretation of the written insurance policy. When asked for his main opinion in the case, Thomas stated:
"It's my opinion that the umbrella insurance policy from Travelers that was in force at the time of the accident can be reasonably interpreted to provide coverage excess to the uninsured [sic] motorist coverage that Mr. Fiorella had at the time of the accident.
. . . .
"Secondly, it's my opinion that the umbrella insurance policy applicable to the accident, the Travelers policy, is ambiguous as to whether or not it excludes coverage under the policy that would be excess to the underinsured motorist coverage provided to Mr. Fiorella."
Fiorella admits construction of an insurance policy is a question of law. Likewise, whether a written instrument is ambiguous is also a question of law. Liggatt, 273 Kan. at 921. Thomas' opinions addressed questions of law and did not create any disputed material facts for a trial.