text:
Rev. Brian Blogs
Thursday, December 19, 2013
The Fifth With First T-Shirts
The Fifth With First
is right around the corner.
Here is a sneak preview of our Fifth With First t-shirts, which should be arriving any day now!
Pricing details, sizes, and availability will be forthcoming.
Posted by
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
No comments:
The Fifth with First
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Whiteboard: Christmas Sunday
Our fourth Advent candle is lit, which means that we are almost to Christmas.
As is our tradition, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love we will be celebrating Christmas Sunday at First Christian Church Scottsdale. And this year are we in for a treat!
The Music Ministries at FCC Scottsdale have taken the lead in the service and have prepared a wonderful featuring all sorts of special music.
The service will feature portions of Handel's Messiah, guest musicians, guest vocalists, a youth trio, the Children's Choir, and more!
It is going to be a wonderful service as we sing out our praises to God and ready our hearts once more to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Posted by
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
No comments:
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Whiteboard: Expecting Joy
With the third Sunday of Advent we add Mary's voice to the litany of stories in our season of anticipation and expectation.
In fact, "expecting" takes on a whole new meaning this Sunday with Mary's story. After all, she is the one who is "expecting" (literally) with the Christ child.
It makes her song of joy (known as the Magnificat) all that more remarkable, and even stronger testimony of faith.
Luke 1:46-55 Mary's Song of Praise
And Mary said,
'My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.'
Posted by
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
No comments:
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Hanging of the Greens
You are in for a pleasant surprise when you step into the Sanctuary this Sunday!
Thanks to our wonderful Hanging of the Greens Crew the Sanctuary (as well as other spots all over the church campus) have been thoroughly transformed for the Advent and Christmas Season here in the life of the church.
Honestly, I can't thank the Hanging of the Greens Crew enough for their hard work. Last Sunday we had 30+ people stick around after Worship and Fellowship Hour. They made quick work of all the projects and have truly turned our sanctuary into something special.
We did things a little bit differently this year, and I dare say that it really worked. Usually we do all of our decorating on the Saturday before the First Sunday in Advent, but this year the Worship Team decided that we would help folks embody the spirit of anticipation and preparation that mark the Season of Advent. So we purposefully stripped the sanctuary bare (did you notice that we didn't have any cloths on the pulpit or lectern and that I wasn't wearing a stole last week?) so that the explosion of colors, wreaths, lights, and flowers really would be a physical transformation emblematic of the spiritual transformation we are undergoing.
An extra word of thanks to Dorothy and Carrie (our Worship Team Co-Chairs) for getting everything to ready, to our "behind the scenes workers" who came in midweek to get out all the right boxes, and to Don and Kay for coming early to set up the Fellowship Hall.
Posted by
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
No comments:
Whiteboard: Sunday of Peace
This week in worship we will celebrate The Second Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday of Peace.
Our assigned scripture readings this week are interesting pair.
Isaiah 11:1-10 makes perfect sense. This is the prophet's foretelling of the Peaceful Kingdom where the wolf will lay down with the lamb, the lion will eat straw like the ox, and a little child shall lead us. It contains the promise that there will be no more war or fighting and that our lives will be defined by righteousness and knowledge of the Lord. For the Sunday of Peace there couldn't be a better text to guide us.
Our second text is a bit trickier of a fit. But I suppose that was always the case with John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:1-12 introduces us to John the Baptist. Throughout the Season of Advent we are introduced to these important characters who helped set the stage for the mission and ministry of Jesus. That is certainly John the Baptist's role. While he might not have the most peace-filled tactics for sharing the message (calling people a "brood of vipers" and warning of an "unquenchable fire"), sometimes you have to mix things up so that they can be made ready for the coming of the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 11:1-10 The Peaceful Kingdom
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Matthew 3:1-12 The Proclamation of John the Baptist
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
'The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight." '
Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor"; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
'I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.'
Posted by
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
No comments:
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
On March 21st, New Jersey legalization activists will gather outside the Statehouse to show support for marijuana legalization and spread the message of an even greener garden state.
The New Jersey Spring Smoke Out demonstration will start at the Trenton Transit Centre, where the group will walk from 2pm from the Transit River Line Station to the Statehouse. From 4pm onwards, the group will then "smoke out" the Statehouse by lighting up right across the street.
According to the group, New Jersey's legalization movement lacks the street presence that contributed to success in Washington and Colorado. Ed Forchion, aka NJ Weedman, has also stated in a recent interview that the movement is very similar to the civil rights movement. Forchion remarked that the event itself is an act of civil disobedience and hoped to catch public attention.
Another rally was hosted back in October and had over 250 participants, 75 of whom smoked weed in protest. Organisers for the March event include the Coalition for Medical Marijuana, Delaware NORML, CB Delaware, The Legalise Marijuana Party, the East Coast Cannabis Coalition, Decarcerate the Garden State, Fully Baked Radio, Legalise Marijuana in Atlantic City and more. Ed Forchion also stated that they hope to include a new activist group that has recently been formed, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In July 2018, HTTP sites that were not switched over to HTTPS showed this "Not Secure" warning next to the URL.
This was big news, as over a billion people use Google Chrome as their primary browser. Websites with insecure HTTP connections will be labeled to warn users that their passwords and credit card data may be compromised. All HTTP pages in Chrome will trigger the warning, even those without credit card forms.
Google just announced that they will take the next step and block all mixed content on websites by default. Mixed content is insecure http:// resources on https:// pages. Their reasoning is privacy and security based:
For example, an attacker could tamper with a mixed image of a stock chart to mislead investors, or inject a tracking cookie into a mixed resource load. Loading mixed content also leads to a confusing browser security UX, where the page is presented as neither secure nor insecure but somewhere in between.
Google will spread out this change over their next three updates. Here's the timeline:
- This December, Chrome 79 will feature a new setting to unblock mixed content on specific sites. This applies to mixed scripts, iframes, etc. that Chrome currently blocks by default.
- In January 2020, Chrome 80 will automatically upgrade all mixed audio and video resources to https://, and Chrome will automatically block them if they fail to load over to HTTPS. Mixed images will still be allowed to load, but will cause Chrome to show that Not Secure warning in the URL box. Chrome is doing this as a motivator to get you to migrate your images to HTTPS.
- In February 2020, Chrome 81 will finally automatically upgrade all mixed images to HTTPS, and just like audio and video, block content that don't load over HTTPS.
Use Google's Content Security Policy and Lighthouse's mixed content audit to discover and fix mixed content on your site before the warnings appear in January.
SSL Certificates from HostDime
If your website still isn't HTTPS secure, it's time to fix that. Customers need to see that green lock in the URL box to trust you.
HostDime's Comodo SSL certificates start at just $30. These certificates include domains validated, quick issuance, unlimited re-issues, 30 day refund, $10,000 warranty, 99.3% browser compatibility, and 128/256 bit Encyption.
For a comprehensive list of differences between the different types of SSL certificates, follow this guide.
If you are a current HostDime client, you can utilize our Resource Guide to order SSLs within Core directly.
Jared Smith is HostDime's SEO and Content Strategist.


text:
FAST COMPANY: When do you stand up for your vision?
MIKE HISLOP: Corner Bakery started over 20 years ago in downtown Chicago. The vision then and the vision today are the same: ensuring we are evolving with our guest. That means no shortcuts, no compromises. We bring in over 40 different types of produce daily, we're cooking to order over an open flame, and supporting our industry-leading catering program with over 300 custom catering vans. Doing these things are not easy buy they do separate us from our competitors. Our commitment to no shortcuts, no compromises is shared by our franchise partners as we more than double the size of this company over the next three to four years.


text:
LOVE Hair Smoother
Ideal for frizzy or unruly hair for a straight styling. Its leave-on formula is recommended to straighten wavy and frizzy hair in an invisible way. It does not weigh down the hair. It does not leave residue and keeps the hair soft and shiny. Apply to towel dried hair after using the conditioner. Do not rinse off.
Natural Active Ingrediants:
Mica - to give shine to the hair Minuta Olive from Sicily - Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, it has an elasticising and softening action Rhizobian gum - give volume and moisture to the hair;


text:
Hi everyone,
my female Amazon tree boa doesn't want to eat. She is usually a good feeder and takes anything that is offered. The problem is that she strikes at the mouse holds on for a few seconds then lets go, she does this over and over .She is 1m long and her cage mate is just abit longer. I have tried pinks, live and thawed mice. Her cage temps on the warm side : night 22 C and day 25/26 C. She has refused about 3 feeds over the last 2/3 weeks.
What should i do?


text:
Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Brendan Gleeson, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine topline the psychological thriller Eliza Graves and we have a look at the poster for you inside. Presumably, this is on display currently at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Loosely based on "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether," a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, the film will center on an Oxford graduate (Sturgess) who takes a job at an insane asylum, unaware of the fact that it has been taken over by its occupants. Joseph Gangemi (Fear Itself, Wind Chill) provided the screenplay.
Stay up to date with the latest horror news by "liking" Shock Till You Drop's Facebook page and following us on Twitter!


text:
Posted by Chic Aeon in places on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Less than a month to Hair Fair! Always fun; I am personally picky about my hair -- in RL too. So exploring new looks and possibilities is always welcome. And then there are the builds, often very creative in that minimalist way (the lag thing).
click the photo for a larger version
There is a photo contest going on of course. The theme is freedom. Wondering how to portray the idea and not be terribly obvious, I settled on this shot. It also gave me an excuse to return to Kingdom of Sand (adult but not age verified) which I hadn't visited since it rebuild. A little tricky getting down to the ground (think of it as a hunt; follow the red footprints and read floating text), but visitors are welcome with a tag on.
I am wearing one of the beautiful Arcane Dancer Silks from Deviance. The shape comes with the set and I admit to slapping that on rather than adjusting ALL those prims. This by the way looks fantastic on Chandra who apparently wears it quite often in her off hours. Now and then we teleport to meet and I find her in dancer mode *wink*. My hair is Valentina from EMO-tions (currently off-line for Tuesday restarts it seems).
Poses by: Juxtapose
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 7:45 AM and is filed under places. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.


text:
The Joy of Film Podcast, Episode 10 - Winter Film Season Celebration
Dec 31st, 2016 by thejoyofgaming
The Joy of Film Podcast, Episode 10:
Winter Film Season Celebration
On this episode of The Joy of Film Podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) talk about all of the big movies we've seen recently. And because we're in the midst of the Winter Film Season, we'll be discussing some of the biggest films of the year, including: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Arrival, Edge of Seventeen, Moana, Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive, and more.
We also discuss some of the biggest recently-released trailers, trying our best to predict quality and figure out to expect from Ghost in the Shell, XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, Silence, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, F8: The Fate of the Furious, Spiderman: Homecoming and more. We also dive into some of the latest movie news, sneak in a bit of Marvel TV talk, and discuss a few other "film-adjacent" topics.
We cover a lot of (snow-covered) ground in this episode, as there's a lot to talk about - and to love and not love - here in the Winter of Film. And although that sounds more than a bit ostentatious, we'll let it go. After all, This...is the Joy of Film!


text:
The past two weeks were unprecedented in the size of monetary expansion around the world. World financial authorities have finally realized that the economy is on the edge of a deflationary spiral as in the following diagram:
The result of the spiral may well be a world economic depression.
Despite a steady progression by the central banks to zero percent interest rates and a quantitative easing policy, the reaction of most world markets was either muted or negative. Continually falling prices on energy, base metals and other commodities indicate that deflationary forces prevail, at least for now.
While there are many reasons for deflation, we will list the ones that are most important in our opinion:
Main efforts by the Fed have, up to now, been directed toward systemic risk. Huge increases in the Fed's balance sheet have not led to a reflationary effect, since the Fed is still using a "sterilization" mechanism.
Most of these so-called bailout programs have been made by providing "bridge loans" to banks and other financial institutions. These loans are not given in cash, but rather in special short term Fed bills in exchange for collateral (bad assets). While these funds strengthen the balance sheet, they cannot be used to give out further loans (i.e. they are restricted for commercial lending). Therefore, these bridge loans do not lead to new money creation but only to toxic securities sterilization.
Despite the Fed's attempts to improve the balance sheets of the banks, raising capital from the private sector by financial institutions remains extremely difficult. Moreover, steep contraction in commercial credit continues, banks are tightening lending standards and are hoarding money. As a result, bank excess reserves with the Fed have grown from just about zero to $600 billion over the past four months.
Decrease in the velocity of money mainly due to the crisis in the financial system and the resultant worldwide economic recession is another major deflationary force.
Through numerous declarations from all sorts of officials, it is clear that most of central bankers around the world are ready to use non-standard methods of reflation - massive new money creation, direct injection of money into the economy and debt monetization - in other words, quantitative easing.
The Fed and the Treasury have already started this. Starting September, the US Treasury issued around $1 trillion of new debt and for the most part sent it over to the Fed to hold. Only a small portion of this money has been spent, but they are about to pull the trigger on the rest. Many other central banks are starting similar programs.
Money will be spent on different types of fiscal stimuli, investing/spending programs, tax cuts, etc. Economic effectiveness of these programs is questionable. But as for reflation, their effectiveness does not really matter. The budget deficit is currently about $400 billion. Based on varying estimates, by next year it could reach $1.1 to 2.0 trillion.
A huge amount of new money creation is inevitable and the Fed's response is an openly declared monetization of this debt.
Last week, the first stage of this process has already begun with the purchases of debt of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), which in turn is already guaranteed by the US government.
Additionally, Bernanke has openly stated that the Fed stands ready to buy long-term government bonds in order to decrease mortgage rates and the cost of servicing US government debt. The results are evident: a bond market bubble.
Is this policy sustainable? For some time, but not for long.
The problem for the Fed is that about $5 trillion of government debt (more than one third of the GDP) is held by foreigners. Most important US creditors are China, Japan and the Gulf States. For these creditors to continue to buy US debt while the interest rates are artificially deflated is not only unprofitable but also dangerous.
Japan has already hinted that it will only make further purchases of US debt only if such debt is denominated in yen. This means that the US trade partners see the threat of the US dollar decline, which could start as quickly and furiously as has been its recent rebound.
Conclusion: If the Fed continues, as declared, to support interest rates at artificially low levels by the way of debt monetization, a major down-leg in the US dollar is inevitable. What's most difficult is to predict is timing. We believe that this process will occur in full swing in the first part of the next year.
Gold and Gold Stocks
After gold touched its 200-day moving average, it quickly plunged through several important support levels. Another touch in the area of low 700s appears quite possible once again. It would be important for the metal, however, to hold above its previous intraday low of $699.
The downtrend in the $HUI - Gold ratio remains in effect, which makes gold stocks susceptible to a short term downside.
On daily charts, the index is headed, in our opinion, for another test of 170-180.
However, on a longer term basis, we see that the precious metal stocks, despite short term volatility, are now in the early stage of a big rally. 250-260 resistance level will be crucial.
Fundamentally, the situation in the PM sector is very similar to that of in 2000-2001. Our strategy is to maintain a good exposure to gold and gold stocks. Buying is appropriate on weakness, while selective selling can be done to raise cash and to rebalance into stronger, more solid performers. More details in the RSG Newsletter.


text:
Kindle on iPhone/Fans, Friends & Followers
I'm in NYC to cover some of the excitement with the Upfronts and have been having fun running up and down Fifth Avenue meeting with content licensors, distributors and agencies for my clients. I love my hometown but have mixed feelings about the weather. So we're all just hunkering down when Scott Kirsner's Cinematech blog arrives in my inbox. A fan of Scott's, I always take a quick skim and see that his new book, "Fans, Friends and Followers" is out on Kindle. And yes, there it is, that link that makes the sale impulsively possible. Good job! Scott has smartly put a link directly to his Amazon shopping cart and there is a free chapter available for immediate download to my iPhone. Click, I'm reading the chapter, nodding my head, yes yes we're on the same page on how to find fame and fortune online, hmm, don't like this, Scott, who has a Blogger blog, omits WordPress, from his recommendation. That's odd and I look for a way to tell him so. Kindle for iPhone has cool features like links in the text so you can immediately check out the author's references, but it doesn't have a chat box or a way to post a comment or tweet right in the body of the work to give the author feedback like "Scott, how can you ignore WordPress, the 200 million gorillas in the room, with brilliant SEO/SEM and community building tools. Don't like that you left out WordPress." Yes, this indeed is the era of greater consumer engagement where no thought goes unexpressed or unheard.
Late last night I was tooling around my iPhone to doze off when I see a crazy tweet from David Pogue recommending McDs Southwestern Chicken Salad…then a second one commenting on follower backlash. I have never commented on anyone's tweets before but I am a fan of David's and felt compelled to save him from the dark path he was going down. I retweeted, "Watch Fast Food Nation, King Corn and Supersize Me, and you'll never eat McDs again." Feeling accomplished I went to sleep and when I awoke David had replied privately, something like, "Yeah yeah saw them all and I stand by my chicken salad." Not only was I impressed that he cared to answer, it was really fun being in dialogue with him, even if somewhat anonymously, possibly planting a seed that might make a difference in his perspective down the road.
And this is really the point of Scott's book. Fans find it soul-satisfying to connect. So talk with them and they will make your online presence huge.
Well, I'm posting this from the WordPress app on my iPhone but when I get back to my Mac, I'll update with a link to that free chapter to "Fans, Friends and Followers." I wound up buying the whole book and then I went on a sampling shopping spree checking out books I've been meaning to read like Stacy Park's and Malcolm Gladwell's. Bummer 'Save the Cat' is not out on Kindle yet. In summary, thumbs up on Kindle for iPhone!
Next post will be on Mediaweek's Upfronts conference Tu 4/14 8-5 in the Time-Life Building in NYC. Wouldn't it be something if the brand advertisers asked the audience what they wanted (I want my MTV! 24/7 pop music videos again) and then the tv programming execs and showrunners actually listened. Well the Upfronts are in transition, responding to timeshifting trends and online viewing, so stay tuned. The Tuesday conference should be very interesting. For more details, visit http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/upfronts/index.jsp. See ya there!
Filed under: Digital Media Events | 1 Comment
Tags: iPhone, Kindle, MTV, Pogue, Scott Kirsner, Twitter
One Response to "Kindle on iPhone/Fans, Friends & Followers"
It's nice , I am a fan of iphone, is Kindle available in iphone now?


text:
Khloe Kardashian proud to get 'down and dirty' with clothing tests
Khloe Kardashian is proud her Good American brand gets "down and dirty" with their products.
The 34-year-old 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' star co-founded the denim label in alongside Emma Grede and is pleased they get real people in all shapes and sizes involved in testing the garments for practicality and performance, rather than relying on machines and technology.
She said: "It blows my mind to think that the average woman in America is a size 16 [UK size 18] and that no one is catering to her. There are billion-dollar brands that still don't perfect their performancewear.
"They test on machines instead of people. Whereas Emma gets women into the design studio to do squats or bend over, and then asks the other women to see if they are revealing anything - we can get down and dirty over there."
The cult brand - which is available from a size 0 to 24 - has more than 12,000 women sign up each time Khloe posts about casting sessions on Instagram.
And 35-year-old Emma - who is married to Jens Grede, the co-founder of Frame Denim - explained the importance of giving women a choice and pushing the boundaries of the norms of the fashion industry.
In a joint interview with Sunday Times style magazine, she said "I think women can sense the authenticity of what we are doing - they can smell bulls**t. We want to showcase real women with real lives and highlight their differences. Hopefully Good American has a lot to do with a shift in the fashion industry.
"People know that we have been successful in a short amount of time. We've given women a choice, rather than offering a few popular styles in a couple of extended sizes, because that really isn't the point is it? So often fashion, it's a little more than a feeble attempt to tick a box."


text:
Macrovision, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based company, said it will acquire Israeli company Midbar Tech, with the intention of joining the rival anti-copying technologies from the two companies. Both companies' products have met resistance from consumers and record labels, and together they hope to overcome market skepticism, they say.
Analysts said the deal would likely help smooth some of the bumps in the path toward general acceptance of anti-piracy technology for music CDs, although the consolidation fell far short of a guarantee of success for the industry sector.
"One of the major hurdles...has been the lack of digital rights management standards," said P.J. McNealy, research director with GartnerG2, a division of the Gartner research firm. "I think this will accelerate some of the experiments that are currently going on." To date, each of the major labels has tested rival copy protection technologies internally, and most have released a few trial discs into retail markets.
The merger is one sign of maturation in a technology niche that has struggled to date for acceptance even among record labels, which are itching to keep consumers from making unrestricted copies of their CDs.
Over the last two years, at least four companies--Macrovision, Midbar Tech, Sony and start-up SunnComm--have tried to persuade record labels to add various flavors of anti-copying technology onto ordinary CDs. But after an initial flurry of excitement, consumer backlash and stories of technological incompatibilities with some CD players and computers have kept sightings of copy-protected discs few and far between.
Record labels haven't abandoned the idea, however. In recent interviews, executives from several music companies have said they're still experimenting with the technology, but remain concerned about the technological glitches and consumer worries.
Macrovision and Midbar say the merger will help address those worries. By melding the two companies' products, they hope to be able to improve compatibility with computers. The companies also promise that by next year CDs using their joint copy-protection technology will include two versions of songs--one for ordinary CD players, and one that can be loaded onto computer hard drives in much the same way that MP3s can be "ripped" or copied onto computers today. Listeners will not be able to make unrestricted copies of these alternate digital files, but the songs will be able to be transferred to mobile devices such as MP3 players and even burned onto CDs in a limited way, company executives said.
"We've kind of learned over the past year that consumers are really fighting this," said Brian Dunn, Macrovision's senior vice president of business development. "They want more flexibility."
The deal does put Macrovision in a position to better replicate the standing it has in the video realm, where its commercial videotape anti-copying technology is an industry standard. The company's SafeAudio and SafeAuthenticate products have yet to make a similar impact in the audio market.
Shuffling forward on CDs
Sony continues to work on its own proprietary anti-copying technology, but has seen little use outside of its own associated record labels. Rival SunnComm, after initial successes, has lost momentum after alleged stock manipulation and the departure of its chief technology officer earlier this year.
Midbar Tech's Cactus Data Shield technology has had the most market success to date. Its copy protection has found its way onto a few discs in the United States, and far more in Europe and Asia. According to the company, the technology has been loaded on close to 45 million CDs, largely distributed overseas.
Macrovision also announced Tuesday that it would acquire the copy-protection assets of TTR Technologies, which originally developed the SafeAudio technology. Those two companies had earlier created a joint agreement to develop and market music CD copy-protection products.


text:
International Human Rights Standards on Sexual Violence against Women as They Apply to Pornography
The United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing in September 1995, and represented an important step towards the achievement of equality for women. At the Conference, the progress made towards equality was acknowledged, but it was also acknowledged that many goals have not been achieved yet, and that cultural changes of fundamental importance remain to be made. Indeed, in many countries the cultural approach to violence and discrimination against women is quite fatalistic; they believe violence against women cannot be solved by laws. However, this approach overlooks the role played by societies in tolerating practices of discrimination; stereotypes based on sex are promoted and circulated through communication channels. This is particularly evident in pornography; through the use of mass-media, pornography advertises images of women deserving and enjoying sexual degradation. By doing so, pornography functions as the means by which sex offenders can justify to themselves violence against women. Despite evidence linking pornography and actual perpetration of sexual violence, in many countries, pornography is socially and legally regarded as protected expression. This paper illustrates the links between pornography and sexual violence that make pornography a human rights issue, and indicates prospective measures to be taken in national laws and policies as well as in international law.
Repository Citation
Giunta, Claudia, "International Human Rights Standards on Sexual Violence against Women as They Apply to Pornography" (1997). LLM Theses and Essays. 196.
Included in
Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Criminal Law Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Society Commons, Legislation Commons, Sexuality and the Law Commons


text:
Shannon Gabriel was given an on-field warning about abusive language on the third day here, the nature of which Joe Root refused to disclose after stumps.
Root was involved in a running verbal battle with the West Indies fast bowler on his way to an unbeaten 111. During the afternoon session footage from the Sky broadcast emerged on social media that appeared to show the England captain telling Gabriel "there is nothing wrong with being gay".
No audio has emerged to clarify what prompted Root to say this. Gabriel was spoken to by the umpires, Rod Tucker and Kumar Dharmasena, and warned about his conduct. The officials are understood to have told the match referee, Jeff Crowe, that they did not hear anything that would fall foul of the ICC's code of conduct.
Asked about the incident at the close, Root said: "It's Test cricket and [Shannon] is an emotional guy trying to do everything he can to win a Test match. Sometimes people say things on the field that they might regret, but they should stay on the field.
READ MORE: Cricket - Root urges 'hurting' England to learn from Barbados battering
"He's a good guy who plays hard cricket and is proud to be in the position he is. The battle was a good contest. He's had a wonderful series and he should be proud.
Asked if Gabriel crossed the line of acceptability, Root said: "I think it should stay on the field. I don't want anything said in the middle to ruin what's been a good Test series for him and his team."
Richard Pybus, the West Indies head coach, claimed to have no knowledge of the incident at the time due to the television in the dressing room being turned down. He said: "Nothing has been reported to me. If a comment was made, we will review it. And if it was untoward, we will be addressing it."
Root's 16th Test century was England's first of the tour. But though the series was lost last week in Antigua, and West Indies lost the seamer Keemo Paul to injury early in the day, the England captain drew some personal satisfaction.
"When you play Test cricket there is no such thing as a dead rubber," he said. "You have the opportunity to play for your country and it means the world. There are West Indies bowlers with great numbers in the past 12 months and on a wicket that did a bit, we've done well today."


text:
Laois mum of two plans home improvement after scooping €25,000 in saver competition
Joanne Barker ( Product Manager- B of I ) and Valerie Bergin at Durrow Branch. Photo: Michael Scully
Abbeyleix mum wins Bank of Ireland GoalSaver Savings Competition
Abbeyleix mother of two, Valerie Bergin, has been announced as the winner of a €25,000 prize in a Bank of Ireland savings account.
Valerie expressed her delight to be presented of the prize-winning cheque at her local branch.
"I was at my branch in Durrow when I saw a GoalSaver competition flyer, which reminded me of the need to save towards completing work on the house. With the assistance of branch staff, I immediately set up my account, but I was completely surprised when I received the call from Bank of Ireland to say I'd won. The whole family are just over the moon at winning the prize," she said.
Valerie's two boys, aged two and six, currently share a room and the family live in the downstairs of their home, while the upstairs is used for storage.
"We can't wait to start improvement work on the house, including converting the upstairs storage space, so the boys can have their own bedrooms," explained Valerie, who also intends to use some of the winnings on improving her family's garden this summer.
Durrow Branch Manager, Karen Flanagan congratulated Valerie.
"The GoalSaver account has been very popular with savers since it was launched earlier this year and we are thrilled that one of our own local customers is the lucky winner. The GoalSaver calculator function makes it very straight forward for customers to calculate how much they need to save each month to reach their savings goal, whether it is that dream wedding, new car, further education or in Valerie's case of, improving the home," she said.
GoalSaver facilitates monthly savings from €20 - €2,000.


text:
Website rehaul
New site theme is up! And domain update is done!
Aside from the new header image and some color updates, there aren't that many visual changes though. I added a more prominent footer so it's more informative and moved the social media links to the side. Most of the exciting changes are on the backend and should make management somewhat easier to me, assuming I don't randomly rewrite everything again next spring. ಠ_ಠ I've updated the Illustration page with more recent work and pruned some of the older things. I hope to keep it more up-to-date moving forward, but deviantART will still be the first gallery updated with new, finished work.
The Comics page has the most changes. The entirety of 狼来了(the wolves are here) is now there (previously unavailable), along with Sleep Pirates (previously readable only by digging through this blog), and I finally added The Black Cat (uploaded to dA in October). I will be adding the remaining 34 pages of Rainbows and Rainclouds to the site sometime this summer, I think. Two years hidden away in a printed book is long enough!
I spent a few straight days pouring over code things to write a new system for the Comics section, too. Each comic now has its own page and each page has its own page (with comments enabled!) so you aren't reading each comic via a Lightbox script. While working on it, I had a lot of little issues with permalink structures and page slugs… most of them I managed to get through, but I'm still really annoyed that each comic's individual page URLs can't conform to the same structure. For example, if I wanted individual pages for "The Z Train" to be at /comic/the-z-train/pg01 and /comic/the-z-train/pg02 and so on, I can't also have pages for "The Last Crane" at /comic/the-last-crane/pg01 because the last parts of those two URLs — the "pg01" part — are the same, despite the fact they're housed under different comics.
So the workaround is to have individual page slugs set to stuff like /comic/the-last-crane/lastcrane-01 and /comic/the-z-train/ztrain-01 but this seems unnecessary and ugly to me. I'm not using ComicPress and have not gotten around to poking at its guts, but from looking other multi-comic sites I know are running ComicPress, it seems they have the same issue. Anyway, I'm sure it doesn't bother anyone except me, so whatever, I guess! There were a few other issues I had with coding the new comic section, including how to get RSS updates, but honestly, most of it won't ever be an issue unless I do a longform comic, and I still want to stick with oneshots for now. (I did get the RSS working, but there's no simple way to feed the Comics content into my normal site RSS, so I just mixed the separate feeds together using RSSMix and put that in Feedburner, which is what's linked from the RSS icon to the side.)
That's pretty much it for site updates? With the Comic section restructure done, my next project for the site is to finally get a store set up. The goal is to have it finished code-wise by the end of May, but as I'll be hitting back-to-back conventions (Comicpalooza in Houston and A-kon in Dallas) right then, it probably won't launch until mid-June at the earliest. I'm also really hoping to have a new 24 or 32-page minicomic done by then, but we'll see!


text:
TBC Taxi and Minibus Conversions were delighted to be at the APSE Exhibition in Aviemore last week, where we showcased our new Volkswagen Crafter CR50 minibus.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, we hope to see you all next year at Aviemore.
Your settings will take affect when you refresh the page or move to a new page. Find out more about cookies


text:
Pool Deck Resurfacing
Make Your Backyard Beautiful Again!
Are you tired of looking into your backyard only to see a boring and out of place pool decking that you had nothing to do with? Maybe you have looked into renovating your backyard and the price was just way too high because they wanted to tear out your existing concrete and replace it.
Well, we want to let you know that the process of replacing concrete is completely unnecessary and can be dangerous when it is done around the pool. We have a solution for the drab pool decking you have in your backyard and that solution is our pool deck resurfacing and pool deck repair services! Our team of pool deck resurfacing contractors and installers have decades of experience rejuvenating backyards with a wide variety of materials.
If you want to learn about how we can save your pool deck, please continue reading!
When Is It Time To Resurface?
There is a common question that we receive from most of our clients and they always ask if they are still eligible for either pool deck resurfacing or pool deck repair. We will always work and plan work with your best interests in mind so we will always shoot you straight. We will always refuse to work on concrete that has structural damage, unfortunately, there is no way to repair concrete with structural damage like huge cracks, sections that have chipped off or sinking or settling of the concrete slab.
We can, however, repair minor cracks, gouges and help you deal with your old and ugly pool decking! Make sure you give us a call ASAP if you begin to notice any type of damage to your concrete pool deck, it is time sensitive! Call us today to see what we can do for you with a free no obligation quote!
Benefits Of Resurfacing The Pool Deck
When you choose to use our pool deck resurfacing surfaces to revitalize your pool deck, there are some benefits that you stand to gain. From superior heat resistance to having pride designing your own pool deck, we have you covered.
A few worth mentioning are:
- Improved Strength
- Customizability
- Heat Resistance
- Easier To Maintain
- Add Value To Your Home
- Safer
- Variety Of Materials
- More Appealing To The Eye
- Longer Lasting Concrete
- Save Money Opposed To Replacing Concrete
- Easy To Repair If Necessary
- Free Quotes!
Pavers are a unique option for the concrete pool deck resurfacing process as they can be installed right over your existing concrete slab. Pavers are a perfect material for pool decking as they will never stain from the harsh chemicals in the pool, can be washed down with the hose for easy cleaning and can be replaced with ease if necessary. Pavers can provide a more elegant appearance opposed to a spray on decking or a kool decking as they can be used to create intricate patterns on the concrete pool deck in Austin.
Stenciled Concrete
Stenciled concrete is for the person that wants to save a couple of bucks by not using a stamped concrete overlay but think that acid stained concrete pool decks are too boring. A stenciled concrete pool deck is an acid stained concrete that requires the use of stencils to help mimic stones, wood, and even pavers. The acid stain helps create a veil of illusion that makes the concrete actually look like the natural material that it is trying to recreate.
Spray Decking
Spray decking is one of the most common and consistent concrete pool deck materials for a good reason. For decades spray on decking has been the go-to for its superior heat deflection and its natural grip even when it is wet that it receives from its texture. Spray on decking is perfect for pool deck resurfacing in Austin as it can be done very quickly and the benefits can be used almost instantly. We think spray on decking has the advantage of kool decking as kool decking can only be applied to new concrete which is not ideal for pool deck resurfacing.
Acid Stained Concrete
Acid stained concrete is one of the most affordable methods of altering the concrete slab during the process of pool deck resurfacing. This is because the only preparation that needs to be done to the concrete is a repair of all minor cracks and gouges and a follow up by a chemical sprayer. There is a huge selection of colors that stain is available in so there is no shortage of customization. Another benefit of acid stained concrete is that the top coat can contain an additive that resembles salt, giving the concrete pool deck more traction when wet.
Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete is one of the coolest and most unique concrete pool deck applications that you can find on the market today. When you choose a stamped concrete as the preferred method of pool deck resurfacing, you will enjoy a pool decking that can make your pool decking appear to be natural stone, real wood, and even tile if you wanted to. Stamped concrete is also able to receive the same top coat as acid stained concrete. Acid stain can also be used on stamped concrete overlays to provide even more lifelike coloring effects!
Paint The Deck
Do you like the current decking that you have applied to your concrete pool decking? We have an option for spray on or kool decking that only requires a small repair to be done to save money. We can paint the pool deck as a form of pool deck repair that can transform the appearance of the back yard in a way that you won't believe came from small repairs and simple paint job. There is a wide variety of acrylic pool deck paint colors to choose from as well so you won't feel limited in options.
Make sure you give us a call today for a free no obligation quote!
Masters of Consistency & Quality.
Creating a sustainable future through building preservation, green architecture, & smart design.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379327566826020396.post3572065687741621830..comments2020-07-27T14:22:55.514+02:00Comments on ROWDY IN GERMANY: Israel--Tel AvivSandy and Jeffhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-379327566826020396.post-19341787886182205992014-11-04T05:29:04.702+01:002014-11-04T05:29:04.702+01:00Wonderful description Wonderful description Ramhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-379327566826020396.post-12138017183488324472013-01-18T03:34:39.711+01:002013-01-18T03:34:39.711+01:00Glad you guys got to Tel Aviv safely...especially ...Glad you guys got to Tel Aviv safely...especially with just maps. It reminds me of our road trips when I was little and Daddy always had the map out. The drinks and goodies in the lobby look yummy.

Wow...the Mediterranean Sea is beautiful!! Lots of ugly buildings in Israel. VERY interesting about the mosque in the middle of Tel Aviv...very tolerant.

Wow, all the pictures of the Dead Sea are amazing! Seeing the model of Masada is pretty cool to get an overall idea of how it looks. The story of the Jews killing themselves so that they would not be enslaved by the Romans is very interesting. I love the pictures of Daddy floating in the Dead Sea.

The town of Nazareth is 70% Muslim?!? That's crazy! The Church of Annunciation is amazing. It's cool seeing Mary's home and all the details about Gabriel coming to see her. All of the pictures of the Sea of Galilee are amazing. I love learning about all of the history and significance surrounding Jesus. That's funny that you ate at St. Peter's Restaurant. I didn't know that Tilapia is called St. Peter's fish. The Hyrax is so cute! That's cool that you got a bottle of water from the Jordan River.

Great blog! Megan Carterhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
It is so fun to recognize something that you manifested.
We manifest every moment, however to consciously work on manifesting one specific experience and then actually 'see' it in form, is so exciting! It happens all the time for me, now. It never did before when my eyes were closed. I have learned that faith and patience is of utmost importance in this process. To get discouraged will only block such movement. For some, the process of manifesting is easy and speedy (those are the ones that are vibrational high on the emotional ladder.) I have worked my way up there but with lots of moment to moment concentration. Now that I let go of the worry of 'can I do it' and trust whole heartedly, in the process, I find manifesting fun and exciting. Kind of like waiting to see if your new-born will be a girl or a boy (which by the way I did with all 3 of my children – so fun!) People tend to get stumped or trip when the worry sets in as they view the world around them and take in all the outside influences. Remember, it's just you, baby! Your brain controls the cruise.
I do have to add that part of the fun is finding out how the universe brings that desired manifestation to you. All of my manifestations are brought to me a little later than I originally plan, and in a most 'un' expected way! So it's always fresh and exciting and usually in a way that if my eyes had not been open, I very well might have not even seen it! Those who do not see openly will call it a coincidence or pure luck. Nope. You did it! Pat yourself on the back and start working up the next one with faith and acceptance and excitement, oh and don't forget PATIENCE.
Hey, and one more little thing. In my experiences the only way to really get what you want is "to stop thinking about it day in and day out." What I mean is that when I am in the moments of wanting something/experience, all I can think about is "wanting" it and when you "want" something you are asking the universe to bring it to you because ….YOU DO NOT HAVE IT YET! Which means you are really thinking and concentrating on the fact that 'it' is not in your life and your emotions are matching with a negative needing, fearful, not in control, feeling. And the longer it takes to let go of those feelings, the longer it takes to manifest that which you desire and the impatience sets in, followed by "I can't do it." Sound familiar?
So, once I learned to let go and just trust and allow without thinking about it anymore, BAM! There it was, set right in front of me in the most unexpected way! Then and only then did I really get it!
(Sometimes it is/was a gradual effect, like slowly having more and more people wanting me to help them with dance/exercise (and by this time, I was like, Jeez.. I don't really have the time now for all this, but boy I sure wanted it a while ago – when I was worrying about it all the time..) Or sometimes it is one big moment of "here's the exact amount of money that you asked for a few months ago, still need it?! ( the answer is always, yes, of course!))
So, today and everyday, do not forget to open your eyes and appreciate the gifts that you have brought to yourself. Celebrate no matter how big or small and keep working on it… life is a never-ending journey. Make it what you want!
Until next time and from the heart, always,


text:
[Job posted on february 15th 2015 by Amazon on Linguist List]
Annotation Program Manager
University or Organization: Amazon.com Inc.
Job Location: Massachusetts, USA
Web Address: http://www.amazon.jobs/jobs/307060/annotation-program-manager
Job Title: Annotation Program Manager
Job Rank: Manager
Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics
Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary reading device, the #1 best-selling product
on all of Amazon, and one of the most innovative and fast growing businesses
at Amazon. Amazon has also developed significant digital and mobile businesses
including Amazon MP3, Amazon Video on Demand, IMDB, Amazon Mobile store, and
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to drive a component of our
speech and language technology effort. The candidate will provide leadership,
technical expertise and direction specifically for language annotation
deliverables. Candidate must have a passion for the customer and be capable of
delivering high quality under aggressive time constraints. Specifically, the
Program Manager will:
– Provide hands-on language annotation and fine-tuning of internal standards.
– Partner with teammates on overall annotation strategy, and prioritization.
– Continuously evaluate and drive internal tools and processes ensuring they
are efficient, sustainable and deliver high quality.
– Build an efficient and scalable annotation team.
– Provide technical support and training to annotation team members.
– Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
Basic Qualifications
To be in consideration for this role you must possess:
– Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
– Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
– Two years of working with speech or language data.
– Strong language and organizational skills
– Excellent communication skills and experience working with technical teams,
and management to collect requirements, evaluate alternatives and develop
processes and tools as needed to support the organization.
– The ability to generate and communicate meaningful metrics.
– Comfortable working in a fast paced, highly collaborative, dynamic work
Preferred Qualifications
– Computational linguistics or speech processing background preferred
– Excellent knowledge of annotation systems and processes
– Experience leading cross-functional groups and managing deliverables from
inside as well as outside the organization
– 3+ years of annotation and/or language processing experience
– Experience with natural language processing or machine learning
Application Deadline: 30-Apr-2015 (Open until filled)
Web Address for Applications: http://www.amazon.jobs/jobs/307060/annotation-program-manager
Contact Information:
Janet Slifka
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
14 September 2017
Enhance your love for water sports by witnessing the most hyped in water boat show the Cannes Yachting Festival. The exotic festival will begin from 12th until 17th September 2017
Year 2017 marks as the 40th anniversary of the sport which is going to be even grander than the previous year. The festival venue will stretch from Port Pierre Canto and the Vieux Port giving enough area for the participants to perform and the viewers to enjoy a clear view. The festival does not only include entertainment it also showcases some elite and super advanced marine goods and products those are rare to see usually. Apart from the marine exquisites, the festival will also include sections where other luxury goods will also be displayed like, perfumes, aviation facilities, hotels, jewelry, super cars and a lot more. Another premium delight of the festival would be Anastasia the luxury boat that would flaunt its amazing features and luxuries those you cannot ignore to see. Along with it, there would be other luxury boats too those would likely to take your breath away.
The timing of the festival would vary according to the scheduled itinerary that would be shared with the visitors. With few hours left for the festival to commence, do not miss to enjoy this celebration with amazing weather to add to the experience.


text:
Football Statistics – Math in Sports
Team sports are a great way to use math in a real life situation. Kids often see math as an unnecessary evil. It can be helpful to show them that math is used by many people in many professions. One way that math is used in sports is to figure out player and team statistics. So far, we have discussed finding soccer, baseball, and basketball statistics. Football is another popular sport in which children will like finding their own football statistics.
Offensive Football Statistics
A child who plays offense in football can keep track of a couple of things depending on what position he plays.
- Quarterbacks usually record the number of passing yards for each game. Passing yards indicate how many yards the ball travels from where it is thrown. For each pass record the point where the ball was thrown from and where the ball ended up (whether it is fumbled or tackled or a touchdown was earned). Subtract the starting point from the end point to get the number of yards for that play. Then add up the yards for each play to get the total number of passing yards for that game.
- Receivers can calculate their average completion rate per game. Keep track of how many times they catch a pass and how many times they miss or fumble the catch. Add those two numbers together to get the total catching opportunities. Then divide the successful catches by the total opportunites. This will give you a decimal number answer. Move the decimal two places to the right to give a percentage of successful catches for the game.
Defensive Football Statistics
There are several different statistics that defensive players can work with such as the number of tackles, interceptions, or forced fumbles. Your child can choose to track one or more of these football statistics each game. Use a chart or bar or line graph to record the number after each game. At the end of the season discuss the graph with your child. Questions like "in which game did you have the most tackles?" or "how many tackles did you have in game six?" will allow your child to practice reading and using graphs. You could also add up the numbers from all the games and divide by the number of games to get an average of tackles or interceptions per game.
Keeping track of their football statistics not only adds another aspect to an exciting sport, but it also allows children to see how math is used in a real life setting.
How do you help children see the real life applications of math?


text:
Ever since I was little, my brother, David, has been a teacher. My mom thinks it's one reason I did so well in school. He would come home each day and teach me everything he had learned in class (he's 2 years older than me). The problem is that sometimes he just made things up, and… Read more
A majority of the questions I receive after delivering a humor keynote are about how: How do you know what humor to use? How often should you use humor? How do you get started using humor? Using humor at work can seem intimidating but the reality is that you already know most of what you need… Read more


text:
Take glimpse at Chicano art in juried show held at UNC
April 11, 2003
In an effort to better understand the cultures around us, the Chicano Arts and Humanities Council is sponsoring an art show at the Mari Michener Gallery.
The gallery, in Michener Library on the University of Northern Colorado campus, will house "Understanding La Gente Through Art," through May 8. An opening reception is scheduled for tonight at the gallery.
In its 25th year, the Chicano arts council was formed to provide a platform for the survival, celebration and transportation of Chicano and Hispanic arts into the future. It is one of five national art information centers in the National Network of the Hispanic Arts Coalition.


text:
Ducati 1199 Panigale R SBK Aruba.it
This is the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike squad that will race in the
2017 World Superbike Championship.
Chaz Davies of course returns to the team, and this season he will be joined
by Marco Melandri. The duo will be an interesting pair to watch this season,
with Davies holding onto his impressive form from the last-half of the 2016
season, and Melandri making his return to motorcycle racing, after sitting out
last season.
With 2017 to be the penultimate season for the Ducati Panigale R in the World
Superbike Championship, the v-twin superbike has shown itself to be an extremely
mature machine on the race track.
Couple that to some of the rule changes that have
affected the inline-four machines
the most, and this season could be Ducati's for the taking, having both the
riders and the machine to tackle Kawasaki's dominance.


text:
UPDATED: 1/3/11 with expert opinions from Mark Sevier and Peter Yost
Chris Koehn will be building a 1,600-sq.-ft. home in British Columbia for owners who want to heat primarily with wood. They envision a wood-burning cookstove and a fireplace, and they'd also like to incorporate some solar capability.
Because of its island location, the house will be off the electricity grid.
Among their concerns is that some parts of their house, including the bathroom and an upstairs bedroom, may be too far from a heat source to be comfortable. Koehn is considering heating the tile floors in the bathroom, but he's concerned with how much electricity it would take to run the pumps.
There's also the question of what to use as a source of backup heat to keep the house from freezing in winter, as well as help it meet local building codes.
"I'm looking for potential solutions from folks who have faced similar challenges," he says in a Q&A post. The replies are the subject of this week's Q&A Spotlight.
Keep it simple
Simple mechanical systems are best, suggests GBA senior editor Martin Holladay, who has lived off-grid for 35 years.
"Anyone who chooses to live off-grid should be willing to be flexible about indoor air temperatures in remote rooms on the coldest days of the year," he says. "You can minimize these temperature differences, however, by paying scrupulous attention to air sealing and by providing very high levels of insulation in your floors, walls, and ceilings."
Unlike grid-connected homes, which can always draw on utility electricity as required, an off-grid house must be completely self-sufficient. Electricity, whether it's generated by a wind turbine, a photovoltaic array, or a fuel-fired generator, is precious.
"Whatever you do," Holladay tells him, "don't choose any heating equipment that will require electricity to operate."
He suggests one or more propane space heaters with through-the-wall venting and air intake. Empire makes several models that will run without electricity.
Robert Riversong would steer the owners away from a fireplace unless it was a Rumford design with a gasketed chimney cap. But he suggests that a wood cookstove with a water coil could thermosiphon hot water to a radiant floor in the bathroom, a system that does not rely on electrically driven pumps.
Can he use solar hot water for space heat?
Koehn appears to be leaning toward a backup or supplemental heating system in which solar hot water is used for heat. The water would be circulated by pumps running on PV-generated electricity.
The idea is appealing, but not without flaws, as Holladay points out.
"When it's cold and cloudy, a hydronic space heating system requires electricity to operate the circulators," he writes. "This really is a deal-killer — in the middle of winter, when you are cold, where is the electricity coming from? I have friends who built a new off-grid house with a hydronic heating system. They had to run their gasoline-powered generator all winter. The noise drove them nuts and the fuel cost nearly bankrupted them."
And, he adds, there's a serious chance for a freeze if the house is unoccupied for a weekend. Draining the water lines is a "real pain."
Making the cookstove do double duty
Robert Riversong suggests that a wood cookstove with a water coil could thermosiphon hot water to a radiant floor in the bathroom, a system that does not rely on electrically driven pumps. But stay away from a stove with a coil in the flue, which interferes with exhaust flow and also increases the formation of creosote.
Mr. Greenguy also likes the idea: "One can always run hydronic heat off a wood stove with a liquid heat exchange," he says. "There is more than enough heat from wood combustion if you can move it where you need and being off-grid, a hybrid system (wood/hydronic) with a small pump is all you need to move heat, and with the addition of a tank, could store a days worth of heat, too."
Lucas Durand, however, isn't so sure. "Getting some heat for [domestic hot water] is one thing, but a wood stove is not the right appliance for running a hydronic space heating system — unless it's been especially designed for that purpose."
Which brings us back to theme of simplicity: "If the wood stove is running, you've got heat," Holladay says. "No need to complicate a perfectly good wood stove by trying to connect it with a hydonic heating system with circulators."
The fine points of wood heat
Wood heat is a little more complicated than it may seem.
For example, Gord Schiller points out, stay away from beach wood. Because of the salt it contains, it will corrode both the stove and the flue, even a stainless steel flue, and it will void the manufacturer's warranty.
Among the other suggestions Schiller makes: Build a good sized wood shed next to the house where one year's wood can be separated from the next, get a gas-powered wood splitter, make roof access to the flue as easy as possible to make cleaning easier, and make the flue as straight as possible for better efficiency and easier cleaning.
Schiller advises buying a high-quality wood stove. "Burn times of the stove and efficiency of the stove will reduce the amount of wood that you burn and therefore the trickle-down effect of not having to spend too much time cutting wood," he says.
Build a tight, solar-oriented house
In addition to specific suggestions on how to provide backup heat, a number of contributors recommended a tight, well-insulated building that keeps heating loads low.
"Definitely incorporate all the passive solar possible in that locale," writes Robert Riversong, "with sufficient direct-gain thermal mass for diurnal storage, as that will reduce fuel consumption."
David Meiland, who lives not far from Koehn's building site, adds this: "You can do quite well here if you have good southern exposure, design for passive solar, build a very well insulated shell, and generally minimize heating and electrical needs. "
"Keep the ceilings low; no wide open spaces to waste energy, and doors on every space to close when the room is not needed or when the room is being used and the other side isn't," says R from Sooke. "Look at designs from years ago when most houses only had wood heat. There were reasons they did things they way they did. You don't have to reinvent the wheel; just use it all to your advantage."
Our expert's opinion
Here are comments from Peter Yost, GBA's technical director:
It's tough to figure just what to add to Martin's experience of more than 30 years off the grid. But I did check in with my former colleague from Building Science Corp, Mark Sevier, a top engineer who was with Solar Design Associates until leaving his position there to finish up his own grid-tied zero energy home. Here are Mark's key points:
1. Prep your client for the off-the-grid lifestyle. Martin would be the first to agree here, I am sure. You have to know and manage your loads with great care, or pay the back-up generator "piper." And, make sure your client has some sense what they are getting into, off-grid living is a different experience than utility grid supported living. You take over the utility company's responsibilities when you aren't connected.
2. Worry about surface area, not volume. It's the former that is the real driver for heat loss and air leakage, not the latter. And window square footage loses five to 10 times as much heat as wall/roof area, and costs five to 10 times more, suggesting a conservative approach to their use.
3. High performance airtight homes behave fundamentally differently than conventional ones. Stratification is much less of an issue in air-tight, well-insulated structures and closing off rooms won't benefit as much as you would think unless you insulate and air seal interior walls and floors.
4. Locate the wood stove "point-source" centrally. In both the high performance homes Mark has built, a centrally-located wood stove with an open floor plan convectively connected first and second floor spaces. And while we are on wood stoves, they can be quite problematic if not airtight and with dedicated combustion air in really airtight homes.
5. Floor plans for passive design. As Mark says, "…bedrooms, bathrooms, TV room, and kitchen on north; living, hallways, stairs, dining, playroom, etc. on south. Essentially the private spaces or those that can't tolerate glare or need wall space should be north-facing, and public spaces should be south facing, to avoid drawing shades on the passive solar design."
Mark sums up this way:
"If I were given a clean sheet of paper, I'd recommend a well insulated enclosure (R-25 to 35), passive solar attributes in proportion to the client's interest, propane thermocouple controlled centralized air-based back-up heating unit, 'sealed' wood stove with ducted air intake, small/right-sized solar hot water array with propane back-up, 'right-sized' PV array at ~50-60 degree tilt (to even winter/summer output), and propane back-up generator.
"It's probably a good idea to use PEX piping everywhere (except the solar hot water loop due high temperatures), since it can tolerate freezing (any hydronic loops should have glycol). At some point, Murphy is likely to stop by, no matter how well you think you have things covered–a broken window in a cloudy stretch when they're on vacation in winter, for example.
"I like interestingly complicated integrated mechanical stuff probably more than the next guy, but I've come to see that it isn't for most people, so I agree with Martin's simple-is-better perspective. Warm air and insulating enclosure, minimal freezable water system."
Peter's closing note: Mark's zero energy home near Boston, MA, is a remarkable project, which I sincerely hope will become a GBA Green Homes case study sometime later this year.


text:
Blue Pool French Pocket Mattress, Blues
The Poolmaster French Pocket Mattress is 1 of our best selling pool floats. Pockets in a lounge are great because they act like the coils in a mattress, giving you more support. The pockets also take up space, meaning it takes less air to inflate. On especially hot days, pockets can be filled with water to keep you cool. The Poolmaster French Pocket Mattress includes a specially designed headrest that cradles your head. Color: Blues.
Browse all deals at Home Depot
See more in Pool & Spa Accessories
* This offer may contain time-sensitive information and offers. Please check with Home Depot to confirm actual price & availability.
Please enter your name
- Be the first to comment!
1 location
3110 E 20th Street
Home Depot
3110 E 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64801


text:
Inductees to Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame
Congratulations are in order for the eight businesses that were inducted at the Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame awards presented by Deloitte Private and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The eight businesses inducted into the Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame were:
"The Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame is to recognise and celebrate significant contributions by businesses to the economic and social fabric of our region," says Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Mark Futter. "These eight businesses received a prestigious award at a gala dinner held in Lower Hutt, as well having their contributions to the economic and overall health of their communities acknowledged and celebrated."
Deloitte Private Partner Mike Curtis says it is an honour to support this initiative. "At Deloitte we aim to make an impact that matters in the communities and markets we work in. One of the ways we do this is by helping celebrate and encourage the success of New Zealand-based organisations," says Mr Curtis. "The companies honoured this year embody the ultimate measure of business success – longevity. They have been grown and nurtured for at least 20 years. And while they have no doubt adapted and changed over time, they are the types of businesses their founders and communities can be proud of."
Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame is celebrated every July with eight inductees per annum.
To see photos from the event, click here.