text:
Customize your JAMA Network experience by selecting one or more topics from the list below.
Ho HC, Chapital AD, Yu M. Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Insufficiency in Sepsis and Hemorrhagic Shock. Arch Surg. 2004;139(11):1199–1203. doi:10.1001/archsurg.139.11.1199
© 2019
We hypothesized that hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency frequently occur together in critically ill patients.
A prospective observational study.
Surgical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated tertiary referral center.
Sixty-six consecutive patients with severe sepsis, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock who required pulmonary artery catheterization for resuscitation were studied.
Thyrotropin and baseline cortisol levels were obtained at 3 AM followed by intravenous injection of 250 μg of cosyntropin, a synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone derivative. A second measurement of the cortisol level was performed 1 hour later.
Main Outcome Measures
Incidence of hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency and mortality.
Mean (SD) age was 62 (19) years. The mean (SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 21 (5). Twenty-seven patients (40.9%) had severe sepsis, 31 (46.9%) had septic shock, and 8 (12.1%) had hemorrhagic shock. Five patients (7.6%) had hypothyroidism alone and 35 (53.0%) had only adrenal insufficiency. Eight patients (12.1%) had both hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. All patients with endocrine abnormalities were treated. Mortality for the total group was 15 (22.7%) of 66 patients.
There is a 12% incidence of simultaneous hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency in our study and the routine testing for both may be indicated in this population of critically ill patients.
Multiple endocrine derangements have been described in critically ill patients. These include abnormalities in the levels of thyroid,1-3 adrenocortical,4 growth,5 and sex hormones.6 The clinical significance of various changes in the thyroid hormone levels and the appropriateness of endocrine intervention is controversial.7-9 Maldonado et al10 showed that a high level of thyrotropin (TSH) is a significant independent predictor of nonsurvival in critically ill patients. Subclinical hypothyroidism, defined as increased TSH concentrations associated with normal free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations, have been shown to have significant negative effects on cardiac function11,12 that are reversible when euthyroidism is restored.12
Adrenal insufficiency can be caused by sepsis, surgery, bleeding, and head trauma. In a recent study Zaloga and Marik4 have reported incidences of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients ranging from 0% to 95%. This wide range, in part, results from a lack of a standard definition of adrenal insufficiency. Some of the definitions used by different investigators are as follows: (1) maximal cortisol concentration less than 18.0 to 20 μg/dL after a 250-μg dose of cosyntropin,13,14 (2) change in cortisol or in delta cortisol response of less than 7 μg/dL,15 or (3) delta cortisol response of 9.0 μg/dL or less16 after cosyntropin stimulation, and (4) random cortisol level of less than 25 μg/dL in a highly stressed patient.17 Studies using corticosteroids in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients have demonstrated decreased mortality.16,18
Hypothyroidism, in addition to adrenal insufficiency, may contribute to the hemodynamic instability of critically ill patients in the surgical intensive care unit. Since treating patients with glucocorticoids has been reported to lower total T3, total T4, and TSH levels,19,20 concurrent TSH testing at the time of adrenal testing may be indicated to prevent masking of hypothyroidism once glucocorticoid treatment is initiated. The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of concurrent hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency in a population of critically ill patients with severe sepsis, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock.
This is a prospective observational study carried out in the surgical intensive care unit of the Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, a university-affiliated tertiary medical center. The study was approved by the Queen's Medical Center institutional review board. Informed consent was obtained from all patients or their families. The study population consisted of 66 admitted patients having the diagnosis of severe sepsis, septic shock, as previously defined by consensus conference,21 or hemorrhagic shock who underwent pulmonary artery catheter insertion for cardiovascular optimization and fluid management. Hemorrhagic shock was defined as blood requirement of 12 U or more of packed red blood cells within 12 hours with total fluid requirement of more than 6 L in 6 hours22 and hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg or a 40-mm Hg or more decrease from baseline. Patients were excluded if they had known adrenal or thyroid insufficiency or glucocorticoid or levothyroxine sodium use within the last year. Also excluded were children (<18 years old) and patients with severe irreversible head injury, uncontrolled neoplastic disease, or do-not-resuscitate orders.
Within 24 hours of pulmonary artery catheter insertion, blood samples were obtained at 3 AM for measurement of TSH and baseline cortisol concentrations. This was immediately followed by intravenous injection of 250 μg of cosyntropin (Cortrosyn; Organon Inc, West Orange, NJ). Cortisol levels were again obtained 1 hour after cosyntropin stimulation. Thyroid and adrenal testing was repeated as clinically indicated during the course of the surgical intensive care unit stay. The cortisol concentration was measured using paramagnetic particle, competitive binding, chemiluminescent immunoassay (Beckman Access Immunoassay system; Beckman Coulter Inc, Fullerton, Calif). The TSH level was measured using 2-step paramagnetic particle, chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (Beckman Access Immunoassay system; Beckman Coulter Inc).
The reference range for TSH level in our laboratory is 0.24 to 3.80 mU/L. Hypothyroidism was defined as TSH concentration greater than 3.80 mU/L. Adrenal insufficiency was defined as a baseline cortisol level of less than 18 μg/dL, and/or cortisol response of less than 7 μg/dL after 250-μg cosyntropin stimulation.15 Organ dysfunction, as previously defined,23 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II24 scores were determined for all patients within 24 hours of enrollment in the study. Injury Severity Score and Trauma and Injury Severity Score were assessed for trauma victims in the study.
A total of 66 consecutive patients were studied. Patient demographics are listed in Table 1. Of the 58 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, 10 (17.3%) were trauma patients. All 10 patients sustained blunt trauma with multiple injuries. Of the 66 patients, 5 patients (7.6%) had only hypothyroidism and 35 patients (53.0%) had only adrenal insufficiency. Eight patients (12.1%) had hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency and 18 patients (27.3%) had neither. There was no statistically significant differences in age or APACHE II scores between the groups with the different endocrine abnormalities. The distribution of these patients among the severe sepsis/septic shock and hemorrhagic shock groups is given in Table 2. Overall mortality was 22.7% (15 of 66 patients) and mortalities of the different groups are listed in Table 3. The mean (SD) TSH level of the patients with hypothyroidism was 8.5 (6.2) mU/L. Of the 43 patients with adrenal insufficiency, 7 patients (16.2%) had low baseline cortisol levels with normal response to stimulation, 18 (41.8%) had normal baseline cortisol levels but an inadequate response to stimulation, and 18 (41.8%) had a low baseline and an inadequate response to stimulation. Eosinophilia was noted in 6 (14.0%) of 43 patients with adrenal insufficiency.
Hyponatremia (sodium level <136 mEq/L) was noted in 6 patients with adrenal insufficiency, 1 patient with hypothyroidism, and 2 patients with both abnormalities. Hyperkalemia (potassium level >5.0 mEq/L) was found in 2 patients with adrenal insufficiency and 1 patient with hypothyroidism. Hypokalemia (potassium level <3.6 mEq/L) was noted in 5 patients with adrenal insufficiency and 1 patient with hypothyroidism. None of the patients were hypothermic (body temperature <35°C) or hypoglycemic.
All patients found to have hypothyroidism and/or adrenal insufficiency were treated with thyroxine and/or hydrocortisone. Thirty-one of 36 patients with adrenal insufficiency required vasopressor support at the time of diagnosis. After 24 hours of hydrocortisone treatment, they had, on average, a 43% decrease in vasopressor requirement. Two patients initially diagnosed as having only hypothyroidism were noted to have increased hemodynamic instability 4 days after initiation of levothyroxine therapy. They were both tested and found to have new development of adrenal insufficiency.
Both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism has long been recognized to have important clinical effects on cardiac function.11 Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism may demonstrate left ventricular diastolic dysfunction from delayed relaxation, and systolic dysfunction on effort resulting in poor exercise capacity.12 These patients also have an increased risk for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death. Hypothyroidism has also been associated with increased heart rate, atrial arrhythmias, and increased left ventricular mass with marginal concentric remodeling.11 These abnormalities are reversible when treated with levothyroxine to restore euthyroidism.12
The TSH concentration elevations in our study differ from the well-recognized thyroid abnormality in critically ill patients known as the nonthyroidal illness syndrome or the euthyroid sick syndrome. In the euthyroid sick syndrome the first and most consistent thyroid hormone abnormality is a decrease in T3level. With increased severity and duration of illness, the T4 level is decreased as well, owing in part to a decrease in T4 production. Thyrotropin levels in these patients are typically within or below the reference range during the acute phase of critical illness and only rise to above normal levels during recovery.1,25,26 Our study measured the serum TSH level during the acute phase of the critical illness, when TSH concentration elevation most likely reflects true hypothyroidism. Although T4 levels were not obtained in this study, the serum TSH concentration is believed to be the single best test to discern patients with true abnormal thyroid function who require treatment from those with euthyroid sick syndrome.3
Studies on the treatment of critically ill patients using T3 and T4 level replacements have yielded conflicting results and the appropriateness of treatment remains controversial.7-9,26 Brent and Hershman27 randomized intensive care unit patients to receive intravenous thyroxine vs placebo for 2 weeks and found that the 12 treated patients had normal serum T4 levels but that mortality in both groups was similar. Becker et al28 administered T3 to severely burned patients and showed that free T3 indices were normalized but there was no reduction in mortality. These27,28 and other similar studies7-9,26 do not specify whether TSH levels were elevated in the treated patients. Recently, Inan et al29 found that thyroid hormone supplementation in septic rats resulted in lowered mortality. Most animal studies have shown no clear benefit or harm from triiodothyronine or thyroxine treatment7,26 but there is a lack of data on treating subjects with elevated TSH levels and whether this influences outcome.
Adrenal insufficiency is increasingly recognized to be common in critically ill patients. Annane et al30 found that in patients with septic shock, 54% had adrenal insufficiency. If we applied their criteria (cortisol response of <9.0 μg/dL to cosyntropin stimulation), 36 (54.5%) of our 66 patients would have adrenal insufficiency. Briegel et al18 randomized 40 critically ill patients with sepsis and hypotension requiring vasopressor support to receive stress-dose hydrocortisone or placebo and found that the group receiving hydrocortisone required less time on vasopressor therapy. Bollaert et al31 randomized patients in septic shock to treatment with hydrocortisone vs placebo and found that the treated patients had improved reversal of shock and improved 28-day mortality. Keh et al32 demonstrated that in patients with septic shock, hydrocortisone treatment restored hemodynamic stability and attenuated the systemic inflammatory response. A prospective randomized trial with 300 patients in France with refractory septic shock and adrenal insufficiencydemonstrateda significant survival benefit when treated with corticosteroids.16
The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency are nonspecific and difficult to detect in critically ill patients. Hypothyroidism is associated with lethargy, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, cold intolerance, mental status changes, prolonged deep tendon reflexes, and respiratory depression as well as electrocardiographic changes.33 In our study, no patient had hypothermia and 1 patient with hypothyroidism had bradycardia. Patients in septic and hemorrhagic shock are frequently intubated, ventilated, and sedated; they also are receiving vasopressor and inotropic support and total parenteral nutrition. They often have mental, pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic dysfunction that can easily mask the presence of hypothyroidism as well as adrenal insufficiency. Symptoms such as hypotension, hypoglycemia, tachycardia, hypovolemia, or hyponatremia; decreased myocardial contractility; and decreased vascular tone may be attributed to underlying diseases and treatments rather than to hormonal failure. In our study, hyponatremia occurred in 8 (18.6%) of 43 patients with adrenal insufficiency and 3 (23.0%) of 13 patients with hypothyroidism. All of our patients received enteral and/or parenteral nutritional support or glucose-containing intravenous fluids. No patient was hypoglycemic.
Eosinophilia, defined as an eosinophil count greater than 3% of the total white blood cell count, has been reported as a marker of adrenal insufficiency.15,34 In this study, 6 (14.0%) of our 43 patients with adrenal insufficiency had eosinophilia. Therefore testing for adrenal insufficiency should be considered in hemodynamically unstable patients with eosinophilia.15,34
Treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroxine has been reported to precipitate addisonian crisis in patients who also have adrenal insufficiency.15,35-37 This may be due to an increase in metabolic rate induced by thyroid replacement therapy resulting in overt manifestations of adrenal insufficiency. In our study, 2 patients with hypothyroidism developed hemodynamic instability and were diagnosed as having adrenal insufficiency after 4 days of thyroxine therapy. Both patients initially had normal adrenal function test results. Corticosteroids have been shown to suppress TSH levels into the reference range in patients with hypothyroidism.19,38,39 It is possible that in patients treated for adrenal insufficiency, concomitant hypothyroidism may remain undiagnosed if therapy with corticosteroids are started before TSH levels are measured.
In our study, patients with severe sepsis, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock had a 12.0% incidence of concurrent hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. It has been reported that 25% of patients with Addison disease have hypothyroidism.37 In our study, 8 (18.6%) of the 43 patients with adrenal insufficiency also had hypothyroidism.
One limitation of our study is that the levels of T3 andT4 were not tested in patients with elevated TSH concentrations. Except on rare occasions, serum TSH concentration provides a precise and specific barometer of the patient's thyroid status40 and is believed to be the single best test to differentiate between patients with true abnormal thyroid function and those with euthyroid sick syndrome.3 Patients with the euthyroid sick syndrome typically have TSH levels within or below the reference range during the acute phase of their critical illness and only have above-normal levels of TSH during the recovery phase.1,25,26 Although we measured TSH levels during the acute phase of the critical illness, when TSH elevation most likely reflects true hypothyroidism, T3 and T4 levels would have allowed us to differentiate between patients with clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism.
Another limitation is that this is not a prospective randomized trial with treatment outcomes. Surks et al41 recently published a review of 195 studies on subclinical thyroid disease and concluded that there is insufficient data to support routine treatment. Our study population consists of critically ill, hemodynamically unstable patients. No clear adverse outcomes have resulted from treatment with triiodothyronine and thyroxine in this population.7-9,26-28 Because of the severity of their illnesses, and the known adverse cardiovascular effects of subclinical hypothyroidism,11,12 all patients with endocrine abnormalities were treated. Our mortality rate of 22.7% compares favorably with other studies of severe sepsis, septic shock,42,43 and hemorrhagic shock.44 Treatment of adrenal insufficiency has been shown to improve outcomes but the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism will need further study. The current evidence suggests that treatment of hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency may improve the outcome of these critically ill patients.
To avoid missing the diagnosis of hypothyroidism or precipitating addisonian crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency, the routine testing for both abnormalities in this population of patients may be warranted. There seems to be a close association between adrenal and thyroid dysfunction. Treatment of hypothyroidism may unmask adrenal insufficiency,15 although it is possible that adrenal insufficiency developed later in the intensive care unit course. Repeated checks of both hormonal functions in patients who remain unstable or develop instability may be warranted as well.
Correspondence: Mihae Yu, MD, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Critical Care, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Queen's Medical Center, 1356 Lusitana St, Sixth Floor, Honolulu,Hawaii 96813 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Accepted for Publication: May 20, 2004.
Funding/Support: This study was supported in part by the Queen Emma Foundation, Honolulu.
Create a personal account or sign in to:


text:
Empowering Women in Public Speaking
Social Media guru JD Lasica interviewed me a few months back at Girls In Tech's Santa Cruz retreat about the topic of women and public speaking. This is a subject near to my heart, and I'm on a mission to make sure women become more prominent players in the conference speaking circuit. So please enjoy, and if you think it's helpful, pass it along!
JD's blog is always filled with interesting interviews (I'm obviously the exception. ;)), definitely worth bookmarking.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Interviews: Professors and deans sit down with our team to give you unique insights on college life.
Careers: Unsure about your career path? Study profiles of hundreds of professions.
College Reviews: Real students give you the in-depth scoop about their schools.
Edecisions: Expert articles help you make an informed choice about which school to attend.
Copyright © 2002-2019 QuinStreet Inc.


text:
Branding/Identity, Packaging for Cakesmiths
About the Client:
Created by young British food wholesaler, Barcake, Cakesmiths is a new concept, designed to take the business in a different, more 'artisan' direction, offering a range of high quality, gourmet tray bakes to cafés, restaurants and the catering trade.
The Brief:
The brief was to develop a brand identity to convey this 'hand-wrought', 'artisan' feel, whilst working the design into sleeve and shipping box packaging. We created a raft of designs, with the final logo design being augmented on packaging with a 'coffee and tea utensils' design for the inside of boxes, plus a 'ribbon wrapped' sleeve for the traybakes. The design was then used in a highly successful website.
URL: www.cakesmiths.com


text:
Thus far in this blog, I have been making note of things that have been occurring in the world. Many of them making note of some of the more ridiculous events. Yet, these are all distractions. Many of us forget the more important things in life.
We tend to forget about the importance of family and friends. Forgetting also about the importance of building relationships and caring for one another.
Our society has become misogynist. We celebrate the bad fortune of others while celebrating the deplorable behavior of celebrities. How did society get this messed up?
Perhaps, it has always been this way.
We do not need to tolerate any of this. Everybody can create a whole new world by changing their ways of thinking. Too much negativity has never been a good thing.
It is only when we appreciate the simpler things in life that we may start to understand peace.
When was the last time you have walked in the forest and stop to listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees? When was the last time you really took everything in and just let it be?
It is though understanding nature and changing our ways of thinking that we can finally create a new world. Let go of the things which stress us and focus on those that bring us inner peace.
Sure, this sounds easier than done but the feeling one gets is liberating. Inner peace is what many of us need to do because if one is not comfortable with them self then there is little hope that one will know inner peace.


text:
2011 Lexus GX Top Comparisons
Users ranked 2011 Lexus GX against other cars which they drove/owned. Each ranking was based on 9 categories. Here is the summary of top rankings.
User Reviews
Displaying all 3 2011 Lexus GX reviews.
CarGurus https://www.cargurus.com
2011 Lexus GX 460 Premium 4WDReview
Enjoying The Ride — I found the exterior appearance of the SUV to be great. It is comfortable seating in the first two rolls. The third roll of seats leaves very little foot room so let's just call it the childrens section. The power was great but I would have loved the option of the 5.7L V8 IForce. The braking could use some improvement as there is much front dip when braking hard. Cargo space once the 3rd roll is in use is very limited. The push button split 3rd roll option is great. Overall I would buy another one and recommend it.
Pros: I really enjoy the comfort while driving on long or short trips. The entertainment system is great.
Cons: Fuel consumption is poor.
Looking for a Used GX in your area?
CarGurus has 5,517 nationwide GX listings starting at $15,900.
2011 Lexus GX 460 4WD ReviewCarGurus https://www.cargurus.com
Probably the best car I've ever owned !
vs2011 Lexus GX 460 Premium 4WD
2011 Lexus GX 460 4WD winning categories:
Displaying all 3 2011 Lexus GX reviews.
Reviews From Other Years
2013 Lexus GX Reviews
A Statement Car.
I like everything about this car, except it is very smooth. I put it into sport suspension and it feels like BMW or Mercedes. Otherwise Lexus is the Best. Soft, comfortable, soft ride. Everything luxu... Read More
2012 Lexus GX Reviews
Comfortable And Luxurious
This car is comfortable and smooth. Large and spacious. Gas mileage is not the greatest but it is a big SUV so the expectation of gas mileage should be lower. It handles great. I always feel in contro... Read More
2010 Lexus GX Reviews
Lexus Gx460
I wanted this SUV for a long time and the electric back seat that they introduced in 2010 won me over. Excellent styling and comfortable interior! Power seats, sunroof, leather seats, leather wrappe... Read More
I Loved This Car
Performance - Good acceleration, Very Good braking,Very Good handling Build Quality - Everything was extremely luxury and nice Appearance - Not bad exterior, Very attractive interior Cost of Ownership... Read More


text:
Bureaucracy Flourishes under Obama
Barack Hussein Obama is busy spinning his rationale for increased taxes and more government "recovery" spending.
Though Obama's deficits are designed to, in the end, break the back of free enterprise, he invariably claims, "I inherited this deficit from the Bush administration."
However, the Executive Branch does not set budgets, Congress does. If you will view the deficits chart below, you will note that from the '09 budget forward, the budget deficits increase greatly. Now, for the record, the Democrats controlled Congress since January 2007. Thus, they controlled the budgets for FY 2008, FY 2009, FY 2010 and FY 2011.
In '08, the Democrats compromised with Bush on spending. However, in FY 2009, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed the Bush administration by way of continuing resolutions until Barack Obama could take office.
Again, for the Record, Obama was a member of the Senate Majority in 2007 and 2008, which is to say, he voted for those omnibus budgets.
The last deficit that the Democrats "inherited" was FY 2007, the last of the Republican congressional budgets. The FY 2007 deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. The only deficit Obama has inherited is that which he and his Democrat majorities generated.
In effect, Obama is claiming, "I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I had my Democrat congress expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th."
But really, we need to raise taxes in order to reduce the deficit...
Speaking of Obama deficits, lets take a look at who got stimulated:
And here is the growing bureaucratic employment versus shrinking private sector employment:
And how were bureaucratic salaries impacted:
And if that does not give you some heartburn, just wait till this Obama chart gets fully implemented:
"A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget.... As the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues. Prosperity is the real way to balance our budget. By lowering tax rates, by increasing jobs and income, we can expand tax revenues and finally bring our budget into balance." --John F. Kennedy
If Republicans Are Serious About Budget Cutting, they should start by identifying expenditures and taxes which are not expressly authorized by our Constitution, and schedule them for termination.


text:
To Die For Holiday Party Style
'Tis the season to break out of that box — after all, you can take risks and go a little wild with the sparkle and texture this time of year. And as you know the holidays are here and the holiday party invites are rolling in. From your office party to that swanky holiday gala, the right look will set you apart from the crowd. Lets be honest, no matter the location, its time to give your wardrobe a festive upgrade.
Shimmering necklines, beaded embroidery, and lace embellishments of designer dresses are what our dreams are made of. From your head to your little sparkling toe, we have you covered with tons of holiday party style inspiration.
Hottie In Red
Ooh la la! Sultry and sassy, this red number will have you ready for kisses under the mistletoe. red is a classic holiday color and you can never go wrong with a curve hugging number that shows off all you assets. Literally! Take note from Lala Anthony as she killed it in the Nicholas dress.
Monochromatic Pant Suit
Androgynous and monochromatic, a suit has never has never looked better in a grey! Perfect for a swanky party in the city, this suit screams holiday chic!
Metallic Mini
Chrissy Teigen and her baby bump shined in this gold mini with tons of intricate embroidery. Fun and flirty and of course the best way to show off you legs, a number like this is the only way to dance the night away!
All Black
Keep it simple and ultra chic in all black like Alexandra Maurer did in this Glaw Berlin dress. With a touch of glitter and shine with the snake embroidery, you will definitely be the belle of the ball.
Holiday Hair Inspiration
From bobs to pony tails, top knots to finger waves, the holidays are a season to spice up your look. Explore the hottest hair styles from our favorite celebs, just in time for your holiday party!
What trend are you loving for the Holidays? Will you be sporting on of these looks at your holiday party?


text:
Hawaii Police Department
Vice Section, Area I
Lieutenant Samuel Jelsma
Phone: 961-2253
December 17, 2007
Report No. C07040119
(See larger photo) Oscar Martinez
…charged with drug and weapons offenses
Media Release (update)
A Puna man is in police custody after being charged with drug and weapons offenses.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Friday (December 14) patrol officers responded to a 911 call directing them to a home on Lehua Road in the Fern Acres subdivision. Upon arrival, they made contact with the resident identified in the call and observed numerous marijuana plants being cultivated in a large greenhouse.
Police arrested 27-year-old Oscar Martinez in connection with the marijuana plants as well as for an outstanding warrant with $11,000 bail. The outstanding warrant was the result of 164 grams of dried "magic mushrooms" found in his possession when Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of drug dealing at Coconut Island in 2004.
Vice Officers executed a search warrant at the Fern Acres property and recovered 704 marijuana plants from the greenhouse, some as large as 5 feet tall. Plants were being grown in three separate stages. Officers also recovered a small amount of dried processed marijuana and an unregistered Colt AR15 assault rifle with ammunition.
Checks later conducted on the suspect through the National Crime Informational Center revealed that he was wanted in Sonoma, California, for a "no bail" probation revocation warrant that indicated the California authorities were willing to extradite him. It was learned that Martinez' offenses in California stemmed from his involvement in the transporting, distribution and selling of felony amounts of marijuana in that state.
California authorities later contacted the Hawaii Police Department and informed them that after conferring with the Sonoma County's district attorney's office, they would not proceed with extradiction.
For the Hawaii marijuana case, Martinez was charged with commercial promotion of marijuana, promoting a detrimental drug, drug paraphernalia and three weapons offenses. Due to his status as a flight risk, his bail was set at $250,000. He was unable to post bail and remains in police custody pending a court appearance.


text:
Come hear Kati speak at the tenth-annual Examined Life Conference, three-day gathering that focuses on the links between the science of medicine and the arts. The conference is hosted by The University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine. Kati's workshop "The Telling Itself" focuses on how to coach writers through the craft problems of illness:
"The problems of modern illness are the craft problems of illness narratives. Overly technical language, periods of disorientation, the inextricability of one ailment from the next, and the onerous play-by-plays of treatment can make drafts of illness narratives challenging to read and revise, despite their importance.
Though the therapeutic benefits of drafting are well established, in this workshop participants will consider the potential of using literary craft strategies as tools to help writers restructure their experiences and restore narrative coherence. Drawing on the lessons of my ongoing work with community-level writers, I'll share the transformative power of teaching about chronology, scope, framing, and widening the narrative lens, discuss ways to avoid student re-traumatization, and explore how a supportive community can help writers see past doctors and medical technology to identify the real hero of their illness narratives: themselves."


text:
I'm in Hong Kong for the next week and am embarking on some research for the soon to be launched winter project of Brooklyn Soda Works. Hint - it will involve a giant tea bag that resembles an overstretched silk stocking.
'Silk stocking' style milk tea is a uniquely Hong Kong phenomenon; influenced by British colonial tea habits - it is a black tea sweetened with sugar and served with evaporated milk, it is available at all hours of the day at 'cha-chaan tengs' (Chinese diners that serve inexpensive Hong Kong style western dishes). It's much more than a simple cup of milk tea though; it has a uniquely fine and smooth texture that is due to the cloth that the tea is strained through repeatedly and the quality of the milk that is added. The reference to hoisery is due to the appearance of the cloth bag after a long period of use and the strong black tea has stained the fabric - supposedly the customers of one of the cha-chaan tengs started referring to it as 'silk stocking tea' and over time, the name stuck.
I've decided this is the year that I will try to make my own. It's a tough project though - it has involved a lot of caffeine and a few attempts to get grumpy old men to reveal their tea secrets. Each tea house has their own secret blend of tea leaves and every year there is a competition to crown the best silk-stocking tea maker. My first stop was to one of usual tea stops, Lan Fong Yuen. Perched on the edge of the market in Central, it was established fifty years ago as a 'dai pai dong' (an outdoor food stall). It's moved indoors but retains a tiny outdoor shack where the tea is made. Lan Fong Yuen has become a staple on the foodie tourist circuit, and its walls are lined with numerous food magazine reviews (if you go, try the pork bun and their French toast as well as their tea).
Their tea is strained 8 times through the large cloth bag and their tea is a secret blend of six different types of tea leaves. They do not use the usual 'Black & White' brand of evaporated milk that other cha-chaan-tengs commonly use, but another brand. The resultant tea is an stiff aromatic tea that manages to not be bitter and is well balanced with the evaporated milk and sugar, with a good silky texture.
The next day I went with my sister to Wanchai, a fascinating older district in Hong Kong Island and meandered through their large outdoor market that sprawls across several blocks in search of two well regarded cha-chaan-tengs (unfortunately because the tea is several times stronger than what you might commonly get in a standard coffee shop, you can only really have one or two cups a day). We settled on Tak Yu (17-18 Kwong Ming Street) a well kept quiet airy cha-chaan tengs tucked away on a quiet street in an up-and coming area where boutiques have started moving in. The staff are friendly and the older gentleman who was manning the tea shack was happy to chat a bit. They use Black & White evaporated milk, which is creamier and denser than some of the other brands. His tea was one of the best I've had - very smooth without compromising any of the intensity from the blend of black teas.
The other cha-chaan-teng that is considered a must-try in Wanchai is Kum Foong (or Golden Phoenix). I'll be making a trip back over in a couple of days.
You'll notice the distinct fabric tea-bag and metal hoop that used - this is as integral to preparing the tea as the actual tea leaves and milk are. I asked the gentleman at Tak Yu cha-chaan-teng in Wanchai (see the photo above) where he got his, and he replied that their were made by hand years ago. The fabric I'm assuming is replaced regularly and a lot of traditional places still make sew theirs by hand. However if you don't feel like soldering your own hoop and sewing your own cotton bags, you can head over to Reclamation Street in Yau Mai Tei area of Kowloon where the street is lined with kitchen supply stores for commercial kitchens and restaurants.
There I picked up a couple of hoops and cotton bags, as well as a steel tea pot to attempt to make my own version.
Yau Ma Tei and the surrounding areas in Kowloon are filled with old historic streets and corners. One place in particular has become a fixture - Mido Cafe. It is a 3 story cafe that dates back to 1950 and lots of its original fixtures still remain from an old cashier to the menu on the wall and the clocks.
It has a great corner spot with a nice view over the public square in front of the temple - the day we were there, a youth group was practicing a dragon dance for the upcoming Mid Autumn Festival (usually in mid to late September). While I wasn't blown away by their milk tea (there was some sedimentation at the bottom) it's a really nice place to hang out for an hour.
Before I even wanted to start making my own blend of tea, I wanted to try one more place - Bing Kee in the Tai Hang neighborhood of Hong Kong Island, conveniently very close to where I live. Tai Hang has experienced a renaissance of sorts - it has always been a close knit quiet residential area with charming older residential buildings and narrow streets but in the past two years a large number of small restaurants, bars and coffee shops have moved in. Bing Kee (on Ormsby Street) is a small outdoors cafe (a 'dai pai dong') that has been around way before any of the artisanal cake shops.
it's another tea-shack! But as well as churning out cups of tea you can also get Hong Kong breakfast staples such as instant noodles with ham & egg.
Note the intensity of the color! A very pleasing cup of tea - great strong tea taste without any bitterness but I think I would have appreciated a bit more of a smooth milky texture.
Anyway, I still have a few places I want to try. I'm still working on my recipe and my technique but will post another blog post in a few days with my results. Stay tuned....


text:
Throwin' it back to some Freight Farms highlights of 2014.
As the end of year is upon us, we'd like to look back each Thursday to our various milestones. 2014 was such a big year for Freight Farms in so many ways it was difficult to narrow it down!
To kick off our month of Throwback Thursdays (#tbt for those of you on twitter and instagram), it seems fitting to shine the spotlight on our first Freight Farmer, Ryan Sweeney, owner of Localize. He successfully grew basil throughout the long, treacherous winter that Minnesota is known for. He sent us this snapshot in early January - he harvested a batch of delicious fresh basil despite the temperature outside being -21 degrees Fahrenheit, with a windchill of -40 degrees Fahrenheit.


text:
Location: BBBB-
El Rincon del Artista is located C/ Nou de la Rambla 105, a short walk from the Paral-lel metro station, and a short walk away from La Rambla itself, really!
Service: BBBB+
Interior & Atmosphere: BBB
Food: BBBBB
Grilled mushrooms
An extremely simple dish to make. Deliciously soft and tender, but still with a little bite to them. And with that special mushroom taste.
A bargain at IEl Rincon del Artista for a little over three Euros.
Croquetas Caseras
Made from a smooth, thick white sauce / mash flavoured, in this case, with ham, then rolled in bread crumbs and fried in oil. A delicious combination of soft smooth filling underneath a crisp shell. Very good taste from the cured ham.
Try, them, you will not be disappointed and priced at 2 Euros only, you do not talk any chance at all!
Patatas Bravas
Patatas Bravas are usually served with a pink, mayonnaise based sauce, flavoured with a little garlic and, I guess, paprika powder, so familiar to Spanish cuisine.
Calamaris Romana
Beverage: BBBBB
Rating Rincon Del Artista experience: BBBB (4,176 points)
El Rincon del Artista
c/ Nou de la Rambla 105
ES-08004 Barcelona
Phone: 93 442 12 40


text: BUSINESS Fox, WB shift output deals in Belgium and Netherlands 4:00 AM PST 3/6/2008 by Ab Zagt , AP FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Empty An earthquake is about to hit the theatrical distribution landscape in the Netherlands, with Fox and Warner Bros. at the epicenter.The studios are expected to announce changes in the next few days that will see the Warners office in the Netherlands handle theatrical releases for Fox, while Fox will take on Warners product across Belgium.The shake-up, according to sources within the companies, will see the closure of Fox's Netherlands operations, with Warners taking up Dutch duties April 1.Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Netherlands managing director Wilco Wolfers on Wednesday confirmed his exit from the company to take the reins as managing director of A-Film, the biggest independent distributor in the Netherlands.Wolfers said that his move to A-Film had nothing to do with the upcoming changes in the Warners Amsterdam office, where he worked for eight years."For me, A-Film represents a new challenge with its impressive catalog and interesting home entertainment outlets," he said. "In this new job I can use all my expertise from my previous positions. Furthermore, I can now also be involved in productions at the earliest stage."A-Film said it was happy to have secured the services of Wolfers, a well-known figure in the Dutch film world, where he also is chairman of the Dutch industry trade body Nederlandse Vereninging van Filmdistributeurs."We firmly believe that Wilco Wolfers will be setting out strategies for new and innovative possibilities in film distribution. His expertise lies both in theatrical distribution as in home entertainment, which is in line with A-Film's all-media strategy," A-Film owner W2Media's Philip Wolf said.Wolfers succeeds Pim Hermeling, the co-founder of A-film, who stepped down last week following the sale of his shares to W2Media on April 14.Hermeling is still working on the deal between his former company and French production, sales and finance house Wild Bunch.Industry observers here are tipping Hermeling for a swift return to independent distribution in the Netherlands with a new startup, though insiders said he might also stay linked in some way to A-Film.Reps at Fox and Warners declined comment. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Ab Zagt email@example.com @thr AP firstname.lastname@example.com @thr


text:
Update for FREE for a LIMITED TIME!This is a challenging game, so it's not for beginners...but do keep in mind that the National Geographic Bee is meant for kids in grades 4-8. Are you smarter than a 4th grader? If you need help studying, you should check out the National Geographic World Atlas HD app, also available on iTunes. Three types of game play make sure you really know your stuff and never get bored. In the multiple-choice round, answers come from a library of more than 1300 National Geographic Bee questions. In the map challenge round, you zoom, pinch and tap your way to find spots on an interactive map from a catalog of 1000+ locations. For an added challenge, bonus rounds include compelling National Geographic photographs where you have to locate what's in the photo on the interactive map...only we don't tell you where the photo was taken or what is in the picture! The faster you answer, the more points you get! You have to keep up the pace to move on to the next round.About National Geographic Bee:Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge. "GeoBee makes an excellent companion for long train rides or meals with dull people." - SlateGrab It. The first day of school is just around the corner. Here (is) an app that can be packed in alongside your kids pencils and notebooks. New York Daily NewsMOBI Award FINALIST - Best Mobile Game 2010Apple recommended - Back to school app!
|File Size
|Operating System
|System Requirements
|Compatible with iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, iPad. iTunes account required.


text:
Key Argument for Incentives Questioned
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The work of defusing the most dangerous bets placed by American International Group was largely concluded by December, according to documents and interviews, long before the company gave bonuses to employees it said it needed to retain to avoid a financial meltdown.
AIG used almost $50 billion from the Federal Reserve to end contracts with other financial firms by the end of 2008, a massive and far-reaching bailout designed to remove the company from a central role in the financial system with minimal collateral damage. The largest beneficiaries included Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.
The government relied on AIG employees to carry out much of this work. The most explosive contracts largely were the creations of AIG's Financial Products unit, and employees of that division -- the recipients of the controversial bonuses -- worked through the fall to unwind old deals.
By the end of December, the outstanding volume of the riskiest kind of bet, on highly complex derivatives, had been reduced to roughly $13 billion from $78 billion, according to the company's financial filings. The Federal Reserve has since completed its planned purchases of assets from AIG's trading partners.
Two Financial Products executives said the hardest work has been completed and their focus has shifted to the resolution of a vast but less risky portfolio of bets on more straightforward financial instruments. One said most of those trades are protected against loss and have caused few problems.
That progress contrasted with the testimony before Congress yesterday of the company's chief executive, Edward M. Liddy, who said the payment of $165 million in retention bonuses last week was necessary because the departure of key employees could result in catastrophic losses.
"The risk assessment was we've made great progress in winding down this business, but there is still $1.6 trillion of stuff in that portfolio. There's risk that that could blow up. And if it were to explode, it can cause irreparable damage to that progress that we've already made," Liddy said. "I know $165 million is a very large number. It's a very large number. In the context of $1.6 trillion and the money that's already been invested in us, we thought that was a good trade."
The company in recent statements has credited Financial Products with making "substantial progress," and a spokeswoman said yesterday that Liddy simply wanted to underscore the seriousness of the remaining challenge. The division began with bets valued at about $2.7 trillion, which it divided into 22 portfolios. The five riskiest portfolios are basically unwound, but AIG says the remaining portfolios still pose significant risks.
The two executives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they were particularly concerned that the loss of experienced employees would reduce the company's ability to secure the best prices in negotiations with other financial firms.
"We're unwinding all of our businesses. We're going out of business, and all of our counterparties know that," one executive said.
A former Financial Products executive, however, said the employees already are less inclined to haggle because they are playing with government money. He said that government officials, who are closely involved in the process, also have favored pricing that helps other financial firms by giving them more money.
"It doesn't look like the government is trying to protect AIG," the former executive said, adding that paying full price on the amounts demanded by trading partners "is a way of lending them money."
AIG, once the world's largest insurer, traded on its reputation for stability in order to sell a much wider range of financial products. Firms around the world came to depend, to a degree that was not fully appreciated at the time, on the company's promises. But the financial crisis quickly exposed that AIG had made more promises than it could keep. The government took control of the company in September to preserve the health of many of other financial firms.
The unit at the heart of the troubles was Financial Products, and none of its products were more problematic than its sales of insurance-like contracts called credit-default swaps.
Companies bought the insurance from AIG on the performance of investments called collateralized debt obligations, which ultimately depend on borrowers to repay loans. At the end of 2007, the division had guarantees outstanding of about $78 billion. If enough borrowers defaulted and the investors lost money, AIG was on the hook.
Under the government's rescue plan, the Federal Reserve created a special entity to buy the insured investments from AIG's customers, allowing the company to cancel the contracts. The entity was called Maiden Lane III, after the street that runs alongside the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
A collapse in the market for such assets has massively depressed prices, but the companies were compensated at the full original value. The Fed did not pay the full price. AIG had already provided other assets to the companies as collateral for its guarantees. The companies were allowed to keep those assets, and the Fed made up the difference between the value of the original asset and the value of the collateral.
Through the end of December, the government and AIG had paid about $62.1 billion for assets valued in December at $29.6 billion, basically rewarding the former holders of AIG insurance policies with more than $30 billion in value they would not have received if the assets had defaulted and AIG was unable to meet its obligations.
The Fed expects to get a return on the investment by holding the assets until they recover their full value.
The greatest beneficiaries were the French bank Societe Generale, which got more than $16 billion for assets valued at about $8 billion in December, and Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, which was paid almost $14 billion for assets valued in December at about $6 billion. Other large beneficiaries included Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, which was acquired by Bank of America. Goldman Sachs and other banks have said that they were separately protected against losses related to these AIG contracts and therefore they would not have been damaged if AIG had not bought the assets at full value.
A second Fed vehicle, Maiden Lane II, also has completed its purchases of about $22.4 billion in mortgage-related securities. AIG still can borrow money from the Fed to meet collateral calls from other trading partners, but the Fed's work with the company is substantially complete.
Dennis reported from Wilton, Conn.


text:
About 90 minutes north of New York City in New Paltz, NY, sits a spectacular wooden UFO-like dome dwelling in the middle of a 28-acre forest at the foot of the Mohonk Nature Preserve. Built in 1999, the 2,300-square-foot prefab was created by French kit home company Domespace. Of some 200 "Domespaces" built worldwide, this may still be the only one realized in the U.S so far—and its site seems to be perfect. The three-bedroom home, designed to be eco-friendly and engaged with nature, can rotate 360 degrees by the touch of a remote, ensuring it's always taking advantage of the sun for controlling indoor temperature, as well as providing a change of scenery.
Inside, a very open floor plan, soaring 40 ft ceilings, and huge curved windows. The two-level space, includes a custom-built spiral staircase that leads to the upper level library, office, guest bedroom, and bath. This unique property is currently on the market for $950,000.


text:
I've just returned from Mexico, from an amazing destination painting for the wonderful DC based sweethearts (what I would call power couple!) Jordan and Viviana. They are definitely top 10 most genuine, loving and well-matched couples I've encountered. I have known Jordan since pre-K and was honored to have him and Viv as muses for a destination painting. This painting was unique not only because of location but because they had so many friends and family present during their post-wedding festivities. The painting session was, no joke, a BLAST. It was an incredible, early morning, coffee and joy-filled moment where the couple and I were surrounded with family and friends on the balcony of the resort in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, technically not an engagement painting -- very much a destination painting! But a very festive, let's-dress-up-once-more event, with friends in sombreros (shading the couple as I painted and as the hot noon sun rose) and room service, celebrating art, life, and love, with ocean and mountain views! Quite possibly the most memorable painting to date. Thank you dear Jordan and Viv! XX
Photos: © 2014 Trevre Andrews and © 2014 Robert Rosales. Used with permission.


text: Just added! A FRIGHT exclusive interview with MICK GARRIS! Mick Garris got his start much like we did here at ICONS, by interviewing filmmakers for magazines & his Z channel show FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL. (His guests included John Landis, John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, John Boorman) He went on to write for Steven Spielberg on AMAZING STORIES, then directed CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE, the prequel/sequel PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING starring Anthony Perkins, and later went on to work with Stephen King more then any other filmmaker on such films as SLEEPWALKERS, THE STAND, THE SHINING, RIDING THE BULLET & DESPERATION. (His next King adaptation will be BAG OF BONES!) He also created Showtime's hit series MASTERS OF HORROR, as well as it's NBC follow-up FEAR ITSELF! It helps that he's probably the nicest guy in the movie business, which is why he agreed to speak to us about all of the above! Click the frame or image below (or HERE) to read the FRIGHT exclusive interview!


text:
Pierre Schoendoerffer was a war photographer in what was known as Indochina in the early '50s, and was a prisoner of war at Dien Bien Phu. The experience was, it can be inferred, a defining one for Mr. Schoendoerffer, who died at 83 in 2012. He first wrote "The 317th Platoon" as a novel, and made it into a film in 1964, traveling to Cambodia to shoot at authentic locations.
The cinematographer he brought with him was Raoul Coutard, one of the seminal forces of the Nouvelle Vague, and an ace at capturing striking imagery under tough conditions. The movie's story is a plain one of war and survival. A French platoon, made up of both French and Laotian soldiers, is ordered to abandon a highland outpost and rejoin larger French forces. The soldiers soon discover that they're walking right into a growing Viet Minh offensive.
The commanding officer, Torrens (Jacques Perrin), is a young lieutenant who's been in country a little over two weeks. The platoon's adjutant, Willsdorf (the great Bruno Cremer), is a battle veteran who, as an Alsatian, was forced into the German Army in World War II. The two have conflicting tactical ideas, but enough respect for each other that their differences never come to a head.
And they don't have to. This is a staggeringly engrossing and effective movie, its settings both beautiful and oppressive, its incidents tense and eye-opening. There are no philosophical musings, no what-are-we-fighting-for debates. It's all about getting out in one piece as the odds of doing so get worse every hour. A terse text at the film's end is a gruesome, ironic twist on the adage about living to fight another day. Screening officially in New York for the first time, this is a genuinely revelatory war movie.


text:
Broadway Stars Colman Domingo, Daniel Breaker Join Spike Lee's 'Red Hook Summer'
Broadway stars Colman Domingo and Daniel Breaker have joined the cast of Spike Lee's latest film, 'Red Hook Summer,' reports BlackFilm. The film is expected to be released in theaters Summer 2012.
With principal photography completed this past summer, the cast already includes Lee, Clarke Peters, Nate Parker, Turron Kofi Alleyne, Samantha Ivers, Limary Agosto, Heather Simms, and Kalon Jackson.
Details on the plot is still limited, but sources have stated that the story centers on a adult from Atlanta who comes and spends the summer in Red Hook section of Brooklyn, NY.
Breaker and Lee worked together in the 2009 documentary 'Passing Strange.' Domingo and Breaker worked together earlier this year in Intiman Theater's Valentine's Cabaret.
Spike Lee's 'Red Hook Summer' Cast, Release Date
Broadway Actor Colman Domingo In Special Performance
Colman Domingo Write/Direct Free Plays To Be Read Next Month


text:
Solar is at grid parity in California, i.e., solar developments are at a levelized cost that is less than or equal to the price of purchasing electricity from the traditional utility's grid, without subsidies or government support. However, California Assembly Bill 32 (AB32) 'Cap and Trade' regulation is projected to escalate grid energy costs in the next few years. AB32, California's historic law that passed in 2006, set a goal to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
How can we save energy costs? Designing and implementing Energy Efficiency (EE) programs is the easiest way to cut cost. The savings can be used to actually fund energy efficiency projects.
In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded 16 ESCOs (Energy Service COmpany) with DOE energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), allowing each of the selected ESCO companies to provide federal agencies with up to $5 billion of energy efficiency performance contracts.
Chevron Energy Solutions, an ESCO and a subsidiary of Chevron USA, presented at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG)'s annual Energy & Sustainability Summit. Chevron Energy Solutions works with schools, cities and government agencies on reducing energy costs and improving operations, where programs are focused on renewables and energy efficiency. Such energy efficiency programs allow public organizations, businesses and residents to address their energy consumption behavior.
Chevron offers a 4-step approach:
1. Consumer Behavioral change
2. Optimize and run efficiently what u have
3. Maximize mega watts
4. Use renewables for energy use
Financing EE projects is complex and includes several stakeholders: from project developers, to financial entities, technology providers, construction and engineering professionals, to customers (end-users), and, of course, utilities. To this diverse stakeholder interests add scaling challenges, emerging technologies and new improved materials, as well as regulatory and incentive models.
Today, there are several finance solutions that are designed to significantly reduce electricity bills, while addressing solar upfront costs, and offering the ability to capture tax incentives, where applicable:
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
In past years, these have become common among residential customers, businesses and also utilities in large scale projects. Initially, PPA providers required a minimum size project. However, a new solar PPA model removed the size limit. Advantages include: Solar PPAs have no upfront costs and tax benefits are incorporated into a discounted rate for energy. The solar energy production is heavily metered to ensure the customer pays only for the amount of energy that the solar panels generate. Further, solar PPA's kWh rate is at lower rate than the grid rates, and all system maintenance is included.
Lease models
The customer pays for the leasing of the solar system equipment over a period of years or decades (usually 20, but it can be less) and doesn't pay for the solar energy produced. Similar to car leases, solar lease agreements can be structured in several ways, where customers pay no up-front costs, pay some of the system cost, or purchase the system before the end of the lease term.
Tax exempt models – PACE, TELP
In PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) programs, the upfront cost of the solar system is added to a facility owner's property taxes and paid over 20 years through a special tax assessment. Usually, the annual electricity savings from the solar system is greater than the yearly PACE payments. Payments can be spread over 20 years in installments, where the customer owns the system at the end of the term.
Tax-Exempt Lease (TELP) financing is available to government and non-profit organizations. TELP provides a low interest for obtaining equipment. Interest rates for these models are low because the financier does not pay taxes on the interest income. Typically at the end of a TELP, system ownership is transferred from the lessor to the customer.
Other models include utilities as contractual intermediary, where the third-party owner sells power from the solar system to the utility. Then, the utility sells the power back to the end-user. Another option is solar crowdfunding.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Chevron is focusing on the public sector with EE initiatives due to the simple metrics that the cost savings are more significant and the return on investment is faster.
Lance Weislak, Director of International Finance at Chevron Energy Solutions, described the project implementation in the City of Livermore, CA: Total cost was $ 12,500. The financing model had no down payment, with 15 years at 2.59% TELP. The project included replacement of over 6200 streetlights, 1.4 megawatts of solar energy, and 21 buildings were retrofitted with LED lighting, and controls were upgraded. As a result, the city saved over $765,000 in the first year and a close to 5,000,000 kWh – a 90% reduction. These numbers are quite impressive in energy savings and carbon emissions reduction and comply with California's AB32 regulation.
The Livermore project created other benefits: it enabled engagement of stakeholders across the local communities. The implementation caught attention from school districts, private businesses, and other public entities.
1. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) was founded in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard. SVLG represents more than 380 of Silicon Valley's employers on issues, programs and campaigns that affect the economic health and quality of life in Silicon Valley. The areas of public policy include energy, transportation, education, housing, health care, taxation, economic vitality and the environment. Check www.SVLG.org.
SVLG Energy and Sustainability Summit – Click here.
SVLG career opportunities: http://svlg.org/about-us/career
2. Chevron – Click for more information about Chevron's energy efficiency programs
Careers at Chevron Energy Solutions: http://www.chevronenergy.com/about/careers.aspx
3. UCLA case study: download PDF.
4. California Assembly Bill 32 (AB32) –


text:
Interruption of Business Due to CatastropheSeptember 7, 2011 at 1:23 pm | Posted in Business Insurance | Leave a comment
Hopefully, you and your business made it out unscathed from Hurricane Irene. Unfortunately, with the power outages we have been experiencing many businesses are unable to open their doors and food in freezers has been lost to spoilage.
When business operations cannot resume due to damage or access to the property is denied, one of two things may happen:
- Business operations cannot resume until the property is restored.
- Operations can resume but only by acquiring another location.
Business Interruption Insurance would be helpful in both of these cases, and may be added to your property insurance policy. Typically, insurance policies require that the property located at the business location be damaged by a "covered cause of loss", therefore the specific coverages included in your policy should be reviewed and customized during your insurance review with your agent. A few examples of additional coverages that you may choose to add to your policy would be:
- Terrorism
- Property located at another location
- Utility services coverage, if phone or internet service is disrupted.
- Dependent coverage, if a business you depend on is damaged.
- Leasehold interest coverage, for termination of a lease triggered by damage to the business property.
Choosing your coverage limits for the business income coverage requires you to:
- Project future income and expenses, one year in advance.
- Identify the maximum length of time it would take you to restore your property.
- And for extra expense coverage, you would need to determine the extraordinary costs that may be incurred to operate from another location.
Having adequate financial records will be necessary to determine and establish these limits and support any claim under these coverages.
On most policies, you will find a 30 day extension of coverage if a business is still losing income after the property has been restored. And extensions can be increased up to 730 days for an additional premium.
**It is also important to note a 72 hour waiting period typically applies once the Business Interruption coverage is triggered.
Feel free to contact us with any further questions. www.nsainsure.com
For more information see the following:
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Entries and comments feeds.


text:
Updated on 14 Oct 2015:
A reader has pointed out in the comments section that the requirements have since changed. They can be found at - http://www.indianembassy.nl/eoi.php?id=poa
They key difference is that now witnesses from NL are required to appear with the applicant along with their ids to sign the PoA.
As an NRI in the Netherlands, if you, as an Indian citizen, wish to give power of attorney (POA) to a resident in India, you need to do it at the Indian Consulate or the Embassy of India and would need the following documents:
- Official POA text printed on normal paper: Please note that the format is usually provided by the bank in case of a housing loan or by a lawyer in case of property sale or registration and stamp paper is required only when the POA is executed in India
- Passport and Residence card or visa
- Form for consular services (usually found in the Indian embassy website)
- Photocopies of all of the above
- At least 2 passport size photos: You will need one for the consular services form and one for the POA
- Fee
You are required to sign each page the POA in front of the consulate employee (who will then affix his signature and stamp), so do not sign anything at home. It is also prudent to carry additional documentation, for example, passport copy of the person who the POA is given to, marriage certificate especially if you are a woman etc since requirements may vary from one country to another.
NL specific (cannot comment about Indian consulates in other countries)
The website of the Indian embassy in NL hardly offers any information on POAs and neither do they answer phone calls. So you get the requirements only when you go there in person to Den Haag, so it's better to be prepared especially if you want to avoid another trip. Please note that only passport and visa processes are outsourced (to VFS Global services) and POAs are directly dealt with by the Embassy. So neither the VFS hotline nor the VFS agents will be able to help you with this request.
Some tips and information:
First of all, any POA should only be given to a person you completely and implicitly trust like a parent or spouse. To avoid legal complications in the future, its better not to choose agents or other business associates.
Second of all, please exercise caution while giving someone general POA. It typically means the person can do ANYTHING with any of your investments and liabilities i.e. act like its his/her money and property. So if there is a specific purpose, for example sale of a particular property, then state only that in the POA. To be doubly sure, please also make sure you revoke the POA, once the job is done. Yes, it is good to have faith in people but there is no need to make it explicit with a legal document.
While drafting the POA, make sure the
- format is right - I found some useful formats here
- date and place of execution (in this case, Indian Embassy, The Hague) are correct
- names and addresses are spelt according to the passport (or similar identification card)
- space at the end of each page (easily done with custom margins in MS word) is enough for the signatures and stamp
Purchase of property
If you are availing a housing loan from a bank for purchase of property (Land or House) in India, please note that in this case, 2 POAs may be required. The first one is to be given to the bank, which will allow them to deal with a local representative. The second one, is for property registration i.e for the representative to appear in front of the Govt. Registrar to register the property in your name. Please note that the text is vastly different for the 2 POAs.


text:
Conveyor Belts
At Techbelt we provide a wide range of standard and specialist conveyor belts. The vast majority we manufacture are from PTFE coated fabrics and material, which includes PTFE coated fibre glass and PTFE coated aramid. Polyester mesh and rubber which are specific to round hay bale making machines (Balers).
|Additional options include:
|• Various type of fastening options
|• Edge reinforcement
|• Identification on belts, which can be particularly useful if batch or references are needed by the end user or resellers
|• Up to 5200mm width on open mesh
|• Specialist cast film laminate belts for cooking applications where heat and fat can cause an issue


text: This page will provide access to a variety of resources connected to the use of metaliteracy. It is starting with campus-based initiatives, as well as implementation through teaching done in classrooms and online learning spaces, and in assignments and exercises. We welcome additions to these resources. Please contact Tom Mackey or Trudi Jacobson if you have material to share.


text:
Yes Jesus put together quite the group of fellows. Some I knew well, others I did not. We all had two things in common. We were all pretty average, not a stellar education among the lot. I often wondered what Jesus saw in us, but I guess that's one of my favorite things about the Master. He looks at us on the basis of what we CAN be through Him rather then what we ARE.
No one is more thankful for this than I am. It seemed I was always saying something wrong. In those early days, I definitely leaned too far to my own understanding. Without the love and mercy of our Lord, I would be lost in more ways than one.
I just want to tell you about a few experiences I had with the Master. I could never run out of stories to share, but my time is short. I will soon see my Lord face to face once again!
I'll never forget the day Jesus healed my mother-in-law. She was so feverish she couldn't even lift her head off of the pillow. For someone as given to hospitality as she is, this was very difficult. As a matter of fact, Matthew recorded in his Gospel "And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them." She got up and cooked us a delicious meal! The food and the fact that she was able to cook it were both amazing!
One day we got in a boat and head to the other side of the lake while Jesus stayed behind to pray. A huge storm came up and we were very afraid. Jesus came to us on the water and said "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." I (ever the impulsive one) asked Jesus to let me come to him. He bid me come, so I did! Before I knew it, I was walking on the water! Then I looked down and started to sink. He grabbed my hand, pulled me to safety and once again challenged me with his words "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" The storm ceased, and we worshiped Him for we knew He was (and is) the Son of God!
To Be Continued…
Andrew Gommesen


text:
SOCIALISTS like little more than a cracking good schism, and this weekend's revolutionary crowds showed the current one on Scotland's far left is good revolutionary box office.
Their mainstream rivals could not compete with a weekend tally of 900 comrades, but this was to celebrate two factions' loathing of each other, bitterly divided by the single issue of Tommy Sheridan.
On one side, nearly 600 people yesterday packed into a sweaty function suite at Glasgow's Central Hotel, to hear the case for Solidarity, the new party being set up by the Tomministas.
There was no trouble for stewards to handle, so their main job was to keep the revolution from wilting in Cuban-style humidity, offering a steady supply of bottled water.
By coincidence, it was in the same airless room, 21 hours before, that the Scottish Socialist Party (continuing) had gathered around 300 people to pledge allegiance to the "Zero Tommy" brand of socialism.
The new party won the weekend's skirmishing on several scores.
Its meeting was bigger, longer, hotter and, with Mr Sheridan at full throttle, it won on decibels too.
"We're not looking inward any longer, " he thundered.
"We're looking forward and upward." He was relieved to "get the shackles off, " and looked to Scotland joining Bolivia and Venezuela in winning socialist majorities, rather than fighting over the 130,000 who voted SSP three years ago.
There was anger too. He attacked those who testified for the News of the World in the five-week defamation trial he won a month ago: "Some socialists were tried in a time of adversity and sadly, they failed the test.
"They took the side of the boss class instead of the side of the socialists". . . The rest of the sentence was lost to riotous applause.
But on vitriol, it was the Scottish Socialists who came out slightly ahead.
Colin Fox, their leader, dropped the harsher attacks from his prepared speech. He admitted that when he promised last May that his party's best days were ahead of it, he had omitted to add that its worst days were somewhat more imminent. Saturday was a day for celebration, he claimed, as the party moved on from its nightmare and "the black propaganda".
Others were keener to scratch their Sheridan itch, with one T-shirt warning: "Never forget, never forgive".
Richie Venton, the trade union organiser, reminded comrades that they had "sweated and toiled" to get Mr Sheridan elected, but he had repaid them by "trashing this party". Setting up the breakaway party was "appalling, sad and disgraceful", he said.
With so little difference between them, it was the nuances that counted, and that can be judged, in far-left politics, by who gets a place on the all-important "platform".
Solidarity showed signs of its Socialist Workers platform being an inf luential player, just as it is in George Galloway's Respect party, with which Mr Sheridan has already agreed a nonaggression pact.
There were messages of encouragement - though not all of support - ranging across trade unionists, anti-globalisers, Muslims, Christians, gays, lesbians and transsexuals.
One person argued the anti-war movement should become "the mothership" for the left, as a source for linking its various strands and for "refuelling".
By contrast, the mothership message of several SSP speeches on Saturday was that feminism must be put at the heart of the party. Carolyn Leckie, the Central Scotland MSP, accused Mr Sheridan of treating his former party "like a household controlled by an abusive man".
She argued the balance of power within the party has to shift, giving women more space to speak while men should learn to hold back with their opinions and confidence.
The feminist cause has regressed over the past 30 years, said Ms Leckie: "We need to look at putting the ideals we want for society into practice in our own party."


text:
They won't be expecting that!
Our God is a God of surprise. He often does the unexpected. There are many surprises in the Bible, one of the best known being the Christmas story. The angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was to become pregnant with the Son of the Most High (Luke 1: 26-35). Shortly before that, Mary's cousin, Elizabeth received a similarly unexpected announcement from Gabriel. Elizabeth who was older (her husband Zechariah, was also older) and far past the age to bear children, was told she would also be pregnant with a son who would be named John. I can't imagine how surprised Elizabeth must have been or how shocked Mary was when they each received their news.
After Gabriel had spoken with Mary and Elizabeth, an angel of the Lord visited shepherds in a field watching their flock and proclaimed "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, I bring you good news of great joy. Today your savior has been born (Luke 2:8)". Imagine doing your everyday job and suddenly seeing an angel of the Lord. The story describes the shepherds as being terrified, I think I would be too.
In Matthew, we see the story of the wise men going to worship Jesus. Matthew 2:3 says "When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him." King Herod was alarmed. In my opinion, the word "alarmed" is a great adjective to describe the feeling that comes along with something unexpected happening. The unexpected startles us, causes alarm.
I think that too much of the time, we think we have God's plan for us all figured out. We get into a routine and then when something happens that isn't according to "the plan", we are completely thrown off and our lives get turned upside down.
For as long as I can remember, I had plans of going to law school. When I was in eighth grade I had my university picked out, the requirements memorized and was already writing practice essays. I started high school and suddenly wasn't doing nearly as well in school. I had some hard things happening and lost all motivation for success in school, in my faith and in my relationships. And so, I gave up on law school. I spent a few weeks at camp the summer before my junior year of high school and realized I had not been actively pursuing God. I decided to turn things around, to try harder. I graduated high school and spent the summer following graduation working at camp. When I announced to my friends and family that I would be gone for the summer, people were surprised. And honestly, I was surprised. I did not expect to be called into ministry. It was life changing. I fell in love with Jesus all over again and loved the fact that I could share His love with our campers. That one summer changed the way I viewed life and ultimately changed my trajectory. Sometimes, the unexpected, the bumps in the road that we see as roadblocks are really just God telling us to listen. So this Advent we encourage you to wait with Elizabeth, Mary and us as we anticipate the birth of King.
In this time of Advent, there is another major story of God doing the unexpected. He sent His son as a newborn to save from their sins. The King coming in the form of a Child, that's unexpected.
Things to do with your Campers
Where has God surprised you? Where have those surprises led you? How has your faith grown stronger through all of the unexpected events?
Read Matthew 2:1-12. Why was Herod alarmed? What was his ultimate goal and why was Herod not a fan of Jesus' birth? How can we give the Son of God more control in our lives?
Make a manger, an unexpected birthplace for the King!
Happy Advent!
Emily Henry


text:
Every farming operation is different. That's why AgChoice Farm Credit's loan officers will work with you to find a tailored plan to meet your operation's financial services needs. We offer everything you need to keep your operation running smoothly.
Contact us or contact your local branch today with your next agricultural financing need. We can help you with:
What's AccountAccess?Learn More
Want an account?Sign-up now!
Request Information
Find a Branch


text:
For more than 19 years, Dr. Ferrara has helped to improve the quality of life for countless patients in and around Lawton, OK. Known for our comforting, upbeat environment, we provide effective and affordable care. Unlike the cold, clinical setting of many doctors' offices, our location is a place where people feel comfortable with the staff and other patients.
We focus on addressing your needs quickly so that you can get on with your day. If you come during our regular hours, you can expect to be seen by the doctor quickly, with or without an appointment. We are able to treat a number of chronic health problems, and we go beyond symptom management and pursue solutions for the root causes of your pain or ailments.
Se habla Español.


text:
When? – 12/04/2012
Where? – The Mint. Corner William & LaTrobe St, Melbourne
Price? - $19.90
Website? - http://www.themint.com.au
Reviewers – Adam, Ben, Brendan, Cale, Carly, Emma, Lee, Matt, Ness, Nikki, Pat, Stefo & Tyson.[/info]
The parma at The Mint has been a point of contention in many discussions I have had on the topic of chicken parmigianas, A typical conversation on the topic going something like this -
*If my wife is reading this, replace "I'll get my coat!" with "Hell no you crazy skank!"
… you get the idea. A lot of people say its great, but an equal amount say its terrible, so for parma #92 it was time to see if we could put an end to the madness, we loaded up the parma bus and headed to The Mint.
When we first arrived we sat out in the beautiful beer garden while we awaited the teams arrival - the beer garden was spacious while remaining cosy, with plenty of seating and, despite being meters away from Flagstaff Station, secluded enough to feel like a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Once everyone arrived we took our reserved table inside - it was quiet so there was plenty of room, but I could definitely see this small room packing out very quickly on regular nights. We ordered our meals and were presented with a couple of bowls of olives to tide us over - a nice touch. I had a photo of the olives but by the time I took it the napkin surrounding the bowl was already spotted with used olive pits, kinda gross.
For those venturing down, be aware that the kitchen closes at 8, so get in early if you want a feed!
We had a big group with us, and the friendly staff were more than happy to accommodate when we turned up with a couple more than we had booked for. About 3/4s of a pint after ordering our parmas appeared out of the kitchen.
The chicken breast, while looking smallish on the plate, was massively thick and juicy, fresh pure unprocessed breast that rivaled that of my friend Scarlett from our conversation above. The crumbing was standard, with some minor nudity issues on mine (although I seemed to be alone in that, luck of the draw I guess). The slice of ham complimented the meal perfectly and the napoli was fresh, well spiced and tasty (although a little thick, bordering on tomato paste)
A major drawback is that many of the team (including myself) reported a fair bit of burn on the bottom of our schnitzels, some more prevalent than others, but once again, this was luck of the draw
[youtube id="pD58FlSlwh0" width="580" height="337"]
The chips were well cooked, both well seasoned and sprinkled with herbs, giving them a unique flavour that we haven't encountered before.
The salad, despite being a standard garden salad of Lettuce, onion, capsicum, cucumber & mustard seeds, was chock full of flavour with a tangy dressing that complimented the dish very well.
Much like what we had heard previous to visiting The Mint, opinion on the parma among our group was also split - some loved it and had no complaints, others weren't as easy to please - as you'll see by the quotes below…
Luckily nobody copped a fork in the eye
I'm a little stumped with how to finish up this review. The Mint has all the ingredients for a fantastic parma - the breast is the pinnacle of quality and all the ingredients are top notch, however it just comes off as a tad underwhelming. The burnt bases were definitely a turn off, but like I said, maybe we just got a bad batch.
Definitely one worth checking out however, especially if you're out and about on $12 parma Tuesdays. Definitely one to remember, even if just to stop in for a beer in a great location and beer garden thats in mint condition.
(see what I did there?)


text:
Let me guess, you have been playing NewsDay crossword and got stuck on the clue Elementary school signal. Well, you have come to the right place to find the answer to this clue.
While some crosswords are much simpler than others, most require that players have a vast knowledge of the language and possibly even various topics. So while crossword puzzles are seen as a more intelligent game, they can be very frustrating for players to complete and even experienced crossword players need some help occasionally.
When finding the answers to the clues becomes too difficult, there's no shame in looking for them online.
Now you have the answer to your clue. Its time to move on to the next clue. You can browse through the list with all the answers to the NewsDay crossword of November 15th, 2017. Or you can use the search form below to find the answer (no matter if its NewsDay Crossword or any other crossword).
|NewsDay crossword of November 15th, 2017 other clues
|Center of a bagel
|Rip (up)
|Nothing but
|Be worthy of
|Fencing swords
|Football officials, briefly
|Break the silence
|Mao's realm
|Country club instructors
|Made two-by-fours
|Look keenly
|Depend (on)
|Meat in an omelet
|Affirmative votes
|Utter what's on your mind
|Vise, for example
|Twitter messages
|See 18 Across
|Police dept. alerts
|Racing vehicle
|Squashed circle
|Hang around
|Louisiana wetland
|Floor model
|San Antonio shrine
|Doorstep covering
|Hunters' org.
|Get down to business
|Boats' mooring place
|Gen-___ (boomers' kids)
|Unruly children
|Italian farewell
|Flood blockers
|Tonally accurate
|Sandwich cookie filling
|As compared to
|Bout enders
|Monks' home
|Norse thunder god
|Novels' high points
|Made, as a tapestry
|Israeli airline
|Symbol starting a line of music
|Blacken on the grill
|With 32 Down, color like turquoise
|Chimp or orangutan
|Vitamin dose standard: Abbr.
|Courtroom statement
|Kitty or canary
|Providing good traction
|''Just tell me when''
|Serious play
|Metallic rocks
|Synthetic fabric
|Something to assemble
|Texter's ''As I see it''
|__ Antoinette (French queen)
|Plane flight assignment
|Vast majority
|Make illegal
|Sound hoarse
|Thick, as eyebrows
|Successful on one's own
|Ship maintenance area
|Sundae garnish
|Throw a tantrum
|Jai __
|Canine comment
|Predatory dolphin
|No more than
|Train for a bout
We offer support and help with a wide range of crosswords and are guaranteed to make sure you complete everything; the site is also updated regularly to make sure that all of our answers are correct and to add more crosswords to the ever growing list.__IMAGE__
If there is any problem with the answer, please contact us! We will fix the problem.


text:
Points: 11062 Followers
Paul Denton
Add Paul Denton as a friend
Paul Denton will be notified and will have to accept this friendship request, to view updates from Paul Denton and their ratings you must follow them.
Remove Paul Denton as a friend
Recent reviews
Posted: 3 years, 11 months ago at Oct 20 5:02
First of all, I would like to apologize for my long hiatus. Due to personal issues and then my computer's hard drive frying, I was kind of forced to take a step back from this until the situation became a bit more normalized around my end. With that being said, I'm back here and ready to resume my competition! Groups 13 – 16 are now out to vote, so, come check in, your favorite girls might need your help to advance in Who's Listal's Favorite Female Model.
Posted: 4 years ago at Sep 11 10:15
Thanks for your votes


text:
Today I'm nature watching Vicky! Enjoy!
14:56- Plays minion game on phone and talks about snapchat and that she is receiving them.
14:57- Subject takes pictures of people on our table to snapchat. Apologies for accidentally kicking my leg.
14:58-Subject continues playing back in her phone. Looks around room. Sends me a Facebook message of a flower.
14:59- laughs along with 2 separate people. Rubs her eyes tiredly.
15:00- I reveal to subject that I was nature watching her because she insisted on looking on my phone. Sharper than the first subject.


text:
I immediately fell in love with this song. The soundtrack of my summer !
I immediately fell in love with this song. The soundtrack of my summer !
I fell in love with this song from the first time I've heard.
What about you?
What song grabbed you the first time you heard it?
A perfect combo of sounds and beat. It's Black Yaya, an eclectic pop project of David Ivar.
I think this album "sounds" good for the summer holidays.
Stay TUNED guys !
Released by "Mind of a Genius" on 30 June 2015.
Gallant is already loved by everyone.
This is "Why Make Sense", sixth album released by Hot Chip, a British Electronic Music Band formed in London in 2000. The album was published on 18 May 2015 and it's already a super great success.
Stay Tuned Guyz !
Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Guitar slanger. Based in LA, California.
He is Topher Mohr and this is his new album "PHLOWERS".


text:
The Question Room
Ok, finally my migraine seems to be gone, so now I can concentrate on doing a longer post.
I want to tell you all about this weird dream I had earlier, while trying to sleep off the headache.
I dreamed I was spending the night at a house owned by this weird family. (I don't know who they were, I don't know them in real life). There were a few other houseguests as well, including Al Franken and Grandpa Jones from Hee Haw.
This family was really repressed about "bathroom" issues. The following rules were enforced whenever any of us had to go to that section of the house:
1) We had to announce whenever we were going to the bathroom-- except we weren't allowed to call it the bathroom; we had to call it "The Question Room" instead.
2) We were not allowed to be totally naked in The Question Room. If we wanted to bathe, we had to use a sponge or small washcloth soaked in a small jar of soapy water, and we could only uncover whatever body part we were washing at that particular moment. Each of us was assigned our own little jar of soapy water, which we had to carry around with us all the time. I noticed that poor Al Franken had a scouring pad in his jar instead of a sponge or cloth. (ouch!)
3) As we got up and entered the "Question Room" door, we had to audibly pose a question. ANY question, to no one in particular, for no particular reason. The more nonsensical, the better. I wish I could remember what Al Franken's question was. But here are some examples of questions that would have been acceptable:
"Are liquids redundant?"
"Do four aspen branches taste like cloves?"
"Other than vinegar, what else do orange skunks drink?"
"Why is the square root of pi more than your IQ?"
"Whose armpit smells like doritos?"
And everyone in the room would listen to whatever question you asked and discuss it while you were gone.
Get the idea? So after Al Franken came out of the bathroom, I realized I had to go too. So I picked up my jar of soapy water with its little washcloth, and announced that I had to visit The Question Room.
Except as I was about to enter the door, I froze... I couldn't think of a question! Stagefright, writer's block (dreamer's block?), call it what you will, but I couldn't think of a question. So I stood there, anxious because I really had to pee, trying really hard to think of something-- anything-- to ask.
Finally, in desperation, I said "What is nine times eight?" and hurried on in.
I was so disappointed in my question. Somehow I knew that everyone in the other room was looking around with expressions of disgust, thinking "What the hell kind of question was THAT??"
And of course that's when I woke up... with a full bladder.


text:
SF Prop. G backers call it mandate to reform Muni
The overwhelming support San Francisco voters gave Proposition G last week provided a clear mandate that the public is hungry for reform of the city's troubled Muni transit system, supporters of the measure say.
Backers collected nearly 75,000 signatures to place the initiative on the city ballot - the most ever in San Francisco - and it passed with 65 percent of the vote. Approval came amid continued rider frustration over problems with on-time performance and crowded buses and streetcars, and recent service cuts and fare hikes.
"We heard the message and we will deliver," said Tom Nolan, chairman of the Municipal Transportation Agency's governing board.
Dubbed by sponsors as "Fix Muni Now," the measure is designed to give management more power to improve service.
Prop. G eliminates the provision that guaranteed Muni operators the second-highest wage among their ranks nationally and what effectively became automatic annual pay hikes, even during tough financial times for the city. The pay guarantee was put in the City Charter more than four decades ago, and has maintained labor peace at the Bay Area's busiest transit agency. Muni averages about 700,000 boardings every weekday.
Pay now will be part of contract negotiations, ostensibly giving management more leverage to change work rules and side agreements that apply to such areas as training, discipline, route assignments and sick leave policy to make the deficit-plagued system run more effectively and efficiently. In addition, if the talks break down, both sides will head into arbitration, and the arbitrator must consider what effect the disputed provisions will have on fares and service.
"(Muni chief) Nat Ford and management have been given a tremendous tool to negotiate a fair and equitable contract," said Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, chief sponsor of the ballot measure. "The public and political pressure on them to follow through will be great."
The current contract is set to expire at the end of June, and both sides are gearing up for negotiations.
Muni management has retained Carol Stevens, a seasoned labor attorney who worked with BART administrators when the train operators threatened to strike during a contract standoff in 2009. The Muni operators union is preparing, as well, and is planning to bring in outside strategists to help bargain the next contract.
"They're going to have their people ready and we're going to have our people ready; it's not going to be like it was before," said Rafael Cabrera, executive vice president of Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, which represents the approximately 2,000 Muni operators.
Management and union representatives said they still are devising strategies and setting priorities.
"We're taking a look right now from a high-level approach to see what are the things you have to have to give you more flexibility to run a better system," said Muni operations chief John Haley.
For example, he said, Muni now spends a lot of time and money to train light-rail operators and may want to ensure the investment is for the long term by, perhaps, limiting the ability of operators to transfer to the bus fleet. Management also may push for more say over how operators are deployed to meet the fluctuating ridership demands.
For the operators, retaining seniority rights will be a high priority, as well as making sure that management's push for improved on-time performance doesn't compromise safety and provides operators time for bathroom breaks, Cabrera said.
The union, with help from the San Francisco Labor Council, tried to defeat the ballot measure, saying the proposal unfairly targeted operators without holding management accountable or going after the funding raids on Muni by other city departments.
"Muni needs to be fixed; there's no doubt about it," Cabrera said. "But I don't think scapegoating operators is the right way to do it."
Nolan, chairman of the Muni board, agreed that the ballot measure alone isn't the magical solution to Muni's long-standing problems. But, he said, it's an important step.
He also said he plans to meet with operators. "I want them to know they're not the enemy. The jobs they do aren't easy and their work is very important."


text:
use less imagination
Writers learn to use their imagination then, foolishly, let it loose on their lives. They either imagine disasters that won't happen- it's surprising how common fear of flying is among writers- or they torment themelves with visions of a life more perfect than the one they are living. But hold on- the imagination is a hard tool to use well. It needs very precise handling, give the imagination a very well defined problem and it'll solve it brilliantly. Give it a ragbag task- 'a literary novel' or 'improve my life' and it'll flounder - and, hey, don't blame it for going off in all directions at once- that's its primary strength as a problem solver it'll keep worrying away and trying new potential solutions until they are tested - and with a long term project that means you'll be tormented for a very long time. Maybe your entire life if you don't put a halt to it. Use the imagination when a specific problem arises rather than as a source of nitro fuelled day dreams. The best ideas and plans come from the ether direct, or you recognise them and grab them from the ether. You don't 'dream' them up with the fickle and unstable essentially problem solving imagination. When you have that idea for a novel or a plan in place then use spurts of well aimed imagination to get it done. As for everyday life, the search for perfection in external surroundings will go on for ever if you let the imagination loose on it. Better to give thanks for having the time and space to do the work you want to do. When you haven't use, the imagination to solve that specific problem.