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In his review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Stephen King calls the book "a violent, jarring speed-rap of a novel" and points out that "The winner gets a life of ease; the losers get death. The only 'unspoken rule' is that you can't eat the dead contestants."
Once kids are in the Hunger Games arena, they fight to the death, and anything goes. The same is true in the second book of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.
By the time we get to the third book, Mockingjay, as Nicole Sperling of Entertainment Weekly says, "Collins has kicked the brutal violence up a notch."
When I first read the books, I was stunned that they were young adult novels. Only a year or two earlier, romantic vampire novels such as Twilight dominated the genre. And before Twilight, we had Gossip Girls, which combined Mean Girls with Sex in the City and tossed in plenty of high fashion, boozing, and partying.
All of a sudden, the young adult genre took a 180-degree twist into the realms of dark science fiction and brutal horror. Fans everywhere went wild. It didn't matter how young or old you were; when the Hunger Games series came out, you were hooked.
I remember being at a party shortly after reading the Hunger Games series for the first time. I spoke with half a dozen adults ranging from twenty years old up to fifty, all of whom had read the books. We debated aspects of the books for at least an hour. Was Mockingjay too violent? Was Catching Fire exciting enough? Which of the three books was best, and why? All of us were deeply affected by Prim, Rue, and even Buttercup.
That's when it hit me: adults were reading young adult novels by Suzanne Collins. The books were so popular that people of all ages were staying up at night to read them.
My step-daughter, who was thirteen years old at the time, had also stayed up at night to read the entire series. Like the adult readers, she was deeply affected by Prim, Rue, and Buttercup. We talked for many hours about The Hunger Games, covering many of the same questions posed by the adults.
Clearly, Suzanne Collins' books stretch across the generations. They provoke similar questions from teenagers and adults, with conversations peppered with topics ranging from love to murder.
I decided to write The Hunger Games Companion to deepen the discussion about the books: the characters, the settings, the storylines, and also about subjects ranging from war to repressive regimes to hunger to the nature of evil itself. Every topic is set against the backdrop of and intertwined with the Hunger Games books and characters.
George Orwell's 1984 talks about repressive totalitarian regimes of the future with the aim of warning people about the present. Collins' books also address the important political and social issues that we should all be thinking about now—before it's too late.
The novels are beautifully written, as I note in various ways throughout The Hunger Games Companion. As a novelist and short story author myself, I admire Suzanne Collins' work a great deal.
But the Hunger Games trilogy goes far beyond fiction, which is why the books are so important.
They challenge readers to think about truth, about what's right and what's wrong. They challenge us to think about superficial attitudes versus getting up and doing something about what's wrong in our world. And there's an awful lot wrong in the world today.
When I submitted The Hunger Games Companion in March 2011 to my editor, more than eight million copies of all three books in the trilogy were in print. The first novel, The Hunger Games, had been on The New York Times Bestseller List for one hundred and thirty weeks. Suzanne Collins was one of Entertainment Weekly's 2010 Entertainers of the Year. The books were #1 USA Today bestsellers and #1 Publishers Weekly bestsellers.
Fast forward to October 2011. Fan blogs and websites have mushroomed all over the internet. Conversations about The Hunger Games are intense and wide ranging. Fans of all ages are gearing up for the March 2012 release of The Hunger Games movie from Lionsgate, with Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne.
I'll be in the theater on opening day. I can't wait! But until then, let's start talking about all things Hunger Games!
Over the next few months, I'll post tidbits here from The Hunger Games Companion. I welcome your comments.
Lois Gresh is the New York Times best-selling author of The Hunger Games Companion and thriller novel Terror By Numbers.


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Concours Owners GroupTM - COG "Sport touring at its finest SM"
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June 1 -Sunrise Cantina - Sunrise Beach MO (This is the Famous meet in the middle with the St Louis and SC Folks) coupled with a ride to Peach Float (Scott's General Store)- Iconium MO. Setting 2 dates for this ride 264 Sunset Hills Dr, Sunrise Beach, MO 65079 sunrisecantina.net (573) 374-8185
Meetup will be at Quik Trip at 71HWY and 150HWY in Grandview across from Gail's Harley Davidson. Kick Stands up @ 9:15am
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Horton Journal of Canadian History [H.J.C.H.]Clothing of the 20th Century
Rosie Browning
Looking at the clothing of today it is difficult to see how it evolved from the corsets and bustles of the 1900's to t-shirts and jeans. The 20th century saw many great changes and as they changed the shape of society the shape of clothing changed to suit it. Clothing is not only a personal statement; it expresses the feelings and change of the era in which it is a part. At the turn of the century the look of the 1800's was still visible, but was making way for some radical new ideas. Women's dresses were still heavily shaped. Bustles began to be left of in favor of a more natural line, with corsets allowing more freedom and placing less emphasis on tiny waists. This was a relief from the S-corsets where ribs had been cracked and spines malformed in an attempt to produce a more slender figure. Walking sticks had become a fashion because women could no longer support themselves while so overbalanced.
No lady would go outside without a hat and gloves. Hats were very decorative, with wide brims and decorations such as bows, feathers, ribbon or stuffed birds. Gloves were made of sued, kid, doe, reindeer or gazelle and were specific to certain activities such as walking, cycling, sleeping or driving (Yarwood, p29).
The invention of the automobile called for a whole new array of clothing to be worn while driving. Long heavy jackets were created, generally in beige, to protect a lady or gentleman's clothing from being ruined by the dust on the road. Hoods and goggles protected any skin or clothing that might be showing from the dirt roads as the cars raced along at 15 miles an hour. Activities such as driving and bicycling created new styles and began a thought of practicality and freedom of movement that would be necessary in the coming war.
High fashion and extravagance all but disappeared with the beginning of World War One. Women now had to take on the tasks that had traditionally been men's and clothing had to accommodate that. Women's skirts came above the ankle for thee first time in over a hundred years. Corsets were still present, but with much less boning and greater freedom of movement. Gloves and hats were still a must when out of doors and all uniforms included a hat (McCord Museum).
Uniforms were the fashion of the 1910's as men and women enlisted. Women's uniforms were often fairly rough, made out of cheaper fabric and without decoration. Canadian men's uniforms were the same khaki of the British uniforms. It was during WW1 that Canada began to make a name separate from the Britain and began a move away from the monarchy. The 1920's started a slow revival of fashion. It took several years for the war to fade in memory and elegance to return. After the way women, especially young women, were determined to explore the freedom they had been given. Skirts began getting shorter, usually worn at mid calf by older women but becoming even shorter on younger and more daring women. The corset was rejected as the 'flapper' fashion of straight dresses with waists dropped to the hips became all the rage. The flat chested look of the 20's had no need of corsets and made way for corselets and camisoles, designed to smooth but not confine a body (Herald, p28-29).
The hair and hats of the 20's also stand out. Women wore their hair short in a bob, shingle or perm. The cloche (bell) hat became I incredibly popular. This hat was very fitted to the head and resembled a bell with its slightly flared brim. Men's clothing also loosened up, showing the first defined change since the turn of the century. Everyday wear for young men was a fitted blazer and long loose trousers. This was worn with a shirt that could be left unbuttoned at the top and a hat, which was still a must. The Oxford bags, a trouser first seen on the Oxford campus, was considered the extreme of this fashion and resembled the wide legged jeans worn by the male teenager of today. The 1930's brought the effects of the New York stock market crash and a calmer, less showy outlook on life. Evening wear was still beautifully ornamented with beads and trimmings, but everyday clothes became plainer (Riberio & Cumming p206-213).
Women's skirts returned to the mid calf length from the mini skirts of the 20's and the corset came back. Although not as stiff as before, it was firm enough to create a smooth line under the long elegant dresses of the period. Hats were still worn, although remained small and simple. The pillbox hat appeared and small veils became a common addition to the brims of hats. World War Two was the determining factor on the clothing of the 40's, as people and governments did everything they could to save money. Metal fasteners and steel boning disappeared as all metal was used for the war effort. Most countries had a point system where you could only buy clothing up to the allotted amount of points a year. Clothing was preserved and remade into the newer fashions, even old knitting was unraveled and re-knitted into something new (Baker 40's, p9)
The war also brought the Utility suit. These were ready made suits for men and women with simple cuts and almost no trimming. These suits could be bought quite cheap, although the public began to look as uniformed as the army. Men's clothing did not have a large market because many men between 18 and 40 were at war. Those who did stay behind saw a few cost cutting changes in the traditional suit. Waistcoats were left behind and sometimes replaced by a sleeveless knitted pullover. These were often reversible to get two colours for the price of one. Shirts began to have collars attached although for formal occasions the traditional separate starched collar held together with a tie stud was still used. Women Began to wear pants as a regular and unscandalous thing, although skirts were still the most common.
The war ended in 1945 and by the 1950's people were more than ready to put the elegance back into clothing. Evening wear returned with narrow waists and big skirts. Silks and rayon replaced wooland beading and decorations came back in abundance. Dancing was hugely popular at the time causing most women to have one dress to go out in. (Herald) Blue jeans were patented by Levi in 1873 and had been worn by farm hands and cowboys in North America since, however they did not become popular in main stream society until the late 40's and 50's. James Dean was the first to wear jeans in the movie 'Rebel Without a Cause' and they became hugely popular. Jeans were worn tight in the leg with widely rolled up cuffs. Although growing in respectability, it was rare to see older adults wearing jeans and they were never worn in official or high class gatherings (Baker 50's, p56-57).
The 1960's saw huge changes and generally belonged to the young people. The Vietnam War and threats of nuclear war brought huge protests and revolts against the norms of society. This was expressed in the clothing worn by the protesters. Bright prints were combined with jeans, which were now worn low on the hips and flared to bell bottoms. Big skirts were popular among the 'hippies', along with any used clothing or old military wear. More mainstream clothing showed big bright patterns, mini skirts and hot pants (Selbie, p134-137).
The 1970's followed in the traditions of the 60's adding new elements as it went. The peasant shirts and long hair continued among the hippies, but other styles were emerging. The disco craze introduced frilly shirts and crushed velvet jackets in elaborate costumes for men. Platform shoes also gained popularity, with some soles reaching over a foot tall. Shirts were left open and the tie was left off much of the time. Big shirt collars with exaggerated collar points added to the overemphasis. Romantic costumes of old jackets and ruffled ascots also appeared, with long dresses and flowering ribbons for girls. (Maginnis)
In the 1980's clothing began to calm down as a rejection of the overdone grandeur of the 60's and 70's. T-shirts and jeans were worn by all. Sweatpants appeared for relaxing and for children, although were considered to relaxed for work. Women's clothing was over emphasized, with big shoulder pads and flashy details. Neon colours were all the rage for a phase in the late 80's, the glaringly bright colours mixed in unusual way. Men's suits returned to the tailored standard they had held before 70's, although the waistcoat did not return after the war except in extremely formal occasions (Maginnis).
As the last decade of the millennium the 1990's hold an interesting period in clothing. Jeans and T-shirts are still the uniform of choice for most people, with suits and simple but more formal clothing filling out the spectrum. Young girls are wearing skirts shorter then ever, and showing skin on the chest, midriff and leg is popular. Toward the end of the 90's their is a shift to bring in the beading and exquisite detailing of the 20's but with a more mane made, plastic look. The new millennium will be brought in with sequins and sparkles, but anything could lie beyond.(Northampton)
Baker, Patricia. Fashion of a Decade: The 1940's. Hong Kong, 1991
Baker, Patricia. Fashion of a Decade: The 1950's. Hong Kong, 1991
Baker, Patricia. Fashions of a Decade: The 1020's. Hong Kong, 1991
Herald, Jacqueline. "Fifties Fashion". http://retro.westhost.com/fashion/
"James Dean". http://reelclassics.com/Actors/Dean/dean.htm
Maginnis, Tara. "The Costumers Manifesto". www.costumes.org
"McCord Museum Musee". www.Mcgill.ca/Mccord
Ribeiro, Aileen and Valerie Cummings. The Visual History of Costume. London, 1989
Selbie, Robert. The Anatomy of Costume. New York, 1977
Yarwood, Doreen. Outline of English Costume. Boston, 1977
"University College Northampton" http://www.nene.ac.uk/lrs/Subjects/Fashion/designers.html
Back to H.J.C.H. Home Page


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I participated in this campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. All views and opinions are my own honest evaluations. See Disclosure.
Cascade and rave that it's getting their dishes clean, but I wanted to put Cascade's new formula to the test for myself. I received the full sized package (pictured above) for my review. These handy little pouches are so easy to use, simply place one pouch in your dishwasher close the lid and you're ready to rock!
Keeping my colorful fiesta dishes bright, Cascade Platinum works hard so I don't have to. Silverware and serving utensils come out of the dish washer spotless and shining. Hard water stains and water marks are something we've always had a problem with, but not with Cascade Platinum. Take a look at the inside of the dish washer after just finishing a load of dishes. What do you see? All I can see is clean dishes and a clean dish washer. It's hard to put your dirty dishes into an already dirty machine and expect them to come out clean. Cascade Platinum is formulated to have their best film prevention to keep your machine sparkling. I have to say it looks good to me!
I think we can all agree that when food looks delicious we are more likely to want to eat it. I know for me going out for dinner if my plate or flatware are dirty it's a turn off. Presentation is huge, and having clean dishes is the first step for food presentation. Cascade Platinum has partnered with Gail Simmons from Top Chef to open a discussion about food presentation and clean dishes. Have a look at Gail Simmons talking about Cascade.
Do you like sharing pictures of your place setting or the perfect dish? Let me introduce you to Cascade's Platinum Contest. This is a four week long contest offering entrants a chance to share their pictures on Instagram for a chance to win a Grand Prize Platinum Kitchen Makeover. If you like to share pictures and want to enter this Cascade Platinum Contest find all the details and rules at My Platinum Instagram. Go get registered and start sharing now this event closes on June 30, 2013! Be sure to follow on Facebook for all the latest Cascade product news and updates.


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U. S. Sugar's Annual Sugar Festival - Clewiston, Florida
The Clewiston Sugar Festival
Sponsored by Clewiston's U.S. Sugar Corporation and community government and other local organizations, is an annual event celebrating the town's primary industry, the growing of sugarcane and the end of the cane harvest.
The main events are held annually on a Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19, 2016 in Clewiston, America's Sweetest Town, and Hendry county's largest municipality. Enjoy the old fashioned sugar cane grinding, a car show, country music entertainment, exhibits, arts and crafts, and regional food!
The City of Clewiston and Hendry County extends a welcome to all our many visitors to this annual event.
For this year's festival stories, news, and schdule of events, go to: Sugar Festival News & Schedule
2011 Sugar Festival and Classic Car Show
Photo: Old-time sugar cane grinder at Festival making cane sugar
(Festival schedule, dates, activities and times are subject to change. Call (863) 983-7979 for the next festival dates)
E-mail to Southwest Florida Online™


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Jump to navigation Jump to search
Code contributions to the Bitmessage project
The best code contributions are pull requests on GitHub. Here are some rules to follow:
- try to explain what the code is about
- try to follow PEP0008
- make the pull request against the "v0.6" branch
- it should be possible to do a fast-forward merge of the pull requests. I.e. if possible, do a rebase of a pull request after another is merged ahead of yours. However, if it can be merged without having to manually resolve a conflict, that's acceptable as well.
- PGP-sign the commits included in the pull request
- You can get paid for merged commits if you register at Tip4Commit
If for some reason you don't want to use github, you can submit the patch using Bitmessage to the "bitmessage" chan, or to one of the developers.
For helping with translations, please use Transifex. There is no need to submit pull requests for translations.
For translating technical terms it is recommended to consult the Microsoft Language Portal.


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The following information is provided by The Hydrocephalus Association. More information can be found on their website at: http://www.hydroassoc.org/
Q. What is Hydrocephalus?
A. Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. This condition may occur at any age. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system in the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins that are needed for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase.
Q. What causes Hydrocephalus?
A. Hydrocephalus is a condition that can develop for a variety of reasons, sometimes in conjunction with another disorder. Hydrocephalus that is congenital (present at birth) is thought to be caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Aqueductal stenosis, an obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct, is the most frequent cause of congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is believed to occur in about 1.5 per 1,000 births. Hydrocephalus that is acquired after birth may result from intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, head trauma, tumors or cysts or for no known reason. Hydrocephalus is believed to occur in about 1.5 per 1,000 births. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a form of hydrocephalus that affects older adults. Sometimes the cause of NPH is known-and can include head trauma or brain tumor but most often it is idiopathic, which means the cause is not known.
Rowan's Developmental Journey http://andreajunelleb.wordpress.com/
Kadyn's Stuggle with Hydrocephalus http://kadynsmommy2007.blogspot.com/
Brave with Hydrocephalus http://familyshields.blogspot.com/
Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hydrocephalus/DS00393
Hydrocephalus Foundation Inc. http://www.hydrocephalus.org/
Please feel free to post your experiences or questions about Hydrocephalus in the comments section. See you there!


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Wednesday, October 22, 2008
And who says we dont play woodsball? Think before you say...
Calgar! Stop hiding behind the closet! I mean...cloth.
General Jane
Things you never knew about us.
When we were there...you were most probably somewhere.
Woodsball is good. But speedball is extraordinaire...
Posted by ION at 2:22 AM No comments:
The beginning of speedball in Singapore...History of Red Sevens
First Red Sevens Tournament - Werdnahol Cup. Look at that pants...haiz...RAMBO ah?
This photo was taken 2 years ago during the Werdnahol Cup. This was the first paintball tournament that was participated by the Red Sevens. We have since claimed to be the first Singapore paintball team although this was argued on numerous occasion by members of Team Nightmare who used to play in Power Paintball Park. Nightmare also claimed to be Singapore's first paintball team, though it was more of a local team playing together for recreational purposes. Nightmare's captain, Bill Fisher also known as Ikanman visited Red Dynasty last year. He joined us during the CNY gathering and was a prominent figure in the field. You can surely hear him from the back with his loud commanding voice. Too bad, we didnt take a photo together.
Our second tournament, MPOC...noticed that we were using mech markers against e-markers in Div 3. Slowpoke giving as pointers as a player-coach.
Our second tournament, MPOC...noticed that we were using mech markers against e-markers in Div 3. Slowpoke giving as pointers as a player-coach.
Members of the Red Sevens never knew one another. We knew each other through the internet. It started off from finding out more about paintball on the internet and happened to chance upon the World Cup Asia in 2005. Curious to find out more about the game, I made a lone trip to KL to witness what paintball was all about. To my surprise, paintball is in fact a very interesting game, speedball to be exact...for sure I was amazed by the uniforms, markers, rate of fire, masks but more importantly...the representation. There were representation from Thailand, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia...hey, where is Singapore? In fact, I was refused entry into the tournament area for I was without a crew, vistor or player tag. But it was worth it, as the rest was history.
We tried to get similar jerseys...Werdnahol Cup Leg 2.
We tried to get similar jerseys...Werdnahol Cup Leg 2.
Upon my return to Singapore, I told Elle about this game and how amazing it was. There were then plans to know more about the game. So we decided to form a paintball team....yes, with only 2 players. Then came the naming of the team, Red Orchids, Red Lions, Merlions, etc. Trust me it was a difficult time. Eventually, we came up with Red Sevens. Red is a representation of the Singapore flag and Sevens because we needed 7 members to form the team.
Then came the website...with no information and just a simple recruiting message.
Then we found Seburo who wrote to us and asked us if we are going for the Hybrid Paintball Clinic. We met him there and soon he was part of the team. With a 3 men team, we went on searching...that's when Calgar came along. Still serving his NS, he wanted to know more about paintball after playing a few sessions in OCC. Wanting to know more about the Red Sevens, we arranged to meet up at the Burger King in Novena. With him was Donovan, a 3rd sergant from the army. And we thought he was going to be our fourth... but it was Calgar who kept in contact with us and after a few training trips to KL, he joined us as our fourth.
Months later, I received an email from Padam Pelita, he was then working in Singapore and wanted to play paintball on a regular basis. Our first meeting was at the Starbucks of Plaza Singapura. He is a Malaysian who has been working in Singapore since 2005 and has always wanted to find kakis to play paintball. He chanced upon our website and wanted to meet up to talk paintball. In our first meeting, he brought us a DVD of the Dynasty Dysected 1. That was our first paintball DVD...and sure Elle and I were excited to watch it. We passed the night by watching the DVD and a brief introduction of the Red Sevens team. And soon, Padam became our fifth player.
On and off, we will have guest players from other teams who will play for us. We used to have Slowpoke from Tornado, Darlie from Neighbours Pulse, Rayson from Heatwave, Dragonboi (who is now a trainee pilot) and Monkey from ?? (I cant remember). As we were training and training and learning the game more, we were introduced to Team Infinity...then there were Doyok, the team captain and Callio...we will train together once in a while....and talk paintball. Weekends were usually in KL and paintballing for 2 consecutive days. Callio clicked very well with Red Sevens and soon...he became our sixth player. Having Callio around was always good...he gels the team and is definitely the PR man when we compete in tourneys. He will always light his ciggies and talk to other teams thus building rapport for us. And yes, we have 3 Malaysians playing for Red Sevens...but what the heck...we are still the first team from Singapore.
Darlie joining us occasionally...
One day, Kev-Lee from Death Maverick sent us an email. He wanted to try paintball too as it was his holidays and he wanted to travel overseas...so he thought, might as well make it a paintball holiday. So soon enough, we were shooting one another on the field. So in fact, Kev-Lee is one of the pioneer for speedball in Singapore. He was later joined by Sean, Andrew and Daryl...all of whom are still playing paintball.
Unfortunately for Kev-Lee, he was unable to join us soon after his holidays ended. Later, Seburo introduced his friend to us...he was Residentevilchef. Residentevilchef used to work as a chef and has since took a big career change and took up photography. His first session with us was in JB, he gel very well and soon he was part of the team, and thus the seventh. Being an excellent cook, Residentevilchef invited us to his home for dinner...it was to celebrate Seburo's birthday.
Overseas tournament was good...this was taken in Penang.
Hell, this guy can really cook! Till today, I cannot forget the melting salmon. Yeah...history of the team. Many parted ways...playing for other teams. We have since recruited Lydia and Ryan who will occassionally play for us. So far, we have played twice or thrice together.
In NPPL Asia, Darlie joined us again.
What is most amazing...is that we all started not knowing one another. Since playing paintball, my circle of friends is growing almost everyday... strangers became friends. People who dont know one another....some becoming best of pals. Paintball brings the world closer.
This weekend's MPOC, will be the 14th time that we are participating as a team. So wish us luck.
Posted by ION at 12:48 AM 1 comment:
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Hero Dad pt 3 Things that Matter, Continued
As a dad, I haven't figured it all out, and am still learning, but I have learned that there are some things that really matter. See Part 1 and Part 2
Words Matter
It is amazing how, as dads, our words can change the dynamics of a room. Out of my mouth we can speak blessing or cursing, peace or conflict, stability or insecurity, courage or fear, healing or wholeness. We really determine destiny. If we are successful at something, chances are someone told us that we were good at it, or challenged us to be good at it. This is especially true if our primary love language is words of affirmation (See Gary Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages). This one happens to be one of mine. I can live a whole week on a good compliment.
Big decisions, little decisions, decisions we make while making decisions; they all matter, and our family notices all of them. The best decisions come from a life of discipline, because you don't have to think to long about them.
Esther and I made a decision before we were married to give 10% of our income to God (tithe). When we are challenged financially, our tithing is not in question because it moved from a a decision to a discipline. When it comes to extra giving, we make that decision every year. We pray and listen to God's voice and make our decision based on faith, and then we put it in our monthly budget. God has always provided for us.
There are many other decisions we make that involve discipline: spending time with God, spending time with family, working hard at work, loving our church community, investing in the future, living a life of integrity, etc. They all have a ripple effect and make a difference on our future.
Are we perfect? No. Do we stumble? Yes. Do we fall? Yes. Do we make decisions we wish we would not have? Yes. When these happen, it gives us a chance to discuss the consequences of our decisions and experience God's grace, seek forgiveness, and make correction.


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Boca Raton Landscape Makeover: Tropical Paradise
Take a walk with Pamela Crawford through one of her spectacular Boca Raton landscape designs in this short video. She turned an equipment-filled wasteland into the Boca Raton landscape makeover: a tropical paradise.
Look at the 'before' image and see that the focal point of this backyard is the pool equipment. This awkward location is great for the pool people, who didn't have to run pipes far to reach the pool, but bad from an aesthetics standpoint. The entire house overlooks this eyesore.
The first step in any makeover is to do away with eyesores. The pump was moved to a hidden location behind the garage and surrounded by hedges. Paths were laid in Chattachoochee gravel, which are popular in the town of Palm Beach. The owner of this property used to live in Palm Beach.
The pool deck was changed from pink concrete to beautiful travertine stone.
The highlight of the makeover are the plants. The homeowner had grown up in the Florida keys and wanted a tropical look. Palms and white birds of paradise form the tallest layer. The fine-texture of the palms contrasts with the large leaves of the bird of paradise. This leaf contract is the mainstay of tropical landscapes.
Since the homeowner wanted instant privacy, the mature palms were installed.
Tropical shrubs and groundcovers form layers under the palms. A huge yesterday, today, and tomorrow shows off it's purple flowers behind one of the benches. Many different crotons and bromeliads flaunt their bright colors and showy leaf shapes.
Eight glazed planters accent the garden. All of them share the same color and shape but vary in size. All are planted with sanseveria, or snake plants, one of Pamela's trademarks. The planters mark the entries to the paths and accent the pretty garden benches.
This garden is appropriate for all of Pamela's service are of Palm Beach County, including Boca Raton landscapes, town of Palm Beach landscapes, Palm Beach Gardens landscapes, Jupiter landscapes, and Wellington landscapes.


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Wrist Scorekeeper Golf Counter
Keep scores easily with this wristwatch styled golf counter. Its adjustable strap makes it ideal for attaching to your clothing, golf bags and equipment, or even on your arm as it was originally designed for.
This Wrist Scorekeeper is part of our wide range of Golf Gifts and Accessories from Club Champ.


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New products at Cine Gear EXPO 2019
Anna Piffl am 28.05.2019
We are thrilled to present two new primes of our TECHNOVISION Classic 1.5X anamorphic lens series: The 75mm and 100mm primes are now ready to get into your hands.
We show our Evolution 2X lenses, especially the new 32mm, our award winning LensChecker (a small, compact and mobile tool to evaluate lenses by projection) as well as our lens rehousings, mounts and adapters.
Get to know us and our products at the Cine Gear EXPO 2019 and visit our booth no. 83 in the New York Streets outdoor exhibition.
We look forward to talking to you in LA!
New products at Cine Gear EXPO 2019
Hot Deals - May 2019
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Insider's Guide to Seattle
Restaurant, hotel, shopping and activity recommendations from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, artist Dale Chihuly, foodie Kathy Casey and singer Brandi Carlile
More Journal Concierge City Guides
Click to view more city guides.
Bangkok | Hong Kong | Mumbai |
Seoul | Shanghai | Sydney
Amsterdam | Antwerp | Barcelona | Berlin | London | Madrid | Milan | Paris | Stockholm
Beirut | Cape Town | Istanbul | Tel Aviv
Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas | Los Angeles | Louisville | Miami | Nashville | New Orleans |
New York | Oahu | Palm Beach | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | Portland, Ore. | San Francisco | San Juan | Savannah | Seattle | Toronto | Vancouver | Washington
Bogotá | Buenos Aires | Mexico City | Montevideo | Rio de Janeiro | Sao Paulo
YOU'VE SIPPED its coffee, listened to its music, flown in its planes and used its software. You may think you know Seattle from its exports—but these days what makes the Emerald City shine is all the talent and creativity that has been turned inward to make it the cultural capital of the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle got its start as a rough-and-tumble frontier town, and you can still feel that past in the stone streets of Pioneer Square, the timeless bustle of Pike Place Market and the rusted hulls of ships that crawl through local waterways. But most of what's going on here is about the present—the brick warehouses, dive bars and century-old storefronts that have been repurposed to suit a Seattle of bold chef-owned restaurants, handcrafted-cocktail bars, art galleries, rock venues and coffee shops where you can easily lose an afternoon.
Throughout the city, quiet blocks have come to life with new eateries, drinkeries and upscale shops. The south side of the Capitol Hill neighborhood—in parts an urban no-mans land a decade ago—is now a stomping ground for artsy Seattleites of every age. Hipster haven Cha Cha Lounge is just steps from the indie Elliott Bay Book Company (in a new industrial-chic location), Paris-inspired Café Presse and eclectic, nuovo-Italian eatery Spinasse.
The Ballard neighborhood, once known for its sleepy pace and boat locks, now draws urbanites with its nightspots, boutique shopping and farmers' market. Even downtown has matured, with its several-years-young Rem Koolhaas library, world-renowned Benaroya Symphony Hall and condominiums climbing the skies (and keeping professionals from skipping out to the suburbs).
There's a buzz about that has nothing to do with caffeine—Seattle's left its slacker rep behind and has truly hit its stride. And there's no better time to visit than summer; revel in the seafood, and leave the raincoat at home.
—Stinson Carter
The CEO: Howard Schultz
Founder, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks Corp. ; co-author of "Onward"
Pacific-Style Pizza // Serious Pie. The clam pizza is killer, trust me. And the overall experience—watching artisans handcraft your order, sitting at communal tables—is pure theatre. 316 Virginia St., tomdouglas.com
Catch of the Day // Jack's Fish Spot. Amazing fresh fish in Pike Place Market. I've known Jack Mathers more than 20 years. He's a Seattle institution. Insiders know about the stand-up seafood bar tucked in the back. 1514 Pike Place, jacksfishspot.com
Culinary Romance // Canlis. This family-owned restaurant has drop-dead views, only surpassed by the quality of the food and service. 2576 Aurora Ave. N.,canlis.com
Weekend Stroll // Ballard. A few times a year my wife and I spend a Sunday morning meandering the streets of this historic district. The sense of community and Nordic heritage here is palpable.
Seattle Style // Kuhlman. The proprietors do a great job of curating an eclectic mix of men's and women's clothing, from retro ties to T-shirts you can't find anywhere else. 2419 First Ave., kuhlmanseattle.com
Healthy Fare // Healeo. Justin Brotman's new health food store and café is doing a fantastic job helping customers navigate nutritional foods and supplements. 1520 15th Ave.,healeo.com
The Crooner: Brandi Carlile
Singer-songwriter whose new album was recorded live at Benaroya Hall
f-Shell Delights // The Brooklyn. The best old-school place for northwest oysters, the thing I bring home and completely binge on. The best new-school place is The Walrus and the Carpenter. 1212 Second Ave., thebrooklyn.com; 4743 Ballard Ave. N.W., thewalrusbar.com
Soul of Seattle // Pike Place Market. I busked here before I was old enough to play in bars. The seafood's really good, there's a lot of local artists, a lot of beautiful jewelry. The most encompassing Seattle way to spend an afternoon. Pike Street at 1st Ave., pikeplacemarket.org
Water's Call // Vashon ferry. When I need to feel creative it's usually the Northwestern landscape that takes my walls down. The Vashon ferry is really, really beautiful. Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, 4829 S.W. Barton, wsdot.com
Chord Source // Dusty Strings. Where I bought my first guitar after we got our record deal. I had always gone there and looked at guitars and hammer dulcimers and banjos. 3406 Freemont Ave. N., dustystrings.com
Stage Clothes // Ian. Right across from the Moore Theatre is my favorite clothing store in the country. Their buyer must be fascinated by the concept of very tailored clothes, because it seems like everything's custom fit to you when you walk out of there. 1919 Second Ave., ianshop.com
The Artist: Dale Chihuly
Glass sculptor and co-founder of Pilchuck Glass School
Skyline Jewel // The Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World's Fair, it has become an icon. I don't know many people who come here and don't make plans to visit and either ride up to the observation level to enjoy the fabulous view or eat at SkyCity restaurant. 400 Broad St., spaceneedle.com
Fine Cures // Salumi. My friend Armandino Batali runs Salumi, which has some of the most delicious salami in the Northwest. I bought salami one day and our dog Coby ended up getting a hold of it in the car. It must have been the best treat she's ever had. 309 Third Ave. S., salumicuredmeats.com
Old-Country Cucina // Il Terrazzo Carmine. One of my favorite restaurants, located in the historic Pioneer Square District. You're always greeted by the charismatic owner, Carmine. Some of my top dishes are the rigatoni bolognese and the spaghetti alla vongole. 411 First Ave. S., illterrazzocarmine.com
Big-Screen Scene // Big Picture. The theater is small, intimate and comfortable. My wife Leslie and I have hosted several film parties here with family and friends. 2505 First Ave., thebigpicture.net
Puget Sounds // Benaroya Hall. In 1998 I installed two grand chandeliers at opposing sides of the entrance to the hall. My wife Leslie is chair of the Seattle Symphony, and I enjoy attending concerts with her. The acoustics are amazing. 200 University St., seattlesymphony.org
The Foodie: Kathy Casey
Seattle-based chef, restaurant consultant and cookbook author
Asian Inspiration // Revel. I love the open, hip design of this space and the urban Korean-inspired menu. My must-have is the crispy shrimp edamame mint pancake made from mung beans and smeared with the house-made savory chili bean paste. 403 N. 36th St., revelseattle.com
Secret Sipping // Needle & Thread (upstairs at Tavern Law). When you enter, head towards the bank vault door, pick up the old-fashioned wall phone and ask for a seat. If lucky, head upstairs to this sexy speakeasy, where the bartender will craft you a custom cocktail. Just name your spirit and how you like it. 1406 12th Ave., tavernlaw.com
Fish & Ships // The Fishermens' Terminal and Little Chinook's. Wander the docks and breathe in the fresh sea smell, admire the boats, chat up some fishermen and drink in the view. Then grab some great fish and chips from Little Chinook's—wild salmon or Alaska halibut or cod. They work with fishermen to source the freshest local fish. 3919 18th Ave. W., portseattle.org; 1900 W. Nickerson St., anthonys.com
Local Craving // Local 360. This Belltown restaurant features ingredients found within a 360-mile radius, from pig ears to whiskey. I crave the oh-so-naughty but so-nice molten peanut butter bon bons. Brioche-crumb-enrobed peanut butter balls are fried, placed atop homemade blackberry preserves and served with a shot of raw milk. 2234 First Ave., local360.org
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Call 1-800-405-6682 to get started!
A VA Approved Lender. Not Available in Nevada
Not affiliated, endorsed or sponsored by a government agency.
Mortgage Research Center — NMLS #1907
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About 10 miles from Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg, Fayetteville is a great match for veterans looking to settle down. Thanks to the two forts there are about 50,000 military personnel in the area, which also has a median home price of about $108,000.
Already with more than reasonable prices on starter homes, Fayetteville VA loans offer financial advantages such as lower interest rates and no down payments. If you want to get a North Carolina VA loan to finance a home in Fayetteville you need to get pre-qualified. VAMortgageCenter has a simple form to get you started. One of our Home Loan Specialists will contact you with your eligibility and qualification status after you answer a few questions.
Buying a home is likely the biggest investment of your life, so don't be lazy about the process. Use a Fayetteville realtor early and often to help you find homes. They can help you get an idea of what you can afford before you find your future home. Fayetteville Regional Association of Realtors Inc. lets you search for Fayetteville-area homes and realtors. This can help you pick a neighborhood that fits your desires, such as Hope Mills. This neighborhood sits south of Fayetteville and is home to a host of people who commute to Fort Bragg.
Fayetteville, N.C. isn't just a good fit for military personnel, but for their families as well. Sure, there are museums that highlight Fayetteville's military presence, such as Airborne and Special Operations Museum. But there's also the Fascinate-U Children's Museum where children take part in hands-on activities that mimic real-world events. At Jambbas Ranch, visitors tour the grounds to see peacocks, buffaloes, sheep and llamas. Similarly, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden encompasses 79 acres of arbor heaven. With this variety of locations, Fayetteville proves to be a family-friendly hometown.
Our specialists work tirelessly to make sure you get all the possible benefits from a North Carolina VA loan. Complete our form online or call one of our North Carolina Home Loan Specialists at 800-405-6682.


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I've lead a pretty interesting life to this point and there are some interesting things I've observed so far.
The conversations in my head are often far more interesting than the ones in real life. I've decided to post some of these "head conversations" as I'm calling them from time to time. I'll also post anything I find interesting, funny, sad, dark or any combination of all of those things.
One reason I've named this bloggity blog "Barkeep, whisky" is because there are often days where all you can do is to ask for the barkeep to get you a shot of whisky or four, sit back and try and forget about it all for a couple of hours. Let your mind wander and try and find the humor in it all.
I'm very likely going to highlight other things here because I'm really an introvert at heart and I spend a lot of time in my own head. I also have a bad habit of using humor as a defense mechanism, big surprise there. I've also had a lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety and all the wonderful medication and social stigma that goes along with that sort of mess. So that's what this bloggity blog is all about…..life in all its painful, strange, dark and sometimes sad humor. So stick with me and my attempts at writing and if you're so inclined share my musings with your friends, coworkers, loved ones and even your enemies (let karma work its magic), leave comments. We're all in this journey of life together, we might as well enjoy it.


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Once you have learned the basics of reading Koine Greek, a beginner student starts being able to read longer passages and units with only occasional help from a Greek Lexicon or Bible language software. But there are still thorny passages that defy explanation, even after several lexicons or grammars have been consulted. These threaten to frustrate and discourage the student from reading in the original language. However, resources like Charles Lee Irons' A Syntax Guide for Readers of the New Testament attempt to fill that gap and aid the student in deciphering intermediate and difficult passages.
"The primary aim," the introduction states, "is to provide concise explanations of syntactical, clause-level features that may not be immediately obvious to the beginner." This is intended to be a companion resource that one reading the Greek New Testament would have open (or readily accessible) while reading in order to facilitate a smooth understanding of the text.
Does it succeed in its aim? I used the Syntax Guide in a variety of settings: in a Greek exegesis class focusing on the Sermon on the Mount, in preparation for teaching a weekly Sunday School class for adults, and for sermon preparation. I found that it in every instance I consulted it, it gave good readings for difficult passages. Most of the time it simply provides a translation. Occasionally it cites the entry in BDAG where the definition it gives for a particular word can be found and cross-referenced. And sometimes it goes even further, providing an explanation for what is going on at the grammatical level instead of just translating the difficult phrase in question.
There were times it did not cover a phrase that I hoped that it would and there were other times that it simply gave a translation instead of a longer explanation. But those were the exceptions. A Syntax Guide for Readers of the New Testament will be an excellent help to any beginning or intermediate student of New Testament Greek looking for a help in growing in their understanding of NT Greek.
4 stars out of 5
Charles Lee Irons. A Syntax Guide for Readers of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2016. 629 pp. Hardcover. $39.99.
Thanks to Kregal Academic for the review copy, which I received for free in exchange for an impartial review!


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We've got some casting news concerning two upcoming "kids" movies to share with you this afternoon. First up, Katherine Heigl is in talks to star in the film noir puppet comedy The Happytime Murders. You read that right, a film noir puppet comedy. The film comes from director Brian Henson (son of puppet pioneer Jim Henson) and has been in development at the Henson Company for quite some time. The pic takes place in a world inhabited by both humans and puppets, but puppets are viewed as second-class citizens. The logline goes like this:
"When the puppet cast of an 1980s kids TV show gets murdered one by one, a disgraced detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case."
Hit the jump for more on this decidedly dark puppet tale, as well as news concerning Al Pacino in Despicable Me 2.
The Happytime Murders is definitely not light material for a children's film (if that's indeed the intended audience), but I can't help but relish the thought of a film noir puppet movie. Cameron Diaz was previously offered a role back in 2010, but Variety now reports that Heigl is in final negotiations to join the project. While she's not exactly my first choice (Diaz seems better suited for a dark comedy female lead), Heigl did show promise back in Knocked Up before she moved to romantic comedy hell. Nevertheless, I'm all for whoever Henson wants to cast in the film as long as it means that The Happytime Murders becomes a reality.
Additionally, Deadline reports that Al Pacino is set to make his animated film debut in the age-appropriate Despicable Me 2. Javier Bardem was previously set to voice the villain in this sequel to the 2010 hit, but he subsequently dropped out. Plot details for the follow-up are under wraps but back when Bardem was circling, the villain was named "El Macho" and his son was named "Machito." The part is said to be the nemesis of Steve Carell's Gru. Despicable Me 2 opens July 3rd, 2013.


text: Cheryl Esposito welcomes Dr. Stuart Lord, President of Naropa University at Boulder, Colorado. Naropa is a liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education by integrating the best of eastern & western traditions. Stuart's leadership roles include Dartmouth & DePauw Universities, & executive director of the 1997 President's Summit for America's Future, working under General Colin Powell in the Clinton administration. DIGNITY. Stuart Lord is an optimist. HONOR. He sees possibility. RESPECT. He believes we can do more, be more. LOVE. Of his University he says: "We are too g


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Willa was a native of her home world, Lucius' planet, and one of six of Lucius Lavin's ex-wives.
Background informationEdit
She was affiliated with Lucius Lavin, a local baker. Willa initially turned down Lucius' advances, having "refused to share his bed more than once". When Lucius discovered a herb from M6H-491, he laced it into his bread, and the herb causes an effect to the consumers' brains; as a result his people started to accept him more. When Lucius refined the herb to liquid form, disguised as his daily medicine, Willa started loving him and eventually she became one of Lucius' six wives (the marriages were polygamous), as was Heleen. (SGA: "Irresistible")
In 2006, the Atlantis expedition arrived on her planet and encountered Lucius. After he convinced the team to let him come to Atlantis, Willa and her people started to feel the effects of going without the herb; she and her people became sick. This becomes apparent after Lt. Colonel John Sheppard returned to the village solo days later, after the people of the expedition start to exhibit the same behavior towards Lucius as his people did before he left (Sheppard was not exposed due to him having the common cold). Eventually, Lucius' tactics were discovered, and Dr. Carson Beckett engineered a serum that neutralizes the effect of the herb. After Willa learned the truth, she divorced him. (SGA: "Irresistible", "Irresponsible")


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By DataAnalytics
UPDATED Post:
February 14, 2012
The mean price per gallon for regular gasoline in the U.S. is now $3.51.
Up 12.5% from one year ago, when prices averaged $3.12 per gallon.
Just a month ago, regular was averaging $3.44 p/gal.
This continual rapid rise is cause for alarm and concern as unemployment
is increasing and the economy is falling deeper towards a double-dip recession.
Feb. 2, 2012
Here's a quick update on U.S. Fuel Commodity Inflation, part of the
necessary and reoccurring household consuming expenditures.
Unless you have been inducted into the witness protection program or
hiding out in a remote secluded cabin…you know that gas prices at the
pump have been (recently) steadily rising since late November.
In the week ending January 31st, the national average for regular
gasoline was $3.439 per gallon. Up from $3.101 p/g one year ago.
That's a 10.89% increase and a 4.5% rise just in the month of January.
The immediate question is; why? Well of course the most simplistic
and obvious answer would be supply and demand, right? Absolutely,
that would be the correct answer- except that demand for pump gasoline
has been dropping for about the past 3 months.
Demand for pump gasoline during most of 2011 had been approximately
370-million gallons per day, but over the last few months that rate has
fallen to about an average of 340-million gallons per day.
Meanwhile on the supply side, gasoline inventory has increased for the
third straight week, attaining the highest level since March of 2011.
And, with the stockpile of fuel, refinery utilization rate is down by 1.9%.
Typically, U.S. gasoline consumption has historically trended in-step with
employment and with Unemployment at unprecedented highs, the drop-off
in aggregate demand is really no surprise at all.
So the evidence reveals that demand has and continues to decrease, yet
prices at the pump keep rising. Given these two facts, we can surmise that
it is not the result of a Cost-Push trigger whatsoever.
There are many reasons for the jump in crude (both Brent and WTI)
which directly affect retail pump gasoline. DataAnalytics is working
on a story explaining those reasons, which we will publish in the coming months.
The bottom line here is, that the average driving/commuting consumer
is paying approximately 12% more for gasoline than this time last year.
Couple that sizable 15%-20% increase with inflated cost of staple foods
and the grim pressures of affordability to the average American household continue to mount.


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Japan Football Team So far played Five Times in Fifa world cup in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014. Japan Team also qualify for the Fifa world cup 2018 at Russia by Winners of AFC Third Round Group B. 21st Fifa world cup will be Japan's Sixth Appearnace in Football World.
If we look at the Japan Team Performance at Fifa world cup then their best performance in 2002 and 2010 by reach till Round of 16.
Performance of Japan Team at Fifa World cup Competition
|FIFA World Cup record
|Hosts / year
|Uruguay 1930
|Did Not Enter
|Italy 1934
|France 1938
|Brazil 1950
|Switzerland 1954
|Did Not Qualify
|Sweden 1958
|Did Not Enter
|Chile 1962
|Did Not Qualify
|England 1966
|Did Not Enter
|Mexico 1970
|Did Not Qualify
|West Germany 1974
|Argentina 1978
|Spain 1982
|Mexico 1986
|Italy 1990
|The United States 1994
|France 1998
|Group Stage
|South Korea & Japan 2002
|Round of 16
|Germany 2006
|Group Stage
|South Africa 2010
|Round of 16
|Brazil 2014
|Group Stage
|Russia 2018
|Qatar 2022
|To be determined


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Rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel despite truce
Source: JTA, 6-26-12
Four rockets were fired from Gaza at a Jewish community in the Negev.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted two of the four rockets fired at Netivot Tuesday evening. The others landed in open areas and did not cause any damage, according to reports.
On Tuesday morning a rocket fired from Gaza that landed in a kibbutz in southern Israel struck an empty hen house.
The rockets were fired despite an Egyptian-mediated truce between Israel and Gazan terrorist groups that went into effect on Sunday evening.
More than 150 rockets fired from Gaza have struck southern Israel since the cross-border attacks began last week.
Terrorists Fire Four Grad Missiles at Netivot
Terrorists from Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a barrage of four Grad missiles at the town of Netivot on Tuesday evening.
The Iron Dome system intercepted two of the missiles, and the other two exploded in open areas. There were no physical injuries and no reports of property damage.
Despite an Egyptian-brokered "ceasefire" announced by Hamas last week, terrorists from Gaza have continued firing rockets at southern Israel. On Tuesday morning, a Qassam rocket hit a kibbutz chicken barn, causing damage but no physical injuries.
The rocket exploded in the area of Sderot, located less than a mile from northern Gaza….READ MORE


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JUST REDUCED..Big Time !!
This is as Serious as it Gets.
Owner wants her Sold Today.
23 Kts at 1800 RPM check out Photos.
Brand NEW Port "Wet" Turbo Installed.
This Boat is a "Runner" !!
Call the Topaz Specialists TODAY..
No one is more Familiar with the Topaz line than Us!
Looking for OFFERS !!
This is ONE Hell of a Deal.
We are your used Topaz Headquarter !!! Other Models Available…
Rare Find...Original Owner.. Custom Stateroom & Factory Marlin Tower !!!
This boat has been owned by the Same Owner since NEW... For the last 20 years she was used On and Off for Inshore Charters for Bass and Bluefish.
She is going to need some up dating.. Rugs, soft goods, and so on. There is a mix of older and newer Electronics, all in good working order..
The Westerbek Generator was replaced a few years ago, has LOW hour and runs Great...
The Motors are the Legendary Bullet Proof 6-71 TIB's (485 Hp)
I Sea Tested this boat.. These Motors run Extremely well, Cruising 23 Kts at 1800 RPM.. It started COLD on the first crank and we ran it 50 miles to it's new marina. Check out the Photos.
Features Include;
New (2012) 8 Kw. Westerbeck Generator.
Factory Marlin Tower
Custom Topaz layout , Full size bed with extra closets, Large helm station, convertible dinette, L-shaped settee, galley down, microwave, electric stove, refrigerator/freezer, Heat- A/C, Electronics, VHF, Auto pilot, tuna tower, fiberglass deck, fish box, out riggers, cockpit sink, trim tabs.
The 39 Topaz Royale emphasizes SPEED AND FISH ABILITY as it's corner stone... Only a few of these boats were ever built...Don't let this one get Away!
The TOPAZ brand has been part of our lives.. We have Owned them, Fished them, and Loved them .. If you are in the market for an Offshore Fishing Machine call the Topaz specialists today !!
For more information or to make an offer Call Peter Stassi Today (Cell) 516-987-3446
Email at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. Items shown within the photos may not be included as part of the sale.
Mechanical Disclaimer
*Engine hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.
Please contact Peter Stassi (Cell) 516-987-3446
Boat Name
Looking for a NEW Owner
LOA: 39 ft 0 in
Beam: 13 ft 3 in
Total Power: 970 HP
Engine 1:
Engine Brand: Detroit
Year Built: 1989
Engine Model: 6-71 TIB's
Engine Type: Inboard
Engine Power: 485 HP
Engine 2:
Engine Brand: Detroit
Year Built: 1989
Engine Model: 6-71 TIB's
Engine Type: Inboard
Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine Power: 485 HP
Fresh Water Tanks: 1 Aluminum (60 Gallons)
Fuel Tanks: 3 Aluminum (400 Gallons)
Holding Tanks: 1 Plastic (40 Gallons)
Number of heads: 1
Electronics in Good Working Order
Furuno Radar 48 mi (1942 Mk2)
Raymarine GPS & Fish Finder
Northstar 952 (back Up)
Robertson Auto Pilot
Accommodations - NOT your Standard Package
Custom Topaz layout, Full size bed with extra closets, Large helm station, convertible dinette, L-shaped settee, galley down, microwave, electric stove, refrigerator/freezer, Heat- A/C, Electronics, VHF, Auto pilot, tuna tower, fiberglass deck, fish box, out riggers, cockpit sink, trim tabs.
Wehrlen Brothers Marina
197 Princeton Ave
Brick, NJ 08724
United States


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Have a 2011 LTZ, took it in for an oil change 2 days ago at 31K miles. Noticed yesterday that there is a "LO" displaying on Infotainment screen between temp & time. What is this, dealer doesn't know
Took my 2011 LTZ Equinox into the dealer for an oil change (31K miles) 2 days ago and they also installed a fuel intake kit and changed the back wiper blade. Since they have had the car, there is now a "LO" displaying between the time & temperature above the date on the Infotainment screen. Does anyone know what this means or where it comes from? The dealer doesn't know and I called Infotainment support, they don't know either. I have reread the owner's manual and find no reference to this display. Thanks for any help.
6 Answers
I really find this hard to believe the dealer has no clue nor that they can place a call to find out what the display code means. Ask to speak to a service manager since Buba in the service line is not that well versed.
I agree that it is difficult to believe that the dealer doesn't know, the service manager didn't know, the mechanics don't know and the Infotainment Support man who took my call didn't know what "LO" means either. They are supposed to be experts dedicated to the Infotainment Center. Supposedly the local "expert" will be back from deer hunting on Tuesday and I really hope he knows or has someone he can call. Nothing in the user manual either.....
Low Oil? Perhaps there is a code they need to reset? Oh Deer, I guess you'll find out.
Low Oil is indicated by a lighted icon of a dripping oil can appearing on the Driver Information Center, not on the Infotainment Center. I don't think there would be two places to display that information. Also I have OnStar and it lets me know when my oil needs changing, etc.
Sorry, that was a tongue in cheek answer. Let us know when you find out. There are regional GM service reps that may be of assistance. I'd think the service rep or manager would of called to get the answer. If you ask, they will give you the GM service rep's phone number. There at times have been the GM service reps monitor these responses and request the person call them to help with the issues they are having. They are not connected with any dealer, but employed by GM itself.
I finally figured out the answer as to why the "LO" displays by playing around with the temperature control knob. The "LO" displays if the temperature control knob is set to a desired temperature less than 65 degrees. I find no reference to this in the car documentation.


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See me torn to shreds by Stephen Colbert
I have a new video section on the site; notable links include a serious talk at Google and a not-so-serious appearance on The Colbert Report. More reviews are coming in, too.
2nd of February, 2008 • Highlights • Marginalia • Comments off


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Theresa Ebagua
UK-based designer Theresa Ebagua is the founder of luxury footwear brand, Chelsea Paris. Nigerian-born Ebagua studied footwear at the prestigious ARS Sutoria in Milan where she honed her technical skills, worked alongside artisan shoemakers and was exposed to traditional shoe-making techniques. In 2008, Ebagua launched Chelsea Paris (named after her two daughters), which launched its Resort collection at Barneys New York just last month.
You have an interesting background – what made you decide to pursue footwear design?
My lifelong passion is for shoes. I have childhood memories of taking shoes to the cobbler in hopes of achieving a better design and fit. However, I did not think I could make a career out of my passion, so I worked successfully for a decade in technology. All along, I still struggled to find the right shoes, so I made the decision to follow my dreams and risk it all — here I am and I couldn't be happier.
When did you move to London?
I started the company in Los Angeles but moved back two years ago to find my creative self and be closer to my manufacturing.
Why did you choose Milan for studying design instead of Central St. Martins or another London school?
I choose to attend ARS Sutoria because it is a footwear focused institute — I felt it was important to be close to the industry and near where I could ultimately produce my collection.
How do you incorporate Nigerian influences into your designs?
My African heritage informs my brand as a whole, especially when it comes to colors and textures. Each season I create our signature 'African print' with a modern twist. AW13 and SS14 saw me exploring prints from West Africa, specifically Nigeria. For AW14/15, I am using an Eastern African motif from Kenya. It's a Kenyan traditional motif that is done on wax and also woven as jewelry. Really excited about the outcome!
How would you describe your brand? Are your shoes for occasions only or do you hope women will incorporate them into their everyday look?
I hope women will incorporate Chelsea Paris into their everyday look. It's a lifestyle brand that is very personal and intimate; a balance of femininity, modernity and tradition. I am very passionate about shoes and I want my customers to feel what I feel in my shoes — a strong sense of self and style, empowerment and sensuality for everyday and occasion wear.
You just launched your Resort collection with Barneys – how does it feel to have their retail support?
Barneys was one of my favorite retail destinations when I was living in the US, so to be stocked there is a dream come true! The support is confirmation that the brand offers something truly unique and I am excited about developing a strong relationship.
Which styles are they carrying?
Barneys has stocked a diverse range of shoes from evening sandals such as the Sosa, to transferable, edgy, day-to-night sandals such as the Nkoyo. They are also carrying a selection of flats and pumps.
Have you received any support from the British Fashion Council?
I have been working with the BFC since I moved back to London — they offer great advice and guidelines for starting and growing the business. We showed at London Fashion Week for the first time last season for our SS14 collection — the response was amazing! We are previewing again at London Fashion Week for the upcoming AW14/15 collection.
Is there a secret to shoe production living in the UK? You are amongst a group of highly successful emerging shoe designers such as Nicholas Kirkwood and Charlotte Olympia — is there a common reason for everyone's success?
No secret really — the UK is very eclectic and highly creative in their fashion sense. London is one of the fashion capitals of the world and inspiration strikes daily. However, with production being based in Italy, you have to be flexible and keep a close eye on all aspects of the business, especially those that aren't in the same country!
Are shoes the ultimate accessories for you? What are your most coveted pairs in your collection?
Of course they are! I always build my outfits from the shoe up! I don't play favorites, however, when I find myself in a rush, the Nkoyo sandal in nude always finds its way onto my feet. Its elegance and versatility make it my ultimate day shoe. The Sosa in gold is my dancing shoe — its 1920s era elegance and sensuality certainly gets you noticed.


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Designing Systems for Continuous Availability – Multi-Node with Remote File Storage
The speakers are Jim Pinkerton and Claus Jorgensen
Topic is on using SMB for remote storage of application files. Servers access their files on UNC file paths. Example: VM VHDs, SQL Server database and log files. Easier to provision and manage shares than LUNs. More flexible with dynamic serer relocation. No need for specialised hardware/netwok knowledge or infrastructure. LOWER cost.
Basic idea of architecture: some shared stord (e.g. Storage Spaces), file server cluster with shares, Hyper-V cluster hosts, SQL, or other servers store files on those shares.
Transparent Failover
In W2008 R2 a failover is not transparent. There is brief downtime to take down, move over, bring up the clustered service or role. 99% uptime at best
Failover in W8 is transparent to the server application. Supported planned and unplanned failovers, e.g. maintenance, failures, and load balancing. Requires Windows Failover Cluste, and both server and client must be running Windows Server 8. All operations, not just IO, must be continuous and transparent – transparent for file and directory operations.
This means we can have an application cluster that places data on a back end file server cluster. Both can scale independently.
Changes to Windows Server 8 to make transparent failover possible:
– New protocol: SMB 2.2
– SMB 2.2 Client (redirector): client operation replay, end-to-end for replay of idempotent and non-idempotent operations
– SMB 2.2 Server: support for network stte persistence, singles share spans multiple nodes (active/active shares – wonder if this is made possible by CSV?), files are always opened write-through.
– Resume Key – used to failover to: resume handle state after planned or unplanned failover, fence handle state information, mask some NTFS issues. This fences file locks.
– Witness protocol: enables faster unplanned failover because clients do not wait for timeouts, enables dynamic reallocation of load (nice!). Witness tells the client that a node is offline and tells it to redirect.
SMB2 Transparent Failover Semantics:
Server side: state persistence until the client reconnects. Example: delete a file. The file is opened, a flag is set to delete on close, and you close the file -> it's deleted. Now you try to delete the file on a clustered file share. A planned failover happens. The node closes the file and it deletes. But after reconnect the client tries to close the file to delete it but its gone. This sort of circumstance is handled.
In Hyper-V world, we have "surprise failover" where a faulty VM can be failed over. The files are locked on file share by original node with the fence. A new API takes care of this.
SMB2 Scale Out
In W2008 R2 we have active-pasive clustered file shares. That means a share is only ever active on 1 node, so its not scalable. Windows Server 8 has scale out via active-active shares. The share can be active on all nodes. Targeted for server/server applications like SQL Server and Hyper-V. Not aimed at client/server applications like Office. We also get fewer IP addresses and DNS names. We only need one logical file server with a single file system namespace (no drive letter limitations), and no cluster disk resources to manage.
We now have a new file server type called File Server For Scale-Out Application Data. That's the active/active type. Does not support NFS and certain role sevices such as FSRM or DFS Replication. The File Server for General Use is the active/passive one for client/server, but it also supports transparent failover.
VSS for WIndows Server 8 File Shares
Application consistent shadow copyof server application data that is stored on Windows Server 8 file shares. Bckup agent on the application server triggers backup. VSS on app server acts with File Share Shaow Copy Provider. It hits the File Share Shadow Copy Agent on the file server via RPC, and that then triggers the VSS on the file server to create the shadow copy. The backup server can read the snapshot directly from the file server, saving on needless data transfer.
Performance for Server Applications
SMB2.2 makes big changes. Gone from 25% to 97% of DAS performance. MSFT used same DAS storage in local and file share storage with SQL Server to get these numbers. NIC teaming, TCP offloads and RDMA improved performance.
Perfmon counters are added to help admins troubleshoot and tune. IO size, IO latency, IO queue length, etc. Can seperately tune SQL data file or log file.
Scale-out file server in the demo. 4 clients accessing 2 files, balanced across 2 nodes in the scale out file server cluster. A node in the cluster is killed. The witness service sees this, knows which clients were using it, and tells them to reconnect – no timeouts, etc. The clients do come back online on the remaining node.
– Networking: 2+ interfaces … 1 GbE, 10 GbE optionaly with RDMA, or Infiniband with RDMA
– Server: 2+ servers … "cluster in a box" (a self contained cluster appliance) or 2+ single node servers.
– Storage: Storage Spaces, Clustered PCI RAID (both on Shared JBOD SAS), FC/iSCSI/SAS fabric (on arrays)
Sample Configurations
– Lowest cost: cluster in a box with shared JBOD SAS using 1 GbE and SAS HBA. Or use the same with Cluster PCI RAID for better performance instead of the SAS HBA. An external port to add external storage to scale out. Beyong td that look at 10 GbE
– Discreet servers: 1/10 GbE with SAS HBA to Shared JBOD SAS. Or use advanced SANS.
Note: This new storage solution could radically shake up how we do HA for VMs or server applications in the small/mid enterprise. It's going to be cheaper and more flexible. Even the corporations might look at this for low/mid tier services. MSFT did a lot of work on this and it shows IMO; I am impressed.


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Written by David Adler
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Jacketed Hardcover
Ages 4-7, 32pp, 8 ⅜ x 10 ⅞
978-1-68115-500-5, $17.95
Sara sees an old man pick up a bruised apple from the discarded pile next to the local market. She wonders if he's hungry, as she eats her own breakfast. She wonders if he's lonely, as she shares Shabbat dinner with Mom and Grandma. As Hanukkah approaches, a season of light and hope, Sara discovers that tzedakah can be as bright and colorful as a Hanukkah cookie with sprinkles.
A Note for Families provides context about the story and traditions of Hanukkah, and about the meaning of tzedakah, and challenges readers to think about ways they can give tzedakah, too.


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Building Tomorrow's Farms with LED Horticulture LightingNovember 26, 2018
As the world's population continues its unprecedented growth and the global demand for food accelerates, the availability of arable land continues to shrink in proportion. Not only are the current farming practices insufficient to meet the rising needs, they are also unable to cope under the mounting challenges of global warming and climate change. The need is stronger than ever for farmers to turn to more sustainable and efficient solutions.
In the developed world, where the demand for locally-grown food is rising steadily, cultivation in soil-less and controlled environments — such as greenhouses and indoor farms — are allowing farmers to provide fresh, seasonal, and safe produce to consumers all year round. With indoor farming becoming more viable as well as profitable, vacant neighborhoods, rooftops, deserted factories, old warehouses are increasingly being turned into urban farms in the middle of cities.
Besides utilizing spaces that we could never imagine as 'cultivable,' these new-age farms are also helping farmers grow a wide range of crops, even in regions that don't have the soil or the climate for it. For example, vertical farms like Green Sense Farms are giving people a taste of "locally grown, leafy greens in the middle of a Chicago winter". But that's not the only benefit. These farms depend partially or entirely on artificial lighting, which offers more precise control over factors like crop growth, quality and yield. Therefore. Indoor farms can provide a far more consistent and dependable supply of fresh produce than field crops. Because the environment is entirely controlled, indoor farms attract few pests. As a result, they can easily grow healthier crops without the need for pesticides.
Energy efficient LED technology is also changing the way growers use artificial lights in their indoor farming facilities. Because LEDs emit negligible heat, they do not warm up the environment in the same way as the traditionally-used HPS luminaires do. This allows farmers to place LED grow lights closer to plants and reduces the need for artificial cooling. LEDs also last significantly longer than HPS lamps and consume less energy.
LED lighting revolution
As researchers continue to establish new findings around lights of specific wavelengths and their impact on different plants and stages of growth, traditional grow lights and broad-spectrum sources such as HPS lamps are being outperformed by horticulture LED lights due to their ability to produce photo-synthetically active radiation (PAR) wavelengths — light that's useful for horticulture and falls within the 400-700nm range. This factor alone makes LED a far-superior option for supplemental lighting in greenhouses as well as vertical and indoor farms that rely completely on artificial light.
Driving the adoption of greenhouses and indoor farms globally, LED-based horticulture lighting is one of the largest as well as the fastest growing markets, estimated to be worth $690 million annually.
Here are some compelling benefits of horticulture LED lights.
- Control over spectral output
LED lights offer better match of spectra to plant's need and their luminosity can be tailored to accentuate production depending on plant species and growth stage.
- More precise targeting
With LED lights, you have superior control over where light goes, which reduces energy consumption.
- Lower radiated heat
LED lights can be placed closer to plants, resulting in more dense farms. This also lowers water consumption.
- Greater savings
Long lifetime of luminaires, along with low energy consumption and lower maintenance costs, translates directly into higher ROI for crop producers.
Want to know more about building new-age farms with leading horticulture lighting products? Download our latest eBook — "Farming in the New Light".


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Give your child a birthday party to remember, filled with fun and iced with adventure!
Under the full supervision of ROKT instructors, our climbing parties are all about having as much fun as possible whilst exploring the many exciting climbing challenges ROKT has to offer.
Parties are 1 hour 30 minutes long and are suitable for children aged 5+. We can also provide food for your party.
ROKT Climbing Party – Bouldering, Top-Rope Climbing & Caving, suitable for ages and abilities from the age of 5.
Your party will kick off with warm-up bouldering games and challenges in our main bouldering rooms, including the canyon traverse, tackle the 200ft-long caving system, before putting on harnesses and heading to our top-rope climbing.
Parents are welcome to stay for the duration of the party and relax in either our Chill Out Room, on the Riverside Deck or on the Mezzanine. Due to restricted space, party viewing may not be possible.
To book call ROKT reception on 01484 717444


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The film may have come out a year and a bit ago, but I've finally sat down to watch the Blu-Ray extras for Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Sure, I had to go to the 'Deleted Scenes' first (who wouldn't?) but they don't really lend much to what happened, and there's no real nuggets in there, nothing that really (rightly) felt that it shouldn't have been left on the floor. Because the film didn't feel anything but lean. But the 'Making Of' was a really special viewing. I'm also not afraid to say I shed a tear watching the scenes with Carrie Fisher, both on set and off. It seems ever more tragic that she's not going to be here to see how the universe develops in front of our eyes. A part of my childhood really did die when she left us.
The Read-Through alone sent shivers down the spine. Seeing Carrie, Harrison Ford and Mark Hammil in the same room, with Peter Mayhew, Anthony Edwards, talk through the words in that universe again… it still didn't seem real. God knows what it must've been like being part of it. Because this is a film (no, not a movie) that I never thought would happen again. After the three 'prequels' that let down so many people of a certain age, I felt the stories had run their course. I'd never immersed myself that much in the books when I was a kid – sure, I read a few, but they never gripped me the way that first roll did on A New Hope – so for me, the films were the centre of all of it, and while I love the original trilogy (ok, I'm obsessed by it) and I still watch them regularly, I'd resigned myself to that being it. A sad, underwhelming and overblown successor that drowned in SFX, clunky dialog, toyshop characters and none of the real magic of the first three.
But of course, the last two years have proven how wrong I was. And as a 42-year old man, there should be something a bit sad about being so excited and overwhelmed by a couple of films, but then this is my youth, returning, and in a world that's so grim, grimy, chaotic, unsure and angry, it's no surprise that many of us are revelling in the escapism that such a vibrant, colourful and enticing universe that we all find so familiar gives us over the rest of reality.
There's so much beautiful synergy between the old and new. And yes, some of that is a purposeful, heartstring-tugging intention to rope us olds back in, but it's also such a reverence to the original films, because JJ Abrams gets that it's a legacy, not just a money-making machine, churning out ever-decreasing chapters for the next decade. He was a fan himself when we were watching Empire as a small kid, he was a teen in LA, seeing the very same magic. So, where the old generation hand over to the new in The Force Awakens, it's not just in front of the camera. Just looking at Nien Numb, who so memorably appeared in Jedi in the Falcon in the final battle of Endor, back as a pilot in the base on Yavin, or, even more sweetly, Warwick Davis, Wicket in Jedi, now returning (so much more known to many for Extras) as Wollivan alongside his yellow-headed monster daughter in the bar scene at Mas Kanta's. It's that incredible charm and character that's indelibly inked onto the new films that makes you feel such a connection to them, where it wasn't expected or assumed. There's over a hundred creatures in VII, so many of them non-CGI, from the returning Gonk droids, to new pilots, musicians, bounty hunters.
That's one of the greatest beauties of the new trilogy so far is Abrams' and the entire team's willingness to only use CGI when there was no other means to achieve their ends. As many of us felt Lucas slowly diluting the rough-hewn charm of the original trilogy with needless new effects shots and reissues, leading to an almost shiny, blurred, CGI-laden set of prequels that fell into the era's obsession with effects, the Force Awakens went back to what worked best: real models, characters, creatures, sets, effects, which felt so much more visceral and real. It always does, and it should be a lesson to filmmakers out there, that computer-generated SFX should be the point of last resort. Gareth Edwards showed that, more than anything with Monsters, a beautiful looking film made on a minuscule budget, whose effects were part of the tapestry, rather than the end-point of the whole fable.
I can't even imagine what is must've been like being part of it, but there was something wonderful about how the younger actors – John Boyega especially – were so blown away by being on set, wanting a hug from Chewie, a walk through the Falcon. It says something that over 200 people were crowded onto the set when – for a day, they set aside a WHOLE DAY – when Han and Chewie get to utter the line that made a million adults squeal: "Chewie, we're home." It's lovely to hear that, even as the film was being so meticulously made, pretty much the entire cast and crew were as excited as the rest of us were anticipating it, and watching it. And all of it soundtracked by John Williams, at 84 years old, still vital and perhaps one of the most important and iconic people in cinema today. Music that is as much part of our lives as Luke, Han, and Leia, but also Indiana Jones, ET, Jaws, Superman, Home Alone, Schindler's List, Empire Of The Sun, Saving Private Ryan, Harry Potter, Lincoln and War Horse. Who else has been nominated for 50 Academy Awards?
The ILM work is still just incredible. Seeing so much referencing the original trilogy, whose effects were groundbreaking at the time, back against the new film is wonderful. The best CGI is the stuff that doesn't look like it's even there until you look, and for every shot that is obviously FX, there's a bunch of stuff happening in the background that you don't know is even unreal. And the new stuff: The Black X-Wing, the new TIE-Fighters, the updated Falcon, the Star Destroyer Graveyard, new Stormtroopers. Seeing them photograph the old 5ft model Falcon and take the little motifs the original model makers left (the 'Drive Safely' stickers!) and mapping them onto the 'new' Falcon so that the little details perpetuated into the new chapters. You'd have to know these details and watch it over and over, so it's great to see that this is just 'what had to be done', even though many of us would never even spot what's there. It's just another example of the rich detail, thought and love that went into it all.
There are so many amazing insights into the making of the film. That JJ Abrams himself came up with the basic concept of BB-8. That Poe was going to be killed early on before they changed the story to keep him in. That Kylo Ren's suit was going to be chrome (ugh) but when it was dumped it ended up as Captain Phasma. The fact that so many of the original crew from the first trilogy were part of the team that made The Force Awakens, in many cases using inspiration from the iconic Ralph McQuarrie, or the original designs, photos, and in one case, one son's own inspiration from his father's snowspeeder drawings in Empire. It felt like not just the handing on from one generation to another in front of and behind the camera, but really bringing so much of the history back together to ensure that the magic of the first trilogy was sprinkled all over the newest one. That may seem obvious, but it's really the most important and intangible thing that, done wrong (especially overdone) would've seemed clumsy and too broadly brushed. They got it nailed.
As a film geek anyway, these behind-the-scenes things are catnip to me. It's why I've started a Saturday that I couldn't get back to sleep at 7am by thinking 'I've been meaning to watch a bit of this for ages" and sitting here on the sofa for almost 3 hours gorging on the entire extras for the original Blu-Ray, feeling like a 6-year old kid again. But the mechanics of putting something so huge together is fascinating. I feel as excited watching this as I did watching grainy extras on the VHS tapes back in the mid-80s, or reading through the articles in the papers and magazines at the time. I wish I could take a weekend out and watch the whole lot from all of the films, but I've got packing to do!
Really, it's an incredible thing to just immerse yourself in every now and then. I know that I'm a bit of an obsessive. How can you not be that excited about watching a universe unfold in front of your eyes that you first witnessed as a small boy (I was barely even walking when the first came out) and want to dive back into that? It's part of my lifetime. It always will be.


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What Is HGH And What Does It Do?
Human Growth Hormone therapy has been in use in the US for several decades now. Originally intended only for children with a pituitary gland that was not producing sufficient Human Growth Hormone for proper development, it has been found to be beneficial for adults as well. Continue reading "HGH Injections Benefits And Side Effects Explained"


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It's March 1st, Pweebers…a new month!!
For my international readers, Spring is revealing itself in its full glory. But what does the forces of nature have for you in this month? And what is the word of Jehovah speaking concerning us?
God will uphold you in March. Stand in the holy place and call on the name of the Lord. Do not soil your hands. As much as it is possible, live at peace with all men.
Have a blessed March as you march forward in His glory.
Love you all,


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On May 18th, 2015, I attended an invitation-only forum in Washington DC, "Driving Energy Efficiency with IT."
The CEO of New Jersey's largest electric utility was a featured speaker. The utility is PSE&G, and the CEO's name is Ralph Izzo. One of his most important jobs at the time was to figure out how to change PSE&G's business model and create new revenue streams.
Izzo, like utility CEO's across America, was under pressure. Electric utilities were losing money to the onslaught of the solar revolution. The century-old business model — selling electricity — wasn't working anymore.
Net metering offers tidy savings for homeowners, but one person's gain is another person's loss. Utilities were on the losing side of net-metering.
Appliances as Revenue Streams
Izzo had come up with a solution. From the small podium on the 9th floor of the Capitol View Conference Center, the CEO of New Jersey's largest utility leaned forward and said, "Do you remember Ma Bell?"
Izzo's vision for the future meant going back in time more than 30 years. Before 1983, Bell Telephone/AT&T owned almost every phone in America, attaching a rental fee to customers' monthly bills. Few people knew it, but that's how it worked. PSE&G sees this as a good thing. Izzo's "new" business model positions electric utilities as home appliance sales and leasing dealers. It's a new take on the old Ma Bell model.
"I want to own every appliance in every house we serve," Izzo said. "I want our customers to lease their heating and cooling systems, their refrigerators, and their dishwashers from PSE&G. The customer pays a small monthly lease and we'll take care of everything else."
Vermont follows New Jersey
So what does this mean for Vermont? Well, Green Mountain Power has adopted New Jersey's appliance sales and lease business model. GMP is in the appliance business, selling or leasing heat pumps, Tesla PowerWalls, and a suite of eControl and eWater smart products.
Leasing is convenient for those of us who can't plop down $5,000 for a whole-house heat pump. But it's important to read sales/lease contracts, know who owns what, and who controls the on/off switch. The feel-good, save-the-environment sales pitch should be just one of several factors in your energy decisions now that you have a plethora of environment-saving options. You can be green and at the same time, become a smart energy shopper.
Smart Meters & "eControl"
Taking the appliance model another step, Ralph Izzo said he wanted to control appliance energy usage through smart meters. PSE&G could generate a lot of savings if they could control customer usage. Demand Response creates efficiencies throughout the system, balancing supply and demand across the entire grid.
So what is Demand Response? Do you remember when utilities would ask customers to turn down air conditioners in sweltering temperatures to help prevent a blackout? Now utilities don't have to ask for your help. With your consent, outlined in a sales/lease contract, they can turn down your heat pump when you're not home by way of your smart meter.
The question is, are customers given full disclosure before the contract is signed? Do customers clearly understand what they are agreeing to?
For example, Green Mountain Power sells or leases Tesla PowerWalls — basically a big, lithium battery which can store electricity produced by your solar panels. Through a Demand Response agreement, GMP can "borrow" energy from your Tesla PowerWall when it needs it — most likely in the evening when solar panels stop producing energy and demand increases. They recharge your PowerWall when demand is less. How can you tell if GMP is proposing a Demand Response program? Well, you'll need to read the fine print of every contract you sign, and ask a whole lot of questions.
Some folks get creeped-out by the thought of a utility remote-controlling their thermostat, as if there's a home invader entering through the electrical panel. But there's no conspiracy theory here. A utility can respond to electricity demand more efficiently if it can turn off air conditioners in houses during the day. This type of Demand Response program helps everyone — and the entire grid. You get a notification via a smart phone, and all's good. However, if you don't like the idea, don't agree to the terms. Just ask, "What's in it for me?" and request an answer in dollars.
Transparency and Full Disclosure
As I mentioned in a recent Front Porch Forum post, "Know what you own, and why you own it." GMP, SunCommon, and other energy product/service providers don't have an obligation to teach you the ins-and-outs of the renewable energy business. In fact, Vermont's new REC policy puts the average solar panel buyer/leaser at a huge disadvantage because it doesn't include any type of consumer protection clause. If you don't ask the right questions, you may not get what you really think you get.
And therein lies the problem. A company comes along and sells you on the idea that you're going solar and helping save the environment. The first part is not true at all if you don't ask to keep your RECs. The second part is somewhere in the middle of a truth-o-meter.
If you have solar panels on your roof, or if you are a "partner" in a Demand Response program, it helps if you understand the following:
- You are a solar power producer if you buy solar panels.
- You are not a solar power consumer if you don't own your RECs.
- You are letting a utility "borrow" electricity if you have a Telsa PowerWall and participate in a Demand Response program.
- You are helping a utility if you let it control your appliances via a smart meter.
Then ask yourself, "What do I get in return?" Maybe you get something, maybe you don't. It all depends on what is written in the sales/lease contract.
If a sales rep talks a rosy talk but doesn't clarify the details, or if the contract is written almost entirely in small print, then it's time to learn more and become a smart energy shopper.
Ultimately, here's what you should understand: The energy business is complicated, from solar panels to smart thermostats. You have a lot of opportunities to go green and save money. Just make sure you read any sales contract before you sign it. Make sure it's a good fit for you.
And beware of a sales rep dismissing anyone who suggests folks who advocate for transparency and disclosure are naysayers who don't want to help the environment. We're just folks who want consumer-friendly renewable energy policies in Vermont.