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20th Century Fox
The Death Star was a fearsome battle station in the Star Wars saga - but purely fictional.
The White House says building a Death Star would be an out-of-this-galaxy waste of money — not only because it's against government policy to blow up planets, but also because the United States already has access to a space station as well as a laser-wielding space robot.
Today's official statement on the Death Star issue, titled "This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For," was written by Paul Shawcross, chief of the science and space branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget. It comes in response to a "We the People" petition that called on the federal government to start building a "Star Wars"-style Death Star battle station by 2016.
"By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense," the petition read.
The petition garnered more than 25,000 online signatures within a month, partly due to a signing campaign that went viral on 4chan, Reddit and Twitter. Under the Obama administration's rules for the "We the People" program, that required the White House to come up with a reply.
Shawcross and his colleagues clearly rose to the challenge, with an essay that should satisfy the policy geeks as well as the "Star Wars" geeks. Here's the full text:
This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For
"The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:
- The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
- The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
- Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?
"However, look carefully (here's how) and you'll notice something already floating in the sky — that's no Moon, it's a Space Station! Yes, we already have a giant, football field-sized International Space Station in orbit around the Earth that's helping us learn how humans can live and thrive in space for long durations. The Space Station has six astronauts — American, Russian, and Canadian — living in it right now, conducting research, learning how to live and work in space over long periods of time, routinely welcoming visiting spacecraft and repairing onboard garbage mashers, etc. We've also got two robot science labs — one wielding a laser — roving around Mars, looking at whether life ever existed on the Red Planet.
"Keep in mind, space is no longer just government-only. Private American companies, through NASA's Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office (C3PO), are ferrying cargo — and soon, crew — to space for NASA, and are pursuing human missions to the Moon this decade.
"Even though the United States doesn't have anything that can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, we've got two spacecraft leaving the Solar System and we're building a probe that will fly to the exterior layers of the Sun. We are discovering hundreds of new planets in other star systems and building a much more powerful successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that will see back to the early days of the universe.
"We don't have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the Space Station, a President who knows his way around a light saber and advanced (marshmallow) cannon, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is supporting research on building Luke's arm, floating droids, and quadruped walkers.
"We are living in the future! Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field. The President has held the first-ever White House science fairs and Astronomy Night on the South Lawn because he knows these domains are critical to our country's future, and to ensuring the United States continues leading the world in doing big things.
"If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force."
Update for 9:35 p.m. ET Jan. 11: The White House statement quickly sparked a Twitter response from Darth Vader himself: "A serious mistake, Mr. President. You can never have enough planet-sized lasers."
Update for 1:40 a.m. ET Jan. 12: NASA may brag about the space station and its laser-equipped Curiosity rover, but that's not enough, Death Star PR says in a Twitter update: "Until you put the laser and the space station together and start blowing up planets, you're not doing enough Science."
Other spaced-out petitions:
- White House: No E.T. visits, no UFO cover-up
- Petition calls for development of nuclear rocket
- White House urged to build Starship Enterprise
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


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This accessible and innovative text and accompanying CD-ROM teaches the core concept of econometrics without advanced mathematics. Coverage includes omitted variables, binary response models, basic time series, and simultaneous equations.Barreto, Humberto is the author of 'Introductory Econometrics Using Monte Carlo Simulation with Microsoft Excel', published 2005 under ISBN 9780521843195 and ISBN 0521843197.[read more]
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Lindsay Lohan is trying her hand at fashion once again.
Though the star earned some bad reviews for her debut collection as artistic advisor for famed house Emanuel Ungaro – including from the now-retired Ungaro himself, who called her showing a "disaster" – she broke the news to Access Hollywood on Thursday that she has a collection for a different label in the works.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Lindsay Lohan - From Teen Queen To 'Mean Girl'
"[Jeweler] Pascal [Mouawad] and I are actually working together, we're doing something with a friend who owns bebe," she told Access at Pascal's Nu Pop Movement launch party in West Hollywood. "We're doing a collection for them and we're also going to be doing some other things."
A Pascal rep told Access on Friday that the new line has yet to be finalized.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings
Lindsay previously told People that she's also hard at work on the follow-up to her Ungaro debut, with the house's next collection set to debut in January.
"I am learning," she said at the time.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Paris Fashion Week, Fall 2009
PLAY IT NOW: Lindsay Lohan's Nu Pop Movement (November 12, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: Inside The Lindsay Lohan Tapes Controversy, Part I
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Lindsay Lohan - Style - Celebrities


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Laura Linney wasn't at the Golden Globes ceremony to accept her award for playing a cancer patient Sunday because her father succumbed to a real-life struggle with the disease.
The day before the show, "The Big C" actress' playwright father, Romulus Linney, died of lung cancer at his home in Germantown, N.Y., according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 80.
Linney was awarded in the category of Best Actress in a Television Comedy or Musical for her role on the Showtime series, which follows character Cathy Jamison's life after a cancer diagnosis. She was chosen over Toni Collette ("United States of Tara"), Edie Falco ("Nurse Jacke"), Tina Fey ("30 Rock") and Lea Michele {"Glee"). Members of the academy accepted the award on behalf of her due to her absence.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The Golden Globe was yet another trophy added to the Linney mantle. Her late father has won two Obie awards, two National Critics awards and three Drama-Logue awards. He is best known for his adaptation of Ernest Gaines' novel, "A Lesson Before Dying," according to Broadway.com.
In addition to Laura, Romulus is survived by his wife, Laura Callanan, and another daughter, Susan.
Selected Reading: The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, CNN.


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Designed by Graham & Brown specifically for the forth-coming Royal Wedding bonanza, this wallpaper will certainly add a touch of class to any room and be a hot favourite with Royalists'. Boasting black crowns and coronets bejewelled with self-adhesive coloured diamond's which you can stick on yourself, it's probably one of the only "Royal Wedding" themed designs I actually like.
The paper isn't garish or tacky like much of what's already advertised and the design is super glamorous which would be perfect for a teen girls pad, hallway or bedroom. You also have the added bonus of a 20% off selected papers on the Graham & Brown site including, I believe, the "Crowns and Coronets" design. So it works out to cost around £35 per roll after discount.
I'm not much of a Royalist and finding the wedding a little over bearing, but this paper has a thumbs up from me for its pure glam factor. Let me know what you think!


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SUNDAY, Jan. 24, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- Skiers and snowboarders need to understand that they're at risk for potentially serious injuries if they don't take proper safety precautions, advises a trauma injury expert.
"Due to the nature of these sports, many of the injuries that skiers and snowboarders suffer are serious and require immediate medical attention," orthotraumatologist Dr. Wade Smith, vice chairman of orthopedics for the Geisinger Health System, said in a news release.
Each winter, between 30 and 60 skiers and snowboarders die on U.S. slopes.
Head injuries are the most serious threat, as evidenced by the deaths of several celebrities, including Natasha Richardson and Sonny Bono. Taking a hill too fast or failing to pay attention to their surroundings can leave skiers and snowboarders susceptible to violent falls or collisions that can result in severe head and/or neck injuries.
Smith said skiers and snowboarders need to be mindful of others on the slopes, watch for patches of ice or rocks, and should never attempt a hill too fast or too steep for their ability. He also recommended that skiers and snowboarders of all ages wear a helmet.
Knee injuries are the most common type of injury suffered by skiers and snowboarders, accounting for 25 percent to 40 percent of all injuries.
"Knee injuries are often very painful and can require surgery and extensive rehab," Smith said. "A torn meniscus, for example, a common ski injury, can result in sharp pain and occasionally arthroscopic surgery. A torn ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] requires arthroscopic surgery, rehab and physical therapy that can last from four months to more than one year."
Keeping your knees bent while skiing and snowboarding can help reduce stress on the knees, and falling when you lose your balance, instead of trying to fight the fall, can help prevent knee injury, Smith said.
Fractures are another common injury suffered by skiers and snowboarders.
More information
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers ski injury prevention tips.


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Metaffex, Design & Development
Metaffex is a web design and development firm located near Charlotte, North Carolina. We believe in creating websites and applications with the user in mind. Clean, usable designs backed by strong, logical code are the staples of products created by Metaffex.
Check us out: http://metaffex.com/
Featured FileThis responsive landing page is designed to give your users the best optimal site on whatever browser, tablet, or phone they are on. This theme is very lightweight due to the very minimal design, and clean markup. All of the background colors can be changed with ease in the CSS since it's all color with no images.
- Responsive Layout
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- Minimal Design
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The Muppet Show Comic Book Issue 4 of 4:
Miss Piggy's Story
Ryan Dosier - Roger Langridge returns to The Muppet Show once again for the end of the first four-part story arc, Miss Piggy's Story (released June 2009).
Following in the footsteps of Issues 1-3, Miss Piggy's Story follows the familiar format of a backstage story taking place around the wacky Muppet acts onstage. This issue is notable because the ending takes place outside the theater—more on that later.
Opening with a hilarious dialogue between Kermit and Scooter trying to book a guest star on the show, Miss Piggy's story hits the ground running. It's here that we find out that Madame Rhonda, a psychic act, is the guest star for tonight's show (much to Kermit's chagrin). Madame Rhonda woos the majority of the Muppets with her enchanting ways—but some (such as Kermit and Floyd) think her Gemini for fortune is a load of Taurus.
Miss Piggy, under advisement from Janice, is one to fall for Madame Rhonda's psychic clout. Madame Rhonda reads Piggy's fortune and predicts that she will lose "something precious… and green." Naturellement, Piggy thinks that Kermit will be lost to her. What starts out as tears from Piggy (unsurprisingly) turns into stair-rail splitting anger as she watches Kermit associate with every female member of the Muppet cast (seriously, Langridge dug deep to include some of these characters).
All of the acts that Langridge highlights in this issue are classic—taken right from the old Muppet Show format. Sam the Eagle delivers a speech on morality, Dr. Bob puns away in Veterinarian's Hospital, the Talking Houses return, Beaker catches fire in Muppet Labs, and the word propinquitous is used in Pigs in Space.
It all ends with a lot of bandages, holding hands, and… That's jazz. …If you read the comic, you'll understand. But Langridge ties it all up perfectly here, Piggy gets to gloat, and Kermit gets a kiss. All is right with the Muppet world.
The tone of Miss Piggy's Story is, honestly, the most Muppety of all four issues. Everything about it is witty and clever and wacky. Rarely seen characters appear in the background while everyone's favorite get front-billing. Langridge puts near perfection on the page here, garnering a 5 out of 5 from this reviewer.
The writing in this issue is what really stands out. From character conversations (Fozzie and Scooter, Janice and Floyd, Rizzo and Gonzo, Link and Annie Sue, etc.) to Talking Houses and Vet's Hospital, everything feels like something each character would—or already has—said.
What's really impressive here is Langridge's characterization of Piggy. In recent years, the writing for Piggy has been hit or miss. She's either tried too hard to the point of being pathetic (Muppets From Space) or she's been one note in her obsessive love for Kermit that is never returned by the Frog (recent interviews). Here, however, Piggy is the perfect balance of sweet, innocent, and, of course, hot-tempered. But the thing that impressed this Muppet fan the most about the Frog/Pig dynamic here… is that Kermit returns the love. He holds Miss Piggy's hand and even suggests that they take a moonlit walk back to the theater. It's the Kermit we all know and love—shy and cute around Miss Piggy, not abrasive and snarky. (Something I think that has been returning to all Muppet productions—not just the comic book page. See Letters to Santa if you don't believe me.)
Everything here is drawn beautifully. Langridge knows what he's doing by now, and no one can deny that. He has a beautiful handle on each and every main character. Sam Eagle is especially awesome in this issue—as are Bunsen and Beaker.
But, once again, Miss Piggy is the one who shines in this department. She's beautiful here. From her batting eyelashes to her flowing blonde hair with a slight curl—everything about Langridge's Miss Piggy is perfect. She's even got the slight plump to her that makes her Miss Piggy. She's slightly large, very in charge, and not at all letharg…ic.
Everything about this issue is great. It's an awesome way to close the first story arc and Langridge really saved his best stuff for the grand finale. One has to assume that Miss Piggy was a driving force in that decision. Anything less than the best and we all know what sort of pain would've found its way to Langridge. No need to worry, though, because Langridge closes his first four-issue story arc with brilliant perfection.
Order your own issue of The Muppet Show Comic Book Issue 4 of 4: Miss Piggy's Story today—or be karate chopped! Or buy the first trade paperback, The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets, containing Issues 1-4.
Langridge returns to The Muppet Show stage with another four issue- arc: The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson, which focuses on buried treasure hidden in the theater somewhere—and most of the Muppets go bonkers trying to find the X that marks the spot.
The Muppets featured in this issue include: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler, Waldorf, Sam Eagle, Mahna Mahna, Snowths, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Strangepork, Sweetums, Crazy harry, Hugga Wugga Creatures, Rowlf, Madame Rhonda, Janice, George the Janitor, Floyd Pepper, Rizzo, Andy and Randy Pig, Gladys the Cafeteria Lady, Annie Sue Pig, Mildred, Lew Zealand, Animal, Bunsen, Beaker, Talking Houses, Big Mama, Beauregard, Zoot, a Sasquatch, an Elephant, Uncle Deadly, Pigs, Chickens, Rats, Monsters, and many other Muppets.
Don't forget, today is the LAST DAY to submit answers to The Great Muppet Survey!


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|Preceding Day
|Tuesday 10 November 2020
|Following Day
|Preceding Day
|Tuesday 10 November 2020
|Following Day
RT @SpottydogAmanda: Well done everyone. The sales of Masons masks has raised £88 + £22 gift aid Thank you so much, you are all amazing…
RT @UGLE_GrandLodge: Have your say! 🔊 UGLE is planning to launch a new members' website in the near future & we'd love to hear your feedba…
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Have a great meeting from everyone in the Province 👍 https://t.co/BMruGcdeIH
RT @WorvellMichelle: Great to see #freemasonry in action in the #newnormal @UGLE_GrandLodge


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
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Public Records Requests can be made by following the directions on the webpage: Public Records Requests. Scroll down to learn "Ways to Submit a Public Records Request"
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Yes, both our Red and Orange Flex Lines as well as our Scheduled Rides can assist you in transportation to the Dayton International Airport. See our Helpful Resources tab for a Helpful Guide for more information.


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Check out some links below to recent stories from Charisma News that you'll find interesting and informative. You can also sign up to receive stories on your smart phone by signing up for the free Charisma News app by clicking here.
Educators Hopeful Over Future of Christian Colleges
Would US Fiscal Cliff Lower Charitable Contributions?
'God Day' Calls on Remnant to Spark Orlando, Fla., Revival
Why Revival Is Exploding Among Muslims
Los Angeles Revival Spreads to Azusa Street read more


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Against Innovation: Right-Wing Media Mock Obama For Promoting Algae-Based Fuel
Following their long tradition of attacking renewable energy, right-wing media have mocked President Obama for supporting production of algae biofuels. Yet several companies already produce biofuel made from algae, recent scientific advances have increased the fuel's potential, and the industry has been supported by both private investors and conservative politicians.
In Energy Speech, Obama Notes Development Of Fuel Made From Algae
Obama: "We're Making New Investments In The Development Of Gasoline And Diesel And Jet Fuel That's Actually Made From A Plant-Like Substance -- Algae." In a February 23 speech at the University of Miami, Obama spoke about energy production in the U.S. He highlighted examples of renewable energy currently being produced, including fuel "made from ... algae" :
Now, right now we are experiencing just another painful reminder of why developing new energy is so critical to our future. Just like last year, gas prices are climbing across the country. This time, it's happening even earlier. And when gas prices go up, it hurts everybody -- everybody who owns a car, everybody who owns a business.
The potential of a sustained, all-of-the-above energy strategy is all around us. Here in Miami, 2008, Miami became the first major American city to power its city hall entirely with solar and renewable energy. Right here in Miami. (Applause.) The modernization of your power grid so that it wastes less energy is one of the largest projects of its kind in the country. On a typical day, the wind turbine at the Miami-Dade Museum can meet about 10 percent of the energy needs in a South Florida home, and the largest wind producer in the country is over at Juno Beach. Right here at this university, your work is helping manufacturers save millions of dollars in energy bills by making their facilities more energy efficient. (Applause.)
We're making new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel and jet fuel that's actually made from a plant-like substance -- algae. You've got a bunch of algae out here, right? (Laughter.) If we can figure out how to make energy out of that, we'll be doing all right.
Believe it or not, we could replace up to 17 percent of the oil we import for transportation with this fuel that we can grow right here in the United States. And that means greater energy security. That means lower costs. It means more jobs. It means a stronger economy. [WhiteHouse.gov, 2/23/12]
Right-Wing Media Mock Obama's Reference To Extracting Energy From Algae
Fox & Friends Mocks Idea Of Algae As Energy Source; Kilmeade Says, "I Have Algae In My Fish Tank I Used To Have." On the February 24 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy discussed Obama's speech and mocked his support for developing algae biofuels:
KILMEADE: All [Obama] did was mock a potential attack, which was to say Republicans are going to say drill more, which they did. But he also brought up something positive. He's going to be looking to pioneer algae.
DOOCY: Really?
KILMEADE: And use that for eventually replacing 17 percent of our oil and our -- and our diesel fuel. So if we can get the algae set -- which we can get algae anywhere.
DOOCY: So --
KILMEADE: I have algae in my fish tank I used to have. In fact, I never cleaned.
DOOCY: So this administration has been pushing solar, and now they're going aqua?
KILMEADE: Finally. Right.
DOOCY: Another Fox News alert! [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/24/12]
Limbaugh: "We're Listening To The President Of The United States Actually Tell Us That Our Salvation ... Is Freaking Pond Scum." From the February 24 broadcast of Rush Limbaugh's radio show:
LIMBAUGH: Folks, did you know that pond scum, algae, pond scum is now the new source of energy in this country? We were on the air yesterday, Obama was down in Coral Gables making a speech, I told you if we had anything memorable from that we'd play it today and we do. We've got about nine or ten sound bites on gas prices alone, including some things Obama said about algae, pond scum. Now, this needs a czar. We need a pond scum czar, and that means we need somebody slimy. I think Obama could probably find a lot of slimy people to be pond scum czar.
LIMBAUGH: We're [sic] new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel jet fuel actually made from pond scum. I'm surprised he didn't say, "And we got more pond scum here than they have anywhere in the world." He wasn't through. He said, "Believe it or not, we could replace up to 17 percent of the oil that we import for transportation with this fuel that we can grow right here in America." This is the smartest man in the world. This is our Messiah. This is Mr. Hopey Changey. This is the guy who was unlike any politician America had ever seen. This was the great unifier. This was the guy with the solutions to all our problems. Pond scum.
He continued, as he has been doing for his entire administration, making fun of the concept of drilling. He keeps talking, "They say drill, drill, drill, drill, but that's not a solution." He says that's for two reasons. He said that's not an immediate solution. It's gonna take two to three years. They've been saying that for 30 years, folks. For 30 years we have been suggesting drill, baby, drill and it's, no, no, no, it's not gonna take effect for three to five years, it's not an immediate fix. Imagine 30 years ago if we would've just started new drilling, new exploration, where we would be today. And where are we? We're listening to the president of the United States actually tell us that our salvation, the answer to six-dollar-a-gallon gasoline, is freaking pond scum.
The following graphic was posted alongside the transcript of the segment on Limbaugh's website:
[Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 2/24/12; RushLimbaugh.com, accessed 2/28/12]
Drudge Report: "OIL JUMPS TO $108+" As Obama "Offers Algae." On February 24, the Drudge Report featured the following series of headlines about gas prices and Obama's speech on energy:
[Drudge Report Archives, 2/24/12]
Krauthammer Goes On Sarcastic Rant About Algae: "It's Not Oil. His Solution Is Algae. ... I Think He's On To Something Here." From the February 23 edition of Fox News' Special Report:
KRAUTHAMMER: I was impressed by the president's analysis of this situation where, you know, we have no control over the global price of oil, we're dependent on oil from unfriendlies. And he says, as we heard, drilling for oil to relieve our dependency is not a solution, it's not a plan. He said we've got to go into clean energy, and he talked about something really revolutionary today: algae. A $14 million grant for the development of algae. So it's not oil; his solution is algae. And because we know that the Secretary of Energy is a physicist who won the Nobel Prize, the president, knowing all this stuff, said that one of the reasons that we should doing this is because we can grow algae here in the United States.
Now, it happens that algae will grow on anywhere on earth. I looked it up while I was away for those three days. You thought I was sunning myself -- I did research. It grows in oceans, in lakes and ponds, in your swimming pool when the pool man's on vacation, in snow, in ice, on soil, on turtles, on sloths, the bark of trees and rocks. Now, why are we drilling for oil? We are the Saudi Arabia of rocks. We have a mountain range called the Rockies, and we are allowing ourselves to be dominated by these oil producers.
I think he's on to something here that is truly revolutionary. Why would you build a pipeline, the Keystone pipeline, that would build real oil from Canada to put in real refineries and put in real existing cars when you can do algae? I think he's on to something, and I think this shows the vision, the hope and change he promised in 2008. [Fox News, Special Report, 2/24/12]
Study Did Show Algal Fuel "Could Replace 17 Percent" Of U.S. Oil Imports
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Study Found That Algal Fuel Could Replace 17 Percent Of Gas Currently Being Imported. An April 2011 Wired article cited the same study Obama referenced in his speech, which was conducted by a team of researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. According to Wired, the study found "algal fuel could replace 17 percent of the petroleum the United States imports for transportation fuel each year" in the future. The 17 percent figure was the study's more conservative estimate -- the Wired article noted that the study found the U.S. could theoretically "cut petroleum imports by 48 percent," though such a high level wouldn't be "terribly practical." From Wired:
Forget hydrogen. Algae may be the fuel of the future.
A study by researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory finds algal fuel could replace 17 percent of the petroleum the United States imports for transportation fuel each year.
Algal fuels are made by extracting and refining the lipids within algae. Algae are attractive biofuel feedstock because it grows quickly and thrives in everything from seawater to irrigation runoff to sewage. Such fuels could go a long way toward meeting the Energy Independence and Security Act. That law requires that biofuels replace more than 10 percent of our current petroleum consumption by 2022. Half of that biofuel must come from something other than corn.
If we went for broke and maxed out our capacity to produce algae, we could cut petroleum imports by 48 percent, the researchers say. But we'd need several times our annual consumption of irrigation water to do so. It isn't terribly practical.
John Timmer, a biochemist who writes for our sister publication Ars Techica, offers some interesting analysis of the study.
He says the 48 percent figure is based on unrealistic assumptions. Even the possibility of replacing 17 percent of our oil imports with algal fuel must be taken with a grain of salt.
With that in mind, Timmer writes, the researchers balance productivity and water requirements. That left the Gulf Coast, Southeast Seaboard and Great Lakes as ideal locations. And that led them to conclude we could replace 17 percent of our imported oil while consuming one-quarter of the water used each year for agriculture irrigation.
"That's still quite high, but remember that this assumes unpolluted freshwater," Timmer writes. "The areas along the Gulf and Atlantic cost [sic] could easily use a combination of saltwater and municipal waste. The latter source could potentially provide for facilities in some of the areas in the Southwest that are otherwise ruled out due to their high water use." [Wired, 4/15/11]
Algal Biofuel Is Already Manufactured And Used ...
2009 Popular Mechanics Article Covered "5 Companies Making Fuel From Algae Now." An October 2009 Popular Mechanics article stated that "[a]lgae is now a burgeoning sector in biofuels with several high-profile start-ups" and profiled five energy companies that were then "leading the pack" in the "nascent field." One company, Algenol Biofuels, had a goal of producing "1 billion gallons annually by 2012" at a production cost of "around 85 cents per gallon." From Popular Mechanics:
Ubiquitous and easy to grow, algae has long been a promising biomass-to-fuel candidate in the eyes of researchers. Now algae is a burgeoning sector in biofuels with several high-profile start-ups, including Craig Venter's Synthetic Genomics, and the interest of big-time investors like Bill Gates and ExxonMobil. Of course, hurdles still exist to make a competitive fuel. Algal biofuels still cost too much to produce--over $8 a gallon (pdf), according to the DOE. Furthermore, most existing strains do not yield oil in the quantities needed to quickly scale up to commercial production of biofuels. Companies also need to worry about contaminating local ecosystems and the amount of water needed to grow cultures in large batches. Despite these challenges inroads--and actual fuel--are being made in the nascent field. Here are 5 projects leading the pack today. [Popular Mechanics, 10/13/09]
2009 Scientific American Article: Algal "Jet Fuel Was Tested Earlier This Year ... The Test Flight Showed That Algae Fuel Gets Better Mileage Than Petroleum-Based Fuel." An April 2009 Scientific American article stated that Continental Airlines had then conducted "the first commercial airline test of algae-based biofuel" :
[Biotech company Sapphire Energy's] jet fuel was tested earlier this year by two of three airlines testing the commercial use of algae-based fuels in flight. Continental Airlines reported that the Boeing 737-800 test flight on Jan. 7 was successful. That test was the first commercial airline test of algae-based biofuel.
"Continental's primary role in the demonstration was to show that the biofuel blend would perform just like traditional jet fuel in our existing aircraft without modification of the engines or the aircraft," said Holden Shannon, Continental's senior vice president for global research and security, during a congressional hearing last month. "This is important because ... the current engine and airframe technology is unlikely to change materially for many years, so it is crucial that alternative fuel be safe for use with the current aircraft technology."
[Sapphire Energy Vice President of Corporate Affairs Tim] Zenk said the test flight showed that algae fuel gets better mileage than petroleum-based jet fuel. "We noticed a 4 percent increase in energy density in the fuels because of the lower-burning temperatures in the engine itself, which resulted in greater fuel mileage," he said. [Scientific American, 4/28/09]
In Nov. 2011, Continental Airlines Flew The First Revenue Passenger Flight Powered By Biofuel "Derived Partially From ... Algae." From a November 2011 Chicago Tribune article:
Continental Airlines Flight 1403 made history when it landed at O'Hare International Airport on Monday, becoming the first revenue passenger trip in the U.S. powered by biofuel.
The Boeing 737-800, which was painted in the new environmental "eco-skies'' livery of United Airlines and flown by Continental pilots, burned a " green jet fuel'' derived partially from genetically modified algae that feeds off plant waste and produces oil.
In completing the Continental flight from Houston, parent company United Continental Holdings Inc. thus won by a scant two days the competition to launch the first biofuel-powered air service in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Alaska Airlines is scheduled to begin 75-passenger flights along with its sister airline, Horizon Air, that will take place over the next few weeks using a biofuel blend made from recycled cooking oil. Alaska Airlines officials said the 20 percent biofuel blend its planes will use will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent.
More U.S. airlines are expected to join the effort to fly more cleanly -- and eventually more economically -- than the use of traditional, petroleum-based Jet-A fuel allows, based on a crude oil price of $100 a barrel or higher, experts said. [Chicago Tribune, 11/8/11]
... And Scientists Are Discovering Ways To Increase Algae's Energy Output
Wired: Researchers Recently "Discovered How To Make Algae Produce 50 To 80 Percent More Biomass, [Which] Could Foster The Production Of Algal Biofuel." From a November 2011 Wired article:
Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered how to make algae produce 50 to 80 percent more biomass, a finding that could foster the production of algal biofuel. The trick involves expressing, or activating, two genes that promote photosynthesis.
[Researcher and professor Martin] Spalding first tinkered with each gene individually to see what effect it had on the algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Expressing them individually yielded a 10 to 15 percent increase in biomass. Expressing them together boosted it 50 to 80 percent.
The excess biomass naturally becomes starch, increasing the biomass around 80 percent. Using existing mutated genes, Spalding can direct the algae to make oil instead. That requires more energy, increasing biomass just 50 percent.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this brings us closer [to affordable, domestic biofuel]," Spalding said. [Wired, 11/22/11]
NY Times: Sapphire Energy Scientist Says Company Has "Probably Engineered Over 4,000 Strains" Of Algae With The Goal Of Creating "Highly Efficient" "Superalgae." From a July 2010 New York Times article:
In a laboratory where almost all the test tubes look green, the tools of modern biotechnology are being applied to lowly pond scum.
Foreign genes are being spliced into algae and native genes are being tweaked.
Different strains of algae are pitted against one another in survival-of-the-fittest contests in an effort to accelerate the evolution of fast-growing, hardy strains.
The goal is nothing less than to create superalgae, highly efficient at converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into lipids and oils that can be sent to a refinery and made into diesel or jet fuel.
"We've probably engineered over 4,000 strains," said Mike Mendez, a co-founder and vice president for technology at Sapphire Energy, the owner of the laboratory. "My whole goal here at Sapphire is to domesticate algae, to make it a crop."
Dozens of companies, as well as many academic laboratories, are pursuing the same goal -- to produce algae as a source of, literally, green energy. And many of them are using genetic engineering or other biological techniques, like chemically induced mutations, to improve how algae functions.
"There are probably well over 100 academic efforts to use genetic engineering to optimize biofuel production from algae," said Matthew C. Posewitz, an assistant professor of chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines, who has written a review of the field. "There's just intense interest globally."
Algae are attracting attention because the strains can potentially produce 10 or more times more fuel per acre than the corn used to make ethanol or the soybeans used to make biodiesel. Moreover, algae might be grown on arid land and brackish water, so that fuel production would not compete with food production. And algae are voracious consumers of carbon dioxide, potentially helping to keep some of this greenhouse gas from contributing to global warming. [New York Times, 7/26/10]
Algal Fuel Production Reportedly Has Lower Net CO2 Emissions Than Traditional Fossil Fuel Production
Scientific American: "Another Major Benefit Of Algae As A Fuel Feedstock Is Its Massive Consumption Of Carbon Dioxide." The 2009 Scientific American article noted that "the production of each gallon of [algal] oil consumes 13 to 14 kilograms of [carbon dioxide]" :
Another major benefit of algae as a fuel feedstock is its massive consumption of carbon dioxide.
In the Sapphire process, 1 kilogram of algae biomass uses 1.8 kilograms of CO2. About 50 percent of that algal biomass is oil, so the production of each gallon of oil consumes 13 to 14 kilograms of the greenhouse gas, Zenk said.
"You can see, it's just completely packed full of that stuff," Zenk said. "That's what makes it one of the most unique plants on planet Earth for consumption of carbon."
And while the company uses energy to transport CO2 and water to its algae-production facilities in the New Mexico desert and to transport fuels they produce, Zenk said Sapphire's lifecycle emissions are two-thirds to three-quarters less than those of producing standard diesel.
Scott Klara, director of the Strategic Center for Coal at the Energy Department's National Energy Technology Laboratory, said at a Washington energy conference last week that his team is looking into research on the beneficial reuse of CO2 from coal-fired power plants to stimulate algae production for fuels.
Companies are "starting to come forward with nifty schemes and technologies to grow algae fast, harvest that algae and then use it as fuel," Klara said. "At the end of the day, you're still going to have CO2 emissions, but you're using the CO2 twice, effectively. So there's major efficiency there." [Scientific American, 4/28/09]
Exxon Mobil, Bill Gates, Rockefellers Have Invested In Algae Biofuel Industry
2008 WSJ Blog Post: Gates Invested In "Sapphire Energy, A Start Up Working Towards A Commercial-Scale Facility To Produce Oil From Algae." From a September 2008 post on the Wall Street Journal blog Environmental Capital:
Bill Gates is plunging his hands into pond scum.
Cascades Investments LLC, Mr. Gates' personal investment vehicle, is backing Sapphire Energy, a start up working towards a commercial-scale facility to produce oil from algae. And by all indications, he is not trying to save the world from its petroaddiction. He's trying to make some money.
Little known outside of green-energy circles, Sapphire Energy is at the forefront of an effort to use single-celled organisms to turn out refinery-ready oil that can be either mixed with conventional crude or turned directly into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. [Environmental Capital, The Wall Street Journal, 9/17/08]
WSJ Blog Post Also Noted That "The Rockefeller Family's ... Venrock Was An Early Backer" Of Sapphire Energy. The Environmental Capital post went on to note that "the Rockefeller family's venture capital vehicle Venrock" was also "an early backer" of Sapphire Energy:
Still, the San Diego based company is attracting some impressive investors. These include two of the world's most famous wealthy families. In addition to Mr. Gates and kin, the Rockefeller family's venture capital vehicle Venrock was an early backer. The other two financial backers are Arch Venture Partners and Wellcome Trust. Each has contributed roughly equal amounts of the $100 million Sapphire has raised to date, according to chief executive Jason Pyle. (The investment by Cascade, which didn't return a call for comment, is new. Sapphire had previously disclosed backing from other firms.) [Environmental Capital, The Wall Street Journal, 9/17/08]
Sapphire Energy Was Listed By Forbes In 2011 As One Of "America's Most Promising Companies" And One Of "16 Companies To Watch With Under $1 Million In Sales." In November 2011, Sapphire Energy was listed by Forbes as one of "16 companies to watch with under $1 million in sales." It was also chosen for Forbes' list of "America's Most Promising Companies." [Forbes, accessed 2/28/12, accessed 2/28/12]
NY Times: Exxon Mobil Made "$600 Million Investment In Algae-Based Biofuels." A July 2009 New York Times article noted that Exxon Mobil was making a "a major jump into renewable energy with a $600 million investment in algae-based biofuels." The article said the collaboration with biotech company Synthetic Genomics, Inc., was planned to last "five to six years." From The New York Times:
Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. is making a major jump into renewable energy with a $600 million investment in algae-based biofuels.
Exxon is joining a biotech company, Synthetic Genomics Inc., to research and develop next-generation biofuels produced from sunlight, water and waste carbon dioxide by photosynthetic pond scum.
Exxon Mobil's collaboration with Synthetic Genomics will last five to six years, Jacobs said, and will involve the creation of a new test facility in San Diego to study algae-growing methods and oil extraction techniques. After that, he said the company could invest billions of dollars more to scale up the technology and bring it to commercial production.
Exxon Mobil launched the partnership after years of being publicly opposed to investing in renewable energy. Privately, though, Jacobs said the company has been investigating the sector for years.
"It's fair to say that we looked at all the biofuels options," Jacobs said. "Algae ended up on top."
Others in the algae-biofuels industry say Exxon Mobil's investment validates the sector.
"A couple years ago, the petroleum institute said there's only a couple of years left for oil, and now they're really finally acting on that," said Riggs Eckelberry, president and CEO of OriginOil Inc. "Algae is the feedstock to overtake petroleum. It's the real alternative to petroleum." [The New York Times, 7/14/09]
Conservative Politicians Have Backed Government Investment In Developing Algal Biofuels
Seven Californian GOP Congressmen Wrote To Chu To Support The "Consortium For Algal Biofuels Commercialization." In October 2009, seven Republican congressmen from California -- Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Jerry Lewis, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Mary Bono Mack, Rep. David Dreier, Rep. Duncan Hunter, and Rep. Brian Bilbray -- signed a letter to Chu support the "Consortium for Algal Biofuels Commercialization's proposal ... to establish a world-leading effort to develop sustainable energy solutions based on algae biofuels." The letter continued, "[D]evelopment of algae as a viable and sustainable source of transportation fuel is critical to decreasing America's dependence on imported oil, while creating new sources of meaningful green collar jobs." [HuffingtonPost.com, accessed 2/28/12, via Twitter, 2/27/12]
GOP Sen. Johanns Wrote A Letter To Dept. Of Energy Supporting "Establish[ing] The San Diego Center For Algae Biotechnology." In September 2009, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu to "express my support for the proposal submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology." Johanns continued, "This center would develop technology to decrease our dependence on imported oil, contribute to the establishment of a new sustainable energy industry and create new jobs." [Slideshare, accessed 2/28/12, via Twitter, 2/27/12]
GOP Rep. Pence Wrote To Chu To "Share My Strong Support" For Biotech Company Developing An "Algae Photo-Bioreactor That Will Support ... Production Of Biofuels." In a July 2009 letter to Chu, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) wrote:
I am writing to share my strong support for a grant application submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Stellarwind Bio Energy, LLC, under the ARPA-E initiative.
Specifically, Stellarwing Bio Energy, LLC is developing a low capital, operational cost algae photo-bioreactor system that will support large-scale, high-productivity single-species cultivation of micro-algae for the production of biofuels. This will make possible large scale production of 10,000 gallons of oil per acre of land per year, while consuming 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions per acre per year. [Slideshare, accessed 2/28/12, via Twitter, 2/27/12]
Right-Wing Media Have A History Of Attacking Renewable Energy
Fox Nation Claimed The "ENTIRE Solar Industry" Was On The "Brink Of Collapse." A December 2011 post on Fox Nation claimed that the "ENTIRE Solar Industry" was on the "Brink of Collapse." [Media Matters, 12/2/12]
Conservative Media Declared That Solar Power "Doesn't Work." In August and September 2011, guests on Fox Business and Fox News claimed that solar technology "doesn't work" and "[doesn't] make economic sense anywhere." On the August 16 edition of Fox News' The Five, co-host Greg Gutfeld said: "Every sensible person knows that solar is about as effective as energy as I am at reaching things from a high shelf. It doesn't work. ... It's a complete fantasy." [Media Matters, 9/2/11; Fox News, The Five, 8/16/11, via Media Matters]
Fox's Varney Claimed "Virtually Nothing" Has Come From Wind And Solar Subsidies. In April 2011, Fox Business host Stuart Varney claimed that "[v]irtually nothing" has resulted from subsidies for wind and solar power.
· In Fact, Wind And Solar Industries Have Been Growing At A Record Pace. The U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration stated in January 2011 that "[w]ind power has been the fastest-growing source of new electric power generation for several years." The Solar Energy Industries Association has written that "2010 was a banner year for the solar energy market in the United States." [Media Matters, 4/26/11]
Fox Aired Footage Of A Collapsing Wind Turbine While Discussing Obama's March 2011 Energy Speech. On the March 31, 2011, edition of Fox News' American's Newsroom, co-host Martha MacCallum discussed a recent energy speech of Obama's with guest Eric Bolling. As they spoke, footage of a collapsing wind turbine was aired. At one point, Bolling said: "[Obama's] got the idea of windmills, he's got the idea of solar panels, he's got the idea of switchblade -- switch grass -- these things don't work, Martha." [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 3/31/11, via Media Matters]


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FAQs / Getting Started
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Getting Started
We provide support to all leagues via our contact us page.
Before contacting us for support, it's worth reading our frequently asked questions (FAQs). These are continually updated to provide answers to common questions. There's a good chance that your question has already been answered in the FAQs.


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Located at 60-77 Fresh Pond Rd., the Fresh Pond Pet Shop was purchased by new owners in November last year. According to neighbors, the shop is in poor condition and hours of operation are irregular and short.
On Friday, March 7, local resident Angela Connell mentioned in passing that the shop looked to be a little rough around the edges to a deli owner on the block, and he told her that it regularly opens late in the day.
Her interest was piqued, and so shortly after the store opened at 1:15 p.m. she went inside to see if the animals inside were being taken care of.
"I went in there and I started snapping pictures – not one of the animals had food and water. The [store owner] said 'I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it,'" Connell said, going on to add that there was a pungent odor inside. "I couldn't breathe, I had to put my scarf over my nose. The cat litter was full of urine and feces."
Connell said at that point she began making phone calls to anyone and everyone she could think of who deals with animal cruelty and neglect cases.
"I called the Health Department, PITA, Humane Society – I was back and forth with a lot of different agencies," Connell said.
When she spoke with the Health Department, Connell said they told her they've tried to check the place out several times but the shop has never been open when they've come calling.
A few days later, after continued community pressure, police visited the shop and taped a paper sign on the rolling gate notifying owners that the 104th Precinct must be contacted for the gate to be opened.
On Wednesday of last week, police accompanied the pet shop owners inside to inspect the premises while at the same time a NY1 reporter accompanied Jamie Raia and John Oliveira, a couple having trouble retrieving their mini-pincher from the Fresh Pond Pet Shop after boarding him there for the weekend.
Oliveira said he dropped Roo off at the shop on Friday before he and Raia left the city for a trip to his hometown of Bangor, Maine. The couple has owned 11-month-old Roo since July, and this was their first time boarding him. After Oliveira dropped their puppy off, Raia reported feeling anxious about leaving her dog at a kennel, so she called Efrain Martinez, who identified himself as one of the shop owners. He reassured her that everything would be fine, said Raia.
But when the couple returned from their trip and attempted to retrieve their pup, things got hairy.
"Off the bat, he said no, and continued to play games through text messages, saying things like, 'Whatever I don't care.' Then he said the kid who was one of his workers had the dog," Raia said. "When we went there I saw my dog in the for sale window. All I wanted to do was to board my dog for the weekend so me and my boyfriend could go away."
When they were able to get Roo out of the building, they immediately took him to a nearby veterinary clinic. In the exam, which was complimentary "due to traumatic experience with store/boarding," Roo was found to be stable with slight dehydration.
The veterinarian pointed out to the couple that kennels are required by law to check and verify vaccination records at check-in. According to Oliveira, he was not asked to provide up-to-date vaccination records when he dropped off Roo.
"Police responded to the location to address the community's concerns," said a representative from the NYPD. "Three criminal summonses were issued in regards."
These summonses, the officer confirmed, were filed by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and include failing to post permit, failing to display a business certificate and [failure to complete] training."
On Monday evening, the neighborhood was buzzing when the shop's former groomer opened the gate, ran to the back of the store to put an animal into a carrying case, and then darted back out again, according Sallee Hannon, who lives across the street and adopted a chinchilla from the shop for free when it was found they were not permitted to sell the animals.
She reported that no one had previously entered the premises for a several day span, and there were still animals inside, contrary to a previous police report that all animals had been removed.
To investigate this discrepancy, DCPI sent an officer to the scene who reportedly confirmed one cat, a shop cat that was not for sale, was present in the store. The officer reported that former groomer was feeding and taking care of the cat, but Hannon's take on things was different.
"She was in and out in four minutes before I could walk across the avenue. She ran to the back of the store, got a cat in her [carrying] case and left," Hannon said. "I was able to look inside before she shut the gate again and I saw all the fish inside were dead."
Raia and Oliveira announced Monday that they plan to file a civil suit against the shop for endangering Roo, who they – like many pet owners – consider to be a part of their family, not just an animal.
Hannon also said Monday that she and several other members of the community planned to visit the 104th Precinct on Tuesday to file criminal charges against the shop.
Neither the shop owners Efrain Martinez and Kim Ruiz, nor the building owner Joseph Corsini, responded to requests for comment as of press time.


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Las Vegas and the 28th Annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show once again made for the perfect cocktail at this three day extravaganza that took place March 19-21, 2013. Who better to lead the festivities than Jon Taffer, star of Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" and president of Nightclub & Bar Media Group, who shared his wealth of knowledge while attendees were treated to some of the newest and tastiest libations along with the hottest trends in the industry?
Jon could hardly contain his excitement about this event, which began 28 years ago with 80 booths and 200 people and now has the seams of the Las Vegas Convention Center ready to explode.
"The show floor is up 30% over last year! Las Vegas has 7 of the 10 biggest nightclubs, Marquee does 90 million dollars, XS does 90 million, TAO does 70 million, Las Vegas is the nightclub capital of the world," Jon said. "But those are not the only night clubs, there are clubs for every person and every budget."
As you already know if you have ever seen "Bar Rescue," Jon knows how to help bars and nightclubs succeed. Creating an experience is important for any nightclub to succeed, he said, and having a DJ that is a draw is important as they can have as much cache as a rock band these days. Making great drinks is always most important, and Jon pointed out that flavored liquors have really taken over. He also pointed out that to succeed you need to take advantage of technology and stay up with what is out there.
"Everything is so mobile now, you can make reservations, order your drinks, pay your bill and communicate with your friends," Jon said. "What business are we in (show attendees)? Not the hospitality industry....the REACTION business! Everything we do is a process, not a result. You need to create a reaction through your product/presentation. Use drinks as a vehicle to connect and create a reaction."
A popular exhibitor at the show, 360 Vodka was showcasing their unique line of Vodka flavors and letting people know about their eco-friendly company. Among the many initiatives that 360 Vodka has in place, one of the best has to be the "Close the Loop" program. The bottles use swing-top caps and you can mail them back to 360 Vodka with their postage-paid envelope (made from 100% recycled paper), and they will reuse the cap. In addition they donate $1.00 to Global Green USA, and to date they have received close to 50,000 swing-top caps back. This smooth vodka has such great flavors as Georgia Peach and Mandarin Orange, which are perfect for mixing cocktails, but it is the unique flavors that will wow your taste buds. How about buttered popcorn vodka, glazed donut or double chocolate—talk about opening the doors of mixology! And, the flavors are spot on to their name. For more information on Vodka 360, visit: www.Vodka360.com
This may very well have been the year of Tequila at the Nightclub and Bar Convention and the smoothest of them all had to be Demetrio Premium Tequila. This 100% Blue Agave tequila from the Guadalajara region of Mexico recently won the 2012 TEQUILA.net "Best of the Best" Lowland Blanco Tequila Award. Another unique tequila that was being showcased was Dirty Tequila. This great tasting tequila is flavored with cinnamon and pineapple, really providing a great combination and showing that tequila can take on many different flavors.
A few of the other noteworthy items on the Nightclub and Bar Convention floor included: CeeLo Green and his TY KU Premium Sake & Spirits, MillerCoors getting everyone read for summertime with Leinenkugal's Summer Shandy, Kahlua showcasing their new Kahlua Midnight, a great combination of Kahlua and rum that is a great mixer or smooth enough to go down straight or on the rocks. Getting to see TurboTap in person was a real treat, it does pour the perfect beer in seconds, I really wonder why this is not in every bar. There were plenty of taps pouring out a wide assortment of beer, but it was great to see Pabst Blue Ribbon on hand as their rebirth continues. Looking for fresher ingredients to mix in cocktails, Les vergers Boiron fruit purees make for the perfect addition to any bar or club. Fresh and natural, anyone would be happy to taste all of the flavor that Boiron adds to their drinks.
One of the most unique items of the convention was the introduction of "Tea of a Kind." What separates this from other teas or any other beverage is that it uses the patented "Gizmo Closure and Delivery System,"an innovative, pressurized bottle cap design that infuses a drink with fresh, preservative free ingredients upon opening. While many drinks claim to have any variety of vitamins and antioxidants, those things diminish when diluted in pre-mixed beverages that sit on the shelf.
With Tea of a Kind, everything is kept in the cap and when you twist the cap to open your bottle, all of the ingredients burst into your bottle and mix, creating a fresh and healthy drink that has only 20 calories per bottle and comes in Peach Ginger Black Tea, Citrus Mint Green Tea, and Pomegranate Acai White Tea. Be one of the first to give this new product a try and you will be hooked. For more information on "Tea of a Kind," visit: www.TeaofaKind.com
While the show itself was impressive, the list of party locations gave guests the chance to experience the best that Las Vegas has to offer in terms of night clubs. The well-attended Nightclub & Bar Show Welcome Kick-off Party took place at Caesars Palace Pool, and then the three platinum parties were held at: Hyde at Bellagio, Marquee at Cosmopolitan and Tryst at Wynn. It would be hard to top that threesome.
The 28th Annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show was a huge success for everyone in attendance. Whether it was trying to spread the word about the latest cocktail, how to make sure you get the most bang for your buck in the business world, or just looking to stock your bar with something new and fresh, there was knowledge to gain and drinks, well, to drink. These three days are a combination of education, fun, parties and entertainment, and overall it is just one big festive event that was as smooth as the drinks that were being served. 2014 is a year away, but waiting to see what is in store for the industry over the next year will likely bring an even bigger audience in next year.
For more information on the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, visit: http://www.ncbshow.com


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Ursher and Tameka To Marry Earlier...
What's going on with that kangaroo pouch
Not cute at all. She needs to do 50 crunchs everyday for 3 weeks
All that money USHER got he could get his girl tummy did!!!!! Looks like she had churn!!!!!
This is pretty nasty. Isn't she pregnant also???
Why did she hoe herself with this picture????
you gone stop with that nastiness!
This comment has been removed by the author.
She is a sly person I honestly think SHE planned this pregnancy! Usher's mom might have told him about this woman; but he didn't like it so he fired his mom! Alot of these women are tricky like that (BTW this is coming from a woman who with no kids thank GOD)!
Usher is by far not the hottest, but damn! He could've have done way better. This hussy is old enough to have grown children, so she should've known better than to show her Rasputia-like stomach to the public. It's so crazy because I thought Usher was all about the bodies. He really dropped the ball this time.
Damn, I guess Usher got tired of playing "step-daddy" and wanted one of his own.
Is she wearing a pad????
black american is ugly ,boastful slave , monkey ,gruesome leave united state asshole yuckk
Damm!!! you usher
Usher u are too sexy to be seen with this ugly grl. Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u messed up real BAD.


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Administrative Services Fee
Administrative Services Fees reimburse the Administration & Finance Division for providing human resources, business and financial services to Trust Fund activities. Charges come through one of two mechanisms: 1) the annual Cost Allocation Plan, which includes large self-supporting units (e.g. Housing, Parking, IES, etc.), or 2) the Administrative Services Fee.
Units that are not included in the Cost Allocation Plan and have trust funds with revenues of $5,000 or more collected/deposited in a given fiscal year will be charged the Administrative Services Fee. Transfer In accounts (account codes starting with "570"), and cost recovery revenues (accounts 580094 and 580095) are excluded from the revenue base.
The Administrative Services Fee is calculated as 8% of all new revenues posted during a 12-month period betweenJune 1 and May 31. Administrative Services charges are posted quarterly by Accounting Services and will appear as an expense in account 660898-Bus & Fin Services.


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Recent Quotes from Short-Termers
"Our missions experience has helped me have a deeper closeness to God's heart for all people. Figuring out that I was being asked to pray for a Nepali lady freed me to pray in my language and know that God knew her needs because I didn't. I feel bolder to pray for people in my church without knowing their specific needs." Verna – Nepal 2016
"The main benefit was in the area of building relationships as opposed to being on a short-term mission and engaged in constructions. I learned how to give a good testimony. You guys have great training material for anyone going on a first time trip." Jim – Ukraine 2016
"I have learned to trust God with all the little things and the big things. I have found Him completely trustworthy. I feel so safe with Him. I always want to do things God's way because I know that that is where the real joy of life is." — Kathryn – Romania 2016
"It was a great opportunity to put self aside for a period and learn to 'decrease, that Christ might increase.'" — Robert – Poland 2016
"I learned how to put aside my plans, fears, and what I thought I needed to do what God had in store for me. I learned that sometimes, my job is to be the one in the background, supporting others through prayer. I learned that if I push God aside, he will call me back, and do everything possible to get my focus back on him. I learned how to put myself aside and serve him with a willing heart and a genuine joyful smile. I learned that God can use anyone and anything to fulfill His plans. I experienced how the Holy Spirit connects people throught him. Believers may not speak the same language, but we can still minister to each other if we're all in tune with the Spirit." Henia – Poland 2016
"Family English Camp has renewed my hope for the people in my life who have not yet put their trust in Jesus. The camp continues year after year to invest in nonbelievers and to share the Good News with love--some say yes to Jesus the first year, some the 8th year, and some never do. I never know who in my life will put their trust in Jesus the next time they hear the Gospel. Just like at camp, I only need to continue inviting, continue sharing, and continue loving. I also benefited from the experience of team unity. That is the kind of unity I want to see on any team or in any church I am a part of!" Sara – Poland 2016
"I am glad to have had the opportunity to experience what I did. I left with a joyful feeling knowing that I was able to carry out an outreach like this and help plant the seed of salvation in the minds and hearts of so many people. As to my effectiveness, it is up to the Holy Spirit to continue the process of salvation. I cannot save anyone from their sins. Only Jesus could have done that. We only become failures when we think that we do the saving. Our calling is to plant the seed, pray for the people that we reached out to, and let the Lord be glorified during the process." David – Ukraine 2016


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Former Motor City Masher Kevin Rayl and I left the Detroit area at around 5AM on Wednesday morning. After a couple of rest stops and some great conversation, we arrived in Minneapolis at 3PM central time. Got up to our rooms, which had a great view, which gave me time to post a quick video:
Around 4:30PM CT, we met up with Lisa and Kevin Podsaid and headed over to Impact Brewing Company using Uber for the Chop and Brü Prefunk Party (hosted by Chop-n-Brew's Chip Walton and Malcolm Frazer and the gang from Brülosophy), where we met up with some more Motor City Mashers, including Dan Kukuk, Mike Neville and Kaity Friske for some beers and good times! We even could up with some old friends, like Dan Fick from CRAFT homebrew club in Michigan:
and met some new friends, like Rex from The Brew Bag (best BIAB bags in the universe – BIG HUG) and Anthony, who we met at the table for the first time (nice guy).
Insight Brewing had some really solid beers on tap. Some people even brought some homebrew to share, but because the beers were so solid and we were all having such a good time, I never got back to the area where the homebrews were. While there, 'Old Dirty Bastards', the team of Kevin Rayl, Kevin Podsaid, Lisa Podsaid and yours truly in round 1, and Kevin, Kevin, Dan Fick and yours truly in round 2, beat back all competition (including a tough team made up of Motor City Mashers, Rex from The Brew Bag and Anthony) to win the championship of Trivia hosted by Drew Beechum (of Experimental Brewing fame). We won glasses, stickers and shirts from Insight Brewing. We did not win any of the big prizes (and they were awesome prizes), but we all had a great time! The Chop and Brü Prefunk Party was also a success as a fundraiser for a local food pantry. Great job by Insight Brewing and the folks at Chop-n-Brew and Brülosophy for a great night! Looks like they had a good time too:
They had set up karaoke, which brought out a couple of our artists, Dan Kukuk and Kevin Podsaid:
At one point, we all got in the act (videos courtesy of Dan Fick):
The night wasn't over when the party ended at 10PM, so we then headed to Town Hall Brewery for some food and more beer. I had a nice flight of cask and nitro beers along with chicken strips dipped in 3 different sauces along with a malted waffle wedge.
Before we knew it, most of us were yawning and getting ready to head back to our rooms for a nice rest. (Kevin and Lisa Podsaid kept the party going for the rest of us at another late night location.)
On Thursday, we check in to the conference, pick up our badges, attend some sessions, the keynote, welcome toast and kickoff party.
You can follow some of the beers I'm having on my Untappd page: https://untappd.com/user/raybilyk
Also, stop by booth 1118 (Motor City Mashers) at Club Night and try the Raspberry Wheat. Would love to have your opinion of it: https://untappd.com/b/the-pridelands-brewery-homebrewcon-2017-raspberry-wheat/2145207


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About BFEF - Jose Bautista
José Antonio Bautista Santos is a Dominican professional baseball right fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. His professional career began when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 20th round of the 2000 first year player draft. In 2010, Bautista became the 26th member of the 50 home run club while leading the major leagues in home runs for the first of two consecutive seasons, and, from 2010–15, has hit more home runs than any player in the major leagues. An MLB All-Star selection six consecutive times, he has won three Silver Slugger Awards and two Hank Aaron Awards. In addition, he has received the American League Player of the Month Award five times and the Player of the Week four times. Before being traded to the Blue Jays, Bautista primarily played third base.
Although major league scouts initially noted Bautista while in junior college for his batting skills – including power hitting potential – and a strong throwing arm, his career took detours until realizing his potential in 2010. He made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004, and, that year, became the first player ever to appear on five MLB rosters in one season. The last of those clubs were the Pirates, where he played at five different positions as a utility player until being traded to the Blue Jays in 2008. After making adjustments to his swing, Bautista broke through with ten home runs in September 2009. He has since been voted in the top ten in the AL Most Valuable Player Award four times and is a leader or among the top ten in numerous offensive single-season and career categories in Blue Jays' franchise history.
Since 2010, Bautista has hit at least 20 home runs each year, and in four of those seasons, has hit at least 35 home runs, has both scored and driven in at least 100 runs, and has drawn at least 100 bases on balls, including twice leading the AL. In 2015, while playing in the playoffs for the first time, his bat flip in the American League Division Series caused a sensation that became a symbol of Toronto's first playoff appearance in 22 years. In 2011, he set up a program that assists athletes from the Dominican Republic to attend universities in the United States.
Jose Bautista Facts
- Jose is one of several Chipola JC players in the majors. Among the others are Russell Martin and Mat Gamel.
- From 2003 to 2007, Jose played for Licey in the Dominican Winter League. In 2005–06, he slugged eight homers in 44 games for Los Tigres.
- Between 2004 & 2008, Jose wore 7 different numbers in the major leagues: 27, 59, 14, 50, 7, 19 & 23.
- Jose hit two grand slams in 2006—the first off Tim Worrell and the second off Elmer Dessens.
- Jose averaged an outfield assist once every seven games in 2009—the highest mark in the majors.
- Few sluggers have ever started as slowly as Jose. He did not hit his first big league homer until his third season and 80th game.
- Jose played for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
- Jose stands to become the fifth player in history to lead the league in homers without having hit 20 in any previous season. The others are Harmon Killebrew, Mike Schmidt, Mark McGwire and Cecil Fielder.
- In 2010, Jose homered in 11 consecutive series to set a new team record. The old record was held by Carlos Delgado.
- Jose made his first All-Star appearance in 2010. He entered the game as a pinch runner for Josh Hamilton in the fourth inning. He remained in the game and went 0-for-1, popping up against Brian Wilson.
- Jose switched his number from 23 to 19 before the 2010 season. Marco Scutaro had worn the number for the Jays in 2008 and 2009. Jose, his brother, and his mother were all born on the 19th.
Jose Bautista Bio
- Team: Toronto Blue Jays
- Age: 36
- Born: Oct 19, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Height: 6'0″
- Weight: 205
- Rookie Year: 2004
- MLB Experience: 12 Years
- Position: Outfield
- Player Number: 19


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MOSCOW, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Members of a Moscow group promoting healthy eating took to the city's transit system in flight attendant uniforms to hand out free salads to commuters.
The nonprofit group, The Truth About Food, said its "Stewardesses Go Underground" project Thursday involved women in flight attendant uniforms handing out salads on underground trains to encourage people to eat healthy breakfast foods, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.
Sergei Raksha, an organizer with the group, said the project was aimed at steering people away from fatty breakfasts such as pancakes stuffed with meat and cheese.
"We're showing Muscovites that there's an alternative," Raksha said.


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Standout running back Connor Schrader learned how to play youth football in Lake Zurich before moving away only to rejoin many of his teammates later in high school.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
- » Stevenson sophs play more like seniors
- » With gladness, Clark looks forward to more Madness
- » Lakes trio evolves and excels together
- » Junior Knights getting their day in the sun
- » After standing still 6 months, time starts to move for Mundelein's Knar
- » LZs cousin guard combo is a package deal
- » Brunsons brush with fame? Its just getting started
- » Fresh-faced Einloth fitting in just fine at Grayslake North
- » Excellence the norm for Waucondas Swenson
- » Mundeleins Big Four focus on bright collegiate futures
- » Sweet farewell to hoops for Lakes' Clark
- » Building a powerhouse, brick by brick, at LZ
- » Flyin high at Stevenson
- » Mundelein's Sermeno reverses field
- » Fish clearly a keeper at QB
- More from Patricia Babcock McGraw
All these years later, the trophy is still on display. Even two moves couldnt displace it from its rightful spot in Connor Schraders bedroom.
The Lake Zurich running back likes to reminisce about his third-grade Super Bowl victory. He remembers details of the game as if it had been played yesterday.
We won 14-0, and I was on the defensive line. We had a great team, Schrader said of his youth football days with the Lake Zurich Flames. A lot of my teammates now were on that team, guys like Jack Sweeney, Grant Soucy and Robert Rossdeutcher.
At the time, Schrader often wondered how many other Super Bowls and championships hed win with his Lake Zurich teammates.
Until one day, Schrader was no longer playing on any teams in Lake Zurich.
At the end of that third grade year, Schrader found out that his family would be moving to the Peoria area for his dad Rodneys job transfer with Komatsu, a construction equipment manufacturer. As he packed up his trophy and his other belongings, Schrader feared that he would never see his Super Bowl teammates again.
It was hard, Schrader said. Any time you leave friends, its tough.
It was just as tough for Schrader to say goodbye to a football program that was clearly on the rise and full of potential.
Schrader left town just as the varsity Bears earned their second of what has now become 11 straight playoff appearances.
Three years after the Schraders moved, in 2006, Lake Zurich placed second in the state. The year after that, the Bears won the 2007 Class 7A state championship.
All Schrader could do was watch from afar, and wonder what could have been.
Recently, Schrader got to stop wondering. And, as he prepares for another deep playoff run with the Bears, who open the Class 7A playoffs on Saturday against visiting Crystal Lake South, he still cant believe his good fortune and good timing.
Schrader got some of the best news of his young life two years ago when his father told the family that they were returning to Lake Zurich. His company was relocating him again.
I was really happy to know that I could finish out high school at Lake Zurich, said Schrader, who spent his freshman year and half of his sophomore year at downstate Dunlap High School. I was really excited about playing for a team like this. At Dunlap, it was just different.
Heading into this season, Dunlap had missed the playoffs only once in the previous 11 years. But the Eagles have never once advanced past the second round.
At Dunlap, we were always kind of middle of the pack and it was great just to get into the playoffs, Schrader said. Wed always get knocked out right away. Coming back to Lake Zurich, its so different. This program is a dominant program. Theres this expectation for getting to the semifinals and the finals every year.
I couldnt wait to be a part of that.
This season, Schrader will be a big part of any kind of magical run by the Bears.
After starting on the defensive line last season in his first full year back and helping Lake Zurich to a third semifinal appearance, Schrader is now the Bears top rusher.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior has rushed for 12 touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards. His best game came against Zion-Benton in which he rolled up 244 yards and 3 touchdowns. In a wild win over Stevenson that pretty much sealed Lake Zurichs fate as the North Suburban Conference Lake Division champion, Schrader sprinted for a 60-yard touchdown that decided the game.
When Connor came back in his sophomore year, we really had no idea what kind of player he was, Lake Zurich coach Dave Proffitt said. But we found out real quick. He was great on the defensive line last year and it shows you how good of an athlete he is that hes been able to go from there to running back.
Connor has great speed and hes got a fast motor. Hes always go, go, go, always playing like his hair is on fire. And hes always doing something to make himself better.
Schrader joined track to keep sharp for football, and hes worked with a speed coach in Deerfield. Hes also a fixture in the weight room.
Im a sleep-in-the-gym kind of guy, Schrader said with a laugh. I think I have a lot of drive and determination. Im always looking for a challenge.
I probably made one of my biggest jumps between my sophomore and junior year. I knew coming in (from Dunlap) that if I wanted to make an impact at a powerhouse school like Lake Zurich, I was going to have to be in the gym every single day.
The hard work is paying off in other ways, too.
Schrader is now receiving interest from college recruiters at the Division II and Division III levels.
I would love to play football in college, Schrader said. Id just want to be on a really good team again.
Dating all the way back to third grade, Lake Zurich has spoiled him.


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|Southeast Spotlight
Flowers along Egan Drive are sure sign of spring
Published: 05/30/2013 10:50:00
There are a few sure signs of spring that let you know the season is finally here, like seeing your first robin, another one here in Juneau is the flowers being planted downtown in the median of Egan Drive. It's a project that takes a lot of advance planning and it begins way back in the middle of winter.
VIDEO: C.B.J. Parks and Recreation tends to their annual plantings in the median of Egan Drive in downtown Juneau. (Image: Rik Pruett)
Ben Patterson, the Landscape Maintenance Supervisor for the C.B.J. Parks and Rec. Department, Explains.
"It all starts about the first week of February out there in the greenhouse, we plant all these flowers from seed, and we plant in our operations facility that's on Riverside out there and then we have about five hundred and fifty flats of flowers that go into the greenhouse and they stay in there until this time of year when we bring them outside for a little while, for about a week or so, and then they end up in the medians and in about thirty different spots all around town."
They plant over six thousand flowers in the median every year between the Gold Creek Bridge and Whittier Avenue, and all that hand planting takes the Parks and Rec team a fair amount of time to accomplish.
Ben Patterson:
"It varies depending on the weather, we've had pretty good weather this year, but believe it or not the good weather actually slows us down, we have to water more often so that takes some man hours to do that, all said it takes about a week.
The flats that you see there, we start with those and each four inch cell we put a divider in it and then we put the seeds in each cell by hand and that takes over a month to do all of that and what we end up with is about eighteen thousand flowers by this time of year.
It's a great feeling when you get it all done and it all starts to bloom, it's one to the best things to see in town when you drive down here it's a great thing about Juneau that we do this for everyone."
By: Rik Pruett - firstname.lastname@example.com


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As you may recall, in a recent post I wrote about high propane prices prompting me to give the green light to the Precision Air Geothermal Team. When we built this home, I remember asking my contractor about geothermal heating and cooling, but he dismissed the idea because he (inaccurately) thought it required a pond or lake. That was roughly 10 years ago. If I asked that same contractor today, he would probably know much more about geothermal (ground source) heat pumps and why anyone building a home should consider installing one. Well, ten years ago, Precision Air was designing, installing, and servicing geothermal systems, but hardly any other Middle Tennessee HVAC companies had embraced it yet. (Now they all offer it, though for many it seems to be a way to attract potential customers with the hopes they can sell them a more conventional system) I've had some emails asking me for numbers, so I thought I'd share the full story, though probably not as cleverly as this person wrote about her own geothermal story. ( In six parts!)
I live smack dab in the middle of Tennessee. In the summer, it's hot as hell. In the winter, it's cold as hell. There are months of the year here where you can experience both summer and winter during your lunch-break. So, yeah, heating and cooling your living space is no small matter. We when built our home, we had three choices with respect to heating; electric heat pump, wood, or propane. We went with propane, as it was a buck a gallon and we wanted to cook with a flame, and natural gas is not offered to Coyote Creek. Of course we installed a wood burning stove in our living area because, well, a fire is nice. For a number of years, I was perfectly content with arrangement. Eventually, I began to resent having to use just one propane company for my supply, but since we "leased" our 500 gallon tank, I was limited to just that company, regardless of price. So, I bought the tank outright. Then, some suppliers started to refuse delivery because "they couldn't guarantee that the tank didn't leak" as it wasn't their tank. Then there was the turn around time, that is, the time between calling them to place the order until the time the truck arrives on your property. Sometimes, it was weeks. Last year, our driveway was so icy that a propane truck could not make it to us for delivery. At $2.46 a gallon. Which reminds me…the price I was originally quoted from my supplier for the winter of 2011/2012 was over three bucks a gallon. That phone call is what I refer to as the beginning of making our house a high-performance home.
High performance home. What a concept. Many of us dutifully monitor our vehicle's tire pressure and overall driving habits, from simply easing off the gas pedal a little to drafting behind 18 wheelers. (which doesn't work, I'm told, and in retrospect , I now know why I was flipped the bird from more than a couple of those "Covenant Transport" drivers) We replace our spark plugs and air filters at the oil change place, secure in our knowledge that we are maximizing our vehicle's efficiency. Usually, we are rewarded for our efforts with a mile or two more per gallon of gasoline. Good stuff. But it is silly to park a Prius in your driveway if your house's HVAC system is poorly installed or inefficient for the job. Yet, people do it all the time, but in terms of dollars, the pennies you get back from vehicle maintenance pales in comparison to what you could be losing each month while you heat and cool the outside air. Ask yourself this: it's August , it's 100 plus degrees and if you had to choose between not having a car for a month or not having your air conditioner for the same amount of time, which would you pick? I'm betting most of us would find a friend to drive us, take a bus or a bicycle, or even (God forbid) walk to work before we'd give up our AC. So why is it that people pay so little attention to their furnace, which really is the heart of their home?
So the idea of a high performance home appealed to me. One year, I went around the entire house with a lit candle in an effort to locate potential drafts. I repaired/replaced weather stripping. I caulked. I knew I had adequate insulation, so, when my HVAC unit was 10 years old, I started researching my options for replacement. I already had a 13 SEER rated system, and one option was to upgrade. We don't have a large house, at least by American standards. If you count the bonus room above the garage, it's around 2300 sq ft. Still,, because we opted to place our duct in the attic instead of the crawlspace, a 5 ton unit was required to adequately heat and cool our home. I did a little research, and for a high efficiency (15 seer) heat pump I was looking at ten grand or more. Big money. Mitt Romney money. Warren Buffett money.
The geothermal system cost me twice that. Let's say $20,000 all in. Right off the top, I'm getting a tax credit (that's real money, first dollar) of $6000. So, if our tax liability is 6000 this year, we are paid in full. If they have deducted that much from wages already, we get it all back. So, now our true cost is $14000. Since my old unit was still working, I advertised it on Craigslist and it sold in a week for $1000.00 Now I'm in $13,000. I figure I can get 500 bucks for my 500 gallon propane tank, so we're down to $12,500. Generally speaking, we fill our tank twice a year, but let's say we aren't buying 800 gallons of liquid propane this year at $3.00 per. That is an additional $2400.00 in my pocket, so my cost comes down to $11,600, first year. In year two assuming the same amount of propane is not purchased, that is another $2400. Ditto year 3 and every year after. I'll break even in roughly 5 years. That ain't a bad R.O.I. (Return on investment) But wait! There's more.
Did I mention my "De-superheater"? Basically, the geothermal pump redirects the hot air in my home to use it to heat the water in our water heater. Got that? I can flip the breaker off to my water heater, and still have plenty of hot water in warmer months. Remember the SEER rating of 15? The geothermal system has a rating equivalent to a 34 SEER! High performance indeed. I haven't factored in the very conservative estimate on electricity saved this year, which could be as high as 70%.
What are the drawbacks, you ask? Fair enough. Here's one: It's a lot of work!
Nah, I didn't really dig that trench with a shovel. I actually used a spoon. Or, maybe it was a back-hoe. If you want a geothermal system, you have to get into the ground, either horizontally (like ours) or vertically. The drilling techniques and equipment out there make this an option even if you live in a cookie cutter condo! Very small footprint, actually. But for a week or so, your lot is going to be a bit messy.
Also, since a geothermal unit is placed in your crawlspace or basement, there is no more beautiful HVAC unit decorating the outside of your home. I suppose you could plant roses there instead.
Lastly, the pumps are estimated to last 25 years or so, so it may be awhile before you get to have fun investigating the world of residential heating and cooling….
In another post, I'll tell y'all why I selected Tony and Precision Air to do the job. Thanks for dropping by.


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- New
Virgin Carrier Oil Almond - 500ml
Virgin Carrier Oil (VCO) are the top and lightest layer oil processed by cold press allow skin easy absorption. Virgin Carrier Oils are lightest oil maintained it nutrition and benefit for skin without any side effect. Virgin Carrier Oils suitable for direct skin application and safe for all skin types. Virgin carrier oils leave no stain on skin and it will make skin feel powdery after absorbtion. Virgin Carrier Oil Suitable direct face or skin application, massage oil, blended oil, skin care products, hair care products
Virgin Carrier Oil Production : Cold Press Proccess
Virgin Carrier Oil Texture : Light and Watery.
Virgin Carrier Oil Best For : Direction Skin Application
Virgin Carrier Oil Benefit Of Use : Firming and repair skin texture.
Virgin Carrier Oil Skin Feel : Virgin carrier oils leave no stain on skin and it will make skin feel powdery after absorbtion.
Virgin Carrier Oil Suitable For : Skin Application, Massage Oil, Blended Oil, Skin Care Products, Hair Care Products
Virgin Carrier Oil Safety : Safe for all skin types.
Virgin Carrier Oil Ingredient : Almond, Natural Oil Preservative
Virgin Carrier Oil Preservative : 0.5% Natural Oil Preservative ( Blended with Myrrh, Frankincense, Clove,Cinnamon and Pine. )
Virgin Carrier Oil Expiry : 2 to 3 Years after delived.
Virgin Carrier Oil Direction Of Use : Apply directly onto skin, gently massage then leave on. ( No need to rinse of with soap or water. )
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Herbal Products Exchange 100%
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