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Bramtendo In Mask Official Women's Tank Top
Bramtendo In Mask Official Women's Tank Top
Get the comfort without sacrificing style! Printed on durable material, we try to bring you the best fit, feeling and long-lasting tees. Durable print and awesome design will definitely get you a lot of compliments. Show your support by having officially licensed gear! Guaranteed all the products that we sent are on a perfect condition! If you receive defective product, let us know we'll resend a new one for FREE.
What's in it for you:
Printed nicely - would last through multiple washes
Super stylish, fitted tank top would spark a good conversation
Wicks moisture, soft and stretchy perfect fit for doing sport comfortably
Racerback cut and slim fit will give great look on women's shoulder
What it's made of:
Cotton-polyester blend - Incredibly soft for your skin
Care tip: Machine wash cold and tumble dry low
Various colors and sizes are available, please see size chart carefully.
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Handling time is the time it takes to get your order ready to leave our warehouses. This includes preparing/producing your items, printing designs, performing quality checks, and packing for shipment.
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(NewsUSA) – Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 27 million Americans and is the most common type of arthritis. Women over the age of 50 have a greater risk of suffering from osteoarthritis than men of the same age. In fact, women overall are more likely to experience a decrease in their activity level.
With osteoarthritis, the tissue that serves as a 'cushion' between joints breaks down and causes the joints to rub together. This can result in chronic pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. Chronic pain can be one of the most difficult parts of dealing with osteoarthritis, and it can get in the way of routine activities that make life rich and fulfilling — such as working, driving, shopping or even hugging a grandchild. A majority of people with osteoarthritis say it is difficult to be physically active. This puts them at risk for other medical problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and weight gain.
"For many individuals, the main goal is to effectively treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and stay active," says Society for Women's Health Research spokesperson Carmen Green, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Associate Professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan. "Treatment may include a mix of physical therapy, acupuncture, massage and prescription pain medications, including over-the-counter products, anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid medications."
Experts believe the sooner osteoarthritis is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are of preventing it from getting worse. Those battling osteoarthritis should see a doctor about managing their pain. They — and their caregivers — should also learn as much as they can and be actively involved in their own treatment plan.
To learn more about osteoarthritis and how to treat the symptoms, visit the Society for Women's Health Research at www.swhr.org. This website will direct visitors to resources that contain a variety of information on pain conditions, such as pain assessment and measurement tools, and links to pain education and advocacy groups. The content can help people with osteoarthritis better understand the condition and improve their ability to talk about pain with their healthcare provider.

subset: commoncrawl


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'93 WTC bombing taught lessons on terrorism
Nearing the 20-year anniversary of the attack, law enforcement reflects on an event that taught tough lessons about jihadist threat
By Tom Hays
Associated Press
NEW YORK — It had to be an accident.
Though hard to imagine now, that was the prevailing theory moments after an explosion rocked the World Trade Center around noon on a chilly Feb. 26, 1993.
The truth — that a cell of Islamic extremists had engineered a car-bomb attack that killed six people, injured more than 1,000 and caused more than a half-billion dollars in damage — "was incomprehensible at the time," recalled FBI agent John Anticev.
On the eve of the 20-year anniversary of the bombing, Anticev and other current and former law enforcement officials involved in the case reflected on an event that taught them tough lessons about a dire threat from jihadists. That threat, now seared into the city's psyche because of the Sept. 11 attacks, felt vague and remote two decades ago.
"In those days, terrorism wasn't the first reaction," said former federal prosecutor David Kelley.
The scale of the attack was the first dramatic demonstration that "terrorism is theater and New York is the biggest stage," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
A two-time commissioner, Kelly was serving his first stint when the initial report that came in to police that day that there was an apparent transformer explosion at the trade center.
Kelly raced to the scene, where the bomb planted in a parked Ryder van had left a crater half the size of a football field in the trade center garage. For the first time since it opened in 1973, the trade center stood in the darkness that night.
"I remember seeing this tremendous sea of first-responder vehicles ... and smoke was coming out," Kelly said.
The commissioner gathered with other police and federal officials in a nearby hotel conference room to assess the damage. The meeting didn't last long because an engineer warned "the floor could collapse at any time," Kelly said.
A day later, after a utility mishap was ruled out, authorities "started to come to the conclusion it was bomb," Kelly said.
Anticev and other FBI agents were initially assigned to pursue rumors that the twin towers may have been attacked in retaliation for the U.S. bombing of Serbia. But the probe took a dramatic turn after investigators found a vehicle identification number on a piece of the blown-up van.
Investigators later learned that the renter of the van wanted to get his deposit back after reporting it stolen — a break that sounded too good to be true.
"I was betting he wouldn't show up," said Kelley.
The renter, Mohammed Salameh, indeed appeared to demand his deposit about a week after the blast.
When Anticev heard Salameh's name, "I really almost started to cry," the agent recalled.
His dismay was well-earned. He had long been watching Salameh and other radical Muslims in the FBI's investigation of the assassination of Jewish Defense League founder Meir Kahane at a Manhattan hotel.
The FBI knew the men had practiced together shooting guns and assembling pipe bombs. But in the summer of 1992, investigators lost an informant who possibly could have warned of the more ambitious plot, Anticev said.
A pipe-bomb attack "was as big a plot as we thought they were capable of," he said.
In hindsight, Anticev believes agents were "too Western" in their attempts to neutralize the budding terrorists before they struck.
He described using tough interrogation tactics that would have spooked ordinary criminals _ obtaining subpoenas and bringing them in for questioning in rooms where they purposely displayed surveillance photos of them on the wall.
"We thought they would be chilled by that experience," he said. "But it was like water off a duck's back. That did not scare them at all. They just did it anyway. ... That was a big lesson."
Kelly believes because the suspects were quickly rounded up, in some circles they "were written off as this inept group of zealots," Kelly said. "It was not seen was not seen as the global conspiracy it turned out to be."
The probe of the attack led to convictions of Salameh and three other men and the later the capture Ramzi Yousef, the leader of the attack. Investigators learned that the highly educated Yousef had tried to detonate the car bomb in way that would cause countless casualties by toppling one of the towers into the other and bringing them down like giant dominos, and watch with disappointment from the banks of the Hudson River in New Jersey when it didn't happen.
Yousef is the nephew of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Even after Yousef was found guilty in a Manhattan courtroom and put away for life, "we really didn't know what was ahead," said Kelley, who was part of the prosecution team. "This was before everybody was on to bin Laden."
Police Commissioner Kelly remembered that in 1993, while surveying the destruction in the underground garage, an engineer told him that the buildings would never come down.
"On Sept. 11," Kelly said, "the thought of that came back to me."
Copyright 2013 Associated Press


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Target unveils year-round online price match
- Online rivals include Wal-Mart, Amazon, Best Buy and Toys R Us
- Target joins other retailers that match rivals' online prices
- Online price matches reflect increase in customers shopping on web
NEW YORK (AP) — Target said Tuesday that its pledge to match prices of select online rivals this past holiday season is now a year-round promise.
The nation's second largest discounter behind Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) said it will match prices that customers find on identical products at top online retailers, all the time. The online list includes Amazon.com (AMZN) as well as the websites of Wal-Mart, Best Buy (BBY) , Toys R Us and Babies R Us.
Target's holiday price match program with online retailers began Nov. 1 and ended Dec. 16. Target (TGT) is also making permanent its holiday offer of matching prices of items found at its stores with those on its website. And for the first time it will include products that are out of stock on Target.com.
The company's stock price closed at a record $61.30 a share and was 0.7% lower in Tuesday trading.
The moves follow a disappointing holiday shopping season for the Minneapolis-based retailer, hurt by stiffer competition from online rivals and stores like Wal-Mart that have hammered its low prices.
It's also the latest step from brick-and-mortar stores to combat "showrooming" — a growing trend for customers to browse their stores to check out products, and then go online to buy the same products for less elsewhere.
Mark Schindele, Target senior vice president of merchandising operations, noted the discounter monitors prices of 30,000 items, and thousands more online, to make sure it's competitive. But Target says it had to do more to give shoppers more confidence.
"We believe that our prices are competitive year round," Schindele said in an interview. "We also know that our guests shop in many ways."
Many major stores have offered price matching guarantees for local competitors' brick-and-mortar stores, but it wasn't until this past holiday season that the focus was on matching online prices. That can be difficult, since online prices tend to be lower and fluctuate often.
Best Buy is matching prices with 20 online retailers on electronics and appliances at its physical stores through Jan. 31. Best Buy spokeswoman Amy von Walter declined to "speculate" on whether it would make that plan permanent.
Since last summer Toys R Us has been matching online prices for all identical items or models of baby gear merchandise from selected national competitors like walmart.com, target.com, sears.com, Amazon, buybuybaby.com and diapers.com. Like Target's policy, it excludes Amazon's third-party Marketplace items.
Wal-Mart has trumpeted its low price message but stopped short of matching prices with online rivals.
Joel Bines, managing director and co-head of the retail practice at AlixPartners, praised recent moves by retailers to have an online policy.
"Retailers have finally gotten the message," he said. "You can't put an impediment between consumers and consumption." But he said that the policies can backfire. Stores have to make it easier for shoppers to get the price match. And he noted the move could also turn out to be "profit draining" as more people are encouraged to shop the Web to get the lowest price.
Bines and other analysts say the online price match policies are also tough to implement given the constant fluctuation of online prices, even in the same day. That was particularly evident around Thanksgiving week. From Nov. 19 to Nov. 30 Amazon.com doubled the average number of promoted products it changed prices on each day compared with the same period a year ago, according to Dynamite Data, which tracks online prices.
Still, having a price match policy in place is essential for cheap chic Target, analysts say. The discounter, known for selling trendy merchandise and staples like toothpaste under the same roof, has seen uneven sales growth since the economic downturn as it tries to convince frugal shoppers it has good prices. This past holiday season, Target chose to limit promotions to preserve profits. That resulted in muted sales in November and December. However, Target expects fourth-quarter earnings to meet or possibly top the low end of its previous outlook.
As for the holiday price match plan, Schindele noted that shoppers like the plan. Price matches may be requested at Target's guest services desk prior to purchase, with proof of an online competitor's current price or after purchase with the original Target receipt and proof of the lower online price.
"This has been a seamless experience," Schindele said. "There have been a lot of positives."


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Delaware game plan changes with Brock as football coach
Newark, DE – It's kind of like going for it on fourth down in your team's territory and running a reverse.
The payoff can be a first down which makes you look great, even smarter than others.
If you come up short, though, you leave yourself open to second-guessing.
New University of Delaware athletic director Eric Ziady has made such a bold play call by hiring Rutgers offensive coordinator Dave Brock to be only the Blue Hens' fifth head football coach in the last 74 years.
The 45-year-old Brock, introduced on Friday as the school's new head coach, appears ready to take over a program and be successful. He's had 24 seasons on the sidelines to prepare himself.
But he has never been a head coach nor does he have a Delaware pedigree as either a player or assistant coach.
And that's where a problem could fact in for Ziady.
Win big and the tough Blue Hens fans will love Brock. Anything less and people will want to know why Ziady tried to find the next best thing in coaching and not follow a generally tried and true path to success - the known quantity of past head coaches.
Delaware's tradition-rich program has had only nine losing seasons over the last 70 years, and the last two Blue Hens head coaches bled the blue and gold. Tubby Raymond was a Blue Hens assistant before his long run as head coach (1966-2001), which included three national championship seasons. His former linebacker K.C. Keeler then succeeded him and averaged eight wins a season over 11 years, winning the 2003 FCS (then NCAA Division I-AA) national title and guiding the program to two appearances in the national final.
Brock comes highly recommended and respected in 24 seasons as an assistant coach, but he only knows the Blue Hens program from afar. He was an assistant for Hofstra, Delaware's former CAA Football rival, in 1995 and from 1997-2001.
Although Delaware underwent a national search for a head coach after Keeler's firing on Jan. 7 - attracting over 60 inquiries from coaches - Ziady apparently didn't need to cast his fishing pole into deep waters. As a former assistant athletic director at Boston College, Ziady worked alongside Brock, who was the Eagles' tight ends coach from 2009-11, and he clearly had his eye on Brock from the start.
"In the end, I ended up where I started, Dave Brock," Ziady said. "He's the first coach I called last week to gauge his interest in this position because I believe strongly he is a great fit for this athletic department and this football program.
"He's disciplined and passionate, dynamic and energetic, knowledgeable and experienced. He will recruit excellent students and athletes to Delaware, and he'll play an exciting brand of football with an aggressive approach."
Brock may step right in and win immediately. In fact, he probably should. He inherits a veteran, talent-filled team, albeit one that began this past season with four straight wins before falling off to a 5-6 finish amid a myriad of injuries, especially on the defensive line and at linebacker, and lost opportunities in the fourth quarter of games.
He's considered to be organized with a strong offensive mind and recruiting abilities. He's considered to be, well, a winner. Which is what Delaware football is all about.
"Coach Keeler did a great job. I'm confident that we have the building blocks in place to win in 2013, and forward," Brock said.
"Our football team will carry the motto, which I've already told 'em: 'Together we will.'"
That motto shouldn't just be about Delaware and Brock, it's the link for Ziady and Brock. First down, here they come.


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Total Carrito: total carrito
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After writing the post "Traditional vs. Scientific Genealogy?," I discovered that Randy had posted another article in his blog, guest authored by Tamura Jones, entitled "Tamura Jones Guest Post: Scientific and Traditional Genealogy." In this short article, Tamura attempted to clarify his statements. Among other statements, Tamura asserts,
Traditional genealogists treat official records as "proof" of "their genealogy". That is wrong; official records do not prove biological relationships at all. That is a simple truth, and there is nothing wrong about acknowledging that truth. You still know who your official ancestors are. You still know who your legal ancestors are. Most importantly, you still know which family you are from, which family your legal parents are from, etcetera; you still know who your ancestral families are. You still know who you call mum or dad, and you are not going to stop doing that just because you became a scientific genealogist and do not have proof yet.
Unfortunately for Tamura, this is a straw man argument, based at least partially on a misunderstanding of what genealogical proof is. And unfortunately for more academic genealogists, many amateur genealogists share this misunderstanding. I will make my argument rather short and simple:
A record does not prove anything.
A genealogical source provides information. This information provides evidence when applied to a specific genealogical problem.
The Genealogical Proof Standard requires that all relevant records be collected and evaluated to form a logical conclusion. The process of collecting records/sources, identifying the information contained within these records/sources, evaluating the reliability of this information, judging the relevance of this information to your research problem, and using the combined evidence to form a conclusion is what proves a genealogical conclusion.
The process of proving relationships to which Tamura refers is actually a rather simplistic reliance on direct evidence. One does not have to have direct evidence to "prove" a relationship. This statement extends to both documentary evidence and biological evidence.
What Tamura claims as the basis of "traditional genealogist" is only the basis of beginning or amateur genealogy. This is not the opinion of the recognized leaders in our field.


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Constant Contact Bbb
Constant Contact, an online marketing company, is based in Waltham (Massachusetts). With offices in New York, New Jersey, and Loveland, Colorado, Constant Contact is an excellent choice for small businesses. Constant Contact offers a variety of marketing solutions, including email marketing, email newsletters and mobile apps. Here are some of their most popular features. Read on to learn more. Read our Constant Contact review for more information about this email marketing service.
Constant Contact offers the ability to track and analyze your email campaigns' performance. It's easy to track who is opening your emails and clicking the links in your messages. You can also keep track of the email delivery rate, bounces, and reports. It is possible to see which emails have been reported as spam. This can be a great way for you to improve your marketing. And, because you can easily export your existing contacts, Constant Contact is great for small business marketing.
Constant Contact's automation capabilities can be used to automate drip campaigns. However, there are limitations. Constant Contact doesn't support branching or splitting, and you cannot send personalized emails. Instead, workflows in Constant Contact begin with a trigger, such as a certain email. You can then set the sequence of emails to be sent and add delays between them. However, Constant Contact does not have a full feature set for drip campaigns.
Constant Contact can also help you create targeted signup forms. Constant Contact's intuitive interface makes it easy to create signup forms that are appealing to your visitors. These forms can be copied and pasted into your website. Your messages can then be targeted based on the preferences and interests of your visitors. Constant Contact also includes dozens of email templates, and you can also use it for email automation. This is an excellent way to increase your email list, drive sales, and improve your business' online reputation.
One of the most convenient features of Constant Contact is that it allows you to import your list. There are templates for desktop, mobile and web. These templates are easy to customize with your logo or branding images. You can also upload existing contacts from email programs such as Outlook or Salesforce. You can also tag contacts with tags to track response and loyalty. Constant Contact also includes templates for various email formats and allows you to customize your message with pre-made themes.
Creating attractive emails has never been easier. Constant Contact offers over 300 pre-designed templates you can use for email campaigns. This is far more than the number of templates on other email marketing platforms. Constant Contact offers a preview option to your emails so your readers can see how they look on their devices. You can even preview emails before you send them to your list. This feature makes Constant Contact one of the best choices for small businesses.
Another benefit of Constant Contact is that its interface is easy to navigate and designed for beginners. It also boasts high deliverability rates, so your emails won't land in spam filters. Constant Contact has niche capabilities such as integrations with Eventbrite and Google Analytics. Constant Contact can connect to social media profiles and integrate campaigns with them using social media tools. You can also integrate Facebook ads into your campaigns or create Facebook ads. This allows you to reach a wider audience than ever before.
Email marketing is an essential part of business growth, and Constant Contact is designed to help businesses build email lists and nurture customer relationships. It is easy to use and has plenty of templates. It also offers advanced analytics and tracking tools. You can also import your contacts from other email providers, spreadsheets, and text files. Constant Contact offers a free 60-day trial. You can find out more about Constant Contact's email marketing software by visiting its website.
Constant Contact's prices are based on the size of your email list. There are discounts available for franchises, associations, and nonprofits. The basic plan is $20 and the Email Plus plan is $65 for 5,000 people. The price goes up from there, and you can also upgrade to the Email Plus plan if you need more advanced features, such as dynamic sign-up forms and 2GB of file storage. Once your email list grows to 50,000 contacts, you can upgrade to the Email Plus plan for $335 a month. Constant Contact will automatically adjust the fee.


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Wigs, War and Witches! Shane West Talks New WGN America Series Salem
Forget the magic fairy dust and enchanting spells, the witches of Salem are downright terrifying.
The upcoming WGN America series, the network's first foray into scripted original programming, takes a fresh - and much darker -- look at the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Its witches are very real and actually manipulating the town into a state of fear. Shane West stars as war hero John Alden (historically, a survivor of the trials) who has returned home to find that his former love Mary (Janet Montgomery) has gone on to marry elderly town leader George Sibley (Michael Mulheren). What John doesn't know is that he got Mary pregnant and in order for her to get rid of the baby, she essentially made a deal with the devil-like witch Tituba (Ashley Madekwe).
Alt TV: Offbeat shows you should be watching
But it doesn't take very long for John to realize something is very off about the town he helped build. Still, his love for Mary and his pride for Salem keeps him around long enough to fight back against some pretty twisted and evil creatures, not to mention some of the town's powerful humans. For West, it's all the makings for the perfect project to fill his post-Nikita void.
Were you hesitant to sign on to the network's first scripted show?
Shane West: There was hesitation that it might not end up looking the way I wanted it to be, but no hesitation being the first. We're the flag-runner giving it its first shot, so it was more exciting to be a part of something new and with a supportive [network] and nice people which is rare and goes along way. I was attracted to it because I'm a fan of the genre and the characters were so rich and vibrant that I rolled the dice. I was finishing up Nikita and we got a lot of pilots and film scripts, and this is the one that stood out as one of the best I've read in a long time. And getting the chance to play John Alden, a heroic and dark character, was a no-brainer.
Did you expect the show to get as dark as it does?
West: When I read the pilot, the horror element of the show came across on paper and in my own imagination, it was pretty dark. When we actually filmed it, I was shocked it stayed to the tone of what the script was because we all know things change once it comes to production and because we're on basic cable and can only get away with so much. So I was pleasantly surprised because that's why I signed on to it. The horror element is expertly crafted into the story line, so it's not just there for sight gag or scares it all makes sense and purposes the story.
Our favorite TV and movie witches
John left when he was in love with Mary. Are those feelings what drives him upon his return?
West: That's a big part and what kept him alive during the war and being a prisoner of war, and it's what gave him the ability to come back to the town. But it can't just be one thing. It's his town as it is Mary's and they were the first people born here, so it's also pride. He's bitter at first [that she married], but makes the decision to stay and not only hopes she changes her mind, but also to try and right the wrongs of Salem and keep everyone from losing their mind.
How far is John willing to go to get what he wants?
West: Right now John seems to be the most normal of the characters introduced, but you'll find quickly what truly happened to him during the war and that he's not as stereotypically heroic as put out there. It makes him more flawed, but you have to have that pull back and forth. And even when you learn those things about John, it's still just talked about [and] he's not necessarily admitting to certain things. So we'll explore his war crimes and drag that through to next season.
There's a lot going on in the first episode. Will it slow down a bit?
West: The pilot is always harder and sometimes the audience doesn't even know what character to follow and invest in, but we had to introduce the town, the love story, what's happening with the witchcraft. In the first episode, John is just trying to figure things out, but Episode 2 starts immediately with reaction and aggression.
How does the action in this show differ from what you've done in the past?
West: The action is very different. Nikita had a lot of fighting technique and gunplay, but with this, there's only a certain amount of guns that were around back then. There's plenty of action, but I feel, in a way, like a veteran coming into this, so it's been a lot easier. The difficult thing about it is what we wear. The hair, clothes, the boots... but you get used to it. And, of course, we're worried about the heat [in Louisiana] and I'm worried about sweating through that wig.
Salem premieres on Sunday at 10/9c on WGN America.
View original Wigs, War and Witches! Shane West Talks New WGN America Series Salem at TVGuide.com


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A brother and sister from Germany who had an incestuous relationship, arguing they had the right to a family life, have lost their European court case.Of course, I applaud the decision of the ECHR, but I take a rather different view on the justification of it.
Patrick Stuebing and Susan Karolewski had four children together, two of whom are described as disabled.
The European Court of Human Rights said Germany was entitled to ban incest.
Stuebing, who was convicted of incest and spent three years in prison, did not meet his natural sister until he tracked down his family as an adult.
He had been adopted as a child and only made contact with his natural relatives in his 20s.
The siblings grew close after their mother died.
Three of their four children are now looked after in care.
The couple insist that their love is no different to any other.
Regulation of marriage is central to the moral and legal codes of almost all human societies. Different societies limit marriage in diverse ways:
- Age (young people are generally disallowed from marrying, and early marriage has become legally and socially more difficult in much of the world)
- Sex (people of opposing sex may marry, although recently some societies have allowed same-sex marriage)
- Number (some societies demand exclusivity, while others allow for husbands to marry multiple wives, or more commonly for women to take multiple husbands)
- Relation (marriage between close relatives are often prohibited, (almost) universally for parent-offspring or sibling marriage; on the other hand cousin or uncle-niece marriage is prohibited in some societies, or encouraged in others)
- Race (there were formerly legal prohibitions of inter-racial marriage, and there are societies in which such marriages are often frowned upon still)
- Religion (some belief systems do not require that partners be of the same religion, while others do so)
- Social status (marriage across class or caste lines was formerly prohibited either legally or socially, and is still often uncommon)
- Former marriage status (divorce and re-marriage sometimes prohibited, provisions for widowhood, etc.)
If the matter is that of constitutional or other "rights", then the state oversteps its role in preventing two consenting persons from entering into the institution of marriage. Those who hold to this view, however, often promote the "right" to marriage of their own particular interest group (mostly of the homosexual community), but downplay similar claims to marriage of other groups (e.g., prohibition against polygamy, incest, young marriage, etc.)
There is a different line of thought, which frames the question of marriage in utilitarian terms. Marriage is seen as promoting child-rearing, family stability, engendering close social ties, and promoting the well-being and happiness of individuals. Again, those who hold to this view propose that their particular form of marriage is useful, while opposing certain forms of marriage for its adverse effects (e.g., the costs associated with invalids born of incestuous marriages, or increased expenditure when economic benefits are extended to new forms of marriage).
When the moral compass of a society atrophies, then its most fundamental institutions become the playing ground of lawyers and economists. Of course, this is a perfectly valid point of view -if one thinks that lawyers and economists, rather than ethicists and priests- make the better judges of what is to be allowed.
Proponents of the modern, secular, and democratic way of doing things will argue that it is an improvement for the rules to be made in the context of Constitutional Law, Democratic Choice, and Economic Expediency.
But, we must not forget that their chosen framework of accepted behavior is not as sure-footed as they may think, because what else is Democracy than the idea that the many are right over the few? What else is adherence to a Constitution than the faith in the idea that what men voted for generations ago should guide the behavior of the living? And, what else is Economics, other than the idea that human prosperity revolves around the maximization of some economic quantity?
To conclude: questions such as "should incestuous marriage be allowed?" force us all to think about who decides the "should."


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In the first part of this series of posts, "Source Citations: Getting it 'Right,' part one," we reviewed the format for source citations for books. However, books are not the only kinds of publications. There are magazines and journals, of course, but webpages are also considered publications. In terms of resources available for genealogical research, websites may have overtaken even books as the most popular. In general, citing a webpage follows many of the same principles discussed in the last post, for publications. Please read this earlier post prior to reading this one.
As noted in the first part, publication citations contain the following elements:
- Creator
- Title
- Publication Place
- Publisher
- Publication Date
The format puts these elements in the following order, for use in a "Source List" or "Bibliography":
Author (last name first). Title. Publication Place: Publisher, Publication Date.
A web page would be cited in a similar manner, with one exception. The author and publisher are likely the same, so they do not need to be noted separately. In some cases, the author name and title of the website are the same, and these can also be combined, such as in Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
Here is an example of a website citation:
Genealogy Trails. http://www.genealogytrails.com : 2011.
Only rarely, however, do we have need to cite an entire website, in the manner shown above. In most cases, we are citing a single part of the website, such as an online article, database, or digital image. The individual item that we are citing would also have to be cited, just as we would cite an article in a magazine, or a chapter in a book. In a Sources Used list or bibliography, this would appear as follows:
"Documents Regarding Slavery." Washington D. C. Genealogy Trails. http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/slaverydocuments/documents_regarding_slavery.html : 2011.
We will most often create citations for specific facts, using footnotes or endnotes (whether in a narrative or in a genealogy software program). The format for notes differs slightly from the format for a bibliography, most notably by requiring much more specific information, similar to a page number in a book:
John G. Sharp, "Certificate Of Freedom, William Winters, August 7, 1816," online article and transcription, Washington D. C. Genealogy Trails (http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/cof_winters_w.html : accessed 30 May 2011).
The various parts of this citation might need to be explained:
- Once again, it is important to remember that we are citing the author of the resource first. On this particular page, the author is identified. In some cases the author of a website may not be identified, just as the author of a book might not be known.
- The next item that would be cited is the title of the article. This is cited in the same way that a magazine article would be cited, using quotation marks.
- We also need to note the type of material that this. Is this a digital image, an abstract, a transcription, a database of extracted information? All of these carry their own unique qualities, that can only be recorded and conveyed by noting the type of resource you used.
- This one article is not the entire publication–the Washington D. C. Genealogy Trails website, with all of the various sub-pages, is the name of the publication. Like all proper titles, italics are used to designate the titles of websites.
- Of course we need to provide more information, akin to the publication place, company, and date of a book. Websites, of course, are not physical objects that you would locate in a library or bookstore. On the other hand, you can locate them in a very specific online place–the URL. For this reason, the URL serves the purpose of the publication place. Websites are also extremely mutable. They can be changed at any time of any day. Rather than citing the date of original publication (which we often are not able to discern anyway), it is more important to note the date on which we accessed the information. Using tools like the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, we can actually visit many websites on a specific date in the past. These details qualify the title of the website, so they follow the title within parentheses.
There are other variations on websites, depending on the type of material being presented.
So far, this series has focused on two relatively simple types of citations. Of course, they can get far more complex. We will continue to look at other citation models, as well as the reasoning behind them.
Read more:


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"Fiscal cliff' deal includes 'farm bill' agreement that will prevent spike in milk prices
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A potential doubling of milk prices will be averted as part of the compromise that White House and congressional bargainers reached on wide-ranging legislation to avert the "fiscal cliff," a leading senator said late Monday.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A potential doubling of milk prices will be averted as part of the compromise that White House and congressional bargainers reached on wide-ranging legislation to avert the "fiscal cliff," a leading senator said late Monday.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told reporters that negotiators had agreed to extend portions of the expired 2008 farm bill through September. She said that includes language keeping milk prices from rising, but excludes other provisions like energy and disaster aid for farmers.
Stabenow said she considers the slimmed-down extension to be "Mitch McConnell's version of a farm bill." She was referring to the Senate Republican leader from Kentucky, who she said forced bargainers to accept the version of the farm bill that appeared in the deal.
McConnell spokesman Michael Brumas responded: "Sen. McConnell put forward a bipartisan, responsible solution that averted the dairy cliff and provided certainty to farmers for the next year without costing taxpayers a dime."
Just a day earlier, Stabenow said leaders from both parties on the House and Senate agriculture committees had agreed to extend the entire farm bill.
Stabenow and House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., announced Sunday that they had agreed on a last-minute move that would extend the entire farm bill and replace dairy programs that expire at midnight Tuesday. Expiration of those dairy programs could mean higher milk prices at the grocery store within just a few weeks.
But the House GOP had not endorsed the committees' extension agreement.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated Sunday that extending the entire bill through September, including disaster assistance for farmers affected by drought, could cost more than $1 billion this budget year.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has pushed back on passage of a new five-year farm bill for months, saying there were not enough votes to bring it to the House floor after the House Agriculture Committee approved it in July. The Senate passed its version of a farm bill in June. The bill, generally passed every five years, includes food stamps, farm subsidies and other help for rural areas.
But the prospect of higher milk prices prompted some action. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said Americans face the prospect of paying $7 for a gallon of milk if the current dairy program lapsed and the government returned to a 1948 formula for calculating milk price supports.
Extending the entire agriculture bill would have included an overhaul of dairy programs that was included in both the Senate and House committee bills. The new dairy programs include a voluntary insurance program for dairy producers, and those who choose that new program also would have to participate in a market stabilization program that could dictate production cuts when oversupply drives down prices - an idea that hasn't gone over well with Boehner.
In July, he called the current dairy program "Soviet-style" and said the new program would make it even worse. Large food companies that process and use dairy products have backed Boehner, saying the program could limit milk supplies and increase their costs.
One of the reasons Boehner has balked at bringing up a farm bill is disagreement among House Republicans over how much money should be cut from food stamps, which make up roughly 80 percent of the half-trillion-dollar bill's cost over five years. Lucas has unsuccessfully pushed his leadership for months to move on the legislation despite the disagreement over food aid.
Follow Mary Clare Jalonick on Twitter at HTTP://TWITTER.COM/MCJALONICK


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I'm a reader.
Long books, short books, fantasies, love stories, thrillers. I devour 'em all!
I could curl up for days lost in a good story and never consider it time wasted.
If you're a reader, you know what I mean. If you aren't... WHY NOT?
I don't remember where I saw my first script wall.
But, I knew I would have one.
They're like a giant book! Of course I love 'em!!
First step: Find a wall. CHECK!
Second step: Figure out how to put words on it... I considered some beautiful stencils. Thought about writing it by hand. Briefly entertained tracing a computer print out. But in the end I remembered, I have a Silhouette!! (Are you tired of hearing about this machine yet?)
That was it! CHECK!!
I decided to use my Silhouette Cameo to cut it out of vinyl. Or let me be more specific, Contact Paper. Sorry, the good stuff's just too $$$ for this cheapskate to cover an entire wall!
|Just in case you were wondering, there's a misspelled word hidden behind the vase... how's that for perfection?
Third step: Pick something to write on said wall.
|Script is done in Zapfino font.
I've had so many questions about this wall, from what font I used to how I put it up so straight and even, that I've made a separate post answering all the questions. You can find those answers in my new post HERE.
DIY Showoff ~ Flamingo Toes ~ I {heart} Nap Time ~ Nifty Thrifty Things ~ Twigg Studios ~ Under the Table and Dreaming
Alderberry Hill ~ Between Naps on the Porch ~ Boogieboard Cottage ~ Debbiedoos ~ Flour Me With Love ~ Holly's Stamping Addiction ~ Home Stories A to Z ~ Serendipity & Spice ~ You Are Talking Too Much
Crafty Texas Girls ~ The D.I.Y. Dreamer ~ Elizabeth & Co. ~ Homework Today's Assignment: Be Inspired ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia ~ Not Just a Housewife ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ Today's Creative Blog
Beyond the Picket Fence ~ Embracing Change ~ Fine Craft Guild ~ Fireflies & Jellybeans ~ Ivy & Elephants ~ My Girlish Whims ~ {PRIMP} ~ Savy Southern Style ~ Sew Much Ado
The ArtsyGirl Connection ~ City Girl Gone Coastal ~ A Glimpse Inside ~ It's Overflowing ~ No Minimalist Here ~ The Shabby Creek Cottage ~ Thrifty Decorating
Common Ground ~ Create Craft Love ~ Finding Fabulous ~ French Country Cottage ~ Jennifer Rizzo ~ My Romantic Home ~ Redoux ~ Serenity Now ~ Stuff & Nonsense ~ Tatertots & Jello
Funky Junk Interiors ~ Natasha in Oz ~ Positively Splendid ~ Too Much Time on My Hands


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971 Butternut Dr., Holland, MI 49424, (616) 399-3600
Call: (616) 399-3600
It is our goal to keep your mouth healthy, your teeth fully functional, and your smile bright — and we are proud of all the services we offer to do exactly that. At the same time, we want you to understand all that modern dentistry in general has to offer you. To that end, we have assembled a first-rate dental library in which you can find a wealth of information on various dental topics, including:
From a thorough professional cleaning to a full smile makeover, there is an amazing array of services that cosmetic and general dentists offer to make sure your teeth stay healthy, function well and look great. If your smile is not all you want it to be, this is the place to start. Read more about Cosmetic & General Dentistry.
When you have a dental emergency — whether it's caused by a sudden accident or chronic disease — your teeth and/or the tissues of the mouth that surround them need to receive proper care right away. It's also important to be aware, before you're actually in the situation, of what you can do to ensure the best outcome. Read more about Emergency Dental Care.
This is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the inside of the tooth — specifically the root canals and sensitive, inner pulp (nerve) tissue. When this tissue becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal procedure may become necessary. But contrary to the popular myth, a root canal doesn't cause pain, it relives it. Read more about Endodontics.
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer the comfort and security of a permanent replacement that looks and functions just like your natural teeth. Dental implants also help preserve the tooth-supporting bone in your jaw that naturally deteriorates when even one tooth is lost. Read more about Implant Dentistry.
Oral health is an essential component of general health and well-being. Good oral health means a mouth that's free of disease; a bite that functions well enough for you to eat without pain and get ample nutrition; and a smile that lets you express your happiest emotions with confidence. Read more about Oral Health.
A major goal of modern dentistry is to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. By following a conscientious program of oral hygiene at home, and coming to the dental office for routine cleanings and exams, you have the best chance of making this goal a reality. Read more about Oral Hygiene.
The word "surgery" often brings to mind a stay in the hospital, general anesthesia, and perhaps a lengthy recovery period. However, the experience of having oral surgery is usually very different from that. Some common oral surgery procedures include: tooth extractions, dental implant placement, and biopsies of suspicious oral lesions. Read more about Oral Surgery.
Adults and kids alike can benefit from the boost in self-confidence that comes from having a great-looking smile with beautifully aligned teeth. Orthodontic treatment can even improve chewing, speaking and oral hygiene in certain cases. And with today's virtually invisible orthodontic appliances, it's possible to keep your treatment a private matter… until your new smile is unveiled, of course! Read more about Orthodontics.
It's never too early to get your child started on the path toward a lifetime of good oral health, and there are many services to do exactly that. Monitoring your child's dental growth and development, and preventing and intercepting dental diseases along the way, is the primary focus of pediatric dentistry. Read more about Pediatric Dentistry.
If you want to keep your teeth for life — a completely reasonable goal in this day and age — you need to make sure the tissues that surround them are also healthy. Should gum problems arise, you may need periodontal therapy to restore diseased tissues to health. Read more about Periodontal Therapy.
In the field of dentistry, new technology is constantly changing the way diseases are diagnosed, routine procedures are performed, and illnesses are prevented. Although they may seem unfamiliar at first, new and improved dental technologies offer plenty of real benefits for patients. Read more about Technology.
Tooth decay is often called the second most prevalent human disease, after the common cold. Without effective treatment (as was the case through most of history) it can lead to pain, tooth loss, and sometimes worse illnesses. Even today, it's estimated to affect over a quarter of U.S children from ages two to five, and half of those aged 12-15. But it doesn't necessarily have to! You can take steps to prevent tooth decay from harming your teeth — or those of your loved ones.
There's one important fact you should understand up front: No single "magic bullet" can stop tooth decay in every case. Instead, fighting decay should be viewed as a process of preventive maintenance, like taking care of your car — except that (unlike a car) your natural teeth, with proper care, can last a whole lifetime. The basic aspects of this process are practicing good oral hygiene at home, and coming in to the dental office for regular cleanings and checkups.
If you've been in the dental office for routine visits, you're probably already familiar with the special tools dentists use to remove buildups of plaque (a bacterial biofilm) and tartar (a hardened deposit, also called calculus) from your teeth. Hand-held instruments, ultrasonic scalers, or both may be used to give your teeth a thorough cleaning. Afterwards, your teeth are thoroughly checked for decay, and cavities are treated when necessary.
Yet there's still more that can be done to prevent tooth decay. Could your diet be a contributing factor? Is your brushing technique adequate? Could you benefit from additional preventive treatments? Today, with our increased understanding of what causes tooth decay and how to treat it, it is possible to focus on what decay prevention tactics would work best in your particular case. In fact, it's now possible to assess each individual's risk factors for decay, and concentrate on doing what's most effective for you.
It's useful to think of the mouth as a dynamically balanced ecosystem, in which living organisms, including helpful and harmful bacteria, are constantly interacting. When conditions are right — namely, in the presence of certain sugars — some pathogenic (harmful) bacteria produce acids that cause teeth to lose minerals and begin breaking down. Even a diet having excessive acidic foods can influence deminerialization of your teeth. But in more favorable conditions, the damage these pathogens do is undone by the body's own healing mechanisms — which includes your healthy saliva.
A major goal in decay prevention is to tip the balance in favor of the beneficial processes. Keeping up a regular habit of brushing and flossing, getting adequate fluoride, and a diet with limited acidic foods is certainly helpful. Yet even with these measures, some individuals will be more prone to tooth decay than others, and may need extra help and guidance.
If you're one of these individuals, it may help you to learn effective brushing techniques and practice other measures at home — for example, using special toothpastes or mouthrinses. When necessary, in-office treatments such as topical fluoride applications are available. If you aren't getting enough fluoride through drinking water or other sources, this treatment can help prevent tooth decay. Anti-bacterial treatments may also be beneficial in some cases, as is nutritional counseling.
Finally, if your child's teeth are susceptible to tooth decay, consider having a dental sealant applied. This is a practically invisible layer of plastic resin that is placed on the top (chewing) surfaces of the back teeth. It's a painless procedure that fills in the natural pits and folds of the tooth, making them much more resistant to bacterial damage.
So, don't think that tooth decay is inevitable — instead, find out what you can do to help prevent this disease from affecting you or your loved ones.
Tooth Decay — A Preventable Disease Tooth decay is the number one reason children and adults lose teeth during their lifetime. Yet many people don't realize that it is a preventable infection. This article explores the causes of tooth decay, its prevention, and the relationship to bacteria, sugars, and acids... Read Article
Tooth Decay – How To Assess Your Risk Don't wait for cavities to occur and then have them fixed — stop them before they start. Modern dentistry is moving towards an approach to managing tooth decay that is evidence-based — on years of accumulated, systematic, and valid scientific research. This article discusses what you need to know to assess your risk and change the conditions that lead to decay... Read Article
Dentistry and Oral Health for Children Dear Doctor magazine brings you this wide-ranging overview of milestones and transitions in your child's dental development. Learn how to protect your children from tooth decay, dental injuries, and unhealthy habits while getting them started on the road to a lifetime of oral health and general well-being... Read Article


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With so much news lately about Google Voice, those who haven't kept up on every tiny development have found themselves lost. What exactly is Google Voice? Is it a phone redirecting service? VoIP? Voicemail? All of the above? None of the above? Even some of our staff members are confused about what Google Voice offers and why people would want to use it, so we thought it would be helpful to offer a guide to Google Voice for those just tuning in.
Google Voice originated as GrandCentral, an independent company that hit the scene in 2005. GrandCentral allowed users to register a new phone number and direct it to ring multiple phones; it could also collect messages and act as your personal switchboard operator. This sounds boring on the surface, but it provided a number of cool features, such as the ability to listen in on voicemail messages as they were being left or to tell a specific number that your phone number is no longer connected (great for stalkers and crazed PR people, who are kind of like stalkers). Google acquired GrandCentral in 2007, and promptly sat on the project for nearly two years before it relaunched the service as Google Voice in March of 2009.
Google didn't just take GrandCentral and slap a colorful logo on it, though. The search giant made a number of improvements on the already nifty service, and it has become a must-have for the handful of early adopters who were lucky enough to get in either as a grandfathered GrandCentral user or through an invite. Let's look at what you can get out of the (currently) free service.
Users can register phone numbers in practically any area code they want, choosing local or faraway destinations. Under Google, the service now allows you to choose words or witty phrases that your phone number spells out (not present under GrandCentral), so have fun and good luck trying to grab (312) 55-BALLS. You cannot port an existing number of yours to Google Voice, however, which may be viewed as a downside to those who are married to a longtime cell number or the like. (Update: Some readers have written in to say that it is possible to port a number.)
After that, the most basic service that Google Voice offers is call forwarding. Forward calls to as many or as few numbers as you like, and you can even forward them to different phones based on who's calling. This is helpful if you're like me and don't want check-ins from the boss going to your cell phone, but you do want calls from dear ol' mom and dad. You can also set certain groups (or individuals) to be sent directly to Voicemail, to the Spam folder, or block the call altogether.
Another useful feature is the ability to screen callers—you can either have the calls sent directly to your phone with no filtering, or you can have Google ask them to say their name first. The service will ring you, tell you who's calling, and give you the option to take the call or send them to voicemail. This is nice for numbers that you don't recognize, as you wouldn't know who they're from otherwise. You can also change this behavior depending on a group (Friends, Family, Work, etc.) or an individual basis. So it's possible to always screen unknown numbers, for example, and always forward your friends directly. This is where the service gives you the ability to listen in on voicemails as they are being left, too.
Receiving calls is just the beginning. Through Google Voice, you can also make free calls to any US number. These will appear to originate from your Google number even when you're calling from your cell or your home line—the receiver's caller ID will show your Google number (therefore not giving away your other numbers).
You can also record phone calls that you've received, although this functionality does not work with outgoing calls you make. But if someone dials in, it's possible to record interviews, catch important details for transcription later, or come up with some other nefarious plan for your Google Voice recordings. It's very helpful, although it would be more helpful if these recordings were transcribed like voicemails are (read on).
By far the coolest feature of Google Voice's voicemail is that the service automatically transcribes the voice messages left by callers and then sends the transcription to you through a variety of mediums. For example, I receive my voicemails via text message and e-mail when they come in. Not only is this faster than listening to the message a few times to get all the details, but it also gives me a written record that is easily stored for future reference. Keep in mind, however, that the transcription is not always 100 percent accurate—from experience, I find that it's about 80 percent, though you can usually fill in the blanks by looking at the context.
In any case, you can always listen to the voice recordings online. Additionally, you can download an audio file of the recordings for your records, or grab some embed code for putting embarrassing postings on the Internet (nota bene: people will usually be unhappy if you do this without their permission). Or, if your voicemail is better suited for someone else—another family member, a coworker, etc.—you can forward the message onto that person.
SMS and miscellaneous features
When people SMS your Google Voice number, the message will go directly to one or more (however many you have set up) mobile phones. You can respond to those SMSs directly from the phone, and that response will appear to come from your Google Voice number. The cool part, though, is that you can also send and receive SMSs right from the Google Voice Web interface, meaning that you don't have to whip out your phone every time you want to text your friend to ask why he's late picking you up—assuming you're in front of a computer already, that is. Google Voice lets you archive your SMS logs too so that you can reach them anytime from the website.
For those worried about wasting mobile phone minutes, Google Voice lets you transfer your calls to another phone, right in the middle of the call. When you're on a phone call and press the * button, your other phones listed on the account will ring. When you pick up the phone you want to use (say, your home landline), you can hang up on the original phone and your call will still be in progress.
There are a handful of other features that Google Voice offers, but those are most of the big ones. Those of us at Ars who have been using Google Voice since the GrandCentral days are really pleased with the changes Google has made thus far, and we have begun using it for everyday things like our work-related calls and routing calls between phones.
Whether all of these services will remain free forever is still up for debate. But, given Google's usual patterns, it's unlikely that the company will begin charging regular users for the service. Based on their other services, Google probably has some plan up its sleeve to offer a version of Google Voice for businesses that it will charge for (similar to its already-existing Google Apps package). If you can get access to Google Voice, give it a try, if only for the call filtering and voicemail transcribing features.


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This article was originally published in the November/December 1993 issue of Home Energy Magazine. Some formatting inconsistencies may be evident in older archive content.
| Home Energy Home Page | Back Issues of Home Energy |
Home Energy Magazine Online November/December 1993
Trends in Energy is a bulletin of residential energy conservation issues. It covers items ranging from the latest policy issues to the newest energy technologies. If you have items that would be of interest, please send them to: Trends Department, Home Energy, 2124 Kittredge St., No. 95, Berkeley, CA 94704.
Energy Efficiency and the Floods
Massive flooding in the Midwest devastated lives and property this summer, and in September with the winter heating season fast approaching there was much confusion about how the recovery might occur and what role energy-efficiency would play in reconstruction. Damage, expected to exceed a total of $10 billion in nine states, is still being assessed. One estimate put the number of homes damaged at nearly 85,000. The extent of the damage will force many homes to be demolished.
There could be more property relocations from the deluge than from any flood in the nation's history. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy indicated that the federal government might simply buy the most severely flood-damaged properties, turning the land into parks instead of repairing the levies. Vice President Al Gore made similar suggestions.
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it would enforce flood plain zoning, which forbids repairs to buildings that have sustained damage exceeding half their value, unless they're made flood-proof. Since flood-proofing is prohibitively expensive and may not offer enough protection in a major flood anyway, people may choose to move. However, federal flood insurance and disaster assistance does not generally support relocation even if it's the best economic option. Residents are caught in a bind. In the most devastated communities, rebuilding has been on hold while property owners decide whether to relocate or fix their properties. Federal funds can only be used to restore buildings to pre-disaster status, so energy-efficient improvements are not really an option.
Rebuilding will be a daunting task. Insulation was soaked, doors and windows lost, furnaces, water heaters and electric wiring submerged for weeks. Refrigerators were inoperative. There were unanswered questions about whether furnaces and water heaters--under water for weeks--could be repaired. There were questions about whether flooded homes could be reinsulated. Reinsulating some homes may not be feasible because of the potential for moisture problems.
Past experience has shown that once wet, insulation stays wet and rots studs. Probably the only solution is to remove and replace the wet stuff. Sheetrock walls may still be intact, but insulation acts like a sponge, sucking the water up into the walls. Drywall or plaster walls and ceilings need to be replaced. Many homes will be torn down to the frames. Siding will be replaced too. New techniques need to be developed.
A procedure used in Winnipeg where basements were flooded by sewer backups illustrates the complexity of the problem. First, a utility knife is used to cut 1/2 in. into the sheetrock, horizontally an inch or so above the water line. Next, the lower sheetrock is removed and the vapor barrier folded up out of the way. Insulation batts are cut, removed, and replaced. (Studs must be allowed to dry.) Finally, the vapor barrier is folded and new sheetrock cut to fit.
While most building materials and appliances are not designed to be immersed, one TV repairperson claimed to have saved flooded appliances by simply rinsing them with fresh water and drying thoroughly. Rinsing consists of two stages (city water to get out the crud, then deionized water to get out the city water). Drying could be facilitated by putting them in a well-heated space with high air movement rates. Permanently-installed appliances (for instance, furnaces, many dishwashers, and water heaters) may be trickier, especially to get dry, though portable drying equipment could possibly be used. Appliances insulated with fiberglass will be difficult, if not impossible, to fix without removing the insulation. (The labor may not be worth it, especially with old inefficient appliances.)
However, The Gas Appliances Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) advises that all plumbing, heating and cooling appliances and systems that have been immersed in water are potentially unsafe and must be replaced, whether the appliance's energy source is gas or electricity! Water corrodes critical parts. Silt, sediment and corrosion can destroy valves and controls, resulting in inefficient combustion leaks, improper venting and a buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. In the case of water heaters, moisture trapped in the insulation can corrode the tank and the shell. Floodwater sediment can work its way into the relief valve, causing it to freeze shut or leak continuously.
For now the emphasis is on the cleanup. Homes have buckled foundations, muddy landscapes smell like rotting garbage and trailer parks have been transformed into swamplands. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allowed crews to use Weatherization Assistance Program funds to dispose of trash and debris, help with sandbagging, and so forth. In counties where crews are reweatherizing flood-damaged homes, there are new challenges. One weatherization crew was removing wet insulation from the walls of a home and found poisonous water snakes!
Representatives from state energy offices, weatherization agencies and federal agencies gathered at DOE's Kansas City office to discuss reconstruction and energy efficiency. There are a number of research issues that must be solved according to William S. Becker, of DOE's office of energy-efficiency and renewable energy. Becker is spearheading a DOE task force which is working to incorporate energy efficiency into the rebuilding effort. Separately, a group called Taskforce to Rebuild Using Energy Efficiency (TREE) has formed, also to look at incorporating energy efficiency into the flood-zone rebuilding effort.
One of many goals is to encourage agencies such as FEMA, which is responsible for short-term relief efforts, to coordinate better with agencies like the Small Business Administration, the long-term recovery agency. (SBA makes direct loans to people who have suffered uninsured property losses.) We're trying to capture whatever lessons we can from this flood, so that we can respond more intelligently and more quickly next time, said Becker. The immediate concern is that in 45 days or so, these families will face another heating season.
In some cases entire towns may have to relocate and there will be opportunities do it energy efficiently. One community that serves as an example is Soldier's Grove,Wisconsin, flooded in 1978. Soldier's Grove relocated its entire business district and a dozen homes to higher ground half a mile away from its original location--making itself a model of creative energy planning in the process. Soldier's Grove passed the nation's first ordinance requiring new commercial structures to use solar energy to meet at least half of their heating energy needs and passed building energy performance standards twice as stringent as required by state law at the time.
-- Cyril Penn
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