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Ohioans might not give it much thought outside of paying the water bill, but better water infrastructure can make cities more efficient, healthier and cleaner. That's why Green For All, a group that promotes clean energy initiatives, is now focusing on cleaner, greener water infrastructure.
A little-known green conference took place in Cincinnati Oct. 15-17. The Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference was in town on those three days, and it brought together leaders from around the U.S. to discuss sustainable water programs for cities. The conference mostly focused on policy ideas, success stories and challenges faced by modern water infrastructure.
For Green For All, attending the conference was about establishing one key element that isn't often associated with water and sewer systems: jobs. Jeremy Hays, chief strategist for state and local initiatives at Green For All, says this was the focus for his organization.
Hays says it's important for groups promoting better water infrastructure to include the jobs aspect of the equation. To Hays, while it's certainly important for cities to establish cleaner and more efficient initiatives, it's also important to get people back to work. He worries this side of water infrastructure policies are "often left out."
He points to a report released by Green For All during last year's conference. The report looked at how investing the $188.4 billion suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to manage rainwater and preserve water quality in the U.S. would translate into economic development and jobs: "We find that an investment of $188.4 billion spread equally over the next five years would generate $265.6 billion in economic activity and create close to 1.9 million jobs."
To accomplish that robust growth and job development, the report claims infrastructure would have to mimic "natural solutions." It would focus on green roofs, which are rooftop areas with planted vegetation; urban tree planting; rain gardens, which are areas that use vegetation to reduce storm water runoff; bioswales, which are shallow, vegetated depressions that catch rainwater and redirect it; constructed wetlands; permeable pavements, which are special pavements that allow water to pass through more easily; rainwater harvesting, which uses rain barrels and other storage devices to collect and recycle rainwater; and green alleys, which reduce paved or impervious surfaces with vegetation that reduces storm water runoff.
The report says constructing and maintaining these sorts of programs would produce massive growth, especially in comparison to other programs already supported by presidential candidates and the federal government: "Infrastructure investments create over 16 percent more jobs dollar-for-dollar than a payroll tax holiday, nearly 40 percent more jobs than an across-the-board tax cut, and over five times as many jobs as temporary business tax cuts."
Hays says the jobs created also don't have barriers that keep them inaccessible to what he calls "disadvantaged workers": "A lot of these jobs that we're focused on in infrastructure, especially green infrastructure, are much more accessible. They require some training and some skills, but not four years' worth because it's skills that you can get at a community college or even on the job."
Beyond jobs, Green For All supports greener infrastructure due to its health benefits. Hays cited heat waves as one example. He says the extra plants and vegetation planted to support green infrastructure can help absorb heat that's typically contained by cities.
Hays' example has a lot of science to stand on. The extra heating effect in cities, known as the urban heat island effect, is caused because cities have more buildings and pavements that absorb and contain heat, more pollution that warms the air and fewer plants that enable evaporation and transpiration through a process called evapotranspiration. The EPA promotes green roofs in order to help combat the urban heat island effect.
Hays says green infrastructure also creates cleaner air because trees capture carbon dioxide and break it down to oxygen. The work of the extra trees can also help reduce global warming, although Hays cautions that the ultimate effect is probably "relatively small."
But those are only some of the advantages Hays sees in green infrastructure. He says green infrastructure is more resilient against volatile weather events caused by global warming. With green infrastructure, storm water can be managed by systems that collect and actually utilize rainwater to harvest clean water. Even in a world without climate change, that storm water management also reduces water contamination by reducing sewer overflow caused by storm water floods, according to Hays.
However, green infrastructure is not without its problems. Hays acknowledges there are some problems with infrastructure systems that require more year-over-year maintenance: "The green and conventional approach is more cost effective over time, but the way you have to spend money is different. So we need to look at the way we finance infrastructure, and make sure we keep up with innovative technologies."
Specifically, green infrastructure relies less on big capital investments and more on ongoing maintenance costs. Hays insists the green infrastructure saves money in the long term with efficiency and by making more use out of natural resources, and the Green For All report supports his claim. But it is more difficult to get a city or state legislator to support long-term funding than it is to get them to support big capital expenditures, Hays says.
Education is also a problem. To a lot of people, the green infrastructure on rooftops and other city areas might seem like "pocket parks," says Hays. But these areas are nothing like parks; they are meant to absorb and collect rainwater. If the public isn't educated properly, there could be some confusion as to why the supposed "pocket parks" are flooded so often. Providing that education is going to be another big challenge for public officials adopting green infrastructure, according to Hays.
So what, if anything, is Cincinnati doing to adopt these
technologies? In the past, city legislators have looked into rainwater
harvesting systems, but not much information is out there. On Thursday, CityBeat will talk to city officials to see how Cincinnati is moving forward.
It's one issue Ohio's leading conservative and liberal think tanks seemingly agree on: The "economic miracle" often touted by Gov. John Kasich is not really happening.
The bleak economic news has been highlighted by recent reports from the right-leaning Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, which supports little government intervention in the economy, and the left-leaning Policy Matters Ohio, which focuses on policies that can benefit low- and middle-income Ohioans.
The March "Ohio by the Numbers" report from the Buckeye Institute did acknowledge that Ohio has a lower unemployment rate than the national average, but the report was particularly hard on Ohio's lacking private sector job growth. It pointed out the state lost 16,800 private sector jobs in February, ranks No. 27 in the nation for private sector job growth since January 2010 and ranks No. 47 for private sector job growth since January 1990.
Policy Matters' March report was similarly harsh: "Since the end of the recession, Ohio has added 133,700 jobs, growing at a rate of 2.7 percent. But that growth leveled off in the second half of 2012, and the reported zigzag of the last two months means that Ohio has only added 2,700 jobs over the past year, growing at a very weak 0.1 percent."
The news may come as a surprise to those who have been reading seemingly positive job news in recent months. Policy Matters places the problem on the inherent volatility in job reports, which are based on household surveys: "This volatility should serve as an important reminder: Monthly numbers are preliminary and will likely be revised, so it is unwise to make too much over the month-to-month changes. Longer-term trends provide a more accurate gauge of the state's economic health."
While they agree on the problem, the two think tanks disagree on the causes and solutions.
Greg Lawson, policy analyst at the Buckeye Institute, says the biggest problem is Ohio's tax system. In this area, he points out three major problems: higher income tax rates than other states, an unusual amount of municipalities in Ohio with income taxes and complicated filing for individuals and businesses.
"You find nowhere else in the entire country a situation in which someone has to file multiple income tax forms ... for different jurisdictions they work in," he says, citing the different tax rates and credits someone working in multiple municipalities might have to deal with. "That creates a drag on the efficiency of being able to set up businesses."
As far as tax cuts are concerned, another report from Policy Matters found a series of tax cuts passed by the Ohio General Assembly in 2005 had little impact on the state's economic growth. The report found Ohio experienced job losses while the rest of the country grew, and not a single Ohio sector outpaced national performance. The report concluded, "State economies are complicated and there are many reasons why Ohio's job growth is lagging. However, it is clear that the 2005 tax cuts did not bring about the promised job growth. There is no reason to think that further tax cuts will, either."
Instead, Policy Matters has focused on austerity, which led to the public sector job cuts outlined in Policy Matters' March report: "A private-sector gain of 16,900 jobs has been nearly erased by the 14,200 jobs lost in the public sector. Most of those public job losses happened at the local level."
Indeed, federal sequestration has already caused some damage in Ohio, and local government funding cuts approved by Kasich have also forced local governments to cut back ("Enemy of the State," issue of March 20).
In the first of three debates for Ohio's seat in the U.S.
Senate, Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown and Republican challenger Josh
Mandel agreed on little and clashed on a lot. Each candidate mostly focused on the opposing candidate's record, but the debate today did move to substantial differences in policy at some
The debate started with opening statements from a noticeably feisty Brown, who criticized Mandel for calling his vote for the auto bailout "un-American." On the other side of the aisle, Mandel began his opening statement with a joke about shaving before he turns 36. The joke was the last time either of the men spoke with a light heart.
The candidates blasted each other mostly for their records. Mandel touted Ohio's and the nation's higher unemployment rate since Brown took office in 2006, energy prices and the U.S. debt. He also said the Senate had not passed a budget in three years, although Congress has actually passed budget resolutions in that time.
Brown fired back with claims Mandel had filled the state treasurer's office with cronies. He also criticized Mandel for running for four different political offices in seven years. In his closing statement, Brown said Mandel is "too concerned about running for his next job" to be trusted.
On substance, Brown and Mandel criticized just about everything about each other. Brown claimed Mandel signed away his "right to think" by agreeing to lobbyist Grover Norquist's pledge to not raise taxes while in office. He said the pledge makes it so if Mandel does take office, he'll never be able to close tax loopholes for big corporations.
Mandel defended the pledge by saying, "I'm proud to stand
for lower taxes in our state and lower taxes in our country." He added, "I will
do everything I can to advocate for lower taxes across the board for the middle
class and job creators as well."
The term "job creators" is typically used in politics to reference wealthy Americans, who Republicans claim create jobs through the theory of trickle-down economics. The economic theory states that wealthy Americans will hire more lower-class Americans if they have more money and freedom, essentially creating a trickle-down effect on wealth from the rich to the poor. Although Republicans still tout the theory, some economists, including Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman, say the financial crisis of 2008 and the deregulation that led to it prove trickle-down economics do not work.
The candidates also debated their positions on the auto bailout. Mandel said he would not have voted for the auto bailout if he was in the Senate in 2009. In his defense, he cited the experience of Delphi workers, who lost part of their pensions as part of the deal auto companies made with workers after the federal bailout. Mandel then said, "I'm not a bailout senator. He's the bailout senator."
Brown responded by saying, "These are real jobs and real people." He then cited examples of people helped by the growing auto industry. Brown's arguments are backed by economic data, which has repeatedly credited the growing auto industry for the nation's growing economy. In the first quarter of 2012, the auto industry was credited for half of the nation's economic growth.
When he was asked about higher education, Brown established the key difference between the candidates in terms of economic policy. Brown said his policies in favor of government investment in higher education are about supporting the middle class to create growth that starts in the middle and spreads out, while Mandel supports tax cuts that emphasize a trickle-down approach. Mandel did not deny the claims, and instead blamed Brown's policies for the high unemployment rate and debt issues.
The men continued to show similar contrasts on the budget, taxes and economy throughout the entire debate, but there seemed to be some common ground regarding energy independence. When the topic came to hydraulic fracturing — or "fracking" — Brown said becoming energy independent would have to involve all possible energy sources. In substance, Mandel agreed, although he also praised fracking regulations recently passed by the Ohio legislature and Gov. John Kasich.
As far as energy issues go, the agreement stopped there. When Brown was asked about President Barack Obama's alleged "war on coal," Brown said there was no war on coal and claimed there are more coal jobs and coal produced in Ohio than there were five years ago. Mandel disagreed and claimed there is a war on coal. He added if Obama is the general in the war on coal, Brown is Obama's "lieutenant." Brown previously supported federal regulations on mercury that some in the coal industry, including the Ohio Coal Association, claim will force coal-fired power plants to shut down. The regulations go into effect in 2015.
On abortion, Mandel proudly claimed he was pro-life, while Brown said, "Unlike Josh Mandel, I trust Ohio women to make their own health care decisions." Brown also criticized Mandel for not establishing exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother in his anti-abortion stance.
Many more issues, from term limits to Middle Eastern culture, were covered in the debate. The candidates drew sharp contrasts in all these areas with Brown typically holding the liberal position and Mandel typically holding the conservative position. But despite the feisty language and deep policy contrasts, when the debate ended, the candidates smiled, shook hands and patted each other on the back. They will meet again in Columbus on Thursday and Cincinnati on Oct. 25.
Hamilton County fares worse
than Ohio overall in a series of measurements for children's
economic well-being, health, education and safety, according to a report released Aug. 7.
The 2013 "Ohio's Kids Count" report from the Children's Defense Fund and Annie E. Casey Foundation finds Hamilton County has a higher median income than Ohio does on average. But the county fares worse than the state in various categories, including childhood poverty, fourth-grade reading and math proficiency, felony convictions and the amount of babies with low birth weights, an early sign of poor health.
One example: Hamilton County's childhood poverty rate is 27.7 percent, while Ohio's overall rate is 23.9 percent. If the county brought the rate down to the state average, it would pull more than 3,000 local children out of poverty.
Hamilton County's childhood poverty rate dropped from 28.5 percent to 27.7 percent between 2010 and 2011.
The report uses state data from between 2009 and 2011 to look at various indicators for children under the age of 18. Some of the data differs from findings from other groups, such as the National Center for Children in Poverty, which found about 48 percent of Cincinnati's children are in poverty.
The report claims many of the measured indicators are socially and economically linked, so it should come as little surprise that Hamilton County is doing worse across the board. Still, it advises local, state and federal officials to continue taking action to bring down the troubling numbers.
In Cincinnati, City Hall has historically failed to meet its goals for human services funding, which in part helps homeless youth and other struggling children.
But local leaders, including city officials and business executives, have backed the Cincinnati Preschool Promise, which aims to place more low- and middle-income Cincinnati children in early education programs. Shiloh Turner, vice president for community investment at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, today wrote in an email to CityBeat that Preschool Promise backers are currently looking at funding options and will iron out plans and partnerships through meetings scheduled for the next three months.
The Kids Count report credits Ohio officials in particular for approving a new voucher program that will subsidize preschool for families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The program is expected to reach 7,000 children in the state over the next two years.
But the state has generally cut education funding since Gov. John Kasich took office, leaving Cincinnati Public Schools with $15 million less state funding than it received in 2009.
At the same time, the federal government is set to cut its food stamp program in November, which progressive think tanks like the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities argue will hurt low-income families in Ohio.
Ohio's inspector general released a report today criticizing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) for improperly reimbursing federal stimulus funds to hired organizations that did not follow rules.
In a statement, Inspector General Randall Meyer's office said ODJFS "failed to adequately oversee federal grant funds applied to the Constructing Futures jobs training initiative for Central Ohio."
The report released by Meyer's office today, which focused on stimulus programs in central Ohio, outlined a few instances of ODJFS failing to oversee proper standards. In total, the department, which was put in charge of carrying out job training funds in Ohio from the stimulus package President Barack Obama signed into law in 2009, wrongly reimbursed companies it hired for $51,700.81.
In central Ohio, ODJFS hired two organizations to carry out the job training program, or Workforce Investment Act: Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) and Construction Trades Networks (CTN). At ABC, the inspector general found limited problems with faulty reimbursements involving a newspaper subscription, travel and mileage totaling less than $100. The money was not accounted for as a questionable cost since it was so small.
However, at CTN, the faulty reimbursements piled up. The organization was reimbursed $560.61 for phone calls made prior to being hired as part of the federal grant. It was also reimbursed $1,613.62 for its invoices, even though documentation was not provided to link phone calls as necessary to the grant program.
Under the federal stimulus rules, CTN was required to provide 25 percent of its own funds for the program. CTN planned on using $91,800 of in-kind funds — payment that isn't cash — by paying for trainee wages. The organization paid $60,927.70 by the end of the grant period, and the organization was reimbursed for $49,526.64 by ODJFS, even though the charges were supposed to be carried by CTN. The inspector general requested CTN give the money back to ODJFS.
When the inspector general contacted the organization to explain the findings, CTN attributed the requests for faulty reimbursements to confusion caused by multiple administrative changes at ODJFS.
"In addition, monitoring visits by ODJFS were not conducted until after the grant period expired, even though the partnerships were told the visits would occur as grant activities were underway," the report said.
Meyer's office concluded ODJFS should review the questioned costs, work to keep consistent guidelines through administrative changes and monitor grant funds during the grant period.
The full inspector general report can be found here.
A report was released for northwestern Ohio was released on May 10, and it also found wrongdoing. It can be found here. A report for stimulus programs in southwestern Ohio will be released later.ODJFS could not be immediately provide comment on the report. This story will be updated if comments become available.
UPDATE (3:28 P.M.): Benjamin Johnson, spokesperson for ODJFS, provided a comment shortly after this story was published.
"As the report mentions, these were expenditures by local entities, not by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services," he says. "We appreciate the inspector general bringing this to our attention, and we'll work to resolve the matter."
The company that would operate Cincinnati's parking meters
if the city passes its controversial parking plan this week was mired with audited problems and
complaints in the past. The issues surfaced years before Affiliated
Computer Services (ACS) was bought by Xerox in 2010, and Xerox now denies any wrongdoing.
A 2007 audit found ACS had failed to take care and keep track of parking meters it operated in Washington, D.C. The audit claimed 35 percent of parking meters listed in ACS's inventory were missing, about 16 percent of the remaining meters were completely inoperative and 65 percent had problems that ranged from defacing to improper height and stability. ACS also failed to fix meters within the 72-hour period mandated by its contract, according to the audit.
For some residents, the broken meters led to unfair
tickets, with 6,888 tickets, or nearly 1 percent of parking meter
tickets, being improperly issued at unfixed meters, according to the audit. The audit also found a 903-percent increase in overall parking meter complaints under the privatization contract with ACS.
The audit also questioned the financial gains for Washington, D.C., which had to pay $8.8 million, or 33.4
percent, more under privatization than projected trends under public
The bad audit wasn't enough for Washington,
D.C., to cut its contract with ACS, which still manages the city's
parking meters today.
The audit was among a few other problems tipped to multiple media outlets by Tabitha Woodruff, an advocate at Ohio Public Interest Research Group. In 2007, ACS was accused of bribing police officers in Edmonton, Canada, but a judge ruled in favor of ACS, stating there wasn't sufficient evidence. In 2010, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) charged ACS with backdating and falsely disclosing stock options between 1996 and 2005, and ACS consented to a permanent injunction without admitting or denying the charges.
All the discovered problems occurred before 2010, when Xerox bought ACS.
Kevin Lightfoot, a spokesperson at Xerox, says the audit's findings were based on "faulty information." He says Xerox and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation found ACS had saved Washington, D.C., money. He also claims the auditor had misunderstood the parking meters' screen displays, which he says led to the improper identification of inoperative or malfunctioning meters.
CityBeat previously covered the parking proposal, which would lease the city's parking assets to fund deficit reduction and economic development, in detail. Mayor Mark Mallory and Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls have endorsed the plan, and it's currently expected to have the five votes necessary to pass a possible City Council vote today.
On Friday, Councilman Chris Seelbach revealed Plan S, an alternative proposal that would not lease the city's parking assets and would instead use $7.5 million in casino revenue, cut $5 million based on the results of the city's priority-driven budgeting and allow voters to choose between a $10-per-month trash fee or a 2-percent increase in the city's admissions tax.
City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. also put forward
his "Plan B," which would lay off 344 employees, eliminate Human
Services Funding and close pools and recreation centers, among other
changes. In response, mayoral candidate John Cranley proposed his own
plan, which would use casino revenue, parking meter revenue and cuts to
"non-essential programs" to tame the deficit.
Plan B, Plan S and Cranley's plan all fix the structural deficit in the city's budget, while the parking plan only fixes the deficit for two years.
Just two days before the general election, President Barack Obama made his case to 13,500 people packed into the University of Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena and 2,000 in an overflow room.
Obama cast the race in comparisons to the previous two presidents, comparing his policies with those of Bill Clinton and equating Republican challenger Mitt Romney's plans with those of George W. Bush.
"So stay with me then," Obama said. "We've got ideas that work, and we've got ideas that don't work, so the choice should be pretty clear."
With less than 48 hours before polls open on Election Day, a Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll had Obama and his Republican challenger locked in a statistical dead heat. However the same poll showed Obama with a slight edge in Ohio, up 48 percent to Romney's 44 percent.
Obama touted his first-term accomplishments, including ending the war in Iraq; ending Don't Ask Don't Tell, the policy preventing homosexuals from serving openly in the military; and overhauling the country's health care system.
"It's not just about policy, it's about trust. Who do you trust?" the president asked, flanked by a sea of supporters waving blue "Forward" signs.
"Look, Ohio, you know me by now. You may not agree with every decision I've made, Michelle doesn't always agree with me. You may be frustrated with the pace of change … but I say what I mean and I mean what I say."
Nonpartisan political fact-checker PolitiFact on Nov. 3 took a look at Obama's record on keeping his campaign promises from 2008. The group rated 38 percent as Kept, 16 percent Compromised and 17 percent Broken.
Twice during his speech the president was interrupted by audience members shouting from the stands.
The first was a man on the balcony level of the arena interrupted, shouting anti-abortion slogans and waving a sign showing mutilated fetuses before being dragged out by about five law enforcement officers. Both were drowned out by supporters.
Music legend Stevie Wonder opened the rally for Obama, playing a number of his hits, opening up "Superstition" with a refrain of "on the right track, can't go back."
Wonder discussed abortion policy between songs and urged Ohioans who had not already voted to do so either early on Monday or Election Day.
So far, 28 percent of Ohio voters have already cast their ballots. CNN reports that those votes favor Obama 63/35, according to public polling.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Romney campaigned before an estimated crowd of 25,000 in Pennsylvania, according to the Secret Service.
Political rallies always draw a number of the loyal opposition, and this late-evening appearance was no different. Only five people protested near the line to the arena, but what they lacked in number they attempted to make up for in message.
One large sign read "Obama: 666" and another "Obama is the Beast," alluding to a character in the Christian Biblical book of Revelation.
A man who only identified himself as Brooks carried a large anti-abortion sign that showed pieces of a dismembered fetus.
"I'm here to stand up for the innocent blood that has been shed in this land to the tune of 56 million," Brooks said. He said he was opposed to the politics of both major party presidential candidates.
"I pray for Barack Obama because his beliefs are of the Antichrist, just like Romney," Brooks said.
Brooks said his message for those in line was for them to vote for Jesus — not on the ballot, but through their actions and through candidates that espoused Christian beliefs.
"Obama is not going to change things, Romney is not going to change things," Brooks said. "In the last days there are many Christs, but not the Christ of the Bible. The Christ of the Bible is not for killing children, is not for homosexual marriage."
A new Policy Matters Ohio report found local government funding has been reduced by $1.4 billion since Gov. John Kasich took office, leading to a nearly 50-percent reduction in state funding.
The report found local government funding dropped from nearly $3 billion in the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years — the years budgeted by former Gov. Ted Strickland — to about $2.2 billion in the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years — the first two years budgeted by Kasich. The governor's most recent budget proposal would ensure the continuation of the downward slide, with local government funding dropping down to slightly more than $1.5 billion in the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years, according to the report.
Policy Matters concluded new revenue from the state's
casinos and an expanded sales tax would not be enough to outweigh cuts
in the Local Government Fund, utility tax reimbursements, tangible
personal property reimbursements and the termination of the estate tax. By itself, the estate tax, which was phased out at the beginning of 2013, would have provided $625.3 million to local governments in the 2014-2015 budget, but it was repealed
in 2011 by the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature and Kasich.
The governor's office has repeatedly argued that the cuts in Kasich's first budget were necessary to help balance an $8 billion budget deficit, but the Policy Matters report says improving economic conditions have removed a need for further local government funding cuts: "To encourage growth we need good schools, reliable public safety and emergency services and strong communities. During hard times, state and local policy led to cuts. But further cuts in appropriations for local government are not helping communities. Curtailing local control of local revenues will complicate recovery – as the economy improves, it is time to restore the fiscal partnership between state and community."
When presenting his 2013 budget proposal, City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. said the state funding reductions cost Cincinnati $22.2 million in revenues for the year.
CityBeat previously covered Kasich's 2014-2015 budget proposal and how it affects taxpayers, schools and Medicaid recipients ("Smoke and Mirrors," issue of Feb. 20).
A Dec. 5 report is encouraging Cincinnati to become the solar energy capital of Ohio and the broader region. The report, titled "Building a Solar Cincinnati," was put together by Environment Ohio to show the benefits and potential of Cincinnati regarding solar power.
Christian Adams, who wrote the report along with Julian Boggs, says Cincinnati is especially poised to take charge in this renewable energy front, in contrast to the rest of the state, which gets 82 percent of its electricity from coal. Adams points to the sustainability-minded city officials and public, a "budding solar business sector" and the great business environment as the city as reasons why Cincinnati could become a pivotal leader.
With 21 public solar installations to date, the city has already seen some of the benefits of solar power. The most obvious benefit is cleaner air, which leads to better overall health and helps combat global warming. But the report points out that local solar initiatives mean local jobs. "You can't export these jobs," Adams says. "It's a great opportunity for economic revitalization."
With solar energy comes an array of job opportunities for solar installers, solar designers, engineers, construction workers, project managers, sales associates and marketing consultants. That's enough to create brisk job creation. The report points out "energy-related segments of the clean economy added jobs at a torrid pace over the last few years, bucking trends of the Great Recession."
Still, there are hurdles.
Although solar energy saves money in the long term, installing solar
panels has a high upfront cost. The cost can make the short term too bleak for many potential customers.
To help overcome the short-term problem, the report suggests third-party financing. In these financing agreements, customers agree to give up roof space to have a solar power company install solar panels, and then customers agree to buy their power needs from the company. It's a win for the solar power company because the panels eventually pay for themselves through new customers, and it's a win for the customer because he sees more stable, lower energy costs and cleaner air. Adams points out that a few businesses and individuals in the area have already taken part in such agreements with great success.
There are also some incentives already in place to encourage solar energy. Ohio's Clean Energy Law, which was passed in 2008, pushes utility companies into the renewable energy market with Solar Renewable Energy Credits. These are credits utility companies must earn to meet annual benchmarks by installing solar panels or purchasing them from third parties. Duke Energy has followed the law's requirements by establishing its own renewable energy credit program.
Ohioans also have access to some tax breaks — the Energy Conversion Facilities Sales Tax Exemption, Air-Quality Improvement Tax Incentives and Qualified Energy Property Tax Exemptions — and loan programs — the Energy Loan Fund and Advanced Energy Fund — that encourage solar and other renewable energy sources.
Larry Falkin, director of the city's Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ), says the report didn't have much new information, but he's glad it can be used to push solar energy to the broader public. He touted the benefits of job creation and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources by moving toward energy independence.
For now, the city is mostly taking the approach of leading by example. Falkin says the city is acting like a "model" for solar energy. Cincinnati added solar installations to two city facilities this year, and another will be added by the end of the month. Falkin's office is also working together with different organizations to keep any momentum going.
Adams and Falkin both attended a Dec. 5 roundtable discussion
that engaged regional officials, including solar businesses,
environmental and sustainability groups, education leaders and the
Cincinnati Zoo. They both said the roundtable went well.
"I think all the right people are coming together and doing the right things to try to move us forward," Falkin says.
The city of Cincinnati is suspending its relationship with SoMoLend, the local startup that the city partnered with in December to connect small businesses and startups to $400,000 in loans.
The broken partnership comes in response to accusations of fraud from the Ohio Division of Securities that have forced SoMoLend to stop giving out loans in the state and could lead to the business's shutdown.
City spokesperson Meg Olberding told CityBeat in an email that although the city partnered with SoMoLend in December, it has yet to give out any loans through the crowdfunding incubator.
The Ohio Division of Securities says SoMoLend failed to gather the proper federal and state licenses for a peer-to-peer lending business and falsely inflated its performance and financing figures.
SoMoLend gained local and national recognition for supposedly helping foster startup and small businesses by linking them to loans through crowdfunding — a particularly promising proposition given the state of the economy and research from the National Bureau of Economic Research that shows startups are the best drivers for economic and job growth.
But with the extent of the charges, it's questionable whether SoMoLend had any success to begin with.
Candace Klein, CEO of SoMoLend, told The Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday that the company is currently in talks with the state. She stressed that the Ohio Division of Securities won't issue a final order against SoMoLend until after a hearing scheduled for October.
SoMoLend, which stands for Social Mobile Local Lending, was founded in 2011. The business's specialty is using crowdfunding tactics to connect small businesses and startups with lenders. It then packages the loans to sell them as notes and charges a fee or commission for its services.


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Labradoodle Rescue & Goldendoodle Rescue
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I live in Philadelphia and drive back and forth to Hartford CT every week. Also willing to drive south to DC area to help transportContinue
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Started by Shelly sample Feb 27, 2014.
I can drive anywhere in SC, NC to GA…. as long as I am able to, it will be hit or miss with me but I also have friends that are doodle lovers that would be willing to help in these three states as…Continue
Started by Jennifer and Jack Jan 31, 2014.
I am willing to help in transporting doodles in either state...winter (November--May) in Arizona and Summers (June--October) in Idaho. We are in Green Valley, AZ and White Bird, Idaho. Thanks for…Continue
Started by Marsha L Royer Jan 12, 2014.
I am willing to help in transporting doodles in either state...winter (November--May) in Arizona and Summers (June--October) in Idaho. We are in Green Valley, AZ and White Bird, Idaho. Thanks for…Continue
Started by Marsha L Royer Jan 12, 2014.
B Long, can you please post your info here in the Nevada discussion:
Hi we live in Las Vegas NV. We can help transport,foster or help out in any way possible!
We live near MA/NH border in Lowell, MA. I am comfortable doing long drives on the weekend - MA, NH, ME, VT, RI, CT and border states to New England like NY, PA, NJ, etc. I have a small SUV for bigger dogs/crates and a smaller car for better gas mileage. I might be available sometimes during the week for shorter drives. Happy to help with transport.
Hi, We live on the Central Coast of California (near Carmel) and can drive 2-3 hours to help.
Hi! We live in MD on the Eastern Shore and just submitted our Foster Care application. We are available to pull from shelters, transport or foster a Doodle and travel anywhere in MD, DE, VA, NJ and possibly W.VA.
I recently read a letter on DRC's Facebook page about a puppy mill in British Columbia that was raided and the poodles and doodles were taken to the SPCA (?) facilities nearby and are not yet available for adoption. If they ask for help in placement and DRC is willing, I'll help with the transport and fostering.
Hi to all the doodle loving volunteers
We are new to DRC and live in Charlotte,NC and would be willing to help as
I am in Hood River Oregon and am ready to transport if you need PNW help. I am willing to travel pretty much all over the Pacific Northwest. I have friends/family I could stay with if needed. The PNW is kind of spread out, but I can do 6-8 hours any direction. (well, not so much west, because we run out of land, but otherwise….)
Thanks, Lisa. For now, just add your name to the "discussion" for your state above. You can send Adrianne an email at email@example.com with your contact info and details of what you can do to help out for now.
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What did you enjoy about this assignment? What were your frustrations?
I enjoyed being able to take photos of myself in different ways. I didn't like trying to figure out ways to make the photos better and more interesting than just a straight on self shot. It was hard trying to come up with different ways to take the photos.
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Nice job reflecting on your process this week!
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Brent Bonadona makes a pitch to a weedline on Day One, on Harris Chain of Lakes.
Brent Bonadona makes a pitch to a weedline on Day One, on Harris Chain of Lakes.
Anglers were bundled up early in the morning, as overnight temperatures dropped into the 40s.
Many Southern Open anglers found themselves fishing in a crowd.
The Harris Chain of Lakes is a maze of canals and lakes.
James Bader makes a long cast into a field of lily pads.
Bader was also fishing crowded water early on Day One.
Recreational anglers were out despite the cold morning temperatures.
Steve Jenkins started his morning fishing in the Dead River.
Anglers made their way deep into fields of lily pads, flipping and pitching the heavy cover.
David Hudson swings and misses in the lily pads.
Davy Hite was one of several Elite Series anglers in the field.
Kent Cella makes a cast to a point in the lily pads.
Ryan LaTine and Russ Nixon work together to put a quality fish into the boat.
After placing the fish in the livewell, it was time to get back to work.
Christiana Bradley makes an adjustment to her bait.
Bradley said she had a good start to Day One, catching a 4-pounder on her first fishing spot.
The use of dip nets is allowed in the Bassmaster Opens, but unfortunately this fish would never make it to the boat.
Brian Easler said he had caught several fish early on Day One, and was working on an early limit.


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The Ten Sexiest Italian Men in The World
Italian men have a wide reputation as being some of the sexiest men in the world. Whether they are actors, models, or football stars, many Italian men have made more than a few women's hearts skip a beat. Therefore, I give you my top ten list of the sexiest Italian guys.
This article is sponsored by Free Laptops 4 All
When women are asked to choose the country where the sexiest men in the world are found, more often than not they will say Italy. Every time the football World Cup rolls around, many of my women friends always seem to know exactly when the Italian team is playing so as to not miss the sight of sweaty, sexy Italian men running around. Therefore, in honor of all the women who have dreamed about Italian men, here is a list of the sexiest men from Italy. Eat your heart out gals.
By the way, don't forget to also check out my list of the Ten Sexiest Italian Women in the World.
Riccardo Scamarcio, 31, is a film actor.
Raoul Bova, 39, is a film actor.
Costantino Vitagliano, 36, is a television personality.
Fabio Cannavaro, 37, is a professional football (soccer) player who currently plays for the Al-Ahli Dubai club in the United Arab Emirates.
Alessio Boni, 44, is a television actor.
Stefano Accorsi, 39, is a theatre and film actor.
Luca Argentero, 32, is a television and film actor.
Kim Rossi Stuart, 41, is a film actor and director.
Christian Vieri, 37, is a professional footballer who currently plays for Boavista Sport Club in Portugal.
Marcello Mastroianni, (1924-1996), was a world-famous film actor. He died at age 72.
If you liked this article, then check out these articles as well:
The Ten Sexiest Hispanic Men in the World
The Ten Sexiest African Men in the World
The Ten Sexiest British Men in the World
The Ten Sexiest Arab Men in the World
The Ten Sexiest Russian Men in the World
This article is sponsored by Free Laptops 4 All
Liked it


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Photos: Rick Gosselin's latest NFL power rankings ... where are the Cowboys?
Photo: Jack Dempsey
1. Houston Texans — The Texans are 3-0 and RB Arian Foster (pictured) is revving up with 100-yard games each of the last two weeks.
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Department of Economics, Finance, & Accounting
THIS IS AN ACTUAL REPORT. It is not related in any way to the active shooter exercise that is taking place on campus today. More Information
Fort Hays State University > About FHSU > Academic Divisions > College of Business and Entrepreneurship > Department of Economics Finance and Accounting > Accounting > Minor
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Pokemon Flower Paradise
View Single Post
February 8th, 2010 (10:19 AM).
Great Mazinger
Join Date: Sep 2009
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by
Pokemon Flower Paradise
Route 1
No route map is that rigid and grid like in it's structure, and as a result it looks completely unnatural.
Take a look at any of the routes from the games and you'll find that patches of grass usually aren't completely square in shape, nor are the maps a large box with little in the way of decoration and obstacles allowing the player to walk straight through the map. I'd also say as a result of it's size it appears barren and full of very little.
You also seem to be letting the player cross the map without being made to walk in the grass once, which seems to defeat the point of the tall grass.
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I wrote recently about the importance of developing your own style. One of the worst things any creative professional can do is to get sucked into thinking about what work we should be doing or how we should be doing it. When was the last time you looked at someone else's work and thought "Wow that's really good. I really need to be doing something like that"? For me, it was earlier this morning. It's totally normal and intuitive behavior.
We really need to stop doing it.
Push People Off The Fence
Comparing ourselves to others and allowing us to be influenced by other's work (subconsciously or otherwise) is dangerous. Seeking out inspiration is fine, but once we cross the line of being inspired to thinking we need to emulate that work without putting our own stamp on, it is a slippery slope.
When someone looks at our work, they should form an opinion of it. An opinion can then lead to a connection. If they don't even form an opinion, why would we get hired for anything? Making your work look like someone else's might help give us a degree of comfort around hitting certain technical goals, but it doesn't lead anywhere creatively.
Rihanna found herself at the center of a lawsuit raised by fashion photographer David LaChapelle a few years ago. He claimed she was directly appropriating his creative works in her music videos (see image below - LaChapelle's images are on the left, Rihanna's comparison shots from her videos on the right).
There is a certain comfort level we all feel with being perceived in the same realm as those we look up to or aspire to be like. The problem is that when our work looks like someone else's, we just commoditize what we do even more and it's a race to the bottom to find the person who can achieve 'that look' for the cheapest price possible.
We need to do the opposite. We need people to form strong opinions on our work. Strong opinions divide people and forces them into one of two camps – those that like our work, and those that don't. We can start to build up a small camp of people who like our work and support what we do. It doesn't matter if it's photo or video. The point is that if you are creating some form of opinion on your work, you'll be resonating with someone, somewhere which mean you have the makings of a sustainable business model.
1.) Commercial Work Really Succeeds When You Have An Opinion
A few years back, Patrick Hall highlighted a discussion that was raging about whether Adidas was using too many lights in their latest campaign in it's shot (below) featuring soccer superstar Leo Messi.
The point of that discussion was not about whether there were too many lights used. That post was simply a commentary about where an aspect of commercial photography was headed, and what sort of reaction the advertisement was provoking as a result of a lighting technique.
If the success of a commercial campaign is to get people to sit up, take notice and start talking, then you could argue Adidas got 95% of the job done simply by bringing something to the table that left people with an opinion. The lighting and overall effect got people talking. Somewhere deep within the Adidas HQ marketing department, a light bulb must have gone off because in their latest video campaign, they've used lighting again as a key talking point to sell product.
This new video was shot with a Phantom at 1000 frames a second using a suit covered with LEDs then processed out to show light trails in smooth slow motion. Again, the application of light is the talking point here.
We don't need a Phantom or a Tron-like body suit to be noticed. Adidas has the budget to roll out all the toys but fundamentally they are building the concept on what raised a reaction last time, namely using lighting technique in innovative ways to get people to take notice. The key here is to recognize what you do to get people interested in your work and play to that strength.
2.) Trust Your Instinct: Follow Your Heart Not the Crowd
So how do you make people sit up and take notice in the first place? Focus on what is close to your heart.
This is very much a personal and subjective aspect of what we do but it's critical. It goes back to how to define the style of images you've made before and where you see yourself going with that in mind. It goes back to what you are passionate about expressing in your imagery.
A great and recent example here is Justin Timberlake's 'Mirrors' video.
'Mirrors' is a video tribute to his grandparents, who were married for 63 years before his grandfather passed away last year. What's surprising is how understated and touching it is and how strong the narrative of the story is. It was crowned the Best Music Video of 2013 at the MTV Music Video Awards last week. While Justin Timberlake is undeniably a hugely successful pop star, this video won because it was his very personal message that was dear to his heart and the message resonated with the judges.
Put your heart and soul into your work. It won't touch everyone in the same way, but it will leave some people with a clear sense of what your purpose is, what you are all about, helping them to form an opinion over your work much more easily. Personally, the last year has been very much about following my heart and seeing where it will lead. Today, I'm working with people I really want to work with on projects that are exciting on both a professional and personal level. It's not easy to cast logic aside but sometimes it's necessary to ignore it for a while and listen to our instinct to get us to where we really want to be.
3.) Stop Thinking, Start Doing
The topic of opportunity and converting opportunity into paid work is something we'll broach in a separate post, but there is a lot to be said for seizing the bull by the horns and getting out there and just doing it.
Ashton Kutcher made a great point about finding opportunity when he accepted a Teen Choice awards a couple of weeks back.
His point that opportunities and hard work are inextricably intertwined is highly relevant. We only get to proceed to the next stepping stone through hard work, and the application of what we are doing into other areas. If we aren't doing the jobs we want, if we aren't shooting work that divides or provides opinion, we need to get out there and go and make it happen.
Shooting personal work is critical to this step, and Joey L set out very good reasons why this is so important (and how the pay off is it leads to you being hired for the work you really want to shoot). I ended up shooting personal project work as I spent a long period traveling last year and it gave me a much clearer idea of where I should be focusing my time and energy now. Personal work is imperative to growth, we have to make time for it and we have to realize how significant it is to finding out voice, developing our style and self expression.
It's easy to talk and think about what we want to do, it's much harder to do it, but the rewards for making the leap and doing it are immense, particularly when it's work we are passionate about.
Final Thoughts
Leaving people sitting on the fence is bad for business. You've got to get up there and use your work to push them off, and that means pushing your creative boundaries. Not everyone will like your work, but that's not a bad thing.
When your work is dividing opinion and is strong enough to do so, you're moving forward. Work that leaves people thinking about you or what you are doing will get you hired. Understanding why they like your work helps you understand your own qualities of style and self expression and provides direction. Cultivate this at every step and if it's not happening, take on personal projects to develop it. Shoot from the heart and be clear about the opinion you are trying to form as you go.
Sarah Greenough, who authored 'Looking In: The Americans by Robert Frank', summarizes the importance of Frank's change away from purely documenting what he saw, to a different intention - to simply expressing his opinion on America and Americans.
"Frank recognized that in the last few months not only had his style and approach changed, so too had his intention. No longer striving for poetic effect or even beautiful photographs he now openly sought to express his opinions about what he saw– his anger at the abuse of power, his suspicion of wealth and its privileges, his support for those less fortunate, and most of all, his fears about the kind of culture he saw emerging in the country."
Frank added:
"America is an interesting country, but there is a lot that I do not like and that I would never accept. I am also trying to show this through my photos".
We may not like or agree with an opinion, or even like it, but when you shoot with intent to show what you care about and how you care, our work is stronger because of it. Force people to get off the fence and they will sit up and take notice. Make time to shoot the work you want to be known (and booked) for because to do otherwise is not a viable option for a sustainable business. Just my opinion.
If you have thoughts on this article, I'd love to hear them in the comments below. Please feel free to share with the community and let me know what you thought.
6 Comments
Very inspiring article. It is true that about 100 percent of what we do is derivative. Most of it has already been seen and done. And just like children we imitate our parents, ie,,Avedons,Adams and more so in this time the McNally's, Hobby's,Arias. However, much of us never breakaway from them and find our own voice. I myself am trying to find my voice in photography at this moment. I was pretty much taught by a friend who mostly shoots glamour. Glamour as I found is really not my voice so much. I would rather shoot editorial type photography detailing "real people". Glamour is great. Beautiful models are great, but it gets boring. It does nothing to truly feed my creativity. But again stepping away and trying to create the type of pics I really want to take is a challenge. And with the help of articles like this I will step up to the plate and try a little harder to breakaway from what shackles me.
This article did give me something to work on since I am a 16 year-old photographer, I have been into photography for around 2 and a half years now and I am currently an advanced photographer but I am not in that stage where I can go out and get clients, surely I can impress them with my work and creativity but I still need to define my own style and choice of work. You did mention some great points and I will most certainly take them into account as I slowly start to begin getting clients hopefully by the end of this year. Thank you again for your words.
Will Miley Cyrus's VMA performance count as an example to this article? Or are you motivated by her performance that raised billions of opinions, to write this article?
Just askin.


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Essar Head to Talk With Pemex on Repsol Stake, Confidencial Says
Prashant Ruia, Essar Group's chief executive officer, will meet with Petroleos Mexicanos CEO Juan Jose Suarez Coppel in Mexico today to inform him of Essar's intention to buy the 10 percent of Spain's Repsol YPF SA that Sacyr Vallehermoso wants to sell, El Confidencial reported.
An Essar Energy spokesman, who declined to be identified, said the report was incorrect as the company is focused on India.
Essar is one of five parties contacted by Sacyr, which owns 20 percent of Repsol, El Confidencial said, citing unidentified people with knowledge of the matter.
Essar must get approval to buy the stake from Pemex, which signed a shareholder agreement with Sacyr in August to syndicate their voting rights in Repsol, the newspaper added.


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commandlinefu.com is the place to record those command-line gems that you return to again and again.
Delete that bloated snippets file you've been using and share your personal repository with the world. That way others can gain from your CLI wisdom and you from theirs too. All commands can be commented on, discussed and voted up or down.
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First-time OpenID users will be automatically assigned a username which can be changed after signing in.
Every new command is wrapped in a tweet and posted to Twitter. Following the stream is a great way of staying abreast of the latest commands. For the more discerning, there are Twitter accounts for commands that get a minimum of 3 and 10 votes - that way only the great commands get tweeted.
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Use your favourite RSS aggregator to stay in touch with the latest commands. There are feeds mirroring the 3 Twitter streams as well as for virtually every other subset (users, tags, functions,…):
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Replace localhost:9200 with your server location and port. This is the ElasticSearch's default setup for local instances.
Bind it to a shortcut key, using something like xbindkeys-config (if you do not have xbindkeys: apt-get install xbindkeys xbindkeys-config)
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The Word Guy: Fighting a Battle to the 'Def'
We expect dictionaries to correct common mistakes in a word's spelling, definition, pronunciation and usage. But, sometimes, a dictionary creates a mistake, changing the use of a word forever.
That's what happened when Samuel Johnson was compiling his famous dictionary during the 1750s. Until then, "internecine" had meant, "fought to the death, murderous." It had been derived from the Latin prefix "inter-," an intensifier meaning "completely," and the Latin verb "necare," meaning "to kill."
But the good Dr. Johnson misinterpreted the "inter-" to mean "between, mutual." So his dictionary gave "internecine" an entirely new definition — "endeavoring mutual destruction" — and people quickly began using "internecine" to describe a battle that was mutually ruinous or fatal to both sides.
Then, building on this new denotation, people started using "internecine" to mean "internal, intramural." Soon any internal struggle, no matter how trivial, was being described as "internecine," and this is the dominant sense of the word today. People use "internecine" to describe everything from family feuds to mafia wars to interagency rivalries.
Usage experts, mindful of the word's original meaning, still cringe at this extension. In "Modern American Usage," Bryan Garner admonishes, "Careful writers will respect the word's traditional roots in belligerency and find other words to describe petty squabbles."
But use "internecine" in its original "murderous" sense, and you risk confusion. Consider Henry David Thoreau's description of a fierce battle between armies of red ants and black ants in "Walden": "It was internecine war; the red republicans on the one hand, and the black imperialists on the other."
Was Thoreau emphasizing that the battle was vicious, or that it was an internal conflict between two species of ants? Most likely, he intended the former. As a Latin scholar, he was surely familiar with the origin of "internecine." Besides, the entire passage emphasizes the savage nature of the battle. Nevertheless, even the thorough Thoreau leaves some "ant"biguity.
Appropriately, the pronunciation of "internecine" has proven to be just as controversial. Dictionaries have endorsed as many as five renderings: in-tur-NEE-sin, in-tur-NEE-sine, in-TUR-nuh-sin, in-TUR-nuh-seen and in-tur-NEH-seen, the last being the most common. Fight it out — intensely — among yourselves.
Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse , as examples of good writing, via email to firstname.lastname@example.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 Third St., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.
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Another set of value studies from this morning, in the style of James Paick.
Another set of value studies from this morning, in the style of James Paick.
hey man! I love your environments very, very much!
They look really promising!
Keep that up,
Thanks for taking the time to look, I appreciate it.
A lunchtime speed paint...
Awesome stuff as usual Chris. I'm really digging the environments, seems like you have a knack for them. Keep working hard.
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Thanks Ill. I'm trying to practice as much as I can. We really need 36 hour days.
A front view of a robot design I'm trying to work out. I should have done more iterations before I got locked into this one, but it's been a learning experience, which is good...
I'll second the 36 hours a day
I like those values thumbs, great atmosphere in such a few brush strokes. Also very nice texture on the robot, but he does look at bit flat.
Hey thanks for stopping my by sketchbook, its much appreciated. I really love your environments especially this one
The colours are so eye catching, I just want to climb inside and walk around, see more of what the world has to offer.
JS - Thanks for stopping back! I hear what you mean about the robot. I did a level adjustment to bring out the mid tones and lost my deeper blacks. I'm going to readjust. Your updates to your SB are awesome man. I'll check in again.
Trail - Thank you sir. Your book is coming along. As well, I believe it was you who pushed me to my first five star rating, or any rating for that matter which gives me a big warm and fuzzy. Much love man.
A quick sketch at the end of the work day.
Some quick figure studies...
Those studies look good! Which anatomy books have you ever used? Or videos etc.?
Do you have some tips for me, I wanna start building up good basics for my environments and you do SO good environments, don't know why but I love them more then most others I've seen here so far. I think I like your style
I second the 36 h day too!
Your sketchbook is great! I love the shapes and what you do with them like the landscapes! Surely I will come back here often to learn from you.
I can do so little in so much time!
°.°)~ Sketchbook ~(°o° | Deviantart | Pixiv | dreamanime.de
You feel frustrated and don't know where to turn this frustration on? No problem here is your salvation!
Just critique me in my critique thread and let it all out, please *bow*!
Tasser - Thanks for stopping back man. I swear by this book for figure drawing: http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dynamic-.../dp/0240808452
So much energy and life in every example in this book.
As far as tips for environments go, I compare it to looking at clouds. I lay in shapes and colors that I like, and kind of let my brain just "see" the environment. As soon as I have an image in my head, I start to flesh it out in that direction. I usually have some idea of what I'm going ahead of time, but have never been one to paint on a tight sketch or anything like that. I hope that helps.
Klaus - Thanks for the kind words. 36 has been one I've been meaning to flesh out more. As soon as time allows, I post a couple updates. Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. Cheers.
wow, your brushwork is amazing
Thanks witek. I like to keep it as painterly as possible.
This week has left so very little time to practice, because of work. Hopefully the weekend will yield better results.
Some figures from the other night.
Last edited by Nickodemus; September 3rd, 2010 at 09:51 AM.
hehe, your figures look a lot like mine when scribbling in public.
liking the value studies- very inspirational, made me want to try it out when i get a few minutes free so thanks for that!
Any finished paintings or more complete speed paintings coming out soon?
~Sketchbook ~
~Blog ~]
Hey man, thanks for dropping by my sketchbook. I like your rough look to the paintings. Very nice!
Thanks for dropping by folks.
Yeah, I've been swamped with work, so it has been more quick sketches than anything else lately, but I plan on posting some finished work soon.
Quick one from the end of the work day.
Awesome! I wished that my environment skills would be as good as yours. You almost got it I think. Have you heard of the book "Bold Visions"? I find it's maybe interesting and I'm not sure if I should risk a buy or not because if it's only "okay" about 20 bucks are too much for me. Because I am a student, I can use my money only to buy the "important stuff". Anyway, you know what I mean, I don't know it in a better english.
Keep it up dude, your studies look good!
A quick one from tonight. It turned into kind of a mud bath, but it was fun! Inspired by a similar piece by Whit Brachna, which can be seen in the video on http://www.sixmorevodka.com/ and anything from Frederic Edwin Church.
I hadn't heard of Bold Visions, but I know Gary Tonge's work for sure. Amazing environments! In my opinion, the internet has always been able to provide me with the examples I need to learn. That is not to say that having a tangible document that you can flip through for reference wouldn't be helpful, I just don't think it's absolutely necessary.
I'm glad you like my environments, and appreciate your support. I am getting faster and faster and building up an image of bank of how to paint things. I think fully finished, fully rendered environments are coming soon, which is super exciting for me, as I don't have a ton of finished work.
Again, thanks for checking back man!
Some REALLY rough thumbs from earlier this week. I've been reading a lot of H.P. Lovecraft lately, and am going to do some sort of sea monster type scene.
Well okay, I noticed to do more environmental stuff in the next few days. More stuff coming soon, maybe I'll do some stuff traditional with ink or pencils and some directly in PS. I want to become good without erasing or over-painting for a thousand times you know. So I think ink is maybe a good thing. We'll see. Anyway thanks for your help mate!
edit: I especially like pieces like that one Bold Visions
awesome stuff dude!! the figures are coming along nicely, and your enviros are insane. love em. oh and ps. james paick is the man!
Some Sketchbooks you should check out! --->
(expect this list to change alot)
Hey Lunarsis!
Thank you very, very much for the comment! I LOVE the cotopaxi piece. Tried to find the biggest one in the net and what I've found is about 1600x900. I wanna see that in a bigger size and I see, it's unbelievable how much details are in there.
Your book tip was good though, but it's pretty much too expensive for now. Maybe I have some money to buy it in the next few months.
Thanks anyway, you helped me a lot! Keep your own stuff up man, because we all love it
Yeah, I had forgot how expensive it was. I actually never owned it myself. On the recommendation of a professor of mine, I checked it out from our public library and racked up many late fees while studying it. Talking about it reminds me that I need to check it out again. Try your public or school library, and you might be able to avoid spending much at all!
Pretty cool stuff you have here
I love the thumbnails! I want to do thumbnails now... but have to work instead... Damn! Also, pretty cool gesture drawings!
Keep up the good work and keep having fun!
When in doubt, run and shout.
Sketchbook Vol.2
Sketchbook Vol.1
lys's sketchbook click there!
Windmaker - Thanks for dropping by
A quick one from tonight. Completely borrowed the technique from Jama. Make sure to check out his passes, plus the rest of his amazing book.
He pulls it off so much better than I can, but I'm pretty happy for my first attempt. My spaceship gets completely lost, and isn't really fleshed out at all. Nothing a few hours can't fix though...
Lunarsis, you did a sweet job on that last one using jamas style. you really nailed the colors, light, and the sense of speed. the shapes are maybe a little too all over the place though for it to really have that feel of a solid ship.
your backgrounds are looking awesome as always. keep pushing that brushwork into it. thats one of those things ive never been able to figure out how to do digitally.
A little bit of an update. It's been almost completely lasso tool, motion blurs and gradients up until this. Going to lay some paint on it later today and start detailing...
Here is an early concept for a friend's feature film he'll be shooting towards the end of this year. More info soon.
Developed Actively by vBSocial.com


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Tour de Tahoe
Hincapie Gran Fondo
el Tour de Tucson
JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes Training Program
JDRF partners with USA Cycling to certify all our chapter coaches. Riders are given expert coaching and training by these certified coaches. Even if you are not an everyday cyclist, our trained coaches will work with you to develop a training program based on your individual needs and goals. Each rider will be assigned to a local or national coach who will help you track your progress and get you prepared for Ride day. JDRF coaches help participants set realistic goals, hold group trainings, monitor progress, and provide clinics on everything from form and technique to injury prevention and changing a flat tire. Our JDRF coaches have helped hundreds of athletes accomplish goals they never thought they could achieve. For more information on the JDRF Coaching program in your area, please contact your local JDRF Chapter or email the JDRF Ride Program at email@example.com.
JDRF Ride to Cure's National Leadership Team of Coaches:
The JDRF Ride to Cure has a National Leadership Team of Coaches dedicated to helping riders cross the finish line. Each of these 6 JDRF Coaches has been involved with JDRF for at least ten years and collectively, they have nearly 50 years of Ride to Cure experience. Together and individually, they offer a wide array of knowledge, tips, and general support to the team. Riders and coaches of all levels of experience can benefit from their years of knowledge, and they will help ensure you have the tools and resources you need to make it across the finish line safe, sound, and smiling.
National Coach Leadership Bios
Mike Clark, Holland, Michigan, joined the JDRF Ride to Cure family as a coach in 2005. Coming into the program, Mike did not have a direct connection to T1D. He says now, however, that his connection to JDRF is boundless. Aside from coaching at each of the venues, you can also find Mike in the Bike Room with his exceptional team of mechanics at any given destination. Completing one century a month, Mike is rarely ever found "off the road," but when he is, you would find him running his new bike shop, 3rd Coast Cycles, in Hudsonville, Michigan. Mike's Favorite Quote: "Let our people travel light and free on their bicycles." - Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire.
John Dallman, Cincinnati, Ohio, joined the JDRF Ride to Cure family in 2004, coaching since 2006. Like many others out there, John does not have a direct connection to T1D and says that he continues to ride with and for JDRF "to share the love that this program can deliver." He has ridden at nearly every venue the JDRF Ride to Cure has offered since 2004, but if you ask him which one is his favorite he will tell you it's the one that he is at. Oftentimes, riders will hear John before they see him when out on a ride as he "sings." Such serenades have caused many riders to report that they suddenly found their 2nd wind, which not only got them closer to the finish line but also away from John. John credits his wife Katie Whelan and his team for providing him with his 2nd wind. John's Tip: Don't be concerned with what others are doing; ride your own bike.
David Ertl, Waukee, Iowa, joined the JDRF Ride to Cure family as a chapter coach with the Greater Iowa Chapter team in 2004. While coming into the program, David did not have a direct connection to T1D. He, like many others, has developed many friendships with those who are directly affected. David continues to serve as a chapter coach and also serves as a national coach to the JDRF Ride program and has been lead coach at several Ride venues. In addition to JDRF coaching, he works with cycling teams and individual cyclists from across the country. David began racing bikes in 1973 and has his own coaching business, Cyclesport Coaching. He has written several books on cycling training. David says, "There's nothing like seeing riders cross the finish line having pushed themselves selflessly to limits they never thought possible. It's wonderful to see riders take on the ride as a personal challenge and raise money to find a cure for T1D, only to have it lead them to a healthier lifestyle of their own."
Ian Joyce, Greensboro, North Carolina, joined the Ride to Cure family as a coach in 2009. A lifelong cyclist and having lived with T1D for the last 38 years, Ian is all too familiar with the challenges T1D riders face out on the road. But if you ask him why he rides for JDRF, he will tell you it is because the JDRF riders inspire him. Ian has ridden in such venues as Killington 2009 and Tucson 2013, where riders pressed on to get the job done despite the difficult weather conditions. So which one is his favorite? "All of them," he says. If it's a JDRF Ride, he will have a good time. Ian's Favorite Quote: "It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them." - Ernest Hemingway.
Lorne Shiff, Toronto, Canada, joined the JDRF Ride to Cure family as a coach in 2010. Living with T1D for many years, Lorne has been heavily involved with JDRF and all aspects of its programs over the course of much of his life. He finds it to be an honor to be a part of the Ride to Cure family and, living with T1D, he continues to ride so one day we all can stop riding for a cure. You will find Lorne at most of the Ride to Cure venues, including Burlington, Death Valley, Nashville, and Tucson. In Lorne's Words: I have been involved with JDRF for a very long time and have participated in almost every type of event there is, and nothing comes close to the Ride To Cure Diabetes.
Tim St. Clair, Greenville, South Carolina, came to the JDRF Ride to Cure in 2003 "knowing nothing about JDRF and next to nothing about type 1 diabetes." That weekend made such a strong impression that he has gone on to finish nearly three dozen Rides to Cure, serve three years as Chair of the Ride Leadership Committee, and complete five years as a National Head Coach. Tim will share his passion for the Ride to Cure once again, returning as a 2015 National Head Coach. And if you're not yet persuaded that Cheetos is wonder food, talk with Tim at a rest stop. Tim's Tip: Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Take your time to marinate in the Ride experience – it'll make your life bigger.
Register Today!
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Rider Spotlight
Jessica's Story
Meet Jessica, a JDRF Rider who's learned, bit by bit, that's she's a cyclist.
Featured Destination
Nashville, TN
October 29 - November 1
The Nashville Ride to Cure Diabetes is located in historic Franklin, TN where you will find shops, restaurants and of course, some of the best cycling in the South. Join us in Music City to experience a ride like no other; full of excitement, great people and time to celebrate amongst a community who all rides for the same reason, creating a world without type 1 diabetes. Click here for more details.


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The Top 10 In Action Sports
01Kenton Cool And The Legend Of Everest
02The Martyn Ashton Interview: Meet the Man Who Got Back on the Bike
03Legends Behind the Lens: The Dan Milner Interview
04We Asked Surf Star Coco Ho For Her Step-by-Step Guide to the Basics
05The Tony Hawk Interview: How Is The Birdman Still Flying High After All These Years?
06We Toured Britain's Action Sports Hotspots With The New Ford S-MAX
07The Legend Of El Dorado: One Man's Obsession With Finding A City Made Of Gold
08I Am Legend: How Audiences – Real Or GoPro'ed – Can Affect Your Mind And Performance
09Watch A Freerunning King Defy The Laws Of Gravity In This Urban Assault On London
10Living On The Blood and Urine of Dead Sea Turtles: The Shocking Story of A Sailor Stuck in Hell
TTR O'Neill Evolution 2012 - Check the Course with Scherrer, Willett, Morgan
A Snowboarding video by WorldSnowboardTour - 3,526 views
Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday 4th of January 2012. Training for the 6th edition of the O'Neill Evolution opened today in its traditional home resort of Davos, Switzerland. Bluebird conditions, 40cm's of overnight snow, and a picture perfect Big Air and Rail set up welcomed the international snowboard world.
As O'Neill celebrates its 60th anniversary at the O'Neill Evolution it also becomes the first TTR World Snowboard Tour 6 Star event of 2012. International stars and qualification hopefuls have started arriving at the resort to test and train in the all new Big Air and Rails set up.
TTR met up with Swiss Jan Scherrer who walked us through his snowboard school in Davos and Eric Willett and Ethan Morgan introduced the setup on the mountain.


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SparkFun will be closed Nov 26th and 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday. Orders placed after 2:00pm MT on the 25th will ship out Monday the 30th.
Member Since: January 3, 2010
Country: United States
Been building robots since I good figure out how to put lego's together….so around 3rd grade :)
Brain Bots Inc. FTC robotics team, Massachusetts Metro-West Robotics Club.
English, Hebrew….does Morse code count??
BASIC, C, C++….maybe C# if I could get through that 500 page book
Build things that fly/crash.
www.brainbotsinc.org, www.bostonrobotics.org
What are the dimensions on the datasheet? I would like to build this in CAD, but the dimensions don't have any units. Anyone at Sparkfun, could you either tell us the units or roughly measure a physical potentiometer with calipers? That would be very helpful. Thanks, Sam
Are you guys in Mass now?! What?! Any public events????
Wish this was my job :(
I'm totally signing up for next year. When does the signup open???
Any East Coast supporters??
Is there a way that Sparkfun could have classes on the East Coast? The classes that Sparkfun gives are amazing and I think should be available to everyone in the US (worldwide is a little bit of a stretch). I understand that it would be hard to fly people + parts + machines and find a facility out here, but Sparkfun, you have tons of people begging you to do classes out here (me included). You can be 90% sure that you would fill a class and spread Sparkfun-mania to more people out here. Why not give it a try? Just my two cents. -Sam P.S. I would be glad to help out as someone living in the East Coast….. :)
It would be awesome if you guys broke out the A4 and A5 pins onto the side of the board for I2C communication. It's a total hassle using this with a breadboard if you need I2C.
NOOOOO…..the one time Maker Fair is on the east coast, I'm not here. Wow. When is the maker fair going to be back in New York??
What is the frame-rate of this camera?
Yeah!! Finally…science teachers and Sparkfun working together :) I've been trying to get my school to use MODKit for such a long time….


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Personnel Testing
There is much confusion in law enforcement about the implementation and defense of valid tests that predict an officer's ability to perform the infrequent but possibly critical physical tasks associated with the job. Fred Rafilson's article in the March 2000 issue, "Candidate Physical Fitness Testing," adds to that confusion.
Rafilson is of the opinion that job-task simulation testing (JTST) is preferential to fitness testing. He also believes that if fitness testing is utilized, age- and gender-based standards are permissible. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but by citing court cases as support, Rafilson has gone beyond presenting opinion. His interpretation of the findings of the referenced cases could have serious negative consequences for agencies following his recommendations.
Neither Powell v. Reno nor Peanick v. Reno show that different cutoff scores on fitness tests can be defended. In Peanick, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit decided the case on completely different grounds. The Powell decision is a District Court decision, which was based on a narrow point of law. That decision only binds the parties to that particular case.
Unless Congress changes the law, the language of both the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (CRA91) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) clearly indicate it is illegal to have different standards for the same job. CRA91 says, "it shall be an unlawful employment practice for a respondent, in connection with the selection or referral of applicants or candidates for employment or promotion, to adjust the scores of, use different cutoff scores for, or otherwise alter the results of, employment related tests on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. " The ADA prohibits employers from denying employment to "an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the minimum essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires. "
For Rafilson to suggest that an agency choosing to use the Cooper age and gender norms "need not worry about legal challenges based on sex or age discrimination" strikes us as perilous legal advice. There is nothing job-related about any particular point on the Cooper norms. Data from validation studies we have conducted consistently demonstrate that the age and gender percentile rankings do not predict the ability to perform essential physical job tasks.
Further, it defies logic that officers expected to perform the same physical functions of a job be held to different standards. If the standards are job-related, they must relate to the job, not a particular incumbent's age or gender. If the standards are not job-related, why use them?
Rafilson likewise bootstraps his opinion regarding the better type of testing with his misleading description of the findings of the Lanning v. SEPTA case. The reason that SEPTA was unable to defend their fitness standard in this case was because they failed to present evidence proving that the standard was predictive of the minimum levels of performance necessary to do the job. The court did not say that the JTST was a better model, nor did the court say that the SEPTA's fitness tests and standards were unlawful. The court did say that a standard resulting in disparate impact is lawful if it can be shown to predict the "minimum" level of performance necessary to perform essential job functions.
While content validation of a test and standard is more easily understood, we can validate a fitness test using a combination of construct and criterion validation. All are acceptable under the provisions of the Uniform Guidelines, and in fact the latter two are considered more powerful by statisticians.
With over a century of combined experience in this area, our perception of how physical performance testing experts view the JTST versus fitness test question runs counter to Rafilson's. …


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|Transesterification of Diethyl Oxalate with Phenol over Sol-Gel MoO(3) /TiO(2) Catalysts.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 22821928 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher
|The transesterification of diethyl oxalate (DEO) with phenol to form diphenyl oxalate (DPO) has been carried out in the liquid phase over very efficient MoO(3) /TiO(2) solid-acid sol-gel catalysts. A selectivity of 100 % with a remarkable maximum yield of 88 % were obtained, which opens the route to downstream phosgene-free processes for the synthesis of polycarbonates. Interpretation of the results of various acidity measurements (NH(3) and pyridine desorption, methanol oxidation as a probe reaction) allowed us to identify the catalytic sites as Lewis acid sites.
|Trupti Kotbagi; Duy Luan Nguyen; Christine Lancelot; Carole Lamonier; Kaew-Arpha Thavornprasert; Zhu Wenli; Mickaël Capron; Louise Jalowiecki-Duhamel; Shubhangi Umbarkar; Mohan Dongare; Franck Dumeignil
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Publication Detail:
|Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-7-23
Journal Detail:
|Title: ChemSusChem Volume: - ISSN: 1864-564X ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Jul
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 2012-7-23 Completed Date: - Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 101319536 Medline TA: ChemSusChem Country: -
Other Details:
|Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: -
Copyright Information:
|Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
|Catalysis Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, 411008 (India), Fax: (+91) 20-25903761.
Export Citation:
|APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex
|MeSH Terms
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: How to get proteomics to the clinic? Issues in clinical proteomics, exemplified by CE-MS.
Next Document: Microfluidic single-cell analysis shows that porcine induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endotheli...


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7X05 The Angels Take Manhattan (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!)
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September 30 2012, 04:19 AM
Professor Zoom
Vice Admiral
Location: Idealistic
Re: 7X05 The Angels Take Manhattan (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!)
StCoop wrote:
Australis wrote:
As to appealing to the "tiny American audience", Who has had a HUGE pop-culture impact, Who references are in the media a lot these days. Why not build on that?
Because he's not paid to boost BBC America's ratings. He's paid to make a show for British Licence Fee payers.
Surely those who actually sign his check decide what he's paid to do and not do.
Batman does not eat nachos.
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Probably one of the better coconut waters I have tried. Quite portable and perfect for a quick pick me up
Very nice tasting product. The service from Well was nicer. I have now stopped buying from other sites.
I love WELL.CA as I can ship healthy products to my "Student Daughter" and know that she is getting more than just "student meals". She loves coconut water and is unable to get it where she is so was sooo excited when her care package showed up. "Thanks Mom, Love you...send more!" Best message ever!!
I enjoyed this one! It had a nutty aftertaste that I liked. I prefer this one over the canned one (the PURE brand)
OCP Certificate Accreditation # 304222
Your Pharmacist is Philip Rosenberg Central Fill Solutions Inc. 346 Millway Ave. Vaughan, ON L4K 3W1