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Operator Exoskeleton - sketch by TheDrowningEarthWatch
©2013-2016 TheDrowningEarth
Just a quick and rough idea I wanted to get out. Lately I've been noticing that concept artists have been fond of putting out exoskeleton design ideas - which pretty much involve putting frames/tresses and mechanized joints on the wearer's suit, which comes down to slapping motorcycle frame textures here and there. The results are cool, but not quite my style.
I tried simply overlaying mechanized parts on the wearer's body and it didn't seem to work for me. Ideally I decided what I wanted was something that fell along the lines of Ripley's powerloader from Aliens and the APU's from the third Matrix film.
The pilot of this particular exoskeleton can still use conventional small arms when necessary - in the event the frame mounted weapons run out of ammunition or encounter critical failure, engage threats at very close range, or engage threats that do not justify the use of heavier weapons.
OMG did you know that the power loader is a human shaped forklift for Human only Deep Space exploration purposes?
Who is Optimus Prime compared to the HUMAN BASED Power Loader?
The power loader is brightly colored in contrast with a dark and dank and deep hull of a deep space star ship, has marking signs on it, has only 2 fingers per digit, etc.
Who is Optimus Prime compared to the HUMAN BASED Power Loader?
The power loader is brightly colored in contrast with a dark and dank and deep hull of a deep space star ship, has marking signs on it, has only 2 fingers per digit, etc.
I don't know what a power loader, human, or forklift is. What is OMG? I've never heard of Optimus Prime either.
Well, one way you can justify the design (personally, the size looks to big for general urban combat) is by assigning it to heavy logistics and combat engineering, which seems to be the way that the current Raytheon-Sarcos XOS2 is heading for, but the frame-mounted guns... aaaaa, I don't know how to justify that.
So, yeah, I like the look. Unlike most suits out there, the operator seems like he can be sufficiently independent from the suit if he chooses to. Realism without exaggerating the sci-fi bits. For some time now, I've been trying to imagine a similar concept, too, and I think that this illustration is a very good example of such a thing.
That's kinda what I thought - it's really just a mule, though the weapons were an afterthought that were requested by users. Bearing in mind that the guys that employ these armed variants are far and few and usually work for PMCs or specialized paramilitary cells. There's a lot of unexplained stuff from my universe, though I won't really be doing a ton of writing until enough art is out there to be paired with it.
I was trying to achieve some sort of balance between the M56 smartgunners from Aliens and Ripley's powerloader - the idea being that a mechanized chassis would offer more benefits than a stabilizing arm.
Anyhow, good luck on developing your concept, glad to hear that it's an inspiration. I too found it tricky because I didn't want to simply make a Landmate clone, but at the same time I wasn't interested in making one of those infantrymen with a bunch of motorcycle frame parts photobashed onto his arms and legs.
great and creative concept.
would ditto that the operator does seem a bit exposed.
like it man !!! keep up the good work maN!!!
PFFF .. Do not justify the use of Heavier Weapons.. You lost me on that one there.. There is no kill like over kill..
But no seriously.. i love this design, The operator seems.. exposed? but really what you gonna do i guess.. I do like the set up of it though. A lot more down and dirty then a lot of the designs i've seen
But no seriously.. i love this design, The operator seems.. exposed? but really what you gonna do i guess.. I do like the set up of it though. A lot more down and dirty then a lot of the designs i've seen
That's true. Artistic compromise and realism/practicality is a tough balance to achieve. Probably the craziest concept I've seen so far is the Intruder dropship from Killzone.
That's what I liked about the Matrix APU's and similar vehicles. At first it seemed silly, but it had that rather raw industrial, post apocalyptic look about it. If it was completely armored it'd just look like a Landmate or Marauder clone.
Though I'll only be dabbling in these designs briefly - I've yet to do a few more concepts of my VTOL battleframes.
Haha, nice, matrix's APUs were very iconic and and memorable equipment. Your exoskeleton is pretty great.


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You are in now in my "neck of the woods". I lived in Petersburg, IL (where Abe Lincoln was born, original log cabins are still there, small town outside of Springfield) for some time. Drew was born in Springfield. Most of these towns are familiar to me. Nieces went to school in Edwardsville, Bloomington/Normal areas. Glad you are having a good time.
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Trip Start May 31, 2010
38Trip End Jul 11, 2010
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Our Route 66 trip began on Ogden street, named after Chicago's first mayor. The neighborhoods transitioned from classic looking brick buildings to slightly more shady areas to say the least. Although the areas were questionable at parts, they all maintained a certain character that one can't get anywhere else. It wasn't long until we were out of Chicago and into Cicero, a small town with a couple auto shops, and parts dealers scattered between worn down houses. Berwyn, Lyons-McCook, and Plainfield were the next towns on deck; sadly not every town along route 66 is filled with touristy roadside attractions. A lot of the towns we go through are just small Illinois communities where your average Joe works hard for a mediocre living or where the elderly have been since before manifest destiny was even an idea. With that said we move on to the towns of Romeoville, and Joliet.
The Sandwich Shoppe was suggested in two of our travel guides so it sounded like a winner. Alyssa got the turkey on rye, and I got a turkey, bacon, ranch panini. It was one of the better sandwiches I've ever had because the bread they use was a perfect artesian French roll grilled to crispy warm perfection. After lunch we walked a bit along the main street and admired the stone buildings and theater then headed back to the car.
The next town was Elwood, a small blink of a town. Then Wilmington, another small community, only this one was different. Wilmington is home to one of three muffler men remaining on the route. This one is wearing a retro style space helmet, holding a rocket, and located at Launching Pad Drive-In. Its at this drive in where motorists can still get burgers for a little more than a buck, and a shake for about two. The man that took our shake order looked fresh out of prison and the elderly woman making our shake weighed no more than 80 pounds and had almost all her teeth. She does make a mean banana shake though, not too thick, not too milky.
Next on our itinerary were the towns of Braidwood, Godley, Braceville, Gardner, Dwight, and Odell. All of these towns have their own history worth pages of there own, but for the sake of tourism they were again sleepy little towns that 66 weaved in and out of. Odell is home to an old service station that has been restored and has nothing more than a couple shirts, and post cards. Then we went through Pontiac, Chenoa, Lexington, Towanda, Bloomington, and Normal. For those of you wondering Normal is quite possibly the most normal looking town by societies definition. Both Bloomington and Normal host colleges, which might not be so normal, but other than that, families venture outside to partake in some gardening and the local mailman happily delivers your postage.
After Normal was Shirley, Funks Grove, McLean, Lawndale, Lincoln (where he himself practiced law in the 1850's), Broadwell, and Springfield. After deterring from the route unintentionally in Broadwell we ended up at a little landmark known as Lincoln's tomb.
We drove through Farmersville, Waggoner, Litchfield, Mt. Olive, Staunton (Home of Henry's Rabbit Ranch, and billboard spoofs that will supposedly be funnier when we get to Arizona), Livingston, Hamel, and Edwardsville. It was about this point when we realized that it was nearing 8:30 and we were still 45 minutes from our home for the night so we decided to deter from the mother road for now and hit the straight shot to St. Charles. After checking into our small studio suite around nine o'clock we unloaded the car and proceeded to make a fine feast of tuna melts and chicken soup. Worn out from our long car ride, we readily got into bed and had no trouble falling asleep.
Alyssa's Anecdotes:
I love driving Route 66! Well, Nate was driving and I was reading about where we were and where we were going next. The road is twisty and turny as it goes from city to city throughout the countryside (and every once in a while through a big city like Springfield). Back before it was 66, roads were built on a local or regional scale. In the 1920s though, they decided to start numbering highways. However, to get federal funding your roads had to meet certain standards so they started connecting the town roads together to form Route 66. This resulted in a road that at times doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but gets you where you need to go. After deterring from 66 because of time, we hopped on the 55.
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Joliet,has the best burrito's darn I would have told you if I had thought about it and blommington has lake manoe or something like that everyone talks about how I need to go to bloomington I have drove through it, what about turkey lake. and there are caves that are incredible. I don't know if your pass that but if not find them and check it out. they are worth seeing and the story is so interesting.. find the caves..

subset: commoncrawl


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Emergency Dispatch Coordinator Expert Witnesses testifying in Litigation
Communications Expert Witnesses for Attorneys
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Certified, EMS, EMD, Dispatch, EOC Coordinator, 911 Emergency Calls, Communications, Dispatch, 911 Emergency Dispatch, Communication Center Evaluation, 911, Dispatch, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Dispatch, Clawson Protocol, Dispatch Protocol, EMDQ, Emergency Medical Dispatch Quality Assurance, Dispatch Quality, fire, public safety
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KARACHI, Feb 21: Pakistan and Nigeria represent the gravest risks to global eradication of polio.
According to a review body of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), there are six sanctuaries for polio virus, four in Pakistan — Quetta, the districts of Qila Abdullah and Pishin and Karachi — and two in Nigeria.
A relatively tiny proportion of the world posed a disproportionate risk to the likelihood of success for the entire globe, the GPEI noted.
A recent report of the independent monitoring body convened at the request of the World Health Assembly to monitor and guide the progress of GPEI's 2010-12 Strategic Plan said there were 10 months to go to the assembly's goal of stopping global polio transmission by the end of 2012, but the eradication programme was not on track to meet the goal.
It said success in India — one of the four polio endemic countries — showed that unswerving political commitment, outstanding public health leadership, clear lines of accountability, intolerance of weak performance and systematic enforcement of best practices could stop polio.
Pakistan ended last year with 198 polio cases, followed by Afghanistan with 80, Nigeria, 60, and India, one (reported in January 2011).
In all, 649 cases — 339 in endemic countries and 310 in others — were reported during the year. The strategic plan's milestones for past two years have been missed.
The number of polio cases actually increased in four of the six persistently affected countries. Nigeria's 2011 emergency plan had no meaningful impact.
Pakistan has deep problems but has recently strengthened its approach, while Afghanistan has not got to grips with how to reach enough children in insecure areas.
According to the report, the reason that polio will not be eradicated on the programmes' present trajectory is that performance is of variable quality and consistently falls below best practices in all the affected areas.
The fate of Afghanistan is intertwined with that of Pakistan and it cannot just wait for Pakistan to improve, it says.
The monitoring body said the two countries must join hands in response and work for the re-establishment of a cross-border vaccination mechanism which was common in the past when access was easier. It noted that Pakistan's polio programme progressed strongly over its first 12 years. In 2005, it reported just 28 cases against 20,000 cases per year in the early 1990s.
But transmission was never stopped and the country has seen cases increase for the past three years in succession.
Balochistan had six times as many cases in 2011 as in the previous year.
The new national emergency action plan has been considerably revised and is stronger, but there is no demonstrable impact on polio transmission.


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Leather furniture such as couches or leather topped tables can be marred by water spots. This is a guide about removing water marks on leather furniture.
Do you have any suggestions for getting water spots out of leather covered tables, also wood tables? Thanking you in advance.
By Anna Marie
To remove white rings from wood tables use "METHYLHIDRETE" on a cloth and let it stay for 5 minutes or so and the ring will go away.
God luck.
How do I get water marks off the leather on the desk top? They appear as white marks and are slightly raised.
By Ron from Cumbria


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[Personnel: Last_Name='SERVICES', Middle_Name='CLIENT', First_Name='GEOGRATIS']
Canadian Geopolitical Boundaries, Level 1Entry ID: Canada_GeoBase_CanGeopolBoundL1
Abstract: This dataset is one of the GeoBase series of products. It contains current
International, Economic exclusion zone and inter-provincial / territorial
boundaries of Canada, plus the corresponding geopolitical areas.
The dataset contains three files: an administrative boundary file, an
administrative areas file and a metadata file.
The administrative ... boundary file is made of non-overlapping, topologically
correct (connected) simple features, with no dangles. An administrative
boundary is a line that bounds two adjacent administrative areas. In the
dataset, an administrative boundary may be split into several smaller segments,
due to changes in attribute information.
The administrative areas file is made of adjacent (contiguous) polygons. The
polygon boundaries exactly align with the corresponding features in the
administrative boundary file.
The delivery format for this dataset can be either GML ASCII or ESRI Shape
file.This dataset should be used for cartographic purposes only, not for legal
Spatial Data Organization Information -
Indirect Spatial Reference:
Direct Spatial Reference: Vector
Raster Object Type:
Row Count:
Column Count:
Vertical Count:
Spatial Reference Information -
Horizontal Coordinate System Definition -
Planar -
Planar Coordinate Encoding Method:
Coordinate Representation:
Abscissa Resolution:
Ordinate Resolution:
Distance and Bearing Representation:
Distance Resolution:
Bearing Resolution:
Bearing Units:
Bearing Reference Direction:
Bearing Reference Meridian:
Planar Distance Units:
Geodetic Model:
Horizontal Datum Name: NAD83 (North American Datum 1983)
Ellipsoid Name: WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984)
Semi-major Axis: 6378137
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.2572235630
Related URL
Geographic Coverage
Spatial coordinates
Data Set Citation
Dataset Originator/Creator: Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, Geomatics Canada, Legal Surveys Division
Dataset Title: Canadian Geopolitical Boundaries, Level 1
Dataset Release Date: 20031119
Dataset Release Place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Dataset Publisher: Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Legal Surveys DivisionOnline Resource: http://www.geobase.ca/
Temporal Coverage
Start Date: 1995-02-01Stop Date: 2003-01-03
Location Keywords
Science Keywords
ISO Topic Category
Quality Classification correctness: The classification correctness of features in the
dataset has been verified manually by NRCan and forwarded to each source data
provider. Non-quantitative attribute correctness: The correctness of
non-quantitative attribute values has been verified manually by NRCan and
forwarded to each source data provider. Quantitative attribute accuracy: Not
applicable.The completeness of the dataset in terms of features and their
attributes has been verified manually.
Access Constraints Data are subject to the GeoBase Unrestricted Use Licence Agreement
(http://www.geobase.ca - in the Data section)
Use Constraints Data are subject to the GeoBase Unrestricted Use Licence Agreement
(http://www.geobase.ca - in the Data section)Data are subject to the GeoBase
Unrestricted Use Licence Agreement (http://www.geobase.ca - in the Data
Ancillary Keywords
Data Set Progress
Data Center
Fees: Gratuit-Free
Role: DIF AUTHOR
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone: +01-613-995-4420
Fax: +01-613-995-9191
Email: mesec at nrcan.gc.ca
Contact Address:
615 Booth Street, Room 538
City: Ottawa
Province or State: Ontario
Postal Code: K1A 0E9
Country: Canada
Extended Metadata Properties
(Click to view more)
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date: 2003-01-16
Last DIF Revision Date: 2016-01-27
Future DIF Review Date: 2005-07-20


text:
Chicago Blackhawks Saint Paul Tickets
Chicago Blackhawks
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|Would you like to try some other Similar Events.
Details of Chicago Blackhawks Saint Paul Tickets and the Ticket Luck value
The sport of pro ice hockey is one famous all over the world, with many fans all over America. It is also a sport that, unlike the other major pro sports, has a league that spans both the US and Canada, with teams from the other side of the border as well. As a sport, it is over a hundred years old with the NHL counting teams over a hundred years old in its fold. The Chicago Blackhawks are one such team, nearly a hundred years old as of their founding in 1926.
Members of the NHL's Western Conference in its Central Division, they have played many games to which the Chicago Blackhawks Saint Paul MN game is akin and each of these have been praised as a game that truly defines what pro ice hockey and the NHL are all about.
It is therefore hardly surprising that many buy Chicago Blackhawks Saint Paul MN tickets which are usually sold out in a matter of days or even hours. This is, after all, a team that has won four Stanley Cups, fourteen Division Champions, two Conference Championships and a Presidents' Trophy.


text: I had purchased a Sennheiser MM 100 Bluetooth headphone. I bought this for my laptop but there is a bit problem in using the same. It is not working on Windows 7 64 bit. It looks Windows is not able to find proper drivers for the same. I had tried looking for downloads on it official site also but still there is a issue with the same. I have a mobile headphone that works really file.


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Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief is Christian love in action.
It is meeting the urgent needs of hurting humanity in crisis situations with loving care and a timely response as James 2:15-16 instructs us to do.
Our Ministry: The Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief ministries are comprised of approximately 450 volunteers from all over the state who are committed to sharing the hope of Jesus with those whose lives have been impacted by disasters.
Our specialized areas of ministry include: chainsaw, flood recovery/mud out, ash out, food preparation, chaplaincy, shower unit, and communication unit.
We exist to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ in times of disaster.
Attention: Great news for all DR Volunteers! Effective immediately we have a new lower fee structure. See the schedule below.
SBDR Volunteers must be:
- Minimum Age: 18
- An active attender of an SBC church in their state
- Be credentialed every 3 years (see below)
- Have a completed Personal/Medical Information packet on file at state office
- Show proof of Health Insurance card at deployment
DR Volunteers: New Lower Fees
First Time Attendees $40
Includes: Background check (required)
Friday Evening Involving So. Baptists in DR (required)
At least 1 Unit on Saturday (required)
First DR t-shirt, mesh hat & badge
Re-credentialing DR Volunteers (required every 3 years) $20
Includes: Background check (required)
Friday Evening Involving So. Baptists in DR (required)
At least 1 Unit on Saturday (required)
Updated badge
Adding or Refreshing Units $15
(for credentialed volunteers that just want to add or refresh units)
SUVs (Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers) $30
Includes: Background check (required)
Friday Evening Involving So. Baptists in DR (required)
At least 1 Unit on Saturday (required)
(SUVs do not receive credentialing but will be able to work on certain deployments
under the supervision of a SBDR team lead.)
Weekend Schedule
For First Time & Re-credentialing
6:00-6:30PM Registration
6:30-9:00PM Involving So. Baptists in DR
For Adding/Refreshing Units(Credentialed Only)
8:00-8:30AM Registration
For All Attendees
8:30-11:30AM Training Units
Lunch Provided
12:30-4:00PM Training Units
Complete List of Training Units Offered
(Trainings may vary)
Half-day Units-Saturday (morning & afternoon)
Fire Ash-Out
DAC/Chaplaincy 101
All-day Units-Saturday
Driving Requirements (CBDR vehicle/trailer)
Chainsaw (boots required)
Online Preregistration Preferred-CREDIT CARD & PAY AT THE DOOR (see Church list below)
Other ways to Preregister (ONLY CASH or CHECK AT THE DOOR)
- Colorado Volunteers
Contact Rhonda Nanney: firstname.lastname@example.com or 303.771.2480 x250
- Wyoming Volunteers:
Contact Cyndi Evans: email@example.com 307.472.4087
In Colorado In Wyoming
July 8-9, 2016
Disaster Relief Chaplain Training
Open to all ministers, chaplains and laity.
Saturday 8:30-4:30
at Colorado Baptists Building
7393 S Alton Way
Centennial, CO 80112
Cost: $45 (includes light lunch & manual)
More information:
303-771-2480 (Jan)
Please register by July 1.
Hillside Baptist ChurchJuly 15-16
2436 9th Ave., Greeley, CO
See Training Units Offered by
(Subject to Change)
August 5-6
Hilltop Baptist Church
405 Faith Dr., Green River
See Training Units Offered by
(Subject to Change)
October 21-22
Westside Baptist Church
604 W. 10th St., Gillette
SeeTraining Units Offered by
(Subject to Change)
Colorado & Wyoming Volunteers:
First Time Attendees and volunteers needing to re-credential, fill out the full downloadable packet for your state and bring it to your training location. If you are current on your credentials and are coming to refresh or add units, fill out the Units Only packet. This will shorten your time at the registration desk.
(Not for Chaplain Trainings)
Church Resources
Churches Remember!
Disaster Relief Appreciation Day for Southern Baptists is November 6
Prayerfully consider adding this as an offering
emphasis in your church.
Partner with us to bring Help, Healing and Hope to those affected by disaster, in your neighborhood, our state, nation and the world. To make donations anytime of the year send your check payable to CBGC to Colorado Baptist General Convention, 7393 S. Alton Way, Centennial, CO 80112 and memo: Disaster Relief.
Wyoming Disaster Relief Partnership
On October 23-24, our first Disaster Relief Partnership Training was conducted at the WYSBC office in Casper, WY. Excitement filled the room as 41 WYDR volunteers arrived in the conference room early on Friday evening!
The following trainings were led by our CBDR leadership:
- Involving Southern Baptist in Disaster Relief
- Assessment
- DAC (Disaster Assistance Center)
- Feeding/Mass Feeding
- Recovery – Mud-out/Ash-out
- Shower/Laundry Unit
When this training was scheduled months ago, little did any of us know that there would be an immediate need for the new WYDR team to deploy and serve with CO, UT/ID as recovery efforts were needed for the Cole Creek Fires in Evansville. Many of the new WY Volunteers began serving just a few days later as the training they received was put into action. We had people getting 'OJT" in Assessments of properties (to explain what we as SBDR teams could do to help the property owners). Several worked in the Recovery efforts doing Ash-Out and getting down and dirty! One couple brought their heavy equipment to use in making the cleanup much easier and faster. While all this was happening outside on the job sites, others assisted by answering the phones and taking in new job orders. And of course we cannot forget those who were making fantastic meals for the volunteers. The new WYDR team had a total of 15 volunteers that came out during this deployment. Many others had planned on being there, but emergencies arose. There will be more opportunities to serve, not only in Wyoming, but across our country as responses are needed.
What is one of the biggest news events in Wyoming and SBDR today? It is that Wyoming now has an active Disaster Relief Organization! Colorado Disaster Relief is so pleased with the preparation that WYSBC staff have done, starting with openness to a Partnership between the two states and then having such a large and exciting group of volunteers that are willing and ready to BRING: Help, Healing and Hope where ever needed. Plans are already on the way for at least 3 more trainings throughout Wyoming during 2016.
The day after the training was over, I was asked to take a tour of the burn area in Evansville, WY (Just outside of Casper). The State ARC (American Red Cross) and County Emergency Manager drove me through the area and we saw the burned out remains of 14 homes that were totally destroyed. To many this was not a large disaster, but as I looked at it, I could see those who survived and lost all they had. To them it was a major disaster! Within two days, Colorado Baptist had a team of 6 that deployed to Casper and set up a Command Center at College Heights Baptist Church in Casper. They opened all their facilities for us as we prepared the way for the recovery efforts. Our CBDR team along with some new WYDR volunteers went right to work to get our command center set up and operational. Others of the teams began doing assessments with the property owners. I was so proud of how our teams ministered together to those in need showing compassion and praying with them.
The Lord was working in the hearts of others: What a blessing it was for me to meet with a local Construction Company that was open to hear my request for use of heavy equipment. Upon arrival the owner passed me a paper listing all the equipment they had and said "whatever you need is yours to use at no cost!" They transported several pieces of equipment to each job site, supplied the diesel fuel and even came out a couple of days to work with us. Did I tell you that this was brand new equipment? Wayne Coleman Construction is a strong Christian Family business and what a joy it was to meet them and spend many hours with them. When the county had problems getting dumpsters out to us. This company brought out a semi-side dump trailer to fill and haul the ash and debris to the dump. This was such a blessing. If you wanted to see some excited people, you should seen the UT/ID team that arrived wondering if we might have at least one piece of heavy equipment for these jobs. UT/ID Disaster Relief sent 5 heavy equipment operators to assist with the ash-out and cleanup and they sure did a fantastic job. If it weren't for the heavy equipment and these teams, we would probably still be there emptying 5 gallon buckets one at a time! Here is a report of what was accomplished…
Cole Creek Fire Recovery Report
Evansville, WY
October 27 – November 8, 2015
Jobs Requested: 12
Jobs Completed: 12
Volunteer Days: 136
Volunteer Hours: 1096
Heavy Equipment Hours: – 106.5
Value of Volunteer Hours: $21,920.00
Types of work completed:
- Command Unit
- Assessments
- Ash-Out and Debris Removal
- Heavy Equipment Operations
The Lord surely blessed us beyond our expectation during this deployment, not only with the equipment, housing, volunteers, but also the supplies and food to feed our volunteers on a daily basis. The community had such a kind spirit of cooperation and thankfulness. Please continue to pray for those that lost their homes and belongings and those that lost livestock and pets.
2016 is going to be a very busy and productive year in CBDR
We now have 9 CBDR request for training events this year which includes 3 in Wyoming. These are exciting days and I look forward to serving together as we train and deploy in the coming year.
by Dennis Belz, State Director-CBDR
What is a READY CHURCH?
Colorado has had constant disasters for over the past 3 years with fires, floods and tornadoes. Disasters can happen anywhere and at any time, they can be large or small. How can your church prepare, connect and respond? What are some daily mission opportunities that await you and your church right in your local community?
Churches interested in hosting a CBDR Training:
Contact Us
or call Rhonda at 303.771.2480 x250
For CBDR Trainings: new volunteers and those needing to re-credential, fill out the complete downloadable packet and bring to your training location. If you are current on your credentials and are coming to refresh or add units, just fill out the first 3 pages of the packet. This will shorten your time at the registration desk.
Contact Information:
7393 S. Alton Way Centennial, CO 80112-2302
303-771-2480 ext 250
Dennis Belz- State Director
Rhonda Nanney – Administrative Assistant


text:
Broken Arrow's JD McPherson mixes genres into his modern retro rock
When Rounder Records jump-started retro-rocker JD McPherson's career last year, his debut album took off like a Rocket 88.
And just in the nick of time, too, since the Broken Arrow bopper's teaching job had just stalled out.
"This came along at exactly the right time, and we're doin' OK," the singer-guitarist said from a diner parking lot where his outfit had stopped on the way to Columbia, Mo.
OK, indeed. Since Rounder picked up "Signs & Signifiers" in April 2012, it's racked up rave reviews and was the most-played album of the year on Americana radio.
The video for McPherson's "North Side Gal" was an Internet sensation, drawing a million views since its release.
McPherson and his band have been on the road almost constantly since, rousing crowds across the U.S. and Europe, and millions of viewers on "Conan," "The Late Show With David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
At 8:15 p.m. Saturday, McPherson will rock the block as he headlines the roots-oriented Sailor Jerry Stage of Norman Music Festival 6.
"Yeah, it has been a really interesting year, for sure," McPherson said. "We've been kind of workin' on this record for a little longer than that because it came out on the Hi-Style label, an independent label before that. But certainly when we jumped on with Rounder, that's when things kinda started to happen."
Hi-Style is a Chicago-based indie label and analog studio owned by Jimmy Sutton, who produced "Signs & Signifiers" and plays standup bass in McPherson's trio, which also includes Alex Hall on drums, piano and organ.
"We're talkin' like a one-man operation versus a 30-, 40-people operation with parent companies and ties to PR firms, and things like that can kind of get a machine going," McPherson said, comparing the two labels. "Things like that really help out, but it also helps to hit the road and tour as much as you can, and we certainly have done that."
First love
Before his big breakthrough, McPherson, 36, who earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Tulsa, was teaching technology and art to fourth- through eighth-graders in Tulsa. Then, financial cutbacks were ordered.
"So the first thing institutions like that will do is they cut the arts," he said. "And so they cut all the art teachers down to part-time and then I was the freshman of the group, the newest hire, so they just let me go altogether. So that's the way it goes."
But McPherson had a wife and two small daughters to support.
So now was the time to find out if he could actually make a living indulging himself in his first love — making music.
"The great love of my life I guess is kind of rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll, but I've listened to and continue to listen to everything I could get my hands on, and I've always been consumed with this stuff since I was a kid," said McPherson, who was born in Tulsa and grew up in southeastern Oklahoma near Talihina.
"It's like all I kinda really ever wanted to do is listen to records, read about records and collect records, and I just bought every magazine I could get my hands on, from like Rolling Stone to biographies to just, like, punk-rock fanzines to whatever, and so I think that whatever you're into is going to come out of ya at some point."
Lots of influences
While McPherson's music is heavily influenced by '50s rockabilly, there are more modern shadings in his writing and playing as well. He remembers first falling for '80s pop when his older sister plopped a pair of headphones on his 5-year-old head and turned him on to Duran Duran's "The Reflex."
"It was like ear candy to a little kid, you know?"
The next phase of McPherson's informal musical education came from his dad's blues records. He was mesmerized by the songs of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, and the much older recordings of Charley Patton and others.
"One guy with a thumping foot and an electric guitar was kind of my favorite thing," he said.
Then the records of his much older brothers — albums by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers — caught his ear.
And then came punk.
"I was kind of a weird kid in this very rural environment, and I start rebelling and listening to punk rock and hard-core, some of the burgeoning alternative music that was happening in the '90s," McPherson recalled. "That's really kinda when I guess my brain sorta turned on and I started thinkin' about writing and doing something, because the greatest gift of the punk ethos is the kind of economic freedom that kind of lets you make something out of anything. And you can put a lot of time into it, but you don't need to invest much more than just enthusiasm."
And finally, he discovered Buddy Holly, which was perhaps the beginning of McPherson's own fully formed sound.
"It's sort of like midcareer Buddy Holly stuff, which is funny to say, 'cause his career was very, very short," McPherson said.
"His stuff with Sonny Curtis, the Decca stuff, and that kind of like hit a chord I guess, because it had all the stuff that I liked but it was a country guy doin' it, and I just liked it. It's just fun to drive around and listen to it. I liked the guitar style on it and everything, I liked the textures and sounds and stuff. That one thing led to another. ... When I started getting into early rock, that was probably the most consumed I had been, to discover music."
Looking ahead
With all the touring and TV appearances, there's barely been time to start work on his next album, but some ideas are in the can, and a new McPherson album could arrive by early 2014.
And while vintage rock still will be the touchstone, the teacher-turned-troubadour promises some twists.
"There's the ability to push the songwriting a little bit, I guess experiment with the form of rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll. Because, honestly, it didn't last very long. At least the vocabulary we work with. It was pretty short before it started to change. So we kind of feel like there's still things you can do with it, and so maybe there'll be a little '50s psychedelia coming out. We'll see. Who knows?"


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Let's Ride the EV Wave
This post also appeared in the National Journal Energy & Environment Experts blog in response to a question about oil use and the future of electric vehicles.
Whether or not electric vehicles (EVs) take off will ultimately depend on consumer acceptance of new technology. But public policy and technological progress are just as important, as we highlight in our new report on the transportation sector.
Indeed, electric drive vehicles powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells could revolutionize transportation in the United States, saving considerable amounts of oil while also reducing the sector's impact on our global climate. And the EVs on the market now are off to a great start, winning national and international awards.
Nearly all major automakers are planning to introduce these vehicles in the coming years, and I applaud automakers like Ford that have committed to building alternative drivetrains in significant number for the long haul. Companies like Ford understand climate change and the need to reduce our impact on our global environment while not sacrificing our mobility. For EVs to achieve that goal, we need policies like a clean energy standard that aim to decarbonize our electrical grid. I'm sure Ford is also investing in this space because they see a market opportunity.
The private sector has invested billions of dollars in developing, manufacturing, promoting, and distributing EVs in the last decade. From a map on our website, you can see that policymakers across the country are supporting EVs because they want their region to benefit from this burgeoning market.
Policymakers should rely on private capital as much as possible to build out the EV charging infrastructure so we can balance the desire to support alternative vehicles while also tackling our nation's budget deficit. To that end, we should coordinate policy related to EV purchase and home charging nationwide so private players can enter new markets more easily. The most efficient way to "refuel" these vehicles is not yet clear, and we should use policy to help provide the foundation to let the market work.
Another element that is critical to the success of these vehicles is its most expensive component – the battery. Not only do we need aggressive R&D to develop batteries with much higher energy density, we also need to figure out what to do with these batteries at the vehicle's end-of-life. About 80 percent of the battery's capacity is still usable at this point, resulting in the largest untapped resource in this space today.
If we achieve the right mix of policy, technological progress, and consumer acceptance, there's little reason to doubt that alternative vehicles will have a significant impact on the car market in this decade. It appears that it will be tough to kill the electric car this time.
Eileen Claussen is President
Bank of America Announces New Goal to Reduce Its Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 15 Percent
Ambitious Commitment Would Result in Cumulative 30 Percent Decrease in the Company's Emissions Since 2004, and Includes New Corporate Real Estate Portfolio Goal of 20 Percent LEED(R)-Certified Space
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 18, 2011 -- Bank of America today announced an ambitious new goal to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15 percent from 2011 to 2015, based on its 2010 baseline. This goal spans all of the company's global operations in more than 40 countries and builds on its previous GHG reduction of 18 percent between 2004 and 2009, which had focused on legacy Bank of America operations in the U.S.
Through the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program, Bank of America was one of the first global financial institutions to announce GHG emissions reduction targets in 2004, and the first to publicly report out on exceeding those goals within the commitment period.
Today, factoring in the addition of Countrywide and Merrill Lynch, the new target represents an overall global reduction in aggregate GHG emissions of more than 30 percent from the 2004 baseline. This is equal to annual emissions of more than 700,000 metric tons CO2-equivalent or said another way, equal to eliminating the annual GHG emissions from more than 124,000 passenger vehicles.
"Reducing our emissions not only lessens the environmental impact of our global operations, but enhances our efficiency and delivers tremendous value for our company and shareholders," said Global Technology and Operations Executive and Bank of America Environmental Council Chair Catherine P. Bessant. "Continuing to achieve a GHG reduction of this magnitude requires fundamental changes spanning our entire organization, from our global real estate portfolio to the individual workspaces our employees occupy."
Like most companies, the vast majority (90 percent) of Bank of America's GHG emissions derives from energy consumption. To accomplish its GHG goal, Bank of America will focus on lowering its energy consumption by:
- Expanding and enhancing energy management systems and technology.
- Increasing computing efficiency in data centers and desktop/laptop computers.
- Improving overall equipment efficiency in areas such as HVAC and lighting.
- Optimizing office space.
- Identifying and implementing emerging technologies as they become commercially available and/or viable.
- Educating employees on how they can modify their behaviors to support the goal.
Leaders in LEED(R) certification
To further advance its GHG reduction goals, Bank of America also announced today that 20 percent of its corporate workplace real estate portfolio will be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system by 2015. Currently 11 percent of the company's workplace portfolio, 13.2 million square feet, is comprised of LEED-certified space. LEED-certified space will include new construction, core and shell construction, commercial interiors, retail spaces and the operations and maintenance of existing buildings.
"Bank of America is an industry and corporate leader in applying LEED to achieve improvement to their global corporate footprint," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). "The company has systematically leveraged every aspect of green building practices throughout their entire workplace building stock to help them standardize their energy efficiency and achieve their carbon reduction goals."
Employee engagement
Additionally, the company recognizes the important role that employees have in contributing to the company's comprehensive GHG emissions reduction goals. By instituting robust employee programs, the company is better able to achieve this specific goal, as well as reduce its overall indirect GHG emissions.
Through a comprehensive employee educational program, and a partnership with the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, the company is providing training, education and resources to help employees find ways to save energy and money, while reducing waste, improving their workplace and communities, and engaging with their teammates in market-specific opportunities. Employee training sessions in 2011 will focus on overall energy conservation, sustainable transportation, LEED building enhancements and recycling.
Under the company's Hybrid Vehicle Reimbursement program, eligible U.S.-based employees can receive up to a $3,000 reimbursement toward the purchase of a new hybrid, highway-capable electric or compressed natural gas vehicle. Initially launched in 2007, more than 3,800 employees have replaced conventionally powered vehicles which, on average, doubled their fuel economy and prevented the release of nearly 4,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions from employee commuting.
Third party partners
Bank of America also engages leading, independent partners like the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and Ceres, throughout the entire lifecycle of its emissions and other environmental goal setting, benchmarking and reporting. To track its progress on this and other environmental commitments, the company continues to complete CDP's comprehensive annual carbon survey, adhere to Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting standards, and submit its GHG emissions data for independent, third-party review.
"As a global company, Bank of America is to be congratulated for its past achievements and impressive new goal, as well as demonstrating how effective management of their emissions and environmental footprint makes both business and environmental sense. It is clear that the effective management of these issues has a direct impact on a company's ability to compete and grow," said Paul Simpson, chief executive officer, Carbon Disclosure Project, a global, independent, not-for-profit organization that monitors and encourages company disclosure on carbon dioxide emissions. "They have made significant progress in engaging suppliers, employees and leadership on climate change and this announcement speaks to their long-term commitment."
About Bank of America's Environmental Commitment
Understanding the important role it plays in helping clients and communities address climate change, Bank of America continues to establish itself as an environmental leader in the financial services sector. In 2007, Bank of America embarked on a 10-year, $20 billion business initiative to address climate change through lending, investments, capital markets activity, philanthropy, and its own operations. Delivering $12.1 billion in four years to hundreds of clients in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and markets across Asia, Europe and Latin America, Bank of America is focused on reducing its environmental footprint while aligning its global financial products and services to help advance energy efficiency and low-carbon energy markets, including wind, solar, biomass, other emerging technologies. For more information about Bank of America's environmental commitment, visit www.bankofamerica.com/environment.
SOURCE: Bank of America
Reporters May Contact:
Britney Sheehan, Bank of America, 1.206.358.7563
Pew Center Announces Partnership with EPA on New National Climate Awards Program
Press Release
May 17, 2011
Pew Center Contact: Tom Steinfeldt, 703-516-4146
The Climate Registry Contact: Alex Carr, 778-340-8837
Association of Climate Change Officers Contact: Daniel Kreeger, 202-496-7390
The Climate Registry, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Association of Climate Change Officers Announce Partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Jointly Administer New National Climate Awards Program
Washington, DC – Today The Climate Registry (The Registry), the Pew Center on Global Climate Change (Pew Center) and the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) announced that they will jointly sponsor a new national awards program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change.
By showcasing voluntary action on climate and energy under a unified banner, EPA, The Registry, Pew Center and ACCO are sending a strong signal that innovative and sustained leadership in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) management will be recognized in the United States.
"The co-sponsorship of this new recognition opportunity reflects EPA's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and recognizing leadership on climate change," said EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy. "We are pleased to be partnering with three non-profit organizations that have demonstrated expertise in GHG emissions management."
An event to honor award recipients will be held in early 2012. Specific award categories will include:
- Sustained Excellence in Public Reporting –Recognizing companies that continually raise the bar in the area of public disclosure of GHG emissions data. This would include regular public reporting and verification of corporate GHG inventories, GHG goal setting and achievement of GHG emissions reductions.
- Supply Chain Leadership –Recognizing companies that have their own comprehensive GHG inventories and emissions reduction goals and can demonstrate that they are at the leading edge of managing carbon in their supply chain.
- Organizational Leadership –Recognizing companies that have "mainstreamed" climate change across their operations and can demonstrate that they factor climate change into their business decisions.
- Individual Leadership –Recognizing individuals exemplifying extraordinary leadership in leading their organizations' response to climate change and/or affecting the responses of other organizations.
These award categories provide a legacy for EPA's Climate Leaders program, which provided support to private sector corporations who voluntarily set and achieved greenhouse gas reduction targets, and ACCO's Climate Leadership Awards, which recognized exemplary leadership by organizations in industry, government, academia and the non-profit community.
"Corporate leadership is essential to advancing climate and energy solutions," said Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. "In growing numbers, companies and their employees are working tirelessly in pursuit of cost-effective solutions that reduce carbon and benefit consumers. Recognizing these great accomplishments serves to motivate and accelerate efforts throughout the business community toward a cleaner, more efficient energy future."
"The Climate Registry is delighted to partner with EPA, the Pew Center and ACCO on this important program, which will build on the work of Climate Leaders as well as our own carbon management program," said Denise Sheehan, Executive Director of The Climate Registry. "Together we look forward to continuing to provide the tools, resources and recognition that organizations need to take their climate and carbon leadership to the next level."
"Amongst ACCO's primary missions is bringing together climate executives from across sectors to collaborate and establish best practices," said Daniel Kreeger, ACCO's Executive Director. "We look forward to undertaking such a timely and important effort with our partners - The Climate Registry and the Pew Center - who have been on the cutting edge of climate response, and of course EPA, whose Climate Protection Awards inspired ACCO's 2010 Climate Leadership Awards program and whose Climate Leaders program has been so instrumental in driving climate response."
More information is available online at www.epa.gov/climateleaders. Additional information on the award categories and nomination process will be made publicly available in the next few weeks.
About The Climate Registry
The Climate Registry provides organizations with the tools and resources to help them calculate, verify, report and manage their GHG emissions in a publicly transparent and credible way. The Registry was established in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) by US states and Canadian provinces and today is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of senior officials from 41 US states, the District of Columbia, 13 Canadian provinces and territories, six Mexican states and four Native Sovereign Nations. The Registry is a membership organization with more than 430 members who use The Registry's services measure and manage their emissions and share best practices with a community of members. For more information see www.theclimateregistry.org.
About the Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change ("Pew Center"; www.c2es.org) is a 501(c)(3) organization that operates under the legal umbrella Strategies for the Global Environment. Formed in 1998, the Pew Center is an internationally recognized pragmatic voice offering credible information and analysis, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change. In a highly polarized, controversial and politicized arena, the Pew Center provides a non-partisan forum for constructive engagement between business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts.
About the Association of Climate Change Officers
The Association of Climate Change Officers is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership organization for executives and officials worldwide in industry, government, academia and the non-profit community. ACCO's mission is to advance the knowledge and skills of those dedicated to developing and directing climate change strategies in the public and private sectors, and to establish a flexible and robust forum for collaboration between climate change officers. For more information about ACCO, please visit www.ACCOonline.org.
Changing Planet Series
Changing Planet is a three-part series of town hall events intended to encourage student learning and dialogue about climate change by gathering scientists, thought leaders, business people, and university students to discuss the facts of climate science, the dynamics of its impact and to brainstorm solutions. The series is prodiced in partnership between NBC Learn (the educational arm of NBC News), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Discover magazine.
The first town hall event, Changing Planet: The Impact on Lives and Values, was hosted at Yale University and moderated by NBC News Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw. The discussion explored themes of human health, national security, economic opportunity and competitiveness, moral or religious values, environmental justice, and what climate change means for youth. The panelists were Linda Fisher, Dupont's chief sustainability officer; Rajendra Pachauri, director of the Yale Climate and Energy Institute and a Nobel Prize laureate; Billy Parish, founder and coordinator of the youth-oriented Energy Action Coalition; and Katherine Hayhoe, associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University and an expert on the intersection between Christian fundamentalism and climate change.
NBC Learn/Weather Channel Make an Impact highlight
A second Changing Planet: Clean Energy, Green Jobs and Global Competition town hall was hosted at George Washington University on April 12, and focused on the economic advantages of climate change solutions, including clean energy policies and technologies and creation of market green jobs. Tim Juliani, Director of Corporate Engagement, was a panelist and provided our perspective on the clean energy debate. Other panelists included: Ken Zweibel, a professor at GWU, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins (head of Green for All), and Chris Busch (director of Policy and Programs at the Apollo Alliance). NBC News reporter Anne Thompson moderated this event.
Read Discover Magazine's story on Building a Green-Collar Economy with a full transcript of the Changing Planet: Clean Energy, Green Jobs and Global Competition town hall.
The third town hall will be held at Arizona State University in the fall of 2011, and its suggested focus will be "Keeping It Fresh: Our Water Future," impacts of how communities are adapting, or preparing to adapt to, changing availability of fresh water..
In addition to the Changing Planet town halls, NBC Learn and NSF worked together to produce a series of 12 online video reports looking at the impact of climate change in various locations around the world. From Bermuda's tropical seas to the Arctic Ocean, each story follows scientists in the field who are studying the dramatic impacts of rising temperatures in the air, in the water, and on land. The series is narrated by Anne Thompson, Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent for NBC News. Watch the full video series here.
Regulatory Reality vs. Rhetoric
First there was the warning about a construction moratorium – all new major stationary sources would come to an immediate halt because of EPA's new source review requirements for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Soon after the alarm went out about the approaching regulatory "train wreck" that would result from a series of EPA rules impacting electric utilities. A large number of power plants would shut down, the reliability of our energy supply would be sacrificed, and consumers would face skyrocketing costs.
There was only one problem with these warnings – they were made before anybody knew what the actual regulations would require. Now that EPA has issued several of these rules, it is useful to revisit these doomsday scenarios and see if the reality of the proposals matches the rhetoric before the fact.
All Energy Sources Entail Risk, Efficiency a No-Brainer
At the moment, our attention is riveted by the events unfolding at a nuclear power plant in Japan. Over the past year or so, major accidents have befallen just about all of our major sources of energy: from the Gulf oil spill, to the natural gas explosion in California, to the accidents in coal mines in Chile and West Virginia, and now to the partial meltdown of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor. We have been reminded that harnessing energy to meet human needs is essential, but that it entails risks. The risks of different energy sources differ in size and kind, but none of them are risk-free.
Rising Oil Prices: It's About More Than What You Pay At The Pump
For many Americans, U.S. oil dependence has become a concern for reasons ranging from climate change and environmental protection to national security and the economic impact of higher gas prices. But there are other important impacts of our oil dependence, including how foreign oil contributes to the U.S. trade deficit and how rising oil prices decrease American jobs – both particularly salient issues on the current U.S. political agenda.
A recent article from Daily Finance shines light on the 2010 trade deficit, more than half of which is from petroleum-related products. In 2010, the U.S. petroleum-related trade deficit was $256.9B, which represents a 29.6 percent jump from the 2009 petroleum trade deficit. This rise is largely due to increased prices, as the consumption of petroleum-related products in the United States grew by only 1.9 percent from 2009 to 2010 while the price per barrel of oil grew 31.1 percent to $74.66. An issue currently receiving a lot of attention in Washington, the $61B worth of cuts to the national budget sought by the U.S. House of Representatives, is equal to only one fourth of the country's 2010 petroleum-related trade deficit.
Numbers that large can be hard to put into perspective, so let's look at how this affects the average American. The graph below shows the U.S. petroleum-related trade deficit per capita (left axis), which is closely related to oil prices (right axis). In 2010 the petroleum-related trade deficit per capita was $832 and has ranged from $600 to $1200 in the past several years. This translates into each American household sending roughly $2,155 out of the U.S. economy in 2010 to pay for oil.
Rising oil prices not only increase the trade deficit, they decrease the number of jobs in America. As energy prices rise, businesses and consumers must spend more on energy and thus have less to spend elsewhere. In his presentation at our recent conference on state and federal roles in climate policy, Mark Doms, Chief Economist at the Department of Commerce, explained that when the price of oil goes up by just $10 per barrel, it translates into a loss of tens of thousands of jobs per month, or up to a quarter of a million U.S. jobs per year. Instead of losing jobs in order to maintain our use of oil, we should focus on creating jobs by investing in domestically produced alternative fuels and vehicles.
In June 2008, oil prices spiked to $145 per barrel, and Americans paid for it at the pump as gas prices reached $4 per gallon. We could be headed into a similar situation, as oil prices rose above $105 per barrel earlier this month and are expected to continue to rise in 2011 and 2012. Because we rely on oil, a resource that is concentrated in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or OPEC, we face oil prices that are much higher than a competitive market would yield. This makes U.S. gasoline susceptible to price shocks, and American consumers pay more at the pump than they would in a competitive market.
Here we have highlighted two other important reasons why Americans should care about rising oil prices: they increase the U.S. trade deficit and can decrease domestic jobs. As oil prices continue to rise, these negative economic trends will also worsen. In order to mitigate the impacts of rising oil prices, we need to work towards a clean energy economy and promote the use of domestic alternative fuels and energy efficiency. This would decrease our oil dependence, making the United States less susceptible to rising oil prices while also creating more jobs here at home.
Monica Ralston is is the Innovative Solutions intern
The Clean Development Mechanism: A Review of the First International Offset Program
March 2011
By: Michael Gillenwater and Stephen Seres
Download this paper (pdf)
Event: 2011 Greening Your Business Conference
The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted The 2011 Greening Your Business Conference on April 14, 2011. This conference provided the opportunity to reach business decision makers interested in learning more about sustainable and eco-friendly products and services that can be implemented in the workplace.
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change moderated the Keynote presentation.
Alcoa Foundation and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change Launch School-Based Carbon Footprint Challenge
Press Release
March 14, 2011
Contact: Diana Burkett, 703-516-4146
Alcoa Foundation and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change Launch School-Based Carbon Footprint Challenge
More than 8,000 students to participate in the Make an Impact: Change Our 2morrow (CO2) challenge with chance to win $5,000 grant
Washington, D.C. – Alcoa Foundation and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change today announced an exciting new green education partnership to teach students how their daily actions can reduce harmful emissions and improve the environment.
Set to run from March 14 to April 11, Make an Impact: Change Our 2morrow (CO2) is an educational energy conservation challenge among 8,000 students at 15 schools near Alcoa locations in Cleveland, OH, Hampton, VA, Knoxville, TN, and LaPorte and Warrick, IN.
The challenge builds on the successful Make an Impact program that has engaged nearly 14,000 Alcoa employees at 18 Alcoa locations across the US, resulting in more than 4.6 million pounds of carbon savings and $3.7 million in energy savings. Alcoa isn't the only corporation involved, both Bank of America and Entergy have realized an estimated 5 million pounds of carbon savings each from rolling out Make an Impact, proving the value of the program for a wide range of organizations.
"Even small changes in our daily lives can lead to significant improvements for the environment," said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. "Through Make an Impact: Change Our 2morrow, we want to educate young people about the potential they have to make a difference and inspire them to become green ambassadors in their communities - at school, at play and at home."
The winning schools are determined based on the highest number of carbon calculator completions, and will receive a $5,000 grand prize grant or one of five $1,000 runner-up grants, earmarked for 'green initiatives,' from Alcoa Foundation. The winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22.
"Knowing the impact of your energy choices is an important first step to change," said Katie Mandes, Pew Center Vice President of Communications and Director of the Make an Impact program. "We hope this challenge will motivate young people and the entire community to learn how easy it can be to make a difference."
The Make an Impact: CO2 challenge is part of a new $7 million Alcoa Foundation investment to address regional environmental challenges, improve energy efficiency and enhance global reforestation projects. The investment is aligned with Alcoa Foundation's sustainability focus: 'Reduce, Recycle, Replenish,' and will engage employees and communities where Alcoa operates.
# # #
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US $420 million. In addition to addressing local needs in communities where Alcoa operates, Alcoa Foundation is focused on promoting environmental stewardship, enabling economic and social sustainability, and preparing tomorrow's leaders through education and learning. Alcoa Foundation was founded more than 50 years ago and has invested more than US $515 million since 1952. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com/foundation.
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change was established in May 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization dedicated to providing credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change. The Pew Center is led by Eileen Claussen, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. More information can be found at www.c2es.org.
The Make an Impact program, developed by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change in partnership with Alcoa Foundation, helps Alcoa employees, their families and surrounding communities reduce energy use, manage their carbon footprint and become an active part of the solution to climate change. The program features:
- A custom-built carbon calculator with individual carbon footprint analysis.
- A dynamic website with tips, tools and resources on how to reduce energy bills and live more sustainably.
- A comprehensive outreach program of educational workshops and hands-on activities to support local action.
The Make an Impact: Change Our 2morrow (CO2) program promotes energy efficiency through a fun and engaging online competition, which features educational resources about energy conservation and an interactive carbon calculator. To find out more about Make an Impact, how your company or organization can sign on or to measure your own carbon footprint, visit www.alcoa.com/makeanimpact.


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text: Posted March 19, 2013 1. Sheldon Richardson, DT 2. David Amerson, S Round 1 and 2 could easily and pernaps more ideally be Desmond Trufant and Jesse Williams but I think that the more likely scenario is that Trufant is gone in the first and the BPA is Richardson. Amerson slips to us and we draft him as a safety. Other option here is Darius Slay 4. Oday Aboushi, OT 5. Brian Winters, OT 6. Connor Vernon, WR 6. James Wilson, OG (more likely to go with a kicker here given the OT bonanza earlier but I really dislike drafting kickers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Event: 2015 International Energy Agency Ministerial [viewed]
The 2015 International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial, meeting under the theme 'Innovation for a Clean, Secure Energy Future,' will emphasize the importance of increased cooperation among IEA member countries, emerging economies and the business community. The Ministerial meeting, which convenes every two years, helps set strategic priorities for the IEA. The IEA Secretariat digests what has been discussed and develops ideas for existing or new work programmes, which it then presents to the Governing Board of the IEA. Ministerial meetings also enable member countries to agree to undertake domestic or collective actions in the field of energy policy. Ministers from the 29 IEA member countries, nine partner countries (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa and Thailand plus one candidate country for accession, Chile) and representatives from the African Union (AU), the EU, the Nuclear Energy Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are expected to attend the 2015 IEA Ministerial Meeting in Paris. CEOs from the IEA Energy Business Council representing companies active in energy or related fields will also attend. The meeting will be chaired by US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.


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For free patterns and more paper piecing fun, visit my website www.piecebynumber.com
The beautiful "Rosie's Rose" paper pieced quilt block pattern looks complicated, but is really quite easy to sew. This quilt pattern contains clearly annotated paper piecing pattern sections & how-tos for sewing the design and its mirror image. The pattern pieces as given make a 6" (15.24 cm) block. Use the convenient percentages table (included) to resize the block to a range of popular sizes.Using subtle variations of the same color family, such as soft yellows or pinks, will result in a more natural looking rose. Choosing vivid, more contrasting tones will give your rose a more modern, graphic appeal. No matter what colors you select, though, you'll love watching your rose "bloom" as you sew the fabric pieces from the center outward.A coloring page is also provided, for you to experiment withyour own color schemes and variations before cutting into fabric.Basic paper piecing instructions are NOT included. For links to my favorite on-line paper piecing tutorials, please visit piecebynumber.com/links.htm Email support for questions with sewing the block pattern is happily provided - reach me via http://piecebynumber.com/contact.htmFor personal use only. Happy sewing!
Vicki Suan
Fun paper pieced rose. The only thing that took a bit was cutting the pieces out. It came together very well. -I am an experienced quilter-
Pattern is easy to follow. This is only the 2nd paper piecing project I've done and it was simple to do. Results are fabulous!
Pattern is easy to follow. If you contact Beth for help, she responds quickly and really cares that you are successful. Will purchase many more of her patterns. CR Kansas
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Alumni Events
Upcoming Events
May 14 - WomAn's Board Silver Tea
The Woman's Board of Westminster College cordially invites you the 100th Annual Silver Tea:
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Hats and Gloves encouraged
Seattle Alumni Event
June - Pride Parade
This annual parade celebrates the LGBT community in Salt Lake City. Westminster's Alphabet Soup club hosts a float every year, and you're invited to join us. More information to follow.


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Current Announcements & Events
Another First Place for La Salle Academy Students
We are pleased to announce that La Salle Academy's Mathlete team won the Berks Catholic Fall 2015 Mathlete Competition where
they competed against teams from the other partner schools. Congratulations to the Mathlete team members. They worked tirelessly to prepare for the competition.
Can you solve the following problem which our Mathletes successfully answered on their way to bringing home the trophy ?
In a walkathon, Tom walked a certain distance at 5 m/h and jogged twice the distance at 8 m/h. His total time walking and jogging was 2 hours and 15 minutes. How many miles long was the walkathon?
Summer Reading Grades 5 & 6
Summer Reading Grades 7 & 8


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|26 Dec 2006
|Filing date
|4 Aug 2005
|Priority date
|11 Aug 2000
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Ka Ming Chan, Siu Cheong Hon
|Original Assignee
|The Brinkmann Corporation
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (24), Referenced by (2), Classifications (25), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,490, application No. 10/606,118 filed on Jun. 25, 2003, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/637,344, filed Aug. 11, 2000, now abandoned.
The present invention pertains to the field of portable or battery-operated lighting products. More particularly, this invention relates to hand-held, battery-operated flashlights.
Flashlights are used to cover a variety of household, workplace and recreational needs. Common flashlights often include a head that contains a relatively fragile incandescent bulb, and a cylindrical body configured to hold batteries. A switch, commonly mounted in the body, completes a circuit between the batteries and the bulb. A parabolic mirror or reflector is located within the head, with the filament(s) of the bulb positioned at the focal point of the mirror. The mirror directs rays of light from the filament forward in a parallel direction, creating a useful beam, as depicted in
Many flashlights are stored without usage for great periods of time, and can be then called upon to provide light for long periods with little notice. Other flashlights are used frequently, and can be subject to significant environmental extremes such as shock and temperature. In either case, failure of the flashlight's fragile bulb is an all-to-frequent occurrence, leaving a user without a useful light source. Time efficiency often dictates that the entire flashlight, rather than just the bulb, be replaced, making the loss of a bulb relatively expensive.
As much as 50% of the light produced by the filament will miss the parabolic mirror (in either a forward or rearward direction), causing a large portion of the light to be widely radiated out in many directions, as depicted in
Accordingly, there has existed a definite need for a durable flashlight configured to provide an effective useful beam for an extended period, particularly after extended storage. The present invention satisfies these and other needs, and provides further related advantages.
The present invention provides a flashlight configured to durably provide an effective useful beam of light for extended periods. The flashlight will typically have low power requirements, and will therefore last for extended periods on a given set of batteries. Because of the low power requirements, it will generally function on the limited power available after a battery has been stored for an extended period.
The flashlight features a high-power, directed LED configured to produce a divergent beam of light characterized by an optical directivity angle extending from a vertex point. Because the flashlight preferably derives all its illumination from the LED, the flashlight will typically have low power requirements and be significantly more durable than a flashlight deriving its light from an incandescent bulb.
Another feature of the invention is that the flashlight includes a lens having a first portion that is convergent, where the LED is located such that its vertex point coincides with the lens' focal point. This feature provides for the divergent beam of light to be focused into a useful beam of parallel light, providing for efficient use of the often-limited light available from an LED. Preferably, the convergent lens is sized and positioned such that substantially all of the directed light from the LED passes through the convergent lens portion to emerge in a first beam of parallel light.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the flashlight also includes a parabolic reflector. The LED emits additional light through a tip, and the tip is located at a focal point of the parabolic reflector. An advantage of this feature is that at least some, or preferably a substantial portion of the additional light strikes the parabolic reflector to form a second beam of parallel light. The second beam of parallel light preferably passes through a preferably flat lens that does not change the overall direction of the second beam. The second beam is preferably parallel to and surrounding the first beam, thus forming a single and more efficient useful beam.
The invention also features an illuminator assembly contained within a housing of the flashlight. The illuminator assembly includes both the LED and the parabolic reflector. This feature advantageously provides for the LED to be held substantially in its preferred position with respect to the parabolic reflector.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principals of the invention.
A flashlight 10 according to the present invention is shown in
The flashlight 10 is configured with a first rubber o-ring 50 conformingly received between the lens 16 and the front end 32 of the front housing portion 12, to form a watertight seal over the forward-facing orifice 30. Likewise, the flashlight 10 is configured with a rubber cap 52 conformingly received between the lens switch assembly 20 and the rear end 46 of the rear housing portion 22, to form a watertight seal over the rearward-facing orifice 44. Additionally, the flashlight is configured with a second o-ring 54 between the rear end 36 of the front housing portion and the front end 42 of the rear housing portion 22, forming a watertight seal between the front and rear housing portions. Thus, the housing (i.e., the combined front and rear housing portions) is watertight.
With reference to
A preferred LED is the High-power White LED, NSPW500BS, by NTCHIA CORPORATION of Japan. It includes stoppers to aid in positioning the LED, and has a preferred electrical and optical characteristics, as well as preferred light directivity. The characteristics of the High-power White LED, NSPW500BS, by NICHIA CORPORATION are depicted in
With reference to
As depicted in
The illuminator assembly's flange 90 is sized and shaped to be conformingly received within the lens' flange 88 and against a peripheral portion of the lens' circular flat portion 80, thereby serving to position the LED 60 with respect to the lens' convergent-lens portion 82. In particular, the LED's filament 62 is positioned at the focal point 84 of the convergent-lens portion 82, and the divergent beam 64 is centered on the focal center point 86 of the lens. Additionally, the convergent-lens portion 82 is sized such that the outer limits of the beam preferably pass through the convergent-lens portion, and most preferably through a periphery 104 of the convergent-lens portion. In other words, the relationship between the diameter of the convergent-lens portion D, the focal distance L, and the directivity angle 68 is preferably stated as follows:
D≧2 L Tan(A/2)
Most preferably the above equation is an equality. As a result of the above-described configuration, a divergent beam 64 produced by the LED 60 will pass through the convergent-lens portion 82 to become a first parallel beam 110 of light, having a diameter of D, as shown in
As seen in
With reference to
As seen in
Because such a large portion of the generated light is in the useful beam, the total amount of light emitted by the LED's filament (which is typically substantially less than that of an incandescent bulb) is adequate to produce a useful beam. Furthermore, the LED uses substantially less energy, extending battery life of the flashlight by a substantial margin, preferably to at least 50 hours with two AA batteries. This is roughly 20 times the battery life of common flashlights. Even after extended storage, the LED can continue to function on the reduced battery power that is available. Furthermore, because LEDs are not as fragile and short lived as incandescent bulbs, the flashlight preferably has an effectively infinite bulb life (up to approximately 100,000 hours) with high durability and little likelihood of LED failure due to rough handling.
Returning to
The circuit board is sized and otherwise configured to be received within a holding-cavity 128 in the body portion 18. The power is provided to the circuit board through lead wires 130 connecting to contacts 132 in the body portion 18. The body portion includes compartments 134 for holding two batteries 136, where the contacts are positioned in the compartments to contact the batteries.
The circuit including the two batteries 136, the circuit board 96 and its associated circuitry 98 and the LED 60 also passes through two contacts 140 on the switch assembly 20. When a person depresses the rubber cap 52, which extends through the rearward facing orifice 44, the switch assembly alternates between opening and closing the circuit, thereby alternating the flashlight between an "on" and an "off" state.
From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a durable flashlight, which is water and shock resistant, configured to provide an effective useful beam for an extended period, particularly after extended storage. While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, although the invention has been described in detail with reference only to the preferred embodiments, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited, and is defined with reference to the following claims.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
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|Hsi-Huang Lin
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|Gentex Corporation
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|Mcdermott; Kevin
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|22 Jul 1999
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|Applied Innovative Technologies, Inc.
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|10 Jan 2000
|12 Jun 2001
|John Talamo
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|Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
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|Title not available
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|7 Feb 2007
|17 Nov 2009
|Rosiello Keith M
|Compact reconfigurable illumination device
|7 Feb 2007
|23 Aug 2007
|Rosiello Keith M
|Compact reconfigurable illumination device
|U.S. Classification
|362/202, 362/200, 362/308
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|10 Apr 2007
|Certificate of correction
|19 Jun 2008
Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., TEXAS
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Effective date: 20080603
|28 Jun 2010
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Year of fee payment: 4
|2 Jul 2012
Owner name: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., TEXAS
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:THE BRINKMANN CORPORATION;DALLAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.;Q-BEAM CORPORATION;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:028487/0001
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|28 May 2014
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Year of fee payment: 8
|23 Oct 2015
Owner name: OUTDOOR DIRECT CORPORATION, TEXAS
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:THE BRINKMANN CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:036934/0713
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|5 May 2016
Owner name: Q-BEAM CORPORATION, TEXAS
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About this Vendor
Beautiful Writing For All Occasions
Contact Info
It was a great pleasure working with Melissa. Her handwriting is amazing and she worked very fast. All my guests were extremely impressed when they received invitation with the beautiful hand-written name and address on the envelop. Highly recommend her!
Melissa's work is flawless. She delivered 100+ addressed wedding invitations several days in advance of her original estimate. She took care to ensure each address and name was as I wanted it to appear on the envelope. And she shows a true passion and joy for her craft -- an... Read More enthusiasm that was contageous for me. AND each envelope is absolutely breathtaking! Worth every penny!
Melissa's calligraphy is stunning! If you live in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area, you'll be lucky to work with her. She addressed close to 50 save the date envelopes for our upcoming Key West nautical wedding. Melissa is punctual and was always quick to respond to any email or... Read More txt. She was also accommodating when I needed to meet her halfway when picking up my stationary. I highly recommend her calligraphy! Thanks Melissa!
We hired Melissa to assist us by taking the task of addressing all our wedding invitations. Besides Melissa being a jewel to work with and quick with response time, each and every invitation was absolutely beautiful. Melissa has a gift that she shares with each stroke of the... Read More pen. Take the burden off your shoulders and give Melissa a call!
I searched for a calligrapher for my daughter's wedding, and the photographer gave us Melissa's name! So, so pleased and happy with her work! She did an amazing job and was so easy to work with! So blessed that we were given her name, will definitely use her in the future and... Read More refer her! What a gem to work with, and the finished product was beautiful!!!
I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Melissa. Simply put, she was amazing. I contacted her fairly late in the evening through her website email to address my wedding envelopes, and within an hour or so she responded with all of the details. She met with me... Read More soon after to go over ideas, and kept in communication with me the entire time. She was done even sooner than expected, and when I saw the envelopes, they took my breath away. I love them and I am so glad I was able to work with her. I will not hesitate to use Melissa again in the future, and would recommend her to anyone I know in need of a Calligrapher.
Melissa is AMAZING!! Such a sweet lady and finished super fast. Her work is u believable. Definitely wI'll use her again and refer her.
There are a long list of adjectives to best describe Melissa...professional, delightful, talented, personable, and genuine! She is the real deal when it comes to somebody who takes great pride in the service they offer and the customer service that we all wish we got from every... Read More vendor we used for special occasions. I look forward to using her unique calligraphy style for many holiday & special events in the future too;)
CalligraphyReviewed on 3/27/2015 Sara T
Melissa was absolutely wonderful to work with! Not only do my invitations look wonderful, they were done in a timely manner. I told Melissa when I wanted to send them out, and she got them back to me 2 weeks before that! I cannot wait to get them in the mail so my guests can see... Read More what a beautiful job Melissa did. I would recommend her in a heartbeat, and use her again if I ever needed a calligrapher!
Fantastic calligraphyReviewed on 9/09/2014
Gorgeous calligraphy on invitations
Beautiful CalligraphyReviewed on 8/17/2014 Kate M
I had Melissa address my outer and inner envelopes. She did a beautiful job! I was very happy and I've already received positive feedback from my guests. I'd highly recommend Melissa to any bride. She was punctual, polite, and professional! - Bride to Be, Kate
Great CalligrapherReviewed on 7/23/2014
Melissa did an awesome job for our wedding invitations. I will be using her for day of stationary as well. Her prices are very reasonable and she's a pleasure to work with, I received everything ahead of schedule.
Melissa is a life saver!Reviewed on 6/21/2014
Melissa saved our wedding! We had a last minute issue with our intended calligrapher and I was panicking! My coordinator recommended we reach out to Melissa to see if she could help. She was amazing! I talked to her on Saturday, one week before my wedding, and she squeezed... Read More us in that week even though she already had another client. I dropped off the paper on Monday and she had them back to me on Thursday. Typical turn around time is 10 days - 2 weeks but Melissa bent over backwards to save the day! I am so grateful for her willingness to help us! On top of the mere fact that she saved the wedding calligraphy, her product was beautiful! She made beautiful escort cards and place cards for our guest. They were one of the main highlights as guests walked into the reception. Melissa's work is impeccable! I highly recommend using Melissa for your calligraphy needs! Thanks Melissa!!
BarbaraReviewed on 10/03/2013 Barbara H
Outstanding calligrapher, and wonderful to work with! I recently had Melissa do the envelopes for my wedding invitations, and they came out beautiful! Really outstanding! The style she suggested goes perfectly with my invitation font, and has added a wonderful and lovely... Read More touch to our special day. Melissa is so special in her approach to clients, I really enjoyed working with her. She was amazingly patient with us in getting all addresses and corrections to her. And she finished everything ahead of schedule! It was a pleasure to work with Melissa, and I can't wait to use her services for events in the future. I'm so happy my fiancé suggested calligraphy for the envelopes, and that we were referred to Melissa. We could not be happier with her work, and in working with her. Thanks, Melissa!
Caligraphy for my wedding invitationsReviewed on 4/30/2013 Grayleen U
Melissa is amazing. Everyone was raving about the nice touch the caligraphy added to my invitations. The font and color was perfect. Her service is incredible and quick. I mailed the invites with the list of guests and recieved everything in week. It was quick and simple.... Read More I am doing my place cards with her and plan to do any caligraphy I need in the future with her as well!
Beautiful Work!Reviewed on 9/18/2012 Melanie P
Melissa did the most wonderful job and I am so pleased with the outcome!! Not only was she timely and kind - her work was just beautiful!
Very pleaseReviewed on 8/07/2012 betty jane M
I was VERY please with Melissa. She was recommended by Joanne at Inviting Business where I purchased my invitations. I called Melissa and she was able to see my right away. I met with her at her home and entrusted her with my envelopes. She was in constant contact with me via... Read More email. I was on a tight schedule and she was able to accommodate that by finishing them in a very timely manner. Her prices are very reasonable and her work is gorgeous. I would use her again.
Stunning!!!Reviewed on 8/02/2012 Allison L
Melissa was WONDERFUL to work with! She wrote my father's speech, which I framed and gave to him for father's day, it was absolutly beautiful. After seeing how incredible Melissa's work is I asked her to write my husband and my vowes which I will be framing and giving to him for... Read More our one year anniversary (tradition says you give paper so I thought this was a great idea). Not only is Melissa's work incredible but she is great to work with. She is very efficient as I did not give her much time for either one of my orders she happily completed my requests in plenty of time! Thank Melissa I will defiantly be back for more beautiful work!!
Thank you!Reviewed on 7/15/2012 Kristan D
I found my experience with Melissa to be above and beyond what I ever imagined calligraphy to be. My invitations / envelopes are elegant and very defined. Melissa was professional and kept me updated through the process. I must say to see the envelopes in person is even better... Read More than seeing them online. They look spectacular, I can't stop starring at them! I can't wait for my guest to receive them in the mail, the calligraphy Melissa did really sets the tone for the wedding! Thank you ; )
Simply BeautifulReviewed on 6/20/2012 Lisa P
Melissa addressed my wedding invitations. I just received them in the mail yesterday and I am completely satisfied with results. I cannot say enough nice things about Melissa and her services. She is prompt, courteous and friendly. Her services are very well priced and... Read More just simply beautiful. I would highly recommend Melissa to anyone that is looking for that extra special touch. Melissa will definitely be hearing from me again for future orders.... not just wedding invitations, but anything I need nicely written. :)
Exquisite & treated like familyReviewed on 4/27/2012 Carolyn K
I wanted the invites to make an impression when the guests first saw them. I searched online for calligraphers and Calligraphia by Melissa popped up. It must have been fate! Her website is very nicely done and her amazing talent surprisingly affordable! I am fortunate to live in... Read More the same area as her so I actually met with her! She treated me like a sister! Melissa got my invites to me so quickly, it was unbelievable! My guests are calling/texting how BEAUTIFUL the calligraphy looks!!! Several have asked me for her contact information to utilize her unparalleled talent for upcoming events!!! Thank you so very much Melissa!!!!! XOXOXO Carolyn (FL)
Beautiful and ElegantReviewed on 12/06/2011 Sean L
I feel my wife and I were lucky to find Melissa. She did a wonderful, quick and professional job. The actual work ended up being better than I could have imagined. Funny story, one wife and her husband end up placing a bet on if it was computer generated somehow,... Read More because of how neat and precise and perfect it was. Highly recommended!
I really enjoyed working wiht Melissa!Reviewed on 12/05/2011 Jennifer S
I used Melissa for my wedding invitations, she was a pleasure and so easy to work with. The calligraphy looked amazing and the price was right! I would recommend her to all my friends and family.
Beautiful WorkReviewed on 10/27/2011 Jessica G
Melissa's calligraphy is just beautiful. She has an amazing talent. She did the outer and return envelopes for my wedding in 2008. I absolutely loved them, as well as my guests. I highly recommend her services! She is awesome to work with.
Beautiful & Professional!Reviewed on 10/16/2011 Yvonne G
Melissa was so easy to work with, she works very quickly and also is able to write in different styles or fonts. She was very informative and professional. Looking through my invitations and seeing everything written so perfectly, it really was such a great experience! I would... Read More definitely recommend Melissa to anyone who is looking for great service and quality work.


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VT governor discusses his dyslexia
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is calling for policies to help identify struggling readers to ensure more students can learn to read by the time they finish the third grade.
Shumlin, who is dyslexic, spoke at a policy briefing in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation on Monday.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who is also dyslexic, was originally scheduled to join Shumlin.
However, Malloy attended the first meeting of President Barack Obama's Council of Governors. It's a group of 10 governors created in 2010 to address matters of national security, homeland defense, and matters of mutual interest pertaining to the National Guard.
Dyslexia is a learning disability with neurological and genetic causes. People with dyslexia have difficulty decoding and recognizing words.


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I cross post this in Tandem. But could anyone give my any information on Hase Pino Tour, or any bikes like it. I'm a little interested in maybe getting one of these for myself and girlfriend. I met 2 couples today that both had them(they met each other because of the bike). I have seen them before but never realized how good they might be for me and my girlfriend touring. That is what they use it for.
So I am looking for any more information about it would help.
I can't read German, so there site doesn't help.
What is the price for something like this?
Does any shop or distributor carry these, preferably in Oregon. If any one know a distributor I work at a shop, so that might be a way.
Also what do most of you guys think of this.