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|The Coachella Valley Basin
|Basin and Range
|Hydrological Setting
|Hydrologic Properties
|Water Resource
The Coachella Valley Basin is the terminal sink of the basin and range fill aquifer located within the Basin Range Physiographic Providence. Located in the northern region of the Salton Trough, in Riverside County, California it is characterized by warm summer days and mild winters with low average precipitation. The Coachella Valley aquifer is generally an unconsolidated, moderately to highly permeable aquifer. It is naturally recharged through percolation of surface water, drainage of intermittent streams, and through runoff from nearby mountain ranges. The Coachella Valley Basin is also artificially recharged from the Colorado River through man-made canals. The Coachella Valley Aquifer is the main source of potable water for the surrounding desert area and is relied upon heavily by commercial and residential properties. Geologic properties have split the aquifers into four distinct subbasins, all with distinct hydrological properties.
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Basin and range fill aquifers are found in portions of Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Oregon and Idaho. There are three principal types of aquifers within the Basin and Range providence that are collectively called "Basin range fill aquifers". Regional aquifers are not continuous within the basin and range fill region and are further broken up into four basin types based on recharge-discharge function and ability. All Basin and range fill aquifers are bounded, in some combination, by fault lines and impermeable rocks of mountain ranges ("Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B").
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The Coachella Valley Basin is located in the Colorado Desert Region. The northern portion of this region has one rainy season, and experiences greater summer daytime temperatures than higher elevation deserts. Deserts in this region never experience frost. ("Colorado Desert - Overview").
According to data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center at the Mecca 2, SE, California Station, the annual mean temperature in the Coachella Basin is 72.5 degrees Fahrenheit with monthly average temperatures ranging form 107.3 degrees Fahrenheit in July to 69.9 degrees Fahrenheit in January. The Mecca 2, SE station recorded mean precipitation to be 2.81 inches with monthly average precipitation ranging from 0.56 inches in January to 0.01 inches in June ("Mecca 2, SE, California").
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The Coachella Valley Basin is located within the Colorado Desert Region, characterized by low precipitation. ("The Colorado Desert -- An Overview"). Average annual rainfall over the Coachella Valley Basin is less than 3 inches on the valley floor and about 40 inches in the mountains (Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B).
Water bodies in the Coachella Valley Basin include the Salton Sea, Whitewater River, and various other small streams and creeks. The Salton Sea is the largest body of water in the Coachella Valley Basin. It was created in 1905 when the Colorado River broke through an irrigation project and settled into a depressed, saline filled lake bed. The Salton Sea is 235 feet below sea level and is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide ("The Colorado Desert -- An Overview").
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The Coachella Valley Basin is a basin and range fill aquifer. It is generally an unconfined aquifer composed of coarse-grained sediments. Basin fill can be more than 3,000 feet thick and is moderately to highly permeable (Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B). Most basin and range fill aquifers recharge from snowmelt from local mountain ranges, however the most important source for recharge of the Coachella Valley aquifer is water from the Colorado River through man-made canals ("Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B"). These canals were first built u 1948 and can be up to 200 feet wide. Over time the unlined canals caused ground-water levels to rise to the water level in the canal. In some areas the canals caused the groundwater to rise more than 70 feet, although groundwater levels within the basin are generally declining caused by the urbanization of the area (Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B).
Geological properties have divided the basin up into four distinct subbasins: Indio, Mission Creek, Desert Hot Springs and the San Gorgonio Pass Subbasins. Each basin has slightly different hydrologic properties and is further discussed below.
The Indio subbasin is located northwest of the Salton Sea and has a surface area of 336,000 acres. It is the largest of the four subbasins and leads in groundwater storage area. It is drained by the Whitewater River and its tributaries. Surface flow is genearlly southwest toward the Salton Sea. The subbasin is recharged by surface runoff and subsurface inflow as wells as through artificial through the Coachella Canal from the Colorado River Aqueduct ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin").
Groundwater in the northern portion of the subbasin is unconfined, but becomes confined in the southern portion. Groundwater is confined from Point Happy southward to the Salton Sea. The Indio subbasin is made up of unconsolidated Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits. The primary water-bearing unit is the Ocotillo Conglomerate which is greater than 1,000 feet thick in some areas ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin").
Depth to groundwater varies widely in this subbasin, with groundwater levels steadily declining throughout the subbasin. A period of rising groundwater levels occurred from 1949 through 1980s caused by artificial recharge. Since the 1980s groundwater pumping has increased and groundwater had declined despite continuing efforts through artificial recharge ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin").
Groundwater in the Indio Subbasin has a total dissolved solids (TDS) content of 300 mg/L and is mainly calcium bicarbonate in character. Groundwater near the Whitewater spreading grounds varies between sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate in character. ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin").
The Mission Creek Subbasin is located northwest of the Salton Sea and covers a surface area of 49,000 acres. This subbasin is in the northwestern part of a large structural trough that includes the Desert Hot Springs Subbasin and the Gulf of California. This subbasin underlies the northwest portion of the Coachella Valley. Major surface water features include the Whitewater River, Mission Creek, San Gorgonio River, and the Little and Big Morongo Washes ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Mission Creek Subbasin").
Water bearing formations are relatively unconsolidated late Pleistocene, alluvial Holocene, and terrace deposits. The upper 2,000 feet of the deposits, which are as deep as 7,000 feet in some areas, are water-bearing. The upper portions of the deposits are coarse grained with high specific yields. Some yields are as high as 3,000 gallons per minute. However, despite the high permeibility of the basin material there is a relatively flat gradient indicating that the rate of movement is genearlly slow. ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Mission Creek Subbasin").
Recharge in the subbasin occurs from intermittent creeks and rivers from surrounding highlands. Some subsurface leakage occurs from the Desert Hot Springs Subbasin across the Mission Creek Fault. The average depth to water is 372 feet, but levels in domestic wells vary from 140 to 721 feet. Water levels have been declining since to the 1950s and are attributed to groundwater extractions. Groundwater in storage is estimated to be 1,400,000 acre-feet ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Mission Creek Subbasin").
Chemical composition of the natural groundwater in the Mission Creek Subbasin ranges from a calcium-magnesium bicarbonate type to sodium chloride-sulfate type. This subbasin has a TDS content below 500mg/l. ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Mission Creek Subbasin")
The Desert Hot Springs Subbasin is located northwest of the Salton Sea, underlying the northeaster portion of the Coachella Valley. It has a surface area of 101,000 acres and forms the boundary from the Little Morongo Canyon southeast to Pushawalla Canyon in the Indo Hills ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Desert Hot Springs Subbasin").
The Desert Hot Springs Subbasin is composed of unconsolidated late Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits. Groundwater is unconfined, with water bearing deposits estimated to be greater than 700 feet ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Desert Hot Springs Subbasin").
Recharge occurs from seasonal runoff draining form the Little San Bernardino Mountains through intermittent creeks and percolation through the alluvial fan deposits. Water level data is sparse in most of the subbasin, but has been documented to range from 12 feet below ground surface to over 300 feet below groundwater. Groundwater flow is generally southeastward toward the Mecca Hills-Thermal Canyon area. Groundwater storage and was estimated to be 172,000 acre-feet in 1961, but is to have declined slightly. ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Desert Hot Springs Subbasin").
The 1968 to 1974 chemical analysis of the groundwater indicated that sodium sulfate type groundwater exists throughout the Desert Hot Springs Subbasin. The analysis also indicated higher than average levels of TDS values ranged from 800 to 1000mg/l, and chloride levels of 1000 to 150 mg/l were also noted.
The San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin lies entirely within the San Gorgonio Pass area. Major water bearing deposits are of Holocene and Pleistocene age alluvium as well as Pliocene to Pleistocene aged San Timoteo Formation. The Holocene alluvium is composed mostly of gravel and sand, but lies above the water table contributing little water to wells. The Pleistocene age alluvium is comprised of sand, gravel, clay and silt and yields moderate amounts of water to wells. The San Timoteo Formation is one of the major water bearing deposits in the subbasin. It may extend over 2,000 feet below the surface and consists of poorly sorted to sorted, partly consolidated, fine to courses sandstone with layers of gravel and clay. Yields are typically poor, but some deep wells yield more than 1,000 gallons per minute ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, san Gorgonio PassSubbasin").
Groundwater gradients are steep throughout most of the subbasin caused by the development of the San Jacinto Tunnel. The construction of the tunnel caused groundwater levels to decline significantly as groundwater was pumped and diverted in to the Indio Subbasin. Groundwater storage for the entire basin was estimates at 1,400,000 acre-feet ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, san Gorgonio PassSubbasin").
The San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin is characterized by calcium-sodium bicarbonate type groundwater with TDS ranging from 106 to 205mg/l. ("Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin").
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Six million years ago spreading of the Pacific and North American Plates caused the lithosphere near the Coachella Valley to subside creating the Salton Trough. As the trough opened it was filled with sediment from the Colorado River delta. The Coachella Valley is the northernmost portion of the Salton Trough and in some areas is filled with 3,700 meters of sediment. The upper 610 meters of sediment make up the aquifer system (Sneed and Brandt).
The aquifer system consists of unconsolidated to partly consolidated alluvial and lacustrine gravel, sand, silt, and clay. Grain sizes differ based on distance from mountain runoff and from lacustrine deposition from ancient Lake Cahuilla. The grain sizes range from fine grained in the southern portion to coarse grained in the northern portion (Sneed and Brandt).
Geologic structures in the Coachella Valley influence groundwater flow in the basin. The Coachella Valley basin is bounded by the Little San Bernardino Mountains on the north and east and by the San Jacinto and the Santa Rosa Mountains on the southwest. Portions of the San Andreas Fault system including the mission Creek, banning, Garnet Hill, and Indio Hills Faults act as barriers to groundwater flow. The faults have split the aquifer into four subbasins: Indio, Mission Creek, Desert Hot Springs, and San Gorgonio Pass subbasins (Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B).
Various studies have indicated that the Coachella Valley is subsiding, but the rate of subsidence varies. The subsidence has been attributed to the combination of the geological properties of the basin and the stress placed on aquifers caused by excessive groundwater pumping. A recent study indicated that at eight of fourteen monitoring sites subsidence rates increased by a factor of ten between 2000 and 2005. Other monitoring sites indicated that in three areas of the Coachella Valley the subsidence rates range from three to more than six millimeters per month. Other study areas indicate that subsidence is not occurring as rapidly, only subsiding an average of 150 millimeters from 1930 to 1996 (Sneed and Brandt).
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The Coachella Valley Basin provides water to major water districts in the Palm Springs and Coachella area. This area has experienced major declines in water levels in the recent years due to the growing population of the Palm Springs and surrounding areas(Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B). Water withdrawals increased more than tenfold during 1938 to 1967. The declining water levels prompted the development of the Coachella Canal which was completed in 1948.
The main water district in the area is the Coachella Valley Water District. The CVWD derives all of its drinking and domestic water from the Coachella Valley Water Basin. They sell 125,000 acre -foot of water each year. Additionally, each year 330,000 acre-feet of water is diverted from the Colorado River Water through the Coachella Canal. One-half to two-thirds of water used for irrigation comes primarily from this canal. The remaining one-half to one-third of irrigation is obtained from the local groundwater through privately owned wells. There are many golf courses in this area that require a large supply of water to maintain their facilities. Many golf courses in the area use local groundwater to water their facilities, however many are switching to reclaimed water ("Where the Water Comes From").
Desert Water Agency reported that in 1990 its consumption reached 45,000 acre-feet ("Water Info").
The Mission Springs Water District obtains its water the majority of its water from the Mission Creek Subbasin. Mission Springs Water district supplied approximately 30,000 people pumping 10,867 acre-feet in 2007 ("About MSWD").
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The state water resources board is responsible for the preservation, enhancement, and restoration of the quality of California's Water. The state is broken up into twelve regions for more efficient monitoring and regulation. The Coachella Valley Basin is located in Region 7, the Colorado River Basin. The regional water boards maintain records of violations, contamination and remediation efforts. ("Water Board")
Underground storage tanks (USTs) are a common source of groundwater contamination. There are currently 110 active cases open within Region 7 of the RWQCN for the Colorado River Basin. The status of these sites range from site assessment, to remediation, case open, and monitoring. ("GeoTracker")
Other sources of contamination are located on the Environmental Protection Agency website. Superfund sites are sites that considered uncontrolled hazardous wastes sites. The most dangerous of these sites are put on the national priority list (NPL). There are two superfund sites located within Riverside County, but are located northwest of the Coachella Valley Basin. ("Cleanup")
The Department of Toxic Substance Control is the state regulatory agency on hazardous waste, contamination cleanup, and contamination prevention. The Envirostar program allows users to view areas of contamination on an interactive map. According to the Envirostor map there is one site currently "State Response" within the Coachella Valley. The site was listed in 1982 as a possible contaminant for groundwater not used for drinking water. It is still being monitored for the following contaminants: pesticides, ammonia, and volatile organics. ("Find Cleanup Sites and Permited Hazardous Waste Facilities")
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"About MSWD." Mission Springs Water District. http://www.mswd.org/operations/about/company.htm
"Cleanup." Environmental Protection Agency. United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/cleanup.html
"Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin." California's Groundwater Bulletin 118. 27 Feb 2004. http://www.dpla2.water.ca.gov/publications/groundwater/bulletin118/basins/pdfs_desc/7-21.01.pdf.
"Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Desert Hot Springs Subbasin." California's Groundwater Bulletin 118. 27 Feb 2004. http://www.dpla2.water.ca.gov/publications/groundwater/bulletin118/basins/pdfs_desc/7-21.02.pdf .
"Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin." California's Groundwater Bulletin 118. 27 Feb 2004. http://www.dpla2.water.ca.gov/publications/groundwater/bulletin118/basins/pdfs_desc/7-21.04.pdf .
"Colorado Desert - Overview." Resource Management Programs. California Department of Fish and Game. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WAP/region-colorado.html
"GeoTracker." State Water Research Control Board. California Environmental Protection Agency. https://geotracker.swrcb.ca.gov
"Ground Water Atlas of the United States, California, Nevada, HA 730-B ." Basin and Range Aquifers. 1995. United States Geological Survey. 25 April 2008 http://capp.water.usgs.gov/gwa/gwa.html
"Historical Climate Information." Mecca 2, SE, California. 17 Sept 2007. Western Regional Climate Center. 3 May 2008 http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/index.html
Sneed, Michelle and Justin T. Brandt. "Detection and Measurement of Land Subsidence Using Global Positioning System Surveying and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, Coachella Valley, California, 1996–2005." Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5251, United States Geological Survey 2007 1-41. 3 May 2008
"The Colorado Desert -- An Overview ." Colorado Desert Bioregion. California Environmental Resource Evaluation System. http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/bioregions/Colorado_Desert/about.html
"Water Board." State Department of Water Resources Board. California Environmental Protection Agency. http:// www.swrcb.ca.gov
"Water Info." Desert Water Agency. http://www.dwa.org/water_info/index.aspx
"Where The Water Comes From." Water and the Coachella Valley. Coachella Valley Water District. http://www.cvwd.org/about/waterandcv.php#where
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For anyone who has been "in dogs" for more then a handful of years remembers being taught that your dog MUST walk next to you on your left side with their collar inline with the seam of your pants. The leash shall make a letter J to show how loose the connection is to the dog. Ideally the dog is looking up at you with riveted attention. We all just did as we were told, because that is why you pay for a class, to learn from a person more experienced that you.
Back in the day (as recently as 10 years ago) most of all dog training classes were being conducted by your local American Kennel Club (AKC) obedience club. These clubs sole purpose was to train you and your dog to compete in AKC obedience competitions, even if you "just wanted a nice pet". These clubs were staffed by volunteers, who had little to no formal training in behavior and were teaching classes because they had put an obedience title on at least one dog. Many of these volunteers taught because they loved dogs, loved the sport of competition obedience and wanted to share their love with new people.
Why were they teaching the left side heeling? They taught what is required in the sport of competition obedience. How did that become the requirement of the sport? Competition obedience is mainly based on hunting dog skills. So, when it comes to heeling this is why they choose left side heeling. (many, many years ago)
1) Most people are right handed. So if you are holding your shot gun while walking the stock would be "under" your right armpit and the barrel in your right hand.
2) If you gun is on your right side then you are not hitting your dog in the head with it while you walk.
3) If you go to raise your gun to shoot, you want your dominate hand on the trigger and your other hand steading the barrel. Your left hand becomes that steady hand. You don't want your dog in front of you because once again you will hit it with the gun.
4) You want your dog next to the seam of your pants so when you raise the gun to shoot and actually shoot, you don't shoot your dog.
5) You want your dog paying great attention to you to listen for when to be sent for a downed bird.
I do not walk my dogs while carrying a shot gun.
I do not hunt with my dogs.
I live in suburbia.
I walk my dogs on sidewalks, streets, and marked trails.
I do teach my dogs "competition style" heeling.
I do not require my dogs to heel while on walks.
My dogs can be ahead or behind me while walking.
My dogs do not pull me.
My dogs are taught to walk on both sides of me.
My dogs stop and sniff.
My dogs have choices on walks.
I teach my dogs how to heel, because sometimes I like to participate in competition obedience sports. I teach a group class that only teaches competition heeling because I find when people training these behaviors it helps their general leash walking skills. Once taught these skills do not need to be used with military precision! Competition heeling is a behavior I ask for in certain contexts, for a short duration of time. These skills can be used in real life situations like walking in a crowded outdoor market, or crossing a busy street. I do not suggest, recommend, or even encourage duration heeling on your daily walk.
For most of our clients we teach Polite Leash Manners, instead of traditional heeling. Why, because it is easier to teach the team, it is a more natural
way for the dog to walk, and more pleasurable for the team. For me Polite Leash Manners is just that, be polite. I ask the dog not to be pull me around. I ask the dog not to trip me. I ask the dog to be able to respond to simple directional cues, when needed. I ask the dog not to loose their brains when people, dogs, bikes, etc pass us. All of the above are separate skills that I teach my dog and put into my leash walking. Most of these skills take a long time to master in a variety of situations. For all of these skills I reward (pay) my dog an appropriate paycheck, because none of these skills come naturally to most dogs.
So is it time to reevaluate your leash walking requirements to more fit your lifestyle? I know over the years I have, and both me and my dogs are happier for it.
This is the first of a series of posts regarding leash manners. Watch for our next post soon!

subset: commoncrawl


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175 g/6 oz plain (all-purpose) flour
5 ml/1 tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt
175 g/6 oz butter or margarine
225 g/8 oz/1 cup soft brown sugar
100 g/4 oz/1 cup rolled oats
450 g/1 lb cooking (tart) apples,
peeled, cored and sliced
30 ml/2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
10 ml/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2.5 ml/0.5 tsp grated nutmeg
2.5 ml/0.5 tsp ground allspice
225 g/8 oz blackcurrants
Mix the flour, baking powder and salt,
then rub in the butter or margarine. Stir in the sugar and oats. Spoon
half into the base of a greased and lined 25 cm/9 in square cake tin
(pan). Mix the apples, cornflour and spices and spread over. Top with
the blackcurrants. Spoon over the remaining mixture and level the top.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for 30 minutes
until springy. Leave to cool, then cut into bars.
More Traybakes Recipes


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Jasmine is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student and educator of Human Sexuality. She finds that helping people with serious problems daily is rewarding, but the very interesting and sometimes comical problems come from love, sex, and relationships. She gives her take on all three. It's not therapy, but its therapeutic, and you can even sit on your own couch.
Love story
Once upon a time. Happily Ever After. Most people are familiar with these phrases. For those who are not familiar, many desire what the phrases represent; especially Happily Ever After. Happily Ever After recurs at the end of most fairytales about love, and it's symbolic of a love that lasts. In this moment, you may be asking yourself, "What the hell do fairytales have to do with love, relationships, and making love last in real life?" My answer for you is "Well, a lot." Psychologist Robert J. Sternberg researched and developed theories that love in romantic relationships follow a story. It has characters, a plot, and depending on the characters and how you write it, the ending can be Happily Ever After.
Yes! You are the writer, director, and producer of your own love story (which can be bad or good news). The bad news is if you have not figured out that you create your own love story, you may keep recreating the same story. In other words, repeating the same mistakes. Your love interest may change, and so may the environment in which you play out your story. However, if you look at the pattern of your relationships (in this case the scripts), you may find that the movie title may change, but the story is basically the same. The good news is once you understand the love story you are creating, you can make two choices. You can either find a partner whose love story matches your own, or you can make the conscious decision to develop yourself as a different character with a new script. Especially if the original script you were playing out was a hazardous one.
According to Sternberg, we begin writing our fairytales as children and our stories are filled with our beliefs and expectations of love. So hopefully now you understand the relevance of fairytales. However, fairytales are just one influence on our own love stories. Other things that inspire and influence our love stories are our personalities, early experiences, relationships (romantic or platonic) and all forms of media.
Sternberg and his colleagues identified some common love stories that we create and enact. The most popular stories found were the travel story, (which depicts love as an exciting and challenging journey), the gardening story, (which depicts love as something that needs constant tending to), and the humor story, (which is about not taking a relationship too seriously). Check out Sternberg's article http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200007/whats-your-love-story to take a quiz to find your love story.
If the themes derived from Sternberg's study do not resonate with you, there are other ways to try to understand your love story. Ask yourself, "What have you seen in others' romantic relationships, or in any of the media sources listed above that you recognize in your own relationships?" Or if you literally write down your love story (i.e. Once upon a time…), what would you write about your character, your partner's character, the plot, and how it should conclude or how it has concluded?
After you figure out what your love story is, (which may come easier to some than others), there are a few things you may want to do to get on track for that seemingly elusive Happily Ever After. Evaluate if your partner's story matches your own. The stories do not have to be exactly the same but they should be able to merge well. For example if your love story is more humorous and your character is more like Martin or Jena from the comedy Martin, then someone who sees themselves in a relationship like the Obamas, which is more of a partnership love story, will not merge well with your story. You should also evaluate if your love story is a healthy one. Some people seek to act out a love as a battle story. If both people in the relationship enjoy this kind of interaction and believe people are in love when they argue and make up, they may actually make their love last. However, if your love story is not healthy, you may you may turn a perfectly healthy relationship into something horrific by policing and acting suspicious of your partner instead of truly creating your desired love story. If you find that your love story is unhealthy, you can elicit the guidance of a psychologist or relationship counselor to help you re-write it. Ultimately, you want to find a person who has a story that is compatible with your love story so you have a chance at creating the Happily Ever After that is custom just for you.


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It certainly sounded good.
Hoping, perhaps, to persuade a dubious public that curbing reckless business practices is indeed a Washington priority, the Obama administration and Congress produced a hat trick of financial reforms last week. The outlines of a consumer financial protection agency emerged from the House Financial Services Committee. The House Agriculture Committee spelled out ways to regulate risky derivatives trading, and the United States Treasury's compensation czar announced his plan to rein in runaway executive pay at seven companies that, in total, have received hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer help within the past year.
Not to be outdone, the Federal Reserve announced plans late Thursday to review pay practices at the nation's largest banks. It all left the question, would it make Wall Street safe for America?
For all the apparent action in Washington, some acute observers say that it was much ado about little. Last week's moves, they say, were tinkering around the edges and did nothing to prevent another disaster like the one that unfolded a year ago.
The white-hot focus on pay, for example, looks like a way for the government to reassure an angry public that they are making genuine changes. But compensation is a trifling matter compared to, say, true reform of derivatives trading.
"The American public understands the immorality of paying people huge bonuses for failures that damaged the economy," said Michael Greenberger, a law professor at the University of Maryland and a former commodities regulator. "What they don't understand is that those payments are only a small fraction of the irregularities that took place and that, in essence, the compensation problems, as bad as they are, are a sideshow to the casino-like nature of the economy as it existed, pre-Lehman Brothers, and as it exists today."Continue reading the main story
It is difficult enough for seasoned regulators or market professionals to assess whether various reform proposals will close pernicious loopholes and make the financial system safer. But for a crisis-weary public, such an analysis is almost impossible. Much easier to grasp are the cuts to executive pay announced by Kenneth R. Feinberg, the Treasury official in charge of setting compensation at bailed-out companies.
Mr. Feinberg reduced compensation across the board at American International Group, Citigroup, Bank of America, Chrysler, General Motors, GMAC and Chrysler Financial, the companies that received the most government help. He cut average cash payments by more than 90 percent and overall pay by around 50 percent. Trying to discourage the instant-gratification mindset that permeates trading desks and executive suites, Mr. Feinberg also required that the majority of the salaries he oversees be paid in stock that must be held for the long term.
It is certainly worthwhile to reduce outsize pay at companies receiving taxpayer support. But regulating derivatives is far more important to those interested in eliminating the possibility of future billion-dollar bailouts. These financial instruments, which trade privately and beyond the prying eyes of regulators, are central to the interconnectedness among companies that required some of the costliest rescues. American International Group, for example, had to be rescued to cover the costs of insurance it had written for customers intending to protect their mortgage holdings from default. The insurance is a derivative called a credit-default swap. The company has received $170 billion in taxpayer aid.
But the derivatives bill generated by the House Agriculture Committee contains a sizable loophole. It is designed to push the trading of these opaque instruments onto exchanges or clearinghouses where regulators and participants can better assess who is at risk. But the bill would let transactions remain private if they involve nonfinancial companies that are trying to protect against fluctuations in their costs of doing business, a practice known as hedging. For example, when Exxon buys or sells derivatives to hedge against shifts in the price of oil, those transactions would be exempt from having to be traded on an exchange or clearinghouse. Thus, many derivatives would not trade in the light of day.
Such companies argue that trading on an exchange will make their costs rise. But critics of the exemption say that if protecting the system from a meltdown costs participants a bit more, so be it. This last go-round has certainly been expensive for taxpayers, after all.
The consumer financial protection agency moving through Congress would also carve out an exemption that disturbs advocates for borrowers. It means that the agency will not oversee loans provided by auto dealerships.
Travis Plunkett, legislative director at the Consumer Federation of America, said this is akin to exempting mortgage brokers from oversight in real estate finance. "It's crazy to us not to cover the people who are offering the loans, who benefit from the loans and who sometimes have been found to participate in unfair lending," he said.
None of this, mind you, addresses the most significant issue of all: how to make sure that companies do not grow to a point where they become too big or interconnected to be allowed to fail. The man with a plan to resolve that crucial problem is Paul A. Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve who is revered for crushing the ruinous inflation of the early 1980s.
In an interview last week with The New York Times, Mr. Volcker said the nation's commercial banks should not be allowed to hold and trade risky securities, a practice that generated deep losses for many of them in the credit crunch. The governor of the Bank of England made the same point last week. Separating these operations was the response the United States government took after the Crash of 1929, but today, the administration says it has no plan to break up the banks again in the manner Mr. Volcker suggests.
The former Fed chairman is certainly not alone in his fears about the threat that large institutions still pose. Neil Barofsky, special inspector general of Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, was asked last Wednesday by CNN about the changes being made to ensure that a disaster like the one starting last year would not recur.
"I think actually what's changed is in the other direction," the refreshingly candid Mr. Barofsky said. "These banks that were too big to fail, are now bigger. Government has sponsored and supported several mergers that made them larger. And that guaranteed that implicit guarantee of moral hazard. The idea that the government is not going to let these banks fail, which was implicit a year ago, its now explicit."
Then he added, "So, if anything, not only have there not been any meaningful regulatory reform to make it less likely, in a lot of ways, the governments have made such problems more likely. Potentially, we could be in more danger now than we were a year ago."Continue reading the main story


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Enviro-Clean Services, Inc. is a locally owned and operated restoration company in Houma, Louisiana. Our company started in 2002, specializing in residential and commercial mold inspection, abatement, and remediation. We have since evolved into a multi-tiered, 24/7 emergency response and restoration service, capable of handling all aspects of mold, water, and fire damage restoration and cleanup — including contents processing, deodorization, and storage. ECS also performs HVAC and air duct cleaning and is licensed and equipped to take on interior and exterior reconstruction projects.
As an ever-growing and evolving company, our local roots and our ties to family, friends, and other small businesses have kept us humble and civically-minded, seeking always to help others and to enrich our community through our work and in our personal lives. Our livelihood depends upon helping others, and even though we are a for-profit business, we volunteer to put our lives on hold in the event of an emergency call, at any time or day. We know that without compassion for our customers and neighbors, our business would surely fail, and we pride ourselves on being the most professional, service-driven technicians in the entire Gulf Coast region. More important is our commitment to being a calming, human, and understanding presence to our customers during their most difficult times. That is why we are always open.
So what makes us different from all the other companies in the restoration industry? Is it our equipment and facilities? Not quite. Is it our training programs and the highly-skilled staff we employ? Maybe. Is it the fact that we're an independent, locally-owned company whose success is based solely on its own merit, without the help of a national network or corporate franchise? Perhaps, but that is still not the main quality that makes us unique. Our business was born with a servant's heart and a burning desire to help those in need, in any and all capacities. We strive to be examples of true servant leaders in our community, both on and off the clock. To earn a living administering help and hope to those who need it most is why we embrace and accept the challenges our work involves, and it's also why we feel the need to give back to the community that sustains us. ECS proudly supports many local charity organizations through its volunteer work and charitable contributions, as well as supporting missions in Africa and South and Central America, administered by Living Word Church in Houma, LA. We do this in part to help spread the influence of these powerful Christian values of service and compassion throughout our community and the world, so that others might share in this burning desire and experience the joy that comes from knowing you've improved someone's life. As our company continues to grow, we look forward to expanding the spread of these values throughout the entire Gulf Coast, among multiple offices and branches, and offering even more valuable community services here to the families who need them, completely free of charge.
We accept this profession knowing that perfection is never a constant, but our goal is to make our customers happy, one way or another. Unlike other restoration chains whose vendor agreements provide them with an endless amount of work regardless of their past performance, we are proud of each and every opportunity we earn to help someone, because customer satisfaction is our greatest reward and the best form of advertising. We are the ones who will still be in touch with you when the flood waters recede and the other contractors have gone home. We are the ones who put quality, service, and customer satisfaction above all other concerns, in the office and on the job. We are the ones who are fully aware that the spirit of our work is at the heart of humanity, and we intend to keep it there.
It is true that by allowing us to serve you in your time of need, your business empowers us to help others on a much larger scale, and we are honored to pay your kindness forward in this way. My hope is that the level of professionalism, compassion, and the quality of work you'll receive will give you an intimate perspective on the values and beliefs I have sought to instill in this company. They are the best reasons I can give you to choose ECS for all your restoration needs.
Marty Boquet
Enviro-Clean Services, Inc.


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At These Numbers Have Faces, we consider our scholars, staff and supporters to be part of one big family.
Our supporters are the lifeblood of the work we do in Africa. Without those to come alongside us to invest, encourage and lift up our students, we wouldn't exist.
Today, we want to introduce you to two of our long-time supporters, Caleb and Laura Rhoads.
We asked Caleb and Laura to share their story of how they are connected to These Numbers Have Faces. Without further ado, meet Caleb and Laura!
Their HOME: Santa Barbara, CA
Their DO: Laura is the product manager for Mindflash, a software company, and Caleb works for MedBridge, a management and financial services company for healthcare providers
Their JOY: Playing with their 1-year-old son, Isaiah
How did you first hear about These Numbers Have Faces?
Justin told us about These Numbers Have Faces as he was in the early stages of forming the organization and developing relationships in South Africa with the first students that were sponsored. Based on my Gmail history, he sent me a MySpace friend request from These Numbers Have Faces on June 5, 2007! His vision and enthusiasm were infectious, and we started supporting These Numbers Have Faces shortly after that, eventually becoming monthly donors.
Why do you feel passionate about empowering the next generation of African leaders?
We understand that education leads to empowerment, and how one person, given the right tools and opportunity, can impact their world for good. We love that These Numbers Have Faces is impacting communities that have a lot of human potential, but often lack the resources to reach that potential. We are thrilled to be able to partner with them and help people reach that potential and transform their communities.
We like the model These Numbers Have Faces has of requiring their scholars to give back to their community after graduating. Not only is These Numbers Have Faces dedicated to investing in individual scholars' lives, they are choosing scholars that are dedicated to investing in their own communities, creating momentum for change that impacts their own hometowns.
What would you say to someone who is interested in becoming involved with These Numbers Have Faces?
From our sphere of involvement (giving), there are always cautionary tales of organizations with a lack of accountability, or perhaps the benefits provided aren't tailored to the recipient, or the support is only meeting a short-term need. Because you are investing in education with These Numbers Have Faces, which is then leveraged for local community benefit, growth, and development, you literally have a face and name to follow as you watch their educational progress, and you have a firsthand look into how they intend to (or already do!) impact their communities and countries when complete.
From all of us at These Numbers Have Faces, a huge thanks to Caleb and Laura for their faithful support of our scholars!
We would love to have YOU as part of the These Numbers Have Faces family, too. We want you to be part of our story! Join us today in helping rise up the next generation of Africa leaders!


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[Game] Flop Rocket
android free games , free android apps , snapchat , wwe free app
Pilot your Flop Rocket through a 5 kilometer cave filled with dragon-like Spaceducks, enormous rock-worms, and other space-time anomalies as you try to prevent an underfunded space program from going bust.
Why is your space program housed in a cave? GOOD QUESTION.
Genre: Physics evasion shooter arcade
Flop Rocket FREE FEATURES
Easy to learn, difficult to master mechanics
Randomly generated missions provide a challenge on every run
4 upgrade tracks – make your ship fly like a dream
Collect powerups to increase the chances of a successful launch
Use your hard-earned Juice to load up your rocket with goodies before your run!
BscotchID integration – make friends, and see their crashed ships as you fly!
Try the game for free (ad supported), find out that you LOVE IT, and Butter Up to get the premium experience and support our studio!
A single purchase is all it takes (requires BscotchID — register in-game)!
Never see ads EVER AGAIN!
Access to premium BscotchID services: cloud saving, cross-game Perks, and friends-only leaderboards
8 more upgrade tracks – Build a powerful gun, max out your armor slots, and more
Double your coin gains and upgrade your rocket twice as fast
About the Studio
Butterscotch Shenanigans is an independent studio composed of three brothers. We make high-quality, often goofy, and punchy games designed completely around providing the most entertaining player experience possible. Our goal is to build a one-stop mobile empire that fulfills all your gaming dreams. Stay up to date with what we're doing and contact us through butterscotch-shenanigans.com.
If you need support, our FAQ (https://id.bscotch.net/faq.php) will get you to the right place.
Flop Rocket user reviews :
Very creative Fun take on two very popular types of games
First review of a game Excellent
Love fun n very addictive wish it was full free tho to get extra armor and others
Funny and Original A unique and fun 'move from left to right while avoiding things' game. This game gets more fun as you become more skilled.
Lots of Fun Challenging and interesting. This game also isn't limited on runs. You can play as long as you like
Contact developer :
Video :
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This article describes the steps on how to enable and disable Two Factor Authentication (2FA). It is also important to create backup codes and keep them safe in case you need to reset your 2FA.
Some older versions of UBNT services are not 2FA-ready; and when you enable 2FA it will be enabled for all UBNT services. In these cases, when you are not asked for the 2FA token and you are using your ubnt.com account, you must provide it anyway by typing in your password, a vertical bar (|), and the 2FA token in the password field. For example, for an account with the following:
password: 2931utkyu
You would type the following in the password field: 2931utkyu|987099
As always, we recommend updating to the newest version available to experience our newest features.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- How to Enable 2FA
- How to Create Backup Codes
- How to Disable 2FA
- How to Access a Locked Out Account
Two Factor Authentication, also known as 2FA, is a two step verification process that requires more information in addition to the usual username and password. This extra piece of information is something only the user will know or have physically with them, like a token sent to a mobile app, for example. It is very important to create backup codes the moment you enable 2FA on your account.
How to Enable 2FA
1. Go to https://account.ubnt.com and sign in.
2. Select 2FA from the menu. You will see a Secret Code under the barcode.
Save this Secret Code somewhere safe. You can use this to enable your account again if you were to get locked out (if for example you change mobiles or delete the authenticator by mistake).
3. Follow the instructions on the 2FA section to scan the barcode with Google Authenticator.
4. Scan the QR code. If you already have Google Authenticator, tap the + sign, select scan barcode and scan the QR code shown on https://account.ubnt.com.
5. Enter the 6-digit authentication token provided by Google Authenticator.
6. Click Enable 2FA.
How to Create Backup Codes
It is extremely important to create a set of backup codes the moment two factor authentication is enabled. These codes will allow you to unlock your account to disable 2FA if you were to somehow lose access to your authenticator app (if say you lost your mobile).
1. Access your account settings, by logging in to https://account.ubnt.com, providing username, password and the 6 digit authenticator token.
2. Go to the 2FA section.
3. Once again you will be prompted to provide another 6 Digit Token, and click on Generate New Backup Codes.
ATTENTION: Generating new backup codes makes any previously generated ones obsolete.
4. You will be given a list of 10 backup codes, write them down somewhere safe. If there's a possibility someone has gained access of your codes, generate new ones to make those compromised ones obsolete.
How to Disable 2FA
1. Go to https://account.ubnt.com and sign in.
2. Select 2FA from the menu.
4. Use Google Authenticator on your mobile to get a token to insert in the field provided. Click Disable 2FA.
How to Access a Locked Out Account
If you are locked out of your account because you changed mobiles, deleted the authenticator app by mistake or lost your phone, you can get access to your account once more with one of these methods.
Reset 2FA Using Backup Codes
1. Go to https://account.ubnt.com, enter your username and password as usual, and when prompted for the 6 Digit Token, click on Reset 2FA instead.
2. Now just paste one of the backup codes you previously saved and click the Reset 2FA button.
3. Two factor authentication is now disabled. You can log in once again and enable it once more. Remember to create a new set of backup codes if your previous set might have been compromised.
Access Account with Secret Code
The Secret Code appears only once, when you first enable 2FA on your account (see How to Enable 2FA). You can use this code to connect your existing account with a newly installed authenticator app. Do so by following these steps:
1. Open Google Authenticator and click the + to add another account.
2. Instead of selecting Scan barcode as you would have to set up a new account, select Manual entry.
3. Provide your UBNT account in the space provided and your Secret Code in the space provided for Key.
4. Click the checkmark in the upper-right hand corner to save.
Other possible issues and solutions are discussed in this Google 2-Step Verification Help article. If you have lost access to your account, but did not generate backup codes or save the Secret Code when you first enabled 2FA, and none of the solutions in the above link helped, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Just as there is no doubting her integrity, there is no faulting her work. Her work needs no supervision.
My domestic help is a bigger social networker than anyone else I know of. No, Muniyamma isn't on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Orkut, MySpace or GooglePlus. Yet, her social circle is so vast and the obligations to it are so demanding that I am often put to great inconvenience.
She is supposed to report for work at 2 p.m. but she will waltz in anytime between noon and 4 p.m. Instead of starting her work right away, she will insist on giving a detailed account of what delayed her. When I impatiently tell her to get down to work, she will counter me with, " Isn't it common courtesy to explain why I am late?" (or early, as the case may be.) She will embark on an involved, none-too-original tale of a friend's cousin's uncle's grand child who fell sick and was hospitalised. "All I can give is moral support," she will add with a sad shake of the head.
It isn't always a sad story. Sometimes, the reason is celebratory. Once, she arrived in all her finery and said, "I had to go to my sister-in-law's aunt's niece's first birthday lunch." I asked, sarcastically, "Couldn't you have given the function a miss?" Her eyes widened in holy horror. "How could I do that?" She sat down, to explain better. "My sister-in-law saved my son from the clutches of an unscrupulous scoundrel. I am indebted to her. It is only proper that I discharge my duty."
I was so exasperated one day, when subjected to another anecdote on the matter of honour, that I said, "It will take you a life-time to fulfil all your obligations." Pat came the answer: "Not even if I take seven times seven lives!"
Where absenteeism is concerned, she is a law unto herself. She isn't in the habit of bumping off hale and healthy friends and relatives. Neither will she quote illness as an excuse for gaining my sympathy. She will state blandly that it was important business for which she had to take the day or days off. It could be renewal of her son's driving licence, some complication with the ration card or to arrange for funds for a family function. Why then do I tolerate her? It is her mystique.
She is trustworthy. She will not help herself to anything — not even a flower from the garden or an empty jam bottle or an old issue of a magazine. As a matter of fact, quite a few times she has taken out currency from shirt pockets and handed it back together with a lecture on carelessness. She guards my property like the proverbial dragon.
Once a plastic spoon was missing. She was most upset. She went on and on bugging me till I was so irritated that I said, "It is only a plastic spoon. Leave it." Undeterred, she lectured me. "Today it is a plastic spoon. Tomorrow it may be something valuable. What happens then?" she challenged. An unassailable argument!
And she didn't rest until she had ferretted out the dratted plastic spoon. Sometimes, unable to bear her nagging, I say I have given the item away. I have suspicion that she doesn't believe me.
Just as there is no doubting her integrity, there is no faulting her work. She is neither a shirker nor slapdash worker. Her work never needs any supervision. Whether she is watched or not she does a thorough job. I just need to 'adjust' a little bit! And pamper her — which I do!
(The writer's email is email@example.com)


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nadde991 wrote:Finally an answer. I guess you guys like money
It's not the best-seller, last I heard, but yes all the money you spend in the store goes directly into Salem. Art, Voice actors, tricky bits of code, training, licenses for sound effects and music, server costs (this one already prepaid for several years out), and more, all things that store money has helped us pay for. So we definitely do like store money.


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I spoke of Kamut in my Whole Kamut post. I'm slowly transitioning my family to the ancient grains wherever possible, using organic einkorn or khorasan wheats. These plants ARE gluten containing wheat plants, but they AREN'T hybridized and bastardized like modern wheat. This makes them more tolerable to many people with gluten intolerances! (ME!!)
Not only are these wheat species easier to digest for many people, they are also more nutritious and are generally higher in many minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. Sounds like a double whammy of goodness to me.
I like to think of myself as pretty open in the kitchen. I'm not really. I don't do any sort of fish, or seafood. It's all just a bit too much for me. I can't help myself.
So to make up for my disinterest in seafood, I strive to try other foods in unique ways.
This stew is one of them. It was born from me wanting a healthy, easily frozen, large scale batch food for my lunches. It thaws and reheats like it's fresh from the pot. One bowl is enough to keep me satisfied from lunch until I leave work for the day. In fact, the flavours might even be better after they've had time to chill in the fridge for a couple days or freeze and thaw.
I added chickpeas because I wanted to keep it vegan but filling, and I'm not crazy about frozen/thawed meat – I find the texture changes in an unpalatable way.
Oh, one more thing!! I've added Yum buttons to the blog, so all you Yummly users have an easy way to save my recipes to your recipe box! If you don't use Yummly.com already, I would definitely check it out. Not only are you able to sort via dietary requirements, but they allow you to save all your recipes in a recipe box, give you nutritional information breakdowns, allow you to exclude foods that you don't like to eat or are allergic too. The iPhone app is also amazing. Trust me, if you love to cook, it's must have!
Spicy Kamut And Chickpea Stew
- 1 cup Kamut - rinsed* See recipe notes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 4 carrots peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 4 cups vegetable broth chicken would work also
- 1 jar salsa
- pinch - red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper - to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 can chickpeas
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until tender crisp.
- Add broth, Kamut, salsa, pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil - reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
- Add chickpeas and chopped spinach, stir well to combine and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until chickpeas are heated through and spinach is wilted.
Recipe Notes
* If possible, soak the Kamut grains overnight. If not, cook over medium heat in the broth for 1/2-3/4 hour before continuing with recipe.


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Who can you trust?
I do trades with a few people whose abilities & integrity I trust, some for psychic reading types of things, some for more NLP/hypnosis types of things. Some of these are very regular, some are very occasional; some are formal (I do a session for you, then you do a session for me), others are informal, more like conversations where we both bring all of our selves and all of our guides. Some are planned, others are accidental — I have clairvoyant friends whom I'll call just to chat as friends do, and occasionally those conversations morph into a joint channeling session.
So last week, when I did a trade session with a friend I'll call Patrick, I had every expectation that things would go well. Our sessions are intended to be joint channeling ones, where each of us brings questions, and all of us answer. Patrick is an engineer by trade, with several patents in his name, trained in several spiritual traditions, so he is a smart, hardworking guy. He has only the best of intentions.
But something was really amiss. Patrick said, before we even started, that if I didn't do something (I don't remember what), he couldn't continue working with me. And he said it in a way that implied I'd be losing out if I didn't continue to work with him. That should have set off alarm bells.
Given that this was a joint session, why did it feel like he was teaching me? And that he was not open to learning from me, at least not much. I had this 'one down' feeling, like he was somehow better than me.
I know from experience that he tends to be in his ego, that is, on a sort of power trip, and that everything is always 'not working out' for him. He's tried many ways to make extra money to solve a perennial financial problem; all of them seem to end with him fighting with someone, or him being 'taken'. Since I haven't looked at most of these situations, I don't know what really happened, but still, it should be a clue that something's off.
The problem is, he 'sees' some things I 'see' — so I tend to expect that everything he 'sees', even the stuff I don't 'see' — is right. That's just not true! No psychic is 100% accurate, no channel is 100% clear. Particularly with channeled information, you always have to filter the information through your own BS detector. (This, by the way, is a standard propaganda tactic — mix the truth with lies, so it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish which is which.)
More than that, he used his knowledge of my own greatest desires and greatest fears to get me to do what he said his guides told me to do. I'm not sure any of that 'channeled' instruction was true — even though I believe he believes it.
So, how do I avoid this in the future? How do you? (And I'm not just talking about spiritual teacher here — the pointers below are just as valid if you are hiring an accountant or a plumber.)
Here's what to watch out for:
- You feel coerced in some way — The truth doesn't need coercion to succeed (Qaddafi needs guns to stay in power, the protesters, who have the moral right on their side will eventually win in any case).
- Something rings false – Maybe it feels wrong, or sounds wrong, or doesn't jibe with things of which you are sure. Time to check in with yourself.
- You are discouraged from thinking/evaluating for yourself — By definition, anyone who says, "Trust me, I'm right" is not to be trusted. Sometimes this is simply the person's ego talking, and sometimes it is an intention to disempower you, or cheat you. (This last comes from a friend with whom I shared my story — she had a much more toxic experience with a 'teacher'.)
- You feel bad about yourself — Spiritual teachings for developed souls should not make you feel bad about yourself. That is the province of religious teachings (hellfire & brimstone) designed for less developed souls, who need clear lines drawn between right and wrong.
I'm going to take my own advice, and not work with Patrick unless/until I can find a way to do it safely.


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Wineries dot the gently sloping landscape of California's Sonoma Valley. At the base of a mountain, a hacienda-style winery with a red-tiled roof specializes in the production of red wines. Each summer, when electricity costs skyrocket in the Golden State, wineries draw electricity from the grid during times of peak demand to power their operations. To offset the high energy costs, the St. Francis Winery commissioned the installation of a 457kW photovoltaic system, which will provide green electricity year-round.
"A winery's business is tied to protecting the land and minimizing the impact of fossil fuels," says Marco Miller, project manager for PowerLight, a Berkeley, Calif.-based firm that installs and maintains photovoltaic systems. "St. Francis Winery will be generating clean, quiet, efficient power from the sun. They hope that other businesses will follow their lead and be inspired to preserve the environmental quality in Sonoma Valley."
To help St. Francis minimize energy costs, PowerLight will install a photovoltaic system on the rooftop of two of the winery's buildings — the wine-making facility and barrel storage building. A team of installers will use a custom-designed clamp to attach the photovoltaic system to the standing seam metal roof. Before installing the system, the team of engineers must make sure that the system is able to withstand the wind uplift pressures, calculate the roof load, measure the available roof area, and perform an electrical audit of the building.
Miller estimates that the project will take about three weeks from start to finish. The team will spend one or two days lifting the materials to the roof and spend the rest of the time working on the rooftop or inside the building.
"Our challenge is to not interfere with the operations of the winery," Miller says. "They are going to start bottling their wine very soon, so we'll minimize any interruptions by working earlier or later in the day."
The construction team will consist of about 10 to 15 workers, including four electricians. PowerLight works with certain electrical contractors on its commercial photovoltaic installations, and Miller says he plans to select an electrical firm as soon as he receives biddable drawings. The electricians will handle all the inside wiring, the conduit runs, the tie-in panel, the inverters, and the transformers.
"I like to bring electricians in at the beginning so we can start to plan out the conduit runs and the location of the equipment and the tie-in gear that they'll need prior to construction," he says.
Rick Whisman, major accounts manager for PowerLight, says in addition to the photovoltaic installation, the team is also upgrading the winery's lighting system. The installers will convert high-bay lighting to T-8 or T-5 compact fluorescents. The lighting upgrade will significantly lower the winery's electrical load and improve the lighting of the areas that are most critical for its operations. PowerLight is also working with three other Sonoma Valley wineries to reduce their energy consumption and help preserve the environment.
"We want every winery to think of photovoltaics as a standard piece of equipment that they should consider for their facilities," Whisman says. "It really makes good sense to hedge a certain amount of your electricity costs with your own on-site generation."
Sidebar: Fast Facts About the St. Francis Winery
The St. Francis Winery and Vineyards was established in 1979. After adding more than 400 acres of land and expanding production over the years, the winery broke ground on a new facility that was located one mile from the original winery. The new facility, which was completed in 1999, features a Visitor's Center with two wine tasting rooms, a climate-controlled barrel storage building, and larger winemaking facilities. The winery is referred to as the "House of Big Reds" due to its specialization in red wines.


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Former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United captain Roy Keane was in the borough recently to support a charity event organised by Pat McGibbon.
McGibbon and Keane were team-mates together at United during the Lurgan-born defender's decade-long professional career in England.
McGibbon has established the Train To Be Smart Juniors TTBS football charity, with proceeds from the Keane event in The Armagh City Hotel in aid of the project.


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I have mixed emotions about packing for a trip. Like any fashion queen, I love mixing and matching new outfits. But here's the thing… I am the worst packer EVER! I usually start off pretty good, planning each outfit so I don't have to think twice about what to wear each day. But then that inner voice comes chiming in, convincing me that I might just need that sweater, or these shoes, or this sombrero… really?! Anyways, in preparation for my upcoming trip to New York City (and to shut that inner voice the hell up) I am taking it to the best NY street style examples I can find to help me pack reasonably!
[Photo credit via The Sartorialist and Mr. Newton]


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We often find that no matter how hard we try, we do not succeed.
In only one period in my life did I receive a salary. That was for about six months when I was a teacher at a theological school. During that time, I had a student from Saipan, an island in the Mariana Islands, which was a Japanese colony at the time. His name was Bisente. He had difficulty especially in mathematics. There was a Japanese student, Tokita, who had the same difficulty. For example, they just could not understand the concept of fractions. I gave the two students supplementary lessons for about a month. I did my best, but I couldn't bring the knowledge home to their hearts. When I felt totally exhausted, I had to give up. But somehow, at the next math exam, both of them received perfect scores.
Excerpted from Deepest Practice, Deepest Wisdom by Kosho Uchiyama, translated by Shohaku Okumura and Tom Wright


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Women of Interest and Wellington Sustainability Group invite Gippslanders to a timely discussion on the Geothermal potential of our region, from 6.30pm at Duart in Maffra on Wednesday July the 27th, 2011.
Guests are asked to dress up sustainably, which means you wear something that is either hand made, recycled or at least 5 years old! Jenny Feist from Women of Interest explained that, "It's all about avoiding overt consumerism".
In keeping with this theme, the Christmas tradition of Kris Kringle is also designed to be consumption free. If Guests would like to be part of this novel gift exchange, they are invited to contribute something sustainable which might be home grown, homemade or recycled.
Christmas Dinner will have a focus on local and seasonal produce , with a passing nod to mediaeval feasting. The chef is excited about the idea, so expect it to be quite special!
The final important part of the evening will be an address from Professor Rachel Webster of Melbourne University, who will enlighten us as to what is involved and how Gippsland might benefit from it 's excellent Geothermal potential.
So get frocked up in your "old Favourite" winter warmers and come for an evening of good food, good company and some thought provoking information on our clean energy potential.
Bookings are essential and can be made through Collins Booksellers Sale, by Friday July the 22nd. Please advise at the time of booking if you have any dietary requirement


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EMTEC Movie Cube K120
cybersorcerer 12 Sep 2009 22:22
Hi everyone, i just bought EMTEC Movie Cub K120 and i am interested in getting it into my wlan. I am not sure if i am at the right forum but i thought i give it a try. Here are my questions :
1) Would the described methods for changing/enhancing the firmware work on a K120 as well ?
2) Can i use a WLAN USB Stick with the cube to get it into my network?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thx in advance
Last edited on 12 Sep 2009 22:22 by cybersorcerer Show more
Unfold EMTEC Movie Cube K120 by cybersorcerer, 12 Sep 2009 22:22


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Jefferson Hills Resident Appointed DU Graduate Admissions Director
Duquesne University has appointed Todd Eicker to the newly created position of graduate admissions director, effective Aug. 22. Eicker, who brings more than 14 years of experience in higher education to the job, most recently managed admissions at Penn State University's York campus.
According to Paul-James Cukanna, associate provost for enrollment management, Eicker's appointment is an important step toward realizing Duquesne's strategic goal of enhancing graduate recruitment and enrollment.
"Graduate and professional students play key roles in the University's academic life, and in many ways they are central to our mission and a critical part of the Duquesne brand," Cukanna said.
Eicker's role will complement the ongoing work of the Enrollment Management Group (EMG), a team of faculty and staff from across campus that focuses on attracting and enrolling graduate students.
"Todd brings the tools and experience we need to help us coordinate the efforts of the EMG with academic affairs, student life, management and business, enrollment research and systems, and other functions, which will ensure that we have the financial support and staff alignment to attract the best possible students," Cukanna added.
Though streamlining recruitment and enrollment can be beneficial, Cukanna pointed out that it is also necessary for aspects of the process to remain decentralized, with each of the University's 10 schools of study maintaining its own admission requirements and procedures, for example.
Eicker agreed that improvements in selected aspects of the graduate admissions process would be broadly beneficial.
"We can develop clear, compelling messages about graduate study at Duquesne without taking away from the individual school's identities," Eicker said. "Also, by unifying and centralizing selected procedures, we can provide better service to prospective students and help them form a lasting, favorable impression of Duquesne."
Eicker is a resident of Jefferson Hills.
Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and tradition of academic excellence. Duquesne, a campus of nearly 9,500 graduate and undergraduate students, has been nationally recognized for its academic programs, community service and commitment to sustainability. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Are holidays in full swing for you? Let me tell you – my brain is overloading with the amount of baking, planning, shopping, sewing, wrapping, visiting and event-ing that has to happen between now and the end of the month. The next 2 weeks for me are total chaos. Sometimes, I get so far ahead of what has to be done, I forget that I need to stay in the moment and remind myself, "Hey. Forget all the Christmas Cookies you need to bake. Figure out what you'll be eating for dinner tonight."
ACK! Dinner tonight!
Yes, friends. Even during the holidays, we need SIMPLE and TASTY (and quick?) meals to sustain us for all the work (and parties) we must complete.
So, if you are anything like me, you could use a VERY quick and easy recipe to throw into the oven or slow cooker during the nights of craziness. I just so happen to have a great recipe for you – that I made up myself! I'm actually having it for dinner TONIGHT. Because after I eat it, I have a lot of other things to do. And I DON'T have time to work over a hot stove trying to pull something together.
This is my take on Chicken Tacos. No, not the "chicken" tacos that involve ground beef and a taco kit. I'm talking my best imitation of Chicken Tacos that do their best to taste like the shredded chicken tacos from your favorite Mexican Restaurant (mine being La Tolteca in West Chester). They are SO easy to make…super moist….super tasty…and make lots of super leftovers. All you need are a few ingredients, taco shells, and your favorite taco fixins.
Tasty Tuesday
Steph's Shredded Chicken Tacos
- 1.5-3 lbs of chicken (depending on how much taco filling you want to make. I stick to 1.5-2lbs)
- 1 LARGE can of Enchilada sauce
- 1 small can of diced chile peppers (or jalapenos, if you are brave enough)
- 1/2 onion, sliced
1) Put chicken into your awesome, trusty slow cooker.
2) Pour enchilada sauce over chicken
3) Top with chile peppers and onion
4) Cook on low for 3-4 hours (adjusting for your slow cooker – yours may need more like 6-7 hours).
5) Shred the chicken with forks. Serve and enjoy!
Yup. That's it. And it tastes AMAZING.
I'd love to hear how these turn out for you!
Good luck with all your holiday madness – don't forget to eat!
Have a good week 🙂
To read more about Steph's life and recipes, visit her blog: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom


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How vitamin toxicity is hurting your health
In case you didn't know, vitamin overdosing is a thing. Weird, right? You wouldn't think you could overdose on something that's supposed to be healthy for your body. But like everything else, vitamins need to be consumed in moderation. The technical term for an overdose of vitamins is hypervitaminosis. Simply put, your liver can't filter through it all.
We tend to assume that all vitamins are healthy for our bodies. And while vitamins do have the effect of nurturing our bodies, they can have negative side-effects when not consumed appropriately.
Hypervitaminosis primarily affects fat-soluble vitamins, as they are stored longer in your body. The most common fat-soluble vitamins are known as the "DEKA" vitamins (for obvious reasons): Vitamin D, E, K and A. However, hypervitaminosis can also occur with water-soluble vitamins such as the B vitamins and vitamin C.
While doing some research in order to find out more about vitamin toxicity and how we can appropriately nurture our bodies, I started to notice a theme: there is a ton of misleading and non-uniformed information being spewed across the internet about vitamins. So rather than feed you a line here, we at Wably interviewed licensed dietitian Melissa Giovanni of Allison Nutrition Consulting in Nashville, Tennessee for some expert and concise answers to the many questions we have regarding vitamins and their appropriate uses.
So let's start with the basics.
What vitamins are the most commonly used by adult women?
Multivitamins and mineral supplements are the most commonly used supplements, which contain many different vitamins and minerals in one capsule. "A lot of times supplements are looked at as a means to all health concerns when in reality our nutrition is more important." Explains Giovanni. "Supplements should be used in a way that their name describes, as supplementation to a healthy and well balanced diet."
According to the federal government's 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, "nutritional needs should be met primarily from foods. Foods in nutrient-dense forms contain essential vitamins and minerals and also dietary fiber and other naturally occurring substances that may have positive health effects. In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements may be useful in providing one or more nutrients that otherwise may be consumed in less-than-recommended amounts."
So rule of thumb: We should be trying to get our nutritional needs met mostly by the food that we eat. Vitamins are not meant to replace a good diet, but rather they should be used to supplement our diet when what we are eating isn't filled with the recommended nutrients that we should be receiving from a healthy diet.
"Women also typically take calcium and vitamin D supplements eventually in their lives," states Giovanni. "This doesn't mean they are overused, however being mindful of how much of the vitamin is in the supplement and how much you are getting from your diet as to not exceed upper limits."
Would you say vitamin toxicity is more common than most people realize?
"Although most vitamin toxicity is rare, it does happen." Giovanni stated. "In recent years, due to the increasing awareness of vitamin D, cases of vitamin D toxicity are occurring from individuals taking high dose supplements of Vitamin D leading to nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and weight loss."
As previously stated, we know that vitamin toxicity is more common in the fat-soluble vitamins (DEKA.) This is due to these fat-soluble vitamins being stored in fat, while water-soluble vitamins (which include all of the B vitamins and vitamin C) are less likely to cause toxicity. Your body easily absorbs water-soluble vitamins and the kidneys remove the vitamins that are in excess and excretes them through urination.
What are some symptoms of hypervitaminosis?
The symptoms surrounding hypervitaminosis will differ depending on the vitamin itself. So we've made a little cheat sheet on what you can expect from overdosing on these vitamins:
Vitamin D
Some symptoms of Vitamin D hypervitaminosis include nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, weight loss, confusion, heart rhythm problems, deposits of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues.
"When large doses of vitamin D are taken, the liver can produce too much of a chemical called 25(OH)D." Explains Giovanni. "This chemical when too high can cause high levels of calcium to develop in blood. High blood calcium is called hyperkalemia, symptoms of hyperkalemia include: nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, feeling very thirsty, passing urine often, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle weakness or pain, bone pain, feeling confused and tired. Excessive sun exposure has been found to not contribute or cause vitamin D toxicity, as well."
Vitamin E
Research has not found any adverse effects from high intakes of Vitamin E through foods. Although, high doses through supplements has been found to cause hemorrhage and changes in blood coagulation in animals.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K has a low potential for toxicity, and there isn't much research out there to support the claims on the negative effects. Although it still can raise concern if taken to excess for people with certain medical conditions or who are taking particular medications.
LIVESTRONG reports:
If you consume a diet high in vitamin K-rich foods, or if you are taking a supplement of vitamin K, consult your doctor prior to taking medications to help prevent clotting to avoid possible complications. Vitamin K can also adversely interfere with some antibiotics, as well as certain weight-loss drugs, such as olestra. In the case of the latter, these weight loss drugs inhibit your body's fat absorption ability, rendering it more difficult for your body to absorb, or retain, vitamin K.
Vitamin A
Excessive intake of preformed vitamin A can have significant toxic side effects on the body, dependent on the size and rapidity of the excess intake. Symptoms would include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, burred vision, clumsiness, birth defects, liver problems, and possible risk of osteoporosis. This typically occurs from too much vitamin A from supplements rather than dietary intake of foods.
B Vitamins
B3 (Niacin): Symptoms of consuming too much B3 can include flushing, redness of skin, and an upset stomach.
B6 (Pyridoxine): High intakes of vitamin B6 from foods has not been found to have adverse effects. However, high doses of supplementation has been found to cause nerve damage to the limbs, numbness, trouble walking, pain, neuropathy, and nausea.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): "There is not an established upper limit for Riboflavin due to no adverse effects being reported. This can be due to riboflavin's solubility and capacity to be absorbed in the GI tract. Although, no adverse effects have been reported it is possible that high intakes could have adverse effects." Explains Giovanni.
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): There have not been reported adverse effects from high intake of thiamin, as the body excretes excess amounts of thiamin in the urine. Although no adverse effects have been reported, there could be adverse effects to excessive intakes of thiamin.
Vitamin B12: B12 has low potential for toxicity, and no adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food or supplements.
Vitamin C
Hypervitaminosis of vitamin C has a low toxicity occurrence and it not believed to cause serious adverse effects with high intakes. The majority of symptoms of high intakes of vitamin C are upset stomach, diarrhea, and possible kidney stones.
What are the treatment options for hypervitaminosis?
The treatment options for hypervitaminosis will differ based upon the symptoms and possible damage to the body that could have occurred.
"The first step in treatment would be to stop taking any new supplement or vitamin the minute you notice something unusual happening in your body, and contact your medical provider for evaluation. A physician can address hypervitaminosis symptoms and possible further damage to the body." Explains Giovanni. "In some cases the toxicity could be severe and going to the emergency department may be necessary."
What type of demographic is at higher risk for vitamin deficiencies?
While the concern for hypervitaminosis is very real, it is also just as important to note that many women really do have vitamin deficiencies and therefore need to be making sure they are getting the proper daily intake for certain vitamins they may be lacking.
Giovanni gave us a list of the demographic of women that need to be extra cautious that they are getting the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals:
- Women who eat a highly processed diet, low in fresh vegetables and fruits
- Vegetarian or vegan individuals
- Individuals whom are underweight
- Women of reproductive age
- Women over 65 years of age
Sounds all inclusive, doesn't it? What we can gather from this list is that all women need to be very aware of what their bodies need more of or less of, and the only way to truly do that is to be in tune with your body's internal and external health. It also doesn't hurt to consult a dietitian or nutritionist every once in a while to make sure you are on the right track.
What particular vitamins are important for women to consume?
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) vary different from vitamin to vitamin, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Giovanni gave us another cheat sheet for the recommended daily intake for these important vitamins, perfect for snapping a screenshot of and before you hit your nearest vitamin supplier:
Vitamin A: Females ages 19+ = 700 mcg RAE (Retinol Activity Equivalent)
Vitamin D: Females ages 19-70 years/pregnancy/lactation = 600 IU (15 mcg); Females 70+ years = 800 IU (20 mcg)
Vitamin E: Females ages 14+ years and during pregnancy = 15 mg (22.4 IU); with lactation = 19 mg (28.4 IU)
Vitamin K: Females ages 19+ years/during pregnancy and lactation = 90 mcg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Females ages 19-50 years = 1.3 mg; 50+ years = 1.5mg; during pregnancy = 1.9 mg; during lactation = 2.0 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Females ages 19+ = 1.1 mg; during pregnancy = 1.4 mg; during lactation = 1.6 mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): Females ages 19+ = 1.1 mg; during pregnancy and lactation = 1.4 mg
Vitamin C: Females ages 19+ years = 75 mg; during pregnancy = 85 mg; during lactation = 120 mg
Where can we find these vitamins and minerals naturally in foods?
As Giovanni said earlier, it is best to consume our vitamins and minerals naturally through a healthy diet, rather than solely through supplements. Unfortunately, few foods in nature contain vitamin D. "Salmon, tuna, and mackerel flesh are great sources of Vitamin D, as well as fish liver oils." Explains Giovanni. "Smaller amounts of vitamin D can be found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. Foods that are fortified with vitamin D include dairy products, orange juice, and cereals." So if you are lacking in vitamin D, these are a few good places to start.
Vitamin A is a little easier to be found. Giovanni's list of vitamin A-rich foods are probably already somewhere in your kitchen! "Sweet potatoes (particularly the skin), beef liver, spinach, carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe, red peppers, mangos, apricots, broccoli, black-eyed peas, tomato juice are all great sources are vitamin A," explains Giovanni.
Vitamin E is easily found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals – which are all easy to incorporate into most diets. Similarly, vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, pumpkin, soybeans, blueberries, meat, dairy and eggs.
Most fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries.
B vitamins are found in many different kinds of foods. Chickpeas, beef liver, tuna, salmon, chicken, fortified breakfast cereals, potatoes, turkey, and bananas are all foods that are rich in vitamin B6. Eggs, organ meats (kidney and liver), lean meats, milk, green vegetables, and fortified breakfast cereals are rich in vitamin B2. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products, fortified breakfast cereals, and some nutritional yeasts (this is why many vegetarians and vegans need to take a B12 supplement). Vitamin B1 can also be found in fortified whole grains, meat, and fish.
Several independent organizations offer quality testing of supplements and these supplements will show a seal of approval. This assures that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants. These organizations are U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International. These seals do not guarantee that a product is safe or effective.
It is crucial to inform your healthcare providers about what supplements (i.e. vitamins, herbs, minerals) you are taking as many can interact with prescription medications. Some examples of this include vitamin K reducing the ability of the blood thinner Coumadin to prevent blood from clothing, St. John's Wort can increase and speed up the breakdown of many drugs including antidepressants and birth control, which decreases their effectiveness.
"I would encourage women to aim for the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, make half their grains whole grains, choose lean meats, and get healthy fats from foods like nuts, avocados, and oils to get their vitamins and minerals from food." Explains Giovanni. "However, in our busy society it can be hard for that to always occur and a multivitamin can be an 'insurance policy' used in case not all nutrients are being consumed regularly. Some vitamins and minerals that tend to lack in the typical American diet are calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D."
Meet the Expert
Melissa Giovanni is a registered, licensed dietitian with her Master's degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a dietitian at Allison Nutrition Consulting in Nashville, Tennessee that works with individuals with a broad range of nutrition and related concerns. They take into account many aspects of their clients lives, including medications and supplements, health histories, goals and food preferences, meal patterns, skills, learning styles, lifestyle and interests as they determine with their clients what strategies and support to recommend.
They specialize in working with people who struggle with gastrointestinal issues, food sensitivities, and disordered eating. They enjoy working with people who simply want to look at making some changes in their diet and who want support in doing so.


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Goodwill workers offer a hand to the community
A team of Goodwill Industries employees has begun helping out in the community, and one of the earliest beneficiaries is the Old Colorado City Historical Society
A supervised group of up to eight workers has been coming to the OCCHS' History Center every Tuesday afternoon since May to do free yard work for an hour.
The assistance is through Goodwill's Community Participation program, said Becky McCain, the case manager who supervises the workers. ōThey like to get out and help out,ö she said.
A Broadmoor-area church is receiving similar help through the program, said Laura Marth, a Goodwill spokesperson.
The work at the center includes sweeping, window-cleaning, weeding, sorting and dusting, she said. Lawn-mowing is also part of the service, but McCain pointed out that she has to do that herself for liability reasons.
The employees, who have varying levels of disabilities, normally work in the collating area of Goodwill headquarters in the 2300 block of West Colorado Avenue and take life skills classes to become better at living independently, Marth said. In addition to being useful, the new program ōlets others see them out in the community,ö she said.
Joanne Karlson, president of the OCCHS, said the Goodwill visit was especially appreciated July 7 because that night was a fundraising ice cream social, and they left the yard and patio ōlooking very nice.ö
As an all-volunteer organization, the OCCHS would otherwise have to do such cleanup work itself. ōThis is like having one more set of volunteers,ö Karlson said.
Goodwill is looking for other groups or businesses that could benefit from the outreach, Marth said. For more information, call Goodwill at 635-4483.
Westside Pioneer article


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National Register of Historic Places Program
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.
|Property Name
|Florence and John R. Pond House
|Reference Number
|New Mexico
|San Juan
|La Plata
|Street Address
|1875 Highway 170
|Multiple Property Submission Name
|Listed 9/25/2013
|Areas of Significance
|Link to full file
|The Florence and John R. Pond House is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under National Register Criteria A and C. The house is historically significant for its connection to the community of La Plata and the La Plata River valley road, the main transportation route connecting northwestern New Mexico with southwestern olorado during the late 19th century. Florence and John R. Pond were among the earliest Euro-American settlers in the La Plata valley, arriving in 1877. John R. Pond became the first postmaster of La Plata, and the site upon which the house was built served as the community's first post office. vi The house was a stage stop and supported a smithy along the road connecting Farmington and Aztec with old Fort Lewis and Durango. At its height, La Plata was one of the largest communities in San Juan County but its importance had declined by the time the Pond family left in 1902. The house stands as testimony to a time when the La Plata River valley played a vital role in the development of the region. The building is architecturally significant as an excellent local example of the Georgian Revival style and remains as the oldest stone masonry house constructed by Euro-Americans in San Juan County.
Properties are listed in the National Register of Historic Places under four criteria: A, B, C, and D. For information on what these criterion are and how they are applied, please see our Bulletin on How to Apply the National Register Criteria


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The Butt Hutt, formerly at the corner of Baxter and Harris streets, is opening in the former Jot Em Down Store and Barbecue space at 480 Macon Highway.
The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday beginning this Thursday.
The owners still are planning to open a location in the former Sudz laundry space at 396 Baxter St. at the corner of Pope Street, but that project is taking longer than expected.


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Is the Best "Never Enough"
There's a scene in the movie Wall Street where Darryl Hannah is coming out of the ocean, the sun is rising in the background and Charlie Sheen hands her a towel. She looks at him, smiles and says, "If I could have anything, this would almost do."
The 1980's were the time of shoulder pads, white tennis shoes on the subway and pumps at work. It was the entrance of women as a staple in the board room. But was it also the death of satisfaction in the female gender? A sunrise, the ocean, and for Chrissake Charlie Sheen – and it will "almost do."
New York Times Op-Ed columnist Maureen Dowd argues "Women are getting unhappier." Dowd claims the choices presented to women today are stressful – pushing a "must have it all" mentality on the population. On one hand, stay-at-home mothers face criticism from those that work and often working mothers face the same reverse criticism. And lets not even get into the plight of a woman who says she doesn't want children or marriage – as the heads turn and eyes bug out with those who say, "You'll change your mind when you're 30. You'll find him."
Dowd says, "We're happy to have our newfound abundance of choices, she said, even if those choices end up making us unhappier."
Is Ms. Dowd onto something when it comes to satisfaction. Because hey, if you can't be satisfied by a sunrise, the ocean and Charlie Sheen, my GOD, what can you be satisfied by?


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Bam! Pow! Crash! Turns out that official San Francisco celebration for Barry Bonds, at noon Aug. 24 in Justin Herman Plaza, is in direct conflict with the San Francisco Symphony in the Gardens free performance, at noon Aug. 24 at Yerba Buena Gardens.
Homers or harmony? Pop-up or pizzicato? The Symphony's program includes Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1, "Winter Daydreams," an appropriate selection for wistful Giants fans.
P.S.: The august Roger Angell wrote in the august New Yorker - famous for fact checking - that Bonds had hit his record-breaking homer at Petco Park. Score that as an error.
P.P.S.: Steve Talbot of PBS' "Frontline/World" series e-mailed about the programs' popularity among iPhone viewers. He e-mailed a sample report (preview.tinyurl.com/2x7bzg), which is about efforts to promote baseball in Ghana, supported by the government because sports can be a way out of poverty. Anyway, the engaging 12-minute segment even has a local angle: In February, former Giants manager Dusty Baker, former Yankee slugger Dave Winfield and Mets General Manager Omar Minaya went to Ghana under the auspices of the African Development Foundation to try to promote the American national pastime in Africa.
In the Big Apple: San Francisco native Dan Hoyle, whose "Tings Dey Happen" is directed by Charlie Varon and played at the Marsh, opened in New York last week. New York Times reviewer Wilborn Hampton called it engrossing, lively, funny and poignant, and said Hoyle "is both a first-rate reporter and actor."
And as to Will Durst's "The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing," Thursday's New York Times described it as "cracking people up for 90 minutes," and called Durst sharp and lovable. The New York Post praises Durst's mastery, dubbing him the natural successor to Mort Sahl and rival to George Carlin.
Also, New York magazine notes that the San Francisco surf shop Mollusk has opened a branch in Brooklyn, where the waves are huge.
On this, the 70th anniversary of Spam, Chronicle historian-journalist Carl Nolte notes that this delicacy is still served occasionally for breakfast on the Liberty ship Jeremiah O'Brien. Although not heretofore cited in fine dining guides, the ship's chefs also occasionally produce other items from classic military cuisine, including S.O.S. (creamed chipped beef on toast, or s- on a shingle).
And as to other food creations, Denise Tassin's show at Zinc Details from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31 is "Solo Necco," in which she uses an assortment of pens - including Sharpies - to make miniature drawings on Necco wafer candies. Among the subjects in her "Biology #2" series are drawings of the "dorsal view of the respiratory system of a fetal pig" and "the urogenital system of a male mouse."
The Dolores Park showing of "Sixteen Candles" resulted in protest from Asian American advocate Christina Fa, and my item about it resulted in protest from Samson Wong, senior editorial consultant at AsianWeek. I'd quoted Fa, but also an AsianWeek piece in which actor Gedde Watanabe was praised. Wong says that Phil Chung, who wrote that piece, is a columnist, and his remarks don't reflect the periodical's views. He also complains that I hadn't quoted Chung's negative comments about the movie; I thought they'd echoed Fa's negative comments. "AsianWeek is not among those agreeing with the movie," writes Wong.
P.S.: Dan Nishimura was listening when Robert Redford called Michael Krasny's "Forum" show this week, when Mayor Gavin Newsomwas a guest. Redford complained that the city's lack of rebates for film productions had resulted in one of his projects being shot in Los Angeles. Newsom said some rebates are given, but on low-budget projects.
At the San Jose Jazz Festival the other day, where saxophonist Charles McPherson was playing, fellow sax man John Handy "ambled up to the stage," reports Ken Vermes, to sing McPherson's praises. "I drove down here just to see Charles," he told the audience. McPherson said he's hoping to play somewhere in North Beach in the fall.
Reminder: The Summer of Love concerts are a-coming in, with the first at Speedway Meadow this Sunday. And in a similar vein, urban analyst Erica Merritt told Al Smyth about the benefits of staying home during Burning Man. "It is so easy to park in the Mission and Lower Haight."
Following up: Eve Meyer's description of the 43-Masonic schedule: "Alternate Sundays in 31-day months during even-numbered years, or as one Haight resident put it, 'between the fourth dimension and the twilight zone.' "