Wildflecken Solar Power Plant on Former Military Grounds is Connected to the Grid

BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH is ensuring sustainable development of conversion real estate with the official commissioning of the Wildflecken solar power plant on 24 June 2011. "This brings the grounds' military history - the army was present here until 1998 - to a close. The site is now designated for sustainable and innovative use," said Alfred Schrenk, mayor of Wildflecken. BELECTRIC can provide 158 four-person households per year with solar energy from the first ground-mounted solar power plant fitted with Solar Frontier CIS (copper, indium, selenium) thin-film modules. This corresponds to savings of 413 tons of CO2 per year.

One particular achievement was the integration into the delicate landscape of the Hohen Rhon region. From the very start, this was an important aspect in the planning and implementation of the 551kW power plant. Located in the heart of the Rhon Nature Reserve, the plant is excellently integrated into the terrain and virtually invisible. The project manager, Gunther Blank, emphasized that: "The solar power plant is an outstanding example for the compatibility of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply as well as the preservation of the traditional landscape of a region."

To meet these requirements, BELECTRIC chose thin-film technology from Solar Frontier.Full color plastic card printing and manufacturing services. The most convincing aspects of the 4,240 photovoltaic modules manufactured in Solar Frontier's new 900 MW plant are their economic viability and high efficiency. Wolfgang Lange, CEO of Solar Frontier Europe, said: "The plant not only shows how environmentally friendly solar energy can supply households with electricity, but also demonstrates the power and efficiency of Solar Frontier CIS modules. At the same time we're proving, in co-operation with BELECTRIC, that conversion real estate is outstandingly suited to energy production - and to the advantage of all those involved.

Solar Frontier, a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers.K., established the world's first gigawatt-scale CIS module factory in 2011 with a mission to create the most economical,The same Air purifier, cover removed. ecological solar energy solutions in the world, on the world's largest scale.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc. Solar Frontier's proprietary CIS technology, denoting key ingredients copper, indium, and selenium (in addition to gallium and sulfur), has the best overall potential to set the world's most enduring standard for solar energy. This is based on our legacy of work in solar technology since the 1970s, the priority focus our laboratories have given to CIS since 1993, and our success in large scale CIS commercialization since 2007.Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives. The critical factors that combine to make CIS the overall economical and ecological leader include high efficiency modules and production processes as well as superior reliability, stability, sustainability, non-toxicity, and lower overall energy consumption in manufacturing to yield a faster energy payback time.

Stephen Colbert's super PAC gets approval

Stephen Colbert's bid to launch a super PAC is no laughing matter, especially now that the comedian has won approval to raise unlimited campaign cash to influence the 2012 elections.

The Federal Election Commission today voted 5-1 to approve Colbert's political action committee but with certain conditions. It gives him a shot at doing what political types such as Bush strategist Karl Rove and former Obama aide Bill Burton are already doing to finance TV ads -- even if they are parodies on The Colbert Report -- ahead of next year's elections.

Colbert, who played it straight during the commission hearing, yukked it up with a crowd outside the FEC. "We won,The same Air purifier, cover removed." he said.

"Thank you for standing with me for freedom," Colbert said to cheers. "Today, we put liberty on layaway."

He joked that he wasn't making a statement about the evils of corporate America in campaigns,The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers. but wanted their money.

"I don't accept the status quo," Colbert joked, with a credit-card processing machine in hand. "I do accept Visa, Mastercard or American Express."

The commission's ruling narrowly interprets what the comedian and Viacom Inc., the parent company of Comedy Central, can do with Colbert's super PAC.

Colbert sought a so-called media exemption that would allow him to use airtime, staff and other resources from his show on campaign activities such as TV ads without having to disclose any of those expenses as in-kind contributions from Viacom.

In an advisory opinion adopted by the commission today, the FEC said "some of Viacom's activities would fall within the press exemption, others would not."

Specifically, any ad produced for and shown on Colbert's program would fall within the exemption and the costs incurred don't have to be reported. But those Viacom-produced ads can't be shown on other shows or networks, unless their costs are disclosed.

The FEC also said that the parent company's administration and operation of the Colbert PAC would have to be reported "because these activities are not legitimate press functions."

While Colbert's super PAC started out as a parody of GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty, it raised a real concern from watchdogs such as Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center.

At issue is how corporations use their money for politics, stemming from a Supreme Court ruling last year that opened the floodgates to unlimited campaign funding by corporations, unions and wealthy individuals.

Democracy 21 and Campaign Legal Center argued Colbert's super PAC could lead to a "radical evisceration" of campaign finance rules and the blurring of lines between politics and media.

For example, the watchdogs contend that politicians who appear on TV -- such as former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and ex-GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who now appear on Fox News -- could use the resources of their networks to help their own political action committee.In addition to hydraulics fittings and Aion Kinah,

Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, praised the "very narrow" ruling.

"In the course of dramatizing the campaign finance law's problems in the way that Mr.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc. Colbert dramatizes all problems, he almost opened up serious disclosure loopholes in campaign finance law," Wertheimer said.

Tara Malloy of the Campaign Legal Center said the watchdog groups "wanted to prevent media companies from secretly subsidizing their commentators' PACs under the guise of the media exemption."

Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, said that "reason...more or less prevailed."

Colbert was represented before the FEC by Trevor Potter, a campaign finance expert and former commission chairman. As president of the Campaign Legal Center, Potter recused himself from the group's dealings on the Colbert case.

By the way, the slogan for Colbert's super PAC: "Making a better tomorrow, tomorrow." He tweeted before his FEC appearance that he'd reveal PAC stands for "Plastic And/Or Cash.Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives."

Groups meet to save solar industry

THE state's solar and renewable energy sector will meet with the NSW Government today in an attempt to "save the industry" after the O'Farrell Government recently slashed the solar feed-in-tariff.

Director of Nimbin-based Rainbow Power Paul O'Reilly said the industry wanted the government to agree to a one-to-one feed-in tariff, allowing home owners to withdraw, at the same price, the equivalent power from the grid as they put into it.

He said this would allow households to recoup the cost of installing panels and save the sector.

"In the past six months since the government cut the feed-in tariff we have had to reduce our staff by five and we are struggling to keep others on," he said.

"I would just hate to lose full capacity after all the effort we put in to get staff fully qualified."

Nickel Renewable Energy director Nick Lake said his company was now in "dire straits" and was focusing on Queensland where conditions weren't so bad.

"Luckily we haven't had to lay any staff off yet but we may have to in a couple of weeks if things don't change," he said.

The solar summit,Choose from one of the major categories of Bedding, the second since the election of the new government, comes after the Department of Fair Trading released an audit of grid-connected solar panels systems installed on homes in north-west Sydney and Port Macquarie.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc.

The audit of 658 homes in Sydney found 18.5% had major defects, 63.5% had minor defects, while 18% had no defects.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,

The country's peak electrical industry body, the National Electrical and Communications Association, yesterday called for further audits across the state.The same Air purifier, cover removed.

"It is far from ideal to have so many solar panel installations being flagged as having faults, in particular serious faults, and NECA agrees with the government that more inspections will be needed," chief executive Lindsay Le Compte said.

However, while welcoming a Fair Trade audit in the Northern Rivers Mr O'Reilly said the major defects found in the Sydney and Port Macquarie audits related to particular type of switch called a DC circuit breaker that had been installed incorrectly in some cases.

"This issue has been known in the industry for some time,The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers." he said.

"It was a teething issue from the industry going from using sparkies to specialist solar electricians.

"I believe it is now front and centre for the industry."

The minor defaults relate to incorrect markings and signage.

Mr O'Reilly said only two fires had been recorded this year in solar panel meter blocks, while household halogen lights had caused 23 fires.

He said if anyone was concerned about their DC breaker they should call their installer.

More pain on the cards as plastic borrowing slumps

Britain's retailers are bracing themselves for a fresh wave of pain as figures showed shoppers have shunned their credit cards, with borrowing on plastic growing at its lowest level for more than a year.

Bank of England data revealed credit card borrowing grew at just 34m in May, its lowest since a 22m increase in April 2010.

The update is further evidence consumers are reining in spending having seen their household budgets squeezed by increased taxes,Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality, the cost of petrol and wage freezes.

Later today troubled music chain HMV will add its voice to the warnings dire trading conditions are the worst experienced for decades.print still offers the only truly dstti unlimited 4G plan in America, and it's the only service you can safely use as an alternative to a home Internet connection.

Fierce competition from online rivals and supermarket chains has caused the DVD and CD seller to issue a slew of profits warnings.

There should not be any surprises in the annual update with the firm guiding earnings around the 30m mark on sales of 1.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc.85bn. However all eyes will be on current trading. It finally disposed of its Waterstone's business yesterday.

Analysts say department store chain Debenhams is in better shape having hiked prices by 8pc to cover the increased cost of cotton.

It is expected to have seen strong growth in April and May, which should help underlying sales for the third quarter to rise 1pc.

Debenhams is likely to be one of the few retailers posting good news following the collapse of womenswear chain Jane Norman and Habitat UK over the past seven days.

A raft of figures released yesterday also raised further questions about the health of the British economy.

The dominant services sector – including hotels and restaurants, transport companies and City firms – suffered its biggest slump for more than a year.

Official figures showed output fell 1.2pc in April as the Royal Wedding and the extra bank holiday took its toll. It was the worst performance since January 2010 when snow caused heavy disruption.

Bank lending to businesses was also on the slide and mortgage approvals ticked up by less than 500 to 45,940 as the housing market remained in the doldrums.

And in another blow,Choose from one of the major categories of Bedding,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! research group GfK NOP said consumer confidence fell this month after a strong recovery in May.

Nick Moon, managing director of GfK NOP, said: 'What will disappoint the Government is the drop is so large.

'Confidence is lower than it was this time last year. As we move into the summer, the outlook remains a gloomy one.'

The Canberra Times News Skip directly

Solar farm companies have secured large parcels of land in rural ACT in preparation for a large-scale solar energy auction.

Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell, reannounced details of an auction process yesterday for solar energy businesses to bid for the rights to establish large facilities in the ACT that can produce 40megawatts of power for the national capital. Renewable energy company Elementus Energy has already secured 300ha of pastoral land in the ACT in anticipation of the auction.Full color plastic card printing and manufacturing services.

Elementus Energy managing director Ashleigh Antflick said the company had signed ''bankable'' contracts with an undisclosed number of farmers willing to lease their land and have solar farms installed on their properties. He would not confirm the location of the sites.Choose from one of the major categories of Bedding,

''We have looked towards areas in the ACT, where there is a large enough piece of land and no topographical shading,'' he said.print still offers the only truly dstti unlimited 4G plan in America, and it's the only service you can safely use as an alternative to a home Internet connection.

''You don't want Mt Stromlo casting a long shadow on your solar panels for a few hours a day.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,''

Mr Antflick said it would take three to five hectares of land to produce 1MW of power and the company would lodge a large bid.

Elementus Energy has already been in discussion with ActewAGL about grid connection options.

Mr Corbell said he was aware of a number of renewable energy companies securing land in the ACT to deploy solar farm installations.

The ACT Government has released an industry briefing paper on the auction process and plans to develop supporting legislation and an auction framework by the end of the year. Mr Corbell said he expected the sealed bid auction to take place early next year, 6 months later than the mid-2011 auction date previously set.

''This has proven to be a very complex process to work through and industry have said they need sufficient time to plan for auction,'' he said.This page list rubber hose products with details & specifications. ''We expect strong interest and we will have up to 20 bids. There is strong industry interest in this already, this is the first time it has been done in Australia.''

Honeywell launches MoMas Smart Home product family

The MoMas product line embodies Honeywell's commient to innovative home automation and control technologies to bring people higher quality living through state-of-the-art smart home systems.

Honeywell a global leader in automation and control systems (ACS) and smart home technologies, today announced the launch of its MoMas Smart Home product family in Asian countries and regions including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! Effective today, grouped under the MoMas family are the Honeywell Community-wide Integrated Smart Home Solutions HS-7000 Series, the Honeywell Standalone Smart Home Solution HRIS-1000 Series and the Honeywell Wireless Lighting Control System C1/G1/G2 Series.


The MoMas product line embodies Honeywell's commient to innovative home automation and control technologies to bring people higher quality living through state-of-the-art smart home systems. With these systems, life can be as people wish it to be ¡ª with higher security,What are the top Hemroids treatments? greater comfort and lower energy consumption ¡ª and with just a fingertip tap of any Wi-Fi device, homeowners can easily control their home temperature, ventilation, lighting, curtains, security, elevator and other home appliances anywhere anytime, making life highly enjoyable and convenient.Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet,


¡°As a world leader in automation and control solutions for over 120 years, Honeywell's smart home solutions fit perfectly with the Company's mission to build a world that is safer, more secure,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game.The same Air purifier, cover removed. more comfortable, more energy efficient, more innovative and productive.

Food packaging chemical may harm unborn babies

A US study has raised concerns about the use of the chemical BPA in food packaging for pregnant mothers.Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource!

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a plasticiser commonly used in tinned foods and other food packaging such as glass jars, baby bottles and water bottles.

It is an endocrine disruptor and although the science on the health effects of BPA in foods is not conclusive, some studies have linked it to a range of illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and infertility.

Concerns have also long been held about exposing babies to BPA through baby food jars and baby bottles, but US researchers say exposure in utero, via the mother's diet, may be even worse.

The study suggests BPA exposure to unborn babies may affect testosterone production.Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet,

The study's author, Associate Professor Cheryl Rosenfeld at the University of Missouri, says it is further evidence BPA should be phased out in all food products, not just baby foods.

The researchers fed pregnant mice small amounts of BPA and tested the navigational abilities of male offspring when they became sexually mature.

Associate Professor Rosenfeld says a maze was used to test the mice and the difference between the performance of mice exposed to BPA versus those who were not was significant.

"The males that were exposed to BPA performed at a worse rate than those that were not exposed to BPA and they had a severe delayed ability to find the exit holes that led to their home cage," she said.

"Even by the end of the seven-day trial period, the BPA-exposed males tended not to pick up on what the most efficient search strategy [was]."

Associate Professor Rosenfeld says the mice exposed to BPA would wander aimlessly around the maze.

She says the BPA-exposed mice were also more anxious.

"We looked at exploratory behaviour too in these males because it's been shown that these males,The same Air purifier, cover removed. and also in boys versus girls, males tend to have higher exploratory behaviour,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game." she said.

"Those that were exposed to BPA exhibited decreased exploratory behaviour or what we would term,Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives. 'anxiety-like behaviours'."

The researchers hypothesise that these results could be due to interference in testosterone production but Associate Professor Rosenfeld says it could be much more than that.

"The other potential way that BPA might be induced in these effects is by acting on the region of the brain that controls this behaviour and that's the hippocampus," she said.

"And in animals and humans there's a lot of structural conservation in this area of the brain."

BPA-exposed male mice were also less sexually attractive to female mice.

Some countries have already banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and some companies have taken the initiative to phase BPA out of their all their products.

But Associate Professor Rosenfeld says her study shows more research needs to be done into the effect of BPA before birth rather than just after birth.

She says there needs to be regulation to make it mandatory for companies to display whether or not their products contain BPA.

The consumer grouch Choice did its own tests on canned foods in Australia last year and found that 33 out of 41 products tested contained BPA.

Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn says the latest study only adds weight to Choice's call for the precautionary principle to be applied and BPA taken out of food packaging in Australia.

"This just adds more weight on that side of the ledger that we have to look at this particular product very carefully," he said.

"There are other substitutes which are used in terms of the lining food cans. In other countries it's been changed willingly, in many places indeed."

Magic Cube, Laser Base Keyboard To Aid Working on The iPad

A Korean based company by the name of Celluon has recently launched a laser-based virtual keyboard, called Magic Cube.

For many of us, typing on smartphones or tablets is sometimes too uncomfortable,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game. due to their relatively small size compared to a regular keyboard.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc. However, the Magic Cube provides an easy solution to fast data input. This small Bluetooth device can sit near your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch and easily display a normal sized QWERTY keyboard, as well as project an invisible infrared light that interprets your finger movements,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! translating them into keystrokes on the connected device, with a reported maximum speed of 400 characters a minute.

The Magic Cube is very small, measuring only 38 x 75 x 29 millimeters, and only weighing 200 grams. While it is mainly Bluetooth activated, it also holds an USB port for both charging as well as wired connection where necessary, with a reported 150 hour lasting battery.

In regards to compatibility, Celluon's creation works with all main operating systems and hardware, whether mobile or not. Supporting Bluetooth HID or USB 2.0, the Magic Cube is compatible with Android 2.0/2.1/2.2,Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet, iOS as well as Windows 7.

Moreover, where supported, the virtual keyboard can be transformed into a multitouch surface, allowing gesture-based interactions with the connected device.

All in all, while it may not be useful to everyone, Celluon's input gadget will help bring speed accessibility to touch-based devices,Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives. helping them make a slight step towards incorporation at the office.

New Job Corps center prepares youths for careers

Lavarre Buchanan, who grew up on the city's north side, struggled to try to complete high school and work at a packaging and shipping company. Then he discovered he would be a father.

"I needed to focus on my future and get myself together," he said. "I made up my mind that I had to better myself and I started looking at different programs.Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet,"

In January, he was among the first students to enter the brand new Milwaukee Job Corps Center, 6665 N. 60th St., that has now reached its capacity of 300 students.

In addition to earning his high school diploma, Buchanan, 23, is getting job training in heating, ventilation and air conditioning and feels hopeful about his future. He's discovered leadership skills and serves as president of the student government on the beautiful, sprawling campus, which includes classrooms, training facilities, dormitories, a gym, cafeteria and other amenities.

The $28 million facility, built on 25 acres, is the 125th Job Corps center to open. Operated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps is the nation's largest education and vocational job training system for economically disadvantaged youths and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24. Each year it serves an estimated 60,000 participants.

The program is free to those who get into the two-year program,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game. which can be extended to three.

"Job Corps is not a handout, but a hand-up program to give the next level of opportunity,Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc. so that young people can support themselves and become taxpaying citizens," center director Jim Roberts said. "Job Corps is a launch to give young people the opportunity to take a deep breath, a leap of faith and land on their own feet."

On average, 87% of students nationally who complete the program go to work, college or the military, he said.

Despite what some think, Job Corps is not a detention center, he stressed.

"Most of our students have never had an interaction with law enforcement," Roberts said.

To qualify for the program a person must meet federal poverty income guidelines and go through an admissions process, which includes an interview and a criminal-background check. No one with serious crimes or felonies is accepted.

Students are matched with a center that offers their preferred job training program, Roberts said. The Milwaukee center offers job training in welding, cement masonry, HVAC, certified nursing assistance, material handling and computer numerical control machines used in manufacturing, Roberts said.

In addition to an array of support services, students get job placement assistance when they complete Job Corps, a program that costs an average of $27,000 a year per student. The center is operated for the Labor Department under a contract with MINACT Inc., a private firm that runs other centers. The center has about 125 employees.

During the first six months of operation, about 55 students dropped out, Roberts said.

"There's a lot of structure and some students found the program longer or harder than they had expected. Some just weren't right for the program based on their behavior," he said.

But there's also a waiting list of 75 for the center, he said. About 57% of the students at the center are from Wisconsin and 45% from Milwaukee, Roberts said.

About half of the students arrive with a high school diploma, he said.

"Many weren't ready, education-wise, to get their high school diploma, or were trying to go to college but couldn't afford it," he said.

Chasity Rogers, 23,Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives. of St. Louis, Mo., graduated from high school and had a job she liked selling appliances. When she lost the job, she started attending a community college. But that meant working two jobs, one at Walmart and one at McDonald's, to get by. She said she just couldn't keep up with the grueling schedule.

"I tried college, but I couldn't get financial aid and I couldn't pay for it and I needed something," she said. Rogers is now in the certified nursing program.

"I feel this is the best decision I ever made," she said. "I've learned so much about myself, and life and opportunity." One day she wants to own her own business.

Andrew Sommer, 20, of Bettendorf, Iowa, said he was in the "stagnating phase" working at movie theaters and car washes.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong; I just saw no direction," he said. "The center was a perfect fit because it's new and it's offering me a new path at a new career."

He's in the welding program, which he calls "awesome." Ultimately, he wants to be a welding engineer, he said.

Juan Silva, 24, of Waukegan, Ill., finished high school and was attending college but couldn't balance two full-time jobs and classes.

"I rushed to get into Job Corps because I was 24, the cutoff age," he said.

He's in the cement masonry program, but also likes art and eventually would like to become an architect.

"I'm thankful to Job Corps for the opportunity," he said. "I want to improve and be a success."

As she watches over the young people looking to find their way, Vera Ford, director of residential living at the center, can relate. A native of Milwaukee and a graduate of King High School, she was 16 when she went to the Job Corps center in Los Angeles.

That was 1965 and Job Corps had just started admitting women, she said. She became a licensed practical nurse and returned to work at Milwaukee hospitals.Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! Through the years she's worked in Washington, D.C., and held various positions with Job Corps at centers in New Jersey, Maine and Oklahoma.

An expat's journey into devastated Japan

The train headed towards the disaster-hit area. Acres of rice fields met my eyes. My thoughts returned to newsreels shown in the days after the great earthquake. I remembered an aerial view,Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals taken from a helicopter, of car a fleeing through rice fields similar to those that now passed by, as the tsuami rushed in from the left of the screen.

The train chugged on and passed through small towns. Most rooftops were patched up with blue tarpaulin. Aftershocks are expected to continue for another couple of years yet, so plastic sheets are making do as makeshift roofs for the time being, three months on from the disaster.

Matsushima was the next and final station. On this stretch of track, the train rattled through a string of tunnels. With thoughts of the earthquake and tsunami in mind, claustrophobia hit. The tunnels seemed unnervingly long. I sensed relief whenever we exited into the bright sunlight and, greater relief still when I stepped off the train and onto the platform at Matsushima Station.

It was a warm, sunny day, the clear blue sky typical of Japan. The small station seemed to have been untouched by the disaster. It was almost inconceivable that I was just a few kilometres from one of the world's worst-ever tragedies.

I made my way through the sleepy town. Here and there, snaking fractures scarred the streets. On each side of the breaks the land had either lifted or sunk. Jagged steps of about 25cm in height had formed and were surrounded by safety-cones. In other places, heaps of fallen masonry had been shovelled up against walls and buildings.


The smell of dust mixed with damp burnt wood filled the air, as I came upon mounds of household wreckage. A sports field, consisting of two football pitches and a baseball diamond, was being used as a dumping ground to separate the wreckage from the tsunami-hit homes.

There were mounds of wood, mounds of bedding and sofas, mounds of twisted metals, mounds of colourful plastics, and all were coated in dust.

The biggest mound was that of yet-to-be-sorted debris, which looked like a pile of giant jigsaw pieces. Familiar objects poked out at odd, undignified, angles. Mickey Mouse, his lower body ensnared, grinned and waved his one free arm. CDs glinted and caught the eye. A Hello Kitty toy, dressed in shocking pink, craned forward as if gasping for air. Brightly coloured towels and curtains entwined computers, chairs,we supply all kinds of oil painting reproduction, and tables. Partially trapped futons spewed forward and flopped down as if in exhaustion. And all were bound and knotted together.

Treading carefully over cracks, gaps, and uplifted masonry, I reached the seawall. A string of small islands dotted the horizon. I sat a while, trying to take in the scene, and listened to the waves. Then I hailed a passing taxi and headed down to the area affected directly by the tsunami itself.

"Taxi! Can you take me to the tsunami-hit area?" I showed the driver my ID. He smiled broadly, nodded, and turned the meter on.

We drove past scenic coastal views, then headed downhill. As we approached the lower-lying land I caught a glimpse of a car,you will need to get an offshore merchant account. upended, and buried into the roof of a house. We had reached the disaster zone.

From out of nowhere, a blackened, muddied wasteland emerged. A length of railway line had been uplifted by the tsunami and now stood on end, resembling a fence. Masked soldiers rummaged through rubble. Mechanical diggers twisted and jerked. The roads were partially flooded. A slaughtered, mangled town lay before me.

The taxi's tyres swished as we drove on through sludge. The driver carefully made his way through pockets of floodwater,In addition to hydraulics fittings and Aion Kinah, up to about 30cm deep in places. Military vehicles shunted to and fro. We pulled over and stopped several times to give way. As we waited, I looked around at the horror that surrounded me.

Houses lining the road had either been ripped apart, or flattened, or just carried away by the waters. Beached boats had pummelled their way through walls. They protruded, like unexploded missiles, half in and half out of battered seaside homes. Felled telegraph poles balanced on top of collapsed houses, boats, and cars. Gaping holes exposed shattered living rooms. Curtains flapped wildly out of broken windows and doorways. What of the occupants, I thought, not for the first time that day, what happened to them?

We passed by what once had been a river, but was now a stream of black ooze. The concrete banks, high and steep, were coated in mire. On the riverbed, rusting coaches, cars, and lorries lay toppled, angled this way and that, as though having given up an immense struggle, they'd lain down exhausted, and died.

How had they arrived at this final resting place? What had been their destinations? Who had been waiting for them? Where had they come from? Who had smiled and waved goodbye?

"What's the name of this place?" I asked the taxi driver.

"Ton-na," he replied. I wondered what thoughts were concealed behind his broad smile.

That smell of dust and damp burnt wood, filled the taxi and stayed with us as we headed back towards the station. It was a smell that lingered with me for several days. It is a smell that returns whenever I think about Ton-na.

I asked the driver to stop by the sea. I got out and took a long stroll by the quiet coast. The tide was in. Moored fishing boats gently rocked and knocked against each other. The seawater was about three metres below the top of the seawall. I looked around at the houses very near by. Were they safe?

Small uninhabited islands lay about a kilometre from the shore. They looked serene, covered in deep green foliage, a haven for wildlife. But, my mind constantly wandered back to the tragedy of that cold mid-March afternoon. I remembered newsreels showing entire towns lifted up by the sea and dashed asunder.

I walked back towards the station. My head bowed in thought. I was awoken by a bright, "Hello". A young Japanese boy, about ten years old, with his friends, jumped at the opportunity to greet a native English speaker. Cheerily,What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. I replied likewise. His face lit up. His friends giggled and muttered as they continued on their way.

About fifty teenage schoolgirls waited for the train. They chatted, groomed their hair, and checked their appearances in small mirrors. I felt sure that they must have known people who had either been killed in the disaster, or who were still missing. I wondered what affect such a massive tragedy was having, or would have, on their lives. There was always the possibility of the same occurrence again, here, at any time.

Everyone I came across seemed to be coping fine. But the Japanese are masters at hiding their woes. I could do no more than wonder.

children terrified by nighttime home raids

With the arrival of a new brigade of soldiers in the old city of Hebron, Palestinians have reported a rise in home invasions.What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. Raheb,you will need to get an offshore merchant account. mother of five young girls,In addition to hydraulics fittings and Aion Kinah, recounted the hour-long raid of her home describing how they first searched the roof, then entered their home where her girls were asleep. Soldiers proceeded to empty drawers,Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, pull apart bedding and search the kitchen. Raheb questioned the soldiers; "Why are you here?" The only answer she received that evening was another question; "Where are your men?" The men of the household were outside on the street having been detained by the soldiers. Two of Raheb's five daughters slept through the raid, while the other three watched in terror.

The following night soldiers again, entered a home, ascending an interior staircase passing startled children and waking people from their beds,Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals to stand guard on their roof for no more than five minutes. Soldiers insisted on the necessity of their evening invasion, and then required identification from anyone in the household who inquired why they were there. These are just two examples of what have become common disturbances, as Palestinians try to live some semblance of a normal life and Israeli Defense Forces prepare for war.

Beautiful display of roses at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Conn.

When you see roses in bloom, you begin to understand why people have cultivated this flower for centuries. If you don't grow roses, visit a rose garden soon.What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies.

America's oldest public rose garden is Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Conn. There, you will see 500 varieties of roses on 15,000 rose bushes, most of them in bloom. The garden began in 1903 and continues today largely with the help of volunteer gardeners.

On a visit last June, I could not believe the sheer amount of roses in bloom that I saw.you will need to get an offshore merchant account. You see rows and rows,Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, all in neatly formed beds of every color imaginable, and all are clearly marked, which is something gardeners treasure.

When you visit, be sure to pick up a guide to the rose beds at the visitor's center. That will help you identify each variety, which is part of the fun of visiting a public garden: learning something.

Several arches covered in climbing roses extend over pathways throughout the park. Climbing roses, including the old-fashioned red ‘Crimson Rambler,' provide the color for the arches. To see the size of the arches covered in the colors of the roses on that sunny afternoon was worth the trip.

Elizabeth Park, with its 102 acres, seems like any other large city park that has been around for a while. But the roses make this one special.Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals I parked on a side road in the park across from the rose beds. It was not difficult to find the roses once you get into the roads that wind around inside the park.

There are also other gardens to see in the park. The Annuals Garden features bulbs in the spring and a number of beds with annuals and tropicals for the summer.

At one end of the park, well-trimmed red, white and blue annuals form an American flag. That kind of planting reflects the garden fashion called carpet bedding and ribbon beds, popular during the 19th century Victorian era.

The Herb Society of America maintains a garden with a variety of herbs. The gazebo in the center of the garden affords a shady spot both to rest and view the garden.

You can also step inside the park's greenhouses to see the tropical plant collection. When I was there, the humidity was such that I preferred a cool spot for a resReplacement Projector Lamp and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.pite rather than a glassed hot house with its soaring temperature.

The new Heritage Garden, currently under construction, will feature 10 raised beds edged in stonewalls that form the outline of a five-petal rosette.

Eventually, 100 old-fashioned roses will be planted in this garden.

Va. Beach firefighter to get national heroism award

Early on the morning of Oct. 12, an overloaded extension cord sparked a fire that quickly spread through a two-story home on Jeanne Street in Aragona Village.

The fire raged for about a half hour, claiming the life of a 73-year-old woman and displacing 10 people. But the tragedy could have been even worse.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, When firefighters arrived shortly before 2 a.m., two people were on the roof of the home's front porch, trying to rescue a 16-month-old girl trapped inside. There wasn't much time, so fire Capt. William "Billy" Reynolds made a tough decision: to enter without a fire hose.

The maneuver, called vent-enter-search, is the most dangerous in firefighting, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a department spokesman. It means a firefighter goes in without the security of a water hose to extinguish flames and safely lead the way out.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,

It's a maneuver most firefighters use only once or twice in their careers, Riley said.

Reynolds and seven-year Firefighter Hope Scott entered through a second-floor window and began searching for the child. But smoke blinded them, and the house was so hot a thermal imager was useless.

For several long minutes they searched fruitlessly through a bedroom cluttered with furniture and clothes. Then Scott heard a faint cry and shallow, raspy breaths coming from a nearby spot on the floor.

She discovered the girl lying on a mattress, covered in bedding. She was unconscious and ended up in a pediatric intensive care unit for 10 days, according to a write-up on the incident from the Fire Department. But she survived and has since made a full recovery.

In an interview after the rescue, Scott said she was just doing her job. But her actions caught the attention of Liberty Mutual Insurance agent Sherry Goumenis, who nominated Scott for a national heroism award.Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store

A board of fire safety professionals reviewed more than 150 nominations for the National Firemark Award for Heroism and selected Scott the winner. She'll be recognized at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday in a ceremony at Town Center's Fountain Plaza.

The award, which is sponsored by Liberty Mutual, includes a $10,000 grant for the Fire Department,the Injection mold fast! which will probably be used to purchase safety equipment, Riley said. Scott also will receive a trip for four to Disney World, according to a news release.

"It could've been any of the members of the Fire Department, but on that particular day, it just happened to be Hope," Goumenis said. "But she's obviously very well-deserving of this particular award, so we were all very proud of her."

Liberty Mutual also recognized seven other firefighters involved in the incident with the local Firemark Award, including Capt. Billy Reynolds.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,

"We're proud of every member that responded on the Jeanne Street fire because it was truly an all-hands effort," Riley said. "We're honored."

ABC Rural Report

In cane harvesting season, there are many critical links to ensuring a smooth and efficient operation.

None more so than getting the sugar cane to the mill.

The first week of crushing season at Mulgrave Central Mill has been spent bedding down a new, $1.7 million bin tipping facility.

This year the mill is expecting to crush around 1.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids,1 million tons but general manager Peter Flanders says there is significant capacity to do more.

Mr Flanders says the recent investment gives the mill more flexibility in the way it handles its cane supply - including crops which previously were milled at Babinda.
Babinda still coming to terms with mill closure

Charlie McKillop

For the tightknit cane growing community of Babinda,the Injection mold fast! it's been a tough week.

To the north and south, sugar mills have fired into action but at Babinda, the old mill stands dormant. Cane from the district is now being sent to South Johnstone to be crushed.

Charlie Zappala - whose family has been growing cane at Woopen Creek since the 1950s - says it will take some time for the community to deal with the mill's demise.
More job losses expected in live cattle export ban fallout

Miriam Hall

A representative of the cattle transport industry says financial assistance to help people who have lost their jobs because of the live cattle export ban to Indonesia, is a good thing, but doesn't entirely address the problem.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,

Yesterday the Federal Government announced it would give cash payments to people who are unemployed because of the temporary live export ban.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store

3 million dollars has been made available.

Liz Schmidt is the immediate outgoing president of the Livestock Transporters Association.

She says there's real concern about job losses and ongoing uncertainly could drive more away from the transport industry.

RAHC begins upgrading properties

The Regional Affordable Housing Corp. has begun the process of upgrading several properties, making them more energy efficient.The name "magic cube" is not unique.

RAHC Director John Broderick said the funding comes from a combination of stimulus money and grants through the Vermont Housing Conservation Board and the Vermont Fuel Efficiency Partnership.

He said grant money totals $230,Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl.000, while RAHC is providing an additional $77,000 from its reserve funds. He said solar-powered boilers,dstti energy-efficient windows, and foam insulation is being put into a number of RAHC units. He said about 17 are on Carrigan Lane in Bennington, a few of which are considered historic by the state.

Broderick said the state Division for Historic Preservation had involvement in the Carrigan Lane aspect, and an effort was made to keep the historical look of the buildings intact while replacing the windows and installing solar panels. He said the buildings there were built in 1850.The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers.

In Bennington County, RAHC controls 219 units, about two-thirds of which it manages in limited partnerships with banks. Broderick said that last year,buy landscape oil paintings online. the cost to heat them all was $250,000 with oil at $2.57 per gallon. This coming year the price is expected to be at $3.50 per gallon. He said that in the 28 units getting renovated, some of which are in Arlington, the energy costs are expected to go down by 25 percent.

"We've been at this for a long time," said Broderick. "There

are a lot of i's to dot when using stimulus funds, so we were excited when the solar panels were delivered last week and we're even more excited to see them going up on the lift for installation."

He said the real joy would be when the heating bill comes in next year. The units upgraded,We specialize in providing third party merchant account. he said, were some of the least energy efficient under RAHC's care.

Trashes Piling in Monas After the Indonesia 2015 Free-Drugs Declaration Event

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s instruction to not littering seems to be have not well understood by citizens. It can be seen from trashes piling everywhere in Silang Monas (National Monument) Park, Central Jakarta, after the event of Indonesia 2015 Free-Drugs Declaration which attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Sunday (6/26).

“Monas is usually opened for visitors at 8 AM every day. Due to this event, we open at 12 PM. But because of the trash piles, we delay again the opening hour into 12.30 PM,” stated Head of Monas Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) Rini Haryani to beritajakarta.com.

According to her, at first they planned to close Monas area from visitors to clean it form trash piles. “From loud speaker, we had announced to close Monas area.Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl. But because lines of visitors have formed and we do not want to disappoint them, we finally decided to cancel it and just delay the opening hour,” she explained.

Most of the trashes were plastics and mineral water botols. To clean it, about 20 officers of Monas UPT carried out the task. “We obviously overwhelmed clean it ourselves.The name "magic cube" is not unique. But luckily, there were scavengers helping us,” she expressed.

For the mean time, Rini added, the trashes were dumped to temporary garbage dumps or collected in sacks.

This condition costs Monas so much, especially on the incWe specialize in providing third party merchant account.ome from ticket sales. It is because a lot of the event participants brought their family members along without having entrance ticket. Moreover, there were also residents canceled their visit due to the opening hour canceled. “Usually, MonThe Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers.as visitors reached 8.000 people on weekend. But I am not sure that amount of visitors can be reached today,” she added.

To prevent similar situation happening again, Rini urged related parties who intended to hold event in Monas to involve Monas UPT as the area management. “We were never involved on events in Monas all this time. But,buy landscape oil paintings online. the most important thing is that for whoever intended to hold event in Monas must keep the area clean. Monas is an icon and belongs to every society, that is why the cleanliness must be really kept,” she asserted.

Mexico City: conditions improve for business

In 2002, Gino Pecorelli decided to do what nobody had done before: open a restaurant in Mexico City's Luis Cabrera square in the heart of the capital's Roma district.

Back then, Roma was such a shady area that Mr Pecorelli, a French Italian, would close immediately after lunch to avoid problems in the hood. The square's once-impressive fountain lay broken among piles of trash. Even the street lighting was out of order.

Today,The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers. his Non Solo Panini restaurant stays open until after midnight, and business is so good that you have to arrive early to ensure a place at one of the small, caf¨¦-style tables outside. A dozen or more other restaurants have since opened nearby.

"The place is unrecognisable," says Mr Pecorelli. "There is a big, middle-class community now, and that is great for business."

In many ways, Roma's revival is a microcosm of what is happening in the rest of the city. The leafy Reforma Avenue, one of the main arteries, is now lined with modern high-rise office blocks and hotels, each one seemingly more luxurious than the last. On Sundays it turns into one huge cycle path.

In Polanco, an upmarket shopping district and business centre, the country's moneyed classes sip tequila and chardonnay on sidewalk restaurants before returning to their work places or homes in chauffeur-driven SUVs.

Even in the downtown area of what used to be the Aztec capital, businesses are opening, and people stroll carefree along streets they once feared. The Z¨®calo, the monumental square, has become a venue for live music and performance.

In short, business is growing and life is getting better in the capital of Latin America's second-largest economy.We specialize in providing third party merchant account. "The city is much more inhabitable than it used to be," says Sergio Mart¨ªn, chief Mexico economist for HSBC in Mexico City. "It has gone from being one of the worst places to live in Mexico to one of the best."

A string of liberal social reforms ¨C gay marriage, legal abortions and vastly simplified divorces, among other things ¨C introduced by Marcelo Ebrard, the leftwing mayor, during the past few years has even led some observers to rename Mexico's capital "Marcelona".

Mexico City's revival comes as many other parts of the country are suffering. The government's war against organised crime has led to a rise in the national murder rate. It has also made criminal gangs, whose traditional business has been hit by the crackdown, diversify into areas such as extortion, car theft and even human trafficking.

But Mexico City has escaped the worst of it. While murders at the national level have increased from about eight per 100,000 inhabitants in 2007 to 18.4 this year, they have stayed more or less flat in the capital. Car theft shot up almost 17 per cent last year in Mexico. But in Mexico City, it fell 7 per cent.

Part of the reason is that the capital does not lie on a main smuggling route for drugs en route from South America to the US. But the numbers also have to do with a tough security policy. The city has 40,000 police officers in its regular force, and another 35,000 uniformed officers it can call up in an emergency. By contrast,Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl. Mexico's federal police force has just 30,000 members.

In addition, the capital has invested close to US$500m in closed-circuit television. By the end of this year, when it plans to hook up the network to private security cameras already installed around the streets, the capital stands to become the most monitored city in the world.

"For its complexity, solidity and the speed with which we are doing it, this project has no rival," says Fausto Lugo,buy landscape oil paintings online. who runs the project for the local government. The initiative, called Safe City, has already seen average response times for police units arriving at a crime scene fall from 12 minutes to about five.

Other factors that gave the city a bad name have improved considerably. Take air quality, which meets internationally accepted standards on almost all primary contaminants for the first time in years. "We are now off the critical list of the world's most polluted cities," says Armando Retama,The name "magic cube" is not unique. a chemical engineer at Mexico City's atmospheric monitoring unit.

Some of that improvement in air quality is the result of the biggest transport infrastructure project in the city's history. The metro system, one of the world's largest, is about to inaugurate a new line at a cost of US$500m.

And by the end of next year, Mexico City will have between eight and nine Metrobus lines, financed through public-private partnerships, compared with just three today.

Each of the US$100m lines, which have dedicated lanes and special bus stops that look like metro platforms, removes roughly 60 old buses off the capital's streets, easing traffic and improving air quality.

Mexico City is still a way from looking like a modern European city. But it has, at least, taken the fist important steps. As Mr Ebrard says with a smile, "Nice city, Marcelona, isn't it?"

A cocktail of electricity sources for China

China is investing heavily in several energy sectors as it aims to increase its electricity generating capacity to 1.6 terawatts by 2020. The country is also seeking alternatives to coal - it accounts for 48 per cent of global consumption of the fuel - and oil.

Solar

Analysts have said China has been subsidising its solar panel manufacturers to reduce costs ahead of a planned rapid expansion in installations in the country. The country is the world's largest producer of solar panels but buys only a small part of the global output. By 2020, China wants to have 50 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity, more than 100 times the current figure.

Wind

While China is taking its time with its solar power installations, it is already the world leader in wind energy, increasing its capacity by more than 70 per cent last year to 45 gigawatts, a figure the country aims to triple by 2020. As well as state-owned manufacturers such as United Power, China also plays host to factories from foreign producers such as Denmark's Vestas.Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl.

Hydro

China has the world's largest hydroelectric power plant by capacity, the Three Gorges Dam, and installed nearly 4 gigawatts of hydro power capacity from January to May this year.buy landscape oil paintings online. The country aims to have 320 gigawatts of installed hydro power capacity by 2020. But many dam projects have encountered environmental opposition.The name "magic cube" is not unique.The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers.

Nuclear

After the nuclear crisis began in Japan in March, China said it would reduce its 2020 target of 80 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity,We specialize in providing third party merchant account. without giving a revised figure. Some analysts have wondered how China can drastically scale back its nuclear expansion plans without causing severe power shortages.

Solar panels, windows, doors added to the Keefer home

Many an adjective could be used to sum up the week so far for the near 5,100 volunteers stationed around the clock at the site of the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" build on the Keefer family home.

Stiflingly hot. Busy. Exciting. Exhausting. And, for most, moving.

If you're Jeff Musser, though ... all of the above would be accurate.This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game.

Since the build kicked off last weekend, Musser has gained nary a wink of sleep in the on-site RV he's calling home this week.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Musser Home Builders president commanded his worker bees on roughly three hours of sleep achieved in the early morning hours, intermittently from 1 to 2 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 a.m.

Lack of sleep could be evidenced in the build's progress, though, with overnight rain failing to put a dent in the construction schedule.

"I don't consider rain a part of the equation," Musser said, noting that by Wednesday, the remodeled portion of the Keefer home was roughly a day ahead of the new addition, in terms of progress.

"It's gotten a lot better," he added of the impact of filming on the building schedule. "In the beginning,In addition to hydraulics fittings and Aion Kinah, it was bad. We had to stop a lot for production. With the demolition (on Monday) ... that took a long time. We started about five hours behind."

By Wednesday, skilled volunteers and production crews had seemingly found their groove, with dry-wallers taking over the job at 2 p.m.

On a typical build, Musser explained, it would take five to six dry-wallers an average of three weeks to complete the same amount of work.

With the expedited schedule, five to six dry-wallers morphed into 50 on site Wednesday, despite 20 volunteers backing out the day before.

And three weeks? Whittled down to a mere 14 hours, with crews expected to wrap up dry-walling by 4 a.m. this morning.

Progress

In addition to dry-walling, volunteers installed solar panels on the side of the home, as well as windows and doors Wednesday afternoon.

According to Musser, the new Keefer home will feature two kitchens, in addition to 16-foot ceilings when you enter the front door.

Brian Keefer will have his own wing of the home, complete with a separate entrance and an extensive therapy room. An iPad will control the entire home with regard to temperature and such, with Brian blowing through a straw to control it.

"Some of the things in here are very, very expensive. But it's the right thing for Brian. It's just perfect for him," Musser said. "We really believe he'll be able to walk again.

Trim work, landscaping and the installation of cabinets was planned to be on the agenda for much of today, followed by painting late tonight and early tomorrow, before crews hand it over to the design team.

"We've got an incredible system of leadership," Musser said. "The people I'm working with are running from the cameras. They're not doing it for TV. But you couldn't do it without TV."

¡®Praying for'

While volunteers broke their backs in the sun Wednesday, spectators stood behind nearby barricades, chanting for the show's star host to pop out for a visit.

"We want Ty! We want Ty!" they shouted in unison, referring to the ever-popular Ty Pennington.

Though he was supposed to be on a 1 p.m. flight to Utah (to visit another build site), Pennington was, in fact, at the Keefer home for part of the afternoon, with thunderous cheering taking over each time he made himself visible.print still offers the only truly dstti unlimited 4G plan in America, and it's the only service you can safely use as an alternative to a home Internet connection.

"It's been a very exciting time, let me tell you," said Cynthia Marks, who lives a few homes down from the Keefers. "We have a lot of activity going on."

Despite "noise 24 hours a day," which she drowns out with earplugs, Marks remained excited and appreciative over the way that show crews have been treating neighbors since the build began.

"The people involved with this have been more than gracious," she said. "And we've been fed well. I haven't had to cook all week. Last night, they fed us meatloaf for dinner."

Early in the week, Marks said with a laugh, show crews had been practicing for Sunday's big reveal by repeatedly yelling the famous catch phrase - "Move that bus!"

"This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We're just really enjoying this," she said. "I haven't heard anybody complain. We've all been assured that anything will be fixed, and landscapers will be around."

Above all, though, Marks noted that she was most excited for the Keefer family.

"We've been neighbors for a long time ... and the family is such a wonderful family," she said. "This young man is going to have every piece of equipment to get him walking again ... and that's something we're all praying for."

Inspiration

Back in the comforts of her air-conditioned trailer, shortly before 4 p.m., "Extreme Makeover" designer and former "Bachelorette" Jillian Harris took a break while waiting to film scenes for the show.

Harris was called to work on the build with just six hours notice last weekend.

"As cliche as it is, it really does change your life and give you perspective on things," the Vancouver resident said of her three seasons working on the show. "People always say we're an inspiration to the country, and I think it's really the other way around.Save on hydraulic hose and fittings,"

Referring to the Keefer family, she noted "They decided the day that they landed that this was going to be a very special family, and probably the premiere episode. I can only wish to have a family like that. It's just a reminder of how hard I want to work when I have my own family."

Of the work completed on the home to date, she explained, "We pretty much made Brian his own wing, so he was able to have visitors and get his independence back."

Campus revamp

In addition to designing the back yard and kitchen of the Keefers' new home, Harris was tapped to work on a special project at Lock Haven University's Woolridge Hall, the dormitory where Brian Keefer lives during the school year in a converted study lounge.

Harris declined to go too far into detail regarding the project, for fear the Keefer family might read about it, but she would say, "We're working on a special room to repay students for all the sacrifices they've made for Brian. We're just adding some color and life back into the college."

According to Dr. Linda Koch, vice president for student affairs at the university,Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store crews from the show filmed at the Lock Haven campus Tuesday, with work estimated to be done on the remodeled recreation room by Friday.

"It really is quite an amazing process. And what a great young man," Koch said by phone Wednesday. "When (Brian) first came back here in 2009, he didn't have the mobility he has now. It truly is astounding to me what he has accomplished, physically. He told me early on that he was going to walk across the stage to get his diploma."

"It's Brian himself who has truly championed," she added. "It truly is astounding."

Additional sale highlights included a pair of rare polychrome lacquered

Bonhams & Butterfields' Fine Asian Works of Art auction on June 21, 2011 in San Francisco brought more than $11.5-million, with a rare pair of huanghuali continuous yoke back armchairs, 17th/18th century, leading the sale by bringing $1.49 million USD. One of many attractions among the Chinese furniture to be offered, the chairs were from a private Manhattan Collector and featured an elegant s-curved back splat of plain,uy sculpture direct from us at low pricesA glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. finely matched grain and lustrous tone.

Highlights from the estate of Gussie Gaskill, former curator of the Wason Collection of books and manuscripts about China, housed at Cornell University, included a huanghuali kang table, 17th/18th century (sold for $42,700 USD), a pair of huanghuali and mixed wood rose chairs (meiguiyi) (sold for $30,500 USD). A small four panel zitan and mixed wood dragon screen, Late Qing/Republic Period (sold for $32,160 USD), and a Huanghuali and mixed wood side table (qiaotou'an) (sold for $51,240 USD) also provided excitement for buyers.The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model,

Dessa Goddard, Vice President and Director, Asian Works of Art, Bonhams & Butterfields, said of the sale: "Fresh-to-market property is a magnet for bringing international Chinese buyers to Bonhams. The June sale, with its standing room only saleroom, provided a fantastic slice of auction drama and we are extremely pleased with the results."

During its Fine Asian Works of Art last winter, Bonhams & Butterfields sold a set of 18 ivory luohan, Late Qing dynasty, for a record-breaking $506,000 USD. Two additional superb sets of luohan, found in different private collections, were offered during this sale, each bringing $658,000 USD and $458,000 USD, respectively, the first of which breaking the record set by Bonhams in December 2010.

Also highlighting the Chinese section of the auction was a fine group of Ming dynasty bronzes, including a massive bronze Buddha (sold for $266,000 USD) and a rhinoceros horn libation cup carved with a Chinese sage, accompanied by two youthful attendants highlighted the sale (sold for $302,000 USD).

Bonhams & Butterfields was pleased to offer additional snuff bottles from the collection of Linda Riddell Hoffman, whose one-owner white glove sale in March at Bonhams New York was met with great acclaim. This group of jade, semiprecious stone and ivory bottles was complemented by a yellow jade snuff bottle carved in the shape of a sow (sold for $30,500 USD); a black and white jade snuff bottle in the shape of a swimming carp (sold for $85,400 USD) and a rare ¡®twin' jade snuff bottle in the form of a flattened spade shape (sold for $48,800 USD).

Following on the success of the Hoffman Collection, the June sale also featured part one of snuff bottles from the Estate of Norman Stiller. Stiller, a San Francisco immigration lawyer, was known for his connoisseurship and passion for this collecting field.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts, Highlights included a yellow jade snuff bottle (sold for $24,400 USD); a Japanese-embellished white jade snuff bottle (sold for $48,800 USD) and a russet and white jade snuff bottle (sold for $42,700 USD) as well as snuff bottles and glass from the collection of Dr. Alan Feen, whose star lots also sold brilliantly at Bonhams Hong Kong last November.

Goddard continues: "Bonhams has become the auction house of choice for sales of Chinese snuff bottles. The firm has hosted three white glove, 100% sold auctions of snuff bottles from the Mary and George Bloch collection in our Hong Kong rooms, followed by the Linda Riddell Hoffman collection in New York in March. We are deeply committed to this important international market and look forward to Bloch IV in Hong Kong this November.Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource!"

Kangxi blue and white wares from a New York private collection highlighted a large selection of Qing dynasty porcelains on offered, along with a copper red glazed porcelain vase (yuhuchunping), Yongzheng mark and period (sold for $290,000 USD); a large porcelain footed box and cover Xianfeng Mark and Period (sold for $46,360 USD) and a blue and white porcelain yenyen vase, Kangxi Period (sold for $39,040 USD).

Bonhams & Butterfields was also pleased to offer an outstanding painting by the Korean artist, Park Soo-Keun, from a West Coast Collector in this session, as part of a choice group of Korean art. Entitled Roadside Vendors (sold for $242,000 USD), is the fourth Park Soo-Keun painting to be sold by the firm's Asian Art Department in the last six years.

Additional sale highlights included a pair of rare polychrome lacquered and incised wood boxes with dragon decoration, Qing Dynasty (sold for $218,000 USD); a mixed wood wall plaque with jade, hardstone and ivory overlay decoration, late Qing/Republic Period (sold for $218,000 USD); a pair of framed blue and white porcelain plaques of fan shape with figural designs (sold for $194,000 USD) and a pair of blue and white porcelain dragon bowls, Jiajing Mark and Period (sold for $67,100 USD).

Why half a glass is best for Dorset OAPs

LOCAL health experts and charities are backing the findings of a report that says safe drinking limits for over-65s should be slashed to take into account the effects of ageing.uy sculpture direct from us at low prices

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' report suggests that the upper safe limit for older men is 1.5 units of alcohol a day and for women about one unit a day.

Lindley Owen, consultant in public health at NHS Bournemouth and Poole, said: "The report suggests that an older man who drinks over five units,The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model, and an older woman drinking more than three units in a single session, are binge-drinking.

"As these amounts equate to around two pints of beer,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! or half a bottle of wine, it will come as a surprise for many people who consider themselves careful drinkers.

"The take-home message is that as we age, our bodies are less able to take the strain. If you have older relatives who are experiencing unexplained physical problems, consider whether their alcohol or other drug consumption may be contributing.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,

"Chronic illness related to alcohol is an issue locally as well as nationally and while regrettable, it is avoidable."

Sarah Matthews, spokesperson for Ringwood-based British Liver Trust, said: "Having an understanding of the impact alcohol can have on your body is important for all ages. As people age, the capabilities of their liver fall, meaning that it may struggle to process alcohol in the same way.

"One way that you can maintain good liver health is by having three clear alcohol-free days a week as this allows your liver to recover and also reduces your overall weekly consumption."

David Leighton, chief officer of Age UK Bournemouth, said: "Excessive alcohol consumption may be an indicator of depression, which is very common and frequently goes unrecognised in people in later life. Alcohol is also related to many falls, the effects of which become more serious as people get older.

"Age UK Bournemouth provides a range of activities and support designed to relieve isolation and to maintain physical and mental well being details of which can be obtained from our web site ageukbournemouth.org.uk or by telephoning 01202 530530."

If current trends continue, deaths from liver disease are predicted to double in 20 years.A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass.

Rogue salesmen overestimate savings green panels provide for households

They are in danger of becoming the modern-day equivalent of the double-glazing salesman.

Rogue traders are jumping on the green bandwagon to make a killing out of solar panels.

Disturbing evidence of mis-selling of the energy-generating systems has been uncovered by the consumer group Which?


While parallels are drawn with the way double-glazing salesmen wreaked havoc through the suburbs in the 1970s and 1980s, the latest scam risks bringing the entire solar panel industry - which could offer genuine benefits for families - into disrepute.

The Government is pushing the idea that millions of families should turn their homes into mini-power stations. Any excess energy they generate can be sold back to the National Grid through a so-called 'feed-in tariff' for other uses.

A typical combination of savings and income works out at around 1,170 a year,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! according to the Energy Savings Trust.

Which? asked undercover investigators to examine sales tactics by inquiring about the costs and benefits of installing solar photovoltaic(PV) panels.

Posing as customers, they let 12 certified companies survey a house in the South and quote for installation.

Three quarters of the salesmen overestimated how much energy the panels would produce by failing to take account of the location of the property and the likely number of cloudy days, Which? found.
'Perhaps we should have suspected something when they put the solar panels up'

The main selling point for the panels is a claim that they will effectively pay for themselves over a relatively short period.

However, Which? found that most companies suggested the pay-back period would be much quicker than the reality.

In theory, a PV system should last for at least 25 years. One firm overestimated the potential profit over that time by 4,275.

And it underestimated the payback time by three years.

Which? also found that a Government formula used by the industry to work out energy output does not take into account factors such as where people live ¨C and typical sunshine levels.

Seven of the salesmen even recommended installing solar PV panels on a shaded part of the roof.

Eight companies did not question customers about how much energy they used, which would be necessary to estimate their ability to sell power back into the National Grid.

The watchdog also found that companies are flouting the solar panel industry sales code, which bans pressure selling and tactics such as offering large discounts for quick decisions.

One firm, Green Sun, gave the customer 24 hours to decide, and another, Skyline, offered a 'first come first served' discount.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: 'Companies just need to make sure they send people who are qualified to ask the right questions, do the right checks and give customers better advice.The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model,'

The group is talking to the Government and the industry's trade bodies about improving the sales regime by introducing a policing system to drive out rogues.

Howard Johns,uy sculpture direct from us at low prices of the Solar Trade Association, said the number of companies in the industry has ballooned from just a few hundred two years ago to 2,400.
'There are always going to be a small number of companies who don't stick by the rules ...A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. but that should not divert attention from the benefits of solar energy.'

He described the Which? report as 'a little alarmist', adding: 'My reading of their research is that things are improving. For example, there was relatively little evidence of pressure selling involving discounting.

'There is a code of practice covering our members, however we cover only 450 of the companies involved. There are always going to be a small number of companies who don't stick by the rules ... but that should not divert attention from the benefits of solar energy.'

Skyline, based in Braintree, Essex, said Which? had misunderstood its pricing policy and there was no discount for signing up early. The company is not involved in pressure selling, a spokesman added.

David Ramsay, of Green Sun in Farnborough,Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts, Hampshire, also rejected the criticism. 'We work entirely within industry guidelines,' he said. 'We leave written quotes and it is not normal to offer a discount to sign up within 24 hours.'

Ground-Breaking Results Presented at the Photovoltaic Specialist Conference

Dr. Ashok K. Sood, President and CEO of Magnolia Solar, stated, "Quantum structured solar cells seek to harness a wide spectrum of photons at high voltages in a single-junction device by embedding low energy-gap wells within a high energy-gap matrix.The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model, Quantum well solar cells have the potential to deliver ultra-high power conversion efficiencies in single junction devices; efficiencies that in theory can approach 45% in un-concentrated sunlight over a wide range of environmental conditions.A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. In his presentation at the Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, Dr. Welser reviews and summarizes Magnolia's recent efforts to enhance the open circuit voltage of InGaAs quantum well solar cell structures by employing a patent-pending device structure.Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! This technology is of great interest for defense and space-based applications, and the work presented at the PVSC has been funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). We also see future growth potential for this technology in the commercial marketplace, particularly in the area of concentrator-photovoltaic (CPV) solar panels for terrestrial power generation applications."

"Historically, the challenge for quantum structured solar cells has been to incorporate low energy-gap material without severely degrading the operating voltage of the photovoltaic device," noted Dr. Welser. "In this work, we demonstrate record high open circuit voltages by employing a novel III-V material structure with an extended wide band gap emitter heterojunction. These results will enable quantum well solar cells to begin achieving their promised levels of performance. Nanostructured devices provide a means to decouple the usual dependence of short circuit current on open circuit voltage that limits conventional solar cell design.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,"

About Magnolia Solar Corporation: Based in Woburn, MA and Albany, NY,uy sculpture direct from us at low prices Magnolia Solar was founded in 2008 to develop and commercialize revolutionary new thin film solar cell technologies that employ nanostructured materials and designs. Both higher current and voltage outputs are expected from thin film solar cells that combine Magnolia's exclusive material structures with advanced optical coatings. Magnolia's technology has the ability to capture a larger part of the solar spectrum to produce high efficiency solar cells, and incorporates a unique nanostructure-based antireflection coating technology to further increase the solar cell's efficiency, thereby reducing the cost per watt. Magnolia Solar technology targets electrical power generation applications, such as power for electrical grids and distributed power applications ranging from commercial and residential lighting to specialized military applications.

Strasser dominates RAAM as chasers battle for second

1. Christoph Strasser (Austria): 2,432 miles, 6 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, average speed 15.65 mph.

Twenty-nine year old Christoph Strasser is on track to not only take his first Race Across America victory, but to also break the long-standing completed RAAM record of 15.4mph set by Pete Penseyres way back in 1986. The Austrian has dominated this 30th annual RAAM, having dropped 2nd place Marko Baloh back in Utah. Strasser currently has roughly 150+ miles on Baloh. While there's still a lot of America left to race across, barring a sudden problem, it could be said that Strasser is no longer racing against Strasser; essentially he's racing against Pete Penseyres.

Strasser's current average is 15.65. But today he'll face some of the toughest miles in RAAM as he reaches the Appalachian Mountains. Unlike the sustained climbs of the western states where a racer can develop a rhythm and where there are long descents where a rider can recover, the hills of West Virginia and into Maryland are one climb after another¡ªhill repeats for 200 miles.

Strasser's average will almost certainly drop in that stretch.Our Polymax RUBBER SHEET range includes all commercial and specialist But the following miles are relatively flat where if he has anything left in the tank, he may be able to kick up the pace and bring that average back up.

Yesterday when Strasser was spotted on the course before time station 39 in Bloomington, Indiana, he looked like someone out on weekend ride. His cadence was high; he sat solidly in the saddle and was not drooping over the bike as many RAAM riders are by this point. And it was evident that he was doing everything that he could to trim crucial seconds; he stood and powered over the tops of the climbs, he tucked in on the descents, and he shifted up and pedaled hard on those descents. In a rolling interview conducted out of the window of a media van, when asked if he felt as good as he looked, he replied, "Ah yes.Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals Good, good.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account. I feel good. Everything is good."

This isn't to say that he's not feeling the affects of RAAM.

"A little bit sore, yeah," he admitted, "Some saddle-sores, the legs, the knees of course, the feet. But not too much. Everything is within the normal range for such an event."

2. Marko Baloh (Slovenia): 2,263.20 miles, 6 days, 12 hours, 37 minutes, average speed 14.45 mph.

There's a race going on behind Strasser.What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. Baloh has been consistent throughout RAAM 2011. The 44 year old has essentially been riding alone since Utah, with no other riders getting near him. However, that may change in the miles ahead as two riders have been chipping away at his position. Fourth place Gerhard Gulewicz (Austria) is only about an hour behind, and third place Alberto Blanco (USA) is less than an hour back. If they continue to close on him we'll have one of the most interesting battles in recent RAAM history.

3. Alberto Blanco (USA): 2,263.20 miles, 6 days, 12 hours, 53 minutes, average speed 14.43 mph.

That he's managed to stay in the race despite a case of Shermer's Neck (severe fatigue of the neck muscles) is impressive, That he's usefully challenged and ridden away from 4th place Gerhard Gulewicz is amazing.

"He started having neck issues on Wolf Creek Pass," his crew chief, Dr. Robert Hernandez revealed, "He started feeling it on the descent. We switched to a lighter helmet and that helped. The following day from La Veta to Trinidad we started having some issues there."

Hernandez commented on the cause, "He was probably too aggressive on the position," referring to Blanco's standard road racer handlebar height¡ªmost RAAM racers put their bars a bit higher. "And for him this kind of mileage is uncharted territory.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, This is the first time he's ever gone over 48 hours. In training we've ridden 24 hours. But really consistently like this? No."

His support device is a real Rube Goldberg affair, made up of a back-pack frame and other bits that the crew had at hand. "Yeah, it's funny," Dr. Hernandez said. "The metal thing that is supporting his head on the top, that's actually one of our wheel holders from the top of our car that we bent into that shape." According to Dr. Hernandez Shermer's Neck is resistant to traditional means of relief, "Ice, massage, anti-inflammatories¡ªShermer's Neck doesn't respond to any of that. Theses muscles have just given out. Give him 7 to 10 days of rest after the race and the muscles will recover."

Brace or not, keeping this kind of pace for the remaining miles is going to hurt. But Dr. Hernandez is confident in Blanco, "Mentally, he's a bull. He's just as strong mentally as anyone in the race. And his mental outlook is good. He's cracking jokes, being himself. He'll be fine."

County Commissioner Supports "Clean Up West Odessa" Campaign 6/21/11

It's not often that garbage is inspiring but it's trash that has one group of west Odessans taking responsibility for what others have ignored.

Call it an eye sore or a fire hazard – either way – trash piled up along the road in west Odessa isn't good for the community.

Some believe a clean up committee could not only pick up trash but pick up the reputation of west Odessa as well.

"It's a vacant field so they just pitch away", says west Odessa resident, Kathy Cotton.

Beer bottles aren't the best lawn ornaments.

"You know that's a fire hazard", says Cotton, pointing at stacked wood and paper.

Piles of trash aren't exactly endearing when it comes to a neighborhood.

"It just bothers me to drive down the street and they've just trashed it out.Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals..Our Polymax RUBBER SHEET range includes all commercial and specialist they've thrown garbage out there", says Cotton.

Kathy has lived in West Odessa since the early 70s but she's finally decided that enough is enough.

"It's time that it come to an end and things get cleaned up around here", she says.

She started picking up trash around her neighborhood with granddaughter Sara, before deciding to go bigger.

"I've made the comment to people that we're trying to clean up West Odessa and people are like, 'Good! Great, its about time'."

Now the county is joining the cause.

"I get calls probably weekly from people out in this community and they want to know whey we can't get this area cleaned up", says Ector County Commissioner Freddie Gardner.

Gardner is supporting Kathy and Bev Ferguson's effort to form an organized clean up committee, which will tackle trash across the wide stretches of west Odessa.

"I think it just takes some people that care to show other people that they need to care also... it just kind of snowballs", says Gardner.

Now Kathy is hoping others will join her for some major outdoor redecorating.

"We want to give West Odessa a good name again",What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. says Cotton.

County Attorney Cindy Weir Nutter is joining Freddie Gardner in offering as much county support as possible.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids,

There is even a possibility of getting some county workers to help with the cleanup effort.

A "Clean Up West Odessa" community meeting is being held on Tuesday June 28th at 6:00pm.

Refreshments will be provided and anyone in attendance is eligible to win a $100 gift certificate.