text stringlengths 9 94.9k |
|---|
We offer tailored support packages based around guaranteed response times. |
It’s that time of year again – Open Enrollment from November15th until the end of December. There is a lot of information to sift through and some of it – or maybe a lot of it – can be very confusing. |
The good news is that there are organizations providing help to sift through it all and actually end up understanding what provisions you need, what is affordable and, as a result, which coverage and supplements are right for you. |
If you are trying to find understandable information and straightforward facts there are places to go to get the information you need. Look through your local newspaper in the Calendar Section for free events. You will find various free seminars on topics such as How to Choose the Right Medicare Coverage; Choosing a Medicare Supplement; Determining What You Will Be Covered For; What is the Difference Between Plans? and more information. |
Usually you can find excellent seminars at your local senior citizens center, your local library, your local hospital, your local clinic and your local health department. If a seminar is not listed in your newspaper Calendar Section, take the time to call the organizations just mentioned and find out what type of information or seminars they have planned. You can also go online or call CMS – the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services – and they will be able to help sort out the basics for you and tell you if they will be having a seminar or presentation in your area. |
Try to remember – especially when you attend a seminar or presentation – that many of these are presented by individual insurance companies that are trying to sell you their product. As a result, it is important to attend a few seminars if possible so that you can compare what several companies have to offer. Too often some companies charge a lot more for the same coverage that other companies charge far less for. If you can go to a seminar presented by an unbiased individual, such as an individual from Medicare or an individual comparing several policies for you, this is the best way to get accurate information for making decisions. |
Regardless of what you attend, try to at least attend one seminar or talk to someone you trust who understands Medicare and Medicare Supplements. Take the time to be sure that you choose the coverage that is right for you. |
Save 33% On Your Energy Bill With A Programmable Thermostat… I Did! |
Looking to save a couple hundred dollars this year in about 30 minutes? |
Install an EnergyStar certified programmable thermostat. |
About a year ago I decided to experiment with a programmable thermostat in my home. The result, after 1 year: big savings. |
My energy company (and your’s probably will too) gives me a side-by-side comparison of how many kWh of electricity I used in the current month and to the current month one year ago. |
The best part is that I’ve noticed a trend. My energy bills are significantly less each month this year than they were in the same month last year — especially as the temperature starts to rise. |
What Makes Programmable Thermostats So Great? |
Programmable thermostats give you the ability to designate pre-programmed temperature changes in your home. |
Won’t your home be sweltering if you even increase its temperature during the day by a measly 2 degrees in the summer? |
Well, yes… or no. It won’t matter if you work a regular 9-to-5 job and no one is home during the day, but what if you have an irregular schedule due to working from home, having a swing shift, being a stay at home mom, etc? More on that later. |
7 Day Schedule – This allows you this most flexibility in your settings. With this feature (instead of the 5+2 or 5+1+1 schedule options) you can set all weekdays together with different weekend setting OR you can set each day to it’s own program (works well if you have an irregular schedule and work from home, like I do). |
Temporary AND Vacation Hold – Temporary hold allows you to override the pre-programmed setting for a short period of time. The “hold” will be canceled at the next pre-set cycle. Vacation hold allows you to suspend your current settings and implement a different, more efficient temperature setting while you’re away for a few days. Best of all, your home will be back to normal on the day you return. Sweet huh? |
Backup Battery Power – It’s a good idea to have this feature so that in the event of a power failure, you will not have to reprogram your thermostat. |
For my home and specific HVAC system, I chose the Hunter 7-day programmable thermostat. |
It has all the above mentioned features plus some other handy features. Perhaps one of my favorite additional features it has is an air filter monitor that reminds me when it’s time to change the filter. This is vitally important to efficient heating and cooling! |
Two of the most prominent manufacturers of programmable thermostats are Honeywell and Hunter. |
Don’t make the mistake that I made and cost yourself more time and money. |
Before installing your new programmable thermostat, shut off the power to your unit by flipping the breaker at BOTH your fuse box and indoor portion of your HVAC unit. |
If you do that, you can install your new programmable thermostat in about 30 minutes. |
Have you ever had a programmable thermostat in your home? If so, how did you like it? |
Gioachino Rossini (born Pesaro, 29 February 1792; died Paris, 13 November 1868). |
Angelo Anelli (written for Luigi Mosca, performed at La Scala, Milan in 1808). |
First performance: Venice (Teatro San Benedetto), 22 May 1813. |
First UK performance: London (His Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket), 26 January 1819. |
First performance in Scotland: Edinburgh (Theatre Royal), 8 May 1838. |
Scottish Opera premiere: Glasgow (Theatre Royal), 21 October 2009. |
Rossini came from a family of musicians, and his talent was recognised when still a child. His operas, both serious and comic, dominated the operatic world throughout his active career, which lasted twenty years from 1810. It is the eleventh of Rossini’s operas (he eventually composed around forty). |
The Italian Girl was an instant success in spite of being prepared at short notice and adapting an old text. In the early 19th century, Barbary pirates were still a serious problem for sea traders and for coastal towns in parts of Italy. The abduction and enslavement of Europeans therefore seems an unlikely subject for farcical humour, though Mozart showed the way with his Seraglio of 1782. Rossini has the chorus of eunuchs sung by tenors and basses. In addition, the idea of Italian patriotism was also problematic, with the north of Italy still to be under Austrian control for many years. |
Mustafà is tired of his wife and wants to find a new Italian bride. Lindoro, a young Italian, has been captured and is working as a slave for Mustafà. He has become something of a favourite. He laments his separation from his lover, Isabella. Mustafà suggests he should marry Elvira and take her to Italy. |
More European prisoners arrive, among them an Italian Girl. This is Isabella, who has set out to rescue Lindoro. She has with her Taddeo, who wants to marry her, but agrees to pose as her uncle meantime. Mustafà falls for Isabella at first sight and she flirts with him. When Lindoro, Elvira and Zulma come to say their farewells they meet Isabella. The first act ends in complete confusion, with one of Rossini’s craziest inventions. |
The second act continues the farcical activity as Isabella and Lindoro plot their escape, along with the other Italian captives. Elvira is re-united with Mustafà. |
Jennifer Larmore (Isabella), Raúl Giménez (Lindoro), John del Carlo (Mustafà). |
An excellent modern recording, stylishly conducted. Jennifer Larmore is one of the leading American mezzos singing the Rossini repertoire at the moment. Many of the best Rossinian tenors in recent years have come from Latin America, and Argentinian Raúl Giménez sails through the high-lying lines with ease. |
Lucia Valentini-Terrani (Isabella), Francisco Araiza (Lindoro), Wladimiro Ganzarolli (Mustafà). |
Lucia Valentini-Terrani was that rare thing, a real Italian who also had a fine sense of Rossinian style. She delights in the rapid-fire language. Her early death from leukaemia was a tragic loss. Araiza, a Mexican this time, has no problems with the high line, and gives no indication that his voice would develop (briefly) in a Wagnerian direction. Ganzarolli is a born comedian. This recording was an early attempt to play Rossini on original instruments and Ferro is generally a natural conductor. |
Marilyn Horne (Isabella), Ernesto Palacio (Lindoro), Samuel Ramey (Mustafa). |
Horne featured in many important revivals of Rossini’s serious operas, but was able to lighten her touch successfully when she sang the comedies, having particular success as Isabella. Palacio is noted now as the teacher of his fellow-Peruvian Juan Diego Flórez, but he was a notable performer in revivals of little-known Rossini and Handel works. Ramey’s long career covered nearly every possible style of singing except perhaps Wagner, and his technique sounds unusually effortless for a bass. |
Teresa Berganza (Isabella), Luigi Alva (Lindoro), Fernando Corena (Mustafà). |
This recording dates from a time when only a handful of Rossini’s operas were known, and it did much to restore the Italian Girl to the general repertoire. Varviso conducts delicately and the soloists were the leading performers of the day. Berganza always sounds lovely as well as characterful. Alva (another Peruvian) was the dominant Rossini tenor for twenty years, and is at his peak here. Corena also projects plenty of humour. |
Every household has different pumping requirements. Northwest Hydro Solutions can tailor a package catered to your specific water requirements. We stock only the most reputable brands – including Grundfos, Davey, Franklin, Pentair and Lowara. |
We also have an experienced installation team, to find out exactly what’s involved, contact us today for an obligation free quote. |
How to choose the right pump. |
Looking for a water pump? The right pump for you is out there, but it’s not always easy to know where to begin in the selection process. To get your search moving in the right direction, gathering some information about your water pumping project can help Northwest Hydro Solutions assist you in selecting the right pump for your needs. |
Download our pump information checklist. |
For pricing and delivery & installation, contact us today and we’ll provide an obligation free quote. |
A description of procedures used by Members appeared in Monthly Climatic Data for the World, 1967 Supplement--computation of CLIMAT TEMP values. |
In January and July, all CLIMAT (C) and CLIMAT TEMP (T) stations from WMO Pub. |
These stations will be sponsored as CLIMAT and/or CLIMAT TEMP stations in the near future. |
A Young Woman's Dream in Malawi - Planet Aid, Inc. |
Upile is a young woman living in rural Malawi whose goal was to become a primary school teacher. Today Upile is living her dream by helping to change the educational opportunities for young girls and boys in her community. |
Upile is one of the many thousands to have completed Humana People to People's DNS Teacher Training Program, which is supported by Planet Aid in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, India, and Mozambique. |
Click here to find out more about how this program is helping bridge the teacher gap in Malawi and other developing countries, creating a new generation of skilled educators and community leaders. |
It is a requirement that all participants who wish to train in Basic Counselling skills have first completed the LifeLine/ChildLine Personal Growth Course and been selected by the facilitators to as suitable candidates to be trained as counsellors. |
In this module the emphasis is on skills based training. The inward focus on the self in Personal Growth changes to the outward focus on the other. The theoretical underpinning of LifeLine’s approach to counselling is based on the Rogerian, non-directive, client-centred involvement, interwoven with problem management methods in the helping process. Our philosophy revolves around articulating feelings and how they affect the way people behave and handle their problems. We try to help by caring, listening and sharing; by trying to be “good news” to people at the point of their pain. We respect the dignity of the client, pledge absolute confidentiality and encourage the client’s self-determination. |
The Trainees are introduced to the core skills in counselling and they repeatedly role-play these various skills until the required standard is reached. A range of issue based counselling such as HIV and AIDS, child abuse, domestic violence etc. also feature strongly here. |
The third and final stage of training is geared completely to the needs of the individual trainee. Each potential volunteer participates in more role-plays, which allow for constructive feedback. Each probationer must also present individual research to demonstrate understanding of the core counselling skills as well as knowledge on other onward referral organisations. Only when all three stages of training have been successfully completed is it possible for a probationer to become a LifeLine approved counsellor. |
A number of the tertiary institutions in Namibia (including UNAM and IUM) encourage their psychology, social work and HIV management students to enrol in this course to acquire practical or broader skills to add to and enrich their course work. |
DexShell Ultra Shell Outdoor Glove. Waterproof Thermal Outdoor Handwear. |
The DexShell Ultra Shell Outdoor Gloves incorporate the Porelle Dry Microporous Membrane which provides excellent waterproof protection to keep your hands dry for ectended periods of time in wet conditions. The gloves are well insulated and thus perfect for cold wet wiinters days. The fit is classed as performance fit which means it enables you maintain good dexterity with the hands making these gloves perfect for the outdoor advneturer. |
For several seasons I was the play-by-play announcer and host of “Maccabi Haifa Basketball.” Each week I broadcast Haifa’s games in Israel’s top basketball league. The games were watched live across the world at: Triangle Internet TV and seen on the Yes network in the United States. A selection of individual broadcasts can be found below. |
Diablo 3 Ultimate Evil Edition for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is an amazing game. From the opening minutes to the final showdown, the game is fun, frantic, and visually engaging. Diablo 3 has you choose a hero from one of the six classes available. They are Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard, Monk, Demon Hunter, and the new class, Crusader. Following this, your story begins and you begin your quest to destroy all evil and anything that might look at you the wrong way. |
As in the previous iterations, in Diablo 3, the X button is your best friend. So much so in fact, that you’ll defeat hundreds of enemies with just that button. The core Diablo 3 experience is mostly the same as it was on last generation’s consoles, with the exception of a few things. Firstly, there are new multipliers that grant you different bonuses. The one that you’ll be seeing most is the kill multiplier, which made it fun to chain as many kills as possible and also earns you increased experience. Secondly, the increased frame rate is easily noticeable and makes the game run ridiculously smooth. I also sometimes stopped to admire the improved scenery. Thirdly, an adventure mode is now playable. Adventure mode is exactly what it sounds like and allows you to further explore areas in the game that you might have missed before. Also, you’ll be able to undertake objective based missions. These are called bounties and are a fun way to seek treasure and experience. Lastly, there is the addition of Apprentice mode. Apprentice mode is a multiplayer mode that grants a lower level player extra experience when playing with a higher level player. I really like this idea and love the fact that you can essentially play with anyone now. Other than these three things, the core Diablo 3 game is identical to last generation’s. |
Included in Ultimate Evil Edition is the rather new Reaper of Souls expansion. Reaper of Souls continues your hero’s story as the Angel of Death makes a very strong effort to destroy humanity. This actually turned out to be my favorite part of the game. Take Diablo 3’s gameplay, add more side areas and events, more weapons and armor, enemies, and a continuation of the story and you’ve got Reaper of Souls. In addition to this expansion, UEE players will also get their hands on the new Crusader class, which can also be used throughout the entirety of Diablo 3’s campaign. I found the Crusader to be an amazing class for anyone who likes close quarters combat. I actually favor him greatly over the Barbarian class. |
Now, while I really loved Ultimate Evil Edition, it does have some flaws that really took me out of the experience. It was extremely easy, even on hard mode. The only time I was actually defeated was during the last boss fight on Reaper of Souls. If you’re looking for a difficult experience, be sure to turn the difficulty up to the highest. There was also quite a bit of enemy pop in. Sure, I know that enemies are supposed to randomly spawn, but they appeared out of thin air once or twice in every dungeon. This was easily overcome by my godlike character, but it’s just not something to be expected now that we’re in the new generation. While both of these seem extremely minor, they affected my playthroughs negatively and we’re very unwelcome. |
With everything being said, Diablo 3 Ultimate Evil Edition is the definitive Diablo experience and should be played by all PS4 and Xbox One owners that haven’t already played it. The smooth hack n’ slash gameplay is fun and addicting, the story is pretty solid, and the new online adventure mode is awesome. Oh, did I mention that Ultimate Evil Edition comes with Reaper of Souls and the Crusader class? Because it does and both of those are highlights of this game. Though I had gripes with the difficulty and random pop-ins, I’m very pleased with this game and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. |
Earlier this week, we showed two versions of the same Nambarrie commercial. Here, we have both commercials underneath each other. Can you spot the difference? |
Eden Laing, in Year 13, describes her exciting trip to CalArts in America. Eden applied for the Animation program which only takes 60 students worldwide. Eden is pictured above, circled in red. |
I spent a month in Los Angeles, staying in CalAarts (an art school founded by Walt Disney) completing the CSSSA animation program. This program involved finishing an entire sketchbook and 6 different projects in the span of four weeks, finishing the course with a 2-minute film. I completed this program with 52 other students across California, and in doing so became a 'California Arts Scholar'. |
A few of the highlights of the trip included seeing the fabled A113 (which is often referenced in Pixar films), taking a tour of the animation studio, Titmouse, meeting the director of Coco (Adrian Milana), plus all the field trips such as Disneyland, The Humans and The Getty Museum. |
CSSSA was life changing. I can see why so many songs are written about California. There is a vibrancy there - a constant excitement in the fact that anything can happen. Attending the CSSSA program was an incredible experience. Meeting such unique and creative people created an atmosphere of PASSION that should exist everywhere. From all the incredible friends I made, I learnt that it's not worth spending time worrying about what other people think, to keep making things and to be kind to yourself! |
The Jewish History Museum, formerly known as the Jewish Heritage Center of the Southwest, is a museum housed in a historic synagogue building in Tucson, Arizona. The museum’s building, which housed the first synagogue in the Arizona Territory, is the oldest synagogue building in the state. The building operated as a synagogue until 2008 when it was designated a museum. The Holocaust History Center at the Jewish History Museum is an educational institute dedicated to an ongoing examination of the Holocaust through the experiences of individuals who survived the war and later lived in southern Arizona. Two of our residents are recognized in the exhibit, Mike Bokor a survivor and Toetie Oberman whose family helped families survive the atrocities of the holocaust. We had the privilege of a private docent tour last week. |
Earlier this year, our very first signature beer “Bex” was brewed using with a specialist Belgian yeast strain. During the brewing process, we niftily cropped enough yeast to nurture and use for another beer, and so in June our Production Director John decided to brew a 7.0% Belgian style Dubbel. This was then filled into seven of our Burgundy white oak barriques and left to age in our cold store. However, each of these barriques had some different ingredients added in to represent each of the deadly sins… Behold! |
Spiked with bourbon oak chips. Aroma of black forest gateaux and a glace cherry flavour. Dominant bourbon finish. |
Spiked with raw cacao nibs and vanilla. Delicate milk chocolate aroma. Rum ‘n' raisin fudge flavour. Full bodied with a beautifully silky chocolate finish. |
Spiked with fresh orange and ginger. Aromas of orange and hints of clove. Fairly tangy orange, almost cranberry flavour, with ginger fruitcake. |
Spiked with fresh raspberries and vanilla. Full-on raspberry aroma and flavour. Schnapps-like warmth at the end. |
Spiked with fresh ground coffee. Aromas of coffee & sweet walnut. Slight cream soda flavour with dried fig and apricot. Warm, dry finish. |
Spiked with vanilla and an extra dose of molasses. Oak smoke aroma with Rioja notes. Very more-ish sweet sherry flavour with subtle vanilla. |
Spiked with coriander seed. Fresh coriander aroma. Slight spicy cracked pepper flavour with fruit and nut pudding coming through on the finish. |
As well as this, we're also releasing an unadulterated version of the Dubbel base beer. Being free from Sin, this one is simply Heavenly! |
Who will try them all?! There are only 5 firkins of each Sin, so keep your eyes peeled! |
Ham radio operator Rudy Bahr, 93, of Mountain View uses a computer program that, in an earthquake or other crisis, can communicate radio messages directly to emergency operation centers, hospitals and other critical facilities. Created by the volunteer-run Southern Peninsula Emergency Communications System, it offers a direct connection that is more reliable than traditional email or cell services. |
Saratoga’s Tsing Bardin, 78, and her husband, 85, use FaceTime with their children and grandchildren in Italy and in New York. “It is free and you can see them as you speak,” she said. |
Wintertime is such a great time to catch a giant bass. Last week, I fished on the coldest day of the year (22 degrees in Texas), and we boated a 10-pounder. Our rods were freezing until after lunch. |
In the last article, I mentioned that the skirted jig had the most fish recorded in the Insider BASSlog for water temps below 50 degrees. The second best bait is a medium diving crankbait. Interestingly, before looking at these statistics, it wasn't a big part of my wintertime arsenal. But there are more fish recorded on the medium diving crankbait than a 1/2-ounce, 5/8-ounce, or 3/4-ounce lipless crankbait (my top number baits in the winter). Before getting into the details of the medium diving crankbait, let me explain why I don't use them as much as I would recommend the casual angler or even a serious tournament angler. |
As a guide, I normally have 3 people in the boat. I like to be able to get in the stumps daily, so my style of fishing is very abusive to my boat. Because of this, I use the smallest aluminum boat that I can comfortably fish 3 people, so rod space is somewhat limited. I will usually have 3 different size lipless crankbaits (1 for each angler) and probably a couple of spinnerbait rods, a jig rod, and a couple of other rods that are easily accessible. Lake Fork is a trophy lake, so the bites are usually few and far between in the winter. I usually fish the same (or similar) baits as my clients, so I can help build confidence in the baits they are throwing. More often than not, at least one of them is an amateur, so they need all the help they can get. |
Lipless crankbaits (which I will mention next time) are not only my confidence baits in the winter, but they are great search baits for finding the grass, which is where I catch the majority of fish. So, I really don't have room for other treble hook lures on deck. However, if I was fishing by myself or in a tournament, I would definitely have a medium crankbait tied on in the winter. So, be sure to include the medium crankbait in your arsenal. I will certainly fish it more after seeing the stats. |
Water clarity of 1 to 2-foot visibility has the most fish recorded, followed by 2 to 3 feet, then 3 to 5 feet. So, it appears that medium crankbaits actually work better when the water isn't clear, as long as it has at least a foot of visibility. |
The best cover for medium crankbaits, just like the skirted jig, is some type of rock, boulder, or gravel. So be sure to fish around boat ramps and bridges. They will always have some type of cement or rock. The next best cover is laydown trees, followed by submerged vegetation, then trees mixed with vegetation. The square bill crankbait deflects off wood cover, so keep that in mind if you are fishing laydown trees. My experience has always been some type of vegetation as the top cover. But then again I am in Texas where we can find green grass even in the winter. |
The best depth for medium cranks is 6 to 10 feet, but anywhere close to that range is a good water depth. There's a lot of fish recorded less than 5 feet and several over 20 feet during the winter. The good news is that the best time to fish them is also the most comfortable time. Noon to 3 p.m. is best, followed by 9 a.m. to Noon, sunup to 9 a.m., then 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Obviously, there aren't many people fishing crankbaits after dark this time of the year. But I caught fish after dark just last week, so never rule out night fishing. |
That should be the most important information you need to help you catch your winter fish on medium crankbaits. Be sure to read part 3 of Cold Water Tactics. |
A special thank you to Shannon McCarthy for leading us in Worship today. |
The Flowers Today are in loving memory of Grace Searle McMurtry from her family. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.