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Tag Archives: vacuum
The 3/16 Tubing Revolution
The Quest for High Vacuum in a Maple Tubing System (Part 1)
Les Ober
Geauga County
OSU Extension
The variety of vacuum pumps on todays market is very extensive. Although vacuum has become a mainstay in maple production our utilization of vacuum pumps and equipment is very small compared to their use in the industrialized world. Maple production is just on the tip of the iceberg when it comes to vacuum utilization. Even though vacuum is used extensively in the maple industry we have only been at it a very short time. For this reason there is a lot of misunderstanding about the laws of physics (Quantium Mechanics) that govern the science of vacuum. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia definesthe word vacuum as "void of matter". In fact it stems from the latin word vacuus which means vacant. The study of vacuum goes back to the Greek Age and the time of Aristotle. Several basic scientific principals apply when it comes to vacuum. Due to pressure exerted by the earth's atmosphere (15 lbs per sq. in.) you can only achieve a maximum vacuum level of 29.92 inches of mercury. You actually can only achieve a vacuum level equal to the barometric pressure on any given day at any given location. Barometric pressure changes with the elevation above sea level. Another principal is how we measure vacuum. The level of vacuum is a negative measure (because you are creating a negative pressure inside of a vessel) and is read in inches of Mercury. The rate of air being removed from a vessel by a vacuum pump is measured in cubic feet per minute on an English measurement scale.
Even though it has become the Holy Grail, in the maple industry, the term "High Vacuum" is largely misunderstood. High Vacuum or perfect vacuum exists only at 29.92 in. Hg. This is the highest level of vacuum achievable in our atmosphere and occurs only when every molecule of matter is removed from a vessel. This is extremely hard to achieve because once all of the air is removed there are still other gases that qualify as matter and are very hard to remove. In fact the closest thing to a perfect vacuum only exists in outer space and we are not producing syrup on the moon. Wikipedia states "There are three levels of vacuum achievable with modern vacuum pumps. Low vacuum (vacuum cleaners), Medium Vacuum (achieved with a single pump) and High Vacuum (achieved with multi-staged pumps and measured with an ion- gauge)." As you can see the vacuum we use falls in a range of somewhere between low and medium. Obviously the average maple producer does not live in the scientific world of vacuum, nor does he need to. The reality is that we are not dealing with a closed vessel but rather miles of tubing where the introduction of air occurs at every tap, fitting and squirrel chew. The range that most maple producers should be comfortable with is around 20 in. to 27 in. of vacuum depending on their system and the pump they are using. The reason being is that, this is that all vacuum pumps are not created equal and vary greatly in their ability to produce vacuum. Now this is where the discussion and the debate begin. As I have stated in an earlier post (March 25, 2013 Is it The Pump or The Mainline Size That is Effecting the Performance of Your Tubing System?) the producer must consider the entire system before he decides on the type and size of vacuum pump to use. Even though we are increasing the volumn of sap being produced by increasing the level vacuum closer to 29.92 we need to be more concerned about the ability of the whole system to remove air from the system efficently. Rather than concentrating on achieveing the maximum depth of vacuum we should be paying closer attention to the systems ability to overcome leakage and everyday wear and tear.
There is a wide variety of vacuum pumps that can be used to apply vacuum to a maple tubing system. In fact with the use of 3/16 tubing (based on the research of Tim Wilmot at the Proctor Maple Research Center) you may not even need a vacuum pump to achieve your vacuum goal. Most of the pumps used in the maple industry are adapted from some other type of use. The first pumps came from the dairy industry and were used to milk cows. These were rotary vane pumps that were designed to produce around 16 inches of vacuum. The vacuum was produced as the air trapped between the vanes held in an offset rotor was expelled to the outside via the exhaust. As the vacuum level increases heat is builds as a result the system needs some kind of lubrication to absorb the heat. The pump is lubricated with oil that was contained in an oil reservoir. Once you went above 16 inches the strain on the pump produced more heat that it was designed for. For that reason oil coolers and oil-reclaimers were used to make them more efficient. Bearings need to be lubricated with a precise amount of oil to maintain function. When running above 20 in hg, if any of the above are neglected you are headed for a Chernobyl type melt down. There are commercial rotary vane pumps (running a flood vacuum) on the market that are capable of achieving up to 27inches of vacuum. One of the most popular pumps being used is the liquid ring pump. The liquid ring pump uses an impeller running in a ring of liquid producing close to 29 inches of vacuum. As the air is drawn in it becomes trapped in a compression chamber that is formed between the impeller veins and the liquid. The air is expelled to the outside as the liquid (oil or water) is recycled. These pumps achieve as close to 29 inches of vacuum as any pump on the market. The down side of this type of pump is that a water source is needed and that source needs to be kept above freezing. If oil is used then there are environmental considerations.
One of the most recent pumps to come on the maple scene is the rotary claw pump. The rotary claw will produce 27 inches of vacuum, just under a liquid ring. This is a pump that is designed for continuous duty and one that requires minimal maintenance during the season. The claw runs at a very close tolerance to the chamber and traps air in-between the claws and the chamber and expels it to the outside. A small amount of oil is used lubrication. The downside is that these pumps are very expensive. They are designed to be run year round. Long layover periods may allow the pump to develop a rust layer inside to the pump resulting in excessive air. Because they run at a very close tolerance this may lead to early breakdowns. If you buy a rotary claw you need to fog the pump with anti-oxidation oil in the off season to prevent premature wear.
The last pump is the new age rotary vane pumps that are designed to run continuously and to produce a vacuum of 29 inches. This appears to be a very efficient pump. These pumps are similar in design to the older rotary vane pumps but have very close tolerances. They lubricate with oil but total requirement is minimal. So let's rate the pumps on their ability to produce high vacuum from top to bottom. At the top is the liquid ring and the new age rotary vane with the edge going to the liquid ring especially one of the two stage models on the market at this time. These pumps will consistently reach 27 to 29 inches of vacuum. Not far behind is the rotary claw which will produce 27 to 28 inches of vacuum. Next is the improved rotary vane with a flood system at 27 inches. At the bottom is bossy's favorite the old style rotary vain used in milking systems. She liked it because it produced no more than 16 inches of vacuum. Any more and she would send it across the room with one swift kick. No matter what you use you will get more sap from you trees. Collecting maple sap with a vacuum system not only saves time and labor but the vacuum will increase your sap yield by up to between 50 % and 150%. In the next post I will cover things you need to consider before you hook your pump into the system.
For Maple Syrup Producers Fall is a Time for Planning
Les Ober
Geauga County OSU Extension
Without a doubt, fall is my favorite time of the year. It is time when all of the hard work of spring and summer comes to together as you harvest the returns for your efforts. It is also a time when the Maple tree goes into dormancy. This means that the maple syrup season is only a few months away. Fall is the best time of the year for planning and making alterations to your maple sugaring operation. You can take the time to carefully plan out what changes are needed before you start the Spring rush.
As soon as the leaves fall you need to get into the woods and take a good look at your operation. Has there been storm damage to you tubing or are your trails blocked. Many producers already have their sugar wood cut for the 2015 season, however the storm damaged wood can quickly be stock piled for 2016. Major damage to your tubing needs to be repaired this Fall. As you look over the situation it might be a good idea to see if you can improve on your current system. This is a good idea even if you do not have damage. Maybe there was a trouble spot last spring that just did not seem to move sap as well as in the other parts of the woods. If it was at the end of a very long mainline maybe there is a way to shorten up that line. It might be possible by extending a wet/dry line further into the woods or increase the diameter of the existing mainline. It is also a good time to look at how you are distributing your vacuum (CFM's) across the woods. I covered the allocation method used in the NY State Tubing and Vacuum Notebook in an earlier article (How Do I Get Vacuum Where I Need It) posted under the tag "Vacuum", on the Ohio Maple Blog. One thing to always keep in mind is that if you make a change to your system be sure that you thoroughly research the impact that the change will have on the entire system. Here is an example of a change that could greatly impact the performance of your vacuum system.
Let's assume you are running 1000 taps on a 35 CFM Vacuum Pump. Under the present system you are able to supply all of the taps with at least 18 inches of mercury out to the longest line in the woods. If you follow the standard rules for vacuum utilization every 100 taps would utilize 1 cfm. The system works because you are using 10 cfm on the pipeline, 5 cfm to run the vacuum releaser and 2 cfm to counteract the distance from the vacuum pump to the releaser. That is only half of your available CFM. This gives you plenty of vacuum (cfm) to overcome leaks and other problems. Now you decide that you can add 300 taps but to do so you will need to install a sap left that requires no less than 7 CFM to run. In this case, you would be taking away another 10 CFM (lift 7 + 300 taps 3) from the main pipeline. We are now up to 27 CFM utilization. Now with only 8 CFM to spare we will have to be very careful to make sure all of the leaks are sealed and that the pipeline is sized correctly. If not you could be headed for a serious drop in Inches of Mercury on your longest lines. One more word of caution, most Vacuum pump CFM ratings are determined at sea level. We do not run our pumps at sea level. Most sugarbushes in Ohio are 500 to 1000 feet above sea level. This means that you may not have as many available CFMS' as you thought.
All of this comes into play when you are planning to make changes to your maple sugaring operation especially your vacuum system. If you have questions or want to learn more about maple systems I strongly recommend that you plan on attending the 3rd Annual Lake Erie Maple Expo in Albion Pennsylvania, Friday November 7th and Saturday November 8th. On Friday you will have chance to learn from professionals. If you are installing tubing you will want to attend Jason Grossman's class on Tubing installation Jason is a sugarmaker and a professional tubing installer. He has installed tubing from Minnesota to Maine and several provinces in Canada. His installation technique is considered to be one of the best in the country. Also on Friday you will have a chance to attend a Vacuum Systems Management Class taught by Steve Childs NY State Maple Syrup Specialist and the author of the NY State Tubing and Vacuum Notebook. This is a must read for anyone using and running a vacuum tubing system. Steve will go over many of the topics that he has written about in his notebook. A full list of the Friday and Saturday programs and registration information will be listed on the LEME page of this b
Filed under Planning, Tubing & Vacuum Systems
The Most Important Time You Will Spend in Your Sugarbush
Les Ober; The Ohio State University Extension Geauga County
The 2014 maple season is only 45 to 60 days away depending on where you live in Ohio. The Deer season is coming to an end and it will most likely be safe, to once again enter the woods. Mid-December is a great time to inspect lines and to make adjustments to your tubing system. The work you do before the season will probably determine how well your system will perform during the season. Here are some things to consider and watch for as you work on your tubing system prior to tapping.
How many times have you said to yourself, this system just does not perform as well as it did when we installed it? You have to realize the first year of maple tubing system's life will be its best year, simply because it is brand new. The spout and drops are new and everything is tight and working properly. After the first year a systems performance will depend on how well it is maintained. Leaks will develop and those leaks can expose flaws in the system. Finding and repairing leaks is the first step to achieving high vacuum. The problem with doing work on lines prior to tapping is that you are not running a vacuum pump making it almost impossible to find all of the leaks. However, with careful inspection you can spot and repair many potential trouble spots that can cause problems later.
The first step is to walk the wood making sure that all of the lines are up and running tight and straight. Inspect all the tubing that is in contact with tree. These areas are where you will find the highest percentage of squirrel chews. If the critters have been chewing this should be easy to spot. Make sure you not only look for chew holes but also scrapes where the little vermin start to chew and back off for whatever reason. Next you need to look for old connections on tees that have been stretched and twisted, replacing old tees where they are needed. If your system has some age then this year may be a good year to start replacing drops and spouts. Research out of the Cornell University maple program states that you can improve your production by over 50 % when you install new spouts and drops. A couple of interesting side notes are that you can come very close to this by keeping the old dropline and installing a new check valve adapter on that line every year. Many producers are finding it more convenient to replace the spout every year and the drops every third year. Use a different color tubing on new drops so that you can quickly identify the drops that need to be rotated out.
Three areas to check on main lines are the saddles, boosters and line connectors. Check for old worn or stretched saddles. If the loop line going to the saddle has become disconnected and is pulling hard on the saddle itself replace the saddle immediately. Once the seal on the saddle is twisted you will more than likely not be able to properly reseat the saddle without leakage. Saddle leaks are hard to detect and can quickly become the site of major vacuum lose. Another trouble spot are the boosters on a wet dry line. Most of these are made of PVC plastic. PVC plastic was developed for indoor plumbing in buildings. It is not designed to be left in direct sunlight for long periods of time. The result is a total breakdown of the plastic due to Ultra violet light from the suns rays. The UV Light and exposure to hot and cold will also breakdown the glue in the joints. Any PVC fittings should be inspected and replaced on a regular basis. If you use a PVC line from your vacuum pump to your releaser, including your moisture trap, make sure you inspect this area for loose or cracked joints. These areas are not only exposed to UV light but experience major vibration that can cause damage to the line.
The other location where vacuum leaks can occur is where lines are joined together with Cam Lock couplings. Producers need to replace the rubber gaskets on the inside of these couplers on a regular basis. Also try not to exert a lot of outward force on these connections. The work best when they couple together with little force.
Most of the above locations can be inspected without have to run the vacuum. Of course the final inspection will need to be made once the taps are in and the vacuum is running. If you can flush lines with water prior to using them many leaks will appear during this process. However, this may not be possible due to weather conditions. Early inspections and maintenance can offset hours of costly repairs and down time once the season starts.
Filed under Tubing & Vacuum Systems
How Can I Get More Vacuum Where I Need it?
By Les Ober, Geauga County OSU Extension
You have just bought a new vacuum pump and you have spent some time making sure that your vacuum lines are sized properly but for some reason one or two lines are just not preforming the way you want. Is there a solution to this problem? Yes there is! It is all about distributing the vacuum to where you want it.
If all of the vacuum lines are the same size and all of them run directly to the releaser all of the CFM's for each line will be distributed equally across the system. If you have 4 1 inch lines coming to the releaser that is powered by a 60 CFM pump each line would receive 25% of the vacuum or 15 CFM. According to theory that would be enough vacuum to run 1500 taps on each line. However, based on previous articles in this blog you realize that due to line loss this is not entirely true but each line would receive 25 % of what is available. What happens when you have 1 1 ¼ line used in a wet dry system hooked to the releaser along with 3 1 inch single lines. This is where vacuum distribution comes in and the math starts.
Line Allocation
Each pipe diameter has a cross section area
Knowing this will give you the cubic feet capacity per minute for the pipe.
It will also allow you to assign a percentage of a vacuum pipes capacity to each pipe.
Area of the Pipe
¾" .44 sq. inches 1 ½" 1.77 sq. inches
1.0" .78 sq. inches 2.0" 3.14 sq. inches
1 1/4 .1.23 sq. inches 3.0" 7.07 sq. inches
How do I determined what percentage of my vacuum is going to each line?
Let's say in your woods you have 4 line, three 1 inch lines with 1/3 of my taps on them and one 11/4 over 1 inch Wet / Dry with 2/3 of the taps. Here is a simple formula determine vacuum
: For the 1 inch lines .78 + .78 + .78 = 2.34
For the 1 ¼ line = 1.23
= 3.57
.78 ÷ 3.57 = .22 or each 1 inch line receives 21 % of the CFMS
All together the 1 inch lines in this system are receiving 63% CFMS
That leaves the remaining 37 % (32CFM) capacity for the 1 1/4 line.
Now you have 2/3 of the taps on the 1 ¼ wet /dry line only receiving 1/3 of the CFM"s. You need to redistribute the CFM's to the largest number of taps. To correct the problem you need to reduce the number of CFM's going to the 3, 1 inch lines or you need to increase the size of the dry line on the wet dry system. If you apply the math using the above information you can obtain the most economical solution;
You could install a 2 inch line in place of the 1 ¼ this would apply 60% of the CFM's to that line and 40 % to 3, 1 inch lines. You could also bring all three 1 inch lines together into a vacuum booster with a 1 ¼ outlet going to the releaser. What you end up with is two lines coming into the releaser of the same size, each with 50 % of the CFM's. Remember the wet line does not count as a vacuum line; its only function is to transfer liquid. The only other considerations are to avoid line loss from the vacuum pump to the releaser by using a 2 or three inch line and to account for all the CFM's used by releasers and other equipment on the system.
All of this information is available in more detail in the New York State Maple Tubing and Vacuum System Notebook from Cornell University, written by Stphen Childs, New York State Maple Specialist. To obtain a copy contact Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Natural Resources.
Is it The Pump or The Mainline Size That is Effecting the Performance of Your Tubing System?
Les Ober, Geauga County OSU Extension
When you start to install a vacuum tubing system you need to understand a few basic principles that determine how air moves through a mainline. First you must consider the line loss. Line loss is caused by the friction of air moving through the line. A general rule of thumb is that the narrower the diameter of the mainline, the slower the air removal at long distances. The line will restrict the pumps ability to quickly remove vacuum and recover from leakage. If you have a 1000 foot, 1 inch mainline attached to a 60cfm pump you will lose 50% of you CFM's within the first 200 feet. If you attach the same pump to a 2" line you will lose 50% of your CFM at 1500 feet. Air moves easier through a larger diameter line.
You need to consider how a vacuum pump works. The measure of vacuum pumps efficiency is not how many inches of mercury it can obtain but how many cubic feet of air it can remove from the line in one minute. Remember even the smallest vacuum pump can remove the air from an air tight system and obtain high vacuum if you give it enough time to work. Also remember there is no such thing as an air tight maple tubing system, ability to recover from leakage quickly is critical. Bigger pumps can remove air from the line faster but only if that air can move down the mainline quickly. If the diameter of the mainline is too small the air flow will be restricted by line loss.
Using the same 1000 ft. mainline, how many taps will it run? Let's consider a 1 inch line, 1000 feet long hooked to a 60CFM pump. The 1 inch line will only allow 8 cubic feet of air to move through the line in one minute's time at 1000 feet. If you follow the rule of 1 CFM for every 100 taps that would mean that you could not exceed 800 taps on that line, even though you have a vacuum pump capable of running 6000 taps. The only way to solve this problem is to go to a larger diameter line. If you move up to a 1 1/4 line of the same length hooked to the same pump you would have 12 CFM available at 1000 feet into the woods. You could theoretically run up to 1200 taps on this line. The major problem here is that many producers feel that they can solve their vacuum problems by buying a bigger vacuum pump. The truth is that at 1000 feet, with a 1 inch line, hooked to a 15 CFM, pump is capable of transferring 7 CFM. If you replace the smaller pump with a much larger pump (60 CFM) it will only be able to transfer 8 CFM. A larger pump under these circumstances will not transfer any more CFM's.
Another factor to consider is that most modern vacuum pumps are capable of maintaining a high level of hg mercury or inches of vacuum. Once a leak develops the vacuum level declines. At that point it is up to vacuum pump to overcome that leak by removing the incoming air. The pump must be able to do the job quickly to maintain an optimum level of performance (high vacuum) . As demonstrated in the above example a big pump can only be as efficient as the line capacity behind it.
Up to this point we have only considered air flow through an empty line with no sap in it. What happens when we add sap? The optimum goal is to maintain 60% air and 40% liquid inside the vacuum line. What happens during peak flow when the ratio is often reversed? Under low flow conditions there is very little liquid inside you mainline and air can move freely. Under peak flow conditions sap builds up and air blockage often occurs. This blockage could be in the form of waves or even worse slugs of sap that seal off a portion of the line. This is real problem especially on slopes of 2 % or less. The solution to this problem, especially on flat ground or where large volumes of sap are entering the primary mainline from secondary main lines is a dual-line conductor or wet dry line. The bottom line conducts the sap and the top line removes the air from the system. The bottom line is sized based on its liquid capacity and the top line is sized based on air flow and CFM capacity. When figure the CFM capacity for a Wet-Dry system only consider the capacity of top line. The advantage of a wet-dry system is that you should never have liquid in you top line, that means that it will transfer air at full capacity and the bottom line will have more capacity to transfer sap. To get a more in-depth description of how to install a vacuum system, including line loss charts for both single and wet-dry mainline purchase a copy of the New York State Maple Tubing and Vacuum System Notebook from Cornell University, Stephen Childs Author.
Vacuum an Explanation
Les Ober, Geauga County OSU Extension
The concept of vacuum is the exact opposite of what most people think of when they see a pump and some lines. Most people think of air being pushed though a line, similar to a compressor with an air line. Air can be compressed to an infinite level as long as what is holding that air does not explode. With vacuum it is the exact opposite .Vacuum is pressure based on the force that the earth's atmosphere exerts on all of us. This amounts to about 15 pounds per square inch of surface or 29 inches of mercury. This pressure is also referred to as barometric pressure. As the atmosphere fluctuates it will go up and down with atmospheric air movement (weather fronts). If you remove air from a container you will produce a vacuum inside that container. That lack of air creates a negative pressure that is measured in inches of mercury (hg.) and will never exceed the outside barometric pressure. As molecules of air are moving toward the pump and that air is ejected at a volume over a period of time. In this case Cubic Feet of air per Minute (CFM) . The capacity of the pump will determine how fast this will happens. What we are trying to create inside our sap lines is the absence of air or a perfect vacuum. Most producers grasp these basic concepts they also realize that there is no way to maintain a perfect vacuum inside their sap lines. Damage from wildlife and age introduces air into the system. Even the tree allows air to be introduced. For this reason we always allow for 1 CFM of air movement for every 100 taps. The problem with most systems is that we are getting way more air into the system than we want. This puts a greater burden on the pump to remove the air. The speed at which this is accomplished is largely determined not only by pump capacity, but how the tubing system is constructed. Line length and diameter in relation to the pump and the amount of liquid in the lines has as much to do with it as pump size. Couple this with the fact that most producers are attempting to run at high vacuum ( as close to the daily barometric pressure as possible). The problem with this is that it is counterproductive to pump efficiency. To go from 12 to 15" vacuum requires 20% more system capacity, 12 to 18"Requires 50% more system capacity and from 18 to 20" requires 80% more capacity. Research says you can get more sap per tap, up to 50 % increase. However, this greatly increases the demand on your pump and everything behind the pump has to be in optimum condition. You can see in one short paragraph there is more to running a vacuum system than hooking a line to a pump.
The best way to approach designing a vacuum system is to start with the tubing system and put a pump in place that will run that system. To do this, you need to determine how many taps will be on each mainline. You need to know the slope of those mainlines. Sap flowing in a relatively flat wood will move more slowly than sap moving down a mountain side. Each line has a capacity for liquid it is conducting. For example a 1 inch line on gravity will conduct 50 gallons per hour on a 2% slope and 75 gallons per hour on 6% slope. Remember that you want no more than 40% of the space inside the tubing holding liquid. The rest of space is needed to move air. The vacuum line is dual purpose, but its main function is air movement. If the sap level rises to the point that it blocks that air movement then the vacuum level quickly drops off. This along with excessive leakage is the main reason for vacuum level drop from the pump out into the woods. Using too small a diameter line will result in lines running full of liquid and a drop in vacuum. One of the best ways to overcome this problem is to use dual-line conductors, using the top line for air movement and the bottom line for liquid. The use of this type of system is vital in flat woods with very little slope. Getting your lines sized correctly is the first step in creating an efficient vacuum system. In the next post we will discuss the importance of vacuum line sizing and distribution.
Tips on Using Vacuum and Maintaining Tap Hole Sanitation
LesOber Geauga County OSU Extension
Looks like Ohio Maple Producers may be headed into another sugaring season with unusual weather patterns. As of February 5th there has already been a significant amount of new syrup made in NE Ohio. The real challenge is setting up your production system so that it can deal with the changes in the weather. You may say that there is nothing we can do about the weather; we have to accept what comes. That is right, however you can change the way you produce syrup to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. If you take a look at what happened in Ohio over the past several seasons you will notice some definite trends. Yield per tap dropped from .286 gallons of syrup per tap in 2008 to .169 in 2010. Last year we once again lead the nation in Yield per tap (.244). One of the main reasons for this a favorable weather pattern for producers on vacuum tubing systems, collecting a greater volume of sap, on more days, ending up making more syrup per tap, over the course of the season. How you manage that system during the season is key.
Taphole sanitation has become the buzz word of the industry. It is all about keeping your drop lines and spouts free of bacterial contamination. The piece of technological equipment that may have started it all is the Check Valve Adapter Spout. The warm weather in Ohio over the last several years has proven to be a good test for the new spout that is designed to prevent a back flow of bacterial laden sap back into the tree. It works well in warmer climates like Ohio. It also left a lot of maple equipment companies scrambling to address taphole sanitation issue. All of this is based on research done at Proctor Lab in Vermont and the work done at Cornell University. What it comes down to is that you need to be replacing your spouts every year. You should be replacing your drops every other year. If you shut off your vacuum for extended periods of time during the season when it is not frozen, then you should consider using the Check Valve. The newest model goes directly on the line without the stubby adapter and looks very promising. If you run your vacuum continuously then one of the new polycarbonate spouts may be the answer. Check your drops frequently looking for bacterial buildup. Also this is a prime where squirrel damage occurs. Watch for leaks. At the end of the season make sure you get all of the sap out of the drops. The best way to do this is to clean under vacuum if you can. This removes the maximum amount of liquid out of the lines.
One question that comes up a lot is whether you should shut down your vacuum pump during extended periods of warm weather or let it run? Many producers are finding out that when you run the vacuum pump continuously, you will continue to collect sap even when the temperatures remain above freezing for several days. In most cases the sap you collect will produce enough syrup to offset the cost of running the pump. In fact it is better to keep the pumps on and keep something moving through the lines. This cuts down on bacterial growth in the lines and the moving sap will keep the lines cooler. It takes a good vacuum pump to run under warm conditions. The average vane pump (dairy pump) struggles in this environment. They are not designed to producer high vacuum over long periods of time. They are designed to work comfortably at 16 inches of vacuum. This is the vacuum that you use to milk cows. The best pump choice for extended high vacuum use is a liquid ring pump. They are cooled by water or oil and they hold up well under long periods of continuous use.
The last several years should have convinced everyone that tubing on vacuum pays. The Financial analysis released last winter in The Ohio State University; 2012 Maple Syrup Enterprise Budget shows that the cost of production can be improved by installing and running a vacuum tubing system. One thing that is certain is that the maple industry is now driven by technology and it is helping us deal with Mother Nature.


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Confusion continues to reign in the wake of Chris Nikou's comments at the recent Football Writers' Festival at Jamberoo.
In response to an extremely perceptive question from the floor [Who asked that, Adrian? Was it by any chance...you? - Ed], Nikou said that in the absence of a breach of conditions, Central Coast Mariners (like all current Australian clubs) were guaranteed their place in the A-League until 2034.
Seconds later there was pandemonium as the penny dropped. Michael Lynch and Tom Smithies were all over him, demanding to know exactly what that meant for promotion / relegation, and his answer couldn't have been clearer.
"Under the current licences all Australian based teams have a right to be in the A-League until 2034. ...there is no prospect of promotion and relegation until then."
Once they heard the news, Remo Nogarotto and Joseph Carrozzi immediately claimed that such a timeline was news to them and expressed their displeasure that Nikou had spoken without board consultation. However, it is pretty clear to me that Nikou was absolutely right under the current agreements.
Sometime later, Nikou and the FFA issued a clarification, suggesting Nikou's comments were a personal view.
The clarification went on to say that the current Club Participation Agreement (CPA) acknowledged the 2034 licences, but also made provision for the possibility of promotion/relegation being introduced within that time.
This (according to some) effectively limits the 2034 licences but I would suggest that making provision for a future event, articulated in a future document, is no more than a contract to make a future contract – which in contract law is typically "void on the basis of uncertainty".
So where does that leave us?
I would suggest that the licences as currently stated give a right to continue until 2034, so on what basis could a team be kicked out of the A-League or relegated?
North Queensland Fury or Clive Palmer might like to have a go at answering that but there are only two ways, as far as I can see, that a current (Australian) team could be relegated before 2034:
they fail to abide by the conditions of their licence; or
they consent to an entirely new licensing system under a new CPA.
As far as a new licensing system is concerned, I would assume there is still a lot of devil in the detail to be negotiated. A club owner who has sunk millions into his club will be wary of giving up his licence before he has to – especially if the new operating model allows the clubs to be more viable / profitable.
So, will the FFA under residual powers or the new controlling entity have the right to enforce a new CPA (or parts thereof) against the wishes of a minority?
Either of these scenarios portend nothing more than a legal bloodbath with the potential to really put the boot into the corpse of Australian professional football.
So what is likely to happen?
The New Leagues Working Group and the Second Division Working Group will continue their activity and report very shortly. The Second Division group will be angling for promotion/relegation as swiftly as possible, but they will have no power to enforce that without the consent of the existing clubs to a new CPA.
The New Leagues Group will be most concerned with a viable competition structure which ultimately gives more power to the current clubs. Will they truly agree to P/R before 2034?
The New Leagues Group would know of the public's desire for P/R, the FIFA insistence on P/R and even the commercial sense (for the good of the league) of P/R.
So I'm guessing there will be reference to P/R in any new CPA but it will be hived off into the future on the basis of various contingencies (the growth of the league to 16 teams and a financially viable 2nd Division for example) and will therefore continue to have either nil legal effect or once again be void for uncertainty.
So I, for one, am defending Chris Nikou on this. He walked into a snake pit of football journos on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, and was pilloried for (among other things) his:
Slow progress over the creation of a new A-League operating model;
Refusal to elaborate on the Ange Postecoglou resignation;
Refusal to elaborate on the Alen Stajcic sacking;
Refusal to justify the FFA's endorsement of Sheik Salman as AFC president after the Hakeem Al Araibi scandal; and
Apparent obfuscation over the voting rules regarding an abstention.
Somehow, he got a few laughs amongst all that, but he also gave an honest answer to a clear (some might even say brilliant [It was your question, wasn't it? - Ed]) question regarding the current licences and the prospects for promotion/relegation.
That answer, once known to the other FFA directors, was sadly revealing of their current state of unity and common purpose, but it must also be remembered that Chris Nikou and the rest of the FFA board will no longer have (full) control of the A-League clubs and their licences in the immediate future.
Nikou may be technically right today, but he probably won't be in a week or so.
Adrian's latest book The Fighting Man is in the shops right now or available through Booktopia. Adrian also wrote Mr Cleansheets and will have a couple of exciting announcements shortly.

subset: commoncrawl


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Live Music in San Francisco: Best Deals and To Do's
When we go to the city at night with friends, we go to a few tried and true San Francisco nightlife places for live music and good food. Here are a few hotspots to add to your own list for savvy night out in San Francisco. You'll find several fun places to choose from, including many with special ticket offers to check out before you go.
SAVVY TIP: Check this post often for updates on available discount tickets from savvy sources.
6 Savvy San Francisco Music Venues
1. Feinstein's at the Nikko
A great option for live music, Feinstein's at the Nikko features local and national talent from a variety of genres, including Broadway, cabaret, drag, jazz, rhythm and blues. Feinstein's is located on the lobby level of the The Nikko, a modern Asian fusion hotel at Mason and O'Farrell Streets in San Francisco's Union Square, (a short walk from Moscone Center and the financial district).
Address: Feinstein's, Hotel Nikko San Francisco, 222 Mason St, San Francisco, California. {Go}
2. Biscuits & Blues
Blues and comfort food, in a cozy room with a good sound system — what's not to like. The cuisine is Southern, Cajun, Creole, and good old fashioned American pub food. Grits, cornbread, with beer, wine and drinks to wash it down. This place is family-friendly, too.
Address: Biscuits & Blues, 401 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. {Go}
3. The Fillmore
Big name bands like like Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead found fame at The Fillmore, and others who have graced the place include Prince, James Brown, Jefferson Airplane, Radiohead, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sleater-Kinney. But enough name dropping (I've just been reading their cool posters). The chandeliers, full bar and tables, give the place a certain unmistakable vibe.
Address: The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd San Francisco, California. {Go}
4. Slims
One of the originals joints in the city, go for the history as well as the music, food, and drinks. You'll find everything from Rock to American Roots to Blues, Jazz and Zydeco style music on stage.
Address: Slims, 333 11th St San Francisco, California. {Go}
5. Bimbo's 365
Another oldie but goodie from the Depression era, Bimbo's features jazz and rock artists as well as other forms of entertainment, such as comedy to and variety acts. Check out the art deco decor, with red velvet walls, and a live mermaid in the lobby. (Is that the bimbo?) Oh, and expect the occasional burlesque revue.
Address: Bimbo's 365, 1025 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, California. {Go}
6. The Independent
A hot spot in the City, located north of Haight-Ashbury, with a recently updated sound system to showcase a variety of acts that include live music and comedy standup. The place is a little bit Green Day, a little bit Vampire Weekend, with a pinch of The Black Eyed Peas and Dave Chapelle.
Address: The Independent, 628 Divisadero, San Francisco, California. {Go}


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I played hooky for a mid-week sojourn to view the California Super Bloom without the overwhelming crowds. There were still a LOT of people, but the flowers were beautiful! I started out with a scenic drive to Carrizo Plain National Monument, wandered over to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve, and wrapped up the day with a hike in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.
The Carrizo Plain is a large enclosed grassland plain, approximately 50 miles (80 km) long and up to 15 miles (24 km) across, in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, California, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Los Angeles. It contains the 246,812-acre (99,881 ha) Carrizo Plain National Monument, and it is the largest single native grassland remaining in California. It includes Painted Rock in the Carrizo Plain Rock Art Discontiguous District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012 it was further designated a National Historic Landmark due to its archeological value. The San Andreas Fault cuts across the plain.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a state-protected reserve of California, USA, harboring the most consistent blooms of California poppies, the state flower. The reserve is located in the rural west side of Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County, 15 miles (24 km) west of Lancaster. The reserve is at an elevation ranging from 2,600 to 3,000 feet (790 to 910 m) above sea level, in the Mojave Desert climate zone. The reserve is administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Other wildflowers within the reserve include the owl's clover, lupine, goldfields, cream cups and coreopsis.
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 932-acre (377-hectare) park located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains in northern Los Angeles County, California. It is located in the town of Agua Dulce, between the suburbs of Santa Clarita and Palmdale. The area is also visible from the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14).


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Happy Earth Week everyone! This is a time of year where we need to stop and take a moment to appreciate the beauty and life giving processes that Earth provides us. Take this appreciation one step further and make a change in your life to protect the beauty and abundance that our Earth provides us. Earth Week is a great time to reevaluate our life choices and make a change.
Spring is here and in full force in Vermont. This seasonal change is apparent at my phenology as the landscape is responding to the warming temperatures. The deciduous trees on my phenology site are budding and shrubs are pushing out fresh, green growth. The American beech, yellow/white birch trees are opening their buds. The rest of the trees on my site are coniferous so there is little visible change to these. In the understory, wood ferns, partridgeberry, yellow trout lily, honeysuckle, and barberry are all showing new growth. An observation I had was that the majority of the ferns grew closer to the river. This may be because of the increased moisture there.
I also noticed that the stream running through my phenology site is much higher. I suspect this is from the large amounts of snow melting from the mountains and rushing down the rivers towards Lake Champlain. With this increased flow, the river is running much faster. Another thing that became apparent to me is the effect of the river on the topography of the landscape. The river cuts through a valley and as it meanders, has deposited sediment in some places and eroded it in others. there are some spots with substantial erosion much higher than the river is at right now. This means that the river must have been at that level in the past and has slowly cut deeper and deeper into the valley.


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If you know me, you know that two of my main passions in life are food and music – but over all, I prize my relationships with friends and family. It was incredibly exciting for me to see all three come together when I discovered that one of my old friends from our music days, David Ackley, shares his passion for craft beers on the site Local Beer Blog.
Category Archives: North Carolina
Wine Dinner at Durham's Washington Duke Hotel
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Washington Duke Inn's Tuscan wine dinner with fellow blogger Amy Whited of the fantastic home blog Yellow Hammer Design Shop (formerly Triangle Honeymoon)!


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I've been looking for a way to better integrate my etsy store, flickr account, and my wordpress blog. Unfortunately, WordPress doesn't allow advertising and incorporating my etsy store would count as such.
Soopsee to the rescue! I found Soopsee through the Etsy labs…the place were developers are thinking up ways to make Etsy work for you. Soopsee will host a website that will display your blog posts along side your etsy products, as well as link to flickr accounts, tweets, and where ever else your work can be found. Posts and products are automatically updated every half hour.
Soopsee is still in it's beta phase and developments are still being made but it's a great concept and I'm really excited about it. I'd also like to thank Ed, who is at the other end of the soopsee email and working very hard to make Soopsee a success. He's been really helpful to me over the last day with all of my questions.
Little changes are coming, like the ability to change link titles. And I'd like the importing of my blog to be smoother…the photos skip around when they've moved from wordpress to my new site. You can be a part of the development of soopsee and help influence changes if you plan on using it here!
If you look at the tool bar of my blog on the right hand side you'll notice a badge that says I'm on Soopsee. Clicking there will take you to the new site.
The new site address is easy peasy…. megnificentmade.com!
I recommend you give soopsee a look. I'm excited about where it's headed!
Tags: etsy, flickr, integration, internet, megnificent made, promotion, sites, soopsee, web


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IMPORTANT: We closed our factory for three weeks on 27th March to protect our staff. However, because we have been asked repeatedly to produce NHS & Covid19-related flags we are now producing this one line to meet this very specific demand. We are offering just three sizes and two fitting types. Doing our best for you at a very difficult time.
- Recommended for outdoor use.
- Double stitched hem.
- White Plastic Clip fittings or Loop & Rope.
- 110gsm knitted polyester
MrFlag® brand Professional Quality printed flags are among the most versatile and best value flags on the market. Manufactured in the UK to produce optimum flying weights from top quality materials, our knitted polyester option is the best combination of fly-ability and durability.
These flags are made to order.


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Conan Wang and Ben Evans Join Nissan United Europe
Nissan United Europe
November 13, 2019
Both Wang and Evans will work alongside Ewan Veitch, President of TBWA\G1 and Nissan United Europe. Nissan United is an agency unit that combines creative storytelling with unprecedented levels of data acumen — aided by the incorporation of Omnicom's new industry-leading data platform, Omni — to form the world's most creative precision-marketing automotive team.
In his role as Executive Creative Director, Wang will be responsible for overseeing multiple Nissan creative teams across TBWA's European offices, raising the overall creative bar and embarking on a new era of data-inspired creative.
A two-time Emmy Award–winning creative, Wang was most recently Global Executive Creative Director at CAA Marketing where he led creative for companies such as AB InBev, Activision Blizzard, Canada Goose, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dolby, Fender, GM, Marvel Studios, Motorola, Southwest Airlines, Unilever, and Warner Bros.
Prior to CAA, Wang was Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai, managing the Nike Greater China and Chrysler Asia Pacific businesses in over 21 countries. In this role, he also led a variety of strategic new business pitches across Asia and North America, and helped grow the office from a staff of 40 to 150.
Chris Garbutt, Global Chief Creative Officer of TBWA\Worldwide, said, "I'm thrilled Conan has joined our global creative collective. With his incredible talent and diverse experience, he has what it takes to disrupt and create category-of-one work. The world needs creativity more than ever and it's vital that we attract the world's best talent to lead our clients' brands. With Conan on board and with Ben as Managing Director, we've got some of the industry's best to help Nissan capture a larger share of the future."
As Managing Director, Evans will help lead Nissan United in Europe, with a focus on operationalizing Nissan United's precision marketing offer and serving as advisor and counsel to Nissan management teams across the region.
Evans joins TBWA from Ogilvy & Mather, where he held multiple roles across the agency's global offices, most recently in London running Ogilvy's Digital and Customer Experience relationship with Nestlé, where his responsibilities included supporting the definition and rollout of Nestlé's approach to personalization at scale across all brands globally.
Evans also led Ogilvy's South Africa offices as Managing Director of Digital, where he set up a number of new-to-market capabilities following his 2014 arrival. He first joined Ogilvy in 2010 to head up digital as Managing Partner at OgilvyOne London.
Both Evans and Wang will work alongside a core team based in Paris, with local agencies and creative hubs all over Europe.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ben and Conan to the TBWA and the Nissan United team. Both Ben and Conan had creative track records and global experiences that made them an ideal match for leading innovative work as we continue to raise the bar for Nissan's communications," said Veitch.


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Rovers' Under-21s will be eager to maintain their current run of good results when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this Friday night.
Damien Johnson's side make the journey to Molineux off the back of four wins from their last five league and cup outings.
Last time out the young Rovers put in a hard-working display to defeat Stoke City 1-0 at Leigh Sports Village so they'll be looking for a repeat performance against the Wolves.
Rovers had the better of the two matches when the sides met last season. At Telford, goals from Devarn Green and Jordan Preston earned the visitors a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Then at the Brockhall, a first half David Carson goal was enough to earn the Rovers all three points in a 1-0 victory.
With the first team having been in action in the win over Leeds United last night, and with a match against Birmingham City on Tuesday, a young squad will to travel to the Black Country for this evening's match.
David Raya is once again in goal, with Sacha Petshi expected to be involved in midfield.
U18s top scorer Lewis Mansell returns after serving a one-match ban, whilst Academy defender Matthew Platt in line for a first U21 appearance due to an ankle injury to Sam Lavelle.
Rovers will select from: Raya, Crump, Nyambe, Doyle, Platt, Wharton, Carson, Thomson, Tomlinson, Petshi, Tanner, Mahoney, Green, Wall, Forrester, Mansell, Rittenberg.
Kick-off at Molineux is at 7.00pm.


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Ready to take a Walk On The Wild Side!?
Check out our 8 new scorching shades inspired by the exotic outdoors. Walk On The Wild Side is a fusion of bright, shimmers and glitter colours. It's the perfect collection as we transition from sunnier climates to cooler days. These glossy colours are ideal for creating beautiful nail art that bring out your wild side!
Check out how to create this amazing nail design using Gellux Walk On The Wild Side.


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BookThugs and Troubador Slaves at COCO
Submitted by Grace on February 18, 2014 - 10:03am
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Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 7:00pm
COCO Crafted Organic Chocolates
365 Jane Street
Toronto, ON
Poetry, music and chocolate. These are a few of our favourite things! COCO Crafted Organic Chocolates and BookThug present the next instalment of their ongoing collaborative monthly series: BookThugs and Troubador Slaves.
Enjoy an evening of readings by Ralph Kolewe, William Kemp and Jay MillArMichael Menegon, Kayt Lucas and JP Merzetti.
Indulge in the delectable offerings from COCO including delicious handcrafted organic chocolates, scrumptious homemade desserts and heartwarming hot chocolate.
Free. Books and chocolate will be for sale.
For more info visit https://www.facebook.com/event...
COCO Crafted Organic Chocolates
365 Jane StreetToronto, ON M6S 3Z3 43° 39' 27.3024" N, 79° 29' 16.0584" W
See map: Google Maps


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Work work work; That is what my life has become? It's all good. Focusing on my SMART Goals is where I have to find my motivation. I have many small things that need to be done to get these larger goals off the ground. On the Tenth of this month I will officially be responsible for a new 3,800 square foot building filled with a theater area and some offices. I have a play I wrote that will be performed in December, and I am working on bringing my "Make A Right Left Here TV" show back to life. Though this time I am thinking of just doing it twice a month and prerecording it. Either way, I know I have a lot of my table. That's the life of an Aries.
Aries the mighty RAM! It's a trait that most Aries have in common. We say yes to anything that comes our way. We feel obligated to life to continue doing things. For when we are standing still we feel useless and without worth. I feel better when I am completing moments in my life. I remember when I use to work a normal job, in fact, I remember when I use to work three normal jobs all at one time. Never again! It was always the same thing and nothing ever felt accomplished. I worked for another person / company, and I could only do as I was told. Most of the time stocking, renting, or even selling equipment to people. I accomplish things now.
I turned my life around and starting making things happen by making things happen. When it comes to my life I also keep in mind 3 simple things. Network, Market, and Practice. I keep people in my life as best I can. I let people know I exist and that I am doing things. I do what I can to keep my skills up to par. Most importantly I remember to always help those searching for opportunities. I do this because of a quote I heard when I was younger.
"If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do." ~ Gandhi
I was taken advantage of by the industry known as business when I was young. I changed all that by learning the business side of things. I also studied people, life and started taking in any knowledge I could hear, read, see. Most importantly, I started helping those who wished for it. I always thought if someone helped me I would have learned quicker, or been able to take on more. Or have gotten further than I am now. The truth is, you don't need help. You just need to do. Become the action. Some fear this action. I create action by opening doors. I feel, if I help some, more will help others. The action of an Aries is to take lead when there is no leadership presented.


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The Moral Relevance of Personal Characteristics in Setting Health Care Priorities
2017-06-08T02:20:27Z (GMT) by
This paper discusses the moral relevance of accounting for various personal characteristics when prioritising between groups of patients. After a review of the results from empirical studies, we inquire into the ethical reasons which might explain - and justify - the views expressed in these surveys. The paper develops a general framework on the causes of ill health and the consequences of treatment. It goes on to inquire into the extents to which a personal characteristic - and its eventual underlying ethical justification - could have any relationships to these causes and consequences. We attempt to disentangle those characteristics that may reflect a potentially relevant reason from those which violate widely accepted principles of social justice.


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These slabs are freeform and organic...every one different from the next. the common thread with these slabs is the chartreuse green color. size-wise these are on the larger end, so they will definitely make a bold statement!
any band will work great with it!


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UVI Board of Trustees Unanimously Approves Online Degree Program … It Begins This Month
UVI ACHIEVERS: (Left to Right) Sharlene Harris, Dr. Marc Boumedine, Dr. Camille McKayle, Erik Pattison, Dannica Thomas, and President David Hall pose for a photo at the March 3, Board of Trustees meeting in the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus.
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FREDERIKSTED — In the regular session of its quarterly meeting today on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus, the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees unanimously approved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies – Strategic Communications to be offered as part of the UVI Online program.
With the inclusion of the BA in Strategic Communications, UVI, in collaboration with Level Playing Field (LPF), will offer 16 degrees in an online format this spring. Classes are expected to begin on March 15.
"I am confident that we will be able to meet that launch date," said UVI President David Hall. "There has been a lot of work that has had to occur in developing platforms for us to be able to host these programs." Several University systems had to be changed, including UVI's Banner system, financial aid and changes with the registrars' office, he said.
"We do have applicants who have been applying for these programs," said Dr. Hall. The actual numbers of those who have been accepted and that have been enrolled will be shared with the Board as the process continues.
The Communication Program of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), the Curriculum Committee of CLASS, and the faculty of CLASS approved the strategic communications degree based on the Level Playing Field framework.
In December 2017, the Board approved the creation of 15 online degrees. In February 2017, the Board approved of a service agreement with Level Playing Field to provide instructional course design, technology infrastructure and academic support for online courses and degrees.
The University of the Virgin Islands has been working toward this goal for several years. The University's strategic plan, Pathways to Greatness, approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2012 with input from faculty, staff and students, required the institution to develop and offer online degrees.
As customary, President Hall recognized those UVI employees or units that have performed exceptionally with the President's Appreciation Award. "One of the major accomplishments during this reporting period has been the development, approval and implementation of 15 online degrees," said President Hall. "This is the most strategic development in the University that has the potential to address ongoing educational and revenue concerns or challenges in the Territory and nationally."
"This has been a team effort led by Provost Camille McKayle but has included the tireless and creative work of various individuals," said President Hall.
This quarter's award was presented to:
· Charmaine Smith, coordinator for Enrollment Services
· Cheryl Roberts, director of Financial Aid
· Dannica Thomas, director of Institutional Effectiveness
· Desha Brathwaite, database administrator
· Dr. Ameeta Jadav, director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
· Dr. Kimarie Engerman, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
· Dr. Lucy Reuben, interim dean of the School of Business
· Dr. Sandra Romano, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics
· Dr. Stuart Ketcham, chair of the faculty
· Erik Pattison, director of network operations
· Monifa Potter, registrar
· Sharlene Harris, vice president of Information Technology, Library Services and Institutional Assessment
"These individuals represent the larger group of people who played a role and I am very honored to be able to designate them as the recipients of the President's Appreciation Award for this Board meeting," said President Hall.
In the President's Report Dr. Hall shared that 29 students had made 16 presentations at scholarly conferences, some along with faculty members. "This is a significant achievement," said President Hall, adding that students that get to present have greater potential in their careers.
There were 19 faculty publications during this period. "I really want to thank our faculty members for continuing to engage in scholarship and research," Dr. Hall said. "That is always the hallmark of a University's ability to keep knowledge alive and to keep expanding the boundaries of our knowledge."
In his report to the Board, President Hall provided an updated on the recovery status of UVI. The University executed a contract with The Bourne Group, an architectural/engineering firm, to assess all damages to structures, prepare cost estimates for repairs and establish budgets, prepare scope of work and construction drawings for designated structures, and provide related expertise and consultation services to the University. The firm commenced its detailed assessment of the campus facilities on Feb. 5, and is projected to complete this phase on March 5. The second phase of the process, preparation of scope of work, is projected to take 60 days.
A number of facilities have been selected for priority consideration, some of which will be fast-tracked through the process consistent with the goal of addressing those facilities that have a direct and immediate impact on students and have revenue implications, he said in his report. The facilities in this group, not necessarily in priority order, include West Residence Hall, Rouppe House (Student Affairs), Faculty West Housing, School of Business, MacLean Marine Science Center, Caribbean Green Technology Center/GEOCAS, Quarters B, Nursing Classroom Building, President's Guest House and Reichhold Center for the Arts.
While in executive session, the Board approved a honorary degree candidate from St. Croix, approved a revised version of the current risk assessment plan, received an update report on the Comprehensive Emergency Plan, received an update on legal matters and approved executive session minutes from the Dec. 19, 2017 meeting.
The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2018.
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This is wonderful news and long awaited too. I only wish that they would fix my situation of me owing monies that i wasn't even aware of so that i can restart my Ed with UVI. But great work guys keep it up


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To ease myself into the "interview-style" of questioning, I started with my parents. Mom (aged 51) is a Southern girl who works hard and laughs harder, and Dad (aged 56) is an Iranian-born lawyer who loves nothing more than to sit and read. The combination is both insane and adorable, and their love has taught me more than they will ever know. There were some hiccups with my first attempt at an interview (I first interviewed Mom separately…and then deleted my only audio copy as soon as we were finished) so this is the second interview. There's a lot more that they each have to say, so more interviews may be posted later on.
A few notes: the interview is long, so prepare yourselves accordingly, but I think a lot of what they said is very poignant to religion today. To be fair, I'm biased…they're my parents. Also a few times we mention the word "baba", that just means Dad in Farsi.
and here we go.
Interview 1: Mom and Dad
Me: So I'm going to ask you guys the same questions basically, and we'll delve into some things with each of you, but I would like for you to kind of alternate talking. So who would like to go first? Mom's already had some practice.
Mom: Okay, well go with me first.
Me: Okay, so I would like you to go over your 'faith journey', how you were raised as a kid and where you are today and how you came down that path.
Mom: Okay. Pine Forest Baptist Church was the first church that I remember going to. We were very involved there. I asked to be baptized when I was around eight, which was a little young, I remember there being some questions as to whether I was too young to make that decision, but I convinced the minister that I was ready. So I was baptized there. Fully dunked. And we moved away from that house, to the other side of town, to [another church]…went there (sighs) occasionally. What I remember is we'd go at the beginning of the school year and then we'd go twice more, so it was almost painful, because every time I went back, I didn't know where I was going, I didn't know the people there, it didn't feel like I belonged there. I didn't enjoy going to that church. My dad never went very much. I think he went back at Pine Forest. When we finally joined Highland Hills—well I got involved because I knew some younger people there, and so I visited and then Mother visited and Mother got very involved. And so Mother started going very regularly and I went more regularly—had some great Sunday School teachers there, and of course, Reverend Jim Bruner who married your baba and me. He was just a wonderful minister. I learned a lot about my faith through him and the Sunday School teachers there. I haven't found another place like that. They were just open-minded. You know, when your baba and I got married, Reverend Bruner sat us down and talked to us about how we were going to make this marriage work when we came from different faiths. He never seemed to question whether he should marry us, he just wanted us to be aware that it was going to be difficult coming from different places. I now understand there are ministers who would not have married us, and I find that shocking, because I never thought for a second that Reverend Bruner wouldn't marry us! So that's the beginning of my faith.
Me: So Dad, you come from a completely different background, so do you find any elements of her story that you can relate to or was your journey completely different? Can you give us some background?
Dad: Well the early stages were very different. Obviously the last thing Mom mentioned was Reverend Bruner and that's a common experience that we had, and we both view it as a positive experience and I'll get to that in a minute. But growing up, I believed that I was a Muslim, that my entire family was Muslim…looking back there were not a lot of routine vestiges of that religion in our lives. The only really consistent evidence of it was my grandmother's faith—at least avowed faith—and her daily and routine prayers, which as a Muslim you are supposed to do five times a day. There were other events during the High Holy Days of Shi'a Islam…so I felt that was Islam and I felt that I was a Muslim. As I said, looking back I see that for a truly Muslim family a lot of other things would have happened that did not happen in my family. My mother and father were not practicing Muslims, they never prayed, they never fasted during the month of Ramadan, and as I grew older and understood their views, I realized that neither of them had a very traditional view of Islam at all. And somewhere along the way I began to question God. That primarily came from politics as opposed to a spiritual journey. There were a lot of people in Iran—academics, intellectuals, students—who were looking for change in Iran during the days of the shah, and for some of us it just seemed that religion and Islam were not consistent with the future that we saw for Iran. The initial impetus for questioning my prior beliefs was politics. Jumping ahead to what Mom said, when we decided to get married, we understood each other's points of view—actually, I thought I understood Mom's point of view. In retrospect, maybe I didn't. I thought that hers was more of a traditional Southern Baptist kind of perspective, and I don't know whether she has evolved over the years—I know I have—it's conceivable that I just had an overly simplistic view of what people who called themselves Christian were like. I thought they would all be the same. So I went into our relationship truly concerned (chuckles) about how issues were going to be resolved, especially when it came to having children. I was very aggressive about not wanting our children to be indoctrinated in Christian belief—in fact, I went beyond that, and I didn't want you kids—this is before you were born—to even be exposed to it. Obviously that was not either practical or fair, and one of the first evolutions in my view in that regard came about when I decided that perhaps I ought to leave the decision to each child, and a proper way to do that would be to let you two explore all the possibilities to the extent that you wanted to. And ultimately that's the side that I came down on. For a variety of reasons, I don't think that either of you received a vast education in Christianity until middle school or high school. I mean we did go to church some during [earlier] years, I always wanted to accompany the family when you guys went to church, when mom wanted to go to church. I had an intellectual interest in hearing sermons, I enjoyed hearing what was said and the way things were approached, aside from the music and all that which I always enjoyed. So I wasn't averse to going to church, I just was never going to take the initiative. But in that process you guys got some education, you and Neena, and I think the education became a bit more formal and perhaps profound at Westminster. And I was fine with that. I had gotten to the point that—it's not that I believe my view of the world was wrong, it's just that I wasn't sure that it really mattered if I was right. Life being what it is, I just wanted you guys to take comfort in faith if that is something you were attracted to. And I think that's what we did. We just let you guys steep yourselves in it as much or as little as you wanted to, and let you each come down on whatever side—just find your own spiritual place.
Me: Mom, you have stated you wanted to raise us as Christian.
Mom: I did.
Me: What was your reasoning behind that?
Mom: Well one, I wanted to share my faith, a similar identity, another reason would be that it had given me comfort when I went through difficult times. I wanted you to have that. I just thought that Christianity colored my lens of humanity. Sunday school was where I drew a lot a lot of my beliefs, learned to really empathize, learned to think about how I was who I was, and if I had been raised in a different environment how I might be different and how I might treat another person. I had a Sunday School teacher who really wanted us to step outside of understanding that we are what we are because of the way we grew up and yet somebody else might not have that same history and they could be different. You can't make them have the same experience you had and that Christ would have loved all of them. I learned that "Jesus loves the little children", a song we sang all the time. Did you sing that much in Vacation Bible School?
Me: I think we did. I don't remember.
Mom: Such a powerful song. I really think a lot of people as adults forget that. To me it is the core of Christianity, is that you love everybody. Doesn't matter who they are, where they're from, what their religious beliefs are, give everybody the respect of being a human being. To me that's the basis of Christianity. And that's one of the problems I find with a lot of churches today, is that I feel like they're a lot more judgmental than open and accepting, and that was not how my faith emerged. My faith was one that you gotta accept everybody where they are, and that's just what my faith is. You have to empathize.
Me: So do you believe that people are inherently good or inherently evil?
Mom: Neither.
Me: So for you, it doesn't matter if their motivations are good or bad.
Mom: The world's not black and white. In every decision you see somebody make, there are list of priorities going on in that person's mind. There are a list of things that maybe they have been taught or they've seen on they're reacting to. You can't know that. You can only know it from your perspective; you can't know it from theirs. Maybe you've got somebody who ran a red light, and all you can do is think "well they're idiots", but you don't know what their perspective is. You don't know if the house they grew up in, their family ran red lights all the time; you don't know if they've got a sick kid at home they're trying to get to; you don't know if maybe they're alcoholics and they had too much to drink—you don't know what their story is. And that's just the simple version. You know when somebody does something wrong at work, it's very easy to use your experiences and your beliefs and say "I can't believe they made that choice", but you know, you're not them.
Me: Dad, same question. Do you believe people are inherently good or inherently evil, or—as Mom said—neither?
Dad: My instinct, I think, in life, has been to assume that people were operating from a positive and well-meaning point of view, at least as they understand it, rather than from a bad one, unless proven otherwise. I've actually paid a price for that instinct. I tend to think actually that, more than likely, people come from a good place. I think people know what good is and unless there's something wrong with an individual for whatever reason—upbringing or maybe there is such a thing as inherent and innate evil—but I think most people come from a good place. And I think that is why your mom and I, even though we don't share exactly the same views when it comes to religion, actually come down on the same standards of conduct. I think most people—human beings—know what is right and know what is wrong. They don't always follow the dictates of that knowledge. I don't think those understandings of what's right and what's wrong come from God or religion or any place else, I don't know where it comes from, but for whatever reason, by whatever mechanism, it is within human beings. It's there. If you look you find it. Some people just aren't able to heed the course of conduct that that would dictate and some do. I think more do than not though.
Me: How does each of you identify yourselves, religiously or spiritually? If you could ascribe a couple of words to what you are, what would the words be?
Dad: Mom has an easier time with that question than I do, and I don't want to put words in her mouth—except I heard her say this a few hours ago—she considers herself a Christian and I think that makes sense. I heard her say earlier that she considers herself a Christian that she believes that the teachings of Christ are to be followed and they outline a good path for human beings to conduct their lives according to, and to me that makes perfect sense.
Me: (to Mom) Is that what you think?
Mom: That is absolutely what I think.
Dad: She will talk more about what the role of the Bible is in that, and the example that Christ sets for human beings, and frankly I can relate to that, I don't have a problem with that at all.
Me: But for you, is there a higher power?
Dad: I can't deny that there is a higher power, I just don't know what it is, what its nature is, and I don't know how to glean from the possibility that there is a higher knowledge any specific guidance to lead my life.
Me: So what is it that you feel that makes you feel that there could be a higher power?
Dad: Honestly I don't feel anything at all that tells me there could be a higher power. It is just the knowledge that I know very little, and the knowledge that mankind knows very little. Even though we know a lot more than we did a hundred years ago, I think we're still scratching the surface of understanding what makes our physical world go round, and until we have a full grasp of what the rules of our physical world are, I think it's premature for us to even think about what else may be out there, absent some sort of glaring and undeniable evidence which I'm not aware of. It's not that I think there is or may be a higher power, or whatever you want to call it, it's just that I can't deny that it exists simply because I don't know. I can very easily, in my own view, deny that the higher power that is described in certain versions of almost every religion does not exist. I cannot reconcile myself to the idea that some bearded old man is sitting up there, looking at every little thing that I do, every little thought that I have, and dispenses justice and guidance accordingly. That, to me, is superstition. But is it possible that there is some source of knowledge, source of control, source of guidance, source of commonality between human beings that is intangible and undetectable through normal scientific and human means? Sure, it's possible.
Me: Mom, for you, you are Christian, you believe in God.
Mom: (nods)
Me: What is it that makes you feel that God exists? Do you get moved spiritually by your beliefs?
Mom: I do. And that's taken different forms over my life. But I do get moved, I do believe that many people focusing on one person, whether it's through prayer or through positive thinking, but I think that when someone is sick and people think about them, and people show them they care and all the positive thoughts can affect people. I think there's actually some studies [that show that], and whether that's just a psychological reaction in the person feeling cared for and feeling more positive, sort of like a placebo effect, I definitely feel spirituality is helpful. Another way is when I feel really really stressed, I know that a way for me to let go is to go "well I've done everything I can, if it's meant to be it will be and if it's not, it won't." I just kind of feel that it's out of my hands and I can let go and not have to keep control. Some people say "well I put it in God's hands". I just have faith in mankind, and in our spirituality together and that it will be okay, and that I can't know everything, and that it will be ok.
Me: So it sounds like you don't really have the same traditional Christian views.
Mom: No.
Me: Can you sum up for us what your views are?
Mom: Well, my views are that I very much believe in what Christ taught, I believe that Christ lived, I believe that He died on the cross. I believe there are other stories about Christ that are metaphors. I don't believe that every word that is written in the Bible is exact, I think some people make too much out of that sometimes. I don't believe there's a bearded white man sitting up there saying "You're going to go to Hell and you're going to Heaven," I don't believe that God intervenes in our every action or is aware of every action and leads our every action, I think that's why Christ taught what he taught, it's about how we treat each other. If you've got God upstairs who's going to discipline you every time you do something wrong, well then, why did you need Christ to come down here and teach us how to behave?
Dad: If I may interject a point in connection with that, one of the most profound things I've ever heard your Mom say, and since then I've heard others say it, is how ridiculous the converse of what she just said is, not just doling out punishment but interceding in mundane matters such as the outcome of a football game, and how insulting that is to a lot of people based on their view of Christianity and God. The idea that whatever that greater power, or force, or intellect is, is going to choose one football team over another or one side of whatever over another. That told me, when I heard that, that even though Mom and I do come from different traditions in terms of spirituality, in the end, we really aren't that far apart. If you listen to what Mom just said about believing in human beings, that sounds very like humanism. I don't know that I'm a humanist, I don't know enough about humanism to actually apply that to myself, but that sounds like what it is, you believe in human beings with all their good and bad, and that in the end, the general direction is positive and good. Not in every instance, not every day, but in the end the overall trend is toward something that's good for all of us. To me, that is spiritual. In my view, spirituality can be attained through religion, but there are two caveats to that. One is that religiosity not a necessary condition to spirituality, I think it's possible to be spiritual and I think actually it's very easy to be spiritual without being religious. And conversely I think there are people for whom religion actually interferes with their spirituality. It's almost like not seeing the forest for the trees, getting so bogged down in the minutiae of "what does this word in the Bible or the Koran or the Talmud mean" and then just completely forgetting what the big picture is all about. And again, I'm not saying that's true for everybody, that kind of thought is beneficial for some. But for others I think it becomes a substitute for spirituality instead of a path to it.
Me: Both of you have come down to basically talking about spirituality. Do you believe in a spirit? Do you believe in the idea of the spirit, of the soul? Does each person have something that is separate from their mind that is their spirit? I would like to hear from both of you on that.
Dad: Do you want me to go first? Aside from the general rubric that I know I don't know everything, and therefore I can't rule out by any of the means that are at my disposal the possibility that there is a part of us that's independent of our physical existence, aside from that, I have seen no evidence, I have not detected anything nor seen anything that suggests to me that any part of us that survives our physical demise.
Me: What about you, Mom?
Mom: I do, I do believe there is something in each of us that survives after we die. I can't tell you what it is. I think one of the biggest differences between your Baba and I is that I can believe in something that I can't see, that I can't understand, but I just have an instinct, and maybe that just came from being brought up in a Christian household and hearing that, but there's a connection between people, and some people say it's your memories, but there's a connection with people who have passed. I think that there's a greater consciousness, and I think in some form that exists after you die. I don't understand how, but I think that it exists. I think somehow that carries on. It's just something greater than we can understand, but I think there is some piece of us that carries on.
Me: We're going to have to wrap up in a minute, but I have one final question for you. You both have identified over the course of this interview your spiritual self and that part of your identity. What do you think is more important, your spiritual identity or your national identity? (to Mom) If you had to identify yourself as American and Christian, which one stands out more to you?
Mom: Well to me, it would be as a Christian. To me, because of my belief in what Christianity is, the belief of how you treat others—as a spiritual person who believes that it is very important how you treat others, that comes first. I mean the fact that I'm an American, great. Concern, and caring, and trying not to judge when you want to judge, trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, that speaks more to the spiritual side of me. I mean, nationality, I'm fortunate to be born here, I've had a lot of advantages that other people have not had, and I have to be grateful for that. I also have to understand, with that comes a responsibility to not hold people that live in other places, that don't have the same capabilities, not to judge them by our lens.
Me: So for you, Dad, it's a little different. I guess a similar kind of question is, would you place your moral identity—kind of combined with your spiritual identity—before your identity as an Iranian-American? What exactly stands out to you the most about yourself?
Dad: That's a very difficult question for me to answer. I don't know that I can come up with a clear answer, partially because of the inherent nature of my belief system, in the sense that when it comes to matters spiritual, at least that portion of spirituality that's generally associated with religion, what I'm holding on to is actually a vacuum as opposed to an alternative. But I do consider myself a spiritual person, and I consider myself a product of both my Iranian heritage and my American education and transformation, a product of my American experience. The combination of all of that, my spirituality, my Iranian culture, and my American culture, creates a belief system within me that rules everything I do. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's where it comes from. In my case perhaps all of that is very much fused, as parts of a total. None of it is more important than the rest, nationalism in itself for any country doesn't hold a lot of appeal to me, but with or without nationalism, you are a product of your environment, you are molded by what you see and the people that you live with, so that is the strongest force in my life, most prominently manifested by my views toward family, my views toward work, my views toward and with regard to ethics and professionalism which are very important to my job as a lawyer. Those are really the things that I have to look to every day, and every step that I take to make decisions.


text:
law and order
Also found in: Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
law and order
1. The orderly arrangement of society in which people follow laws and are not disruptive: a breakdown of law and order.
2. The strict enforcement of laws, especially by police action: argued that we should balance law and order with a willingness to listen to people's grievances.
law′-and-or′der adj.


text:
Portcullis is proud to announce that we are official sponsor of the Securi-Tay V after party!
Securi-Tay V is an Information Security conference held by the Abertay Ethical Hacking Society and supported by Abertay University, Dundee.
The conference is now in its fifth year (hence the V), and is now a two day event held on February 26th and 27th, 2016.
Portcullis will be sponsoring the Securi-Tay V after party hosted at the Abertay Students' Union.
In addition, we're also pleased to announce that Portcullis will be sending not one, not two but three of our senior consultants to speak this year. The three presentations will be Graham Sutherland on detecting virtualised hosts, Jerzy Kramarz on insecurities in the SCADA world and Tim Brown on combining Red Teaming and DevOps. We hope you will enjoy.
Visit Securi-Tay's web page to find more information about the event.


text:
The implications of signed archetypes have been far-reaching and pervasive. In this position paper, we validate the simulation of the World Wide Web, demonstrates the natural importance of steganography. In this paper we motivate new real-time symmetries (Pask), disproving that the foremost unstable algorithm for the exploration of information retrieval systems by Zhao and Martinez [11] is recursively enumerable [7].
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


text:
Track How Far Your Users Scroll in Google Analytics
Update 09/01/13: Improved script to exclude MSIE 5-8 as they don't play nice with the jQuery viewport stuff I'm using to calculate scroll depth. At least it's possible to filter these out of your reports if you do get dodgy browsers with scroll depth >100%.
One of the most useful reports in tools like Mouseflow, ClickTale, Crazy Egg (?) and the like is the "Scroll Reach" report.
It tracks how far people scroll down a page - fancy that! As simple and useful as this metric is, it's a forlorn metric as far as Google Analytics is concerned … but I hope I can cheer you up.
I popped together a little script which gives us a rough idea about the scroll depth of visitors as well as the height of their browser viewport in pixels. It's free, easy to install and you can access all data from your cosy little Google Analytics account.
Win, win and win.
How it works
It's a little different to other scroll depth trackers - such as Justin Cutroni's excellent engagement tracking script (I highly recommend checking it out). When the page loads, the window view port size is calculated and as a visitor scrolls down the page, it calculates the lowest point that you can see on the page and stores a cookie. When they navigate to the next page, the scroll reach is transmitted to GA using Events Tracking.
Sure it's not perfect. For one, it's doesn't take into account exit pages (just like the time on site metric) and tabbed browsing is still iffy. Luckily, it will give you an accurate enough indication of scroll reach by page (particularly for eCommerce sites or other sites with low exit rates).
Perhaps other platforms, like SnowPlow Analytics or Piwik, with heartbeat tracking could implement something to work around GA's 500 hits per session limitation.
- jQuery library
- Google Analytics' Asynchronous script
Installation instructions
Did I mention how easy it is to install it? Well, it is.
Step 1: Paste this snippet after your GA script… and you're done:
<script type="text/javascript"> // Scroll reach tracking (WTFPL licensed) by Robert Kingston - http://www.optimisationbeacon.com/ // Cookie functions from Quirks Mode by Scott Andrew - http://www.scottandrew.com/ function mkScrCookie(e,t,n){if(n){var r=new Date;r.setTime(r.getTime()+n*24*60*60*1e3);var i="; expires="+r.toGMTString()}else var i="";document.cookie=e+"="+t+i+"; path=/"}function rdScrCookie(e){var t=e+"=";var n=document.cookie.split(";");for(var r=0;r<n.length;r++){var i=n[r];while(i.charAt(0)==" ")i=i.substring(1,i.length);if(i.indexOf(t)==0)return i.substring(t.length,i.length)}return null}function rmScrCookie(e){mkScrCookie(e,"",-1)}jQuery(document).ready(function(){try{var e=parseInt(rdScrCookie("scrReach"));if(e!=undefined&&document.referrer.indexOf("//"+document.location.hostname)>-1){_gaq.push(["_trackEvent","scroll reach","viewport: "+jQuery(window).height()+"x"+jQuery(window).width(),document.referrer.toString(),e]);rmScrCookie("scrReach")}}catch(t){}var n=jQuery(document).height();var r=jQuery(window).height();var i=jQuery(window).scrollTop();var s=Math.round(r/n*100);mkScrCookie("scrReach",s);var o=/MSIE (5|6|7|8)(.*Trident)?/g;if(!o.test(navigator.userAgent)){jQuery(document).scroll(function(){n=jQuery(document).height();r=jQuery(window).height();i=jQuery(window).scrollTop();var e=i+r;var t=Math.round(e/n*100);if(t>s){s=t;mkScrCookie("scrReach",t)}})}})</script>
In an ideal world
We would be able to generate a heatmap overlay with the data. i.e. for each percentage point of the page, we could colour it based on how many visitors saw a particular part of the page. This would make my day. There's also no telling how it works with those people who open 50 tabs on your site.
We would also be able to implement this (or something similar) into a platform with a heartbeat on the page that tracks away every 15 seconds or so, whilst the user is active. Too bad that it would chew through all of your calls to __utm.gif, faster than the cookie monster could devour a Mrs. Crockett's factory.
Regardless, these can be developed later. It's WTFPL licensed, so you can do what you want with it (except for Scott Andrew's portion of the code). It's also on Github, so…
…fork it on Github
You can follow it, fork it and add your own modifications. Take a peep through the link below, if you'd like to see the fully commented version of the script.
Visit GA Scroll Reach on Github.
Insights from scroll reach tracking
Identifying poor performing posts
My two posts about how to build conversion rate heatmaps, were very popular when they were posted but suddenly - due to the old API expiring - both methods broke and visitors became disengaged. Because of this, I noticed visitors were just not scrolling - so (along with my readers' encouragement) I immediately fixed the issue and scroll rates have improved.
Your ideas here…
How will you use this script?
I'd love to hear some of the creative uses for this script. Any interesting ideas etc will get featured in the section above along with recognition in the form of a link.


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Suzanne Somers Brings Back Glamor and Class in her New show at Westgate Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
Written & photos by Nikki Artale
Suzanne Somers is back in Las Vegas after being gone for 25 years and she is anxious to bring back the shows that she used to love to go see. She is excited to be performing in Suzanne's Room so she can be close to the audience and be able to interact with them. Mark Waltrip, COO and David Siegel, founder and CEO of the Westgate Resort Hotel and Casino introduced Suzanne Somers with great pride and joy to the media that gathered on March 25, 2015 at the Westgate Resorts. Her 28 week residency was announced, starting on May 23 www.SuzanneSomers.com
David Siegel
Mark Waltrip
Suzanne used those years to write 25 books of which five were number one and 13 were New York Times bestsellers. Actress, bestselling author, entrepreneur and health advocate are some of the words that describe the beautiful 68 year old woman and now she can add dancer to the list as she performs, and is fabulous, on this season of Dancing with the Stars. It is with great pride that she shares her love for her handsome husband, manager Alan Hamel, who she is still madly in love with after being married for 48 years. They are such a handsome couple.
Alan Hamel Suzanne Somers
Alan Hamel David Seigel
David Siegel will also open a spa which will include organic cosmetics, hair and skin care, and an organic café, with recipes from Suzanne's cookbook, on the pool deck and David has already redone a suite for her that is organic and toxic free. He stated that it was worth all the money he paid for the hotel just to be able to hug her when she came on stage for the media event and interviews.
The food that was served for the media event was absolutely delicious. David Siegel knows how to get to our hearts. We got to take some quick pictures before Suzanne made her getaway to fly back to LA for DWTS show.
David Siegel Suzanne Somers
Mickey Silver Suzanne Somers Nikki Artale Alan Hamel
Suzanne Sizzles is a 70 minute show, 5 days a week at 7:00 p.m. Dark Sunday & Monday. General admission tickets are priced at $65.00 (plus taxes and fees) for tickets call (800) 222-5361 or online at www.westgatevegas.com For more information call (800) 732-7117.