The available configuration options need a serious review and renaming. Old names will be accepted with warnings for either two releases or six months.
Also, should provide a sample configuration file so that the syntax and options are clearer.
This is necessary for ZIP files constructed on the fly.
The current webserver implementation doesn't support that.
Dejó de funcionar Desde la actualización d mi Huawei P8 lite a android 6 ya no sale el tipo d conexión en la barra d notificaciones.
Fails on some files (gets stuck forever while capturing the first frame).
Happens often with Matroska. 1.0.7a introduced a workaround (-Wo) with ffmpeg's argument order that worked with other file types.
/dev/shm isn't really intended as an alternate temporary location, and VCS' temporary files can easily grow too large for it too.
As a possible alternative offer a first-run choice of temp-dir (maybe suggesting /dev/shm).
Known bug, app isn't always notified.
On Huawei G8. App doesn't automatically execute when phone is turned off then back on. I protected the app and this seems to have solved the problem.
This task depends on reports of such issue.
New issue Great app, have always used it. Just upgraded to marshmallow and now it won't even start. What's up with that? From Android 5 I had problems, plus doesn't support dual Sim phones. This is the new direction, twin Sim phones. Please work it out.
When the resulting contact sheet is too thin, the meta-information header is cramped and fields overlap.
vcs hangs with some RM files.
Tracing shows it gets stuck in mplayer_identify.
MPlayer can play the files fine from the terminal. Although it exits with «MPlayer interrupted by signal 11 in module: uninit_vcodec».
I can reproduce the abrupt termination, it happens when using Real's native decoder (w64codecs, /usr/lib/codecs/drvc.so). Using FFMpeg's decoder (MPlayer's -vc ffrv30) MPlayer exits normally.
I can't reproduce the hang either way.
Running in Fedora Core 10 i686 (KVM) yields one 128k frame less and a different "theoretical size" than in Debian amd64, in one sample, and the same number of frames but 2 bytes less in another.
Files incorrectly reporting too short length (unlike too long), pass the safe_length_measure check ⇒ This prevents correcting length.
Rendering on RTL devices is does not work properly due to alignment problems.
Attached: Screen grabs from the pre-release report on an Arabic device.
Allow choosing what SIM slot to check in dual-SIM devices.
Once the user has chosen to use only a set of icons, allow them to choose which of the two.
First version allowing multiple file sharing.
Possibly release early and keep as alpha or beta to test further.
The progress bar should reflect when the size of the shared file is unknown.
Thanks Toni. I was hoping I could simply run `$ vcs-1.13.2.bash -? **/*.mp4` to create contact sheets for all videos in all subfolders, but it sounds like I'll have to use a wrapper script. Would you consider adding this in a future release for a donation?
I guess you're using zsh-ish globbing there.
That's not something I use so I didn't even think of the case where recursing could be so simple.
[...] Can you please put an option to turn off the notification if mobile data is turned off?
Would like an option to only display status bar icon when roaming. Its really only when roaming I need this information as the stock network type indication is replaced with an 'R' on my Nexus 6P (when roaming).
Many phones seem to do that.
Theming support as initially intended ( FS#237 ) is not possible.
With the switch to vector graphics adding alternative icons becomes fairly "cheap" app-size-wise and many users have requested alternative ones. This task tracks these suggestions.
Nice I wish there were more designs though.
Appreciate this handy app! Please consider a simpler icon, without the square, so it blends with Google's material design. Thanks!
Plz add the stylish 4G logo. Your app only shows 4. Else, everything is ok.
Please Add 4g+ icon !
This is a continuation of FS#354 .
Temporarily using pre-rendered PNGs in 1.5.1, should try to re-design icons to render properly on Android 5.0 and up.
Take advantage of Nougat style notifications to display more information to the user.
"App icon": Network type? AFAICT setting it to the actual app will replace the status bar icon.
Large icon: Network type, bigger?
Material design icons are supposed to be white according to comments found online and most apps.
Since the introduction of Material, icons should be white. The black icons only display as such in a subset on devices.
Run vcs on sample#.avi -> sample#.avi.png is created.
Run vcs again. sample#.avi-1.png should be created, but sed generates an error.
This is a meta-item depending on bugs to be fixed in the 1.13.4 release.
1.13.4 is a minor bugfix release for bugs found while development for 1.14 and 2.0 is stalled.
This is a meta-item depending on bugs/features required to complete before releasing vcs 2.0.
v2.0 will be a rewrite in Python.
arrows showing the data traffic and this app would be awesome!
Only feasible if it won't add unnecessary complexity.
Not feasible in the actual status bar, but can be done in the notification.
Gradle allows to define fields on the generated class BuildConfig. This should be enough to discard the current per-build-type classes.
In the past BuildConfig.DEBUG wasn't reliable (when combining Eclipse and ADT), but on Android Studio with Gradle it can be used safely and hence there's no need to duplicate the functionality.


Image Title: Amazon Com Baxton Studio Frey Upholstered Modern Nightstand Black For Prepare 1. Post Title: Black Modern Nightstand. Filename: amazon-com-baxton-studio-frey-upholstered-modern-nightstand-black-for-prepare-1.jpg. Image Dimension: 425 x 425 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Mac Connelly. Uploaded Date: Friday - September 28th. 2018 12:36:04 PM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: freshome.com. A X Ovidius Modern Black Crocodile Nightstand Venini Furniture In Ideas 16. Modrest Hera Modern Grey Nightstand Venini Furniture With Black Plan 2. Amazon Com Modway Dispatch Mid Century Modern Nightstand In Black Designs 18. Modern Nightstands And Bedside Tables AllModern Intended For Black Nightstand Remodel 14. Bed Side Flat Black Modern Bedside Tables High Inside Nightstand Designs 17. Black Modern Nightstand CB2 Regarding Ideas 0. Amazon Com Baxton Studio Victoria Faux Leather Upholstered Modern Within Black Nightstand Prepare 3. Modern Contemporary Nightstands You Ll Love Wayfair Throughout Black Nightstand Decor 12. Black Modern Nightstand CB2 For Ideas 11. Gorgeous Modern Black Nightstands Top Bedroom Design Inspiration Within Nightstand Plan 6.


text:
Big Church Day Out
Final Christmas Show
Kingdom Of Comfort Tour - Southampton
Kingdom Of Comfort Tour - Brighton
Tony Patoto
Earlier this year at the gig in Horsham (1st July) the band told me that their manager, Tony Patoto, was leaving to pursue a new career in the USA. It was sad news for the band since Tony had been with them since the early days and had been the foundation stone of much of what they have achieved over the years. But they also knew that the new opportunity would be brilliant for Tony, so their sadness was mixed with good will and happiness for their good friend and mentor. At that time, the news was still being kept fairly quiet as Tony's visa and contract needed to be sorted out. But in September the news was finally confirmed and made public.
The previous month, August, I asked Tony if he would be willing to do an interview for Delirious.org.uk to talk about his time with Delirious? and what his new job would entail. I've done a number of interviews on Delirious.org.uk over the past few years. I've interviewed the band as a whole and as individuals, but I also like to get the views of people close to the band, like their crew and producers. Sometimes, as in the case of Julian Kindred (producer on World Service), they approach me offering to do an interview, but usually it's the other way round. I've only been turned down once, but thankfully Tony was more than happy to agree to an interview, which I was really pleased about because I knew that he had a superb insight to everything the band have done in the past decade.
Tony is an incredible guy. I've met him on numerous occasions, before and after gigs, in the studio and at the Furious? offices, and built up a good report with him. He is a very friendly and jokey kind of guy and always has a willingness to do whatever he can to help out. It took a bit of time to get the interview sorted out. He had a long wait for all his paper work to be sorted out before he could finally move to the USA and start his new job, and that kept him busy for several months. But he didn't forget his promise to do an interview, and now at last I'm able to share what he had to say about 'Life as the Delirious? Manager'. It's particularly interesting to hear about his new job, setting up a new mainstream record label for EMI in the USA called ReThink, aiming to bring Christian artists to the secular world. Just like he did with Delirious? All the best Tony.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Most-Read Equipment Reviews
Auralic Vega G2 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
Devialet 400 Mono Integrated Amplifier-DACs
Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 Loudspeakers
Magico Q1 Loudspeakers
Aurender X100L Music Server
Sonus Faber Olympica I Loudspeakers
Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 300 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
NuForce DAC-9 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Dynaudio Contour 60 Loudspeakers
Accustic Arts Reference Tube-DAC II SE DAC and Reference Drive II CD Transport
Audio Research VSi75 Integrated Amplifier
Written by Jason Thorpe
The tubed integrated amplifier is the ne plus ultra of audio. Strong words, those -- fighting words, even. But think it through: The tube integrated is the Platonic ideal of amplification. It's one box that performs all the required, necessary tasks -- and nothing more.
While it's true that technology stands still for no man, it seems that every pimply, shining-morning-faced schoolboy with a MacBook seems to think you need to add a DAC to every bloody component in order for it to do anything actually useful. While buying a DAC-in-the-amp might be reasonable if you plan to upgrade next year, I'm firmly against locking today's computing technology into a product you might want to use for a few years, and doubly against it when considering an audio component of reference quality (and high price). Digital technology changes so rapidly that it just doesn't make sense to incorporate it into an expensive amp or preamp that you might actually want to keep.
However, the DACless tubed integrated amp has stood the test of time. It's been in production more than 60 years, and a significant number of those early amps are still making music today. A Dynaco Stereo 70 is still a competent music maker today, with no excuses required for its age.
Audio Research knows something about making long-lasting, good-sounding, rugged gear. Founded in 1970, ARC has been making audio products for nearly as long as I've been alive, and though they're now owned by the Fine Sounds Group, they still will service any and every unit they've ever made. Although ARC has since branched out a fair bit, they built their reputation on tubed amps, preamps, and integrateds. While it's true that ARC has introduced a new preamp, the DSpre, that does include a DAC, their core products remain single-purpose, tubed units. My VT100 Mk.I power amp has been in constant use in my system for over a decade, and is on its second set of power tubes. It's never so much as burped, and still sounds fantastic.
Audio Research is constantly innovating. I glance at their website every once in a while, to keep track of upcoming new products, and the VSi75 tubed integrated amp ($8000 USD) caught my eye. It took a fair bit of wrangling to propel a review sample across the Canadian border -- international shipping is always a little tricky -- but eventually the UPS truck disgorged a large, white box in front of my house.
Decanting a new component is rarely exciting or glamorous, but removing the VSi75 from its carton was instructive. ARC's packaging is of high quality, and laid out in a sensible, logical manner. The box is double-layered, and the foam is resilient and thick. I'd have no worries shipping this amp. All manufacturers should package this well.
Once I'd gotten the VSi75 out of its box, I used the included cotton gloves to install its six tubes without getting them grubby and oily. The amp itself is finished in brushed aluminum, so I didn't feel the need to use the gloves while moving it around.
The VSi75 is a serious hunk of metal measuring 14.5"W x 9.25"H x 17"D -- it feels significantly denser than its 36.4 pounds. Given that its case is made of not-ridiculously-thick aluminum and its transformer cover is perforated, it's reasonable to assume that most of the VSi75's weight is in those transformers, as it should be. Tube amps are all about the transformers; the rest of the infrastructure surrounding those transformers is essentially of the supporting kind.
A peek inside reveals design overkill. The circuit-board traces are almost absurdly fat, suggesting unimpeded current flow and long-term reliability. (My Audio Research VT100 Mk.I is similarly constructed.) There's an industrial flair to the VSi75's innards -- they don't have a jewelry-like feel. Rather, the circuitry -- the whole amp, for that matter -- feels like something you might find in a missile silo in Nebraska: solid, rugged, no-nonsense, built to last.
Like its little brother, the VSi60, the VSi75 has two matched pairs of KT120 power output tubes, two 6H30 driver tubes, solid-state regulation, and a JFET input stage. The VSi75 is single-ended only, so all five inputs are RCAs. It also has a tape output, should you wish to fire up the old reel-to-reel. Conspicuous for its absence is a fixed-level input for home-theater use. I use my main listening room for a theater as well, and my trusty Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 preamp also lacks HT pass-through. I'd love to be able to just flip a switch and not have to worry about whether I've set the volume right for home theater. First-world problems . . .
Like any self-respecting integrated of this decade, the VSi75 comes with a remote control. This one is a heavy bar of aluminum (it feels cast) that duplicates all of the front-panel buttons: Power, Mute, Volume Down, Volume Up, Bias, and Input. I used only the remote -- the front-panel buttons are uniform in size and color, and their labels are small and not easy for my aging eyes to read. The remote responded well, usually needing only to be vaguely waved in the amp's general direction.
The VSi75's small screen displays the volume level in extremely small steps. According to ARC, this digitally controlled "analog volume control" comprises an array of resistors controlled via relays. When the VSi75 is turned on, its display counts down 40 seconds of warmup. Then it fully boots, with Mute engaged and volume set to "0." To operate the amp, unmute it and raise the volume to the desired level. (I'd prefer that an amp default to the last volume level used.) While the volume control responds rapidly when its button is held down, it's a very slightly fussy prospect that I never warmed up to. That said, I can see why ARC does it this way -- better safe than sorry, right?
Biasing the tubes couldn't be easier. Using the remote or the front panel, press Bias and the front panel reads out the level of Tube No.1. Reach in with the supplied screwdriver and twist the trim pot corresponding to that tube until you get to 65mA. Press Bias again and move on to Tube No.2. Repeat twice more and you're done. I tweaked the amp when I received it (it was off by only 1 or 2mA), and checked it once or twice throughout the review period, but never had to adjust it again. Easy peasy.
For power output, the VSi75 uses the fairly new KT120 tube -- essentially a KT88 fed growth hormone. The KT120 is bigger, stronger, draws a little more current than the old KT88, and can chug out a good bit more power than can the KT88 or the 6550. Hence the sturdy 75W from each pair of KT120s, compared to around 60W or so from a pair of KT88s. The KT120s feel much more substantial in the hand than the 6550s in my VT100. According to David Gordon, ARC's managing director of sales, the VSi75 didn't need beefing up to accommodate the brute-like KT120s; that makes sense, given ARC's propensity to build their products to last.
When the VSi75 was shipped from Minnesota, I corresponded with Gordon, who requested, in no uncertain terms, that I be sure to set up the amp with its supplied power cord plugged directly into the wall, and resting on its own feet rather than on any aftermarket supports. Fair enough, I thought.
"Also," added Gordon, "make certain that you give it a good 150 hours of break-in time. It might sound a little harsh up to that point." The review sample already had some hours on it, so it essentially needed another solid week of run-in.
I've heard these break-in warnings before, but I generally ignore them -- I have yet to hear a component's sound change enough over a review period to be audible. So I plugged the VSi75 into the wall using their beefy but otherwise unremarkable power cord and sat back for a listen. My first impressions were troubling. The sound was bright and etched, without much bottom end -- not the sort of sound that endears itself to me. But I remembered what Gordon had said, and rather than jump to any conclusions, I left the VSi75 switched on, stuck a CD in my HD DVD player, and left it on repeat, electricity bill be damned. Fortunately, the VSi75 has a built-in hour meter, so I could keep track of things. I sealed off the basement for a week and checked in periodically.
I also took this opportunity to secure the loan of a Blue Circle Audio BC703NB phono stage. I was troubled by the lean sound of my system with the VSi75, and was a little concerned that my Aqvox Phono 2 CI balanced phono stage wasn't playing nice with the single-ended ARC. Gilbert Yeung of Blue Circle loaned me a BC703NB, which just smoked the Aqvox -- as well it should, given that it costs nearly four times as much. Anyway, while the BC703NB sounded worlds better than the Aqvox, the system's lean sound wasn't the fault of the phono stage. The basic nature of the sound remained the same. The ARC simply needed some more time on it.
After the requisite burn-in, things sounded much, much better. That initial brightness and etch were replaced by a calm honesty and a subtle feeling of power and heft. Greatly relieved and encouraged, I reached into my pile of acid-test sharp-edged rock albums and hoisted out Frank Zappa's Sleep Dirt (LP, Discreet DSK 2292). The album is crisply recorded and full of jangly but not distorted guitars. It's a tough listen at the best of times, and if a component veers toward the bright side of the road, it's nearly impossible to sit all the way through a side. But when my system (and its one or more guests) gets it right, there's just so much going on that it's an absolute delight. The title track features a near-as-dammit acoustic guitar duet (it sounds rather processed to me) with Zappa and James "Bird Legs" Youman trading off smooth, flowing licks. I sat there, rapt, through the track, and then, throughout the listening period, kept returning to listen to it again. I could feel as well as hear fingers sliding up and down the strings, each note distinct, every harmonic clearly delineated from its neighbor. In fact, it didn't take much more than this one track from this one album to get a close look into the VSi75's soul. This amplifier provided an astonishingly clear window into the spaces within and between the notes of this music.
I've harped on before about the later works from Talk Talk's catalog -- about the sparse, rich, tension-filled buildup of their songs and the cathartic releases that follow. Well, the VSi75 made me wish my turntable had a repeat function. Spirit of Eden (LP, EMI E1-46977) is one of those rare albums that renders me breathless. It's packed full of things to hear, and repeated listens reward with new discoveries. "Eden" features Talk Talk's signature tension, with the guitar building to an aggressive climax, and segues with wonderful power into "Desire." The VSi75's wonderful way with space allowed me to hear an absolutely monstrous soundscape that stretched from wall to wall and from front to back. That guitar crescendo evaporated away, leaving me exhausted because I was listening loud -- so loud that it had to be near the limit of safety. That's how this album should be listened to, and that's how the VSi75 was telling me to play it. I could feel that insistent electric guitar rasping at my bones, digging in, almost hurting me, yet I knew it was going to end suddenly enough and soon enough that I could not only tolerate but actually revel in it. The VSi75 made that guitar into an instrument of torture and love.
There was no midrange or treble glare, no dryness in the VSi75's sound, no overt euphonic sweetening. The tubed nature of the VSi75's sound came clearly across in the top registers. Lee Harris's ride cymbal is prominent in all of Talk Talk's music, and there was an endearing silkiness to its sound via the VSi75, a texture that didn't push past reality to become a caricature of itself.
At the start of "Desire" there's a low-bass rumble and some kind of bowed sheet-metal infrasonic bass that I'd never noticed before, overlaid by Harris's snazzy muted snare. This is true deep bass, and my Focus Audio FP 90 BE speakers can dish it out, given the right amp. The VSi75 and its artillery-shell KT120 tubes dispensed bass that was tight, tuneful, and just plain old in charge. This wasn't the kind of soggy tube bass you expect to hear from your daddy's Dynaco Stereo 70. In fact, it was in the very bottom end that the VSi75 differentiated itself from most of its tubed brethren. Supple, tight, and quick, with absolutely no overhang, the VSi75's bass most definitely didn't sound as if it was coming from a tubed integrated amplifier.
Wallowing in an extended Talk Talk jag is like suffering through a bad teenage breakup. It's chock-full of emotions -- the happy memories, the pain of separation. It's a hard, deep hole out of which to dig myself, and who better to hand me a shovel than Tom Waits? I wrote about his Mule Variations (Epitaph/Anti- 86547) almost 13 years ago, and I still listen to that same copy today. I can't help but laugh at Waits's Bukowski-inspired lyrics, incredibly obvious and oh, so fun. "I woke up this morning with cold water," he grumbles, before launching into a tirade detailing the miseries of living on the streets. "I'm reading the Bible by a 40W bulb," he moans. Extremely entertaining.
The VSi75 ran that fine line between having no sound and embodying just a tiny bit of tube glory. It was there, but I had to hunt for it. Check out Marc Ribot's searing, monstrous guitar solo in "Cold Water." The VSi75 planted it firmly in my face, with Ribot's hum and edge-of-the-cliff feedback, sounding like barely restrained anger, curling my nostril hairs. But deep within the music, the VSi75 injected that humanity that only tubes can. Saved from sterility by that inner light and the floating harmonics that accompany it, this solo inspires and entertains. A lesser amplifier would miss out on the wry humor buried deep in Ribot's playing, but the VSi75 promoted it from becoming simply another guitar.
Compared to what?
Sitting in front of me as I type this is the unicorn of integrated amplifiers. The ARC VSi75 is a tube amp that doesn't overtly sound like one. In comparison to Focus Audio's Liszt Sonata ($12,000), which I had on hand to use with Focus's FP 90 BE speakers, the VSi75 sounded truer to the original signal: less overtly lush, more honest. Listening via the Liszt Sonata to side 1 of Astor Piazzolla's Tango: Zero Hour (LP, Pangea PAN-42138), I felt as if I were suspended in warm, rich soup, so juicy did this amp sound. As you may recall if you read my review of the Liszt Sonata, I'm very keen on this type of sound, and could happily live forever with this amp. However, I'm aware that the editorializing of an overtly rich tube amp is not for everyone -- heck, it's probably not for most audiophiles.
Wrap it up?
I'm fairly certain that most listeners, hunting for the archetypal perfect amplifier, would more than likely be happy with the Audio Research VSi75, given its honest, truthful sound. But the world is far from perfect. I suspect that the VSi75 may not find as many homes as Audio Research would like and that the amp deserves. But despite my best efforts, I suspect that those who might most enjoy this amp might be the least inclined to purchase it.
I can imagine the VSi75 appealing to owners of solid-state gear who are searching for a slightly richer, warmer sound. However, they'll more than likely flail around, switching between transistor amps, trying to find the one that will inject the right dose of soul into their music. They won't think to investigate such as the VSi75 because tube amps are unreliable and inaccurate, right? No. No, they're not. At least, not this one.
Hardcore tube lovers, too, might give the VSi75 short shrift. After all, its sound isn't exactly lush. It's got a FET input stage, and it's solid-state regulated. Probably doesn't even sound much like a tube amp, right? Wrong again. It sounds like a tube amp: a subtle, honest, articulate one that just so happens to exert an iron grip on the speakers lashed to it.
When I began writing for SoundStage!, Doug Schneider drilled into my head the idea that I should always consider who would want to buy the component under review. Who is the VSi75 for? I think the VSi75 would appeal to a huge cross-section of audiophiles. It so broadly straddles the lines of expectation that it may be its own worst enemy. It's a tube amp that doesn't audibly slap you in the face about its configuration. Solid-state lovers would like it. Tube lovers would like it. But where it would hit a home run, I believe, is with two groups: those who would like to try a tube amp but are leery of doing so because of the perceived downsides of tubes, and tube aficionados who might be getting tired of unreliable, soggy-sounding tube amps.
If you're a member of either group, there's a good chance that an audition of a well-broken-in ARC VSi75 could save you a lot of trouble.
. . . Jason Thorpe
jasont@soundstagenetwork.com
Analog source -- Pro-Ject RPM 10 turntable, Roksan Shiraz cartridge
Digital source -- Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Phono stages -- Blue Circle Audio BC703NB, Aqvox Phono 2 CI
Preamplifier -- Sonic Frontiers SFL-2
Power amplifier -- Audio Research VT100 Mk.I, Anthem Statement M1 monoblocks
Speakers -- Definitive Technology Mythos STS, Focus Audio FP 90 BE
Speaker cables -- Nordost Frey
Interconnects -- Nordost Frey
Power cords -- Nordost Vishnu, Shunyata Research Taipan
Power conditioners -- Quantum QBase QB8, Shunyata Research Hydra Model-6
Price: $8000 USD.
Warranty: Three years parts and labor; 90 days, tubes.
Audio Research Corporation
3900 Annapolis Lane N.
Website: www.audioresearch.com


text:
Heating the Midwest
Working to increase awareness and usage of renewable biomass for heat
Action Team Minutes
Action Team: Biomass Resources and Demographics
Action Team: Biomass Combustion Technologies
Action Team: Biomass Policy and Benefits
HTM Events
2016 Conference & Expo
Attendee Registration Info and Rates
Exhibitor Info & Registration
Sponsorship Info & Registration
Attendee Registration Information and Rates
Registration Information and Rates
Sponsor Advertisements
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities
Biomass Heating Expo
Past Newsletters – 2019
Past Newsletter – 2018
Midwest Biomass Exchange
Midwest Biomass Suppliers Resources
Woody Biomass
Midwest Biomass Inventory Assessment
Biomass Analytical Model (BEAM)
Producer Incentives
Industry Leading Organizations
Midwestern families and businesses have faced a difficult past two weeks as the price of propane has increased to prices over $5.00 per gallon. These price spikes have resulted in emergency heating declarations by a number of Midwestern Governors. The reasons are many for the price increases: an extremely cold winter, wet fall grain, increased propane export and transportation complications. A number of articles are referenced in the propane crisis/biomass opportunity section below, providing more insight into the situation that is occurring and why. This situation is unfortunate, but it also reminds us of why organizations like Heating the Midwest are important!
Heating the Midwest, in cooperation with organizations like RENEW Wisconsin and the Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team (Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team), call for continued emphasis and expansion of the use of biomass to produce low-cost, reliable heat for Midwest businesses, families and schools. Midwestern biomass chips, pellets and residues all provide cost-effective, renewable and dependable heat while creating a positive economic impact and sustaining jobs in rural areas – the same rural areas affected by high-cost propane.
Please continue to engage in conversations about the positives of biomass thermal heat – with homeowners, businesses, government officials and other decision-makers. Biomass fuels can be part of the solution, both now and in the future. As RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director Tyler Huebner notes, "The biomass industry has more than adequate capacity to fulfill increased demands for future heating seasons. The solutions to get out of this boom-bust cycle include increased partnerships between government, industry, and customers to better educate and prepare for future demands."
Let's continue to encourage and support use of home grown biomass resources. To learn more about using renewable biomass for heating homes, businesses, schools, and communities, please register for the April 29 – May 1 Heating the Midwest Conference and Expo to be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Despite the cold and frigid temperatures that are surrounding many of us this winter, things are really starting to heat up in the world of biomass. Grab a cup of coffee and read on to learn about the latest and greatest in the exciting world of biomass thermal.
Brian Brashaw
Heating the Midwest Chair
Program Director, University of Minnesota Duluth NRRI
2014 Conference Agenda Revealed
The conference program for this year's Heating the Midwest Conference has been revealed, and it will feature experts from the energy, building, and forest sectors. This multi-day event will bring together diverse participants in support of expanding the use of biomass for heat and CHP, project development, and policy developments related to wood energy.
Agenda Highlights:
Optional pre-conference tour of bioenergy installations
Strategies for increasing biomass thermal in the Midwest
Opportunities for architects and engineers
Technology overview for heating systems
Real world applications, large and small
Emissions regulations
Heating Fair
Update on state and regional policy efforts
Visit the 2014 conference website here >>
Want to get involved in the conference's planning or sponsor the event? Email Brian Brashaw to discuss how you can best support the 2014 event.
Minnesota Wood Energy Team Launches Programs for 2014 (St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota has a new statewide team for supporting high efficiency wood energy systems. The Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team includes diverse organizations and individuals with expertise to support effective use of wood energy technologies. With support from the USDA Forest Service, the team's 2014 programs include making funds available to support businesses and other facilities that are interested in commercially available wood energy systems."Minnesota led the nation in 2007 with the development of sustainable woody biomass harvesting guidelines and we have invested in research at the University of Minnesota to ensure we balance new, renewable energy systems with natural resource protections," said Anna Dirkswager, Biomass Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and manager of the Statewide Wood Energy Team.The team has been developed to help Minnesota facilities and businesses move toward realizing the opportunity to cut costs, support local economies, and advance clean energy development."Today's wood energy technologies reduce energy costs while creating local jobs, mitigating wildfire risks, and providing renewable energy," said Brian Brashaw, Program Director for the University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute and Statewide Wood Energy Team member.The Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team is one of five being supported by the USDA Forest Service around the country. The goal of the Minnesota team is to support commercially available wood energy systems that can provide economic, social, and environmental benefits to Minnesota's businesses and communities."We are gearing up to help 20 sites in 2014 with preliminary evaluations and to assist two of those sites with detailed engineering or final feasibility studies," said Lissa Pawlisch, Director of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and member of the Statewide Wood Energy Team.Details about the funding opportunities and application process are forthcoming. Eligibility requirements will include commercial applications of modern wood energy technologies and project development beyond the initial feasibility investigations. For further information, or to be added to the contact list to receive funding information when it becomes available, please contact: Anna Dirkswager, 651-259-5253, Anna.Dirkswager@state.mn.us.—Farm Bill Passes Senate, Contains Meaningful Biomass Funding Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed the 5-year Farm Bill with good news for the biomass industry and rural communities. The bill provides mandatory funding or appropriations limits for the following programs that impact wood energy:
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Provides resources to business owners to help finance the installation of renewable energy systems or upgrade existing systems, including those utilizing biomass. Mandatory funding of $50 million per year has been designated and the application process has been simplified and streamlined.
Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels: Provides direct payments to advanced biofuel producers, including those manufacturing pellets. Mandatory funding of $15 million per year has been designated.
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP): Provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks. This program was allotted $25 million in mandatory funds annually, and the collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) payments will resume, with limitations.
Community Wood Energy Program (CWEP): The program was altered to allow for grants of up to $50,000 to establish or to expand biomass consumer cooperatives to facilitate purchase of biomass heating systems or products (including their delivery and storage). This program was authorized at $5 million annually, though no mandatory funds were allotted.
For the full text of the the Farm Bill and its funding levels, click here >>
Propane Crisis Highlights Benefits of Energy from Woody Biomass
With the recent propane shortages and the skyrocketing cost of the propane that is available, propane users in Greater Minnesota are wondering what their options are.
In Minnesota alone, 250,000 people depend on propane to heat their homes.
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) in 2012–conjunction with DLF Consulting–completed a Biomass Heating Feasibility Guide for the replacement of heating fuels like propane and fuel oil. The study that resulted in this report helped high-cost fuel users understand the feasibility of using biomass for heating-the installation requirements, biomass suppliers, types of systems and expected payback timeframes.
If you've ever wondered about biomass heating as an option whether for commercial poultry, greenhouse operations, or residential heating, check out the Biomass Heating Feasibility Guide by searching AURI's website at www.auri.org.
Finally, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Alan Doering, AURI's Senior Associate Scientist-Coproducts, via email at adoering@auri.org or (507) 835-8990.
Read about woody biomass alternatives to propane >>
Learn more about the recent propane shortage >>
Fond du Lac Working with the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden
The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden will be arriving at Fond du Lac to work with Fond du Lac Logging and Timber, and the Fond du Lac Forestry and Environmental program. The purpose of this visit is to explore efficient timber harvesting techniques and drying methods to supply wood chip fuel supplies for renewable, non-fossil fuel derived energy production. This will allow the Band to potentially save money on energy, reduce its dependence on the fossil fuel industries, release less carbon dioxide into the air, and provide some economic opportunities for the Band.
Sweden now gets over 50% of the energy they use from renewable energy (wind, solar, and biomass). The U.S. gets just over 11% of its energy needs from renewable sources. Minnesota gets only 2% of its energy specifically from its forests, while Sweden uses approximately 33%. Fond du Lac was awarded funding from the Division of Energy and Mineral Development to identify fuel efficient biomass harvesting practices.
Mr. Johannesson of the Swedish Forestry Institute will be working with FDL Logging and Timber on the latest cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting techniques. CTL harvesting systems are high tech machines that allow loggers to harvest and process individual trees while minimizing damage to the remaining trees.
Continue reading the story >>
Reminder to Endorse the Midwest Vision for 2025
Beginning in April, we've requested your help in both endorsing and spreading the news on the Heating the Midwest Vision for 2025. The Vision details the positive economic impacts of transitioning the region from 3% renewable thermal energy to 15% by the year 2025 (as seen below).
Again, we're inviting you to Endorse the Vision. Simply click the link below, sign up, and spread the news.
Key Findings and Conclusions of the Vision 2025 Report (access the full report here >>)
If achieved, this vision will:
Achieve 15% of all thermal energy from renewables by 2025
Reduce 1.01 billion gallons of propane and 278 million gallons of heating oil
Reinvest $2.2 billion into the Midwest economy
Create 13,170 jobs from the expansion of the thermal biomass industry and up to 210,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs from annual energy savings and the effects of no longer exporting heating fuel money from the region
Supply 17.2 million green tons of sustainable woody and agricultural biomass for thermal energy and combined heat and power by 2025
12,630,950 homes and businesses are not connected to low-cost natural gas
Improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases, and enhance forest management
Vitalize communities through rural economic opportunities, new industry and innovation
Join the Heating the Midwest Team
Do you have a personal or professional interest in the growth of Midwestern biomass heating? Do you have an hour or two each month to talk with other leaders in the region?
Then send a short email to me, Brian Brashaw, and I'll share with you the options for getting involved with our activities:
Developing presentations
I hope you're able to join us!
Call for Your Midwest Biomass Stories and Events in March's Newsletter
As you've seen month after month, companies, governments, and communities around the Midwest are making progress on biomass heating and combined heat and power (CHP) programs and projects.
If you have a story or event to contribute for next month, please send the update to info@heatingthemidwest.org.


Discover the most inspiring places to take photos along the Grand Algoma Drive in this award-winning blog by James Smedley.
Experience his paintings then paddle on Canoe Lake, surrounded by the landscape that inspired him most.
WANT TO TAKE PICS LIKE A PRO?
Take a workshop with Ontario's best photographers. Learn their secrets of how to take awesome wildlife, landscape and nightscape shots.
Experience the authentic Indigenous culture of the Anishnaabek people of the Three Fires Confederacy – Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi, in the wilds of Point Grondine Park, just east of Killarney Provincial Park.
Explore a wealth of culture, history and artistic inspiration and discover fun and creative ways to learn about Ontario's natural wonders and incredible wildlife.
Learn tips from Ontario's professional photographers, take a guided photography tour with a pro and learn how to take amazing wildlife, landscape and nightscape shots or book an overnight stargazing getaway. Witness a bird migration, go on a wilderness mushroom foray adventure or join an outdoor painting workshop.
Learn about Indigenous heritage on a Spirit Walk or on a wilderness retreat. Experience the authentic Indigenous culture of the Anishnaabek people of the Three Fires Confederacy – Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi, in the wilds of Point Grondine Park, just east of Killarney Provincial Park.
The Group of Seven was a community of Canadian artists in the early 20th century who connected with the country's rugged environment through a unique style of landscape painting. The work of the Group of Seven, along with associated artists, has come to represent a distinct, globally recognized, Canadian artistic identity. Art lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike are invited to visit some of the iconic locations and landscapes that inspired these artists of the past.
Discover the most inspiring places to take photos along the Grand Algoma Drive in this award-winning blog by James Smedley. Spend a day in Algonquin Park exploring the life, art and death of Tom Thomson. Experience his paintings then paddle on Canoe Lake, surrounded by the landscape that inspired him most.
From wildlife viewing, stargazing and seasonal migrations to Indigenous culture and heritage places and sites, immerse yourself in nature's classroom.
If you're new to the outdoors, we have programs and outfitters waiting to welcome you with easy and fun instruction.
Looking for that 'trip of a lifetime'? An epic wilderness quest is within reach with an Ontario fly-in or rail experience.


Few things are as stressful to homeowners as water damage. It can be a sinister, creeping issue that many don't discover until it has become a big, expensive problem.
At its worst, moisture has the potential to damage your home beyond affordable repair, with heavy structural consequences that include mold, wood rot, and even foundation cracks. If you're lucky, you'll catch it early and stop it before it spreads. But even small leaks that allow rainwater into the house can require major repairs to keep moisture at bay.
The best way to deal with water damage is to stop it before it starts. Here are measures that you can take to prevent water from entering your home from outside.
The exterior of your house is its first line of defense against water damage. Protect your home from the outside in by maintaining the exterior.
Properly handling the water that flows down your roof is essential.
Your roof's primary purpose is to keep water out of your house. Neglecting it could lead to a whole host of problems, the worst of which includes extensive water damage that could compromise the structure of your home. Most roofs have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, so it's easy to think that if yours is still within its period of usability, it's fine. But that's not necessarily true.
Climate, weather conditions, and even nearby trees can cause damage to roof shingles. Periodically inspect your roof for damaged, loose, or missing shingles. Replacing any shingles that are missing or in poor condition is a quick and inexpensive project that can extend the life of your entire roof.
Windows and doors are common vulnerable sites for water leakage. Water can seep in through the space around window and door frames if they're not properly sealed. Don't wait for a leak. Ensure that the weatherstripping and seals around your windows and doors are in good shape.
Inspect the outside of your windows and doors. Any large cracks between the frame and the house can be injected with insulating foam sealant. Prevent other leaks by applying a fresh bead of caulking where the window meets the siding. Even a fresh coat of paint on window and door frames can block moisture from penetrating the wood.
Signs of water damage on your house's interior walls that don't seem to have a source, such as mold, peeling paint, or discoloration, could be due to water entering through holes in your exterior walls. If your siding and exterior paint aren't well-maintained, water could be leaking through to the inside of your home.
Periodically inspect your exterior walls. Look for signs of damage in your siding, such as holes, wood rot, or warping. If caught early enough, you may be able to clean out the wet materials and repair only the affected siding.
Most common exterior siding, including stucco, aluminum siding, wood siding, and cedar shingles, need to be painted in order to protect your home properly. Paint adds more than just aesthetic appeal—it seals and protects your siding against rain, sleet, and snow.
You can take measures to keep water out of your home, but waterproofing alone isn't enough to protect your home from water damage. If water isn't properly diverted away from the base of your house, your foundation could be at risk. And even the best waterproofing measures are no match for standing water that collects on or around your house in areas of poor drainage.
Depending on surrounding tree coverage, gutters need to be cleaned out two to six times a year to ensure proper flow of rainwater.
Making sure your gutters function properly is critical to protecting your home from water damage. If your gutters are full of leaves and pine needles, or not angled properly to funnel water to the downspout, then water will run down the side of your house and collect at the base, which could put your foundation at risk.
Start by clearing built-up gunk from your gutters. If your gutters are too high to reach with an extension ladder, you may want to hire a professional. If you can reach them, then this is a job you can easily do yourself. Begin near the downspout, using your hand or a plastic gutter scoop to dig out the muck. Once gutters are cleared of obstructions, use a pressure washer to clean them.
Downspouts should direct water at least three feet from the exterior walls of a home.
Functioning gutters send water out through the downspout, which should funnel the water away from your home. If necessary, repair gutters and downspouts.
If the downspout doesn't extend far enough, then it could instead be funneling water directly into a puddle at the bottom of your house.
Downspouts should extend at least two to three feet from the house. However, the length of the downspout extension you need depends on your house and surrounding property. If your downspout is long enough, but you can still see water collecting at the base of your house, then you may need to install a drainage pipe—a relatively simple and inexpensive DIY project.
If your home sits on the bottom of a slope, water runoff from your yard should be channeled away from your home. If it isn't, then you probably have problems with standing water near your foundation. Over time, this can cause the ground near your foundation to erode, making it vulnerable.
A French drain could be a simple solution to direct runoff away from your home. At its most basic, a French drain is a simple trench filled with gravel; you could install one with or without a pipe. For an average cost of $1000 to $1500, this solution could save you a lot of money on foundation repairs in the future.
Of course, water damage isn't limited to rain. Leaking pipes and valves inside your home can cause problems just as severe as rainwater intrusion, but your home's protection begins with its exterior. Ensure that your roof, exterior walls, gutters and landscape are working as they should to keep your home high and dry.
Robert Kociecki has over 15 years of experience managing residential and commercial properties across the United States.  He serves as Senior Vice President of Property Management and Renovation at Altisource, parent company of Owners.com, where you can track a home's history and save money listing your own (rainwater-resistant) house.


Slate cut numbers. These 10mm thick chunky numbers are cut directly from slate. Each number comes complete with a fixing template, 2 fixing pins and epoxy glue. Please note as with all our natural slate products they may be some variance in the thickness, edges and surface.
"Lovely product & the fixings, glue,template & instructions made it easy for the handyman to fix. "
"Great product - delivered on time and easy to install"


text:
Home > Research and Innovation in Online Education
Research and Innovation in Online Education
Online learning is an evolving field in which emerging technologies, new pedagogical approaches, and other types of innovations are shaping the future of education. Research in the field of education and in many other fields, including cognitive, developmental, and behavioral psychology, information and computer science, and communication, continues to lead to advances in teaching methodologies, academic program design, and other areas related to online instruction.
As part of our mission to empower students who may be interested in pursuing personal and/or professional advancement through enrollment in an online degree program, OnlineEducation.com interviews educational leaders, academic researchers, and innovators in the field of online learning. The Q&A's published in this section focus on the work of scientists, scholars, and academic researchers whose work is contributing to innovations in instructional technologies, course design, program curricula, learning methodologies, teaching pedagogy, and other aspects of distance learning and online education.
Interview with Susan Aldridge, Ph.D. – Drexel University
Dr. Susan Aldridge is the President of Drexel University Online and the Vice President of Online Learning at Drexel University. In this interview Dr. Aldridge shares what it is like to learn and teach online, and how to succeed in each. Additional topics include academic honesty measures, online student support services, and distance learning trends.
Interview with Thomas Cavanagh, Ph.D. – University of Central Florida
Dr. Thomas Cavanagh is the Associate Vice President of Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the second largest university in the nation, where he oversees the distance learning strategy, policies, and practices. In this interview Dr. Cavanagh discusses online learning and instructional design, and offers advice for students considering their first online degrees.
Interview with D. Randy Garrison, Ed.D. – University of Calgary
Dr. Randy Garrison is a Professor Emeritus of Education who has published extensively on distance education and been instrumental in developing the Community of Inquiry (CoI) theoretical framework and applying its concepts to online and blended learning.
Interview with Diane Reddy, Ph.D. – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dr. Diane M. Reddy, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, discusses the U-Pace instructional method for self-directed, mastery-based online degree programs.
Interview with Yvonne Simon – College for America
Yvonne Simon is Chief Learning Architect and a founding member of the Innovation Lab and College for America, a competency-based division of Southern New Hampshire University offering self-directed online degree programs.
Interview with Lauren Singer Trakhman, Ph.D. – University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Lauren Singer Trakhman is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Outreach at the University of Maryland whose research focuses on assessing reading comprehension and calibration in digital and print media.
Interview with Karen Vignare, Ph.D. – Association of Public & Land-grant Universities (APLU)
Educational researcher and administrator Dr. Karen Vignare discusses the applications of adaptive learning technologies in the context of her work as Executive Director of the APLU's Personalized Learning Consortium.