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Posted inSoutheast
Virginia law cleared a path for condo owners to install charging stations
The first electric vehicle charging stations under a 2020 "right to charge" law are beginning to pop up in the parking garages of condominiums, housing cooperatives and other common-interest communities.
by Elizabeth McGowan April 27, 2021 May 4, 2021
Wael Ali charging his Tesla in the garage of his Prince William County, Virginia, condo. It's one of two Teslas and chargers his family owns. Credit: Wael Ali / Courtesy
As an engineer, Wael Ali is hard-wired to find a way around. While others lament the seemingly impenetrable stone walls of bureaucracy, the northern Virginia condominium owner schemes to rearrange those rocks into a gateway.
That's how the electric vehicle enthusiast created an opening last year to become the first in his Prince William County community to install a pair of chargers in his building's underground parking garage for the two Teslas his family owns.
Even though he had the law on his side — a "right to charge" measure the General Assembly passed in the 2020 session — Ali realized he'd have to don his educator hat to convince the Harborside homeowners association board that his request was safe, doable and likely the wave of the future.
"The board was fearful," Ali said, with concerns ranging from fires, liability, expense and access. "This was about teaching and showing people what steps are involved. It was a learning experience for them."
Similar homeowner boards across the state will probably be tangling more and more with how to accommodate residents' requests for electric vehicle chargers.
One prompt is Senate Bill 630, the right-to-charge legislation that prohibits homeowner and condominium associations from prohibiting installation in a resident's designated parking space. Another is Clean Cars Virginia, which Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law this year. It signals to auto manufacturers that the state is a high-priority destination for low- and no-emission vehicles.
Close to 6,800 associations affiliated with condos, property owners and cooperatives are registered with Virginia's Common Interest Community Board — and that's far from a complete list of such groups.
That volume led Heather Gillespie to believe she would be bombarded by questions about SB 630. She works for the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as ombudsperson for the Common Interest Community.
"In the last year, I've gotten maybe one inquiry about electric vehicle charging stations," said Gillespie, ombudsperson since the position was created in 2008. "I'm quite surprised. I thought there would be a flurry of phone call and emails."
She attributes that unanticipated calm to the law being rolled out as the country wrestled with the coronavirus pandemic.
While the board doesn't notify its registrants about every bill that might affect them, Gillespie carefully tracks such legislation each year, including state Sen. Scott Surovell's efforts to shepherd the right-to-charge bill.
"He pushed it for a while and it finally made it through," she said. "I give him a lot of credit for that."
Law takes easiest first step
Surovell, an attorney and environmental issue champion, said he wrote the bill in anticipation of a vast transportation shift in Virginia. The Democrat serves part of Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties.
His 2 ½ years as an electric vehicle owner tuned him into charging challenges. And his law practice exposed him to the details of litigation centered on homeowners associations.
Surovell intentionally narrowed the bill to cover parking spaces that association members already own.
"It's important to be able to charge at home and this is the easiest first step," he said in an interview. "I immediately recognized this would be rife with conflict. If we were going to have robust electric vehicle development in the state, I wanted to deal with it on the front end."
Surovell has a charger in his home's driveway, but his installation was more straightforward because his Mount Vernon neighborhood in Fairfax County isn't part of a homeowners association.
"I'm going to keep legislating in this space," he said. "Electric vehicle ownership is going to rise exponentially in Virginia. I figured the sooner we get ahead of this issue, the fewer conflicts we'll have."
Surovell collaborated with the Community Associations Institute, an international trade group based in Virginia, to craft his bill.
Morgan Gaines, a spokesperson for the institute's chapter covering the Washington D.C. metro region, said vehicle chargers have been a "hot topic these past few years."
While staffers at her organization don't comment on specific situations regarding chargers or other association issues, she said they do offer resources to help their members — managers, homeowners and business partners — exchange ideas and information.
Fellow senators have broached Surovell about perhaps tackling the bigger, messier, and more complex issue of legislating charger installations on common or shared property.
"With SB 630, I wanted to bite off what we could do," he said. "The other is a very complicated legal issue that we would have to navigate."
EV enthusiasts keep pressure on boards
Luis Albisu lives near Ali. They're not in the same building, but they're both in Prince William County along the Occoquan River and adjacent to Route 1.
Albisu is overjoyed that Surovell prodded Virginia to join at least seven other states — including Maryland, New York and Florida — with right-to-charge measures.
A few years ago, Albisu began toying with the idea of purchasing an electric vehicle. But he became frustrated when his Harbor Point East condo board told him he was out of luck on installing a charger in either of his parking spaces because such guidelines didn't yet exist.
That prompted him to email Florida's law to Surovell. The state senator acknowledged Albisu as a catalyst behind his legislation, but said their correspondence was limited to digital exchanges.
"The law has made it easier but there are still challenges," said Albisu, a recently retired cybersecurity specialist. "I'm a techie at heart. I've always wanted to have a futuristic, efficient vehicle that's good for the environment. But if I have an EV, I want to have my own charger."
To spur such an advance, Albisu is tag-teaming with an association board member in his 67-unit, 17-year-old building on several projects.
One is a spring survey to capture residents' perspective on technology such as EV chargers, security cameras and video doorbells. The other involves exhaustively researching the potential pluses and perils of installing charging infrastructure. The idea is to create guidance to help refine future legislation and a blueprint for associations statewide wrestling with the same issues.
Albisu is hopeful that a measured approach will convince the traditionally risk-averse board to welcome what's already outlined in Surovell's law.
"I think we have a route to get it done," he said. "We will eventually get to yes."
Patience, politeness, persistence pay off
Dave Drabkin is the current board president at Harborside, the 28-unit condo where Ali lives. The retired federal employee wasn't serving in that capacity when the board finally approved Ali's Tesla charger applications last year.
Drabkin praised Ali's diplomacy during his circuitous quest.
"He could have been a jerk and raised hell about it," Drabkin said. "But he had patience and was polite and persistent. And he succeeded."
Ali is the co-founder and CEO of Spin Systems, a software engineering firm in Fairfax County where three Tesla EV chargers have been at-the-ready since 2017.
He owns two units and four parking spots in his building. In January 2020, when he first filed paperwork with his association board, he expected to hear back in a month. When he didn't hear a peep, he figured they hoped he would go away.
Ali didn't cower. He attended their late April meeting with a copy of Surovell's bill in hand. By then, Gov. Ralph Northam had signed it into law, effective July 1.
"They were still skeptical," he said. "I knew they'd never seen this done before, but at the end of the day, this is the law and I cannot be denied."
Patiently, he walked them through a diagram that outlined all the details on how the Tesla chargers would be permitted, installed, connected to his electric power supply and inspected. He had hired a certified, experienced professional to be sure everything was up to code for his $10,000 investment.
Two days later, the board gave Ali a thumbs up. By May, the first charger was installed. The second followed in July.
Ali even mentored a fellow condo dweller and Tesla driver who hadn't pursued an earlier rejected request for a charger because he didn't want to cause trouble.
"I told him it's not about fighting," Ali said, "it's about your rights."
Drabkin is pleased that the complex has been able to accommodate three chargers thus far. He also pointed out that Ali and the other man who pursued them are several decades younger than most of the other residents.
He's concerned that limited space in the building's 15-year-old electrical room will present an obstacle if many unit owners start seeking chargers.
"The idea of first-come, first-served is equitable for the moment," Drabkin said, adding that might change if a saturation point is reached. "At the moment we don't have a problem. And we're not looking for a solution to a problem we don't have."
Ali said such a remedy already exists, but it would be up to the board to approve a panel upgrade in the main electrical room.
The father of three children under age 10 also said being able to plug in at home goes far beyond the resale value a charger adds. Electric vehicles eliminate fossil fuel fill-ups, and those electrons will become greener as Virginia shifts its grid to renewable energy.
"We have to look at the big picture," he said. "This is good for my kids and my kids' kids of the future."
Tagged: electric vehicle charging, electric vehicles, ICYMI, Virginia
Elizabeth McGowan
Elizabeth is a longtime energy and environment reporter who has worked for InsideClimate News, Energy Intelligence and Crain Communications. Her groundbreaking dispatches for InsideClimate News from Kalamazoo, Michigan, "The Dilbit Disaster: Inside the Biggest Oil Spill You Never Heard Of" won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2013. Elizabeth covers the state of Virginia. Her book, "Outpedaling 'The Big C': My Healing Cycle Across America" is available from Bancroft Press.
More by Elizabeth McGowan
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by Elizabeth McGowan, Energy News Network

Virginia law cleared a path for condo owners to install charging stations

by Elizabeth McGowan, Energy News Network
April 27, 2021

As an engineer, Wael Ali is hard-wired to find a way around. While others lament the seemingly impenetrable stone walls of bureaucracy, the northern Virginia condominium owner schemes to rearrange those rocks into a gateway.

That's how the electric vehicle enthusiast created an opening last year to become the first in his Prince William County community to install a pair of chargers in his building's underground parking garage for the two Teslas his family owns.

Even though he had the law on his side — a "right to charge" measure the General Assembly passed in the 2020 session — Ali realized he'd have to don his educator hat to convince the Harborside homeowners association board that his request was safe, doable and likely the wave of the future.

"The board was fearful," Ali said, with concerns ranging from fires, liability, expense and access. "This was about teaching and showing people what steps are involved. It was a learning experience for them."

Similar homeowner boards across the state will probably be tangling more and more with how to accommodate residents' requests for electric vehicle chargers.

One prompt is Senate Bill 630, the right-to-charge legislation that prohibits homeowner and condominium associations from prohibiting installation in a resident's designated parking space. Another is Clean Cars Virginia, which Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law this year. It signals to auto manufacturers that the state is a high-priority destination for low- and no-emission vehicles.

Close to 6,800 associations affiliated with condos, property owners and cooperatives are registered with Virginia's Common Interest Community Board — and that's far from a complete list of such groups.

That volume led Heather Gillespie to believe she would be bombarded by questions about SB 630. She works for the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as ombudsperson for the Common Interest Community.

"In the last year, I've gotten maybe one inquiry about electric vehicle charging stations," said Gillespie, ombudsperson since the position was created in 2008. "I'm quite surprised. I thought there would be a flurry of phone call and emails."

She attributes that unanticipated calm to the law being rolled out as the country wrestled with the coronavirus pandemic.

While the board doesn't notify its registrants about every bill that might affect them, Gillespie carefully tracks such legislation each year, including state Sen. Scott Surovell's efforts to shepherd the right-to-charge bill.

"He pushed it for a while and it finally made it through," she said. "I give him a lot of credit for that."

Law takes easiest first step

Surovell, an attorney and environmental issue champion, said he wrote the bill in anticipation of a vast transportation shift in Virginia. The Democrat serves part of Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties.

His 2 ½ years as an electric vehicle owner tuned him into charging challenges. And his law practice exposed him to the details of litigation centered on homeowners associations.

Surovell intentionally narrowed the bill to cover parking spaces that association members already own.

"It's important to be able to charge at home and this is the easiest first step," he said in an interview. "I immediately recognized this would be rife with conflict. If we were going to have robust electric vehicle development in the state, I wanted to deal with it on the front end."

Surovell has a charger in his home's driveway, but his installation was more straightforward because his Mount Vernon neighborhood in Fairfax County isn't part of a homeowners association.

"I'm going to keep legislating in this space," he said. "Electric vehicle ownership is going to rise exponentially in Virginia. I figured the sooner we get ahead of this issue, the fewer conflicts we'll have."

Surovell collaborated with the Community Associations Institute, an international trade group based in Virginia, to craft his bill.

Morgan Gaines, a spokesperson for the institute's chapter covering the Washington D.C. metro region, said vehicle chargers have been a "hot topic these past few years."

While staffers at her organization don't comment on specific situations regarding chargers or other association issues, she said they do offer resources to help their members — managers, homeowners and business partners — exchange ideas and information.

Fellow senators have broached Surovell about perhaps tackling the bigger, messier, and more complex issue of legislating charger installations on common or shared property.

"With SB 630, I wanted to bite off what we could do," he said. "The other is a very complicated legal issue that we would have to navigate."

EV enthusiasts keep pressure on boards

Luis Albisu lives near Ali. They're not in the same building, but they're both in Prince William County along the Occoquan River and adjacent to Route 1.

Albisu is overjoyed that Surovell prodded Virginia to join at least seven other states — including Maryland, New York and Florida — with right-to-charge measures.

A few years ago, Albisu began toying with the idea of purchasing an electric vehicle. But he became frustrated when his Harbor Point East condo board told him he was out of luck on installing a charger in either of his parking spaces because such guidelines didn't yet exist.

That prompted him to email Florida's law to Surovell. The state senator acknowledged Albisu as a catalyst behind his legislation, but said their correspondence was limited to digital exchanges.

"The law has made it easier but there are still challenges," said Albisu, a recently retired cybersecurity specialist. "I'm a techie at heart. I've always wanted to have a futuristic, efficient vehicle that's good for the environment. But if I have an EV, I want to have my own charger."

To spur such an advance, Albisu is tag-teaming with an association board member in his 67-unit, 17-year-old building on several projects.

One is a spring survey to capture residents' perspective on technology such as EV chargers, security cameras and video doorbells. The other involves exhaustively researching the potential pluses and perils of installing charging infrastructure. The idea is to create guidance to help refine future legislation and a blueprint for associations statewide wrestling with the same issues.

Albisu is hopeful that a measured approach will convince the traditionally risk-averse board to welcome what's already outlined in Surovell's law.

"I think we have a route to get it done," he said. "We will eventually get to yes."

Patience, politeness, persistence pay off

Dave Drabkin is the current board president at Harborside, the 28-unit condo where Ali lives. The retired federal employee wasn't serving in that capacity when the board finally approved Ali's Tesla charger applications last year.

Drabkin praised Ali's diplomacy during his circuitous quest.

"He could have been a jerk and raised hell about it," Drabkin said. "But he had patience and was polite and persistent. And he succeeded."

Ali is the co-founder and CEO of Spin Systems, a software engineering firm in Fairfax County where three Tesla EV chargers have been at-the-ready since 2017.

He owns two units and four parking spots in his building. In January 2020, when he first filed paperwork with his association board, he expected to hear back in a month. When he didn't hear a peep, he figured they hoped he would go away.

Ali didn't cower. He attended their late April meeting with a copy of Surovell's bill in hand. By then, Gov. Ralph Northam had signed it into law, effective July 1.

"They were still skeptical," he said. "I knew they'd never seen this done before, but at the end of the day, this is the law and I cannot be denied."

Patiently, he walked them through a diagram that outlined all the details on how the Tesla chargers would be permitted, installed, connected to his electric power supply and inspected. He had hired a certified, experienced professional to be sure everything was up to code for his $10,000 investment.

Two days later, the board gave Ali a thumbs up. By May, the first charger was installed. The second followed in July.

Ali even mentored a fellow condo dweller and Tesla driver who hadn't pursued an earlier rejected request for a charger because he didn't want to cause trouble.

"I told him it's not about fighting," Ali said, "it's about your rights."

Drabkin is pleased that the complex has been able to accommodate three chargers thus far. He also pointed out that Ali and the other man who pursued them are several decades younger than most of the other residents.

He's concerned that limited space in the building's 15-year-old electrical room will present an obstacle if many unit owners start seeking chargers.

"The idea of first-come, first-served is equitable for the moment," Drabkin said, adding that might change if a saturation point is reached. "At the moment we don't have a problem. And we're not looking for a solution to a problem we don't have."

Ali said such a remedy already exists, but it would be up to the board to approve a panel upgrade in the main electrical room.

The father of three children under age 10 also said being able to plug in at home goes far beyond the resale value a charger adds. Electric vehicles eliminate fossil fuel fill-ups, and those electrons will become greener as Virginia shifts its grid to renewable energy.

"We have to look at the big picture," he said. "This is good for my kids and my kids' kids of the future."

This article first appeared on Energy News Network and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.


Brute Mountain is an exciting and challenging hike up to a rocky peak with sweeping views over Bennett Lake, Montana Mountain and Carcross.
This is the same trailhead as for the Montana Mountain Trail. From Carcross, drive south on the South Klondike Highway, across the bridge and take your first right. Drive to the end of the road and make a left up a gravel road. Continue straight up, you're on the Montana Mountain Road. This is a rough road that requires high clearance to avoid large boulders and washouts.
There are two trailheads for this route, depending on how far you want (or are able) to drive up the road. The first trailhead is at a small washout, 8 km up the road. The second trailhead requires you to take another narrower by-road at around 7 km up the road. This road is marked with a wooden post and has signs for the Mountain Hero and Nares View mountain bike trails. When this by-pass road joins back on the main road, you can descend to a small, old cabin. This is the second trailhead and a return trip from here is only 6 km (versus 11 km).
Regardless of which trailhead you choose, you will eventually meet at the base of the ridge. The route described below is from the first trailhead, so if you are starting from the second trailhead, you can skip to the section where the trails meet.
From the first trailhead (the washout), follow the road until you reach the landslide area. There are actually three parts to the landslide; the first two parts are small slides which have a pretty worn trail across them, the third slide is the largest and there is little to no trail across it. But luckily for you, for this route there is no need to cross the last slide, as you will instead need to drop down to the creek below.
Cross the creek and follow it upstream for about 20 meters until you reach a fork of two creeks. Take the right fork, following up high on the left bank of the creek. This is a nice portion of the trail as you hike gradually uphill above the creek and its rocky canyon. Eventually the slope you are following will reach the same elevation as the creek - this is good place to cross and head up the slope now to the west aiming for the right portion of the ridge of Brute Mountain (north ridge). The terrain is a mix of low growing shrubs and lichen, and large rocks. From here, both trailheads follow roughly the same path for the rest of the route.
Once on top of the ridge it becomes all rocks. The route is straightforward from here as you follow the rocky ridge to the summit, however there is some pretty serious scrambling as the ridge becomes a jumble of large rocks and slippery lichen. Once you reach the peak it will be worth it with stunning views over Bennett Lake to the west and the Montana Mountain area to the southeast.
You can follow the same route back to either trailhead. If you parked at the washout, another option is to hike to the other trailhead and follow the road back down and across the landslide to where you parked. This would add about another kilometer.
Have you been to Brute Mountain lately?
Attempted this trail on May 21, 2018 but with no luck. Once you get close to the landslide the remaining unmelted snow makes it nearly impossible to climb any lower towards the creek. For safety we decided to head up sugarloaf instead to maybe get a veiw of montana mountain but got pushed back to the truck by the insane amount of wind, snow, hail and rain. Couple more weeks of sunshine and it will be ready! Still a bit early this year for the amount of snow we got but even the veiws up sugarloaf were breathtaking. Cant wait to come back for more!
Did this June 23rd and parked at the 8 km point where the first washout is. I started around 4 pm and it took me 6 hours round trip. This was my 4th attempt on Brute Mountain. I had previously tried twice in September 2015, and once earlier in June this year. All three times, the summit was foggy, cloudy, extremely windy, over a meter of snow on the ridge and very cold.
Finally, when I was starting to think it was impossible, I got to see Brute Mountain on a clear, wind free and sunny day!! Beautiful hike and very fun in these conditions. Almost no snow left. I highly recommend taking the alternate route proposed on here (blue in the photo). Just keep following the road after the landslide at km 10 and you'll get to the 2 small cabins down below. They are easy to spot. Hiking from there is way easier. Even though it adds one kilometer to your ascent, you'll eventually save time.
If you decide to drop down to the creek below (red in the photo), just be prepared for it. You'll be following the creek from above (to the left of the creek) if this is the route you take. From where the 2 trails meet and where you cross the creek again to get to the ridge of the mountain (yellow circle in the photo), you also have two options. You can go all around the ridge like described here (orange in the photo) or make your way directly up (purple in the photo). Note that there is no more obvious trail to follow after you cross the creek. Also note that the summit you see in this photo is a false summit. This is 1 of 3 summits (the 3rd having the best view and is just slightly further).
I found taking the alternate route (blue line) and going straight up (purple line) was the quickest and easiest way to do it. Very cool hike. Great views of Montana Mountain, Carcross area and Bennett Lake.
On the 18th of July, made the summit and back in 8 hours along with two boys respectively 6 and 7 years old. It was a gorgeous day that started totally fogged in with two creek crossings and sliding down snow patches on the way back. The top scrambling was very much appreciated by the little ones and we stopped just short of the actual peak as maybe the very last bit was a little too exposed for young people. Highly recommended alpine meadows, flowers and rocky peaks punctuated with splendid views from the top.
Note : We drove past the washout area through the bypass road but the section above the treeline was an actual running creek with much eroded banks and center areas at places. Had to bypass by going through the brushes and grateful my 4x4 high clearance vehicule was able to handle. Would not recommend unless familiar with serious 4x4 offroading. We parked where bypass road rejoins the main road, passed the washout.


American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, "Guide for establishing and maintaining a system of quality control for a CPA firm's accounting and auditing practice : recommendations" (1996). Guides, Handbooks and Manuals. 127.


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"Unheralded Heroes Live Life on the Edge"
Air Force Test Pilots Risk Everything So Others Don't Have To
From a lay person's perspective, the job of a military test pilot may seem filled with death-defying stunts and near-misses.
That would be the Hollywood version.
Test pilots and engineers work for months—even years—to ensure that each flight is boring and uneventful. They continually focus on planning for every contingency, every possible scenario, to make the test as safe as possible. They live their professional lives on the edge, but not the edge of death. It's the leading edge, where knowledge, preparation and experience combine to help make pilots' jobs safer.
"There is a saying in flight testing that you cannot go flying until the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane," said Air Force Major Mark Jones Jr., a former C-17 pilot who now flies as an instructor. "That 'paper' includes test plans, safety analyses, etcetera. We work hard to plan for contingencies. We cannot anticipate them all, but we try to."
Photo credit Courtesy photo
Air Force Major Mark Jones Jr.
The planning for a test flight often takes weeks or months and includes numerous meetings and significant time in simulators.
"Simulators are a training environment that provides as much realism as possible. Training in them helps to reduce risks inherent with flight test," said Jones. "Almost every flight test program includes an evaluation of elements of the aircraft design in a simulator."
Sometimes the simulation is nothing more than a desktop computer and an office chair. On other occasions, it is a machine rigged with wires, computers, some aircraft components and a cockpit. A fully developed simulation "lets [pilots] establish procedures, check sub-systems and software. It may not be a realistic representation of how the aircraft will feel when we fly it, but it does help us prepare," he said.
The time spent in the simulator can total a few hours or a few weeks, depending on the test the pilot is preparing for. Even with years of experience in a given aircraft, Jones said pilots will still duplicate high-risk maneuvers in a simulator before going airborne and attempting the real thing.
For test pilots, the planning doesn't start with meetings, simulators and mathematical equations. It starts when they enter the Air Force Academy, or in Jones' case, in childhood.
"As far back as the eighth grade I had a laser-sharp focus on what I wanted to do," he said. "I was quoted saying 'I want to go the Air Force Academy, become a test pilot and eventually be an astronaut.'" He's reached two of his three stated goals and still has his eye on the third.
Simply having an immense number of flight hours under your belt isn't enough to test planes for the Air Force. A background in mathematics, physics or engineering is almost mandatory. Jones, who received his degree in mathematics from the Academy, said the technical background needed to be an experimental test pilot eliminates more than 90 percent of the pilot pool.
For him, that wasn't an issue. "I was attracted to the synthesis of technical expertise in science, engineering and math and being on the edge of the envelope as an aviator. I've been interested in math for as long as I can remember being interested in aviation."
After graduating from the Air Force Academy and completing graduate studies in Hawaii, Jones spent nine years flying C-17s for the service. He deployed numerous times, flying hundreds of sorties over Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. After years in the C-17, Jones was accepted into the highly selective Air Force Test Pilot School. As a member of a 20-person class, he spent a year at Edwards Air Force Base living a pilot's dream, flying 30 different aircraft as part of the curriculum. Jones and his classmates flew Air Force, Navy and British fighters, cargo jets, tankers, helicopters and trainers.
While at Edwards, he had the opportunity to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close air support jet. While the fixed-wing aircraft has a proven track record in combat, it only has one seat. The Air Force doesn't own any two-seaters, so when students take their first flight in the plane, they fly solo. Jones had ground and simulator training prior to flying the Warthog, but there was no substitute for the real thing.
"The nerves go away once you start running checklists and doing procedures. I always find myself checking and re-checking things multiple times in those situations. My mind is always working, staying ahead of the aircraft. … I'm too busy to be nervous."
Photo credit Air Force
A C-17 Globemaster flies over Owens Valley, California, during a test flight. The C-17, which entered service in 1993, can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet and only 90 feet wide.
Regardless of how prepared a test pilot is, the flights are still dangerous. After all, these are tests that are often designed to push the limits of an airplane.
"There are times when we are doing things with an airplane that have never been done before," said Jones, who was the Air Force's chief test pilot for the C-17 when he left active duty in 2011.
During his years conducting C-17 flight tests, he performed record-setting airdrops with heavy weights, experimental platforms and experimental parachutes.
"Our simulators could not accurately simulate [the airdrops]. We had an idea about what it should look like, but it was all new," he said.
He also was member of a C-17 crew that conducted "science projects" for NASA, dropping an Orion spacecraft and an Ares rocket—part of the since-cancelled Constellation program—out the aft end of his plane. While the Ares test was successful, the Orion drop was a failure, albeit a spectacular one. Although the payload departed the C-17 without incident, the Orion's parachutes failed, sending the spacecraft to its demise in the Arizona desert.
Jones, now a reservist, instructs military aviators and works as a civilian test pilot. He's flown thousands of hours in military and civilian aircraft and has been fortunate to only have a handful of life-threatening incidents occur, though not in the air. Most of the close calls have happened on the ground.
"One time I was cleared for takeoff and, as I always do, I clear the final approach path for airplanes, [which is] like checking both ways before crossing a street. An airplane was about to land and would have hit me if I had pulled out onto the runway without checking. It was a mistake by the controller."
Jones said there is a maxim in flight testing that suggests more airplanes are lost during ordinary testing than while performing dangerous maneuvers. "Sometimes, it seems we let our guard down during the 'routine tests' and that's when accidents happen."
He hasn't had many close calls in the air, but that doesn't mean he hasn't cheated death during his aviation career.
"Looking back on several situations, I've realized if one more thing had gone wrong, we could have crashed or died," he said. "Every time an airplane accident occurs somewhere in the world, I stop and think, 'that could have been me.' I take a hard look at my habits, my airmanship and flight discipline to make sure I'm doing my part."
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During Air Force Major Sean Cross' first flight into the storm that became Hurricane Katrina, he and his crew asked themselves why they were even tasked for the mission. By his second flight, the questions were answered.
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Despite a drooping eyelid, chronic tonsillitis, a maimed little finger and "the evil effects of too much bug juice and too many cigarettes," Parsons served two nations with distinction.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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ECWDB Success Stories
Workforce Development is all about helping to create successful individuals and successful businesses.
Janet Landed a Job with the Assistance of Craven NCWorks
Janet : Adult Success Story
Janet is a Veteran who was unemployed during the summer of 2021, and Career Advisor Taylor Lee in New Bern contacted her for a virtual appointment. Taylor thoroughly updated her NCWorks profile, as is the custom in the New Bern office, and encouraged her in her efforts owing to her extensive skills. As part of the registration process, Taylor made a resume for her and emailed it to her that same day.
When a vacancy for the SBE Veterans/JVSG position came open in the New Bern NCWorks office, Janet decided to apply for it and was thrilled to get an interview for the position.
When Janet was hired and reported to work her first day, she was able to meet Taylor in person: not as an applicant, but as a new coworker. Janet then told Taylor that she was appreciative of his efforts, kind words and support, and that she used the resume he had made for her when she reported to her interview.
Janet and Taylor are glad to be working in the same office and can assist each other every day. They are both passionate about helping their customers and look forward to working together to help their clients in the days to come. Janet is pleased that she can help others, in the same way that she was assisted.
Source: Craven NCWorks Career Center
Carteret Community College Graduate, Makayla Gaitan, Received the Governor's Award of Distinction
Makayla Gaitan : Youth Success Story
After receiving her high school diploma through the Carteret Community College Adult High School, Gaitan pursued her college degree and entered the Human Services Technology program at Carteret CC, during which she worked as a WIOA student worker as the College's Retention and Counseling Services Assistant.
"I owe a lot to Carteret Community College and the WIOA program," said Gaitan. "To be recognized for doing my job and pursuing my passion of helping others is such a great feeling. I know I am on the right career path and to have that recognized gives me indescribable joy."
In May 2021, Gaitan graduated with her Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Human Services Technology from Carteret Community College and is now pursing her bachelor's degree at Lees-McRae College. She hopes to pursue her master's and possibly her doctorate.
"I am continuing to work with and for people while preparing for a future career as a therapist," said Gaitan. "But no matter what, as long as I am able to help others, I will be happy."
Makayla Gaitan, Carteret Community College graduate, is the recipient of the 2021 Governor's NC Works Award of Distinction in the category of Outstanding Young Adult. The award recognizes young adults who have been involved in a publicly funded NC workforce service or program and have demonstrated exceptional achievement to attain career-related goals. Gaitan participated in the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth program through the Carteret NCWorks Career Center.
"The WIOA program and the NCWorks staff are extremely proud of Makayla's accomplishment," said WIOA Youth Program Coordinator Merianne Grigoriciuc. "She has demonstrated academic, personal and professional perseverance throughout her time in the WIOA program and has exemplified professionalism, empathy and quality customer service in each of her work experiences and internships. Makayla's dedication to help others and serve her community are the qualities that make her deserving of the Governor's NCWorks Award of Distinction."
Source: Carteret Community College
The Finish Line Grant Helped Jasmine Graduate from Craven Community College and Find a Career
Jasmine : Finish Line Grant
Craven Community College (Craven CC) graduate Jasmine Hodge has used her success as a student to propel her into the healthcare field. From the WIOA Program, she was able to receive the guidance and assistance she needed to complete her education and join the workforce.
Hodge began her college endeavor in 2011 with the hope of attending East Carolina University. After that didn't pan out, she realized that Craven CC offered her a perfect alternative that allowed her to continue living with her mother. She first started at Craven CC in the fall of 2011 with the expectation of becoming a nurse. However, after having children, she soon realized that the steep workload of nursing students did not mesh well with motherhood. She sat down with her advisor, Zomar Peter, and figured out a new degree plan in the Medical Assisting (MA) program.
"Advisors provide clarity on students' academic direction and educational goals," said Peter. "For example, with Jasmine, her goal was to enter the nursing program, but being a single mother, she was not able to stop working. With the nursing program, students are encouraged not to work or work minimally due to the rigor of the program. Advisors will be able to guide students through the prerequisites for all programs, but specifically health and nursing programs. Medical Assisting was perfect for Jasmine because of the various online options available for her work and personal life."
Hodge admitted that the workload in the MA program was still very stressful at times, but the bonds she formed with her classmates and the realization that everyone was going through similar situations helped her through it. She also found comfort in assisting other students who were having difficulty, several of whom were mothers as well.
"We all have the same struggle with trying to study but also be a parent," said Hodge. "We're trying to come to class and also be a parent; to help your kids with their schoolwork and still having your own workload of school and homework. We had a lot of the same struggles but we also all helped each other."
Hodge's story is one of perseverance and dedication. After a time, the workload was too much and she was forced to leave the WIOA program. She did not give up on her goals though, and in 2019 she was able to take the MA test with the help of the Finish Line Grant. The Finish Line Grant provided the funding that allowed her to take the MA test and graduate from the program. She is currently employed at Coastal Carolina Health Care Endoscopy Center and encourages other parents who are in school or thinking about starting to not get discouraged and put forth maximum effort.
Students are able to seek assistance through financial aid, scholarships, and grants to help them complete their education when facing unexpected challenges. Contact Craven Community College or your local NCWorks Career Center to find out more on what programs are available to help you succeed.
"In order for students like Jasmine to be successful at juggling school and motherhood, we provide not only academic advising, but we do provide financial assistance for those who are struggling financially," said Peter. "It is important for students like Jasmine to have someone who provides continuous encouragement, hope and a very good listening ear. At Craven, that is what we provide."
Source: Holly Desrosier, Craven Community College
Paid Work Experiences at Wayne Community College Helped Diamond Find her Career Path
Diamond : Youth Success Story
Diamond was on a paid work experience through the NextGen Youth Program at Wayne Community College. She started as a Literacy Connections Intern before moving on to her second position as a Registrar Assistant. Each position helped her gain the skills that she would need to work in her desired career path. She was able to gain exposure to the working world and its requirements. In addition to that, she was exposed to many community events such as festivals and career fairs and was able to participate in volunteer opportunities. Last month, after a lot of hard work and dedication, she passed her GED exam. She is currently working as a clerical assistant for Wages Inc., and she is also enrolled in curriculum courses in the Business Administration Program.
Source: Wayne Community College
Sharieka Excelled in the NextGen Youth Program at Wayne Community College
Sharieka : Youth Success Story
Sharieka joined the WIOA out-of-school youth program in the summer of 2016. When she first started, she immediately expressed her interest in working with and helping others. At first, her desired career was to become a Clinical Nursing Technician, but as she continued through the program, she discovered that she was interested in the childcare field. She eventually decided that she would love to own her own childcare center. To accomplish this goal, she would have to attain more education and training. Sharieka committed the time and effort into receiving her High School Equivalency in the spring of 2017.
While she was working on her GED®, she participated in work experiences at several local daycares. Sharieka then enrolled in the Early Childhood Program at Wayne Community College in the summer of 2017. After 3 years of hard work, dedication, and commitment, Sharieka was able to participate in the drive-thru graduation celebration at Wayne Community College in the spring of 2020. Due to the pandemic, she could not be awarded her degree until she completed the required practicum hours. She successfully completed her hours in the fall of 2020 and is currently operating her own in-home day care!
Veronica Enrolls in the WIOA Youth Program
Veronica C. : Youth Success Story
Veronica C. recently enrolled in the WIOA Youth Program at Carteret Community College. She came into to the program while enrolled in the Basic Skills' Adult High School Diploma program, seeking to earn a high school degree. Veronica would like to attend college and has her sights on being a Writer one day. Veronica indicated an interest in gaining work experience and building her resume. She wanted to get experience in customer service, administrative work, and work that would allow for a creative outlet. Shortly after enrolling, we were able to arrange for an interview with the campus library, as they needed a Library Page. Veronica prepared well for the interview and impressed the library director in so many ways. In her position, she will interact with library patrons, shelve books and assist with special projects such as creating bulletin boards and special displays for the library. Veronica started her work experience this week and the library staff feel she will be a valuable asset to their program.


text:
'use strict'

/**
 * Default values for a physics body's categoryBitMask and collisionBitMask properties.
 * @access public
 * @see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scnphysicscollisioncategory
 */
export default class SCNPhysicsCollisionCategory {

  // Constants
  /**
   * The default categoryBitMask value for dynamic and kinematic bodies.
   * @type {SCNPhysicsCollisionCategory}
   * @desc
   * @see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scnphysicscollisioncategory/1514799-default
   */
  get default() {
    return this._default
  }
  /**
   * The default categoryBitMask value for static bodies.
   * @type {SCNPhysicsCollisionCategory}
   * @desc
   * @see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scnphysicscollisioncategory/1514778-static
   */
  get static() {
    return this._static
  }
  /**
   * This is the default value for a physics body's collisionBitMask property.
   * @type {SCNPhysicsCollisionCategory}
   * @desc With this collision mask, a physics body can collide with all other physics bodies.
   * @see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scnphysicscollisioncategory/1514784-all
   */
  get all() {
    return this._all
  }

  // Initializers

  /**
   *
   * @access public
   * @param {number} rawValue -
   * @returns {void}
   * @see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scnphysicscollisioncategory/1523649-init
   */
  init(rawValue) {

    // Constants

    this._default = null
    this._static = null
    this._all = null
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
import { Nullable } from "../types";
import { ThinEngine } from "../Engines/thinEngine";
import { WebXRRenderTarget } from "./webXRTypes";
import { WebXRSessionManager } from "./webXRSessionManager";
import { Observable } from "../Misc/observable";
import { Tools } from "../Misc/tools";

/**
 * COnfiguration object for WebXR output canvas
 */
export class WebXRManagedOutputCanvasOptions {
    /**
     * An optional canvas in case you wish to create it yourself and provide it here.
     * If not provided, a new canvas will be created
     */
    public canvasElement?: HTMLCanvasElement;
    /**
     * Options for this XR Layer output
     */
    public canvasOptions?: XRWebGLLayerInit;
    /**
     * CSS styling for a newly created canvas (if not provided)
     */
    public newCanvasCssStyle?: string;

    /**
     * Get the default values of the configuration object
     * @param engine defines the engine to use (can be null)
     * @returns default values of this configuration object
     */
    public static GetDefaults(engine?: ThinEngine): WebXRManagedOutputCanvasOptions {
        const defaults = new WebXRManagedOutputCanvasOptions();
        defaults.canvasOptions = {
            antialias: true,
            depth: true,
            stencil: engine ? engine.isStencilEnable : true,
            alpha: true,
            multiview: false,
            framebufferScaleFactor: 1,
        };

        defaults.newCanvasCssStyle = "position:absolute; bottom:0px;right:0px;z-index:10;width:90%;height:100%;background-color: #000000;";

        return defaults;
    }
}
/**
 * Creates a canvas that is added/removed from the webpage when entering/exiting XR
 */
export class WebXRManagedOutputCanvas implements WebXRRenderTarget {
    private _canvas: Nullable<HTMLCanvasElement> = null;
    private _engine: ThinEngine;
    private _originalCanvasSize: {
        width: number;
        height: number;
    };

    /**
     * Rendering context of the canvas which can be used to display/mirror xr content
     */
    public canvasContext: WebGLRenderingContext;
    /**
     * xr layer for the canvas
     */
    public xrLayer: Nullable<XRWebGLLayer> = null;

    /**
     * Obseervers registered here will be triggered when the xr layer was initialized
     */
    public onXRLayerInitObservable: Observable<XRWebGLLayer> = new Observable();

    /**
     * Initializes the canvas to be added/removed upon entering/exiting xr
     * @param _xrSessionManager The XR Session manager
     * @param _options optional configuration for this canvas output. defaults will be used if not provided
     */
    constructor(_xrSessionManager: WebXRSessionManager, private _options: WebXRManagedOutputCanvasOptions = WebXRManagedOutputCanvasOptions.GetDefaults()) {
        this._engine = _xrSessionManager.scene.getEngine();
        if (!_options.canvasElement) {
            const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
            canvas.style.cssText = this._options.newCanvasCssStyle || "position:absolute; bottom:0px;right:0px;";
            this._setManagedOutputCanvas(canvas);
        } else {
            this._setManagedOutputCanvas(_options.canvasElement);
        }

        _xrSessionManager.onXRSessionInit.add(() => {
            this._addCanvas();
        });

        _xrSessionManager.onXRSessionEnded.add(() => {
            this._removeCanvas();
        });
    }

    /**
     * Disposes of the object
     */
    public dispose() {
        this._removeCanvas();
        this._setManagedOutputCanvas(null);
    }

    /**
     * Initializes the xr layer for the session
     * @param xrSession xr session
     * @returns a promise that will resolve once the XR Layer has been created
     */
    public initializeXRLayerAsync(xrSession: XRSession): Promise<XRWebGLLayer> {
        const createLayer = () => {
            const layer = new XRWebGLLayer(xrSession, this.canvasContext, this._options.canvasOptions);
            this.onXRLayerInitObservable.notifyObservers(layer);
            return layer;
        };

        // support canvases without makeXRCompatible
        if (!(this.canvasContext as any).makeXRCompatible) {
            this.xrLayer = createLayer();
            return Promise.resolve(this.xrLayer);
        }

        return (this.canvasContext as any)
            .makeXRCompatible()
            .then(
                // catch any error and continue. When using the emulator is throws this error for no apparent reason.
                () => {},
                () => {
                    // log the error, continue nonetheless!
                    Tools.Warn("Error executing makeXRCompatible. This does not mean that the session will work incorrectly.");
                }
            )
            .then(() => {
                this.xrLayer = createLayer();
                return this.xrLayer;
            });
    }

    private _addCanvas() {
        if (this._canvas && this._canvas !== this._engine.getRenderingCanvas()) {
            document.body.appendChild(this._canvas);
        }
        if (this.xrLayer) {
            this._setCanvasSize(true);
        } else {
            this.onXRLayerInitObservable.addOnce((layer) => {
                this._setCanvasSize(true, layer);
            });
        }
    }

    private _removeCanvas() {
        if (this._canvas && document.body.contains(this._canvas) && this._canvas !== this._engine.getRenderingCanvas()) {
            document.body.removeChild(this._canvas);
        }
        this._setCanvasSize(false);
    }

    private _setCanvasSize(init: boolean = true, xrLayer = this.xrLayer) {
        if (!this._canvas) {
            return;
        }
        if (init) {
            if (xrLayer) {
                if (this._canvas !== this._engine.getRenderingCanvas()) {
                    this._canvas.style.width = xrLayer.framebufferWidth + "px";
                    this._canvas.style.height = xrLayer.framebufferHeight + "px";
                } else {
                    this._engine.setSize(xrLayer.framebufferWidth, xrLayer.framebufferHeight);
                }
            }
        } else {
            if (this._originalCanvasSize) {
                if (this._canvas !== this._engine.getRenderingCanvas()) {
                    this._canvas.style.width = this._originalCanvasSize.width + "px";
                    this._canvas.style.height = this._originalCanvasSize.height + "px";
                } else {
                    this._engine.setSize(this._originalCanvasSize.width, this._originalCanvasSize.height);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    private _setManagedOutputCanvas(canvas: Nullable<HTMLCanvasElement>) {
        this._removeCanvas();
        if (!canvas) {
            this._canvas = null;
            (this.canvasContext as any) = null;
        } else {
            this._originalCanvasSize = {
                width: canvas.offsetWidth,
                height: canvas.offsetHeight,
            };
            this._canvas = canvas;
            this.canvasContext = <any>this._canvas.getContext("webgl2");
            if (!this.canvasContext) {
                this.canvasContext = <any>this._canvas.getContext("webgl");
            }
        }
    }
}


text:
Alison Hammond shares she is pre-diabetic as she asks Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for support
Sabrina BarrWednesday 25 Nov 2020 11:46 am
Television presenter Alison Hammond has revealed on This Morning that she is pre-diabetic, asking co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield if they will support her as she 'changes her ways'.
On Wednesday morning's episode of ITV's This Morning, Alison, 45, appeared on the show to discuss all the latest news from Gwrych Castle on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
After discussing new camp leader Giovanna Fletcher and the emotional impact being in the castle has been having on West End star Ruthie Henshall, Alison told Holly and Phillip that she wished to share something with their viewers.
'I found out that I'm actually pre-diabetic so I need your help and I've really got to change my ways, and that includes you guys,' Alison said, gesturing towards the camera.
'If you see my out there, buying any chocolate, sweets, please, I'm begging you, I'm not allowed to have it. I've really got to change my ways.'
Alison added that her condition is 'serious' as she is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Alison has asked for support after finding out she is pre-diabetic (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
'There's a lot of people who are pre-diabetic and I think it's important,' she said
'I've got a chance to turn this around, it is type 2, so I really want your help, and I need you.'
Both Holly and Phillip professed their support for Alison, with Holly stating: 'We're right here beside you.'
According to Diabetes UK, prediabetes is a term used to refer to individuals who are at risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
'Prediabetes means that your blood sugars are higher than usual, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,' the charity states.
Several Twitter users expressed their support for Alison, with some sharing their own personal stories of being pre-diabetic.
More: This Morning
This Morning's Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary ahead in ratings battle
This Morning viewers call out Dr Michael Mosley as he stands by 800 calorie diet
'Thinking of you. I was pre-diabetic March 2019,' one person wrote. 'Keep strong. If I can do it anyone can.'
'Very brave of you to announce on live TV that you are pre-diabetic,' another said.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
Diabetes helpline
For support or more information about diabetes, you can contact the Diabetes UK helpline by calling 0345 123 2399, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm or emailing helpline@diabetes.org.uk.
If you're in Scotland, the number to call is 0141 212 8710, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, or you can email helpline.scotland@diabetes.org.uk.
MORE : Holly Willoughby missing from This Morning as Alison Hammond stands in
MORE : This Morning caller feels 'guilty' for grieving over pet dog after grandson's death
Alison HammondDiabetesThis Morning
Phillip Schofield offers to pay pensioner's £700 energy bill as she 'can't eat or sleep'
Rylan Clark-Neal 'gutted' by Ruth and Eamonn's This Morning axe and reveals reason he quit


text:
The Rhythm of Life – April 9-10 & 17, 2011
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2011
Contact: Jen Rogers, 480-204-0101
Email: jen@phoenixchorale.org
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING PHOENIX CHORALE
PERFORMS "THE RHYTHM OF LIFE" APRIL 9-10 & 17, 2011
Concerts feature choir with percussion
(Phoenix, AZ) – The Phoenix Chorale's 2010-11 Season closes with "The Rhythm of Life," a cross-cultural experience of music from Korea, Estonia, USA, Finland and Africa on April 9, 10 & 17. These concerts feature an eclectic selection of music for choir and percussion and range from French choruses by Leonard Bernstein to the minimalism of Steve Reich. Special guest performer includes percussionist Sonja Branch on marimba, djembe, claves, shakere, shaman drum, traditional Korean kkyangari drum, thunder sheet, bass drum, suspended cymbal, wind chimes, and more.
Music on these concerts include four American composers: Leonard Bernstein's French Choruses from The Lark; minimalist Steve Reich's Clapping Music; Eric Whitacre's Cloudburst; and two pieces by Joan Szymko: Ye Jaliya-o and This Wonderful Feeling. Also featured is Psalm 150 in Kent Treble Bob Minor by Finland's Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, Estonian composer Veljo Tormis's Curse Upon Iron, and two pieces by Korean composer Hyowon Woo: Airirang and Me-Na-Ri.
The Saturday, April 9 concert begins at 7:30 p.m at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix (100 W. Roosevelt St.) – KBAQ 89.5 FM Talks at Trinity, hosted by Sterling Beeaff, start at 6:30 pm. The Sunday, April 10 concert begins at 3:00 pm at Camelback Bible Church (3900 E. Stanford Dr., Paradise Valley). The Sunday, April 17 concert begins at 3:00 pm at American Lutheran Church in Sun City (17200 Del Webb Blvd.). Tickets will be available for sale at all concerts starting at least one hour before the concert begins.
The Daily Telegraph said that "After Arvo Pärt, [Veljo] Tormis is probably Estonia's most important living composer." Tormis's most famous work, Curse Upon Iron (Raua Needmine) is based upon ancient Estonian shamanism and folk song texts and rhythms. The piece was once banned by the Soviet government for its allegoric statements about the evils of war. Tormis says "I do not use folk song, it is folk song that uses me."
Leonard Bernstein's French Choruses from "The Lark," is incidental music written for countertenor, chorus and percussion for The Lark by Jean Anouilh – a drama about the trial of Joan of Arc. The French choruses are based on medieval folk songs and include three parts: Spring Song, Court Song, and Soldier's Song.
In his own words, Steve Reich wanted to "create a piece of music that needed no instruments beyond the human body." In Reich's Clapping Music he does just that – but not with the human voice – with hands. One performer claps an unchanging rhythm for the entire piece while the other claps the same pattern, shifting the pattern one eighth note to the left after every 8 or 12 bars, continuing until they are once again playing the pattern in unison. This piece features Artistic Director Charles Bruffy and Sonja Branch.
Two pieces by Joan Szymko will be performed; the first is Ye Jaliya-o which is based on the tradition of West African rhythms and incorporates text excerpts from "The Pulse of Life" by Catherine De Vinck along with the dominant Lambango lyric: "Ye Jaliya-o, Allah le ka Jaliya da" which translates to "Oh music, God created music." Szymko's other piece is for women's chorus and marimba and is a three song set titled This Wonderful Feeling with texts drawn from poetry written by children. The three songs are titled "Saboo," "In My Quite Place," and "Purple Night."
Psalm 150 in Kent Treble Bob Minor, written by Finland's Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, features the concept of change-ringing in bells. Change-ringing is an old English tradition of ringing church bells based on permutations that the bells ring in a different order. "The idea of using change-ringing methods to generate music has been in the back of my head for quite some time.
Two pieces will be performed by South Korea's leading composer, Hyowon Woo. Airirang is based on a piece of traditional Korean music which is sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea. Me-Na-Ri is a stunning piece for three choirs and solo voice.
Cloudburst, by Eric Whitacre, was written for choir, piano, handbells, bass drum, thunder sheet, hands, suspended cymbal and wind chimes. Whitacre says "Cloudburst is a celebration of the unleashed kinetic energy in all things. The mood throughout is reverent, meditative and centered…"
Interviews and press tickets can be arranged by contacting Jen Rogers, at 480-204-0101 or jen@phoenixchorale.org.
25 & UNDER FREE: Each season, hundreds of students, children and young adults enjoy the Phoenix Chorale for free with the "25 & Under Free" extreme rush ticket program. This program allows anyone ages 25 years old and younger to attend. These seats are subject to availability and are not guaranteed to be available at every concert. A ticketed parent or legal guardian must accompany patrons under 16 years of age. More information is available on our website at www.PhoenixChorale.org.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
"The Rhythm of Life"
Charles Bruffy, conductor
$25 General Admission
$20 Seniors (65+) & Military
$10 Students
April 9, 2011 – Saturday evening at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix)
*KBAQ 89.5 FM Pre-Concert Talk starts at 6:30 pm
April 10, 2011 – Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm
Camelback Bible Church (3900 E. Stanford Dr., Paradise Valley)
American Lutheran Church (17200 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City)
About the Phoenix Chorale: The Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale is regarded as one of the finest professional choral ensembles in America and is equally dedicated to the creation and performance of new music, which it intermingles with more traditional concert literature. Audiences around the world have been treated to the sounds of the Chorale through live performances across the United States and in Canada, and in live broadcasts and recordings on radio stations across the globe.
In 2004, the Phoenix Chorale became the first North American choir to release an album on Chandos Records, one of the largest independent classical record labels in the world. The Phoenix Chorale's newest solo recording, Spotless Rose, was released in September 2008, and received a Grammy Award nomination for 'Best Classical Album,' and won a Grammy for 'Best Small Ensemble Performance.' Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works is the Phoenix Chorale's third joint-recording in a series of albums on the Chandos Record label with the Kansas City Chorale and received two Grammy Award nominations including 'Best Choral Performance' and 'Best Surround Sound.' Two other joint-recordings have been released on Chandos Records, the first in the series is Eternal Rest (2005) followed by Grechaninov: Passion Week which received Grammy Award nominations in 2007 including 'Best Classical Album,' 'Best Choral Performance,' 'Best Surround Sound Album,' and won a Grammy Award for 'Best Engineered Album, Classical.'
In its 52-year history, the Phoenix Chorale's conductors have included Millicent Wesley (the Chorale's first conductor from 1958), Wallace Hornibrook, Dan Durand, Vance George, Anders Öhrwall, Jon Washburn, and Charles Bruffy. The Phoenix Chorale, ensemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, is sponsored in part through grants and funding from Cathedral Arts, Sundome Performing Arts Association, Arizona Commission on the Arts, City of Phoenix Office of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Quail Distributing. More information is available at www.phoenixchorale.org.