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Budget Gardening, Herb Pots and Lighting

This month on Down To Earth, Tom and crew are in Mira Mesa at a typical starter home garden: a tiny one.

But having a small garden strip doesn't mean you can't sharpen your gardening skills before moving on up (and pay forward a useable landscape for the next owner!).

Tom shows us how to squeeze a stunning assortment of plants into a miniscule space on a small budget. For a list of plants Tom used, click here.

He also builds herb pots with Master Gardener Aenne Carver, and delves into the subject of outdoor landscape lighting back at the nursery. For a list of plants Aenne recommends, click here.


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KKR to buy Capital Safety for $1.12 billion

Investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP said Monday that it agreed to buy Capital Safety for $1.12 billion. Capital Safety makes body harnesses, lifelines, hoists and other equipment to protect people from falls at industrial and residential sites.

KKR is acquiring the company from private equity firm Arle Capital Partners.

KKR said it sees attractive prospects in the fall protection business because of its ties to the energy and infrastructure industries, with potential for growth as more safety regulations are implemented worldwide.

On its website, Capital Safety lists 11 facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Its products are used in the oil and gas, construction, transportation and utilities sectors.

The deal is expected to close in January, subject to regulatory approval.

New York-based KKR manages assets through a variety of investment funds. It had $58.7 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30.

KKR shares rose 79 cents, or 7.1 percent, to $11.88 in afternoon trading amid a broad market rally.

Copyright © 2016, The San Diego Union-Tribune

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Malaysian cyclist reprimanded for Gaza protest

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — A Malaysian cyclist at the Commonwealth Games who wore gloves with "Save Gaza" written on them has been reprimanded by his team and warned he will be expelled if he does it again.

Azizulhasni Awang competed in the men's sprint on Thursday wearing gloves that had the word "Save" written across knuckles on one hand and "Gaza" over the other. Awang's fists featuring the message were held up to cameras after the race, which took him into the quarterfinals.

The rider said he was expressing a "humanitarian" message, not making a political protest.

"The actions were investigated and we spoke with the Malaysian team management," Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said Friday. "It's inappropriate for any form of protest, etc. in a games venue. We respect everyone's right to protest ... however it is inappropriate.

"He has had a strong reprimand from his team management. He's apologized profusely. He now knows any repetition will see a removal of his accreditation."

During Friday's sprint quarterfinal races, Awang wore plain black gloves as he lost to Sam Webster of New Zealand.

"I feel sorry to the people who misinterpret my message. There's no such thing with political protest," Awang, who will also compete in the keirin, wrote on his Facebook page. "It's from the bottom of my heart to express humanitarian (thoughts). Since when (is) expressing humanitarian considered as political?

"Anyway, I apologize to those who think I'm doing wrong and thanks a lot to everyone who always keep supporting ... me. There's no word that I can express it."

Israeli ground troops and Hamas gunmen continued intense battles on Friday in Gaza where more than 800 Palestinians have been killed during 18 days of fighting. The Israeli death toll is 35, among them 33 soldiers, as the country tries to destroy rocket sites in Gaza and tunnels into Israel. Palestinians want an end to the seven-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of their territory.

Copyright © 2016, The San Diego Union-Tribune


text:
Friday Scoreboard

Scores will be updated as they are sent in. Please send in your scores to or call them in to (415) 251-0918. The score phone line is open 24 hours a day.

Games of the day – Convent vs. University girls basketball: The teams are locked into the top two spots for the BCL West playoffs, but the Cubs are undefeated in league play and the Red Devils need a win if they want a share of the regular-season league title. Mercy vs. Menlo girls basketball: The Skippers would all but lock up the WBAL Foothill regular-season title with a win over the Knights, who are in a three-way tie for second place. For live updates on these games, follow us on Twitter at:

AAA boys basketball
Mission 91, ISA 51
Washington 61, Burton 52
Lincoln 41, Wallenberg 16
Lowell 67, Jordan 35
Balboa 56, Galileo 51
Marshall 112, O’Connell 41

BCL Central boys basketball
Gateway 60, Leadership 52
Bay vs. Waldorf @ Letterman Gym, 7:30 p.m.

BCL West boys basketball
Urban 45, Drew 31
University 46, Stuart Hall 38

WCAL boys basketball
Mitty (San Jose) 64, Riordan 56
Sacred Heart Cathedral 67, Valley Christian (San Jose) 37

AAA girls basketball
Washington 65, Burton 20
Lincoln 68, Wallenberg 44
Balboa 51, Galileo 44

BCL Central girls basketball
Bay 32, Waldorf 30
Gateway 37, Leadership 36

BCL West girls basketball
Convent 55, University 44
Drew 34, Urban 30

WBAL Foothill girls basketball
Mercy 70, Menlo (Atherton) 57

WBAL Skyline girls basketball
Castilleja (Palo Alto) 49, ICA 15

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  1. Paul B. says:

    I wonder who will go to Mercy High & the other to University High today?

  2. E. K. says:

    Anyone know when the SI-St. Francis game will be made up? I expect Tuesday or Wednesday.

    Pretty sure they will play their game against VC tomorrow night as scheduled.

  3. JJ says:

    Do you think SI will just cancel the St Francis game? Because if they reschedule the game, that would be like 5 games in 8 days. But they play for 3 straight days in the Sand Dune Classic, so I guess they can do it.

  4. scott says:

    DIdn’t SHC play Valley Christian on Friday, no score?

  5. WCAL Fan says:

    Way to keep it close tonight Crusaders.

  6. Johnny Drama says:

    I was at this game and I will say this, Riordan plays a grind it out style and Coach Buckner definitely gets the most out of their talent. I will also say that Mitty is vulnerable. They have one other kid that is 6″6 and can shoot the 3 consistently but the rest of their kids are very average. If Gordon struggles, which he did in the 1st half, Mitty is not that good. Riordan was actually ahead in the 2nd Q. I will also say this, Masoli is cast iron! That kid is tough and he reminded me of Rick Mahorn out there. He was banging with Gordon and was actually in his face. Gordon looked perplexed and actually air balled a free throw after their exchange, to the delight of the Crusader Band. Riordan was in the game in the first half because of Masoli getting in Gordon’s head.

    This was also a tale of 2 halves. At halftime, after having time to reflect on what transpired, Gordon’s competitiveness came out big time. He had about 5 monster dunks and looked every bit the nationally ranked player he is. He dominated the 3rd quarter and the 4th Q was just a formality at that point. He was the one getting in Masoli’s face at this point and even the Riordan crowd was cheering his monster dunks. Mitty was up by about 16 when startes were pulled. The 2nd unit struggled to break the press so the starters were put back in to bring it home.

    I brought my new lady friend with me and we had a great time. She thought I was nuts, wanting to spend a Friday night at a HS bball game but the band and the gralic fries made the Forum a better place to be than the symphony. For Riordan’s sake, I hope they become relevany soon in hoops.

    They still have larger crowds than SHC, who has a winning team.

    • JJ says:

      If you compare last year’s Mitty team to this year, it seems like last yr’s team was much deeper. Along with player of the year A. Gordon, their whole backcourt last yr made the 1st team WCAL, both of those players graduated. Also, Neil Vranicar made 2nd team, he’s a senior this year, but they lost White to graduation also, who made the game-clinching basket in the State Championship game. Last year’s Mitty team could hit 3’s which opened things up for Gordon. This year’s guards aren’t as lethal from downtown. I agree that they are vulnerable.

      • Jumpah says:

        FYI…Jeremy LIn 25 points 7 assists 5 rebounds for Knicks tonight…. Stop invalidating!!!!! and start rooting for him

  7. Johnny Drama says:

    relevany should be relevant, can u correct for me…thanks

  8. funkyevo says:

    SHCP 67 – Valley Christian 37 Final.

  9. IC Stars says:

    Finally a score: Sacred Heart Cathedral 67, Valley Christian 37.

  10. Mickey Blue Eyes says:

    SHC blew VC out by close to 30 I believe it was 67-37 I heard

  11. AAA says:

    With the end of the Boys Varsity AAA Lang vs. Neff basketball matchups, looking at the Lang vs. Neff cross-division games the last three seasons (09-10, 10-11, and 11-12 seasons) the records in theses games (Regular Season Only):

    Via: > sports info > varsity results and standings > 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12

    Team: (09-10 Record), (10-11 Record), (11-12 Record) = Overall Record

    1. Washington: (5-0), (6-0), (5-1 Lost to Lowell) = 16-1
    2. Mission: (4-1 Lost to Wallenberg), (6-0), (5-1 Lost to Galileo) = 15-2
    3. Lincoln: (3-2 Lost to Wallenberg & Lowell), (5-1 Lost to Lowell), (6-0) = 14-3
    4. Marshall: (3-2), (4-2), (5-1) = 12-5
    5. Balboa: (0-5), (5-1), (5-1) = 10-7
    6. Lowell: (4-2), (2-4), (3-3) = 9-9
    7. Wallenberg: (5-1), (2-4), (1-5) = 8-10
    8. Galileo: (2-4), (2-4), (2-4) = 6-12
    9. Burton: (2-4), (1-5), (2-4) = 5-13
    10. O’Connell: (2-4), (1-5), (1-5) = 4-14
    11. ISA: (Did not field team in 09-10), (1-5), (1-5) = 2-10
    12. June Jordan: (0-5), (1-5), (0-6) = 1-16

    With ISA not fielding a team in 09-10, the Lang division only played 5 games vs. the Neff division and the Neff played 6 games vs. the Lang division.

    From a division standpoint the Lang division has had the edge vs. the Neff division during this span:

    09-10: Lang 15-15 vs. Neff, and Neff 15-15 vs. Lang
    10-11: Lang 27-9 vs. Neff, and Neff 9-27 vs. Lang
    11-12: Lang 26-10 vs. Neff, and Neff 10-26 vs. Lang

    With the debate weeks ago going into Lang vs. Neff play and the talk about which division is stronger it is interesting to see how the schools broke down by year and their record in cross-division games. It was also interesting to see that Lowell had the best record of Neff teams vs. the Lang division at 9-9.

    But that’s why the games are played and once the post-season comes around all this does not mean anything. But it was interesting to see how the teams performed against one another in the regular season.

    • kevin says:

      Thats alot of homework there AAA and interesting. Here is a couple of quick facts. Of the past 8 AAA champions 5 have come from the neff side, 6 times at least one neff team was in the championship game. Also I am not sure how far to go back but only one team has gone undefeated in the season for a long time and it was lowell/neff. Yes these games are fun to observe but there are some good coaches out there that position themselves for the playoffs and dont worry about putting up 80 and 90 against lesser teams (which is a whole other conversation). That said it does look like its the Langs year.

  12. wcal says:

    DRAMA! Gordon never, and I mean never, got in Masoli’s face. Did not happen. Why you even wrote that is crazy. Mitty played 13 players throughout the game. If they had played their starters and regular rotation guys it would have been a bigger margin. That said, Riordan played hard the whole game and kept it so close that Kennedy had to put his starting 5 back in the fourth qt to save the W.

    • ARHS Stats says:

      Mitty played their regular rotation of players most of the game. Mitty played their Top 8 players most of the game.

      3 additional Mitty players played less than 1:45 of the game and 2 other players played about 4 minutes of the game. The first 3 players mentioned in this paragraph played all their time in the fourth quarter. So Mitty played only 10 players in the first 3 quarters.

  13. wcal says:

    And they don’t play a grind it out style. Were you even at the game?

    • Johnny Drama says:

      wcal, I saw what I saw and he did get in his face. After one of his dunks he started woofing at him. That is what I mean by “get in his face”. It wasn’t a heated exchange but those 2 were yapping at each other the whole game. As they were running down court AG was woofing at him. In the first half Masoli was doing most of the woofing but once AG got hot, he started. Again, it wasn’t close to coming to blows but those 2 were getting in each others face. Well, face to chin because of the size difference. I’ll even go as far to say that Gordon bypassed the handshake to Masoli after the game. When they walked by each other, from my vantage point, it appeard AG didn’t shake his hand. It was no big deal so not sure why you reacted like Mother Theresa.

      Grind it out is a polite way to say they play ugly. They are not a pretty team to watch and they get no style points. They are a tough and aggressive team, which in my opinion equates to grind it out.

      I acknowledged the subs struggled so the starters had to finish the game, same as you which kinda proves I was there. I also stand by my statement that Mitty is not head and shoulders above the rest of the league

      • Jumpah says:

        Johnny— Thought you might like to know…..J Lin 25-7-5 for Knicks tonight in win over NJ!!!! MSG goin crazzzzzzzzzy… Shall we tell JJ or not!!!!!!!

        • Johnny Drama says:

          Thanks for the update Jumpah…we’ll let JJ hear it on his own.

          27-7-5 at any level is impressive but in the NBA it is awesome!

          • JJ says:

            Congrats to J. Lin on his career high. Maybe you can have a great game against one of the elite of the NBA like the Lakers or Heat, rather than one of the NBA bottom-dwellers, like New Jersey. I hope you make the NBA Hall of Fame one day, so you can be the 2nd asian (after Yao Ming enters in 5 years) to enter the Hall of NBA royalty. Much success.

            • Johnny Drama says:

              That’s like saying hopefully SD31 can score against anyone except the bottom-dwellers like Riordan and VC.

              • JJ says:

                Like SD31, J. Lin is improving. I hope they both continue to get better, so that we will add 2 more NBA Hall of Famers who are from the Bay Area. Good luck to both individuals, as they are both a class act on and off the basketball court.

              • Johnny Drama says:

                We both agree on that JJ!

  14. Ari Gold says:

    @ Drama, I can’t argue SH crowds are light and the fans in the visitors’ section are a little more boisterous. People got things to do you know? Sports isn’t high on the list. Plus this isn’t the majors. They don’t have the jumbotron guess the attendance game.

    I believe you and what you saw with AG32… Im sure he knows guys are gunning for him. If a guy thinks he’s being Gary Payton glove on him on defense and yaps in his face, he should be careful not to wake a sleeping giant. AG32 will get his 20 and 10.

    Going next saturday Drama?

  15. Johnny Drama says:

    I feel you on that Ari !

    I wasn’t saying anything bad against AG32 but him and Masoli were trash talking and Masoli got in his head a bit. After halftime the sleeping giant was awoken and he threw down some nast dunks. Me and my date were keeping an eye on those 2 and they were talking for quite some time. At one point, he ref stepped in and told them to stop. Again, it wasn’t emphatic but they were yapping, no big deal. He ended up with 23 according to the Mercury News.

    Mitty killed Serra tonight from what I heard so it appears they will win league if they can beat SHC and have pretty much clinched a tie with Serra even if SHC beats them.

    I will try to make it next week, should be a good one.

  16. Don L. says:

    Ouch – Wallenberg really taking some punishment this season on the Boys AAA side. The AAA has some pretty good teams this season but weird not having Wallenberg up there with the top teams.

    • GCJ 01 says:

      Wallenberg is in a rebuilding phase. Every program goes through it at some point. Believe me, it stings just a little more when you see the league is going strong, but your school isn’t playing at the same level. I’m speaking from personal experience because I had to sit through Burton’s rebuilding years during the past seven years. Eventually it will get better. I do agree, however, that Wallenberg, even when I was playing, was always a strong team, so it is a little strange to see them at the bottom of our division.

  17. bubba says:

    gateway vs leadership was a sick game!

  18. Pf says:

    Marshall 112 OConnell 45 marshalls having a great season so far

    • Paul B. says:

      If a team has a major lead, they should stop running the scoreboard because that game got way out of hand.

    • Kezar For Keeps says:

      I wouldn’t say having a sub-.500 record is a “great” season by any stretch.

      More importantly, this score is enraging. There is absolutely no excuse for it and the Marshall coach should be disciplined for allowing it. It is shameful that a team would score 112 points in a 32 min game that was never in question. This is not what high school athletics should be about. If I was the coach on the O’Connell team, I would have lost it.

  19. the_dogpatch says:

    Was hoping ISA would put up more of a fight against Mission. That’s OK. We will rise again.

  20. Paul B. says:

    From Fri. 2/3:

    PSAL North boys basketball
    East Palo Alto (Menlo Park) 84, San Francisco Christian 43

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2017 SMWC

San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival

Prices and Registration

Individual Tickets and Conference Packages Available.

Keynote Speakers

Judy Collins

Legendary Folk Singer and Memoirist

Keynote address:

A no-holds- barred account of music legend Judy Collins’s harrowing struggle with compulsive overeating, and the journey that led her to a solution.

  • Wednesday, February 15 – 6:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Naomi Klein

Award-winning journalist and author of The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything.

Closing Keynote address:

The second address in our series, “Writing for Change”
This Changes Everything
Naomi Klein tackles the most profound threat humanity has ever faced: the war our economic model is waging against life on earth.

  • Sunday, February 19 – 6:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Billy Collins

U.S. Poet Laureate, 2001 to 2003. Arguably the most beloved and acclaimed poet in the U.S. today.

Keynote address:

The Rain In Portugal: A Reading And Partial Explanation”
My talk will include a reading of poems, many from my latest book, along with commentary on what triggered the poems and by what process they came to be written. I hope my talk will remove any mistaken bits of mystery while leaving the real mystery intact.

  • Thursday, February 16 – 6:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Mary Karr

Award-winning author of The Liars’ Club

Opening Keynote address:

“The Blessings and Curses of Memoir”
Mary will tell the tale of what led her to write three bestselling memoirs and share some of the attendant miseries and blessings.

  • Wednesday, February 15–2:00 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

David Ebershoff

Author of The Danish Girl — Book and Movie

Keynote address:

The Danish Girl
Ebershoff will discuss his debut novel, The Danish Girl, and its journey from a book to an Oscar-winning film.

  • Saturday, February 18 – 6:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Lisa Moore

Award-winning Canadian novelist and short story writer

Keynote address:

“Discovering the Art of Newfoundland”
This talk will explore the visual and literary art of Newfoundland after Confederation with Canada, how an island imagines itself into being through stories, theatre and visual art.

  • Thursday, February 16 – 2:00 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Pedro Ángel Palou

Celebrated Mexican Journalist and Scholar

Keynote address:

“The Historical Novel in the Time of Systemic Violence”
The talk will focus on the emergence of the historical, not only as a political revision of the past, but mainly as a way to understand the presence of violence, state corruption, and narco violence in Mexico. Palou will use examples of several novels to offer some strategies for exit “from the labyrinth.”

  • Friday, February 17 – 6:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Robert Moor

A brilliant new literary voice with San Miguel ties whose debut book, On Trails, is receiving superb reviews: “…narrative nonfiction at its finest!”

Keynote address:

On Trails: An Exploration
The lessons that trails reveal about the way that we, as a species, collectively make sense of this chaotic world we all live in; how that wisdom was revealed, and then mirrored, in the process of writing my book; and how we can apply that wisdom to our own writing and life.

  • Friday, February 17 – 2:00 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

Special Event

Film Screening

Film Screening:

This Changes Everything

This Changes Everything is a film based on the book of the same name by Naomi Klein. Avi Lewis, the director of the film, will present the film and will conduct a Q&A after the screening.

  • Saturday, February 18 – 12:30 PM
  • Real de Minas Ballroom

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico


text:
October 13th... A Special Time of Year

Oct. 1, 2001

October 13th.

It's basketball's equivalent of baseball's spring training where every team (except perhaps Saint Mary's) can see itself cutting down the nets in San Diego for a trip to "The Big Dance." The crack or ping of the bat is replaced by the echo of a bouncing ball. The smell of the grass becomes the eye-catching glossy hardwood at Leavey.

"It's an exciting time," says Dick Davey, about to begin his 10th season (Yes, Arizona was THAT long ago). "We haven't really done anything basketball-wise in six months and we're ready to go back to work. It's an intriguing time with four new players to see if they are going to be as good as we thought they would be."

How good will the Broncos be?

That depends on how the team addresses the biggest question marks: rebounding and defense. In Brian Jones, the Broncos had the best on-ball defender in the conference and was the 2nd leading rebounder to Jamie Holmes, who hauled in 7.5 rebounds a game. Replacing two first-team all league guys will be tougher than sneaking a fastball past Barry Bonds.

Kyle Bailey asked Davey if number 11 (previously worn by Steve Nash) was retired. When DD said no, Bailey said maybe the school could retire the number when he was through. If the reports on his workouts are accurate, Bailey will continue the great lineage of point guards at Santa Clara.

In Bailey, Steve Ross, and Justin Holbrook, the Broncos have the best perimeter shooting this side of Spokane. If Ross commits himself on the defensive end, he is a legitimate 1st-teamer. Holbrook will start at the four and create problems by pulling his man away from the basket.

The defense will be anchored by seniors Brian Vaka and David Emslie. Vaka brings an energy and passion that is contagious among teammates. He'll need to look for his shot more but will not have the pressure to be a big-time scorer with the others in the lineup. Emslie must continue to get stronger, avoid bad fouls and bring it every night. I've been touting Emmer the last 2 years and it's his time.

The schedule features three teams from the Pac-10 (Cal, Washington and Stanford), Fresno State and a trip to Ohio State and Wright State. As usual, Steve Seandel has put together a tough schedule designed to get the group ready for WCC play. An outsider may say that a difficult schedule could demoralize a team in its embryonic stage. But they turned it around last year after suffering the worst back-to-back losses in school history and still came within a possession of a trip to the promised land.

Next time, I'll break down the reserves, but keep this in mind: In the last five years, the Broncos have either lost to the team that made the NCAA's on the final possession or fell in the conference title game. As a famous fire-walking motivational speaker stresses: "The outcome is not enough, you must enjoy the journey along the way."

It all starts October 13th. Get ready for the ride.


text:
Editorial: Cheap imports winning war of the roses

Roses are not ... dead in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Not yet, not quite.

But the bloom has been off the rose growing industry in the Monterey Bay region for a long time.

The announcement earlier this week that 2G Roses, a family-owned rose grower in the Pajaro Valley in North Monterey County has gone out of business, leaving a single grower remaining, wasn't entirely attributable to a 1991 trade deal pushed by President George Bush (the 41st president, not the 43rd) and approved by Congress. The Andean Trade Preferences Act lifted tariffs and opened the door to cheap roses and cut flowers from South American countries.

But the trade pact — which was supposed to help South American countries stem the tide of illegal drug cultivation and sales — started the downward slide of the rose business in the Monterey Bay area. Acreage planted in roses dropped; and the overall value of the rose crop went with it. In Santa Cruz County, roses were valued at $24 million in 1991, the year of the Andean trade pact; by 2005 it was less than half that. In 2006, the county agricultural commission stopped breaking out roses as a separate category and just put them in the same vase with other cut flowers.

In Monterey County, where 2G is located, the situation was similar. According to that county's crop reports, the $8.5 million in roses produced in 2004 represented about a third of the value reported in 1991. Statewide, the number of cut rose producers dropped from more than 150 in 1991 to 25 in 2013,

And here's the thorn that stings the most: Ninety-eight percent of roses sold in the United States are imported.

For 2G, cheap imports weren't the final flower that ruined the entire bunch. For owners Eugene Tsuji and his sister Arlene, who ran the company started 41 years ago by their parents, an employee lawsuit and the lingering effects of the recession were the final blows. Although the company early on had begun online direct sales to consumers, rose growers in the state have been plagued by rising costs, government regulations, labor issues, the cost of energy, and slim margins.

The one rose grower remaining of the once flourishing business in the Pajaro Valley is California Pajarosa, which is benefiting from adoption of hydroponics and hopes to find success in the movement to buy locally grown food and products.

While the prospects for roses aren't rosy in the state — the annual wholesale value of California's rose crop dropped 55 percent from 2003-10 — the cut flower industry isn't faring much better. While California growers supply approximately 75 percent of all domestically grown cut flowers, only 20 percent or so of all cut flowers sold in the country are from U.S. producers.

Most come from South America, especially Colombia.

While California flower growers struggling to survive, they've found little support in Washington, where global trade has long been a winning argument in Congress, which has approved a series of free-trade agreements sought by the Obama administration.

The only hope is that local consumers will add roses and other cut flowers to their growing preference for homegrown.

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text:
F-77 Deathstalker
Production information
Manufacturer Andurien AeroTech (FWDI)
Production Year 2744[1]
Model F-77
Class Heavy
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass 80 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame F-77/X
Power Plant VOX 240a

1 x AC/10
4 x ER Large Lasers
2 x Medium Lasers

Communications System Telestar F-61[2]
Tracking & Targeting System SynCom VAX[2]
Heat Sinks 25 [50]
BV (2.0) 1,603[3]

Originally unveiled in 2744, the Deathstalker was a visionary Aerospace Fighter concept with a then revolutionary forward swept wing design, however flaws in the cutting edge fighter led to a publicized crash of a prototype and its shelving until the desperate days of the Word of Blake Jihad.

Developed by Andurien AeroTech as an experimental concept, the Deathstalker revisited an unorthodox and long forgotten concept of the swept wing. When properly applied, the alternate wing design produced both a remarkably stable flight profile and allowed the use of lighter and thinner materials, and led to its development as a full design. A powerful weapons array, twenty-five Double Heat Sinks and ten and half tons of armor made the Deathstalker a formidable foe in combat, but at the cost of speed. During trial flights the Deathstalker was repeatedly outmaneuvered by comparable SLDF and member state designs, though claiming a number of kills before it was defeated. [3] [4]

However the prototype design specs had an air frame weight imbalance between the wings and fuselage, a flaw devastatingly revealed during a much-publicized demonstration flight when the prototype crashed after one of its wings suddenly tore off. The twenty Deathstalkers constructed were permanently grounded, never seeing live combat, but Andurien AeroTech remained convinced for the swept wing concept, leading to a massive redesign which ultimately result in the successful F-90 Stingray. [3] [4]

It was thanks to the Stingrays centuries of service removing the stigma of the forward-swept wing, and the newly independent Duchy of Andurien attempts to bolster their indigenous production of military hardware after the collapse of the League during the Jihad that the Deathstalker finally entered limited production in 3073. [4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

Intended for an air supremacy role, the Deathstalker carried a nose mounted Imperator X Autocannon/10 backed up by twin Hellion-a III ER Large Lasers in each wing. The large volume of double heat sinks carried allowed the fighter to fire its primary weapons at once, with two wing mounted Hellion-b Medium Lasers providing fallback firepower when cooling down. [3] [4]

  • F-77a
    The upgraded production model Deathstalker features an Ultra AC/10 in place of the standard model and carries more ammunition for it. While the ER Large Lasers are retained, both standard mediums are swapped for more advanced Diverse Optics ER Medium Lasers and a ER Small Laser has been added to the rear to discourage pursuers. All this heavier and advanced hardware is made possible by the use of a Light Fusion Engine[4]. BV (2.0) = 1,866[7]

Design Quirks[edit]

The XF-78 Deathstalker variant is subject to the following Design Quirk:[8]

  1. MUL online date for the Deathstalker
  2. 2.0 2.1 Technical Readout: 3075, p. 266, "F-77 Deathstalker"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 101-101 - "F-77 Deathstalker"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Technical Readout: 3075, p. 266 - "F-77 Deathstalker"
  5. Record Sheets: 3075, p. 99
  6. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 178
  7. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 179
  8. 8.0 8.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Phantoms', p. 11


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Become a Member of
Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails

Are you interested in parks and natural areas?
Do you wish for more hiking, biking and horse trails in Scandia?
Would you like to see more permanent protection for natural areas?

Take a holiday hike! This is a beautiful time of year to enjoy our city's natural resources. Wind in the Pines park is in its glory. WIP is located off of Hwy 95 a mile north of the 95/97 intersection. Look for the brown "Nature Park" signs that point to the parking area. Thanks to the city's Parks and Rec Committee, we now have more trail markers and a new set of log steps that make access to the creek area much easier.

Meetings of the Friends board. We meet the second Monday of every month at 7 pm at the Scandia Community Center. You're welcome to join us at any meeting.

Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails MN

Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the parks, trails, open space and natural areas in the City of Scandia. We will seek funding for creating and improving parks, such as improving trails and signage at Wind in the Pines Nature Park; creating accessible trails and restoring habitat at Lilleskogen Park and assisting with Gateway Trail plans and other bicycle and recreational trails.

Several volunteer events each year will engage citizens in stewardship activities and enjoyment of Scandia's natural areas. Please join us to improve Scandia's parks and trials!


text:
Scandi Blogs

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Chic&Scandinavian Sponsor: Artic Design

We’re very proud to present our newest sponsor, Artic Design. Artic Design specializes in Nordic/Scandinavian design, and has a great selection!

Below you can see a little preview of what they have to offer…
Click on the images to view the listing.

Aalto Flower, white

The famous Aalto flower by Iittala consist of four pieces that can be used separately or stacked together. It’s ridiculously beautiful! You can get it in clear glass or white like in the image above.

Arabia Runo Summer Ray serving bowl 3 L

Arabia Finland has the classical Runo Summer Ray serving bowl which would look good on any summer table scape :)

Moomin spoon set, 4pcs

The Moomin spoons bring back sweet childhood memories. Artic Design has a “shop in shop” featuring moomin products only. Super cute stuff!!

Hooked Design Carpet 120cm, white

This rug by Hooked Design is made of recycled materials and looks like a piece of lace. It can be used both inside and outside.

Satumetsä plate 30 cm

The Satumetsä plate is wonderfully maximalistic with a strange but fabulous pattern.

Sleep Bedside Self

The “Sleep Bedside Shelf” is both practical and chic.

Kiikku Flower Garden

Tonfisk Design has designed this “flower garden” (can also be used both indoors and outdoors) for smaller spaces or just spaces. I think it’s stunning :)

A big WELCOME to:

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Fonda LaShay said...

love the bed side table.. very practical!

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text:
The ABCs of Air Brakes for School Bus Drivers

Richard Stafford
Posted on February 1, 2001

Air brakes are a wonderful, time-proven invention. Although they’ve been around for several decades, many new school bus drivers have no experience with them. This article is aimed at helping drivers understand the function and operation of air brakes. There are three basic circuits in all modern air brake systems:

  • The charging system that supplies air for the brake system
  • The service system that is used for normal braking
  • The emergency/parking system which, as the name implies, is used in an emergency and for parking. The air compressor
    The heart of the air brake system is the compressor, which is often directly coupled to the engine. It also can be engine mounted or belt driven. In all cases, the compressor turns any time the engine turns. Most compressors are fed oil directly from the engine’s pressurized oil system. The majority of compressors also use the engine’s cooling system. To regulate the air system pressure, a governor is used. At 120 psi, typically, the governor will cycle, lifting the compressor unloading valve(s). Compressing ceases even though the compressor is still turning. When the system pressure falls to approximately 100 psi, the governor again cycles. This allows the unloading valve(s) to seat, and the compressor brings the system pressure up to the governor’s upper limit. In the unlikely event of a governor upper limit failure, where the compressor continues to pump, a “pop off” or safety valve, typically set at 150 psi, will relieve system pressure. Storing the air
    Air reservoirs are mounted in various locations and are generally plumbed together with one-way check valves. The reservoirs store the air pressurized by the air compressor and stand ready when called upon to supply air to the brake chambers. The first reservoir downstream of the compressor is called the wet tank because it catches water condensation and oil, byproducts of the compressor. This reservoir should be drained daily, assuring these byproducts are kept out of the air system components downstream. Air dryers and automatic drain valves are found on many newer school buses; however, daily manual draining ensures no contaminates migrate into critical components, such as brake valves and chambers. The air distribution system utilizes many conduits, including rubber hose, nylon tubing, copper pipe or steel-braided hose. The service system
    The brake foot valve (left side of the throttle) technically comes in several versions. In all cases, however, it simply functions as a pressure regulator. When the foot valve is at rest, no service air flows to the brake chambers, and the brakes at each wheel are released (assuming the parking/emergency system is not activated). As the valve is depressed, regulated air pressure is supplied to each service brake chamber. The harder the foot valve is depressed, the higher the regulated pressure to the brake chambers. Conversely, as the foot valve pressure is reduced, the air pressure is simultaneously reduced to the brake chambers, and thus the brakes can be “feathered.” The service brake chambers found at each wheel simply convert air pressure that comes from the foot valve to a mechanical force. Within each brake chamber is a diaphragm. One side of the diaphragm is exposed to the air pressure from the foot valve (service air), while the other side is exposed to atmospheric pressure. As service air pressurizes the diaphragm, it pushes against a metal disc that has a metal rod attached to its center. The rod extends from the chamber and is connected to a lever. Mechanical force is generated as service air pressure against the diaphragm moves the disk and rod. This mechanical force via the lever arm rotates a shaft supported on bushings. The supported shaft’s outer end has a cam attached, called an “S” cam. The “S” cam supports one end of each brake shoe within the drum, while the other end of the shoe is mounted to a non-rigid anchor. As the cam rotates via the mechanical force generated by the service brake chamber, the brake shoes are forced against the brake drum. Since the brake shoes are anchored at one end and the drums turn with the wheel, braking action occurs. This lever arm is called a slack adjuster and is the point where the brakes are adjusted. Wedge brakes are a variation to the above. The brake chamber pushes directly on a wedge to move the brake shoes against the brake drum, thus eliminating the need for an “S” cam. Wedge brakes are rarely used on school buses. Disc brakes are still another variation in that the air chamber mechanically operates a caliper that is used to clamp “pads” against a “disc” that rotates with the wheels. In summary, service air is applied to the brake chambers, converting air pressure to mechanical force. The mechanical force is then used to move the stationary brake shoes or pads against the brake drums or rotors. Since the drums or rotors are directly connected to the rotating wheels, braking occurs. Air superiority
    Several features make air brakes superior to hydraulic brakes. The first is that small leaks can be tolerated in an air brake system. The second is that the parking brake system also provides a fail-safe emergency system. (Some newer hydraulic brakes have a similar system). In addition, air brakes are used for more severe applications, such as mountainous terrain, where hydraulic brakes can be overtaxed. The air chambers found on the rear axle only have two chambers and two diaphragms. The chamber closest to the mounting studs is the service air chamber and receives air from the foot valve as explained previously. The second chamber is totally different in that an extremely powerful spring is located on the atmosphere side of the diaphragm, opposing the pressurized side of the diaphragm. This means that with no emergency air pressure, the double chamber will stroke, and the rear brakes will be applied (no service air needs to be present). Air to oppose the springs comes from the parking (emergency) circuit, not from the foot valve service air. Parking/emergency system
    The parking valve is typically located on the dash. With normal system pressure, pushing the valve “in” causes air to flow to the parking (emergency) side of the double air chamber, retracting the push rod against its applying spring and releasing the brakes. The parking/emergency system is spring applied and air released. The push/pull dash parking valve is unique in that once the supply pressure drops to the valve’s internal setting (generally between 20 and 45 psi), the valve will automatically pop out, thus fully applying the rear spring brakes. In an emergency, the parking valve can be manually pulled out at any time, and rear braking will be experienced. In addition, the parking valve may be manually pulled out at any time in an emergency, and again, braking will be applied to the rear brakes. Understanding that the parking/emergency brake system uses the bus’ rear brakes and that it takes air pressure to release them explains why a bus that has not been used for an extended period of time and has lost air pressure will have heavy brake drag until there is sufficient air pressure buildup to cause the rear brakes to fully release. Always wait until the warning buzzer is off before moving. All buses built in 1975 and thereafter have a dual brake system. One system operates the front brakes, while the other system operates the rear brakes. These systems can be readily identified by the presence of a single gauge with two needles. (Two single-needle gauges are also used.) In dual systems, should air be lost in the front system, the rear braking system will stop the bus. Conversely, should the rear brake air supply be lost, through special valving, the rear spring brakes’ release air will be bled off in direct proportion to the front brake application air pressure, thus stopping the bus normally. In either of the above cases, the low-air warning systems will be activated due to low air pressure in the failed system; however, the bus can be safely pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Do’s and don’ts
    With spring-type parking brakes, air brakes are considered fail-safe. This is true with the following stipulations: brake components cannot be damaged; brakes must be in proper adjustment; and the large spring found within the double brake chambers must not be broken. Brake adjustment on drum brakes is critical. As previously stated, the brake chamber strokes, and via linkage, mechanically moves the brake shoes against the brake drum. Typically, the maximum stroke is 1.75 to 2.5 inches, depending on the size and type (standard vs. longstroke; front vs. rear) of the brake chamber. As the brake lining wears, the shoe/drum clearance continues to increase. Excessive clearance (brakes out of adjustment) will cause the brake chamber(s) to stroke near their maximum before the shoes contact the drum. With the brake chamber(s) near maximum stroke, as the brake drum heats and expands, the shoes follow the expansion. Due to the mechanical advantage (ratio) between the brake chamber rod and shoe movement, very little drum growth will cause the chamber rod to move sufficiently to become fully stroked. Braking action on that wheel will be greatly reduced. Note: Heated rotors on disc brakes have little or no effect on chamber stroke. Once the above concept is understood, it is easy to grasp that descending a grade with the brakes out of adjustment can spell impending disaster. Adjustment necessary
    The maintenance department is required to check the brake adjustment every 3,000 miles. After a brake reline, brake adjustment must be checked every 500 miles until the shoes seat to the drums. Brake chamber stroke on automatic slack adjusters should also be verified every 3,000 miles. If you ever notice the brakes smelling hot after descending a grade, or if at anytime they seem sluggish, turn in a trouble report to have the brake adjustment checked. All standard pre-trip forms include several routine but critical air brake system tasks and checks:
  • Drain wet tank
  • Warning systems “on and off” pressures (55 psi minimum; 75 psi maximum)
  • Compressor build up time (85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds with the engine operating at the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum recommended rpm).
  • Air loss (at full air pressure, 2 psi maximum loss in one minute with service brakes released and 3 psi loss per minute with service brakes fully applied). Each morning as part of your pre-trip, drive the bus at 5 to 10 mph and apply the parking brakes. The bus should come to a quick, solid stop. This verifies that the spring brakes are functioning. Being diligent about pre-trips not only protects you and your passengers from harm, but may also reduce your from liability exposure. In the event of an equipment problem that leads to an accident, your pre-trip documentation may very well become your best friend. Author Richard Stafford is an ASE Master School Bus Technician.
  • Related Topics: brakes

    Comments ( 6 )
    • See all comments
    • Steve V

       | about 2 years ago

      The original version of this article in 2001 had great illustrations. Please update the online version and republish in a current addition. This is a great training tool.

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text:
Bringing science and development together through news and analysis

Top-notch impact studies on development ‘on the rise’
  • Top-notch impact studies on development ‘on the rise’

Copyright: Tim Dirven/Panos

Speed read

  • More policymakers in the developing world are using these evaluations

  • Brazil, China, Colombia and Mexico are setting up impact assessment systems

  • But such assessment is no ‘cure all’ for bad policies

Policymakers, particularly in developing countries, are increasingly using high-quality impact studies to assess the effectiveness of development programmes, says the head of an organisation that funds such studies.

As well as quantity, the quality of this research has greatly improved, with scientific principles being applied to isolate an intervention’s effect from other possible influences, says Howard White, executive director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
Speaking ahead of 3ie’s series of events in London, United Kingdom, this week, that will discuss impact evaluations for development, White identifies a 2006 report — When will we ever learn? — as the turning point in the field.

“If development practitioners wanted to assess their impact, there was no rigorous evidence based on causal analysis to actually know if programmes were making a difference.”

Howard White, 3ie

“It pointed out that, if development practitioners wanted to assess their impact, there was no rigorous evidence based on causal analysis to actually know if programmes were making a difference,” he tells SciDev.Net.

This shortcoming triggered the rise of impact assessments — aided by 3ie’s launch in 2008 — based on the scientific principle that comparison with a ‘control group’ given no assistance “allows you to say with certainty if a programme was having the desired effect”, he says.

By taking two populations — matched carefully to ensure they are broadly comparable — and only delivering a development programme to one, any changes observed in this group can be directly attributed to the intervention, White says.

3ie has already spent around US$80 million to fund around 150 impact studies in more than 50 countries, he says.

A 3ie database now contains more than 2,500 such reports, including studies conducted by other development agencies such as the World Bank, and across a wide range of development areas, such as governance, climate change and agriculture, he adds.

This growing evidence base is filtering into policy, with many governments, including those of Brazil, China, Colombia and Mexico, setting up systems to allow impact assessment to guide development activities, says White.

3ie is also working with the Ugandan government to systematically apply impact evaluations to a broad range of development programmes, which will go on to inform future policy decisions, he adds.

All those receiving 3ie funds to carry out impact assessments must outline how their research will be relevant to decision makers to ensure their work is orientated towards policy spheres, says White.

But in the wider impact assessment community, many researchers still do not recognise the importance of engagement with policymakers — an issue 3ie hopes to raise during this week’s series of talks, workshops and seminars, he adds.

Scott Rozelle, a fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, United States, who runs a universities group focused on impact evaluation, agrees that the field has become much more visible.

“In China ten years ago, no one even knew what impact evaluation meant,” he tells SciDev.Net. “Now they have just passed a law to require impact assessment for all new development policies and programmes.”

But he warns that impact assessment is only a tool for guiding development and cannot be a “cure all” for bad policies.

> Link to When will we ever learn?

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Sex and phthalates

pvc dildos and phthalatesIt seems even the sex industry is not immune to chemophobia, according to a recent Greenpeace Netherlands announcement, users of PVC sex toys destined for orificial use should not. Use them, that is.

According to Greenpeace, these plastic devices can contain “extremely high concentrations of phthalate plasticisers which allegedly pose a risk to human health and the environment”. The organisation wants the European Union to ban the use of phthalates in sex toys as it already has done with phthalates previously used in the manufacturer of PVC childrens’ toys.

The Daily Telegraph reports how, “The environmental group said it was shocked to find that seven of the eight sex toys it had tested contained between 24 and 51 per cent of phthalates.”

Their actual report shows that individual phthalates in a range of products are at at trace amounts. They do report the presence of 490 g per kilo of di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in one device as determined by GC/MS.

There is so much disinformation about phthalates on the web, that it is almost impossible to track down the actual levels of additives used as primary plasticisers in PVC products. I’d assume the percentage needs to be relatively high to make the devices we’re currently discussing “plastic” enough, but 51% seems very high regardless.

Moreover, where are the tests revealing how much of this “shocking” percentage might actually leach out of such a device during normal usage? And, even if there is a degree of leaching, does that correlate with actual risk to health. These questions are yet to be answered for any devices whether sex toys, children’s toys or medical devices.

Any thoughts?

2 thoughts on “Sex and phthalates”

  1. We firmly believe that information is power, and whilst concrete data and information is lacking there is enough suspicion to raise doubts. Given this, and there are also perfectly feasible and available alternatives, in silicone, glass and wooden products it seems spurious to continue making jelly products available.

    Silence on this issue won’t help.

    Give consumers choice and they lead the path to change.

    We are proudly 100% phthalate free in all our stock.

  2. Similar disinformation about PTFE and POFA also exists early this year. What I can see in these events, however, are the neglect of scientific preciseness in pursuit of ‘responsibility’ or actually interests.

Comments are closed.


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Understanding the Engineering Design Process: Teachers Embracing Engineering Design

Teachers tasked with adapting science lesson plans to meet new standards that place increased emphasis on engineering design as a critical scientific practice need real-world resources to help them integrate engineering design in the classroom. Teaching and celebrating the engineering method is a positive change in K-12 science education, and Science Buddies can help teachers sort out the differences between scientific and engineering methods—and how the methods may play out in student projects and at the science fair.

Last week, we offered an overview of the importance of the engineering design process in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As NGSS are rolled out and integrated in classrooms, teachers will need to rapidly embrace the engineering design process and its role in science education—whether they teach "engineering" or not.

The following question is representative of the kinds of questions and concerns a science teacher might have when grappling with what it means to add the engineering design process into the mix of hands-on science education.

I am a little confused with the engineering design project. Are the students who do that actually typing a report also? I know what a finished science project looks like. What should a finished engineering project look like? What do they turn in?

Have you asked this question? Have you overheard a conversation like this one in the teacher's lounge? Have you limited the range of acceptable projects for your classroom assignments or for the school science fair to ones that fit the scientific method because you were not sure how to fit the other ones in?

For teachers who have always taught the scientific method, there may be some uncertainty about suddenly opening things up to accommodate engineering, and the emphasis on creativity, problem solving, prototyping, and design testing that comes with it. The good news is that a teacher's familiarity with the scientific method process makes it easy to conceptualize the engineering design method as a similar-but-different series of steps. This is not something only for physics, electronics, and robotics teachers! With a bit of change in perspective and an understanding of the ways in which the "labels" of certain steps change to reflect the difference in process, approach, and goal, teachers may find engineering design projects easier to incorporate than they anticipate.

But adopting the engineering design process does require a willingness to accept that not every project will fit the same mold, and not every project will have a conclusive answer.

A Side by Side Comparison

Both the scientific method and the engineering method (or engineering design process) are typically represented as a set of steps that help guide a project, investigation, innovation, or experiment. The terminology and phrasing of these steps may vary on different sites and resources, but the general progression of steps can be identified. Students and professionals will also engage in these steps at different levels. Our goal at Science Buddies is to help explain the umbrella of each method as it may play out in a typical student science or engineering project.

Presenting and comparing the basic idealized steps of each method, side by side, is one way to help students, teachers, and parents visualize the similarities and differences

Scientific and Engineering method chart steps
Above: Basic idealized steps of the scientific method (left) and engineering design process (right). View full-sized diagrams in the Steps of the Scientific Method and The Engineering Design Process resources.

As you can see, there are some immediate differences between the methods. One involves a question. One involves a problem. It may sound like semantics, but projects following each method start at a different point and with different assumptions. Starting with a question suggests that a project will be constructed as a way to find an answer by performing a test or experiment. Starting with a problem, on the other hand, sets an engineering design project up to find a solution—the development of something that can address the needs of the problem.

The differences, beginning with the project's point of origin, trickle down through the steps of each method. Even so, when you look more closely, a student turning in results, a paper, or a presentation of an engineering design project would turn in something very similar to what a student conducting an experiment following the scientific method might submit. Part of the shift is in the labeling of the information to be included. The table below shows what a student might turn in for both a standard science project and an engineering design project.

Scientific MethodEngineering Method
Title page.Title page.
Table of contents.Table of contents.
Question, variables, and hypothesis. Statement (instead of a question) about the need to design something that fulfills xyz need.
Summary of what will be built to address the need and the specific design specifications the solution will fulfill (instead of a hypothesis).
Specifications against which the solution will be judged successful or not (instead of variables).
Background research. (Research paper written before experiment.)Background research. (Research paper written before starting to identify the problem. This research documents what solutions exist, what has been tried, and what science might be applied to a new approach.)
Materials list.Materials list.
Experimental procedure.Documentation of how the student built and tested the prototype(s) or finished solution.
Data analysis and discussion.Results of field testing of prototype(s) or finished solution. What was observed and/or measured? How did the prototype(s) or finished product measure up against the original design specifications? Did it achieve the goal? Show the data either way.
Conclusions. How successful was the prototype(s) or finished solution? Did it perform as intended? Why or why not? What were the design and implementation challenges?
Ideas for future research. What could have gone better in the design process? How could the design be improved with further prototyping/testing?
Project display board.Project display board.

For another helpful resource and tool for visualizing the difference between engineering design and scientific method projects, see "Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method."

See also: New Science Standards Emphasize the Engineering Design Process

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Home loan affordability worsens after rise in interest rates

NZ home loan affordability worsens after rise in interest rates

Home loan affordability worsened slightly across most of New Zealand in May as a rise in interest rates more than offset a small fall in median house prices.

The Roost Home Loan Affordability Reports showed a deterioration in 16 of 24 regions, including on the North Shore of Auckland, which reclaimed the title of the being the least affordable area for first home buyers in New Zealand.

A 0.5% fall in the national median house price in May from April was not enough to compensate for the two increases in the Official Cash Rate in March and April. Advertised floating mortgage rates rose almost half a per cent to around 6.25% in the first six months of 2014. They have since risen another 0.25%.

The Roost Home Loan Affordability reports showed improvements in the month in 8 of the 24 regions measured. The Roost reports have been referred to repeatedly in and out of Parliament in recent months as the debate over housing affordability heats up before the September 20 election.

Banks have been more aggressive in recent months in offering cut-rate longer-term fixed mortgage rate deals, passing on the benefits of low international and local funding costs. Average two year fixed mortgage rates fell 13 basis points to almost 6% in May, taking two year rates well below floating rates on 6.25% by the end of May. Floating rates have since risen to around 6.5%.

"The shift in longer term fixed rates to substantially below floating rates has changed the landscape for borrowers," said Roost Home Loans spokeswoman Colleen Dennehy. "Talking to a mortgage broker can help a borrower consider their options, and get the best deal out of a bank," Dennehy said.

The Roost Home Loan Affordability reports show national affordability deteriorated to 63.1% in May from 62.5% in April after the national median house price fell to NZ$432,000 from NZ$432,250 and the average floating mortgage rate rose to 6.23% from 6.05% a month earlier.

The Roost Home Loan Affordability reports for May showed affordability for regular home buyers worsened in 16 cities and regions, including Central Auckland, Whangarei, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington City, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. But they improved in Manukau, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Nelson and Invercargill.

Click for big version.

It was toughest for first home buyers on the North Shore of Auckland, which reclaimed its mantle as the most expensive area relative to incomes from Manukau in April. It took 109.9% of a single median after tax income to afford a first quartile priced house on the North Shore, up from 103.1% the previous month.

Housing affordability has become a major economic and political issue over the last 18 months. The Reserve Bank and Government agreed on a toolkit of 'macro-prudential' controls a year ago that would see the central bank impose limits growth in high LVR mortgages and force banks to hold more capital. Central and local governments are also moving to address housing supply shortages. The Reserve Bank's speed limit was applied on October 1 and it said in its June Monetary Policy Statement it appeared to have worked to reduce house price inflation by around 2.5 percentage points.

For first home buyers – which in this Roost index are defined as a 25-29 year old who buys a first quartile home – there was a worsening in affordability in 13 of the 24 regions covered and the national measure also worsened.

It took 51.3% of a single first home buyer's income to afford a first quartile priced house nationally, up from 51.2% a month earlier. The most affordable city for first home buyers was Wanganui, where it took 19.7% of a young person's disposable income to afford a first quartile home. The least affordable was North Shore at 109.9%.

Any level over 40% is considered unaffordable, whereas any level closer to 30% has coincided with increased buyer demand in the past.

For working households, the situation is similar, although bringing two incomes to the job of paying for a mortgage makes life considerably easier. A household with two incomes would typically have had to use 41.4% of their after tax pay in May to service the mortgage on a median priced house. This is up from 41.0% the previous month.

On this basis, most smaller New Zealand cities have a household affordability index below 40% for couples in the 30-34 age group. This household is assumed to have one 5 year old child.

For first-home buying households in the 25-29 age group (which are assumed to have no children), affordability nationally worsened to 24.9% of after tax income in households with two incomes required to service the debt, up from 24.8% the previous month. The lower quartile house price fell to NZ$287,000 from NZ$290,000 the previous month.

Any level over 30% is considered unaffordable in the longer term for such a household, while any level closer to 20% is seen as attractive and coinciding with strong demand.

First home buyer household affordability is measured by calculating the proportion of after tax pay needed by two young median income earners to service an 80% home loan on a first quartile priced house.

Roost Home loan affordability for typical buyers
General/New Zealand Report:
Links to individual reports for regions can be found here

Roost Home loan affordability for first-home buyers
General/New Zealand Report:
Links to individual reports for regions can be found here

Question and Answers about the report

How does work out these numbers? gathers data from Statistics New Zealand and IRD on wages in each region, data from the Real Estate Institute from each region each month, and data from banks and non-banks on interest rates. It has calculated home loan affordability going back to the beginning of 2002.

How is this survey different from the Massey University survey of affordability?
The Massey study is only done quarterly rather than monthly and uses an index of Home affordability rather than actually measuring home loan affordability. It uses an index rather than the actual measure of the proportion of after tax pay needed to service an 80% mortgage on a median home. The exact composition and meaning of the index is not detailed.

Why use a single median income rather than household income?
It’s true that most homebuyers are using a combination of one or more full or part time incomes to service their mortgage. Each household is different and may be using incomes from different sources. The best measure of average national household income is calculated officially once in every three years by Statistics New Zealand. chose to use the median income data series from IRD and Statistics NZ because it can be measured monthly and can be drilled down by region and by age. We do include a chart showing how many median incomes are required to keep mortgage payments at 40% of take home pay. It is currently around 2 median incomes.

Why is home loan affordability important?
It is a useful way to work out if a housing market is overvalued. It’s clear house prices stopped rising when the national affordability ratio rose above 80% or 2 median incomes to service the average home loan. It’s a way of comparing affordability of housing markets with a national average and comparing housing values from one year to the next. For example, the affordability ratio in 2002 before the housing boom really took off was around 41%.

About Roost
Roost is the sponsor of this Report, and the Reports must be referred to as the Roost home loan affordability reports. Roost, owned by AMP, is one of New Zealand’s largest independent home loan and investment property mortgage brokers with 16 franchisees nationwide. Roost offers to source the perfect loan for its customers from a panel of lenders and insurance advice from Roost insurance specialists. Roost was established in 1996. For more information please visit

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