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Ihsa novice fences bloomsburg 2014
First course ever! On Baxter I believe. Fall 2014 at bloomsburg.

By: mgannon93

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Ihsa novice fences bloomsburg 2014 - Video

Haley spring 2015 intermediate fences

By: mgannon93

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Haley spring 2015 intermediate fences - Video

You might not realise you need Fences until you use it. Its such a simple app that helps you organise your desktop icons into separate spaces yes, fencing off different categories to organise your clutter.

Fences was developed by Jeff Bargmann, a life long app developer who needed a way to organise his desktop back in high school. The idea stuck, and years later became fully fledged Windows application distributed by Stardock. And so my messy desktop was changed forever. We spoke with Jeff to learn about its development, distribution, and the story behind the app.

Fences was a pretty fun story actually. While Fences didnt come about until 2006, the original prototype dates back some six years to ~2000. I was in high school at the time managing our schools web editors club, and noticed that the desktops across the lab were inconsistent, harming our teams productivity. I had the idea to standardise the desktops with labelled groups for the projects we had the team working on. I was already deep into coding on Windows with other apps, so I decided to go for it, and Desktop Icon Organiser was born.

It wasnt until another six years later that I decided to polish the edges and take the program commercial. Id had my hands pretty full between college and other apps at the time. Until then Id just been using the early rough version for myself, but enough people had noticed the app on my desktop and asked for a copy that completing the project became a pretty clear thing to do.

When I had the idea originally, the next step was to validate the idea technically. I began experimenting to see if it could be done, how it could be done, the best way to get it done, etc, and built a proof of concept. This technical deep-dive also critically helps you discover whats possible, levels of difficulty and so on, so your product team knows their options while deciding what to make, and your engineering team knows how to cost and budget said options. This process has been the same for every product Ive ever made.

Once I decided to commercialise the project, after completing the coding work required, the first step was to test it out in the market. I started up an invite-only beta, launch page and beta sign-up, and began talking with a publisher Id had a long standing relationship with, Stardock. Together, we posted a link on a few message boards popular back in the day, WinCustomize, BetaNews, etc. to spread the word, and a few hundred people initially signed up. Testers could enter in why they wanted to be involved and how itd affect their workflow, which helped us learn about customer motivations, and helped develop personal connections for great beta testing. Stardock, their CEO, and I worked closely together during this period but kept the app grass-roots until we reached agreement on publishing the app under their umbrella.

So the running themes above: next steps were to learn, validate and to simply keep moving.

Like with most apps, distribution was our biggest challenge with Fences. On top of the usual discovery issue, the feedback we kept getting was that people didnt realise they needed it until they tried it, at which point they were hooked.

Fences did however have a distinct advantage in that it was highly viral by virtue of its visibility. People saw it on other peoples desktops, asked what it was, played with it then had to get it themselves. But the viral loop falls flat if you limit your adoption with a pay-wall or trial limitations.

So, we decided to take a pretty risky approach. Thanks to the app being published by Stardock, we had a fantastic platform for getting word out about the product. But instead of charging for the app, we decided to make it entirely free in hopes to find a way to monetise later.

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Behind The App: The Story Of Fences

03.31.15-Cupcake-FFF.jpg

Cupcake, a shepherd mix in Gaston, enjoys her newfound freedom after Fences for Fido volunteers built her a fence and doghouse. Cupcake was the 1,000th dog helped by the organization since it was founded in May 2009. (Courtesy of Fences for Fido)

Fences for Fido, the Portland-based nonprofit that builds fences and insulated dog houses for dogs living outdoors on chains, reached a major milestone this week.

This past Saturday, the group helped its 1,000th dog.

The lucky canine would be Cupcake, a shepherd mix living in Gaston, who's as sweet as her name implies.

A group of volunteers built Cupcake's fence and presented her with a new, insulated dog house decorated by sixth-graders at Chehalem Valley Middle School in Newberg.

WatchCupcakerun free in this sweet video filmed during the build.

The groupalso built a pasture fence and released some pigs who were living in belly-deep mud on the property.

"Each dog we unchain is known and loved regardless of the number," says Kelly Peterson, the group's founder. "The number is important and symbolic only because it demonstrates what we have accomplished together."

Not least among those accomplishments is the passage of Oregon's Anti-Tethering Law (HB 2783), which has been in place for just over a year.

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Fences for Fido announces unchaining of 1,000th dog in group's history

Until now electric fences and trenches have proved to be the most effective way of protecting farms and villages from night time raids by hungry elephants. But researchers think they may have come up with another solution -- the recorded sound of angry predators.

The research carried out in southern India by Dr Vivek Thuppil at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus and Dr Richard G Coss from the University of California, Davis has been published in Oryx -- The International Journal of Conservation.

Using an infrared sensor playback system elephants triggered the sound of growling tigers, leopards and angry shouts of villagers as they approached farmers' fields. In 41 attempted raids, tiger sounds stopped 90 per cent, the sound of leopards deterred 73 per cent and human shouts prevented 57 per cent. Watch the video to see how it works.

Dr Thuppil said: "This technique was tested using static devices. Although the elephants shied away from the specific area they would eventually find another way into the field. So static recordings like this would work in locations where there is a narrow path of entry to farmland.

"Now I am interested in investigating how an elephant would respond to threatening sounds if they were not emanating from a stationary source. To accomplish this, there would be a network of speakers and an intruding elephant's location would be tracked continuously with only the speaker nearest the elephant being activated. This would simulate persistent tracking of an elephant by a predator."

Elephants live off roots, grasses, fruit and bark and the Earth's largest land mammal needs to consume over 130 kilograms of food in a single day to satisfy its huge appetite. As the Asian elephant's natural habitat is squeezed to make way for agriculture, new roads and development, conflict between elephants and humans is an increasing problem.

The researchers tested two infrared systems, one that was more complex and realistic, and one that was simple enough for farmers to set up around their fields. Both were effective in deterring elephants. But it seems an elephant never does forget, and those that encountered the noises more than once were less likely to be fooled.

Dr Thuppil's research interests are in evolutionary psychology. His PhD at University of California, Davis was in the field of animal behaviour and he moved to the School of Psychology at UNMC last September. He is particularly interested in how basic research can promote applied causes such as wildlife conservation or sustainability.

Dr Thuppil will be collaborating with MEME (the Management and Ecology of the Malaysian Elephant) -- a research project led by Dr Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz at UNMC.

MEME, together with Perhilitan, Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and National Parks, are fitting wild elephants with specially designed collars packed with satellite and cell phone technology. The aim is to learn more about the Asian elephant, and crucially how to mitigate the growing problem of human-elephant conflict.

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Keeping hungry elephants at bay

Retailers spend an enormous amount of time and money battling to win new customers. But what if they already have you as a customer? Are they as focused on keeping you as they were on winning you over? Not likely.

If you already decided you like a product enough to spend your money on it, you probably dont need to see and hear the same generic advertising and marketing that convinced you to buy it in the first place. Youve evolved and deepened your relationship with the product and brand, so why doesnt the retailer make an effort to deepen its relationship with you?

Scott McKain, a recognized author and advisor on retail strategy, says retailers are fanatics about customer acquisition but lack passion and precision when it comes to customer retention.

We focus so much on acquisition, but we dont focus as intensely upon retention, and its absolutely critical because net new business means than we not only keep the customers we have but we grow on top of that, said McKain.

From Acquisition to Retention

Retailers that do not focus on customer retention and building long-term relationships work harder to maintain sales. Thats because they are always laboring to keep the number of net new customers high. Instead they could be fostering repeat sales with customers they have already won.

The chances we can get existing customers to do more business with us is much more likely than what it takes to go out and get somebody new, said McKain. For some retailers, switching focus from customer acquisition to retention is a tough but necessary change in mindset. To explain the change, McKain tells a great story he heard from a business executive who grew up on a cattle ranch in Australia.

The executive said he grew up on a huge ranch. That was great for the cattle, but the ranchers had to figure out how to keep them from wandering off their land. One solution, he said, was to build fences around their property. But that amount of fence was very costly to build and maintain, and the cattle would sometimes break through it anyway. So instead of building fences they decided to dig wells. The cool fresh water was such a delight for the cattle they never wanted to stray off the ranch. The cows were happy to stay home and the ranchers accomplished their goal faster, easier, and for less money.

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How to Improve Customer Retention: Build Wells not Fences

Murrieta, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2015

This inspirational 'Solar Dinosaur', Catherine Kelso, is making a name for herself in an industry where female representation is less than half that of the national workforce average. Not satisfied with just earning her NABCEP [North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners] credentials or holding the title of Director of Solar PV Training for Ambassador Energy, Kelso also just passed her test to become an electrician and is over half way to her degree in electrical engineering.

This week, Catherine shares her passion for solar photovoltaics in Albany, New York, far from her Southern California home base, serving as a Conference Presenter at the fourth annual NABCEP Continuing Education Conference. She was an early adopter of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, achieving certifications PV Installer and PV Technical Sales. She was one of a small group of women to do so that the time.

When not volunteering for non-profit The Veteran Assets Women of Solar committee, public speaking or guest-teaching at colleges and/or solar distribution firms, Kelso works her day job as Director of Training for Ambassador Energy. When she is not behind the podium, her employment duties expand to solar PV system design, client interface and supervising installations. Honed by experience in the field, her teaching skills contribute to higher than average pass rates.

She has mastered the art of multi-tasking, said Steve Fulgham, CEO of Ambassador Energy, who is also double NABCEP-certified. From the beginning, more than five years ago, Catherine fit right in to our culture, where we truly believe in being experts at our craft. She continues to impress us, and we are blessed to have her in our AE family.

In addition to participating in this weeks NABCEP conference, Kelso sits on an elite NABCEP committee crafting curriculum for a new certification for Solar Inspectors. When she isnt busy over-achieving, she is right here in our Ambassador Energy offices and training facility, Fulgham continued, being the best solar trainer in the country.

For information on solar courses taught by Catherine Kelso, visit Ambassador Energys website.

About Ambassador Energy (AE) IREC-accredited training provider with staff certified as NABCEP PV Installers and NABCEP PV Technical Sales.* CSLB #928112: General Contractor B, C10 Electrician and C46 Renewable Energy, providing design and installation of solar PV and solar training throughout the U.S. *fulgham/kelso

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Ambassador Energy's Director of Training Moderates Panel Discussion at NABCEP's Annual Continuing Education Conference

Jean and John Drane at the wedding of their son Michael and his wife Pauline.

Emma Knights Wednesday, April 1, 2015 5:54 PM

A diamond couple from Hellesdon is celebrating 60 years of happy marriage.

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John and Jean Drane wed on April 2 1955 and they have spent their entire married life living at Drayton Wood Road, in Hellesdon.

Mr Drane, originally from Norwich and whose childhood home had its roof blown off during the Blitz, served with the Royal Engineers and the Royal Signals for his National Service, while Mrs Drane, originally from Ferryhill, County Durham, joined the General Post Office (GPO) as a telephonist.

Her job took her to Lincoln where she met Mr Drane through their respective jobs in communications - the couple flirted on the phones for a while before arranging a blind date at the Drill Hall in Lincoln in 1951.

Two years later they got engaged, and they married in 1955.

Mr Drane started a career as an electrician, before moving to Barnards, in Salhouse Lane, and then joining Norwich Union where he worked in the public relations department and was involved with the sponsorship and advertising of national sporting events and other big events.

He became known as the man with a bugle, when he became the post horn blower and mail guard for the Royal Mail coach and horses which Norwich Union sponsored.

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Hellesdon couple celebrates 60 years of marriage

The Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, which come into force on 6 April, will affect all construction work taking place in the UK. The regulations give 'clients', meaning anyone for whom a construction project is carried out, a greater role while the work is carried out. Even work carried out on behalf of homeowners will be caught by the new rules, although it is commercial firms that will be affected most. Most client duties for homeowners will pass as soon as they have appointed a contractor for the work.

Once in force, the regulations will require commercial firms to appoint a principal designer and principal contractor whenever any work involves more than one contractor - even where the work involved is very limited and over quickly. The scope of 'construction work' under the regulations is wide, covering everything from major infrastructure projects like HS2 to installing a new office shower. Those who get it wrong may face prosecution; with the potential for unlimited fines and even, in the case of individuals, imprisonment if convicted.

Headline changes

The regulations replace the existing CDM coordinator role with that of a 'principal designer', responsible for the planning, management and coordination of the project's pre-construction phase. The client must appoint a principal designer whenever a project of any size involves more than one contractor for example, if a plumber and an electrician are appointed to install an electric shower.

Clients appointing others on projects will also be subject to a new general requirement to take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that the appointee has the skill, knowledge and experience and if the contractor is an organisation capability necessary to fulfil the role. This replaces the 'competence' requirements included in the previous CDM Regulations. The current threshold at which clients must notify construction work to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will also change, resulting in fewer projects being notified.

Client responsibilities

Through the new regulations, HSE has tightened its oversight of the role played by commercial firms in their own construction projects. In its draft guidance on the new regulations, HSE said that clients are important because they have a major influence over how a project is procured and managed. HSE believes that its new focus is justified because of the perceived impact that client decisions and approach have on health, safety and welfare during construction work.

From 6 April, firms will be expected to make suitable arrangements to ensure construction work on their behalf is carried out without risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. This will include providing relevant pre-construction information such as asbestos surveys to each designer and contractor on the project as soon as possible. They will also have to ensure that the contractor, or principal contractor if applicable, has drawn up a construction phase health and safety plan for all projects including routine maintenance.

The real challenge for these firms will not be on large construction projects, but rather in routine building maintenance tasks. The regulations will still apply and a construction phase health and safety plan will be necessary and, whenever more than one contractor is involved, then both a principal designer and principal contractor will have to be appointed. The HSE guidance warns that if a client fails to appoint either of these roles then the client must carry out their associated duties instead.

The draft HSE guidance suggests that commercial clients should adopt a proportionate approach to the regulations, taking into account the size of the project and the particular risks involved. However the approach that the HSE, as the body tasked with enforcing the regulations, will take to proportionality in practice will remain uncertain until the regulations are up and running or further guidance is provided.

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New site safety regulations mean big changes for any business ordering construction work, experts say

How to Hang Drywall
Watch this video to learn about drywall installation. With a few tips, you #39;ll know how to properly hang drywall or SHEETROCK. Learn how to patch and repair drywall here: http://low.es/1C59Rr5...

By: Lowe #39;s Home Improvement

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How to Hang Drywall - Video