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My scoring could be construed as arbitrary, but I chose point values based on how difficult I deemed the puzzle to be or perhaps how critical the puzzle was to advancing the storyline…
I’m agnostic about scoring, too. I don’t really care if it’s there or not. I probably won’t type SCORE in a game to see what it is, but it’s not offensive to me if there’s a score displayed. I care about finding all the widgets so that I can get the machine running, but if I don’t need every widget, it won’t bug me to get that 499/500 as long as I can complete the game.
All of my points are mandatory, so it’s like a gauge of your completion progress, but gives (hopefully) an extra feeling of satisfaction when you solve those 8-10 pointers instead of a bunch of 2s and 3s…
Like anything else, it is up to the author to make it interesting. I do think we should give the author that chance. Who knows what they are up to, if we don’t investigate?
However, it is simply a convention of classic adventure games. To a lot of us, they were video games, and video games tended to have scores. Just like pub games (darts, for instance) had scores preceding the advent of video games. Someone wanting to make a classic-feeling game would probably consider including a scoring system as a period detail, if nothing else.
Yeah full disclaimer: I 100% got my point-scoring idea from the original Doom game, which shows the percentage of kills, items, and secrets you got during the level. Modern games with similar gameplay loops wouldn’t score at all, but I rather enjoy the role that such scoring can play. Sometimes there’s value in calling back to the games that came before, and sometimes there’s value in utilizing their mechanics, which worked well for specific purpose.
Swear I responded with the above before I got this far.
I was playing with an idea a while back with a web-hosted parser game that gapped the parser input and response (basically a server between the player and the game). The reason is making a publicly viewable arcade-style leader board for highscore where folks could enter their name next to their score. This becomes meaningless with offline play or decompile. I’d eventually make the game downloadable, maybe after a couple months, but the leader board would be frozen and immortalized at that point for ultimate bragging rights.
Anyway, I had some ideas for mixing it up. For example, interpreter-level undo would be impossible. Undo would be allowed, but it would cost the player points from their score. Also, there is no hint system. Instead, you can choose to use the help system. This system tracks which obstacles you’ve encountered, but not yet solved. It then creates a numbered list of these unsolved puzzles with a point cost next to each. Select one, it deducts that amount of points from your score total, and a solution (not one of the ones intended) materializes in front of the player. For example, perhaps finding a way through the locked pantry door for a 15 point cost is one of the options. You select it, and, instead of revealing where the concealed key was, POWWWW, a coconut-sized meteorite coincidentally falls from the sky, punches through the roof at an angle, through the locking mechanism of the door, and neatly punches through the floor into the inaccessible crawlspace. The door is now unlocked. I was also considering offering 3 save slots that could be initially and voluntarily destroyed in exchange for 50 points each. I even considered different difficulty levels that would grant more points for harder puzzles and obstacles in your playthrough. Upon beating the game, a final point bonus is rewarded for how many turns you took, the fewer turns, the more points.
The idea being folks who solve these puzzles the quickest on their own at the hardest difficulty without using save or undo would get higher scores on the leader board.
Alternatively, you could use up more points than you have, resulting in negative scores. This would allow someone to coast through the game with ease if they chose.
This thread reminds me of the question I posed a while back in To score or not to score - Authoring / General Design Discussions - The Interactive Fiction Community Forum (intfiction.org). I have to agree with @zarf that scoring should somehow make sense to the protagonist.
Since in my current game the player has to pursue a number of goals which I do not want to sum up into a single numeric score, I have implemented a journaling system, then I can keep track of progress for each goal: Keeping track of quest progress using a journal
Yeah. I may have said this in the other one, but it would be cool to make a game which is almost all based on time and you don’t have much of it, and you get “points” which count as minutes. But you have no real means of telling time, and the number of moves does not show.
So like, if you score 3 points it’ll be shown to you as:
“You pause to look around. Last time you thought about it, you said it was [current time/score], but that was probably about [number] of minutes ago, so now it should be, like, [new time/score].”
In this way, you don’t have much time to rest because you constantly have to keep up with the real time (which you don’t know) to be able to get a perfect score.
Of course, if you only have a score of 1:23 PM but it shows as nighttime in the game (ie. you are way behind schedule), then that poses a question for you. Because score (synonym could be TIME?) isn’t really a meta command here - you have to stop and think about your score/current time - and like I said, you’re thinking about the time, so you could get a message with the score, saying “What have you done with your time?!”
I chose to use progress in my game because I wanted a progress bar. As such, it works well. So the scoring gives the player some orientation, but should definitely be a secondary game element.
I report score as a percentage. Then i don’t have to fiddle it to add up to a round number. Inevitably it will change anyway
But isn’t that a bit boring? It could easily take on primary importance! How about starting at 100 and taking away one point for every move? In fact, make it part of the tutorial, in the style of a dutch auction: This is an easy puzzle, suitable for a beginner. Take the hint now for just 10 points off your final score, or take the chance to solve it in less. We will offer it again after ten turns, no worries, and it’ll be just 7 points then! And of course, you’ll have to INSERT COIN into the ticket machine at the end of act 2. So you’d better make sure you have at least one point left by that time.
Have the parser have discussions in two different voices on questions of scoring: “I’d be leaning towards awarding one point for effort here.” “I’ve told you before and I stand by it: we should fail this one quickly, the rest of the game will only be more frustrating to them.”
The game could offer you loans if you run too low to progress with the current task (at variable interest rates).
Isn’t score the same as the NSEW movement system? It doesn’t necessarily make sense in-game, but it’s there for the players. Some players are motivated by how far (or otherwise) they are through a game or want an indicator of how much they missed at the end of the game so they might be motivated to play again. Other players don’t give a hoot about that. So to be as inclusive of as many player types as possible, shouldn’t games have a score?
I guess you could metagame if you knew you were 97% of the way through the game and decide that you probably don’t need to carry around that piece of string you used to solve a puzzle 23 locations back, but I’m not sure such metagaming is relevant to interactive adventures anyway (or maybe that’s a topic for another thread…).
This seems almost too obvious, but since it hasn’t really been mentioned yet: a lot of players (me included!) find an inherent satisfaction in making a number go up. Which is not a reason in and of itself to have a score, but it’s a quirk of the human brain that you can take advantage of to motivate players and encourage them to try things.
I really liked the system in Low-Key Learny Jokey Journey where you get points for coming up with word combinations that are valid but not the solution to the puzzle. Compared to other similar wordplay games (including some other entries in the same series), it really lowered the frustration of trying to come up with the right answer. It felt like I was making progress and discovering cool (if somewhat extraneous) stuff and was more fun than either sitting there trying to work through the wordplay in my head until I was sure I had the right answer, or typing in everything I thought of only to get a bunch of generic “that’s not right” responses. It essentially allows a sense of “gradually getting closer to the answer” in a kind of game where the puzzles are otherwise kind of all-or-nothing, if that makes sense. That’s a very specific case and not terribly broadly applicable, of course, but it’s one way you can use points to make gameplay feel more rewarding.
The only games I’ve made that have scoring are the Lady Thalia games, which are pretty much doing it “wrong”—the scoring is an in-universe running joke between the PC and her friend, who steadfastly refuses to break down what she’s giving out points for. (Although I like to think that the games give you enough feedback in other ways that the score doesn’t come totally out of left field.) The only impact of the scores is that other characters are impressed if you do well and disappointed if you do badly. And yet people really seem to enjoy that element, which is interesting! I mean, I think some of the people who have commented positively on it just find the joke funny, but I’ve definitely also seen people say that they feel motivated to do well in the heist sequences to get better scores, even though the actual in-game impact of that is minimal.
I could go one step further and make a Free-To-Play-Game from it and let the player pay the loan in real money. Sounds promising.
Score is managing the economies of motivation.
Easier said than done.
Only Blue Lacuna makes movement work.
Only Galaxy Jones makes scoring work.
You know, your game is probably the only game all year that I actually wanted to get points in so that I could get the graphic. I’m not sure exactly why that worked so well, but it really did.

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The RMRT Company is comprised of actors, musicians and technicians from all across the country. Each year, over 1,200 artists audition and apply to become a member of this talented ensemble. Our Company showcases some of the finest talent in the nation.
*Work in progress*
Danny Adams (Ensemble, Ted Slaughter/u.s. Jerry) originally from Plymouth, Minnesota, is so excited to be rolling out to the Rockies for a summer in Grand Lake! Since graduating last year from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Music Theatre, Danny travelled into the summer heat at the Texas Shakespeare Festival where he performed in Much Ado About Nothing (George Seacoal), Richard III (Tressel/Friar Penker/Soldier), and other shows. After taking on an impressionable southern accent, Danny moved out to Auburn, New York for the year where he taught and performed for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade in shows like Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt/Paris/Peter). During his time at Illinois Wesleyan, Danny performed in productions like Giant (Jordan “Bick” Benedict), Hamlet (Laertes), The Boys from Syracuse (Sergeant), and others. Danny would like to thank all of the wonderful artistic staff, production staff, and acting company at Rocky Mountain Rep for the opportunity to be able to work with such awesome and talented people. Danny would also like to thank his family and friends for the constant love and support to “live the dream.”
Matilde Bernabei (Prudie Cupp) is tickled pink (and purple) to return to Grand Lake!! She currently resides as an artist/singer-songwriter in Brooklyn, NY. You may have seen her last year in Almost Heaven or celebrated NYE with her, but her other RMRT favorites include A Chorus Line (Judy), Ring Of Fire, Hands On A Handbody (Kelli Mangrum) and Peter Pan (Liza & Hagrid the Pirate). Much love to PTW, J-Man, Mama Bird (all the most) and my endlessly supportive fam!
Cara Chumbley (Ensemble, Vicki Nichols) is so excited for her Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre debut! Cara is originally from the Quad Cities and has lived in Chicago, IL for a little over 4 years. She is a performer, but also a teaching artist in the city. She spends most of her time teaching, directing and performing for kiddos! Cara has never been to Colorado and cannot wait to spend a beautiful summer here!! She would like to thank her wonderful parents for their love, support, and all around kindness; her amazing family, her lovely friends, her super cool and super sweet boyfriend, and her fat cat Guinness. And a shoutout to Conrad who we all miss dearly.
Stephen Coakley (Ensemble) is an actor, composer, and music director from Leesburg, VA and is thrilled to be making his professional debut at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. Currently, he is a rising senior at Ohio Northern University, where he is obtaining his BFA in Musical Theatre. At ONU, Stephen has performed and composed for numerous productions, including Carrie, The Pirates of Penzance, and Lysistrata. His NYC credits include United We Stand (NYMF). Last year, Stephen co-founded and served as the Artistic Director for New Heights Theatre Company, a theatre group for Loudoun County’s youth and teens. He is also an avid yogi and outdoorsman and recently hiked a section of the John Muir Trail in Lonepine, CA. Enjoy the show!
Conor Finnerty-Esmonde (Jim) hails from Saint Paul Minnesota and is delighted to be working at RMRT this fall! He is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Conor loves to travel and be in the outdoors. He is also very proud of his Irish heritage… Don’t even get him started on his Irish Heritage… Regional credits include: Once (Guy), Heathers (JD), Godspell (Jesus), Stupid F#!&ing Bird (Con), 110 in the Shade (Noah Curry), King John (Phillip the Bastard), Texas! (Dave Newberry), Jeeves Intervenes (Bertie Wooster), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Kenny), Pageant (Miss West Coast), and Loves Labour’s Lost (Costard). Thanks to Ma and Da for all of the love and support, and always remember, Tá grá agam duit.
Nicole Harley (Ensemble) is so blessed to be doing what she loves most so close to her home town of Tabernash, Colorado! She is a rising senior at Long Island University in New York where she majors in musical theater and arts management. She hopes to bring her passion for the arts back to the Rockies and pursue theater in the West after she graduates. Professional credits include Alice in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Jackson Hole Playhouse in Wyoming, Tantomile in Cats at Interlakes Summer Theater in New Hampshire, and the Young Woman in Machinal at Post Theater Company in New York. She thanks her mother for her endless support and helping Nicole pursue her dreams, wherever they may take her.
Zach Holden (Ensemble, Malcolm McGregor) is a recent graduate of Emerson College and is making his Rocky Mountain Rep debut! Zach has been seen regionally: Bells are Ringing (Ensemble, u/s Carl, u/s Barton) and By Jupiter (Herald) with the Berkshire Theatre Group; All Shook Up (Ensemble) with the Priscilla Beach Theatre; A Little Night Music (Henrik), Guys and Dolls (Nicely, Nicely), Of Thee I Sing (Sam Jenkins), and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Henry) with the College Light Opera. And he was most recently seen this spring as Bobby in his alma mater’s production of Urinetown. He would like to deeply thank the entire RMRT family for the opportunity to begin his fledgling career with this amazing company. And a special thanks to Mom and Dad! @zachjonholden. zachholdenarts.com
Valerie Igoe (Lily St. Regis, Ensemble, Estelle) couldn’t be more thrilled to be making her RMRT debut! Since earning a BFA in Musical Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Valerie has been working in the Denver Metro Area at theaters like the Arvada Center, BDT Stage and Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. She was most recently in BDT Stage’s productions of Rock of Ages as Regina and then in Annie where she was featured as the Star-to-Be and Connie Boylan, and she’s delighted to shake it up as Lily this time around. Some of her favorite roles are polar opposites, like St. Jimmy in American Idiot and Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain. One day she’ll be playing Debbie in Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, and then next she’ll be singing about lunch boxes as Camille in Junie B Jones, the Musical. She’d like to thank Chris Scott, and her parents for always being there for her! Love you!
Taylor Margaret Johnson (Ensemble, Phoebe, Pam) is ecstatic to be joining the RMRT family this summer. After growing up near Portland, Oregon, Taylor moved to New York City to pursue musical theatre. Recent credits include: Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Janet in The Drowsy Chaperone, and Velma in Hairspray, as well as productions of Catch Me If You Can, Kiss Me Kate, and Sweet Smell of Success while studying at NYU Steinhardt. Taylor can also be seen on episodes of Saturday Night Live and has recorded with “the little orchestra” Pink Martini on their albums Joy to the World and 1969. She is a proud Aunt to Waverly Mae – thanks to Mom, Dad, Fletcher and Tina for their unfailing love and inspiration, as well as Jeff, Michael and the team at RMRT for this wonderful opportunity! @tatesjohnson
Josh Kellman (FDR, The D’Ysquith Family, Harold Nichols) is absolutely ebullient to return to this company and to this community for his seventh season. Favorite RMRT roles include Gomez Addams, Nathan Detroit, Jim “Baller” Haller (twice!), Mrs. Meers, the Major General, and many more. Josh is the Artistic Director of his own company, Empirical Theatre, which focuses on reviving lesser known works by classic authors with a political and/or global perspective. This year, Empirical put on Anthony Newley’s class system musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd, the high anti-tribalism comedy Romulus the Great by Friederich Dùrrenmatt, and Tennessee William’s gritty prison drama Not About Nightingales. When not on the stage, Josh has the privilege of being a Crisis Worker for The Trevor Project, the leading national organization for providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention to LGBTQ youth. He lives in NYC with his elegant Chihuahua, Liza.
Brian Maurice Kinnard (Daddy Warbucks, Ensemble, Noah“Horse“ Simmons) is a New York based actor that studied Opera at New World School of The Arts and is super grateful to spend his summer in the Colorado Mountains. New York credits include Zuccotti Park’s World premiere (Tom), Broadway Sensations at Tully Hall. National Tour credits include Buddy; The Buddy Holly Story (Apollo Performer). Regional credits include: Memphis (Bobby), Big River (Jim), Showboat (Joe), The Full Monty (Horse U/S), Sister Act (Curtis), Seussical (Wickersham Bro), Paint Your Wagon, South Pacific, Spelling Bee and Joseph. and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. www.BrianMauriceKinnard.com.
Chris Mauro (Ensemble, Dave Bukatinsky) is thrilled to be making his Rocky Mountain Rep debut for this AMAZING season. He recently performed on the high seas as a Lead Vocalist for the Viking Sun Cruise Ship and performed in two Off-Broadway productions in NYC; Unspoken Conversations (Frank Wedekind) and Yosef (Reuven). Chris performed in 3 national tours for a children’s theatre company called ArtsPower, including The Monster Who Ate My Peas (The Monster), Chicken Dance (Mac/Elvis Poultry), and Four Score and Seven Years Ago (Hitchborne/General Pickett). His other regional credits include Shrek (Big Bad Wolf), Children of Eden (Abel), Josiah for President (Bart), Half Stitched (Paul), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ensemble). Chris wants to thank his roommate, Dontalle, for always pushing him, his friends for always being there for him, and his Mom and Dad for always believing in him, especially for fully supporting his choice of leaving athletics and sports medicine to become an actor. He also wishes to thank Jeff and Michael for this great opportunity. Check out his endeavors on his website at www.chrismauroactor.com
Russell Mernagh (Ensemble, Monty Navarro, Jerry Lukowski) is thrilled to be back in the mountains for a third summer. Favorite RMRT credits include Chad in All Shook Up and Enjolras in Les Miserables. Since last appearing in Grand Lake, Russell has been busy working in the Chicago theatre scene where he has performed at the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, the Marriott Theatre, the Paramount and the Mercury. Most recently, Russell made the move to New York City where he is represented by HCKR Agency and none other than Rocky Mountain’s own Jamie Anderson. We look out for each other! Russell would like to thank Jeff and Michael for putting up with him. He’d also like to thank the incredible patrons who make all of this possible.
Ethan Ray Parker (L.M.) is THRILLED to be back at RMRT! He was last seen on the RMRT stage as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet during the 2016 season. He has since performed the role 6 other times, garnered a total of 4 BroadwayWorld regional theatre award nominations, and won an Atlanta Suzi Bass Award for his performance as “The Killer”. Besides regional theatre work, Ethan has also played piano and sang with Holland America Cruise Lines in a show called Billboard Onboard. He is so excited to return to one of his favorite places and rock out on the keys again in Pump Boys and Dinettes! He dedicates his performance to his grandfather.
Maya Rowe (Grace, Sibella, Ensemble, Rhetta Cupp) is absolutely thrilled to be performing in some of her favorite shows this summer! She graduated in May from Chicago College of Performing Arts, and is excited to start her professional journey here at Rocky Mountain Rep. Some of her past favorite roles include Margot in Legally Blonde, Wendla in Spring Awakening and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As an avid chocolate enthusiast, she’d like to thank Cadbury Chocolate for always being there, and of course her beautiful family and friends for their constant love… “I don’t know what I’d do without you!”
Sharon Sachs (Miss Hannigan, Miss Shingle, Jeanette) is a lover of lake swimming and is grateful to spend a summer in Grand Lake with the impressive Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. Last summer she received the Outstanding Individual Performance Award as “Miss McGery” in CPA Theatrical’s Numbers Nerds at Playwrights Horizons as part of the New York Musical Festival (NYMF). Miss Sachs also received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for her work as “Madame Thenardier” in Drury Lane Oakbrook’s Les Miserables. Sharon originated the role of Valencia Pilgrim in Steppenwolf Theatre’s World Premiere production of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. She spent ten seasons on Chicago’s Goodman Theatre stage in A Christmas Carol as several Dickensian characters. Some favorite roles include “Jan” in Grease, the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, “Maggie Jones” in 42nd Street, and “Pooh Bear” in Winnie The Pooh. Sharon has also recurred and guest starred in several notable television series: Will and Grace, GRIMM, Episodes, Weeds, Dexter and Two Broke Girls, to name a few. Sharon is also an award-winning Costume Designer and dresser to the stars as a member of Local 769 and 768 Wardrobe Unions. As a matter of fact, she worked as an actor in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of The Marriage of Figaro wearing the costume she stitched. She was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, along with a handful of successful theatre artists. As always, love to my folks, family and friends. GO ROCKFORD! I dedicate my performances to the inimitable talents of Dorothy Loudon, Jane Carr, and Kathleen Freeman, who originated these roles and left an impression on audiences and a valuable guide for me.
Neil Stratman (Rooster, Ensemble/u.s. The D’Ysquiths, Ethan) is ready to get lifted… literally. Hailing from Chicago, this place is over 7,000 feet higher in elevation, so he’s ready to live the high life. Again, literally. Some favorite Chicago credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Williams Street Rep), The Who’s Tommy (Paramount), and Jacques Brel & The Lonesome Losers of the Night (Theo Ubique). A proud Illinois Wesleyan alumni, he’d like to thank Michael, Jeff, and all of RMRT for trusting him just a little too much. Follow his writing and overall shenanigans at neilstratman.com!
Tyler Symone (Ensemble) is a Michigan native who currently lives in Chicago, IL and attends Columbia College Chicago. Since she has been in Chicago, some of her favorite credits include 9 to 5 (Firebrand Theatre), A New Brain (Theo Ubique), High Fidelity (Refuge Theatre Project), They’re Playing Our Song and Little Me (Porchlight Music Theatre). Tyler is ecstatic to be spending the summer doing what she loves in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and spending time with a magnificent group of people. Tyler’s website is tylersymone.com
Katherine “Viv” Viviano (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in beautiful Grand Lake! In May, she received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Millikin University. Go Big Blue! Most recently, she was seen as Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera. Other Millikin credits include 9 to 5 (Missy/Female Ensemble), Mauritius (Mary), and The Addams Family (Ancestor). She spent the fall of 2017 studying at the Globe Theatre in London. Katherine has enjoyed performing in three New Musicals Workshops held at Millikin, working with the emerging musical theatre writing teams of Miller & Tysen, Carner & Gregor, Kooman & Diamond and Braverman & Hassler. Regional credits include A Chorus Line (Maggie), Hairspray (Amber), Crazy for You (Tess), and Xanadu (Kira). This fall, Katherine is excited to be moving to her new home- Chicago, Illinois! She sends her deepest appreciation and love to Miller Marley School of Dance and Voice, her loving family and Grandma El for always being her number one fan.
P. Tucker Worley (Jackson) is a Colorado native and is very excited to be back in Colorado for RMRT’s Pump Boys and Dinettes. Tour credits include Mamma Mia! (Worklight Productions), Peter Pan 360 (Herrick Entertainment) and Oliver! (Networks). Regional credits include Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre Company) and several productions at the Arvada Center here in Colorado. Training B.F.A.; Roosevelt University. Tucker would like to thank the cast, crew and creatives for their hard and dedicated work and his family for their undying love and bravery. Follow @p._tucker on Instagram. Be Brave.
Heather Zurowski (Ensemble, Georgie Bukatinsky) is overjoyed to make her Rocky Mountain debut. A Chicagoland native, she spent the past year in Memphis, TN at Playhouse on the Square where she played some memorable roles as Martha in Heathers the Musical, Kitty in Perfect Arrangement, Lady Bug in James and the Giant Peach, and Joan in Fun Home. Heather received her BFA in acting at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Other favorite roles include Nanny in Baby with the Bathwater, Olympia in Big Love, and Fiona in Shrek. Check out more about Heather at heatherzurowski.com or @hzurowsk on Instagram. She’d like to thank Mama, Papa, Marek, and the rest of her loved ones across the country.
Marek Zurowski (Bert Healy, Ensemble/u.s. Monty Navarro, Keno) is delighted to be performing in beautiful Colorado again, but joining the RMRT summer company for the first time! Born and raised just outside Chicago, but currently living in NYC, Marek has worked at theaters across the country, but most recently he was touring with Jekyll and Hyde in South Korea. Special thanks to his parents and girlfriend for their constant support. The most thanks to his sister Heather whom he is SO FREAKIN’ EXCITED to be working with for the first time! marekzurowski.com
Michael Querio (Executive Artistic Director, Music Director: Annie, The Full Monty, Pump Boys and Dinettes. Director: Gentleman’s Guide…) is a pioneer of Rocky Mountain Rep, now returning for his 14th year as Artistic Director and 24 years with RMRT. Over the years, Michael has helped produce over 80 productions on the RMRT stage, and in that time he has seen the stage from many angles – in the orchestra pit as Music Director and pianist, under the spotlight as an actor (Forever Plaid 2000, West Side Story 1998, Titanic 2016, and as understudy Officer Krupke in West Side Story 2017), and in front of the stage as Artistic Director. Favorite productions include Hands On A Hardbody, Urinetown, Pirates of Penzance, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chess, How To Succeed…, Ring of Fire, and Titanic. In addition to his work with RMRT, Michael is an accomplished conductor, teacher, arranger and pianist for organizations in Chicago and throughout the Midwest, and enjoyed teaching kids in schools for over 25 years. As a singer, he has performed with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and now enjoys vocal coaching for musical theatre performers, as well as other professional groups. Michael is proud to hold degrees from the University of Illinois and Illinois Wesleyan University, and is proud that RMRT was recognized as Outstanding Regional Theatre by the Colorado Theatre Guild’s Henry Awards in 2014.
Jeffery Duke (Director and Co-Choreographer: Annie and The Full Monty, Director: Pump Boys and Dinettes) is entering his 15th season at RMRT and feels fortunate to be a part of this wonderful company. He has directed and choreographed over 30 shows for RMRT, including last year’s Mamma Mia and West Side Story. Other favorites include Les Miserables, A Chorus Line, Carousel, Chess, Shrek, The Drowsy Chaperone, Titanic and Almost Heaven among others. Jeff is honored for being recognized with a Denver Post Ovation Award for his work along with Jennifer Lupp on All Shook Up. Jeff also received a 2016 Henry Award nomination for his work on Disney’s Little Mermaid. He has also enjoyed success as an actor in numerous professional musical theatre productions in Chicago. Jeff has been a featured vocal soloist with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, an ensemble that was awarded two 2010 Grammy Awards for their Verdi Requiem recording. He is also a singer on the Grammy nominated score of Steven Spielberg’s movie Lincoln. Jeff conceived, produced and directed the critically acclaimed live concerts and recordings Second City Divas in Chicago. Jeff has also recorded and toured with the vocal ensemble Table for 5. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and American Guild of Musical Artists. Jeff would like to thank the RMRT Board of Trustees, the town of Grand Lake and all of our patrons for their support of live musical theatre! Enjoy the show!

domain: entertainment


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Cherry U-pick in Yakima Valley near Seattle
Cherry U-pick in Yakima Valley is one of the most awaited activity for our family and now it has become a yearly tradition. Cherry u-pick season in Pacific Northwest starts at the end of June and lasts for couple of weeks (it also depends on mother nature and how soon fields are picked out).
Each year we go to Barrett orchards in sunny Yakima valley, which is around 2 hour drive from Seattle. They have both yummy Rainier and Bing cherries in their farm. It is absolute delight for our family to see, taste and pick fresh and ripe cherries. They also have the most delicious huckleberry ice cream, which is absolute must during your visit.
In case you are interested, find stud earrings that I am wearing to complete my cherry u-pick outfit here. These are one of my most favorite and versatile studs.

domain: geography


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ESPN College GameDay is hanging out at one of those universities where students go to “play school,” so you can count on some creative signs.
We can only assume Kim Kardashian wanted to name the kid First Take.
Somewhere, Katy Perry is heartbroken.
Stupid and ridiculous, much like the rest of Michigan’s 2014 season.
Lobbying was unsuccessful.

domain: news


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A trademark for "Glacier Blast" was recently filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office by Microsoft. While no other information about it exists, the trademark was filed as game software. Microsoft also registered the domain glacierblastgame.com in late March, according to WhoIs records. The URL...
Posted on Oct 22nd 2014 5:00PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 3:30PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 12:49PM


The best data comes from actual measurements. The absorption coefficients of a surface can be measured “in situ” with almost any measurement system. Here is a method and some caveats.
If you own a measurement platform, the absorption coefficient (ABS) of a surface can be measured “in situ.” This may be useful for modeling a room that has an extensively used material that you are unsure of, or when the data that you have for that material seems too uncertain to stake your reputation on.
A “one bounce” test can yield the approximate ABS coefficient of a surface by measuring the level reduction of the reflection. Several standards exist for performing the test, so there is no need to invent a new method here. What follows is based primarily on ISO 13472-1:2002, with some added embellishments to streamline the process.
Figure 1 shows a table for converting the level reduction of a reflection to the absorption coefficient. A link is provided to a small spreadsheet for executing the math in this article.
Click here for a simple spreadsheet for calculating the table and the sample radius of the material-under-test.
The method involves playing a test stimulus from loudspeaker aimed normal to the surface-under-test (Figure 2). The loudspeaker should have a flat frequency response magnitude for the 250Hz-4kHz octave bands. Most small cone drivers will suffice with some equalization.
The sample radius based on distance is given by the formula
where TW is the time window length and c is the speed of sound (340 m/s).
I used the NTI Talkbox™ as the source, as it is very flat from 100Hz – 10kHz via its on-board DSP filtering. Note that the impulse response is that of a linear phase filter (Figure 4). The price paid is very long latency (~60ms) which does not affect its usefulness for this application. The internal amplifier is sufficient to produce about 72 dBSPL at 1 meter. The battery-power option is convenient for quick setups (Figure 3).
For these tests I drove the Talkbox line input from the acoustic measurement system. The Talkbox stores WAV files for playback, so a reference sweep can be stored there and captured with a recorder to speed up site work, negating the need for a PC on site. This method of impulse response measurement has been well-documented in past Syn-Aud- Con articles.
Note that the stimulus must pass the microphone on its way to the surface, and that the measurement (or recording) will include this direct sound, the reflection, and additional reflections from the test environment. For further processing, the direct and reflected sound waves must be separated. This can be done with a conventional time window as implemented by any FFT-based measurement system. This requires adequate physical separation between the loudspeaker, microphone and surface-under-test to allow a time window of sufficient length to isolate the reflection and resolve its spectrum with the desired frequency resolution (Figure 4). Also, larger separations require a larger sample size, so one problem leads to another.
A novel work-around described in the previously reference paper is to cancel the direct sound wave by subtracting an exact replica from the resultant IR (Figure 5). The subtraction technique allows the microphone to be placed very close to the surface-under-test and to make a temporal window around the reflection limited only by the next-arriving (parasitic) reflection from the environment.
This proved trickier than I expected, as the complete cancellation requires an exact inverse of the direct wave. Even a one sample difference or slight phase shift will result in incomplete cancellation. I had first envisioned measuring the Talkbox once, creating an inverse, and then always using this inverse for future testing. I quickly found that there are very sensitive variables involved, and that the direct response must be measured under the exact same conditions as the surface-under-test. To facilitate this I built a simple test rig that allows exact spacing and orientation of the Talkbox and microphone (Figure 6). I can now make my reference measurement (used to cancel the direct field) in a free-field (away from room boundaries), and then pick up the whole rig and place it near the surface-under-test. Since the spacing, temperature and humidity are maintained, nearly complete cancellation of the direct field is possible.
The reflected wave (the wave of interest) must be level corrected for the additional distance traveled beyond the direct wave (Figure 7). This distance is easily determined when testing a smooth surface, but more difficult when testing a surface that has some physical relief. The potential error is reduced by placing the test rig farther from the surface-under-test, but this requires a larger sample size and reduces the time offset between the wall bounce and the parasitic reflections. All of these points serve as a reminder that there’s no free lunch in audio, and that it is all about coming up with a workable set of compromises.
Let’s do a few to get a feel for the process. Pages 6 and 7 (bottom of the article) show the steps and plots for measuring ABS in situ. On page 6 I have annotated the required steps. Your steps may vary depending on your measurement platform’s features. I used Monkey Forest for this exercise, as it provides all of the required signal processing. Many WAV editors will allow you to invert the reference response and sum it with the direct + reflected response.
Note that the actual behavior of a surface is quite complex, and that we are representing it with a simple weighting factor. As can be seen from the chart in Figure 1, the ABS coefficients for surfaces with low absorption are very sensitive. A large, concrete room could have a predicted RT that doubles or halves with a very small change in ABS. This is one reason why experience, intuition, and even educated guessing are important parts of the modeling process. It also helps to have measured room data to aid in the refinement of the model.
It should be noted that a number of methods exist for measuring the ABS of a surface. They can and will produce different results depending on the specifics of the method used. Remember that the Sabine equation is based on ideal assumptions that rarely happen in typical auditoriums. From a system design point of view, it is always best to be conservative with ratings of any type. A conservative approach builds headroom into the design that can compensate for erroneous data or some parameter that you forgot to consider.
The method presented here allows a meaningful ABS estimate based on two measurements. These can be done in seconds with proper preparation regarding the test rig and instrumentation. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the understanding gained from looking at the complex nature of sound absorption, and the realization that our room models must grossly simplify what happens in nature. The most important piece of information about any tool is an understanding of its limitations. pb


text:
LSHSS-21-00065Bawayan_suppS1.pdf (777.73 kB)
Diagnostic decisions of language complexity (Bawayan & Brown, 2022)
journal contributionposted on 2022-01-12, 22:48 authored by Rebecca Bawayan, Jennifer A. Brown
Purpose: The current study aimed to understand the clinical decision-making skills of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) using narrative and expository discourse information from three sources: perception of language through listening to language alone, standardized criterion-referenced narrative assessment data, and word- and morpheme-level language sample analysis data.
Method: Twenty-eight current school-based SLPs participated in the study. During this study, participants rated language quality and made decisions regarding the provision of language services after being provided information from informal assessment measures.
Results: SLPs’ ratings of language quality and complexity varied across the story retell, wordless picture book generation, and expository samples. There was a lack of consistency in ratings within each context across areas of clarity, sample complexity, language complexity, and vocabulary across all SLPs. Self-reported factors that influenced SLPs’ ratings included components of structure, syntax, and semantics. SLPs did not indicate a need for services after listening alone. When provided with criterion-referenced narrative assessment scores and word- and morpheme-level language sample data, more SLPs made a recommendation for services.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates the need for objective language measure data during diagnostic decision making. Additionally, SLPs may not realize the information obtained from real-time perception, and analysis of language samples may be an unreliable and inconsistent picture of a child’s language abilities. The results of this study highlight the need to continue to rely on multiple sources of assessment data. SLPs should continue to incorporate systematic methods to minimize variability of perceptions in the process of making diagnostic decisions.
Supplemental Material S1. Diagnostic Decision-Making Measure.
Bawayan, R., & Brown, J. A. (2022). Diagnostic decisions of language complexity using informal language assessment measures. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_LSHSS-21-00065
languagecomplexityinformalassessmentmeasurespeech-language pathologistSLPschoolsschool-basedclinicaldecision makingskillsnarrativeexpositorydiscourseperceptionlisteningwordmorphemesampleanalysisqualityprovisionservicesstory retellpicture bookclarityvocabularystructuresyntaxsemanticsdiagnosticLanguage

domain: library


text:
BLT Pasta Salad is a go-to for dinner!
Pasta is my first love. That’s basically a given. I absolutely love pasta! As I was flipping through a recent issue of Cooking Light, I landed on this recipe for BLT Pasta Salad. It wasn’t even a minute before I had this on our menu for the week.
The best part for me was that I had most of the ingredients in my pantry. That’s a win! That meant I could whip it up without spending a fortune on a meal although this is definitely a frugal meal.
I adapted it just a bit from the original and baked the bacon in the oven as opposed to in the skillet. Then, instead of cooking the remaining ingredients in the grease, I simply used olive oil. That likely saved me a few calories too.
If you are in need of a quick and easy meal, this is certainly it, plus it’s super tasty!
Disclosure: I am a blog partner with Cooking Light; however, this is not a compensated post.
Need more recipe ideas? Check out the Recipe Index by Mommy Hates Cooking.
BLT Pasta Salad
- 8 Oz Penne Pasta or Gluten Free Penne Pasta
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 6 Bacon Slices Cooked
- 2 Cups Grape Tomatoes Halved
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 2 Cups of Fresh Spinach
- 1/2 Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 Cup Italian Shredded Cheese
- Prepare the noodles as instructed on the box then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat up the olive oil then add in the bacon, grape tomatoes, salt, and spinach.
- Let this simmer until the tomatoes are tender and the spinach is wilted.
- Serve topped with the black pepper and cheese.

domain: food


COLUMBUS, Ohio – According to a person who has direct contact with food at Fuzzy's Taco Shop in 479 North High Street, Columbus Public Health is diagnosing hepatitis A.
In the restaurant between On January 1 and 16, 2019, it is recommended to receive a hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible and to be alert to symptoms of hepatitis A.
Symptoms include jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. 19659002] Advertisement – History Below
The Health Department said that the staff of Fuzzy's Taco Shop were vaccinated and nobody else is ill.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, the Health Department will set up an information line at 61
On January 26, an adult public vaccine clinic will be held at Columbus Public Health from 12:00 to 16:00 in Parsons Avenue 240.
Vaccines can also be obtained from health care providers and retail pharmacies.
Since an outbreak of hepatitis A has been reported across the country in 2018, Columbus Public Health and the Franklin County Health Department have investigated 213 cases.


text:
Here's the official lyric video for Justin Timberlake's new single "Suit & Tie" feasturing Jay-Z. Official video coming soon.
New video from Britney Sopears. Off of her album Femme Fatale Why dude at 1:48 look like Kevin Federline tho..
Ri Ri drops the official video for her new single "We Found Love". Off of her upcoming album Talk That Talk, which is set to drop November 21st. Side Note: Is it me or does this cat look like Chris Brown? I'm just sayin'.
Ariana Grande begins her new Soundcloud account by premiering the remix to her single "Into You" featuring Mac Miller. Listen to the music on page 2.
Rihanna prepares to drop her new album Talk That Talk on November 21st. Check out her making the decision on the cover art with her team.
Behind the scenes footage from Canadian pop star Aleesia's new video featuring Big Sean.
Ariana Grande just released her new album Dangerous Woman. Featuring guest appearances by Future, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Macy Gray. You can stream it in it entirety. Also check out her performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Lsten to the full project on page 2.

domain: artistic


November 2013 Issue
MotoPOD: Motorcycle On The Fly
Who thought you could easily load a street-legal motorcycle into the cabin of a small Piper? You can with MotoPODs MotoLOAD system.
If for no other reason than adventure, flying and motorcycling are crossover sports. But thats not the reason why MotoPOD founder and engineer David Shelton invented the MotoLOADa series of ramps and fixtures that allow pilots to load and secure an aviation-specific 225-cc motorcycle inside the cabin of a Piper Cherokee Six, Lance, Saratoga or Seneca.
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text:
Hiker standing next to a hanging glacier southeast of Cascade Pass, n.d
Caption on image: Hanging Glacier- Cascade PassText: This hanging glacier just southeast of Cascade Pass is reached by climbing a steep shoulder, or directly approached from the steep rock cliff below. The col in the distance is reached by way of a little bergshrund and leads onto some basin meadows far above the east fork actually known as the Middle Fork of the Cascade River.PH Coll. 165.169.
3 x 4 in.
silver gelatin, b&w
Scanned from a photographic print using a Microtek Scanmaker 9600XL at 100 or 250 dpi in JPEG format at compression rate 3 and resized to 768x600 ppi. 2002


text: Travelers along the 405/10 interchange may have noticed a wood structure sprouting up on the vacant lot next to Sepulveda Boulevard's kitchy, mid-century IHOP. This would in fact be a mixed-use development from Century West Properties, dubbed "The 2900." The six-story structure features 48 residential units above roughly 1,500 square feet of ground floor office space. Upper levels consist of two-story loft units, offering private sundecks with sweeping views of the Westside (seriously, check out the picture below). Units also feature double paned windows, a necessity given that two of the busiest freeways in the United States intersect just across the street. However, there is a more environmentally friendly transportation option in the works nearby. Metro's Expo/Sepulveda Station is under-construction just a half-mile north, providing one-seat rides to Downtown LA and Downtown Santa Monica by mid-2016 (fingers crossed). Locally based Plus Architects designed the project, which was originally known as "The West End," when it began working its way through City Planning back in 2008. With Metro Rail finally pushing towards the Pacific, the 2900 joins a slew of mixed-use residential buildings springing up along its path.


China Manufacter Trawling Chain Shackle Rigging Hardware
|FOB Price:||US $0.15 / Piece|
|Min. Order:||1,000 Pieces|
|Min. Order||FOB Price|
|1,000 Pieces||US $0.15/ Piece|
|Transport Package:||Qunny Bags/Cartons/Pallets/as Customers′ Request|
|Payment Terms:||L/C, T/T, Western Union|
- Model NO.: trawling chain shackle
- Shape: D Shape
- Color: Black
- Size: 5mm-38mm
- Trademark: TY
- Material: Steel
- Usage: Industrial
- Condition: New
- Price: $0.1-$30
- Origin: Shandong Qingdao
Trawling chain shackle JIS type
1) Standard: JIS Type trawling chain Shackle
2) Size: 5mm-38mm
3) Special specifications and marks can be made according to customers requirments
We have been manufacturing these products for over 10 years. Guarantee excellent quality. We also could do OEM services, can well meet clients' needs and requests.
Qingdao tuoyuan rigging hardware Co.,LTD is a professional manufacturer of rigging hardware
1.about products and company
1.used : it can be used on the industry of electricity,metallurgy,petroleum,machinery,railway,chemical,port and building.
2.experience : we have more than 10years of producing rigging hardware and stand for high quality and delivery on time and best price between the customer home and abroad .
3.market : our products are sold well in NORTH AMERICA,EASTERN EUROPEA,SOUTHEAST ASIA,AFRICA,MID EAST,EASTERN AISA market.


text: Hidden away in the northern reaches of Virginia, sitting within the mountains, is the small town of Edinburg. An area filled with personality, Edinburg provides a genuine slice of Americana coupled with its own unique culture and architecture. Those looking for adventure will not have to travel far, the town sits close to two of the United States most iconic national parks, providing kilometre after kilometre of stunning hiking trails. The Shenandoah National Park is a gateway into the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains, the park provides opportunities to hike through the areas unique flora and fauna. Get lost in this idyllic piece of America's natural world. With chances to see some of Virginia's elusive wildlife, stunning rock formations and hypnotising water features, The Shenandoah National Park is an adventure not to be missed.


text:
Odisha to construct river bridge if Centre not serious: Naveen Patnaik
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said his government will construct the second bridge over the Brahmani river in Rourkela if the Centre...
Bhubaneswar:Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said his government will construct the second bridge over the Brahmani river in Rourkela if the Centre did not show seriousness in carrying out the construction.
The Chief Minister assured a delegation that he will again take up the matter with the Union government.
"If they (Centre) are not serious, the state government will construct the bridge out of its own resources," Patnaik said after meeting a delegation from Sundergarh district led by Biju Janata Dal MLA Mangala Kisan at the state Secretariat here.
In July, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited second bridge over the river.
However, the construction is yet to take off, fuelling anger among area residents. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Dilip Ray has also been demanding the bridge.
The new bridge will cost around Rs 550 crore and is expected to be completed in two years. The bridge is part of a six-lane National Highway from Rajamunda to Biramitrapur.
"Rourkela is the second economic capital of Odisha. Transportation in the area has been affected as the old bridge is dilapidated. There is an urgent need for the second bridge," Mangala Kisan said.


While the Sig Sauer P229 has been around for 52% of forever, the Legion series is just a couple of years old. The idea behind Legion is simple. Take the basic and tweak appropriate features for serious users.
The Legion adds the following. It contains a Gray Guns designed trigger assembly which not only smooths out the feel, provides a crisp break, but also reduces pull weight. This one measures 8 ½ pounds for double-action and 4 pounds for single-action.
The sights are also upgraded. The X-RAY3 sights feature a large fiber optic dot on the front with a Tritium insert. The rear sights are notch-style with serrations to reduce glare. The notch is flanked by small Tritium vials.
Like the traditional P229 models, it’s a double-action, single-action design. There’s no safety lever – just a decocker. The longer and heavier first trigger press acts like a revolver, requiring a deliberate action to fire the first shot. Subsequent shots operate in single-action. If you don’t fire a full magazine and need to reholster, just flip the decocking lever down to safely drop the hammer and return to double-action mode.
There are other upgrades like spiffy G10 grips, forward slide cocking serrations and improved checkering on the grip and underneath the trigger guard to prevent support hand slippage.
It ships with three 15-round magazines but considering the “all business” intent of this pistol, you’ll want more.
Here’s what’s interesting about the Sig Sauer P229 Legion.
The sights are truly fantastic. Some sights are good in daylight. Others are good in lower light. Some work great against light backgrounds, while others (fiber optic for example) show brightly against dark backgrounds. These are highly functional against most any background in any ambient light condition. The large front dot really jumps into vision.
The trigger also shines. Part of the Gray Guns design is a special short action reset feature. Normal P229 pistols reset after about 3/8ths of an inch of forward travel. This one resets in just 1/8th of an inch. If you shoot for speed using the reset, you’ll love this trigger.
Reliability is boringly consistent. I’ve put over 2,000 rounds through the pistol shown here with near 20 types and styles of 9mm ammo. I’m still waiting for the very first malfunction of any kind.
Overall, you’ll feel the differences. Like a fine car where the doors make a satisfying yet subtle “click” when you shut them, the P229 Legion just oozes quality.


Sliding Doors (The Film) Or A 2014 Mazda 5 Review?
The Mazda 5 smacks of the sporty side of its manufacturer. This model has been designed for a sharper negotiation with the modified steering system. They threw in lightweight stabilisers and increased spring rates to give this car’s suspension an edge and capacity for its stability at speed.
This MPV is powered by either by petrol or diesel, a choice range for the motorist’s preferences in mind. The favourite is the 2.0-litre DISI petrol unit which, fitted with i-Stop stop/start technology, is a 148bhp engine that will sprint the body from 0 to 62mph in a remarkable 11 seconds! Alternatively, you can go for the 1.8-litre petrol engine which churns out 113bhp. This one takes 12.8 seconds to do a 0-62mph sprint. There is also the diesel engine, a 1.6-litre affair with 115bhp.
Design and Build
Design-wise, Mazda opted to remain a little conservative on the Mazda 5. However, its outlook has been livened up with a bold streak in its detail. This is a big boy in the compact MPV section. It has a 2,750mm is wheelbase on its 4,585mm length.
Mazda have adorned this MPV with its trademark sporty headlights. The bumper is a good workout of the grille and air-intake in the centre that grins at the on-coming fellow. However, the real business in its unique design is exhibited by the two lines that artistically flow up over the front wheel arches and waves down the flanks. You will recall this trademark design in such other models as the Furai.
In all fairness, the 2014 Mazda 5 is a very attractive MPV, especially when you turn to the new styling – the sliding doors. This is a convenient addition to the car, a great feature where you have children dashing in and out. In cases where you need to reach out to the kids in the back seats and buckle them up, the sliding doors make it more of a handy feature with great elegance. As if that wasn’t enough convenience, some versions of the Mazda 5 have these sliding doors powered by electric motors.
Although there is a 5-seat option, the 2014 Mazda 5 is generally a 7-seater, giving all the rear seats folding capability. The seats are wide for enhanced comfort. It gives you a sizable luggage space below the parcel shelf, about 434 litres capacity, with the third row seats down. However, you can have more space, about 1,485 litres when you fold the second and third rows.
Market and Model
Appreciating the undisputable fact that safety is most paramount in an MPV, as much as it is in any car for that matter, the Mazda 5 design takes into great consideration the safety of both the occupant and the pedestrian. With strengthened door impact beams, this MPV is built on a special energy absorbing structure and its interior is especially designed to prevent neck injury in case of an accident.
It is also fitted with Mazda’s innovative ESS Emergency Stop Signal. By rapidly flashing lights, the ESS is designed to warn motorists behind of any sudden braking.
Cost of Ownership
Mazda worked well on this 2014 Mazda 5 model’s aerodynamics by etching flowing lines on the exterior, itself a sleek design that makes this MPV attractively sporty. It’s a good buy for growing family; especially that performance is not compromised by its fuel economy. The 2.0-litre DISI petrol unit roles at 41mpg, thanks to its i-Stop stop/start technology. On the other hand, you would do 39mpg with the 1.8-litre petrol engine, emitting CO2 at 168g/km. this is in contrast to the 2.0-litre model that lets out CO2 emissions of 159g/km. A good option still would definitely be 1.6-litre diesel variant. It churns out 115bhp and will run for 54.3mpg on the combined cycle, letting out CO2 emissions at 138g/km.
Although it’s “people carrier,” this 2014 Mazda 5 is a classy MPV with a sleek and curvy design that gives it beauty and capacity. The sliding doors a cool feature on this car. With a seating capacity of up to seven people and equipped with sharp driving dynamics, the 2014 Mazda 5 is a compact MPV to reckon with.
If you want to get hold of the 2014 Mazda 5, don’t hesitate to leave us a message on our contact page, or give us a call on 01903 538835 to find out more about our 2014 Mazda 5 lease deals.
What do you think of the 2014 Mazda 5?
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Nanjing, China orders more than 1,000 BYD electric buses and taxis
05 March 2014
Nanjing, China and Nanjing Public Transportation Group ordered more than 1,000 fully electric transit buses and taxis from BYD Company Ltd. The city will be taking delivery of more than 600 BYD K9 battery-electric Buses, 50 of which were delivered for the city’s Youth Olympic Games in August 2014.
Authorities also placed an order for 400 of BYD’s all-electric e6, a 5-passenger cross-over utility vehicle, some of which have already hit the streets. Nanjing Jiangnan Electric Taxi Ltd. will be operating the electric vehicles.
Nanjing is one of the pilot cities in China that has been chosen by the Central Government to participate in air quality improvement programs. In November of last year, Nanjing and BYD signed a strategic co-operation agreement that also brought BYD to the area to build and develop their zero emission products.
The Nanjing announcement will create one of the world’s largest fleet of pure electric public transport vehicles and certainly the largest supplied by BYD to date. This is a positive sign of the growing acceptance of pure electric transport vehicles such as the ebus having a significant role in making urban environments less polluted.—Isbrand Ho, a BYD Managing Director
Excellent news for BYD and Nanjing. If ten or twenty more large Chinese cities do the same, China will quickly have the most (locally built) e-buses and e-taxis in operation.
Posted by: HarveyD | 05 March 2014 at 03:57 PM
Warren Buffet may have picked another winner (BYD)?
Posted by: HarveyD | 07 March 2014 at 07:16 AM


text:
85% of CFOs say the departure of Baby Boomers in the job market will have a negative impact on their company over the next two years.
Independent research by specialised recruitment company Robert Half reveals that 96% of New Zealand businesses are anticipating a skills gap due to the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946-1964).
- 96% of New Zealand CFOs and financial directors foresee a potential skills gap due to the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation.
- 85% are concerned that the departure of Baby Boomers in the job market will have a negative impact on their company over the next two years.
- Top three measures to prepare for this potential skills gap are hiring mid-level talent to develop a skills pipeline (32%), enhancing employee benefits to retain Baby Boomers (32%) and increasing training and professional development programs (31%).
The research also shows that 85% of New Zealand finance leaders are concerned that the loss of the Baby Boomers will have a negative impact on their company over the next two years.
Megan Alexander, General Manager of Robert Half New Zealand said: "With New Zealand’s Baby Boomer generation retiring over the coming years, companies are increasingly anxious about skills and talent shortages. In order for companies not to lose the expertise and know-how of their experienced employees, companies have to make talent management a priority.”
To ensure they can manage the loss of the Baby Boomer generation on the workforce, 86% of finance leaders are taking measures to counter the potential skills gap. They are making significant commitments to invest in the next generation and are supporting them through measures such as implementing training and professional development programs (31%).
Companies are also considering external solutions and plan to recruit mid-level (32%) and senior-level (22%) employees who, via the necessary knowledge transfer, can be used to the maximum extent within the company in the short term.
Megan Alexander continued: "In meeting this challenge the first step for Kiwi companies will be to undertake a thorough inventory of the core skills they have in-house and the ones they will have to replace. Potential successors should subsequently be readied in time by targeted training and mentoring programs.”
“For skills that are not available internally, companies will have to recruit new staff members that possess the necessary skills and expertise. This will create new and additional job opportunities as companies look at both senior and less senior profiles to fill these roles.”
Although the official retirement age in New Zealand is set at 65 years, many Baby Boomers will continue to work for several years to come. Businesses are therefore making efforts to attract and retain this generation in the workforce longer by enhancing their employee benefits (32%) or by offering flexible and/or part-time work arrangements (18%).
Megan Alexander said: “Baby Boomers have built up extensive experience and specific skills. It’s therefore not surprising that businesses wish to retain them as long as possible. Offering interim or part-time contracts to employees nearing retirement can be an ideal way to keep the knowledge of Baby Boomers in the company while at the same time offering the necessary flexibility.”
How is your company preparing for the potential 'skills gap' resulting from the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation?
Source: independent survey commissioned by Robert Half among 100 New Zealand CFOs and finance directors – multiple answers allowed
About the research
The annual study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted in June 2015 by an independent research firm, surveying 100 Chief Financial Officers (CFO) and finance directors in New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management and trends in the workplace.

domain: finance


Basic of SCADA Programming – Function,Application
Basic Of SCADA:
What is SCADA?
In process industry, many enterprises are going for manufacturing resource planning (MRP) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in the business for
1. Elimination of duplicate data system throughout the enterprise.
2. To provide preventative and cost effective maintenance scheduling.
3. To provide more accurate and timely data to support business process.
To achieve above objectives the supervisory control system is designed on the standard level and to the proprietary level also. This is called as the SCADA. The SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition.
- As the name indicates, it is not full control system but rather it focus on the supervisory level.
- At actual, it is a software package i.e. positioned on the top of the hardware to which it is interfaced. In general this hardware is either the programmable logic controller, programmable automation controller or other commercial hardware modules.
- Thus the SCADA is a central control system that monitors and controls complete site or system.
- For example a PLC may control the flow of cooling water through part of industrial process, but SCADA system may allow operator to change the control set point for low and will allow alarm conditions such as loss of flow of high temperature to be recorded and displays.
What are the functions of SCADA systems?
The supervisory control and data acquisition systems are useful multipurpose utility management and control tools.
The modern SCADA system may incorporate the following functions
- System monitoring
- System control
- System management
- Demand side management
1. System monitoring:
- All SCADA system provides real time monitoring of utility system status.
- Most of the SCADA systems have sufficient accuracy for metering.
- It includes the detection of local and remote signal status, and the status of sequence of events.
2. System control:
- These controls include corrective control, preventive control and emergency control.
- The corrective control activates when the system parameters crosses the set point values towards upper or lower levels.
- The preventive control is actually sort of protection control which does not allow to accumulate the unexpected status of the system parameters to lead to worst levels.
- The emergency control is the type of system control in which the normal operation of the system is suspended and the alert signals are generated to draw the attention of the operator or it is accomplished automatically.
3. System management:
- The SCADA system collects real time data for future use and analysis.
- This data is then used for off-line system analysis of losses, load conditions and fault frequencies.
- The recorded sequence of events data may be analyzed quickly to identify the origin of electrical faults.
4. Demand-side management:
- This function is applicable for energy management and electrical supply scheduling.
- Using the remote and automatic control of circuit breakers, SCADA system can be used in load management to reduce peak hours of power consumptions.
Explain the benefits of the SCADA.
- SCADA system can help industries to save time and money.
- It can eliminate the need of frequent visits to site for personal inspection, adjustments and data collection.
- The SCADA software enables to monitor the operation in real time.
- It can modify the present system in flexible way.
- It can auto generate the reports and troubleshooting tasks.
- It improves the efficiency of the set up and reduces the operational costs.
Which are the applications of the SCADA?
- Electrical power generation, transmission and distribution: Here the electric utilities use SCADA system to detect current flow and line voltage, to monitor the operation of the circuit breakers.
- Water and Sewage: State and Municipal water utilities use SCADA to monitor and regulate water flow, reservoir levels, pipe pressure and other factors.
- Buildings, facilities and environments: Facility managers use SCADA to control refrigeration units, lighting, entry and parking systems.
- Manufacturing industry: SCADA systems manage parts inventories, regulate industrial automation and robots.
- Traffic signals: SCADA regulates traffic lights, control traffic flow and detects out-of-order signals.
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Introduction to Pressure Vessels Vessels, tanks, and pipelines that carry, store, or receive fluids are called pressure vessels. A pressure vessel is defined as a container with a pressure...
Knuckle Joint - Parts, Diagram, Design Calcuation, Applications
Knuckle Joint A knuckle joint is used to connect two rods which are under the action of tensile loads. However, if the joint is guided, the rods may support a compressive load. A knuckle joint...