Sunday, July 1, 2012

SENATOR Loren Legarda enjoined Filipinos, particularly concerned government agencies, community stakeholders, and the people of Ifugao, to support efforts in bringing back the magnificence of the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

I am glad to receive the news that the Ifugao Rice Terraces are no longer in the list of World Heritage in danger. This should inspire everyone to exert more effort in the full restoration of the beauty and cultural integrity of the terraces, said Legarda, who chairs the Senate committees on climate change and cultural communities.

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recently announced the removal of the Ifugao Rice Terraces from the World Heritage in Danger List during the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee in St. Petersburg, Russia, citing improvements in their conservation.

The terraces were included in the danger list in 2001 due to the absence of the necessary monitoring mechanism and management plan to preserve the national landmark.

In welcoming the good news, Legarda said there remains more work to be done in order to ensure sustainability of the world-renowned terraces.

Earlier in the year, the senator visited the Bangaan cluster, one of the five rice terrace clusters inscribed in the World Heritage List, and conducted an onsite consultative meeting, during which various concerns were raised including reported smallscale mining activities in barangays which host the clusters.

Without a doubt, the Ifugao Rice Terraces are among our remarkable treasures as a nation. Visitors will be captivated by the enchanting and picturesque landscapes and will be enthralled by the magnificence of these terrace clusters, which is why it is important that we immediately carry out programs that would restore the terraces original state of grandeur, she said.

Furthermore, we have to preserve the rice terraces not only for tourism purposes but more importantly for sustenance and sustainable development, especially that traditional farming is still being practiced in the area, she said. (Rubyloida Bitog)

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Senator pushes for more Terraces restoration works

NEWARK, Del. (DELMARVA POWER) Delmarva Power continues to make significant progress restoring power to customers who lost service following Friday night's violent wind storm. Of the 84,000 customers who lost power, more than 60 percent 54,000 customershave been restored. Delmarva Power crews will be working through the weekend to restore power.

"There has been a significant amount of damage to our electrical system caused by uprooted trees and snapped poles. We will continue to work around the clock to restore power to these remaining customers," said Delmarva Power Region President Gary Stockbridge. "This has been a massive undertaking, and we will not let up until service to all our customers is restored."

This extensive restoration effort has enabled the company to exercise some of the capabilities of newly installed smart meter technology. For example, Delmarva Power is pinging the smart meters to determine whether some customers' service is back on without having to inconvenience the customer, or dispatch a crew to the impacted location. Traditionally the utility has depended heavily on customers calling to report outages in deciding where to most efficiently dispatch crews. The Company also has traditionally telephoned customers to verify restorations.

As restoration work progresses, customers may receive more targeted estimated times of restoration (ETR).

Delmarva Power Encourages Safety Precautions

After severe storms, Delmarva Power urges customers to take safety precautions. Our safety tips include:

Customers Asked to Report Power Outages and Downed Wires Customers' reports are vital to Delmarva Power's restoration efforts. If you experience an outage or see a downed or damaged power line, call Delmarva Power:

To report a Delmarva natural gas emergency in New Castle County, Del.: 302-454-0317

Continued here:
UPDATE: Delmarva Power Continues Restoration Effort

ROCKVILLE, MD--(Marketwire -06/29/12)- With thousands of homes lost and tens of thousands of acres burned by the wildfires in the Western United States, the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) has these recommendations for residents whose homes and possessions have been impacted by wildfire smoke damage.

"There is little comfort we can offer at this time other than to educate people on how to properly salvage and manage what may remain of their property," said Sam Bergman, CR, president of the RIA.

"Falling debris from unstable areas in the home and burn residues that may contain lead, asbestos or other contaminants are dangerous," explained Bergman. "Electrical hazards from downed lines may also be a problem."

Having the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) before entering the property is critical. "Wildfires burn primarily wood and vegetation, but there can be numerous pollutants in the air, so proper PPE is essential for anyone working in a fire-damaged environment," said Bergman. Gloves, goggles, boots, and in some cases, respirators, are among the items that individuals should have on before entering a damaged building.

Here are some do's and don'ts:

For more safety tips, information on how to work with insurance companies, and to locate a certified fire restoration specialist, visit http://www.restorationindustry.org and click on the "publications" menu.

The Restoration Industry Association has member firms worldwide. RIA provides industry leadership, supports science, and promotes best practices for cleaning and restoration. More information is available on the RIA website: http://www.restorationindustry.org.

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RIA Offers Restoration Tips for Residents Impacted by Wildfires

The Brinkerhoff Home Foundation, which has maintained the Victorian brick mansion at 1500 N. Fifth St. since the 1970s, may have done its job too well, its president says.

In a letter sent to foundation members earlier this week, the foundation board reported that Benedictine University at Springfield intends to take over control of the house, which it owns, and use the restored first floor for offices and meeting space.

The decision could mean the end of the foundation, said John Bucari, its president.

Were still trying to wrap our minds around what were going to do, he said.

But Benedictine marketing and communications manager Scott McCullar said Wednesday the university intends to use only one-third of the first floor two west parlors for offices. The school wants the home to remain available for tours, weddings and other special events.

The living room and library wont be used by Benedictine, he said. The dining room would be used as a conference room and multipurpose space, but will be kept intact and historically preserved.

Were very appreciative of the Brinkerhoff Foundation and what theyve done, McCullar said. We hope we can cooperatively work together. We certainly didnt want to see the end of the foundation.

Campus jewel

He said he hopes people touring the home still will be able to see the two parlor rooms, too.

We want to keep it open for public view, he said. It is the jewel of the campus.

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Brinkerhoff Home Foundation could disband, president says

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal's legendary monstersimaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries,filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of Dracula and the first ever offering of Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-ray 3D version.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120628/LA32327)

From the era of silent movies through the present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection honors the studio's accomplishments with the most iconic monsters in motion-picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Featuring performances by legends of the horror genre, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester, these eight iconic films also feature groundbreaking special effects and innovative makeup that continue to influence filmmakers into the 21st century. Sure to be a Halloween favorite for years to come, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is the ideal gift for film buffs and horror aficionados alike.

Synopses and Bonus Features Dracula (1931) The original 1931 movie version of Bram Stoker's classic tale has for generations defined the iconic look and terrifying persona of the famed vampire.Dracula owes its continued appeal in large part due to Bela Lugosi's indelible portrayal of the immortal Count Dracula and the flawless direction of horror auteur Tod Browning. The Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection includes the original version of this chilling and evocative tale, as well as the rarely seen Spanish version of Dracula. Filmed simultaneously with the English language version, the Spanish version of Dracula is an equally ominous vision of the horror classic shot with the same sets and script. Cinematographer George Robinson and a vibrant cast including Carlos Villarias and Lupita Tovar deliver a chilling and evocative tale filled with the same terror, mystery, and intrigue.

Bonus Features:

Frankenstein (1931)Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most tragic and iconic monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with the essential nature of life and death by creating a monster (Karloff) out of lifeless human body parts. Director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel and Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity make Frankenstein a timeless masterpiece.

Bonus Features:

The Mummy (1932)Horror icon Boris Karloff stars in the original 1932 version of The Mummy in which a team of British archaeologists accidentally revives a mummified high priest after 3,700 years. Alive again, he sets out on an obsessiveand deadlyquest to find his lost love. Over 50 years after its first release, this brooding dream-like horror classic remains a cinematic masterpiece.

Bonus Features:

The Invisible Man (1933) Claude Rains delivers an unforgettable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives in a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery, but the drug's side effects slowly drive him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Based on H.G. Welles' classic novel and directed by the master of macabre, James Whale, The Invisible Man fueled a host of sequels and features revolutionary special effects that are still imitated today.

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From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: Universal Classic Monsters: the Essential Collection

Conservation Italy Baroque building is home to Academy of Science and Egypt museum

By Ermanno Rivetti. Web only Published online: 28 June 2012

Six years of restoration work has brought a number of rooms in the Collegio dei Nobili, one of Turins most significant examples of baroque architecture, back to their full glory. The Compagnia di San Paolo charitable foundation provided 7.8m ($9.7m) for the project.

The building houses the Accademia delle Scienze, and work was carried out on the ceilings, floors, tapestries and furniture in the academys rooms, while the grand staircase, designed by the architect Guarino Guarini, was extensively renovated. The project was overseen by Valerio Corino, an architect from Turins architectural soprintendenza (board for cultural heritage).

Work was delayed following a flood in 2009, the result of a faulty fire alarm system, which caused more damage to one of the rooms. The building also houses the Museo Egizio, considered the third most important Egyptian museum after The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, and the British Museum, London.

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Restoration completed at Turin’s Collegio dei Nobili

Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust

News release

FT013

28 June 2012

Swap - 1

Kiwi home-swap deepens the gene pool

Collaboration highlights complex nature of NZ conservation

Eight young North Island Brown kiwi switched Bays today in a home-swapping story that illustrates perfectly the complex scientific, collaborative private/public partnership that kiwi conservation has become. Two young males and two young females from the Forest Lifeforce Restoration (FLR) Trusts Maungataniwha Native Forest in inland Hawkes Bay set off for their new home in the Whirinaki Forest Park in neighbouring Bay of Plenty, and were replaced by four birds from there.

Although in different provinces the Whirinaki and Maungataniwha forests are only about 25 km apart. The transfer will boost the genetic diversity of both projects kiwi population as the birds that have been put back into both forests through Operation Nest Egg have been the offspring of fewer than 15 breeding pairs, with most coming from just a few good breeders.

Without this human-induced genetic dispersal in-breeding may eventually result, said Sarah King, protected species ranger at DOCs Te Urewera Area Office. This would lead to reduced health among the birds and the potential for populations to fall victim to disease, which in turn could have catastrophic results.

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Kiwi home-swap deepens the gene pool

The seminal Jackson Pollock work Mural will travel from the University of Iowa to J. Paul Getty conservation officials in Los Angeles. (Deb Barber/Iowa City Press-Citizen/Associated Press)

Mural, the seminal, larger-than-life work that represented a sea change in abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock's career, will be travelling from Iowa to Los Angeles this summer for a little nip and tuck.

The painting, which is nearly 70 years old, is being shipped to the Getty Center, where scientists at the Getty's Conservation Institute and curators at its J. Paul Getty Museum hope to restore it to pristine condition.

When the work is complete, the oil-on-canvas painting will be exhibited at the Getty Center museum for three months before it is returned to its owner, the University of Iowa.

The work is more than two metres high and nearly six metres long. It represents a key moment in Pollock's career, as he began to move from creating more symbolic, regional forms to the abstract expressionism that would reach full bloom in his famous "drip" paintings, in which he poured paint directly onto the canvas.

"It may be the most important painting from the second half of the 20th century," said Tom Lerner, head of modern and contemporary art research at the Getty Conservation Institute.

Pollock created it as a commission from wealthy art collector Peggy Guggenheim, who gave it to the University of Iowa in 1951.

The work, filled with colorful, twisting animal-like forms, was described by the artist himself as representing a stampede of animals from the American West.

Although it is dated 1943, Pollock is said to have created it in one burst of frenetic activity on New Year's Day 1944, after complaining for months that he was "blocked" and couldn't come up with an idea to put on canvas for Guggenheim.

"I've had to tear out the partition between the front and middle room to get the damned thing up," he once wrote of the painting's size. "I have it stretched now. It looks pretty big, but exciting as all hell."

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Jackson Pollock mural hits the road for restoration

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recognized as the number one home inspection company by Entrepreneur Magazine, AmeriSpec, one of the nation's leading home inspection companies, celebrates 25 years of delivering professional and quality home inspections to buyers and real estate agents.

"Over the last 25 years, AmeriSpec has provided buyers and real estate agents with a professional, comprehensive 400-point general home inspection," said Kathy Thiessen, vice president and general manager. "Buying or selling a home is a large investment of time and resources. We're proud to provide the confidence buyers and agents need, and to help reduce the risk of unwanted surprises."

Recommending a professional home inspector with the proper qualifications could mean the difference between a smooth real estate transaction and unfortunate roadblocks. Through state-of-the-art training and the AmeriSpec Report Binder, AmeriSpec home inspectors can help reduce the risks involved in buying a home.

For real estate agents, a professional inspection can help improve sales, help provide fewer objections in price listing and help reduce the overall listing time for a client.

For a home buyer, a professional home inspection helps provide assurance in making a sound buying decision, can help reduce the risk of unwanted surprises after move in and provides valuable details about a home.

"AmeriSpec provides our sales professionals and customers the confidence of knowing the property is being inspected by one of the nation's leading home inspection companies," said Rei L. Mesa, president and chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate Services in Florida. "AmeriSpec inspectors are trained with the highest industry standards, which translates into exceeding our customer's expectations. We could not be more pleased with our professional preferred service partnership with AmeriSpec and look forward to the next 25 years of continued exceptional service for our customers."

In addition to general home inspections, AmeriSpec also offers relocation inspections, energy assessments, commercial property inspections, radon gas testing, mold testing, water analysis, septic testing, pool and spa inspections and many more. For a full list of services, please visit http://www.amerispec.com.

About AmeriSpec

AmeriSpec has more than 150 independently-owned and operated franchises located throughout the United States and Canada. AmeriSpec has performed more than 1.5 million quality home inspections. The company, which has been in operation since 1987, is one of seven companies in the ServiceMaster family of brands. The other companies include TruGreen, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids and Furniture Medic. For more information, call 1-800-426-2270 or visit http://www.amerispec.com.

About ServiceMaster

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AmeriSpec(R) Celebrates 25 Years as an Industry Leader in Home Inspections

MORGAN CITY, LA (WAFB) -

A fire at the Joseph J. Cefalu Sr Municipal Steam Plant in Morgan City knocked out power to the majority of the city Tuesday evening, but there are signs it could be restored Wednesday.

Officials initially said some residents could start getting their electricity back around 6 a.m., but a problem has pushed their estimates back to the afternoon.

St. Mary Parish is opening shelters to give people in Morgan City relief from the heat. The Morgan City Municipal Auditorium will be open for use to escape the heat for a short time. There will be NO food or water provided. Those who need a ride to the shelter can call 337-828-5703.

Officials said crews inspecting the damages from the explosion found them to be more extensive than their preliminary evaluation.

The plan is to start testing circuits when a minimal load is secured at the plant. Customers should be aware if their power turns on and off again it is probably due to the testing.

Officials ask people to please not contact the city to report that outage again.

Crews have managed to power up generators to operate the sewer and water functions. The city asks for people to continue to minimize their water use for things like toilets, tubs, sinks, etc. Officials said their drinking water is not impacted.

Mayor Tim Matte declared a state of emergency and asked for a dusk to dawn curfew.

A transformer at the plant caught fire around 6 p.m. Firefighters battled the fire for an hour before bringing it under control.

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Officials push back power restoration time for Morgan City