 62,000 MW installed capacity at the time of publication). The authors further estimated that this mortality constitutes less than 0.05% of any of the small passerine populations (the most abundant bird group in North America) impacted by wind turbines. This amount pales in comparison to far great sources of human-caused avian mortality such as buildings and windows (365-988 Million), overhead transmission lines (12-64 Million); communication towers (6.5 Million); oil waste water pits (500,000-1 Million).
Although wind energy has much lower effects than many other industries on wildlife, the wind industry has dedicated itself for decades to a legacy of caring for the environment and wildlife. The American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI), the latest of the collaborative efforts developed over the last three decades between the wind industry and other stakeholders, brings together the wind industry and conservation organizations including the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, and The Wilderness Society. It works to evaluate the impacts of the wind industry and develop practical solutions to minimizing the negative effects of the wind industry on wildlife and their habitats. One of the first efforts undertaken by AWWI, developed under contract with The Nature Conservancy, was the development of a Landscape Assessment Tool (LAT) an online mapping tool, which allows wind developers to evaluate wildlife and other resources when choosing sites. Unlike ABC’s map, the point of these maps, however, is not to ban development in any particular area, but rather to inform developers of the potential risks, which in turn can be used to develop site-specific study plans to better evaluate the risk and ultimately determine the development suitability of the site.
On the whole, the wind industry does more to study, monitor, and mitigate for its limited impacts than any other energy sector. Further, most conservation groups support the development of wind power because they know that it will help address climate change, which unlike wind energy’s impacts, threatens entire populations of wildlife. Our modern economy requires significant amounts of energy, and deciding how to produce that energy requires a careful analysis. When all the variables are considered, wind energy is the right choice for powering our society and protecting our wildlife and their habitats.
What? A big series against the Cubs???
By Hal McCoy
So raise your hand if you thought a series with the Chicago Cubs in mid-April would mean something to the Cincinnati Reds?
Put your hand down, Bryan Price. Your opinion is prejudicial, but understandable.
Hey, whoever thought any series against the Chicago Cubs would mean anything at any point of the season. But these are no longer little cubbies, these are big, bad bears.
AND THE CUBS are doing what most folks believed they would do this year, all the way to the World Series. They are 5-and-1.
Nobody outside the Reds clubhouse thought the Reds would be 5-and-1 at this point and playing a series against the Cubs for first place in the National League Central.
Sure, the sampling is miniscule, but the first week certainly was fun for the Reds and their fans, expecting nothing and getting everything.
The team many thought would lose 95 to 100 games, is populated by a lot of young talent and a lot of strangers. But it is also populated by six fairly seasoned veterans in Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart, Billy Hamilton and Devin Mesoraco.
AND NOBODY, BUT nobody, would believe the Reds are 5-and-1 with Votto hitting.174, Hamilton hitting.143 and Mesoraco hitting.125.
But there the Reds are, tied with the Cubs for first place, as they open a three-game series tonight in Wrigley Field.
Jay Bruce, so far resurrecting his career with a.391 start to his 2016 season, offered an interesting comment to a question after his game-ending triple in the ninth inning beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1.
When asked if the fans can expect this team’s success to continue, Bruce’s answer was an answer that permeates the clubhouse: “The fans can expect whatever they want, to be honest. We’re not surprised at all. We were very comfortable with our offense coming into the year. And this is the deepest bench we’ve had since I’ve been here. We have the depth and ability to cover all the spots.”
AND PRICE HAD some interesting remarks about the Reds embarking on a six-game trip to Chicago and St. Louis, beginning tonight in Wrigley, the Cubs home opener.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Price. “The fans in Chicago always bring energy, no matter what their team is projected to do or not do. It isn’t like they go to the ballpark to boo the Cubs. They love their team, whether they are expected to win the World Series or finish in last place.
“Wherever you go on Opening Day there is electricity, but there may be a bit more in Chicago this year due to the expectations.
“It is good for our club, too,” he added. “Those are fun environments to manage in. There is a lot ruckus. There are high expectations and they are a team expected to compete for the World Series against a team that is not.
“For me, it is fun,” said Price. “I think our guys, guys who are together and love to be in our clubhouse together, guys who fully pull for one another, will like the challenge.”
Whether that is a bunch of bravado and hubris remains to be seen. The answer will be provided over the next six games.
And Price emphasized the attitude he has by saying, “There is no reason for our guys to make things bigger than they are.”
It is much too early to make things too big, but as Bruce said after his game-winning hit Sunday, “Just think small.” And then big things happen.
One thought on “What? A big series against the Cubs???”
Loving your site Hal…Keep up the great work (as you’ve always done.
TraceWhat makes us think, feel, and act, a certain way?
Dr. Hamer's first position as a physician was in a psychiatric university clinic where he saw people living in a closed ward on many psychotropic drugs. They were in the most horrible and hopeless conditions imaginable.
Because he never forgot the suffering he witnessed, after he mapped out the brain and discovered the cause, progression, and natural resolution of physical symptoms, he turned his attention toward the world of "mental illness."
Even more controversial: What makes a person gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender?
THIS IS A NEW DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, & BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
It applies to infants, children, adults, seniors.
Constellations of the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebral medulla.
Constellations of the cerebral cortex outside the territorial area.
Hormonal changes, handedness, maturity stop.
This program is currently underway and the class is closed.
It will open again in early 2022. Please join the Wait List by putting your email in the little sliver of a box below. There is no obligation.
Did you have to pay plusvalía tax when you sold at a loss?
Did you know you could claim this tax back?
Plusvalía is a local tax levied on the vendor when selling a property. It represents the increase of value in the land and is paid to the local council. It is calculated using the rateable value of the property (cadastral value) and the number of years the proprietor owned the property before selling, donation or inheritance.
After recent changes in the law, it’s now possible to claim back plusvalía tax payment in some cases. They depend on how the tax was paid and the timescale for payment.
Prime Legal can offer you advice on your situation and help you reclaim this tax from the local council.
If so, you can claim back mortgage expenses and appeal against the interest-rate floor clause.
What are mortgage expenses and which can you claim back?
Mortgage expenses are the costs you paid when you took out your mortgage. They include notary and property registry office fees, Stamp Duty tax (AJD in Spanish), the costs of the property valuation and the gestoría.
– Notary – the cost of the mortgage title deed.
– Valuation of the property.
– Registry – the cost of registering the mortgage with the property registry.
– Gestoría – when it was a bank condition to use one.
– Mortgage arrangement fee.
Important: There is no expiry date to claim these costs even if you already cancelled the mortgage.
The first step is to try for an out-of-court settlement. Present your invoices to the bank and request a refund of the costs you paid. Note however, that banks are generally not refunding these expenses.
If your bank does offer you an agreement, it’s sensible to take legal advice before accepting since in many cases, the bank is obliged to refund a higher amount than that stated in the agreement.
If there is no agreement forthcoming, the only alternative is to take the bank to court. But don’t panic, it’s not nearly as difficult as it seems!
We will ask you for the documents required and help you obtain any you don’t have. We will also explain your chances of winning the case and the steps to take.
We will assist you in obtaining power of attorney for us to represent you and your interests. Powers of attorney can be drawn up in Spain or in your home country (certain conditions apply). We then start work