My excuse(s)

My excuse(s)
So, my blog has been pretty quiet of late. I have a few excuses. I got married on May 17th and we went on our honeymoon to Ireland right after the wedding. Click here to see a few pictures--Ireland is beautiful.

I'm also back on the Internet at home, which is helpful when it comes to a blog. We went with Clearwire, primarily because we don't plan on getting cable and they mark up the Roadrunner rate for non-subscribers, and we don't plan on getting landline phone service, which rules out DSL. I was a little nervous based on a few Internet comments that I found, but I've been impressed with their service and support so far.

That's about it from here. I'm looking forward to getting out to a Rhinos game soon. It was evident that they improved food and added some enhancements to PAETEC Park at the Rattlers opener. Attendance has been modest by their standards, but that's not surprisingly given the bumps this past off season. Hopefully they'll win a few games and gain some momentum. The off-the-field moves have certainly been helpful.
Source: brettdaly.blogspot.com

Outdoor Wall Lighting - Enhancement of Image and Security Posted By : Barbara Tobiasz
Lighting design is the planning of a lighting system to achieve optimal lighting effect in a given space. This design is often an under appreciated element of home decor. Outdoor wall lighting with placement alone can give you the feeling of elegance and security. Perfect outdoor wall lighting is a bright idea that adds to the image of your home and can increase your homes value.
Source: www.articlesphere.com

RIT Hockey Defeats Cornell 4-1

Congrats to the Tigers for beating #18 Cornell 4-1. RIT played the game at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester, and a program record 5, 142 fans attended--with 80% or so cheering for RIT. The Tigers dominated in special teams play with two power play goals and seven successful penalty kills, and that was the difference. Ultimately, it was a defining moment for this third-year Division 1 program: a lot of people got exposed to the team for the first time locally and it made a statement nationally.
Source: brettdaly.blogspot.com

Free Parking in Downtown Rochester
That's right, from November 24th to January 2nd, the City of Rochester will be offering free downtown parking at night and on weekends. It's a move to encourage area residents to attend downtown events. It's a good move that should help boost attendance for events and help downtown businesses. The city may want to consider expanding this program in an effort to continue to encourage business at non-peak times.
Source: brettdaly.blogspot.com

The Resurgence of the Rochester Rhinos and PAETEC Park?
The Rochester Sport Group's financial issues have been a popular story here in Rochester. Due to a $10 million loan that the ownership team took on for PAETEC Park, they've found themselves overleveraged. That issue caused the organization to fall behind on its obligations which ultimately put the 2008 soccer season in jeopardy. Thankfully, an individual tied to one of the banks that provided the loan, Rob Clark, had an interest in running a sports team and decided to purchase the team and stadium.

This is exciting for two reasons. First off, the team has been plagued by a lack of marketing thanks to a cash-poor organization. Suddenly, that burden has been removed. Within the first week, the new owner fired an unpopular coach, signed a popular former player to coach the team, signed an international player to also assistant coach, and began working to replace a food vendor that many complained about with a local vendor. Even further, $4 million in state funding to complete the stadium was being held up due to the team's financial issues. That's being released and the stadium will be "completed" for 2009.

This has led to a surge in season ticket sales. They're already above 3, 000, so they should top last year's number despite the majority of the off-season being mired in controversy. And, perhaps more importantly, the stadium will be finished, which will give it the opportunity to live up to its full potential. There's a buzz about the Rochester Rhinos and soccer in general again, and that's certainly a breath of fresh air.
Source: brettdaly.blogspot.com

Central Heating - Whats the Right System For You? Posted By : Harry Young
When it comes to choosing a central heating system, it pays to be informed. Heating your home, especially in colder climates, is of huge importance to not only personal health, but also the health of the building and your bank balance. With various types of central heating available, each offering different benefits, let's look at three of the most common: gas, oil and LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas). All three are ideal for home heating needs - central heating, water, fires, ovens and cookers, but vary in suitability, installation and efficiency.
Source: www.articlesphere.com

Excellus's Radiology Management Program
Yesterday, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Rochester kicked off a new radiology management program. In a nutshell, it requires doctors to fill out paperwork, fax it out-of-state, and then await approval from CareCore International before patients can access these services (unless they are in the emergency room). The point of this program is to minimize the hefty expenses that come with radiology services. The Monroe County Medical Society has concerns about this program and they've posted a letter to Excellus patients on their website, while many doctors are distributing that letter on their own.

To me, this seems like another reason not to fear a national healthcare system. Our per-capita spending is well above nations with superior health indicators, while we're seeing measures like this one implemented across the country anyway. But, who knows, maybe we'll actually see a rate increase that's not greater than inflation thanks to this program. Time will tell, although I wouldn't hold my breath.

Update: The Democrat & Chronicle reported on early complaints tied to this program (11/1/2007). Click here for the article.
Source: brettdaly.blogspot.com