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News and Tips
October 2011 |
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Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.
1715 South 324th Place, Suite 250
Federal Way, Washington 98003
(800) 574-0414 (253) 661-2711
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Greetings ,
Election Season
The election is right around the corner. If you are in Washington state, your ballot should be in your mailbox this week. Remember that it needs to be postmarked by no later than November 8th. I have been walking the neighborhoods of Federal Way for the past few months and have gotten to know some truly wonderful people. I will almost be sorry when election season is over.
Have a great month.
Best wishes always,
Roger Flygare
CEO Flygare & Associates, INC.
By the way...
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Here's how you can help!
- Buy your Hometown Heroes Raffle tickets at one of over 3,900 Lottery retailers for $10. (You could win one of over 3,200 prizes!) Tickets are on sale through November 10, the drawing will be held on November 11.
- Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers and anyone you meet about the Hometown Heroes Raffle and how they can support Washington's Veterans by getting their ticket today!
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 Roger is running for
Federal Way City Council Position #3
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The Video Vault
By Chris Lewis
Welcome back to The Video Vault
When we left off in August, we were just about to discuss the effects that the digital age would have on video camera technology and the advancements it would provide.
In the very early 1990's a company called Ampex used D-1 form factor to create DCT, a fancy way of saying it was the first digital format that utilized data compression, a way to format information using fewer bits, pieces of information, than the original code.
In 1995 Sony, JVC and Panasonic along with some other companies launched DV, digital video, which quickly became the de-facto standard for home video production and would work its way into the business world.
Not to be outdone, a company out of Europe named Ikegami introduced the first tapeless video recording system.
It was not until early 2000 when Panasonic launched its own DV called DVCPRO HD, expanding the DV codec to support high definition. The format was intended for use in professional camcorders and used in full-size DVCPRO cassettes. In 2003 Sony, JVC, Canon and Sharp introduced the first truly affordable high definition video format which used inexpensive MiniDV cassettes called HDV.
In 2003 Sony pioneered the first tapeless video format, which uses a professional disc as recording media named XDCAM. Panasonic followed the next year, offering a solid state memory cards as recording medium for DVCPRO HD video called P2.
Just as our time flies by, so does the technology when it comes to the history of the video camera.
Please tune in next month for the continued readings of the history of the video camera.
Chris Lewis
If you would like more information on this or any of our previous stories from the video vault call or send an e-mail to:
RGflygare@flygare.com
All calls and e-mails are considered private and highly confidential. |
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September Question:
What is the longest river in the United States?
Check back next month for the September trivia time answer.
*Last month's trivia time question:
What is the largest land animal?
Answer: African Elephant
Click here for a sneak peek at this months trivia time answer |
FIND Carib Raj's Treasure!
Ahoy, Mateys and Matresses! To collect the spoils of adventure troll through the Flygare website and be the first person to locate this month's Carib Raj treasure chest. It washes ashore on a different page each month!
To claim your prize, be the first to click on the treasure chest each month and fill out the form. (Only eligible to win one time per year)
May the fair winds keep your sails ever full.
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Transcription Corner
Anna Hirsch
Head Transcriptionist
After listening to the local weather forecasts and predictions
about what we might expect with another La Nina winter, I decided to depart from the normal transcription article and focus on something we all need to be aware of, winter safety.
From what I have heard for the last several weeks on the news, we can expect above average rainfall than normal for our area and I more recently heard they are forecasting a winter like 2007 with more snow/ice storms this winter. Are you prepared?
In 2007 I was attending ITT Technical Institute in Tukwila, about 20-25 minutes from my house in Federal Way. It was the first night of the new quarter. I arrived at school at 5:30 for my 6:00 class and as I arrived the snow started dumping. By 6:30 school officials were going around classrooms and telling everyone to make sure they got their books at the bookstore before the left and to go home.
I was on the road by 7:00pm and I have never experiences anything like it. I-5 was literally a parking lot with many vehicles already spun out, some abandoned and many stuck in the snow & ice with their tires spinning. Slowly I made my way towards home with only about 1/3 tank of gas and a cell phone with a low battery. I don't think I ever once made it above 10mph. I had no supplies with me, no food or water and I thought for sure I'd run out of gas before I got home.
After dodging stalled and abandoned vehicles which littered I-5 in all lanes, multiple articulated buses that spun out and were jackknifed and stuck, semi's that could not navigate any of the inclines on I-5, and pedestrians on the freeway, I walked in my front door at 11:10pm with just a few fumes left in my gas tank.
I learned a valuable lesson that day ~ be prepared, which obviously I was not prepared on this particular trip.
I saw on the local news last night about a new campaign being pushed for being prepared for bad winter weather. I want to share a few things I saw on the news and what I learned from my own trip.
Prior to the bad weather setting in make sure your car is in good working order. Check brakes, wipers, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, batteries and the electrical system. Once the bad weather sets in tire dealerships and mechanics are overloaded and you may not be able to get in for services right away.
Keep emergency supplies in your car. Items you should always have in your car for bad weather include: winter clothes for each person (gloves/mittens, coats, hats, scarves), a blanket for each traveler, rain gear, safety beacon/flashing light, deicer for car, ice scraper/brush, small shovel and traction aids (sand, non-clumping litter, chains), granola bars or other non-perishable foods and water. Be prepared is the name of the game.
One last suggestion, do not call 911 unless it's a true emergency. Last year in the snow storm people flooded 911 with calls about their cars getting stuck in the snow and the 911 system was overloaded. Save 911 for true emergencies.
A great resource for winter preparedness for not only your travels but your home as well is the website:
Http://TakeWinterByStorm.org
This website is part of the new push out there to help us all be prepared and ready for when the bad weather hits.
I urge you all to take the time to prepare now and save yourself some grief later. Let's all have a safe winter this year, be prepared.
~Anna Hirsch
Flygare & Associates In-House Transcription Department transcribes a variety of hearings, meetings, videos, text messages, voice messages, emails, etc. We are here for all your transcription needs.
For more information about transcription or any of the other litigation support services that we offer visit us at www.flygare.com
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Heaven's in Alaska
By Colleen Donovan
On September 24, 2011 at about 1 p.m., I visited the closest thing to heaven I have seen. It was Lake Clark and Port Alsworth, Alaska. Not being much for crying and never having heard of doing it from experiencing a place, I was surprised to find myself fighting a tear from the profoundness of beauty of the area. I have seen my share of places, but I would have bet money that all of the truly beautiful places in the United States were densely inhabited.
I was told by our pilot that Port Alsworth has a year-round population of about 100 people. It is accessible only by aircraft and is 160 miles southwest of Anchorage. The people we met are good, kind, and spiritual; and they are vastly outnumbered by the wildlife. Brown and black bears, moose, wolves, caribou, lynx, and dall sheep roam the area, and the local fish include salmon, arctic char, arctic grayling, Dolly varden, northern pike, lake trout, and rainbow trout.
We were flown from Port Alsworth to Twin Lakes to explore the area and examine the cabin where Dick Proenneke lived for 30 years. It was about a 45-minute flight in a float plane from Port Alsworth, deeper into the wilderness. I saw the claw marks above Dick's cabin door where a grizzly bear chased him into his cabin and tried to claw his way in, and I sat on the furniture he made from his very limited hand tools. He had three coffee cans on ropes hanging from the corners of the cabin to alert him when bears were nosing around. I saw his bear-proof log food storage on 15-foot stilts, his underground refrigerator and his wood shed. Anything we heard was not made by man. Many of the books on Dick's shelves spoke of man's addiction to material things and reflected his intent to overcome it. I sat at his desk where he wrote his journals and looked out his window overlooking the lake. It's been said that Dick Proenneke is a modern day Henry Thoreau, and I agree with that. I have long admired Thoreau, so I guess it's no stretch to have considered Proenneke to be another hero.
Even in all its glory, Twin Lakes is an unforgiving place. It is so far away from civilization that if you're hurt, you may not receive help in time to save you. Animals are the only residents. If an animal attacks you, it's just you against the animal; no medical help is at hand. If the weather gets bad, it's just you against the elements.
As if the existence of all this beauty weren't amazing enough, humanitarian works are being performed at Port Alsworth. Mark and Sandy Lang are renovating a camp along with Samaritan's Purse and Wounded Warrior, a camp where wounded veterans and their families can go to begin their healing process. I believe this camp is scheduled to open in 2012. With all the natural wonder of Lake Clark and lack of societal pressure, this seems to be the ideal place for healing from war or to regain perspective on the important things in life.
My life is permanently changed by being in the Lake Clark and Port Alsworth area. You must see it if you can -- and bring a Kleenex. You might need it.
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Tech Talk
By Jona Christoe
Marketing and Technology
I am out of the office this week. One of the benefits of being a technocrat is the ability to do things like get an e-newsletter out from a somewhat remote location.
There are several things that make my job possible from virtually any place with an Internet connection: online calendars and address books, email, constant contact e-newsletter online software, online file transfer software... and the list goes on and on. The quality and quantity of web based software is improving all the time and has made most office functions possible from anywhere.
I truly believe that there may come a time that most people tele-commute (or e-commute) from their homes. When that day comes, I am ready.
Have a great October, and I'll talk with you again next month, ~Jona
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Recipe of the Month
By Anna Hirsch
Head of Transcription
Roasted & Curried Butternut Squash Soup
1 butternut squash, halved and seeded
2 large onions, peeled and quartered
1 medium head garlic
6 cups vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. mild curry powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup plain yogurt
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place squash halves and onion onto baking sheet. Wrap garlic in foil and set with other vegetables. Roast in the center of the oven for 45 to 60 minutes, until squash is tender. Remove from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
Squeeze garlic cloves out of their skin like paste into a food processor. Scrap the flesh from the squash and place in the food processor along with the roasted onion. Puree until smooth, add vegetable stock if necessary.
Transfer the pureed mixture to a stock pot and stir in vegetable broth. Season with the bay leaf, brown sugar, curry powder, oregano, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in yogurt.
Remove bay leaf and serve hot. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
NOTE: You can adjust any of the seasonings to taste. To me the curry came through strong and I added more brown sugar to mellow the curry and made the soup more sweet versus savory.
This is a great fall soup served with warm crusty bread and a salad if you wish. |
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Our Home Office
Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.
1715 South 324th Place, Suite 250
Federal Way, Washington 98003
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