Ryman Development Group

12/24/2023

My annual Christmas message: Year 11...

Whenever my optimism for the future begins to fade, I remember her words. Whatever small slight by another in my personal life, whatever story of misery and abuse is presented me by the media or appears on my Facebook timeline, I remember this girl's unrivaled example of optimism.

And I realize that whatever petty issue I am personally facing at the moment, how can I possibly NOT go to bed that night with the firm expectation that the morning will greet me with a brighter day?

Remember, during the Christmas holidays, that not everyone is surrounded by love, by family, by friends. Be thankful for what you have, and share it with those who don't. The best gift doesn't come wrapped.

05/10/2022

What this study of real-world solar power systems tells us is that the rate of degradation of PV cells, given us by the industry, is a bit optimistic. But some of this can often be laid at the doorstep of factors such as installation practice (which can be improved by better training).

Ultimately, careful oversight on the job site, combined with a more stringent emphasis on installation practice in the original training of installers, can bring the degradation factor more in line with the .05% figure given by the industry.

Where Did the Sun Go? A Quick Look at Solar Panel Degradation in Massachusetts Written by: Eric Pinsker-Smith, Senior Analyst; and Toby Armstrong, Principal Analyst Publish Date: May 9, 2022 Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes It is an unfortunate inevitability that the production from solar projects....

05/05/2022

We really must re-think our cities' property tax structure when we punish property owners with higher taxes based upon increased "value", but reward those who let their properties fall into disrepair.

Since 1913, Pennsylvania has allowed cities to tax land at a higher rate than buildings. This decision has led to some unique success stories: cities that have weathered post-industrial decline and revitalized their urban cores.

03/05/2022

We focus on the solar panels, the bioengineering plant, the wind turbines - In other words, on the harvesting.

But, without efficient means of storing what is harvested (the energy), we can't adequately then USE that energy when we need it.

Elon Musk emphasized the importance of batteries for renewable energy in a response to Fox News recently. While doing so, he also highlighted a common problem while also providing a solution to that problem. Anyone who follows his work closely would already know that batteries are the solution to th...

03/04/2022

Please help one of our local teachers with this.

These are the kind of activities that kids no longer generally experience, as our school's funds just aren't there for.

Help me give my students Kitchen Aid mixers and microwaves for an amazing after school cooking club to learn essential cooking skills and have a blast doing it. My students are a diverse group of l...

02/28/2022

Please consider donating to this project! Extra-curricular programs in our kids' schools take enough of a funding beating, and direct financial support from us really makes a difference!

Help me give my students Kitchen Aid mixers and microwaves for an amazing after school cooking club to learn essential cooking skills and have a blast doing it. My students are a diverse group of l...

01/06/2022

A true tragedy has visited our community this week, as Washington State University Tri-City's own Dr. Byron Marlowe tragically passed away this past Monday.

I was privileged to have the opportunity to work with Byron on a vision for a potential project partnership with the Viticultural school, and he not only matched my own enthusiasm, but immediately began offering suggestions and putting me together with people to fill in the vast gaps in lack of industry knowledge I possessed.

As I said at the time of his accompanying me around the campus Vit building, as hosted by Dr. Henick-Kling, Byron was a real mensch.
(See my post from August 19th of this year)

I'm devastated at the loss of a man so full of energy, so filled with joie de vivre, and am crushed at the thought of his 3 very young children, and his wife, so suddenly losing him.

Byron had just celebrated his 43rd birthday.

I don't think I can adequately sum up just how significant a loss to our community his passing represents.

01/06/2022

Do we really need to see Richland's Jadwin Avenue, through the downtown Central Business District, turned into a 4 lane, one-way arterial?

The traffic engineers, who conducted the Downtown Connectivity Study, ignored the City Council's aim at creating a pedestrian-friendly area that would connect east-west to the park and riverfront, were dismissive of the public advisory group's ranking of priorities, and instead placed their own priority of moving twice-daily commuter traffic to Hanford in the "most efficient manner" as the top consideration.

Safety, and improving the quality of life of Richland's residents, were apparently far down the list for the engineers...

A deadly crash in Toronto demonstrates what can go wrong when drivers can speed through a city. Lloyd Alter makes the case against one-way streets.

12/07/2021

The breakdown of "Community" is a direct result of how our neighborhoods have gone by the wayside as sprawl has taken over our "developments".

We no longer have neighborhoods. We have subdivisions.

https://www.facebook.com/321075081875216/posts/985145108801540/

10/22/2021

What are we doing, in the Tri-Cities area, to increase our area's quality of life development?

09/23/2021

Was excited to attend the WSU Tri-Cities ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Collaboration Hall with my fellow Coug, and daughter, Morgan Baker, a grad. What a fantastic addition to campus, and the community!


https://news.wsu.edu/news/2021/09/20/wsu-tri-cities-celebrates-opening-first-state-funded-academic-building-30-years/