US 5332210 A
The envelope drop stacking apparatus receives envelopes ejected from a mailing machine in a seriatim manner to the stacker. The mailing machine ejects envelopes from an exist along an exist plane to which the drop stacker entrance is aligned. The stacker has an elongated deck extending generally parallel to and vertically below the exist plane and an elongated registration wall extending vertically from the deck and lateral to the exist. A bi-sectional deflector strip has at one end pivotally mounted to the registration wall vertically elevated above the exist plane. A skew section translates the first section of the deflector section to the second section to produce a negative skew of the second section relative to the exist plane. The deflector strip is located to cause the deflector strip's second section to encounter an ejected envelope's leading edge and thereby produces a negatively skewed envelope trajectory. This trajectory is calculated to cause the envelope to be registered against the registration wall.
1. An improved envelope stacking apparatus for receiving envelopes ejected from a mail processing apparatus in a seriatim manner to said stacking apparatus. said mail processing apparatus to eject said envelopes from a exist along an exist plane, said stacking apparatus having an entrance aligned to said mail processing apparatus exist, wherein the improvement comprises:
said stacker having an elongated deck extending generally parallel to and vertically below said plane, and an elongated registration wall extending vertically from said deck and lateral to said exist;
a bi-sectional deflector strip, having a first end pivotally mounted to the registration wall vertically elevated above said exist plane and locating a first section, a skew section translating said first section to a second section and producing a negative skew of said second section relative to said exist plane;
said deflector located for encountering said envelope's leading edge ejected upon ejection of said envelope from said apparatus along said plane, said encounter of said envelope with said second section of said deflector strip to cause a resulting load on said envelope and thereby negatively skewing the trajectory of said envelope to cause said envelope to be registered against said registration wall;
said skew section being set at a negative 5° to 15° skew;
said deflector strip having a weight between 1.5 ounces and 3.0 ounces, and;
said exist plane is set at a angle of between 90° to 110° relative to said registration wall, said registration wall be set at an angle of between 90° and 95° relative to said deck and said deck be set at an angle of 5° relative to the horizontal.
2. An improved envelope stacker as claimed in claim 1 further having an end wall fixably mounted to said deck and extending vertically therefrom and extending laterally to said registration wall and having a skew of between 2.5 and 7.5 degrees towards said registration wall.
3. An improved envelope stacker as claimed in claim 2 having an envelope ramp fixably mounted to said deck having a ramp angle toward said end wall of between 15 and 35 degrees and a skew angle of between 2.5 and 7.5 degrees, said ramp to have a longitudinal extension to said end wall and a lateral extension to said registration wall.
4. An improved envelope stacker as claimed in claim 3 wherein said deflector weights between 1.5 ounces and 3.0 ounces.
5. An improved envelope stacker as claimed in claim 3 wherein said exist plane is set at a angle of between 90 to 110 degrees relative to said registration wall, said registration wall be set at an angle of between 90 and 95 degrees relative to said deck and said deck be set at an angle 5 degrees relative to the horizontal.
6. An improved envelope stacker as claimed in claim 5 wherein said deflector weights between 1.5 ounces and 3.0 ounces.
The present invention relates to flat processing systems and, more particularly, drop stackers for collecting envelopes processed by a envelope mail system.
Conventional drop stackers are intended to collect envelopes processed by a mail processing system and delivered to the drop stacker in a seriatim manner. In a novel mail processing system, the processing system includes a feeder section having a non-contact moistener and a mailing machine which receives envelopes from the feeder section. The feeder section includes several modules. The first module is a hopper which receives a stack of mixed sized mail, sealed and unsealed, and flapped and unflapped. A singulator module separates the stacked envelopes and seriatimly delivers the envelopes to a moistener feeder section. It is the function of the moistener section to moisten the flap area of unsealed envelopes. After flap moistening, the envelope is passed to a mailing machine where the envelope is optionally weighed and printed with a postage indicia. After posting of the envelope, the envelope is ejected into a stacker for collection. One such stacker is referred to as a drop stacker.
It has been empirically observed that when employing a conventional drop stacker with the novel mail processing system, the ejection of the envelope stream into the drop stacker has exhibited a shingling problem in which the flaps of adjacent envelopes becoming glued together. This is the result of the flaps being able to open during their flight path and being able to get between the previously stacked envelopes and the rear wall. The ability of the envelope flaps to open is seen to be largely a consequence of the high processing speed of the mail processing system. The envelope sealing glue does not have sufficient time and contact with the opposite surface to become sufficiently tacky to hold the envelope flap closed by the time that the envelope is delivered to a stacker. Consequently, the stacker has to accomplish four functions. One is to assure that the hinge line of each envelope added to the stack is registered against the registration wall to minimize the opportunity for a following envelope flap to slip between the stack and the registration wall. A second is to provide for limiting the maximum angle the flap has a chance to open to less than 90 degrees. A third is to be able to close the flat against the resistant spring forces trying to open the flap. Lastly, the force must be provided to hold the flap closed and in contact with the mating portion of the envelope while sufficient adhesion is developed.
It is an objective of the present invention to present a drop stacker having deflector means which promotes envelope sealing.
It is a further objective of the present invention to present a drop stacker having unique surfaces which overcome the problem of mis-shingling.
The drop stacker has a receiving hopper having a registration wall, base and longitudinally adjustable rear-wall. The base includes a deck which is set at a recline of approximately 12° degrees from the horizontal. The registration wall is set at a recline of approximately 15° from the vertical. Also, the adjustable rear wall is set at a skew of approximately 5° degrees with angle of end recline of approximately 2.5° degrees. The hopper further includes an angled ramp set at an uphill angle of approximately 25° degrees to the direction of the incoming mail and having a skew of approximately 5° degrees. A cushioning and impact absorbing material is mounted onto the adjustable end-wall.
A deflector or guide is pivotally mounted at one end to the forward end of the hopper registration wall. The deflector is set at an angle of approximately 15° degrees relative to the perpendicular of the registration and has a formed abrupt skew angle of approximately 10° degrees. The other end of the deflector initially rests on the uphill angled ramp, and during the operation, on the top envelope in the accumulating stack. The relative alignment of the deflector causes the leading edge of incoming larger envelopes to assume a skewed flight angle directing the envelope towards the registration wall. Registration of each incoming envelope hinge line against the registration wall is also strongly driven by the angled impact with the adjustable end-wall. The outer corner of each envelope contacts the impact absorbing cushioned surface and induces a torque which serves to kick the envelope toward the registration wall. This action is also facilitated by the 12° degree backwards angle of the base.
The pivoting deflector also serves to direct the incoming envelope lead edge to the intersection of its resting tip and the accumulating stack. It is important that the envelope be able to wedge itself under and beyond the tip of the deflector. This action serves many functions. One is to slow the envelope prior to its impact with the impact wall and limit the bounce back from this impact. Even more significantly, the act of the envelope wedging under the deflector tip provides for closing the envelope flap and holding the envelope flap closed against the tendency of the flap to spring open. This is vital that the downward force and weight of the pivoting deflector be chosen to balance the need to be light enough to be wedged open by a light weight envelope and yet heavy enough to hold a springy flap closed while the glue develops sufficient adhesion. The action of a proper weighted pivoted deflector to close envelope flaps and hold them closed is also a valuable action in other envelope top stacking geometries.
FIG. 1 is a side view of a mail processing system having an associated drop stacker in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the mail processing system and drop stacker in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectioned end view of a drop stacker taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention aligned to the ejection end of a mailing machine.
FIG. 4 is a section end of the drop stacker taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5A is a top view of a deflector in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a side view of the deflector in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5C is a sectioned view of the skew area of the deflector.
FIG. 6 is a schematic of flight path of a larger envelope as it encounters the deflector.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred environment, a postage meter mailing machine, generally indicated as 11, is aligned to a drop stacker, generally indicated as 13. The postage meter mailing machine 11 in the most preferred environment is designed to process a seriatim stream of envelopes of mixed size, and flapped and unflapped mail. Mail processing primarily encompasses singulating an envelope from an envelope stack, sealing the unflapped envelope, weighing the envelope and posting the envelope with the proper postage according to the envelope weight. Once the envelope is properly posted, the envelope is ejected from the mailing machine 11 into the drop stacker 13 in the direction indicated by arrow "A" for collection. A detailed description of the preferred mail processing system is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,078, High Throughput Mailing Machine Timing, commonly assigned.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the drop stacker 13 includes a registration wall 17, base 19 and longitudinally adjustable rear-wall 21. The base 19 includes a elongated support deck 23 which is reclined approximately 12° degrees from the horizontal towards the registration wall 17. The registration wall 17 is set at a recline of approximately 15° from the vertical such that the angle between the deck 23 and registration wall 17 is approximately 92° degrees. The rear wall 21, preferably, is adjustably mounted to the base 19 by any suitable conventional means, however for the purpose of clarity the rear wall 21 is shown as fixably mounted to the base 19. The rear wall 21 is set at an angle of 5° degrees with a vertical skew of approximately 5° degrees. The drop stacker 13 further includes an angled ramp 25 set at an uphill angle of approximately 25° degrees to the direction of the incoming mail and having a skew of approximately 5° degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the impact ramp 25 has a cut-out portion, generally indicated as 27, to allow easy removal of collected envelopes 15. A cushioned impact pad 29 made from any suitable material is mounted to the end wall 21 of the hopper.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 5A, 5B and 5C, a hub 31 and covering shroud 33 are fixably mounted to the forward end of the registration wall 17 by any conventional means. The hub 31 extends perpendicular to the registration wall 17 One end of a deflector 40 is pivotally mounted to the hub by any suitable conventional means such as by formed circular tabs. The deflector 40 is set at an angle of approximately 15° degrees relative to the perpendicular of the registration and has a formed abrupt skew angle of approximately 10° degrees at a position "S" along its length. It has been empirically determined that a skew angle be between negative 5° and positive 15°, preferably 20°. It is noted that the position "S" is located above the incoming trajectory of an envelope 15 ejected from the mail processing system. The other end of the deflector 40 rests on the impact ramp 25. The relative alignment of the deflector 40 causes the leading edge of incoming larger envelopes 15 to assume a skewed flight angle directing the envelope 15 towards the registration wall 17. Full registration is further assisted by the skew of the impact ramp 25 and recline angle of the base 19. Registration of smaller envelopes 15 and card is promoted by the skew of the ramp 25 and recline of the base 19.
It has been empirically determined that in the preferred embodiment the deflector 40 is made from lexan or other plastic having base 19 dimensions of 0.09 inches thick by 3.0 inches width by 11 inches length and has a weight within the range of 1.5 ounces to 3 ounces, preferably of approximately 2.2 ounce.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, a leading edge of a large envelope 15 ejected from the mailing machine 11 travels along an initial trajectory indicated by the arrow "T". The trajectory of the envelope 15 causes the envelope leading edge to encounter the deflector 40 approximately 1" below its ejection line indicated as position "A" in FIG. 3. The ejection velocity of the mailing machine 11's ejected envelope is sufficiently high such that contact between the leading edge of the envelope 15 and the deflector 40 causes the deflector 40 to deflect archly aside, indicated as positions "B" and subsequent position "C" in FIG. 6. Because of the deflector 40 skew, the reaction force on the envelope 15 skews the envelope 15 trajectory in the direction of the registration wall 17. The envelope 15 thereafter encounters the registration wall 17 in full registration and slides down along the ramp 25 to assume a rest position below the deflector 40, indicated as position "D" in FIG. 6. Smaller envelopes 15 generally will not have enough momentum to encounter the deflector 40 and, upon ejection, come to rest on the ramp 25 wherein the ramp skew produces registration.
The afore represents the preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be viewed as limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by the appendix claims.


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THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
May the force be with you: Facebook Messenger adds 'Star Wars'-themed AR effects, themes & emojis
Facebook is celebrating the last installment of the saga, ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’.
K Madhavan to head Star and Disney India’s TV business
K Madhavan, former head of Asianet, the Malayalam entertainment network that Star Indi...
NCLAT seeks clarity from govt, agencies on JSW Steel immunity
ED had in October last year attached Bhushan Power and Steel’s Rs 4,025-crore w...
Will stick to EPC in road projects for now: Nitin Gadkari
“We will do more of EPC projects at the moment,” Gadkari told ET in a brief interaction. With the ministry’s priority being monetisation of assets, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) — which is entirely funded by the government —is the preferred mode of project award, Nitin Gadkari said.
Live your 'Ford Vs Ferrari' dream: Superformance GT40 offers the real-time experience, literally, at $180K
A 2017 Ford GT sold for $1.815 million at Mecum’s auction in Indiana in 2018.
New launches draw family buyers back to MPVs, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga drive segment to 35% growth in 2019
Led by a series of new launches, the multiple purpose vehicles (MPV), or family cars, are back. The segment registered 35% growth in 2019 to 2.2 lakh units, with cars priced between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. By contrast, most segments of the automotive market contracted, often in double digits. So, the share of MPVs in India has risen from 5% to 8%.
Supreme Court orders ED to attach corporate properties of JP Morgan for violation of FEMA in Amrapali case
The Supreme Court also allowed the ED to take into custody the defunct group's CMD, Anil Kumar Sharma, and two other directors, Shiv Priya and Ajay Kumar, who are behind bars on the top court's order, for interrogation as regards alleged money-laundering offences.
Good companies can easily raise money in tough times: Curefit cofounder Mukesh Bansal
In an interview with ET, Mukesh Bansal - a serial entrepreneur and cofounder of health and wellness startup Cure.Fit - talks about some of the habits he has cultivated, Cure.Fit's revenue growth and profitability, Eat.Fit, his current venture and his outlook on the startup ecosystem.
Bondholders drag Reliance Home Finance to NCLT
IDBI Trusteeship wants the tribunal to seize the assets of Reliance Home Finance and Reliance Capital to recover the dues.
Muthoot finance company MD injured in attack in Kerala
The Managing Director of Muthoot Finance company was injured after miscreants allegedly pelted his vehicle with stones here on Tuesday morning.
Mamaearth’s parent company gets Rs 130 crore
The company has raised Rs 162 crore since inception. ET had earlier reported that Mamaearth was in talks to raise $10 million from Sequoia Capital.
Street votes for companies with no debt overhang to outlast tough times
Shares of 47 of 60 debt-free companies in BSE 500 index have gained as much as 100% in '19.
In a first, IBC process ordered for failing to pay an insolvency services company
The NCLT’s Hyderabad bench has ordered the proceedings at Sri Yadadri Life Sciences (SYLS) for the alleged default in payments to Adroit Financial Services (AFS) for advice given on insolvency resolution and services towards capital structuring and settlement of debt through a one-time settlement (OTS) with its lender.
TGBL hits all-time high on nod for merger with Tata Chemicals’ consumer biz
The shares of Tata Global Beverage were trading at Rs 351.85, up 3.09 per cent.
HCC climbs 10% as lenders initiate carve-out of Rs 2,100 crore debt
The move will significantly deleverage the company and address its asset-liability mismatch.
Copyright © 2020 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service

domain: news


Cybersecurity is playing an increasingly important role in process safety systems. This became quite apparent with the cyber-attack on a safety system late in 2017 that ultimately ended in the safe shutdown of a Middle Eastern petrochemical facility. Process safety systems provide the last line of defense to shut down a plant safely in the event of an abnormal situation. Attacks on safety systems have the potential to cause real harm in the physical world, so it’s important that ICS/SCADA cybersecurity policy include rational approaches to process safety systems.
However, the scope of safety and cybersecurity goes well beyond process safety systems alone. Across the industrial and infrastructure worlds, an increasing number of end users are adopting more sophisticated strategies for risk management. This drives closer cooperation and convergence between the safety and cybersecurity disciplines.
This convergence manifests itself in several ways. An increased focus on risk management helps end users justify increased spending on cybersecurity. Many end users are adopting the concepts of process hazard analysis (PHA) and hazard operability analysis (HAZOP). Suppliers are obliging with cyber-focused services that incorporate key concepts from PHA and HAZOP. These include layers of protection analysis (LOPA) and risk matrices that analyze the consequence and severity of actions in operating environments.
Cost and Impact of Cyber Incidents vs. Safety Incidents
At the operational technology (OT) level, both cybersecurity- and safety-related projects can be challenging to cost justify and thus gain approval. Both domains protect against what could happen to help avoid a cyber-attack or plant incident. The financial impact of either could be massive.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, for example, is estimated to have cost the company $65 billion in cleanup costs, legal fees and fines.
The cost of cyber incidents can be just as damaging, with a simple ransomware attack costing an average of $5 million for companies across the board. The impact on industrial plants and facilities, however, is much greater. In 2017, a Tokyo-area Honda plant was forced to shut down because of WannaCry ransomware. In this case, the plant controls were not compromised, but the ransomware attack was virulent enough to shut down operations in a plant that produces around 1,000 vehicles a day.
Even if a refinery or chemical plant is able to shut down safely when faced with a cyber incident, as we saw in the Middle East in 2017 with the TRISIS/TRITON malware incident, a single unplanned shutdown can wipe out the profits of a refinery or petrochemical plant for the entire year.
Increased Focus on Risk Management
For many end users in manufacturing and critical infrastructure, cybersecurity policy focuses on countering potential threats by reducing exposure to phishing, beefing up password security, etc. ARC Advisory Group’s maturity model for cybersecurity enables end users to measure their own overall level of security and sophistication. Many end users are realizing, however, that they cannot possibly address every threat all the time and are thus looking at the science of risk management to help prioritize their efforts.
Lower maturity levels: Actions are about reducing likelihood of an attack.
Higher maturity levels: Actions are about reducing impacts of an attack.
Cyber Risk No Longer Exclusive of Physical Risk
Significantly, cybersecurity risk is no longer limited to the cyber world but can have very real consequences in the physical world. These risks exist along a spectrum of severity that ranges from simple unplanned downtime in operations to a plant explosion or release of hazardous materials. Stuxnet, which proved that physical assets like nuclear centrifuges can be destroyed through cyber-attacks, gave birth to this realization. And even though the initial attack resulted in a safe plant shutdown, TRITON/TRISIS malware showed that process safety systems could be compromised and reprogrammed maliciously so as not to shut down a plant or process in case of an abnormal situation.
Since the malware and attackers will only get more sophisticated over time, we can no longer view safety and cybersecurity as separate domains.
Standard Risk Management Approaches from the IT World
The IT world is no stranger to standard risk management approaches for cybersecurity. FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk), for example, is an established international standard quantitative model for cybersecurity and operational risk. It provides a model for understanding, analyzing,and quantifying information risk in financial terms.
Components of a FAIR Risk Assessment. Source: FAIR Institute
The FAIR approach for risk management has been adopted by RiskLens, a provider of cyber-risk quantification software that helps achieve digital resiliency by managing cyber risk from the business perspective. FAIR is supported by an open consortium of which The Open Group is a key member and supporter. The Open Group has also introduced the Open FAIR Body of Knowledge, together with a certification program for risk analysts.
Aside from FAIR, many service providers, insurance companies and software companies will measure cyber risk and/or offer solutions to reduce that risk. These include Lloyds Register, KDM Analytics, Maxxsure, Hartford Steam Boiler and others.
HAZOP and PHA Approaches: from Safety to Cybersecurity
Risk assessment methodologies and scoring systems for cybersecurity in ICS/SCADA and OT in general are also finding increased traction. Several suppliers that compete in the process safety lifecycle management space are applying their knowledge of process hazard analysis and risk management to cybersecurity.
AE Solutions, for example, has developed a cybersecurity risk assessment methodology based on IEC 62443 requirements. This method links potential threat scenarios with known vulnerabilities and existing countermeasures along with consequence analysis to produce an overall model of cyber risk. Exida offers a process hazard analysis (PHA)-based tool that engineering and other plant personnel can deploy in project, process safety, information technology, and process control activities. Kenexis’ software for performing process hazards analysis (PHA) such as HAZOP and LOPA includes features that allow a security PHA review (SPR) to be performed.
Coordination Between Standards
In 2002, the International Society for Automation (ISA) made the deliberate decision to commission the ISA99 committee to develop standards related to industrial cybersecurity that would have implications for existing standards in the portfolio. The alternative would have been to ask all other committees to incorporate security retroactively into already-published standards.
As a consequence, standards efforts for manufacturing at the OT level are separated into the ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity-related set of standards and the ISA-84/IEC 61508 and 61511 efforts related to process safety. The ISA99 work group 7 and ISA84 work group 9 are liaising to coordinate the treatment of safety and security between these two committees. The intersection of security and safety is one of the fundamental concepts that form the basis of the ISA/IEC 62443 standards.
Addition of Physical Security
End users are also discovering that physical security, cybersecurity and safety all overlap. Increasingly, access control systems, video surveillance systems, employee geolocation tagging solutions and other technologies are being looked at from a holistic perspective alongside cybersecurity and safety solutions. New technology approaches like the Internet of Things (IoT) are making it much easier to combine information from these systems to create a better overall picture of physical security, cybersecurity, and both process and overall safety.
The convergence of safety and cybersecurity is real and happening now. Both present significant cost, impact, and risk for the industrial and infrastructure worlds. As attacks and malware become more sophisticated, the risk to human life through disruption of industrial operations due to a cyber-attack is rapidly approaching that of other plant incidents. Cybersecurity should be considered as a potential cause of failure alongside other factors, such as human error or failures of control systems, instrumentation, and valves.
The safety and cybersecurity disciplines have a lot to learn from each other. This cross-discipline sharing of knowledge has already advanced the industry from the increased use of cyber-PHA and HAZOP for cybersecurity. End users should consider forming a cross-functional team or group to address physical-, cyber-, and safety-related risks, or - at a minimum - make sure that existing discipline-specific teams confer on a regular basis. End users should also educate themselves on the emerging blended risk analysis approaches. Some of this is described in the 62443-3-2 standard, which has been approved by ISA and is currently in ballot by IEC.
Larry O'Brien, Vice President, ARC Advisory Group, joined ARC in 1993 as a junior analyst covering the field device market. Since then, he has covered distributed control systems, fieldbus, automation services, process safety systems, SCADA systems, collaborative process automation systems, and -- more recently -- industrial cybersecurity and smart cities. Larry has served on several ISA committees and a three-year stint as global marketing manager for the Fieldbus Foundation. You can email him at [email protected].


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All inclusive Day tour.
5 nights at 4* hotel.
Private guide, entrance fees for 6 days.
PRIVATE & LUXURY GUIDED TOURS
The Loire Valley, Normandy and Giverny.
This tour is for those who look for a lifetime trip to discover, during in a unique tour,
the Loire Valley, Mont Saint Michel and Normandy Landing Beaches.
This France Luxury guided tour is a bland of Major monuments in the Loire Valley, Mont Saint Michel, Normandy Landing Beaches, Giverny and Paris river banks. (This tour is operated in comfortable minivan for 4, 6, 8 and plus passengers, information at the bottom of the page).
Day 1: Arrival in the Loire Valley, Azay le Rideau, Villandry Gardens.
10.00AM: Arrival by TGV at Tours Saint Pierre des Corps.
The transportation is with an air-conditioned comfortable minibus.
Azay le Rideau : guided tour of the Chateau*
One of the purest gems of Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley. Financer Gilles Berthelot's chateau delicately placed on an island on the Indre River, still shines today thanks to the lightness and balance of its mullioned, pepper pots, dormers and above all its graceful staircase. We will not forget to admire the chateau under every angle with a stroll around the English style garden, a jewel case of greenness for what is considered today as one of the most beautiful stone diamonds in Touraine.
*Note: Azay-le-Rideau castle is being renovated. During refurbishment, the visit of Azay-le-Rideau castle will be replaced by a visit of the Chinon former fortress.
12.30: Lunch at your leisure in Azay le Rideau.
02.00PM: Guided tour of one of the most spectacular gardens of Touraine, Villandry.
By its diversity and originality (Love Garden, Kitchen Garden, Aromatic and Medicine Plant Garden, Water Garden and the brand new Sun Garden) and by its size ( 15 acres, 1150 linden trees), Villandry is the Loire Valley garden not to be missed. With your guide, learn to speak the language of a medieval and Renaissance garden, discover the power of thyme and basil on your health.
04.30PM: Your guide will drive you to Amboise. Dinner at your hotel (drinks are not included).
YOUR HOTEL IN AMBOISE FOR 3 NIGHTS
Check in hotel**** Le Choiseul - double occupancy.
Located in the heart of Amboise, at the foot of the Royal castle, the luxury hotel**** Le Choiseul is a typical Touraine town house. Built between the last wild river of Europe and the terrace gardens lined with troglodytic cellars, this hotel restaurant enjoy of an exceptional position in the heart of the Castles of the Loire valley. It has one of the finest restaurants in the whole Loire Valley.
Amboise is one of the most famous city in the Loire Valley and probably is its tourism capital city. Located in the heart of the region, it is the best base for sightseeing. Historically and architecturally speaking, it is one of the cradles of the French Renaissance.
Day 2: Cheverny furniture and Chambord, a dream come true.
10.00AM: Drive to Cheverny.
11.00AM: Guided tour of the Château of Cheverny.
He has been owned by the same family since the XIII. The Marquis Hurault de Vibraye, thanks to one of the most beautiful furniture in the Loire Valley, has succeeded in giving warmth and life to his chateau. The Chateau, which led to the creation of Moulinsart in the famous comic book Tintin, is also famous for the tradition of the horse-back hunt and its impressive pack of 100 dogs.
12.00: Tour and wine tasting.
The "Cheverny" appellation produces elegant red wines from pinot noir and gamay as well as fruity white wines from chardonnay and sauvignon. You will enjoy this moment to taste a wine for real connoisseurs: the "Cour Cheverny wine Appellation", a stunning white wine made from a grape called Romorantin, imported by King François I into the Loire Valley.
12.30: Drive to Chambord.
01.00PM: Lunch in a traditional restaurant of Chambord (drinks are not included).
02.30PM: Guided tour of the Chateau of Chambord.
The (guided tour of) chateau de Chambord is a unique monument by its architecture and proportions. Leonardo da Vinci probably took part in the conception of the project. With more than 400 rooms and its double spiral staircase, Chambord is a highlight of the Loire Valley.
04.30PM: Your guide will drive you back to your hotel.
05.30PM: Arrival at hotel.
Dinner at your leisure.
Day 3: Chenonceau "The Ladies Chateau, Château Royal d'Amboise birth of The Renaissance.
09.30AM: Pick up at hotel and drive to Chenonceau.
10.00AM: Guided tour of the Château de Chenonceau.
The "Chateau des Dames", bridge built across the Cher, is famous for the great feminine figures who lived in it (Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis...) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens.
Drive to Amboise.
12.30: Tour and wine tasting lunch at a wine specialist's in matured Loire Valley vintages.
Daniel, oenologist, welcomes you in his caves, former tuff stone quarries, for a tour followed by a tasting of Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. In order to transcend your meal, you will pair your wines with a selection of delicatessen and cheeses (cheeses selected by Rodolphe le Meunier, 2007 cheese refiners' world champion).
02.30AM: After lunch, guided tour of the Royal Castle of Amboise
Residence of Charles VII and young François d'Angoulême, future Francois I. You will discover in this wonderful castle, perfect example of transition from Gothic to Renaissance, the Saint Hubert Chapel which shelters today the grave of Leonardo da Vinci.
04.30AM: Drive back to the hotel.
Dinner at your leisure.
Day 4: Mont Saint Michel, 8th Wonder of the World.
09.00AM: Check out and drive to Mont Saint Michel.
In the afternoon, guided tour of Mont Saint-Michel.
It may be Brittany's best-known attraction. Surrounded by the most powerful tides in Europe, perched high on a rocky island, this medieval city and its abbey are a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. Many of its monastic buildings date from the 13th century and are considered outstanding examples of Gothic architecture.
Drive to Caen.
Transfer to Port en Bessin.
YOUR HOTEL IN PORT EN BESSIN FOR 2 NIGHTS
Check in hotel**** Château de la Chenevière - deluxe double room.
Château La Chenevière combines the charms of an old house with the conveniences of a cozy English manor, accompanied by an exquisite fresh cuisine reflecting the changing of the seasons. La Chenevière is an 18th-century château situated between Omaha Beach, where the American forces landed on D-Day, and the historic town of Bayeux, famous for its tapestry depicting William the Conqueror.
Standing in its own parkland, the hotel embraces the graceful mannerisms of a bygone era and the warmth of an English country house.
Dinner at your hotel (drinks are not included).
Day 5: D Day beaches "Duty to Remember".
09.00AM: Pick up at hotel.
09.30AM: Free tour of Caen Memorial.
This museum recalls the general history from the World War I to the end of World War II.
Lunch at your leisure in Caen.
02.00PM drive to Omaha Beach and American cemetery.
The Normandy American Cemetery, which was inaugurated in 1956, lies at the heart of a vast seventy-hectare site granted to the United States by the French Government.
Overlooking Omaha Beach, it contains 9,386 white marble crosses or stars of David arranged in impeccable rows. A father and son lie side by side, as do some thirty-three pairs of brothers. 307 headstones simply bear the words "Known but to God".
The graves belong not only to the soldiers who fell on Omaha Beach on June 6th 1944, but also to service personnel who were killed elsewhere in Normandy and were initially buried in temporary cemeteries such as the one at Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Several years after the war, their bodies were exhumed and transferred to the symbolic site of Omaha.
At the end of the afternoon, return to your hotel.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 6: Giverny with Monet Gardens and Paris.
09.00AM: Check out after your breakfast.
Drive to Giverny.
10.45AM: Guided tour of the house and garden of Claude Monet in Giverny.
The Monet family has settled in Giverny in 1883. Then Claude Monet made a one hectare garden full of perspectives, symmetries and colours. He married flowers according to their colours and left them to grow rather freely. The two parts of Monet's garden (the water lily pond/ the Clos Normand) contrast and complement one another.
12.30: Lunch at your leisure in Giverny.
02.30AM: Drive to Paris.
Midafternoon: Arrival in Paris.
Driven tour of Paris (Eiffel tower, Arch of Triumph, Invalides, Champs Elysées, Louvre).
At the end of the afternoon, return to your hotel.
This tour includes
Transportation in a comfortable airconditioned minibus , private English speaking escort guide, entrance tickets and guided tour of the Chateaux of Azay le Rideau, Chenonceau, Amboise, Cheverny, Chambord, Gardens of Villandry, Mont Saint Michel, Monet's Gardens in Giverny, entrance tickets for Caen Memorial, wine tasting in Cheverny, lunch in a traditional restaurant of Chambord, wine tasting and lunch at a cellar cave in Amboise (drinks included), 3 nights in a hotel**** in Amboise (1 dinner and breakfasts), double occupancy room, 2 nights in hotel**** (1 dinner and breakfasts).
This tour doesn't include
Entrance to other monuments, drinks, personal expenses, extra.

domain: travel


text:
The Best time to Visit Victoria
Victoria and Melbourne by season
Despite being approximately the same size as the United Kingdom, Victoria has a surprisingly varied climate, ranging from semi-arid in the north to temperate along the coast, producing hot to mild summers and cool winters, with a good amount of rain to keep the land looking green and lush. And the good news is: you can visit any time of year, depending on your interests. Here are our seasonal suggestions.
If you're planning a holiday to Victoria, talk to a Travel Expert today on 0800 707 6010.
September - November
As it warms, the flowers bloom and the Victoria countryside comes alive with colour. Great Otway National Park’s waterfalls gush with water and its forests are at their lushest. The Yarra Valley too, turns vibrant shades of green and the Dandenong Ranges fill with wildflowers. This is a great time to get outside, hike the pathways and drive the Great Ocean Road in the sunshine.
Melbourne Cup: held in Flemington, the highlight of the horse racing calendar is a raucous affair involving a carnival, flamboyant hats and a seemingly endless supply of Champagne.
Melbourne Festival: a major arts event held in October, Melbourne Festival celebrates dance, theatre, music and visual art in various locations across the city.
December - February
Summer in Victoria is hot and dry with cooling breezes along the coast and in Melbourne. With temperatures averaging at 25°C, this is peak Great Ocean Road time, with all warm-weather activities in full swing. Hit the beaches and get swimming, surfing and sunbathing, but book early – it gets busy.
Lorne Pier to Pub: head to Lorne on the Great Ocean Road in January for this quirky swimming race from the town’s pier to the Lorne Pub. Around 4,000 competitors take part.
Australian Open Tennis: held in the last two weeks of January at Melbourne Park, come to see the world’s greatest tennis players battle it out for the coveted Grand Slam title.
March - May
Autumn is a lovely time to go to Melbourne, which boasts about its famous blend of fashion, festivals, food and flowers at this time of year. To see the autumn foliage at its best, try the Melbourne Botanic Gardens and the Yarra Valley, or follow the hiking trails in the Grampians, still very pleasant in the autumn months as the temperatures hit up to 20°C.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival: in late March and early April, come to Melbourne and taste the state’s best food and wine, and perhaps join a cookery masterclass.
Formula One Australian Grand Prix: in March, book your tickets and head down to Melbourne’s Grand Prix Circuit for two hours of speedy driving and hi-tech cars.
June - August
Temperatures may be lower, but winter is a lovely time to drive the Great Ocean Road without the summer crowds and traffic. The Bass Strait is at its most dramatic too, so bring your camera and photograph those crashing waves and moody seas. With temperatures dropping to 6 or 7°C, don’t forget to wrap up and perhaps warm up with a glass of rouge in the Yarra Valley’s wineries.
Whale watching: winter is peak whale migration time along Victoria’s coastline, so look out for passing humpbacks, southern right and killer whales.
Winter Blues Festival: on the last weekend of July, join the musicians for various blues performances at over 30 venues across Echuca Moama, and banish those winter blues.


RubberDucks 9, Curve 7
Story lines: Power isn’t the reason Francisco Lindor is one of the top prospects in baseball, but that didn’t stop him from flashing some pop in Thursday’s win. Lindor hit a no-doubt grand slam with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a seven-run comeback. The Ducks trailed 7-2, scored two in the seventh inning and five in the eighth, capped by Lindor’s blast.
Quick hits: The Ducks racked up 15 hits, with Lindor and Tyler Naquin getting three each. Naquin doubled twice, drove in three runs and scored three times. Lindor’s other two hits were both singles, he drove in four. Jordan Smith led the Ducks with three singles and a double, scoring twice. Kyle Crockett earned his fifth save and Jordan Cooper picked up the win, improving to 3-0.
Next game: Today at 6:35 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron. Right-hander Gabriel Arias (3-2, 3.75 ERA) for the Ducks and right-hander Tyler Sample (2-1, 2.57) for the Curve are the scheduled pitchers.
— August Fagerstrom


text:
I’m a huge proponent of earning and using points for travel, heck I just used miles for three free round trips to Russia. Not to mention stayed for free at two hotels in Moscow (on two different trips). So, when I saw this news on FrequentFlier.com I had to share.
– Through June 30, Hilton HHonors members can earn 1,000 points for registering a text-enabled mobile phone number and a Visa card.
– Once registered, you’ll receive “up to two special offers each week via text message.” The good news: You can opt out at any time.In addition to the up-front bonus, you can earn 4,000 more bonus points after spending $100 with your registered card at any U.S. Hilton hotel or resort.
– You may register up to three Visa cards.
More on the deal at FrequentFlier.com.


Rollei 35 S Camera Test
A solid little camera that packs a punch with its 40mm f2.8 Sonnar lens. It's a Singapore built model, and has a paint problem that looks like poor quality control in the metal cleaning process. I can live with that. Now if I can only get the meter to work...
27 photos · 31 views


Molecular diagnostics company Genetic Signatures has finished recruiting for a clinical trial of their 3base EasyScreen Enteric Protozoan Diagnostic Kit.
According to a press release from July 28th, the diagnostic kit will enable users to test for up to eight different types of gastrointestinal parasites simultaneously, with quick and precise results. Using simple, cost-effective methods, parasitic infections will be able to be identified without the need for extensive laboratory facilities or trained personnel.
More than 350 million instances of gastrointestinal infections are reported in the United States each year, with parasites frequently causing serious sickness or even death. Illnesses caused by gastrointestinal parasites place a significant burden on healthcare providers globally and have been identified as the leading cause of death in children under five years old. The new diagnostic kit would allow for rapid and accurate identification of gastrointestinal parasites, proving critical in providing appropriate and timely care for patients.
After the trial, Genetic Signatures has expressed plans to submit for FDA 510(k) clearance by the end of 2022. This would permit the kit to be sold and distributed throughout the United States, setting a new standard for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites.
Read the press release in full here.


text:
A beautifully elegant take on the classic square hijab. Adorned with intricate and stylish embroidery, which is further complimented with a netted corner to give it that extra flair. Each hijab is adorned with diamante stones to finish off the striking design. Square scarves are difficult to find, and those as elegant as these are more difficult to source. Grab one today!
Material - Cotton Mix
Length - 110cm x 110cm

domain: artistic


A Power of Attorney is a legal document giving the agent or lawyer of a person the power to act on behalf of him/her. A Power of Attorney gives the agent/lawyer the right to take legal decisions relating to the matters listed in the document. These matters may include management of property, finances, business decisions, etc.
A Power of Attorney can be made in case the lawyer needs to represent the person in the court or in case the person is incapable of taking their legal decisions due to some illness or disability. A power of attorney allows the lawyer to take a decision on behalf of someone when it is signed by the grantor stating that the lawyer is authorised to take legally binding decisions in a relevant matter. There are generally 2 kinds of power of attorney- General Power of Attorney (GPA) and Special Power of Attorney (SPA).
The Power of Attorney is prepared by the lawyer and the stamp duty is paid for its execution (in case of property matters). The lawyer/notary then attests the Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney is then registered in the office of Sub-Registrar after paying the requisite registration fee. After registration, the General Power of Attorney or Special Power of Attorney can be collected.


text:
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domain: entertainment


text:
|Michigan Tech's coed dorm in July.|
It seems like it’s been snowing non-stop for the last week, which makes for a lot of grumbling, especially since the snow blower will be in the repair shop for a week.
I did some research after shoveling yesterday and the accumulated snow is two Mets gnomes high! A Mets gnome is just over 10 inches tall, so we’re talking some serious snow action.
That brings us to this week’s bad postcard, which comes from Michigan Tech University, way up in Houghton, Mich.
The back reads” COED RESIDENCE HALL, MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Houghton, Michigan, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
So much to work with here,
First. Houghton is far away. It’s in the furthest reaches of the Upper Peninsula. Residents can practically see the North Pole. Santa quite possibly buys his groceries at the Houghton IGA and reindeer feed at the Houghton Farm and Fleet.
How far is it? Let’s say a bunch of drivers were leaving Detroit, with one car was headed to Washington, D.C., one to Minneapolis, one to New York and the other to Houghton.
The drivers headed to New York, Minneapolis and Washington would arrive at their destinations before the people headed to Houghton, and that’s not counting built in time for that carload of folks to stop and climb Castle Rock, which they obviously would do.
And snow. Let’s just say the proud people of Houghton would scoff at my lamenting two feet of snow. The average winter snowfall there is 218 inches. That’s 18.1 feet of snow. Or, using our new unit of measurement, 21.2 Mets gnomes!
|Snow depth is now measured in Mets gnomes. Houghton averages 20 gnomes worth of snow.|
So, back to our rather bland postcard.
This card is firmly planted in the ghost town genre of bad postcards, since there we get a building and no signs of people. I do see two cars, which raises the possibility that there might be at least two people inside. But we can’t see them, so that’s just a guess.
We can see that this photo was taken somewhere between July 4 and July 21, the period known as “rough sledding.”
I see one big problem: rampant hooliganism. Clearly someone has driven on the grass right before the photog arrived.
But here’s the mystery. “Coed” is the outdated term for a female college student. There are girls at Michigan Tech?
This postcard was sent to Louise and Alice in Dearborn Heights in 1969. According to the sometimes accurate Wikipedia, the male to female student ratio was 22 to 1 in 1960. So that means our cars belong to both residents and there was a lot of open rooms.
These days, the ratio isabout 3 to 1, with about 1,800 of the 7,000 students being women.
Some interesting Michigan Tech facts:
It is a world-class engineering school.
It was founded as Michigan Mining School in 1885.
The school’s teams are named the Huskies, and the mascot is Blizzard T. Huskie.
The hockey team has won three national championships, and counts famed goaltender Tony Esposito as an alumni
Winter Carnival is a big deal, and the highlight is a snow statue competition.
Michigan Tech students hold world records: the largest snowball, boasting a 21-foot circumference, and the largest snowball fight, involving 3,745 people. Both were set in 2006.
The school for a time held the record for most people simultaneously making snow angels, with 3,784.Apparently about 40 people wanted no part of the snowball fight, but didn’t mind making snow angels.
The snow angel record was swiped from the people of Bismarck, N.D., who apparently were not too pleased. Bismarck is one of those places where, if you mess with them, they will unleash their collective fury.
Bismarck took back the record the next year, with nearly 9,000 people flailing about in the snow. There are only about 60,000 people in Bismarck.
Do not mess with Bismarck.

domain: geography


(1) When the gate valve is fully opened, the resistance coefficient is the smallest of all valves, and the applicable range of caliber, pressure and temperature is very wide. Compared with the stop valve of the same caliber, its installation size is smaller, so it is the most widely used type in chemical production equipment.
(2) The handle of gate valve can be divided into two types: clear stem and dark stem. When the open stem gate valve is used for the alternate switching of more than two sets of the same equipment, it is particularly advantageous. Its open stem can clearly indicate the opening and closing of the valve.
(3) When the gate valve is half open, the valve core is easy to vibrate, so the water gate valve is only suitable for the situation of full open or full close, not suitable for the situation where the flow needs to be adjusted.
(4) Gate valve body has grooves, so it is not suitable for fluid containing solid particles. In recent years, the gate valve with blowing port can be used in this situation.
(1) Ball valve is widely used in chemical plant. Its sealing performance is reliable, and it is also suitable for regulating the flow. It is generally installed at the pump outlet, upstream of the bypass flowmeter of the regulating valve and other places where the flow needs to be regulated.
(2) When the fluid flows through the valve core, it changes the flow direction, so the pressure drop is large, and it is easy to deposit solids on the valve seat, so it is not suitable for suspension.
(3) Compared with gate valve of the same caliber, stop valve has larger volume, which limits its maximum caliber (maximum dn150-200)
(4) Compared with the common through valve, the pressure drop of Y-type stop valve and angle stop valve is smaller, and the angle valve also has the function of changing the flow direction.
(5) Needle valve is also a kind of stop valve. The valve core is tapered, which can be used for small flow fine adjustment or sampling valve.
(1) The three functions are similar. They are all valves that can be opened and closed quickly. The valve core has transverse opening, the liquid passes through directly, the pressure drop is small, suitable for suspension or viscous liquid. The valve core can be used as L-shaped or T-shaped channel to become a three-way or four-way valve. It is easy to make jacketed valves with regular shape for the situations requiring heat preservation. These valves can be easily made into pneumatic or electric valves for remote control.
(2) The difference between the three is that the working pressure of the plunger valve and the ball valve is slightly higher.
It has a certain adjustment function, especially suitable for large flow adjustment, and the use temperature is limited by the sealing material.
(1) Check valve is used to prevent reverse flow of fluid. Generally used to prevent pollution, temperature rise or mechanical damage caused by fluid backflow.
(2) Commonly used are swing type, lift type and ball type. The diameter of swing type is larger than the latter two, which can be installed on horizontal pipe or vertical pipe. When installed on vertical pipe, the fluid should flow from bottom to top. The lifting type and ball type have smaller caliber and can only be installed on the horizontal pipeline.
(3) Check valve can only be used to prevent sudden backflow but poor sealing performance. Therefore, other measures should be taken for strictly prohibited materials.
(4) When the inlet of centrifugal pump is in suction state, the bottom valve installed at the inlet pipe end to keep the liquid in the pump is also a check valve. When the container is open, the bottom valve can be equipped with a strainer. When diaphragm valve and pipe clamp valve are used, the fluid only contacts with diaphragm or hose and does not touch other parts of valve body, especially for corrosive fluid or viscous liquid, suspension, etc. However, the range of use is limited by the material of diaphragm or hose.


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Offshore wind farm proposed for Sardinia
Posted on 11 Jun 2022 and read 795 times
Tibula Energia is the name of the latest floating offshore wind farm project off the northeastern coast of Sardinia. The project has been proposed by Falck Renewables
and BlueFloat Energy
as part of the partnership between the two companies; and to ensure early engagement with the region the developers have set up a series of meetings with the local stakeholders before starting the Ministerial authorisation process that entails presenting the project proposal in detail and gathering feedback to be taken into account in the project design.
Details of the Tibula Energia project include: 62 floating wind turbines, with a distance from the coast ranging from 25 to 40km, making them barely visible from the coast; a total installed capacity of 975MW; an expected annual production of more than 3.4TWhr, equivalent to the consumption of over 900,000 households; and more than 1.6 million tonnes of CO2
avoided each year.
Meetings with the local stakeholders will focus on discussing economic and social benefits of the project, including: generating thousands of stable jobs in the medium to long term; up to 3,200 full-time jobs during the manufacturing, assembly and installation stages; and more than 180 jobs for maintenance once the wind farm is operational.
Furthermore, the meetings will provide: insights into the latest technological developments, which represent professional opportunities for local talent; innovation, research and development through collaborative schemes with Sardinia’s universities, research centres and regional technology hubs; details of the development of the local supply chain based on the partners’ inclusive and sustainable business model, which encourages proximity of supply, giving priority to local businesses; and details of the development of the island’s main industrial ports for the assembly, operation and maintenance of the wind farm.
Exploratory research into local sea and wind conditions, environmental impacts and industrial infrastructures has been underway over the past 12 months. The request for a maritime concession was submitted on in May and the authorisation process with the Ministry of Ecological Transition will begin in the next few weeks.


text: Flash flood events in Malta involve directly and indirectly all economic, productive and life sectors of the Maltese Island. In general, even if the problem is more acute in certain areas of the island such as the Birkirkara, Msida, Gzira, Marsa and Marsascala catchment areas, the effects spread on all surrounding country engaging indirectly almost all Maltese population (circa. 410,000 residents).The NFRP tackles four different catchments namely the Birkirkara-Msida, Gzira, Qormi-Marsa and Marsascala basins, wherein are found the nine worst-hit localities, namely Msida, Birkirkara, Balzan, Gzira, Qormi, Marsa, Zebbug, Marsascala and Zabbar. These areas are identified among the top priority areas in the Storm Water Master Plan and also represent the areas where the majority of damages occurred in the last major storm that hit the Maltese Islands in September 2003. The NFRP will address flooding problems holistically at a catchment level, and also regionally by managing runoff across catchments. The proposals go beyond the local-problem focus; they address the interconnections between problems in different localities and also seek to connect drainage solutions of adjacent basins together, to achieve greater cost-effectiveness and hydraulic efficiency, while also optimising the scope for future water conservation. The NFRP also addresses the institutional dimension of the problem by including measures to strengthen the existing planning, management and maintenance responsibilities into an identifiable and more formal organisation. It is envisaged that through the implementation of the NFRP a turning point will be brought about in storm water management in the Maltese Islands, at the functional infrastructure level and in the operation and maintenance of the new system.


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|Minimum Stay||2 nights|
If you are looking for a romantic and quiet getaway nestled in the mountains or a family vacation getaway to enjoy skiing, hiking, or fishing, you’ve found the perfect place at this Blue Ridge Mountain cabin.
Skyview is a one-bedroom cabin that has been remodeled with a contemporary design. The living area features wood floors, a romantic tiled fireplace, and a dining area designed with views overlooking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The kitchen at Skyview features all new appliances and all the housewares to ensure you feel at home. And, if a morning cup of java isn’t enough to wake you, the breathtaking views from the kitchen will.
This mountain cabin offers a queen bed in the owner’s suite, a full-size convertible sofa, a built-in day bed, and all new bedding and linens to provide all the comforts of a perfect vacation getaway.
The cabin is built on the side of a mountain in the community Mill Ridge. There is a parking deck at the road level that then leads to stairs that are taken down to access the cabin. The exterior of this cabin has a private deck with rocking chairs for you to enjoy the peaceful sounds of the winds blowing through the mountain leaves. The beauty of the views can surely take your breath away, but you’ll not want to let time escape you as the surrounding community has plenty to offer. From trout fishing in the bordering Watauga River, duck ponds, tennis courts, a heated swimming pool, to hiking trails that venture to the top of the Mountain.
And, if skiing is what you’re looking for, Skyview is located only 6.1 miles from Sugar Mountain, 11.2 miles from Beech Mountain, and 11 miles from Grandfather Mountain. Other nearby sights include the Tweetsie Trail Amusement Park, Lineville Falls, Appalachian State University, and the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
So, come and stay at Skyview and make this peaceful and private Blue Ridge Mountain Cabin your home away from home.
We had a good weekend and liked your place well. No complaints at all and will make a reservation with you again on our next trip.
Absolutely adorable! We couldn’t have found a lovelier home to spend our 2015 family vacation. The cabin has everything you might need. We loved the décor. The location was close to hiking, sightseeing, restaurants, and so much more. The owner was also great to work with. She was quick with responses and answers. We would love to stay in this cabin again and would highly recommend it.
We enjoyed our stay very much, the cabin was perfect for our family of four (two adults, one 11 year old child and a dog). The setting is beautiful, peaceful and the location convenient to Boone, Blowing Rock and skiing spots. We also enjoyed exploring the neighborhood and hiking its trails. The owner was very attentive and look care of any questions/needs that we had. Thanks so much!
My wife and I are VRBO rookies, never staying in a VRBO before. We had our hesitations while booking places for our trip we took last fall. Traveling back to my alma mater, App State, I was looking for a place that was affordable, clean and took pets. The owner of this house was easy to work with and had a wonderful place. It was cozy and clean. I am grateful this was our first experience with VRBO and I would highly recommend this place. I say skip the standard hotel, which is over priced in Boone and get yourself a full house with kitchen that is reasonably priced.
We enjoyed our stay in this cabin. It has all you need during your stay. Comfortable bed (a little noise)
The place is nice, little but comfortable nothing fancy.
A pro is the washer and dryer wich was vey helpful for us with 2 kids.
The only negative thing is that is not wifii in the house and the phone line wasn't working either during our stay. Our cellphones didn't work either, so we were there 4 days without phones.
Overall it is a nice place in a cute community.
This cabin is located close to the ski resorts in the area (about 10 minutes from sugar and 25 from beech). It's also not far from Boone and Blowing Rock, which have some great options for dining. It's inexpensive but still sufficient. Everything is clean and you aren't lacking anything essential- it's got cookware, a coffeemaker, extra blankets and pillows. Be sure to bring your own coffee.
That said, there are a couple things that are subpar. The bed is not very comfortable and some of the pillows are lumpy. The towels are also very rough. The blinds in the bedroom let in some light even when closed. Also, the heat wasn't on when we arrived and it took 2 hours of running it to get rid of the chill. Not sure if that's standard to have the heat off in winter when guests check in or not.
We absolutely loved our stay here. The owner was quick to respond to our last minute injury about a rental and eager to accommodate us. The cabin was clean upon our arrival where we enjoyed a nice family dinner. We got the best of both worlds; feeling like we were tucked away from everything on a nice retreat but I'm a actuality we were close to a lot of local attractions. There were nice hiking trails in the neighborhood we took advantage of. Overall a great stay.
|Rate Period||Nightly||Weekend Night||Weekly||Monthly *||Event|
My Standard Rate
2 night minimum stay
|Refundable damage deposit||$100|
|Pet Fee||$65 + Tax|
|Professional Cleaning Fee||$60 + Tax|
Minimum night requirements vary
* Approximate monthly rate. Actual rate will depend on the days of the month you stay.


text:
Fashionweek sweeps in with a blaze of colour as homegrown designers dazzle the catwalk
Belfast Fashionweek dazzled on the stage last night as Autumn/Winter 2015 erupted in a blaze of colour.
The new collections from our own homegrown designers and high-end boutiques are always a huge highlight and with an array of vivid shades appearing one after another on the catwalk this was quite literally the case.
Although there are still masses of regulation black, white, gold and silver coming up for winter and the festive season, it was the vibrant brights that stole the show on opening night at the Bruce Street Fashionweek HQ.
The 18 participants included Blush and Jourdan from the Lisburn Road, as well as Akani, Diamond Dolls, Deux Cara, Spoilt Belle Boutique and The Style Retreat.
Local talents Grainne Maher, Nor Lisa, Marky Marc, Nicola McLaughlin and Gordon Donaldson showcased their couture collections, while newcomers this season included a fabulous tweed collection from Cocoon Luxury Wear, Dashlin in Newry and Hanger 13 in Portadown.
The statuesque and elegant models were styled to perfection by master hairstylist Michael Quinn, who took inspiration for the cascading pony-tails and intricate top-knots from his experience as a dressage horse rider.
He wouldn't give away his secret as to how he created such intricate coiffure, but the overall effect as the girls lined up on the runway was spectacular.
Speaking of the Fashionweek programme, director Cathy Martin said: "The schedule is one of our busiest ever, condensed into just four days, with lots of variety in terms of styles, interests and budgets, but there's still so much more I want to do and we're already planning new additions for next season."
Laura Blair, brand manager for event sponsor West Coast Cooler, said: "There are some fantastic additions to the schedule which are exciting, fresh and an ideal fit to the West Coast Cooler brand. We've been looking forward to this weekend of fun fashion and have spotted some super stylish people on the streets over the past few months."
Following the ever-successful designer night, style proceedings continue with the High Street Heaven shows tonight, bringing the latest looks from the nation's biggest and busiest stores, including Oasis, Next, Warehouse, Remus Uomo, Superdry, Marks and Spencer, Dunnes, George at Asda, and DV8 Fashion, as well as Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Designers at Debenhams and Miss Selfridge from CastleCourt.
Tomorrow will see the busiest day in the Fashionweek schedule with the addition of the original Fashion Souk at BFW HQ, an event hosting stalls and pop up stores for vintage and previously owned clothing throughout the day from 11am-4pm.
Kicking off at 10am is the new body image symposium 'To Be Beautiful' featuring nutrition and body image expert Katie Richardson.
On Saturday evening the Fashionweek catwalk will showcase the latest collections from Ireland's largest online designer fashion retailer, www.excelclothing.com.
Audience members can expect to see the latest ranges from top designer names such as Armani, Calvin Klein and Boss Orange and some of Britain's top fashion brands including Barbour, French Connection and Ted Baker for men, ladies and children.
Finally, Fashionweek closes with the Style Sunday luncheon at SHU on October 18.
The charity lunch costs £45 per person and places can be booked directly through the restaurant on 028 9038 1655.


text:
In an interview about the All-Atlantic Regional Championships that took place on March 1-2, Houghton University President Dr. Wayne Lewis Jr. said he would not condone men competing in women's sports after a biological male beat all of the female athletes at the track meet.
A male Rochester Institute of Technology student who goes by the name Sadie Schreiner took first place in the women's 200-meter event, reportedly bumping one of Houghton's female athletes into fifth place.
"It is wrong to let biological males compete in girls' and women's athletics," Dr. Lewis declared. "I reached the place where I could no longer remain silent on this issue."
NewBostonPost reporter Tom Joyce points out that the current NCAA president, former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R), signed a bathroom access bill into law in 2016 for those who identify as "transgender."
In 2022, shortly after Baker became the NCAA president, the NCAA Board of Governors updated the transgender student-athlete participation policy governing college sports with a sport-by-sport approach preserving "opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion, and safety for all who compete."
Joyce says what is going on at the college level is "unfortunate" and "frustrating."
"Seeing Charlie Baker … get that position, it kind of puts a damper on the idea that sanity may prevail in the NCAA," he states. "But at the same time, it's great to see individual colleges, college presidents calling out the madness."
Even if they cannot do anything about the NCAA policy, Joyce says college presidents like Dr. Lewis may be able to deter male athletes who are pretending to be women and girls from going to their schools, taking spots on their teams, and harming the integrity of the sports at their schools.

domain: sociology


Why volunteer with us?
- Make a difference in your local community by giving people the opportunity to speak up about their health and social care
- Make new friends as you become part of the Healthwatch team
- Boost your CV as you develop new skills and confidence in the workplace
- Use your skills to contribute to the success of Healthwatch Wandsworth
If you are interested to join us
Take a look at the various roles below and if you are interested contact us telling us a little more about yourself in relation to the role and send us a CV if you have one.
Represent us to ensure local people are listened to in decisions about local services.
Represent Healthwatch on committees and working groups to influence the way services are run. We also meet with hospital and service managers, commissioners, the local authority and have speaking rights in local government decision making committees.
Outreach & Engagement Assistants
Help people in your community have their say on health and social care
Our volunteers play a vital role speaking to people about their experiences of local services and giving them opportunities to share their views and ideas for how services can improve.
Join us in getting out and about in your community, meeting with local people, even attending festivals. Connect with people and find out what they have to say.
Policy and Research Assistants
Help us analyse and report on what local people tell us.
Help us understand and represent the views people have shared in our surveys and research by helping us process, analyse and report on the data we have collected. Our reports are important to ensure we can hold local decision makers to account.
Enter and View Volunteer
Help visit services to hear from people using them.
We train some of our volunteers to speak to people using publicly funded health and care services, such as hospitals and care homes. As a local Healthwatch we have special legal powers to 'Enter and View' these local services.
You might be observing the service, gathering the views of patients, residents and staff and contributing to planning, undertaking and reporting on these visits.


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Removed: No Longer Available
The Ascendant's Tale 4 was removed from the game files, and is no longer obtainable.
It was included as placeholder content during early access, and replaced before full release
Ascendant's Tale was a lore book found in Avian Towers.
It was part 4/10 in "The Ascendant's Tale" series of collectible books within the Codex.
It was removed from the game when lore was rewritten in update cheerful giraffe.
The Ascendant's Tale 4
Our Clipped Council liaison came by today, and a well-placed bribe ensured I won't have to be sharing a room with the others. No more worrying about late-night visits. Next, I sent word to my man outside the village; he is to deliver a message of great importance.
Then, our mental training began. I outclassed the others with ease, as I knew I would. My mind is the sharpest it has ever been. I could see them staring at me, angrily, just willing me to succeed, planning what they'd do to me when I did. They're going to have a rude awakening.
|| /spawnitem towerascendant04Codex

domain: literature


UPDATED: Rollover crash closes highway
A four-door vehicle traveling along Hwy. 35 left the roadway about 11:20 a.m. Monday Oct. 26 and rolled over, stopping on the east side of the highway south of Division Street.
Shortly afterward, officials closed the highway between Division Street and Highway 29/Cascade Avenue.
An officer on scene confirmed that the driver did not sustain injury and that the fire department crews were cleaning mud off the road.


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The architecture of Fez, Morocco, reflects the wider trends of Moroccan architecture dating from the city’s foundation in the late 8th century and up to modern times. The old city (medina) of Fez, consisting of Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid, is notable for being an exceptionally well-preserved medieval North African city and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A large number of historic monuments from different periods still exist in it today, including mosques, madrasas, synagogues, hammams (bathhouses), souqs (markets), funduqs (caravanserais), defensive walls, city gates, historic houses, and palaces.
Fez reached its height in the 13th–14th centuries under the Marinids when it replaced Marrakesh as the capital of the kingdom. The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina – madrasas, fondouks, palaces, residences, mosques and fountains – date from this period. The Al-Attarine Madrasa in Fez epitomizes many of the customary features of Moroccan architecture.
The Fortifications of Fez comprise a complex circuit of ramparts and gates surrounding Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid. They also include a number of kasbahs (citadels) and forts which were built both to protect and to control the city. The walls of Fès were generally built in rammed earth, an ancient building technique found across the Near East, Africa, and beyond.


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What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy?
What are the disadvantages of solar energy (and for the environment)?
- Location & sunlight availability.
- Solar panels use a lot of space.
- The sun is not always present.
- Solar energy is inefficient.
- There is an overriding pollution & environmental impact.
- Expensive energy storage.
- High initial costs.
Are solar panels a ripoff?
Solar energy is a proven, clean and affordable energy source for your home. Recent improvements in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels used for the conversion of free, tireless solar energy from the sun have made home solar energy a viable option for many consumers, that is NOT A SCAM.
Does solar increase home value?
If you have installed solar panels on a home, it may sell out faster. Compared to other homes without solar energy, your home could sell up to 20% faster. This too is part of the value that solar energy can contribute to your home and your life.
Are solar panels worth it 2020?
By reducing or eliminating your electricity bill, benefiting from federal tax credits, increasing the value of your home, and much more – going solar is definitely worth it. Your exact investment return will also be affected by which solar payment option you choose.
Do you really save money with solar panels?
Check your electric bill Solar panels generate their own power and can therefore greatly compensate your monthly electricity bill if they do not eliminate them. The higher your bill, the more likely you are to benefit from the change.
Are solar panels worth getting?
If you are a low energy user, you may be wondering if solar panels are still worth it. The answer in most cases is still typical, yes, they are. And, it is better to buy a larger system than you need.
How much do solar panels cost for a 1000 square foot house?
|Home Size (SF)
|$ 4,760 – $ 5,950
|$ 7,140 – $ 8,925
|$ 9,520 – $ 11,900
|$ 11,900 – $ 14,875
What is the average electric bill with solar panels?
In New South Wales, we found that the average electricity bill for solar customers is $ 372. While less than half (48%) of solar panel owners said they are happy with their feed-in rate, 92% agree that solar installation would be a good financial decision. The average cost of a solar system in NSW was $ 5,893.
Why solar panels are bad?
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight and electricity. When these boards enter landfills, valuable resources are wasted. And because solar panels contain toxic materials such as lead, which can leak out if they break down, landfills also create new environmental risks.
What happens to solar panels after 25 years?
Degradation rate is the rate at which solar panels lose efficiency over time. … This means that after 25 years of use, about 4 out of 5 solar panels still work with 75% efficiency or better. At this point, it is fair to estimate that your solar panels will still produce energy at a capacity long after the warranty is up.
What is the truth about solar?
Using energy from the sun does not release carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. Non-renewable energy sources, such as coal and oil, come in limited quantities. Coal and oil deposits take too long to form for them to be considered as renewable resources.
Why solar panels are a good investment?
Solar panels use the clean, much energy of the sun to produce power, and by investing in solar panels, you can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of your home. In essence, investing in solar panels is an investment in a clean, stable future for yourself, your family and all future generations.
How many solar panels are needed to run a house?
The average house in the United States is about 1,500 square feet. With a home of this size, the typical electric bill comes in at around $ 100 a month. To cover the power for this home, you will need an estimated 15-18 solar panels.
Why is my electric bill so high with solar panels?
Solar energy systems are finite resources – they can only produce so much energy, consistent with the size of the system, and most utilities limit the system size to the historical average energy consumption on site.
Can a house run on solar power alone?
It is possible to run a house on solar energy alone. However, getting completely out of the network requires a significant financial and time investment. The higher your energy requirement, the more solar panels you will need.

domain: finance


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Regardless of how little the place is, how hard is to get around the house or to discover a place for anything new about there’s always a solution to everything. Only look around you and honestly you will recognize at least 2-3 worthless things remaining across the apartment. Apparent everything about you and keep things simple. A simple living is easier to take pleasure from, therefore is a simple home. Because choosing girls bedroom colors with storage underneath is essential, this girls bedroom colors “Use Storage beneath the Bed” can set you back a bit of money. But as each bed revealed in furniture keep can’t be suitable completely to the style of one’s girls bedroom colors, which probably cause space lost or dust-trap edges, you’d greater have a customized one. The sole level worth factor is to repair sleep position and ensure you will not transfer it into anywhere. We applied to create one for the boy, for areas of his rooms taken over by incline. There’s number choice but tailored bed needed. So we created one for him, with compartments and shelves underneath, stuffed clothes and socks to the full. If you should be enthusiastic about the a few ideas mentioned above, probably you may parlay it in to a feeling of girls bedroom colors tidy, then you definitely will undoubtedly be happily surprised by how realistic it is in room storage and space-saving. Be flexible according to your true structure and room! Or show your preferred storage suggestions to people if costless.
Girls Bedroom Colors – Master Bedroom Interior Design Ideas Uploaded by nara on Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 in category teen girls room.
See also Girls Bedroom Colors – Interior Bedroom Paint Colors from teen girls room Topic.
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domain: design


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Summer time Shift or Simplicity 1609
Added Jul 2, 2014
A line shift made from a stiff-ish cotton drill, collar made from a recycled bed sheet and facing from a previous project.
Sewed up nicely, the front dart is one of the strangest I’ve seen, yet sewed up like a dream.
22" zip, lightweight fuisable interfacing, thread


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VerveFilms is an Independent Film & Video Creative House creating art in the form of short & feature films, music videos and documentaries.
We believe in digital storytelling at the intersection of integrity and enthusiasm. We have the best talent to deliver various projects within budget. One of our company goals is to offer the best customer service at a reasonable cost. All our employees are trained to treat everyone we interact with respect and dignity. Although our team is small we love to collaborate with other passionate storytellers.
VerveFilms was founded in 2009 by storytellers who believe in sharing stories that hope to make a difference in this world. No story is too small, life is nothing but a quilt of memories woven together.
Work presented at various Film Festivals, TV Channels, Newspapers and much more. Our work is available for viewing not just on the Internet but also on satellite channels and film festivals.
We are in the creative business of delivering end-to-end products in areas such as Film, Video, New Media, Online Video platforms, stock footage, motion-graphics, animation, 2D, 3D, visual effects and tons and tons of energy and enthusiasm.


LONDON, 8 APRIL: The third and final phase of this year’s ‘The Party Unites’ line up can now be revealed, completing and cementing this season’s schedule as one of the most exciting line ups of Ibiza 2013.
ANTHEA, BEN SIMS, CARL CRAIG, DJ QU, LOCO DICE, NINA KRAVIZ
ADAM BEYER, CARL COX, CHARLIE HEDGES, GUY J, FATBOY SLIM, UMEK
CARL COX, NIC FANCIULLI, NICOLE MOUDABER, PLEASUREKRAFT,
SETH TROXLER, UNER
CARL COX, DJ SNEAK, JON RUNDELL, LOCO DICE, tINI, YOUSEF
The final four parties include debuts from ‘RA Number 1 DJ of 2012’ Seth Troxler, Techno giant Adam Beyer, and Detroit legend Carl Craig. Along with newcomers Nina Kraviz, DJ QU & Anthea. This last phase also sees the return of Ben Sims, Pleasurekraft, Guy J, Charlie Hedges, Loco Dice, tINI, Uner, DJ Sneak & the one and only Fatboy Slim.


Getting 2020 Going
The final old college football bowl game of the long bowl season – before the college football playoff final for the national championship, which is technically a bowl – is always the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. 8:45 p.m., the first day of the new decade. Will it be one of continued good-never-great?
While Kirby Smart has solidly established himself as a very good regular season head football coach with three consecutive 11-1 seasons and SEC East (WHO CARES!, we’re 1-2 in SECs) “championships”…his postseason efforts have been frankly very subpar. Winning a sUGAr would help…a tiny bit.
High school recruiting is the calling card, supposedly, of “the Kirby way” but we can all see the names of recruits from the previous head coaching regime and recognize them as what were or still are actual sporting brand names: A.J. Green, Knowshon Moreno, Aaron Murray, Todd Gurley, David Greene, David Pollack, Odell Thurman, Thomas Davis, Matthew Stafford, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Isaiah Wynn, Roquan Smith, Deandre Baker, to name a few.
Show me Smart’s high school gem stars: Rodrigo Blankenship was a walk-on out of Marietta (Sprayberry High School) who they didn’t even start soon enough, in an 8-5 debut year. Very good safety J.R. Reed is a transfer, from Tulsa. Swift, sure, he has had some good moments since signing out of Philly, simply because he wanted to go to RBU and be a Georgia runner. Georgian Jake Fromm has regressed to the level of a sub .500 passer, as an upperclassman. I see lineman Andrew Thomas (out of Pace Academy in ATL) – not a finalist for top lineman in the country this year – and not a whole heck of a lot else of proven bonafide star individuals.
So don’t talk about needing better 17 year olds anymore, Coach Smart! I don’t want to hear about 5-stars, because Georgia had the most on the roster in the whole country this year. And couldn’t score.
Why? Bad offensive coordinating and point-blank: not enough explosive talent on-hand.
Nauta and Eason looked like good signees when they stayed on with UGA after Richt recruited them and was replaced by Smart. Technically, they were Smart recruits out of high school. Javon Wims was a transfer; so was Lawrence Cager, the best two receivers of the Smart era. The big get overall was Justin Fields. He rushed for ten touchdowns this year, threw for 40 more, with one interception. While Smart’s guy Fromm had two picks in his last game – a total Georgia no-show on offense vs. LSU in Atlanta – and three in a home loss to South Carolina. Smart’s so-called best friend Mike Bobo has joined the Chickens to call plays, by the way. We are stuck with James Coley (a BAD HIRE!).
Coach Smart hit his peak back in 2017 (13-2) and has now coached a full-cycle (four years).
The Dawgs had no chance in the SECCG, putting up only a field goal for most of the game. No chance at all to win with a bad offensive coordinator and Swift so unhealthy he got only two carries. Why did he even play if he was only good for two touches, like that? Because the stable is not close to what it was with Gurley, Chubb, Sony. ZEU$, to date, is simply a bust. Yeah, I know he has been hurt twice in his football career, but the on-field story is: he has not shown anything at all in college.
Let’s run down Smart in the postseason right quick, and then I’ll see you next year:
1-0 Georgia barely edged a .500 TCU, in the Liberty Bowl (I was there).
2-0 Georgia revenged on Auburn in Atlanta, when they were injury depleted.
3-0 Georgia was extremely fortunate in a Rose Bowl overtime win (I was there).
…Then the impostor syndrome started to show up, a top-down total collapse:
3-1 Georgia blew a national championship to Bama, leading big at the half and in the 4th.
3-2 Georgia blew an SEC championship to Bama, featuring a fake punt by Justin Fields in a tie game, from midfield on 4th and 11. Bama recognized the giant quarterback had subbed in on special teams (duh).
3-3 Georgia looked poorly-coached, losing as big favorites to Texas.
3-4 Georgia was blown out by LSU, in Atlanta.
You get blown out every year, Smart.
You lose four postseason games in a row and then go on television and say “blah blah recruiting blah blah.” …Not buying it!


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HONG KONG — The Malaysian authorities said on Friday that Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korea’s leader, had been killed by VX nerve agent applied to his face.
SEOUL Plans for the first contact between North Korea and the United States after President Donald Trump took office were canceled after the U.S. State Department denied a visa for the top envoy from Pyongyang, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
KUALA LUMPUR VX nerve agent, a chemical the United Nations classifies as a weapon of mass destruction, was used to kill the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a bizarre murder in Malaysia last week, police said on Friday.
WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump’s push against Islamic State in Syria could present him with an unenviable choice: Alienate NATO ally Turkey by relying on Kurdish fighters or adopt a plan that may slow the assault and require many more U.S.
GENEVA The first U.N.-led Syria peace talks in almost a year are in danger of getting lost in procedure, as officials obsess about who will meet whom, but behind the scenes diplomats say it’s largely up to Russia to call the tune.
BEIRUT/ISTANBUL An Islamic State car bomb killed more than 50 people on Friday in a Syrian village held by rebels, a war monitor said, a day after the jihadist group was driven from its last stronghold in the area.


Twin steer configuration offered on Kenworth T880S
Kenworth is adding a factory installed twin steer configuration to its T880S vocational model. The Kenworth T880S Twin Steer features a set-forward front axle with a 61-inch axle spread to maximize payload.
The Kenworth T880S Twin Steer offers a very short 114-inch BBC. This allows larger bodies to be installed farther forward and closer to the cab.
"Kenworth continues to expand the excellent diversity of the T880 platform. The T880S Twin Steer is the next step in that evolution," said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.
The 61-inch axle spread enables customers in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia to get a factory built T880S Twin Steer that meets Western Canadian tandem axle requirements, specifically for ready-mix application. It also means that the Kenworth T880S chassis can be upfitted much faster, saving between three and six weeks in delivery times to the body builder versus alternative options.
For customers in the United States, the T880S Twin Steer will address applications, such as ready mix, block trucks, cranes, and concrete pumpers. Depending on the detailed specs, as well as federal and state bridge laws, the T880S Twin Steer can handle 1,500 or more pounds of additional payload as compared to a non set-back axle twin steer.
"We strive to enhance productivity for our customers whenever we can. Kenworth has a long history of building factory twin steers, including the 72-inch axle spread available on our set-back axle T800 and C500 models," Swihart said.
The Kenworth T880S Twin Steer's front axles are rated at 40,000 pounds. The front end components, including axles, springs, and steering gears are shared with non-twin steer T880S. The front suspension is "equalized" between the front and rear steer axles for greater driver comfort and payload distribution between the two.
The T880S offers the PACCAR MX-11 and PACCAR MX-13 engines up to 510-hp with torque up to 1,850 lb-ft. An Allison automatic transmission is available when ordered with PACCAR wide or standard track front axles.
As one of the latest models in the R2-Series excavator lineup, the Bobcat® E88 delivers durability, performance and quality for more productivity. Technically speaking, it's a compact machine, but it brings big performance with its redesigned engine and optimized lift performance, plus undercarriage and counterweight improvements. All these enhancements make this excavator one of the highest-performing models in its size class. With impressive over-the-side lift capacity, you can dig with greater confidence over the side of the machine. Put it to the test against similar models from other manufacturers. You'll see that the E88 can outwork the competition.


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Preview scale: 21.0 x 18.0 inches. Show Rulers

Change DPI Base size is 150
Designs by carrie-anne's_designs
I am an Illustrator based in Greater Manchester, UK. Please get in touch if you have any questions, requests or suggestions of future fabrics.
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Alice in wonderland inspired design. Large scale
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I love this and your illustration style. all of your works are eerie and antique feeling, in the best way! Keep them coming!
Posted almost 6 years ago.
© 2008-2015 Spoonflower Inc

domain: hobby


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Printing B/W images on an inkjet with Photoshop
Specifically printing on an Epson 800. I have some semi-Hi-Res (2400
DPI) Black and Whites I scanned on my Minolta Dimage Dual.
To the best of my limited photoshop ability I've got the scans
contrasted and leveled the way I want them and my monitor is
calibrated via Adobe Gamma.
Now the tough part, Printing. Using Photoshop 6's Epson 800 setting
and Epson High Quality Photo Paper for printout I chose 720 DPI (max)
resolution and printed an 8x10. Not knowing if I should print it via
the colour setting or B/W, I used colour. Result was very little grain
but it was gray with very little contrast. No blacks or whites.
Next print I tried the same as above but using the black ink only
setting. This time the colour's were dead on but I got a ton of grain.
and noticeable (naked eye) pixels.
What am I doing wrong? Is the 720 DPI not enough to produce a good
looking 8x10 ? Am I supposed to be using the black ink or colour ink
#1. "RE: Printing B/W images on an inkjet with Photoshop" | In response to Reply # 0Mikepoison Basic MemberThu 04-Jan-01 08:03 PM
Try formatting the image to 720 dpi first:
Image - resize - then set the DPI to 720, and then resize the image so it fits on the paper.
Also, is the image grayscale or color? Try casting the image to a grayscale image (images-mode-grayscale) before printing, and test whether that's better on a piece of regular print paper first =)
"The world will not be quantified on celluloid... But I'll be damned if I don't try!"
#2. "RE: Printing B/W images on an inkjet with Photoshop" | In response to Reply # 1Kelvin UK Basic MemberFri 06-Jul-01 03:21 PM
If your image is colour, I wouldn't recommend converting to greyscale. Greyscale has a lower bit-depth. Personally I always use the desaturate tool, this keeps the complete tonal range.
As for printing, I always select B+W on my Epson 880, the tonal range is heavily reduced due to the way inkjet printers work. A B+W print is made up of various size dots (all pure black) dithered to form the final print. A way to improve this situation is to replace the colour cartridge with a grey-scale variety. This gives a lot more depth to the image. The only supplier of these carts that I know of (in the UK) is: www.lyson.com Lyson describe these carts as small gamut and manufature for the Epson 800. I use an Epson 880 (not available yet) so cannot verify the print quality but logic says that the results should be a lot better.
I use a coolpix 880 and always shoot in colour. If I think the image would be better in B+W, use photoshop to desaturate and print in B+W. The results are acceptable at 2800 dpi on photo glossy film but still lack a bit of depth. As soon as Lyson produce for the Epson 880 I will give them a try.
Hope I have been of help
#3. "RE: Printing B/W images on an inkjet with Photoshop" | In response to Reply # 1BJNicholls Charter MemberFri 06-Jul-01 04:26 PM
LAST EDITED ON Jul-06-01 AT 08:31 PM (GMT)
What are you trying to achieve by oversampling to 720 ppi? The maximim image resolution the printer can render is approximately 300 ppi. The output resolution of the printer and pixel pitch of the image are not equal numeric values.
Oversampling will always result in some loss of image quality and should be avoided whenever possible.
Even an Epson printer with a nominal 2880 dpi resolution can only render detail that equates to about 300 ppi of image resolution. You are better off avoiding oversampling until your images start to show visible pixels at something less than 200 pixels per inch image resolution.
The black and white mode from the Epson driver will be much more coarse than 4 or 6 colors from a photo printer. The reason is that you get only black dots from the black ink cartridge instead of creating tones using the other colors. Each black dot is much more contrasty than a dot of cyan, magenta or yellow.
However, it is very difficult (I may even suggest impossible) to create truly neutral greys using CMYK printing. You may be able to get a rendition that is pleasing, but there will always be some color hint in a CMYK print. CMYK will provide much smoother tonal range, finer detail and less visible dots than black only.
Folks who are serious about doing black and white prints on 4 color photo inkjet printers use special quadtone monochrome inks (hextone or "sixtone" on 6 color printers). These inks give the printer at least four shades of grey to render greater tonal range with less visible ink dots. Quadtone inks are offered in cool, warm and neutral sets to simulate popular silver based paper casts.
Here's a link if you're interested in these inks:


Housing and offices in Sarrià
Housing and office complex on the former site of RCD Espanyol football club. The project aims to create a regular urban plan that can organize a highly complex area, where the shape of the buildings and the empty space between them create a much needed urban presence. - Maximum concentration of the built volume, freeing up as much space as possible. - Creation of an internal order for the new complex, turning the empty space of the former football pitch into a public park. - Attention throughout to the layouts, elevations and densities of the neighbouring buildings.