|Publication number||US6010310 A|
|Application number||US 08/906,636|
|Publication date||Jan 4, 2000|
|Filing date||Aug 7, 1997|
|Priority date||Aug 8, 1996|
|Publication number||08906636, 906636, US 6010310 A, US 6010310A, US-A-6010310, US6010310 A, US6010310A|
|Inventors||Bruce F. MacBeth|
|Original Assignee||Pass & Seymour, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (11), Classifications (8), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application is a continuation of Provisional Application No. 60/023,714, filed Aug. 8, 1996.
Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development not applicable.
This invention relates generally to motor speed controllers, and more particularly to a controller for shaded pole or split capacitor motors of the type commonly used in overhead ceiling fans.
It is desirable to control the speed at which overhead ceiling fans rotate to accommodate different conditions. When the ambient temperature is close to or within a comfortable range, low rotational speeds are adequate to provide air circulation and enhance comfort. As the temperature increases, higher speeds are needed to maintain comfortable conditions within a room.
Heretofore, ceiling fan motors have been controlled with electronic controllers of the same type used to dim incandescent lamps. These controllers, sometimes referred to as phase controllers, use an SCR or triac to control voltage applied to the fan motor to allow voltage to pass to the motor beginning at different points in the sine wave. While these controllers effectively vary the speed of ceiling fan motors, they produce fast rising voltage pulses and create harmonics in the frequency domain. These fast rising pulses and harmonics cause singing in the motor winding coils, and may cause associated metal parts to resonate. The sounds produced by the harmonics may be quite loud and annoying in a residential or quiet business environment.
In addition to creating audible noise, harmonics may extend into the AM broadcast band, and cause annoying buzzing in radios. The radio frequency harmonics can be suppressed to some degree with known noise suppression techniques, such as the use of inductors and capacitors to create filters for these bands, but these filters do not affect the audible range.
It is an object of this invention to provide a motor speed controller for a shaded pole or split capacitor motor, for convenience referred to generically as a ceiling fan motor, more particularly to provide a controller for a ceiling fan motor that allows the speed of the motor to be controlled without producing fast rising pulses or harmonics that generate audible sounds.
Briefly stated, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a motor speed controller for a shaded pole ceiling fan motor having low audible noise, includes a burst period generator for generating gating signals of a duration varying between a preselected minimum equal to at least one wavelength of an AC drive signal to the motor, and a maximum equal to a large number of wavelengths, and a controlled switch such as a triac, connected between the power source and fan motor, and having a gate terminal connected to the burst period generator.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a motor speed controller for a shaded pole ceiling fan motor having low audible noise includes a linear switch connected between an AC power source and the shaded pole ceiling fan motor, the linear switch having a gate terminal, and a pulse width modulated controller having a pulse with modulated output with a fundamental frequency above the audible range, connected to the gate terminal.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a motor speed controller for a shaded pole ceiling fan motor having low audible noise includes a linear switch connected between an AC power source and the shaded pole ceiling fan motor, the switch having a gate terminal, and a controller connected to the gate terminal for turning the linear switch on at each zero crossing, and turning the linear switch off during each cycle, and allowing the voltage to decay at a rate that minimizes the generation of harmonics.
The novel aspects of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a motor speed controller in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 2A-2D are wave form diagrams showing signals appearing at various points in the block diagram of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a motor speed controller in accordance with another aspect of the invention;
FIGS. 4A-4C are wave form diagrams of voltages appearing in the circuit of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a motor speed controller in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention;
FIGS. 6A-6C are wave form diagrams showing voltages appearing in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the motor speed controller of FIG. 1 arranged to control the start winding of a shaded pole motor;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of any of the controllers shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 connected to control a plurality of shaded pole motors at the same time; and
FIG. 9 is a detailed schematic drawing of the motor speed controller showing in block diagram form in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a motor speed controller in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in block diagram form. The controller is designed to be inserted in an electrical circuit between a source of power connected to an input terminal designated generally at 12, and one connection 14 of a motor 16, preferably a shaded pole or split capacitor motor, heretofore referred to as a fan motor(s). It will be understood that the other connection to the motor is connected to a neutral line, not shown. In accordance with conventional terminology, connection 12 is made to what is usually referred to as a hot line.
Hot lead 12 is connected to a first terminal 20 of a triac 22, which has its second switching terminal 24 connected to motor 16. Triac 22 is controlled by the application of control signals to gate terminal 26, as will be described shortly. Preferably, in accordance with this invention, to reduce power requirements, triac 22 may include a control triac connected to the gate of a higher power triac, as will be shown in more detail in FIG. 9.
A pulse power supply 30 is connected between hot lead 12 and connection 14 to motor 16 or to a ground leakage return, for developing a voltage to power the burst period generator 32 to be described below. The pulse power supply produces a positive voltage at an output terminal 120, which is connected to the burst period generator 32 and to a zero crossing detector 36, which has an input 38 connected to hot terminal 12 and an output 40 connected to an input 42 of the burst period generator 32. The zero crossing detector 36 produces a short pulse each time the AC signal on hot terminal 12 goes to zero, as shown in the wave form diagram of FIG. 2A. The zero crossing signals synchronize the start, and preferably the end of the burst timing signals produced by the burst period generator with the zero crossings to minimize harmonics. The burst period generator 32 is connected to a potentiometer 44 controller for adjusting the duty cycle of the burst period wave form generated at output terminal 34 of the burst period generator 32 and connected to an input terminal 46 of a low energy pulse drive 48. The output appearing at the terminal 34 of the burst period generator 32 is a pulse with modulated logic level square wave, as shown in FIG. 2B. The duty cycle of the square wave can be adjusted by adjusting the potentiometer 44 between a very low duty cycle, and an almost 100% duty cycle, as shown in FIG. 2B.
Whenever the output from the burst period generator is high, the low energy pulse drive 48 produces triac triggering signals as shown in FIG. 2C. The triac must be triggered each half cycle, in order to keep it in a conductive state, and the signals shown in FIG. 2C, which are coupled to the gate input 26 of triac 22 accomplish this. The low energy pulse drive circuit 48 has one terminal connected to hot lead 12, and is adapted to provide the alternating positive and negative going triac trigger pulses shown in FIG. 2C. Preferably, the low energy pulse drive circuit 48 is adapted to require very low current. Preferably, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 9, it only provides a triggering pulse to the gate 26 of triac 22 when the triac commutates off while the output of the burst period generator is high. This conserves energy from the power supplied during long on periods. As is understood, the triac 22, once triggered, remains on until the voltage nears a subsequent zero crossing.
The voltage supplied to motor 16 is shown in FIG. 2D. The signal includes a plurality of cycles of the AC line voltage connected to terminal 12, interrupted during the periods when the burst period generator is low, as shown in FIG. 2B. The voltage to motor 16 is synchronized with the zero crossings, so that fast rise time pulses and subsequently the generation of harmonics are minimized.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a motor speed controller for a fan motor in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. Like the motor speed controller of FIG. 1, this controller is designed to be connected in the hot lead of an electrical circuit that extends from a power source 12 to a first lead 14 of the fan motor 16. A second neutral connection is made from the neutral terminal of the power source to the other lead 15 of motor 16. The speed controller of this invention is designed so that it can replace, without rewiring, a conventional on/off switch for controlling the motor.
A zero crossing detector 36 has an input 38 connected to hot lead 12 and produces a train of narrow pulses at an output terminal 40 each time the input signal crosses zero. The zero crossing pulses are connected to an input terminal 50 of a pulse width modulator 52, which has a control terminal 54 connected to a potentiometer 55 for varying the width of the pulses produced by the pulse width modulator 52. The pulse width modulator 52 generates pulses whose leading edge is synchronized with the zero crossing of the voltage appearing at hot lead 12, and whose trailing edge occurs during each half cycle of the sine wave at a phase dependent on the setting of the potentiometer. For higher speeds, the width of the pulses approaches a full half wave, while for lower speeds the trailing edge occurs much earlier in each half cycle.
The output of the pulse width modulator 52 is connected to a gate input 54 of a linear switch 56 connected between the hot lead 12 and lead 14 to motor 16. Preferably, the linear switch is a high power field effect transistor, preferably a MOSFET, an insulated gate bipolar transistor, or any other transistor capable of linear switching at a voltage and current sufficient to energize motor 16. A triac or other commutating device cannot be used, because such devices, once switched on, remain on until the current through them drops towards zero. This invention relies on turning the switch off during the cycle, where an SCR or triac cannot be used.
A pulse power supply 30 is connected between hot lead 12 and motor lead 14 for supplying power to the pulse width modulator 52 during the time that the switch is on and no voltage can be developed across it. The power supply 30 functions substantially like the power supply 30 in the device of FIG. 1.
The outputs of the zero crossing detector 36, the pulse width modulator 52, and the linear switch 56 are shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. In each case, a sine wave is superimposed over the signals appearing at the outputs of the devices to show the timing.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 5. Like the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 3, this ceiling fan motor speed control is especially adapted to be connected in a single line of a two or three wire electrical circuit, that is in the hot line 12 between a power source and the motor 16. A high power linear switching device 60 is connected in the hot lead 12 between an input terminal and a motor winding terminal 14, to control power to the motor 16. An RF filter 62 is connected between hot lead 12 and the linear switch 60, and a second RF filter 64 is connected between the linear switch 60 and motor 16. The RF filters are designed to attenuate harmonics generated by the fast rise time switching.
A pulse power supply 30 is connected to hot line 12 for generating power to the pulse width modulator 66 to be described below, during the time when the switch 60 is on, and insufficient voltage is available across the switch 60 to provide power to the pulse width modulated controller 66. The switch 60 has a gate terminal 68 that is connected to a pulse width modulated controller 66. The controller generates pulses for turning the linear switch on having a fundamental frequency above the audible range, that is about 25 kHz or more. A potentiometer 70 controls the duty cycle of the pulses. When low duty cycle pulses are produced, the motor runs at a low speed. Longer duty cycle pulses cause the motor to run at a higher speed.
Exemplary wave forms appearing at the input 72 to the linear switch 60, the gate input 74 of the linear switch, and the output 68 of the linear switch, are shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C respectively. FIG. 6A shows a sine wave as would appear at the input to the linear switch. FIG. 6B shows two 25 kHz pulse width wave modulated gate signals, a first low duty cycle gauge signal and a second higher duty gauge signal. It will be understood that the figures show gate signals having a frequency much lower than 25 kHz, for clarity. FIG. 6C shows the output of the linear switch interrupted by the off periods of the gate signal. Again, the frequency of the gate signals is much lower in the drawing than it would be in practice.
FIG. 7 shows an arrangement for incorporating a controller in accordance with this invention, that is the controllers of FIGS. 1, 3, or 5 in combination with a motor located in a ceiling fan.
Ceiling fan motors of the type to which this invention is addressed ordinarily include a run winding 80 and a start winding 82 connected in parallel. The motor speed controller of this invention is connected in series in a start winding leg of the circuit. Optionally, a normally open single pole single throw on/off switch 86 may be provided either at the fan motor, for example, a pull chain type control, or in a wall switch.
A control signal for the motor controller is connected to an input terminal 90 of the controller and may be a low voltage wire, or a remote control, such as an RF, infrared or ultrasonic controller. Preferably, the remote control provides the function of the potentiometer in any of FIGS. 1, 3, and 5.
As shown in FIG. 8, multiple ceiling fans can be operated with a single speed controller. The run windings of the motors are connected in parallel in one branch, and the start windings of the motors are connected in parallel in another branch. The two branches are connected to the motor speed controller 100 in a manner substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 7. One end of each of the run and start windings is connected to the neutral line, while the run windings and output of the speed controller are connected to the hot electrical line.
FIG. 9 is a detailed schematic diagram of a fan controller in accordance with this invention, corresponding essentially to the block diagram of FIG. 1. Hot lead 12 is connected to pulse power supply 30. The pulse power supply includes a current limiting resistor 110, connected to a rectifier diode 112 that charges a relatively large capacitor 114, which is connected in parallel with a zener diode 116 to regulate the voltage across the capacitor to a safe value. The power supply is a half wave power supply, and capacitor 114 is selected to be large enough to provide relatively continuous power, even when triac 22 is conductive and essentially no voltage is supplied to the power supply. A relatively constant voltage appears at lead 120. Zero crossing detector 36 includes an SCR 122 connected to hot lead 12 through a current limiting resistor 124. SCR 122 is turned on each half cycle by voltage applied through resistor 126 and diode 128, which are connected in series to gate 130 of SCR 122. When SCR 122 is on, transistor 132 is turned off. Transistor 132 turns on each time the voltage across 122 approaches zero and produces a pulse at output lead 40 through current limiting resistor 134.
The zero crossing pulses are connected to the input of timer 138, which may be a 555 type versatile timer, the period of which is adjusted by potentiometer 44, which is connected thereto for providing pulses on output lead 46 that are connected to low energy pulse drive 48. Preferably, the values of potentiometer 44 and its associated resistors are selected so that timer 138 produces pulses, synchronized with the zero crossing, of between 16.67 and 833 milliseconds duration.
Low energy pulse drive circuit 48 includes first and second transistors 140 and 142, each having its emitter connected to hot lead 12 through a diode, 144 and 146 respectively, to turn one of the transistors on at the beginning of each half cycle of the voltage appearing at hot line 12. The transistors are preferably of opposite polarity. Transistor 140 is the NPN type, while transistor 142 is of the PNP type. Thus, whenever input 46 is high, a pulse is provided by way of diode 150 to the gate terminal 26 of triac 22 at the beginning of each half cycle to turn triac 22 on. Preferably, a control triac 152 is employed to reduce the power requirements of the low energy pulse drive 48.
While the invention has been described in connection with certainly preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, which accordingly is intended to be defined solely by the appended claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3761792 *||Feb 7, 1972||Sep 25, 1973||Franklin Electric Co Inc||Switching circuit for motor start winding|
|US4358730 *||Jun 19, 1981||Nov 9, 1982||Essex Group, Inc.||AC Power control circuit|
|US4388578 *||Jul 7, 1980||Jun 14, 1983||Cynex Manufacturing Corporation||Power factor controller|
|US4499408 *||Jun 9, 1983||Feb 12, 1985||General Electric Company||Control circuit for an electronically commutated motor, an integrated circuit for an ECM, and a method of operating an ECM|
|US4935736 *||Jan 20, 1988||Jun 19, 1990||Merit Electronic Design Co., Ltd.||r. f. Remote controller for electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances|
|US5019717 *||Nov 14, 1988||May 28, 1991||Elegant Design Solutions Inc.||Computer-controlled uninterruptable power supply|
|US5479557 *||Oct 24, 1994||Dec 26, 1995||Webasto Karosseriesysteme Gmbh||Circuit arrangement for power supply of a fan and/or battery by solar generator in a motor vehicle|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US6075329 *||Jun 14, 1999||Jun 13, 2000||Rhine Electronic Co., Ltd.||Speed control device for a ceiling fan|
|US6257832 *||Feb 4, 1999||Jul 10, 2001||Dell Usa, L.P.||Multiple fan system having means for reducing beat frequency oscillations|
|US6270319 *||Apr 26, 2000||Aug 7, 2001||Dell Usa, L.P.||Multiple fan having means for reducing beat frequency oscillations|
|US6276900||Apr 26, 2000||Aug 21, 2001||Dell Usa, L.P.||Multiple fan system having means for reducing beat frequency oscillations|
|US6396238 *||May 25, 2000||May 28, 2002||Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.||Rotational speed control circuit for motor|
|US6713974 *||Oct 23, 2002||Mar 30, 2004||Lightech Electronic Industries Ltd.||Lamp transformer for use with an electronic dimmer and method for use thereof for reducing acoustic noise|
|US6720756||Nov 5, 2001||Apr 13, 2004||Intel Corporation||Modifying acoustic emissions of fans|
|US7863777 *||Nov 7, 2008||Jan 4, 2011||Gallen Ka Leung Tsui||Low power switching circuit|
|US20060228223 *||Mar 31, 2005||Oct 12, 2006||Inventec Corporation||System and method for control of fan rotational speed|
|EP1463193A1 *||Mar 24, 2004||Sep 29, 2004||Trafomic Oy||Method for controlling rotation speed, controller of rotation speed and blower apparatus|
|WO2003041473A1 *||Oct 31, 2002||May 15, 2003||Intel Corp||Modifying acoustic emissions of fans|
|U.S. Classification||417/44.1, 417/22|
|International Classification||H02P29/00, H02P25/14|
|Cooperative Classification||H02P25/14, H02P29/0038|
|European Classification||H02P29/00H, H02P25/14|
|Apr 10, 2001||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Jul 3, 2003||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jun 13, 2007||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Aug 8, 2011||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jan 4, 2012||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Feb 21, 2012||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20120104


Such is the pace of change in the broadcast and telecoms industries that barely a day goes by when any clear conclusion I’d reached on their dynamics gets thrown into the air once more. Though IBC wrapped-up nearly a month ago, it is for this reason that I have only now been able to apply fingers to keyboard.
For some time, I’d been harbouring headlines for this post that read something like “broadcast and telecoms no longer exist as discrete industries”, on the basis that both, ultimately, are striving to deliver some form of content over some form of network to their customers.
But IBC changed that. When I left Amsterdam, the headline had become “Telcos: watch out, broadcasters are going to eat your lunch”. The theory is that the new generation of IP broadcast service providers – who have oodles of content and millions of customer relationships – now conveniently piggyback the IP roads that telcos have invested billions in laying, beating them at their own game before they even get a chance to play. It’s a more appropriate headline, but still isn’t quite the full picture.
Where we have got to is this: mobile telecoms operators have been searching for the next big thing for some time, to augment declining voice and messaging revenues. As 3G and eventually 4G opened up big IP data pipes, it transpired that video services were extremely popular with their customers, with everyone largely agreeing that video and other rich content will eventually constitute about two thirds to three quarters of all network traffic. In ‘telco land’, the race for new, monetisable content partnerships was on.
But these new mobile IP networks also allowed a new breed of over-the-top application and service providers to step in and reach operator customers with rich messaging and content services, bypassing core networks entirely and eating into the revenue opportunity that operators had intended to capture from new rich content services. Operators are now struggling to make these networks as stable yet flexible as possible through virtualised, software-defined architectures, and searching for the ‘next, next big thing’ (which is the subject of a post for another time).
Meanwhile in broadcast, a similar thing is happening. New over-the-top ‘broadcasters’ – the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime – are now using IP as the network delivery mechanism, going ‘over the top’ of traditional broadcasters who had also intended to use them to deliver their own on-demand and non-linear services. At the same time, relatively novel concepts like cloud-hosted content delivery networks and software-defined networks are also being adopted by the bigger broadcast service providers, just like they are in telecoms, to enhance their service agility. But there are two main differences between what is happening in broadcast and what is happening in telecoms.
First, in broadcast, both traditional and new broadcasters have content. Content is extremely valuable as the primary ‘commodity’ which consumers are now buying, as telcos learned too late to their detriment. Some IP-only broadcasters are going as far as commissioning and producing exclusive content for their networks. They are able to do this thanks to entrenched industry relationships built up over decades. Right now, telecoms providers can only dream of this depth of relationship, let alone enact them fast enough to get them onto their networks and start generating revenue from customers.
Second, and this is one major learning from IBC, not only are broadcasters using established (fixed) IP networks to deliver services, they’re now taking their content, service delivery and business models and their own supporting networks (CDNs and the like) into the mobile space. Much has been made of the ‘second screen’ phenomena, where consumers use their mobile or tablet device alongside their TV viewing to augment the experience with things like social media engagement or ‘gamification’. Thanks to the studious efforts of mobile telecoms firms, the network path is already well laid for broadcasters to take advantage of, for both second screen services and – well, why not – the broadcast content itself.
So, where does this leave telecoms providers? All looking a bit bleak, isn’t it? I have to say, I’m struggling to find some good news. Where it may lie though, for both industries, is that the relentless drive to virtualise networks will ultimately deliver a highly flexible, agile network through which a multitude of highly scaled and scalable services can be offered; even if it’s not the operators or broadcasters themselves that are the root providers of them.
The operators and broadcasters that will eventually win will be those that are able to make the right choices about which technologies, content or services to buy in or outsource, and which they choose to build and run themselves. Virtualisation therefore becomes a question not of network technology, but business transformation. And the concept of ‘over the top’ will cease to exist and just become ‘the service’.
Technology vendors and service providers that support the business transformation of their operator customers will have to fight even harder to get their voices heard. While there were some seriously impressive organisations at IBC this year, there were also a lot of “me too” organisations. You couldn’t move for ‘OTT video optimisation’ and ‘seamless customer experience’ marketing straplines, and every other combination of buzzwords you can think of.
The importance of carefully planned and strategic broadcast PR and telecoms PR campaigns will never have been more important. It is for this reason that we undertook our research which looks at the factors that influence the longlisting, shortlisting and purchasing process that broadcast service providers consider when choosing technology partners. Findings are available in our free whitepaper, which you can download at http://www.ccgrouppr.com/insights/audience-insight-report/successfully-marketing-and-selling-to-broadcast-service-providers/. Duncan McKean is head of broadcast and media technology at CCgroup.


Kraftwerk’s Karl Bartos To Re-Release ‘Lost’ Solo Album
Communication was the debut solo album from Kraftwerk's Karl Bartos. Originally released back in 2003, the album got somewhat lost amidst the publicity surrounding Kraftwerk's Tour de France come back that happened around Communication's release date. Since then it has remained out of print, and has at times been described as Bartos's 'lost album'.
Now Bartos has remastered the record and prepared it for it's first digital release – as you might expect from a producer responsible for some of electronic music's iconic moments, the album has plenty to recommend about it – a listen to Life below shows Bartok on prime, elegant synthetic form.
The re-release, due Feb 7th on the Trocadero label, comes with the previously un-included track Camera Obscura, which- according to the press release- 'sounds like it could have been a lost track from Kraftwerk’s Computer World era.' Woo!
More info is available on the Trocadero website


Democracy depends on a vigorous free press, and it is up to all of us to demand it, and to defend it.
Donald sues at the drop of a faux hair follicle, so why not together orchestrate a litany of legal actions, crowd-funded by irate Americans who’ve had more than enough?
The reason Obama went to the state is that it is at the forefront of the climate change crisis. Here are the climate problems it is facing according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Jeb Bush's presidential campaign recently fell into complete disarray as he continues to fall behind in key states. Will Bush's operation now be like “Pickett’s Charge” to win the nomination?
It's either expensive health care for the few, or affordable health care for the many.
With inequality ripping us apart, and with few of our national leaders willing or able to confront the problem, we may never again be an equitable and functional society.
This is hardly the time to put on the fiscal brakes.
“We're never going to back down.”
Capitalism and corporations are only as good as we design the system to be.
“No one should be blocked from getting a life-saving vaccine because of the country they live in or the amount of money in their pocket."


text:
Jason and Kenny’s Proposal in Central Park
Love always finds its way when it’s meant to be! Kenny and Jason grew up in the same city of Syracuse, USA. Before they madly fall in love, they were friends for years. Their friendship was becoming stronger and survived the distance and all challenges. They also studied at the same university. Jason remembers their first encounter.
“I have always been a big fan of poetry and romantic books; I often used to go the library just to enjoy the atmosphere of that place was so quaint!” says Jason. “That’s where we first met. There was a reading group every Tuesday night. I didn’t even know I was attracted to guys at that time. We started to see each other more often, jogged together, and played tennis together. We both love nature, hiking, and taking boat trips on the Ontario Lake. That’s how we discovered our attraction for men more or less together. Every time Jason was meeting someone, I used to be happy for him, but at the same time a little envious.”
“Kenny always had the most handsome boyfriend!” Jason revives the beginnings of their love story. “When he moved to New York City for a new job in a bank, I remember being so sad about it. Then we started seeing each other a little less. However, I was following his adventures on social media, new friends, new life, and also a new lover. It seemed like he was with the man of his dreams! But, one night, all of a sudden, he called me crying and said they ended their relationship, and he needed me! It felt like the good old times. I was so surprised and happy that he called me! I booked my ticket right away, and the next day, I met Kenny at his favorite cafe in Chelsea, NY. He was sitting on his own, clearly had cried before, he had a plate with donuts that he was stuffing in his mouth with no much conviction, just like a sad kid! Despite the apparent despair on his face, Kenny was a handsome man, both confident and fragile. We hugged each other for 30 seconds. He busted into tears and told me how happy he was to see me and that I traveled all the way after the time spent apart. My heart was pounding, and I had a goose pimple looking in his eyes! That’s exactly when I realized I always loved him, and that my deepest wish was to stay with him forever and protect him. It was an electric feeling, like I got zapped, and suddenly I realized everything was about to change in a big way. At that moment, we both knew what was happening. We started ‘dating’, which was a little strange for us at the beginning, as we knew each other so well. When you start to date your best friend, you gain a lot: a protector, undeniable confidence, and a feverish determination to make the relationship work. But, you also lose a lot and learn a lot.”
Read on to find out why taking on the challenge is a tough feat, but at the end of the day, totally worth it.
“I traveled back and forth from Syracuse for three months, but couldn’t bare being away from Kenny,” remembers Jason. “Then, I got a job in NYC, and we moved together soon after. I could feel Kenny is happy with the way he looked at me. We started to make plans, bought a dog, and talked about marriage. We didn’t know who would propose first, but we knew one of us would! I didn’t want to plan something crazy or complicated. I always thought the New Year was a time for resolutions! We both love going to Central Park on early Sunday mornings, as a way to reconnect with nature. So, we went to Kenny’s favorite spot, Ladies’ Pavillon, that was a joke between us. Unlike the other mornings in January, it was sunny and empty. It felt like the park was there for only the two of us!!! With the help of a planner, I had a photographer hidden behind the trees, following us. I proposed and he accepted! Later that night, we stayed at the ‘William Hotel,’ where we had a fabulous meal, and the most romantic night in a blue suit!”
“The minute Jason said he wanted to go to Central Park that Sunday morning, I knew he was going to propose,” Kenny says about the big day. He was excited and always talking on the phone. I just wanted to scream yes, yes, yes, that entire week, but I waited patiently. I felt like the happiest person in the world. We will exchange our vows on a beach, in Trinidad & Tobago next October, with dear friends and family.”

domain: literature


text:
Posted by Sebastienne
While Lashings were in York for the 'Carnival of Feminist Cultural Activism' (there will be a write-up coming, I've just been very busy!), we met lots of shiny people. One of them was Alexa Athelstan, who is doing some awesome work on queer feminities. She's looking for participants who identify as feminine in an alternative, queer, or subversive way, to take part in her research project. There's a questionnaire, an artistic representation, and an interview - that's a chance to make pretty pictures and talk about yourself - so what are you waiting for? Drop her an email at firstname.lastname@example.org.

domain: artistic


Elbit subsidiary AEL Sistemas to participate in development of Large Area Display for fighter aircraft advanced cockpit system
Know-how gained from this work will support Elbit and AEL Sistemas' efforts to establish an Advanced Cockpit Technology Center of Excellence in Brazil
BRASILIA, Brazil, March 5, 2012 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Elbit Systems of America have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that supports the development of advanced avionics capabilities in Brazil.
Boeing has selected Elbit to provide the Large Area Display system that will be part of an advanced cockpit system to be offered on Boeing fighter aircraft, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the F-15 family of aircraft, including the Silent Eagle. As a key supplier to Boeing fighter aircraft programs, Elbit has committed to investing in the development of advanced cockpit avionics capabilities at its subsidiary in Brazil, AEL Sistemas S.A. of Porto Alegre.
"Boeing and its Tier 1 supplier-partners are committed to bringing key technologies to Brazil," said Boeing Military Aircraft President Chris Chadwick. "Through the projects identified for AEL Sistemas, Boeing and Elbit support Brazil's objective of developing the aerospace capabilities of local industry for the sustainment of its current and future military aircraft fleet. At the same time, we're focused on building long-lasting opportunities for Brazilian industry in the development and production of key technologies as Boeing continues to enhance its family of tactical fighter aircraft to meet the emerging needs of our customers around the globe."
The MOU outlines opportunities for AEL Sistemas to participate in the design, development, production and support of some Large Area Display software and hardware. The knowledge and capabilities gained from this work also will support Elbit and AEL Sistemas' efforts to establish an Advanced Cockpit Technology Center of Excellence in Brazil, which will position AEL Sistemas to expand its advanced cockpit avionics market reach to other fixed-wing platforms, as well as rotorcraft.
Activities proposed for AEL Sistemas enhance Boeing’s industrial participation offer on the F-X2 fighter program.
Elbit's 11-inch by 19-inch (27.9 x 48.2 cm) Large Area Display is the centerpiece of Boeing's Advanced Cockpit System, an upgrade common to the F/A-18 and F-15 platforms. The Advanced Cockpit System will improve the way the pilot interacts with the aircraft and will enable growth to next-generation visual cueing, improving situational awareness and increasing aircraft effectiveness.
Elbit Systems of America is a leading provider of high-performance products and system solutions focusing on the commercial aviation, defense, homeland security, and medical instrumentation markets. Elbit Systems of America is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT), a global electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications. AEL Sistemas S.A., a wholly owned Elbit subsidiary located in Porto Alegre, Brazil, serves as a center for production and logistics support for advanced defense electronics programs in Brazil and globally.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 62,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
# # #
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Office: +1 314-233-4368
Mobile: +1 314-705-0283
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Office: +1 562-797-7281
Mobile: +1 714-316-4267


text:
Goodrich Corp. said Thursday that it has formed a joint venture with a Turkish company to establish an airplane service center near Istanbul.
The center, to be run by Goodrich and Turkish Technic Inc., will work on thrust reversers, nacelles and other plane components. A major client is expected to be Turkish Airlines, which has a fleet of Airbus and Boeing passenger planes.
Goodrich said the facility will be near Istanbul's international airport and will employ about 20 people, expanding to about 70 over the next 10 years. It will be operational in the first quarter of 2011.
Goodrich shares dropped 88 cents to $68.34 in midday trading.

domain: economics


Today D3 Publisher hosted a new livestream showing off its upcoming games from the Earth Defense Force series.
Glad they're going back to their roots :) Iron Rain and World Beothers were great but I've been itching for a normal mainline game. Hope there's an English PS5 physical version at least in Asia
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Tag Archives: cooking
Don’t worry my fellow readers, i will be back soon and will have a new cake for you next week, a very special cake indeed!
I wanted to make a nice simple afternoon cake, so i decided to go for a fresh and light tasting apple cake, using Greek yoghurt to add to the lightness of the sponge, a perfect accompaniment for Mothering Sunday.
What You Need:
3 Large Granny Smith Apples peeled and chopped into cubes, 25ml Apricot Brandy, 300g Greek yoghurt (I used Total), 4 eggs, 1 and a quarter teasp of baking powder, 225g caster sugar, 400g plain flour, 125ml olive oil.
Preheat the oven to 180c.
First add the eggs and sugar to a bowl and whisk until combined, then add in the yoghurt, brandy and oil until you have a lovely runny batter. To the mixture then add the sieved flour and baking powder, mixing to form a thick luscious cake mixture. Finally fold in the the chopped apple, place in a greased 9” cake tin and bake in the oven for 50 minutes. When done leave to cool, i drizzled over some left over cream cheese frosting.
This month I decided to try the famous cupcake bakery which is in London and New York. The book is a joy to look at with delicious pictures and easy to follow instructions. I wanted to try the Key Lime Pie, as this is something I have never tried before and is not a popular treat in the UK, but is a traditional american dessert, naked after the Florida grown lime .also i had loads of limes left over from christmas (^-^) . I suppose a key lime pie is a cross between a cheesecake and a lemon meringue pie.
The natural green filing and the crunchy biscuit crust really compliment well, topped with fluffy meringue, or cream . I will definitely try this again as it is so easy to make, does not take much time and I think will suit well for summer BBQs and parties. The book helped me perfect my biscuit crust skill which before was hit and miss. You can find the book in all good bookstores, i got mine for christmas. Yum .
Decembers ‘Cook of the Month’ comes form the cookery book ‘The French Kitchen’ (2002, Doubleday, London) , by Joanne Harris and Fran Warde. Harris is also the author of Chocolat, so if you have read the book you can imagine how scrumptious and inviting the recipes, language and photos are. This book also does not disappoint with a chocolate section. The one recipe that did stand out for me was a Blueberry Tart, which in the book looks like it came straight out of boulangerie.
So i went and picked up some fresh blueberries from the city market yesterday. I would of had more blueberries in the tart if someone in the night didn’t eat them! But anyway, there was enough for what I want to do. What is great about this recipe is that so far this is the best pastry I have ever tried to make, Pâte Brisée. This is a nice light, buttery and flakey pastry which was so easy to work with, roll and bake.
The recipe was easy to follow but it can also be adapted for season and taste. This would be great to substitute the blueberries with blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries or even strawberries. I will also be using the Pâte Brisée recipe again for the future. You can find the recipe here or buy the book (it’s worth it). In the end it tasted great, was easy to make and I learnt something new… a perfect ‘Cook of the Month’.
“Serve cold, if you can wait.” (^-^)
I remember eating cherries in cakes when I was young so a nostalgic throwback recipe was perfect on a very wet, cold and windy day in Cambridge. Simple and sweet, nice with a cup of tea.
What You Need:
500g self raising flour, 4 eggs, 150g butter, 230g caster sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 rind of orange, 2 drops of almond essence, 100g glace cherries, 250ml milk. (Makes 12 muffins)
Preheat the oven to 200c.
Take a small bowl and melt the butter. Now add to the melted butter the eggs, milk and almond extract. Whisk until light and frothy. In a separate mixing bowl add the rest of the ingredients, including the cherries roughly chopped. Mix together the dry ingredients and then make a well in the centre and add the butter batter. Beat vigourously trapping the air for 5mins. Spoon the mixture into cases and bake for 20-30mins. Cool and the eat!
Recently I bought an old recipe book off ebay for 50p, which I thought was a bargain. To my surprise inside someone had left their newspaper cut outs of Christmas Cake recipes. This included recipes on how make American frosting, almond paste, royal icing and rich fruit sponge. I wanted to share my find with you. I am unsure of the age of the second, but recipes both were published in the Daily Telegraph, and the first is from the 1940s, as on the back it talks about the premiere of Gone With The Wind in Leicester Square, London. The movie was released here in 1940 and ran for 4 years during The Blitz, bombing of London during WWII. This year we are having the christmas cake made as a present so i wont be trying the recipes out yet, but feel free to have a go and show me the results (^-^)
Overly indulgent, vintage delight.
There is nothing more yummy than a house full with the smell of freshly baked bread. The best thing about your own bread is that you have created it yourself, you know what’s in it and a feeling of accomplishment. Bread is one of my biggest vices, I remember when I was a student in Manchester there was a really great German bakery nearby and I would go there a buy a different type of bread each time and make a big chunky soup. However the bread was so delicious on many occasions I would seem to eat the whole loaf in one sitting (^-^)
What You need:
15g yeast, 570g wholemeal flour, 600ml warm water, 2 tablespoons of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of caster sugar.
First place your flour in a container in the oven on a low heat for 5 minutes and let it warm up. Prepare your yeast if it is a dried yeast at this time. Now take the warm flour and add it to a mixing bowl, stir in the sugar and the salt evenly and then the yeast, followed by the water. Mix with a wooden spoon until combined well and transfer onto a floured surface. Spread the dough into a rectangle and then fold one side into the centre and the other side over. Now in a lightly oiled loaf tin place the dough inside and press down around the edges and then dust with flour. Cover over the loaf with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for 40mins.
Preheat the oven to 200c.
Once the dough has risen, place the loaf tin on the middle tray of the oven and bake for 40mins. Then turn out the bread and place back into the oven for 5 minutes upside down to crisp up the bottom and the sides. Cool on a rack and the serve.
Lashings of butter.
In winter the most wonderful thing is Cranberries, rich in colour and flavour, bitter yet sweet perfect for desserts and savoury dishes. What I love is a brie sandwich with a generous spread of cranberry jam. This is a very simple recipe you can find in many different cookbooks.
What You Need:
300g Fresh Cranberries, 300g Caster Sugar
Simple simmer the ingredients in a pan until the sugar has dissolved, then turn up the heat and boil for around 5 minutes or until jam consistency (105c). Jar straight away into a recycled sterilised jar and seal.
For you or as a gift.
Anything with mint is a winner for me and this jelly sauce is no exception. The combination of apple and mint gives the bitter sweet taste , you can use with roast pork and lamb, an ideal compliment for your Sunday dinner.
What you Need:
8 small apples (granny smith are good especially apples with pinkish skin for colour), 450g sugar, 2 tablespoons liquid pectin, 30g fresh mint (roughly chopped), 1 juice of lemon.
First quarter the apples and add to a large saucepan, fill the pan with enough water to cover the apples and add the mint and lemon juice. Bring this mixture to the boil and then simmer for 20-30 minutes. Take off the heat and cool. After, drain the liquid from the apples and set aside. With a potato masher lightly mash the apple mint mixture and pour the puree into a sieve over a large bowl. With the back of a spoon push and mush the apple in the sieve to extract the juice and fine pulp, be patient you will find after a while you will have got quite a lot out of the mixture. Once you have extracted as much as you can discard the mush left overs, and take the strained juice/pulp and pour into a measuring jug and then top up with the cooking juice, to 1 pint.
Take the 1 pint of mixture and add to a clean saucepan and mix in the sugar. On a low heat stir until all the sugar has dissolved, now add the pectin. Turn up the heat and rapidly boil the mixture for 15mins, once the jelly has done it should have reached the temperature of 105C. Take off the heat and pour into a recycled sterilised jar, seal straight away, cool at room temperature and then chill. Do not worry if your mixture is liquidly when you add it to the jar because as it cools it will set.

domain: food


By Valecia Crisafulli
If you want to do one thing this year to improve the chances for long-term sustainability of your downtown, give a copy of Jeff Speck’s new book, Walkable City, to your mayor, council members, planning and zoning officials, developers, and decision-makers in your community. Speck—a city planner, former director of design at the National Endowment for the Arts, and coauthor of Suburban Nation with Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk—is the keynote speaker at this year's National Main Streets Conference in New Orleans, April 14 – 16.
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time, is an important addition to preservation literature for a number of reasons. I'm not going to give a summary of the book here, mainly because I want everyone to read it. However, his "10 Steps of Walkability" are every bit as relevant to downtown livability as Main Street's four points or eight principles, or the three pillars of the sustainability movement, or economists' triple bottom line. Furthermore, these 10 strategies may be even more important to community revitalization than any other approach for this decade and beyond.
Many historic areas are already poised to implement Speck’s strategies for achieving walkability: public transportation can be found nearby; homes and businesses are close together; mature trees and plantings provide welcome shade. The popularity of online applications like WalkScore, together with the proliferation of bike lanes, ZipCars, and other modes of transport that make cities less auto-dependent, is evidence that Americans are, by and large, embracing a beyond-the-auto lifestyle.
Speck makes a strong case that the younger generation of urban professionals—the millennials—embraces the concept of walkability and all that it embodies—proximity to outdoor dining, arts and culture, and basic services like grocery stores and dry cleaners. While Speck emphasizes the attraction this lifestyle has for younger people and the creative class, he also notes that it is increasingly a draw for retiring boomers, who know that walkability may enhance the quality of life as they age—and have health benefits as well.
What don’t I like about this book? Not much. I think Speck may be too quick to dismiss some cities like Memphis and Little Rock that have made remarkable strides against formidable obstacles. Little Rock has installed great bike trails that connect the city's historic districts to the river and provide a desirable recreation amenity for residents and visitors. And preservationists in Memphis fought gallantly, though unsuccessfully, against the demolition of Union Avenue Methodist Church in the center of the burgeoning Midtown arts district, a "hot spot" in the city.
At one point Speck makes a reference to "old-age homes." Does anyone use that term anymore? (Or is it just hitting too close to home?)
My main concern about Speck's message is that some might feel his principles of walkability apply only to big cities. Nothing could be further from the truth. I had coffee with Jeff several weeks ago and brought up this point. He agreed that the 10-step approach he espouses in the book, while primarily citing urban examples, can be successful in towns and cities of any size—if there is the political and civic will to make it happen. All communities, regardless of size, need to realize that residents and visitors are seeking places to walk and to gather that have street-level amenities, built to scale, with multi-modal transportation options. We have to help elected officials and decision-makers figure that out if they have not already embraced those concepts.
As with any great mystery or page turner, you might be tempted to read the end of book early to find out how it all ends. Please don't do that with Walkable City. I assure you, the last page is well worth the wait for community preservationists—and it makes the work you do every day seem infinitely more valuable.
This article first appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of Main Street Now.
Valecia Crisafulli is former vice president of partnerships at the National Trust and also served as interim director of the National Main Street Center. Currently she is managing educational content for the 2014 National Main Streets Conference and consulting on preservation-based revitalization issues. She lives in Madison, Indiana.


When 13-year-old Matt is discovered impressing the livestock in an Aussie country town with his remarkable soccer skills, he's offered the chance of a lifetime – a try-out at one of Europe's biggest and most glamorous soccer clubs. His younger sister Bridie goes with him as his manager and tells us their story – warts, goals and all.
The funny and moving story of a sister's love for her brother, and how it survives everything fate throws at it, including the millions of pounds and mountains of pressure at the top of the world's most popular sport.
A funny and moving story from one of Australian's most entertaining authors.
'He is one of the finest examples of a writer who can make humour stem from the things that really matter in life.' The Guardian, UK


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Naval Base’s Gab Gab Beach
Naval Base’s Gab Gab Beach
Gab Gab Beach, or Fab Gab as we like to call it, is truly a hidden gem and easily our family’s regular go-to place for no-frills low-cost weekend fun.
Great for picnics, birthday parties, unit gatherings, hail & farewells, snorkeling, swimming, diving, sand volleyball, SUP’ing and all sorts of water play. The beach umbrellas and grill grates can be rented for a meager amount, and camping is allowed by reservation with the Outdoor Recreation Center. There is something for everyone.
Gab Gab is located on Naval Base Guam, so you’ll need base access to get to it, its also one of the most popular shore dives on Guam, and any given day of the week you’re likely to find divers exiting or readying to enter the water via the easy stairs next to the “3-sided pool.”
If you get there early enough, make a leisure surface swim due North out to the Atlantis Submarine Tender buoy, and drop down on the plateau reef at about 50’, known as Gab Gab II, where baited buckets attract the fish for the viewing pleasure of the underwater tourists. You’re almost guaranteed to get an up close view of the docile Nurse Sharks, large schooling fish, and possibly a moray eel in the artificial reef ball. Also look out for anemones teeming with clown fish at various locations on the reef.
Steer clear of the submarine while diving, but be sure and give a wave to all the tourists peering out the portholes.
It’s also a beginner snorkeler’s paradise. Enter the water via the stairs and your only yards from colorful coral, sloping reefs, an abundance of fish and there is always a greater than average chance of seeing a turtle along the reef edge. Note, no forms of fishing or collection of marine life (live or dead) is permitted at Gab Gab.
Bathrooms are provided, and outdoor showers are just steps away from the water stairs - convenient for divers and snorkelers exiting the water to rinse their gear and themselves. During your surface interval enjoy some beach volleyball, relaxing under the umbrellas, barbecuing in the poolside grills.
Enjoy Fabulous Gab Gab, but be sure and clean up after yourselves when you leave.
Things to know
- Open 24 hours a day unless noted.
- Gab Gab Beach offers Lifeguards ONLY on weekends, holidays, and DoDEA School Breaks from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Planning on heading out to the beaches this weekend but don’t have the proper outdoor equipment? Don’t let it ruin your plans! Drop into Rec-N-Crew and inquire about all your outdoor needs. Call 564-1826.
- There is a $10 rental fee for Cabanas on the right-hand side of Gab Gab Beach. This is required to guarantee that a spot will be reserved for your function. Patrons can still use unreserved Cabanas for free. For more info, call 564-1826. (Fee is waived for Command Functions. Contact Eric Nikkel at 564-1851 for more info).
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domain: travel


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Powersave Direct began its life in 1999 to offer developers help with the age old problem of utilities.
Having worked within a regional distribution company for a number of years, I worked with a variety of customers, ranging from developers to retailers, who all were experiencing the pain of arranging utility works that were required on any given site and the complications of working with both distribution companies and then suppliers for metering works.
Recognising that any given build or refurbishment could mean you had to deal with at least five different companies and with all the co-ordination and effort that went into pulling these companies together, it was felt that maybe there was an opportunity to assist and make these works less complicated and more fluid for the developer. After 20 years in business, there was obviously room for us in the market to try and make life easier for those developers.
After starting off, like any small business, with trying to grow our company and looking for customers to work with, we are now proud to say we work with not only individuals who are embarking on an exciting new project but also with household names such as Dominos and Miller Homes and am proud to say that our relationships seem to last a long time with many of our customers, who come back to us with each of their new projects.
Every customers requirement is unique and the way in which every customer works can be very different and we pride ourselves in being able to adapt to any way of working and really tailor making our services.
It is important to me that my team remain customer focused and incredibly organised as we are here to serve the most important people of all, our customers.
Peace of mind with Powersave Direct
Powersave Direct are experienced in coordinating utility connections for industry, having assisted on many projects from new warehouse builds to updating of the utility connections for older buildings. The latter in particular, asks for as smooth a transition period as possible, to help minimise downtime and consequently loss of earnings.
Call us today to see how we can benefit your business.


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Topband: Beverage saga, the conclusion
mlunday at nc.rr.com
Sat Jan 22 16:27:40 PST 2011
Again, thanks to all who offered suggestions and encouragement. I have
completed my investigation, and discovered the source of the problem.
I am feeding coax to the beverage, and using an SO-239 to male Type-F
adapter at the transformer.
Somehow, the fragile center conductor of the adapter on the F side was
broken off, most likely by me when I was checking the coax and/or replacing
Fortunately, I had a spare connector. Swapped it out. Voila!
Now, I can observe and listen. I don't expect much on 160, hoping to hear
better on 40 and 80 over the 43 foot vertical (40) and the half square (80)
oriented in the same direction as the beverage.
1. Always check the simple, fragile stuff first
2. Use solid and consistent trouble-shooting techniques
3. Use the experience and knowledge of others
4. Never give up
Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net
More information about the Topband

domain: hobby


text:
A recent op-ed in The New York Times discussed the importance of listening to women in order to empower them. That doesn’t mean responding to their innermost desires and emotions. Rather, empowering women means offering them an opportunity to make a living and support themselves. But it doesn’t stop there. In this article, Marissa Wesely points out that “Putting these women at the center of designing strategies and programs for women’s empowerment will accelerate all our efforts to achieve gender equality.”
As the article continues, it focuses on the conversation of not “what” women want, but whether those of us willing to help are listening and learning from women about what they want. This appears to be a lost art, and an area we do not focus on nearly enough. Think about the last time you had a conversation with a friend. Did you really listen? I mean intently. I don’t mean hearing what he or she said with the sole purpose of responding. I mean using both your ears and prioritizing their thoughts above your response. That is true and deep listening.
Listening is such a fundamental yet powerful action. However, many of us allow it to fall by the wayside as we talk over one another and attempt to be the loudest opinion in the room. But as we shift our lives to one of making a real difference and celebrating the diversity of others, we can better serve those in need by using our ears and not our mouths.

domain: psychology


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7 ways nature nurtures us
7 ways nature nurtures us
You’d probably agree that getting outside does people good—but do you ever wonder why that is? Many scientists have attempted to answer that question, designing a variety of experiments to try and measure the benefits of spending time in nature. We may never know all the reasons the outdoors gives us such a boost, but research suggests heading to the park to start feeling …
A University of Chicago study looked at satellite imagery and urban tree counts alongside socioeconomic and public health data. When they ran the numbers, they found that 10 more trees on a city block produced better health outcomes equivalent to giving residents a $10,000 bump in household income, or making them seven years younger.
In an experiment at the University of Michigan, participants took memory and attention tests after strolling in a botanical garden and along city streets. The nature walk improved their results as much as 20 percent, while the sidewalk version had no effect. The research found that even looking at nature imagery had a positive effect on concentration. (Though of course, we’d all prefer to actually get outside.)
A study by Roger Ulrich analyzed the effect of natural scenery on patients recovering from gallbladder surgery. In a sampling of 46 subjects, 23 had windows that faced a brick wall, while the other 23 recovered in rooms overlooking a stand of trees. Those confronted with an expanse of brick requested narcotics at a higher rate, complained more, and spent longer in recovery than those with the leafy vista.
In an experiment on the UC Berkeley campus, subjects were asked to spend time either looking at the façade of a science building or standing in eucalyptus grove. A few moments later, an accident was staged in which a passerby tripped and dropped a handful of pens. Subjects who had spent time in the stand of trees spent more time helping pick them up than those who’d been staring at concrete.
Researchers at Ohio State University tracked the development of myopia—difficulty seeing distant objects—in a group of 500 children. Though nearsighted parents often pass their poor vision on to their offspring, the study found that the children who spent more than 14 hours a week outdoors were three times less likely to need glasses.
In collaboration with Outward Bound, psychologist David Scheinfeld followed the long-term effects of the program on more than 200 combat veterans who joined mountaineering and backpacking expeditions. The trip participants reported feeling calmer and having a stronger sense of purpose—and were more likely to seek professional help when needed.
Researchers at Stanford University have hypothesized that wonder—how you might feel standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon or beneath a giant redwood—can expand our sense of time. One set of participants in their study watched a video of people awe-struck by natural landscapes—while the other set watched footage of people having fun at a parade. Those who’d seen images of natural landscapes were more likely to agree with statements like “Time is boundless” and “I have lots of time in which I can get things done.”
How does nature nurture you? Join the conversation on Facebook, or leave us a comment here!
Donate to become a member, and you’ll receive a subscription to Land&People magazine, our biannual publication featuring exclusive, inspiring stories about our work connecting everyone to the outdoors.

domain: sociology


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The levels of CXCL8
(Figure 1D) increased by 17-fold while that of CCL5 (Figure 1E) increased by 15-fold when the recombinant SspA was used at 0.33 μg/ml (Figure 1D-E). In contrast, when the macrophages were CSF-1R inhibitor stimulated with pancreatic trypsin instead of recombinant SspA, no increase in cytokine secretion was observed (Figure 1). When macrophages were stimulated with the recombinant SspA at the highest concentration (33 μg/ml), a very low amount of CCL5, which correspond to that of non-stimulated macrophages was detected. This decrease in cytokine production was also observed for IL-6 but to a much lesser extent (Figure 1B). Figure 1 Cytokine secretion by PMA-differentiated U937 macrophages stimulated with the recombinant SspA of S. suis or with pancreatic trypsin. Following stimulation (18 h) with various amounts of proteases, the secretion of IL-1β Selleck GSK3 inhibitor (panel A), IL-6 (panel B), TNF-α (panel C), CXCL8 (panel D) and CCL5 (panel E) was assessed by ELISA. The data are the means ± SD of triplicate assays from three separate experiments. Asterisks indicate a significant difference
in comparison with the non-stimulated macrophages at P < 0.01. The effect of stimulating macrophages with heat-inactivated recombinant SspA or with active SspA in the presence of polymyxin (LPS neutralizing molecule) on the secretion of IL-6, CXCL8 and CCL5, the three cytokines produced in higher amounts by macrophages, was then tested. As reported in Table 1, the secretion of IL-6 and CXCL8 was significantly increased after stimulation of macrophages with the active recombinant SspA (33 μg/ml) while only a slight increase was observed in the case of CCL5. The amounts of
IL-6 and CXCL8 produced by macrophages were not markedly different when the recombinant SspA of S. suis was inactivated by heat treatment (30 min at 100°C). However, stimulation of macrophages CYTH4 with the heat-inactivated SspA was associated with a significantly higher amount of CCL5 in the conditioned culture medium compared to the treatment with the active recombinant SspA (72409 ± 848 versus 2370 ± 61 pg/ml). Lastly, the presence of polymyxin B during stimulation of macrophages with the recombinant SspA protease had no significant effect on the levels of cytokine produced. The efficacy of polymyxin B (1 μg/ml) in neutralizing the inflammatory activity of Escherichia coli LPS was demonstrated in preliminary assays. Table 1 Effect of heat treatment or the presence of polymyxin B on cytokine secretion by PMA-differentiated U937 macrophages stimulated with the recombinant SspA (33 μg/ml) of S. suis. Conditions Amount secreted (pg/ml) CCL5 IL-6 CXCL8 Control (no stimulation) 2081 ± 14 100 ± 1 3170 ± 9 Recombinant SspA of S. suis 2370 ± 61* 1922 ± 31* 108557 ± 620* Heat-inactivated recombinant SspA of S. suis 72409 ± 848* 2111 ± 71* 102287 ± 1062* Recombinant SspA of S.

domain: chemistry


3 Reasons to Upgrade to the 2011-18 Hyundai Veloster Air Suspension Kit CHY250-APP – Ksport
Why settle for fixed suspension settings for your 2011-18 Hyundai Veloster when you can have up to 36 levels of damping adjustment with the Ksport air suspension kit CHY250-APP? This kit will enable you to configure your suspension system on demand in ways you never thought possible. Ksport is renowned for its ability to design long-lasting and highly efficient air suspension systems for various applications, e.g., street driving or racing. This kit is going for just $4037.5. Want to find out more? Read on. Below, we will discuss the following:
1. What is an air suspension kit?
2. What are three reasons to upgrade?
3. Why should you buy the Ksport air suspension kit CHY250-APP?
What is an Air Suspension Kit?
An air suspension kit can help you convert your stock suspension system into an air suspension system, swapping conventional coil springs with airbags. The Ksport air suspension kit CHY250-APP is for the 2011-18 Hyundai Veloster, so you are guaranteed of easy bolt-on installation when setting it up.
What are three reasons to upgrade?
Versatility is one of the most significant advantages of the Ksport air suspension kit CHY250-APP. While the stock suspension setup of your 2011-18 Hyundai Veloster is limited to just one setting, this air suspension kit offers diverse adjustment options. With its 4-wheel independent ride height adjustment, you can configure it to a lower setting when you want to slam the car for the next car show just by pushing a few buttons on the kit’s remote control. In the same way, you can also set a higher ride height, e.g., when you need to drive on roads with bumps, potholes, or uneven surfaces. Also, because this kit offers 36 levels of damping adjustment, you can set a firmer ride when you want to drive spiritedly or a more comfortable ride when you want to go on rough roads.
2. Load Leveling
Without load leveling, your car’s load can upset its on-road stance. For example, when its trunk is loaded with heavy items, its rear is likely to crouch lower, causing its front to point higher. This air suspension kit can fix that. Its sensors will take note when one side of your car is dipping lower than it should; when that happens, the system will automatically fill its airbags on that side with more air to level out the car’s ride height. The load-leveling provision will improve your vehicle's tire wear, suspension system wear and reduce vibrations because of its equalizing weight distribution. It may also achieve better fuel economy due to improved aerodynamics.
Without a doubt, the CHY250-APP will soak up vibrations, shakes, and jerks with much greater effectiveness than your stock coil-spring suspension system. It combines high-pressure airbags that match your car's capabilities with high-performance shock absorbers with internal valving settings. Both can accommodate rapid changes in PSI, so your ride comfort will hardly be affected by uneven road surfaces with this kit.
Why should you buy the Ksport air suspension kit CHY250-APP?
1. Camber Adjustment
In addition to offering better ride quality and plenty of ride height/damping adjustability, this kit also includes camber adjustable top mounts that help configure the car’s geometry on demand. These adjustments can help to enhance steering response and wheel control, yielding quicker times around your local track.
2. No Switches/Gauges are Needed
Ksport has avoided using intricate wiring and confusing switches or gauges with this kit to make it easy to use, even for people who are new to air suspension systems. You will be able to fully operate the system with just a single, easy-to-use, full-color OLED screen remote control. This remote control lets you monitor the airbag pressures at all four corners; it also shows the air tank.
This kit comes with a 12-month limited warranty, which means that if it reveals problems during that period because of manufacturer defects, you are confident of getting a replacement for it.
4. Made in the US
This kit is manufactured at Ksport's state-of-the-art production facility in Mesa Arizona. The company prioritizes quality when developing all its products. It endeavors to adhere to all set quality standards to produce aftermarket automotive products in the US.
5. Plenty of Experience
Established in 2003, Ksport has devoted itself to competitively priced yet highly durable performance suspension systems and other automotive products. In that time, the company had attained a great deal of knowledge of the automotive performance industry, drawing from collaborations with major players in the global motorsport industry. The company applies its knowledge, guaranteeing efficiency and durability at the core of its products.
Specifications and Features
Style:AIRTECH PRO PLUS
Weight: 112 lbs
Dimensions: 32 × 16 × 13 in
Top Mount Front: Pillowball Mount
Top Mount Rear: Reuses OEM Top Mount
2011 to 2018 Hyundai Veloster
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


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Finally! Ca Passes Meaningful instructions on Payday Lenders to avoid performing Class individuals from Being Gouged. Unfortuitously, the statutory Law Has More Holes than the usual Block of Swiss Cheese.
Mahany Law and its own Ca lovers have actually launched a study in predatory loan schemes consumers that are affecting the Golden State. We think these loan providers are selling unconscionable loans to working and army families for the state and therefore are conspiring to break the present rate of interest caps planned to simply simply take impact in January 2020.
Pay day loans вЂ“ Curse or Blessing?
When you have woeful credit and require crisis cash, pay day loans might seem such as a blessing. Banking institutions have actually historically done a job that is terrible the credit requirements of poor and dealing families. For an incredible number of Californians, payday financing fills a significant need into the time of crisis.
Unfortuitously, those loans have a price that is huge. Associated with the three loan providers our company is investigating, Curo apparently charges an APR (annual portion price) of 131percent for the $5,000 loan. ThatвЂ™s actually inexpensive contrasted to Elevate Credit (up to 225%) and Enova International (up to 191%).
Another customer loan provider, Opploans, is making loans at an APR of 160% though it is confusing if they’re lending straight or by way of a partner bank.
Payday and high interest customer loans may fill a need for a person who has to make crisis repairs to a car or buy life saving medication for the child that is sick. However the price of that credit вЂ“ rates of interest and charges вЂ“ are plainly predatory.
Based on in your geographical area in america, there clearly was which has no legislation of consumer loans. Continue reading “Brand Brand New Research: Ca Payday Lenders (Predatory Loans)”

domain: finance


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MUSC Dedicates New Bioengineering and Drug Discovery Hubs
On Friday, October 24, 2011, the Medical University of South Carolina officially dedicated the James E. Clyburn Research Center. Congressman Clyburn was honored by MUSC for his lifetime of work advocating for equity in the health care system and his commitment to funding programs to end health disparities. The Clyburn Research Center contains two state-of-the-art buildings that house collaborative research projects to advance health care delivery and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases and veterans with debilitating injuries. Click here to read the MUSC press release.

domain: medical


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tw: mentions of mental illness
so before you read the vents i just wanted to say that i personally think that faking mental illnesses is dumb, it’s making fun of other disorders and it’s un respectful. I would never do such thing, so please don’t comment stuff like: “she’s doing it for attention…” etc. Thanks… 🙂
info before you start reading: Ok so before i start venting you must know that i have Anxiety and Social Anxiety.
Social Anxiety: A chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety.
For people with social anxiety disorder, everyday social interactions cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment.
Symptoms may include excessive fear of situations in which one may be judged, worry about embarrassment or humiliation or concern about offending someone.
Anxiety: A mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.
Examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms include stress that’s out of proportion to the impact of the event, inability to set aside a worry and restlessness.
(For the people who don’t know the difference between the two)
Vents / TW
(non of these relate to each other, each vent is a different story)
Vent 1: I always feel like i’m being judged, my Social Anxiety has gotten so bad that i’m actually embarrassed to talk. I feel like if I say something wrong people would laugh or start judging me. I’m terrified of giving presentations in front of class, and the worst part is that i’m scared to open up to my parents since i think they would tell me that i’m “exagerating” or “it’s just a phase”. I’m concerned about myself and going to school isn’t as easy anymore. I feel like every time I walk down the field people are staring at me and judging…it’s very hard to put into words but it’s not a pretty feeling :/
Vent 2: I cry every single night, and i’m not able to sleep properly because i’m worried about something. I’m an over thinker, and as the name says i tend to overthink everything and the fact that i have anxiety makes it worse. I can’t focus at school since i don’t get sleep, my grades go down, and i’m worried about the fact that my parents would be mad or that i won’t have a future.
I keep my feelings bottled up because of my SA and you seriously don’t know how much it hurts… I asked my few friends to describe my personality and the most repeated ones were:
If they knew everything that’s happening to me they wouldn’t describe me like that. I’m just saying that i’m overwhelmed, and the only way i can release my feelings is either talking to people i don’t even know or crying all night.
Sorry if this made you uncomfortable
And please don’t mention my mental disorders in the comments