Experience to Move You
Wherever You Need to Go
It’s more than 60 years of factory automation and materials handling experience – for hundreds of customers seeking the highest level of productivity, efficiency, and safety – that has made Han-Tek one of the industry’s most sought after production partners. Our ability to support Tier 1 and Tier 2 factories and production facilities in aerospace, automotive, metals, energy, heavy equipment and plastics, just to name a few, has established Han-Tek as the “go to” resource for the toughest automation and materials handling.
Problem. Solved. Case History
Installing the “Gold Standard” in Crane Solutions
- Our client was constructing a brand-new building and needed to install a large number of state-of-the-art cranes, hoists, and runway systems.
- These systems needed to offer superb flexibility in the handling of a diverse array of high-tech, high-value production parts.
- And, oh by the way, the installation needed to be complete in 8 weeks.
- We engineered an elaborate system of 24 two-ton crane-and-hoist systems and 10 runway systems.
- Our turnkey installation includes bridge systems, hoist/trolley units, runway systems, a general column layout, radio controls with backups, and a telemotive laser anti-collision system.
- We assigned a project manager with overall responsibility for the entire project who coordinated the timely completion of all deliverables including engineering, procurement, and installation.
- We provided all system warranties, training and manuals, as well as service and support as needed.
- The entire project was installed as scheduled and has been working flawlessly.
- The engineering, installation, and system training by Han-Tek have earned high praise from plant personnel.
I Need a
Contact Han-Tek to learn more about optimizing your productivity through automation and materials handling solutions.
For immediate assistance, call:
Request a No-Obligation Han-Tek Engineering Assessment
We’ll discuss your materials handling problems and potential solutions for your consideration.
Aerospace leaders have looked to Han-Tek for solutions to some of their toughest materials handling problems. Our prime engineering skill is successfully integrating sophisticated production processes that include cranes and hoists, robots, conveyors, AGVs, and complex electrical controls. Our strategic partners include such automation pacesetters as Fanuc and Rockwell Automation.
How we've helped the Aerospace industry:
In today’s world of automotive manufacturing, getting the right parts to the right place at the right time is essential. Han-Tek has designed and engineered some of the most reliable just-in-time (JIT) materials handling and sub-assembly processes going. Whether it’s integrating an entire line from start to finish or just upgrading existing processes, our automation solutions have consistently proven themselves. Shift after shift, month after month – we work with Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers’ factories and facilities all across North America.
How we've helped the Automotive industry:
We’ve designed, built, and installed sophisticated charging crane, hoist, and automation solutions for the metals industry that were unheard of only a few years ago. Like moving a multi-ton billet, glowing at more than 2500oF, in 360o degrees of rotation in X, Y, and Z axes. Yes, we did that. We’ve also handled large plant modifications and equipment upgrades, loads of DC-to-AC switch overs, and are a leading provider of standard package hoist systems.
How we've helped the Metals industry:
Food & Beverage
Han-Tek is a leading provider of automation and material handling solutions for clients across ambient, refrigerated and freezer-based production and distribution environments within the food & beverage industry. Leveraging this unique understanding, Han-Tek can deliver custom solutions to help improve order assembly/accuracy, inventory control, product storing, distribution and complete product traceability throughout facilities.
How we've helped the Food & Beverage industry:
To industry leaders like General Electric, we’re the leader in developing innovative automation solutions. When process steps call for moving and precisely orienting heavy or awkward parts, Han-Tek engineering shines. We also pride ourselves in our engineering studies, which have led many firms in the heavy equipment industry to solutions they may not have imagined possible – along with substantial gains in productivity and reductions in labor.
Han-Tek has been a major player in plastics, especially in the bottling/beverage end of the business, since the early ’90s. We currently work closely with, and have streamlined processes at, many of America’s largest bottling manufacturers. In addition to our SoftDrop technology, our expertise also includes in-line and work cell conveyors.
How we've helped the Pre-Form industry:
Packaging and Roll-Handling
Han-Tek has the experience and expertise to engineer and implement custom solutions for the packaging and roll-handling industries. Han-Tek can provide material handling solutions starting with the receipt of raw materials, to managing work in progress, and storage and inventory of finished goods. This includes the successful handling of corrugate, paper rolls, aluminum rolls, films, raw materials, dies, and more, by integrating AGV’s, ASRS, conveyors, overhead cranes, workstation cranes, and robotic cells. And it’s all managed with Han-Tek’s integrated WCS software we call InteGreat.


text:
Officer who killed ex will not be charged
The Kent Police Officer who shot and killed her ex-boyfriend after she said he broke into her home will not be…
4 things we learned from Berry, DeJesus memoir
VIDEO: Unarmed man shot by Florida deputy
A man on a bicycle is shot by a Florida deputy. He was armed only with a cell phone.
Brelo's attorneys file motion to dismiss
Attorneys for Cleveland patrol officer Michael Brelo filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him Wednesday.
Bond increase denied for E. Cleveland 3
A Cuyahoga County judge has denied prosecutors efforts to increase bond for three East Cleveland men awaiting a new trial on murder charges.
Vote ahead on new Cleveland gun laws
New, tough gun legislation is scheduled for a vote Monday before Cleveland City Council.
Surprise! Woman didn't know she was pregnant
A Wisconsin woman was not feeling well when she went to the bathroom and realized the source of her pain.
VIDEO: Camaro tries shoulder pass, causes crash
Police charge the Ohio driver of the Camaro with aggravated DWI. Troopers say his BAC was .19 percent.
Baby left in Dumpster meets dad, rescuer
A man who started his life abandoned in a Dumpster shortly after birth had two reunions 25 years later.
Boy, 7, gets George Lucas to allow Jedis to wed
Jedi Knights now have the legal right to get married, under the Imperial Ruling Council of the Galactic Republic.
Why you could be seeing more video games on TV
For the first time, ESPN aired a video game competition Sunday, and it got a lot of attention. But was it a novelty, or a sign of things to come?
Royal baby birth to be delivered on Twitter
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will announce the birth of their next child on Twitter before the traditional Buckingham Palace easel…
The 'Silent Hill' reboot is apparently cancelled
Konami is pulling the "P.T." demo of its "Silent Hill" reboot from the digital shelves, and key members of the project say it's over.
What is new 'Call of Duty' game trying to say?
The "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" trailer seems to be commenting on the dangers of our ever-increasing use of technology.

domain: law


text:
Courses at Ayrshire College
Ayrshire hospitality students cook up a storm at City Chambers
NC Hospitality students were invited to the Culinary Ability Awards at Glasgow City Chambers last week.
Students Adam McNeil, along with BSL signer Karrie McDonald, Donna Bell, Fiona McCance and Brian McGougan were hand-picked to cook a soup course at the Culinary Ability Charity Dinner.
The Culinary Ability Awards is a competition aimed at encouraging emerging talent to the hospitality industry for people with a physical or learning disability.
Under the guidance of lecturers, Steve Elby and Douglas Stevely, the hospitality students prepared and cooked the soup course and assisted with the service of the starter, main course and dessert. The students introduced each of the five courses to the 200 guests prior to service.
Hospitality lecturer, Steve said “The event was a great experience for the students working alongside industry chefs. The students received excellent feedback from the event organiser and the guests. It was a great opportunity to make contacts with industry and I’d like to thank all of the students who were great ambassadors for the College.”
Culinary Ability Awards founder and chef, Chris Sandford, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of an event to celebrate the diversity and difference that makes the hospitality industry such an amazing place to work.”
14 March 2017

domain: food


text:
Is your dog really a picky eater, or is it something simpler?
Quiet observation around two dogs can teach you a lot about each dog's behavior
When my parents asked me to dogsit their Shih Tzu mix while they were out of town, my automatic answer was “yes.” Mind you, their dog is small with a huge personality. I laughed when they said they wouldn’t blame me if I had her suitcase* packed and was standing outside before they arrived to pick her up.
Let’s just say the first Thanksgiving with my Hound mix (Junee) and their dog (Jackie) was entertaining. While I’ve dogsat numerous colorful personalities and was prepared for anything, I think my parents were startled by the level of energy between a puppy and a dog who hadn’t yet made it to her second birthday.
Besides Zoomies, one of the primary issues between the two dogs was how adamant they were about eating each others’ foods. Although puppies are supposed to eat puppy food — which reportedly has more protein and fat for growth, as well as nutrients like Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an omega fatty acid found in mother's milk) — Jackie was gunning for Junee’s food. Although Junee liked her own food, she was curious about the different smell of Jackie’s wet food. (I only feed her dry after testing out several dog food ingredients and finding out how surprisingly sensitive her stomach is.)
I was prepared for this to happen during dogsitting, so I pulled out a baby gate that I hadn’t used since Junee’s adoption year. I never fed Jackie and Junee in the same room. But then I had a new problem. Jackie just flat-out refused to eat at all if she couldn’t eat Junee’s food. And I realized I was going to have one skinny dog on my hands if she didn’t eat for a week! My mother had already warned me that Jackie “doesn’t eat anything half the time,” but that couldn’t have been totally true — because she was always pacing near the gate while Junee ate.
Something told me it had to be more than just the taste of puppy food versus adult dog food. My mother fed her by hand after she was spayed, but I was not about to spoon-feed this dog for seven days. I tried putting her wet food in one dish and her dry food in another, thinking maybe she just liked one more than the other. She stared at them both and walked away. I knew if I put her and Junee in the same room, Junee was going to eat her own food and Jackie’s, then lick the bowl clean. So I put Jackie in the kitchen by herself and did my morning Pilates, hoping she’d eventually eat. Jackie whined for a bit but realized I wasn’t budging.
I smiled while exercising, as soon as I heard a bunch of clapping and tapping noises like someone with a spoon against a wine glass. That’s how I knew she was eating; her tags were clapping against the pink glass dishes. I poked my head in and smiled. She finished one of the dishes (the wet food) but not the other.
Wait. What? If she doesn’t like dry dog food, then why was she forever sneaking a mouthful of Junee’s dry food from her dish? And why was it never tough to get her to eat out of Junee’s larger dish? My parents and I never knew when she was in Junee’s dish because it was two times the size of her head, and we couldn’t hear her reach inside.
Then it hit me. That may be the problem — and the solution.

domain: pet


[co-author: Daniel Weinstein, Law Clerk]
On March 9, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology ("ONC") each released final rules generally intended to ease both access to and ability to share patient health data and related information. CMS Administrator, Seema Verma, stated after last year's release of the proposed rules that "The government spent more than $36 billion to encourage the adoption of electronic health records, but failed to make sure that the systems could actually talk to each other." The final rules, the CMS "Interoperability and Patient Access final rule" and the ONC "Cures Act final rule," together have the potential to promote interoperability of technologies that collect and store patient data, breaking down the data silos that currently characterizes the health care industry. The new standards are receiving mixed reactions, with the requirements potentially providing new insights and control for patients, as well as opportunities for the tech companies that will develop and sell the new data tools, but also raising concerns regarding consumer privacy protections, including impacts on the mining and selling of patient data by third party apps and technology companies. Industry actors are also concerned about the potentially substantial costs involved, over the next six months, to implement the rules' various requirements.
The final rules have important implications for clients operating in the health care space. In particular, significant upgrades may be required to various clients' information technology systems, software, and applications. Clients should be aware of the new standards governing interoperability of health applications, especially as they apply to electronic health records ("EHRs") and information blocking practices, and should work with vendors and counsel to adjust practices appropriately. Additionally, while the final rules have the potential to change the care coordination landscape through providers' and payors' use of more timely and accessible health information, affected clients must also rapidly restructure internal operating policies and procedures to effectively comply with the rules' new conditions. For many, this may require substantial infrastructural investments and the establishment or comprehensive revision of internal compliance programs to ensure the correct transfer and use of patient health information.
According to CMS Administrator, Seema Verma, the final rules primarily aim to "unleash" the free flow of data between health care payors, providers, and patients with the hope that liberating health data in such a way will help to achieve coordinated care, better health outcomes, and reduced costs. To help accomplish this, the rules update health information technology certification requirements, such as those applicable to EHRs, and encourage health care industry actors and technology developers to adopt standardized application programming interfaces ("APIs") that facilitate interoperability of data shared among smartphone applications, payors, and providers. This may enable those consumers who have smartphone applications to pull health data into a single platform from various sources; patients can then access their health information using Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") compliant software and processes incorporated into the APIs. In doing so, the final rules intend to empower consumers to choose what data to share, and with which parties such data is shared.
One stated goal of the final rules is to improve patient mobility within the health care system, allowing consumers' health information to follow them to different payors and providers. In furtherance of this aim, the final rules update the Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation to mandate that participating hospitals send electronic notifications to another healthcare facility or community provider or practitioner upon patient care events and transitions. CMS-regulated payors are required to implement APIs that adhere to the rules' standards by January 2, 2021, while qualified health plans must implement such APIs in advance of plan years beginning January 1, 2021. CMS-regulated payors must also make provider directory information publically available using such APIs. These tight timeframes mean that affected clients must immediately start planning and implementing business changes in order to comply with the new rules.
When describing the proposed rules in 2019, Administrator Verma also said that "privacy and security should be 'top of mind' when building apps and services that help patients manage their healthcare." Yet, concerns remain regarding the effectiveness of the rules' consumer protection measures. The rules' new privacy measures center on mandating more disclosures to consumers regarding how health data is collected, stored, and used. In addition, certain providers' and payors' progress toward implementation and attestations regarding information blocking will eventually be publicly reported by CMS, supposedly enabling consumers to factor electronic access to their own medical information into their care decisions. Furthermore, application developers must attest to various privacy protection provisions, such as if data has any secondary uses, and inform consumers of such attestations. However, the effectiveness of such measures in protecting patient data may be challenging, especially given the limitations of HIPAA applicability and third party application developers' and operators' ongoing collection, storage, and use of patient data.
Proskauer will issue additional updates and analyses in the coming weeks which will delve more into the specifics of these rules and their impact on our clients' businesses.
To view the CMS final rule, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Interoperability/index.
To view the ONC final rule, please visit: https://healthit.gov/curesrule.


text:
Markel CATCo Investment Management Ltd. has raised further capital for its stock exchange listed retrocessional ILS investment strategy, adding another small $3.37 million increment, as the manager targets reaching $6 billion in assets under management during 2018.
Markel CATCo has raised a significant haul of fresh capital to position itself to write a new portfolio at the key January reinsurance renewals, having previously announced a huge $1.8 billion capital raise for its private reinsurance and retrocession ILS fund strategies in October and then a significant $543 million capital raise for its stock exchange listed retrocession focused CATCo Reinsurance Opportunities Fund.
Adding to the listed fund raise, Markel CATCo has issued another 3,367,863 new C Shares to investors under its current Placing Programme at an issue price of $1 per share, so raising almost $3.37 million for the fund. This is likely a fund raise to support a single investors allocation to this fund.
Once these additional shares have been listed the company will have roughly $965 million of assets within its listed ILS strategy, making it the largest ILS or reinsurance linked investment available on a stock exchange today.
It takes the total fresh capital raised in the last few weeks by Markel CATCo to nearly $2.35 billion, which will enable the manager to ensure it can meet client demand for its products at the key 1/1 renewals, while also bulking up its assets under management to replace collateral lost or trapped from recent major catastrophe loss events.
Looking forward into 2018 Markel CATCo CEO Tony Belisle is bullish about the firms prospects for increasing its assets even further, saying in another announcement that, “Markel CATCo is expected to grow to approximately $6 billion in 2018, an increase of over 30% in a year.”
Further growth will cement Markel CATCo’s position as one of the largest retrocession market’s in the world.
Also yesterday, Markel CATCo also announced that Alissa Fredricks is to be promoted to the newly created role of Chief Executive Officer, Bermuda.
Join us in New York in February 2018 for our next ILS conference
View all of our Artemis Live video interviews and subscribe to our podcast.
All of our Artemis Live insurance-linked securities (ILS), catastrophe bonds and reinsurance video content and video interviews can be accessed online.
Our Artemis Live podcast can be subscribed to using the typical podcast services providers, including Apple, Google, Spotify and more.

domain: finance


text:
Adept Technology Inc., a provider of fixed and autonomous mobile robot products, has named John Boutsikaris senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Boutsikaris brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in global sales, marketing and channel management in high technology and capital equipment markets. In his role with Adept Technology, he will be responsible for setting the company's global sales, marketing and post-sales operational strategy.
Boutsikaris' early career started with Hewlett Packard, where he held various sales and channel management positions, including vice president of world-wide channel partners. His most recent experience was as a senior vice president at Key Technology, where he managed global sales, marketing and after-market services.

domain: news


text:
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If I have one solar panel, and four 12v batteries I need to be charged, two pairs of equal age and capacity (60 amp hour x 2, and 50 amp hour x 2) and the pairs have the same resting voltage and seemingly the same capacity, and I can get a solar charger unit which can charge two batteries (see link below), I was thinking of charging each pair in parallel.
I've read about the risks of charging in parallel, with the weaker battery having the dominant impact and bringing the other battery down to its capacity, but in reality, how likely is this to be a problem in the course of 5 years, where the batteries won't be used that much anyway, maybe discharged 20%, just 10 times a year?
I'm conscious there is scope to discuss lots of things around this, like "buy pairs of new batteries rather than starting out with old ones" and "buy larger capacity new batteries etc", but this is the set up we have and will be sticking with.
Thanks for any replies.
I'm tempted to go down the route of getting myself a brand new reflector... My friend's old Meade 114/900 is a good telescope, but I want something of my own and with a bit more light gathering power. To this end, I've been looking at a couple of different models and manufactures.
I must admit, the Skywatcher Explorer 130M floats my boat, as it's motorised with a speed controller.
Any thoughts or observations?🤔
So I had a free day yesterday and decided to sort out my equipment and update my astro laptop software packages. I downloaded the latest Stellarium and managed to get it to sync with APT. I installed my Xmas present from my sweetheart (Optolong L-eNhance filter) how did she know it's what I wanted??? I recently installed the free trial version of Pixinsight on my main laptop so after watching a few YouTube videos decided to get some Dark and Bias frames to create some masters ready for my next session.
The weather was good yesterday and it stayed clear here as the sun started to set, so I set everything up outside hoping the apps were wrong and it wouldn't get cloudy. As it got darker I launched Sharpcap and completed a polar allingment, I used Stellarium and APT to slew to Vega and checked the focus was good. I then used Goto++ in APT to slew to NGC 7380 (Wizard Nebula), I set PHD2 off guiding and then I had my first issue; my laptop would not connect to my Lyn Astro dew controller so I manually set the temperature to quite low as it wasn't too damp at that time. So I started capturing 5 minute subs went inside and remoted into my astro laptop from my main laptop to check how it was going, all appeared good.
I recently set up a Rpi NAS at home so I'm able to transfer data to it and then to my other laptop on the go, so after I'd got a few subs I opened them in PI to check the quality, they looked ok to me. after about an hour PHD2 started binging a lost star warning so I went outside and the clouds were starting to cover the sky, I then took loads of flat frames using my main laptop, Notepad and 3 sheets of white paper and decided to take some more darks in case it cleared. I then set about trying to process the 9 subs I'd managed to capture with the 200 flat frames the master bias and dark frames I'd created earlier. Despite the lack of subs I'm quite pleased with the result, I have done a quick Histogram stretch, and the knowledge I have gained, I'm definately going to purchase PI when I can afford it.
So this morning I thought I'd sort out the issue with the connection to the Lynx Astro dew controller, you won't believe it, my Astro Laptop will not turn on, it's been playing up for a while I suspect the battery has died. So just when I thought I was getting on top of this frustrating hobby I get another spanner in the works. So do I gamble and order a new battery then discover it is the laptop that has failed, do I set up another old laptop I have and hope it will be ok, do I set up my Rpi3 with Indigo or do I buy a mini PC as I know my way around windows?
Anyway here's the calibrated stacked image as it is in PI with a quick stretch.
I've finally got around to making my flats box.
I decided to go for a cylinder rather than the normal square as I thought it would maximize the amount of reflected light and limit any 'dead' areas. I could also use the Celestrons dust cap retaining pins to lock the flats box onto the 'scope.
I purchased some of the craft board that has a thin foam sheet sandwiched between two sheets of thick paper/thin card. In order to bend the card into a cylinder, I creased the board every 20 mm by pressing the edge of a steel ruler into the board. It took two of the sheets to make a cylinder big enough to fit my C9.25, with only a couple of cm trimmed off.
I then made a reinforcing ring/defuser holder from two strips of the foam board; this time creasing them at 15mm intervals. I stuck these level to the bottom edge so the joins were 90° to the main cylinder joins. These strips were cut wide enough to ensure that the diffuser cleared the secondary housing.
The cylinder was designed to lock into the C9.25s dust cap retaining pins so next I cut two keyways into the bottom outer side. They looked a little weak so I reinforced them with some Christmas chocolate reindeer plastic packaging!
Although the foamboard is quite shiny, I wasn't happy with all the grooves, so I lined the inside with white A4 paper. The Perspex sheet was cut to shape and hot glued into place onto the ledge.
Next, starting at the top, I notched the edge of the cylinder to run the LED string lights cable through and then started to spiral the LEDs around and down the cylinder.
The top cap/reflector was made from two discs of foamboard. One to go inside the cylinder and one to sit proud of the edge. They were glued together before being hot glued onto the top of the cylinder. The LED light string that I bought has an integrated on/off button as well as both up and down brightness buttons with a 3M sticky pad on the back, so I stuck this to the top cap.
As I had previously made myself a 'scope mounted power distribution box with aircraft sockets for power, I removed the 3 pin UK plug/ac-dc converter and soldered on an aircraft plug to match my 12 volt DC supply socket.
The lightbox illuminated.
Celestron C8 XLT + extras and SkyWatcher Star Travel 80 (ST80)
I have a Celestron C8 with XLT Starbrite coatings. Will include the full length base plate, both visual and imaging backs, scope rings, front 8" end cap and the finder scope with it. No box I'm afraid. Optics are good and clean, focal length is huge - 2300mm from memory. This lot would cost close to £1300 new and one with less spec went for £750 on fleabay recently. Might be interested in a part exchange or will let it go for £450 collection only.
Also, I have a SkyWatcher Star Traveler 80 - good optics, used as a guide scope - just the scope itself (does not include the barlow in the photo) - now including dovetail bar and scope rings looking at around £50 for it.
I have decided to save up for another refractor, WO, Equinox or even toward an Esprit. However, I would also consider p/ex for an Intel NUC and/or Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox.
Please excuse some of the colours - I used my astro modded 6D which was in the observatory so the "nice" purple is actually black !!
Both these are collection only.

domain: hobby


These days, the demand for water purifying solutions have faced an instant boost in the market due to increasing pollution. To meet these needs of our patrons, we, Geocare Enviro Projects Pvt. Ltd., are coming up with best quality Non-Electric Water Purifier, VAAYU MIG 24, Alkaline RO + LED Water Purifiers, Water Coolers, Scrubbers and other housekeeping & construction equipment. These are procured from the leading brands of the domain after ensuring that they meet the global standards of quality. It is also confirmed that each and every equipment is manufactured utilizing top grade and most advanced industrial parts & components. The offered apparatus is constantly becoming more popular in the market because:-
- They have a defect free composition and strong outer body.
- The offered purifiers ensures their users' overall health by perfectly cleaning drinking water.
- Saves electricity cost as they consume optimum level of energy.
- They have a long and efficient operational life as they are abrasion resistant.


text:
On June 24, the European Court of Human Rights issued its decision in Schalk and Kopf v. Austria (App. No. 30141/04), concerning the right of same-sex couples to marry. (See the press release and judgment). Although the Court – for the first time – recognized that same-sex relationships fall within the purview of the Convention’s protection of ‘family life’, the Court held 4 to 3 that the Convention does not require States to allow same-sex couples to marry, and, accordingly, Austria’s denial of the right to marry was within the permissible margin of appreciation granted to States in interpreting the Convention’s protections of private and family life.
Although Austria recently enacted the Registered Parnership Act, which provides legal recognition of same-sex unions, such unions do not enjoy all the legal benefits of marriage, such as the right to adopt children or step-children or elect artificial insemination. Same-sex couples like Schalk and Kopf are still unable to enter into marriage contracts. At the time of their application, Austria offered no legal recognition of committed same-sex relationships and the couple had been continuously denied the right to enter into a marriage contract.
The applicants had alleged violations under Articles 12 (right to marry), 14 (private life) and 8 (family life) of the European Convention, in their 2004 application before the Court.
In arriving at its conclusion that Article 12 does not require that same-sex couples be allowed to wed, the Court relied heavily on current indicators of social and legal acceptance of such a right within Council of Europe Member States and, in the absence of regional consensus, held that States are best situated to “assess and respond to the needs of society” in light of the differing, “deep-rooted social and cultural connotations” attached to marriage in European societies.
Interestingly, in its analysis of Article 14 in conjunction with Article 8, the Court again turned to social acceptance of same-sex couples, this time finding that developing social attitudes towards and legal recognition of such relationships supported their inclusion under Article 8’s protection of family life. The Court stated, “It is undisputed in the present case that the relationship of a same-sex couple like the applicants’ falls within the notion of ‘private life’ within the meaning of Article 8” (par. 90) and “[i]n view of this evolution [of social and legal acceptance] the Court considers it artificial to maintain that, in contrast to a different-sex couple, a same-sex couple cannot enjoy ‘family life’ for the purposes of Article 8” (par. 94). “Consequently the relationship of the applicants, a cohabitating same-sex couple living in a stable de facto partnership, falls within the notion of ‘family life’, just as the relationship of a different-sex couple in the same situation would” (par. 94).
However, in the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationship in a majority of Member States, Austria’s law – although not conferring all the benefits of marriage – was sufficient protection for purposes of the Convention because it was consistent with other States’ practices. The Court found that, prior to Austria’s passage of the Registered Partnership Act, common practices among Member States would not have dictated that same-sex partners be legally recognized; accordingly, the majority held that Austria was under no obligation to have enacted the Act prior to 2010.
Although reiterating its understanding that disparate treatment based on sexual orientation requires “particular serious reasons by way of justification”, the Court found the Austrian law to fall within the “wide margin…usually allowed to the State…when it comes to general measures of economic or social strategy” because it had already held that Article 12 did not require that same-sex couples be given the same right to marry as different-sex couples. The Court therefore found it unnecessary to enter into an analysis of whether the Act’s disparate treatment pursued a legitimate aim and was reasonably proportional to the State’s aim.
The Court’s reliance on State practice and its failure to examine the legitimacy and proportionality of the disparate treatment were exactly the weaknesses highlighted by the three dissenting judges (Judges Rozakis, Spielmann and Jebens), who wrote:
8. Having identified a “relevantly similar situation” (paragraph 99), and emphasised that “differences based on sexual orientation require particularly serious reasons by way of justification” (paragraph 97), the Court should have found a violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 8 of the Convention because the respondent Government did not advance any argument to justify the difference of treatment, relying in this connection mainly on their margin of appreciation (paragraph 80). However, in the absence of any cogent reasons offered by the respondent Government to justify the difference of treatment, there should be no room to apply the margin of appreciation. Consequently, the “existence or non-existence of common ground between the laws of the Contracting States” (paragraph 98) is irrelevant as such considerations are only a subordinate basis for the application of the concept of the margin of appreciation. Indeed, it is only in the event that the national authorities offer grounds for justification that the Court can be satisfied, taking into account the presence or the absence of a common approach, that they are better placed than it is to deal effectively with the matter.
9. Today it is widely recognised and also accepted by society that same-sex couples enter into stable relationships. Any absence of a legal framework offering them, at least to a certain extent, the same rights or benefits attached to marriage (see paragraph 4 of this dissent) would need robust justification, especially taking into account the growing trend in Europe to offer some means of qualifying for such rights or benefits.
10. Consequently, in our view, there has been a violation of Article 14 in conjunction with Article 8 of the Convention.
Finally, the majority stated that it would not determine whether each aspect of Austria’s Registered Partnership Act satisfied the European Convention, because the applicants had not claimed to be directly affected by the provisions restricting parental rights.
June is also the month in which the United States celebrates LGBT Pride Month and cities around the world host Pride parades and other festivities to mark the anniversary of the gay community’s political empowerment following New York’s June 1969 Stonewall Riots.
For an understanding of laws granting legal recognition, the right to marry, or other benefits to same-sex couples, see these resources by ILGA-Europe (Europe), Human Rights Campaign (United States), NPR (United States), and Wikipedia (worldwide).

domain: sociology


To see a physical keyboard on the iPhone is clearly the byproduct of having too much wine to drink the night before, or is it? A Taiwanese website claims that Apple has already come up with a trio of hardware prototypes that are part of its next-generation iPhone, where one of the three will feature a slide-out physical keyboard. It does seem as though the prototype is some sort of iPhone 4 clone, although you do get better innards including an improved camera and superior battery life. What do you think of this rumor – does it hold any water? Of course, the presence of a physical keyboard on an iPhone will naturally have us thinking that Apple is looking to pierce into the enterprise market with new hardware while offering a similar ease-of-use where its user interface is concerned.


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The Lexus LX 470 offers luxurious comfort with outstanding off-road capability and strong towing capability. The LX shares many of...
A motley crew of cars including a Lexus LFA Nurburgring, NASCAR Toyota Camry, and a few rare Chevrolet Corvettes will be auctioned this week
Read This Article
There are interesting things happening in the automotive landscape these days, but not every news and press release is particularly worthy of separate, detailed attention.
File this one under weird: a La Puente, California family woke up to a bang, which turned out to be a Lexus going for a nose dive in the family pool.
The 2013 Lexus ES is all-new, and Lexus expects the redesign to pay off quickly in sales figures.


Three-time Grammy winner Trisha Yearwood released her 12th album, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, last November.
DOWNLOAD: “They Call It Falling for a Reason,” an energetic tune about the ups and downs of chasing love.
HER INSPIRATION: The singer, 43, didn’t write the song, but she’s lived its lyrics. “I haven’t always been stupidly happy,” says Yearwood, who’s been married to Garth Brooks for 2½ years. “I’ve had that feeling of falling in love, getting my heart broken and breaking someone else’s heart. It’s easy to put yourself in that place.”
THE LOST TRAILERS
Lead vocalist Ryder Lee and lead guitarist and songwriter Stokes Nielson met in a church band as teenagers. Years later they joined forces with guitarist Manny Medina, keyboard player Andrew Nielson and drummer Jeff Potter. The group’s fifth album, Holler Back, hits stores Aug. 26.
DOWNLOAD: “Holler Back,” an uptempo, get-up-and-dance song that celebrates a small town’s equivalent of the urban nightclub scene, complete with lyrics like “all the cowgirls shaking their sassafras.”
THEIR INSPIRATION: “I just wanted to get back to the simplicity of those Friday nights growing up, where it’s just my buddies and some cowgirls, and we all went out to the pecan orchards and just had a party,” says Nielson, 32, who is a native of rural Georgia. “The song is a celebration of getting back to country life.”
The former lead singer of Alabama has a debut solo album, One on One, out Nov. 11.
Download: “Like I Never Broke Her Heart,” a rueful song about a guy whose ex has moved on.
His Inspiration: Owen, 58, was drawn to “the great story,” he says. ” ‘She loves you like I never broke her heart’: I’d never heard anyone say it that way.”
GO TO PEOPLE.COM/FREE
After releasing three albums with Trick Pony, Newfield left the band in 2006 to pursue a solo career.
DOWNLOAD: “What Am I Waiting For?” an uplifting, go-get-’em tune about following your dreams.
HER INSPIRATION: Newfield, 37, wrote the song with her Trick Pony bandmates Keith Burns and Ira Dean. “We were all not having as much fun in the band,” she says, but notes that the song is not mean-spirited: “It’s really sort of an ode to them. This is a happy song.”
Sisters Becky, Emily and Joanna Robertson have musical roots; their folks (Mom’s a singer; Dad’s a keyboardist) toured with Waylon Jennings.
Download: “Different Breed,” an anthem about a woman living off the beaten path.
Inspiration: “We’re not perfect girls,” says Emily, 23. “We don’t have perfect hair, our toenails aren’t always painted. A lot of women can relate to that.”
GO TO PEOPLE.COM/FREE
The Greenville, Miss., native describes the soulful sound on his third album, Indianola, as a “return home” to his Delta roots.
DOWNLOAD: “You’re My Life,” a ballad dedicated to a longtime love.
HIS INSPIRATION: After finally being able to get back to his family following a monthlong gig on the road, “I just started thinking about my wife and three kids and was moved by how happy I was to be home,” says Azar, 44. “As sappy as it sounds, I started writing these verses.”
The only child of famed country artists Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter—he spent his toddlerhood in a crib on his parents’ tour bus—Jennings spent several years fronting southern rock band Stargunn before going solo. The new dad to 8-month-old daughter Alabama with actress Drea de Matteo released his latest album, The Wolf, last fall.
DOWNLOAD: “Blood from a Stone,” an angsty ballad about moving on from a destructive relationship.
HIS INSPIRATION: The song is based on “a friendship of mine,” says Jennings, 29, who wrote the lyrics after a falling-out. When it comes to negative people, “you realize that you’ve got to cut them out of your life or they’re going to drag you down,” he says.
ZAC BROWN BAND
Zac Brown played in bars for years before assembling his band, which includes bassist John Hopkins, fiddler Jimmy De Martini, guitarist Coy Bowles and drummer Chris Fryar.
DOWNLOAD: “Chicken Fried,” a song celebrating those simple pleasures of American life like cold beer, jeans that “fit just right”—and, of course, fried chicken.
THEIR INSPIRATION: Brown, 30, says the band “wrote a list of all the things we love. No matter what your background or religion or social class, the things that are in that song are on a human level.”
After playing Nashville bars and writing songs like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Give It Away,” Alabama native Johnson just released his second album, That Lonesome Song.
DOWNLOAD: The autobiographical “Between Jennings and Jones.”
HIS INSPIRATION: “I just went out to tell part of my story—about why I moved to Nashville,” says Johnson, 33, who got the song’s hook from a friend who pointed out that Johnson’s first album was on the CD racks between Waylon Jennings and George Jones.
The former Miss California left the West Coast for Nashville’s country flavor. Besides writing songs for the likes of the Wreckers, she’s put out her second album, Thankful.
Download: “Kick the Jukebox,” a lament about boring pop music.
Her Inspiration: On a drive between Orange County and Los Angeles, “I was stuck in traffic, flipping between stations, and couldn’t find anything inspiring,” says Hanson, 34. “The song came from that.”
GO TO PEOPLE.COM/FREE


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2 Technical Aspects of a Large-scale Wind Test Facility Introduction In the discussion that follows, the terms ''large-scale" and "full-scale" are used in specific ways. "Large-scale" refers to structural models, or components of structures, with length-scale factors greater than, or equal to, 1:4. "Full-scale" refers to components, subsystems, or entire structures with length-scale factors of 1:1. Thus, full-scale testing is a subset of large-scale testing. Although the committee was not asked to evaluate a specific design, the type of LSWTF under consideration is assumed to be of the wind-tunnel type (as opposed to an actuator or pressure-chamber system) suitable for experimentation on large-scale components of structures, as well as testing (to failure) of full-scale selected structures (e.g., manufactured homes, residential buildings, and light commercial buildings). Experiments on these scales would require sustained wind speeds of 150 to 200 mph (~ 65 to 90 m/s), with a reasonable representation of atmospheric turbulence, over an area large enough to engulf a residential, single-family dwelling or other structure of similar size. The flow structure and size of the facility's wind stream would have to be sufficient to create a realistic flow around the structure and thereby generate appropriate and representative spatial and temporal variations of wind-induced pressures. At the present time, there are significant gaps in the meteorological data for severe wind events that would have to be filled before the design parameters and capability requirements for an LSWTF could be stipulated. Previous Assessments Although there is general consensus in the wind engineering community about the need for large-scale data on the effects of extreme winds on structures, there is no consensus about the need for an LSWTF. The value of an LSWTF has been discussed in several assessments of research needs in wind engineering, including Assessment of Wind Engineering Issues in the United States (NRC, 1993); Severe Windstorm Testing Workshop (O'Brien, 1996); Workshop on Large-scale Testing Needs in Wind Engineering (AAWE, 1997b); and Workshop on Research Needs in Wind Engineering (Marshall, 1995), and was cited by several respondents to the committee's questionnaire. All of these assessments agreed that large-scale data are needed to improve structural performance and that an LSWTF could be a valuable tool for determining the effects of extreme winds on structures. These reports, however, also point out that other methods of data collection are available (e.g., full-scale field testing in natural wind) that may be able to
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answer many of the same questions. These reports concluded that the most effective research framework for wind-hazard reduction would be a combination of current methods of wind engineering research, such as full-scale field studies, wind tunnel and numerical modeling, component testing, and post-storm inspections. The reports emphasized that a coordinated national wind-hazard reduction program is necessary to mitigate wind-induced losses effectively, and they cautioned that an LSWTF alone would not provide answers to all outstanding questions in wind engineering (AAWE, 1997b; NRC, 1993). Some existing facilities in the United States and abroad might be modified for large-scale wind testing (AAWE, 1997a); another possibility is an international cooperative research program (NRC, 1993). Wind-Hazard Research Minimizing the loss of life, property damage, and disruptions of economic activities from windstorms are primary objectives of wind engineering research. Consequently, any proposed national program or facility must be evaluated in light of whether it contributes significantly toward meeting these objectives. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the insurance industry have both determined that significant improvements in the wind resistance of buildings will only be achieved when there is a demand for wind-resistant or hazard-resistant construction at the local and individual level (Cermak, 1998; FEMA, 1992). As a result, both FEMA and the insurance industry have embarked on pilot demonstration projects to highlight the benefits of hazard-resistant construction and other wind-hazard mitigation measures. Called Project Impact (FEMA, 1998) and the Show Case Communities (IBHS, 1998), these new projects have not yet demonstrated tangible results. The research, engineering, and scientific communities have provided some of the technical underpinnings for reducing the vulnerability of buildings and other structures to wind damage. Significant work remains to be done in this area to ensure that key vulnerabilities of a particular structure are identified and that technically sound, cost-effective solutions are developed and implemented. Unfortunately, reducing vulnerability to wind-hazards is not just a question of developing appropriate technical solutions. First, wind-hazards are created by a variety of random events with large uncertainties in the magnitudes and characteristics of the winds. Second, the relevant government agencies and programs, as well as the construction industry, are fragmented. Third, implementation requires action by owners and the public, who may not consider hazard reduction a high priority. As a result, solving the wind-vulnerability problem will require coordinated work in scientific research, technology development, education, public policy, the behavioral sciences, and technology transfer. In the past decade, several proposals have been put forward identifying the need for a national program of wind research, technology development, and education to address the technical needs for reducing losses associated with severe windstorms (NRC, 1993; Jones et al., 1995; Marshall, 1995; O'Brien, 1996; AAWE, 1997a). Despite these efforts, no national effort has been made to integrate wind research, technology development, and education into broader programs for natural hazard preparedness and disaster recovery (Cermak, 1997). Ultimately, losses associated with severe windstorms can only be significantly reduced if existing buildings and structures are modified and new buildings are designed, constructed, inspected, and maintained with wind resistance in mind.
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An additional problem is the time it would take for the benefits of a coordinated plan to be observed. Only a small percentage of structures are replaced or added each year. Therefore, it would be many years before improvements in construction practices became prevalent. The adoption and implementation of remedial measures for existing structures is even more difficult to accomplish because the public often does not perceive a problem until a disastrous event occurs. The benefits and limitations of any single research facility must be carefully evaluated in light of the absence of coordinated action at the national level. Value of Large-scale Testing Testing of full-scale structures has been a part of wind engineering research for decades (Davenport, 1975), much of it associated with field measurements of wind characteristics, wind loads, and wind effects. These measurements have provided insight into the nature of various types of windstorms and benchmarks for evaluating analysis and design methods. Field studies continue to be an indispensable part of wind engineering research. Data on the structure and characteristics of winds in severe windstorms are meager, however. Frequently, instrumentation, primary and backup power sources, and recording devices fail in severe windstorms, and the resultant data gaps leave large uncertainties about the magnitude and structure of winds in extreme events. The problem is complicated by the random structure and very large spatial gradients of wind, which makes it extremely difficult to characterize. For example, substantial differences in wind speeds and characteristics can be caused by changes in elevation and by averaging time associated with a particular observation, as well as the topography and roughness of the upwind terrain. In an effort to reduce observational uncertainties in wind characteristics for extreme events, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the DOE, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and several universities are attempting to measure wind magnitudes and wind characteristics in severe windstorms. New technologies are being employed, including new satellite imagery, airborne and ground-based Doppler radar (including two Doppler-on-wheels systems), wind profilers, Global Positioning System dropsondes, rapidly deployable trailers with anemometer masts, and new types of anemometers (Marks et al., 1998). All of these technologies were used during several recent hurricanes, which has led to considerable debate in the scientific, meteorological, and engineering communities regarding what is actually being observed and the implications of these observations. It will probably take several years of using these technologies before a coherent picture emerges. Field studies of wind loads and wind effects on buildings have been even more limited (Eaton and Mayne, 1975; Hoxey and Richards, 1993; Levitan and Mehta, 1992a, 1992b; Marshall, 1975; Marshall, 1977; Robertson, 1991). No data are available on wind loads on buildings in the eye wall of a hurricane or in a tornado. No data on buildings subjected to thunderstorms and tropical storms have been reported in the literature. Experience with wind-tunnel model studies has shown that the gust structure of the wind plays an important role in the development of wind loads on structures. However, most of the existing field data on wind loads are limited to simple building shapes in open exposures subjected to winds generated by the passage of frontal systems rather than severe windstorms. The lack of knowledge about wind loading and structural response in severe windstorms is a significant impediment to establishing meaningful standards for structural systems and for improving structural performance.
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A versatile, well conceived LSWTF could be used for a number of studies to identify and address data and knowledge gaps. Table 2-1 shows potential applications and technical capabilities that could be provided to the community of wind engineers and scientists. In addition, a number of other types of experiments might also be conducted, depending on costs and the availability of the facility. For the purpose of reducing wind-hazards, an LSWTF would be most useful for conducting destructive experiments of large-scale structural systems, for fostering the development and validation of computational models, and for improving test methods. During the course of discussions and the review of responses to the questionnaire, the committee identified three topical investigations of buildings and structures that could be accomplished in an LSWTF: the performance of the building envelope, new construction techniques, and retrofitting technology. Performance of the building envelope. Economic assessments of damage following windstorms have shown that once a building envelope is compromised, losses increase dramatically (Cermak, 1998). An LSWTF could offer a practical approach to determining the wind speed at which the building envelope is compromised in a full-scale building. Validation of construction techniques, practices, materials, and building code provisions. Numerous remedial measures have the potential for improving the wind resistance of a building, and it is a relatively straightforward matter to test these measures at the component level. It is far more difficult, however, to assess the effectiveness of these measures in a full-scale system where their attributes interact synergistically. An LSWTF could provide an opportunity for assessing these measures under a range of controlled conditions thereby reducing the uncertainties about their effectiveness in severe winds. Significant advancements could be made in construction practices if the properties of a total building system could be evaluated in a full-scale turbulent wind flow representative of a hurricane, thunderstorm, or other extreme wind event. Retrofitting techniques. A comprehensive wind-hazard reduction program must include improvements to existing buildings. Retrofitting techniques can be tested as components of a system, but their value to the behavior of the full-scale building system can be determined only by testing a full-scale, complete system. Destructive testing could include the following: Testing of sheathing systems by applying realistic spatial and temporal variations of wind loads. Current test methods apply loads uniformly over the surface of the specimen and have not included combined in-plane and out-of-plane loading. Testing of the performance of the building envelope with emphasis on system performance relative to window and roof performance. With current design criteria and construction practices, roof and wall systems may be more vulnerable to failure or water damage than protected windows and doors. Testing of variations in internal pressures in a building with multiple rooms. A breach of the building envelope, such as the failure of a window, can lead to
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pressurization of the building. Little is known about how pressurization is propagated throughout a building. Validating retrofitting techniques in the context of overall building performance. The benefits of a particular retrofitting measure or set of retrofitting measures could be ascertained, as well as whether the buildings will simply fail in another mode at a slightly higher wind speed. TABLE 2-1 Technical Capabilities of a Large-Scale Wind Testing Facility (LSWTF) Building Tests Code Development and Validation Other Applications Instrumentation/Testing High Reynolds Number testing of structural components Validation of full-scale computational resistance models Determining wind loads on floating offshore systems Testing and calibration of new wind sensors Water penetration experiments Validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models Evaluating vehicle aerodynamics Development of instrumentation concepts Destructive testing of full-scale systems, including relationships to Saffir-Simpson Scale destruction categories Validation of construction techniques, practices, materials, and building code provisions Testing refinery systems (Reynolds Number) Evaluation of wind generators Sheathing system tests and evaluation that include spatial loads Improving load/resistance characteristics Tests of multiple steel stacks Simplification of test methods Strong room evaluations for residential structures Validation of systemic retrofitting techniques Fatigue of elements and connections in a full-scale system Development of damage fragility curves Window and roof system behavior relative to building envelope performance Development of wind flow and energy use relationships Internal pressure distributions on internal walls and ceilings Damage sensitivity to wind speed characterization (peak gust, sustained wind) Windborne debris injection and transport Windborne debris impact phenomena Behavior of roof top appurtenances Behavior of roof edge attachment details
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Testing of windborne debris injection and transport. It has been well established that severe windstorms generate and transport debris that can damage buildings and structures. Models of debris injection and subsequent transport are extremely sensitive to assumptions about wind speeds required to initiate the failure that produces the debris. Testing of the performance of rooftop appurtenances. Failure of mechanical system components and other rooftop appurtenances have caused significant damage to the interiors and contents of buildings. Testing of the performance of porch roofs and roof overhangs. Roof failures frequently originate at porches and roof overhang areas. Uses of an LSWTF related to improving analytical models and simplified test methods could include the following: Validation of full-scale computational resistance models. Intense loading generally produces nonlinear structural behavior in certain components, connections, and at the system level. More realistic load modeling would result in more realistic modeling of the behavior of structural systems. Validation of construction techniques, practices, materials, and building code provisions. Rather than waiting for a storm to provide validation, it would be possible to create representative wind loading conditions in a controlled environment. Realistic simulation of complex loading patterns and the response of the structural system to these loads. Idealized loads specified in building code provisions and simplified analytic procedures sometimes lead to design requirements that are inconsistent with the observed performance of buildings in severe windstorms. Development of improved component tests. Many of the current tests for structural components and connections do not adequately reflect the actual physical processes at work in a severe windstorm. Although this discussion has indicated that an LSWTF would be useful for wind engineering research, the rationale for establishing such a facility involves more than its capability to provide needed information. Many of the items listed above can be accomplished by other means (e.g., computational resistance models can be validated through full-scale measurements in natural wind or through comprehensive post-storm investigations). The low level of funding available for wind engineering research has been a major impediment to the development of new instrumentation, testing, and analytical technologies. It has also been a major impediment to the full and effective use of existing technologies to capture the variability of loads and resistance through wind-tunnel tests and component tests. The committee noted that none of the major engineered structures in the world underwent full-scale testing to evaluate overall structural performance before it was built. With careful engineering, the wind resistance of low-rise residential and commercial structures could be dramatically improved. Given the current state of knowledge, a number of assumptions and considerable engineering judgments are necessary in the design of low-rise structures. In most cases, these assumptions and judgments lead to conservative designs. Thus, reducing the
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uncertainties could lead to economical designs more consistent with the actual level of risk. The real benefit of improved large-scale testing would be the savings and improved reliability of designs based on these investigations compared to engineered designs developed without the advantage of these experiments. Thus, the economic benefits of improved large-scale test methods, including an LSWTF, should be determined in terms of the savings expected compared to the cost of implementing better engineering design procedures, and not simply in terms of the potential savings over future construction using existing methods. INEEL has proposed a pilot LSWTF to test manufactured housing. The committee believes that a more economical solution would be to deploy instrumented manufactured homes in the paths of hurricanes, surrounded by sufficient instrumentation to quantify the winds in the storm. The committee also believes that a large-scale pilot project is not a practical first step toward an LSWTF because the facility would have limited capabilities, could not provide the required data, and might preempt the development of a more general LSWTF. Role of a Large-scale Wind Test Facility in Wind Engineering Research Even with the modest funding currently available for wind engineering research, advances are being made in a number of areas, such as the characterization of wind fields and the evaluation of the performance of the building envelope (AAWE, 1997a). Two critical questions regarding the need for an LSWTF (as opposed to the desirability of having one) are whether it is uniquely capable of providing needed data and whether it can provide this information at lower cost than other alternatives. It may be that if the general level of funding for wind engineering research were significantly increased, much more could be accomplished in other ways, at lower cost, than by means of an LSWTF. A variety of tools for research and development are available for determining the characteristics of wind-resistant structures, including analysis, numerical computation, wind-tunnel testing of small-scale models, wind-tunnel testing of large-scale or full-scale components, full-scale testing in the natural environment, and large-scale or full-scale testing of components and structures in simulated wind conditions under forces generated by actuators. Table 2-2 shows the scope and efficacy of a number of concepts for wind test structures. These tools have contributed to a growing understanding of how a wide range of structures, including tall buildings, low-rise commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings, residential buildings, and suspended-span bridges perform in high winds. Their potential for improving the economy and performance of structures of all types remains high. However, this knowledge alone has not been sufficient for the widespread implementation of improved designs and construction methods. There are social, economic, and institutional barriers to the deployment of technological improvements that engineering research alone cannot address (Cermak, 1998). Therefore, although an LSWTF would be an additional tool that could potentially help to improve design and construction technology, the effective transfer of the information produced by such a facility into practice would have to overcome similar barriers. Evaluating the efficacy of a wind engineering research method or facility requires first comparing its potential contributions with those of other experimental tools that could provide the same or equivalent information. To develop funding priorities, the relative costs of these
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TABLE 2-2 Concepts for Wind Testing of Structures. Source: adapted from Cermak, 1998. Concept Sufficiency good to fair —poor to not feasible Loading Mechanism Natural Wind Wind Speed (m/s) Artificial Wind Number of Fans Modeled Wind Boundary-Layer Wind Tunnel Synthetic Wind Actuators Scale of Model Structurea >45 <45 10–30b 1–2 mock-up testsc new large conventional pressure chambers dynamic wind load actuators FULL-SCALE (1:1) Full Structure — — — d Partial Structure — — d LARGE-SCALE (1:1–1:4) Full Structure — — — d Partial Structure — — — d MEDIUM-SCALE (1:4–1:25) Full Structure — — — — d Partial Structure — — — — — d SMALL-SCALE (1:25–1:250) Full Structure — — — — d d — — Partial Structure — — — — — — — — a one-story, one-family house b creating a test section large enough to test large-scale structures (e.g., "Wall of Wind" in O'Brien, 1996) c for example, a building glazing unit d determine influence functions and compute structural system loads
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tools must also be considered while recognizing that certain vital information may only be available from one form of experimentation, perhaps at considerable cost. Finally, the role of experimental investigations relative to other areas of needed wind engineering research must be considered, as well as how the greatest benefits can be achieved from the prudent investment of resources. Many different technical approaches have been brought to bear to improve the performance of the nation's building stock and infrastructure relative to wind loads. Continuing human and economic losses suggest that there is more work to be done in both the development and implementation of research results. There is a general consensus, however, that many of the results of current research have not been implemented effectively (Cermak, 1998). The manufacturing sector needs to be involved in implementing research results because it supplies the large variety of materials and components that make up a constructed building. Engineers and contractors can only implement improvements if they have information on the performance of new products and materials. Because of the small market and difficulty of carrying out qualification tests on a limited budget, this information is not often developed. Therefore, a testing and certification mechanism should be established to assist manufacturers in qualifying proposed new items or concepts for improving the wind resistance of structures. To date, the experimental focus in wind engineering has been in the use of wind tunnels, mostly boundary-layer wind tunnels (Cermak, 1995). Wind-tunnel facilities have provided a wealth of data and understanding about the nature of wind loads on a wide range of structures, but wind tunnels can only test models and cannot test causes of failure of structural elements. Although more needs to be done in this area, calibrations with (albeit limited) full-scale data suggest that the results are consistent with expected loads and pressures on real structures (Cermak, 1995). The results of wind-tunnel investigations, and supporting analytical and numerical computations, have led to significant improvements in building codes in the past two decades (Cermak, 1995). Related investigations have focused on evaluating the response of structural and nonstructural components (e.g., shear walls, roofing systems) to wind-induced loads, with testing performed frequently at large-scale, or even full-scale. Commercial testing—often proprietary—is also quite common. A number of complementary full-scale field investigations involving the use of natural environmental winds have also been performed. To date, these investigations have not included testing to failure. The design of engineered structures has effectively incorporated aerodynamic characterizations obtained from wind-tunnel experiments, in some cases complemented by full-scale observations from the natural environment. For obvious reasons, no full-scale multistory building has ever been tested to failure under controlled conditions in an LSWTF. It is conceivable that at wind speed that would cause failure, experiments conducted on non-engineered structures in an LSWTF could provide information to improve current design practices. However, much can also be learned from analyses based on the results of component studies augmented by observations of failures in real events. Structures designed to resist actual fluctuating wind loads would perform more predictably than structures designed according to current wind-load criteria and could possibly be less costly to build. The savings could be used to upgrade components of the building to further improve its overall performance. Analyses to failure of wood-frame homes, manufactured housing, and low-rise commercial structures, in conjunction with component testing, could help to determine their behavior leading to failure and improve their design. Experiments in an LSWTF could be used to validate computational results based on component and other tests for
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both steel buildings and wood-frame houses. However, validation is also possible from full-scale measurements (generally nondestructive) or, in a statistical sense, from detailed analyses of post-disaster damages. It has been suggested that existing facilities in the United States or abroad could be modified for large-scale wind testing. The capabilities of at least one facility, the NASA Ames large-scale test facility, are described in the AAWE Report Workshop on Large-scale Testing Needs in Wind Engineering (AAWE, 1997b). Although this facility would have the capability to develop aerodynamic loading on structures as large as a manufactured house or a small residence, there would still be some significant difficulties in using it for wind-engineering investigations. The problems include the development of acceptably scaled turbulence and a significant concern that destructive testing would produce debris that could damage the wind tunnel or fans. Additional study would be required to determine if facilities of this type could be used for large-scale structural research. Priority of a Large-scale Wind Test Facility Although this review was initiated at the request of DOE in response to a proposal by the INEEL, this committee was not asked to evaluate a specific proposal for an LSWTF. However, some important issues should be considered before any proposal is considered. First, funding for wind engineering research, technology transfer, and education in the United States has historically been about $4 million per year (AAWE, 1997a). Because a large-scale test facility would be only one of many tools available to the wind engineering community, and one with specific capabilities and limitations, it would be prudent not to spend a disproportionate amount of the available funds in any given year on the construction, maintenance, and operating expenses of an LSWTF. Figure 2-1 illustrates the committee's view of the relative importance of an LSWTF for wind-hazard reduction. FIGURE 2-1 The Importance of an LSWTF in wind-hazard reduction. Given that a large-scale test facility has the potential to be used in the ways already discussed, it is conceivable that such a facility could be a part of a well organized, well funded national wind-hazard reduction program at a later date. However, given the current state of wind
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engineering research, from the standpoint of overall funding and the capacity for technology deployment, the construction of an LSWTF at this time would be premature. Before such a facility should be considered, a clear and objective plan for its use would have to be developed, describing exactly what capabilities the facility would include, the level of participation of the wind engineering research community in the research program, the specific questions that would be answered during the first few years of operation and at what cost, and the reasons these questions could not be answered more effectively, from both a technical and economic standpoint, by other means. Finally, there would have to be a clear understanding of how this facility and its research program and results would fit into a national wind-hazard reduction program.
Representative terms from entire chapter:


Nine different managers, more than 100 different teammates and, now, 500 appearances. There is only one Leon Britton.
And it’s fair to say those that threw their pound coins into those North Bank buckets have been repaid over and again.
At a time where some fans are aggrieved that the club are too mindful of the financial tightrope that even elite football still has Swansea City walking on, Britton represents a reminder that it’s not always the biggest cheque that provides the biggest solutions.
Indeed, the pint-sized playmaker is a reminder that it’s not the biggest of men who make the biggest impacts.
Furthermore, just as he proved a mid-season saviour when first arriving in South Wales – wondering what he had let himself in for as the drive from London took in the sights of Port Talbot’s steelworks – so his return to the Swans’ side halfway through this campaign has suggested he could still have a big say on the success or not of this team. His team.
As it has been for 13 years now – save for that sojourn at Sheffield United that shan’t be mentioned – with Britton the constant: the physical, emotional reminder of where the club was come from, the footballing reminder of how they rose from it.
There was always a bond between Britton and the fans – and, ergo, the club – ever since it was the Supporters Trust bucket-collection imitative that helped fund the proportion of his £1,000-a-week West Ham wages as the ‘Battle for Britton’ secured his loan signing.
But it has remained, grown and strengthened because of much more than that. From his debut at Exeter’s St James Park in a bleak December relegation battle far removed from the top-flight tension that will be felt going into his landmark game with Sunderland, there was the skilful, diminutive play that helped the team survive on that final day against Hull with Britton winning one of James Thomas’ penalties.
But there was also the guts to go with it. Here was the teenager in the rough-and-tumble bottom tier with no real responsibility to the club (he still at a year to run on his West Ham contract at the time) and he was insisting he played despite breaking a cheekbone, wearing a Gazza-style facemask.
People forget this was a player used to the elite of Arsenal and West Ham’s training grounds, training alongside obvious stars in the making such as Michael Carrick or Jermain Defoe with whom he shared rooms with at the FA’s Lilleshall school of excellence.
Yet he has never been one for moaning, not in the days where he would turn up the Vetch with the rest of the squad to find out which green field in Swansea was fit to use for training that day and get into a car convoy, muddy kit and all.
Nor did he ever grumble when the squad, even in the Premier League, would share dressing rooms with fans in the public gym in Llandarcy. Few found compunction in striking up conversation with the midfielder about recent performances; London rather than locally-born he might have been, but as far as any Swan was concerned he was one of their own.
He had been a room-mate of Roberto Martinez as he had been a midfield partner and it was after El Gaffer’s playing revolution that Britton’s value to the club increased exponentially. No-one could give and go as intelligently as the player whose comfort on the ball and receiving it in the tightest of circumstances is as crucial now as it ever has been.
He moved from the wide positions to the centre of the park, to the heart of what Swansea wanted to do, and he has beaten with unerring regularity ever since. Perhaps it is only coincidence that the managers that eventually doubted his influence during their tenures – Paulo Sousa, Michael Laudrup and, in the end, Garry Monk – all went before he did. Not because of something sinister in Britton’s character, but because perhaps it’s a case of more fool those who do not see his importance.
Brendan Rodgers did, bringing him back from that six-month spell watching the ball at Sheffield and describing his homecoming as if he had signed the Prince of Swansea. Britton spoke equally fondly of the manager that spoke with the same love of possession, saying players should be embarrassed to lose the ball. Britton would rarely be.
There are those who wonder whether it is a case of smoke and mirrors, who believe he offers little but a safe, sideways pass. It is tempting to say to let them wonder for it should be obvious when watching Swansea up close and seeing a player with technique that England pundits spend every other summer bemoaning that their country does not produce. He does not score – though that play-off goal against Nottingham Forest will be one to remember – and he does not assist, but he is often the one to begin the move in the first place.
He is more than a passing metronome in that regard. He will be the one breaking up, anticipating or just simply screening the defence, often to the serenades of ‘Leon, Leon, Leon’ from the appreciative crowd. Is there that much of a surprise that the defence have played into form with their unlikely guardsman in front of them, taking the ball and turning risk into rhythmic Swansea play. Ask Ashley Williams about the best players he has played with and, after the obvious of Wales’ Gareth Bale, there is Britton.
He was what Swansea needed in 2003 just as he was what Swansea needed when they lost their way this season, the physical, emotional, footballing reminder of what this club is about.
It will not last forever and, when it ends, you can imagine the buckets will be passed around to fund a statue where his 5ft 5in frame suggests they could have a life-size version.
But no amount of money could capture the size of heart and talent, the size of the impact he has made and – as Alan Curtis hopes – will continue to make.
Given Curtis’ standing it should not be underestimated what it meant when he recently called Britton the club’s finest player since at least the days of Robbie James. Like James - and Curtis himself - Britton will be revered long after the end of his era.
But, for now, there’s only one Leon Britton, 500 times over.
Brian Flynn (2002-2004)
Alan Curtis (Caretaker, 2004)
Kenny Jackett (2004-2007)
Kevin Nugent (Caretaker, 2007)
Roberto Martinez (2007-2009)
Paulo Sousa (2009-2010)
Brendan Rodgers (2011-2012)
Michael Laudrup (2012-2014)
Garry Monk (2014-2015)
Alan Curtis (Caretaker, 2015 -Present)


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Robots are already taking lots of human jobs. Now it looks like breakdancers have to watch their backs next.
On August 18, a group of dancing Dobi robots broke the Guinness World Record for most robots dancing simultaneously, and the result is either an adorable display of what toys can do with new technology or a dystopian preview of our robot overlords entertaining the masses. Depends on how your day is going.
The new record was set by WL Intelligent Technology Co, LTD in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Their Dobi robots can talk, respond to voice commands, do pushups, and obviously bust a move. A total of 1,069 robots completed the dance routine, all programmed through one control system. But a few fell down—the total was originally supposed to be even higher.
More From Popular Mechanics
The dance moves are pretty cute, since the robots are small enough to be toy-sized, but their synchronized routine is almost militaristic, and the perfect synchronization makes this dance routine downright creepy. (If you want to build your own dancing robot army, the Dobi retails for $329.)
They broke the record previously set by fellow Chinese company Ever Win Company & Ltd, which had 1,007 robots dancing at once. Even though it's no longer the record, the video is still an impressive one, especially since the robots have arguably better dance moves. But style doesn't beat substance, so their record is gone.

domain: entertainment


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“Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky is currently casting about for an actor to star in his forthcoming Biblical epic “Noah” (which he’s hoping to start production on in the spring), and reports now indicate he’s pursuing Russell Crowe for the title role. In addition, he’s also allegedly interested in giving another part in the film to Liam Neeson, who just kicked butt at the box-office last weekend with his latest action film “The Grey”. The role in question for the latter is unknown at this time, however.
The news was exclusively reported by Deadline.
Crowe has been a busy man as of late, recently doing work on both “Man of Steel” (in which he co-stars as Superman’s biological father Jor-El) and “Broken City”, the Allen Hughes-directed crime drama that also stars Mark Wahlberg and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
It should be noted that the above “news” is very preliminary and may not ultimately lead to a deal, though it’s certainly an intriguing prospect, and Aronofsky certainly has a lot of pull with actors these days given that the stars of his last two films (Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” and Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”) both scored Oscar nods, with Portman ultimately taking home the big prize.
So, what are your thoughts on Crowe as Noah? Would he be a good fit, or is there another actor you think might be better for the part? Sound off in the comments!


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A Tiny Ripple
To preface this entry, I originally posted this on a different forum almost a year ago but Human suffering, across the board is something that troubles me. I also realize that this won’t be as mega popular or as palatable as the efforts to save the rainforest or the dolphins (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Nonetheless, this is something I feel the great urge to shed some light upon.
Slavery never ended.
According to UNICEF:
Annually, there are an estimated 1.2 million children being trafficked every year
There are 150 million children (or more) ages 5-14 forced into child labor
70 million girls (or more) are subjected to female genital mutilation
At any moment, there are more than 300,000 child soldiers (how is it possible that those two words can even sit next to each other)? It is said that more than 2 million children have died because of armed conflicts since 1990.
Approximately 143 million children are left without a family.
Approximately 2 million children are exploited through prostitution and pornography
40 million children under the age of 15 are thrust into situations of abuse and neglect
More than 1 million children around the globe are consistently denied of their liberty by law enforcement
—> i.e. 7 years after Rwanda, 4,454 children were locked in prison awaiting some type of resolution regarding their case. Only 196 children have since been released.
There are also a great number of unaccounted cases where children are kidnapped or sold for their valuable body parts/organs.
Note: Properly addressing the magnitude of child trafficking is approximate at best, as it is an illegal operation. It’s become so uber-lucrative and spans out to every part of every country that it’s the classic case of “slipping through the cracks.” The aforementioned figures are what UNICEF can account for definitely but as it’s become the third most lucrative organized criminal activity, people are literally killing and dying in order to perpetuate it. It tails right behind drugs and arms (which children are also involved with).
I could bombard this post with gruesome images imbedded in between each striking adjective, but I’ve decided against it in hopes that the words and the facts, will weave a personalized reaction from each person who reads this. What could be more of an emotive issue than that regarding the lives of innocent children?
I cannot even begin to comprehend how, as a human being, one person can determine that their life is of more value than the next. Don’t we all, as humans, feel hungry? alone? joy? heartache? fear? happiness….?? Children are targeted because they are often times, deserted without a voice. Is there a greater sin against humanity than that of targeting children? For a 5 year old who should be reiterating the alphabet instead of working long hours in a dim sweat shop or other children born into such impoverished nations that they’re being sold because their organs are worth more than the hassle of keeping another mouth fed…where is the justice? Last year, 138 child laborers were rescued in New Delhi, each subjected to all the deplorable conditions one could carelessly pin to an urban horror story. The rescue efforts were sparked by people who care. Like I said, my tiny ripple. If even 10 people read this and just one person cares enough to tell someone else, watch a youtube video with a friend on child trafficking, bring it up in church, write an e-mag editor or elected official, get involved with world wide relief efforts or ANYTHING, we’ll have done something vs. NOTHING. 24 ways to fight Human Trafficking
It’s really a selfish endeavor I suppose…to alleviate the pain that it brings me to realize that children are being sucked dry of their liberty and their inherent right to be children and that even in a land of wealth and freedom, this is an issue that plagues even the most suburban backyards here, in the states. I for one, spent 20 minutes reviewing paint swatches the other day. We all get wrapped up in our own lives. So many bills to pay, running like a hamster in its own wheel, a cyclical force that has most of us living to work. My dream is to one day be financially stable enough to spearhead an organization that seeks out the battered, abused, and neglected child population of the world. I would love to find like minded individuals that could help me initiate change by ways of our own abilities. There are just so many possibilities…teaching the youth of North Africa how to read, implementing a skill set for those in Cambodia, building schools and churches,or maybe even teaching a little girl or a boy how to bake! That would be something! (and) maybe, I’ll be Angelia Jolie in the next lifetime, but until then, this is my tiny ripple. I’ll be making an even bigger one when I can find a bigger rock. For now, will you guys please help me utilize the list of 24 (on how to fight human trafficking—link above).
Your Squishy Monster


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After 30 years of traveling in warp pipes, Nintendo Co.’s Mario and his brother Luigi have landed inside a traditional Japanese folding screen painted in the style of the Rinpa school.
Nintendo on Monday released behind-the-scenes footage of the work that went into creating a golden screen featuring Mario and Luigi. It was painted by artist Taro Yamamoto.
The project was to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. game and the 400th anniversary of the Rinpa school. The painting replicates one of the most famous works of the school, and features Mario as Raijin, the god of thunder, and Luigi as Fujin, the god of wind. It also shows other popular characters from the game.
Creating the folding screen was a way to celebrate the anniversaries for Mario and the Rinpa tradition, Mr. Yamamoto says in the video. He said techniques unique to the Rinpa school were used for the screen.
The Rinpa school originated in Kyoto, which is today home to Nintendo’s headquarters.

domain: artistic


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Gorgeous 1970s vintage framed original work by the Nantucket master C. Robert Perrin depicting Main Street's famed compass. Signed (faded due to age). On the back of this beautiful piece, is another signed original by the master himself.
This side shows the grey lady at it's finest. Both sides are absolutely stunning and a true love letter to the Island. Framed: approx 11 1/2" 13 1/2". Actual painting of compass is approx. 4" 8", the grey houses on the other side is a bit larger (approx 5" 9").The telling of the breadth and merit of C. Robert Perrin's 50-year plus Nantucket career becomes apparent when considering that in 1956, his studio became the very first gallery to populate Old South Wharf. Though his earlier avocation as illustrator informed the structure of his painting, it was Perrin's pure, unadulterated charisma that engaged watercolor & brush, to stage pictorial novellas of Nantucket "isms". In the same way watercolor paints are made of pigments suspended in a water soluble vehicle, C. Robert Perrin's paintings are built of island "isms" suspended in place.
Like "Dioxazine Violet" or "Cadmium Red" pigments, and by Perrin's hand, nature - seagulls, whales, scallops, whelk, Queen Anne's lace & rugosa - architectural icons and vistas, or Nantucketers both past and present are washed and glazed, scumbled, or applied wet in wet, to float in and out of time and place. Perrin's paintings are reflections of moments; sparkling in puddles and floating in mists. Born in Medfield, Massachusetts; a graduate of the Art Institute of Boston, Perrin first painted on Nantucket in 1946.
His studio on Old South Wharf evolved to become the first active gallery on the wharf in 1956, and by 1966 he'd moved permanently to Washington Street where he established a summer tradition of Wednesday evening demonstrations of his watercolor technique. Originally an illustrator by trade, C.
Robert Perrin made use of his inventive nature to illustrate Island children's books Remember Whopper or Nancy Tucket? And some of the first posters employed to market the island. As reported in American Artist magazine in 1959, Perrin converted a VW bus into a plein air studio on wheels. The artist favored Payne's Gray for his watercolors of puddles, fog imagery and ghosts; and when the premier maker of watercolors announced it was discontinuing the color, Perrin lobbied successfully for its continuation. He remained active in the arts community on Nantucket for 5 decades.Adapted from Robert Frazier's Nantucket Arts Buzz. Robert Perrin's work is represented within the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Gift of the Ford Motor Company, 1966.36.152. A Suite of Four Nantucket Seasons, interpreted against the animated body of a whale is among the holdings of the Nantucket Historical Association. Perrin was elected a Life Member of the American Watercolor Society (1956). His prowess as a watercolor painter was credited in "One Hundred Watercolor Techniques", together with renowned artists, Andrew Wyeth and Ogden Plysmer. Robert Perrin's work has been documented in "Who's Who in American Art, " "Who's Who in the East, " and Who's Who in the Arts & Antiques. Robert Perrin Watercolor Award is presented annually, by the Artists Association of Nantucket. Robert Perrin Nantucket Double-Sided Signed Original Painting Main St" is in sale since Friday, June 12, 2020. This item is in the category "Art\Paintings". The seller is "2tix2ack" and is located in Derwood, Maryland.
This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay, Philippines, Ukraine.