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Sharon has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, and specialises in handling complex specialty liability claims, including professional liability, medical malpractice, product liability, environmental impairment liability, and directors’ and officers’ liability. Her experience in professional liability includes managing claims for accountants, architects, engineers, insurance brokers, mortgage brokers, environmental consultants, and various medical professionals.
In addition, Sharon’s practice is largely focused on the analysis and interpretation of insurance policies to determine the availability of coverage to respond to liability claims.
Sharon is keenly focused on cultivating and fostering strong relationships with clients to gain an understanding of their claims handling philosophies and requirements, in order to be able to deliver effective and efficient solutions.
Biotechnology product liability claim
This claim involved multiple putative class action lawsuits and individual lawsuits, resulting from alleged packaging deficiencies in several birth control pill products. Sharon was involved in the early investigation of the manufacturing process for the products, as well as the involvement of all stakeholders in the distribution chains, in order to determine the liability exposure of all involved parties. The claims were defended with the involvement of multiple defence lawyers as well as experts, and it was established that the margin for deficiency of the products was so low that claims could not be substantiated without proof of purchase and causation by the putative class plaintiffs as well as individual plaintiffs. All of the claims were eventually resolved by way of nominal economic based settlements and several of the putative class actions were dismissed in their entirety.
Environmental impairment liability
This was a claim involving the discovery of extensive contamination, arising from the escape of dry-cleaning solvents into the soil and groundwater surrounding a dry cleaning plant. Litigation proceedings were initiated against the insured by a neighbouring property owner asserting allegations of property damage, degradation of property value, and bodily injury, with damages sought well in excess of the policy limits. Sharon retained multiple experts, including several environmental consultants and engineers, to delineate the source and extent of the contamination and put measures into place to avoid further spread of the contamination onto neighbouring properties. She also retained defence counsel to address the proceedings, and co-ordinated the efforts of counsel and our various experts to craft a negotiated resolution.


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Prosecutor Describes Fatal Turmoil Between Brothers
BARTOW | Jurors began listening to testimony Wednesday in the trial of a 29-year-old Lakeland man accused of fatally shooting his half-brother.
Prosecutors say Antonio Fuller got into an argument with Samuel Bryant, 25, and shot him.
Bryant's body was found March 2 around Kettles Avenue and 13th Street in Lakeland.
Fuller's case has quickly gone to trial because he has refused to waive his right to a speedy trial. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face life in prison.
During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Hardy Pickard told jurors there were a couple of incidents of turmoil over the final hours of Bryant's life.
Bryant got into an argument with his girlfriend, and was then involved in a dispute with some men who lived nearby, Pickard said.
Investigative reports state Bryant was upset that his girlfriend spoke to another man, and Bryant pistol-whipped and kicked him.
Pickard said Jonathan Vonador was present a few hours later when Bryant and Fuller were arguing at a home on 13th Street. Pickard didn't indicate what the men argued about.
Bryant left the home and Fuller went after him, Pickard said.
Vonador watched as Fuller got a revolver and walked up to Bryant, grabbed him and shot him, Pickard said.
The firearm was never recovered, he said.
Fuller's lawyer, Stephen Fisher, told jurors that the case's key witness is not credible.
Vonador, 26, was arrested after Bryant's shooting on charges stemming from an unrelated murder case.
Vonador and Terrence Dixon are accused of first-degree murder, armed burglary and attempted armed robbery in the fatal shooting of Vincent Theismann, who was found dead at his East Country Loop Road home in January.
Fisher suggested Vonador and other men were viable suspects in Bryant's shooting, but police did not investigate them thoroughly.
[ Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 863-802-7536. ]

domain: news


Plainfield: Five-story apartment building planned for North Avenue vacant lot
PLAINFIELD – A gap on North Avenue opposite the city's downtown train station will be filled if the Planning Board approves a proposal to build a five-story apartment building.
The market for apartments near the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line remains hot as developers eye all available land for new construction.
187-191 North Avenue Urban Renewal, of Edison, is proposing a mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and 17 apartments on the upper four floors in a vacant lot owned by the city.
The lot became vacant in 2010 when a 124-year old building, considered the centerpiece of a row of historic properties on North Avenue, was demolished after parts of the structure collapsed.
The structure, with its distinctive Victorian architecture, had been vacant for several years before it began to fall apart after harsh winter storms.
The city approved an emergency demolition and eventually took ownership when no property taxes were paid.
The city has agreed to transfer the property deed to the developer.
The proposal calls for 1,721 square feet of retail space on the ground floor
On the upper four floors eight one-bedroom apartments and nine two-bedroom apartments are planned.
The developer is asking for a variance because city ordinance calls for 19 parking spaces, but none are proposed.
The developer is also requesting waivers from city design requirements for 350 cubic feet of storage for each apartment and balconies for each apartment.
The virtual planning board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 2.
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.


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Childhood obesity is a problem it is a function of the foods children eat both at home and at school the people responsible for feeding children are parents not advertisers running the line that it is all to do with advertising allows adults to run a “johnny told me to” line, which would not . Obesity among children has increased over a decade, especially in western countries the triggering factors for this situation and the effects of this trend are discussed in this essay firstly, the main cause of overweight in children is the over-consumption of unhealthy diet such as fast food. Viewpoint: who is to blame for childhood obesity they are both our future and our responsibility a personal essay more local news. While most agree that obesity is an important issue in america, a study from the pew research center shows there is little consensus on what the government’s role should be, if any, in curbing the problem nearly 36 percent of american adults and almost 17 percent of youth are obese, according to .
Short essay on obesity outdoor sports and activities should be encouraged by both the school authorities and parents to tackle rising cases of childhood obesity . Essay about childhood obesity: the responsibility of parents 1776 words | 8 pages childhood obesity: the responsibility of parents although obesity is a very sensitive topic, it is a pressing issue in modern culture, and it is something we cannot ignore. Obesity: what is the government's responsibility jan 6, 2014 derek prall | american city and county cities, towns and counties combats childhood obesity 3.
Below is an essay on childhood obesity from anti essays, your source for research papers, essays, and term paper examples childhood obesity: a parent’s responsibility childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the last few years. Obesity essay sitemap a public health group in california has asked the governor to declare childhood obesity a state of emergency the responsibility of . This is where the food industry begins throwing around the term “personal responsibility” responsibility of big food manufacturers childhood obesity is .
Who's responsible for the childhood obesity crisis it is the responsibility of everyone who lives and works with -- and makes decisions involving -- them first-person essays, features . 10 ways parents can take responsibility for child obesity by debbie gisonni the biggest loser weight loss reality show kicked off 2013 with a kid's edition to help end childhood obesity. Final draft of synthesis essay: childhood obesity and public school responsibility september 23, 2015 uncategorized laurenmarilynyoung today, obesity in children is becoming a rising concern.
Essay on preventing childhood obesity in australia - introduction “during the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity in children has risen greatly worldwide. Fighting obesity in the uk health essay this brief aims to provide information to contribute towards developing a better national policy to reduce adult and childhood obesity in the uk. Ielts writing task 2: problem and solution (obesity) childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem in many countries explain the main causes and effects of this problem, and suggest some possible solutions. The following is an in-depth look at childhood obesity and its effect on ones self-esteem, and the responsibility of society in controlling .
Competing policy solutions one perspective in us political discussions about childhood obesity emphasizes personal responsibility, holding that food consumption is an individual matter and that parents, and eventually adolescents themselves, are best situated to make consumption decisions (2,3). Obesity: obesity and childhood obesity rates essay obesity: government or personal responsibility as of 2012, there are 33,000 mcdonald’s restaurants in the world (how many are there). Outline thesis statements childhood obesity in america essays and research papers childhood obesity parents have a responsibility childhood obesity, .

domain: medical


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Bossa Studios, the team behind the upcoming Worlds Adrift title, has released a brand new free toy for the more creative among you. While Worlds Adrift itself will be buy-to-play, today’s release of the “Island Creator” is totally free to anyone that wants to take a crack at building their own island.
Similar to the original idea behind Landmark and EverQuest Next, players can build and play in the free-to-play tool and even have their creations ported over to the actual finished project if they are interesting enough. Players can create unique, customized floating islands and add complex architecture and topography. Once happy with their creation, players can switch across to Play Mode and explore their island from their own perspective, even using the grapple hook – all within the tool.
“We’re taking a huge risk by cramming so many new ideas into a single game, but if there’s one concept that could transform the way games are made, this is it,” said Henrique Olifiers, Gamer-In-Chief at Bossa Studios. “As far as I can remember, no game ever opened up the possibility for the community to help shape its world before it was launched. We’re not talking about add-ons or mods here: these islands will help form the game world itself, meaning that our players will help us create Worlds Adrift.”
You can download the Island Creator and get started directly from Steam.

domain: hobby


- Design and Features
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You may not need to have your own headphone amplifier until you have found this Beyerdynamic A20. This is the best headphone amplifier that you need at its affordable price. This headphone amplifier maybe meets your expectation. This Beyerdynamic A20 is equipped with high-quality features that make it on top of the lists of all headphone amplifier buyers.
This Beyerdynamic A20 is an inspiring and high-quality technology piece that you should not miss to purchase. You will definitely fell in love with this kind of amplifier right after taking it out of its box. Compared to other manufacturers, all the products offered by Beyerdynamic are made at its highest quality standards. It only manifests that there will never be things that you need to complain about its finishes, designs, and materials.
Everything about this headphone amplifier is flawless hence; all throughout Beyerdynamic A20 review, you can see how people are completely satisfied with this gadget or equipment. It is a natural reproduction of open and dynamic sound. It has aluminium housing and two parallel types of headphone outputs. The Beyerdynamic A20 has also its ALPS potentiometer.
On the front portion of this amplifier, you may see a LED button for the power, two outputs for the headphone in its parallel mode as well as the ALPS potentiometer mentioned above. This is perfect for light and smooth turning. At the back portion of this headphone amplifier, you may see the power input, RCA outputs, and inputs.
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Where to buy Beyerdynamic A20


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Sponsored by Griffin Bookshop
Cicerone Guide to Walking in the Algarve
By Julie Statham
Julie is well-known to many local residents and regularly organises guided walks in the Algarve region. Published in 2006, this guide includes 34 full and half-day walks offering a mix of coastal, mountain and inland scenery. Each walk is illustrated with clear route maps and Julie provides background information on local geology, wildlife, history, agriculture and the shaping of the landscape.
Available in small paperback at18.50 euros

domain: literature


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In April 2010 I was in contact with one of the victim’s relatives of the Eagle Viking Blackbushe accident, which occurred in May 1957. This person had a number of questions about the accident. As the archivist I offered to help if I could in answering her questions. At he end of a conversation she made the comment that it seemed that those who died had been forgotten, as she was not aware of a memorial to their memory.
After further research it became clear that there was not a memorial. After some time I was able to locate the owners of the Star Hill Plantation where the aircraft came down. Permission was granted to enter the property. So armed with the accident report map I began my search. Although it is difficult to pinpoint with certainty the accident site the general location of the site itself is fairly clear.
The search began to try and trace relatives of the victims. A lot of help came from postings on the Internet. After months and hundreds of phone calls and other research, a small number of families were traced.
During conversations with relatives the common point was made that there was no memorial to their loved ones.
It seemed to me that this should be rectified. All our other sites of fatal accidents had memorials to those who were lost. An approach was then made to the management of Blackbushe Airport to see if there was anywhere we could erect a memorial on their property. It was suggested that we use the control tower, which already had two memorials fixed on it.
Two other sites had been considered but they would not have been accessible to the public. The Blackbushe Airport site was accepted with thanks.
As the months passed and many more phone calls later it was decided to have a memorial service and unveiling of the plaque on the 19th October 2011.
An appeal for donations went out in the first place to Ex Eagle staff. The response was magnificent. Various other organisations and individuals also donated towards the expenses. For all of which I was grateful.
By the end of September 2011 we had located seven families. About two weeks before the event one other family was located, making the total found eight
Some 150 people attended the ceremony. Among them many Ex Eagle staff with their Founder/ Chairman Mr. Harold Bamberg CBE, various local councils and their officers. Members of the Royal Engineers and their Chaplain represented the Military from the Gibraltar Barracks. The Royal Air Force association along with the Royal British Legion attended with their flag bearers, also representatives from the management of Blackbushe Airport
Many relatives attended from eight of the victims’ families.
The service was conducted by the Chaplain and the archivist. During the service a minute’s silence was held followed by the last post.
It was for me a great privilege to meet all the relatives. One, a mother of one of the victims along with Harold Bamberg unveiled the memorial plaque.
To my surprise BBC South filmed the event. As the result of seeing this program, after the event at Blackbushe Airport, the son of one of the victims called me at home to say that he was sadden by not having been able to attend. We had been unable to locate him. He had not known where his father’s grave was located. We were able to inform him where it was much to his delight. It was the final confirmation that it had been right to have a memorial event.
There are a lot of people to thank for all their help. I was very appreciative of it.
One group that should be mentioned by name is the Management of Blackbushe Airport. Their support and willingness to allow a plaque to be placed on the control tower and for their help on the day was again very much appreciated.
As I said on the day these victims ‘will be remembered and will not be forgotten’. I would not give up on searching for the remaining families.
Post script: As a result of a phone call from a man in Weymouth a brother and a fiancé of one of the victims has now been found. They have expressed their thanks for our efforts. Photo’s have been sent to them.
Pictures from the Event

domain: history


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Jos de Mul. Philosophical Anthropology 2.0. In: Jos de Mul. (ed.), Plessner's Philosophical Anthropology. Perspectives and Prospects. Amsterdam/Chicago: Amsterdam University Press/Chicago University Press, 2014, 457-475.
The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the relevance of Helmuth Plessner’s philosophical anthropology in the twenty-first century. In the first part of this chapter, I will argue that the heydays of philosophical anthropology in the first half of the twentieth is closely connected with the (Darwinian) naturalization of the worldview. Whereas the debate on naturalization resulted in an unfruitful opposition between ‘greedy reductionism’ and a no less ‘greedy transcendentism,’ Plessner’s philosophical anthropology, presented in his magnum opus Die Stufen des Organischen undderMensch (1928), offered a promising ‘third way.’
In the second part of this chapter, I will discuss some of the objections that have been raised in the course of the twentieth century against the alleged essentialism and anthropocentrism of the project of philosophical anthropology, and which, at least according to the critics, suggest that philosophical anthropology has to face the same fate as its subject ‘man,’ which - to use the often quoted metaphor of Foucault - is about to be “erased like a face drawn in the sand at the edge of the sea” (Foucault 1970, 387). I will argue that, although Plessner is far from being a hardboiled essentialist or a defender of anthropocentrism, the critiques invite a revision of at least some elements of Plessner’s philosophical anthropology in order to make room for a necessary reflection upon the challenges we face at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
In the third and last part of my chapter, I will argue that such a revision is especially needed in light of neo-Darwinism and the converging technologies that are intertwined with it. These technologies promise - or threaten, depending on one’s perspective - to give Foucault’s ‘End of Man’ a material turn. While classical Darwinism challenged the human place in cosmos mainly in theoretical terms, converging technologies like genetic modification, neuro-enhancement and electronic implants, have the potential to ‘overcome’ Homo sapiens sapiens as we know it in a more radical, practical sense. This creates within us a certain urge towards fundamental post-essentialist and post-anthropocentric human self-reflection. The claim I will underpin is that Plessner’s anthropology still offers a fruitful starting point for the development of this ‘philosophical anthropology 2.0.’ I will demonstrate this by a critical re-interpretation of Plessner’s three ‘anthropological laws’ in light of the aforementioned converging technologies.
Jos de Mul. The Game of Life: Narrative and Ludic Identity Formation in Computer Games. In: Lori Way (ed.), Representations of Internarrative Identity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
Representations of Internarrative Identity is based upon Ajit Maan's breakthrough theory of Internarrative Identity, which deals with one's sense of self as expressed in personal narrative, connecting the formation of identity with life experiences. This book is the first extensive examination of the adaptive qualities of Maan's work within diverse areas of scholarship and practice, including cultural studies, gender studies, computer gaming, and veterinary medicine. United by their research application of Maan's theory, these scholars demonstrate the far-reaching implications of Internarrative Identity.
(together with V. Frissen, M. de Lange, S. Lammes & J. Raessens, eds.), Playful identities. The Ludification of Digital Media Cultures. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2015.
Digital media technologies increasingly shape how people relate to the world, to other people and to themselves. This prompts questions about present-day mediations of identity. This book explores the notion of play as a heuristic lens to look at changing media practices and identity construction. Playful media culture is analyzed far beyond its apparent manifestation in computer games. The central argument of the book is that play and games nowadays are not only appropriate metaphors to capture post-modern human identities, but also the very means by which people reflexively construct their identity.
Playful Identities presents academic research at the intersection of media theory, play and games studies, social sciences and philosophy. The book carves out a cross-disciplinary domain that connects the most recent insights from play and game studies, media research, and identity studies.
Valerie Frissen is ceo of the SIDN Fund and professor of ict & Social Change at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Sybille Lammes is associate professor at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies at the University of Warwick.
Michiel de Lange is a part-time lecturer New Media Studies at Utrecht University.
Jos de Mul is full professor of Philosophy of Man and Culture at the Faculty of Philosophy of Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Joost Raessens is full professor of Media Theory at the Faculty of Humanities of Utrecht University.
“An illuminating study on the increasingly complexity of ludic media and technologies of the self.”
– Prof. Dr. Mathias Fuchs, Leuphana University Lüneburg
“What a brilliant, refreshing, and positively playful approach to the ludic imperative. These are the smartest, most articulate, and up-to-date essays on this subject, by the very people creating this field of study.”
– Douglas Rushkoff, author, Present Shock, Program or Be Programmed, and Playing the Future.
Thanks to a grant from The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) this book can be downloaded for free in the OApen Library (Open Access Publishing in European Networks).
Jos de Mul. Transnationalizing tragedy. Comment on Jürgen Habermas' lecture "How Europe faces the challenge of transnationalising democracy". Rotterdam, October 10, 2014.
Dear professor Habermas!
In the past decades, you have been an inexhaustible supporter of the Idea of Europe and of the European Union, as well as a profound analyst of the forces that threaten to undermine the ‘faltering project’ of Europe (to quote the title of the English translation of your book Ach, Europa). In the lecture you gave this afternoon, you focused on one of these threats: the democratic deficit of the European Union.
I fully share your enthusiasm for Europe. Just like you, my enthusiasm is closely connected with my personal history. Born a decade after the Second World War I had the privilege to grow up in a democratic and peaceful European welfare state, which enabled me, moreover, to enjoy the great variety of European culture. However, only in the past ten years, in which I had the opportunity to live and work in the United States and in China for some time, I became fully aware of the fact that I’m not only Dutch, but a European as well.
This does not mean that it is easy to define Europe. Europe in many respects remains a mythic phenomenon. Even the most basic questions – What is Europe? Where is Europe? When is Europe? and (especially since the Euro crisis that has strongly undermined the public support of the European Union) Why is Europe? – are very hard to answer.
Jos de Mul. The biotechnological sublime. Research Seminar Dutch Research School of Philosophy. Utrecht University, October 31, 2014.
State of the Art Aesthetics (2014) – OZSW and UU Graduate Course
Invitation / Call for applications
The Dutch Research School of Philosophy (OZSW) and Utrecht University invite PhD students/ PhD and ReMa students in philosophy to register for the course “State of the Art Aesthetics” to take place in Autumn 2014. There will be room for approx. 25 students.
Dates of course: 24 and 31 October, 14, 21, 28 November 2014 (5 Fridays)
Location: Utrecht University, Kromme Nieuwegracht 80, Van Ravensteijnzaal
Application deadline: Friday 15 September 2014 (registration form for this course)
About the topic
Art is a practice deemed central to modern culture, but how is its importance to be conceptualised? The course presents a survey of approaches in philosophical aesthetics, by specialists in the field. All speakers presents their own approach as explicitly as possible: their philosophical tradition and methodology. The traditions may or may not intermingle in the course.
The subjects of the lectures present the contemporary debates, and range from questions about the philosophical discipline as a whole, and art as a practice, to questions about specific fields of application, such as particular art forms or aesthetic phenomena.
Lost in translation? Conference on the Chinese translations of the works of Jos de Mul. With contributions of Mai Yongxiong, Huang Hanping, Wei Chaoyong, and Jos de Mul. Jinan University, Guangzhou. Academic Hall, August, 20, 2014, 3.30-5.30 PM.
On the occasion of the publication of 命运的驯化——悲剧重生于技术精神 内容简介 . 命运的驯化——悲剧重生于技术精神 内容简介 by Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, July 2014 (the Chinese translation of Destiny Domesticated. The Rebirth of Tragedy Out of the Spirit of Technology, State University of New York Press), the Faculty of Letters of Jinan University, Guangzhou organized a conference about the Chinese translations of four of the books of Jos de Mul. Next to Destiny Domesticated (2014) the following books are currently available in Chinese: Cyberspace Odyssey (2007) Romantic Desire in (Post)Modern Art and Philosophy (2010) and The Tragedy of Finitude. Dilthey's Hermeneutics of Life (2013). Talks were given by translator Mai Yongxiong, Guangxi Normal University (sitting right to Jos de Mul on the photo), Huang Hanping (Jinan University), Wei Chaoyong (Sun Yat-Sen University), and a couple of PhD students form Jinan University.
Jos de Mul, Big data and online identity. Lecture at the conference Soft data pour les politiques publiques de la ville: une approche critique. Lille: Université Charles de Gaulle (Lille 3), October 16, 2014.
Soft data pour les politiques publiques de la ville: une approche critique. Jeudi 16 octobre 2014, Lille (lieu à confirmer). Journée organisée dans le cadre du PEPS Décision, indicateurs et politiques publiques
Ces dernières années, les nouvelles technologies ont radicalement changé plusieurs secteurs de la société tels que l'économie, la santé, le transport et d’autres. Un des changements les plus révolutionnaires concerne certainement la diffusion des technologies numériques, notamment le réseau Internet (Castells, 2000). Ce qui rend ce changement particulièrement intéressant est le fait qu'il affecte à la fois la société elle-même et la façon de l’étudier et de la gérer (Benkler, 2006).
Jos de Mul, The possibility of an island. Michel Houellebecq's tragic humanism. Journal of Aesthetics and Phenomenology, Vol. 1 (2014), Issue 1, pp. 91–110.
The Possibility of an Island: Michel Houellebecq’s Tragic Humanism1
Jos de Mul
Various authors, including Friedrich Nietzsche and George Steiner, have argued that the tragic worldview, as we find it expressed in Greek tragedy, has become an entirely incomprehensible phenomenon for (post)modern man. The claim defended in this article radically opposes this view. It is argued that tragedy can still teach us something today, and maybe even more so now than in the many intervening centuries that separate us from her days of glory in the fifth century bce. The tragic reveals itself once more in (post)modern society, and nowhere more clearly than in technology, the domain in which we believed the tragic had been domesticated or even eliminated. Referring to the tragic humanism in Michel Houellebecq’s novels The Elementary Particles and The Possibility of an Island it is argued that it is precisely in (post)modern (bio)technologies that we experience the rebirth of the tragic.
Keywords: tragedy, technology, humanism, transhumanism, Michel Houellebecq, Friedrich Nietzsche
Jos de Mul, Presentation Chinese translation of Destiny Domesticated. Guangzhou, South China Book Festival, 19/23 augustus 2014.
In August 2014, the Chinese translation of Jos de Mul's The Rebirth of Tragedy Out of the Spirit of Technology will be presented at the South China Literature Festival in Guangzhou (August 19-25, 2014). After the presentation, the author will be interviewed by translator Mai Yongxiong. They will also discuss previous Chinese publications of De Mul, such as Cyberspace Odyssey. So far, four books and a dozen articles of Jos de Mul have been published in Chinese translation.
The South China Book Festival is the most massive and influential Book Festival in China. In 2013, millions of citizens participated the festival. In 2014, the focus is on Dutch Literature. Kader Abdolah, Abram de Swaan, Jelle Reumer, and Jos de Mul have been been invited as special guests at the 'Dutch Literature Week, entitled 'Blooming Tulip in Flower City Guangzhou'.
Jos de Mul. 命运的驯化——悲剧重生于技术精神 内容简介 (Chinese translation of Destiny Domesticated. The Rebirth of Tragedy Out of the Spirit of Technology). Guilin: Guangxi Normal University Press, July 2014.
命运的驯化——悲剧重生于技术精神 内容简介(Content abstract)： 本书考察了西方文明试图驯化命运的三种途径：希腊悲剧文化对命运的英雄般的肯定，基督教对神圣天命的谦卑接受，现代技术社会对命运的“否弃”。在此背景下，作者认为技术的不可控性重新把悲剧的维度引入了我们的文化。通过对《解放了的普罗米修斯》《安提戈涅》《美狄亚》等古典悲剧，以及赫尔曼斯与维勒贝克的悲剧小说的广泛考察，作者清晰地阐发了当代视野中的悲剧观，赋予诸如自由意志、决定论和生命的偶然性等哲学论题以崭新的光辉，为审视“悲剧重生于技术精神”提供了一种新颖独特的视角。 命运，迟早会敲每个人的门：一场意外事故，一种吞噬一切的嫉妒，一种无法治愈的疾病，最终的死亡••••••命运，尽管不可避免，尽管难以承受，但它是我们的生活不得不面对的。英雄般地肯定？谦卑地承负？决然地否弃？ 著、译者简介(Author and Translator) 约斯•德•穆尔（Jos de Mul） 国际著名美学家，荷兰鹿特丹Erasmus大学哲学教授，信息哲学与传播技术研究院导师，兼美国密歇根大学客座教授、复旦大学客座教授，常任荷兰政府智囊团专家；主要研究领域为美学、艺术哲学、新媒介与信息交流技术哲学、19世纪德国哲学、历史哲学；主要著作有《后现代艺术与哲学的浪漫之欲》《有限性的悲剧：狄尔泰诠释学的生命》《赛博空间的奥德赛——走向虚拟本体论与人类学》等，其著作已被译为多国文字。 麦永雄 北京师范大学文学博士，现为广西师范大学文学院教授、博士生导师，广西师范大学中国语言文学研究所所长、比较文学与世界文学学术带头人，广西师范大学“外国文学史”精品课程主持人，《东方丛刊》主编（2006—2010），已出版论著、译著多部，包括《赛博空间的奥德赛——走向虚拟本体论与人类学》。

domain: library


text:
Association of duration of television viewing in early childhood with the subsequent development of asthma
- 1Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- 2Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK
- 3Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- 4School for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- 5Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- 6Department of Community-Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Dr A Sherriff, Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK;
- Received 7 July 2008
- Accepted 9 December 2008
- Published Online First 13 March 2009
Objective: To investigate whether duration of television (TV) viewing in young children is associated with subsequent development of asthma.
Methods: Children taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) with no wheeze up to the age of 3.5 years and follow-up data at 11.5 years of age took part in a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The main outcome measure was asthma, defined as doctor-diagnosed asthma by 7.5 years of age with symptoms and/or treatment in the previous 12 months at 11.5 years of age. Parental report of hours of TV viewing per day by the children was ascertained at 39 months.
Results: In children with no symptoms of wheeze at 3.5 years of age and follow-up data at 11.5 years of age, the prevalence of asthma was 6% (185/3065). Increased TV viewing at 3.5 years was associated with increased prevalence of asthma at 11.5 years of age (p for linear trend = 0.0003). Children who watched television for >2 h/day were almost twice as likely to develop asthma by 11.5 years of age as those watching TV for 1–2 h/day (adjusted odds ratio 1.8 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.6)).
Conclusion: Longer duration of TV viewing in children with no symptoms of wheeze at 3.5 years of age was associated with the development of asthma in later childhood.
Funding: AS was funded by Medical Research grant MRC G0401540. The funding source had no involvement in the authors’ work.
Competing interests: None.
Ethics approval: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the ALSPAC Law and Ethics Committee and the local research ethics committees.


Welcome to our virtual Music Room.
At Southwood we value music education because it is a unique form of communication and expression.
We aim to develop sensitivity and creative ability in all pupils.
We seek to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music, to increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
At Southwood Primary School we aim to provide:
The Sofa Singers is an online singing event from James Sills and his team that brings hundreds of people together from around the world to spark joy and human connection.
The song this week is...
'Higher and Higher'
by Jackie Wilson
Tuesday 19th January, 7.30pm
Friday 22nd January, 11am
Conductive Music is offering FREE Music Technology classes in the afternoons from 4pm to children in Y4 to Y8.
There are 2 different sessions to choose from.
Click on the 'Register' button in the flyer for more information.
Steps to learning this song:
1. make sure you have a copy of the lyrics (song words)
2. listen to the song track
3. go through the words/lyrics while you listen to the track again.
4. practise singing through/matching your voice bit by bit to the song
5. pause the track if you have to and make sure that what you are singing or saying is the same.
Check to make sure you understand and look up any difficult or unfamiliar words in the song.
Please take a look at the Music Service website for instrumental, singing and other musical tuition.
The Music Service website is constantly updated with resources and useful links for schools and for children working at home.
Resources can be found under the tab: ‘Resources’ and 'Music at home'.


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Working The Ica Group reports the termination of 200 employees in Solna and Vesteros. Negotiations are taking place with the Union.
According to the location Icanyheter, this is ten percent of officials in Sweden, VLT reported. The goal is to save 180 million Swedish kroner, which will be invested in automation and digitization.
We see changes in the market, which means that we need to change things faster to meet customer needs, says CEO Anders Swenson of VLT.

domain: economics


text:
Lulu Loves Nursery
Today is Lulu's first day at nursery, and she is worried. She doesn't want to leave her mummy, and what if she doesn't make any friends?
But soon Lulu is having lots of fun playing in the sand box and dressing up - she even gets a special certificate from her teacher at the end of the day. Well done, Lulu!
This sweetly reassuring story is perfect for little ones embarking on big adventures.


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domain: geography


text:
Sawyer Brown was one of the most popular country groups of the ’80s and ’90s, charting such country No. 1s as “Step That Step,” “Some Girls Do” and “Thank God for You” — and now, it’s getting a Blake Shelton-produced documentary.
As the band turns 40, the country star looks at Sawyer Brown’s compelling story in Get Me to the Stage on Time, a documentary Shelton executive produced that examines how the group left its mark on country music, despite reservations by the genre’s gatekeepers. Shelton has long professed his love for the band, noting the first concert he ever attended was by Sawyer Brown, and among the first singles he purchased was the group’s cover of George Jones’ “The Race Is On.”
The Joel Kraus/Madison Miller-directed movie, which will debut Oct. 1 at the Nashville Film Festival in Franklin, Tenn., features interviews with Shelton, Dolly Parton, Dierks Bentley and Mac McAnally, among others. As the title suggests, it also reflects on Sawyer Brown Band’s propulsive live performances, led by frontman Mark Miller.
“It’s pretty surreal to watch your life and memories and music play out in a film, but Get Me to the Stage On Time does an amazing job of capturing what this ride has been like,” Miller says in a statement to Billboard. “I think the film shows not only what it took to get our career going, but also what it took to keep the wheels from coming off a couple of times. It also shows why it means so much to us to be where we are now, still playing shows, with new music on the horizon. It’s a look at what it means to never give up, no matter what.”
The ACM Award-winning vocal group of the year’s journey started with winning Star Search in 1983, in an era before television talent competitions such as American Idol and The Voice became commonplace launching pads for country stars such as Carrie Underwood and Scotty McCreery. Though a fan favorite renowned for its live shows, even after a slew of hits, Sawyer Brown remained a polarizing force in Nashville and at country radio with some put off by their non-traditional, colorful presence.
In the trailer — which Billboard is premiering above — the band recounts being turned down by every label in Nashville before storming the Star Search stage with its high-octane performances. Even after winning and signing with a Nashville label and experiencing multiple hits, “the industry couldn’t really figure out why are these guys still here,” says Sawyer Brown keyboardist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard. But the audience understood as the group played up to 250 concerts a year, entertaining fans with its vastly energetic show. The documentary attempts to answer “how a band turned 15 minutes of fame into 40 years.” For Miller, it simply boils down to “when you get us in front of a live audience, we win.”
Following the documentary’s premiere, Sawyer Brown, who are working on a new album produced by Shelton, will perform at the Franklin Theater. Distribution plans for the film are still pending.

domain: celebrity


text:
Super Robot Chogokin Black Getter
Review by siningy
By now, if you have any interest in Japanese toys and animation, you probably have some idea of who Black Getter is. Various iterations of the Black Getter have been reviewed on the site previously so all you really need to know is that the Black Getter is from a cartoon about giant robots violently murdering other robots. Since the Black Getter is simply a slightly retooled version of the SRC Getter 1, there won’t be too much to say about the figure that hasn’t already been said.
Unlike the normal Super Robot Chogokin Getter 2, Black Getter released as a Tamashii Web Exclusive and comes packaged with the typical cardboard outer box and windowless inner box. Included are four pairs of hands, two Getter machine guns, alternate chest piece, getter ray effect part, and cape. Unfortunately no Getter Tomahawks are included, as they came with the SRC Getter 1, but it’s kind of annoying that the weapon Black Getter actually uses in Shin Getter Robo is not included.
Black Getter looks great anime accurate. Unlike many of the other iterations of the figure that are uniquely stylized, the SRC is kind of like the vanilla ice cream of Getters. It’s a little plain but exactly what you expect it; a screen accurate rendition of the design.
It’s been over a decade since I last watched Shin Getter Robot, but I don’t recall the Getter machine guns ever appearing. The handles are a bit too far forward to hold with two hands but the guns can be held one handed just fine. Articulation is surprisingly good, vastly better than the SRC Gunbuster but not as good as the SRC J-Decker. You aren’t going to be doing any Iron Man landing poses, but given the restrictive nature of the original design, it can pull off a pretty wide range of poses.
I’ve only owned two previous versions of the Black getter previously, the Revoltech and Aoshima. Of the three, the SRC is definitely my favorite. It’s not as poseable as the Revoltech and doesn’t have as much metal content as the Aoshima, but it’s an accurate screen representation with good weight and actually feels sturdy enough to really play with. My only real complaint is that the Getter tomahawks were not included and that the figure itself is a web exclusive. If anything, the Black Getter should have been the normal release given its prominent role in Shin Getter Robo. If you are only looking to pick up one SRC Getter, I think the Black Getter is definitely the one to get.
|Posted 18 June, 2015 - 03:10 by siningy|


It’s going to be an unforgettable night! The best of 3 worlds collide…. local band members from Motel Kalifornia, Precious Byrd, and High Street Band playing all our favorite dance music.
You have heard them many times during our summer concerts…..Motel Kalifornia loves to play everything from The Eagles to Ed Sheeran, High Street Band playing Motown and every kind of rock n roll you can handle and Precious Byrd’s magical music with high energy originals and great covers from all our favorite classic hits.
We have put a “special” band together with the local band members from these great groups for a FUN FUN night!
We will have our award-winning wines, beer, and special menu items including Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, Mini Reubens, Reuben Pizza and much more for purchase. Come on down for a night of Irish fun! Chairs & Tables provided for you!
Advance Ticket Purchase


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GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- It's not the city of Flint that will notice the presence of the county Land Bank like never before this summer.
It's the county suburbs, where nearly half of cities and townships will see Land Bank holdings at least double, giving the agency a higher profile in communities without a reputation for blight and abandoned homes.
"I think in the near-term, the Land Bank is going to continue" to own more properties in areas outside Flint, said Doug Weiland, executive director of the Land Bank. "I hope the number of subdivisions (going into foreclosure decreases) and investors get involved" in buying properties before current owners fall behind in paying taxes.
A May 22 inventory report from the county Land Bank shows the cities of Clio, Davison, Fenton, Grand Blanc, Swartz Creek, Burton and Montrose each at least doubled their inventory of foreclosed properties.
Although the Land Bank only owns a handful of properties in some of those cities, the same trend is true in Argentine, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Gaines, Montrose, Richfield and Thetford townships.
The vast bulk of the Land Bank's 11,623 parcels -- 9,534 -- are located in the city of Flint, the inventory report says.
Leaders in other communities where the Land Bank's holdings are sharply rising said they don't expect the trend to end immediately because the owners of planned subdivisions continue to default on property tax payments, dumping dozens of parcels into the nonprofit's holdings each year for the past several years.
Swartz Creek City Manager Paul Bueche said the presence of the Land Bank as property owner creates new issues for cities and townships.
Maintenance of parcels has already become an issue, Bueche said -- partly because the Land Bank can't be billed for special assessments or even grass cutting if the city's performs it.
"The taxpayers are paying to mow the Land Bank's lots," Bueche said.
Weiland said property maintenance is complicated as it owns property in far-flung areas of the county where tax foreclosure was once almost unheard of.
"The sheer distance adds a lot of time and cost to" maintaining properties in rural areas, he said.
Although the Land Bank owns just 16 parcels in Swartz Creek, the inventory shows just that number was just four last year.
"We have seen the trending," Bueche said. "I don't expect that to taper off for a while."
While demand for homes build in the past decade has been ticking up in the city, demand for older homes remains stagnant, he said.
Property that is taken through tax foreclosure typically doesn't stay in the Land Bank inventory as long in the suburbs as do empty parcels in decaying neighborhoods in Flint.
"There's a differnet market in the out-county," Weiland said. "Out in the out-county, you have basically large, vacant suburban lots in areas where growth had" occurred until recently.
Th Land Bank pointed to the same trend of property owners abandoning parcels outside Flint in an annual report for 2012, saying the number of foreclosures last year in Flint dropped 18 percent from 2011.
"Surprisingly, however, the number of foreclosures outside the city of Flint has increased significantly," the report says. "In 2011, the total number of foreclosures in the suburbs of Flint ... increased 19 percent ..."
In Richfield Township, Supervisor Joe Madore was surprised to hear that Land Bank ownership of parcels has increased 93 percent -- from just eight last year to 93 in 2013.
Because of the time it takes for title transfers, Madore said he isn't sure where the newly acquired parcels are.
"I'm shocked how the number has risen like that," the supervisor said. "I'm going to have to dig around" for some more intormation.
Madore said he's had good luck making requests for grass cutting on Land Bank owned properties so far.


Mother 'leaves hungry three-week-old child in high chair for HOURS as she goes off drinking with friends'
Crystal Ricci allegedly left her 3-week-old baby strapped in a high chair at the dining room table for hours
A new mother left her newborn baby strapped into a high chair in her dining room and then went out drinking, a police report alleges.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, Crystal Ricci left her three-week-old child in a high chair with a dirty diaper while she went off to drink with friends.
Ricci’s roommate eventually woke up in their Lake Worth, Florida residence to find the unattended infant and called the police.
The Palm Beach Post, citing police reports, said that Harris left her child without supervision, food, water, or clean clothes while she went out and partied.
It was only after the child’s cries woke the roommate around 5am Sunday morning that she went to go and check on the infant, noticing that his mother was nowhere in sight.
The woman attempted to call Ricci on her cell phone several times, noticing that Ricci had also taken her vehicle.
Sometime later, the woman and officers found Ricca, 32, passed out in the roommate’s car.
According to the Post, she told officers that she was drunk and could not drive home.
Wild night: Ricci's roommate discovered the child crying and still strapped to the high chair after its cries woke her up
The mother was released this morning from the Palm Beach County Jail on $3,000 bail.
Ricci has been charged with neglect and cruelty toward a child.
She was released Tuesday on $3,000 bond.
Ricci said in the police report that she has a drug problem, and asked for help.


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A3 Riso print in burgundy ink.
Edition of 40 signed stamped and numbered.
This is a Risograph print, printed using soy based ink.
Due to the process the print has imperfections and marks that are normal.
Embrace these imperfections – we are all going to die.
Size: A3 (420mm x 297mm)
Signed, stamped and numbered
Edition of 40
£35.00 including postage UK, £5 postage everywhere else
** Unframed **

domain: artistic


text:
A brain injury is a common and serious consequence of a serious motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists are at a higher risk of head injuries compared to occupants of passenger vehicles due to the lack of protection offered by motorcycles. Even when wearing a helmet, motorcyclists can suffer brain injuries from motorcycle accidents.
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, can range in severity from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Symptoms of a TBI can include loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, dizziness, memory loss, difficulty speaking or understanding language, and changes in mood or behavior. If you believe you experienced a head injury from a motorcycle accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.
If the motorcycle accident was caused by the negligence of another driver or party, the injured person may be able to pursue compensation for their damages through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. An experienced Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer can help you to understand your legal options for your specific circumstance.
Types of Head Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can result in various types of head injuries, ranging from minor to severe. Some of them are as follows:
- Concussion: A concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain gets a sudden jolt or shakes inside the skull. Symptoms of a concussion can include headache, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
- Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on the brain caused by a direct impact to the head. Symptoms of a contusion can include headache, nausea, and vomiting.
- Cerebral Edema: Cerebral edema occurs when there is an accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue, causing brain swelling after a motorcycle accident. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, and changes in consciousness.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury: Diffuse axonal injury occurs when there is a shearing force that damages nerve fibers in the brain. Symptoms can include loss of consciousness, coma, and changes in breathing.
- Penetrating Head Injury: A penetrating head injury occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain. Symptoms can vary depending on the location and extent of the damage.
The Financial Impact of Brain Injury
The financial impact of a brain injury can be significant, especially if the injury results in disability or long-term medical care and procedures. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident and file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, you may be awarded various types of compensation to cover your damages and losses. The compensation may include the following:
- Medical expenses: Brain injuries often require extensive medical treatment, which can include hospitalization, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. The costs of this treatment can be significant and can add up quickly, particularly if ongoing and future care is required.
- Lost income: A brain injury can cause a person to miss significant time from work, either due to hospitalization or ongoing treatment and recovery. This can result in lost income and may affect the person’s ability to support themselves and their family long-term.
- Pain and suffering: This compensation is intended to account for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you experienced from a head injury following a motorcycle accident.
- Property Damage: A motorcycle accident that results in a brain injury may also cause property damage. This can include damage to the motorcycle itself, as well as any other property that was damaged in the accident.
The Importance of Legal Representation in Brain Injury Claims
Legal representation can be critical in brain injury claims following a motorcycle accident.
- Understanding the legal process: An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand the legal process and guide you through the steps involved in pursuing a brain injury claim. This can include gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and representing you in court if necessary.
- Building a strong case: A personal injury attorney can help you build a strong case by gathering evidence, consulting with medical experts, and calculating the full extent of your damages. This can help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Negotiating a fair deal: Insurance companies may try to minimize or deny your claim or compel you into accepting a settlement that does not fully compensate you for your damages. Hiring a lawyer can help maximize a settlement by leveraging their skills in negotiation, extensive legal knowledge, and strategic approach to the case.
- Pursue compensation: An experienced attorney can also help you maximize your compensation by identifying all potential sources of recovery, including insurance policies and other sources of financial support.
Need Legal Help? Contact An Accident Law Firm.
Brain injuries from motorcycle accidents can have devastating consequences for individuals and their families. If the motorcycle accident was caused by the negligence of another party, pursuing a personal injury claim may be an option.
If you suffered a brain injury from a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia, contact the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin. With more than 30 years of experience, our team of dedicated attorneys has helped numerous accident victims seek justice and full and fair compensation for their injuries. Schedule a free case consultation by calling us today at (215)-799-9990 or by completing our contact form online.

domain: law


Which are the materials that you can cut using a laser?
Every material behaves differently when processed under a laser. While some are safe to be cut under a laser, others release toxic fumes and are prone to catching fire.
Therefore, it is important to understand the behavior of different materials and identify the optimal parameters for laser cutting them.
This article provides a detailed guide on laser-cutting materials by discussing the optimal parameters for each material and things to consider when laser-cutting these materials.
In the end, I've also discussed the materials that are not suitable for laser cutting.
What's in this article?
- What materials can a laser cut?
- Laser cutting wood
- Laser cutting plastic
- Laser cutting metals
- Laser cutting paper
- Laser cutting fabric
- Laser cutting leather
- Laser cutting glass
- Materials not suitable for laser cutting
- How to identify optimal laser cutting parameters for a material?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
MellowPine is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
What Materials Can a Laser Cut?
Lasers are capable of cutting almost every material, but the question arises, is it safe to cut any material with a laser?
Laser cutting can be used for materials like wood, paper, plastics, glass, leather, foam, fabrics, and metals. Selecting the optimal laser parameters will ensure high-quality cuts with a smooth surface finish. However, certain materials, like vinyl, ABS, etc., are not recommended to be cut under a laser.
A laser cutter works by focusing a high-energy laser beam on the surface of the material to burn and vaporize it, producing the desired cut.
Each material behaves differently when processed under a laser and requires a specific configuration of different laser parameters to produce a clean cut with a high surface finish.
Apart from that, the ability of a laser to cut the material depends upon the type of laser being used.
Lasers, such as CO2 lasers, fiber lasers, and direct diode lasers, are generally used for laser cutting applications.
CO2 lasers have a wavelength of around 10600 nm and are best suited for cutting and engraving non-metals. However, a high-powered CO2 laser machine can also be used for cutting metal.
Fiber lasers usually have a wavelength of 1060 nm, readily absorbed by metals, making them ideal for laser cutting sheet metal.
Although fiber lasers are available in different power outputs, these lasers cannot be used for cutting non-metals, except for laser marking certain types of plastics.
On the other hand, diode lasers have a wavelength ranging from 450 nm - 950 nm, and these lasers can be used for cutting metals and non-metals.
However, these lasers are generally available in low-power options, making them suitable for laser cutters used for DIY projects.
Generally, natural materials like wood, paper, leather, metals, etc., are best suited for laser cutting because they produce no or minimal amount of harmful by-products.
Laser Cutting Wood Guide
Wood is one of the most popular materials for laser cutting and engraving projects.
Laser cutting wood produces a smooth cut with charred edges that can be easily cleaned by sanding.
Generally, a CO2 laser with a power rating of above 150W is recommended for industrial applications where up to 3/4" thick wooden workpieces are to be cut with quick cycle time.
You can also use low-powered CO2 lasers (around 50W) for small-size projects involving laser cutting up to 0.25" thick pine wood.
Apart from that, wood laser cutters are also used for laser engraving wooden workpieces with high contrast.
However, laser cutting wood generates heavy smoke, which can stain the workpiece and cause unease for the operator.
Therefore, it is recommended to use a good exhaust system with a high-pressure air assist to dispose of the smoke away from the work area.
Best Wood for Laser Cutting
|Type of Wood
|Difficult to laser cut, but produces high-contrast engravings
|Easy to cut and produces engravings with low-contrast
|Easy to cut, but can produce harmful fumes during laser cutting
|Easy to cut and engrave but produces harmful fumes.
Different types of wood and their behavior when processed under a laser
Some of the best wood for laser cutting and engraving applications include balsa, alder, basswood, poplar, cedar, pine, cherry, walnut, birch, maple, mahogany, and oak.
Softwood like balsa, alder, pine, etc., have a comparatively lower fiber density than hardwood and produce less smoke during laser cutting.
Whereas hardwood like cherry, walnut, oak, etc., has high fiber density and produces heavy smoke during laser cutting or engraving.
On the other hand, engineered wood like plywood and MDF are comparatively easier to process under a laser.
However, these engineered wood consists of adhesive and other chemicals that can generate toxic fumes when processed under a laser.
Laser Cutting Plastic
Plastics are synthetic materials that release harmful fumes when processed under a laser.
Hence it is recommended to use a good exhaust system with an active carbon filter to purify the fumes before disposing of them in the atmosphere.
Generally, a CO2 laser with a power rating of over 40W is recommended for small-scale laser cutting plastic applications.
You can also use a powerful diode laser, such as xTool D1 pro, for DIY projects.
Best Plastic for Laser Cutting
|Excellent / Good
|No harmful fumes
|No harmful fumes
|Produces fumes of formaldehyde,
can catch fire
|Produces heavy smoke when cut
|No harmful fumes
|No harmful fumes
Types of plastics and their behavior when processed under a laser
Plastic, a synthetic material, can be found in various types that behave differently when processed under a laser.
While some plastics produce a flame-polished edge when cut with a laser, others produce toxic fumes or can cause a fire.
Acrylic is the best suitable plastic for laser cutting and engraving applications.
Laser cutting acrylic produces a flame-polished edge with minimal burns and a high surface finish.
Apart from acrylic, plastics such as polyimide, polypropylene, mylar, etc., can also be used for laser cutting plastic but require good process control to avoid excessive heat generation on the workpiece's surface.
For example, laser cutting polypropylene can result in extensive melting of the workpiece and lead to a greater kerf width, affecting the accuracy of the cut.
Therefore, it is advised to use a highly focused laser with small spot size, fast cutting speed, and air assist system to minimize the heat-affected zone (HAZ) on the workpiece.
Laser Cutting Metals
Laser cutting metal requires high-powered lasers that can generate enough heat to melt and vaporize the metal.
These high-powered lasers are mostly found in industrial laser cutters that can cut, engrave, and mark almost any metal.
Generally, a laser power of over 1kW is recommended for metal cutting applications, but a 500W laser can also be used to perform clean cuts in thin workpieces.
When comparing fiber laser with CO2 laser, fiber lasers can cut thin metal faster, but as the thickness of the workpiece increases, a CO2 laser produces better quality cuts with a smooth surface finish.
A diode laser can also be used to make clean cuts in metal, but their low power output limits them to only marking, engraving, and etching applications.
Laser cutting metal can produce fumes, and it is recommended to use an exhaust system to dispose of the smoke away from the workpiece to enhance the quality of the cut.
Apart from that, it is strongly recommended to use an auxiliary gas, generally oxygen or nitrogen, to blow the molten metal out of the kerf and enhance the cutting process.
While oxygen improves the speed of the cutting process by supplying additional heat, nitrogen enhances the quality of the cut.
Laser Cutting Paper
Paper is one of the easiest materials to cut by a laser.
However, it is prone to catching fire, resulting in charred edges with a brownish hue, which can be minimized by setting optimal parameters and establishing good process control.
Generally, a laser power of around 10W with low-pressure air assist and a good exhaust system is recommended for laser cutting paper.
Lasers can be used for cutting and engraving different types of paper, like copy paper, cardstock, two-ply paper, cardboard, and corrugated cardboard.
Although all types of paper are relatively easy to laser cut/engrave, corrugated cardboard can throw up some challenges during the laser cutting process.
Its corrugated design entraps the smoke between the layers of cardboard and disperses the laser beam, thereby reducing the ability of the laser to perform a clean cut.
Increasing the laser power can overcome the energy lost due to dispersion but can lead to fire hazards.
Therefore, when laser cutting corrugated cardboard, it is recommended to use a comparatively higher laser power with Dot Mode setting to reduce heat accumulation in a localized area.
Laser Cutting Fabric
Fabrics are generally soft and require low-powered lasers to cut or engrave.
Depending on the type of fabric, laser engraving can result in light or dark marks with variable contrast.
Moreover, synthetic fabrics produce a sealed edge when processed under a laser. In contrast, natural fabrics like cotton, denim, etc., produce frayed edges that might require secondary operations to have a clean edge.
Generally, a 40W CO2 laser is best suitable for industrial applications, and a 10W diode laser can be used for DIY projects.
Laser cutting fabric can produce moderate to heavy smoke, so it is recommended to use a low-pressure air assist and exhaust system to dispose of the fumes.
Laser Cutting Leather
Leather is a popular material used in the fashion industry for making various accessories, and laser cutting leather provides a quick and precise way of making intricate cuts in leather workpieces.
There are various types of natural and synthetic leather that can be safely processed under a laser.
However, synthetic leathers containing vinyl content are not recommended to be laser cut or engraved as they release toxic fumes that can harm the operator and the laser equipment.
Generally, a 40W CO2 laser with low-pressure air assist and a quality exhaust system will produce the best results for laser-cutting leather with minimal edge burns.
Laser Cutting Glass
Glass is a tough material that can throw up various challenges during laser cutting.
Its brittle nature makes it prone to internal fractures when subjected to the extreme heat of laser cutting.
However, using a damp paper towel to cover the cutting area will overcome this issue and minimize the risk of internal fractures.
Apart from that, being a transparent material, laser cutting glass cannot be achieved by diode or fiber laser, as these lasers will pass through the transparent surface without producing any significant effect.
However, you can apply black paint on the surface of the workpiece to use a diode laser for laser etching or engraving glass.
Generally, a CO2 laser with a power rating of around 80W is recommended for the industrial application of laser cutting glass, whereas a low-powered laser (around 30W) can be used for etching or engraving.
Materials Not Suitable for Laser Cutting
Although laser cutters can cut/engrave almost any material, certain materials can be dangerous or difficult to process under a laser.
Vinyl is a type of plastic that requires a low-powered laser to perform clean cuts.
However, laser cutting vinyl produces harmful fumes of chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid that can harm the operator and damage the laser machine.
The fumes of hydrochloric acid can result in rapid corrosion of the laser machine, drastically reducing the equipment's life.
Therefore, checking the material for vinyl content is strongly advised before processing it under a laser.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic that is relatively easy to cut by a laser.
However, it produces dangerous cyanide gas that can be toxic if inhaled by the operator, making it unsuitable for laser cutting applications.
Furthermore, ABS has a low melting point and is prone to melt during the laser cutting process, resulting in a gooey mess on the worktable.
3D printing is a safer alternative for working with ABS plastic, as it does not involve burning the material, eliminating the generation of harmful fumes.
Coated Carbon Fiber
Coated carbon fiber contains a layer of epoxy that produces harmful fumes when processed under a laser.
Apart from that, carbon fiber is prone to catching fire during the laser cutting process, making it unsuitable for laser processing.
Highly Reflective Metals
Although metals do not produce harmful fumes, certain highly-reflective metals, like silver, gold, brass, etc., can reflect the laser beam.
This reflected laser beam can be dangerous if it comes in contact with the skin or eyes of the operator, especially when working with invisible CO2 lasers.
The invisible laser can enter the eye of the operator and cause permanent damage. The reflected beam can also be directed towards the surroundings and risk fire hazards.
Apart from that, the reflected beam can also enter the laser module and damage the laser equipment.
Therefore, laser cutting reflective metals require special equipment with a safety enclosure and back reflection detection to avoid damage to the laser equipment.
Stone is a tough material with high density that requires very high laser power to cut.
Although lasers can be used to engrave granite, it is not economical to make through cuts.
When comparing laser cutting with waterjet cutting, waterjet produces better results for machining stone and granite workpieces.
How to Identify Optimal Laser Cutting Parameters for a Material?
Laser cutting uses a high-energy laser with an appropriate configuration of power, speed, frequency, resolution, and other parameters to vaporize the material and produce the desired cut.
Changing a single parameter can have visible effects on the quality of the output. Therefore it is important to ensure the perfect configuration of these parameters before performing the actual cut.
The best way to identify optimal parameters is to perform test runs on the sample material before working on the actual workpiece.
One of the most popular techniques for performing test runs is to cut or engrave a matrix of small squares with different power, speed, and frequency configurations.
This will help identify the configuration that produced the best results for your application.
It must be noted that the optimal parameters vary from one setup to another and the optimal values suggested in laser cutting thickness and speed charts cannot always ensure the best results.
You should start the test run with the lowest recommended value and slowly work your way up to find the configuration that produces the desired result.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What material is best suitable for laser applications?
Although every laserable material is suitable for laser applications, certain materials like laser leather, two-ply paper, laser ply, laserable brass, anodized aluminum, etc., are specially designed for processing under a laser and therefore are best suitable for laser applications.
Which laser is best suitable for working with various types of materials?
CO2 and diode lasers are best suitable for working with various types of materials. Depending upon the laser power, these lasers can work with almost any material, ranging from non-metals like paper, wood, plastics, etc. to metals like steel, aluminum, etc.
Can we use laser to cut foam?
Yes, a laser can be used to cut foam in intricate shapes and patterns. A 30W CO2 laser can be used for laser cutting foam with high precision and smooth edge quality. However, certain foams are made of metal and require a high-powered fiber laser to perform clean cuts.


text: This Fail of the Week is really only a failure because of the standards to which [eLabz] holds himself. The rig pictured above is a laser cutter built out of DVD drive parts. It goes above and beyond most of the optical drive CNC projects we see around here — it actually makes cuts! But [eLabz] looks on it as a failure because the steps of the driver motors are visible as jagged edges in those cuts. We see this more as a pausing point in the development process before the next refinement is made.

domain: design


text:
New cars surging ahead
There were 9,984 new cars sold last month compared to 8,200 in July 2020 – an increase of 21.8 per cent.
It took the year-to-date total to 67,660, which is 53.3 per cent higher than the 44,145 at the same stage in 2020.
The best-selling model was Mitsubishi’s ASX, pictured, on 737 units for a market share of 7.4 per cent. This represented a 178 per cent jump in its sales compared to 265 in the same month of last year.
Toyota’s RAV4 was second with a 5.5 per cent market share thanks to 553 registrations, although its monthly tally fell 30.5 per cent from 796 a year ago.
Mitsubishi’s Outlander notched up 365 units for a 65.9 per cent rise from 220 for a 3.7 per cent share.
The Mazda CX-5 secured 305 sales for fourth place. Next up was the Nissan Qashqai with 293 units.
As for marques, Mitsubishi topped the ladder with 1,435 sales, which was up from 658 – or by 118.1 per cent –compared to July 2020. It now has a year-to-date total of 8,345, equivalent to 12.3 per cent of the market.
Toyota was second with 1,357 – down from 1,416 and by 4.2 per cent. However, it has sold the most cars year-to-date with 8,846 for a share of 13.1 per cent.
Suzuki rounded out the top three with a 49.5 per cent jump from 529 to 791 registrations, which gives it 5,055 sales so far in 2021.
All the regions in the North Island reported increases in new car sales in July compared to the same month a year ago, while in contrast only Blenheim and Christchurch made gains in the South Island.
Rotorua enjoyed the biggest climb, with sales up 107.1 per cent from 98 to 203.
In the main centres, Auckland’s figures were 24.5 per cent higher with 4,238 sales compared to 3,403 in July 2020.
Over the same timeframe, Wellington’s numbers grew 35.8 per cent from 729 to 990, while Christchurch recorded a 37.3 per cent increase from 813 to 1,116.


text:
Perez says he ‘gave it all’ in Abu Dhabi GP despite coming up short in fight for P2 with Leclerc
Sergio Perez narrowly missed out on P2 in the constructors’ championship after finishing in third place at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, despite the result, the Mexican believes he and his team can still be “pleased” by their performance this season.
Perez started the race in second, alongside his team mate Max Verstappen on the front row of the grid. The two Red Bull drivers ran in first and second for most of the evening, before Perez was forced to pit for a second time as Charles Leclerc closed in from behind.
Perez then looked to chase down Leclerc but ran out of laps in the end, forcing him to settle for third in the race and in the championship. Speaking after the Grand Prix, Perez believed his race was compromised by a less than ideal second stint.
“I’m pleased because I gave it all, you know,” said Perez. “Obviously we look back, there were things we could have done better, like that middle stint, you know, we were still thinking that we were on a one-stop at that point.
“So, I think that really caught us out a little bit and that really meant that we lost a few seconds there where we were behind Max. Max was on a one-stop and we were on a two, so that middle stint wasn’t ideal for us.”
It has been a commendable second season at Red Bull for Perez – having won two races in Monaco and Singapore – but the Mexican racer already had his eyes on a “strong” 2023 campaign.
“Certainly there are some great, great days that we had during the season,” said Perez. "We had great moments, great battling. I think I did struggle a bit with the tyres for this year, in terms of managing the tyres in the race. So, hopefully that can be something we improve for next [year] and generally just be a bit stronger.
“So, we can be pleased... and yeah, I mean, to regroup altogether, you know, it’s nice to finish this season and look forward for another strong year next year.”


University with alleged Gülen links closes in Azerbaijan
BAKU – Anadolu AgencyAzerbaijan’s Education Ministry announced on July 20 that an allegedly Gülen movement-affiliated university in Baku has been shut down.
The closure of Qafqaz University came a few days after a failed coup attempt in Turkey, which the government has accused followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen of organizing.
Qafqaz University was known as Gülen’s first university abroad and was established in 1993.
In a statement, the ministry said: “The founder of the university applied to the ministry to submit the university board’s decision to close down.
“After receiving the documents regarding closure from [the] university, it will create a working group in order to ensure the continuation of education of the Qafqaz University students and will carry out the process of their placement.”
Azerbaijan also closed the Gülen-linked Zaman-Azerbaijan newspaper and Zaman.az webpage.
Azerbaijan’s Press Council issued a statement saying: “Azerbaijan’s Press Council calls for the Azerbaijani media to show sensitivity on the vital incident in [our] sister country Turkey.”
“The person or people who create social unrest in Turkey and act to break the state tradition should not make any propaganda in Azerbaijani media,” the statement added.
In 2014, Azerbaijani authorities closed 13 education centers and 11 high schools following Turkey’s crackdown on the Gülen movement.


Well folks, it has officially begun. Brief background: Got knocked off my Spada (write off) in July 2005, was laid up with broken bones till about september/october. Was getting off my P's in March, so I didn't want to spend $$$ on a learner legal bike for 5-6 months of use, so I went and spent a measly $1,300 on a 1985 Yamaha SRX250 (painted in genuine Kawasaki green!! :roll: ). It had probelms starting from the beginning, but I thought "meh, that's what you get for $1300". I only rode it about a dozen times before it decided not to start at all anymore. Through a process of trial and error (mostly error ) we (myself and my partner in crime, Jensen) replaced the carburettor and the starter motor, then put the original carbie back on. Now we've moved onto the fuel tap, which is one of those stoopid vacuum jobbies which wasn't holding it's vacuum. We've almost fixed that, and can now (with the tap removed and pouring petty straight into the carbie) start the bike on a regular basis. One thing about this SRX is that aside from the starting problem, if you can get it running, it's still a damn fine example of a mid 80's single sports bike. Runs well, handles well, heaps of fun to hoon about on. Anyhoo, now that the bike is running reliably, it's time to bling it up and make worth owning. I don't have the photo's with me, but soon I'll post up the 'before' photos so you can see why I wouldn't really want to be seen on the thing - it's ugly, dirty and falling apart. A very similar SRX (imagine it in badly painted Kawa green)- [img:400:299:2a7579ef4b]http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/srx250/srx.jpg[/img:2a7579ef4b] So, I came up with the idea of street-fightering it, but I thought that would be an insult to all those lovely GSXR and R1 street-fighters out there, hence, the little SRX is destined to become... "The Cafe-Fighter" Step 1: Tuesday 24th October 2006. We stripped the bike down to is bare essentials, front fairing, seat, tail fairing, pillion pegs, gigantic 3 compartment air box, mirrors, and instument cluster all gone. Tank off, currently being wire-brushed through 4 layers of paint to get it back to bare metal. Thinking painting metallic silver. The Plan: Custom home-made airbox being manufactured, hopefully with a big Harley style air filter. :wink: We're going to cut about 6 inches of the tail and about 3 inches off the seat. Remove padding from the seat from where the pillion grab handle is (but won't be for much longer) and run a cowl over the top. Going to do a mould of the tail fairing and remake in fibreglass, with a few mods to slim up the side panels and change the ugly square rear end into a nice rounded thing (reminiscent of the later SRX6 hopefully), and push the sticky-outy brake light into the end a bit so it's flush with the end of the fairing. Hopefully paint this up the same metallic silver as the tank. Oh, you should know it's got a black frame and engine block, so think silver on black... Removed the triangular side panels, going to replace with a polished stainless grating/mesh of some kind to increase airflow, and shininess. Front end: not sure what we're doing here. Option 1 is to just go to Ausstreetfighter or some such and buy a new headlight assembly, instrument cluster and clip-on 'bars, but that costs mokeys, and there's no fun in buying pre-made stuff. Option 2 (which is most likely) is to go scour motor cycle wreckers for usable bits and pieces. It's all still up in the air, and we'll probably decide what's happening down the track somewhat. Wheels, we're going to have a go at polishing. Exhaust: we' got a stock can from a VTR1000 Firestorm that we're going to have a go at fitting, personally I don't think it'll work, but it'll be fun for a laugh. Don't really need to do anything to the swing arms except give them a clean and stiffer up the 'monocross' suspension. Front forks are pretty good. I'[ll give it all a clean, and most prolly replace the oil and seals. So that's about it. Anyone think of anything else I can do?? Anything I shouldn't be doing (I don't care, I'll probably do it anyway..)?? Apologies for the mammoth post, but I just had to get all this written down... Stay tuned for the next steps, which will definitely include photos. Cheers.