Movable ink jet gutter
||Movable ink jet gutter
||December 8, 1981
||September 24, 1979
||Mix, Jr.; Arthur L. (Boulder, CO)
||International Business Machines Corp. (Armonk, NY)|
||Hartary; Joseph W.
|Attorney Or Agent:
||Cockburn; J. G.
|Field Of Search:
||; 346/75; 346/140
|U.S Patent Documents:
||3839721; 3945020; 4031561; 4045802; 4160982; 4238805
|Foreign Patent Documents:
||Vesci, A., Flow Reversing Valve for Ink Jet Head, IBM Tech. Disc. Bulletin, vol. 18, No. 12, May 1976, pp. 4138-4139..
Krause, K. A., Ink Jet Head, IBM Tech. Disc. Bulletin, vol. 19, No. 8, Jan. 1977, pp. 3216-3217..
Seitz, H. K., Nozzle Chemical Process, IBM Tech. Disc. Bulletin, vol. 20, No. 2, Jul. 1977, pp. 786-787..
Mix, A. L. Jr., Charge Electrode Alignment and Retraction, IBM TDB, vol. 20, No. 1, Jun. 1977, pp. 33-34..
Hendriks et al., Flying Gutter for Ink Jet Printers, IBM TDB, vol. 22, No. 8A, Jan. 1980, pp. 3286-3287..
||The contamination by ink of an ink jet printing system at start-up and shut-down is eliminated by moving the normal operational gutter from its print position along the flight path of the ink droplets to a position immediately adjacent to the nozzle plate of said head. The charge electrodes and the deflection electrode are moved out of the path of the gutter as it advances towards the nozzle plate.
||What is claimed is:
1. An improved ink jet printer wherein noncharged ink droplets are used to write on a recording surface said printer comprising in combination:
a drop generator having a plurality of nozzles therein said drop generator being operable for generating a plurality of ink droplets for printing on a surface;
a movable charging electrode being positioned relative to said head and operable for charging the droplets emanating therefrom;
a deflection electrode disposed downstream from the charging electrode, said deflection electrode having a fixed and a movable deflection plate with the deflection plates being configured in spaced relation to straddle a path traversed by the inkdroplets;
first means connected to said charging electrode and operable for moving the same;
an ink catching means positioned downstream from the movable electrode, said ink catching means being operable to move in two substantially orthogonal directions, one of said directions substantially perpendicular to a flight path being generatedby the noncharged ink droplets and the other direction substantially parallel to the flight path of the noncharged ink droplets;
second means connected to the catching means and operable to move said catching means in the perpendicular direction; and
third means connected to the catching means and operable to move the catching means in the parallel direction.
2. An improved ink jet printer having noncharged ink droplets for printing on a recording surface, said printer comprising in combination:
a support means;
a drop generator having one or more nozzles therein mounted to said support means, said drop generator being operable for generating a plurality of ink droplets for printing on a surface;
a charge electrode pivotally mounted to the drop generator and operable for charging the ink droplets emanating therefrom;
a deflection electrode positioned downstream from the charge electrode and operable to deflect the ink droplets, said deflection electrode including an upper deflection plate and a lower deflection plate with the lower deflection plate coupled tothe charge electrode;
a first actuator means coupled to the charge electrode and operable to rotate said charge electrode relative to a flight path of the ink droplets;
an ink catching gutter positioned downstream from the deflection electrode, said ink catching gutter being operable to move in two substantially orthogonal directions;
a second actuator means operable to move the ink catching gutter in one of the substantially orthogonal directions, said one direction being perpendicular to the flight path of said noncharged ink droplets;
a gutter support bracket means pivotally mounted to the support means and coupled to the ink catching gutter; and
third actuator means coupled to the gutter support bracket means and operable to rotate said gutter support bracket means whereby the ink catching gutter is moved along the other orthogonal direction substantially parallel to the flight path ofthe noncharged ink droplets.
3. The ink jet printer of claim 1 wherein the first and third actuator means are pneumatic.
||CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATION
Patent Application Ser. No. 90,368 Filed Nov. 1, 1979 entitled "Ink Jet Retractable Electrode and Secondary Ink Catcher" discloses an ink jet printing system wherein a thin, movable ink receiving structure called a "probe" is inserted along theflight path of the ink droplets periodically. The probe catches ink as the probe advances from a home position to a position within the vicinity of the nozzle plate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ink jet printers. In particular, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for enhancing the reliability of ink jet printer heads.
2. Prior Art
The use of ink jet printers for printing information on recording media is well known in the prior art. Conventional ink jet printers incorporate a plurality of electrical components and fluidic components. The components coact to perform theprinting function.
The fluidic components include a drop generator having a chamber for affecting drop inducing vibration on a printing fluid or ink and a nozzle plate with one or more ink nozzles interconnected to the chamber. A gutter assembly is positioneddownstream from the nozzle plate in the flight path of ink droplets. The gutter assembly catches ink droplets which are not needed for printing on the recording medium.
In order to create the ink droplets, an electrical transducer within the drop generator vibrates at a frequency which forces the thread-like streams of ink which are initially ejected from the nozzles to be broken up into a series of ink dropletsat a point within the vicinity of the nozzle plate. A charge electrode is positioned along the flight path of the ink droplets. The function of the charge electrode is to selectively induce a charge on the ink droplets as said droplets separate fromthe stream. A pair of deflection plates is positioned downstream from the charge electrodes. The function of the deflection plates is to deflect a charged ink droplet either into the gutter or onto the recording media.
One of the most pressing problems associated with ink jet printers of the above described type is that of head reliability. Most of the head failures occur at the instant when the heads are turned on (that is, stream start-up) or turned off(that is, stream shut-down). It is believed that temporary stream instability is the prime cause of these reliability problems.
The causes for the stream instability are the start-up/shut-down dynamics and contamination associated with the streams. The term start-up/shut-down dynamics is used to describe any form of sputtering, oozing, low velocity or misdirected inkstream. Among other things, these aberrations of the ink stream stem from the presence of air bubbles in the head and slow ink pressure transition within the head at start-up or shut-down. Contamination results in partial or complete blocking of thenozzle hole which results in stream misdirection.
As was stated previously, the ink streams and/or ink droplets are projected through several electrode structures for deflection. The maximum clearance between the electrode structures and the ink stream and/or ink droplets is typically 0.015inch. With this tight clearance, any sputtering or oozing etc. of the stream results in wetting the electrodes and ultimately electrical shorting.
One method described in the prior art to alleviate the above described problem is the so-called "HARD START" method. This is accomplished with a high performance valve positioned in the nozzle head. The valve causes the pressure transition inthe head to occur in sub-millisecond times. This approach largely avoids stream dynamics type failures. However, failures associated with stream blockage (contamination) are not addressed. Also a highly tuned valve is needed which tends to increasethe overall cost of the head and additionally this approach places constraints on other drop generator components which tend to limit design freedom. Finally, significant measures must be taken to ensure that no air is allowed to enter the head cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,721 discloses a method and apparatus used to prevent ink from drying at the nozzle during printer shut-down and to keep the charging electrode and deflection plates free from ink spraying at pressure shutoff. In addition tothe conventional gutter structure associated with an ink jet printer, a second gutter-like structure having a vapor chamber and with an opening having a partially closed lip portion is positioned between the charge electrodes and the deflectionelectrodes. At shutdown time the charge electrodes are moved up out of the path of the jet streams and the second gutter-like structure is moved into the jet streams along a path transverse to the flight path of the droplets of the jet stream. In thisposition, ink issuing from the nozzle is caught by the gutter.
Although this prior art is a satisfactory approach for its intended purpose, one of its shortcomings is that splashing of ink is not completely eliminated since the closed lip portion of the gutter-like structure crosses the flight path of activeink streams.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,561 discloses another technique used in the prior art to solve the start-up and/or shut-down problem. According to the teachings of the patent, at start-up time, the charge plate is positioned to within 0.005 millimeters ofthe orifice plate which supports the ink jet nozzles. A purge liquid is used to flush the ink jet nozzle until the ink streams are properly established. Thereafter the purge fluid is replaced with ink. The lower surface of the charge plate is platedwith a nonwetting coating. The purge liquids which accumulate on the lower surface are dried by blowing air on said surface.
Other prior art techniques require the use of a wiping device for drying ink from the nozzle and/or electrodes. Still other prior art methods require the use of a cap or nozzle that move over the nozzle orifice at shut-down and/or start-up time. Detailed description of these techniques and methods are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,945,020, 4,045,802 and IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 20, No. 2, July 1977, pgs. 786-788, and IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 18, No. 6, May 1976, pgs. 4138-4139.
Yet another technique used in the prior art to eliminate wetting of the electrode is disclosed in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 18, No. 6, November 1975, pgs. 1813-1814. In the publication, the nozzles are aimed away from the chargeand deflection electrodes at start-up and/or shut-down time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the main object of the present invention to improve the reliability of an ink jet printer by effectively containing the ink streams and/or ink droplets emanating from the print head at start-up and/or shut-down time.
The ink streams and/or ink droplets are controlled by providing a device which catches the ink until the print head is completely shut down or which catches the ink until the ink streams are fully established (start-up). The device includes agutter and a positioning apparatus. The gutter is normally positioned at a predetermined distance downstream from the nozzle plate. At shut-down time the positioning apparatus transports the (same) gutter to a position immediately adjoining the nozzleplate. Thus, as the ink pressure is applied or removed the ink goes to the gutter. Once the ink streams are established, the gutter is moved along the flight path of the droplets to its initial (printing) position.
In one embodiment of the invention, the deflection electrode and the charge electrode are moved out of the path of the movable gutter as it advances to and from the nozzle plate.
In another embodiment of the invention, a charge is applied to all ink droplets. As the charged droplets pass through the deflection plates, the droplets are deflected into the movable gutter. The gutter is then moved along a path perpendicularto the droplet flight path from a first position to a second position whereby uncharged droplets may be caught in the gutter. The charge electrodes are then deactivated and the gutter is moved along the droplet's flight path towards the nozzle plate.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of an ink jet printing head. The showing incorporates the teaching of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic of an ink jet printing head with the gutter located at its normal position in a "Run Mode."
FIG. 3 shows a schematic of an ink jet printer with the gutter located at its transposed position to a start and/or stop position.
FIG. 4 shows, in more detail, a transducer for moving the charge electrode and lower deflection plate.
FIG. 5 shows a pictorial view of an ink jet printer head.
FIG. 6 shows a transducer for moving the gutter towards the nozzle plate.
FIG. 7 shows a cardo spring in a relaxed state.
FIG. 8 shows the cardo spring in a deformed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As used in this specification, the term Clean Start-up and Shut-down means that the functional components of the ink jet printer such as charge electrodes, deflection plates, etc. are not wetted by the ink and/or ink droplets at the time when theprinter is stopped from operation or begins to operate.
Due to transient conditions associated with the drop generator at start-up and/or shut-down, a period of time is needed before the ink stream and/or streams are fully established. During this transient period, the ink tends to wet the deflectionelectrode and the charge electrode. The wetting results in electrical shortage and other problems (previously mentioned) with the head. The present invention alleviates the problem by transporting the lower deflection plate and the charge electrodefrom the vicinity of the droplets and positions the gutter at the nozzle plate to catch the ink during the unstable period of operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, a sectional view of an ink jet printing head is shown generally at 10. The ink jet printing head includes a drop generator 12. The drop generator 12 is comprised of housing members 14 and 16 respectively. The housingmembers are arranged so as to define a two chamber cavity 18 and 20 respectively. Internal channel 22 interconnects cavities 18 and 20. Inlet passage 24 is connected to cavity 18. As will be explained subsequently, an electrically conductive fluidsuch as conductive ink is supplied under pressure from an external source (not shown) through inlet passage 24 to fill cavities 18 and 20. As the ink enters cavity 18 filter means 26 removes foreign particulate material from said ink. A nozzle plate 28is mounted to housing member 16 using one of a plurality of means. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle plate is mounted by screws 30 and 32 respectively. The nozzle plate is fitted with one or more orifices through whichthread-like streams of ink are ejected. In the drawing only one orifice 34 is shown. Each of the orifices such as orifice 34 interconnects the outside face of the nozzle plate with cavity 20. Due to the minute size of the opening, a thread-like streamof ink such as stream 36 is ejected from the face of the nozzle plate. Of course, a plurality of openings can be disposed within the nozzle plate. Ink in cavity 20 may be removed through flush port 38. A valve 40 is positioned within the flush passageand controls the flow of ink therethrough. A vibrating means 42 is mounted to the side wall of cavity 20. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the vibrating means is a piezoelectric crystal. When a periodic electrical wave form isapplied to the crystal a pressure oscillation is created in the vicinity of orifice 34. As a result of this pressure oscillation, the thread-like stream and/or streams of ink such as stream 36 emanating from the orifice is broken up into a plurality ofink droplets 44 commencing in the vicinity of the face of the nozzle plate 28. The droplets are then propelled along a flight path parallel to the direction of arrow 46 to print on medium 48.
In order to place a charge on the droplets, a charge electrode 52 is positioned adjacent to nozzle plate 28. The charge electrode is fabricated with a plurality of channels, each channel is dedicated to charge droplets generated from a singlenozzle. The position of the charge electrode relative to the nozzle plate is such that as droplets separate from the thread-like stream and/or streams a charge is induced on all or some of the droplets. It should be noted that instead of positioningthe charge electrode below the ink stream (as is shown in FIG. 1) it may be positioned above the stream.
It is worthwhile noting at this point that there are two general methods for selecting drops used for printing on the media. In one method, the information on the media is printed by droplets which are not charged. More particularly, dropswhich are not needed for printing are charged by charge electrode 52 and are deflected into the gutter member 50. The second method of printing is the reverse of the first. In this method, charged drops are used for writing on the media while theuncharged drops are caught by the gutter. Although the present invention is applicable to either of the printing methods, it is particularly useful with ink jet systems which use the first method for printing. Therefore, in this specification, it willbe assumed that the printing on media 48 is done by uncharged drops while charged drops are deflected into gutter 50.
Still referring to FIG. 1 the charge electrode 52 is connected to lower deflection plate 54. The deflection plate is pivotally mounted to shaft 56. Shaft 56 is fixed to one end of an elongated arm 58. The other end of the elongated shaft 58 ispivotally mounted to shaft 60. Shaft 60 is mounted to bracket 62 while bracket 62 is connected by screw 64 to an L-shaped bracket 66 which is mounted to drop generator 12 by screw 68. When activated, elongated arm 58 pivots about shaft 60 in adirection shown by .theta..sub.2. The end of travel occurs when elongated arm 58 is in the position shown by broken line 58'. Prior to moving arm 58 in the direction of .theta..sub.2, the charge electrode 52 and lower deflection plate 54 are moved inthe direction shown by .theta..sub.1. As elongated arm 58 travels towards the face of nozzle plate 28, the charge electrode and the lower deflection plate occupies the various positions shown by 52' and 52". When the elongated arm is in its finalposition at 58', the charge electrode and its attached deflection plate is positioned at 52'. As such, when the elongated arm is in the position shown at 58' the charge plate 52 and the lower deflection plate 54 are out of the vicinity of the flightpath of the ink droplets. Prior to the movement of charge electrode 52 and the lower deflection plate 54, the gutter 50, which is slidably mounted to a transport bracket 70, is first moved in the direction shown by arrow 72. The gutter can nowintercept undeflected droplets which are normally used for writing on media 48. Following motion .theta..sub.1, the gutter is then transported towards the face of the nozzle plate and catch all inks generated from the orifices. It is worthwhile notingthat if deflected drops are used for writing on the media then the upward motion of the gutter in the direction parallel to 72 need not occur. In other words, with the lower deflection plate and the charge electrode removed from the vicinity of thedroplets, no charge is placed on said droplets, and the gutter is already in alignment to catch all droplets emanating from the orifice.
Still referring to FIG. 1 lower channel member 74 is mounted to housing member 16 and nozzle plate 28. An upper channel member 76 is positioned in spaced relationship with lower channel member 74. A wind tunnel or wind tunnels 78 is defined bythe smooth surface of lower channel member 74 and upper channel member 76. The head is aspirated by allowing air to flow through channel 78 which reduces aerodynamic effect associated with the droplets as they are propelled along the flight path towardsmedium 48. An upper deflection plate 80 is fitted in the upper channel member 76 in spaced relationship to lower deflection plate 54. The upper deflection plate 80 and the lower deflection plate 54 coact to form the deflection electrode.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are a conceptual showing of the invention. In the figures, common elements are identified with the same numeral. In the conceptual showing, drop generator 82, which may be of a circular geometry as illustrated, is filled with aconductive ink. Ink is supplied to the head through conduit 84 while ink may be removed from the head through conduit 86. Inlet valve 88 controls the flow of ink into the head while outlet valve 90 controls the flow of ink out of the head. A nozzleplate 92 with one or more orifices is mounted to the head. A charge electrode 94 is positioned downstream from the nozzle plate and interacts with the streams to charge the droplets as they separate from the thread-like stream 96. A deflectionelectrode pair comprised of upper plate 98 and lower plate 100 is positioned downstream from the charge electrode. A paper path 102 is positioned downstream from the deflection plates. Droplets for writing on the paper follow path 104 while dropletswhich are not used for writing are deflected along path 106 into the gutter. When the ink jet printer is configured as the showing in FIG. 2, it is in the RUN MODE. In the RUN MODE the thread-like stream of ink 96 is broken up into droplets within thecharge electrode 94. As the droplets separate from the stream, charges are selectively induced on them. In the preferred mode of operation, charged droplets are deflected into the gutter by the deflection plates 98 and 100 respectively or not deflectedfor writing on media 102.
FIG. 3 shows the ink jet printer in the start/stop mode. This mode is the NO RUN MODE. For explanation purposes it is assumed that the ink jet is about to be shut down from the RUN MODE shown in FIG. 2. It is further assumed that unchargeddrops are used for writing on media 102. The charge electrode is energized so that all the drops are charged and are deflected along path 106 into the gutter. The gutter is moved up in the direction shown by arrow 108 to permit interception of dropletsalong flight path 104. The charge electrode 94 is de-energized and moved upwards in the direction shown by arrow 110 resulting in drops following path 104. The lower deflection plate 100 is moved down in the direction shown by arrow 112. The gutter isthen transported in the direction shown by arrow 114 until it is within the immediate vicinity of the nozzle plate. As such, all ink which is misdirected at start-up and/or shut-down is caught in the gutter without wetting the charge electrode and/orthe deflection electrode. As soon as the gutter reaches a predetermined distance from the nozzle plate the head is shut down. At start-up the gutter remains at the position shown in solid (that is within the vicinity of the print head) until thestreams are fully established. The gutter is then transported in a direction opposite to arrow 114 until it is back at the position just above position shown by the broken line. The lower deflection plate 100 is then transported upwards to its normalposition while the charge electrode is transported downwards to its normal position. Deflection voltages are then applied causing streams to follow path 106. The gutter is then moved downward to normal operational position. The ink jet printer is thenreconfigured as is shown in FIG. 2 and is ready for normal printing.
In view of the above description the process steps associated with the present invention for shut-down may be summarized as follows:
Step 1: Apply a voltage to the charge electrode so that all generated droplets are guttered.
Step 2: Move the gutter upwards to intercept the flight path of noncharge droplets used for printing on the media.
Step 3: Deactivate the charge electrode and the deflection electrode by removing the voltage associated therewith.
Step 4: Remove the charge electrode and the deflection electrode from the immediate vicinity of the droplets flight path.
Step 5: Transport the gutter to the immediate vicinity of the nozzle plate to catch all ink emitted therefrom.
Step 6: Remove ink pressure.
For start-up the process steps are reversed. The process steps are as follows:
Step 7: Apply ink pressure. The gutter remains within the vicinity of the nozzle until the streams are fully established.
Step 8: The gutter is transported away from the nozzle plate until it reaches its normal operating position in the horizontal plane. At this point, there is no voltage on the drops and all are caught by the gutter.
Step 9: The charge electrode and lower deflection plate are then positioned within the vicinity of the streams.
Step 10: Voltage is applied to the charge electrode so that the streams are slightly deflected from the writing flight path 104 to the guttered flight path 106. Of course, all inks are still caught by the gutter.
Step 11: The gutter is then lowered so that the top clears the writing flight path thereby allowing normal operation.
It should be noted that at no time in the start or stop sequence was there a mechanical transition of the gutter edge across an active stream. This alleviates splashing due to this cause.
Referring now to FIG. 5 a pictorial view of an ink jet system according to the teaching of the present invention is shown. The ink jet system includes a mounting bracket 120. The mounting bracket supports various components of the ink jetsystem, each of which will be described hereinafter. A drop generator 122 is mounted to the mounting bracket. The print head includes a drop generator body 124 and a nozzle plate 126. The nozzle plate is firmly attached to the drop generator body. The drop generator body 124 contains a plurality of conventional ink jet components, such as a cavity for supporting the writing ink, and a crystal for vibrating the ink so as to generate a plurality of ink droplets 128. The ink droplets are propelledalong parallel paths indicated by arrow 130, to write information on a length of recording medium (not shown). The nozzle plate 126 includes a plurality of orifices (not shown). As the crystal (not shown) in drop generator body 124 vibrates, aplurality of thread-like streams of ink (not shown) are emitted from the orifices in the nozzle plate. The thread-like streams of inks are broken up into the ink droplets within the vicinity of charge electrode 132. As the droplets are generated, anelectrical charge is selectively induced on the droplets by the charge electrode.
The charge electrode is mounted to a support bracket 134. The support bracket is pivotally mounted at pivot point 136 to the nozzle plate. The lower deflection plate 138 is connected to the support bracket 134 by mounting screws 140 and 142,respectively. The support bracket 134, together with the lower deflection plate and the charge electrode, form a movable structure which rotates about pivot point 136 when a force is applied by link 144. The link 144 is connected to an actuator. Whenthe actuator is in an active state, a force is applied to support bracket 134 in the direction opposite that shown by arrow 146. This force keeps the nozzle plate support bracket and its attachment, i.e., the charge electrodes and the lower deflectionplate, within the vicinity of the nozzle plate. In this position, ink droplets which are emitted from the nozzle plate may be charged and deflected by the charge electrode and the lower deflection plate respectively. The upward movement of the supportbracket 134 is stopped by eccentric upstop 148.
Referring now to FIG. 4 a first actuator 150 which controls the motion of the support bracket 134 and its attachment is shown. The actuator is connected by link 144 to the support bracket 134. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the actuator is a vacuum actuated piston. Of course, other types of actuators may be used by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The actuator includes a housing 152 in which a piston 154 is fitted. Thehousing 152 is fabricated with an opening. An electric two-positioned valve 156 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. The valve has motion in the direction shown by double-headed arrow 158. When section 160 of the valve is in alignment with thevacuum line, there is a controlled leakage from the actuator to the atmosphere. As such, the motion of the piston in the upward direction, shown by arrow 162, is at a controlled rate. This controlled upward motion of piston 154 is important so thatwhen the piston is deactivated and moves upward, the support bracket 134 with its attachment, moves at a controlled speed which eliminates damage to the apparatus. In other words, when section 160 of the two-position valve is controlling air exchange tohousing 152, the piston and its attachment move upward at a controlled rate.
To register the support bracket 134 against the eccentric upstop 148, the electric valve is transported in the direction shown by arrow 158 so that section 164 of the valve is now in alignment with the vacuum line. In this position vacuum drawsthe piston downward and via link 144 the support bracket 134 is locked firmly against the eccentric upstop. The piston 154 is biased by compression spring 166. The biasing is such that when the vacuum is not applied to the housing 154, the piston movesupward in the direction shown by arrow 162. As a result, the nozzle plate support bracket and its attachment will be removed from the flight path of the droplets and the nozzle plate. A mounting bracket 168 is attached to the housing and is mounted byfastening means 170 and 172 respectively.
Referring again to FIG. 5, the ink jet gutter 174 is positioned downstream from the charge electrode. The function of the ink jet gutter is to catch droplets which are not used for writing on a medium (not shown). According to the teaching ofthe present invention, the ink jet gutter is transported in at least two perpendicular directions (shown by arrows 182 and 184) to catch ink and prevent malfunction of the print head particularly at start-up and/or shut-down. The ink which is caught bythe gutter is transported to an ink recirculation system (not shown) by channel means 180. As can be seen in FIG. 5, motion in the direction shown by arrow 184 is substantially perpendicular to the flight path of the ink droplets while motion in thedirection shown by arrow 182 is substantially parallel to the flight path of the ink droplets.
The motion of the gutter in the direction shown by arrow 184 is supplied to the gutter by a second actuator 186. The second actuator includes a cardo spring 188 and a gutter electromagnet 190. The gutter electromagnet pulls the cardo springdownward while an electrical signal to the electromagnet is supplied on conductor 192. The cardo spring is fitted with an extension 194 to which the gutter is attached by mounting means 176 and 178 respectively.
Turning to FIGS. 7 and 8 for the moment, a plan view of the cardo spring is shown. The drawings in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are helpful in understanding the operation of the cardo spring and how the gutter is moved in the vertical plane in thedirection parallel to arrow 196 (FIG. 5). The cardo spring includes a substantially rectangular piece of metal with an opening fabricated therein so as to define two thin legs 198 and 200 respectively. FIG. 7 shows the cardo spring in its relaxedstate. Usually in application one side of the cardo spring such as side 202 is held firmly while the opposite side hereinafter called the free side, moves to create the necessary motion. FIG. 8 shows the cardo spring in its deformed configuration. Asis obvious from FIG. 8 when a force (F) is applied to the free side of the cardo spring, the spring deforms a relatively small distance D. In FIG. 8 the relaxed or undeformed position of the cardo spring is shown in phantom lines while the deformedposition is shown in solid lines. It should be noted in FIG. 8 that when the upper edge of the cardo spring is moved from its relaxed position to the deformed position, the edges are substantially parallel. As such, any device which is attached to thefree side of the cardo spring will be translated along a substantially vertical path without a rotational component.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the force F which is applied to the free side of the cardo spring is supplied by the gutter electromagnet 190. Likewise the gutter is connected to the free end by mounting means 176 and 178 respectively. When aelectrical signal is impressed on conductor 192, a force is imparted to the cardo spring which moves the spring with its attachment, to a first position in the direction shown by arrow 196. When the force is removed from the cardo spring, the springrelaxes and moves back in its normal position.
Still referring to FIG. 5, the cardo spring with its attachment is mounted by screws 204 and 206 to elongated gutter support bracket 208. The elongated gutter support bracket is pivotally mounted at points 210 and 212 to mounting bracket 120. As will be explained subsequently, when a force is applied to link 214 in the direction of arrow 216, the elongated gutter support bracket rotates about its pivot points and positions the gutter within the vicinity of nozzle plate 126.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the actuator which applies the force to link 214 and translates the gutter towards and away from the nozzle plate is shown. The actuator is a vacuum actuated cylinder and is similar to the air cylinder shown in FIG. 4and previously described. This being the case the vacuum cylinder will not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that the two position electrical valve 218 is logically controlled to move in the direction shown by double headed arrow 220 andcontrols the rate of direction at which piston 222 is moved parallel to arrow 224. Return spring 226 biases the piston so that when the vacuum source (not shown) is inactive the gutter assembly is positioned within the vicinity of the nozzle plate.
One of the advantages which is derived from the above-described invention is that the gutter in moving in its vertical path or the horizontal path does not cut across the ink stream and therefore splashing of the ink is minimized.
* * * * *
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Measuring Energy Consumption For Electric Cars
- Feb 26, 2018 4:40 pm GMTFeb 26, 2018 4:40 pm GMT
- 737 views
With their array of sensors and sophisticated computer systems, self-driving cars are being touted as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through efficient road systems.
Not all elements of self-driving car systems are efficient, however. A new study by the University of Michigan and researchers at Ford Motors has measured power consuming elements within self-driving systems and delineated power hogs within self-driving car systems. Their study measured energy consumption for self-driving car systems on conventional and all-electric Ford Focus systems.
Typically, small and medium equipment self-driving sensor systems, such as the ones used by Tesla Model s, required 2.8% to 4% more power as compared to the power requirements for standard cars. On an overall basis, however, their use reduced power by between 6 percent to 9 percent. Not surprisingly, electric vehicles racked up extra points in energy reduction because they use a renewable energy source to generate power. Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Waymo’s equipment was the most expensive in terms of energy used. According to the study, the equipment increased power consumption by 5%.
In an interview with IEEE, the study’s lead author Greg Keoleian said that their modeled packages overstate power consumption by future systems, which include the likes of street maps. These are expected to become more efficient over time. Bandwidths are also expected to become more efficient over time as 5G networks take over. Then there are the efficiencies in transportation and traffic brought about the cars due to platooning of traffic as well as less aerodynamic drag thanks to changes in their design.
Offsetting these gains, however, is the rise in energy consumption due to increased usage of self-driving vehicles. The idea of getting work done and not not sitting behind the wheel for hours on stretch might entice longer and more frequent commutes and cause more power consumption.
There is also the question of level of autonomy. Waymo’s self-driving car systems are considered the best in the industry and it is likely that the company will be a major player in the industry in the near future. It has already inked partnerships with the likes of Ford to establish industry linkages. Unless their systems become efficient in energy consumption, it is difficult to imagine a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
There is a large degree of uncertainty regarding the energy consumption of self-driving cars. Even the Department of Energy’s research has broad range estimates for their adoption. According to the agency, automated vehicles could reduce energy consumption in transportation by as much as 90% or increase it by 200%.
An earlier University of Leeds study found that changes in vehicle design, vehicle operations, and optimizing transport systems through automation could all contribute to energy efficiency in self-driving cars. But the study found that the biggest benefits to energy consumption from automation came in vehicles that were not fully autonomous. “Stopping short of fully self-driving cars may be more beneficial from an energy perspective,” the study’s authors wrote.


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The Division of Oncology is dedicated to developing multidisciplinary and lifesaving treatments for people worldwide who are affected by cancer. At the forefront of ground breaking treatments for cancer, our faculty is involved in more than 100 clinical trials to develop diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to various types of cancer.
Immune cell-based cancer diagnostics
Stanford scientists were able to engineer immune cells known as macrophages to detect and flag cancer in mice. The researchers hope the technique can be used for early cancer diagnostics in humans.
Discovery could limit toxic effect of chemo
Stanford researchers have found a way to predict who will suffer heart problems from a common breast-cancer drug, as well as identified an FDA-approved medication that could mitigate those side effects.
Molecular data categorizes breast cancers
Some breast cancers return decades later. Now, a researcher at Stanford, joined by collaborators at several other institutions, has subcategorized tumors to predict recurrence, guide treatment decisions and improve drug development.
Urine test for bladder cancer
The researchers found that by testing for fragments of cancer DNA in urine, they could find the cancer in early stages of development, when it’s easier to treat.
CAR-T cells for pediatric solid tumors
In mouse studies, a Stanford-led team has developed an engineered immune cell that eliminates several types of childhood tumors. The innovation may help patients with relapsed or metastatic disease.
Conferences and Workshops
New courses are added regularly— please check back often
Non-Stanford CME Courses of Interest
17th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-Based Approach
Join the Mailing List
New activities are added regularly. Join our mailing list to receive notifications about activities of interest to you.

domain: biology


Genshin Impact has easily become the most popular Gacha game and is currently one of the most viral games in general. It is rapidly growing in popularity, gaining new players with each new update.
One of the best aspects of this game is the fact that players actually can manage to only spend in-game currency to collect new characters, and no actual money is needed. Of course, players who roll the characters more frequently may have a higher chance to pick up five stars, but the rolling aspect of this game isn\’t the main feature. The game is simply fun and walking around the vast world is incredibly enjoyable.
Saint Seiya is a hit anime series that has a number of remakes and spinoffs since its original. However, it has been said a few times that the Gacha game for the anime is less than good.
Fans have reported that Saint Seiya Cosmo Fantasy had a ton of bugs, crashing a number of times when first released, and was extremely choppy in its gameplay. Many of the reviews of the game also range between one and three stars.
Arknights is half Gacha game/half strategy RPG. It is incredibly fun and has excellent reviews from pretty much all fans that play it. Many of the reviews claim that this game is so much more than just another Gacha game and actually requires some thinking in its amazing gameplay.
It is said that the gameplay is a bit slower than most others but the strategy element makes it incredibly interesting for gamers who enjoy that style of game. It also has hundreds of characters to pull that all look super cool, making the game incredibly enjoyable.
Fans wanted so much more from MARVEL Strike Force but were pretty disappointed with the results. Fans have said that this game is pretty amazing in every facet, the gameplay is smooth, the visuals are amazing, and the characters are super fun.
But even though all of these aspects are good, the money-grabbing aspect is not. The game\’s customer care and monetization were too extreme for the players to enjoy and found that when linked to Marvel Future Fight, found this one dramatically lacking comparison.
There are so many fans of the Fate series and this Gacha game is no expectation. Fate/Grand Order may be one of the biggest anime Gacha games in the world, as fans of the series (and even those who aren\’t) continue to roll in order to get all of the characters they want to have in their arsenal.
It has incredibly high ratings and actually has an extremely engaging storyline that manages to keep players hooked to the game.
While this game series is pretty impressive and expansive at this point, many fans kind of feel like the series just keeps pushing out content that isn\’t all that great.
Apparently, there are a wide number of Girls X Battle installments that make many people feel like the studio is milking the IP already. There is also so much new content all the time, that many players feel like they can\’t keep up with it all.
Fire Emblem Heroes is an incredibly fun Gacha game whether players are fans of the Fire Emblem series or not. Each of the characters is so uniquely designed that it makes rolling and pulling different heroes extremely fun.
This game is perfect for mobile Gacha gaming as players get to roll characters and build small teams to combat against enemies. As they do this, characters get to progress in the story and level up the characters they have pulled. It is also fun to roll from the characters in the games that many fans of the series love.
Though Star Wars probably has one of if not the biggest fanbase in the world, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes was, unfortunately, one of the less successful of the Gacha games.
This game was meant to pull fans of the franchise in with the alluring idea of collecting their favorite characters. The game has some pretty funky issues with how it runs as well, as it crashes pretty often and has some issues when loading.
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle is another incredibly popular anime Gacha game, and may even be the highest contender under Genshin Impact itself.
Dragon Ball is definitely one of the biggest anime in the world and has a ginormous fan base. It makes sense that fans of the series would want nothing more than to collect their favorite characters to pit against others as they progress through a fantastic story.
AFK Arena doesn\’t necessarily deserve to be considered a failure as it had one of the great Gacha game releases of all time and has a decent size community. However, though the characters and art look amazing, a large majority of the reviews claimed that players simply found the game boring and repetitive.
It seems like the game was greatly anticipated and that many Gacha game players were incredibly excited for its release. The hype stayed pretty high for the first couple of weeks after the initial drop but soon deteriorated immensely. This game wasn\’t necessarily a failure, but considering how many players were over it within a few hours of playing, it seems like something about it just didn\’t hit the mark.


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Matus wrote:I actually play heavy stuff all the time of all the stuff I've done this is my project along with three great musicians:
And lately I've been very involved with this band. Same vocalist, solo project. We're getting in great live shape and I just go for the heaviness
And here's me in JSS' last album:
EDIT: Something went wrong with the embedding so I just left the links
Great stuff man, I didn't know you played with Leo, are you the guy that plays with him on his other projects as well?

domain: artistic


Experimental Modelling in Engineering presents the principles of experimental modeling methodically and in such a generalized manner that they may lend themselves to application in practically all fields of technology.
The book covers related topics such as modeling based on conditions of similarity; units and dimensions; the applications of homogeneity and dimensionally homogenous equations in the field; and the selection of variables in dimensional analysis. Also covered in the book are topics such as the use of models in experiments; the principle of similarity; examples in experimental modeling; and problems in dimensional analysis and model design.
The text is recommended for engineers who would like to know more about the principles, concepts, behind experimental modeling, as well as its applications in engineering and other related fields.
To view this DRM protected ebook on your desktop or laptop you will need to have Adobe Digital Editions installed. It is a free software. We also strongly recommend that you sign up for an AdobeID at the Adobe website. For more details please see FAQ 1&2. To view this ebook on an iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device you will need the Adobe Digital Editions app, or BlueFire Reader or Txtr app. These are free, too. For more details see this article.
|Size: ||18.4 MB|
|Date published: || 1982|
|ISBN: ||9781483102023 (DRM-PDF)|
|Read Aloud: ||not allowed|


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It spread as a plague across the waves, a thickening mist
Texturizing itself, by layers depths of degree, seemly evolving
Until nothing could be seen except the fog itself.
The vapor devoured and swallowed everything within its
Enveloping path, but beneath the world of men remained
Silent and still, as if frozen in pauses supernatural freeze.
On Lake Erie the witches’ winds screamed with a howling
Vengeances fury, against the Toledo basin, rocking the shore line
The mistress of the lake waters, is a possessive temptress,
Unwilling to give up that, which she claims, as belonging unto her.
A bitter ban-she, of aquatic witchery, enchanting the living,
And dragging them beneath the waves of certain death.
Yet on the sacred night of Halloween, this witches spell of enchantment,
Is broken, and the undead are freed, from their shackles tethering.
From the murky fathom's below the lost ghosts ships, of Ohio's
Treacherous waters rise upwards, emerging bursting
Through the surface world above at last.
In old Iron Ville, phantom images restart these ancient factories,
Massive machinery covered in cobwebs, are breathing with life
Once more, as gears grind, against rusted cogs, and the sky
Fills with gray smog again.
Shifting free from the silt, and muddy bottom below,
Wooden beams slam against the harden shore,
Caked in seaweed's greenery, corporeal long shore men,
Wait to begin their after life's trade, to pull at the ropes
And secure these giants of the lake.
One by one, do they come forth ghostly vessels,
Steamer ships, wooden sailing crafts, even the famous
Edmund Fistjurald, a waits it’s hail for docking's mooring.
As the blasting fog horns blow, in the far off distance,
A blazing search light beams cutting outwardly.
Trying to pierce across the waters cresting edge, from the
Distant Sandusky lighthouse, a beacon shines biting and
Nipping at the heels of the foggy veil, to expose the way
Through these turbulent tidal under currents.
Its guidaning light directs all ships, home ward bound,
Both real, and the ethereal, to lay their anchors, unto shelters
But at the stroke of twelve the skies clear, suddenly the mist
Lifts as if sucked away, by an unknown force.
All visions of the neither realm vaporize, into nothingness,
And the docks of yore clasp again, unto the fathoms deepest
Depths, as if they never arose at last.
Yet on the shore line a child of man has witnessed these
Mysterious events, and will tell the tail long after the calm.
And he'll remember the sound. of the docks slamming against
The harden edge, of the lake called Erie.
BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN

domain: geography


In January of 2018, one of West Virginias Supreme Court justice Allen Loughry was alleged to have spent $32,000 of taxpayer money on a couch for his office. At the time of these allegations, a Democratic member of the House of Delegates proposed that the group’s Judiciary Committee looks into any possibility of corruption and consider removing the justice from his position.
Meanwhile, the Republican President of the Senate of West Virginia was not too pleased. Once news of these allegations and how the Democrat House of Delegates proposed to handle it surfaced, Mitch Carmichael called it “the single dumbest, most ridiculous political stunt that I’ve seen in my time in the Legislature.”
Once the investigation began, there was little doubt that corruption had taken place. Not only was evidence found that overzealous spending on office furniture did take place. But, Loughry had also been having state employees move his furniture from his office to his home.
Before two justices recently resigned, Democrats held the majority of Supreme Court seats. Democratic Justice Menus Ketchum left the court on July 11, a few weeks before, he pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge. Justice Robin Davis, also a Democrat, decided to retire as well once impeachment terms were brought forward.
These moves are clearly an attempt to prevent the Republican Governor of the state from appointing their replacements.
The remaining two justices, Justice Workman and Justice Walker, were also accused of unnecessarily spending large amounts of state funds to remodel their offices ($111,000 and $131,000, respectively).
The justices are not just accused of overspending on themselves they are accused of overspending on their colleagues as well. The House of Delegates also approved impeachment articles charging Loughry, Workman, and Davis with overpaying senior status judges (who are retired but still preside over some cases) for their work.
These people are outraged only because its corruption on their side that is being exposed. It is absolutely absurd to suggest that any logical Trump or conservative voter would not be appalled at the news of a judge or politician using their tax money to purchase $32,000 couches. But that isn't happening. To attempt and try to write off these corrupt actions and label the lawful punishment of these officials as some sort of plot to overtake the system, when Republicans have been doing just fine on their own, is not only dishonest but despicable.


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I love You (almost) As Much As I Love My Dog
Design reads – I love you (almost) as much as I love my Dog.
Designed in Shropshire by Daffodowndilly, this A6 greeting card is perfect for sending to people you love dearly, just not as much as you love your dog!
This card is printed in the UK on silk paper with 340gsm paper weight and comes complete with its own white envelope. The card is blank on the inside for your own message.

domain: design


I am the Lead Pastor of Harbins Community Baptist Church in Dacula, GA. I am also do freelance video production work and writing. I am a husband and father of three.
Steve Doyle commented on article "This is Discipline? Mom, Girlfriend Locked Son, 6, in Dog Cage, Poured Syrup and Cat Litter on Him" in Police & Fire April 26, 2014 at 06:32 am


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Andrew Williams tackles the Love Activists
October 19, 2015
Andrew Williams from Exchange Chambers has written a feature length article for Local Government Lawyer.
The article, Tackling the Love Activists, looks at how local authorities can respond when their buildings or land are occupied by demonstrators. Please click here to read the full article.
Andrew Williams has extensive expertise in all areas of property law.

domain: news


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Health & Fitness
Create a Go-To Snack Center in Your Fridge - such a great idea! Love the snack suggestions here as I like to keep portions small and don't believe in eating low fat cheeses, yoghurt etc. Smaller serves of real foods.
Tuna Salad: Skip the mayo and mix your tuna with avocado and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Fill a half of a tomato for a filling snack.

domain: food


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LUBUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo is not ready for a series of elections, including a presidential vote, scheduled over the next year and the voting calendar should be pushed back by up to four years, a ruling coalition spokesman said on Saturday.
"We need to say the truth to the Congolese people that, in the current conditions, we are not able to organize the elections. So, the people must grant us two to four years," André Alain Atundu told reporters in the city of Lubumbashi.
Also read: Talking to Trump: A How-To Guide
13:08 Tortured California siblings reportedly showered twice a year, ate once a day11
17:13 Senate committee approves nomination of Powell for Fed chair13
17:12 Houston TV news: Who's here, who's not in the new year?21
09:00 Money for nothing: Another year of corrupt payments in the state Legislature26


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By Heather Tekavec and Pippa Curnick
On each spread, the book talks about differences in four animals (such as their color, their habitat, they way they move), but then shows a similarity, such as all having whiskers. It would be fun to read with kids and see if they could guess the similarity before you read it to them. The illustrations are nice; this would be a fun book for young readers.
I read a copy available through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


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Ejaculatory Ducts are present on each side of the median planeThe lower part of the bladder base comprises of just two ejaculatory duct. Every duct traverses anteroinferiorly via the upper posterior half of the prostate and along the side of prostatic utricle to open in the posterior wall of prostatic urethra on the seminal colliculus (verumontanum) on either side of the opening of prostatic utricle.
Vasa Deferentia (Deferent Ducts)
The Vas Deferens are 2 in number (left and right). It is a thick-walled muscular tube which has the work of carrying spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct. The length of the vas deferens is around 18 inches (45 cm) along with a narrow lumen with the exception of the terminal part that is sacculated- the ampulla of vas deferens.
Course And Relationships
External Course of Vas Deferens
It starts at the inferior pole of the testis as direct continuance of the duct of epididymis and ascends upward behind the testis and medial to the epididymis. It enters the spermatic cord, where it is located in its posterior part, that is the common site of vasectomy. It goes through inguinal canal and enters the abdominal cavity by going through the deep inguinal ring located lateral to the inferior epigastric artery.
Internal Course of Vas Deferens
It hooks around the lateral side of the inferior epigastric artery and enters backwards and medially across the external iliac vessels and enters the lesser pelvis. In the lesser pelvis, it runs downward and backward on the lateral pelvic wall crossing successively obliterated umbilical artery, obturator nerve, and vessels. Afterward it crosses above and medial to the terminal part of the ureter and makes an angular bend downward and medially. Then, it enters behind the base of the bladder in front of the rectal ampulla and on the medial side of the seminal vesicle. This part of the vas deferens is enlarged and sacculated to create an ampulla which likely keep the semen. Eventually it converges to get to the base of prostate where it joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to create the ejaculatory duct, immediately posterior to the neck of the bladder.
The vas deferens is supplied by the following arteries:
- Artery to vas deferens, a branch of superior vesical artery.
- Artery to vas deferens, a branch of inferior vesical artery.
- Artery to vas deferens, a branch of middle rectal artery.
The veins from vas deferens join the vesical venous plexus which in turn drains into the internal iliac veins.
It’s chiefly by the parasympathetic fibres from the pelvic splanchnic nerves.
This is an average procedure of male sterilization. It’s a minor operation done under local anesthesia. In this process, a short section of every vas is excised. The cut ends are squashed and ligated. The vas deferentia are approached via a median incision in the upper part of the scrotum below the penis. Because of this, seminal fluid ejaculated a week after vasectomy, Won’t include sperms and thus pregnancy can not happen. The sperms which continue to be generated go through degeneration and are absorbed in the epididymis.
The development of interstitial cells isn’t influenced, so testes continue to produce testosterone and the individual’s potency isn’t changed.
Reversal of vasectomy is possible. The cut ends are connected and recanalization is done if demanded. Nonetheless, it’s successful in only advantageous cases, i.e., people with less than 30 years of age and if this process is performed inside 7 years of vasectomy.

domain: medical


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A Louisville TV station has released details from the NCAA and Louisville Police investigation into the University of Louisville basketball program from back in 2014.
A-State Head Basketball Coach Mike Balado was an assistant coach at Louisville during that time.
The details show that Balado and one of the main co-conspirators Andre McGee texted and spoke by phone during the time line dozens of times.
We want to point out, none of the information released to the TV station is new – but the TV station just got ahold of that information.
Balado has been cleared by the NCAA and Louisville Police from any wrongdoing.
A-State is standing by their coach as well, releasing the following statement to Region 8 News saying:
"We are aware of today’s story concerning the University of Louisville basketball investigation. Following a thorough investigation that included access to the documents referenced in the story, the NCAA cleared Mike Balado of any wrongdoing prior to his becoming Arkansas State University’s head basketball coach. In addition, he was neither sanctioned by the University of Louisville nor was he the subject of any criminal charge in the State of Kentucky. Throughout this time period, Coach Balado cooperated in all investigations. Our due diligence, which involved communication with the NCAA law, policy and governance department and extensive questioning of Coach Balado and his attorney, led us to the same conclusion. We look forward to Coach Balado's continued leadership of our basketball program and consider this matter closed."
McGee was found guilty of major violations and the NCAA gave him a 10-year show cause order which effectively bans any NCAA institution from hiring him.
Head Coach Rick Pitno was found guilty of failing to monitor McGee, and Pitno was later fired after U of L was linked to an ongoing federal investigation into college basketball recruiting.
Copyright 2018 KAIT. All rights reserved.


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Senate Democrats know that Obamacare will cause a lot of bureaucratic mess and economic disruption. Several politicians up for re-election don’t want their name anywhere near the healthcare program.
This week, Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus of Montana, Sens. Ron Wyden (OR), Bill Nelson (FL) and Maria Cantwell (WA) “tore into” a consumer protection and insurance oversight official. One of the topics of discussion: does Obamacare artificially raise insurance rates to force people onto government exchanges?
In their haste to pass it, politicians are ‘finding out’ that Obamacare will raise insurance rates, force people to change providers, cause employers to cut people’s hours down to part-time, expand the federal workforce to unprecedented levels, cause bureaucratic inefficiencies, and not achieve its goals of expanding overall coverage anytime soon.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), for example, says Obamacare will push 7 million people out of their job-based insurance coverage – nearly twice the previous estimate. That’s a big freakin’ deal — and Democrats don’t want to come anywhere near this monstrosity they’ve created, at least around election-time.
Walter Russell Mead, a name people should be familiar with, explains how Democrats own Obamacare whether they like it or not. (Not a single Republican voted for it.) The Wall Street Journal:
“Democrats are getting nervous and consequently are trying to put some distance between themselves and the ACA,” Mead observes, using the abbreviated formal styling of ObamaCare as the Affordable Care Act. “We don’t blame them for trying, but it may be a futile effort. For better or worse, their fates are now tied to that of Obamacare.”
Indeed there isn’t much point in blaming them for trying. But they deserve the blame for imposing this monstrosity on the country. To quote [Democrat Senator] Bill Nelson: “I want somebody to be accountable for this, and if it was a mistake, for somebody to own up to it.”
If it was a mistake, the Republicans have offered up numerous repeal bills, which have been laughed off by several media outlets as pointless grandstanding.
But it’s really quite serious. Obamacare is already three times original cost estimates at $2.7 trillion for the decade. And the U.S. is already one of the brokest nations on the planet, despite being a lynchpin of the global economy and the lender of last resort.
It is important to point out that one of the justifications for Obamacare is that “everyone else is doing it” or that modern Europeans have it. But in most cases, this is idly romanticizing tiny export-led states or ones with dysfunctional economies and bankrupt governments.
Below is a map of how much debt each person owns by country (now over $53,378 for the U.S. — far more than that of Italy, Greece and France). Red would be “bad”; and most of these red countries have nationalized healthcare systems, except this map was taken before the U.S. passed Obamacare. It will truly be a budget buster.

domain: politics


Flood can cause damage to buildings, structures, including bridges. ACCESS is an emergency river-crossing bridge that can be installed to gain access from one side to another side of the river. This unit is easy to transport with simple mechanism that can be applied in rural areas.
On each side of the river, ACCESS can be anchored deeply onto the ground to create safe and stable platform for river crossing. This lightweight construction can be achieved due to aluminum pipes as the frame, each part is easy to connect, the overall mechanism is easy to assemble. The necessary static stability is made possible through spanning two ropes across the river. There’s a flexible floating jetty that inflates with compressed air from one of the units then unfolds steplessly across the river, locked into place by the ropes.
Designer : Simeon Ortmüller


With Trump's Infrastructure Plans Still Fuzzy, Utah Charts Its Own Path
During the campaign, President Trump called for $1 trillion to rebuild America’s roads, bridges and highways. The proposal he debuted this week — which the White House dubbed infrastructure week — falls well short of that, pledging just $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years.
But many states, including Utah, aren’t waiting around for Congress or the White House to act on overhauling the country’s aging infrastructure.
“Anything we get would be great, but I’m not really hanging on the edge of my seat and hoping for this," said Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation.
“If it doesn’t happen, will the world end? No, things are great in Utah,” he said.
Braceras said between a $1 billion bond approved by the state legislature in March and additional funds from an automatic gas tax adjustment, Utah has prioritized self-sufficiency in its infrastructure planning.
It’s a good thing, too, because Congress hasn’t raised the federal gas tax, not even for inflation, since 1993. And Trump’s own budget proposal last month included a 12 percent cut to existing transportation programs.
Braceras said if anything does come from Washington, it will likely be a one-time infusion. At a minimum, he hopes the federal government maintains the level of funding they’re at now, about $300 million a year.
“We get back about what we send to Washington," said Braceras. "If they can continue to do that, we’re in good shape because it makes up about 21-22 percent of our overall funding.”
UDOT passed on a few long-term projects in the early days of the Trump presidency as part of a 50-state blueprint created for the president’s transition team, but so far nothing has come from it.
There are definite needs in the state, like full rebuilds of I-15 in Weber and Davis counties, as well as extending the Mountain View corridor. But, Braceras said, the fact that the president is at least starting a discussion on infrastructure is a good thing.


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Jim Marquardt wasn’t always a history buff. His professional life was spent heading up an advertising agency in Stamford, Connecticut.
But then, he retired.
“We wanted something more rural away from the hectic life,” Marquardt said, referring to he and his wife, Ann’s, decision to leave the Nutmeg State. Among the places they considered were the Delmarva Peninsula in coastal Delaware, as well as locations in Maine.
Then, in the mid-1990s, the couple, who are both Long Island natives, took a drive out to the East End.
“We were out exploring one day with no preset notion and came upon Sag Harbor,” Marquardt recalled. “Once you come upon the Main Street, you immediately have a good feeling.”
That good feeling quickly turned into their next move. They bought a house on a bluff overlooking Little Peconic Bay just outside Sag Harbor where they lived for 15 years before downsizing to a condominium in the village a few years back.
Retired with time on his hands and a gem of a village at his feet, Marquardt’s interest turned to local history. That interest deepened a decade ago when Bryan Boyhan, then-publisher of the Sag Harbor Express, asked Marquardt if he would be interested in writing a regular column for the paper based on village history.
Marquardt agreed, titled his column “Looking Back” and set out to discover what he could about Sag Harbor’s long and fabled past. From its cemeteries and the waterfront, to cultural institutions like the library, museums, and houses of worship, he educated himself and his readers about the events and people that came before.
“I’ve always been enamored of marine and nautical subjects, so when Bryan asked me to write for the paper, I was delighted that whaling was part of it,” said Marquardt, an avid sailor. “I always had sailboats. That was really a way into it. I branched out from there to cover many subjects.”
Now, a collection of Marquardt’s columns have been compiled in book form. “True Stories of Old Sag Harbor: Whaling Adventures, Indians and Colonists, Wars, Shipwrecks, Writers and Artists” takes readers on a trip through the history of Sag Harbor and the surrounding area. The seafarers are well represented here, naturally, but so are the Native Americans and the earliest European settlers. The book also documents the various economic engines that drove Sag Harbor over the years (including its bootleggers) and offers insight into the lives of those who still make their living from the sea.
On Thursday, August 29 at 6 p.m., Marquardt will kick-off Labor Day weekend with a reading from his book at one of Sag Harbor’s most venerable literary institutions, Canio’s Books.
As a newcomer to the area, Marquardt readily admits that the act of writing his column introduced him to a great many of Sag Harbor’s people, events and places. He counts among his most intriguing discoveries 19th century whale man Thomas Welcome Roys who invented the rocket powered harpoon, yet died penniless in Mexico. He said it was also through research for his column that he first became aware of the existence of Eastville, Sag Harbor’s traditionally African American neighborhoods which were recently designated as a state historic district known as SANS, encompassing Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest and Ninevah.
“I was also intrigued by the aspect that Sag Harbor went from being one of the most important ports on the East Coast, even more so than New York City, and after whaling died in the second half of the 19th century, fell into this rut and became very blue collar,” said Marquardt who feels that anyone with a connection to Sag Harbor would do well to learn and understand this history.
“People had to try everything in order to survive. I think that has a lot to do with the guts of Sag Harbor,” he added. “I find it very alarming how people are coming into the village and not aware of the history.”
Marquardt credits James Monaco of Harbor Electronic Publishing for his help in organizing and producing the book, which contains 70 essays and is divided into six sections covering the various aspects of historical Sag Harbor.
When asked how he selects topics for his columns, explains that sometimes, it might be based on the approaching anniversary of an important event or a, holiday such as Veterans Day.
“I’ll deliberately seek something suitable for that day,” Marquardt said. “Usually, I go into all the reference libraries in the area, browse shelves or back issues of magazines until something strikes me as interesting.
Though Marquardt strives to write primarily about Sag Harbor, he has found the need to expand the focus and has broadened the column’s focus to include the whole East End.
“The Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton has the Long Island room down below. it’s full of history, including Sag Harbor and all the East End,” he said. “Sometimes, I’ll go there and rummage through the books on the shelves, the magazines and monographs.”
And with the publication of his own book of history, it’s very likely “True Stories of Old Sag Harbor” will soon have a place alongside the very tomes he used in his research while writing the book. He also feels that in addition to sharing the stories in newsprint and online, preserving his columns in book form is an important way to preserve the history itself as well.
“It’s sad that good newspaper writing is used to wrap fish in the next day. Something you found good angles on is gone,” he said. “I put a lot of effort into all these stories, and I just thought they should be saved somehow, not only for my children, but for people coming to Sag Harbor for the first time.”
Jim Marquardt presents “True Stories of Old Sag Harbor” on Thursday, August 29 at 6 p.m. at Canio’s Books, 290 Main Street, Sag Harbor. For details call (631) 725-4926.

domain: library


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Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has urged the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to give due recognition to the Bangladeshi workers' contribution in the global and national economy.
He said Bangladeshi workers are strengthened by the mantra of hardship to keep the progressive trend of the economy of the country and the world uninterrupted.
Around 11.6 million Bangladeshi people have been employed in various fields worldwide, while 36% of the foreigners working at managerial level in Malaysia are Bangladeshi citizens.
He further said, "Praise for the efforts of Bangladeshi workers working in every region of the world, including Europe, America, the Middle East and East Asia, to revive the global economy will encourage all expatriate workers across the world."
The finance minister made the statement at the round table meeting that was held online on Wednesday as a part of the World Bank and IMF's annual meeting.
At the meeting, the finance minister said although it was expected that the amount of remittances in Bangladesh will decrease due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it has accelerated recently.
In the fiscal year 2019-2020, the country received $18.2 billion in remittances, the highest ever. In the first quarter of FY2020-2021, remittances reached $6.71 billion, which is 49% higher than that received in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
The finance minister said concerns about migrant workers unable to leave their homes due to the global economic downturn cannot be ignored.
Between the beginning of April and 15 October, around 1.95 lakh expatriate workers returned to the country, while any new worker could not go abroad from April to June.
He further said till 15 October of the current fiscal year around 2.8 lakh workers went abroad from Bangladesh, which is 26% higher than that in the same period of the previous fiscal.
Asked what initiatives has been taken to save the workers, the minister said the government is helping workers to return to work abroad within the shortest possible time. Expatriate workers have already been returning to their workplaces abroad.
He also said the government had arranged a special social security measure for the workers. The government announced an incentive package of $1.3 million for the expatriate workers returning in April and May.
At the meeting, the finance minister said returning expatriate workers who lost their jobs abroad have been enlisted in rehabilitation program worth $83 million, while they were also included in other social security plans. In the budget of this fiscal Tk2,000 crore was allocated for this sector.
An employment creating programme worth $240 million especially for the social safety of the probable expatriate workers will be realised in the future to help these workers get jobs abroad.

domain: sociology


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Philippine crime war claiming 44 lives a day – police
MANILA, Philippines – An average of 44 people are being killed each day in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on crime, according to police data released on Tuesday, September 6. that showed the death toll surging to nearly 3,000.
The new figures came after Duterte vowed on Monday to defy a wave of international condemnation and continue killing until every drug trafficker in the Philippines was dead.
"More people will be killed, plenty will be killed until the last pusher is out of the streets," said Duterte, who scored a landslide election victory in May largely on his promise to fight crime.
"Until the (last) drug manufacturer is killed, we will continue and I will continue." (READ: PNP wages war on drugs despite P36-M budget in 2016)
Police have killed 1,033 people in anti-drug operations since Duterte was sworn into office just over two months ago, according to the national police update on Tuesday.
Another 1,894 people have died in unexplained deaths, police said, which rights groups believe are largely due to out-of-control security forces and hired assassins.
The total of 2,927 is more than 500 higher than the figure released by police on Sunday, and equates to an average of 44 a day since Duterte took office on June 30.
US President Barack Obama was planning to raise concerns about the war on crime with Duterte at a meeting in Laos on Tuesday afternoon.
Philippine police insist they are killing only in self defense.
"They have guns, they are drug-crazed. Our policemen are just defending themselves," national police spokesman Dionardo Carlos told the Agence France-Presse.
Police chief Ronald dela Rosa has also regularly said the unexplained deaths are due to drug syndicates waging war against each other, rather than extrajudicial killings by vigilantes and others.
Still, Duterte has promised to protect police from prosecution if they are charged over the deaths and insisted human rights cannot get in the way of his war.
He has also urged ordinary Filipinos to kill drug addicts in their communities.
Dela Rosa last month called for drug addicts to kill traffickers and burn down their homes.
The United Nations special rapporteur on summary executions has warned incitement to kill is a crime under international law.
But Duterte has told the United Nations not to interfere and said he will use all means necessary to eradicate drugs in society, which he insists is the nation's biggest problem. – Rappler.com


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Five lifelong lessons you can only learn on a Galapagos family vacation
Tell the head teacher of your children’s school that you’re taking them on a trip to Disney during term-time and you know what reaction you’ll get. But tell – let’s call her Ms Trunchbull – that you’re taking a Galapagos family trip, and she’ll probably send you off with a blessing.
Why? Because your children will learn more in a morning in the Galapagos Islands than they will from fusty biology textbooks.
These mysterious volcanic islands 600 miles (926 km) off the Pacific Coast of Ecuador feed the imagination and indulge the most curious of minds. They’re a playground to explore and experiment; to learn and interact; to be bold and to be brave. A live biology, geology, and conservation lesson, here, the classroom is the Galapagos National Park; the teachers, the expert native guides whose lifelong passion is to share their knowledge with all those eager to know more.
Miss Trunchbull still not convinced? Read her the points below, and she’ll soon be wishing you a “bon voyage”…
See evolution in real time
There is no greater proof of the Theory of Evolution than the shriveled, stunted wings of the Flightless Cormorant. As the name would suggest, these Galapagos birds cannot fly, restricted to the craggy shorelines of Isabela and Fernandina by their quizzical inability to take off. The only cormorant out of 29 species with this bizarre incapacity, it would seem that something fishy is in the air. And that something fishy is natural selection: limited land predators meant that those cormorants who were better at swimming and diving were the ones to pass on their genes to the next generations.
It’s not an easy concept to grasp for children, but one that comes alive here on their Galapagos family trip as they observe the birds’ waddling towards the water and swimming off with graceful agility.
Marine Iguanas, Charles Darwin’s “imps of darkness”, make another wonderful example of adaption to the environment. With their monstrous inky-black little faces, they vary from island to island in color and size, yet are still the only ocean-friendly iguanas on the planet. Creepy and peculiar, they are endlessly fascinating.
Discover how volcanic activity shaped the world we live in
Flung out in the middle of nowhere, a few scattered specks in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands were quite literally spluttered out from the depths of the Earth itself. A relatively young (if one million years old sounds “young” to you) archipelago, the Galapagos was born of volcanic fury, each separate lava island becoming a little world in of itself. And still, they continue to grow, to morph, to evolve. Fernandina, the home of the hapless Flightless Cormorant, is one very big volcano, while neighboring Isabela registered its last eruption just last year.
A visit to the caldera of Isabela’s Sierra Negra with your family reveals the ominous black streaks of cooled lava; a more ambitious hike to Volcán Chico is an immersion in geology and history, the landscape marked in the different shades of millennia of fire activity from deep within the planet’s belly. The rocks themselves seem to be alive, with the puffs of fumaroles sometimes announcing their presence like a disappearing magician.
Can young minds really fathom the molten core of our planet? On their Galapagos family holiday, they’ll most certainly be closer to grasping this reality.
Understand the value of the natural world
When you have come face-to-face with a white-tipped shark zipping out of its underwater cave as you snorkel; when you have seen the delightful stomping mating dance of a blue-footed booby; when you have kayaked through lava tunnels and biked past giant tortoises; when you have gasped at the white-bellied leap of a manta ray the size of a car: that’s when it dawns on you. The natural world, full of wildlife, of diversity, of color and wonder, is something to be cherished. Whether you and your family live in a swarming city or in the greenest fields, this is something to hold close to your heart. In an adult, it instills a sense of awe and gratitude. In a child, it changes the way they see the world forever.
Become aware of the importance of conservation
Exploring the pristine paradise of the Galapagos National Park on your Galapagos family trip, it becomes second nature to pick up all your rubbish and anything man-made that crosses your path. Not just because the National Park regulations and your guide tell you to, but because the smallest speck of plastic stands out an ugly mile in this natural sanctuary. Our children are tomorrow’s leaders, and the ones who must take responsibility for the care of our planet. A Galapagos Islands family vacation can impart in them a sense of duty to protect the most sacred haven of the natural world, and to seek solutions to maintain it for years to come.
Try something new, even if it’s scary
It’s difficult to see your children afraid to do something. But it’s breathtaking to watch them overcome that fear, take a leap of faith, and come out the other side, smiling. A Galapagos family trip presents the perfect opportunity for parents and children to try new experiences in a safe and inspiring environment. You could plunge into deep ocean surrounded by darting sea lions, feel the rush of the wind as you hurtle towards the beach on a mountain bike, hear the amplified drip of water as you duck through a cave, or climb to the top of a lookout point and feel like the king of the archipelago. These are the moments that build confidence and breed joy, allowing families to bond in the spirit of adventure.
- If you’re traveling with small children, instead opt for a land-based itinerary like those offered by Neotropic Expeditions. Not only does this do away with the anxiety of having them run around a deck at high sea, these programs offer much more flexibility. You can move at the pace of your family and incorporate time for snacks, naps, and the occasional meltdown. You can include more time on the beach, take gentler hikes, and have as much free time as you wish, with quiet moments for play or reflection after an exciting day.
- Neotropic Expeditions offers child-friendly hotels with easy access to the beach, providing a stable, comfortable base from which to explore the archipelago. There are plenty of child-friendly menu options, and restaurants can cater to special dietary requirements.
- Neotropic Expeditions’ top-level guides with years of experience in leading family groups integrate fun into excursions, setting up treasure hunts and species check-lists. They can provide basic surf lessons, organize beach football with local children, host chocolate workshops on Santa Cruz Island, and offer their endless expertise while stargazing on Isabela Island.
If you (or Ms Trunchbull) want to know more, don’t hesitate to contact us at email@example.com

domain: travel


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Early voting for the Arizona Primary Election has begun throughout Mohave County. There are three early voting locations open now until August 24 in the county and they are as follows:
> Bullhead City Library, 1170 East Hancock Road.
> Kathryn Heindricksen Adult Center, 1776 Airway Avenue in Kingman.
> Lake Havasu City Library, 1770 North McCulloch Boulevard in Lake Havasu City.
The early voting locations are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For all your Arizona Primary Election coverage, visit www.thebee.news and click “Election 18” tab.


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The AlcoSense Elite II personal breathalyser features a microcomputer-controlled automatic test sequence with a 2 decimal LCD display, mouthpieces for increased accuracy and audible warnings upon the detection of alcohol.
AlcoSense Elite II is exceptionally light, conveniently sized and designed for easy storage.
Uses new oxide semiconductor sensor designed to provide stable readings over time.
Reliable and Accurate
Provides fast, accurate readings from 0.00% to 0.40%BAC.
Features a bright LCD display for easy reading, and has auto power off and flow error technology.
1 Year Warranty
A one year warranty is guaranteed and eligibility for Lifetime Warranty is available under the AlcoSense Guarantee.
|BAC Range||0.00% - 0.40%BAC|
|Accuracy||± 0.01%BAC at 0.05%BAC|
|Warm Up Time||18-25 seconds|
|Response Time||Within 5 seconds|
|Recycle Time||10 seconds|
|Working Temperature||10 – 40°C|
|Power Supply||2 x AA Batteries (Alkaline Only)|
|Mouthpieces||5 mouthpieces supplied (please note this unit is only compatible with AlcoSense mouthpieces)|
|Calibration Frequency||200 tests, every 6 months (whichever comes first)|
|Features||2 decimal place reading, flow control, auto power off|
|Includes||User manual, mouthpieces, batteries|
|Product Weight||90g including batteries|
|Dimensions||H: 116mm, W: 59mm, D: 27mm|


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Save Our State of Massachusetts
granted, this is in New Hampshire, (at the recent primaries up there), but people can be assured this technique can be applied anywhere VOTER ID is not required, which is definitely Mass where it’s not even “illegal to be illegal”, but the Attorney General has deemed Voter ID UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
must see video:
The attorney general in New Hampshire is probing the state’s voting procedures in response to a video released Wednesday by conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe showing how easy it is to vote in the name of someone who is dead.
“Based on the information we received on election day and the information obtained on the video, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of voting procedures with the Secretary of State’s office,” assistant New Hampshire attorney general Richard Head told TheDC by phone on Thursday.”
Check out the Voter ID MA group on Facebook or send e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org.
– Olivier Kozlowski (author of the voter ID question)
The petition initiative, filed by Mansfield selectman Olivier Kozlowski, would require all voters to present government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or state identification card, before they get a ballot in state or local elections.
“In this day and age we’re asked to provide identification for anything and everything,’’ Kozlowski said. “Something as sacred as our ballot ought to make sure the person claiming to be John Doe is John Doe.’’

domain: law


text:
Date: June 10, 2013
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: White Cloud Health Dept. 1049 E. Newell St., White Cloud, MI 49349
Contact: Shirley Ringler, 231-924-0500, firstname.lastname@example.org
Project Fresh is an educational program that offers participant’s coupons to purchase fruits and vegetables form farmers markets that have been frown locally. There will be new sessions every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Through Project Fresh you will learn how to choose produce that is locally grown, new ideas for preparing fruits and vegetables, storage and preservation for fresh fruits and vegetables, how to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and other local resources in your community.
Project Fresh was created by the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and operates currently in Michigan through the Michigan Department of Community Health.
For more information visit the Michigan State University Extension Project Fresh website.


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This weekend saw the 77th Golden Globe awards take place. Unusually, the winners were pretty much the people you’d expect them to be. Well, apart from Olivia Colman winning for her work on The Crown. I love Colman in anything but she wasn’t given anything to do in that series. I know the Queen isn’t exactly a highly dramatic character but she was the least interesting character in her own show. But the most interesting thing to come out of the evening was the massive snub of Netflix’s two major award contenders. Neither Marriage Story or The Irishman walked away with any of the awards they’d been nominated for. Was this just a vicious snub by the HFPA or should Netflix be worried for the Academy Awards? If not even Scorsese is a guaranteed winner then who knows what will happen? Although, I’m sure Sam Mendes is a deserving winner. 1917 looks fucking amazing. But Netflix really had put massive work into getting the Oscar they so clearly deserved with Roma. Is this really proof that, no matter what they do, Netflix will never be accepted by the awards committees?
I’ve been thinking about The Irishman ever since I watched it. It proved to be very difficult for me to rate it. On the one hand, I know how technically brilliant and well-made this film is. One of the greatest directors has gathered an amazing cast and written an indulgent and full narrative of one man’s life with the mob. It’s unquestionably an epic. However, it didn’t blow me away from a storytelling point of view. It was interesting but was it entertaining? It filled its massive runtime with goodness but would I have minded if it was shorter? Not really. I guess it’s just never been my thing. If I had a choice of film to watch, I’d probably not pick the gangster film. So, I was torn. Do I go with what I know to be true or do I go with my gut?
In the end, I went for a balanced approach and gave it what it deserved. Not quite 5 stars because I watched this film after Marriage Story and that utterly blew me away. But, 4.5 stars felt fair to me. I’ll be honest, there were moments during this film where I asked myself if I could be bothered carrying on. Some long films don’t feel long. The Irishman felt like a film that ran for 3.5 hours. I know what I’m about to say will horrify Scorsese and his most loyal fanboys but Endgame didn’t feel like a 3-hour film. Just saying. Of course, the more I thought about what you could get rid of the more I realised that everything makes sense. You need to see the whole journey to see how he became the man he is. To understand what the film is saying.
Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. It chronicles the rise of Frank Sheeran (Robert DeNiro), a war veteran turned hitman. His pursuits lead him to cross paths with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and his Teamsters. Frank starts the film as a driver and, after a chance encounter with Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), Frank becomes a key member of the mob. The film skips between the different periods of his life and the narrative is sandwiched between a glimpse of Frank towards the end of his life. He is narrating the story to an unknown figure as he sits in a wheelchair in an old people’s home. The sheer scope of the film is wonderous. It brings so much together and, for the most part, manages to keep everything flowing well. The jumps between time periods never feels awkward and the editing makes it all seem very natural. It’s very clever stuff.
The Irishman is pure Scorses and features everything you have come to expect from one of his films. But this sees Scorses in a more reflective mood. He’s is a nostalgic mood and is clearly thinking about legacy. There is an aspect of Frank’s story that discusses the consequences of a life of violence. Or, perhaps, a life promoting violent acts in films. Using Sheeran’s story, the group are able to come back together to look back on their own relationships and the films they’ve made. It leads to something much deeper than you expect. The final half-hour or so of the film is its best. It offers the poignant and emotional focus of the whole thing. We see that glamorousing violent men doesn’t lead to happiness and focuses on the destruction that they leave in their wake. I know a lot of people have criticised Anna Paquin’s role but it’s her strong silence that brings life to the final part of the film. She might not say a lot but Paquin brings a lot to the story.
When it comes to the technology that gives actors Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino a more youthful look, I think it was mostly successful. However, I was not a fan of the super blue that DeNiro’s eyes ended up. It brought back horrible memories of The Polar Express. It’s distracting and unnerving but the rest of the process is really impressive. At least until a 76-year-old DeNiro is pretending to be a middle-aged Frank beating someone up. The kicks don’t quite seem as damaging as they sound thanks to post-production. It’s a shame but the obviously limited or careful movements of the actor don’t always fit with his age. But that’s a minor quibble. If you can ignore these things, it’s thrilling to see a young DeNiro on screen again.
Overall, The Irishman is a very considered and mature film. The camera movements are slow and deliberate when they need to be. It’s also a film that he and the cast clearly had a ball making. You can tell how comfortable everyone feels making this kind of film. It’s fun watching as Scorsese and co. just do what they do best. And to say this is a dream-worthy cast is an understatement. Every single person is on the top of their game and work so well together. It’s great seeing so many masters in one place. I guess it could probably have done with a little less of the history lesson in the middle of the film. This is by far the film’s weakest part. Maybe pointing to the fact that Scorsese’s ambitions were slightly too big. The connection between politics and the mob never gels as quickly as it should have done. But, it is satisfying to see Frank moving between each decade. It’s fun to watch his style change with the changing years.
So, yeah, The Irishman is a great film. And I guess the breathtaking ending is mostly worth the 3 previous hours because it’s such a gut-wrenching and emotional finale. But is it the kind of film I’ll ever watch again? I don’t think so. When it comes to sheer enjoyment, it wasn’t exactly the ride I’m after. It’s the kind of thing that would be good to come back every now and then. To see how my attitude changes towards it. And the good thing is, something this well-made will never go out of style.
4 thoughts on “Tuesday Review – The Irishman (2019)”


UPDATE: Monique Priester has been found safe according to the Gwinnett County Police Department. Further details were not available.
ATLANTA -- Family members want the public's help to locate a missing Georgia State University student.
Family members said they last saw Monique Priester, 21, when she left her home in Dacula Friday and took an Uber to the GSU campus. Someone later spotted the college sophomore near Metropolitan Parkway in southwest Atlanta
Priester lives with her mother, Jacqueline Vanloo Al-Kush and her stepfather, Maajid Al-Kush, who have not heard from her in days.
"It's unlike Monique not to communicate with her family or her friends," said her stepfather. So, I'm really concerned that you know, maybe while she was out something happened to her to where she couldn't make it home."
Family and friends believe her phone is off because calls go straight to voicemail and Priester has not updated her social media accounts since her disappearance.
Al-Kush said bank activity showed Priester's debit card was used in Nashville, TN on Monday morning.
"We don't know of anyone that she knows in Nashville, TN," he explained. "She has no family in Nashville, TN. So, that draws a concern."
Priester is described as being 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing about 150 to 155 pounds. She has dark brown eyes and dark brown hair that is close shaved. She was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt with lettering and shorts. Priester has a tattoo on her left forearm, gauges in both ears and a septum piercing.
Family members said she suffers from depression and anxiety disorder for which she takes medication.
Anyone with information can call Priester's family at 856-655-3228 or area police.