The World Today - Friday, 4 May , 2007 12:10:00
Reporter: Alexandra Kirk
ELEANOR HALL: To the Federal Government's WorkChoices mark two. Today the Prime Minister effectively conceded that his industrial relations changes have been unpopular and has released the detail on a safety net he says will ensure low and middle-income earners will be compensated fairly for losing working conditions such as penalty rates and overtime.
The Government says it wants to ensure no one is worse off under WorkChoices, and any employer who lodges an Australian workplace agreement from Monday will have to pass the new fairness test.
But the Labor Party has dismissed the Government's revamp as a desperate political manoeuvre to get the Coalition over the line at the election.
In Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Prime Minister insists his year-old workplace regime is an unmitigated success. But with just a few months to go before the election, and a concerted campaign by unions and the Opposition against his industrial relations policy, he is moving to allay the concerns of low and middle-income earners.
From midnight on Sunday there will be a new fairness test for workers earning less than $75,000 a year in areas that are covered by awards.
JOHN HOWARD: One area of concern has emerged, and that is the possible impact on take-home pay, of the loss through trading off without adequate compensation, of such things as penalty rates and overtime payments. It was never the intention of the Government that it might become the norm for these to be traded off without adequate compensation.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Opposition was out early, dismissing the changes. Deputy leader Julia Gillard says it's all about the election.
JULIA GILLARD: This move from the Prime Minister is a desperate one, and it's politics pure and simple. Mr Howard has defended his WorkChoices regime, even though it was ripping workers off. Now, four months before an election, he heralds a change. This is just about election day and no-one in this country should believe that a re-elected Howard Government will keep any of these changes. Then it will be back to business as usual, letting workers get ripped-off.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Prime Minister says he's not introducing a fairness test because people are losing out under WorkChoices, but because of voter apprehension that others might be affected.
JOHN HOWARD: What this proves is that, I'm a prime minister who listens to people's concerns. I mean, people have said to me that they are not themselves worse off. They don't know people who are, but they are concerned in this area surrounding penalty rates and overtime payments and I've heard that. And I'm doing something about it.
I mean, the Labor Party can say what it likes. No matter what I do, the Labor Party will attack it. But I'm just telling you why I have made these changes and what my motivation has been.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The compensation for losing conditions won't have to be in cash.
JOHN HOWARD: In some cases, extremely flexible working arrangements can be given in return for the non-payment of penalty rates. In other cases, additional entitlements can be given. It can be the case that a particularly beneficial arrangement is made by a parent in relation to leave to do things concerning their children in return for an understanding that if that parent is required to work at irregular hours then penalty rates are not to be paid.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The fairness test will be administered by the Office of Employment Advocate, which will be renamed the Workplace Authority, and the Office of Workplace Services that enforces compliance, will be known as the Workplace Ombudsman, and there will be a public education advertising campaign.
JOHN HOWARD: To explain the details of the changes and to reinforce in the minds of the public the protections that are available under the present law.
I think this is a very good change. It's a change that will give added protection and reassurance to people. It's a change that does not in any way undermine the fundamentals of the legislation and undermine the quality of the reform that the legislation represents.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the Government's changes are disappointing and unnecessary. Chief Executive Peter Hendy says locking in a dollar value, for the value of penalty rates, loadings and other allowances, is akin to reintroducing the previous no-disadvantage test.
PETER HENDY: Well, we're disappointed because there's no systemic abuse of AWAs occurring. The Government is obviously reacting to unease in the community that's caused by the ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions) scare campaign. But that scare campaign is based on misleading information, on demonising AWAs. It is not rooted in fact so there was...
ALEXANDRA KIRK: But do you think that you're going to have to pay people more than you would have otherwise if the changes didn't go ahead?
PETER HENDY: Under these changes, they don't actually add to a person's wages and conditions in total. What they do is reintroduce a no disadvantage test that used to be in the system. But there was no systemic abuse that required this to be brought in and it's just another inflexibility written into the system, and a bit more red tape.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: But Heather Ridout of the Australian Industry Group isn't critical of the Government's new fairness test.
HEATHER RIDOUT: We think there's astute and sensible changes. I think they do, they will allay community concerns that more protection is needed in the system to prevent unfairness. We're not concerned that they will impose an excessive compliance burden on companies and most of our members will easily comply with it, so we support them and we're not overly concerned about the impact.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: And in one of the worst kept secrets of the coming election campaign, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has now confirmed he'll be Labor's candidate for the Newcastle based, safe ALP seat of Charlton. And he doesn't expect it will be easy.
GREG COMBET: Oh well, there's always understandable discontent about those sorts of things but at the end of the day the pre-selections in the seat of Charlton are being determined according to a decision of the ALP's National Conference. That's it's peak policy-making body, so, you know, I'll be submitting myself to that process.
ELEANOR HALL: That's the Secretary of the ACTU, for now, Greg Combet, ending Alexandra Kirk's report.


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Baku. 24 December. REPORT.AZ/ GUAM is trying to get international support for the territorial integrity of its member states.
GUAM (Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, with members consisting of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) Secretary General, Valery Chechelashvili said it in his interview to "Report" News Agency.
"The regulation of conflicts - is the most important issue for all our member states. Unfortunately, we have faced with this situation.
Currently, the work on the implementation of resolution on "Long-standing conflicts in GUAM area and their international peace, security and development results" is underway at the UN General Assembly," V.Chechelashvili stated.
GUAM takes well defined and consistent position, based on the joint declaration for democracy and economic development of its member states - "The issue on the resolution of GUAM conflicts" dated May 23, 2006.
Secretary General stressed that GUAM has supported and will continue to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
"GUAM member states have repeatedly stated that they take a consistent and principled position in supporting territorial integrity of Ukraine within its sovereignty and internationally recognized borders and will take this position in the future too," V.Chechelashvili noted.
According to him, the organization also works to support the consolidation of its own position at the international level in various formats.
"However, it refers to all conflicts in GUAM," Secretary General says.

domain: politics


text:
Friday, August 5, 2016
After 29 years, The Edge is closing on 3rd Street
[Image via Facebook]
The Edge celebrated its 29th year in business Wednesday night by telling patrons that the bar was closing for good at the end of the month.
The owners confirmed that the bar, at 95 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, is closing.
We heard rumors earlier in the week about some landlord issues.
"We'll just say [the landlord] found an opportunity to sue us for a bunch of money that we can't pay," a bar rep told us via text. "It's really disappointing. The bar has been around 29 years as of [Wednesday]. We just celebrated with a Back to the 80s party. A lot of sad people that the bar will no longer be around. It's been a 'living room' for so many people for so many years."
There are no plans at the moment to find a new location.
Public records show that the landlord is Thermald Realty Associates.

domain: news


text: Jackman re-sharpens his Adamantium claws – and again loses his shirt – for sequel The Wolverine, which finds the onetime X-Men member in Japan and in possible possession of a mutant cure. "There is this thing with Wolverine of being part animal, part human and that internal battle with him. This sort of animalistic, berserker rage against the more reasoned, human, analytical brain," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I want to see him, as you do in this, at his most vulnerable, at his lowest point. I want to see what it takes for him to rise out of that."

domain: entertainment


text:
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domain: artistic


text:
Jump to Main Content
Effects of extinction of a nontarget CS on performance to a target CS
- Richardson, Rachel A., Michener, Paige N., Schachtman, Todd R.
- Behavioural processes 2018 v.154 pp. 13-20
- conditioned behavior, learning, taste
- When a target conditioned stimulus (CS A) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus in the presence of a second, conditioned stimulus (CS B) during compound conditioning trials, the associative strength of CS B can influence the magnitude of the conditioned response (CR) to CS A. For example, extinction of the competing, nontarget CS B can influence the CR to CS A. An enhancement of the CR to the target CS A due to extinction of the nontarget CS B after compound conditioning is sometimes referred to as “recovery from overshadowing” – a type of retrospective revaluation. The present experiments examined retrospective revaluation effects using a conditioned taste aversion procedure. The experiments obtained an effect on the CR to CS A following extinction of CS B. The results are discussed with respect to the comparator hypothesis, within-compound associations, and retrieval as well as other relationships between the target CS and nontarget CS.

domain: literature


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Tollywood celebs at Anubhab movie premierTNN | Jan 6, 2012, 12.05 PM IST
Celebs dropped by at THE HHI to attend the press meet of "Anubhab", directed by Rajesh and Ipshita. The film stars Akash Mukherjee , Shaheb Bhattacherjee, Arunima Ghosh, Dolon Roy, Shaheb Chatterjee , KushaL Chakraborty and Nandini Ghoshal.
The story revolves around Anubhab, played by child actor Akash Mukherjee, who lives in a world of his own. His only companion is his grandmother. He lives a reclusive life in a small room at the corner of the terrace.
Said Shaheb Bhattacherjee, who plays a villager who is Anubhab's only friend in the film, "People will relate to this movie because these days, kids are under a lot of pressure thanks to competition and parental expectations. The film tells viewers to let kids be on their own and grow instinctively."
Arunima, who plays a teacher in the movie, is also gung ho about the plot. "The film carries a social message and that was what prompted me to say 'yes' to the role."
Singer Debaditya Choudhury, who will score the music for the movie, says that though the film has a "Taare Zameen Par" feel, but it's still different. "The protagonist is a child, who gets embroiled in the day-to-day fights between his parents, and becomes an introvert. How he fights the odds and brings his parents together is what the film is all about," he said.


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June 25, 2014
In mid-June, Gov. Brown signed the Budget Act of 2015, which shows no vision for the future of most Californians. In total, this budget underestimated the amount of resources available, overestimated the cost of vital programs, and chose spending on debt service, rainy day funds and prisons instead of the people of California and the vital services they need.
May 15, 2014
After the revised proposed state budget was released yesterday, activists from around the state are calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to remove the $500 million outlined for jail expansion. With $15 billion in cuts to social safety net programs, prison reform groups like Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) are questioning why the state is increasing spending on prisons and jails instead of social programs and public education.
April 22, 2014
This week members of Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), advocates and activists representing diverse communities are attending the Senate Public Safety and Assembly Budget Committee hearings in Sacramento to speak out against billions in funding for new prison and jail expansion. The Assembly Budget Committee hearing will begin on Wednesday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 437 of the Capitol in Sacramento.
January 9, 2014
Gov. Brown’s 2014-15 budget will contract 5,633 new prison beds in state while funding the expansion of four new prisons and allocating $500 million for more jail construction. Advocates celebrate a series of parole reform victories outlined in the proposed budget while pointing out that lifting some of their extreme limitations could easily prevent Gov. Brown’s costly prison expansion plans.
September 11, 2013
On Wednesday, faith, health and human services, housing, education and criminal justice reform advocates will have a press conference and rally at the State Building, 300 South Spring St., calling on the Legislature to immediately reduce the prison population and invest tax dollars in programs that create healthy and safe communities.
September 5, 2013
Gov. Jerry Brown’s just-proposed plan to ease overcrowding in California prisons without releasing inmates early has drawn quick opposition from prison reform activists across the state and has spawned an alternative approach from a contingent of moderate and liberal Democrats in the state legislature, creating an unusual rift among senior Democrats in the age-old incarceration-rehabilitation divide.
August 15, 2013
Members of a statewide anti-prison coalition acted swiftly this week to defeat Senate Bill 445 (Hill) Revenue Bond Financing of Prison Construction. Today the bill authored by Sen. Hill died in the Assembly Public Safety Committee when none of the committee members made a motion to bring the bill to a vote.
April 23, 2013
Community members from around San Mateo County gathered outside of the new jail site and the County Center wearing hazardous materials suits and gas masks to illustrate the toxic nature of the new jail. They spoke about the ways a new jail will harm communities and the environment as well as draining the county’s budget of desperately needed resources.
April 12, 2013
Yesterday’s ultimatum by the three-judge panel puts Gov. Brown and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on notice to present a plan for further reductions in the state’s unconstitutionally crowded prisons within the next three weeks. Advocates who have criticized the governor’s criminal justice realignment plan as inadequate were quick to praise the court decision.
March 5, 2013
Beginning with a rally held on the capitol steps, it was an emotional day for many, especially for family members of those suffering in the SHUs and prison survivors. The voices of those in the SHU were powerfully present, both in stories told by family members as well as statements they had sent for the occasion. The hearing provided an opportunity for legislators to hear representatives of CDCR present their new policies and weigh the truth of their claims. At the end there was a scant 20 minutes for public input.
February 27, 2013
On Monday, Feb. 25, the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee, chaired by Assembly Member Tom Ammiano, held a hearing on the state’s Security Housing Units (SHUs). The hearing comes 18 months after the committee held a similar hearing prompted by a three-week long hunger strike in June 2011 that involved thousands of California prisoners across the state. Monday’s hearing focused on the implementation of new CDCR policies and considerations of their appropriateness.
November 7, 2012
Yesterday’s election results show Californians calling for additional cuts to the prison population and corrections budget while approving new taxes to save programs like education, welfare, childcare and healthcare. Voters resoundingly passed Proposition 36 by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin. Proposition 30 was passed by voters 54 percent to 46 percent.
October 1, 2012
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano decried Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto yesterday of legislation that would have returned openness to California’s prison system. Ammiano’s bill, AB 1270, would have restored, not expanded as noted in the veto message, media access to the level that existed in 1996 when the CDC clamped down on the press’ ability to interview specific prisoners.
September 26, 2012
On Tuesday, Sept. 25, San Mateo’s Board of Supervisors voted to approve $44.2 million in the 2012-2013 budget, ramming through a plan to build a new jail over strong and growing concerns from community members. With the jail approved in the budget, residents committed to defeating the jail tax that will be on the November ballot.
September 11, 2012
At least 200 people from across San Mateo County packed the Board of Supervisors chambers this morning giving hours of testimony against $44 million in new jail spending slated for approval in the 2012-2013 budget. Chanting, “No new jails!” as they left the supervisors’ chambers, opponents of the proposed jail sent a clear message that a new jail is not welcome in the county.
August 30, 2012
Update: Gov. Brown signed AB 1270 Aug. 31, restoring the conditions that existed before 1996, when corrections officials cut down on reporters’ ability to report on prisons and prisoners. “With passage of AB 1270, legislators have voted for transparent and accountable reporting of the state’s 32 prisons and the more than 130,000 prisoners locked inside their walls.”
July 27, 2012
AB 1270, legislation that would increase transparency and media access to California’s notorious state prison system, is currently facing opposition in the Senate Appropriations Committee. CDCR is formally opposing the bill, citing cost as their main concern. There are two ways that you can help: Attend a Lobby Day on Aug. 9 or phone committee members from home before Aug. 13.


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Spinach Salad with Roasted Beets & Orange Vinaigrette
Recipe by Michelle Reid of Jazzy Ladies Cafe & Coffeehouse
Candied Bacon Crumbles
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 tbs honey
1 tbs teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Rub the beets with olive oil and salt and pepper, and bake at 400 degrees until tender (about 45 minutes depending on size of your beets).
Peel and chop. Add to other salad ingredients and dress with vinaigrette.

domain: food


Straitline pedals have earned a reputation for being able to take a beating & keep on going. We've made Jeff Lenosky his own set, now we're giving them to you.
- Nickel plated hardened alloy axles
- Body machined from proprietary high strength aluminum alloy, designed for real world applications and impacts of all kinds.
- 14 HEX pins per face
- IGUS IGLIDE Polymer Bearing System
- 517g / pair (including all 56 traction pins) built for heavy hits and Freeride DH applications.
- 24 karat gold plated pins!


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While many tech stocks have fallen considerably in recent weeks, Apple (AAPL 1.41%) continues to soar. In this segment of Backstage Pass, recorded on Dec. 1, Fool contributors Brian Withers and Rachel Warren discuss.
10 stocks we like better than Apple
When our award-winning analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*
They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Apple wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.
*Stock Advisor returns as of November 10, 2021
Brian Withers: Moving on to Apple, ticker symbol AAPL, like you needed to know. Record quarter. In many different aspects across the board and considering that the company declared that they could've sold $6 dollars more gear had they not had a supply chain headwind and shortages.
The top-line revenue, $83.4 billion, up 29% from last year. They recorded all-time record sales for Mac and quarterly records for iPhone, iPad, wearables, home, and accessories, representing about a 30% year-over-year growth in products. The services business, all-time record, $18.3 billion, growing 26% year over year.
They also set quarterly records in each geographic segment with strong double digit across the board, and note that these records didn't include the newly announced product lineup with the iPhone 13, Apple Watch 7, the new iPad and the new iPad mini. It's not just about this quarter with this company, so let's pan back. This has been an exceptional quarter in a string of exceptional quarters.
In the last decade, the company has purchased back -- this number is astounding, -- $464 billion in stock, reducing the overall share count by about 37%, and paid out over $600 billion in dividends to shareholders, giving shareholders between the two more than $1 trillion dollars in value over the last decade. No wonder this company is one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Rachel Warren: I love this stock, Brian. Apple, I'm a shareholder. I love this company. Just yesterday, Apple hit a new record high with an incredibly strong trading day, even though it was a less-than-stellar day for the broader market. With investors having concerns about another correction and high-inflation concerns also being rampant among investors, it seems like many are viewing Apple as something of a safe haven during what could be a potential market storm. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Brian Withers: Yeah. Good question. I really don't like timing the market or switching stocks to ride some temporary market conditions, but given all that, I'm amazed at Apple's continued dominance and its ability to expand into new products and new markets. Rachel, I'm a former Apple shareholder, and I sold my Apple stock in March of 2010.
Rachel Warren: Oh, no. [laughs]
Brian Withers: Yeah. You could see where this story's going. At the time Apple was starting to become close to the world's largest-market-cap company and I'm like, How much more can they grow from here? I did the math earlier today.
Since then for the shares that I owned, the company paid out in dividends almost three times my sales price [laughs] and I missed out on a 21-bagger.
I think Apple is one of those rare companies that's here to stay and will continue to thrive over the next decade.
Now, this next decade likely won't be as lucrative to shareholders as its last decade, but I think it will continue to be a market beater and a great source of dividends for your portfolio.

domain: economics


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Awww! The Kiffness lent his famous suit to a fan for their matric farewell
But where exactly did the celeb get that 'ridiculous' garment in the first place?
Musician and viral meme maker David Scott, aka The Kiffness, is known for his quirky sense of humour — and thanks to a particular outfit, for his quirky sense of fashion too.
The famous garment in question is a three-piece suit in loud print. Let’s put it this way, anyone who wears it certainly won’t be a wallflower.
Wanting to stand out at his matric farewell, Cape Town student Jonathan Bouwer hoped to get his hands on a suit with similarly “eccentric floral theme” to wear to the event.
When Bouwer failed to find one to hire, he went on social media and hit up The Kiffness for a favour. “Could I please borrow yours?” he asked.
Scott did the “kiff” thing and said yes to his fan. After all, as he posted on Facebook, “This is what the internet was made for”.
Social media got the feels when Scott and Bouwer met up in October for the handover and again after the celeb recently posted a follow-up on Instagram, sharing snaps of the matriculant and his mates at their “unofficial” dance.
“I commend [Jonathan’s] parents for raising such a fine young gent,” wrote Scott, saying that Bouwer had recently returned the suit “dry-cleaned with a very kind gesture of a lekka bottle of wine and flowers for my wife”.
Seeing Bouwer’s photos “really warmed [his] heart”, said Scott, adding that they gave him “hope in what often feels like such hopeless times in our beautiful country”.
They warmed our hearts too.
The story behind Scott's 'ridiculous' suit
It’s not every day you spot an eclectic flower power suit at the shops, so where exactly did Scott source his?
He told the Sunday Times that he had it custom-made while travelling in Hoi An, Vietnam.
“Materials are so cheap there, I thought: ‘Let me get a ridiculous suit’,” he explained.
“So [my wife and I] chose a material that resembled grandmother's curtains and the suit got made within 24 hours. I now use it for my onstage performances.”


text:
SHE'S rocking the leather.
Kim Kardashian may not have made it to the UK this week, but sister Khloe is proving to be a pretty good representative for the family.
Since touching down in London earlier this week, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has been busy promoting the Kardashian Kollection for Lipsy.
After attending the launch party at the Natural History Museum last night, Lamar Odom's fiancée headed to the BBC Radio 1 studios this morning.
Looking fresh-faced from the night before - where she looked gorgeous in a plunging black jumpsuit - Khloe opted to flash a little flesh at her early morning meeting.
Stepping out with a bucket of Starbucks coffee in her hand, the 29-year-old showed off her curves in a see-through high-neck top that barely covered her assets.
She teamed the sheer number with tight leather trousers and protected herself from the London chill with a black fur coat.
Khloe, who is still wearing her engagement ring despite split rumours, is reportedly going through couples therapy with Lamar.
"They spoke about all of their issues," a source recently told Us Weekly.
Today, the reality star will be meeting fans at Gilgamesh in Camden and earlier she tweeted: "So excited to see everyone today!"

domain: celebrity


Halifax plan for urban development received with cautious optimism
'I think that it is going to go a long way as to how the character of Halifax develops'
Some Halifax residents are cautious about how the municipality is going to proceed with development plans in view of recent conflicts over proposed projects.
"We would like to see the plan have some backbone," south-end Halifax resident Chris Annand said following a public meeting Wednesday night where city planners presented details of the municipality's Centre Plan.
The latest draft is based on public feedback from previous sessions.
Agricola Street growth centre dropped
There have been some changes.
For example, there are now only five growth centres instead of six. One on Agricola Street has been dropped.
"They really seem to be looking at so many different aspects," Brian Trainor of Dartmouth said.
"I'm quite impressed."
Some members of the development community think the Centre Plan will improve look of the city.
"What's really striking for me is putting the pedestrian first," said Jacob JeBailey, an architect with WM Fares, a Halifax developer.
"I think that it is going to go a long way as to how the character of Halifax develops in the future."
But others worry that as soon as the Centre Plan is approved, developers will be looking for changes.
Keep changes to minimum
"I mean the plan should be able to be in place for several years before any kind of significant changes are made," Pat Whitman of Wellington Street said.
A number of residents' groups plan to ask regional councillors to make it more difficult to approve changes by requiring a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority.
There will be a series of neighbourhood meetings in November to discuss the draft Centre Plan. Public comments will be accepted until Dec. 2.


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Brugo bud extract (Calluna V)
Brugo Gemmoderivato by Fitomedical is a bud extract that acts favorably on the physiological function of the urinary tract. Draining and antiseptic of the urinary tract, it opposes the chronic inflammatory state of various tissues that tends to cause sclerosis and poor reaction capacity by the immune system.
How to take Brugo bud extract (Calluna V)?
It is recommended to take the drops diluted in water, twice during the day.
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Young heath jets

domain: medical


This image is a general representation of the item and the actual product may differ slightly in terms of color shading, logo placement, borders, or other small details. Used items may have various cosmetic differences as well.
We realize that there are many different interpretations of the standard grades used
for pre-owned vinyl record albums & CD, so we thought we'd offer you the ones that we are working with,
so you have an idea what we mean when we give the grade for a non-new item on our pages.
Used Vinyl Grades
Below are stated conditions for a used vinyl records at Dusty Groove. Grading for
the cover should be assumed to be near (within a "+" or "-")
the grading for the vinyl.
If there is significant divergence from the condition of the vinyl, or specific flaws,
these will be noted in the comments section of the item. However, please be aware that
since the emphasis of this site is towards the music listener, our main concern is with
the vinyl of any used item we sell. Additionally, please note that all of our records
are graded visually; considering the volume of used vinyl we handle, it is impossible
for us to listen to each record. If we spot any significant flaws, we make every attempt
to listen through them and note how they play.
The following grading conditions apply to the vinyl component of an album or single:
Additional Marks & Notes
If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially
if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record.
This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip,
cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.
A mellow stunner in the legendary Teddy Pendergrass solo run for Philly International – and a set that's every bit as perfect as the rest of Teddy's classics from the time! There's few folks we'd trust more with a mellow groove than Teddy P – and on a set like this, he's totally at the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Teddy Pendergrass follows up the style of Lou Rawls' double live album for Philly International – and goes for a very similar mix of modes that showcases all his charm and soulful spirit! The 2LP set features material recorded in both Philly and LA – with a fair bit of Teddy's working ... LP, Vinyl record album
A damn great little record from Clifford Coulter – a set that's much tighter and more soul-based than his earlier funk albums for Impulse Records – but which comes together beautifully, too – thanks to help from Bill Withers in the studio! Bill produced, and the record has this ... LP, Vinyl record album
Not a bad little album from Teddy, although not nearly as sublime as his earlier work for Philly International. The record has Pendergrass working with arranger Michael Masser, who also wrote most of the songs on the set (save for one by Luther Vandross) – and the overall feel is pretty ... LP, Vinyl record album
As perfect a summation of the Teddy Pendergrass genius as you'll ever hope to find – a magnificent maturation of that incredible sound he first forged with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, set forth in even more confident, sophisticated soul territory! As with the Melvin albums, there's a ... LP, Vinyl record album
Teddy Pendergrass' first album after his legendary car crash in the early 80s – and a record that has him stepping back into the limelight with a smooth Philly groove! The overall sound is a bit more laidback and mellow – with not as many clubby groovers as before – but Teddy's ... LP, Vinyl record album
Killer stuff from this legendary Philly soul instrumental combo – with funky soul horns, unstoppable dancefloor ready rhythms and those soul-stirring strings – and right up there with their best ever! Bobby Martin arranged almost every track – and the record's a great example of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Aquarian Dream step out on their own – working here for the first time without Norman Connors at the helm, but in a groove that's still plenty nice! The clubby aspects of the group's sound are played up by arranger/producer Jeff Lane – who'd worked often with BT Express and Brass ... LP, Vinyl record album
Right out of the subways and into the top 40! Titles include "Fast Car", "Mountains O Things", "She's Got Her Ticket", "Why", "For My Lover", "Behind The Wall", and "Talkin Bout A Revolution". LP, Vinyl record album
A great album of funky instrumentals from legendary drummer Paul Humphrey – a set that's got a wonderfully quirky feel, and rhythms that change up the groove a lot more than usual! Paul's not content to stick in a simple backbeat mode here – and he really opens up in his approach to ... LP, Vinyl record album
One of the greatest albums by this sweet east coast vocal group – also known to folks as the Golden Apples album, because of the crate full of gold-covered apples on the cover. The album's got a wonderful mellow harmony sound – arranged and produced by Van McCoy, much more in the style ... LP, Vinyl record album


text:
Best Music Legends in The Worldxdogg
The Contenders: Page 7XW
This list is so weird, Coldplay should be much more high up
This one also should've been in the Top 100V1 Comment
I mean come on Piano Man, New York State Of Mind, Moving Out, Just The Way You Are, She's Got Away, We Didn't Start The Fire, Goodnight Saigon, Pressure, Captain Jack. Those are classic songs.
Who the hell puts Justin beaver above some one like Elvis, and abba I mean really what is the world coming to if that is the standard of music chosen by poeple
Janet is very underrated! She has proven herself over and over again to be an amazing singer, dancer, actress, producer, and writer. Her brother, Michael, even acknowledged her as the "Queen of Pop" and rightfully so. She deserves much better treatment than what she's getting. She truly is a living legend! (and mom to be)
She is one of the most underrated pop artists, she could get to the top 5 if she worked on her diction, because other than that, think about it, she has the voice of an angel, but the diction ruins it because lately she has had trouble with it. Hopefully she'll learn it again, but otherwise, she's such a legend and stands out from everyone else. Almost every pop singer is an average singer these days, but Ariana Grande... there's not a person on this Earth who doesn't know her because of her amazing beauty and her amazing music.V3 Comments
Kyla is the RNB Princess of the Philippines and she is the Soul Princess as well. I love her so much! Her music's very unique and soulful. May God bless her even more! MORE PROJECTS FOR YOU KYLA! - charlesgabrieltumbaga
Enrique at #154? What? He has the best voice! At least much better than justin bieber, rihanna, lady gaga! I know its too much to expect but he should be in the top 10s...
Well he should at least be in top 20, Best latin artist ever. LOVE HIS SOOTHING VOICE...
I wouldn't say he should be that high, but he's good
He should be at least in top 20 at leastV1 Comment
Just like fire is what she is. No one can be like her anyway so why put her this low
She is queen no one can be just like her anyway
The world's most loved and best selling female group of all time. RIP Left Eye.
Hey what!? TLC at 166!? Should be in the top 100! - ItsDaWorldOfSNuGGLEZ
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3. Britney Spears
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text:
Welcome to the Oak Ridge Public Library Digital Collections, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Edward W. Dougherty was born July 6, 1907 in Blount County, Tennessee. He was a graduate of Everett High School in Maryville and received a B. S. degree from University of Tennessee in 1939. He continued his education at the Phoenix Art Institute and Columbia University in New York City. In 1942, while teaching at Central High School in Knoxville, he tried to volunteer for military service but was rejected because of his age. He was offered work in the secret government project in Oak Ridge and was hired as a sign painter and illustrator. The security billboards were his specialty.
After the war, Mr. Dougherty formed Park Sign Company, located in Oak Ridge. One of the company’s major contracts was with the American Museum of Atomic Energy. At one point, Mr. Dougherty maintained more than 100 outdoor billboards for the museum.
Mr. Dougherty retired in 1972 and spent many years experimenting with driftwood and other natural materials to create “assemblage art.” He taught art at the Oak Ridge YWCA, the Knoxville YWCA and the Community Art Center and was the Director of Fine Arts of the Tennessee Valley Agricultural and Industrial Fair.
These images were donated to the Library as digital files by James A. Dougherty.


text:
A stylish contemporary penthouse with excellent finishes throughout incl. travertine tiles, comprising 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (all en-suite) spacious lounge, dining room, sun room and open plan kitchen with granite tops. An entertainer's dream - roof deck ( 220 m2 deck with pool ) with a sparkling pool and the best views that Gordon's Bay has to offer, including the ocean as far as Table Mountain. Modern amenities with a lift for easy access, remote controlled secure access and two exclusive enclosed parking bays.
We are privileged to offer this outstanding apartment situated in the heart of the Old Village. It is within only minutes walk to the Blue Flag Status Bikini Beach, Old Harbour, Yacht Club and top class restaurants. Living in this Penthouse is ideal for those accustomed to only the best.

domain: design


text:
Instead of arguing with people, new research shows that agreeing with people can be a key aspect of persuasion. This is especially true if you agree with a person's key beliefs and then present them in an extreme way. By doing this, people become more aware of the absurdity of their beliefs and are more likely to adjust them on their own, rather than being confronted to change them directly.
Sense of purpose and meaning lengthens lifespan. It's a lot easier to live longer when you have something to live for.
Taking a walk leads to more creativity than just sitting.
I think that explains the increase in my metabolism. Kissing passionately and passionate love making does your heart, mind, body and soul lots of GOOD.
Anger in the right situation can be motivating and improve well-being.
Lessons in Psych
Learn about Manipulation & Relationship Triangles with the Karpman Drama…
People tend to underestimate how much their personality changes over the course of their lives. And not only that, but these changes in personality are often the strongest predictors of happiness and life satisfaction.

domain: psychology


text:
Mar 9, 2011, 8:45 AM EDT
When I saw that Zack Greinke’s broken rib came playing pickup basketball, my first thought was “man, that dude just cost himself some money.” Tom Haudricourt reports, however, that the Brewers don’t agree:
[Doug] Melvin said Greinke did not violate his contract by playing a game of pick-up basketball, which is how he was injured near the start of camp.
“The contract stipulates against playing ‘competitive’ basketball,” said Melvin. “They don’t want you playing in men’s leagues or things like that. If he had suffered a severe injury playing in a men’s league, there probably would be repercussions with his salary.
It’s been a while since I played basketball, but in my experience unsupervised pickup basketball was always way more physical than organized leagues. I mean, you never hear “no blood, no foul” during intermural games down at the rec center. Depending on what gym, park or playground you’re hitting for a pickup game, however, you could be taking your life in your hands.
But hey, a contract is a contract. And I bet that future baseball contracts take out or at least redefine that “competitive” language in the future.
- And That Happened: Wednesday’s scores and highlights 0
- Video: Rusney Castillo notches his first major league hit 3
- Michael Wacha cleared to return Saturday vs. Reds 1
- Marlins officially shut down Giancarlo Stanton for the season 6
- Umpire Joe West suspended for one game for his part in the Jonathan Papelbon incident 56
- And That Happened: Tuesday’s scores and highlights 83
- Jose Altuve breaks Craig Biggio’s franchise record, tallying his 211th hit of the season 13
- Orioles beat Blue Jays to clinch AL East title 38
- Chris Davis suspended 25 games for amphetamine use (92)
- Giancarlo Stanton diagnosed with multiple facial fractures and dental damage (91)
- Bud Selig can’t remember the last domestic violence incident in Major League Baseball (88)
- A couple of initial thoughts on the Chris Davis suspension (83)
- And That Happened: Tuesday’s scores and highlights (83)

domain: sports


22 Jul 2020
The SXL55 UV Radiometer is a portable radiometer for diverse applications in UV detection.
It consists of:
- a calibrated, high dose resistant SiC UV sensor probe,
- Android radiometer app,
- a smartphone which serves as a display unit.
The calibrated sensor module can house a wide range of sglux sensors to meet your measurement needs; these are available upon request. This flexible configuration allows you to choose:
- the type of housing (typically the sglux UV-Surface, see other available configurations in our catalog)
- the desired measurement range (multiple orders of magnitude)
- spectral responsivity (Broadband UV, UVC, UVB/Erythemal, UVA, Blue, UV+VIS)
The SXL-55 radiometer app offers two different display screens:
- The standard view displays the irradiance as well as the source data.
- The advanced view offers the opportunity to display further information and to select other measurement options (e.g. perform dose measurement, sensor temperature).
The SXL55 is extremely flexible; it can distinguish up to 5 different calibrations (stored in the sensor probe) and recognize them autonomously using the preinstalled sglux radiometer app.
There are available other portable Android phone-based radiometers including:
- The Safester UVC - The Safester UVC is a mobile instrument to detect harmful UVC radiation in laboratories and workplaces, specifically low pressure UVC tubes. The instrument measures and displays the maximum time a person can be exposed to a given UVC irradiation anticipating that this irradiation will not change over time.
- The Safester UVI – The Safester UVI is a mobile instrument for measuring the UV-Index. It is used for displaying the measured UV Index value and the appropriate protection measures which should be implemented as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
For more information click here


text:
On Monday evening, Children’s Books Boston is hosting the Wicked Boston Children’s Books Trivia Challenge. The Horn Book team is looking for a team name. Can you help us? Be sure to check out the CBB monthly events calendar. To let us know about other upcoming events, join our mailing list, ask a question, or […]
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Freedom Summer, a touchstone in the civil rights movement. The following nonfiction books highlight important turning points in African American history. And for more on Freedom Summer, read Kathleen T. Horning’s Five Questions interview with Don Mitchell (author of the new The Freedom Summer Murders, Scholastic, 14–17 years) […]
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is one of the (if not the) coolest hands-on science and discovery museums in the country. The Exploratorium’s app Sound Uncovered (2013) lets you experience what makes the place so great without having to hop a plane. An intro — “Hear Here” — gives an overall explanation of sound, concluding: […]
…sittin’ in a tree. So far we’ve found three Owens in novels this year. The Geography of You and Me (romantic Owen), The Unbound: An Archived Novel (evil supernatural renegade Owen), and The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim (fearless hero, or something like that, Owen). Owen-Chloe-Flora love triangle?
This week on hbook.com… 2014 Summer Reading Reviews of the Week: Picture Book: The Little Bear Book by Anthony Browne; illus. by the author Fiction: The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel Nonfiction: Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals by Donna Jo Napoli; illus. by Christina Balit App: Kids Discover: Ancient Egypt […]
The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall; illus. by the author Preschool Paulsen/Penguin 40 pp. 5/14 978-0-399-25718-6 $17.99 g A little boy narrator finds out from his parents one morning that he’s going to be a big brother. Just one question: “Where are we going to get the baby?” Over the course of the day, he […]
There’s nothing like a sibling when it comes to trouble-making, attention-seeking, and one-upping. Also: support, companionship, and giggle-sharing. These four new picture books feature brothers and sisters doing what siblings do best. The star of Kelly DiPucchio’s Gaston looms over his poodle sisters Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, and Ooh-La-La. At the park, they meet a family like […]

domain: library


|Publication number||US5385022 A|
|Application number||US 08/119,363|
|Publication date||Jan 31, 1995|
|Filing date||Sep 9, 1993|
|Priority date||Sep 9, 1993|
|Also published as||WO1995007441A1|
|Publication number||08119363, 119363, US 5385022 A, US 5385022A, US-A-5385022, US5385022 A, US5385022A|
|Original Assignee||Kornblit; Levy|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (5), Referenced by (39), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates generally to thermoelectric coolers and, in particular, to deep thermoelectric (TE) coolers. As used herein, the term, deep TE cooling, refers to Peltier cooling to temperatures below 100 degrees Kelvin (°K.) (for example, liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperatures, which are 77° K. or lower).
It is well known in the art of thermoelectrics that the low coefficient of performance (COP) of TE coolers has long prevented TE cooling devices from achieving the region of deep cooling. In turn, low COPs are derived from the fact that even the best modern materials for TE cooling show a thermoelectric "figure of merit", ZT, reflecting desirable material properties for thermoelectric cooling, which does not exceed unity.
That is, the cooling capability of a standard TE couple is limited, due mainly to the Joule heat evolution within the bulk of the couple, and particularly due to that portion of the Joule heat flux which normally reaches the cold junction of the couple. Cooling in TE couples is further limited by the heat flux conducted from the hot junction to the cold junction. Thus, the net cooling Qo at the cold junction may be expressed as:
Qo =I PT -1/2I2 R-KΔT Eq. (1)
where I is the current,
PT is the Peltier coefficient, and I PT represents reversible Peltier cooling;
R is the resistance of the TE couple, and 1/2I2 R represents the half of the irreversible Joule heating which goes to the cold junction;
K is the thermal conductivity of the TE couple,
ΔT is the temperature difference between the second end and cold junction, and
ΔAT represents the heat conduction to the cold junction.
Research efforts in the art of TE cooling over the past four decades have concentrated on the problem of improving and increasing the ZT of known TE materials, i.e. inventing new and better materials to reduce heat losses. However, the increase in ZT required to achieve deep cooling by conventional means is so significant that such a material is unlikely to be developed in the near future. The lowest temperature reached with a TE refrigerator has been at best 134° K., using eight stages in a multi-stage design, and under laboratory conditions. To date, no practical working models of deep TE coolers exist.
Meanwhile, the need exists for deep TE coolers to satisfy the needs for solid state cooling without cryogenic fluids in a broad range of applications, including night vision, advanced electronics, computers, high temperature superconductors, and other applications at cryogenic temperatures.
The present invention satisfies that need with an apparatus and method which uses existing materials having relatively small coefficients of performance (COP), and modest thermoelectric figures of merit (ZT in the range of 0.7-1.0) to achieve deep TE cooling. Compatible with known materials, the present invention, thus, removes the obstacle of new materials development which has heretofore blocked the achievement of deep TE cooling.
In accordance with the present invention, a limited local compensation of the irreversible heat evolution, primarily the Joule heat evolution, at a TE couple, drastically improves the ability of known TE materials to reach deep TE cooling. In the present invention, the cooling capability of auxiliary TE couples is applied to compensate within the bulk of a central TE couple the whole Joule heat flux (1/2I2 R) which is directed toward its cold junction. The primary limitation on the cooling capability of the central TE couple is thereby removed, and opens the ability to provide a cooling mechanism limited only by the low temperature limitations of the materials. This limited, local removal or reduction of the limiting irreversible heat production, again primarily the Joule heat evolution, is produced with a structure using familiar and well-investigated TE cooling materials, such as those based upon the Bi2 Te3 -like and BiSb alloy systems. Such a structure, also referred to herein as a compensated deep TE cooling unit or deep cooling unit, is preferably constructed using single stage TE couples, and is thus referred to as a single stage or one stage deep cooling unit. While multi-stage structures are possible as elements of the deep cooling unit, multi-stage structures are not necessary.
The preferred, single stage structure of the present invention applies the cold junction of a first auxiliary TE couple to the legs of length LI of a central TE couple at a position between the cold and hot junctions. Generally the point of connection is between the cold junction and an intermediate position at which the Joule heat is a maximum, and the Joule heat flux is zero. Thus, when the point of connection is spaced towards the cold junction it extracts the detrimental half of Joule heat which is directed towards the cold junction. In a linear embodiment of a deep cooling unit, the point of connection, i.e. heat extraction, preferably is approximately 0.4 LI from the cold end of the central TE couple. To achieve the heat extraction the central TE couple and first auxiliary TE couple are interconnected thermally, but isolated electrically. In turn, a second auxiliary TE couple is applied in like manner to the first auxiliary TE couple, and a third auxiliary TE couple is further applied in like manner to the second. Although additional TE couples may be added, three auxiliary TE couples are sufficient, and are preferred where all TE couples are single stage TE couples.
Heat conduction which further limits cooling capability may be reduced by purely geometrical means (i.e. modifying the size, shape, or dimensions of the particular TE couple to reduce thermal conduction), or, by a compensation procedure similar to that used to remove Joule heat. Depending on the material chosen, and exact structure, these units can attain temperatures as low as LN2 -temperature (77° K.) or even lower (e.g. to approximately 56° K.).
These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and detailed description which follow.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a compensated deep TE cooling unit.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a compensated deep TE cooling unit in a cylindrical embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a compensated deep TE cooling unit manufactured in layers, for example, with the aid of thick layer technology.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a representative disc for a TE cooling unit preferably manufactured in layers.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in accordance with the present invention, a deep cooling unit 10 is provided by applying the cooling capability of auxiliary thermoelectric (TE) couples to compensate within the bulk of a central TE couple 12 the whole Joule heat flux which is directed toward its cold junction. This limited local compensation of the irreversible heat evolution, primarily the Joule heat evolution, at the central TE couple 12 removes the primary limitation on the cooling capability of the central TE couple, enabling known TE materials to reach deep TE cooling.
In FIGS. 1-4 representative embodiments of apparatuses and methods for deep cooling in accordance with the present invention show compensated TE deep cooling units 10 which are scheduled for a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Kelvin (°K.) at the central TE couple without thermal load. As used herein, the term, deep TE cooling, refers to Peltier cooling to temperatures below 100° K. (for example, liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperatures, which are 77° K.or lower). Short of such deep cooling, the present invention is able to achieve cooling below the limits (approximately 134° K.) of currently available technology.
Referring to preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the compensated deep TE cooling unit 10 comprises a primary or central TE couple 12 assisted by at least three auxiliary couples 14, 16, 18. All the couples 12-18 within the unit 10 preferably have different sizes (i.e. different p-leg and n-leg lengths and cross sections). Representative parameters are shown in Table 1, where LI and AI represent the leg length and cross-section, respectively, of the central TE couple 12. It is understood that the TE couples 12, 14, 16 and 18 each include a p-leg and an n-leg connected at respective first ends 20 to form cold junctions, and are electrically connected at their respective second ends 22, also referred to herein as hot junctions, to produce Peltier cooling at the cold junctions 22.
TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________ FIRST SECOND THIRD CENTRAL TE AUXILIARY UXILIARY AUXILIARY COUPLE, I COUPLE, I COUPLE, 2 COUPLE, 3__________________________________________________________________________Th (°K.) 300 300 300 300Tc (°K.) 70 162 217 250ΔT° 230 138 83 50Leg Length LI 3/5 LI 9/25 LI 27/125 LICross AI 5/2 AI 3/2 AI AISectionalArea of LegTotal RI (Ω) 6/25 RI 6/25 RI 27/125 RIResistivity(ρ = Const)Total KI 25/6 KI 25/6 KI 125/27 KIThermalConductivityParallel II 25/6 II 25/6 II 125/27 IIConnectionCurrentThermal Useful 1/2 II 2 RI 1/2 I1 2 R1 1/2 I2 2 R2Load Load QLRemoved 1/2 II 2 RI 1/2 I1 2 R1 1/2 I2 2 R2 0__________________________________________________________________________
The central TE cooling couple 12 is the deep cooler proper. It is assisted by a hierarchy of auxiliary couples which in the preferred embodiments shown will also be referred to as the first, second, and third auxiliary couples 14, 16 and 18. A minimum of three auxiliary couples is preferred, although it is possible to include more. All auxiliary couples in a deep TE cooler are thermally connected in parallel to the central TE couple. Preferably, the auxiliary couples further have decreasing lengths and decreasing cross-sectional areas from the first 14 to the third 18 auxiliary couple. Being connected thermally in parallel, rather than connected thermally in series, permits the auxiliary TE couples to be positioned in accordance with the present invention to absorb less than the whole Joule heat from the next preceding couple, as well as avoid the load from Peltier heating at the hot end thereof.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the cold junction 14c of the first auxiliary neighboring couple is thermally connected with (but electrically isolated from) the p- and n-legs, 12p and 12n respectively, of the central cooling couple 12 at a preferred distance of about 0.4 LI from its cold junction 12c, where LI is the length of the p- and n-legs 12p and 12n central couple. In like fashion, the cold junction 16c of the second auxiliary couple 16 is thermally connected with (but electrically isolated from) the legs 14p and 14n of the corresponding first auxiliary TE couple 14 at a distance of about 0.4 L14 from its cold junction 14c, where L14 is the length of the first auxiliary couple 14, and so on.
Because only one-half of the Joule heat generated in the body of the TE couple travels towards the cold junction (as shown by A. F. Ioffe in Semiconductor Thermoelectrics and Thermoelectric Cooling, Infosearch, London, 1957), concern may be focused upon removing only that half of the Joule heat. The distance of approximately 0.4 L is preferred as the representative point of extraction (or absorption) of the detrimental half of the evolved Joule heat, and eventually also partly the heat conduction, within the assisted TE couple. The approximately 0.4 L distance is a compromise between the mid-point of the legs (where the auxiliary couple should have to absorb the whole Joule heat, and a point shifted further into the direction of the cold junction (where the efficiency of heat absorption would have drastically decreased by the lower temperature difference between the point of extraction and the cold junction of the assisting TE couple). The point of extraction may vary in either direction depending on the application, so long as the cold junction of the assisting TE couple is colder than the point of extraction.
In the preferred, representative embodiments of the 70° K. compensated deep cooling units 10, all TE couples are single stage couples (i.e. cooled at their first ends 20 to temperature Tc and having a temperature Th at their second ends 22 at ambient or slightly higher temperature due to Peltier heating thereat). In such a unit 10 it is essential to have a minimum of three auxiliary TE couples 14, 16 and 18 instead of, say, only one. Because the maximum temperature difference available for a single stage uncompensated TE couple with its second end 22 at ambient (300° K.) temperature is approximately 70° to 80° K., an uncompensated couple can develop a minimal temperature of not less than approximately 230°-240° K. (and even this without a thermal load). However, given an approximate straight line temperature profile of the central couple 12 from the desired design temperature of 70° K. at the cold junction to a point of extraction (approximately 0.4 LI) where the first auxiliary couple 14 is to absorb heat, requires that the cold junction 14c of the auxiliary couple 14 should have a temperature of about 162° K. Should only one uncompensated auxiliary TE couple be used, this auxiliary TE couple can not be cold enough to be in a position to absorb heat from the central TE couple 12. In order to be able to absorb heat, primarily Joule heat, from the central couple 12, the first auxiliary couple 14 has to be "assisted" by a second auxiliary couple 16 in conditions similar to the assistance given to the central couple 12 from the first auxiliary couple 14. The temperature of the second auxiliary couple cold junction 16c should be approximately 217° K. The second auxiliary couple 16 for reasons similar to that brought above, has to be assisted by a third auxiliary couple 18. The temperature of the third auxiliary couple cold junction 18c should be approximately 250° K. Only the third auxiliary couple 18 is an uncompensated standard-type TE couple because it has to work with a temperature difference of about 50° K. (see Table 1). This is the basis for the preferred structure of a 70° K. deep TE cooling unit 10, and of the need for it to include at least three auxiliary couples.
The thermal loads absorbed from the next preceding TE couple (Q1, Q2, and Q3) are summarized in Table 1. The central TE couple 12 is, thus, able to absorb a useful load QL.
Theoretically, the minimum temperature for deep cooling in accordance with the present invention may be said to be near liquid helium temperatures (4°-4.5° K.). However, because the Peltier coefficient is temperature dependent, and Peltier cooling decreases with temperature (the figure of merit, ZT, declines as the temperature approaches zero), there is a practical limit to thermoelectric deep cooling, even using assisted, thermally parallel structures disclosed in accordance with the present invention. Nonetheless, using conventional materials for the TE couples, and arranging three auxiliary TE couples in hierarchical order in accordance with the present invention, the minimum temperature for deep cooling is approximately 50°-60° K., without thermal load, and more particularly, about 56° K.
The geometry of the TE couples used in accordance with the present invention impacts both the Joule heat evolved therein, and the heat conduction from the second ends 22 to the cold junction. This is understood by referring to the expression for resistivity, R, which is related to Joule heating, and the expression for thermal conductivity, K, which is related to heat conduction. Resistivity may be expressed as: ##EQU1##
L is the length of the p- and n-legs;
A is the cross-sectional area of a leg; and
ρp and ρn are the effective specific resistivities of p- and n- legs, respectively,
so that short legs and large leg cross-sectional area will reduce Joule heating. Thermal conductivity is given as: ##EQU2##
L is the length of the p- and n-legs
A is the cross-sectional area of a leg
Kp and Kn are the effective specific thermal conductivities of p- and n- legs, respectively,
so that long legs and small cross-sectional area of a leg are desired to reduce thermal conduction.
The thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, may be defined as: ##EQU3##
Sp and Sn are the effective Seebeck coefficients of the p- and n-legs, respectively
T is the temperature
K is the coefficient of thermal conductivity
R is the resistivity.
As understood from Eq. 4, the figure of merit, ZT, contains the product KR which does not depend upon the geometrical factor L/A or A/L which cancel (see Eqs. 2 and 3), and ZT behaves as a pure material characteristic. Nevertheless, in a compensated TE couple in accordance with the present invention, such as central TE couple 12, within the segment close to the cold junction, the Joule heat has been absorbed by auxiliary couples and the significance of resistivity in that segment of the TE couple has been attenuated. In that segment of the TE couple geometrical considerations may be used to further reduce thermal conductivity and resulting thermal conduction to the cold junction.
In the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, if the length LI of the central TE couple 12 is taken as unity, the preferred lengths of the consecutive auxiliary couples 14, 16 and 18 are, respectively, L14 =6; L16 =(0.6)2 =0.36; L18 =(0.6)3 =0.216. The corresponding cross-sections of the auxiliary TE couples 14, 16 and 18 decrease, taking the cross-sectional area of the central couple AI as unity, as 2.5:1.5:1 (see Table 1). For any particular material, where the central TE couple has a resistivity RI and thermal conductivity of KI, these preferred dimensions result in total resistivities and thermal conductivities as set forth in Table 1. In the above, uniform materials with uniform or effective resistivity, thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficients, and cross-sections are assumed for simplicity. However, it is understood that the p- and n-legs may be non-uniform materials having, for example, variable dopings, the p- and n-legs may be different lengths and their cross-sections may be variable, and additional material characteristics such as resistivity, ρ, thermal conductivity K, and Seebeck coefficient S may be functions of temperature.
Thermal connection in parallel between the auxiliary TE couples and the next preceding TE couple is also shown in FIGS. 1-3. In all the Figures, good thermal connections between different TE couples belonging to the same deep cooling unit 10 maintain the TE couples electrically isolated one from the other. The material notations used within the FIGS. 1-3 indicate the various components of the thermal connectors 24, 26, 28. The thermal connectors 24, 26 and 28 each preferably include a metallic thermally conductive part, m, and an isolating electrical (glue) layer, il. The metallic parts, m, are preferably soldered or otherwise attached to the legs of the TE couples 12, 14, and 16, as shown. The isolating electrical layer, il, offers good thermal contact with the cold junction, while electrically isolating the metallic part m therefrom. Preferably, the isolating electrical layer comprises a thin layer or layers of special glues placed on the cold junction. The notation, mj, in the Figures indicates the soldered metallic junction bridging the p- and n-legs of a TE couple and serving as the cold junction. The differential thermal expansion between the metallic part m of the thermal connectors and metallic junction mj of the TE couples over the wide range of temperatures experienced make it desirable to use materials in the isolating electrical layer il which accommodate the different coefficients of expansion, and thereby avoid cracking and damaging the isolating electrical layer il. Preferably, adhesives or glues are chosen for isolating electrical layer il which are sufficiently elastic at low temperatures to accommodate the differential thermal expansion. The materials of m, mj and il are known in the art, and the connections are made with methods known in the art.
In operation of the preferred embodiments, the central and auxiliary TE couples 12 and 14, 16, 18 are preferably electrically connected in parallel to the same common dc voltage V. The currents passing through the auxiliary couples are more than quadrupled in comparison with the central couple, where the auxiliary cooling hierarchies comprise a single TE couple (see Table 1). It is reasonable to split each of the first, second, and third auxiliary couples 14, 16 and 18 into four separate couples, all with a unique cross section 1.2 AI, and to electrically connect them in series (not shown) with the central couple 12 to reduce the current demand (while increasing the voltage requirement). Another possible solution, which is preferred, is a combined parallel and series connection where the auxiliary TE couples are split into four serially connected TE couples which are electrically connected in parallel to the central TE couple. In like fashion, it is also possible to split the central TE couple 12 into several separate TE couples, as may be desirable in certain applications. Again, such splitting of the central and auxiliary TE couples 12 and 14, 16, 18 can be accomplished for manufacturing uniformity, or to accommodate electrical connections which produce desirable electrical operating demands. It is understood that various combinations of split TE couples and electrical connections are possible in this regard. Because each TE couple in the deep cooling unit 10 can be comprised of a plurality of separate or split TE couples (see FIG. 4), the central TE couples 12 may also be referred to generally as the primary cooling hierarchy, and the auxiliary couples may also be referred to as auxiliary cooling hierarchies.
Alternative structural arrangements shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 achieve deep cooling in accordance with the present invention with single stage TE couples, as well, and illustrate that the overall structure of the present invention may be modified for use of advantageous manufacturing techniques, for compactness, or for other reasons. As well, improved support and protection of the outwardly extending first end 20 of the central TE couple 12 is achieved in the alternative arrangements. In FIG. 2, additional mechanical support is provided around the central TE couple, while in FIG. 3 the substrate provides additional mechanical support to not only the first end 20 but the entire deep cooling unit 10.
FIG. 2 shows a thermoelectric deep cooling unit 10 in accordance with the present invention in which the auxiliary TE couples 14, 16, 18 are positioned or arranged in generally concentric relationship around the central TE couple 12. In this arrangement, the cold junctions 14c, 16c, and 18c, are ring-shaped, while the thermal connectors 24, 26 and 28 are half-rings. The overall structure of FIG. 2 is compact, efficient, and provides additional support for the central TE couple 12, which makes it the best mode for individual units 10 illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 3 further shows a compensated TE deep cooling unit 10 in accordance with the present invention which is manufactured in layers with the aid of thick layer technology. This embodiment illustrates the use of current thick layer technology, and the potential for other high volume semiconductor manufacturing techniques to produce the present invention with known materials. The order in which the layers may be laid on a substrate (30) may be, by way of example not limitation: applying first and second layers comprising the n- and p-legs of all TE couples; applying a third layer comprising the electrically isolating glue layer, il; applying a fourth layer comprising the metallic junction, mj; and applying a fifth layer comprising a metallic part, m, (if different from the material of the fourth layer), which provides electrical connection in parallel at the second ends 22. In the structure of FIG. 3, thermal connections 24, 26 and 28 need to comprise only an insulating layer il which is positioned between the cold junctions of the auxiliary TE couples, and the p- and n-legs of the next preceding TE couple. While deposition techniques using conventional thermoelectric materials require further refinement for commercial viability, deposition and thick layer techniques, as well as painting, or other known techniques developed for semi-conductor production may be used to produce the structure of FIG. 3.
Where a substrate is used to support the TE cooling unit, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is necessary to consider the thermal expansion of both the TE couples and substrate over the wide range of temperatures experienced to avoid introducing cracks and strains in the TE couples during thermal cycling. The substrate may be chosen with a coefficient of thermal expansion matching that of the TE couples, or the TE couples attached to the substrate with adhesives or glues which are elastic to accommodate differential thermal expansion.
The geometries of FIGS. 1-3 are representative of the devices which may be produced in accordance with the present invention, and other geometries, such as discs, squares, triangles, and the like, are possible. The disc-like embodiment of FIG. 4 is representative of other geometries which may be used in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of one disc of a, preferably, four disc, deep cooling TE unit 10. All four discs have the same outer radius rl, but different inner radiuses, ro. That is, as indicated in phantom, ro in the four disc embodiment varies as ro I <ro.sup.(14) <ro.sup.(16) <ro.sup.(18), where ro I is the inner radius of the central TE couple 12, and ro.sup.(14), ro.sup.(16) and ro.sup.(18) are the inner radiuses of the auxiliary TE couples 14, 16 and 18, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 4, for each disc the outer radius rl is the hot junction, and the inner radius ro is the cold junction. Depending on the application, these could be reversed, i.e. with the cold junction at the outer radius rl.
The discs are superimposed one upon the other in accordance with the number of their hierarchy, i.e. the first auxiliary TE couple 14 is imposed upon the central TE couple 12, the second auxiliary TE couple 16 imposed upon the first, and so on. The discs are electrically and thermally isolated one from the other by intervening layers of material (not shown), and are thermally connected with the p- and n-legs of next preceding hierarchy only through their metallic junctions mj located at their respective inner radiuses ro. A disc-shaped deep cooling TE unit 10 made in accordance with FIG. 4 is preferably made on a substrate, in the same manner as the unit of FIG. 3, but is not limited to such a method. The thickness of the discs preferably increases in the auxiliary TE couples 14, 16 and 18 as their inner radiuses increase, as in the previous embodiments.
The distinctive characteristic of the disc-like embodiment of FIG. 4 consists in the variable cross-sectional areas of the p- and n-legs of the TE couples, which are pie-shaped arcuate segments. Each disc is preferably composed of an even number of segments, illustratively shown as eight segments, although the number may vary and is not limited to the example shown. The segments in each disc are joined in pairs by the metallic junctions mj along inner radius ro to form the cold junctions of TE couples. The TE couples forming a disc are electrically connected in series (as in the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 where split TE couples are provided) by metallic parts m at the hot junctions along outer radius rl. The discs of each hierarchy are, in turn, electrically connected in parallel to a common dc current source. It is preferred, but not required, that the same number of segments be present in each hierarchy of a deep cooling TE unit 10 in accordance with FIG. 4.
The electrically isolated thermal connection between the cold junction of an auxiliary TE couple and the p- and n-legs of the next preceding (assisted) TE couple, is made along a circle which is positioned towards the cold junction where it intercepts the detrimental half of the Joule heat which flows towards the cold junction. The area of the segments at which the joule heat is a maximum, and at which Joule heat flux is zero (half flowing to the cold junction and half to the hot junction), defines a circle around the disc. The radius rc of this circle of zero heat flux is given by the expression:
rc =(ro rl)1/2 Eq. (5)
ro, rl and rc are the inner, outer and critical radiuses, respectively, for the same disc
The thermal connection between the cold junction of an auxiliary TE couple and the legs of the next preceding TE couple is positioned towards the cold junction of the next preceding TE couple from this circle of zero heat flux (and maximum Joule heat). The exact position of the TE couple towards the cold junction is not amenable to definition as a unique point, or more generally quantifiable in relation to some mid-point (as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3) because the geometry and cross-section of the segments may vary from one unit 10 to the next, causing the radial heat gradients in the segments of those units 10 to differ. In general, it may be said that the radial heat gradient changes more quickly closer to the cold junction, and more slowly towards the hot junction. It follows that the accuracy with which the cold junctions of the first auxiliary TE couples 14 are positioned on the legs of the central TE couples 12 is more important than the positions of TE couples in subsequent auxiliary cooling hierarchies.
The position, d, of thermal connection between the cold junctions at the inner radius of an auxiliary TE couple of an auxiliary cooling hierarchy (i.e. assisting disc), and the inner radius of the TE couples of the next preceding hierarchy (i.e. the assisted TE disc), can be determined by the relationship: ##EQU4##
d and rl relate to dimensions of the assisting disc of the auxiliary cooling hierarchy, and
ro belongs to the assisted disc.
By way of example and not limitation, Table 2 summarizes the dimensions of an illustrative deep cooling TE unit 10 made in accordance with FIG. 4. For convenience, ro I =3 millimeters (mm) and rl =27 mm.
TABLE 2______________________________________Hierarchy No. I 1 2 3______________________________________Element No. 12 14 16 18in Figuresr1 (mm) 27 27 27 27r0 (mm) 3 8 13 17______________________________________
Again, because the radial temperature gradient in a disc-like embodiment is non-linear, the position of the zero joule heat flux circle depends essentially upon the rl /ro ratio. Other than this, the disc-like embodiment does not differ substantially from the more linear embodiments of FIGS. 1-3.
To increase overall heat pumping capability, in accordance with the present invention a plurality of thermoelectric deep cooling units 10 can be applied together to form a compensated deep thermoelectric cooling module by thermally connecting the cold junctions 12c of the central TE couple, i.e. the deep cooler, to a plate or other element to which a thermal load can then be applied. For such a module, the structure of FIG. 3 is generally preferred. For certain applications, such as infra-red goggles, the structure of FIG. 4 is preferred.
The above description of a compensated deep TE cooling unit 10 applies essentially to compensated devices removing half of the Joule heat only. Devices which, in addition to the 1/2 of Joule heat, also remove a portion of the heat conducted towards the cold junction, are structurally similar but deliver additional compensatory cooling to a point or points of extraction. The result of providing additional compensatory cooling to remove some thermal conduction from the second end 22 to the first end 20 causes the cooling to be somewhat deepened at the cold junction. Additional compensatory cooling can be accomplished by a further increase in the cross-sections of the auxiliary couples to increase the cooling capacity, or by an increase of the total number of TE couples within each hierarchy of auxiliary TE couples. However, it is preferred to limit thermal conduction by geometry, and use the auxiliary TE couples to remove Joule heat only.
While the above discussion is directed towards deep cooling, the present invention is equally applicable to produce cooling short of deep cooling using the principle of thermally connecting TE couples in parallel. To achieve lesser levels of cooling a lesser number, e.g. one or two, auxiliary cooling hierarchies may be applied to the central cooling hierarchy. The point of connection will differ depending on the application and level of cooling desired. However, the present invention makes possible the use of single stage TE couples to achieve levels of cooling with higher COPs and lower operating costs, as only Joule heat is extracted along with some small part of conductive heat. The Peltier heating at the hot junctions, removed by multi-stage devices, is thereby avoided.
By way of example, but not limitation, to provide a moderate TE cooling unit with one auxiliary TE couple 14 (or one auxiliary cooling hierarchy including a plurality of couples) connected thermally in parallel with a central TE couple 12, the point of extraction is approximately 0.5 LI. In this example, the auxiliary TE couple 14 removes approximately the entire Joule heat (I2 R) from the central couple, along with some small part of the thermal conduction in the central TE couple 12. Such a device could be a straightforward version of any embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. In this example, the cold junction 12c of the central couple 12 would have a temperature Tc =178° K. providing a ΔT=122° K. from ambient temperature. The cold junction 14c of the auxiliary TE couple 14 would have a temperature Tc =239° K., providing a ΔT=61° K. from ambient temperature. The ratio of cross-sectional areas of the central and auxiliary TE couples 12 and 14, taking the cross-sectional area of the central couple A.sub. l as unity, will be approximately 1:3.
It is understood that vacuum and thermal isolation of the TE cooling units, particularly deep cooling units 10, is necessary to prevent external heat input and allow the units 10 to achieve the operating temperatures made possible in accordance with the present invention. Such vacuum and thermal isolation is known in the art and is used, for example, in constructing devices for infra-red sensors (e.g. silvered dewars having evacuated internal spaces in which sensors are mounted). Other vacuum and thermal isolation means are known in the art and discussed in the literature, such as super thermal isolator sheets, which may be used to reflect heat.
In view of the present invention, conventional thermoelectric materials having figures of merit, ZT, of approximately 0.7 or more may now be used to produce deep cooling. By way of example, not limitation, suitable conventional materials useful in the TE couples in accordance with the present invention may be Bi2 Te3 -based alloys with antimony and selenium, for example, Bi2-x Sbx Te3-y Sey, with different doping as known in the art, as well as Bl-x Sbx alloys, with appropriate doping known in the art. As is known in the art, Bil-x Sbx alloys are known with superior doping for n-legs, but with less effective doping for p-legs. However, as various alternative solutions for p-leg materials are discussed in the literature, such alloys are representative of possible materials for a TE cooling unit.
It should be emphasized that the preferred architecture of the compensated TE deep cooling unit 10 of the present invention has nothing in common with the well-known multi-stage arrangement of ordinary, standard TE coolers. First, in ordinary multi-stage TE coolers, the module-stages are thermally connected in series, whereas the TE couples within a compensated cooler in accordance with the present invention, which belong to two neighboring hierarchies, are thermally connected in parallel. A second difference is that in conventional multi-stage arrangements, every stage has to absorb the whole heat produced by the upper stage (i.e. both 1/2 the Joule heat going to the second end, given by the term, 1/2I2 R, plus the whole Peltier heat at the second ends [hot junctions]); whereas in the compensated thermoelectric deep cooler in accordance with the present invention, a given auxiliary couple absorbs (in the case of a device removing the 1/2 of the Joule heat only) not more than one third of the heat produced within the assisted neighboring pair (i.e. 1/2 of the Joule heat which goes to the cold junction versus the other 1/2 of the Joule heat which goes to the second end plus the whole Peltier heat at the second ends [hot junction]).
It is further understood, however, that multi-stage thermoelectric couples could be used as one of the TE couples being assisted, or assisting a hierarchical neighboring couple in accordance with the present invention. However, any combination of the present invention with multi-stage devices will worsen energy demand, and reduce the overall COP. Conventional multi-stage TE couples are inefficient coolers and, as a result, are expensive to operate. Thus, it is preferred to use single stage TE couples in accordance with the present invention.
While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.
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|U.S. Classification||62/3.2, 257/E23.082, 62/335, 62/3.7|
|International Classification||H01L23/38, F25B21/02, H01L35/32|
|Cooperative Classification||H01L23/38, H01L35/325, H01L2924/0002, F25B21/02|
|European Classification||H01L35/32C, F25B21/02, H01L23/38|
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Effective date: 19990131


text: Aimée Dion is a doctoral student in History at Laval University (Quebec City, Canada). Through the use of comparative history, her thesis project focuses on the political use of images and on the construction of war cultures. She is primarily interested in the visual representations of the First World War in Ireland and Quebec between 1914 and 1918. Her research focuses on the representation of nationalism and on the construction of collective identity and political culture through posters. By studying war posters and cultural posters, she examines the mobilizing force of images. Her master’s thesis explains the impact of World War I on the parallel nationalist trajectories of Ireland and Quebec, the global conflict acting as a catalyst to their diverging nationalist paths.

domain: history


text:
The holidays were a lonely time for one little gerbil. He was all alone in a cage at our St. Paul facility, while all the other gerbils waiting to be adopted were bunched together. Then, Jamie came along and saw how cute the gerbil looked all curled up in his nest. She felt sorry for him because he was all alone. So, Jamie took him home and named him “Claws”, short for Santa Claus, since it was right around that time of the year.
That was about a year ago. Now, Claws is full of joy all year round. He has the life any gerbil would envy: he runs on his wheel, loves carrots and lettuce, and even started eating broccoli, which he really likes. And, while he doesn't have a sleigh or any reindeer, he does jet around the house in a plastic ball. And, he is a talented builder. He creates such an impressive, cave-like structure in the corner of the cage that you can’t even see him once he ducks into the tunnel leading to his nest. Claws seems perfectly happy on his own, but Jamie is thinking of going back to adopt a friend for him. If the new gerbil is a female, maybe Jamie could name her “Mrs. Claws”.
Photography courtesy of Laurie Schneider Photography. For information on pet portraits visit http://www.lschneider.com/.
Our mission, vision, and values
Mission: To engage the hearts, hands, and minds of the community to help animals.
Vision: To compassionately and responsibly create a more humane world for animals.
Values: Be good to animals. Partner with people. Lead responsibly with compassion.

domain: pet


They may phone home, but it could be to Beijing.
That’s the assessment of a US intelligence report on UFOs, which attributes many military sightings of unknown flying craft to foreign surveillance drones or airborne waste, the New York Times reported.
The latest revelations are contained in a classified update to a report last year that investigated 144 UFO sightings by US government personnel between 2004 and 2021, sources told the newspaper. That update is expected to be given to Congress Monday.
The sources, who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity, said that several instances of unknown aerial phenomenon had indeed been attributed to relatively mundane drone technology used by the Chinese government.
Beijing, which is known to have stolen plans for next-generation fighter aircraft, is also keen to learn how US pilots are trained, the sources said.
Sue Gough, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense, said, however, that no one explanation described the majority of the UFO sightings investigated.
Most incidents could be attributed to foreign intelligence gathering or shreds of airborne trash such as balloons, the sources said.
The Pentagon said in May that a particular, declassified incident involving what looked like flying triangles were actually ordinary drones distorted by night vision.
It’s unknown how much of the update, if any, will ever be made public.
And some sightings — particularly older ones — are unlikely to ever be explained.
“In many cases, observed phenomena are classified as ‘unidentified’ simply because sensors were not able to collect enough information to make a positive attribution,” Gough told the paper.


text:
Football fans in and outside Chicago began getting the news Monday that 76,000 hopefuls were longing to hear: They got tickets to the NFL draft.
Fans learned via email from the league that they were chosen in a lottery to get free passes to one of the three days of the draft, which will take place at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University from April 30 to May 2.
New York's Radio City Music Hall hosted the previous nine drafts, and fans lined up outside the theater for hours hoping to get a free ticket.
This week's drawing awarded 5,600 free tickets for inside the theater — 2,800 each day for April 30 and May 1 — and 3,000 for Selection Square outdoors (1,000 each day).
Left-out fans hopped on Twitter to find out who won and if somehow, some way, they could still get tickets. Tickets that aren't claimed by 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday will go back into the pool, and a second wave of winners will be notified Thursday, according to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
Some fans who won tickets did an online victory lap of sorts as they received congratulations from others.
Lane Puckett, Crystal Lake
Puckett's first thought when he was notified that he won two tickets was "That can't be right." But it was, and he's taking his dad with him.
"I was happy," said Puckett, 19. "The only thing I ever won in life is $100."
The Minnesota State University Moorhead sophomore played offensive line at Crystal Lake Central High School and for his college team before an injury forced him to retire.
Puckett won first-round tickets, but he doesn't know whether they're inside or outside.
"If it's not inside, it's a bummer, but it's still a sweet experience," he said.
Steve Schiessl, Charleston, S.C.
Schiessl and his brother-in-law had a deal: They would fill out entries for tickets, and if either won, he would take the other. When Schiessl found out he won, he was so skeptical at his good fortune that he spent about an hour researching online to make sure the notification was legitimate.
"I was very excited," he said. "The draft is one of my favorite events of the year."
True to his pact, Schiessl — a New Jersey native and Giants fan — plans to fly to Chicago with brother-in-law Damian Valvo, a Jets fan, the day before the draft and take in the Cubs-Pirates game at Wrigley Field. Valvo has never been to the draft.
He hopes the Jets choose a pass rusher, but even if they pick poorly, he promises to be on his best behavior — despite his fellow Jets fans' reputation.
"We don't just boo any old person," Valvo said. "We're easy to please. We cheer for a lot of mediocrity."
Conie Lee, Madison, Wis.
Registration for draft tickets opened at 11 a.m. March 24, and Lee submitted her entry at 11:05. When the corporate recruiter found out she won Monday afternoon, "the first thing I did was pick up my cellphone and call (boyfriend Jackson Daley). I was very excited to say the least. He told me it was his dream to go to a draft."
The couple are big Bears fans and bought legacy jerseys to wear during the second round, when they have tickets for inside the theater. He'll wear Dick Butkus, she'll wear Richard Dent.
"He bought me two scratch-offs," said Lee, 26. "He said, 'I think it's your lucky day.' I actually won $15."


text:
Artist of the Week Video: Failure "Hot Traveler"
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 09:11:31
Watch the band playing in a warehouse-like studio while being filmed.
Failure, one of our favorite guitar-driven bands of the '90s, are back. We're happy about it. Their fans are happy about it. They have a new album, The Heart is a Monster, out next week, June 30th. That is why they are the Artist of the Week and as part of that accolade, why not dive in and watch their video for "Hot Traveler?"
The band is playing in a warehouse-like setting, while being filmed. It's no frills, no nonsense, no bulls**t. Just a solid band, knuckling down on their instruments and doing their thing. There is nothing better, kids!
If you are not familiar with Ken Andrews and company, well, you SHOULD be. The good news is that we can we remedy and rectify that right now.
Watch the video and then go from there!
More From Our Artist of the Week
'The Heart is a Monster' by Failure is available from June 30, 2015.
See previous Artists of the Week.
Also, See our First Reaction to 'The Heart Is A Monster'!
See where 'The Heart Is A Monster' landed on our Top 15 Alternative Albums of the Past Decade List!