|Publication number||WO1999059505 A1|
|Publication date||25 Nov 1999|
|Filing date||19 May 1999|
|Priority date||19 May 1998|
|Also published as||US6228122|
|Publication number||PCT/1999/10994, PCT/US/1999/010994, PCT/US/1999/10994, PCT/US/99/010994, PCT/US/99/10994, PCT/US1999/010994, PCT/US1999/10994, PCT/US1999010994, PCT/US199910994, PCT/US99/010994, PCT/US99/10994, PCT/US99010994, PCT/US9910994, WO 1999/059505 A1, WO 1999059505 A1, WO 1999059505A1, WO 9959505 A1, WO 9959505A1, WO-A1-1999059505, WO-A1-9959505, WO1999/059505A1, WO1999059505 A1, WO1999059505A1, WO9959505 A1, WO9959505A1|
|Inventors||William A. Mcgann|
|Applicant||Mcgann William A|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (3), Classifications (19), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: Patentscope, Espacenet|
THE NET SEMICONSTRAINED DEVICE FOR TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT STABILITY
The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/085,975, filed May 19, 1 998
Field of the Invention:
The present invention is directed to hip replacement systems and components thereof.
Background of the Invention:
Total hip replacement is considered the most successful orthopaedic surgical procedure ever devised. Its success has now spanned three decades. There are now approximately 1 20,000 hip replacements performed in the U.S. each year. About one-third of the operations performed are for revision replacement of previously implanted prosthetic hips. The main cause of revision is for aseptic loosening. Another reason for revision is dislocation of the components. Dislocation continues to be a problem in total hip replacement. Every surgeon who performs this operation has this complication, no matter how experienced he or she is with total hip replacement. The incidence of dislocation varies widely in the community. Most experienced surgeons expect less than a 3% incidence. Some community surgeons are known to have as high as 30% dislocation rate. Dislocations are proven to be associated with
(i) the type of approach, posterior being the most common -- 90%, and (ii) whether the case is a revision (three times the incidence over primary replacements). About half of the dislocations occur in the first month after the procedure. The remainder of the dislocations occur over the span of many years. A dislocation can occur at any time in the lifetime of the arthroplasty. It is evident that dislocation remains a problem complication in the most successful orthopaedic procedure ever devised.
Attempts have been made to make the hip replacement operation more stable and thus reduce the incidence of dislocation. To preserve soft tissue attachments posteriorly, the surgical approach has been changed. The "direct lateral approach" has been utilized in the joint replacement, but residual pain, limp, and heterotopic ossification have tempered its use. It is not well proven that the incidence has been dramatically affected despite this change in the approach.
Recently, unpublished reports have demonstrated an improved dislocation rate through the reattachment of soft tissues in conjunction with the posterior approach. This technique remains to be proven and additional study is needed. The posterior soft-tissue techniques do not address revision operations, since the soft tissues are deficient or absent in revision cases.
Modification of the components has also been undertaken to try and make the arthroplasty more stable. The use of a locking mechanism between the femoral ball and the acetabular socket has been fraught with problems. This so-called "constrained" socket fails early because of high stresses arising from impingement between the socket and femoral neck. This may cause the socket to pull out from the bone attachment in the pelvis, or dislodge the ring lock holding the devices together. Another modification is the simple addition of a buildup of the polyethylene rim. This modification does not appear to influence the dislocation rate in clinical studies. This is probably because of the reduction of a "safe zone" before impingement occurs between the femoral neck and the rim of the polyethylene socket. On the femoral side, attempts at enlarging the diameter of the femoral head had not influenced the rate of dislocation. Enlarging the femoral head has been unpopular largely because of the problem of increased polyethylene wear seen with large diameter heads.
Summary of the Invention: The present invention is directed to overcome some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the present invention is directed toward an apparatus and method for preventing dislocation between an acetabular cup and a replacement femur.
In one aspect of the invention, a device is provided for hip replacement stability. The hip replacement uses an acetabular cup implantable into an adjacent bone and a replacement femur implantable into a femur. The device of the invention includes a connector which is adapted to connect to (1 ) at least one of an acetabular cup, or a component of an acetabular cup, or the adjacent bone, and (2) at least one of a replacement femur or a femur.
The connector is flexible.
In another aspect of the invention, the connector is adapted for allowing uninhibited movement between an acetabular cup and a replacement femur up to a limit. In yet a further aspect of the invention, a connector is adapted for preventing a replacement femur from becoming dislocated from an acetabular cup.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, a connector is comprised of a net. In still a further aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preventing dislocation between an acetabular cup and replacement femur comprising the steps of securing a connector to at least one of an acetabular cup, or a component thereof, or a bone located adjacent to an acetabular cup and securing a connector to at least one of the replacement femur or a femur. In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preventing dislocation which method includes implanting an acetabular cup or component thereof which has selectively secured thereto a connector and selectively securing the connector to one of a replacement femur or a femur.
Other aspects and objects of the invention can be obtained through a review of the specification of the claims and the figures.
Brief Description of the Figures: Fig. 1 depicts a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a connector of the invention.
Fig. 2 depicts a figure similar to Fig. 1 with the connector of this embodiment attached through holes of the acetabular cup.
Fig. 3 depicts a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 . Figs. 4a, 4b, and 4c demonstrate various methods whereby an embodiment of the invention can be connected to any one of or a combination of the adjacent bone, or the acetabular cup, or components of the acetabular cup including the liner and the metal shelf. Fig. 5 depicts the various regions where the connector of the invention can be connected to the acetabular cup.
Fig. 6 depicts an embodiment of the invention where the connector is connected to the femur.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention:
The net of the present invention addresses the problem of dislocation in a new way. It effectively reinforces the total hip replacement by providing tension against the specific forces that lead to dislocation. Fig. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of one variation of the net device 20 of the invention. The net device 20 has a ring 22 which secures the net 20 about the replacement femoral neck 24. The net 20 then is attached to the acetabular cup 26 or the bone 28 into which the acetabular cup 26 is implanted. In this embodiment, the net
20 is comprised of a polyethylene material. However, it is to be understood that other materials such as by way of example only, suture materials can be used and be within the spirit and scope of the invention. This flexible connecting material essentially mimics the normal soft tissue capsule of the hip joint. Importantly, as in the normal hip, the tension is only present at specific positions of the hip joint, and only comes into play when it is needed. During normal activities, the net device 20 is at rest, and is not stressed. This principle is much like the seatbelt in an automobile, that is called into use only when it is required. In the case of a joint replacement which may have a decade or more of use, this factor of only temporary use will allow the device to span many years. The crucial period of usefulness will be in the early postoperative period when the soft tissues are in their healing phase, and are thus at their weakest state. For revision operations, which have limited, or absent soft-tissue response to healing, the net device 20 may be more important for the life of the implant. Adding a biological growth material to the net to stimulate the regrowth of living tissue may restore the biologic stability to the hip replacement, and minimize the utilization of the inert portion of the net device 20 over time.
Fig. 2 depicts the net device 20 attached through holes 30 in the acetabular cup 26. The holes 30 are preferably pre-drilled in the insert 32 of the cup 26. As is known in the art, the insert 32 fits into a shell 34 which is secured to the bone of the patient. The net can be either pre-set, or tensioned intraoperatively. The advantage of intraoperative tensioning, is to provide specific tension at hip positions that are at risk for dislocation. The position of risk for the more common posterior dislocation is where the hip is (i) flexed, (ii) internally rotated, and (iii) adducted. The number and location of the attachment points of the net 20 to the cup 26 may vary according to the needs of the surgeon. The connections to the socket can be utilized over the posterior, superior, or anterior margin as indicated to correspond to the instability at risk (lack of soft tissue encapsulating the ball and socket joint). Posterior instability generally occur about 90% of the time. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the posterior margin is from about 6:00 to about 12:00 o'clock, the superior margin from about 9:00 to about 3:00 o'clock, and the anterior margin is from about 12:00 at about 6:00 o'clock. Thus, the net 20 can be "called into action" where specifically needed as determined by the surgeon.
In other words, the cup 26 is pre-drilled with holes 30 about the exterior peripheral lip of the cup 26. Only the holes needed to obtain the desired restraint are used to secure the net 20. Further, the length of the strands of the net are adjacent and tied off as appropriate, after the strands are fed through the holes 30. Thus, the net 20 can be positioned where the greatest instability is to provide tension in order to prevent hip dislocation.
The net 20 can be used in both primary and revision total hip procedures. The advantage in revision procedures is noted especially in cases of recurrent dislocation of the hip, where the metal acetabular shell 34 is well fixed to the bone by bone ingrowth. When the metal acetabular shell 34 is well-fixed in the bone, the acetabular liner or insert 32 can be revised with the incorporation of the net 20. Providing the locking mechanism the shell is secure, the new liner 32 with the net 20 can be simply inserted, and the femoral ring 22 attached to the femoral neck, or Morse taper. The net 20 will then provide a mechanism to secure the femoral head 36 in the acetabular cup 26 and allow proper fibrous healing to take place without the risk of dislocation. The net 20 may also eliminate the need for costly external bracing of the limb during the postoperative period. If an insufficient locking mechanism is found between the metal shell 34 and the polyethylene liner 32, then the net 20 can be anchored to the acetabular bone 28 instead of the shell 34 or insert 32.
Also, the femoral side of the net can also be directly attached to the femoral bone 38 if indicated (Fig. 4a and Fig. 6) instead of using net ring 22.
In primary cases of total hip replacement, where the metal shell 34 is not ingrown, the net 20 can be attached to the acetabular bone 28 instead of the acetabular cup 26. This may be necessary since the metal shell 34 may not be fully secured in the acetabular bone 28 for a few months after its insertion. This early period is the critical time to prevent dislocations from occurring. The metal shell 34 may be press-fitted in place, or may be secured with fixation screws. In some situations, especially with exceptional fixation and quality bone, this may be enough to utilize the net attached to the insert or liner 32 of the cup 26. In cases where bone attachment is necessary, drills may be required to facilitate the tunneling of the net through the posterior wall of the acetabulum.
Fig. 3 depicts how the net 20 tightens up to prevent the hip from dislocating in the direction 40 when the femur is moving in the direction 42.
As can be seen in Figs. 4a, 4b, and 4c, the net 20 can be received (i) through the bone, or (ii) through the polyethylene liner shell and bone or (iii) through the polyethylene liner. Industrial Applicability:
Based on the above, it can be seen that the present invention prevents dislocation of a replacement femur from an acetabular cup. Such prevention greatly increases the success rate and stability of hip implants.
Other features, aspects and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the figures and the claims.
It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention can be developed and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4731088 *||2 Jun 1986||15 Mar 1988||Boehringer Mannheim Corp||Enclosure member for prosthetic joint|
|US5755807 *||17 Jun 1996||26 May 1998||Folsom Metal Products||Implant module unit and rotating seal for prosthetic joint|
|US5916585 *||30 May 1997||29 Jun 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Materials and method for the immobilization of bioactive species onto biodegradable polymers|
|International Classification||A61F2/36, A61F2/34, A61F2/00, A61F2/30, A61F2/32|
|Cooperative Classification||A61F2002/3241, A61F2002/3401, A61F2002/30787, A61F2/30742, A61F2220/0075, A61F2002/3233, A61F2/3662, A61F2002/3625, A61F2/32, A61F2002/3611, A61F2310/00011, A61F2/34, A61F2002/30464|
|25 Nov 1999||AK||Designated states|
Kind code of ref document: A1
Designated state(s): JP
|25 Nov 1999||AL||Designated countries for regional patents|
Kind code of ref document: A1
Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE
|23 Dec 1999||DFPE||Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)|
|19 Jan 2000||121||Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application|
|10 Feb 2000||COP||Corrected version of pamphlet|
Free format text: PAGES 1/2-2/2, DRAWINGS, REPLACED BY NEW PAGES 1/2-2/2; DUE TO LATE TRANSMITTAL BY THE RECEIVING OFFICE
|26 Sep 2001||122||Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase|


text:
Kang Daniel‘s legal dispute with LM Entertainment is finally over as both parties have agreed to cancel all lawsuits, and terminating their contractual agreement.
The Korea Entertainment Management Association (KEMA) officially announced on September 27 that the disputes over the contract termination and other issues between Kang Daniel and LM Entertainment are over, as both sides have come to an agreement.
The decision was made between the two parties after KEMA helped mediate discussions between the two, trying to prevent any further unnecessary issues or any further damages due to their prolonged dispute.
LM Entertainment has agreed to accept Kang Daniel’s new agency, which will be a win-win for the entertainment industry.
On the same day, Kang Daniel’s side withdrew their request to terminate his contract with LM Entertainment, and LM Entertainment withdrew their objection to the injuction. With these withdrawals, the dispute has officially ended.
With this mediation, we have agreed that legally, there will be no objections or action taken regarding contracts. This includes any civil or criminal litigation, applications for dispute, and complaints.
Kang Daniel is currently promoting with his new agency, KONNECT Entertainment.

domain: news


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Lord Carlile has accused Jack Straw of "double standards" and "airbrushing history" for his efforts to engineer a rapprochement between the West and Iran. In an article for PoliticsHome's Central Lobby, the Lib Dem peer contrasted the former foreign secretary's engagement with the Tehran regime with his support of sanction...
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom press release More than 110 members of both Houses of Parliament including Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committee...
Foreign & Commonwealth Office press release Foreign Secretary video message to mark Nowruz William Hague sends his best wishes to those celebrating Nowruz and ...
A cross-Party delegation of MPs and Peers, led by former Commons Speaker Rt. Hon. Baroness Boothroyd and Lord Carlile of Berriew QC CBE on Monday, 27 January 2014 ...
Tony Blair said it would be "disastrous" if the UK left the European Union. "I hope so [that Britian stays in the EU] and it would be disastrous, in my view, for...
Mr Speaker, sorry that the Home Secretary has not come to respond on such a serious issue. When the House opposed military intervention in Syria, all sides were a...
28/03/2014 on British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
23/01/2014 on Bloomberg TV
20/01/2014 on BBC News
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12/01/2014 on The Andrew Marr Show, BBC One
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text:
Throughout Spring 2012 we made a series of films for David Game College (Notting Hill). Films included testimonials from past students, Biology & Geography field trips, Revision Advice and a lot more. All films can be seen via this link.
We filmed a group of Ladbrokes VIP customers enjoying two days of golf at Goodwood Golf Course near the South coast.
There were 3 teams participating in a friendly tournament with prizes and awards at the end of the two days. We created a short viral film for each day, part 2 can be seen below.
Last weekend we filmed at Dusk Till Dawn Casino in Nottingham for the start of the Ladbrokes Poker Grassroots promotion which will run throughout the summer. We followed 8 qualifiers as they tried to qualify for the next round.
Early November we filmed at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey to cover the annual Compuware Costumer Briefing event for the 3rd year running.
Multiple camera shoot covering an action packed day including customer spotlights, presentations and AMG speed drives around the wet track. See Highlights films below.
This film is intended to capture the spirit and endless energy of London. We decided to shoot it in a mixture of Timelapse and slow motion. We started filming in October 2010 in Richmond upon Thames just on the western edge of the city, and then the ensuing journey took us all the way through the city and back again, ending up just a year later with a final sun rise shot in the Richmond area.
The brilliant but temporary music score is by Rael Jones. He’s currently working on music for the new BBC Sherlock Holmes series and he will be delivering a final score for my film in a month or so. I can’t wait to hear it, and I would like to thank him for all his hard work.
I’d like to thank everyone else involved too; particularly my camera assistants; David Mead, Dave Calub, Laurence Beck and Johana Castro. They helped me lug around equipment and of course they kept me company during the long hours of time lapse work. They braved not only windswept bridges, endless travelling, and brushes with local law enforcement, but also marauding gangs and drunken loons in the west end.
I can’t thank my wife Johana enough. I made her stand around for hours while she was two months pregnant, and I nearly ruined our anniversary by insisting on filming some time lapse footage at the Oxo tower restaurant half way through dinner, sorry.
Camera: Canon 7D
Lenses: 17 – 55mm f.28, 70 – 200mm f2.8
Edited in FCP
Graded in Magic bullet looks
I used various shutter angles and intervals to achieve the best effect for any particular shot. At night I mostly wanted that streaky look, so most of it is either 1 or 2 second exposures with the lens stopped down to around f5.6. During the day I would shoot people shots at 1 second intervals which seemed to give that impression of frantic energy, particularly on a long lens.
Hope you enjoy the film.
Ed Beck, MB Films
photography – Ed Beck
camera assistants – David Mead, Dave Calub, Laurence Beck and Johana Castro
editing – Ed Beck & David Mead
music – Rael Jones
Sept 29 to Oct 3rd we were in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland for Ladbrokes Irish Poker Festival. We ended up filming and editing on location 10 films in 4 days. Below a selection of timelapse footage put together from some of the films. Canon 7D, Sony Ex1.
All films can be seen at:
This is a clip from our documentary short ‘Spirit of the House’ (15mins)
Official Selection at Raindance Film Festival 2011
Spirit of the House reflects on the relationship between Rodney Archer and his historic house in Spitalfields, East London over the past 30 years.
Directed by Ed Beck & David Mead
Produced by Ed Beck, David Mead & Laurence Beck
Music by Rael Jones

domain: artistic


February 10, 2009
The March issue of Teen Vogue has a 5-page feature focused around nails!
February 5, 2009
According to Redbook Magazine, there are a number of pampering treats that can help you get ready for a night of romance.
Redbook puts Essie polish on its Beauty Checklist.
US Weekly includes "Adventures in Nail Art!" in February 2, 2009 issue.
The February issue of Essence Magazine touts Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes as Valentine's Day faves.
The February issue of Glamour Magazine has a piece on the "right way to do non-nude polish at home."
Shape editors answer readers question about how to brighten nails after they are stained by nail polish.
Teen Vogue's February 2009 issue lists Nicole by OPI nail lacquer in Love Your Life as one of the 10 Most Wanted beauty products in the month of love.
February 1, 2009
Got her toes done up with her fingernails matchin'.
January 30, 2009
The handy Roz Cuticle Nipper and Pusher comes to us from an industry veteran.
January 29, 2009
Universal Companies and the NCEA (National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors, and Associations) have teamed up to offer training to help prepare candidates for the NCEA Certification exam.
January 16, 2009
Cosmopolitan Magazine says men won't notice a change in nail polish, but they will notice a change in nail length.
InStyle Magazine likes monochromatic polishes in white and black.
InStyle's January issue shows readers how to "mix up your makeup", including nail polish, to refresh your beauty bag.
The producer of MTV show "Exiled!" loves airport spa.
A Light Finish: The Latest in LED Gel Lamp Technology27 photos
Cosmoprof North America 201574 photos
OPI was founded in 1981 by President/CEO George Schaeffer, who immigrated to the U.S.
What’s the cause of the pinkish-red oval area on the pad of my client’s toes?
Am I losing my touch applying acrylics?
Should I have a TV in my salon?
Is perfectionism on the job a blessing or a curse?
What’s the best way to recruit techs for a new salon?
Featured Products & Promotions | Advertisement
How big is the U.S. nail business? $7.3 billion. What's the average service price for a manicure? Dig into our decades' deep research archives.
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text:
Brazil is a family oriented country. We value every member of the family from the youngest and cutest baby to the oldest and wisest person. We celebrate babies and are extremely overjoyed when they come, but we also have respect and consideration towards our elderly people. We look up to them and go to them for advice and support.
It’s very common for extended families to live together. Two generations ago, it was common for the families to have many children. My grandparents, for instance, had twelve kids and they all lived with their parents for a long time. I remember living with my grandparents all the way up to my teen years. Then, I had the rare opportunity of traveling to a foreign country for school and living there with a family for five years.
In Brasil, it’s customary for the children to live with their parents until they get married. That is basically what parents, families and society expect. I believe that happens partly because it’s difficult for a single person to be able to support himself or herself and live on their own . Unless, the young person chose a great career and landed himself or herself an excellent job right after graduation. And if they happen to remain single and never improve their finances, they stay at their parents home.
When two young people marry, they usually both work and do their best to save money and improve their lives as they build a family together. And whenever, finances are not going well for them, it’s very normal for them to move back with of one their in-laws.
Then, as maturity comes along and aging sets in, it’s very natural for the parents to retire and live close to or move in with one of their children. We do not have many nursing or retirement homes in Brazil. According to a recent study done by the IPEA (Instituto de pesquisa Econômica Aplicada), an economy research organization, there are 20 million elderly people in Brazil and only 218 public nursing homes. Many of those people need care that they can’t get at home, so they have to go to one of those homes.
The government only contributes with 22% of the revenue needed for the homes. The rest comes from the elderly people, their families, and some philanthropic organizations. There are also some homes provided by religious organizations specifically for their own members who never married and don’t have any family that could provide them with a place to live.
Brazilian people value having their grandmas and grandpas around their families and do their best to accommodate them within their possibilities in spite of the lack of governmental resources.

domain: sociology


Hello and welcome to my Nuzzel newsletter!
(President, @yourspeakeasy content/social/promo agency. Host of the Marketing Distilled Podcast. Husband of @cryorren. Mungarian at @MungerPlace church.)
– Oct 20, 2019, 5:10 PM
Updated at 7 p.m. Sunday: Revised to include a tornado watch for North Texas. This weekend could come to a stormy end in Dallas-Fort Worth. Sunday will be warm, with highs in the upper 80s, before a cold front moves through North Texas late in the…
Earlier today, The Atlantic's McKay Coppins published a lengthy profile on Mitt Romney, apparently part of Romney's effort to set himself up as the noble Republican foil to an out-of-control president. These sorts of pieces, which are more about…
The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent $103 million over the past three years buying up vast sections of downtown Clearwater. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront…
– Oct 21, 2019, 5:09 AM
This story is being updated throughout Monday morning. Several schools in North Dallas, Richardson and Garland have cancelled classes on Monday, trying to assess damage on their campuses after a tornado rumbled through the area late Sunday night.


Welcome to an overview of our Case Management and Tracking System (CMTS). Here we will take a look at the main features of CMTS and how our case management system can be configured to fit your agency. Enjoy the video!
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text:
The ANC government does not have a plan to solve Eskom’s problems.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan acknowledged that the ANC government did not have the political will to rectify the broken power entity caused by decades of mismanagement and corruption.
Natasha Mazzone, DA MP, made these accusations that Gordhan’s only plan is to keep the lights on up until election. According to Mazzone, temporary measures will be taken to delay the inevitable and the truth behind the crisis will be hidden during the election period.
Allegations that Eskom was forced to pay salaries for March using a combination of its capital budget and a Chinese loan are also doing round. The funds were earmarked for the maintenance and upkeep of the power grid. Meanwhile, Eskom has bought diesel at twice the market price just to maintain the network until after the election on May 8, 2019.
If the DA’s claim is true, it will undoubtedly me


text:
The French-flavored village of Cahokia, “Birthplace of the Midwest,” had its beginnings in May 1699 when French priests from Quebec founded the Holy Family Mission. Its successor church, the Holy Family Log Church of 1799, is still used for services. Other historic structures in the village include the old Cahokia Courthouse, which was originally a private home built by a French fur trader around 1740. Earlier yet, Native American mound builders inhabited the largest mound complex north of Mexico City from around 1000 to 1400, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Cahokia.
The village itself, incorporated as a municipality under Illinois state charter on March 28, 1927, is in the geographic center of the country on the east bank of the Mississippi River, across from the St. Louis central business district. The Mississippi Flyway passes overhead, a migratory thoroughfare, and the area has one of the greatest concentrations of bird species in Illinois.
The community is home to approximately 14,000 residents. Cahokia Unit School District No. 187 provides public education for local children. Residents and visitors can enjoy a library, a nutrition center, a fitness center and the 18-hole Prairies Golf Club course. The city park features a pool, an ice hockey rink, a playground, athletic fields, picnic facilities and a lake. Go to www.cahokiaillinois.org or call 618-337-9510 for more information, or visit the Cahokia Area Chamber of Commerce at www.cahokiachamber.org.

domain: travel


text:
Special Edition - Quarantine & Chill Crewneck
**Partial proceeds of this design will be donated to our local food bank.**
Why not stay cute while social distancing AND contribute to a local organization? Win. Win.
These are unisex so will fit bigger on ladies.

domain: design


Saturday, February 18
•Vipers (Uganda) Vs Horoya (Guinea) – 4pm
•Simba (Tanzania) Vs Raja Casablanca(Morocco) – 7pm
Vipers SC have expressed their readiness ahead of their first home game in the CAF Champions League.
The Venoms welcome Guinea champions Horoya at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende in what promises to be a pulsating affair.
Vipers coach Beto Bianchi, who will also be in charge of his first home game, has rallied his players to forget the result in Casablanca.
The Ugandan champions were well beaten, falling 5-0 against Raja last week on their CAF Champions League debut.
“We should quickly forget the first match against Raja Casablanca, and must now focus on what lies ahead of us,” Beto is quoted.
““It doesn’t help us to keep thinking of what has already happened, because we still have five games to play in the group stages, so the focus should be on getting the best results possible.
““We have worked well, I have seen better reaction from the players during training, the intensity is good and am confident that our preparations give us an advantage against Horoya Athletic Club.”
The Venoms are yet to hit top form under Beto after the side once again needed shootouts to progress past Jinja North United in Stanbic Uganda Cup.
And they will be without Lumala Abdu and Marvin Youngman due to injuries while Striker Karim Ndugwa remains cap-tied having featured for BUL in CAF Confederation Cup.
Horoya beat Simba 1-0 last weekend to get off the mark – Striker Pape Ndiaye, who missed the penalty on the day, scored the only goal on the day for the Guinean champions.
Horoya are a more experienced side in this competition having gone past the group stages twice.


PHOTO FLASH: Addams Family's Adam Riegler at Broadway League's Fan Festival
Adam Riegler (© Marion Curtis/Star Pix Ltd) On Sunday, February 6, Broadway Kids Care and members of various shows participated in Fan Festival, which he
PHOTO FLASH: Dr. Oliver Sacks Visits Irish Rep's Molly Sweeney
Jonathan Hogan, Ciaran O'Reilly, Dr. Oliver Sacks, Geraldine Hughes (Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre) Famed neurologist and writer
PHOTO FLASH: Joey Fatone Visits Jabbawockeez' MÜS.I.C. in Las Vegas
Joey Fatone attended the Thursday, February 3 performance of Jabbawockeez' new show MÜS.I.C. at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The critically acclaimed show is describe
PHOTO FLASH: Arcadia's Margaret Colin, Billy Crudup, Raúl Esparza, Grace Gummer, et al. Meet the Press
Grace Gummer, Billy Crudup, Lia Williams, Raúl Esparza, and Noah Robbins (© Tristan Fuge) On Friday, February 4, the press met th
PHOTO FLASH: Reeve Carney, T.V. Carpio, Jennifer Damiano, Patrick Page, Julie Taymor at Spider-Man Pre-Show Party at Sardi's
Julie Taymor and Reeve Carney (© David Gordon) The Actors Fund held a special pre-show cocktail party at Sardi's prior to the Thursday,
PHOTO FLASH: Stephen Hawking Visits Jane Fonda at 33 Variations in Los Angeles
Jane Fonda and Stephen Hawking (© Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging) Physicist Stephen Hawking attended a preview performance of writer/direc
PHOTO FLASH: Melissa Etheridge as St. Jimmy in Broadway's American Idiot
On Tuesday, February 1, Oscar winner and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge joined Broadway's American Idiot in the role of St. Jimmy for a one-week-...
PHOTO FLASH: Jennifer Carpenter, Victor Garber, Judith Light, Pablo Schreiber, John Slattery, et al. at Gruesome Playground Injuries Opening
On Monday, January 31, Second Stage's production of Rajiv Joseph's play Gruesome Playground Injuries opened at Second Stage ...
PHOTO FLASH: Transport Group's Hello Again Meets the Press
On Tuesday, February 1, the cast of Transport Group's upcoming production of Michael John LaChuisa's musical Hello Again, met the press. The show will run at 52 Mercer Street,...
PHOTO FLASH: Jenni Barber, Michael Bush, Maxwell Caulfield, Lois Robbins at Cactus Flower Press Event
On Tuesday, February 1, Jenni Barber, Maxwell Caulfield, Lois Robbins, and director Michael Bush met with members of the press to talk about the Off-Broadway revival of Abe Burrows' ...
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text:
Kids Read 2300 hours!
Our Children’s Librarian, Beth Adcock, streaks her hair purple & Elkabet dyes his blue in celebration of Summer Reading Program kids reading 2300 hours! Will the kids reach 3,000 hours by the end of July and get to throw water balloons at Ms. Beth?
See Program Calendar
Register for individual events at Event Calendar
Help the library while getting work experience! Students who have finished grades 4 or 5 can "voluntween" at the library. On Wednesdays in June and July, voluntweens would be performing a variety of tasks including craft and program preparations. Parents or guardians can sign their child's Voluntween form at the Children's Desk. The first Voluntween Wednesday is June 11. Contact Beth for more information.

domain: library


text:
Arabic Cinema is the latest new focus at the Short Film Festival of Leuven in co-operation with the Swiss short film festival Kurzfilmtage Wintertuhr. The initiative is nothing but relevant in the time and context we live in. Due to migration, all kinds of people live together, no matter the race, religion or sexuality. And therefore, I think films can offer us more insight and cultural understanding. The specific kind of humour or way of narrating is a matter of “Love it or hate it”, but still all of the films in this series were very different in many aspects.
Since September, I study Arabic at university, which is mainly focussed on Fusha, the Standard Modern (Egyptian) Arabic. Consequently, I really tried to compare the different variants and dialects in these 6 shorts, which wasn’t easy to do. Indeed, only in the Egyptian films I managed to understand some bits of it
Thematically, the Lebanese films seem to contain more modern and liberal ideas, also filmtechnically they are more sophisticated like for example the special effects in Ercevax. But all 6 of the short films do point at deeply rooted sociological problems in a witty way to make the thematic less heavy. In my opinion, there are 2 ways of interpreting from our Western viewpoint. These short films either show us the Arabic encounter with a -for them- Western culture, like our pop culture -or death metal to be precise- for example in Heavy Metal Drummer or Silence Radio. On the other hand these films are a perfect proof of the fact that the Arabic world is not so different after all and does not only consist of the stereotypical ‘deserts and camels.’
Here is a short overview of the shorts in the Arabilicious-series.
Sometimes is an Eyptian short by Mahmood Soliman, made in 2008. It tells the story of a bus driver who constantly kicks people out of his bus, whenever their behaviour is not compatible to his rules. In the end it becomes clear that the story symbolises the power of love, acceptance and tolerance.
A beautiful message indeed, if it wasn’t for the technical flaws of the film like wrong subtitles, asynchronical sound and simply a story plot on the verge of pure absurdity. But Sometimes is a good warm-up to get in the mood for some more Arabic vibes.
Heavy Metal Drummer
Heavy Metal Drummer is a 2005 production by a UK co-directors Toby Macdonald and Luke Morris. One can clearly notice the Western influences when it comes to story-telling. Macdonald and Morris use a voice-over to lead us into the mind of a young Arabic boy who starts his own music band. He feels like his musical orientation is neglected and like he has to conform with the cultural traditions. He wants to be a rockstar, that’s for sure!
Watch Heavy Metal Drummer entirely on YouTube.
A Resident of the City
A Resident of the City is an 2011 Egyptian film by Adham El Sherif and to me a balad -or rather protestsong- for his city Caïro with dogs as the main characters. These dogs are metaphores for the citizens of the city and how they are so small as individuals. The film is shot like a documentary with a voice-over for the main part, namely the dog Boss. Along with his friends Zyga and Candy they own the city and have to defend their territory like real dogs do, even when it gets stacked with new buildings. The dogs symbolise the position of human nature in opposition to imperialism and urbanisation.
Visually, A Resident of the City is very beautiful, with loads of close-ups and contrasting images of light (day) and dark (night), by this, the director creates a warm atmosphere. You can almost feel the heat of the city through the screen.
Watch the entire short film on Vimeo.
Ercevax is a 15-minute Lebanese film from 2014 by Oliver Bou Eid in the same style like Robert Zemeckis Back to the Future (1985). Althought this one is more a version of ‘back to the past’. Bou Eid uses a lot of special effects and his story plot has high complexity level, although the goal of the head character, a scientist, is to go back into time to cure his son from a mortal disease with a medicine called Ercevax. This short film shows no differences from what we are used to in American films. It is very action-driven and has plenty of modern montage techniques.
For more info, visit the Facebookpage of Ercevax.
De L’Autre Côté
De L’Autre Côté is a Moroccon film by Youssef Maman and tells the story of a man and a woman who incidentally happen to look for a lift across one another. There is a sexual tension between the two. Consequently there is only one question: where can they go have sex? The film ends by them asking each others name, which to me points at the superficiality of modern relationships and how easily physical attraction i.e. lust dominates over emotions.
Maman makes his film worth watching by the beautiful compositions of his characters in the empty sandy landscape.
Silence Radio (The Song Remains the Same)
Also in 2015, the Lebanese director Reynald Bassil made his short film called Silence Radio (The Song Remains the Same) about a boy Elie living in the liberal 70’s, which period seriously clashes with his traditional environment and upbringing in Beirut. The story is set several months before the civil war. His life is dominated by music and the local radio presenter Sam Debs.
Elies’s coincidential reunion with one of his youth friends serves as a frame to the main narrative. Silence Radio has a pleasant narrative pace and is very character-driven. Bassil uses a voice-over to make the audience experience what goes on in Elie’s mind. And then there is also the typical status of a radio presenter as a role model for the younger generation. He is the one who teaches them about music and in the 70’s also mostly makes them acquainted with certain anticultures. Elie gets trapped between going his own way or opting for what the law implies him to do.
Watch the trailer on Vimeo.

domain: entertainment


text:
In: Eating21 May 2015
(map) Tis the season! Unlike last year, there are lots of local peaches around. You can find a list of 22 local stands, farms and orchards selling peaches here. Below, Vogel Orchard, one of the oldest. The board updates the daily peaches by variety, and they also sell tomatoes.

domain: geography


text:
Welcome to the web page of JES – Jakość Energia Starachowice (Quality Energy Starachowice) Association.
We are the NGO from the Świętokrzyskie region in Poland operating within Starachowice municipality.
The main goals of JES are:
– creating a positive image of Starachowice,
– promoting valuable initiatives in Starachowice,
– releaising the energy of citizens to act in the urban space,
– fostering the remarkable intellectual thought among the people of Starachowice,
– promoting friendly and positive atmosphere of life in Starachowice,
– cultural and educational activities at the local level,
– promoting civil attitudes,
– voluntary works,
– supporting business developement.
We are open for international cooperation!
Our members have experience in creating and participation in projects organized in: Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal, Turkey and Poland.
To contact with us please:
send an e-mail: stowarzyszenie.jes @ gmail.com


|Publication number||US4265132 A|
|Application number||US 06/034,202|
|Publication date||May 5, 1981|
|Filing date||Apr 27, 1979|
|Priority date||Apr 27, 1979|
|Publication number||034202, 06034202, US 4265132 A, US 4265132A, US-A-4265132, US4265132 A, US4265132A|
|Inventors||James R. Robertson|
|Original Assignee||Robertson James R|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (13), Referenced by (10), Classifications (10)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
For use in operating a device having a rotary shaft, there is provided a structure having a pair of superposed, spaced, parallel frame plates held together by screw bolts arranged normal to the plates and parallel to each other. The bolts have eccentric bodies, so that the free distance between the bolts can be varied. Also mounted on the plates in appropriate journals is a drive shaft having its rotary axis parallel to the bolt axes. Fixed on the drive shaft is a pair of forks disposed between the plates and engaging rollers rotatably mounted on a block disposed on a drive piston rod. This drive piston rod is part of a piston-cylinder combination itself pivoted between the plates. The rollers are constrained to rectilinear motion by rectilinear grooves in the plates. The cylinder is restrained solely by means axially parallel to the roller rotational axes and is always in non-binding relationship. If desired, the device may also include a spacer pivoted to the plates between them. A spring rod extends through the spacer and engages the block attached to the piston rod. A spring acts as a return mechanism when necessary. Preferably a plurality of spring discs surrounds and is positioned on the spring rod. The result of the assembly is to convert a rectilinear motion into a rotary motion of a driven shaft of an angular extent adjustably limited by the rotatable screw bolts and to provide a generally symmetrical, well-balanced arrangement.
FIG. 1 is a plan of a structure pursuant to the invention, portions being broken away to reduce the size of the figure, and showing the parts in one extreme position.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1, certain portions being broken away to reduce the figure size.
FIG. 3 is a view comparable to FIG. 2 and showing an operated device in position on the translator and showing an arrangement in which the piston-cylinder arrangement is double-acting and without spring structure.
FIG. 4 is a plan of the structure shown in FIG. 3 with the operated device removed.
FIG. 5 is a detail of the device in side elevation, certain portions being broken away to reveal the interior construction.
There are many instances in which it is desired to mount and drive a rotary structure by means of a rectilinear actuator; for example, to rotate a valve having a rotary core by means of a linearly acting, expansible chamber such as a single-acting or double-acting piston-cylinder arrangement. The interconnection of devices of this sort is often accomplished, but many times the arrangement is such that after a while a number of unbalanced forces produce distortions in the connecting mechanism or produce excessive wear. Under other circumstances, if a more elaborate structure is provided, the cost of manufacture and sale thereof is too high for commercialization.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a generally improved, linear-rotary translator in which the various inherent forces are well balanced and well taken and in which various settings and provisions are made for relatively inexpensive, long-term, successful operation.
In the form of the device shown, in part, in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a pair of frame plates 6 and 7. These may be of any suitable material, metallic or non-metallic, and are shaped or trimmed to about the contour shown in plan in FIG. 1. Each plate is similarly provided with a rectilinear slot 8 therein.
The plates are assembled in registry and in spaced-apart relationship by a pair of special through bolts 9 and 11 passing through suitable openings in the plates. Each of the bolts is provided with a central body 12 disposed eccentrically or with its axis eccentric to the bolt axis. The body 12 has shoulders 13 thereon adapted to abut the facing sides of the plates. The central body 12 also has a hexagonal or wrench-engaging portion 14.
When the bolts are assembled with the plates, the plates are held in parallelism and in registry by the bolt bodies and bolt shanks and are clamped by nuts 16 engaging threads on the bolts. However, the nuts can be loosened for rotation of the bolt bodies by engagement of a wrench with the hexagonal portions 14, and can be tightened so that the bolts cannot be rotated. In this fashion there is provided a fundamental framework for the structure which, however, is subject to ready disassembly and to ready adjustment to change the free space between the central bodies of the bolts.
Pursuant to the invention, the plates 6 and 7 are also provided with aligned journal apertures 17 and 18. A drive shaft 19 has bearing portions rotatable within the openings 17 and 18 in both of the plates 6 and 7 about an axis 21 parallel to the axes of the bolts 9 and 11 and the pins 38 and 46. Conveniently, the drive shaft 19 has characterized ends 22 thereon for engagement with other devices.
Mounted on the drive shaft 19 is a pair of drive forks 23 and 24. These are substantially identical and are appropriately fixed on the drive shaft, as shown in FIG. 5, by serrations 25 in appropriate locations on the drive shaft interlocking with serrations within the forks. The parts are axially forced together for proper axial spacing and for rotation in unison. When the shaft 19 is rotated, the forks are swung in an arc, being effective between rotary end stops provided by the adjusted positions of the bolt bodies 12. In this way, the extent of swinging and the stopping points for the forks can readily be set.
Each of the forks is in engagement with one of a pair of rollers 26 and 27 removably held by clips in vertical alignment on a drive pin 28 having its axis parallel to the axis 21 and anchored in a preferably rectangular, forked block 31 bored to receive the pin 28. The rollers 26 and 27 ride in the respective slots of the respective forks 23 and 24 as the forks swing from side to side about the axis 21, while comparable rollers 29 and 30 on the pin 28 engage the respective linear slots 8. The rollers, being separate, can revolve at different speeds according to their abutting members, thus reducing wear. The block 31 moves, but only in a rectilinear path, being guided laterally by the constrained rollers and being guided vertically by abutment of the block 31 against the facing surfaces of the forks 23 and 24. This mechanism is effective to translate rotary motion of the shaft 19 into rectilinear motion of the block 31, and vice versa.
In order to afford a power mechanism, there is provided any suitable sort of driver. Preferably, this is a standard cylinder mechanism 36 having an end body 37 contoured to fit between the plates 6 and 7. The body 36 is anchored to the plates by pivot pins 38 set in the body 37 and in the adjacent plates. By this construction, the cylinder 36 has some free orientation. Despite some possible distortions in service, misalignment, or variations in manufacture of the parts, the cylinder mechanism 36 does not bind with regard to the plates 6 and 7. This non-binding effect occurs in the direction of the axis of the pins 38 also, since some play in that direction is arranged.
The cylinder 36 can be single-acting, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and carries a standard interior piston (not shown) connected to a drive rod 41 having a threaded end 42 screwed into one end of the block 31, so that upon reciprocation of the drive rod 41 the block is similarly moved to rotate the shaft 19, and vice versa.
Often, when the cylinder-piston mechanism is single-acting, there is also disposed between the plates 6 and 7 a spacer 44 having pivot pins 46 to join the spacer, like the body 37, between and to the plates 6 and 7. The spacer 44 has a central bore through which slides a spring rod 47 at one end carrying threads 48 interengaging with a rectangular block 50 having a tongue disposed between the forks 23 and 24 and, like the forked block 31, also bored to receive the pin 28. The spring rod 47 is disposed in axial alignment with the drive rod 41. The spring rod carrier a number of disc spring washers 49 threaded thereon and set at desired abutment pressure by a nut 51 screwed onto the rod 47. With this washer or disc spring arrangement, movement of the rod 47 produces corresponding deflections in the washers 49 and a corresponding spring load on the block 31. With this arrangement, actuation of the drive rod 41 by the cylinder 36 controls rectilinear motion thereof in both directions and a corresponding rotation of the shaft 19 to drive any implement connected to such shaft.
Preferably, the various moving parts have appropriate clearances, so that there will be no binding and so that the parts can remain in good operating alignment. Sometimes also, the various fastenings, particularly the nuts 16 and the bolts 9 and 11, are positioned with respect to the plates 6 and 7 by intervening washers, not only lock washers, but often preferably of an electrically non-conducting or fibrous nature. Not only is there some yielding possible to make sure there is no misalignment or binding, but also to isolate any possible electrolytic action. These items are not shown in the drawings for simplicity of illustration.
In many instances, instead of utilizing a single-acting cylinder arrangement with a return spring, there is utilized a double-acting cylinder arrangement; for example, with a valve as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the parts are substantially the same as heretofore described except that the block 31a is not forked and does not join any spring rod. Also, the bolts 9a and 11a are somewhat longer, although not otherwise changed, in order to receive a frame assembly 56 made up of a number of sheet metal plates appropriately secured together to afford a mounting and stiffening frame. This is in part pierced to overlie the bolts and to be anchored by securing nuts 57 against intervening fiber washers 58 or like mountings. On the frame 56 is disposed a valve 59, or the like, actuated by a rotary, central shaft 61 having a blade and interfitting with a cross slot in an added core 63 within the hollow shaft 19a. Conveniently, the core 63 is glued or cemented in position against axial or rotary movement relative to the shaft 19a and also has another cross slot in the other end at ninety degrees to the first cross slot. With this arrangement, the valve 59 can be installed in inverted position and with different shaft angularity.
With this arrangement, actuation of the drive rod 41a in either axial direction causes a rotation of the forks of the shaft 19a, of the core 63 and consequently of the rotary member 61 for actuating the valve 59, or the like.
In this arrangement also, by loosening various of the fastenings and engaging a wrench with the hexagonal portion of the through bolts, it is possible to swing the eccentric bolt bodies so that the end points or motion limits of the actuator can be suitably adjusted. All of the forces involved in working operation are imposed on the parts without binding and without undue warping or bending, so that despite numerous operations and under relatively heavy loads the life of the structure is substantial.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US1260260 *||May 12, 1914||Mar 19, 1918||Singer Mfg Co||Variable-feed mechanism for eyeleting and other machines.|
|US1923681 *||Jun 15, 1931||Aug 22, 1933||Mccabe Ira E||Solenoid operated valve|
|US2520209 *||Jul 3, 1947||Aug 29, 1950||Hill William H||Operating mechanism for change speed gears|
|US3104592 *||Oct 19, 1961||Sep 24, 1963||John M Sheesley||Center bar actuator|
|US3672262 *||May 4, 1970||Jun 27, 1972||Michael A Karr||Valve operator apparatus|
|US3704986 *||Dec 9, 1970||Dec 5, 1972||Res Eng Co||Actuator|
|US3727523 *||May 7, 1971||Apr 17, 1973||Res Eng Co||Spring return cartridge|
|US3824901 *||Jan 18, 1973||Jul 23, 1974||Shafer Valve Co||Spring return for piston operator|
|CA628800A *||Oct 10, 1961||Flick-Reedy Corporation||Valve operator unit|
|GB946364A *||Title not available|
|GB966039A *||Title not available|
|GB971879A *||Title not available|
|GB188005447A *||Title not available|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4537085 *||Jan 24, 1983||Aug 27, 1985||Valentine Al L||Pivotal lift apparatus|
|US4620696 *||Aug 10, 1983||Nov 4, 1986||Blatt Leland F||Power clamp|
|US4693128 *||Apr 11, 1986||Sep 15, 1987||T K Valve & Manufacturing, Inc.||Apparatus for converting linear motion to rotary motion|
|US5191808 *||Apr 20, 1990||Mar 9, 1993||Prime Actuator Control Systems Limited||Actuator end stop arrangement|
|US6089647 *||Sep 16, 1999||Jul 18, 2000||Navistar International Transportation Corp.||School bus door operator|
|US6264267 *||May 1, 2000||Jul 24, 2001||International Truck And Engine Corporation||School bus door operator|
|US20100122477 *||Nov 14, 2008||May 20, 2010||Caterpillar Inc.||Hydraulic actuator assembly and scraper using same|
|US20100288956 *||Jan 5, 2009||Nov 18, 2010||Dvg Automation S.P.A.||Valve actuator|
|WO1990012964A1 *||Apr 20, 1990||Nov 1, 1990||Prime Actuator Control Systems Ltd.||Actuator end stop arrangement|
|WO2017035572A1 *||Aug 15, 2016||Mar 9, 2017||Weir Minerals Australia Ltd||A hydraulically powered rotary actuator|
|U.S. Classification||74/104, 74/526|
|International Classification||F15B15/08, F16H21/44|
|Cooperative Classification||F16H21/44, Y10T74/2063, F15B15/066, Y10T74/18936|
|European Classification||F16H21/44, F15B15/06E|


Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Stendeck - Faces
this is unlike any IDM album i've heard. rather than making an album comprised solely of IDM or powernoise, Stendeck fused the two together, creating an album of ambient soundscapes with noisy, fuzzed-out beats. however, despite the latter being present, the album feels beautiful rather than aggressive. while a couple of songs do have an edge to them (track 9 in particular being mostly static), this manages to be incredibly relaxing and constantly interesting. highly recommended.


text:
“I have been coming from the US to see Dr. Juan Carlos for 5 years. I get much better healthcare from Dr. Juan Carlos than I do from any of the dentists that I have been to see in the states and I pay much less than I ever would in the states. The differences in prices and service are astonishing.
During my visit’s for cleanings, Dr. Juan Carlos does the work himself and examines each one of my teeth as he goes, if he is suspicious that I might have a problem, he x-rays the area and catch’s cavities early and fixes them, this is much better than having a “Dental Hygenist” do the cleaning in the states, and it’s cheaper too. I have also had other procedures such as crowns done by Dr. Juan Carlos and I am extremely pleased with the service, price, appearance and functionality of his work.
You owe it to yourself to visit his office, not only will you save a lot of money, you will upgrade your dental healthcare immediately”.
- Doug R, Florida

domain: health


text:
IPG Photonics to buy precision laser tool maker
(Reuters) - Specialized laser maker IPG Photonics Corp IPGP.N agreed to buy privately owned J.P. Sercel Associates for an undisclosed amount, adding precision laser products to its portfolio.
The Oxford, Massachusetts-based IPG said the deal will lower its 2012 profit by 1 to 2 cents per share and add about $4 million in revenue during the year.
IPG, which makes laser systems used for cutting, welding and engraving, said the deal will help it gain a stronger foothold in the $800 million precision laser market, IPG's CEO Valentin Gapontsev said.
IPG expects the acquisition to add to its profit in 2013.
(Reporting by Aditya Kondalamahanty; Editing by Sreejiraj Eluvangal)
- Police seek motive in fatal Washington state school shooting
- Wall St. finally turning on Amazon as Bezos magic fades
- Two deputies killed, two others hurt in California shooting spree
- Easter Island's ancient inhabitants weren't so lonely after all
- Two killed, four wounded in Washington state school shooting

domain: economics


Womack Data Sheet 35: How to Make Noise Calculations with Decibels
Information in this issue supplements the basic information on noise levels in Design Data Sheet 24. The purpose here is to define more clearly how decibels are used to rate noise of hydraulic pumps, and to give examples of calculations.
Comparing Sound Power and Sound Pressure
Sound power is the acoustical power, sometimes expressed in watts, generated by a source of sound such as a hydraulic pump. Two sound sources (pumps) could be compared by their relative acoustical wattage outputs, but can be more conveniently compared by assigning decibel ratings on the dB power scale.
Sound pressure is the strength of the traveling soundwave, in PSI or other pressure units, at a specified distance from the source of the sound. Discomfort or damage to a listener’s ears is from sound pressure, not from sound power at the source. Although two sound waves could be compared by their PSI as read on a sound level meter, it is more convenient to compare them on the dB pressure scale. This is a different scale than the dB power scale on which acoustical wattage is rated.
The dB scales for expressing and comparing sound power and sound pressure were arbitrarily selected so as to be convenient to use. The two scales are different but were carefully defined so their relationship to each other would be such that a change of (so many) dB on the power level at the source would result in the same dB change in pressure reading at any distance from the source. Instead of a linear scale, dB ratings were placed on a logarithmic scale to compress the upper end into a more usable and practical range.
What is a Decibel?
A dB has no assigned value; it does not represent a definite quantity of anything; it is simply a ratio used to compare the relative intensities of two sound waves, or the relative power levels of two sound sources. It can be, and is, used in other technologies such as electronics for comparing voltage, current, or power levels. Decibels could be used in illumination for comparing power level of two sources of light, or the illumination intensity at distances from the light source. They could be used in mechanical work for comparing two levels of force, torque, work, HP, etc.
Whether or not so stated, a dB rating is always a ratio either between two sounds, or between one sound and a fixed reference base. To state that a certain pump has an 80 dB noise level means that the ratio between its sound level and that of the selected zero base (0 dB) is 80 on the dB scale.
The dB Pressure Scale
The standard reference base selected for the intensity (pressure) of a sound wave is 0.000,000,003 PSI because this is the least sound wave intensity that can be detected by the average human ear. It is also the least difference between two sound waves that can normally be detected. This pressure has been assigned a value of 0 dB. It is more pressure has been assigned a value of 0 dB. It is more conveniently written in exponent form as 3 × 10-9 PSI. All other sounds are louder than this, the loudest being over 10,000,000 times the PSI intensity of the 0 dB base. Because this wide range of sound pressure is unhandy to work with, the dB scale, instead of being linear, was set up in logarithms to compress it into a more compact scale where not more than 3 digits are required to express pressure levels over the entire audible range. When comparing the sound pressure of two sound waves, their dB difference is, by definition, 20 times the logarithm (to the base 10) of their ratio. Examples are given later.
The dB Power Scale
Sound radiation power is also compared by dB ratings, and for this purpose the 0 dB reference base was arbitrarily chosen to be 0.000,000,000,001 watt, or written in exponent form: 1 × 10-12 watt. Since sound pressure decreases as the square of the distance to the source, the power scale was set up as the square root of the pressure scale, so that any change in dB power at the source would cause the same dB pressure change at any distance. So, the dB power scale was defined as 10 (instead of 20) times the logarithm (to the base 10) of the ratio between two acoustic power levels. (To take the square root of a number, its logarithm is divided by 2).
This issue shows how to make calculations relating to
noise level of one or several hydraulic pumps.
1. Comparing Two Pumps for Noise
We can compare the dB rating of one pump against another and select the one with less noise, but this does not really give us a “feel” for how noisy each one would be. Standardization methods are under development for specifying noise in “sones”. If adopted by all manufacturers it would be easy to compare one pump with another because the assigned value in sones is the loudness as it appears to a listener. It is derived experimentally from data averaged from many listeners. Two sones sound twice as loud as one sone, three sones sound three times as loud as one, etc.
To find the actual acoustic power difference between two pumps, their manufacturer’s dB ratings can be converted into watts by the method in Paragraph 8.
2. Calculation of Acoustical Power of a Pump
Acoustical power, either in dB or in watts, cannot be measured by any known method; it can only be calculated by taking a dB sound pressure reading with a sound level meter at a known distance from the center of the pump, then using the formula:
dB power = dB pressure + 20 log distance (feet) – 2.5 dB
The factor -2.5 dB is an approximation to take care of moderate sound reflections from walls.
Example: Find the dB noise power of a pump from a meter reading of 87 dB pressure taken 9 feet from the pump.
Solution: dB power = 87 + [20 × 0.954] – 2.5 = 103.58 dB.
The acoustical wattage of the pump can be calculated from Paragraph 8 after its dB power level is found.
3. Calculation of dB Pressure
If the dB rating of a pump is known, the sound pressure it will produce at any distance from its center can be calculated as follows:
dB pressure = dB power – 20 log distance (feet) + 2.5 dB
Example: A pump rated at 87 dB (power) will give a dB meter reading at 12 feet: dB (pressure) = 87 – [20 x 1.079] + 2.5 = 67.9 dB
4. Decrease of Sound Pressure with Distance
The general procedure is given near the bottom of the second column on the back side of Design Data Sheet 24.
Example: Find the decrease in dB pressure if the distance to the pump is increased to 3 times the original distance.
Solution: dB decrease = 20 log 3 = 9.54 dB. This means that the dB pressure level has dropped 9.54 dB from what it was at the original distance.
5. Increase in Noise Caused by a Second Source
If a hydraulic power unit having several pumps is proposed, what will be the combined noise level with all pumps running?
The dB rating of each pump must be obtained from its manufacturer. These dB ratings, being logarithmic, cannot be added directly. The easiest way to combine them is with the chart in the next column. After the total radiated power has been determined, then follow the method of Paragraph 3 to find the pressure level produced at a specified distance.
Because of the way dB pressure and dB power are defined, any change in dB power at the source (such as adding additional pumps) will cause the same change in dB pressure level at any distance from the pump location.
If a second pump or power unit is to be installed, either at the same or a different location than the existing power unit, its effect on the dB pressure level at a listening location where an operator is working can be determined by the method in Paragraph 6.
|Difference in dB Levels
|dB to be Added to Higher Level
Example: If noise from Pump 1 is 85 dB, and Pump 2 is added with 90 dB, what will be the new noise level?
Solution: 90 – 85 = 5 dB difference. Use the chart: Add 1.2 dB + 90 dB = 91.2 dB.
In combining several noise sources, combine the two highest first. Combine this total with the next highest level, etc.
6. Pump Added to a Noisy Background
To find the additional noise which will be contributed by a pump added to an already noisy background, first measure the existing noise level at the listening location. Then, using the manufacturer’s dB rating for the pump to be added, calculate what its dB pressure level would be at the listening location if run by itself. Finally, combine the two noise level by using the chart above.
7. Finding the dB Power Level
Use this method to find the dB power level when the output power, in watts, is known. This conversion would be used more often in electronics than in acoustics.
Example: Assume a 15-watt power level. What is this in dB? The base for 0 dB is taken as 1 × 10-12 watts.
Solution: First, find the ratio of 15 watts to the 0 dB base. This can be calculated as follows: 15 ÷ 10-12 = 1.5 × 1013. Then, take log of 1.5 × 1013 = 13.176. Finally, multiply by 10 = 131.76 dB. This means that an amplifier delivering 15 watts is working at 131.76 dB above 0 dB.
8. Finding Wattage of a Certain dB Level
This, too, may be used more in electronics. If the dB power level above 0 dB is known, the wattage can be calculated:
- Assume known dB level is 125. Divide by 10 = 12.5 dB.
- Find anti-log of 12.5 = 3.16 × 1012.
- Multiply by wattage of 0 dB: 3.16 × 1012 × 10-12 = 3.16w.
9. Finding dB Gain
This is used in electronics to find the power gain of an amplifier. The input and output levels, in watts, must be known. Then proceed as follows:
- Assume an input power of 1 milliwatt (0.001 watt) and an output power of 50 watts. Find the ratio: 50 ÷ 0.001 = 50,000. Then, take the log of 50,000 = 4.699. Finally, multiply by 10 = 46.99 dB power gain.
- To find voltage gain, input and output voltages (converted to equivalent voltages across identical input and output resistances) must be known. Then, proceed as above except in the final step, multiply by 20 instead of 10. The answer will be in dB voltage gain.
© 1990 by Womack Machine Supply Co. This company assumes no liability for errors in data nor in safe and/or satisfactory operation of equipment designed from this information.


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A Decade of Engaging Donors with
National Earned Media Programs
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) achieves important medical, scientific and environmental breakthroughs every day.
A. Lavin Communications provided strategic, earned media support for nearly 15 years via Americans for Ben-Gurion University, the university’s U.S. donor organization.
As part of the program, we organized and led annual journalist trip with groups of U.S. journalists to visit the University, meet with researchers and report on their meetings in the subsequent months and years afterward. More than 100 journalists have participated in these trips to date focusing on diverse areas including cybersecurity, cleantech, biotech, medicine and smart mobility.
Our partnership significantly raised the earned media coverage of BGU as well as resulted in additional stories in top-tier online, broadcast and other national outlets.


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The garment sector has asked the Union government to come up with uniformly applied tax rate of five per cent across the entire textile value chain under the forthcoming GST regime.
In a representation made to the Union finance and textile ministries as also state governments, the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has said that uniform and low GST rate will go a long way in removing the anomalies existing in the present tax regime where various segments of the industry pay differential rates of duties. This variable duty structure has been making the textile value chain much more complex in nature and thus the industry has always struggled to realise its true potential. The textile body says that low and uniform GST will significantly help build a much stronger and efficient value chain in the country where the textile industry contributes quite heavily to the GDP — contributes 10 per cent to the overall manufacturing production; provides direct employment to 45 million individuals and generates 60 million indirect jobs. With textile commodities holding a seven point weightage in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), it is an essential commodity in the Indian consumption basket. More importantly, CMAI is of the view that this five per cent low GST rate (as against current effective rate of around 6 per cent) will not only ensure much higher compliance by the industry, but will also bring in a much higher revenue to the exchequer.
As per an E&Y study, even with 50 per cent compliance from the industry, tax revenue across the value chain under a uniform GST rate will see an increment of Rs 7,000 crore. Under the current taxation regime, different segments of the industry attract variable duties (ranging from nil to as high as 12%). This has not only created unhealthy competition within the industry but also adversely impacted the compliance level to a large extent.
"A uniform and low tax rate of five per cent can be a big game changer for the entire textile basket of the country. It can be a holistic prescription and solution for multiple issues that have been bogging down the industry. Such an approach under the GST can transform the textile industry into a single market with predictable tax system, enabling increased value addition, employment, and exports," says Rahul Mehta, president, CMAI, who is of the view that a low and uniform GST rate would lead to creation of a unified textile industry where fibre neutrality, innovation, and technology will contribute to productivity efficiency in a major way.
"The differential rates of duties will only fail the very purpose of rolling out GST in textiles. The fragmented nature of our textile industry only adds to its complexity and hence it is imperative to address this issue in a much comprehensive manner. Through the application of a uniform low GST rate across the sector, we can ensure a faster and sustained growth for the textile industry," states Rakesh Biyani, vice president, CMAI and joint managing director of Future Group.
According to Biyani, GST applied uniformly across the sector will propel domestic production, and facilitate and encourage voluntary compliance in the sector. This growth would enable India to achieve its target of generating 35 million jobs, and attracting investment worth $200 billion by 2025.
CMAI says that the current tax system is encumbered with exemptions, concessions, blocked inputs, and tax cascading. Fabrics are exempt under both the central excise and the state VATs. The effective tax rate on garments is also very low (1.2% under excise, and five per cent under state VAT). The total output taxes from the sector are estimated to be around Rs 3,400 crore. There are supplementary revenues from blocked taxes on production and distribution input in the sector (example: synthetic yarn, accessories, dyes, and transportation, advertising, and marketing services).
A comprehensive uniform and low GST rate provides an opportunity to not only remove the inefficiencies associated with exemptions and cascading in the sector, but also increase government's revenue by three fold. Currently, fabrics are fully exempt from taxes. They account for as much as three quarters of total consumption spending on textiles, estimated to be Rs 4.34 lakh crores in 2015-16. Extension of GST to both fabrics and apparel will lead to a very substantial expansion of the tax base. Assuming even a modest 50% compliance in the sector, a 5% GST would generate revenue of Rs 10,850 crore for the government. This thus constitutes incremental output tax revenue of more than Rs 7,000 crore for the government.
The GST Council has proposed a four-tier rate structure of 5 per cent, 12%, 18%, & 28% for various goods and services. There are also exemptions to be made under GST.

domain: finance


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Does a community have the right to tell an individual, or their family, to accept death by refusing medical care or scarce healthcare resources?
However, in some cases, there may be ethical dilemmas or scarce resources that require difficult decisions to be made. For example, in a pandemic, there may be limited healthcare resources available, and healthcare professionals may need to make difficult decisions about who should receive care. In such cases, decisions must be made based on ethical principles such as the principle of maximizing benefits and the principle of fairness.
It is important to note that decisions about medical care and scarce resources should be made based
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The question of whether individuals have the right to pick the time and method of their death is a highly debated ethical and legal issue. The right to die, also known as assisted suicide or euthanasia, is currently legal in some countries, including Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, but illegal in others.
Those in favor of the right to die argue that individuals should have the autonomy and freedom to make decisions about their own lives, including how and when they die. They argue that people who are terminally ill, suffering from unbearable pain or have a diminished quality of life should have the option of choosing to end their lives in a dignified manner. They also argue that preventing individuals from choosing to end their lives is a violation of their basic human rights.
On the other hand, opponents of the right to die argue that it is morally wrong and a violation of the sanctity of life. They argue that allowing individuals to choose the time and method of their death goes against the values of a society that seeks to protect and preserve life. They also argue that it may lead to abuse and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those with disabilities.
In conclusion, the issue of the right to die is complex and controversial, with strong arguments on both sides. Ultimately, the decision to legalize assisted suicide or euthanasia is up to individual governments and their citizens to make through a democratic process.

domain: law


Let’s face it. We need resources. In a perfect world we could leave the forests and plains untouched and pristine. It’s not a perfect world. People concerned about the environment often forget this fact. They use resources just like everyone else, but protest using damming rivers for hydroelectric power and mining for minerals that power their Priuses. Isn’t there a way to compromise a way we can use resources and be environmentally conscious? Stillwater Mining Company outside of the tiny town of Nye, Montana thinks so and proves it every day. Recently, we went to tour this mine that is renowned for its safe and clean mining practices.
Mining in this area has been happening since the late 1800s. Gold, Copper, and chrome were the coveted minerals at that time. In 1967, the game changed. John Manville core drilled the area and struck a valuable deposit that’s now referred to as the JM Reef, after its founder. This is a section of rock containing platinum and palladium. It was formed around 2.6 billion years ago as a magma intrusion formed a batholith, slowly cooled, and caused layers of different rocks and minerals to separate into different layers. The Beartooth uplift sheared off a section of this rock and lifted it closer to the surface and closer to its future of mining. Only the uplifted section is economical to mine since the remainder is buried by 10,000 feet of sedimentary rock.
Now, the Stillwater Mining Company mines the platinum and palladium mostly for the production of catalytic converters which convert the carbon monoxide in vehicle emissions into water and carbon dioxide, essentially reducing grime and making the emissions cleaner. That’s not what the mine is known for though. They’ve received much publicity and praise for being environmentally-minded. We met with the Environmental Manager and the Public Affairs Coordinator for the mine. They talked us through the logistics of the mine and then showed us the operation with a facilities tour.
Stillwater extracts the rock from a 100-mile-long system of tunnels. The rock is put through a sulfide floatation system. The waste rock, is either put back into the tunnels or processed, buried, and reclaimed with native grass vegetation and natural contours. The mine tailings are put in containment ponds. The water from the ponds evaporates and the remaining tailings are also buried and reclaimed.
Miners find water underground while drilling for the valuable minerals. At Stillwater, this water is pumped to the surface, treated to remove excess nitrogen, and used to water fields near one of the mine’s tailing ponds on their Hertzman Ranch property. Other water from the tailings ponds is treated and also used to water these fields. The mitigated land provides good forage for wildlife, including the bighorn sheep that frequent the area and are monitored by the mine to ensure health of the population. The mine usually doesn’t allow hunting on these areas but they make an exception for disabled people and first-time hunters aged 12-14. They host a hunting day and allow these people to harvest an animal.
Stillwater Mining Company also involves nearby communities and formed the Good Neighbor Agreement with them. This allows community members to inspect the mine whenever they want and have a say in decisions regarding the mine. Community members monitor water quality down river of the facilities and get involved with learning about mine practices.
Monitoring Bighorn Sheep, reusing water for agriculture, avoiding any chemical leaks or slag piles, reclaiming tailing piles and waste rock in a safe way are all examples of how the Stillwater Mine is operating in an environmentally sound way. It’s a tangible example of how environmentalists, miners, and the environment can all collaborate. It shows that the balance between needing resources and being environmentally safe is achievable. It also gives me hope for the future.
I’ve noticed and lamented the contradictions in environmentalism for quite some time and have always wondered how our species, a species with such a large impact, would ever be able to overcome either our need for resources or our environmental degradation. Even though I knew that the world is far from black and white, I still thought any sort of balance would be impossible. Now I realize that we cannot just use resources, but must use them in a responsible way – as exemplified by Stillwater Mine. It won’t be easy but through collaboration and a sincere appreciation for nature, I believe we can make environmentally-safe resource extraction a norm.


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Slovenia receives EUR 913m from SURE scheme
Brussels, 2 February - The European Commission disbursed EUR 913 million to Slovenia in the form of loans under favourable terms as part of the SURE instrument on Tuesday after the country already received EUR 200 million last year to mitigate unemployment risks during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Story | Jun 12, 2011 | 8:56 PM
A collection of news and information related to Alameda County (California) published by this site and its partners.
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The ongoing controversy over the celebrity-endorsed Brazilian Blowout and similar keratin hair smoothing treatments that are used to tame frizzy hair intensified this week, when U.S. health officials issued a hazard alert warning about dangerous...
Story | Apr 1, 2011 | 4:35 PM
A 42-year-old Oakland man has been arrested in Chula Vista on suspicion of kidnapping a woman in the Northern California city and subjecting her to a 15-hour ordeal that included beating her and stuffing her in the trunk of her...


Modern piezoelectric transducers normally have complicated structures and work under severe loading conditions. Application of an external load in excess of a critical level will cause domain switching in the material and therefore lead to a significant nonlinearity and hysteresis in the polarization and strain response. To develop a constitutive model concerning the large-signal nonlinear behavior of ferroelectric piezoceramics, it is desirable to determine a switching criterion in the multiaxial stress and electric field states.
In this experimental work, "soft" lead zirconate titanate (PZT) specimens in initially unpoled state were subjected to a proportional electromechanical loading, in which a compressive stress and a parallel, proportional electric field were applied simultaneously. By varying the relative proportions of the stress and E-field between tests, a family of nonlinear polarization and strain responses were obtained. An attempt has been made to explain the experimental findings by simultaneously taking into account the contributions of dielectric response, elastic deformation, piezoeffects, and irreversible domain switching. Based on an offset method, switching (domain reorientation threshold) surfaces were mapped out in the biaxial stress and electric field space. Finally, several switching conditions existing in the literature were summarized and compared with the experimental data obtained in this work.


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We’re currently facing one of the most severe housing crunches in the history of the United States, with escalating homelessness rates and entire generations losing hope of ever becoming homeowners. However, there is a simple solution to this crisis: legalizing duplexes, triplexes, and other forms of light-touch density (LTD) housing. By allowing for more affordable housing options, this would help alleviate the housing shortage and provide opportunities for middle-income households to own a home.
The current housing crisis is primarily a result of long-standing exclusionary zoning laws that restrict most areas of the country to single-family detached homes, effectively banning LTD housing. These laws limit the supply of housing options, particularly for middle-income households. However, by repealing these restrictive zoning laws, we can create more housing opportunities that are both affordable and inclusive.
LTD housing encompasses various types of dwellings, including duplexes, triplexes, quads through eight-plexes, townhouses, cottage courts, accessory dwelling units, and similar structures. Allowing for more units on a single parcel of land naturally makes housing more affordable and accessible, enabling upward mobility for individuals and families. It is simply a matter of repealing the laws that prohibit these housing types.
Fortunately, this solution is already gaining momentum across the nation. California, Austin, and Vermont are among the regions that have passed legislation to promote affordable housing through the legalization of LTD housing. These initiatives, known as HOME (Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency), Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, and Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone, recognize that the key to addressing the housing crisis is freeing the market from the constraints of single-family zoning.
The history of exclusionary zoning laws dates back to the early 20th century when a range of housing options was available to people of all classes. However, these variations in housing types also posed a threat to the prevailing segregationist mindset. Zoning laws were then adopted, driven by the U.S. Commerce Department, to restrict residential land to more expensive single-family detached homes while excluding affordable alternatives. These policies replaced private property rights with communal rights and city planners’ opinions, making housing scarce and unaffordable.
Over time, this scarcity and rise in housing prices have contributed to the current housing crunch, particularly in high-demand cities like California. The restrictive land use regulations implemented to delay or prevent the market from responding to increased demand have resulted in home prices far exceeding incomes. This trend has gradually priced out existing residents and potential newcomers and made even older, smaller homes unaffordable.
To address the housing crisis, it is crucial to build more housing and reverse the damage caused by these misguided zoning policies. The solution lies in adopting light-touch density housing types similar to those prevalent in the early 20th century. By implementing by-right LTD zoning across the country, an estimated 930,000 additional housing units could be created annually over the next few decades. This moderate increase in density would facilitate the construction of more affordable and inclusive housing, aligning home prices with incomes and reducing housing displacement pressures.
Houston serves as a prime example of a city that has experienced rapid population and wage growth without sacrificing affordability. The city implemented a LTD law that allowed for smaller lots in 1998. As a result, home prices in the Houston metro area remained below the national level, while cities like Los Angeles experienced significant price increases. The stark contrast in homeless rates between the two cities further emphasizes the importance of enlightened policy solutions to address the housing crisis effectively.
Some argue that investment firms purchasing single-family homes have contributed to the unaffordability issue. While these purchases have increased recently, it is important to recognize that rising home prices precede this trend. Furthermore, the majority of single-family home purchases are made by smaller investors who own fewer than 10 properties, rather than large-scale investment firms. This distinction is often overlooked in the scapegoating narrative.
Despite these challenges, there is cause for optimism as knowledge-based solutions gain traction. Numerous states and cities, such as California, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Montana, Austin, Minneapolis, and Charlotte, have already passed zoning reforms to scale back single-family detached zoning and legalize LTD housing. Many more jurisdictions are considering similar reforms, recognizing that legalizing light-touch density is the most effective and politically viable way to solve the housing crisis.
In conclusion, legalizing duplexes, triplexes, and other forms of light-touch density housing is the solution we need to address the housing crunch in the United States. By repealing exclusionary zoning laws and allowing for more affordable and inclusive housing options, we can increase the supply of homes for middle-income households. Implementing these reforms nationwide would help close the housing supply gap, ensuring that more Americans have access to affordable housing opportunities. Let us embrace the potential of light-touch density as the key to solving our nation’s housing crisis.

domain: politics


Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad, but it is quite an expensive device. The iPad Mini isn’t that much cheaper, at about $150 less for the similarly-specced version. Then again, you could always get Acer’s new Android tablet, which will set you back only $150 (USD).
It was initially thought that Acer’s B1-A71 would cost less than $100, but $150 is still pretty cheap. That’s the price of a pair of good sneakers, making it very affordable. The tablet has a 7-inch WSVGA (1024×600) display, which is powered by a Mediatek 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. It will ship running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and has access to the hundreds of thousands of apps available from Google Play. It comes with 8GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM, and a microSD card slot. The front-facing camera is 0.3MP, which isn’t great, but should suffice for video chats. Wireless connectivity is 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and there’s no cellular data option, though.
Acer has announced that it the B1-A71 will be available at the end of January 2013.


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Posted on 26 April 2016
As promised, here’s more information about summer Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that deliver weekly shares of produce and other goods from local farms and suppliers to West Philadelphia.
Schedule: Mid-May through early November
Pick-up location: 4912 Baltimore Avenue (Greensgrow West)
What’s in the share: A seasonal assortment (5-8 items) of locally grown vegetables; a selection of fruit that reflects the abundance of the season; a dairy/protein option; locally made cheese (8 times during the season); locally produced prepared food, such as beer, pasta or ice-cream. Half-share and add-on share (add cheese, coffee, ice cream or bread) options are available.
Cost: Full share: $800; Half share (pick up every other week): $475.
Posted on 22 April 2016
About 40 percent of food in the United States is never eaten, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. It’s tough to point fingers when there is no one to blame. We’ve all bought meat or produce that has gone bad before we have gotten around to preparing it. The EAT (Everyone At the Table) Café, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Center for Hunger-free Communities at Drexel University, aims to approach food resources a little differently to reduce waste and make access to healthy food more affordable with a pay-what-you-can price structure.
Donnell Jones-Craven, EAT Café’s general manager, stresses that the Café is not a soup kitchen, as there will be seating and table service. “We’re like Sabrina’s or Honey’s; we suggest that price. We believe that 80 percent of our customer base will pay the suggested amount or more; it will help the 20 percent that cannot pay the full suggested price… We just want to make sure people will do their very best, because we want to stay viable, open and serving our community as large.” Continue Reading
Posted on 20 April 2016
Eating healthy on a budget can be a challenge, especially for lower income individuals and families. In an effort to increase the community’s accessibility to affordable healthy, local and sustainable foods, Mariposa, the cooperative grocery store located at 49th and Baltimore, has expanded Co+op Basics, an everyday low-price program.
“The Baltimore Avenue corridor has changed significantly over the past decade due to new development and construction, however, the area remains home to lower income communities with little access to fresh produce and nutritious foods,” reads a recent statement from Mariposa. “As a staple of West Philadelphia for over 45 years, our mission to provide our community with access to healthy and sustainable foods relies on the affordability of our store.”
The Co+op Basics program was first introduced in December 2015. Since then new products appeared on Mariposa’s shelves, and the store, which was always known for quality products, but wasn’t always affordable, has lowered prices on grocery staples necessary for a balanced diet. Now, shoppers can find everyday low prices on popular grocery and household items, including fresh produce, dairy, meat, bulk, grocery, and wellness products. Continue Reading
Posted on 20 April 2016
The University City District has announced the return of their signature and super popular summer events – the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, University City Dining Days, 40th Street Summer Concert Series, and Movies in Clark Park.
Only one Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll has been scheduled for this summer – Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. As always, local businesses will present $1 bargains from 43rd to 52nd Street. And there will be some new businesses participating in the event this summer. Stay tuned for more information.
Photo courtesy UCD
University City Dining Days will run from Thursday, July 14 to Sunday, July 24. Now in its 12th year, Dining Days is a 3 courses, 3 prices promotion at some of University City’s most popular dining destinations, from exceptional craft beer bars to celebrity chef restaurants to cozy BYOBs. This event is also a great opportunity to explore the diverse international cuisine in the area, including Indian, Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, and more. For more information, check out: www.ucdiningdays.com. Continue Reading
Posted on 14 April 2016
Parklet outside of Fu-Wah Market at 47th and Baltimore.
Spring is finally here, and University City District has begun reinstalling Parklets, temporary outdoor seating platforms with tables, decorated with planters. Overall, six Parklets are being installed around Spruce Hill and Cedar Park, all of them next to popular businesses:
• 4040 Locust St. (hosted by Ramen Bar)
• 261 S. 44th St. (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop)
• 4239 Baltimore Ave. (hosted by Green Line Cafe)
• 801 S. 47th St. (hosted by Fu-Wah Market)
• 4903 Catharine St. (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream)
• 125 S. 40th St. (hosted by Hai St. Kitchen, Jake’s Sandwich Board & Zesto Pizza)
The Parklets will stay until October or early November, depending on the weather.
Just a reminder that Parklets are public spaces open to everyone, and you don’t have to eat at the restaurant where the Parklet is located in order to use it.
Posted on 13 April 2016
Along with Caribbean Cuisine Week, which supports young Caribbean athletes participating in this month’s Penn Relays, Dining Out For Life will also be held this week – on Thursday, Apr. 14.
Proceeds from Dining Out For Life go to fund ActionAIDS, an organization providing education, prevention and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV and AIDS throughout the Delaware Valley region.
Started by an ActionAIDS volunteer in 1991, Dining Out For Life is now held in several cities throughout North America. Last year more than 200 restaurants and thousands of diners raised nearly $200,000, and this year, about the same number of participating restaurants will donate 33 percent of their day’s food sales. Continue Reading

domain: food