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Riva is a 15-story riverfront tower offering luxurious living unlike ever before. With unobstructed ocean views, exclusive amenities, a central downtown location and a prestigious address, Riva is making waves in the South Florida luxury market.
Real Estate: Riva real estate includes 90 residences with 10 different model plans of two- and three-bedroom units. Every Riva luxury residence features panoramic views, high-end appliances, stone and glass "Wet Room" baths, garage parking and private storage areas. Desirable Riva penthouse residences are comprised of two floors, two terraces, a two-car garage, and a boat slip nestled in a private dock. Take in both peaceful ocean views and awe-inspiring city views on each terrace, relax in the unit's rooftop spa, and experience the luxurious interior of your own private penthouse suite.
Lifestyle: Riva residents enjoy an indulgent lifestyle, surrounded by compelling design, convenient amenities and scenic views. The building's central location near the heart of Fort Lauderdale overlooking the Middle River makes Riva attractive to both the active and laid-back buyer. Features of this exclusive community include a porte cochere entry with a fountain and valet service, a lobby-level cafe overlooking the river, a resort-style pool and spa, a large landscaped park along the riverbank with seating, gardens and a walkway, private boat slips and docks for residents, and much more.
Education: Riva residents enjoy easy access to several public schools, such as Walker Elementary School, Sunrise Middle School and Fort Lauderdale High School. Nearby private schools include St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Saint Jerome Catholic School.
Water Access: Water access from Riva could not be any more convenient, as the complex lies along the Middle River and features its own private boat slips and dock for residents, a recreation dock for kayakers and paddle boarders, and an on-site watersports club with rentals available. Yachters and boaters also enjoy easy access from Riva to the ocean's shore just a few minutes away.


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PHILADELPHIA — That high-octane, ball-control offense belonged to the San Diego Chargers. Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes to Eddie Royal, and Nick Novak kicked a 46-yard field goal with 7 seconds left to lead the Chargers past the Philadelphia Eagles 33-30 on Sunday, spoiling Chip Kelly's home debut.
On Philly's turf, the Chargers (1-1) looked more like the Eagles' ideal offense. They racked up 539 yards, held the ball for 40:17 and sped things up.
"We kind of no-huddled the no-huddlers," Rivers said. "We had our own rhythm of no-huddle going. It was a heck of a team win."
Michael Vick threw for a career-best 428 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score. But a porous Eagles defense couldn't stop Rivers all day. He finished 36 of 47 for 419 yards, and the Chargers punted only once. They fumbled twice inside Philadelphia's 10 in the first half. The teams combined for 1,150 total yards.
The Chargers got good news after the game when they learned receiver Malcom Floyd was fine after leaving on a stretcher with a neck injury on a hard hit by DeMeco Ryans and Nate Allen on the first play from scrimmage after halftime. "All the tests right now look good, so it's great for the organization to go out and get a win for Malcom," coach Mike McCoy said.
Following a dynamic 33-27 victory over Washington last Monday, the Eagles (1-1) needed more time to get their up-tempo offense going against San Diego.
They crammed 53 plays into the first half against the Redskins, took a 26-point lead in the third quarter and held on to beat the defending NFC East champs.
But it was the Chargers who moved the ball seemingly at will in the first half. Those two turnovers were costly, however, and the Eagles had a chance to win at the end.
"It was big for our offense to just convert on third down, trying to keep their fast-paced offense off the field, knowing how explosive they were," Royal said.
The Eagles had a first down at the Chargers 10 before Vick was shaken up on an incomplete pass. Nick Foles came in and threw another incompletion before Vick returned and misfired on a throw. Alex Henery kicked a tying 32-yard field goal that left Rivers plenty of time to answer.
"It doesn't matter how we score as long as we score," Kelly said. "But I still think we left too many opportunities offensively out there."
Rivers quickly led the Chargers down the field with less than two minutes left, and Novak nailed his fourth field goal to win it. "Last week, we didn't finish the game," McCoy said about blowing a 21-point lead in a 31-28 loss to Houston.
"We made too many mistakes. Today, we finished."
The Eagles took a 27-23 lead when Vick ran in from the 2, but the defense couldn't hold it. Henery allowed the ball to slip through his hands when Fozzy Whittaker fumbled on the kick return and the Chargers started at the Eagles 39.
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A few plays later, Rivers tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Royal for a 30-27 lead. DeSean Jackson had 193 yards receiving, including a 61-yard TD, for the Eagles. LeSean McCoy had a career-high 114 yards receiving.
"We made our share of plays today and I think we're going to get better," Vick said.
Antonio Gates led the Chargers with 124 yards receiving, Floyd had 102 and Royal added 90. Rivers found Royal wide open on a third-and-10 for a 24-yard TD pass for a 20-10 lead, but the Eagles got a field goal then tied it when Vick hit Jackson in stride on a deep ball. Vick tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Riley Cooper to cut San Diego's lead to 13-10 in the second quarter. Then the Chargers wasted two excellent opportunities on consecutive drives. Brandon Boykin forced Gates to fumble after a catch, and Casey Matthews recovered at the Eagles 2.
The Chargers were at the Eagles 8 on their next possession before Trent Cole forced Ryan Mathews to fumble and Mychal Kendricks recovered. Vick quickly moved the Eagles into field-goal range, but Henery missed a 46-yarder wide right at the end of the half.
NOTES: Royal has five TDs on 10 catches in two games. ... Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o didn't play because of a sprained right foot that he injured in a preseason game Aug. 8. ... Eagles starting CB Bradley Fletcher was sidelined because of a concussion.

subset: commoncrawl


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Enjoy the Newly Renovated Holiday Inn Express, Hudson MA
Located just off I-495 and I-290, the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel Boston – Marlboro offers a unique location among area accommodations. Just minutes from local corporate headquarters and the Massachusetts Turnpike, our hotel is also near Worcester, Framingham and Boston. This is one of the best Marlboro, MA area hotels you can find.
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In addition to a great locale, this hotel in the Boston - Marlboro area features great amenities, including a Fitness Center, Business Center and free Express Start Breakfast.
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Proportional and servovalves
Infinitely variable directional control valves
The directional control valves discussed so far in this series have all been configured to either pass full flow or completely block flow. The only way to decrease flow through these valves is by adding flow controls or by mechanically limiting movement of an internal part.
The first infinitely variable valve available was the servovalve. Internal flow-modifying parts could be moved to any position at any rate, so output from any port could be varied at will. (Some call these valves infinitely variable 4-way flow controls.) The main problem with servovalves was (and still is) that they require very clean fluid to keep them operating effectively. Fluid from a standard well-maintained hydraulic circuit contains enough contamination to cause most servovalves to fail in a matter of minutes or only last a few hours at best. This meant that the original servovalves were tried and removed from many machines that needed precise control but not at the perceived cost of cleaning up the hydraulic oil.
Why use infinitely variable valves?
Some actuators must move at a precise speed, stop at a close-tolerance position, or produce a very accurate force to perform the work for which they were designed. With the proper input signals and feedback devices, proportional or servovalves can make an actuator perform any or all these functions flawlessly.
Rolling mills turn out sheet consistently to a tolerance of ±0.0005 in. at sheet speeds of 2000 to 5000 feet per minute. Hydraulic cylinders controlled by servovalves maintain the proper force and position the rolls precisely from feedback signals sent by sensors that measure metal thickness, cylinder force, and position. Airline pilots train in simulators moved by hydraulic cylinders so precisely that the pilots get the feel of landing gear raising and locking in position. Even entertainment rides use servovalves to make passengers think they are in 20-ft waves when they are actually in an enclosed articulated room in a shopping mall.
For less precise movement, there are proportional valves that mimic the output of servovalves but respond more slowly. They are less expensive than servovalves and more contamination tolerant, so they have replaced cam valves and other mechanical devices used to get smooth motions.
Hydraulic proportional directional control valves
The symbol and cutaway view in Figure 12-1 represent a direct-acting proportional valve that handles flows as high as 10 to 30 gpm in D03- or D05-size valve interfaces. Proportional valves use the same interface standards as NFPA and ISO directional valves so they can be installed in a circuit without having to change the piping.
Physically, proportional valves appear the same as their on/off solenoid counterparts. The big difference is in the way their solenoid coils perform. Proportional coils operate on DC current and produce varying force with varying voltage. The symbol shows the solenoid slash in the operator box with a sloping arrow through the slash. This indicates the solenoid has variable force that moves the spool more or less as voltage increases and falls. The other indication on the symbol that shows the spool is infinitely variable is the parallel lines down both sides of the boxes. Proportional valves operate similarly to manual valves, but they use electronics instead of hand power.
To eliminate flow lag from spool overlap, most manufacturers cut vee notches or use some similar method that allows some flow to pass as soon as the spool moves. Vee notches also give smooth flow buildup until the spool moves through the land overlap.
Proportional valves only have two center configurations (as shown by the symbols in Figure 12-1). This means that pressure-compensated pumps with accumulators normally power circuits with proportional valves. The circuits are pressurized at all times to produce fast response from an actuator when motion is called for. (A pressure-compensated circuit also wastes the least amount of energy when throttling flow.)
The valve in Figure 12-1 depends on a certain voltage to move the spool a certain distance to pass a certain flow. This works reasonably well, but is not accurate over a broad range of pressures, flows, and temperatures. Most valves of this design are used to smoothly accelerate and/or decelerate an actuator. The spool is electronically controlled to shift over a period of time to increase flow at a controlled rate. Spool-shift speed can be controlled electronically as it opens and closes to give smooth acceleration and deceleration. Spool-shift distance can also be limited electronically to set a maximum speed when required.
To give better spool control, a linear variable-displacement transducer (LVDT) is added to the basic valve. The cutaway view and symbol in Figure 12-2 represent a direct-acting valve with an LVDT. Feedback from the LVDT tells the electronic controller the spool's position and makes sure it goes to the same place when it receives the same signal. With this arrangement, the spool always shifts to an exact location and opens the same size orifice so it can pass the same flow when pressure drop and viscosity stay the same. Control of flow is more accurate with an LVDT but pressure drop does not stay constant and viscosity often changes throughout the day so speed variations are still apparent. Such flow variations caused by system pressure fluctuation can almost be eliminated by the addition of a hydrostat module in port P as shown in Figure 12-3.
A hydrostat is simply a pressure-reducing valve set to hold downstream pressure in a 100- to 150-psi range. However, a hydrostat has a pilot line from a shuttle valve that reads downstream pressure at ports A and B, then feeds it back to the bias-spring end of the spool that controls the 100 to 150 psi. The function of a hydrostat is to maintain a constant pressure drop across the spool orifice so flow stays constant regardless of changes in system pressure. (For a thorough understanding of how pressure compensation works, see the pressure-compensated flow control valve section in Chapter 13.)
With the addition of a hydrostat, actuator speed is controlled as accurately as possible without a closed-loop electronic circuit that reads speed and modifies spool position. Closed-loop electronic circuits are used with proportional valve systems, but they only give nominal control. When accurate control is required, use servovalves with closed-loop electronics.
The symbol and cutaway view in Figure 12-4 is for a proportional valve that only controls flow. Such valves are commonly called throttle valves because they are not pressure compensated unless a hydrostat module is added.
Basic operation is identical to the proportional control valves just discussed. The only difference is they have a single solenoid and may be piped with dual flow (as shown). Dual-flow piping allows a given size valve to pass twice the volume at the same pressure drop. It can be used with any 4-way directional control valve with one precaution: the valve must be capable of handling maximum system pressure in its tank port. Many wet-armature valves will not operate at full rated pressure at their tank port. Check the supplier's catalog to see what maximum tank line pressure is allowed. Air-gap solenoid valves and solenoid pilot-operated valves with external drains normally allow full rated pressure in the tank port.
The circuit in Figure 12-5 shows a possible use for a proportional throttle valve. The vertical-down acting cylinder with a platen needs speed, acceleration, and deceleration control. This could be done with a 4-way proportional valve, but the circuit uses an inline or screw-in cartridge valve that is not directly replaceable. Adding a proportional throttle valve to the tank line of the present 4-way circuit can give the required control without extensive piping changes. The circuit is shown using a single flow path for low volume. A dual flow path setup (like the one in Figure 12-4) would allow as much as twice the flow. As stated earlier, make sure the 4-way directional control valve can accept tank-line backpressure without damaging it or causing a malfunction.
If the cylinder had a resistive load, the proportional throttle valve could be placed in the pump line of the 4-way as a meter-in flow-control circuit. A meter-in circuit would not damage the directional control valve or cause it to malfunction. The circuit in Figure 12-5 could have a counterbalance valve in the rod-end line to make it resistive. (See Chapter 14 for counterbalance valve operation and applications.)
The platen would start to move at a controlled rate when the 4-way valve shifts and the proportional throttle valve is signaled to open slowly. The shift time for the throttle valve determines the acceleration time, while shift travel distance determines maximum cylinder speed. Cylinder speed would be infinitely variable to match any production need.
Near the end of the stroke, a slowdown limit switch would signal the proportional throttle valve to start shifting back to its closed position. The proportional throttle valve would close at a controlled rate and flow from the cylinder would be retarded smoothly. When the cylinder slows sufficiently, it contacts the end-of-stroke limit switch and the 4-way directional control valve shifts to center to stop it.
The circuit in Figure 12-5 would only hold position if some retract signal was applied when stopped. This is due to internal leakage by the spool of the 4-way directional control valve and the proportional throttle valve. Another option would be to use a float-center directional control valve and a counterbalance valve.
Proportional valves for flows higher than 25-to-30 gpm use solenoid pilot-operation similar to conventional directional control valves. A small pilot-operated valve receives a signal and then sends hydraulic oil to proportionally move a larger control spool that controls actuator movement.
The cutaway view and symbol in Figure 12-6 depict a typical solenoid-pilot valve arrangement. A reducing valve module, between the pilot operator and the pilot-operated valve, keeps maximum pilot pressure below 200 psi. A proportional Input to one of the coils on the pilot operator directs flow to the spool of the pilot-operated valve and shifts it against a spring. As pressure against the spool increases, it shifts farther and sends more flow to the actuator. Feedback signals from both spools tell the electronic controls that the command has been carried out. A vee-notched spool allows flow to increase at a smooth rate so actuator speed is consistent throughout the speed range.
Ports for internal or external pilot X or drain Y provide options for these control lines to meet a particular requirement.
The complete symbol is shown in Figure 12-6. (For the simplified symbol, see Chapter 4.)
Flows up to 200 gpm are common for a D10-size proportional valve. For higher flows, use slip-in cartridge valves (discussed in Chapter 11) with proportional operators.
Hydraulic servo directional control valves
Proportional control valves are infinitely variable but they are neither highly responsive nor capable of handling minute flow changes rapidly and accurately. On the other hand, servovalves easily meet both of these requirements . . . but at a cost. They are more expensive than proportional valves, they require super-clean fluid, and they need extra electronics to exploit their full capabilities.
The three common servovalve types are flapper, jet pipe, and mechanical. Each design has advantages as far as operation accuracy, leakage, contamination tolerance, and price. They range in flow capacity from less than 1 gpm to more than 1000 gpm. Most manufacturers make valves that operate at 3000 psi, but some offer valves at 5000 psi.
The main difference between proportional and servovalve circuit design is that servo systems have a method of feedback that assures that the actuator is doing what the controller tells it to do. A super-simple form of servo control would be a backhoe operator moving manual valves to cause a bucket to move toward him at a given rate. Feedback from the operator's eyes would tell his hands when and how far to move the levers to give more or less flow to maintain the action he wants. Other familiar mechanical feedback examples are hydraulic driven power steering and hydraulic power brakes on a vehicle.
The circuit in Figure 12-7 is an example of a working circuit with mechanical feedback that controls a hydraulic press. The operator needs to have a feel for the motion of a platen as it cuts through some tubing. Originally this was done with an arbor press, but it was hard for the operator to keep up with production due to the physical exertion. Now all the operator has to do physically is overcome the spring force of the manually controlled mobile directional valve to make the platen move. As the platen moves, the directional valve body also moves, so the operator has to keep moving the lever to advance or retract the platen. Notice the mechanical link between the valve body and the cylinder rod that moves the valve body at the same rate the cylinder rod moves. The operator now has a hydraulic force multiplier that gives some feel to what he is doing.
The reason for using a mobile-type valve is because those valves have less spool overlap and the spool has notches cut in it. The notches pass a small flow almost immediately when the spool moves. That flow increases in proportion to spool movement.
Most industrial applications use feedback from electronic linear, rotary, or force transducers. A transducer is a device that produces an electrical signal in direct relation to a position, force, or speed.
Linear potentiometers work for short strokes (12 in. or less). Longer strokes require a device such as a Temposonics transducer. In either case, these devices feed a precise position or speed indication back to an electronic controller.
For rotary motion, an encoder or similar device that produces multiple pulses per revolution sends a signal about rpm or angle of rotation to the controller.
When information about force is required, a load cell sends the data to the controller.
With these very accurate feedback devices and a fast-response servovalve, an actuator's position, speed, and/or force can be repeatedly established within an extremely close range. Electronics provides the accuracy while hydraulics provides the force via a super-responsive servovalve.
The cutaway view and symbol in Figure 12-8 show a less-responsive but more contamination-tolerant servovalve. There are other mechanical ways of driving the spool. The valve in Figure 12-9 uses a rotary drive and an eccentric to move the spool left or right to an infinite number of positions. Because the drive is quite strong and there are no orifices to clog, this valve can operate with fluid that meets ISO Code 4406 20/16/13.
Notice the difference in design between spools in proportional valves and servovalves. Most proportional valves use spools with overlap and some sort of notches that pass flow while moving out of overlap. A servovalve has no overlap or underlap of the spool lands to the body lands. (One manufacturer calls it "Critical lap" because all points blocking fluid cannot move without passing flow.) This spool design makes the valve very responsive (as well as very expensive and prone to above average bypass). Servovalve spools and bodies always come in matched sets because of their close fit and four points of land-to-land match.
The rotary-drive eccentric valve pictured in Figure 12-8 has fast, controllable spool movement from a rotary drive that incorporates a feedback loop. When the drive receives a signal to move the spool to pass a certain flow, a position feedback output sends a signal back to the controller when the motion is complete. There is still feedback from the actuator that what was commanded is happening, so spool position can be changed via the electronic feedback and controller as necessary.
Several factors determine when a given input will not produce the desired actuator output. The main factor is actuator load. As load changes, input force must change -- by allowing more or less fluid into the circuit. Fluid viscosity also has an effect, so the flow path must be reduced as viscosity lowers and enlarged as viscosity rises. Then there is system pressure. As pressure fluctuates, flow across the spool orifice changes. The higher the pressure drop, the greater the flow. Because a servovalve circuit has feedback from the actuator, it can adjust flow or pressure to match system changes continuously.
Figure 12-9 shows another mechanically driven servovalve. This setup works for cylinders and hydraulic motors, but must be directly attached to the actuator (as shown) or driven by it with a toothed belt and pulleys. This is a very contamination-tolerant valve arrangement because the stepper motor is quite strong and there are no small orifices to clog. The spool has no overlap or underlap so any movement immediately initiates fluid flow to and from the cylinder. The piston and rod cannot rotate so the feedback screw turns as the piston extends or retracts.
As the stepper motor turns, a threaded rod inside the threaded spool moves the spool to direct fluid to extend or retract the piston. When the cylinder piston moves, the feedback screw turns the spool back on the threaded rod to counteract the stepper motor shift. When the stepper motor turns, the piston moves at a speed proportional to the stepper motor's rpm. When the stepper motor stops, the piston catches up and stops also. Manufacturers claim a tolerance of ±0.001 in. repeatability. If an external force tries to push or pull the piston out of place, the feedback screw shifts the spool and fluid starts resisting movement.
From the foregoing explanation, it is easy to see how this valve – when attached to a hydraulic motor -- would give an exact number of turns and repeatedly cause the motor to stop at exactly the same place. This will happens even if the hydraulic motor has internal leakage. The only time the actuator gets out of place is when it cannot overcome the load and stalls. The stepper motor continues to receive pulses, but it also stalls when the spool shifts all the way. The stepper motor received a signal that should have placed the actuator at a certain distance but the actuator did not get there because of insufficient force. When the valve reverses, it starts its motion from the wrong point and will overshoot home position as it returns. A limit switch at the home position can alert the controller that there is a problem when the actuator overshoots -- and prevent the machine from producing scrap.
The jet-pipe servovalve pictured in Figure 12-10 also tolerates contamination due to a control orifice that is large enough to pass large particles. Pilot oil is tapped off the system fluid inlet, sent through a coarse filter, and on to the jet pipe that terminates in an orifice. The orifice outlet is centered over the inlet of two passages that terminate at each end of a critical-lap spool. Flow into these passages puts equal pressure on both ends of the spool as the feedback wire holds it centered. Current signals to the coils cause the armature to rotate and shift more of the output of the jet pipe to one passageway than the other. Pressure increases on one end of the spool and decreases on the other end. As the spool shifts, it starts to pass flow to the actuator at a rate set by the input electrical signal.
When the jet pipe shifts to the left, the spool moves to the right. At the same time, the feedback wire also moves to the right, pulling the jet pipe nozzle back to center and stopping spool movement. A given input to the coils electromechanically shifts the armature that moves the jet pipe. This moves the spool hydraulically and forces the jet pipe back to center mechanically through the feedback wire.
A measured electrical input to a servovalve produces a fixed flow output, similar to a proportional valve. This control alone does not give much better control than a proportional circuit even though the valve is more responsive. There is still no compensation for viscosity or pressure changes that can cause the actuator's speed to fluctuate. To overcome this problem, some sort of electronic feedback from the actuator is necessary. The feedback signal through an electronic circuit board modifies the signal to the servovalve to make the actuator perform as planned. Actually, the electronics do the work as long as the valve can respond quickly enough to keep everything working at the correct rate. This means the spool must be free enough to move easily without excessive bypass. Anytime the spool moves, it should pass flow to and from the actuator.
The valve in Figure 12-10 is considered a 2-stage valve. The first stage is electronic and receives an electronic input signal, while the second stage is fluid powered by a hydraulic signal.
The jet-pipe servovalve depends on clean oil for long trouble-free operation -- not as clean as the requirement for the flapper-valve design discussed next, but clean enough to prevent the jet-pipe nozzle from clogging. It is obvious that once nozzle flow is retarded enough or stops, the valve loses all ability to control flow to the actuator.
The most responsive and accurate servovalve design is the flapper valve, shown in Figure 12-11. This design is the least tolerant of contamination because it depends on very small orifices for fast response with minimal wasted energy. It is called a flapper valve because the element that holds equal pressure on both ends of the spool at rest reminds one of a flapping device. It is a 2-stage valve with an electronically controlled torque motor as the first stage and a pilot-operated spool as the second stage. As in all servovalves, the spool has no overlap or underlap that would make it sluggish or bypass a lot of fluid unnecessarily.
Fluid from the pump inlet is tapped off through rather-coarse filter elements, passes through orifices past both ends of the spool, goes on to nozzles, and out to the return line. The orifice diameters are slightly larger than the nozzle diameters, so there is a pressure buildup at both ends of the spool. A feedback wire attached to the flapper terminates in a ball end that sits in a very close-fit slot in the spool. A sleeve around the spool can be moved left or right by a null adjustment to align the spool and body lands perfectly when the valve is first installed. (Usually null adjustment is only required at startup of the valve.)
The null adjustment usually is a hexagonal wrench fitting attached to an eccentric pin located in the sleeve slot. With the null adjustment centered, turning it one round moves the sleeve from center to full right, back to center to full left, and back to center. If the valve cannot be nulled within one rotation of the null adjustment, replace it and send it in for repair. This usually indicates a clogged orifice or nozzle controlling one end of the spool.
Unplug the electrical supply to the valve before setting null. Start the pump and watch for actuator movement. If the actuator moves, loosen the null lock screw and carefully turn it. Observe whether the actuator slows or picks up speed. A nulled valve stops actuator movement because the forces on both sides are equal. High-flow 3-stage valves cannot be nulled to the point of stopping an actuator due to the piloted spool slipping by the stop-flow position as the pilot operator is adjusted. When null is set, lock the null screw and reattach the electrical plug.
Turning the null screw with the electric plug detached is one way of moving an actuator manually. This might be done to prove the valve is working properly and the problem is electrical.
When the torque-motor coils receive a current signal, the armature rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise and pushes the flapper closer to one nozzle and farther away from the opposite one. This allows pressure to increase at one end of the spool and decrease at the other. The spool then starts to move away from the higher pressure. If the armature turns clockwise, pressure builds on the left end of the spool and it moves to the right, as shown in the left cutaway view of Figure 12-12.
As the spool moves to the right, it also drives the feedback wire to the right. The feedback wire is strong enough to overcome armature force and pull the flapper back to center. After the flapper centers, pressure is equal on both ends of the spool and it stops. More current to the coils causes more rotation and additional spool shift until the feedback wire again centers the flapper.
From the foregoing explanation, it is obvious why this valve needs clean oil. If an orifice or nozzle clogs, the spool shifts all the way to one end and the actuator moves until it runs into a resistance it can't overcome. Also, the spool must start shifting at a very low pressure drop across it to keep response high. Contaminated fluid can cause sticking and require high differential shifting pressure that makes spool movement erratic.
For flows above 60 to 80 gpm, a 3-stage servovalve is required. It consists of a small 2-stage pilot operating a large pilot-operated spool, as depicted in Figure 12-13. The 2-stage valve operates as just explained, but its output goes to move a pilot-operated spool in the third stage to a precise position to control high flow to large actuators.
An LVDT signals the electronic control circuit that the pilot-operated spool is where it was signaled to go. After receiving that position signal, the 2-stage valve shifts to no flow or whatever flow it takes to keep the pilot-operated spool in place.
A 3-stage valve also depends on feedback signals from the actuator to modify the input signal when the action is not in compliance with the command. This makes 3-stage valves very accurate controllers of large cylinders.
Pneumatic proportional and servo directional control valves
Since the late '80s, several companies have been controlling air cylinders with open- and closed-loop proportional or servovalve circuits. The difference between the air valves in these circuits is how fast they respond. Most proportional valves have a sealed spool that controls direction and flow so the valves tend to hang up and jump. Pneumatic servovalves often have spools with metal-to-metal fits that float on bypass air.
The valve shown in Figure 12-8 is sold as a proportional or servo directional control valve for hydraulic or air circuits. Controlling the amount of air and which direction it goes is not a problem but the compressibility of air creates some giant hurdles to overcome.
Proportional valves usually control only acceleration, deceleration and/or speed because these circuits do not include feedback transducers. It is very easy to get smooth acceleration and deceleration with high speed in between without other controls or shock absorbers to stop the load mechanically.
Adding feedback transducers to a proportional air circuit can provide servo-like control for light loads -- such as those found in pick-and-place applications. However, a proportional valve is usually not responsive enough for exacting part placement or speed control. For very accurate control, a servovalve with feedback transducers can give close-tolerance positioning (with light loads), repeatable velocity control, and very accurate holding force.
Pneumatic proportional and servovalves are not a replacement for electromechanical or servo hydraulics, but they have price advantages over both systems. When the loads are light and cost is a factor, they are worth a look.
General information for hydraulic infinitely variable valves
- The symbol for proportional and servovalves shows a 4-way, 3-position function and the valve can move to each of the positions. However, the parallel lines along the sides of the symbol indicate the valve does not have to shift all the way all at once. These valves can shift into straight or crossed arrows in any proportion from 0 to 100%. They are infinitely variable and can pass any flow desired.
- servovalves are always 3-position, all-ports-blocked center condition, as shown by the symbols in Figures 12-8 through 12-11.
- always size proportional or servovalves for high pressure drop. Proportional valves should have 200- to 500-psi pressure drop at full flow. Most servovalve manufacturers rate their valves at 1000-psi pressure drop at full flow. This means the valve may look physically small for a given flow in relation to conventional valves. It also means most servo and proportional valve circuits require a heat exchanger to deal with excess wasted energy.
- always mount the valve as close as possible to the actuator ports. Any piping between the valve and the actuator holds extra fluid that can make the system softer and less responsive. This is especially important on air-powered circuits.
- never use hose between the valve and the actuator. If isolation is necessary, mount the valve on the moving part and use flexible lines for supply and return.
- use in-line pressure filters at the supply to each servovalve or bank of valves to protect the valve from contamination in the pump and piping.
Specific Information for pneumatic infinitely variable valves
- use air at the highest pressure possible that does not exceed component or plumbing limits. This is usually as high as 250 psi.
- size the valve to flow just enough to produce the maximum desired actuator speed. Oversize valves produce erratic control because a small spool movement gives more flow than required.
- use an actuator with the largest area practicable so the load moves with a low pressure difference. Note: the larger the cylinder, the more air it consumes so operating cost escalates.
- pneumatic servo circuits do not work well when outside forces push against the actuator. The actuator tries to resist, but force buildup is slow in comparison to electromechanical or electrohydraulic systems.
Typical servo circuits
Figure 12-14 shows schematic drawings of three typical servo circuits. In the figure, each type circuit controls a different actuator, but any actuator could have more than one type of control.
The typical power unit for a servo system is a pressure-compensated pump with an accumulator or accumulators. A servovalve must always have a ready supply of fluid because no matter how fast it reacts, without an immediate supply of fluid the system will be sluggish. The pressure-compensated pump may be at full pressure when no actuators are moving, but its flow is zero. Adding accumulators assures that there is no wait for the pump to come on stroke before the actuator receives flow. (A full discussion of how accumulators work and how they are applied is in Chapter 16.)
Again, pressure filters in the lines to the servovalves make sure they receive clean oil. One filter could be sufficient for multiple valves when the valves are close to each other. The reason for pressure filters in the valve lines is the pump constantly produces contamination particles that will shut down flapper-type servovalves.
Cylinder 1 is in a position loop. It can be placed at a precise location repeatedly within ±0.0005 in. A programmable logic controller (PLC) sends a signal to the summing amplifier's control card. The signal passes on to the valve-driver card and then to the valve coils. This signal shifts the servovalve to start cylinder movement at a set rate. The linear potentiometer sends position feedback to the summing amplifier and modifies valve position to find and maintain a certain position. Often, position control is paired with speed control to accelerate the actuator to a certain speed, then decelerate and stop it at the desired position.
Cylinder 2 is in a force loop. A certain size cylinder operating at a given pressure produces a given force. This force can be calculated by multiplying area times pressure, but the result is not exact. Friction from seals and between external machine members can reduce this force by a few pounds or more on an operating machine. When an exact force calculation is required, a servovalve-controlled cylinder that has a load cell for feedback can keep forces within 1/2% with ease. The summing amplifier sends a signal from the PLC and feedback from the load cell modifies the valve position to exactly match the input signal to generate the desired force.
The hydraulic motor is in a speed loop that maintains the motor's rpm when the fluid viscosity, pressure, or load changes. A rotary device called an encoder constantly sends rpm information back to the summing amplifier to open or close the servovalve as needed. Just as a cylinder does, a hydraulic motor will slow when the load increases, when fluid gets thinner due to temperature increases, or when system pressure fluctuates as other actuators move. If the encoder sends a reduced-rpm signal back, the servovalve opens to let more fluid in. If the hydraulic motor tries to speed up, the servovalve closes enough to maintain the set speed.
Other infinitely variable valve applications
Proportional and servovalves can be applied to variable-volume pump controls to accurately set flow from the pump in relation to feedback from an actuator. Most pressure-compensated pumps available today have this feature as an option.
An example might be a closed-loop hydrostatic pump and motor that must stay at a constant speed. Feedback from an encoder signals the pump to increase or decrease flow as the motor overspeeds or underspeeds.
Proportional coils make excellent infinitely variable flow controls that can be controlled electrically. They can act as simple throttle valves or perform as full-blown pressure-compensated types that adjust to pressure fluctuations.
Common circuits for proportional flow controls include feed-speed changes to deal with load fluctuations; hydraulic motor rpm changes to control product backup; or maintaining constant speed as loads vary. (Pressure-compensated proportional flow control valves are covered in Chapter 13.)
Proportional coils also make excellent infinitely variable pressure-control valves. Pressure settings from remote locations or a PLC at anytime from minimum to maximum almost instantaneously. Most of these pressure controls are for relief and reducing functions but could be used on any of the pressure controls. (Proportional pressure-relief valves were covered in Chapter 9.)


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We get the right people into the right places at the right time. Hear more perspectives from our employees about their career development.
Talk to anyone at EY and they'll tell you what a rewarding place it is to work. We attract individuals from different backgrounds and cultures who — like you — bring a unique point of view and unique business skills. You'll work with great people and will be exposed to a range of alternative perspectives.
Everyone's opinion is valued. After all, diversity of thought and ideas enables us to provide better services to our clients. In return for your input and ideas, we're committed to giving you the experiences you need to progress and develop as well as the learning and coaching to help you to excel.
For us, it's vital you share our goals — so we can work together to achieve success.
At EY, you'll be given the experiences, training and coaching you need succeed.
You'll be inspired to achieve your aims, both professionally and personally, while making a difference to our clients and in our communities.
We'll work together to ensure your career takes you in a direction where you'll be able to reach your goals. It's about making sure you do interesting work with exciting clients, while also providing access to appropriate training, coaching and support.
Find out more about the learning, experiences and coaching that will frame your development.
Your career at EY is a journey where you are constantly improving your skills and growing your network. Listen to some of our employees tell their growth stories.
At EY we have a strong commitment to involvement and teamwork. It's important you feel part of our wider organization and feel at first hand the powerful impact we're able to have on businesses and communities.
This sense of involvement stretches a long way beyond the formal work you'll add to your CV/resumé. It's about the bonds that you form with your colleagues, the support you give to our corporate responsibility activities and the way you contribute to our ongoing discussions within the organization.
You're not just a number here, you're an individual. We want you to succeed and be yourself. Hear more about how we make that happen.
If you join EY, you'll feel welcome throughout your time with us. There are many ways in which you can also enhance your sense of belonging here.
That's because we take community leadership seriously; our support for the United Nations Global Compact and Transparency International are just two examples. And we rely on the enthusiasm and skills of our people to cement our place in each community we're a part of.
You've found the right place if you want to make a difference outside of your professional role. Our approach to corporate responsibility coordinates volunteering activities — in education, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability — in a way that makes real use of your unique skills and capabilities. That way, you can have a far greater personal impact.
Community engagement is also a key part of our global career development framework.
You'll have the opportunity to develop in new and different contexts. You might be improving your public speaking, sharpening your negotiating skills or collaborating with people from a variety of backgrounds. But at the same time, you'll be helping the community and building career-enhancing skills.
When you join EY, you do more than launch a career.
You may spend your entire career with us or you may choose to seek new challenges elsewhere at some point. Regardless, we believe you'll want to stay connected with your EY colleagues.
These relationships will prove invaluable throughout your career. Beyond that, you'll build valuable friendships too.
As an EY alumnus, you'll be offered many opportunities to network with your peers. So whatever direction you choose to take your career, you'll benefit from your time with us.
And if you do leave to explore other opportunities, you might become one of the many people who rejoin, bringing valuable experience and perspectives that enrich our organization.
Local community involvement is part of the fabric of our culture. Hear more.
Respect, integrity and teamwork define the way we work.
You'll be encouraged to think in global terms, build strong relationships and embrace diversity in all its forms.
By valuing the differences in those you work alongside you'll find that you improve your perspective and, ultimately, provide better answers for your clients and communities.
Our diversity makes us better at what we do. Learn more about how the combination of our diverse perspectives sets us apart.


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text: RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Saturday that a recent decision by Standard & Poor's to cut the nation's credit rating will not affect 2018 economic growth.Speaking to journalists in Rio de Janeiro, Meirelles added that he was expecting close to 2.5 million jobs to be created in Brazil this year and gross domestic product growth of around 3 percent."The reaction to the rating is greater than the rating itself," Meirelles said. "The question is, 'Will this have an impact on growth?' And the answer is, 'No, growth will continue.'"On Thursday, ratings agency S&P lowered its long-term sovereign debt rating for Brazil to BB- from BB, as doubts grow about a presidential election in October and a push to trim the country's costly pension system.Markets have so far shrugged off the downgrade, which was widely expected after Congress delayed a pension reform vote from 2017 to this year, making its passage less likely.On Saturday, Meirelles reiterated to journalists that it was key for the government to pass the pension reform, a task which is becoming more difficult as elections approach and politicians seek to distance themselves from the unpopular measure. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Writing by Gram Slattery; Editing by David Gregorio)


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So what do you guys use whan youre blending the top and solder side of pcb's for ease of tracing?
GIMP or pretty much anything? I know, total noob q.
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"Focused on comfort, space and value"
Come experience the convenience of an extended stay hotel in Miami, FL with all the amenities and privacy of a corporate apartment at Candlewood Suites® Miami Airport West Doral. Our hotel is centrally located with easy access to Doral, downtown Miami, Coral Gables, and Miami Springs. Come stay in comfort and be relax from the start. Business travelers looking for hotels in Miami, Florida appreciate the hotel's accessibility from all the major north/south and east/west expressways. Our corporate guests especially enjoy the free Wi-Fi access and spacious workstations in all suites. When on vacation, if you are looking for an extended stay hotel less than 20 miles from Seaquarium, Zoo Miami and South Beach, choose us. Shopping and dining attractions are also within minutes of our South Florida hotel. Keep your daily routine during your stay with us. You'll feel right at home with the use of the free guest laundry service and the on-site 24-hour Candlewood Gym. After having fun in the sun and splashing in the crystal-clear waters of the outdoor pool and whirlpool, grab a DVD from our lending library, or a quick bite to eat from the convenience store-- Candlewood Cupboard. Unwind in your spacious suite and prepare a meal in the full kitchen. Your home on the road awaits you. Reserve today!
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"You are me, and more."
The Good Dinosaur is an endearing speculation on a winsome possibility.
Disney and Pixar have been bringing the inanimate alive ever since they showed up in the animation arena. Their powerful CGI, splendid landscapes, heartwarming music, top-notch touching plots that complement their melting frames can hardly go unnoticed. It is as if you can feel the reality paint the big screen with their gorgeous animation. The Good Dinosaur is no different except you wish there was more to the story.
Even before the movie begins, we feast on a lovely short called "Sanjay's Super Team". It glorifies a subdued Indian animator Sanjay Patel which was a first in the animation world. The story of the short rotates around his childhood shenanigans with a mythical backdrop to it. The gist of the tale is captivating and you almost begin to wonder if children should ever be deprived of a fantastical world they live in.
The Good Dinosaur score slithers in the background with a brilliant fusion that is downright riveting. The movie begins with the genius of an Apatosaurus family, keeping in mind the what-if-the-meteor-had-never-hit-us circumstance and focuses on how they are trying to earn their livelihood whilst attempting to leave their marks by being good at things.
Arlo is the most relatable creature, a protagonist trying to overcome his fears, whilst endeavouring to leave his mark too. A tragedy befalls him, a shattering one that breaks him to pieces, and flings his life into chaos. He meets an accident, gets lost amidst all the confusion and ends up in a foreign land. About the same time he meets one of the most adorable creatures, Spot, who is like a rabid-human who has lost his family and is wandering at large. Arlo befriends him in a quest to reach home and find his mark doing good to his friend.
The first thing that blows your mind away almost instantly is the level of imagination the creators have. Then you perceive how much work they have put into making their fantasy a reality. The level of details they incorporate whilst making a movie is really commendable. You can see every droplet move, crops dance, animals react and watch water come alive. They make the inanimate breathe, which is simply out of the world. True creators they are!
If you look at the plot, there is really not much to it. The movie being about the dino-era finds similar species to keep you entertained. Story and sub-plots seem to have been built deliberately and almost seem clichéd. The cute, snappy and slapstick humour of the flick however will constantly engage you in fits of laughter. Arlo and Spot are just adorable.
The movie like every other Pixar movie is a lesson per se with brilliant thoughtful liners that escape from the mouths of different creatures. Screenplay is well written, at times however you wish there was more substance to it.
A delightful movie about a thoughtful wonderful what-if!
The Good Dinosaur
- An entertaining and endearing flick
- Spot is just adorable
- Brilliant CGI
- Keeps you engaged throughout
- Some of the melodramatic scenes are outstanding
- Plot could have used some more substance
- Cliched tale
- Could have used some more touching drama


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Clean Water Act turns 40 — Happy Birthday
No one's ever accused me of being a tree-hugger but I watched from beginning to end this video on the Clean Water Act, which celebrates its 40th birthday this month.
I actually remember the Cuyahoga River in Ohio catching on fire.
Interestingly, President Nixon vetoed the Clean Water Act, but Congress overturned the veto by a stunning 10 to 1 vote.
The video has a Minnesota angle but there's plenty of talk about the West.
BTW, former state Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, praised the Clean Water Act in an opinion piece in the Denver Post in 2009.


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With about seven weeks to go until open enrollment under the federal health care law ends, the Obama administration is reportedly considering letting people keep individual insurance policies for up to three years even if they don't comply with the new law.
Dan Mendelson, CEO of the Avelere Health consulting firm, set off the speculation in remarks Thursday to an Associated Press reporter. But Mendelson emphasized that no decision has been made.
"The administration is entertaining a range of options to ensure that this individual market has stability to it and that would be one thing that they could do," Mendelson said.
Joanne Peters, spokeswoman for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, confirmed that the issue was under discussion, saying: "We are continuing to examine all sorts of ways to provide consumers with more choices and to smooth the transition as we implement the law. No decisions have been made."
Also late Thursday, the Obama administration said it will temporarily allow consumers who have bought health plans on new online insurance marketplaces to switch plans if they've discovered that those plans do not include their old doctors or allow them to add new babies or spouses.
In a memo distributed Thursday night to insurers, federal health officials said that people may pick a different plan before the March 31 enrollment deadline if they are dissatisfied with the one they chose, but only if they stay with the same insurer and generally the same level of coverage.
Meanwhile, California's health insurance exchange, Covered California, for the second time since October has decided to remove the directory of physicians listed on its website after receiving complaints by consumers and doctors about errors on the site. The exchange also plans to announce Monday that it will add at least 300 more workers to its call centers and other operations to handle the numbers of consumers seeking to enroll in health plans through the exchange.
Still, uncertainty remains for many individual policyholders in California and around the U.S. who were hit with a wave of cancellation notices last year because their coverage was less robust than what is required under the law — and many states allowed insurance companies to simply cancel them.
It became one of the most politically explosive issues in the transition to a new medical insurance system under the health law, which ultimately aims to cover millions of uninsured people. The wave of cancellation notices — at least 4.7 million of them — hit just when the new HealthCare.gov website was experiencing some of its worst technical problems. And it undercut the president's well-publicized promise that if you "like your plan you can keep it."
In California, about 1.1 million people received cancellation notices, according to the state Department of Insurance, though that number has fluctuated.
While Covered California's board of directors refused to back an initial Obama recommendation to allow those canceled policy holders to keep their plans for another year, his administration quietly released another exemption on Dec. 19 that applies in every state.
That health care rule change allows people whose coverage was canceled to obtain cheaper "catastrophic coverage" if they believe that the plans in the health exchanges are more expensive than their canceled health insurance policies.
Previously, catastrophic coverage under the new law had been available only to people under age 30. Such policies usually offer lower premiums but require policyholders to pay initial medical costs of up to $6,000 before comprehensive coverage kicks in.
To qualify for catastrophic coverage, consumers must submit to the federal government a hardship exemption form and documents indicating that their policy was canceled.
Covered California on Friday said that if the federal government grants an individual's waiver, the state exchange will honor it.
The reason the Obama administration may be considering adding more time to the extension is to avoid another wave of problems if rates on the exchanges climb too high and people are left without affordable coverage. Health insurers are supposed to submit by May the rates they want to charge for coverage they sell on the exchanges next year.
But it's unclear whether policyholders will find any relief if they are allowed to stay with their extended policies. Insurers in several states where extensions were allowed for 2014 have said they planned to hike the cost of those plans.
The decision to pull the list of doctors from Covered California's website, a service it had hoped would enable consumers to view all doctors available under all plans, ultimately frustrated many enrollees who selected health plans because of certain physicians and later discovered those doctors weren't actually available under those plans.
Covered California said that it will work with enrollees on a case-by-case basis to resolve any confusion created by the provider directory. And if an enrollee isn't satisfied with the outcome, Covered California said, consumers will be allowed to cancel their exchange plan and enroll in a different one by March 31.
Consumers, exchange officials said, can confirm if their doctors are part of an insurance plan by either contacting their doctors or verifying the information on insurance plan websites that are linked on the exchange website.
The Associated Press, the Washington Post and staff writer Tracy Seipel contributed to this report.


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Land Trust teaches how to preserve flowers
NEW HARTFORD — On Saturday, Aug. 19, members of the New Hartford Land Trust gathered to learn how to press and preserve flowers. The talk was led by board members Eloise Farmer and Karen Meares and took place at the home of a Land Trust member.
Attendees were invited to bring their own flowers to press or use some that were provided by the instructors. Farmer, who once taught high school biology and did her thesis on the plants in Barkhamsted, has been pressing flowers for years both for personal and learning purposes.


text:
From left:
Illini Central Principal Ed Jodlowski, Dylan Hull and Bob
Werner of 1st State Bank of Mason City
Dylan Hull is the Illini Central November Student of the Month
Send a link to a friend
18, 2014]
MASON CITY — The 1st State Bank of Mason City
and Illini Central High School presented Dylan Ira Hull with the
November Student of the Month award. For demonstrating outstanding
character, he received a Barnes & Noble gift card from 1st State
Bank and an iTunes gift card from Illini Central High School
In addition, Dylan
participates in several extracurricular activities. He is vice
president of FFA and National Honor Society. In sports, Dylan plays
on the basketball team, and he is captain of the cross country team.
Outside of school, Dylan is member of The Well youth group. He is
also part of the Mason City Christian Church worship team.
[to top of second column]
Dylan plans to attend Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville,
where he will major in aerospace engineering or mathematics.
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text:
Her sport may involve a different kind of ball altogether, but leading female golfer Laura Davies is nevertheless well placed to offer an opinion on football.
A lifelong Liverpool supporter, the 49-year-old is a passionate England follower too – a vice which once landed her in some hot water.
In an exclusive chat with FIFA.com, Davies – who, during a career which has spanned more than 25 years, has secured a plethora of titles and accolades in Britain and further afield – explains more, casts her vote on the best player in the world, and remembers her favourite football moment.
FIFA.com: Where did your passion for the game begin?
Laura Davies: I've got a slightly older brother, a few years older, and we used to go every Saturday and Sunday to watch him play and I just used to kick a ball around on the sideline – I was only about four or five or six years old. I started enjoying playing it and then obviously started watching it, and that was it really – I was hooked.
Why did you choose to support Liverpool?
I was seven years old at the time, maybe eight, and we lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal with that Charlie George goal. I felt sorry for them and they wore red, and at eight years old that's probably good enough. Ever since then, I've been a fan for forty-odd years now. I love watching them every time they play. Whenever I can, whenever I get a chance [I go to Anfield]. I'm usually away but I never miss a game. I either have it on the radio, or the Liverpool website radio or watch it online. I watch pretty much every game regardless – Europa League, Premier League, wherever they are playing. If I'm on the course, I'll have my phone on with updates. It's a bit of an obsession. I've not been there enough, for all the great European nights. I've never actually been to a European game, funnily enough. It's just when you hear 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before they come out on the pitch every match. I think it's a different sort of atmosphere to a lot of other grounds I've been to.
Who have been your favourite Liverpool players during that period?
The really obvious ones – [Kevin] Keegan, [Kenny] Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen. Goalscorers, I suppose, they're the ones that make the difference between winning and losing. Over the years, I guess all the strikers have been the ones that I've really followed, but there's not a Liverpool player I haven't loved to watch.
I watch pretty much every game regardless – Europa League, Premier League, wherever they are playing. If I'm on the course, I'll have my phone on with updates. It's a bit of an obsession.
Have you managed to meet any of them through your career?
I played golf once with Kenny, we played a tournament in Scotland at Gleneagles. I've met quite a few. Michael Owen played in Ireland and I had a quick chat with him about the golf and the football. A lot of the players seem to love their golf. They've got the time, haven't they? They do their training and then they have got the afternoon to themselves and their families, so I suppose a lot of them when they are younger go and play golf. It seems to be a planned thing because obviously golf is a very time-consuming game and they do seem to have some time.
Tell us about the time you were receiving updates from UEFA EURO 1996 while playing in a tournament…
I had been to all of the other games because I had tickets for the whole tournament because it was at Wembley. Unfortunately that particular game [England against Spain] was at the same time. I had a five-shot lead when the game started and I actually finished five shots ahead, so I won the tournament. But between shots, myself and my cousin who was caddy for me at the time were having a bit of an update on the game. It ended up 0-0, so I missed the penalty shoot-out because I was at the prize-giving but I could tell by the mood in the clubhouse that we were winning. It's probably the last penalty shoot-out we ever won!
Would you rather England win the FIFA World Cup™ or Europe lift the Ryder Cup in 2014?
Definitely England winning the World Cup. I love my golf but football is the thing that I love to do away from golf. I was born by 1966 but I was only three years old – I have no recollection of that at all. It would be nice to see us actually win it once.
Who do you think is the best player in the world?
I think Lionel Messi by a nose. I know Ronaldo is incredible in what he does, and there are a lot of other very good players, but Lionel Messi. Barcelona are the other team I love to watch. He is just beyond belief as far as I'm concerned.
Do you follow the women's game?
Unfortunately no, because it would only be on TV and there's hardly any of it on TV. I was watching the Olympics and there's great interest in watching the national side play. I don't think the Liverpool team is particularly good and I hate Arsenal with a passion; Arsenal are the best team in the women's game so I tend to stay away from that. It's fun to watch. I've spent a lot of my time in America, there was a women's major soccer league out there. I know it has folded now but the standard was pretty decent. Nothing like the men's obviously because they haven't got the dynamic power of the men but certainly the technical ability seems very comparable.
What is your favourite match you have been at?
100 per cent the Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] goal when we beat Scotland at Wembley in EURO 96. I've been to quite a lot of England games, I go away whenever I can. I've been to two World Cups and various places with them. But that particular game, we had just saved a penalty and then Gazza scored that goal. I think that's the most excited I've ever been at any football ground anywhere in the world.


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Found at Reddit this morning, from the Facebook page of a guy in Central Pennsylvania who fancies himself a tattoo artist. (Brian's other work is just as inspiring.)
I'd say this goes down in sports tattoo history with "centaur Tebow," "Texans Super Bowl champs," and the supremely unfortunate "Ohio State interspecies rape." Still better than "Giants Super Bowl penis."


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will provide lenders and servicers with plain-language guides, rule interpretations and other materials to help them comply with new mortgage lending and servicing rules.
The CFPB's ability-to-pay rule and national servicing standards go live in January 2014. Until then, the agency is launching several initiatives to make sure lenders and servicers know how to comply with the rules and understand what to expect once the rules officially go live.
"Our plan is to work with the mortgage industry to ensure that the CFPB's new rules are implemented accurately and expeditiously," said CFPB director Richard Cordray. "Both consumers and industry will win when the new rules are understood, applied, and carried out evenly and effectively. Mortgage borrowers, who have dealt with much heartache since the financial crisis, deserve this level of attentiveness."
The CFPB also attempted to quash fears that the agency is making rules without establishing how they conflict or overlap with regulations from other agencies.
The bureau said it's keying up the new QM and servicing rules by consulting with other agencies to ensure prudential regulators understand the CFPB's guidelines and remain committed to consistent and streamlined enforcement.
The CFPB will give lenders, servicers and other impacted financial firms plain-language guides with easy-to-understand summaries in written and video form this spring.
In addition, the CFPB will publish updates to the rules' official interpretations, publish readiness guides with steps to follow to remain in compliance and will educate consumers about some of the new protections that they are about to obtain under these rules through a broad-based consumer education campaign.
More information on the new regulations is available at the CFPB's website.


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Faster speed with high torque performance, allowing helicopter to perform with faster and higher precision.
High rigidity, shock resistant metal gears with high strength composite alloy gears with durable structure characteristics.
Aluminum alloy mid case construction for instantaneous heat dissipation, maintaining servo′s high efficiency.
Supports digital & analog control signal.
Powerful and precise servo, suitable for T-Rex 250/450 CCPM cyclic use.
Stall torque: 2.1 kg.cm (4.8V)
Stall torque: 2.7 kg.cm (6.0V)
Motion speed: 0.1 sec/60° (4.8V)
Motion speed: 0.08 sec/60° (6.0V)
Rating voltage: DC 4.8V - 6.0V
Temperature range: -20°C ~ +60°C
Dimension: 22.9 x 12 x 25.8mm
Weight: 15g
1520µs standard band
Servo rudder piece x 2
Set screw x 1
Tapping screw for servo x 2


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The practice just about everywhere is that horses are purchased right before a claiming race, and immediately become the property of their new owner—even if the horse breaks down and dies. This has been causing problems, especially at Aqueduct Racetrack, where the Winter Meet death toll is nearing 20.
In response, regulators in New York have passed a rule declaring any claims on dead horses null and void. It's valid at all NYRA tracks for 90 days, and may become permanent. The rule exists not to avoid punishing the owners of the newly deceased horses, but to deter the entry of at-risk animals in races in the first place.
Weird Nietzsche painting via here


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The definitive movie on Charlie Keating has yet to be made. The savings and loan scandal figure did manage to get some screen time, though, in the film "The People vs. Larry Flynt" as an anti-porn crusader and nemesis of the Hustler publisher. It was an apt case for Keating to be portrayed in (he was played by the fine character actor James Cromwell). Keating was a hustler, on a huge scale.
He should have stuck to sparring with porn peddlers. Instead Keating moved on to the despicable conning of depositors at his Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. He persuaded many of them to switch over their insured deposits at the Irvine, Calif., thrift into worthless bonds issued by his holding company, Phoenix-based American Continental Corp. Some of his victims were elderly people. He would send cars to pick them up.
Keating's ACC real estate projects included the Phoenician Hotel, a palace of marble excess in Phoenix, and Estrella, a planned community in the desert outside of Phoenix that was abandoned before it could rise out of the tumbleweeds.
Influence-peddling was another one of his resume items. Most of us have two U.S. senators. Keating apparently thought he had five of them. That's how many he summoned to try to get federal thrift examiners off his back. The "Keating Five" maneuver backfired. An intrepid federal official, William K. Black, took copious notes on a meeting in which the senators pressured regulators to lay off their "constituent." The details wound up in the press. Senators from three states (Ohio, Arizona and California) got to answer ethics inquiries over their actions. (The first story on the Keating Five ran in National Thrift News, a predecessor to National Mortgage News. Our editor and founder Stan Strachan, an American Banker alumnus, obtained the meeting notes and the story was reported by Stephen Kleege, now executive editor of The Bond Buyer.) Federal scrutiny of Keating increased and Lincoln eventually failed.
The way Keating, a real estate developer, got control of a savings and loan he could tap for deposit money epitomizes the thrift crisis of the 1980s. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, thrifts got caught in a rapid rise in interest rates. Since they borrowed short and lent long, many developed huge asset-liability mismatches. Many failed (even before the crisis of the late 1980s). The prevailing wisdom on how to prevent this from happening again was that stodgy thrifts needed to be liberated from the "borrow short/lend long" trap by diversifying their beyond mortgage lending. Congress granted these powers with the Garn-St Germain Act and many unorthodox operators like Keating came into the thrift field.
Disaster ensued. It was a colorful time, at least. Thrifts diversified their asset bases, with limited success, into areas like credit cards and real estate development, or rather overdevelopment. Some of them invested in even more esoteric properties like rare jazz records, magician paraphernalia (which entertainer David Copperfield eventually bought from the Resolution Trust Corp. at a substantial discount), racehorses, and Old Masters paintings. (The stallion proved to have syphilis when the government tried to sell him off to stud, and the Old Master turned out to be worth millions less than paid for. The jazz record collection brought a nice price, however.)
The crisis ballooned into the failure of hundreds of thrifts and the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars. There's an enduring lesson in this story for today's mortgage industry. At a time when lenders are getting less than 5% on fixed-rate mortgages, it might be a good idea for them to start thinking again about the perils of borrowing short and lending long for their portfolios.
As for Keating, he was eventually tried, convicted and sent to prison—an outcome unlike during the most recent mortgage collapse, where criminal charges have been scarce. (He was freed when his state and federal convictions were overturned, and on the eve of his federal retrial, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served.) Keating served nearly five years and then spent many years in retirement until his death Tuesday at the age of 90. May he rest in peace.
Mark Fogarty, Editor at Large at National Mortgage News, is starting a regular blog of analysis and commentary based on his 30 years covering the mortgage industry.


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Author(s)José Álvarez
Full recordShow full item record
Online Accesshttp://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=31004702
AbstractWe describe comparative structures like Müliashi ma´i Luuka nuulia Kamiirü "Lucas is poorer than Camilo" in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki within a typological approach. Dixon (2004) proposes a prototypical comparative scheme using the notions of (in the English translation): COMPAREE Lucas, STANDARD OF COMPARISON Camilo, PROPERTY or PARAMETER (is) handsome, INDEX -er and MARK than. In the basic comparative construction of Guajiro, the PARAMETER is commonly a stative verb (and less frequently active verbs and adverbs) with the COMPAREE as subject. Although the INDEX can be zero, its presence frequently ensures a comparative reading with active verbs, where it can even have two exponents (in the verbal morphology and as an adverb). The INDEX is thus a discontinuous property with several exponents, one of which may even be suffixed to the MARK. The direct object can be the COMPAREE, while another object is the STANDARD. The subjective conjugation seems to be employed more often than the objective conjugation in comparative structures. The comparison of equality requires a biclausal construction where the PARAMETER is expressed as the verb of a clause with the COMPAREE as subject, and the verb maa heading a second clause with the STANDARD as subject. The comparison of inequality is formed by simple negation of the predicate. The expression of superlativity uses three strategies: a comparative construction with the STANDARD specified as a large/total set, a cleft construction, or the mere absence of the STANDARD but presence of INDEX (for absolute superlatives). When comparing two PARAMETERS in one PARTICIPANT, the INDEX is suffixed to the MARK. Finally, we examine correlative comparisons.
TypeArtículo científico


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|Sustainable Lifestyles
|Product Code:
|Cypress Nutmeg Serged Binding
|Al Fresco Outdoor Rugs
|Predominant Color:
Al Fresco Indoor/Outdoor rugs and carpet, standard sizes or made to order!
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Our Al Fresco Collection of beautiful yet durable outdoor rugs and carpet can be custom cut for any dimension area. Outdoor rugs and carpeting for patios, decks, pools or spas. Also great for indoor use in sun porches and patios, entryways, kitchens or any area that gets a lot of traffic.
For the prices listed, you receive the Al Fresco Cypress Nutmeg rug with a serged border. The border will be stitched 5/8" inch showing on the face, in a color matching your rug material.
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To view the entire collection click on the following link: Al Fresco Outdoor Collection


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Posted by Darth Krzysztof
12 Wealsun, 595 CY
Liberty lay on her stomach in her smallclothes, legs up and ankles crossed, considering the words on the scrap of paper she'd found tucked into Mom's journal. The words, barely visible in the candlelight, read: 'Know that your kindness and compassion can win out over your drive and passion. Not occult them, no, but temper them and keep them from causing unwanted harm.'
I've struggled with this for so long, she thought, and he knew it better than I did. She'd taken his lessons to heart (as best she could), and was finally learning to control her impulses. She'd come to care about people, too – not just her family and companions, but people, even the ones who'd called her a witch, or worse.
'The best I could do was to be there for you when you needed me and I am most deeply sorry that I cannot be there for you now.'
You're always with me, Mom. You always will be. His sacrifice had shown Liberty the way she needed to go… to choose forgiveness and mercy over vengeance, hope over despair, sacrifice over greed. And Signore di Mezzanotte would guide her as surely as Mom would have; Liberty planned to find out everything she could about Pelor's ally, the fiery Joramy, as soon as her other business was concluded.
She wept a little less for his loss – no, for her loss – each day, for Mom hated to see her cry. But the last part of his message made her weep anew:
'I have long loved you and longed to watch over you and protect you… to you, Liberty, I leave my heart, for there is no other more worthy to carry it.'
She had never known… had never had the slightest idea. Mom kept his deepest secrets better than Constance ever did. Liberty had never thought of him that way, had never considered it. No, that wasn't entirely true – she remembered him walking shirtless on the road to the Free City, remembered how her thoughts had become more than a little wicked by the time the trolls attacked…
But it didn't matter now. Mom was gone from her life, just like Ilya and Ekaym. Perhaps someday, once the Age of Worms was averted, Liberty could find the Honest Minstrel in the Amedio Jungle, and 'fraternize' with him, now that their business was concluded.
Yeah, right. Then, afterward, I can ride a gold dragon to Bahamut's palace. Maybe I should have gone for a tumble with Korush, before I betrayed him.
I'm not like that anymore.
She turned the pages of Mom's journal, getting to know a man she'd thought she knew, when a soft knock came at the door. Behind it, the din of merriment in the Crooked House's common room had ebbed, but not died out entirely. Who could be bothering her at this hour – whatever hour it might be? Well, it can't be Xan. Xan would just let himself in.


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Feature Articles
Six is the Number
Six is the Number
It seems only yesterday that AMD shook up the staid server market with the introduction of its Opteron line of server processors. With a micro-architecture that included significant technologies, from having native 64-bit x86 instructions while retaining 32-bit support to the use of HyperTransport links for inter-processor communications and an integrated memory controller, the Opteron was an entirely different beast from its competitors and quickly gained market share.
It hasn't always been plain sailing since but it's clear that the Opteron brand is here to stay. We have seen with our own eyes the processor growing from two to four cores and now, on its sixth anniversary, AMD has taken the opportunity to announce that its upcoming 'Istanbul' 6-core processor is months ahead of schedule and is expected to launch in June this year from OEMs. We guess the big unveiling will take place during Computex 2009 where AMD has customarily made big ticket announcements.
'Istanbul' is a native 45nm 6-core design sharing the same micro-architecture as the existing 'Shanghai' Opteron, with a new feature called HT Assist that improves throughout using the present HyperTransport links. Importantly, 'Istanbul' has the same power envelope as current quad-core models from AMD. Performance however is increased up to 30% over the quad-core Opterons, with mid-range Nehalem Xeons expected to be its main competitor.
It will drop into existing 2, 4 and 8 socket systems without requiring any hardware changes. Such backwards compatibility is an advantage touted by AMD that lowers the cost of upgrading for customers. That however is set to change next year.
Along with the 'Istanbul' announcement, AMD also revealed its server platform roadmap for the next few years. More pertinently, we get more details on a new, version 2.0 of AMD's Direct Connect Architecture that is designed to handle more cores with a four-channel integrated memory controller, double that of version 1.0 along with four HyperTransport links, one more than the current version.
This micro-architecture will be first found on AMD's follow-up to 'Istanbul' called, 'Magny-Cours', which will have up to 12 cores and looks like a dual-die chip. Sampling for this 45nm chip has already started, with availability expected early next year.
Along with the new micro-architecture is a shift in AMD's segmentation for its server products. The company believes that there are two diverging trends in the server market, with high-end computing applications going for raw performance and scalability while the lower-end market favors power and cost efficiency.
With this in mind, the Opteron line will be split into two series, with the higher end 6000 series catering to high-performance computing and virtualization spaces (2P and 4P servers). This will occur early next year on the 'Maranello' (G34) platform, with 'Magny-Cours' processor (of the 8 and 12-core variety) spearheading this segment. These processors will be replaced by 32nm designs 'Interlagos', which will have 12 and 16 cores and will be based on the new 'Bulldozer' core. That's expected to occur in 2011.
The 'value' 4000 series will focus more on providing power efficiency and value to handle cloud computing and web applications. They will be used in 1P and 2P servers using the C32 platform and are represented by 4 and 6-core processors known as 'Lisbon'. Similarly, 32nm variants with 6 to 8 cores ('Valencia') will succeed 'Lisbon' in this series.
Essentially, with the shift to the 4000 and 6000 series processors, these AMD processors will not be pin-compatible with each other, nor will they be compatible with existing platforms. AMD cites this is essential to better cater to the respective segments instead of a one-size fits all solution as it has been for all these years. As much as we hate to say this, this looks like a path that Intel has been following for a long time with separate platforms and processor sockets.
Finally, AMD also launched a new Opteron EE processor (using the existing 'Shanghai' core) that is rated at 40W ACP (Average CPU Power), which is the company's lowest ever power band for a quad-core server processor. AMD reckons that the new processor will enable a 13% reduction in power consumption on the platform level, with a 14% lower processor power draw at idle. Again, it's targeted at the cloud computing environments where energy efficiency is king.
So there you have it, AMD's plans for the server platform for the next couple of years and it appears that cores and more cores is the answer to everything. We'll be looking out for more developments in this space and you may even see 'Istanbul' on a HardwareZone page near you later this year.


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Tangle-Free Charging on the Open Road
A new cable offers a tidier way to power up gadgets in the car
THE FRONT SEATS of an automobile make for a cramped mobile office. But for most drivers, that's what the space has become. The car's cigarette-lighter receptacle may have humble origins, yet these days it powers just about every gadget that gets taken on the open road—smartphones and tablets, radar detectors and GPS units alike.
So it should come as no surprise when those few inches of space between each bucket seat turn into a jumbled mess of wires. Every device requires its own power cable, which somehow has a way of tangling...


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So the last wall I posted about was an all willy-nilly free for all...
this wall was a bit more thought out... a wee bit more structured.
We actually did it last summer........ umm... how is that?
It feels like it was just last month.
It's almost summer again!
And to think we're STILL pulling the space together!
We were wanting pattern for the wall... knowing it needed something.
Considered stripes... but with stripes on her rug... nope...
so when we saw their cute stencil shop... here...... well... we jumped.
After pondering the color we wanted to use...
as this daughter of mine has a crazy love of switching out her bed pillows ALL THE TIME.
She'll grab them from another bed... from the linen closet... a sofa... chair.
She likes to refresh things often.
I have NO idea WHERE she gets it?!
mustard seemed a fun fit.
Why not.
Quite a high contrast... pretty bold actually... with her black bed... but we thought it might be fun.
Oh... it's bold alright.
We're still wanting to add in more touches of white throughout... she likes white a lot.
Plus I think it'll help neutralize the color & contrast some too.
That and art for the wall.
Art needed for sure!
Love the background... now just need to add some fun art on top.
I'm was trying to remember... but I do think this was my first go at using a wall stencil.
My personal experience was a combination of
"oh my gosh I'm totally screwing this up... this is hard"
"I'm reaaaally loving this"!
The stencil itself was awesome!
Large (loved that) and good quality... I just need more practice.
The thing I find crazzzzzy good... I'm nutty when it comes to clean lines.
So this was a challenge... and that's putting it VERY lightly.
In the end...
It is sooooo not perfect.
The mustard bled though here and there... giving way to soft imperfect little plus symbols.
And really... you know OVERALL... I think it still looks good!
This was such a cool project in hanging on... keeping on... and waiting to see.
It took us about half a day to do this 12' x 10' wall.
One stencil...
small paint tray...
dense foam roller...
painters tape...
spray adhesive (which i'm not too sure if I'd use again)
and one quart of paint.
Very simple supplies... for big return I say.
And it was a fun try something new afternoon adventure.
Have you tried stenciling?
What'd you think?
Would you go for it again?


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How to Customize a Windows 7 Power Plan
Windows 7 power plans can be customized to control precisely when the display dims or turns off, or the computer goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. By customizing a Windows 7 power plan, you can manage the battery life of your laptop without inconveniencing you or the way you like to work.
If you don't want to use a complete power plan, you can set some options separately, such as how much time lapses before your laptop automatically goes to sleep, and what happens when you press the laptop's power button or close the lid.
1Choose Start→Control Panel→Hardware and Sound→Power Options.
The Power Options window appears.
2Click the Create A Power Plan link on the left side.
The Create A Power Plan window appears.
3Select a preset plan.
You should choose a preset plan that is closest to what you want to create, so when you customize it, you'll have fewer changes to make.
4Enter a name for the plan in the Plan Name text box and click Next.
The Edit Plan Settings window appears.
5Choose settings for how the laptop power functions when plugged in or running off the battery and click Create.
You can set how long it takes after a period of inactivity for the laptop to dim its display, turn off its display, or go to sleep when the laptop is running on its battery or plugged in. You can also adjust how bright the screen is by default. A dimmer screen can save power.
After you click Create, Windows returns you to the Power Options window with your new plan added to the list of power plans.
If you choose to run your laptop with the power cord plugged in, your laptop could get warm to the touch, even though it has an internal fan. Consider unplugging your laptop occasionally to run off of battery power, or buying a laptop cooler, a pad with a fan inside that dispels heat when you rest your laptop on it.


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The world's leading climate scientists have set out in detail for the first time how much more carbon dioxide humans can pour into the atmosphere without triggering dangerous levels of climate change and concluded that more than half of that global allowance has been used up.
If people continue to emit greenhouse gases at current rates, the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere could mean that within as little as two to three decades, the world will face nearly inevitable warming of more than 2°C, resulting in rising sea levels, heatwaves, droughts and more extreme weather.
This calculation of the world's "carbon budget" was one of the most striking findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the expert panel of global scientists who on Friday produced the most comprehensive assessment yet of climate change at the end of their four-day meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
The 2,000-plus page report written by 209 lead authors also found it was "unequivocal" that global warming was happening as a result of human actions, and that without "substantial and sustained" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will breach the symbolic threshold of 2°C of warming, which governments around the world have pledged not to do.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged world leaders to pay heed to the "world's authority on climate change" and forge a new global deal on cutting emissions.
"The heat is on. Now we must act," he said.
British Secretary of Foreign Affairs William Hague backed the call, saying: "Unless we act now to reduce carbon emissions, [the effects of climate change] will continue to worsen. Governments, businesses and individuals all have a responsibility. The longer we delay, the higher the risks and the greater the costs to present and future generations."
The Met Office, Britain's national weather service, said the report had strong implications for the UK's future weather and was likely to bring more extreme rainfall and warmer winters, while the hottest days of summer could grow hotter still. Although natural variation will mean there are still exceptional cold snaps, heatwaves and other familiar vagaries of British weather, there could also be duller, wetter summers if new research is borne out that suggests they may be associated with Arctic melting.
The IPCC also rebuffed the argument made by climate change skeptics that a "pause" for the past 10 years to 15 years in the upward climb of global temperatures was evidence of flaws in their computer models.
In the summary for policymakers published on Friday morning after days of deliberations in the Swedish capital, the scientists said: "Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth's surface than any preceding decade since 1850. In the northern hemisphere, 1983-2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the last 1,400 years."
Thomas Stocker, co-chair of the report working group, said measuring recent years in comparison to 1998 — an exceptionally hot year — was misleading and that temperature trends could only be observed over longer periods of about 30 years.
Natural variability was cited as one of the reasons for warming being less pronounced in the past 15 years and the role of the oceans in absorbing heat, which is still poorly understood.


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4th of July Fireworks
I am writing to tell you how much we enjoyed the (Free camping) Veteran's Weekend you provided us. We also camped with four (4) other couples that took advantage of your generosity (our friends and veterans). Gosh, it is people like you that make us feel "Welcomed Home" from (more)
Harvey & Rose .