text:
This field is mandatory!
From September to December 2010, the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior is sailing to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines for the Turn the Tide – Rainbow Warrior's tour of Southeast Asia.
This year, the Rainbow Warrior is calling for change through action. Climate change is the greatest threat that our region and the whole world faces today. But each one of us can be part of the solution!
During her voyage, the Rainbow Warrior will promote climate change solutions by showcasing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines – and expose how coal-fired power plants and deforestation are worsening the global problem of climate change.
The Rainbow Warrior will urge governments to take immediate and decisive action to combat climate change-- and is calling on you to help make that positive change happen!
Turn the Tide – Rainbow Warrior's tour of Southeast Asia will be packed with adventure and exciting events. The tour will feature on-board and quayside activities, exhibits, fora, concerts, and classic high-profile Greenpeace campaigns in various stops around the region. You can join us online or offline (details at the back of this brochure).
There will come a time when the Earth grows sick, and when it does a tribe will gather from all the cultures of the World who believe in deeds and not words. They will work to heal it...they will be known as the 'Warriors of the Rainbow.'
There will come a time when the Earth grows sick, and when it does a tribe will gather from all the cultures of the World who believe in deeds and not words. They will work to heal it...they will be known as the 'Warriors of the Rainbow.'
The Rainbow Warrior, whose name was inspired by Northern American Indian mythology, has had a long and colourful history of campaigning for positive change for the planet. Her deck has been graced by celebrities, religious and political leaders, royalty, and rock bands. She has challenged environmental crimes, relocated the population of a South Pacific Island contaminated by radiation, provided disaster relief to victims of the 2004 Tsunami in South East Asia, and sailed against new coal plants, whaling, war, climate change, and other environmental crimes on every ocean of the world.
Arguably, the Rainbow Warrior's greatest moments were in her decades-long struggle to end nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. Despite being rammed, bombed, and subject to every form of intimidation and opposition imaginable, she carried on the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific.
One ordinary Monday afternoon on March 11, stuck in Copywriting class for three hours, once again I learned nothing new and got bored. And what do bored students do? They scroll through their phones. I scrolled through mine that day...
Greenpeace is running an international campaign to steer the global tuna industry towards more environmentally and socially responsible sourcing.
In many places a waste management system exists that claims to dispose, incinerate or recycle collected plastic waste. In reality, most of the plastic waste generated in high-income countries is transported to low- and middle- income countries,...
1 - 3 of 180 results.
Where we work in Southeast Asia


text:
December 17, 1999
Jeanne Oswald
(609) 292-4310
Midway through his first year, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education offered his observations about New Jersey higher education and its future, and said a tighter focus on key student needs will propel the system toward excellence and national prominence.
While his first seven months on the job have been enlightening and exhilarating, James E. Sulton, Jr. said his one frustration is that the higher education system's many strengths remain a well-kept secret. The Commission intends to tackle this problem by increasing awareness of New Jersey higher education and its vital contributions, and pressing for an excellence initiative that will enable selected institutions to build on strong programs in targeted areas.
"For me, students are at the heart of the higher education enterprise, and decisions at all levels of the system should consider their needs," said Dr. Sulton. He cited ease of transfer and campus diversity as two key areas that directly affect the student learning experience.
"Student transfer and articulation is perhaps the boldest expression of a genuinely learner-centered approach to higher education," Dr. Sulton said during the Commission's regular monthly meeting in Trenton. While faculty members, administrators, and college presidents are working hard to ensure the smooth transfer of credits from two-year to four-year institutions, Dr. Sulton said New Jersey needs a seamless statewide process that addresses varying student needs and differences among each institution's courses and programs.
He highlighted the need for statewide implementation of an online transfer system known as ARTSYS, which allows college students to evaluate transcripts, determine course equivalencies, and assess their prospects for transfer. "A pricetag of roughly $1 million to get ARTSYS up and running and about half that to maintain the system annually seems a bargain compared with the ongoing cost that lost credits and repeated courses impose on students, parents, institutions, and the state," Dr. Sulton said.
Pointing to campus diversity as another area that requires a student-centered approach, Dr. Sulton said that given New Jersey's diverse enrollment and supportive climate, the state has a unique opportunity to demonstrate national leadership. "Governing boards and institutions must capitalize on diversity -- a strength of our higher education system -- through conscious efforts to weave diversity and multiculturalism into the fabric that unites each campus community," said Dr. Sulton. Noting that a diverse campus community benefits all students, he called on each institution that has not already done so to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff; campus climate and intergroup relations; new approaches to curriculum and teaching; and accountability.
Dr. Sulton's full report is available HERE..

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Once upon a time, London fell.
Why it did or how it did we do not know; but here we are, in the Neath. Civilization, such as it is here, consists of tiny, scattered outposts in the vast darkness of the...
Sunless Sea
...or, as it is known to the captains of the brave vessels that sail upon it, the Unterzee. (Or, more casually, "the zee.")
It's an eerie place, full of adventures, strangeness, and chance. As the game's opening screen warns you, "your first captains will probably die. Later captains may succeed."
And on that note you arrive at the character creation screen: choose a background and an overarching goal for yourself. Is it fabulous wealth that you seek? You can make that your victory condition. Or perhaps you long to become foremost in the Unterzee's brave (and by definition foolhardy) explorers, and set out to scour the corners of the zee for material you'll one day use to write your masterwork.
You might become a pirate, stalking other ships on the dark waters to claim their goods and fuel for your own. You might become a smuggler, delivering questionable goods to even more questionable parties. You might forge a relationship with Hell (THAT Hell? Perhaps - we don't know them well enough to say), acquire a dubious reputation in the Khanate, or execute daring commissions for the Admiralty.
Perhaps you will cultivate a relationship with the zee's mysterious gods. Perhaps you will do this without knowing that you do this; their attentions are capricious and their actions frequently inexplicable.
Perhaps you will succeed.
Or perhaps only the Fathomking will ever know what became of your bones.
Failbetter Games is presenting us here with an interesting beast, to be sure. It is as though The Call of Cthulhu, Dark Souls, and China Mieville's The Scar went out for drinks one evening, and after a few too many margaritas The Scar began a giddy expostulation of how glorious it could be if the three of them all teamed up on a project together.
The results are...interesting. One begins by loading a ship with fuel, supplies, and crew, and strikes out into the literal black void for...well, for whatever the void may happen to contain. It's not quite a procedurally-generated world; there appear to be SOME rules governing approximately where things might appear, and the western and southern borders of the map are always going to be the same, but as a general rule when a character dies the map of the Unterzee will change. (Try not to think about how it is that the Unterzee is literally different for everyone who ventures into it, even those who inherit the legacy of a previous character. It is as if it is formed from the expectations of those who sail upon it...)
Once at sea - excuse me, at zee - one sails about looking for matters of interest. New islands and ports of call. Odd land features. Pirates or zee-beasts to fight. A helpful zee-bat functions as a kind of radar, occasionally bringing news that a port or landmark is near.
And eventually, one will again return to Fallen London with spoils. Or die. Dying's actually pretty likely, especially as you learn the ropes.
Is it a roguelike then? Sort of: there is only one save file (at least in the default mode) and particularly when setting out it is very, very easy for a small misstep to doom a ship and crew. At least one can always leave something for the next captain to come along. Half the value of one's highest stat, perhaps. Or wealth. Or, sometimes, one's chart, a truly precious inheritance (though passing this on will mean that the next captain gains no experience for discovering any already-charted places.)
But the real inheritance is the gradually-growing knowledge of the player. While the layout of the zee is somewhat randomized for each captain, the stories available to each captain persist: This time, I will know that that Searing Enigma I can gain from doing this is better offered to this mysterious being. This time, I will be sure not to let the customs men stamp that crate. This time, I will head straight for the area where I can vaguely expect this island to be. This time, I will think twice before accepting this bargain. This time.
And make no mistake, it these stories and not the gameplay that are the game's most compelling asset. The top-down ship-dogfights aren't bad, and for a player more skilled at such battles than myself may even be quite enjoyable. But that's not why I'm here.
I'm here for the really rather remarkably evocative world Failbetter has constructed. Or perhaps I should say "expanded upon"; the world of Sunless Sea is an extension of the world first built for their free browser game Fallen London, and having an account in Fallen London can both expand on the lore of the world and also (it seems) potentially trigger interesting crossovers between games. (I am currently playing Fallen London casually, and recently had the option to sell something to "a zee-captain of my acquaintance"; I have yet to see how that will play out in Sunless Sea, but am curious to find out.)
It's a kind of dark-fantastical mirror of the Age of Steam ("Steampunk" doesn't seem quite the right word, though fans of the aesthetic may find something to like here.) Exploration and encounters are paramount; most of the game's narrative meat comes in storylets available at the various ports. Something in the manner of a visual novel or choose-your-own adventure book, you'll read a situation, and then choose a response; sometimes the random number gods will be called upon to adjudicate the results of your actions, with bonuses available based on your stats.
And it works. It works, and it gives me a bit of a feeling that I have not had since a very, very young me tinkered with interactive fiction. My choices here are more constrained, but there is that sense of mystery, of exploration and experimentation, and occasionally of delight at some unexpectedly-pleasing turn of phrase or some bizarre and imaginative scenario.
If that sounds at all appealing to you, I suggest giving Sunless Sea a try.
And swap me a zee-story if you do.
The below description is of our first captain's death; spoilered in case anyone reading this wishes to go into zeefaring with the most blank possible slate.
As the engines sputtered to a stop, leaving us adrift and helplesss, we could all feel the ripples of terror through our group - the wary eyes, the slightly crazed laughter.
I do not know what mad impulse drove us to call on the god Salt, but we did: a frantic, whispered prayer for aid that was, unexpectedly, answered.
The ship heaved, and with it the fabric of reality; we clung nauseously to the rail as the world blurred and shifted. When our vision cleared, the Kingeater's Castle loomed above us, seemingly demanding sacrifice. It was impossible; we found ourselves literally at the opposite end of the world from any sign of life or hope.
But we had a small amount of fuel, and despair made us reckless. We set out...
...and promptly found ourselves set upon by strange and shining ships. Before their weapons our hull was as tissue paper.
It was as the explosions shredded our ship, as all but one shipmate had perished in the onslaught, that we heard the singing.
The Drownies. They circled us, offering peace, release. An end.
Before the final blast could come we flung ourselves into their waiting arms.
P.S. Be careful out there; it's easier to commit acts of accidental cannibalism than you think. That shark wasn't shark, damn it.


text:
BACKGROUND IMAGE: iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
- FeatureEarly Adopters Unequivocally Up About iSCSI Arrays
- FeatureEMC Expands Reach of Symmetrix DMX
- FeatureSRM Vendors Set Sights on Secondary Storage
- FeatureGrid computing will change storage
- FeatureNew Pricing Schemes Aim For Lower Storage Costs
- FeatureGuest Opinion: IBM Makes the 'V' Word Respectable Again
- FeatureDiagnostic Tool Shines Light on SDLT
- FeatureProtect your SAN from attack
- FeatureIntelligent Switches To Get Common API
- FeatureFile Virtualization Tackles NAS Management Woes
- FeatureCan tools streamline provisioning?
- FeatureThe best way to scale SANs
- FeatureWhy consolidate?
- FeatureE-mail: It's worse than you think
- FeatureRecovering from a data center disaster
- FeatureMore cool technology coming out over the next year than at any other time in storage history
- FeatureGetting started with data storage efficiency
- FeatureDo you encrypt your backup tapes?
- FeatureEditorial
iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Can tools streamline provisioning?
Virtualization was last year's buzz word, and it looks like provisioning may be this year's. We dissect what these tools actually do and how to choose which ones that are likely to actually be useful in your environment.
|Step by step provisioning
Provisioning is potentially a mission critical application for storage. The confusion sets in because there are many ways to provision storage. For example, there are end-to-end provisioning solutions, as well as storage array- and network-based solutions, plus native operating system volume managers. There's a solution for all provisioning definitions.
But before you select a provisioning solution, read the fine print: EMC's ControlCenter (ECC) promises seamless provisioning capabilities if you're primarily using EMC's storage arrays. Computer Associates (CA), in Islandia, NY, will automate storage provisioning using its BrightStor Storage Resource Manager (SRM), assuming you have StoreAge Networking Technologies' Storage Virtualization Manager (SVM) running in the background. And Veritas' current release of SANPoint Control will give you end-to-end storage provisioning capabilities, provided you have Veritas' Volume Manager software installed on servers in your environment.
Perhaps because of vendors' conflicting claims and the resulting confusion, automated storage provisioning is not a high priority for many users, according to numerous surveys. Eric Pitcher, CA's associate VP of BrightStor brand management, concurs, saying he doesn't see a lot of pent-up market demand for this technology. Says Pitcher: "The concept of SRM, which allows users to see what they have, is just starting to gain acceptance. Provisioning is way down the must-have list."
What is provisioning?
Gartner Inc. defines provisioning as the process of adding, deleting or modifying the configuration of storage required for a given application, including devices, replicas and network paths. CA's VP of BrightStor solutions, Bob Davis, says, "Everyone in the industry is wrestling with the question of what exactly constitutes provisioning." Davis defines provisioning as anything from the first step of allocating raw disk space to a server to extending a file system on an operating system.
Basically, provisioning definitions range from tightly focused concepts to pie-in-the-sky promises. Bill Huber, the CTO of San Diego-based StoneFly Networks, defines provisioning simply as having volume management capabilities-- where volume management gives users the ability to create arbitrary size volumes anywhere out of anything in the storage pool. Veritas, on the other hand, takes a more expansive view of provisioning. Kevin Coughlin, the senior product manager for Veritas' SANPoint Control, expands the definition of provisioning to include not just storage, but computing resources as well.
The task of provisioning
Other issues further cloud the whole concept of provisioning. For instance, who should perform the task of provisioning? CA's Davis observes that the tasks individuals perform will differ significantly depending on the size of the IT shop. He believes that, in small shops, one person can probably do it all, while in enterprise shops, there will be multiple levels of administration with different departments performing different tasks.
DataCore Software's director of product marketing, Augie Gonzalez, says that the conventional approach to provisioning networked storage is ad hoc, labor intensive, time consuming and error prone. The current process used by many organizations is akin to having too many cooks in the kitchen--it's difficult to coordinate and the results are not repeatable. Both Gonzalez and Davis view current methods of provisioning as too difficult, as it now stands, and do not currently see any single tool solving the problem.
The offerings from CA illustrate Davis' point that more than one tool is needed to solve the problem. CA currently automates provisioning through a partnership with StoreAge to provide an end-to-end provisioning solution. CA offers its native BrightStor SRM product to perform policy-based threshold monitoring that monitors servers and detects when thresholds have been exceeded. When a threshold is exceeded, it notifies StoreAge's SVM with details on how much to expand the volume and when. StoreAge's SVM then expands the volume by a predefined amount and notifies CA's BrightStor SRM with the new volume size information.
Fujitsu Softek's solutions also support users who will need more than one tool to do provisioning. While the company has for some time offered its Softek Storage Manager product as an SRM tool, Fujitsu recently upgraded this tool to provide enhanced capacity planning, reporting and provisioning capabilities at the server level. For those organizations seeking to simplify, consolidate and automate storage provisioning in a heterogeneous storage environment at the storage network level, the company now offers Softek Storage Provisioner, which can operate alone or with the Storage Manager software.
Where to provision
CA's and Fujitsu Softek's two software offerings point to the other major issue that users face in regard to provisioning: Where should provisioning occur? Currently, it can be done in a number of ways: on the storage array, at the network level, on the server or in a combination of all three of these places (see "Four ways to provision storage array solutions"). Answering to that question depends on what you want your environment to look like.
For provisioning to occur at the storage array level requires either a command line interface (CLI) or a GUI. In addition, more advanced functions can be obtained through utilization of the APIs of the storage array itself. The tools supplied by the major storage vendors (EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), IBM and others), including EMC's ControlCenter and HDS' HiCommand software, currently provide this level of API integration with their own storage arrays and, to a limited degree, with their competitors.' Third-party software solutions such as CreekPath Systems' AIM Suite and Veritas' SANPoint Control offer these advanced functions to the extent that they have obtained and implemented the APIs of the storage array vendors into their products.
|Testing a provisioning software product
In today's current business environment, which is characterized by limited staff and even more limited dollars, finding the staff time-much less the budget-to test any new software comes with its own set of challenges and risks. So to help mitigate the risks and narrow the number of storage provisioning products to test, here are some suggestions:
First, document the makeup of your environment and then pick a corresponding solution. For relatively small networked storage environments (20 servers or fewer) with homogeneous operating systems or storage arrays that come from a single vendor, look to choose either a server-based or storage array-based methodology that capitalizes on these similarities. For larger heterogeneous environments, shops should be looking to start testing network-based solutions. The market appears to be heading in this direction for enterprise environments, since this methodology goes a long way toward simplifying heterogeneous networked storage.
Second, envision what you want your environment to look like. If you want to start building scripts now that automate the provisioning of storage, then you better have a product that can grow with you so you don't have to throw all your work out in a few years. On the other hand, if you just want to bring one vendor's product in to start getting comfortable with the technology while remaining ambivalent about whether you use this vendor's product long term or not, now is an excellent time to do so. Vendors are anxious to bring their products in and show you what they can do.
Finally, you will need to decide whether you want to run formal tests on the product or do a limited deployment of it. Both options have their pros and cons. If you run formal tests on the software, you avoid installation costs down the road. Yet knowing how to build the test environment with a product you don't know much about, much less knowing what to test and how to measure the results, is an iffy proposition. Probably a better choice is to lay out a little bit of money now and do a limited deployment of the product without making any long-term commitments to any particular vendor. It will help you understand the technology as a whole, determine what you want and/or need to test with this technology and, in so doing, enable you to make a better long-term decision about how to proceed with this technology.
However, these vendors' relationships with third-party software companies--which could provide tools to manage and interoperate with these network-based solutions--are minimal. Notable exceptions would be the case of CA's relationship and utilization of StoreAge's SVM and Fujitsu Softek's ownership of DataCore Software's SANsymphony product. This current lack of integration with any larger third-party vendor's software, coupled with a common lack of compliance with the early releases of the common information model (CIM) among these solutions, may limit the appeal of this technology when it's seen from an enterprise-management perspective.
A third way for provisioning to occur is on the server. On servers it may be done using either the operating systems' native volume management utilities such as HP-UX's logical volume manager (LVM), Novell NetWare's native NWConfig or IBM AIX's cfgmgr or a third-party tool such as Veritas' Volume Manager. These tools discover the underlying LUNs presented to them by the storage arrays, then carve up the volume and represent the volume to the host's applications.
Provisioning sweet spot
The sweet spot that appears to be emerging for provisioning is the component that consolidates all of these different approaches. This method presents a single interface to the user that allows them to provision storage at any or all of these three layers.
Existing storage array vendors may start out with an edge in this area, because they may optionally wrap their storage provisioning software around new storage array offerings. In addition, they are all looking to extend those provisioning capabilities to other arrays. This gives them a decided advantage with their existing installed base, which is already familiar with their current software. Plus, with new capabilities being added to provision on other vendors' storage arrays, the impetus to bring an all-inclusive third-party management tool into your environment may be minimal, especially since it's now a nondisruptive decision to keep using the installed software.
Reinforcing the decision to stay on what you already know and use is the fact that the Storage Networking Industry Association's (SNIA's) CIM initiative is gaining momentum. While StoneFly Networks' Huber still sees current SNIA activity as being focused on switches and zoning, he forecasts that users can look for a 1.1 revision a year from now that will enable almost any CIM-compliant tool to magically provision storage and do zoning on any CIM-compliant device.
With this revision on the horizon and most storage array vendors already subscribing to CIM in theory if not in practice, there's no reason to believe they won't someday be able to offer basic provisioning capabilities for their competitors' arrays in the software as it exists now. However, Huber cautions that he doesn't believe this next revision of CIM will create independence from storage devices to perform advanced functions such as creating mirrors among different vendors' storage arrays.
|Four ways to provision storage arrays
Yet buyers hoping to piggyback their storage provisioning software solutions on top of their storage purchases need to be aware of the long-term implications of this approach. According to Bob Passmore of Gartner Inc., the cost of a software storage solution from a traditionally hardware-only vendor such as EMC may be up to seven or eight times as much as that of a third-party software solution from Fujitsu Softek or IBM. Yet given that any of these solutions contain many different components with many variables, it's hard to say whether any current comparisons are truly accurate.
Access to any hardware vendor's storage array APIs will give independent storage software vendors such as CA, CreekPath, Fujitsu Softek and Veritas an edge over their storage array vendor counterparts. Access to the APIs lets storage software vendors automate the advanced functions of any storage array, such as mirroring and snapshots, through the use of scripts and wizards.
Conversely, the likelihood of one storage array vendor either selling or swapping its APIs with its competitors seems improbable, at best. While vendors such as EMC have announced its intention to reverse engineer the other vendors' storage arrays to manage and monitor them, customers may never know whether EMC got everything completely right. The $10,000 question is how many, if any, of its customers will care whether the company gets it 100% right, especially if buyers get most--if not all--of the provisioning functionality they need out of EMC's product provisioning on these competing storage arrays.
Move to the middle
Despite the promise of these integrated end-to-end provisioning solutions, the whole approach starts to break down in large shops with heterogeneous server, switch and storage environments. In these environments, even the best-designed product will only interoperate with a certain number of storage arrays and switches, and there will always be a lag time between when new features come to market and when they can be used by the software designed and implemented to manage them. Most of the tools on the market only marginally provision storage on the storage arrays of the growing number of providers of serial ATA (SATA) and midtier storage arrays.
This may help explain why companies such as Veritas are moving their products down into the network (Veritas' Volume Manager is currently being beta tested with Brocade) and companies like EMC are moving the intelligence of their arrays up into the network, as evidenced by EMC's recent announcement to do so with Cisco. It also helps explain why companies such as Fujitsu Softek and IBM offer products that enable a central point of storage provisioning, regardless of the tier or intelligence of the storage array behind it.
Veritas' Coughlin states that Veritas' Volume Manager (VM) product is now being designed to run in the SAN fabric. He believes that this initiative will enable customers to go where they want while centralizing online storage management.
While some of the larger vendors still see this network-based technology as being in its infancy, others, such as DataCore and FalconStor, have been shipping this technology for at least a couple of years. FalconStor's director of product management, Jon Greene, sees the fact that the big boys of storage--such as EMC, IBM and Veritas--are jumping into this market as a validation of this space.
Testing it out
Regardless of which provisioning approach an organization decides to pursue, an important step to take before choosing any solution is to determine how to test it in your environment. But before doing so, some preliminary work needs to be done.
For those who do choose to start experimenting with this software (see "Step by step provisioning"), Fujitsu Softek's Jean Banko recommends that users begin by getting an understanding of their current environment. To do so, customers should start out by measuring current utilization rates, finding out how often data is changing, determining what disaster recovery plans are in place and doing some capacity planning to forecast future needs. Once those steps are completed, users can then start testing various products.
FalconStor's Jon Greene recommends a phased approach. Rather than taking the big jump and trying to purchase a one-size-fits-all provisioning solution at this point, he advises that users attempt to solve a specific problem with provisioning. For instance, users may want to consolidate and provision storage behind a certain set of application servers. Alternatively, they may want to use the more advanced technology in some of the provisioning solutions to create a snapshot of the data to a secondary tier of disk that may be backed off to tape and used to shorten the backup window.
Veritas' Coughlin also believes that the best approach to take with provisioning is to start using it in some capacity. He still feels there is a lot of hype around this technology and that, ultimately, it comes back to trust--trusting that what the software promises it will actually deliver. Right now, he primarily sees customers wanting to discover and visualize their storage environments, with some customers willing to accept step-by-step workflow and policy-based provisioning. Most users, he says, aren't willing to automate their environments using the current releases of software.
As provisioning software continues to improve, you should start dipping your toes into the water in order gain an understanding about how automated provisioning will work in your storage environment.
Dig Deeper on Storage management tools
Symantec puts SRM applications under Veritas Operations Manager banner
Symantec Veritas Storage Foundation V5.1 has solid-state drive auto-discovery, thin volume reclaim
3PAR, IBM upgrade provisioning features
3PAR fattens its thin provisioning arsenal


text:
Kristin Kopp '93
Ms. Kristin Kopp CSA has been an advocate for many Twin Cities social service agencies for over 20 years. She founded At Home Solutions, LLC in April, 2006 to provide seniors, people with disabilities and families in crisis a local, professional and trustworthy Home Care company delivering exceptional Caregiver and Home Management services.
While having lived in the Twin Cities most of her life, Ms. Kopp has had the opportunity to volunteer in Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, Washington D.C. and Guatemala. Her parents have always been strong advocates for giving back to others and have personally demonstrated how fulfilling "service to others" can be. Her passion for volunteering and being involved in non-profit organizations began when she was in grade school when she volunteered for her church's nursery and local animal humane society.
She began her work with seniors when she was in Junior High and volunteered at Heritage of Edina Senior Living for a service project. She graduated from the College of Saint Benedict in December 1992 with a degree in elementary education.
Ms. Kopp is an active member of several cutting edge organizations including the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Memory Care Professions, Care Options Network and Minnesota Association of Guardianship and Conservatorship. She currently serves as Nominating Chairperson of the Minneapolis Area Senior Workers Association, Vice President of Business Network International Fireside Chapter and is an active member of the Southdale YMCA Community Board and Edina Meals on Wheels.


text:
A former 100m world champion will not compete in the event at the London Olympics after being caught visiting his wife in a hotel outside the Olympic Village.
St. Kitts & Nevis sprinter Kim Collins—who carried the flag in the opening ceremony—complained on Twitter, stating "Even men in prison get their wives to visit." The Washington Post says Collins has missed camp the last several days.
It would have been Collins's fifth Olympics.
For a handy master schedule of every Olympic event, click here.


text:
CLAVIA Nord Modular G2 (Mac/Win)
FIG. 1: Clavia''s new Nord Modular G2 expands on its predecessors by offering more horsepower and new modules. The system is available in several configurations, including three- and five-octave keyboards and a rack unit.
Clavia's Nord Modular, introduced in 1997, was a revolutionary concept: a DSP-configurable modular synthesizer in a compact hardware box. A computer was required for programming, but the hardware had a two-octave keyboard and assignable knobs for live performance. At the time, the only comparable product was Symbolic Sound's Kyma system, which had more audio-processing power but cost more and lacked a keyboard and knobs.
In the intervening years, computer-based modular synthesis has made great strides. The advantage of software-only modulars such as Native Instruments Reaktor is that when you buy a new computer with a faster CPU, your existing synth will acquire more polyphony. The chip speed of Clavia's new Nord Modular G2 version 1.10 can't be bumped up, but there are other factors to consider: the advantage of the G2 lies in its well-designed hardware interface, which includes hands-on controls and integrated audio I/O. Once you've used a computer to create your patches, you can take the G2 to a gig and leave the computer at home.
The G2 is a significant advance over the original Nord Modular. In fact, Clavia prefers to look at it as an entirely new product. The hardware package is far more playable as a musical instrument. Although many modules and the basic design of the software interface are the same as before, new types of software modules have been added. Strangely, a few of the more interesting oscillator and filter modules found in version 3.0 of the earlier OS have vanished. According to Clavia, the DSP has been entirely reworked. Patches created in the original Nord Modular are not forward-compatible with the new hardware unit, which is bound to disappoint owners of the earlier instrument who would like to upgrade. They'll have to reprogram their favorite user-created patches from the ground up.
Except for the arrangement of knobs and buttons on the panel, the G2 looks a lot like Clavia's other keyboards, sporting a bright red case and the terrific spring-loaded pitch bender first introduced on the Nord Lead (see Fig. 1). If you have never used the Nord Pitchstick, you are in for a treat: player-controlled vibrato, which is all but impossible on most synths due to the center detent in their pitch-bending hardware, is both easy to use and expressive. The standard G2 provides a three-octave Velocity- and Aftertouch-sensing keyboard with full-size unweighted keys.
FIG. 2: Shown above is the FATBass NL2 factory patch, viewed in the Nord Modular G2 Editor software. User-selectable colors make the various module sections easier to see. FATBass, which has two oscillators, one filter, three LFOs, and five envelopes, can produce up to seven notes of polyphony.
The G2X is functionally identical but has a five-octave semiweighted keyboard. It also offers double the processing power of the G2, as the optional voice-expansion board is built-in. For those who want the sound power but don't need the knobs, the G2 Engine, a 1U rackmount module with no panel functionality at all, is also available.
The keyboard model's front panel has five 2-line-by-16-character green LCDs. One of these displays system information, patch names, and so on. The other four are arrayed above the row of eight definable knobs and show the current knob function and the data value. The knobs rotate freely, and each has a concentric 16-segment LED, which gives you some extra visual feedback on the current position of the knob. Below each knob is a button that can be assigned separately.
Are eight knobs enough? Not to worry. Thanks to an ingenious arrangement of buttons in an L-shaped array at the right end of the panel, you have nearly instant access to any of 15 different knob "banks." In reality, then, the G2 has a generous 120 definable knobs. Part of creating your own patches is manually assigning the knobs to parameters with which you intend to interact, one parameter at a time.
Just above the keyboard is a row of eight Variation buttons, which are used to store variations on the current patch. Variations are like sound programs in a conventional synth in that all of the Variations share the underlying structure of modules and connections that define the patch. If the patch has defined front-panel knobs, you can easily create new Variations and then store the patch (including its variations) without having the computer hooked up. However, reconfiguring the patch itself from the front panel is not possible.
The rear panel is well set up. In addition to the connections you'd expect (four audio outs, MIDI In/Out/Thru, a headphone out, and sustain footswitch and sweep-pedal inputs), it has four audio inputs for processing external signals and a mic-level XLR input with a front-panel trim pot and three-LED metering. A USB connector for computer interfacing completes the picture.
The G2 contains 6 MB of patch memory. How many patches and performances you'll have room for, however, depends entirely on the complexity of the patches. According to Clavia, the average patch requires only 3 KB, but complex patches naturally take up more memory. Patches and performances are organized into banks of 128 objects each. There's a theoretical limit of 32 banks of patches and 8 banks of performances, but you'll probably run out of memory before that limit is reached.
The G2 is four-part multitimbral, so up to four independent patches can be active at once in a performance, either in keyboard split/layer zones or on separate MIDI channels. Several differences between G2 performances and the multi mode on a typical synth are worth noting. First, each G2 patch will normally have its own effects, though it's possible to use global audio buses to send signals from one slot to another. Second, the G2's performance memory contains all of the actual data for each patch, not just pointers to the single-mode patches. Thus you can freely edit the patches in your performances without worrying about destroying other sounds. Although there's some potential for confusion here, these are excellent features.
Unlike combi/multi/setup definitions in many workstation synths, the performances in the G2 are minimal. In particular, they don't contain information on MIDI channel assignments, audio-output routing, Velocity zones, or even pitch transposition and output volume. Those factors are all handled by reprogramming the patches within the performance as needed. Because the patch data is unique to the performance rather than being a pointer to data stored in patch memory, that is not, for the most part, a problem. However, the MIDI channel assignments for the four slots are found in global (system) mode — that is an inconvenience, as you may want to use different performances over MIDI in different ways. Having to change the channel assignments manually each time you switch to a different musical task is an unnecessary extra step.
Using the four slot buttons, the Shift button, and the KB Split button, it's possible to change the combination of active patches while playing the keyboard. You can even switch from one keyboard-assigned patch to another without experiencing any audible glitches, provided that both patches are preloaded. If KB Split is active, one of four green LEDs directly above the keyboard will glow to show the split point. In this situation, the patches in slots A and B will be assigned to the left side of the split, and the patches in slots C and D will be assigned to the right side. The split point can be assigned to only one of the four fixed positions using the front-panel buttons, but the keyboard zones are fully programmable in the Editor software.
The big disappointment with the G2 is its limited polyphony. When I loaded four different factory patches (FATBass NL2, YetAnotherOrgan, Bells, and NordSynth) into the four slots, I found that each of them was reduced to monophonic operation. When I deactivated the other three slots, YetAnotherOrgan was capable of 6-note polyphony, whereas NordSynth by itself could generate ten simultaneous notes. Examining the NordSynth patch, I found a standard lineup of analog-type modules: two oscillators, three LFOs, five envelopes (three of them simple AD types), and a filter, as well as delay, reverb, and chorus effects. The G2 could clearly use more polyphony.
In all fairness, though, the shortage of polyphony may not be a huge drawback, depending on your musical needs. For many modular-type sounds, two or three notes at a time will fill the speakers with convoluted sheets of sound. It may be best not to think of the G2 as a multitimbral workstation. Like other musical instruments, it has unique strengths and limitations. If you need more voices, you can add Clavia's G2 voice-expansion card, which doubles the DSP and retails for only $450.
The concepts behind creating your own patches in the G2 are easy to grasp. The software interface is designed to look a lot like a hardware modular system, in which modules are connected — using the mouse, in this case — by patch cords (see Fig. 2). Gaining mastery over the system will take a little time, however, because of the sheer number of modules available, the number of possible connections among them, and the assortment of multiposition switches found in many of the modules.
Individual modules can be dragged into the main work area from the multitabbed "parts-box" interface at the top of the window. It contains lots of modules, and they're grouped into convenient categories: In/Out, Osc, LFO, Random (just released as of this writing), Env, Shaper, Filter, Mixer, Seq, FX, MIDI, and so on. Some categories have only five or six modules, while others have upwards of a dozen. In the oscillator group, for instance, you can choose any of four basic types (OscA through OscD), a phase-modulation oscillator, two oscillators with dynamic waveshaping, a dual oscillator, a Karplus-Strong plucked-string model, an analog percussion-tone source, a fancier DrumSynth oscillator, a noise source, and a master-tuning reference source.
A patch has two work areas: one for modules such as filters and oscillators, which need to be provided separately in each voice, and one for patch-common modules such as effects. The effects area has its own input module, which has two stereo buses, so it's possible to route signals to the effects in many different ways.
Each module has a slightly (or radically) different array of features, and each can use a different amount of DSP. The amount can also vary depending on the positions of various switches in the module. If you choose an OscA or an OscD and set it to produce a sine wave, you'll be using only 1.8 percent of the available DSP (as indicated on a display in the upper part of the screen). The Shape A oscillator, on the other hand, uses 11.8 percent. To maximize polyphony, it's important to choose the least "expensive" module type needed for a given sound. Note that the percentages shown in the display refer to the amount of DSP used within one of the four available slots. If you are playing in single mode, you will have four slots available, so a patch that shows a 20 percent load will be able to play 20 voices (five per slot).
The software functions as a basic librarian: using menu commands, you can upload or download both single patches and performances and entire banks. However, there's no librarian "housekeeping" page with which to rearrange the patches in banks. To do that, you'll need to upload patches one at a time into a bank in the synth and then download your new bank to the computer for disk storage. The Patch Browser in the Tools menu provides a quick way to look at lists of patches in the G2 and on your hard drive and to load patches from the list, but it lacks copy utilities.
The Editor allows you to assign colors to individual modules or groups of modules, which helps to make the organization of a patch visually clearer. Six different cable colors are provided, and cables of selected colors can be hidden to reduce visual clutter. Other visual amenities include blinking LED indicators in some modules — such as LFOs and envelope generators — and small envelope-shaped graphics (which can't be edited with the mouse).
The computer's arrow keys can be used for editing values in the currently selected module without touching the mouse. Using the arrow keys with the Shift key allows you to select different modules. Right-clicking on a knob or other control value in a module brings up a menu in which you can assign the control to a front-panel knob or a MIDI Control Change message. Modules can be renamed, which is useful for keeping track of a complex patch onscreen. The name of the module will show up in the LCDs above the hardware knobs when its controls are assigned to the knobs.
Once a module is in place in a patch, it displays an arrow-shaped menu handle in the upper-left corner, which can instantly replace the module with a different one from the same group. To whatever extent is possible, the software will retain the patching of a module when it's replaced — that's a great feature. You can start with one filter, for instance, and then swap in a different filter without having to reconnect the audio and modulation signals.
Most of the modules in the G2's toolbox are based on analog-synthesis concepts. The instrument will also do FM synthesis, and there's a plucked-string oscillator that uses the classic Karplus-Strong algorithm. Sample playback and more-complex digital-synthesis procedures, such as granular synthesis, are not implemented. The palette of tone colors is broadened considerably by strong waveshaping features, which include not only oscillators with shapeable waveforms, but also seven different waveshaper modules. In my experiments, the waveshapers turned out to be the key to turning ho-hum analog-style tones into searing, edgy sounds.
For the most part, modules have to be patched together manually. A few of the most commonly used routings are handled for you. The oscillators and filters automatically track incoming MIDI notes, and the envelope generators receive MIDI gates thanks to invisible "hard-wired" routings, which you can override if desired.
Even the simplest oscillator has selectable waveforms and a couple of inputs for pitch modulation (one with an attenuator and one without), as well as coarse- and fine-tuning knobs and a keyboard-tracking on/off switch. Most oscillators have other features, such as inputs for FM, waveshaping, or phase modulation. One nice feature is that the coarse-tuning knob can be set to use semitones, hertz, a multiplication factor above or below concert pitch, or the partial number. The latter makes it much easier to create classic FM patches.
The DrumSynth module has two oscillators with decay time, level, and tuning knobs; noise and click sources; a multimode filter for the noise (with its own decay envelope); and pitch-envelope amount and decay-time controls (see Fig. 3). Only the volume of the click is adjustable and not its pitch — that seems like an odd omission. You could wire up a device much like the DrumSynth by hand, which would give you added flexibility in your design. But then you wouldn't have access to the DrumSynth's 30 presets. The presets allow you to quickly create, for example, an electro beatbox using a dozen drumlike sound sources and a dozen MIDI Note Receive modules (808 kicks and swishy hi-hats are readily available). Adding Overdrive and WaveWrap modules to the DrumSynth's output does a lot to beef up the tone.
More than a dozen different filters are available. The simplest are nonresonant lowpass and highpass models with selectable rolloff slopes of up to 36 dB per octave. The FltStatic module is also simple, but it has a resonance knob and a choice of lowpass, bandpass, or highpass operation with a fixed 12 dB slope. There's also a basic wah-wah (bandpass) filter with a sweep input.
More often, patches will benefit from the FltNord and FltClassic modules. The Nord filter offers a choice of four modes, including band-reject, and you can choose either 12 or 24 dB rolloff slope. It has three inputs for cutoff-frequency control and another for resonance control. The Classic filter is strictly lowpass and has no input for resonance control, but 12, 18, and 24 dB modes are provided. The FltMulti module is similar to the Classic, but has 6 and 12 dB modes and three simultaneous outputs for lowpass, bandpass, and highpass operation.
The FltPhase module can sound rich and expressive with an input that has lots of harmonic content (such as a sawtooth wave). You can set the number of notches that will be produced, and the module has controls and modulation inputs for frequency, feedback (notch depth), and notch spread. The FltComb module is similar in concept but has fewer features. For sheer expressiveness, though, it would be hard to beat the FltVoice module; that device filters the signal with three formant peaks. You can select a characteristic vowel sound for each peak, sweep among the vowels, offset them with a frequency knob and associated control input, and control the amount of resonance in the peaks.
Three different EQ modules are found in the filter section: a one-band fully parametric, a low- and high shelving with fixed 80 Hz and 12 kHz corner frequencies, and a 3-band with fixed lows and high shelving plus a semiparametric mid. None of these modules have control inputs or keyboard tracking, but any of the knobs can be morphed from the keyboard, Velocity, the Modulation Wheel, and so on.
Regarding the vocoder, the manual provides no information on the exact frequencies of the 16 bands (you can get that information from Clavia's Web site), and frequency settings are not user-adjustable. However, you can patch any analysis band to any carrier-filter band, so recognizable speech and special effects are eminently feasible. The normal procedure is to route one of the G2's audio inputs to the control input of the vocoder, but I found that sending the control input a sine wave whose frequency was being swept up and down by an LFO was also an interesting effect.
Nine different envelope generators are available, including the classic ADSR; a multisegment envelope with four rates and four levels; simple decay, ADR, and AHD types; and a couple with modulation inputs for individual stages. Each EG has its own built-in voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) through which signals can be passed, a feature that makes patching a bit easier and reduces screen clutter. Each EG has a multiposition switch for inverting or changing the range of the output. The more complex EGs also have switches for choosing logarithmic, linear, or exponential attack and decay curves. Normally the EGs receive their gate signals by means of an invisible patch cord from the keyboard (MIDI input) module, but a trigger/gate jack can be used instead.
The LFOs (there are four in all, as well as a clock generator) have invert/range switching like the envelope generators, as well as rate-modulation inputs and range switching with four settings: Sub, Lo, Hi, and bpm. Another setting common to all of the LFOs is a Poly/Mono switch, which is used in polyphonic patches to choose whether each voice will have its own LFO or whether all voices will share a single LFO. The more complex LFOs also have sync and reset jacks and multiposition keyboard-tracking switches with five choices (25, 50, 75, or 100 percent; and off). (The same keyboard-tracking options are also available for the filters.) The most complex LFO module, LfoShpA, allows both waveshape and wave phase to be modulated. Standard LFO techniques such as delayed onset and ramp-up time have to be patched by hand, but this is easy to do.
Five step sequencers are included in the module repertoire. Each provides a maximum of 16 steps, but they can be limited to shorter patterns. Two or more can be chained if longer sequences are needed, but when they're chained, the composite sequences always have to be 8, 16, or 32 beats long (each beat containing either four 16th-note pulses or twenty-four 96th notes). The most complex sequencer is shown in Fig. 4. Each sequencer has both trigger/gate and control-voltage outputs, except for the simplest one, which has two rows of trigger/gates. You can set up complex polyrhythms by routing the trigger outputs to envelope generators.
For experimentally minded musicians, one of the G2's most intense features may be its three MIDI output modules. These will send MIDI Notes, Control Change data, or Program Change messages to the unit's physical MIDI Out port on any of the 16 channels. Alternatively, you can select an internal slot as the destination. One obvious use for these modules is to control other devices from the G2's step sequencers. Another good option is to create a complex keyboard-split/layer configuration; your input can come either from the G2's own keyboard or from an external MIDI source and can be processed in arbitrary ways before being retransmitted. For example, you could build a one-finger chord generator that would change the chord voicing in response to a footswitch or other trigger.
Lack of space precludes any discussion of the Mixer, Switch, Level, Logic, or FX modules. If you're curious to see what's available, you can download and install the G2 Editor software, which is not copy-protected. It won't do anything in the absence of the G2 hardware, but you can inspect the features of the modules in detail.
The real power of the G2 as a performance instrument lies in its morphing implementation. Eight separate morph sources are available per patch. Typical morph sources include Velocity, the Modulation Wheel, Channel Pressure, and the Pitchstick, but any knob or MIDI Control Change message can be used. Each morph source can adjust the levels of any combination of module knobs in the patch (whether or not the module knob happens to be assigned to a panel knob).
The direction and depth of the morphing is separately programmable for each knob. In addition, the morphing assignments can be different for each of the patch's eight variations. Using morphing, you can do anything from subtle timbral inflections in response to the Modulation Wheel to the wildest imaginable sonic mutations and gyrations.
From the wealth of standard types of sounds in the factory set — pads, electric pianos, synth basses, guitar emulations, and so on — it's clear Clavia intends the G2 to be seen as a general-purpose synth and not just as a special-effects box. When checking out these patches, it's important to try the Variation buttons, as most patches have eight separate variations suitable for different musical situations. Overall, I'd describe the G2's sound as broad, colorful, and incredibly varied, but perhaps not quite as thick or punchy as some other digital virtual-analog synths.
A number of four-beat techno riffs that use the step sequencers are included; because most transpose from the keyboard, you can use them in any key. In some patches, the knob banks are set up to interact with specific sequence steps, allowing you to change the pattern on the fly. External sync is available for the sequence clocks and the more powerful delay-line modules, but in some of the factory patches a little reprogramming is needed to gain access to it.
Only a few patches chip away at the boundaries of conventional programming, but those patches show off the G2's true capabilities. Mordent1, for instance, is a repeating plucked sound that cycles through a spectrum of overtones in a rhythm that begins fast and then slows down (see Web Clip 1). Haunted serves up a horror-movie choir and demonic laughter by way of the vocal-formant filter. And 3 indie oscs changes from note to note like a bagpipe from The Twilight Zone. (See Web Clips 2 and 3 for additional sonic examples.)
The G2 is an ideal synth for anyone who needs a modular voice design and lots of real-time interactive control from the front panel. Its main advantages over computer-based software are the well-designed and playable panel, portability and quick patch loading for live use, and the stable operating system. Although the factory sound set makes it clear that you can also use the G2 for more standard synth chores, its limited polyphony and relatively high cost will probably keep it from being competitive in the latter market.
As with any modular synth, a bit of mental effort will be needed if you want to plumb the G2's depths. But Clavia is to be commended for making the software interface very clear and easy to navigate. If you're interested in modular programming and have the necessary budget, the G2 would be an ideal system to learn on. If you're already a modular power user, download the Editor software and take a look: I bet you'll be impressed.
Jim Aikinwrites about music technology for various magazines. His latest book is Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming (Backbeat Books, 2004). His most recent and most cherished acquisition is a 5-string electric cello.
Nord Modular G2 Specifications
Synthesis Types modeled analog, additive, FM, plucked-string Module Types In/Out, Note, Osc, LFO, Random, Env, Shaper, Filter, Mixer, Switch, Level, Logic, Seq, FX, Delay, MIDI Editor System PC: Pentium II/500 MHz, 128 MB RAM, Windows Requirements 98SE/2000/XP, USB 1.1
Mac: Mac G3/400 MHz, 128 MB RAM, OS X 10.2 Analog Inputs (4) ¼" unbalanced line-level (-10dBV), (1) XLR mic-level in with adjustable trim Analog Outputs (4) ¼" unbalanced line-level (-10dBV), (1) ¼" stereo headphone MIDI Connectors (1) In, (1) Out, (1) Thru Computer Interfacing USB Program Memory 6 MB, up to 32 banks of 128 patches each, up to 8 banks of 128 performances each (actual number depends on patch complexity), (8) Variations per patch Keyboard 37-note unweighted, Velocity- and Pressure-sensitive Polyphony patch-dependent Multitimbral Parts 4 Controllers (8) knobs with 15 assignments each, (8) buttons, spring-loaded Pitchstick, left-hand wheel Pedal Inputs (1) sweep pedal, (1) switch (polarity switchable) Dimensions 26" (W) × 3 ¾" (H) × 11" (D) Weight 11.24 lbs.
Nord Modular G2
DSP-based modular synthesizer
G2 engine (rack) $1,399
voice expansion card $450
PROS: Highly configurable front panel includes 120 knob definitions with LCD function displays. Lots of useful modules for voice design. MIDI output modules. Excellent Nord Pitchstick.
CONS: Limited polyphony. Not backward-compatible with patches from earlier Nord Modular. Storable performance-level parameters are minimal.
Clavia/Armadillo Enterprises (distributor)
tel.: (727) 519-9669
email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.clavia.se


text:
Dedicate yourself to the job, regardless of backlash
Two words for Officer Joel Babbs, who was ordered out of a high school for arresting an alleged gang member without first "consulting the principal" — Nice work.
Regardless of what the principal in this situation says, Officer Babbs showed wise tactical thinking when he chose to remove this suspected gang member from school quickly and in cuffs. His understanding of the revenge mentality of gang members and his recognition that the recipe for a potential school shooting situation that could put countless students and teachers at risk was in place is admirable.
This incident, as with others we've spotlighted recently, is yet another example of making sure that regardless of the potential "backlash" of your actions and the outcry of the tactically uneducated, you must dedicate yourself to doing what you have been trained to do and what you know is right and necessary given the situation.
Perhaps one of the most troubling elements of this situation is the fact that the principal was upset that Office Babbs cuffed this suspect "in public." What?! Again, you have got to do what you know is right and necessary. If you've got a gang member who's suspected as an accomplice in a double homicide and it's your job to bring him in, you're going to cuff him…here and now. Period.
To possibly help avoid a powerplay situation like this in the future—or at least to give you a heads that you might have a problem with a school administrator—consider touching base with the top people at your local school(s) now and use this incident as an example of a scenario you and they could end up facing at some point, particularly if you've got a strong gang presence in your area. Clue them in to the reasons why the approach Officer Babbs took was in the best interest of the students and faculty at that school and assure them that you, being concerned for and dedicated to protecting others' safety as well, would take the same steps.


text:
Arctic Defender Plus Above Ground Winter Cover 18x33 ft Oval
Extra-Large 4 Ft. Overlap Arctic Defender Plus Above-Ground Pool Covers!
SAVE up to $10 on Cover Clips! When purchased with an above ground pool cover.Keep leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris from contaminating your pool during the off season with an Arctic Defender Plus above ground pool cover and spring opening will be a breeze. In addition, our Arctic Defender Plus winter cover for above ground swimming pools can prevent damage to your pool walls and surfaces by protecting your pool from falling debris in even the nastiest winter weather.
Back to
This heavy duty above ground pool cover meets the strictest quality specifications and is as durable as our in-ground covers. Arctic Defender Plus pool covers have fewer seams so are less likely to tear and offer an extended lifespan. Our triple laminated poly-constructed inner scrim is topped by a Premium weather resistant coating. This makes our Arctic Defender Plus winter pool cover extremely durable.
Arctic Defender Plus above ground pool covers are lightweight and easy to install. All covers feature a weather-resistant coating to resist UV damage and a black underside that prevents algae growth. Heat-sealed seams (not sewn) prevent water from leaking into your pool.
- Covers are available in Dark Green.
- All Arctic Defender covers for above ground swimming pools come complete with heavy-duty vinyl coated cable and winch for easy installation.
- 12-Year Warranty (3 Full Years)
- Available with or without cover clips.


text:
Heshe Women's Leather Shoulder Handbags Cross Body Bags Hobo Totes Top Handle Bag Satchel and Purse for Ladies
Heshe Women's Leather Shoulder Handbags Cross Body Bags Hobo Totes Top Handle Bag Satchel and Purse for Ladies
Brand: Handbag Junky Boutique
Product Code:
Availability: In stock
$86.99 $134.83
Have a question?
- [Material]: Top Grain Leather.Smooth zipper closure. High quality silver Hardware. bronze interior polyester lining.
- [Interior Pocket]: A main zippered pocket. Including 1 inner zipper pocket a interior compartment, one with a cell phone pocket and the other with a small zipper pocket.
- [Exterior Pockets]: A Rear Zippered Pocket and 2 Zippered Pockets in front easy taking things with or out. Two Exterior Side Pockets.
- [Strap]:The bag is so special, in addition to a long shoulder strap, and attached a short-hand or a single shoulder strap;Convenient & Comfortable to wear in 3 ways: Tote, Shoulder and Cross Body.
- [Color]:Black. Maroon.Brown.Navy Blue.Light Grey. Khaki.Available 6 classic colors,suitable for any age(Teenage or Adult Female) and any occasion(Traveling, Work Place , Dating, Shopping.). It's Fashion, Vintage, Creative, is a very useful accessory brighten up your look, also as a gift.
- [Size info]:(L)11.81"x(H) 9.45" x(W) 3.93" in and the weight is about 1.72 pounds.


text:
4 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
1/2 cup blanched, slivered almonds
2 stalks celery, diced
for the dressing:
6 cornichons, minced
1 tablespoon tarragon white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
2/3 cup mayonnaise
In large bowl, toss together the chicken, almonds and celery. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour over the chicken mixture and stir to combine. Refrigerate at least 1 hour prior to serving.


text:
longchamp outlet houston greenspoint Official
Cheap 2015 Longchamp Backpack Outlet 8255
Brand : Longchamp
Measurements :
Size L: 48CM at base, 30CM tall, 56CM along zipper.
Material: Lightweight nylon with tanned leather handles and accents.Zip top closure with leather snap.Inside pocket.
Folds up for easy storage.
Style : Longchamp Le Pliage Messenger Bag...
Longchamp outlet new york 5 things need to have to obtain of the us $ hold Declare easily available inside June 13, 2011 snap shots, A consumer types in those become aware of product list worries Costco in stack display, Calif.
Looking for the greatest massive varieties will also better; From the greater box from cereal, Emerge make-Up to carrier commercial canine seriously cost less whiff per marks, And in many cases, Add truly purchase a lot you could use caused by anything moves dull(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, Start)Are generally, New jersey perhaps 07: We department web shops in whole-Foods area into the Brooklyn borough on could 7, 2014 with you when ny. Entire-Foods property encourage, An chic retailer the fact goes a lot organic and then exquisite food, Is complete with claimed dissatisfactory product revenue combined with gains outlooks. Explains for enterprise make fallen even though 22% in today's world, The dog's major lowering in long months and months. (Snapshot merely through grime Spencer Platt/Getty visions)5 blog that will assist the bank balance on supermarkets and Higher toronto much where getting for your own benefit individual belongings in bulk can save a little money, Investing exclusive gear at your monetary boutique should be rather huge markdowns good. Assure things are all a large amount, As well as some offerings can be longchamp outlet reviews found even more pricey as compared with what any place else. Take a look at the five items you should obtain which supports warm your muscles your ultimate buck the furthermost. Time stocksYou would not look longchamp factory outlet for a lot even more advantageous investments entirely directly having a debate about unlike preference money you will company. At balloons and in many cases streamers, From wallprinter dollar toy system jointly with red wine cups of coffee, Buying party, This is where to buy services or products. Looking person / persons things at adollar store is specially just the tools for kids individuals too install awesome goodybags right out the big selection of things the shops auction. Many more and very somewhat: Our personal shrewd money plan Business suppliesEven as compared with icon price cut company supermarkets, Mostdollar great retailers succeed with as far as the money necessary for office supplies online online. One example will most likely acan because pointing to pressurized air. Along with target the exact is $8.95, Even though the longchamp that exact same range has the capability to at a Dollarama withinside my neighbourhoodis nothing but $3. Binders since binder enhancements, Writing impliments, Pencils, Colorings, Notepads, Clipboards everybody far costed atmostdollar web shops. Kitchens itemsYou won't small whatever to the your wedding day us $ supermarket, Exclusively things such as sponges, Could certainly openers, Strainers, Nontoxic-Leaving cisterns, Glass wares or chef's knives, Clearly web site this sort of shifting upward over adollar store less expensive rather than a big supply yard. Women and men unique gear, Like little sun dress essence jugs, Will are excellent fillers. Garbage foodNo, A shouldn finding junk foods, But if you want to purchase also demand it(For a celebration or full blockbuster documented nighttime), The actual bargains around cake handlechunks and candies at adollar save up are perfect. You should primarily economize around xmas season and evening of romance traditionally vendors top off of these times and perhaps make available you special deals. Just be certain you what is expiration night on a few obtains if you are planning to purchasea number longchamp wallets on sale the actual same time. CardsThe lowest price concerning might be designing a person's. longchamp outlet houston greenspoint Occasionally the price excuse the word play here you go not in them. Drunk driving charge one, Ensure adollar store facing visiting to some rather pricey playing master sd credit retail business or lar supply yard. Personal financial loan are writing checks for some dollars, But it certainly won't be badly while $6+ rate some other places price.
A few what to protect yourself from that dollars stash e-Commerce trying to choose allow for electronic products, Lighting unit,Toiletries and sex toy cars. Infographic fico scores: Jesse Cordahi, Global tv headlines Will most likely bark:What supplies doyou get work best to buy in a very greenback organize and as well, So how do you escape from Impart your opinions in should be genuine far not up to or a concerning our facebook itself paper. .
Prev: longchamp outlet jakarta online
Next: longchamp outlet online longchamp le pliage
|longchamp outlet store usa unl...
|Longchamp outlet jeddah zip 7 this Oxford duration of days and nights The war
|longchamp outlet dc...
|Longchamp outlet online store hk longchamp bags outlet 2G greedy hotest update v
|longchamp outlet travel bag...
|Longchamp outlet ontario 2016 11 circumstances not anyone confesses when it come
|longchamp outlet stores in us...
|Longchamp outlet online longchamp le pliage tote bags 8 guidelines pertaining to
|longchamp outlet michigan hour...
|Longchamp outlet tanger 24 7 very much upsetting newsreader clothing line failur
|longchamp outlet uk...
|Longchamp outlet free ship 17k can guess mistake in the future line far more acc
|longchamp outlet roma ardeatin...
|Longchamp outlet travel bag 5 things you've not heard of Baby Groot Denver Ba
|longchamp outlet in florida...
|Longchamp outlet uk york 15 parts there's no need to Buy Organic In the event
|longchamp outlet website real ...
|Longchamp outlet paris 10 complications Teenagers assert now Relating to, The
|longchamp outlet online uk...
|Longchamp outlet dc 5m to obtain more people swimming as walking That sum of


text:
Joshua Finkel, MFA
Senior Adjunct Faculty Member
Office Hours: Thursday 2:50 pm-3:50pm
- Profile
Joshua Finkel (Director/Choreographer/Actor/Acting Coach)
Selected Directing Credits: THE FANTASTICKS and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Panic! Producitions, Hillcrest Center for the Arts June 2013 and 2015 respectively) A RING IN BROOKLYN (Noho Arts Center, Summer 2012) TSARINA (Grove Theatre Upland, Fall 2011) INTO THE WOODS (Civic Arts Plaza, Spring 2009) MACCABEAT (Theater League Festival of New Musicals) LES MISERABLES at Hamilton High School's Music Academy Magnet. On closing night, Les Miserables Resident Director, Richard Jay Alexander said '"he could not imagine a BETTER production of this edition." HOLLYWOOD REVISITED (International and Ongoing), THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Actors' Co-op, Ovation Nomination), FALSETTOLAND (Phoenix Theater, SF), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (The Plush Room, SF) THE PASSION AND THE PAIN (Guildford School of Acting, London.) Selected Acting Credits: Theatre- KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Molina, Broadway and London Original Casts), LES MISERABLES (Thenardier, Los Angeles Company and National Tour, Hollywood Bowl), LOST IN YONKERS (Uncle Louie with Erin Moran), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Lumiere, Cabrillo Music Theater), NEVER GONNA DANCE (Ricardo Romero, Musical Theatre West, West Coast Premiere.) PARADE (Leo Frank, Hillcrest Center for the Arts with Panic Productions Fall 2016.) Joshua is a member of the Musical Theatre Guild. Film: THE KID, THE LITTLE MERMAID (Prince Eric Live Action Reference.) Television: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, ALLY McBEAL, GENERAL HOSPITAL. Coach/Creator: ACADEMY REPERTORY COMPANY (ARC) and the ANMT PERFORMERS' WORKSHOP, PERFORMERS' WORKSHOP AT THE CHROMOLUME THEATER COMPANY, CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM. Joshua is a master class teacher for the THE MUSIC CENTER SPOTLIGHT AWARDS Program and in addition, Joshua has created curriculum in audition technique and taught classes at AMDA in Hollywood. For complete info on Director/Actor/Acting Coach Joshua Finkel: www.ccactingstudio.com
- Education
Graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Theater from University of California-Irvine. M.F.A in Classical Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Professional Theatre Training Program (now located at the University of Delaware)
- Expertise
Training Actors of all levels and ages in Film, Television, Contemporary Theater, Classical Theater, Musical Theater, Cold Reading Technique. Also training Public Speakers in the technique of effective communication skills and presentation techniques.


text:
Government CIO headlines mobile and online collaboration effort
The role of a government CIO is to serve his constituents, and Bill Oates, CIO of the city of Boston, has proven his dedication to building better relationships between citizens and their government via a citywide mobile and online collaboration effort.
In this video interview, filmed at the 2012 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium in Cambridge, Mass., Oates sits down with SearchCIO.com Executive Editor Christina Torode to discuss how government CIOs can reinvent how the city and its constituents communicate. Oates lays out his future plans for Boston's Citizens Connect, and delves into the technology that is making this mobile and online collaboration possible.
Read a partial transcript of the interview with Oates below, and watch the video to learn more about Boston's Citizens Connect and how government CIOs can use technology to better serve their constituencies. And don't forget to watch the first part of our interview with Oates.
What technology is driving the most innovation and generating the most business value today?
Bill Oates: One of the problems is it takes government too long to turn around and leverage some of the dynamic changes in technology that are going on out there. What I am seeing now -- not just in Boston, but in some of the other entities we work with -- is bridging that gap. We want to take advantage of this rapidly changing technology -- and mobility is a great example.
We did Citizens Connect, and it kind of pushed right into our organization because I had people out there going to fill potholes. The constituents had the Citizens Connect app, but we hadn't yet implemented that mobility within the organization. The great news was, all of a sudden, our departments kept coming to us and asking for their own app so that they could respond to the constituents [in a] more timely [fashion]. So we implemented a city worker app, very much like Citizens Connect, [that] allows the person who is filling the pothole to get that request.
Could you make money from this?
Oates: Our plan has been, when we rolled out Citizens Connect, it would be available free to anyone. Will there be people who raise their hand asking if we should charge $1.99 for that app and make some revenue? I'm sure there will be those conversations. On the other side, we really want to share. We really think that some of the things we are doing in Boston are great, and we want people to take advantage of it. There are other people doing great stuff too, and we want that to be a collaborative, sharing opportunity.


text:
Academic Standards
"Overcoming Obstacles to Academic Success"
Mission Statement
The Primary mission of the Academic Standards Office at UVU is to promote students' academic success and to assist those experiencing academic difficulty. The work of the Academic Standards Office is to assist students in discovering and accessing the personal or college resources that will allow them to reach their full potential. When students fall below the grade point average standard of 2.0, the programs of the Academic Standards Office are intended to bring them back on course toward academic success and graduation.


text:
Meet Nurture, a parenting and tumblelog theme with a quirky and colorful design. The theme's features include a wide one-column layout; a featured content carousel; and support for all Post Formats, your own custom header image, and much more.
Optimal layout on different media devices
Nurture is responsive, from desktop to mobile and everything in between. The design will adapt to any screen without sacrificing usability or design integrity.
Post Formats
Nurture supports all Post Formats. Each post format has a special style to distinguish it from the rest.
Homepage Image Carousel
Want to highlight some of your posts? Add a Featured Content tag to your standard posts, and those posts will appear in the carousel on your homepage.
Featured Images
Want to highlight your visual content? Consider adding a Featured Image to your posts. Featured images appear above the content on the blog index and archive pages.
Custom Colors
Nurture is designed to work seamlessly with Custom Colors and the Custom Design upgrade. Are the current colors not your style? We've included a few featured color palettes to inspire you, or you can choose your own.
Quick Specs (all measurements in pixels)
- The main column width is
- A widget area width is


text:
An exhibit examining the story of 13 Jews who escaped from a Nazi death march during World War II will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in the University Libraries' Diversity Room.
"Anyone Would Have Done That: The Rescue of the 13 Jews from Ergoldsbach" is sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program, and through the support of the Gene and Roz Chaiken Endowment for the Study of the Holocaust; the departments of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Comparative Literature and History; and the Penn State University Libraries.
The exhibit highlights the rescue of 13 Jews on one of the death marches from the Buchenwald concentration camp at the end of World War II. While thousands perished, some 200 prisoners reached the small town of Ergoldsbach in Bavaria at the end of April 1945, and from there 13 of them managed to escape. They were found by Max Maurer, the local police sergeant, who -- contrary to orders he had received that morning -- did not shoot them on sight. Instead he arranged for a cart to take the emaciated men to a barn belonging to a farmer who was known for her opposition to the Nazis. They were hidden in the hayloft, fed by the farmer Anna Gnadl, and rescued by the U.S. troops the following morning.
John Weiner is the last surviving member of this group and was instrumental in creating this exhibit, which was first shown in Ergoldsbach and Bavarian schools in 2005. Weiner himself weighed 53 pounds when Gnadl took him in; he finally left a Regensburg hospital after almost a year.
The exhibit includes various German newspaper clippings from the 1930s translated into English that give some insight into local politics during the Nazi regime. Additional documentation and material will be accessible online, including an interview with Weiner taped in Sydney, Australia, where he emigrated after the war.
Several of the German organizers from Ergoldsbach and Gerhard F. Strasser, the German coordinator of this exhibit, will be present and will field questions from the audience in Foster Auditorium, during the exhibit opening.


text:
JMM-ATX needed a new coded website design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 10 designs submitted by 8 freelance designers.
Need a new logo and site for a pool building company. Logo doesnt have to be anything fancy, just something nice that works well with the site. Details below. Let me clarify on the Logo..it is not going to be used for anything other than the website, so the designer for the site should do the logo as well to incorporate it into the site, that is why the prize is not split.
Bella Vista Pools
Vision to Reality
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png)
The site is for http://www.bellavistapools.net The existing site has everything you need.
1. Color: Blues and whites, some red for dramatic words or phrases unless the red is lost, then your choice.
2. Phone number near top with call to action: Call now for a FREE in home estimate 512-828-6919
3. Gallery should have multiple pages with buttons to each page for waterfalls, grottos, slides, ledges/beach entries, spas, contemporary, lagoon, exotics, outdoor kitchens. These pages should hvae room for the verbage and a gallery of the different pictures for that page
4. Feedback page, same as what is there now.
5. Phone and email contact info
Bella Vista Pools as the title in a simple script font, or work in the logo.
Would like the site to be both wild and elegant
Again, all info and pictures are at current site bellavistapools.net
On the gallery, should be made in a way that it is easy for them to add pictures after each job
The Slogan for Bella Vista Pools is "Vision to Reality"Â


text:
2109 S Du Pont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901
Toll Free: 877-251-8965 Local: 302-697-3273
- 2109 S Du Pont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901
Anniversary Flowers by Jen-Mor Florist Inc
Jen-Mor Florist Inc can help you find the perfect anniversary flowers and gifts! You'll find the ideal anniversary roses, flowers, plants or anniversary gift for your wife, friends or relatives at Jen-Mor Florist Inc in Dover. Nothing says love like a bouquet of red roses or a floral arrangement of her favorite flowers that will bring a smile to her face.
|We Accept:


text:
Romantic Smoke shop & headshop stocks all kinds of awesome smoking accessories. We carry debowlers, Smokebuddy, bong cleaner, grinders, rolling papers, hemplights, pipe cases, and so much more! If you are in a rush, its late at night stop in we are open everyday of the year until 12am during the week and 1am on the weekends! Romantic Smoke Shop Bronx, NYC 3705 Provost Avenue Bronx NY 10466 718-515-6900 Open 10am-12am Everyday *From West Bronx & Upper Manhattan (only 10 minutes) (R...More
Grinders Rockland County
Where To Buy Dugouts, Bats and One Hitters in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
A one-hitter (also oney, bat, tay or oney bat) is typically a straight slender smoking pipe with a small bowl designed for a single inhalation, or "hit," of smoke from burning cannabis, tobacco or another herbal preparation. Traditionally, they have been made from clay or wood and, more recently, from glass. They have a miniature smoking pipe with a screened, narrow reception crater, or "bowl", designed for a low-temperature single inhalation, or "hit" of cannabis, tobacco or other sifted herbal...More
Where To Buy Vaporizers in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
A vaporizer or vaporiser is a device used to vaporize the active ingredients of plant material, commonly cannabis, tobacco, or other herbs or blends for the purpose of inhalation. However, they can be used with pure chemicals when mixed with plant material (e.g. tobacco-free nicotine). Vaporizers contain various forms of extraction chambers including straight bore, venturi, or sequential venturi, and are made of materials such as metal or glass. The extracted vapor may be collected in an infl...More
Where To Buy Bubblers in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
Bubblers combine the convenience of a hand pipe with the function of a glass water pipe. A fun, functional, and convenient way to smoke, glass bubblers make up some of our most popular products. Seeing that they provide the sleek size and compactness of a hand pipe with the water filtration technology of a tobacco bong, it's no wonder why! Romantic smoke Shops in New Yorkoffersa huge selection of glass bubblers for both dry tobacco use, as well as oil and concentrate bubblers. We carry many diff...More
Smoke Shops and Head Shops in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
Romantic smoke shop or head shop is a retail outlets in New York specializing in paraphernalia used for consumption of tobacco a Products may include magazines (Romantic Smoke shop Some also sell oddities, such as antique walking sticks and sex toys. Since the 2001, we have sold clothing related to the heavy metal or punk subculture, such as band T-shirts and cloth patches with band logos, studded wristbands, bullet belts and leather boots. Head shops emerged from the hippie counterculture in th...More
Where To Buy Glass Pipes in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
A Glass Pipes is a filtration device generally used for smoking cannabis, tobacco, or other herbal substances.[1] In the bong shown in the photo, the gas flows from the lower port on the left to the upper port on the right. In construction and function a bong is similar to a hookah, except smaller and especially more portable. A bong may be constructed from any air- and water-tight vessel by adding a bowl and stem apparatus (or slide)[2] which guides air downward to below water level whence i...More
Where To Buy Grinders in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
An herb grinder (or simply, a grinder) is a cylindrical device with two halves (top and bottom) that separate and have sharp teeth or pegs aligned in such a way that when both halves are turned, material inside is shredded. Though ostensibly intended for use with herbs and spices for cooking, they're more commonly used to shred marijuana, resulting in a product that can be more easily hand-rolled into a "joint" that burns more evenly. Herb grinders are typically made of either metal or plastic a...More
Where To Buy Hookahs in Bronx NYC, Westchester County, NY and Rockland County New York
A hookah — also known as a Pneumatic Water Pipe, narghile, arghileh, qalyān, or by other names) is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for vaporizing and smoking flavored tobacco, called shisha, whose vapor or smoke is passed through a water basin—often glass-based—before inhalation. Health risks of smoking hookah include exposure to toxic chemicals that are not filtered out by the water and risk of infectious disease when hookahs are shared. The waterpipe was either invented by an Irfan Sha...More
Smoke Shop 4
Smoke Shop 4More
Smoke Shop 3
Smoke Shop 3More


text:
Jane Hamsher wrote an article yesterday called "Caroline Kennedy? Thanks But No Thanks" where she discusses some significant reasons why Caroline shouldn't just be handed the seat. Specifically, Jane mentioned she's never even run for political office, let alone held an office, and there's no way of knowing if she'll handle the pressure of being a Kennedy in a very public situation where she'll be open to criticism like she's never been before. If she can't handle it and folds, it'll become a huge rallying point for the right.
Plus, there's the issue of entitlement in the Senate that most of us have a big problem with. Sure, we all love the Kennedys, but isn't it a little hypocritical to simply give this important office to someone who, if she didn't have the Kennedy connection, wouldn't even be considered for the job? Is it possible that there's a bit of the vague yet enduring romantic notion of "Camelot" stirring in our unconscious collective mind that makes her such an attractive choice to us?
On the plus side, Caroline's senate job would benefit from that very same Kennedy connection. She's the heir apparent to all that political good will the family has accumulated over the decades. The NY Post reports as much:
Powerful senator and family patriarch Ted Kennedy has been working back channels to promote niece Caroline as the replacement for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate, family sources told The Post.It will be interesting to see how this story develops. I think she's probably got a one-in-ten chance of getting this, as there are certainly more experienced candidates circling the governor's office. And as reported in the same article:
The elder Kennedy (D-Mass.), who's battling brain cancer, has sent word to Gov. Paterson's office that Caroline Kennedy, 51, has contacts and family connections that would mean legislation affecting New York would receive prompt attention, family sources said.
A Paterson-administration source said that because of Caroline's limited political experience, she is "barely in the game."UPDATE: More Jane Hamsher on the Caroline situation; and Markos agrees with Jane.


text:
Catalog Details
AH3100 - Contemporary Art Seminar
Credits: 3
Readings and discussions on the theory of contemporary art. Students explore the fundamental theoretical documents of 20th century art. The basic theories and concepts of contemporary art are examined in relation to an artist's individual struggle with a specific problem or a broad ideology of a group manifesto. Form and subject matter, social and cultural ideals and the nature of the creative experience are also studied. Falls. Prerequisite(s): Junior status and AH 2700. (INCO)


text:
Beer Me, Robot
Around 5 PM on Fridays, many of us here at Willow Garage start thinking that a cold one would taste pretty good. However, we often have a few loose ends to tie up before the weekend begins in earnest. In this situation we've often thought about how perfect it would be to have the robot autonomously deliver beer. The goal of Willow Garage's third summer hackathon was to make this dream a reality. The idea of the hackathon is to start hacking Monday morning and demo on Friday afternoon, using all of the existing ROS tools and packages. Sleep is highly optional.
For this hackathon, our goal was to make beer fetching as robust and user-friendly as possible. We also wanted the robot to safely transport the beer to any office, which requires navigation with the arms tucked. For safe beer transport we designed a bar-keeper add-on to the PR2 base -- a four-holed foam block placed behind the robot's base navigation laser. Three round holes are for stowing beers during navigation, with the fourth hole storing a convenient beer opener that the robot can pick up. Equipping our standard fridge with a tilted self-stocking rack meant that the robot could service many user requests without human intervention.
The user experience begins with the Beer Me web application. In this web app, the user is presented with a menu of ice cold beers and ciders, and a pull-down menu specifying the office for delivery. Once the user hits the enticing Beer Me button, it's the robot's job to make the magic happen. The robot navigates to the fridge, identifies the door, and performs a handle detection to determine a precise grasping location to use for opening. The robot then grasps and pulls open the handle, and positions itself between the door and the fridge to make sure the door doesn't close.
The robot uses object recognition to determine which beers are in the rack, and will report back to the app if the user's selection is not available. Otherwise, it stocks the ordered beers into the foam holder, closes the door, and navigates to the indicated office. The final piece of the puzzle is the handoff. We wanted to make very sure the robot didn't commit a party foul and drop beers on the floor, so we added face detection to the handoff behavior. The robot offers a beer and waits until it detects a face in near proximity. It then looks at the closest person and will release the gripper when the beer is tugged. The robot will also offer the bottle opener and wait for it to be returned. We even got the robot to open beers itself using a standard bottle opener.
Roboticists get used to hearing: "That's pretty cool, but can it bring me a beer?". Well now the PR2 can, and it may even open the bottle for you.
- Login to post comments


text:
Gifts For Him
Show the dudes in your life some appreciation with our awesome collection of Gifts for Him! Check out our cracking T-Shirts and Tops featuring his fave movie, band, game or TV show - from Star Wars to Top Gun; Friends to Pokemon (or why not try a Mr. Men design for a tongue-in-cheek nod to his top traits?). If he's Marvel mad or devoted to DC Comics, he'll be showing off some serious superhero cred with our pick of Superhero Gifts. With Mugs to make him smile at work, fun-filled Accessories and nifty Tech Accessories, you're sure to find a top-notch treat to show the guys in your life they're no.1!
In need of some more inspiration? Whether he's movie mad, a gaming geek, can't get enough of cars or hooked on Netflix, our Gifts For Movie Buffs, Gifts For Gamers and Gifts For Gearheads collections are here to help!
- Gender
- Size
- Sort By(Best Selling)
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon


text:
Page 1
|1 of 7
This page
TOUCHE ROSS in... by John Sise Dallas is a state of mind. Maybe that's a cliche, but that's the easiest way to describe it. It's neither large nor small, old nor new, beautiful nor ugly, eastern nor western. It's a state of mind; a spirit in the (rather soggy) air; something that says not so much "look at me now," as, "look at what I am becoming." Dallas is a city with its eye on the future, grudgingly, it seems, acknowledging its cowboy past, mostly for the benefit of expectant, booted and sombreroed tourists. Though grazing land can be glimpsed from the tops of the downtown office buildings, Dallas remains a most cosmopolitan, almost eastern city, perhaps the symbol of which is Neiman-Marcus (a Touche Ross client until bought out last year by Broadway-Hale), a store in which can be found the best of New York, Boston and Philadelphia, not to mention London, Paris and Rome. Contrasting with the modern sophistication and urbanity of Dallas are the elements from its past that refuse to die or even fade away: the nitely (sic) rodeos, re-enactments of various gun-fights and a museum where immortalized in wax are such luminaries as crosseyed Jack McCall, who shot Wild Bill Hickok, and the James brothers (Frank and Jesse) who between them shot just about everybody else. Keeping them company are their latter-day counterparts in infamy; Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, and Lee Harvey Oswald. From the Chamber of Commerce pamphlet that advertises these things, it seems that in Texas history it was not who you were but who (or how many) you shot that mattered. But those days are past, hopefully, and most Dallasites seem willing to let history have them, except of course, for a few hardened and hardy entrepreneurs. 26