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Strap a mask and flippers onto your imagination and chart a course to Shedd Aquarium. Have you ever seen eye-to-eye with a dolphin? Said hello to a penguin on a stroll to the South Pole? Immersed yourself in a flooded Amazon forest? Or met a friendly beluga whale? You can do it all at Shedd! Photo courtesy of the John G. Shedd Aquarium
In the heart of the city you'll find a state-of-the-art park designed for the new millennium. Discover the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture, the multimedia Crown Fountain and the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, all with Chicago's stunning architecture as a backdrop. The park is also host to many free cultural programs, concerts and family activities. Plus, there's alfresco dining in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
This museum is one of the most-visited presidential museums in the nation where visitors can experience the entire Lincoln story under one roof, from Abe's humble beginnings in an Indiana log cabin to his days as president in the White House. Be dazzled by two special effects theaters featuring historical ghosts and a Civil War battlefield, life-like vignettes that depict important moments in the president's life, and artifacts that range from Lincoln's stovepipe hat to an original copy of the Gettysburg Address.
Museum of Science and Industry
A world of discovery awaits at the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Explore more than 800 exhibits, including the legendary U-505, a German submarine captured on the high seas during World War II; take off on a Boeing 727 airplane for a simulated cross-country flight; descend down a mineshaft for a tour of a realistic coal mine; and witness robots at work in a toy factory. Take a seat at the museum's Omnimax Theater and watch awesome 3D flicks on a giant screen.
Opened in October 2012, this new visitor's center celebrates the long history of the Caterpillar Company. Visitors can explore the past by taking a journey back in time via historic photos and antique equipment. Visitor favorites include a 24-foot tall 797 mining truck that doubles as a movie theater and a product floor complete with simulators to explore its world-famous product line.
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Come explore Burpee Museum and its award-winning exhibits such as Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, called one of the ten most important dinosaur discoveries in the past 100 years. Burpee Museum also features Homer, a sub-adult or "teen-age" Triceratops. Four floors of exhibits include Windows to Wilderness, a woolly mammoth skeletal cast, Pennsylvanian coal forest, a Native American exhibit, Geoscience, and a viewing lab.
Experience innovations of the present and the future while appreciating the heritage of the past at the free attraction in downtown Moline, Illinois. See vintage machines and climb aboard new ones, operate a simulated excavator or dozer, explore exhibits on how technology helps people shape and care for the land and enjoy interactive ways for kids to learn about farming and infrastructure. The John Deere Store stocks a large collection of genuine John Deere merchandise.
Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier
Hands-on exhibits and daily-changing activities make every visit unique for young children and adults, too. Dig deep into the Dinosaur Expedition, try to stay dry in WaterWays, make a masterpiece in the KraftArtabounds Studio, and climb up to the crow's nest on the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner. Toddlers can have fun in Kids Town and Treehouse Trails.
University of Illinois Arboretum
The University of Illinois Arboretum is a living laboratory, including plant collections and facilities that support the teaching, research and public service programs of several units throughout campus. Central to the Arboretum was the development of the "All American Selection Trial Gardens" established by a bequest from Miles C. Hartley in the early 90s. Other highlights of the Arboretum include the Welcome Garden, Hosta Garden, Kari Walkway and native ponds plantings, the Idea Garden, sponsored by Champaign County Master Gardeners, and the Japanese Tea and Dry Gardens at the Japan House.
Japan House offers the public an opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese culture through tea ceremonies, workshops and special events through the year. The beautiful Japan House gardens are open from dawn to dusk for you to stroll through and enjoy. The Japan House closes during the summer. Call for information on tea ceremonies and tours.
"Lincoln: History to Hollywood," an exhibition of sets, costumes and props from the Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film "Lincoln," has opened at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex, located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Items of note in the exhibit include Lincoln's office set, a vignette of Mary Lincoln's bedroom, Lincoln's gloves, Tad Lincoln's tin soldiers, and the rocking chair where President Lincoln sat with Tad. Most of the furniture pieces in the exhibit are antiques from the Civil War era, not reproductions. The exhibits are on long-term loan from Spielberg and DreamWorks Studio. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum features more than 40,000 square feet of galleries, theatres and historic displays that takes visitors on a journey from Lincoln's humble beginnings through his Presidency. The "Lincoln: History to Hollywood" exhibit will be located in Union Station, across the street from the presidential museum.
Named one of the top 12 children's museums in the nation by Forbes in 2012, here kids can explore more than 250 hands-on art and science exhibits, a planetarium, TV studio and the Tot Spot for toddlers. Discovery Center also boasts the nation's first community-built outdoor science park, the Rock River Discovery Park, featuring a two-story maze, water play area and dinosaur fossil dig.
Historic Town Square & Downtown Carbondale
Twenty-five historic buildings ring Carbondale's nostalgic Town Square. When Daniel Harmon Brush, Carbondale's founding father, filed the original 56-acre plat of Carbondale in 1852, almost 10 acres were left open in the center of town. Today you can shop charming locally owned boutiques here, ranging from bike shops to furniture stores.
The urban gateway to nature and science. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a place where city dwellers can reconnect with the wonder of the natural world. From a hands-on water lab to a wilderness walk to the only international, year-round butterfly haven, science comes alive.
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts & Mitchell Museum
Exhibitions, a children's gallery, a permanent collection and special events. Grounds include 85 acres sculpture park, nature trails and bird sanctuary. Hosts annual Cedarhurst Craft Fair.
CITY:Mount Vernon
Come tour the Northern Illinois University, catch a show preformed by their Theatre or Dance department, or explore one of their Art Galleries. There is much to do on campus including their new Anthropology Museum, an Observatory, the Huskies Den or take in a game! Their Museums are free to visit, some fees may apply for shows or School of Music Concerts. There is never a dull moment on campus!
Alton Museum of History and Art
Winged monsters, explorers, riverboats and a gentle giant. The Alton Museum of History & Art shows the crossroads of American history in Alton. The museum is located in the historic Loomis Hall across from the Wadlow statue. Loomis Hall is the oldest building in the state of Illinois continuously utilized for education. One of the most popular rooms, the Wadlow Room, pays tribute to Alton's "Gentle Giant" and the World's Tallest Man. The Pioneer Room explores the history of Alton from the Lewis & Clark Expedition to the Civil War with exhibits on Elijah Lovejoy, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the "Alton Route" on the Underground Railroad. Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 1 - 4 p.m.
The TREC trail system is a public trail designed to create recreational opportunities. The trails provide a great place for visitors to exercise, whether its walking, riding bikes, or roller blading. The mission is to develop a countrywide, multi-use trail system, educate the communities on the benefits of the trails, and promote an active lifestyle by providing recreational activities.
Kohl Children's Museum offers hands-on, interactive exhibits designed exclusively for children ages birth to 8. All of the exhibits and programs are designed to make learning fun and interesting for young children. A visit to a grocery store, a veterinarian's office as well as a day care inhabited by dolls allow children to participate in adult activities on their own scale. Children can build a house, make music, take care of cars, explore the properties of water and much more in the many engaging exhibits featured.
Come explore the sculptures that have transformed the City of Effingham's avenues into an art gallery. Over 30 sculptures created by some of the Midwest's best known and unknown sculptors bring life to the streets of Effingham as part of the annual "Sculptures on the Avenues" outdoor exhibition. Sculptures on the Avenues is a self-guided walking tour that begins at City Hall, located at 201 E. Jefferson Ave. From there, the exhibition winds in and out of Downtown Effingham. An informative guide, which facilitates a walking tour, is available at the Effingham Visitors Center or City Hall.
Stang Arts Studio & Gallery features art classes for both children and adults, along with holding various events throughout the year. The artist, Jamie Stang, also specializes in "paint parties." These parties are great for a group, as they feature great food, drinks, music and art. Jamie helps visitors discover their inner-artist while relaxing in a chic studio-style atmosphere. Check out her gallery while you're there too.
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center offers a total 840,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space. Configure it any way you like. You may need a 500-booth to 800-booth area, or 100 to 200 booths. If you're planning a larger show, you'll appreciate our continuous 250,000 square-foot space for 1,225 booths. Or you can create a multiple hall layout for up to 3,566 booths. Customized floor plans are our specialty, so just ask.
Swimming Stones / Isaac(squared)
A kinetic water sculpture fountain sculpted by internationally acclaimed artist Christian Tobin Isaac(squared) brings Aurora the most mysterious essence of both science and art. Here the hydrostatic force of water unleashing the kinetic energy of stone creates a work of compelling vitality inviting us to look and linger, talk and even dream. These four massive granite obelisks - 12 feet in height, weighing 4000 pounds each- feature top-stone segments, rhythmically rocking and swiveling, balanced on cushions of water. Each time a top-stone centers itself on the middle of its tower and is restored to equilibrium, the power of gravity is once more proclaimed: each turn of a stone replying to the center of the earth. The elemental effect of the force of water through each of these commanding rock pillars cascading onto the pedestrian walk below brings us together with the laws of nature and the transformational power of art.
Located on the campus of Highland Community College - features a variety of fine arts programming including vocal and music concerts, live theater, special performances, and the popular Summerset Theater Program, a community performing arts theater.


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Untreated Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring 2.79 Carats
- Item No.
Key Features
Click to See Complete Item Details »
- A rare pink sapphire totaling 2.79 carats takes center stage in this eye-catching ring
- The stone is certified by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) as being completely untreated
- Set in platinum and 18k gold, the sapphire is flanked by emerald-cut diamonds on each side
Item Details
- Stone:
Exceptional color and transparency distinguish the incredibly rare pink sapphire in this enchanting ring. Certified by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) as being completely natural with no heat treatment, this 2.79-carat jewel is flanked by .60 carats of emerald-cut, channel-set diamonds. Set in platinum and 18K yellow gold.
Download the Certifications
Download the Certifications

subset: commoncrawl


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Denim Therapy, your favorite denim repairer, is now offering a service that lets you take those jeans you love, and make them even more Yours. Introducing denim monogramming, the hot new way to personalize those pants you practically live in. Do it for yourself, your lover, or your best friend — it makes a great gift! Cheeky or romantic; funny or heart-felt — there's no better way to mark your denim as Yours.
[nggallery id=871]
—Sarah Greene
Tags: denim monogramming, denim tattoo, denim therapy services, holiday gift guide, jean doctor, jean repair, jean tattoo, personalize your jeans


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Congratulations to Katie Holtzcher of Troop 9157, who did a wonderful Silver Award project.
Katie collected toiletry items and sewed personal necessity kits out of washcloths to hold the items. She made about 300 bags and sent them to an orphanage in Uganda through a foundation called Global Impact.
Congratulations are also due to Laura Puranen, 9157 Troop Leader, for supporting and encouraging her girls. Wonderful job to you both!


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Science Nonfiction
Metal cutting lasers continue to evolve at an amazing rate, largely based on the demands of OEMs and job shops, while profit margins shrink because of increased competition and lower pay rates. To help fabricators meet the demands placed on them, laser manufacturers are creating new laser features that help fabricators differentiate themselves, speed up productivity, and get more out of their laser machines.
Forty years ago no one would have thought it possible to cut plate steel with focused light. Over time it has not only become possible but common in manufacturing operations. However, making this science fiction into fact wasn't enough, and industrial lasers continue to evolve at an amazing rate.
Job shops and OEMs now are commonly purchasing laser cutting machines. And as more of these lasers make their way onto the shop floor, more demands are put on the companies that make them because of the challenges these manufacturing segments are facing.
Lasers for Everyone
Although OEMs and job shops compete in different markets and face different challenges, both types of fabricators are using more lasers.
Job Shops. Whether due to the faltering economy or a natural progression, fabrication job shops are faced with problems. Jeff Hahn, applications and technical product manager for Mitsubishi's laser division, calls "attaining bottom-line growth in competitive markets and facing falling hourly rates."
According to Glenn Berkhahn, vice president of Mazak Nissho Iwai, "The challenge within the job shop arena in many respects today is survival. The challenge is that the hourly rate is being reduced significantly. And the amount of work available is reduced, especially in the current economic situation. So, at the same time fabricators are faced with a shrinking marketplace and shrinking sales and associated profits."
Rick Kosmala, marketing manager of laser systems with W.A. Whitney, agrees, saying, "The biggest challenge facing job shops today is increased competition. Over the last five years U.S. job shops have purchased thousands of laser cutting machines. As a result, job shop revenues have fallen because of increased price competition."
To be successful in the current economy, Dan Robinson, laser product group manager for TRUMPF, said "fabricators must differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering more capable fabrication machines and processes; better order turnaround via faster engineering, setup, and manufacturing time; and more cost-effective manufacturing."
OEMs."The challenges for a non-job shop that either has its own product or is an OEM subcontractor are a little different," said Berkhahn. "They have to just purely drive their costs down and increase the variety of different designs coming through the factory in order to open up new marketplaces. Their challenge is how to reduce total cost per part."
"A challenge facing OEMs is to become more efficient using fewer resources, thus reducing overall manufacturing costs," Kosmala explained.
Doing What Others Can't
The need for fabricators to differentiate themselves from the competition is driving technology advancements.
"To combat the price competition, job shops need to find a niche where they can be competitive," said Kosmala.
Richard Neff, manager of laser products for Cincinnati Incorporated, said, "Our company builds three lines of lasers. Each laser is designed to have unique capabilities. It is important to properly apply the laser to make sure that you have the laser that gives you the best edge in your marketplace."
Three areas that seem to meet the niche need that are being addressed by laser manufacturers are nonflat work, plate cutting, and alternative materials processing.
Tube, Structural, and Nonflat Work. Several companies offer laser systems that cut contoured parts, tubular structures, and even structural materials, such as I beams (see Figure 1).
Erik Nieves, manager of Motoman Inc.'s technology advancement group, said the company eliminated its patented two-axis trepanning cutting heads because their bulk precluded their use in many highly contoured, 3-D cutting applications.
Berkhahn said, "We are offering equipment that allows fabricators to differentiate themselves by expanding their laser capabilities into more profitable multiaxis pipe and structural applications. "For structural, we have software which allows programming a variety of shapes, bevels, compound angles," he added. "This capability will not only allow fabricators to make, in one operation, something that would take several operations to do, but it also lets them add value to those products."
We offer a rotary axis that processes round or shaped tubes. A large Z-axis combined with a capacitive height sensing system in the cutting head provides the ability to easily process preformed parts without special fixtures," said John Quigley, vice president of Strippit/LVD's laser division.
Thicker Plate. Another way laser manufacturers are helping companies develop a niche is to offer higher-power plate processing lasers (see Figure 2). A number of companies are producing 5- and even 6-kW lasers designed for cutting applications.
"Laser manufacturers continue to design and build systems that address the challenges of fabricators and niche market needs," said Quigley, "For instance, we have recognized a need for large-plate fabrication and have addressed this market by manufacturing lasers with larger table sizes—up to 12 meters long—and higher power sources—up to 6 kW.
Kosmala said, "Five years ago a 2-kW laser was the norm; today 4 kW is the norm. Whitney has taken it a step farther by introducing 6-kW lasers to the market.
"Until recently 6-kW lasers were considered only for welding, cladding, and heat-treating applications because the beam mode was not acceptable for laser cutting," he added. "With improvements in laser technologies, fabricators can now successfully cut up to 1 1/4-inch material and process the entire material range much faster."
Robinson said TRUMPF has two new laser systems that can rapidly process inch-thick plate, but he also explained that the key to productivity isn't just more powerful lasers. "New techniques can be just as important as new machine technology when you are looking to increase productivity," he said. "The new techniques we are pioneering include air-assisted cutting and laser plasma cutting, which are used by both of these machines.
"Compressed air, or shop air, can be used as an inexpensive assist gas for laser cutting of thin-gauge material up to 0.080 in.," he explained. "It can be used to cut steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and titanium. With 80 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen, air-assisted cutting does not suffer from the same cut-speed-limiting thermal effects as pure oxygen-assisted cutting. Air-assisted cutting offers greater feed rates than that of nitrogen cutting. Accordingly, the edge finish resulting from air-assisted cutting is not as clean as a nitrogen cut but has much less oxidation than an oxygen-cut edge.
|Figure 2:
Another way laser manufacturers are helping companies develop a niche is to offer higher-power plate processing lasers.
"Laser plasma cutting is a new process that offers faster cut speeds—up to approximately 250 percent faster," said Robinson. "In laser plasma cutting, gases escaping from the melt pool are ignited to form a blue plasma cloud. This plasma cloud directs additional energy into the cut kerf, resulting in higher cutting speeds."
Alternative Materials. Hahn said an emphasis also is being placed on cutting materials other than mild steel. Aluminum and stainless steel both are being cut on laser systems more commonly, and this trend will intensify in the future.
Most laser systems can cut alternative materials—TRUMPF's TC L 3050 can cut 3/4-in. stainless and 1/2-in. aluminum, and W.A. Whitney's PlateLASER line can cut 1 1/4-in. stainless and 1/2-in. aluminum. But now the industry is starting to focus more on these alternative metals.
"Previous machines have been designed to offer reasonable cutting results in various materials rather than optimal results in one material," Robinson said. But new technological advancements, such as the programmable beam diameter, allow optimal cutting results for each material.
Working More Quickly
Ancel Thompson, Amada America's laser division manager, pointed out, "Fabricators are faced with the need to reduce the time from part order to finished part." By reducing this time, manufacturers are able to get more orders through their shops and thereby increase their profit margins with lower labor costs.
"Job shops and manufacturers are seeing shorter lead-times," said Neff. "As companies have tried to reduce inventories they often need parts in a few hours or days instead of a few weeks." Because of this push for speed, laser manufacturers have been working on several areas of advancement—automation, quicker setup times, and outright faster machines.
Automation. Automation not only reduces time from order to ship, it does so without requiring additional manpower.
"We've seen a dramatic increase over the last three to five years of automated systems that can run around the clock in a lights-out environment. We've really put a lot of focus on how to make that happen," said Mike Zakrzewski, division manager of metal processing systems for Bystronic.
"Being able to run an unmanned shift has been elusive over the past 10 years. People have talked about it, but to actually make it happen has required a lot of incremental improvements in the automation systems and the lasers themselves. Control advancements and the mechanical advancements that go with them facilitated this," Zakrzewski said.
"Things like cut control and nozzle-cleaning routines, which can also be used on a stand-alone machine, are especially suited for automation," he added. "An absolute requirement is the ability to switch parts and run a wide variety of parts in an off shift. Machines can now run more reliably and watch themselves."
"The push in our industry is to continue to drive laser cutting to full lights-out. The driving objective is to deliver an unmanned laser cutting unit with full automation," said Elizabeth Kautzmann, Salvagnini America's product manager for laser technologies. "The market wants automation in laser cutting, and the reception is great; however, the demand is enormous for the flexibility. These increased demands on flexibility translate to some sophisticated bells and whistles, which run in the background but actually may take true ingenuity and hours of engineering to complete and make feasible."
Adding to the list of advancements in the automation area, Robinson pointed out that current automated sheet load-unload equipment has varying capacities and pallet numbers and sizes, and that some of these automated storage units can even feed more than one machine.
"We recognize that unattended production is key to meeting the needs of a high-production environment. As a result, we've focused our design efforts on providing an array of automated devices to the market, from entry-level shuttle tables to full material warehousing systems," said Quigley.
"We recently introduced a new automated material tower system that includes a 12-pallet tower storage and retrieval unit integrated with a high-speed laser, equipped with automatic sheet loading and unloading. Material management and control software engineered by LVD provides offline programming and process monitoring capabilities. Parts are programmed offline and are downloaded to the machine controller. The controller, equipped with a warehouse administration capability, stores information about the pallets and sheets available in the tower system. The integrated system provides a complete job list, which is automatically executed. Each piece of the system is controlled through a single CNC for easy and efficient monitoring and programming," Quigley said.
"We introduced automated material handling systems starting with the simple dual pallet laser in the mid-'80s and progressed through a variety of completely automated systems to fit customers" needs, said Neff. "Automated material handling can reduce labor and assure customers of 'round-the-clock production from their laser investment."
Hahn said Mitsubishi also has been working on productivity increases by developing machines capable of 24/7, flexible automation and coupling heavy-duty lasers with flexible and automated material handling, but he pointed out the importance of the associated software.
Software and Setup. Software and controls are quickly advancing laser systems. Not only are these advancements necessary to tie automated systems together, but also to monitor machines more closely and convert costly setup time into production time. "In this dynamic time when flexibility is critical, it is certain that software, machine interface, and operator interface bring the systems to the fullest potential in the shortest amount of time," said Kautzmann. "It is paramount to design standard features and enhanced benefits that tap the potential of the installed unit without demanding advanced programming expertise."
"[Robotic] equipment is becoming easier to program and recommission for new projects," said Jack Fisher, FANUC Robotics North America's laser engineering manager. "We have been working on offline programming packages for laser processing that will allow faster changeover times."
Robinson explained that computer storage of material profiles also helps reduce setup time, which leads to money savings, and that more information is being stored by modern laser systems.
"We have also concentrated our efforts on programming software, providing a database of cutting technology that automatically determines the optimal pierce sequence based on the material to be processed," said Quigley. "This eliminates operator involvement and speeds efficiency and productivity."
Thompson said, "Amada is addressing the need by integrating software and reducing setup needs."
Berkhahn noted that advanced software can enhance speed to market in other time-consuming areas. "In order for product to get to the marketplace quicker, it is very clear that manufacturers cannot wait for actual physical prototypes to be built. Software starting with 3-D solid model renderings is evolving to the point where designers are able to design and modify product very quickly," he said.
Neff explained that nesting software is another area that can improve productivity. "Cincinnati Incorporated has introduced its own laser programming and nesting software," he said. "This software provides great material utilization. In addition, the Cincinnati laser programming software utilizes all the features of the laser and all the cutting techniques we developed. The laser programming software is easy to use, and some customers have been able to significantly improve the productivity of their lasers."
Faster Machines. Of course, a major consideration for laser companies is to make their machines run faster. In the past this simply may have meant creating a higher-power resonator, but while most companies still strive for this goal, advancements in other areas have led to great gains in speed and acceleration.
One such development is laser drive systems. Zakrzewski said, "You'll see more high-speed laser processing evolving around the drive systems. Our new machine is a very high-speed laser cutting machine. Its performance comes from the dynamics of the drive system in conjunction with the machine design itself, and it allows acceleration of up to 3 G's."
Many companies are beginning to use linear motors in their machines. "Linear motors provide fast acceleration rates and positioning speeds, thus reducing part cycle times," explained Kosmala. "This is especially true when processing thinner-gauge material.
"Linear motors are also very accurate and repeatable," he said. "Linear motors use a linear encoder that measures the actual position of the cutting head. Conventional drive systems measure motor position because the encoder is attached to the motor itself.
"Finally, linear motors are very reliable," added Kosmala. "The motor itself does not have any moving components; therefore, the drive system will not wear over time, causing inaccuracies."
Many laser manufacturers are in the camp that although high drive speed is good, most moves of the laser head are short distances, so new techniques for this are being examined.
Robinson said TRUMPF recently introduced the patented Sprint Axis technology to deal with this issue.
"In a flying-optics machine, the bridge has a certain mass to it," he explained. "On one of our machines, that mass is over 1,000 lbs. The laws of physics state that you can't accelerate and decelerate this 1,000 lbs. of mass as quickly as you can a much lighter mass. We've added an additional axis and hung it off that bridge, so for short moves within a 4-in. range, we can accelerate the cutting head up to 1 G, which is better than two times the acceleration of the bridge.
"With a 4-in. range of motion, you're not going to get up to a very high speed, because by the time you get to 2 in., its time to start decelerating, so the top speed isn't the issue, but rather the acceleration."
Cincinnati Incorporated has introduced a diffusion-cooled, or slab, resonator to address the speed challenge. "The latest 3,300-W diffusion-cooled resonator produces a power density in the focus spot that is almost three times hotter than most 4,000-W resonators," said Neff. "The diffusion-cooled resonator cuts thin material faster with the operating and maintenance costs of a low-powered laser.""To improve the productivity of our laser systems, we recently introduced a new cutting nozzle that produces higher-quality cuts at faster processing speeds," explained Quigley. "The nozzle shields the laser's inner gas flow from surrounding air and contaminants to achieve a higher-purity cutting gas, which provides better cutting results at faster cutting speeds."
Making More for Less
Overall, it appears the industry will continue to focus on fabricators' needs to do more and make more profit without increasing costs.
"People are more price-conscious—but they want value for their money," Zakrzewski said. "Machines must last five or 10 years, so people are being smart about what they buy. If they can't get what they need, they put off the purchase. Reliability is important. One thing people are really looking for today is the overall productivity, not just the speed, setup time, or running lights-out, but the whole package."
Versatile Machines. One way to give fabricators more for their money is to make more versatile machines. "Flexibility is critical in meeting the developing demands of the laser cutting industry," said Kautzmann. Many laser manufacturers are working on technologies to allow quick changeover between different types of materials, various material thicknesses, and any number of shapes on one machine.
"We are working to address fabricators' challenges by offering robotic products specifically designed for laser processing applications," said Fisher. "These robotic products provide customers with maximum flexibility and accuracy."
"We are coming out with 3-D processing heads which are compact to reduce interference and quick to set up to allow switching from thick to thin or shape to shape quickly," Berkhahn said. "We are able to maintain high-precision, high-accuracy, high-speed cutting on traditional flat work. Plus, the same machine can process a wider variety of components quicker."
Robinson pointed out advancements in the variety of materials modern lasers can handle optimally. He said machines are being made so that they can switch easily from mild steel to aluminum to stainless steel and maintain good results.
Another area in which companies are looking to get more for their dollar is in processing different thicknesses on the same machines. Kosmala said Whitney's PlateLASER product line is designed to process thick to thin steel fast and accurately, and many other laser manufacturers are trying to do the same.
"To enhance flexibility, we offer a 4-kW laser resonator that gives the fabricator the ability to cut quickly in thin materials, as well as to produce quality cuts in thicker materials," said Quigley.
There is even talk of advancing the flexibility of lasers so they can switch from cutting to welding with limited setup time. While this is not yet a reality, it very well could be this decade.
Advanced Features."Faced with reductions in production, some large companies have pulled subcontract work in-house. With subcontract work leaving, some job shops have had to look for new business to fill the voids," said Neff. "Those job shops with the latest laser technology or unique laser capabilities are able to efficiently take work from shops with older, less capable equipment."
Laser companies are trying to give fabricators more for their money by offering new, advanced machine features. These include developments in tasks the machines perform, automatic adjustment features, and information transfer.
"One of the challenges for robotic laser cutting is ensuring that a cut slug has actually dropped out of a part," Nieves said. "Formerly this was accomplished using mechanical check gauges or visual inspection, which are labor-intensive methods that sometimes produced inconsistent results. If inspection determined a slug was still present, the part either had to be sent back through the entire process or through a repair process.
"We now laser-cut feature-to-feature—in cycle—using sensors to determine if the slug has fallen out of the cut feature. If the slug doesn't fall out, the robot senses it and takes immediate corrective action within the laser cutting process cycle. This ensures that a part won't cycle out of the cell until it is completely cut—or the operator is alerted to the fact that a defect exists and corrective action might be required."
"Amada is working on technologies such as sheet metal digital on demand [SDD] programming software, intelligent laser automation with parts unloading and sorting without waiting for the entire sheet to be cut," Thompson said.
Robinson said TRUMPF is focusing on making cutting machines more automatic with less manual adjustment and human intervention through such features as adaptive optic programmable focus systems; process monitoring; automatic, on-the-fly parameter adjustment; and more comprehensive parameter databases within the machines, all of which offer faster laser processing without increased machine cost.
"All models of our Helius, Axel, and Impuls series lasers feature the Laser Eye optical sensor, which quickly and accurately provides contact-free measurement of reference points from sheet edges or prepunched holes," said Quigley. "With this information, the control triangulates the exact coordinates to locate the position of the workpiece or fixture. This eliminates the need for exact positioning of the plate on the worktable and provides scratch-free referencing of the material."
Nieves said, "Another key development in robotic laser technology involves automatic alignment of the laser. Laser focus is critical in processing parts effectively. Motoman continues to investigate sensors and techniques for automatically aligning the laser focus and automatically compensating the robot path for any deviations."
Mazak has developed a Cyber Manufacturing System. Berkhahn said, "This system automatically cuts parts, then sorts and stacks them. In addition, machine output reports and other data will be available online. Today this data is available throughout the plant's network and, tomorrow, worldwide. This means the OEM suppliers can check when to ship materials, sales can check actual orders status, and machine maintenance or service check will be available online, 24/7."
The Future of Lasers
In spite of the economic challenges, or perhaps in light of them, lasers will continue to evolve. We are sure to see wattages rise, but that is just the tip of the laser iceberg.
Easier setup, more automation, new cutting techniques, and laser versatility are now on the plates of the research and development personnel working the laser manufacturing industry. Their advancements are coming to light every day, but who knows what's still lurking just around the corner? Current fiction may be nothing more than future fact.
The FABRICATOR®acknowledges the contributions of the following companies in preparing this article:
- Amada America Inc., 7025 Firestone Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90621, phone 714-739-2111, fax 714- 670-8020, Web site www.amada.com
- Bystronic Inc., 185 Commerce Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788, phone 631-231-1212, fax 631-231-1040, Web site www.bystronic.com
- Cincinnati Incorporated, P.O. Box 11111, Cincinnati, OH 45211-0111, phone 513-367-7100, fax 513-367-7552, Web site www.e-ci.com
- FANUC Robotics North America Inc., 3900 W. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, phone 248-377-7570, fax 248-276-4133, Web site www.fanucrobotics.com
- Mazak Nissho Iwai Corp., 140 E. State Parkway, Schaumburg, IL 60173, phone 847-252-4500, fax 847-252-4599, Web site www.mazaklaser.com
- Mitsubishi Laser, 1500 Michael Drive, Wood Dale, IL 60191, phone 630-616-2970, fax 630-860-4248, Web site www.mitsubishi-world.com
- Motoman Inc., 805 Liberty Lane, West Carrollton, OH 45449, phone 937-847-6200, fax 937-847-6277, Web site www.motoman.com
- Salvagnini America Inc., 27 Bicentennial Court, Hamilton, OH 45015, phone 513-874-8284, fax 513-874-2229, Web site www.salvagnini.com
- Strippit/LVD, 12975 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY 14001, phone 800-828-1527, fax 716-542-7225, Web site www.lvdgroup.com.
- TRUMPF Inc., Farmington Industrial Park, 111 Hyde Road, Farmington, CT 06032, phone 860-255-6000, fax 860-678-1704, Web site www.us.trumpf.com
- W. A. Whitney Co., P.O. Box 1206, Rockford, IL 61150-1206, phone 815-964-6771, fax 815-964-3175, Web site www.wawhitney.com.
Kevin Cole
Published In...
The FABRICATOR
The FABRICATOR is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The FABRICATOR has served the industry since 1971.


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Bandolino Camryn Sandal
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Item # 268720
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- View more Women's Bandolino Shoes
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The Blue Man Group features three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else.
Arts and humanities complex housing Discovery Center Museum, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford Dance Company office and studies, Northern Illinois Public Radio offices and Rockford Symphony Orchestra offices.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
What Lincoln Center is to New Yourk and Kennedy Center is to Washington D.C., Krannert Center is to the Midwest—a magnificent showcase for the performing arts. KCPA is a premier educational and professional performing arts complex and is the setting for over 300 performances each year. A professional laboratory for the University of Illinois dance, theatre, opera and music departments, the Center also hosts internationally famous artists such as Emmy Lou Harris, Herbie Hancock, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Group, and is home to the Champaign-Urbana Symphony and Sinfonia de Camera.
The plush Rosemont Theatre is your ticket to lavish Broadway musicals, full-scale productions and world-class entertainers. We also get raves for our extra-wide aisles, on-site parking, and our superior sound system. The Theatre presents unforgettable show-going experiences.
The Egyptian Theatre hosts film festivals, special movie screenings, and live entertainment events. This theatre is a 1929, fully restored Egyptian Art Deco movie palace and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Egyptian is also available for rentals, tours, weddings, graduations, parties and receptions. Capacity: 1,419 Raised stage with dressing room below; balcony and lobby space. - New Google Maps 360 tour of the theatre is now available http://bit.ly/1TJnAdb
Since 1921, The Virginia Theater has been a landmark in the business district of Champaign and in the history of the region. For 75 years, the 1,525 seat theater has offered entertainment as a vaudeville house, legitimate theater, and movie house. The historic theater plays host to Roger Ebert's Ebertfest Film Festival every spring.
Experience the grandeur of world-class artists and Broadway theatricals in the beautifully restored Genesee Theatre. After undergoing a $23 million renovation, The Genesee Theatre is now home to world-class performances including Broadway shows, musical acts, comedians and more. In addition to the shows, this venue is a historic hot-spot for weddings, corporate functions, holiday parties, and a variety of special events. There are also a number of completely renovated auxiliary rooms connected to the main auditorium that are perfect for receptions, birthdays, high school reunions, corporate dinners, cocktail parties, or any other festive gathering, meeting, or presentation. Visit the website for a list of upcoming shows.
Architect Frank Gehry designed this spectacular outdoor concert venue in Millennium Park that is home to the Grant Park Music Festival, along with other free concerts and events.
Marion Cultural and Civic Center
The Marion Cultural and Civic Center serves Southern Illinois as an outlet for cultural and artistic opportunities of all types. MCCC is a 1094 seat performing arts center located in the historic town square of Marion, IL. In addition to providing a state-of-the-art theatrical facility at a low rental cost, MCCC also provides a portion of the lobby to display paintings and artwork from Southern Illinois artists.
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1897, is the 14th oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. Their professional musicians perform in the beautiful, 2000-seat Peoria Civic Center Theater. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra's repertoire includes a seven-concert classical subscription series, pops concerts and student performances. Season subscription ticket holders and guests enjoy performances by internationally renowned soloists and local artists, popular works and 20th century compositions as well as familiar and unique solo instruments.
A developing space for visual and performing artists and arts organizations. We are the home of Class Act Interactive, with classes and interactive experiences for children of all ages.
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County
Presents the finest entertainers in the industry. Bold expressions of music, theatre, dance and variety acts. Featuring professional touring concerts as well as college music, theatre and dance presentations.
This theatre offers affordable, live entertainment, comedy, concerts, dance and family shows. Group discounts/theatre rentals; perfect for meetings, performances, fundraisers and banquets.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the world's great opera companies. It is renowned internationally for its artistic excellence and financial strength. Founded in 1954, since its earliest years Lyric has distinguished itself by presenting the finest international singers, directors, and designers in classic and less-familiar operatic repertoire and in world-premiere productions. Opera performances are from September through March.
Celebrating over 40 years of dance excellence, Rockford Dance Company serves the greater Rockford community through partnerships with other leading nonprofit organizations, year-round classes in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap as well as full season of outstanding ballet and repertoire performances. Rockford Dance Company offers programming to children, students, and adults supporting our mission to pursue excellence in the art of dance through performance, education, and outreach.
Well-loved and highly respected, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra continues to provide residents of Central Illinois with beautiful music and stirring concerts. The Symphony Orchestra performs at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts where they hold five Masterworks concerts, two Pops concerts and three Chamber Orchestra concerts annually. With great performances for music lovers of all ages, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra remains the region's premier professional orchestra. Call or visit the website for more information.
Citadel Theatre is dedicated to producing inspiring theatre by bringing together gifted professionals from all the theatrical disciplines to create exciting, compelling work of the highest caliber.
CITY:Lake Forest
John A. Logan College O'Neil Auditorium
Located within the John A. Logan Community College, this 316 seat theater is host to many collegiate and community performances.
Sangamon Auditorium - University of Illinois Springfield
The auditorium presents a broad range of music, theater and dance performances.
Mexican Folklore Dance Company of Chicago
As Chicago's oldest Mexican dance institution, MFDC has received countless recognitions and awards, performed for three presidents and represented Mexico in the 1994 USA World Cup opening ceremony, as well as numerous national television performances, most recently at the 2009 Latin Grammy Awards. MFDC's performances reflect Mexico's rich history which shapes its traditional arts, culture, and values. The historical periods revealed in the dances include pre-Columbian indigenous times, the Spanish Colonial Period, the Struggle for Independence and the 1910 Mexican Revolution.
The Peoria Ballet offers a season of spectacular dance performances featuring the Peoria Ballet Company and guest artists from across the globe, while the Peoria Ballet Academy provides excellent dance education in ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip hop.
Norris Cultural Arts Center, Theatre & Art Gallery
A 1,000 seat live theatre providing family entertainment for more than 20 years. Season tickets are available. Call for gallery hours and reservations.
CITY:St. Charles
The Athenaeum Theatre is multi-stage theatre complex. We sell tickets to various live theatrical, dance and music events. We have a Main Stage that seats 985 and three studio black boxes seating 67, 81 and 89.
A volunteer chorale group of around 100 singing members, PACC performs two concert series annually, May and December.
Twin Cities Ballet is a civic ballet company and school of dance which attracts guest dancers throughout the year. The Nutcracker is a local tradition each December.
The Joffrey is a world-class, Chicago-based ballet company that performs a unique repertoire encompassing masterpieces of the past and cutting-edge works. Director Gerald Arpino brings a uniquely American style of dance featuring ballets from the great choreographers of the 20th century. Many prolific choreographers have worked with the Joffrey including Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, and founders Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey. Photo credit: Joffrey Ballet
The mission of the Fermilab Arts and Lecture Series is to celebrate the artistic and intellectual vision of Fermilab by actively fostering an appreciation of science and the performing arts in neighboring communities. Most of the Arts and Lecture Series performances and lectures take place in Fermilab's Ramsey Auditorium.
Surrounded by gardens and a reflection pool, this magnificent bell tower in Washington Park is the third largest in the world, and one of the few that is actually open to the public.
Augustana College Cultural Events
A variety of arts events going on at Augustana College.
CITY:Rock Island
John Stull Performing Arts Center at Olney Central College
The center at Olney Central College hosts many local and national performances throughout the year.
College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center
The McAninch Arts Center is home to five resident professional ensembles: Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, DuPage Opera Theatre, Arts Center Jazz Ensemble, New Classic Singers and New Philharmonic.
CITY:Glen Ellyn
This restored vaudeville theater in downtown Galesburg offers a wide variety of entertainment and tours.
Pineapple Dance offers dance and fitness classes to adults and teens in Zumba, Traditional Belly Dance, Hip Hop, West African and more. Movement to music has been a vehicle for celebration and connection in ethnic cultures across the globe and history. The studio is available for rent, rehearsals and or meetings. Special group classes with any of our instructors are available.
CITY:Forest Park
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County
The Center is home to a wide variety of entertainment acts from musical performances to live theatre shows to specialty performances. The facilities include the 600-seat Mainstage Theatre, the 250-seat Studio Theatre, the 400-seat C005 Auditorium and three conference rooms. The theatre presents the finest entertainment in the industry, including a season of incredible variety featuring internationally acclaimed performers.
Located on the campus of Highland Community College - features a variety of fine arts programming including vocal and music concerts, live theater, special performances, and the popular Summerset Theater Program, a community performing arts theater.
Located in Chicago's historic Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood, the Beverly Art Center is a multidisciplinary, cultural center offering classes in art, music, dance, and theater. Offers rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and performing art.
The Herrin Civic Center is a multipurpose facility with conference areas, a galleria that seats 350 and an auditorium that seats 341. The Civic Center is host to all types of performances on a regular basis and can be rented for small meetings, stage performances and social events such as wedding receptions, reunions, etc. Many nationally known entertainers perform for the Patron of the Arts Series and for special appearances. Also home of the Southern Illinois Opry.
Built in 1878 and restored in 1986, the Opera House today provides performing arts from classical to country, dance, student recitals, summer theatre workshops and children/senior citizen series. A new Elizabeth Holdeman visual art gallery now graces entrance hall.
Carterville High School Performing Arts Theatre
This 750 seat theatre features a full orchestra pit, large stage, air conditioning and convenient and ample parking for audience members. From a performance standpoint, the auditorium also features a large backstage dressing area and wondrous acoustics.
Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to building and strengthening the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. Center on Halsted's Community and Cultural team creates and hosts a wide array of fun, interactive and engaging programs enjoyed by members of the entire community. Events range from volleyball games in our gymnasium to dance recitals in our theatre. We host regular receptions showcasing local LGBTQ artists and special events for LGBTQ families and friends.
Theatergoers love that every seat is a great seat at The Raue Center for the Arts in downtown Crystal Lake. Since its restoration a decade ago, Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Raue Center has become a destination in the heart of a bustling downtown area chock-full of pre- or post-show dining and shopping options.
CITY:Crystal Lake
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Current movies at bargain prices in a beautifully restored French Renaissance 1920s movie theater. Over 1,000 seats with 4K Digital Projection and Sound with Digital 3-D, Wurlitzer pipe organ player Friday, Saturday nights and special events. Theatre is available for meetings with DVD, power point, wi-fi capabilities.
CITY:Downers Grove
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The Harris Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions, as well as acclaimed national and international companies.
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is the city's leading presenter of contemporary dance, showcasing artists of regional, national and international acclaim.
By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into thrilling, passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike.
The Ferguson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Highland Community College features, in the Fine Arts Theatre, a variety of programming including vocal and instrumental music concerts (Royal Scots, Big Band, Concert Band, Chorale), live theater, special performances, and the popular Summerset Theatre program, a community performing arts theater. The Center is also home to the Highland Gallery, classrooms and studios. A seasonal listing of performances and exhibitions is available by calling the box office or visiting the website.
Freedom Hall offers a diverse series accenting dance, music, theatre, popular attractions, children's theatre and outreach activities. Join us in the intimate 280-seat Nathan Manilow Theatre.
CITY:Park Forest
Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center
World class music, dance and theatre. Enjoy an evening out, entertainment for the family, or a chance to satisfy your cravings for culture.
This nationally recognized dance company performs all styles of dance. The troupe's annual spectacular, Holiday Fantasy, was selected as the Best Live Show in Chicago Southland.
CITY:Orland Park
Governors State University Center for Performing Arts
The Center for Performing Arts presents high-quality and affordable national touring acts, Chicago-based artists and community programs in genres from jazz to opera, dance, theatre and family favorites.
CITY:University Park
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - College of DuPage's McAninch Center is home to several resident professional ensembles, student productions and world-class touring attractions plus the Gahlberg Gallery for visual arts.
CITY:Glen Ellyn
River North Chicago Dance Company
River North Chicago delivers a show-stopping dance and musical experience, with humor, style and a sense of adventure.
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Dr Jun Shigemura at Japan's national defense university. He is one of two doctors who have studied the plight of workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (BBC)
The workers have been through multiple stress. They experienced the plant explosions, the tsunami and perhaps radiation exposure. They are also victims of the disaster because they live in the area and have lost homes and family members. And the last thing is the discrimination.
Quote of the Day ( 2 )


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On Aquilini and the Abbotsford Heat
Thomas Drance
August 20 2012 03:42PM
Over the weekend, Greg Douglas of the Vancouver Sun dropped a report, which suggested that Canucks owner - real estate magnate Francesco Aquilini - is planning on taking a run at the financial and marketing catastrophe known as the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre, and their primary tenant the Abbotsford Heat.
From Douglas' report:
The buzz continues to escalate throughout the Fraser Valley real estate community that Francesco Aquilini has his sights set on buying the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and the land it occupies. By extension, Aquilini would cut a deal with the Calgary Flames that would result in the Vancouver Canucks No. 1 farm team, the Chicago Wolves, moving to Abbotsford.
Calgary's American Hockey League affiliate - the Abbotsford Heat - are locked into a 10-year supply fee agreement with the City of Abbotsford and after three years, it's been a disaster. The Heat played four post-season games this season in their home building that can accommodate 7,046 fans for hockey and drew an average of 2,389.
There is a hockey board meeting scheduled for Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. in Abbotsford. Ken King, president of the Calgary Flames, will be there. Lane Sweeting, chairman of Fraser Valley Sports and Entertainment as well as Abbotsford Heat Hockey Ltd., says that while he has not been told anything by the city about a potential Aquilini takeover, it would not surprise him. Aquilini did not respond to messages left for him Friday.
So, there's a few things to sift through here. First of all the report is based on "buzz" that is "escalating" through the "Fraser Valley real estate community." The only person quoted is Lane Sweeting, who says that he hasn't heard anything about a potential takeover, and Aquilini declined to comment on the report. In summary, I read this report as a lot of smoke in the absence of fire.
The report goes on to speculate that the Canucks "No. 1 farm team" - whatever that means - would move to Abbotsford in place of the Heat. There are a couple of issues with this, the first being that the Canucks' AHL affiliate (or "No. 1 farm team") are the Chicago Wolves who aren't owned by the Aquilini Group (they're owned by Don Levin). Secondly, the Chicago Wolves do pretty well for themselves in Chicago: they were second in the AHL in average attendance last season, they're the primary tenants at the All State Arena (where they've played since 1994), and they remain one of the only AHL clubs with their own TV deal. What's Levin's incentive to re-locate to the lower mainland?
Maybe if Don Levin - who has been involved in talks with the city of Bellevue, Washington about the construction of an NHL arena in the Seattle area - was awarded an NHL club he'd consider selling or moving the Wolves (though even that's a stretch). But at the current juncture, the notion of moving the Wolves to British Columbia just doesn't make a lot of sense.
So it's no surprise that on Saturday evening, there was a second report from Kevin Mills and Dan Kinvig of the Abbotsford News that quoted Abbotsford City Manager Frank Pizzuto saying that the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre is "not on the market."
To summarize the information we have available to us, the agreement between the Flames and Abbotsford has been an unmitigated financial disaster for the municipality, and it's getting worse every year as attendance drops and the short-fall increases. If Aquilini could step in, buy the arena, and bring an AHL club to Abbotsford, or acquire the Heat out-right (which, seems significantly more likely than relocating the Wolves) it would surely be a boon to Abbotsford tax-payers.
It would also be advantageous for the Canucks. After 10 happy years of marriage with the Manitoba Moose and True North Sports and Entertainment, the Canucks and the Chicago Wolves appear to have had some "chemistry issues" in their first affiliated season. An Aquilini owned club would allow the Canucks to micro-manage their affiliate's hockey operations (yey extreme zone-start deployments), and the "farm hand recall time" from Abbotsford to Vancouver would be negligible. Also, Abbotsford is geographically isolated from the majority of AHL clubs, so Canucks prospects would have the opportunity to get used to the grueling air-travel schedule endured by Western Conference teams in the NHL...
The issues here remain manifold, however and this isn't the first time we've been down this speculative "Canucks to move AHL affiliate into Abbotsford" road. The reason it keeps popping up is that it makes so much sense for the Canucks, and for the city of Abbotsford. Sadly, the city is locked into a 10 year agreement with the Calgary Flames, and they've committed to offset any losses the club endures with tax-payer money. It's almost ironic, isn't it? The Flames benefitting from a no-movement clause!
The Abbotsford agreement is a sweet deal for the Flames, so where's the incentive for them to agree to relocate their AHL affiliate? The Flames acrue all of the benefits (an affiliate club just a short flight from Calgary) and none of the risk. Presumably it would require a significant sum of cash from Aquilini to lubricate this particular transaction, and you can trust the Flames to exact a price that would make Lord Walder Frey blush...
While the reports over the weekend got hockey fans in the lower mainland excited (again), we didn't really learn anything new. Abbotsford's agreement with the Flames remains another example of the endless enthusiasm Canadian citizens seem to have for flushing public money down the toilet for the sake of hockey, while the Canucks in Abbotsford could actually work and be a profitable venture. That was true last week, and it's still true today. As such, this type of speculation will persist indefinitely while revealing nothing new about Aquilini's actual intentions.
August 20 2012, 05:24PM
It's not a joke for the Flames. They get to operate an expense free affiliate for the next whatever amount of years. It's an ideal situation for a team who wants to worry primarily about development issues for their players and not business issues in a league that is a tough sell at the best of times.
It's a poor deal for the tax payers of Abbotsford, to be sure, but then that's what happens when you build stadiums with public funds and then go begging for teams to fill them.
August 20 2012, 04:59PM
The deal is indeed a bad one for the town of Abbotsford. It's hard to determine whether AHL hockey would sell there at all given the near league low attendance numbers the team has put up since it arrived though.
The Canucks are into the second year of a 2 year deal with the Wolves... that means that later this year they have to either re-up with a club where they've had "chemistry problems", or find a new affiliate. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the way this deal would work, but I think that gives at least a little credence to this story. If I were Aquilini (and my bank balance is proof that I am clearly not), I'd at least start looking into what it might take to bring the farm closer to home... especially if I thought it could add to the overall business. The Heat are losing a boat-load of money every year. The deal with Abbotsford means the Flames don't lose money, but they're not making any on this team either. It's possible that the parent club could come to the realization they should have come to years ago... the farm team of a hated-rival will never win the hearts of hockey fans in the Canucks' backyard. They might be willing to back out on the Heat now, rather than wait until they actually do start losing money on their No. 1 minor league affiliate. I wouldn't dismiss this story until the Canucks have a new agreement with the Wolves.
Also, the Wolves are the #1 farm team compared to Kalamazoo (ECHL).
Sounds like this was just written poorly by the reporter as you pointed out Thom... I'd hope that what he meant by moving the farm team is that the Heat would become the Canucks farm team and the Wolves would switch their affiliation with whomever. It'd honestly make me sick to my stomach if they forced a storied AHL franchise to move all for the Aquilinis attempt at a lower mainland sports monopoly.
Being in Winnipeg when the Moose were there I know how nice it is to have that luxury of seeing the farm team regularly... But no way in hell should it come at the expense of the Wolves. I'd surely hope there's a way for the Flames to be bought off because it's pretty obvious how much of a joke that agreement is.
August 20 2012, 05:26PM
I would love for that to happen. Get the Canuks farm team in Abby, the Flames can purchase another AHL team and move them to Red Deer, and that other team can relocate to Chicago.
I would love to see one in Red Deer. Nearing 100,000 hockey loving people. An hour and a half (legal limit ;) away would be Even better than Abby. They have an AHLish sized arena. Perfect
August 20 2012, 05:27PM
Not sure how you take that as "the Wolves will move to Abbotsford". Obviously, the Wolves will stay put, but the plan would include the Nucks AHL players being relocated to Abby (and perhaps the Flames taking up the Wolves affiliation?).
August 20 2012, 05:41PM
Sure sounds like the Abbotsford city council screwed the pooch on this one.
I am sure the Canucks organization and fans would love to have the farm team only a short drive away, but why would Calgary give up a long term free meal ticket?
Only other areans that I am aware of near the GVA is the Pacific Coliseum and the Save on Foods center in Victoria.
The Aquilini family has proven they are willing to spend money, add the fact that the mini Canucks haven't worked out in Chicago...common sense dictates that the Canucks will have a new AHL affiliate this time next year.
August 20 2012, 05:59PM
I never understand why Langley isn't brought into the equation.
I thought it was reported that the Wolves did not want to continue their affiliation with the Canucks beyond this season? Can't remember where I read that now...but if so, the team is in a bit of a bind.
Having the farm team in Abby would be profitable. Never underestimate the obsessiveness of hockey fans.
@Scott McKenzie
"I never understand why Langley isn't brought into the equation."
I don't think the CIA can do much about a bad AHL deal. They are more into making uncooperative heads of state go missing. Although perhaps they could be consulted on that Stajan deal. Who knows.
August 21 2012, 12:55AM
for whatever implementation issues the Canucks and Wolves have had, on the whole, the Wolves are very happy with the Canucks as the parent club. They spent years under the thumb of the Thrashers, a team seemed to have no real clue on what a farm team was for or for what in-house abilities the Wolves already had.
It may not be perfect, but anyone close to the Wolves will tell you it could be a whole lot worse.
Of course, that's not to say that they wouldn't be opposed to a new affiliation, but they are pretty happy with the current set up.
good read.
As a 20+ year resident of Abby, I totally agree with the proposal. I hate paying for a losing cause. When I attended HEAT games - when they played the Moose, there was just as much applause for the Moose as there was for the heat. Abby loves the Canucks; some reside there. But, how does this work? How can the Wolves move to Abby when they're owned by someone other than Aquilini? WHat about the resident Canuck draft picks? How can Aquilini purchase a Calgary-owned team stocked with their draft picks? The Moose' Mayflower move made sense - team and equiopment. This one however has me stumped(???).
wow, you're so clueless about what an AHL affiliate is...
That's not helpful.
The players go where the Canucks tells them. The Wolves franchise would would stay in Chicago, but the team (players and coaches who get paid by the Canucks) would move to Abby.
@Kent Wilson
Based on the latest stuff I've read on this story, the idea is that Aquilini would buy the arena and negotiate a deal with the Flames to have the Heat become the Canucks affiliate. Aquilini would get the arena's share of the revenue and the Flames would actually start to make a profit on the Heat... albeit, they'd have to find a new place for their farm.
It's a rare case when rumours make this much sense:
Benefits to Abbotsford: Having the Canucks affiliate, potentially less tax-payer money required to fulfill agreement
Benefits to Canucks: Close affiliate, increased interest from regional market
Benefits to Flames: Actually make some money off Heat by selling sweet-heart deal to Aquilini, move to an established AHL market with potential to generate a profit
Benefit to Chicago: Gain Flames farm team which has some decent American prospects
Sure sounds like the Abbotsford city council screwed the pooch on this one.
I am sure the Canucks organization and fans would love to have the farm team only a short drive away, but why would Calgary give up a long term free meal ticket?
Only other areans that I am aware of near the GVA is the Pacific Coliseum and the Save on Foods center in Victoria.
The Aquilini family has proven they are willing to spend money, add the fact that the mini Canucks haven't worked out in Chicago...common sense dictates that the Canucks will have a new AHL affiliate this time next year.
Yup the Abby taxpayers are not the lucky ones here. And why would the Flames give up this deal to help a rival NHL team? Answer: They would not unless they had another way to gain support for the Flame organization overall....so see below.
On that note, I do like the idea of the Flames farm team in Red Deer however to gain wider support from across Alberta...and Calgary Airport is not far from RD for teams visiting to get there relatively easily by bus (1.2 hours). But there is the WHL Rebels there so do you buy out Brent Sutter or offer him a piece of the Flames to give up the junior team? Or do you just convert the Rebels into an NHL team? Or maybe Regina or Saskatoon works better for the Flames to get more fans cheering for the entire franchise...maybe! But given my flying experience to Regina and Saskatoon, I say it's not an ideal location since visiting teams always must come through Calgary, Edmonton, or Winnipeg to get to those places.
Yup the Abby taxpayers are not the lucky ones here. And why would the Flames give up this deal to help a rival NHL team? Answer: They would not unless they had another way to gain support for the Flame organization overall....so see below.
On that note, I do like the idea of the Flames farm team in Red Deer however to gain wider support from across Alberta...and Calgary Airport is not far from RD for teams visiting to get there relatively easily by bus (1.2 hours). But there is the WHL Rebels there so do you buy out Brent Sutter or offer him a piece of the Flames to give up the junior team? Or do you just convert the Rebels into an NHL team? Or maybe Regina or Saskatoon works better for the Flames to get more fans cheering for the entire franchise...maybe! But given my flying experience to Regina and Saskatoon, I say it's not an ideal location since visiting teams always must come through Calgary, Edmonton, or Winnipeg to get to those places.
Well, relocate the Rebels WHL team & give Brent a piece of the Red Deer Heat & I think the City of Red Deer would love to embrace an AHL team. I see the Oilers not being too happy & would like to have their affiliate in Red Deer as well. So I do see opposition to the Flames trying to seed in Red Deer. Chicago wouldnt be bad because of the increased number of US players Flames are drafting and have coming up their farm system. Either way, Vancouver is going to have to make it worth Calgary's while. Perhaps Redford could use to negotiate a pipeline through BC :)


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Top Definition
Start somebody's motor by cranking on their shaft (a.k.a., penis shaft)
She really knows how to turn the key. I got hard instantaneously.
by 128 pounds of fat chick September 10, 2009
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Lightweight, cushioned, flexible and sporting a zero drop platform, the Saucony Virrata is a versatile shoe ideal for both training and race day.
The right shoe at the right time, the Virrata blends the components many runners are currently seeking – a lowered heel for a forward footstrike, ample cushioning for high mileage, and a lightweight construction. And does the Virrata match expectations? We say yes.
The cushioning of the Virrata strikes a balance; it's soft without being too mushy or losing much responsiveness, and is protective enough to handle longer distances without worry. The platform offers a flexible ride, and though the transition between lugs in the forefoot can be felt at slower paces, testers did not feel it to be a hindrance to their running.
Up top, the internal bootie construction allows the upper to wrap around the foot comfortably, and the seamless construction is a welcome feature. The Virrata offers a snug fit, differentiating itself from many wider offerings in its category. This fit was welcomed among testers, however, as it provides a sense of security and performance.
With a lack of outsole material to save weight, the shoe does wear a bit faster than your typical trainer. Still, testers report being able to get 250 or more miles from the shoe, with an excellent running experience along the way.
"To me, this shoe feels like a cushioned racing flat. With a low weight, zero drop design, and performance fit, the Virrata really lends itself well to fast running."
"I noticed a mild hotspot where the heel collar meets the tongue. At first I was worried this would be bothersome but after dialing in the lacing, the hotspot went away."
"Compared to other zero-drop shoes I've tried, the Virrata feels much more cushioned and supplies enough protection to keep me going on longer runs."


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Historic Treaty to Tackle Toxic Heavy Metal Mercury Gets Green Light
Environment Ministers Also Back Global Green New Deal and Green Economy Initiative to Power World to More Sustainable Crisis-Free Future
Nairobi, 20 February 2009 - A global crackdown on the poisonous pollutant mercury was agreed by environment ministers at the end of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Governing Council.
The landmark decision, taken by over 140 countries, sets the stage for the lifting of a major health threat from the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
Governments unanimously decided to launch negotiations on an international mercury treaty to deal with world - wide emissions and discharges of a pollutant that threatens the health of millions, from fetuses and babies to small - scale gold miners and their families.
They also agreed that the risk to human health and the environment was so significant that accelerated action under a voluntary Global Mercury Partnership is needed whilst the treaty is being finalized.
The eight - point partnership plan includes:
- Boosting the world - wide capability for nations to safely store stockpiled mercury
- Reducing the supply of mercury from for example primary mining of the heavy metal
- Carrying out awareness raising of the risks alongside projects to cut the use of mercury in artisanal mining where an estimated 10 million miners and their families are exposed
- Reducing mercury in products such as thermometers and high - intensity discharge lamps to processes such as some kinds of paper - making and plastics production
Achim Steiner, UN Under - Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "UNEP has, for some seven years, coordinated and contributed to an intense scientific and policy debate on how best to deal with the issue of mercury. Today the world's environment ministers, armed with the full facts and full choices, decided the time for talking was over - the time for action on this pollution is now".
"Only a few weeks ago nations remained divided on how to deal with this major public health threat which touches everyone in every country of the world. Today we are united on the need for a legally binding instrument and immediate action towards a transition to a low-mercury world," he said.
"I believe this will be a major, confidence - building boost for not only the chemicals and health agenda but right across the environmental challenges of our time from biodiversity loss to climate change," said Mr Steiner.
Global Green New Deal - Green Economy initiative
He said the mercury decision, alongside a range of other key agreements at the close of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) , sent a clear message to citizens everywhere that the environment was moving back to the centre stage of political life and that a Green Economy is up and running.
"The resounding message is that while the world struggles with the financial and economic crises, the environment must not be side - lined - the challenges but the opportunities are simply too great," he added.
"Indeed, ministers from North and South here in Nairobi through words and through deeds have signaled that investing in the environment and greening economies is one of the keys to unlocking innovation, job creation, recovery and healthier and more sustainable world - not just on the question of mercury but right across sectors and societies," said Mr Steiner.
This was underlined by a decision by governments to significantly increase the budget of UNEP at a time of financial and economic crisis.
Underlined too in the summary of the ministerial consultations by Oliver Dulic, Serbia's Minister of the Environment and President of the Governing Council/GMEF.
"Ministers of the environment must be ministers for sustained economic success. Creating a green economy goes hand - in - hand with sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals," he said.
Mr Dulic said many of the ministers meeting this week now supported the notion that investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency alongside investments in natural or nature - based assets such as forests and freshwaters could power economies back to health.
"Moving to a green economy is overwhelmingly recognized as a means to deliver multiple benefits for the international community and all nations in addressing food, energy, water security and climate change," he added.
Ministers agreed that much remained to be done to realize a Green Economy globally and nationally.
But these green shoots of recovery could, with significant additional investment, incentives to scale projects up, setting of the right regulatory framework and improved governance "tilt the policy playing field towards the green economy".
The ministers also stressed that in order to realize the Green Economy in developing countries support was need including the greening of overseas development aid, bilateral assistance, capacity building and other financial flows alongside greater access to mechanisms such as the UN climate treaty's Clean Development Mechanism.
Environment ministers also backed a decision requesting UNEP to spearhead a mission to Gaza to assess the environmental impacts of recent hostilities and to carry out an economic assessment of the costs of rehabilitating and restoring environmental damage there.
The UNEP team will be deployed "immediately" after a conference in March in Cairo, Egypt, on the reconstruction of Gaza.
Biodiversity and Science
Governments also signaled their determination to rise to the challenge of accelerating biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems and their multi-trillion dollar services from carbon storage by forests to the coastal defense value of coral reefs.
Today they called on UNEP to hold an international meeting in 2009 to examine the pros and cons of establishing an "Intergovernmental science - policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services" alongside an assessment on the scientific gaps in current knowledge.
The UNEP Executive Director will report on the progress at the special session on biodiversity at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in 2010.
International Environmental Governance
Governments also decided that a special group of developed and developing countries ministers 'or high-level representatives' be established to develop a set of options aimed at improving the way the world's environmental architecture is run in order to streamline and boost the ability of the global community to tackle persistent and emerging environmental challenges.
Other decisions include UNEP stepping up its work on waste management and support for Africa on climate change including working with the UN Economic Commission for Africa to establish a climate centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Notes to Editors
Decisions and information on the 25th session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Programme are at http://www.unep.org/gc/gc25/
Some facts and figures on mercury:-
Mercury's damage to the human nervous system has been known for over a century. Alice in Wonderland's mad hatter echoed the fact that hatters worked with mercury to strengthen brims.
Meanwhile eating advisories relating to fish such as tuna operate in many countries targeted at those at risk including pregnant mothers.
In Sweden around 50,000 lakes have pike with mercury levels exceeding international health limits.
Women of child-bearing years are advised not to eat pike, perch, turbot and eel at all: the rest of the population only once a week.
In the United States 1 in 12, or just under five million females, have mercury above the level considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Other potential impacts include impaired thyroid and liver function, irritability, tremors, disturbances to vision and memory loss and perhaps cardiovascular problems.
Scientists and the NGO Sharkproject are now also flagging yet another cause for concern?the increased consumption of shark meat in some parts of the world.
By some estimates these foods contain up to 40 times more mercury than recommended food safety limits and perhaps a great deal more.
Mercury levels in Arctic ringed seals and beluga whales have increased by up to four times over the last 25 years in some areas of Canada and Greenland.
Europe and the United States have in recent months backed export bans on mercury-the European Union setting a date of 2011.
Meanwhile governments in cooperation with UNEP have spotlighted a wide-range of products and processes which now have cost effective, proven alternatives.
The case for others is perhaps less clear cut at least for some manufacturers and economies.
High-intensity discharge lamps for use outside the automobile industry, some liquid crystal display units and certain kinds of plastics production spring to mind.
Flexibility needs to be shown. But a clear and unequivocal vision of a low mercury future needs to be set. This will trigger innovation and an ever greater array of cost effective, alternatives.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is perhaps a special case. The victims are among the poorest people in the world.
An estimated 10 million miners and their families may be suffering in countries from Brazil and Venezuela to India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe from poisoning or exposure.
On the island of Mindanao, Philippines 70 per cent of gold miners may have chronic mercury intoxication.
The wider economic arguments are compelling. UNEP estimates that every kilogramme of mercury taken out of the environment can trigger up to $12,500 worth of social, environmental and human health benefits.
Meanwhile there is evidence that far from declining, mercury pollution may be on the rise in part as a result of increased coal-burning in Asia.
Of the around 6,000 tonnes of mercury entering the environment annually, some 2,000 tonnes comes from power stations and coal fires in homes. In the atmosphere or released down river systems, the toxin can travel hundreds and thousands of miles.
As climate change melts the Arctic, mercury trapped in the ice and sediments is being re-released back into the oceans and into the food chain.
Thus there are clear and positive links between decisions taken by environment ministers at the Governing Council and the ones to be taken later in the year at the crucial UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen.
Everyone alive today has some level of mercury in their bodies. The World Health Organization says there is no safe limit.
For More Information Please Contact
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, Office of the Executive Director, on Tel: +254 20 762 3084; Mobile: 254 733 632 755 or when traveling +41 795 965 737; E-mail: email@example.com
Anne-France White at Mobile: +254 (0)728 600 494 or E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Further Resources
Harmful Substances: Reducing Risk from Mercury
Environment Ministers Rise to the Challenge of Globalization and UN Reform
Draft decision approved: Mercury decision
Golden Opportunity to Deal With Poisonous Quicksilver Pollution
UNEP Green Economy Initiative website
Follow Us
Keep up to date with UNEP events on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.


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|Posted by cyrijl on December 11, 2003 at 06:38:41:
I currently live in a house of unknown age. There are four bathrooms (it is not as glamorous as it may sound). When flushing the toilets from the second and third floors the pipes, they make a horrible screeching sound. Similar to the sound metal may cry out if it is being twisted. I have never heard such a sound in any house i have ever been in. This has only begun in the past few months. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
|Replies to this post


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We'll respond shortly.
Theo Schlossnagle: "I don't care what you use: puppet, chef, bcfg2, cfengine – choose one and automate your configuration." (Theo's presentation was a highlight, check out the slides here.)
Allspaw and Hammond from Flickr: "If there's only one thing you do, automate your infrastructure."
There were lots of Puppet users at the conference, and Luke Kaines gave a good talk on it.
Interested in a Chef intro? Watch the video of Adam and Ezra's talk:
From the Chef BoF:


text: Accreditations Fairfield University and BHNAP is fully accredited by The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through Fall 2020. Fairfield University is fully accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the School of Nursing by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Our 36-month program offers a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through Fairfield University, and a Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia through Bridgeport Hospital. Upon graduation, the student will be eligible to take the National Certifying Examination (NCE) to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 222 S. Prospect Avenue Park Ridge, IL 60068 847-692-7050 Bridgeport Hospital Nurse Anesthesia Program is a fully accredited program from COA and NEAS&C.


text: Simple and lovely, the Grace Scarf in Shale Brown from Brixton is a classic look in a nontraditional scarf style. A one-peice loop design, the Grace is an easy accessory. Whether you're wearing it loose and looped around your neck, tucked into a jacket, or pulled up over your head for a hood-like look, the Grace is a piece that not only adds additional style to any look but is practical and versatile. Whether it's cold outside and you need some added warmth or it's a bit warmer and you just want a unique look, the Grace is the scarf to grab. The Grace is a 100% acrylic heavy loop scarf featuring a loose knit with Brixton tag at one side.


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Arrowcraft Shop helped mountain families in this remote region gain independence by providing them with a source of income from the sale of their handiwork. Today, known simply as Arrowcraft, it is the oldest gift shop in Gatlinburg, TN. As one of five Southern Highland Craft Guild shops, it continues the tradition of presenting fine regional crafts. This historic shop sells the best crafts from a nine-state region--weaving, basketry, pottery, woodcarving, glass, and toys--ensuring that these skills passed from hand to hand for generations will be preserved for the future.
Tennessee Vacation eGuide
The 2016 eGuide gives you instant access to Tennessee's irresistible attractions and destinations. Peruse venues online, then put in your order to get a free guide delivered to your doorstep.


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Qupid Agency-187 Flat Sandal
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 275800
Take on the warm months in the Qupid Agency. This crochet sandal is perfect for the summer and to pair with your favorite dress or shorts!
- Faux leather and crochet fabric upper
- Ankle strap with adjustable buckle
- Synthetic sole
- Imported
By: KPM9
Location: PA
April 23, 2013
Love it!!
"Its perfect summer sandal !! Cant wait to wear it. The fit is as perfect as the look. I got the black.Just one thing, wished it had like a back opening ot something, just have to pull the crochet to wear it. I wish it was just put your foot in and go easy.But I love it and totally keeping it."
By: RenataB
Location: Pennsylvania
March 17, 2013
"Love it, they are so cute! I also want the black one! These are the types of shoes that goes with everything on the spring/summer time. The only thing i would change would be the color, it just looks a little bit like a dirty white, its not quite beige, but its still adorable!"
By: Pineappledulay
Location: Poway, CA
March 15, 2013
"I so want to love this this sandal, but it is just a little hard to get my foot in there. Once my foot is in, it feels weird how my toes are so exposed and my ankle feels constricted."
Click anywhere to close this.


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Quickly and easily remove rust from tools, barrels and more. Pads also clean aluminum, copper and other metals.
Technical Information
General recommendations for use by grade:
#1 - Smooths raised wood grain
#0 - Rust removal, cleans aluminum, copper and other metals
#00 - Buffs cuts and removes old finishes and excess oil
#000 - Polishes aluminum, copper, brass and zinc. Buffs and removes paint drips.
#0000 - Final finish on fine woodwork. Cleans delicate instruments, precision tools.
Technical Information
General recommendations for use by grade:


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AMD Catalyst Drivers XP 64  11.10 XP 64
# New Features
* AMD Eyefinity enhancements
- Enables support for Eyefinity 5x1 display (portrait and landscape) configurations
- Maximum supported resolution has been increased to 16000 x 16000 pixels on the AMD Radeon HD 6000 Series. (limited to DX11 applications only)
- Bezel compensation is now possible when using sets of displays that have mismatched pixel densities.
# AMD VECC/CCC enhancements
* Improvements have been implemented to better facilitate the enabling and control of the following features within the Vision Engine Control Center / Catalyst Control Center
- AMD Overdrive for GPUs
- Information Center (software and hardware)
# Resolved Issues for the Windows XP
* An application crash is no longer randomly observed while playing M2V/Mpeg2/Mpeg4 files and toggling the Hardware Acceleration setting.
* Display corruption is no longer experienced on the primary display when running in extended display mode with AERO enabled.


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At BVU since 1993
Degrees Held
B.S., Rockhurst College
M.S., Northwestern University
M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Works published
Understanding Multiplicative Interaction Terms in Multiple Regression Models
Statistical Tests for 'Intervalness' and 'Collapsing' Involving Categorical Variables in Linear Models
Attitudinal Impact of International Travel Courses on Undergraduate Students
Impacts of Professor-Student Discipline Matches in an Undergraduate Introductory Statistics Course (With Dr. Stan Ullerich)
George Wythe Award for Teaching Excellence (BVU's highest faculty honor; 2005).
BVU Faculty Member of the Year (voted by students; 1996, 2006, and 2008).
Visiting Professor of Political Science -- Uppsala University (Sweden) (2007 and 2010).
Invited Faculty in Residence, ICPSR Summer Program, Univ. of Michigan (each summer since 1987).
International Experience
Traveled with students to Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, Iceland, Puerto Rico, and Turkey.
Visiting Professor at Uppsala University, Sweden (2007 and 2010).


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I love OP more than FT, but that doesn't mean that both are not good. I don't care if these guys take a jab at each other, because the way I see it, its harmless. Its only the "fans" that blow things out of proportion and take these seriously. At the end of the day, they are both filthy rich, and their manga will still sell well beef or no beef. So yeah, who cares.
I'm not so sure about Oda doing anything on purpose. It was pretty obvious that Mashima's style on early Fairy Tail was awfullyn similar to Oda's but after that the similarities lessened. It would make sense that Mashima would do it, as One Piece has been so influential for over a decade now, but why would Oda copy Mashima?
Even though I'm not a One Piece fanboy far from it, I think there are considerably better shonen out there it would be strange for Oda to copy Mashima. Oda likes odd and creative settings for his manga, while Mashima, admittedly, doesn't even try to hide that he repeats situations. What I mean is, if you're going to copy some work of art, why would copy something that is completely generic?


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This game is pretty simple but is fun and a good way to learn a little something about your forum mates. It is basically the reverse of pen and paper social game, "Two Truths and a Lie". People often run out of 'truths' so reversing it is a good way to add to its forum longevity.
THE POSTER makes three 'presumably' true statements on the thread. THE FORUM MEMBERS then reply to the post with which of the three statements they believe is true. After all three possibilities have been suggested, THE POSTER says which of the three is accurate and the FORUM MEMBER who guess correctly posts the next three statements.
Fell free to make your statements as vanilla or creative as you wish.
a. I have taken the duty as mall Santa
b. I have served as mayor of my town
c. I own an electronics store
Mary takes A.
Bill takes B.
Jim takes C.
I HAVE TAKEN THE DUTY AS MALL SANTA, Mary is correct.
Mary then posts three statements.


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The 29-year-old outfielder went 2-for-5 in the River Cats' victory, in the process picking up the 999th and 1,000th Minor League hits of his 10-year career in professional baseball.
With two outs and Chris Carter standing on first in the sixth inning, Moss reached out and poked Tucson lefty Colt Hynes' fastball to right field for hit No. 1,000.
"Me and another guy, Wes Timmons, were both close to 1,000 coming in, so I knew that I was approaching it," said Moss. "It's one of those things where you'd rather have the hits in the big leagues, but it's still something you're proud of as an accomplishment. It obviously speaks a little bit to longevity and stuff like that, it's still nice."
Moss' milestone evening raised his average to .359 over 16 games with Sacramento and helped the River Cats improve to 15-6.
"When it's part of a win, you can be happy and kind of take it in a little bit better," he said. "It's still something cool to do, but at the same time, nothing's as good when you lose as it is when you win."
Moss, a veteran of parts of five Major League seasons and three different teams, has 160 hits to his name in the bigs. He said he'd like to add to that total, and wanted to keep things in perspective as he tries to work to earn his place on a Major League club once again.
"You just keep playing, doing what you do and let the good Lord lead you where he may," he said. "I'll end up where I end up. The amount of career hits isn't going to be something that gets you back to the big leagues. It's not one of those things where I look at it as something that could help me get back. You just keep playing and doing what you have to do."
Jermaine Mitchell picked up three hits, including a triple, and scored three times for Sacramento. No. 7 Oakland prospect Derek Norris went 2-for-4, adding a double and an RBI. Carter, Collin Cowgill and Adam Rosales all added two hits apiece.
Starting pitcher Graham Godfrey (1-0) put together a strong outing for his first win, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings.
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