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I manage the new product verification team for a small manufacturer of industrial automation equipment. We sell most of our products through partners who sell them as their own products. About six month ago, we had one of our partners come to us with an intermittent customer issue. The customer had one of our analog output (4-20mA) modules installed next to a relay module (made by our partner).
The analog module controlled the speed of a conveyor through an oven, and the relay module switched a contactor that controlled the heaters in the oven. The customer had installed a number of these systems at various locations with both AC and DC power to the heaters.
After installation, the systems worked very well, but after about a month, only on the AC-powered systems, one channel of the analog output would go to 0 mA, stopping the conveyor and burning a lot of product. After a power cycle, the system would work again, but with a decreasing failure interval. Our module had been redesigned recently and the older version was not showing the problem at all.
Our partner asked us to try to duplicate the problem with our own equipment. They had managed to duplicate it on one system, but could not on another. One of my test engineers worked with the design engineer for two months trying various loads and accelerated switching rates, but he could not recreate the failure. It appeared that either our module was not the source of the problem, or no one understood the conditions of the failure very well.
Our partner came back to us with more information on the system. They told us that they were able to demonstrate the failure regularly on two systems: one with a large contactor as a load, and another with a resistive load. They also had a third system with a resistive load that would not show the failure. While reading the new data, I noticed that the test system they had managed to duplicate it on had a step down transformer between the relay and the resistive load (local power was 220V and the load was designed for 110V). All of the systems that showed the failure were switching a large inductive load with the relay, while those that worked properly were switching a resistive load directly.
I set up a similar system with the relay switching AC to the largest coil I could find (a 10-pound reel of 18-gauge magnet wire, 210mH, 14Ohms) with the relay switching on and off as fast as the system could do it reliably. I figured that if I could grossly exaggerate what I thought was going on, I could duplicate the failure quickly. Within 20 minutes I had demonstrated the reported failure three times and seen two other failure modes as well, one of which was a complete module reset. I called the design engineer, and we started looking for the cause.


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DVD and Blu-ray players glossary
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
Click on a letter below to jump to that section of the glossary.
1080p is a high-definition video format with resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The "p" stands for progressive scan, which means that each video frame is transmitted as a whole in a single sweep. The main advantage of 1080p TVs is that they can display all high-definition video formats without downconverting, which sacrifices some picture detail.
See aspect ratio.
3-2 pulldown processing
A process which improves the look of film-based video when it is converted to progressive-scan. The frame rate for film is 24 frames per second (24 fps), and that's the way movies are stored on DVD. The frame rate for broadcast video in the U.S. is 30 frames per second (or more precisely, 60 fields per second).
So, one of the primary tasks of the MPEG decoder inside every DVD player is to take the 24 fps data stored on the DVD and convert it to 60-fields-per-second video for TV viewing. Since 24 doesn't divide evenly into 60, a process called "3-2 pulldown" is employed, where 3 video fields are created from the first film frame, then 2 fields from the next frame, then 3, then 2, 3-2-3-2-3-2, etc. The result is 60-fields-per-second interlaced-scan video, and that's the end of the story for non-progressive-scan DVD players.
Progressive-scan DVD players add an important additional step to create a better-looking picture — they generate a progressive-scan video signal through a process called de-interlacing (sometimes called "line-doubling"). The de-interlacer's first task is to look at the interlaced video signal as it leaves the MPEG decoder and determine whether its original source was 24-frame-per-second film or 30-frame-per-second video. The original frame rate determines the type of processing necessary to create an optimized progressive-scan signal.
Advanced de-interlacers detect 3-2 pulldown on film-based sources and apply 3-2 pulldown processing to create a 60-frame-per-second progressive-scan signal that maintains the original frame integrity, with no mixing of non-matching fields. This processing reduces jagged edges on still objects and moving angled lines, producing video with the naturally smooth look of film.
Other names for 3-2 pulldown processing include "3-2 pulldown detection," "3-2 pulldown compensation," and "reverse 3-2 pulldown."
3D Blu-ray discs
3D Blu-ray discs are encoded with two full-resolution 1080p images, one for your left eye and one for your right, creating a vivid, three-dimensional image that puts you in the middle of the action. In order to watch 3D movies, you'll need a 3D-ready Blu-ray player to read the disc, a TV that can display 3D video, as well as special 3D glasses for each viewer. You'll also need HDMI cables to connect all your 3D gear. If you plan on hooking your 3D Blu-ray player up to a receiver, then it will also need to be 3D-ready so that it can pass the higher-resolution 3D video signal on to your TV. For more info, check out our introduction to 3D TV.
See aspect ratio.
A type of widescreen display format commonly found on DVD movies. It is optimized for playback on a TV with 16:9 aspect ratio. On a standard TV, anamorphic material looks horizontally squeezed. Anamorphic DVDs are often labeled on their cases "enhanced for 16x9 televisions," "enhanced for widescreen televisions," "16x9 anamorphic," or "anamorphic widescreen."
An anamorphic widescreen DVD has significantly higher resolution than a letterboxed widescreen DVD. For example, for a film shot in the commonly used 1.85:1 aspect ratio, a letterboxed DVD presentation uses only 345 vertical scan lines (the remaining scan lines are taken up by the horizontal black bars above and below the image). That same film in anamorphic widescreen will use anywhere from 460 to the full 480 scan lines. See aspect ratio below for more information.
Aspect ratio
The shape of an image or display screen expressed as a width-to-height ratio. The NTSC television standard is the familiar squarish 4:3 (1.33:1), while anamorphic DVDs and high-definition TV broadcasts are in the wider 16:9 (1.78:1) shape. Most movies are made for the wide screen of a theater, and are originally displayed at the wider ratios of 1.85:1 or 2.35:1.
DVD's data storage capacity makes it possible to include multiple versions of a movie on a single disc. It's not unusual for a DVD disc to feature a Standard (4:3) version on one side and a Widescreen version on the other.
See our aspect ratio article for more information.
Interactive features found on some Blu-ray discs. While these features vary from disc to disc, they typically range from behind-the-scenes videos to additional bonus content and online games you can download via your broadband Internet connection. BD-Live-capable players include an Ethernet port, and must also support at least 1GB of flash memory for storing downloaded content. This memory can either be built into the player or achieved through the use of a removable device such as an SD™ memory card or USB thumb drive. Blu-ray players that support BD-Live are also known as Profile 2.0.
A signal that contains digital data in its undecoded state. An example is the signal that's fed through a DVD player's digital output(s), which carries Dolby Digital, DTS, or PCM signals.
Blu-ray Disc™
Blu-ray Disc is a high-definition disc format designed specifically for HDTVs. It offers a much greater storage capacity than DVD for a full high-def picture up to 1080p and more detailed sound. In February 2008, Blu-ray won a format war with a competing high-def disc format, HD DVD. See our article on Blu-ray for more information.
A feature found on some newer Blu-ray discs and players. It allows the player to play two different audio and video streams simultaneously, making it essentially the same as picture-in-picture. BonusView is often used for director's commentary. The player displays the movie in its original, full-screen form while also playing video commentary from the film director on a smaller, inset screen. Blu-ray players with this function are also called Final Standard Profile or Profile 1 v1.1.
Cable box control
Some DVD recorders can control major brands of cable boxes, for example, turning them on and switching them to the right station for scheduled recordings.
The color information portion of a video signal that describes an image's color shade and vividness.
Coaxial digital output
See digital output.
Component video
A video signal in which the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of the signal are processed separately. Component video signals provide greater color accuracy than S-video or composite signals.
|All current DVD players and TVs include 3-jack component video connections.
Why is component video superior to S-video? Where S-video separates the luminance and chrominance portions of the signal, component video goes a step further and splits the chrominance portion into two components. The benefits — improved color accuracy and less color bleeding — are especially noticeable on larger-screen TVs. And unlike S-video and composite video, component video can carry 720p and 1080i high-definition resolutions.
Note: If your Blu-ray player was manufactured in 2011 or beyond, you will only be able to watch 480p video through component video connections when you watch a Blu-ray disc. For high-definition video, you'll need to make an HDMI connection to your TV.
Composite video
A video signal in which the brightness and color portions of the signal are combined. Examples of composite video include standard VHS, laserdisc, and regular broadcast TV. A DVD player's yellow standard RCA-type video jack provides a composite video signal.
Copy protection
A system for preventing the unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted media like movies or music. The DVD format includes both digital and analog forms of copy protection. Blu-ray and upconverting DVD players have a form of digital copy protection known as HDCP.
Deep Color
A color resolution standard associated with high-definition TVs, Blu-ray players, and other video gear that include HDMI 1.3 connections. Deep Color supports 10-bit, 12-bit and 16-bit color bit depths, up from 8-bit, which is the current standard for consumer video. (Because video is based on three primary colors, you'll sometimes see Deep Color described as 30-bit, 36-bit and 48-bit.) A higher color bit depth enables finer gradations between different shades of the same color, for smoother gradients and reduced color banding. Deep Color gives Blu-ray players the potential to display billions rather than millions of colors, but in order to see that improvement, the entire video production chain has to use it (camera, editing, format, player, display).
The process of converting an interlaced-scan video signal (where each frame is split into two sequential fields) to a progressive-scan signal (where each frame remains whole). De-interlacers are found in progressive-scan DVD players and digital TVs. More advanced de-interlacers include a feature called 3-2 pulldown processing. With TVs, de-interlacing is sometimes referred to as "line-doubling."
Digital output
All Blu-ray and DVD players include at least one digital audio output for sending the Dolby Digital or DTS bitstream to a compatible decoder (which is usually built into an A/V receiver). Digital data transfer offers extremely wide bandwidth, immunity to RF interference, and an easy one-cable connection.
The three most common types of digital output are HDMI, coaxial, and optical. HDMI, the most popular of the three, is the only connection that will allow a Blu-ray player to send the high-resolution audio formats on Blu-ray discs to a compatible receiver. Although a coaxial digital jack looks like a standard RCA-type audio jack, both coaxial and optical jacks require special cables to connect to the digital input of your Dolby Digital/DTS-equipped receiver.
Digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
An electronic circuit that converts a series of digital "words" into a continuous analog signal. DVD players include separate DACs for audio and video.
Disc capacity
The number of discs a DVD player or changer can hold.
A technology that compresses a video file to a fraction of its original size for easy storage and sharing, just as MP3 does for music files. Some DVD and Blu-ray players can play DivX files recorded to CDs or DVDs.
DLNA, short for Digital Living Network Alliance, is a collaboration among more than 200 companies, including Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Microsoft, Cisco, Denon and Yamaha. Their goal is to create products that connect to each other across your home network, regardless of manufacturer, so you can easily enjoy your digital and online content in any room.
While all DLNA-compliant devices are essentially guaranteed to work together, they may not be able to share all types of media. For example, a DLNA-certified Blu-ray player may be able to display digital photos from a DLNA-certified media server, but not videos. See our article on streaming music, photos and videos from your computer to your TV for more info.
Dolby® Digital
Dolby Digital is normally associated with 5.1-channel surround sound. It is referred to as a 5.1-channel system because it offers five full-bandwidth channels (including true stereo surrounds), plus a "low frequency effects" subwoofer channel. Though this channel configuration is common, it is only one of several possible variations — a "Dolby Digital" soundtrack can mean anything from 1 to 5.1 channels.
If you're specifically looking for titles with a 5.1 soundtrack, you should carefully read each DVD's packaging. Relatively few older movies with stereo or mono soundtracks will be remastered with 5.1-channel surround for DVD.
Unless your DVD player has its own built-in Dolby Digital decoder, you'll need to connect your player to a receiver via optical or coaxial digital audio, or via HDMI. Your receiver will decode the Dolby Digital signal, and transform it into multichannel sound.
You can also find newer versions of Dolby Digital on some Blu-ray Discs. Dolby Digital Plus can provide up to 7.1 channels of audio. It uses less compression than Dolby Digital, delivering greater sonic detail. Dolby TrueHD also supports soundtracks up to 7.1-channels, and uses "lossless" compression for the closest possible reproduction of the studio's original master. Dolby Atmos® offers a new level of immersion, using overhead speakers to create an almost "3D" sound field.
You'll need to connect your Blu-ray player to a compatible receiver via HDMI or a multichannel analog connection to take advantage of these new formats. (See our article on Blu-ray players for more information.) Our surround sound formats article includes more info on the latest varieties of Dolby Digital and DTS.
Downmixed audio
If you don't have a Dolby Digital system, you can still enjoy excellent Dolby Surround (formerly "Pro Logic®") or stereo sound. All DVD players have the ability to take a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital soundtrack and "downmix" it to two channels, which can then be sent to a stereo TV, a stereo receiver, or to an A/V receiver with Dolby Surround decoding.
DTS® (Digital Theater Systems)
DTS is a well-established multichannel audio format in movie theaters, but not as common in home theater applications. Like Dolby Digital, DTS is primarily a 5.1-channel format. The compression scheme used in DTS "throws away" significantly less audio data than Dolby Digital, so theoretically it should sound better, but so far, side-by-side comparisons have been inconclusive.
Nearly all new DVD players and A/V receivers include DTS decoding. Still, the number and availability of DVD titles with DTS soundtracks remains somewhat limited.
Some high-definition Blu-ray discs use newer versions of DTS — DTS-HD™ (also known as "DTS-HD High Resolution") and DTS-HD Master Audio. Like Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD uses less compression than its DVD counterpart for a more accurate reproduction of a movie's soundtrack. DTS-HD Master Audio uses "lossless" compression for the closest possible reproduction of the movie studio's original master. See our article on understanding surround sound formats for more information.
Some Blu-ray players also feature a type of decoding called DTS-HD Master Audio Essential. This isn't actually a surround sound format, meaning you won't find any Blu-ray discs that say they have DTS-HD Master Audio Essential soundtracks. Rather, it refers to the capabilities of the player. Generally, Blu-ray players that can decode DTS-HD Master Audio can also decode all "lesser" varieties of DTS, including DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, and DTS Neo:6. On the other hand, Blu-ray players with Essential decoding can only decode "regular" DTS, DTS-HD High Resolution, and DTS-HD Master Audio — they cannot decode DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, and DTS Neo:6 soundtracks.
However, this shouldn't be a major issue for two reasons. First, even though Blu-ray players with DTS-HD Master Audio Essential cannot decode DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, or DTS Neo:6, they can still output them as bitstreams, so you won't lose anything if your receiver can decode them. Second, there are currently no Blu-ray discs with DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, or DTS Neo:6 soundtracks. Be advised that some DVDs have them, so you may want to pay close attention to a Blu-ray player's sound capabilities if you also plan on using it to watch DVDs.
A DualDisc is a two-sided disc that combines audio on one side with a DVD on the other side. The audio side carries stereo music, while the DVD side usually offers a multichannel version in Dolby Digital, DTS, or DVD-Audio in addition to video footage. Extras can include lyrics, documentaries, interviews, photo galleries, and more.
A DualDisc will probably play in most CD or DVD players. However, since DualDisc is slightly thicker than regular CDs, it may get stuck in some slot-loading players, or the DVD side may get scratched. A number of consumer electronics manufacturers have posted advisories regarding these issues, including Denon, JVC, Onkyo, Sony, and Toshiba.
Keep in mind, if the DualDisc has DVD-Audio content on the DVD side, you'll need a DVD-Audio-capable player in order to listen to that portion of the disc. Even if you don't have a DVD-Audio player, most discs will have a multichannel Dolby Digital mix in addition to DVD-Audio, so that they can still be played in a regular DVD player.
DVD-Audio (DVD-A)
A music-oriented DVD format that can carry up to 6 channels of 96kHz/24-bit audio (music for 5.1-channel home theater systems), or 2 channels of ultra high-resolution 192kHz/24-bit audio. Most DVD-Audio discs also carry lower-resolution Dolby Digital or stereo soundtracks for playback on DVD players that lack DVD-Audio decoders. A DVD-Audio disc may also contain liner notes, lyrics, menus, and still pictures that display on your TV.
See recordable DVD.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
A multi-pin computer-style output included on a few DVD players. DVI provides an "upconverted" or upgraded DVD video signal to HD-compatible TVs with a compatible connector. This digital video signal is encrypted with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) to prevent recording.
DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
Also known as a personal video recorder (PVR) or hard disk video recorder. DVRs store recordings on a large hard drive, and most let you pause and replay live television. When used with an electronic program guide service, you can find and record shows automatically.
Electronic program guide (EPG)
Found on some DVD recorders, an EPG provides an on-screen listing of available channels and program data for an extended time period, usually 1-2 weeks. Examples of program guides include subscription services like TiVo® and free guides like TV Guide On Screen®.
In interlaced-scan video, each complete frame is split into 2 sequential fields, each of which contains half the scanning lines of the frame. One field contains the odd scanning lines, and the other field the even lines.
A complete, individual picture in a movie film. In a video signal, a frame contains all of the picture's scanning lines.
Frame rate
The rate at which frames are displayed. The frame rate for movies is 24 frames per second (24 fps). In regular NTSC video, the frame rate is 30 fps.
Hard disk video recorder
See DVR.
Hard drive size
The amount of recording space on a digital video recorder's (DVR) hard drive, generally given in GB (gigabytes). A rough rule of thumb is that 1GB = 1 hour of programming, with the approximate quality of a VHS recording. You can fit more video on the hard drive by lowering the recording quality. If you use a higher recording quality, you'll be able to fit less video.
HDCD® (High Definition Compatible Digital)
An enhanced method of audio recording for CDs developed by Pacific Microsonics. HDCD claims to be able to capture 20-bit resolution. Although the HDCD-enhanced information can only be heard using a DVD or CD player with built-in HDCD decoding, HDCD discs are still playable on regular DVD and CD players.
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)
HDCP encryption is used with high-resolution signals over DVI and HDMI connections to prevent unauthorized duplication of copyrighted material.
Like Blu-ray, the HD DVD format offers full HD video and improved surround sound. Since HD DVD lost the high-def disc format war, your main choice for high-def disc playback will be a Blu-ray player. For more information, check out our article about Blu-ray.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
Similar to DVI (but using much smaller connectors), the multi-pin HDMI interface transfers uncompressed digital video with HDCP copy protection and multichannel audio. Using an adapter, HDMI is backward-compatible with most current DVI connections. HDMI connectors are found on upconverting DVD players, Blu-ray players, A/V receivers, and TVs. HDMI can support all high-definition resolutions up to and including 1080p. For more information, read our article on the ins and outs of HDMI.
Interlaced scan
DVDs use 480 lines to make up a frame (picture). The frame is made up of two fields: The first field has 240 odd lines (1,3,5...) and the second field has 240 even lines (2,4,6...). The odd lines are scanned (drawn on the screen) in 1/60th of a second, and the even lines follow in the next 1/60th of a second. This presents an entire frame/picture of 525 lines in 1/30th of a second. See also progressive scan.
Blu-ray players labeled "Internet-ready" can connect to your home network to access online content. For example, a growing number of Internet-ready players let you play movies from services like Netflix®, BlockBuster™, or Amazon Video On Demand™. Keep in mind that you won't be able to browse the Internet the way you do on your computer — you'll only be able to access specific sites and information based on software included in your player. Different Blu-ray player makers provide access to different Internet sites and services, and sometimes these capabilities can be enhanced by firmware updates that the manufacturer provides. Besides movie services, common examples include weather, news, social media updates, and sports scores.
A few Blu-ray players have Wi-Fi® capability, but most players require a wired Ethernet connection. You can still get a wireless connection with many of those players by adding an optional USB Wi-Fi adapter. These adapters are usually brand-specific, so shop accordingly.
IR blaster
A device that enables a DVD recorder or DVR to control your cable box or satellite receiver by sending signals that mimic those of a remote control. An IR blaster, or flasher, looks like a regular cable with two distinctly different ends. One end plugs into the back of a compatible DVD recorder or DVR. The other end is the IR emitter. It sits in front of the cable box/satellite receiver's IR sensor, which is located on the front-panel. IR blasters make for easier unattended timer recordings, since the DVD recorder/DVR can tune the set-top box to the right channel at the right time.
JPEG is a way to encode full-color digital images so that they're smaller and easier to store and transfer. Its compression takes advantage of the human eye's inability to see minute color changes by removing portions of data from the original picture file. Many DVD players, DVD recorders, and Blu-ray players can read JPEG files burned to a CD, and display them on a TV.
The scaling of a widescreen image to fit a standard 4:3 aspect ratio TV screen by shrinking the image so that the width fits exactly. The horizontal black bars that appear above and below the image are actually recorded with the picture, so some of the picture's vertical resolution is lost when you view it.
The brightness component of a color video signal. Determines the level of picture detail.
MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing)
A lossless compression technique (used on DVD-Audio discs) that removes redundancy from PCM audio signals. MLP achieves a compression ratio of about 2:1 while allowing the signal to be perfectly re-created by an MLP decoder.
The most popular format for storing and transferring music. Like WMA, MP3 compresses audio files for easier storage. Most newer DVD and Blu-ray players can read MP3 files burned to a CD. For more info on this topic, see our article on the MP3 format.
Moving Picture Experts Group (or MPEG) is a digital video signal compression standard used for DVD. This adaptive, variable bitrate process is able to allocate more bits for complex scenes involving a lot of motion, while minimizing the bits in static scenes. The average data rate for DVD is 3.5 Mbps (million bits/second).
Multi-language capability
DVD and Blu-ray Disc are designed to make it easier for movies to be distributed in multiple languages. A single disc can contain soundtracks in up to 8 different languages. In addition to multilingual dialogue, Blu-ray and DVD discs also have space for subtitles in up to 32 languages.
Optical digital output
See digital output.
A technique for making a widescreen movie fit a standard TV's 4:3 aspect ratio by showing only selected portions of the original image. This is the standard practice on VHS videos ("formatted to fit your screen"), but is less common on DVDs.
Parental lockout
A small percentage of DVD movies include variable ratings capability. According to the movie rating level you select, the player will skip over certain scenes, playing the version that you choose from those available on the disc.
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
Uncompressed digital audio. PCM is the standard audio format for CDs and Blu-ray Disc. Digital outputs on DVD players are often labeled "Bitstream/PCM" because they can send the Dolby Digital or DTS bitstream from a DVD, or the PCM bitstream from a CD.
Perceptual coding
A type of data compression used in recent digital audio and video formats. Audio examples include Dolby Digital and MP3. The best example of video compression is MPEG2, which is used for DVD and most digital satellite TV. These forms of data compression are based on sophisticated research into how we perceive sounds and images.
Perceptual coding omits "imperceptible" sound and picture data which is redundant or which is judged to be masked by similar information. In the case of DVD, by "throwing away" a lot of redundant and unnecessary information, it's possible to fit multiple versions of a movie on a single 5-inch disc.
Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
See DVR.
Profile 1.0
A term used to describe any Blu-ray player initially released before November 1, 2007. Unlike newer models, these players do not have BonusView (Profile 1.1) or BD-Live (Profile 2.0) capabilities. New Blu-ray players released after November 1, 2007 needed to be at least Profile 1 Version 1.1. However, this only applies to players initially released after that date. If you purchased a player that first came out before the cutoff date, it will still be Version 1.0, even if your particular player was manufactured later. In other words, running changes were not made to older players that are still in production to upgrade them to the new profile.
Profile 1.1
See BonusView.
Profile 2.0
See BD-Live.
Progressive scan
A feature on all current DVD players, as well as many older models. Instead of splitting each video frame into two sequential fields like interlaced scan, progressive scan displays the entire frame in a single sweep. So, where an interlaced signal from a DVD player (480i) displays 30 frames (60 fields) per second, a progressive-scan signal (480p) displays 60 full frames per second. Progressive-scan picture quality is more filmlike, with more fine detail and less flicker. Watching progressive-scan signals requires a compatible digital TV (EDTV, HDTV-ready, or full HDTV). To ensure that progressive-scan players are still compatible with analog TVs, they have selectable outputs for interlaced or progressive signals. Also see interlaced scan.
|Interlaced scan splits the image into two fields, alternating between the even (2,4,6...) and odd (1,3,5...) scan lines every 1/60th second, and effectively displaying a full frame every 1/30th second.
|Progressive scan, on the other hand, displays all the lines at once (1,2,3,4...), displaying a full frame every 1/60th second.
Recordable DVD
There are three types of recordable-DVDs, including DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, and DVD+R/RW, each of which is backed by various electronics and computer companies. Some of these formats use discs that can only be recorded once; others use discs that can be erased and re-recorded.
- Write-once: DVD-R, DVD+R
- Rewriteable: DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
For more details on recordable DVD, see our DVD Recorders article.
Region codes
The movie industry insisted that the DVD and Blu-ray standards include codes which would limit playback to a specified geographical region. This was done because theater and home video releases of movies do not occur simultaneously worldwide. For example, a movie may be released on video in the U.S. just as it's first appearing in theaters in Europe.
DVD and Blu-ray players have a built-in region code lockout feature, while the discs may or may not contain a code (region codes are optional on software). A player will be unable to play a disc that has a different region code. Discs may contain codes for more than one region, which allows them to be played on any player in any country. The DVD region code for USA/Canada is "1". For Blu-ray, the United States is part of Region "A." Note: Many recent DVDs will not play in modified "code-free" DVD players.
Circuitry that converts a video signal to a resolution other than its original format. Many DVD players — typically those that include a DVI or HDMI input — are able to "upconvert" the DVD signal to a higher resolution, such as 720p or 1080i for displaying on an HD-compatible TV. Blu-ray players have similar capabilities. Also see video upconversion.
Signal-to-Noise ratio (video)
This ratio is a measure of the content portion of the video signal in relation to the noise in the signal. As with audio, video signal-to-noise is measured in decibels (dB). The way the decibel scale works, if component A has a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 20 dB and component B has a S/N ratio of 30 dB, component B will have ten times less noise in the signal than component A.
Basically, a S/N ratio tells you how "clean" a video signal is. Because of the way they process signals, digital video formats like DVD and digital satellite TV are extremely clean. A standard VHS VCR may have a S/N spec in the low 40s; a laserdisc player, the low 50s. DVD is rated to deliver a video S/N ratio of 65 dB.
Super Audio CD (SACD)
A high-resolution digital audio format developed by Sony and Philips. SACDs sound more detailed than standard CDs, with greater dynamic range. All SACDs contain a high-resolution stereo mix; many also contain a high-resolution surround mix, with up to 6 independent channels. See our article on SACD and DVD-Audio for more information.
This video connection carries the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of the video signal in separate streams, for improved color accuracy and reduced distortion. S-video provides a sharper picture than composite video, but is not as good as component video.
A subscription service that popularized DVRs. Includes a 14-day program guide, WishList™ (search and record), Season Pass™ (record whole seasons of a program), and more.
TiVo Series2™
The second generation of TiVo boxes, first available in 2002. Series2 boxes support free Home Media networking features. Also, Series2 boxes that don't have a built-in DVD recorder support TiVoToGo™, which lets you save your TV recordings to your desktop or laptop PC.
TV Guide On Screen interactive program guide
A free service included with the purchase of some digital video recorders (DVRs), DVD recorders, and TVs. Includes an 8-day program guide, handy searching functions, and smart recording features.
Video upconversion
A feature found on most newer DVD players and pretty much all Blu-ray players. "Upconversion" is the term used to describe the conversion of a lower image resolution to a higher one. In order to achieve that higher resolution, the player fills in additional image data by assessing existing pixels and intelligently predicting what the surrounding pixels should look like.
Upconversion is a great feature for owners of HDTVs who want to watch their DVDs at a higher resolution that more closely matches the capabilities of their TV. Upconverted video is typically only available via a digital connection like HDMI. Though the quality of upconverted signals can vary from model to model, upconversion generally makes for a better picture.
WMA stands for Windows® Media Audio. Like MP3, WMA compresses audio files for easier storage. Some DVD players and recorders, as well as a handful of Blu-ray players, can read WMA files burned to a CD.
A high-definition video color space supported by some Blu-ray players and HDTVs (generally models with HDMI v1.3 inputs). The x.v.Color standard supports 1.8 times as many colors as the digital ATSC broadcast standard. There are currently no broadcast or packaged consumer high-def sources that support it, but you can find it on some camcorders. If Blu-ray discs encoded with x.v.Color become available in the future, you'll be able to see a wider range of colors as long as your Blu-ray player and HDTV also support it.
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20 Delicious Soup Recipes That Are Perfect for Fall Gallery
During the summer months, the food that people turn to tends to be light and refreshing, requiring minimal effort in the kitchen. Salads that make the most of fresh produce and meals that involve simply throwing things on the grill tend to be the norm on those warm summer nights.
But as the weather begins to cool, the humidity of the air drops and the constant hum of air conditioners subsides, those who love sweaters, warm drinks and cool autumn nights rejoice.
With the heat waves of summer gone, the cooler autumn weather means that those who have been itching to get back in the kitchen can finally spend time at the stove without melting. What better way to kick off the season than with big batches of soup that can be whipped up in a flash or left to cook for hours. From classics like creamy pumpkin, tomato and French onion soup with croutons and Gruyère to Indian-spiced black bean, Thai vegetable and Portuguese caldo verde soup, any and all of these soups will keep things cozy and delicious for fall. Read on to discover 20 delicious soup recipes for fall!istockphoto.com
Authentic Thai Vegetable Soup
On chilly nights this soup will warm you right up with wonderful Thai flavors. Galangal, chile pepper and lemongrass will definitely transport you to a warmer place when the weather is wonderfully grey.
For the Authentic Thai Vegetable Soup recipe, click here.delishplan.com.
Broccoli Spinach Soup
Top this soup with a poached egg or perhaps some pan-fried tofu for a light and satisfying meal. Bonus points if you serve this soup with lots of buttery toast.
For the Broccoli Spinach Soup recipe, click here.Ciao Fiorentina
Caldo Verde Soup
Here is a simple recipe for a traditional Portugese caldo verde, a potato and kale soup that is silky, elegant, and full of fantastic flavor.
For the Caldo Verde Soup recipe, click here.
Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
This chicken and rice soup is an easy and delicious soup to make on any day of the week!
For the Chicken and Brown Rice Soup recipe, click here.Whole Foods Market
Coconut Curried Hominy Soup
Coconut milk makes this soup creamy, silky and so satisfying. You will definitely be going back for a second bowl!
For the Coconut Curried Hominy Soup recipe, click here.
George Duran
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
Top this smooth pumpkin soup with crunchy, toasted nuts and a swirl of cream for a decadent bowlful. To make things even better, you can turn to your slow cooker to make this recipe, which is always useful during the school year!
For the Creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dumplings
There's nothing like a comforting bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich. Switch up this classic American dish by turning the sandwiches into little dumplings. Part crouton, part sandwich, the grilled cheese dumplings help add texture and nostalgia to traditional tomato soup.
For the Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dumplings recipe, click here.Adam Richman
Curried Sweet Potato and Apple Soup
You may have heard of pumpkin and apple soup, but have you ever tried sweet potato and apple soup? This recipe adds some curry powder into the mix for a soup that is full of flavor in every spoonful!
For the Curried Sweet Potato and Apple Soup recipe, click here.Sweet Potato Commission
Hearty Lentil and Sausage Soup
This robust one-pot dinner packs in lentils, sausage and plenty of vegetables, including mushrooms, spinach, onions and garlic. A loaf of crusty bread is the only accompaniment you need for a complete meal.
For the Hearty Lentil and Sausage Soup recipe, click here.Whole Foods Market
Indian-Spiced Tomato and Black Bean Soup
Hearty black beans, canned tomatoes and an array of wonderful spices make this soup warming, tasty and perfect for the cooler months.
For the Indian-Spiced Tomato and Black Bean Soup recipe, click here.Emily Jacobs
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
This chicken tortilla soup is actually a keto-compliant recipe that skips the actual tortillas without sacrificing flavor and can be made incredibly quickly using an Instant Pot or other multi-cooker.
For the Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe, click here.Helene Dujardin
Kale, Tomato, and Vegetable Soup
A jar of pasta sauce is a quick and easy way to get all the flavors of a low-and-slow-simmering pot of soup in half the time.
For the Kale, Tomato, and Vegetable Soup recipe, click here.Prego Farmers' Market
Onion Soup With Bacon, Winter Herbs, and Gruyère
When the weather turns, what's better than a hot bowl of French onion soup? As well as the required croutons and melted Gruyère, this recipe features a generous smattering of bacon.
For the Onion Soup With Bacon, Winter Herbs, and Gruyère recipe, click here.Ray Kachatorian
Potato, Cheddar, and Bacon Soup
This hearty soup tastes just like a loaded potato complete with cheddar cheese and bacon. What better way to celebrate the arrival of soup season?
For the Potato, Cheddar, and Bacon Soup recipe, click here.Maryse Chevriere
Simple Chicken Soup
There's nothing more restorative than a giant bowl of chicken soup, right? This recipe is straightforward and perfect for any day of the week if you have a cold or even if you're the epitome of good health.
For the Simple Chicken Soup recipe, click here.istockphoto.com
Slow Cooker Ham and Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Set and forget this excellent slow-cooker ham and black-eyed pea soup and rest assured that dinner that night will be delicious!
For the Slow Cooker Ham and Blackeye Pea Soup recipe, click here.Aggie's Kitchen
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken and Orzo Soup
This healthy, flavorful soup is loaded with tons of fresh, nutritious ingredients like spinach, carrots, celery, and onion and simmers in a slow cooker while you're away at work - so it tastes like it cooked all day, because it did.
For the Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken and Orzo Soup recipe, click here.istockphoto.com
Tomato and Green Lentil Noodle Soup With Croutons
If you're looking for a soup that is a little bit different and full of incredible flavors, this is the soup for you! The hand-rolled noodles are absolutely delicious, but you can substitute orecchiette if you don't feel like making your own dough.
For the Tomato and Green Lentil Noodle Soup With Croutons recipe, click here.David Hagerman
Tortilla Soup
While a few additional steps are needed for this soup, the results are well worth it. Roasted tomatoes and garlic, a spicy chile puree, and a tender braised chicken make this tortilla soup the perfect way to start a meal.
For the Tortilla Soup recipe, click here.Cooking Light
Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
Who doesn't love a bowlful of noodles? This traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup will warm body and soul during the cooling fall months.
For the Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup recipe, click here.Michaol Fountoulakis
Yam and Peanut Soup
Try this yam and peanut soup, inspired by African cuisine and full of fantastic spices. With its silky texture and uniquely delicious flavor, this soup is definitely one of 50 fall recipes we cant wait to make!
For the Yam and Peanut Soup recipe, click here.
More from the Daily Meal:
30 Slow-Cooker Recipes That Aren't Soup or Stew
Signs You're Obsessed With Fall
The Best Soup in Every State
27 Comforting Casseroles You'll Want to Make This Fall
30 Fabulous Pasta Dishes for Fall RecipesDitte Isager


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10 Days With iOS 7
I'm sure you've all read review-after-review of Apple's latest iteration of its mobile operating system - iOS 7, and many of you will have already played around with it extensively.
Given these two points, this is not a review, nor an detailed overview. These are simply my initial thoughts of iOS 7 on an iPhone 5 in no particular order.
The refreshed Lock Screen is impressive. I'm currently using it with one of my old 'Desktop Friday' wallpapers which I've had as the background on my Mac for the past 5+ years.
Speaking of the Lock Screen, it took me a couple of days to realise you can slide to unlock anywhere on the screen, not just on the pulsing text. This seems a little strange to me.
Newsstand still can't be deleted, however it can finally be hidden in a folder.
Notification Centre's Today view is outstanding. I can't wait to see what third-party developers bring to this screen in future releases. Another tidbit I picked up on is the fact you can navigate between the Today, All, and Missed tabs by swiping diagonally rather than tap on the icons.
I love the new auto-update feature on the App Store. I was particularly happy to see an option to only perform these updates when connected to a Wi-Fi network to save 3G (or LTE) data.
I use my iPhone at two different brightness levels - maximum and minimum. I switch to the lowest brightness setting in just two circumstances. When I'm getting into bed at night, and when I'm running low on battery. No longer do I have to waste time delving levels deep into the Settings app to make this adjustment.
I love having quick access to the flashlight in Control Centre. This has allowed me to delete my prior go to flashlight app 'Light' and stop spending 99c over and over on each new flashlight app that hits the App Store.
I wish the iPhone was aware of your location and would automatically switch off things such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth depending on whether you're on-the-go, at work, or at home.
The fade-in/fade-out animation when locking/unlocking the phone feels awfully slow. It looks great, however I feel this animation needs to be cut in half (or sped up to 200%). In some instances it almost makes a modern iPhone 5 feel sluggish.


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Our FAQ section is updated in last few days with new howtos:
- Linux Find Out CPU Architecture Information
- Gnome Network Manager VPN Tab Disabled ( Greyed out )
- Gnome Volume Control: Disabled Sound Themes
- Debian Linux (Squeeze) Install Firefox 4
- UNIX: Find Out the Server Model
- Linux / UNIX: Run Command a Number of Times In a Row
- Linux: TMOUT To Automatically Log Users Out
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- RHEL 6: semanage SELinux Command Not Found
- HowTo: UNIX Set Date and Time Command
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Home > Offers to Sell > Toys & Baby Supplies > Toys > Inflatable Toys
Hot selling PVC inflatable bouncer / inflatable bounce house / bouncy castl
1 23 years manufacturer
Minimum Order: 1 pieces
SOURCE: Import-Export Bulletin Board (http://www.imexbb.com/)
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- Yield
- Makes 8 servings
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups quinoa, rinsed well, drained
- 2 tablespoons dried currants
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into small cubes
- 2 medium zucchini, trimmed, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon Hungarian sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in paprika and cinnamon. Add quinoa to skillet; toss to blend. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to baking dish. Cover and chill. Rewarm, covered, in 350°F oven about 15 minutes. Mix in cilantro and serve.
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories240
- Carbohydrates33 g(11%)
- Fat10 g(15%)
- Protein7 g(14%)
- Saturated Fat1 g(6%)
- Sodium168 mg(7%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
- Fiber5 g(18%)
- Monounsaturated Fat6 g


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The Top 5 Tech Gadgets to Add to your Holiday Wish List in 2018
PDFelement posted a blog entry in PDFelement BlogIt's December and you know what that means – Christmas is just around the corner! It's about time you start working on a wish list, and we've got the perfect suggestions for on-the-go business professionals! Are you a gadget-lover? Looking for the latest in tech items to bring more life into the office? Why not check out some of the hottest new tech gadgets from 2018. Let's get started! 1. Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew If you are a coffee addict like I am, you will fully appreciate the convenience of this WiFi coffee machine! Even before you step foot in the office, you can start the brewing process by using the WeMo App through your phone or mobile device. This means there will be a fresh pot of coffee ready and waiting for you as soon as you arrive. Is there anything better than that? You can also remotely adjust the timer or set up reminders, and the brewing process is faster due to Optimal Brew Technology. Plus, there is a specific setting for grabbing a quick cup while the pot is still brewing – Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause, making for the ultimateconvenience. Be sure to put this on your list if coffee is what gets you through the work day! 2. TrekDesk Walking & Standing Desk for Treadmill Finding it hard to fit an exercise routine into your busy work schedule? This standing deskwork station attaches to a treadmill, letting you take care of getting your muscles moving WHILE working. After all, the American Heart Association has recently suggested that sitting all day at your desk puts you at much higher risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke. Yikes! Luckily, this device attaches to almost any type of treadmill, and includes a manuscript holder, three-level file folder, and a telephone/headset stand. It also includes cup holders and can adjust to a variety of heights and weights. Get healthy in 2019 and add this item to your list! 3. Ipevo IW2 Wireless Interactive Whiteboard System Do you work remotely, or with coworkers from other offices across the globe? Sometimes, technology can get in the way, with meetings being held up due to technical issues or glitches. However, this cloud-based technology makes it much easier. The Ipevo Wireless Whiteboard lets you turn an existing whiteboard into a massive interactive whiteboard screen that lets you collaborate easily with others during brainstorming meetings or training sessions.This is a must-have item if collaboration is a big part of your job, so add it to the list! 4. WiFi Scanner Wand: Portable Document and Photo Scanner As we at PDFelement know, working with scanned PDF files has become increasingly common for many in the business world. So, why not invest in an item that will make scanning a file even more effortless? That's where the WiFi Scanner Wand comes in. It automatically scans a file to JPEG or PDF format, and can connect to any WiFi enabled device to download the file wirelessly. It also enables you to store your image files on a MicroSD card if you'd like. Add this to the list for the ultimate scanning convenience. While you're at it, throw PDFelement on the list as well! 5. PNY 512GB Elite MicroSD card Speaking of storing files on a MicroSD card, why not check out the PNY 512GB Elite MicroSD card. This card has a rated reading speed of up to 90MBps and can store over 80 hours of full HD video content and up to 100,000 pictures. It is compatible with smartphones, tablets, cameras, drones, and more. It comes with a lifetime warranty and an adapter so that it can be used on DSLR and MIL cameras. If you want to dramatically increase storage space on your smartphone, this is the right gadget for you. And there you have our top 5 picks for must-have tech gadgets in 2018! We'd love to know your top picks as well! Let us know in the comments below.


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On April 24 and 25, students of Denise Frost participated in the Utah Music Teacher's AIM program. AIM stands for Achievement In Music.
Students are required to perform two memorized pieces, and are tested in Technique, Ear Training, Theory, Sight Reading, and prepare a Creative Musicianship project.
These students did a fabulous job, with all composite scores in the 95th percentile or higher! Congratulations to each student (and their parents!) for a job well done.


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Shoes may not be the biggest choices in life, but if you run, they should definitely rank pretty high on your "most important" list. Running in shoes that make your feet achy and you risk injury.
There are several factors that you should consider before you put on your running shoes. One of the biggest things you have to ask yourself is which is more valuable? Is it worth more to save money on your shoe purchase or to save money on doctor bills? That pair of running shoes on the discount rack may look like the best choice, but if you put it on and it's not comfortable you could risk trouble with your feet, ankles, knees and hips by running in them.
Next is where it gets complicated. You need to look at other tennis shoes you have worn over time in order to see where the wear shows up the most on them. If most of the wear is toward the inside of your shoes you need running shoes that will even it out because you overpronate. If the wear is on the outside, you need a more neutral cushioned running shoe because you under pronate. Neutral strides will need stability based shoes because you don't wear any one area of your shoe more than the other.
You need to consider your arch type next and after that take run to see if you can figure out how your foot lands against the ground. Does the outside of your heel strike first and then roll in hard toward your arch? If so you unquestionably need a shoe for stability. If your foot strikes smoothly against the ground, you need a neutral shoe. If your foot lands on the outside and it doesn't roll toward the inside at all you will also want to consider a neutral shoe.
Beyond all this, the shoe should fit your foot snugly but not be tight on any part of your foot. Choose a size that gives you room to press your thumb above the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Happy feet will make your running experience much more enjoyable, and if you don't find that perfect shoe the first time, you may need to try again.


text: For those of you heading over to the Javitz Center in New York City this weekend for Comic Con, we present this little game. Print it out and take it with you. Cross off the boxes as you spot the offenders. Our guess is that within minutes, you'll be yelling "Bingo!"


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Current techniques for detecting MRSA can take a full day
New MRSA bacteria test developed by Edinburgh University scientists
It works by taking swabs from a wound or sores, which are then analysed using a strip with electrical sensors that can detect MRSA.
It is hoped the tests will allow almost immediate detection of the bacteria.
This would allow patients to be given more effective drugs straight away.
The swab samples are currently processed in the laboratory to increase the amount of bacteria present before they are tested with the strips.
But the researchers hope to avoid the need for this in the future by improving the strip's sensitivity in order to allow the tests to be used in GP practices and people's homes.
Laboratory tests to confirm whether MRSA is present in a wound can take a full day using conventional techniques.
The new test was developed using swabs from diabetic foot ulcers taken from patients attending NHS Lothian's Diabetic Foot Clinic at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Detection of MRSA in these patients is important to prevent the spread of infection, which can lead to the amputation of limbs and increase the risk of mortality.
Dr Till Bachman, from the University of Edinburgh's Division of Pathway Medicine, will present the research behind the test at the Advances in Biodetection and Biosensors conference in the city on Thursday.
He said: "Current tests for MRSA tend to be expensive and not very fast. By developing a rapid and cost-effective test, we would know what kind of infection is present straight away, which will improve the chance of success in treating it."
Edinburgh scientists are using similar technology to monitor signals that bacteria send to each other to spread infections, and chemicals that patients produce that indicate the wound's response to the infecting bacteria.
Understanding why bacteria release certain molecules as part of this process will help scientists identify the start of an infection and so treat it promptly.
Read More : BBC


text: Perfect for motorcycle tourer - full frame DSLR shooter 5 This is a great bag that I have used for a number of years on many cross country motorcycle trips. I can take my DSLR and up to 3 lenses with this bag on multi-week rides crossing the country capturing Americana in a small secure (sling/padding) compact case that takes up less than 1/2 of one of my saddle bags. Since I have to pack light I did have to settle on what I could carry on this bag which is a full frame Nikon DSLR with a Nikkor 28-300mm & 17:35mm lens & occasionally a small prime lens. The bag fits my accessories such as spare battery, lens brush, cloth, charger. For me & my specific needs, this bag is perfect. Greg Westminster, Colorado 2019-06-05


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Student or Learner
White Teeth is categorized as a black British novel and has even been qualified by some critics as the first black British novel of the millennium1 since it was published in 2000. However, Smith refuses such classification, and harshly condemns labelling. Kureishi, too, has often criticised labelling and categorisation.
Some of the themes that their novels raise are related to those of the early works by Black and Asian postcolonial writers, such as feelings of displacement, elements of racial discrimination, questions of belonging, and identity.
They occupy liminal positions that allow them to place themselves both within and outside the many cultures, histories and traditions they explore in their fiction. Thus, it is not surprising to see that most British postcolonial writers locate their narratives in districts of London. They write at the center of the ex- British empire, which has become predominantly non-white or of mixed ethnicity.
Furthermore, the last point of my study on Memmis analysis examines how we must deal with differences, how we must learn to love and respect them and that is exactly what Kureishi and Smith bring about in their novels:up
Thank u so much !


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Learning Technologies is pleased to announce that Andreas Brockhaus (Director of Learning Technologies), Joe Shelley (Director of IT Planning & Admin) and Ian Porter (UWBLT Learning Technologist) have been awarded the Worthington Innovation Fellows Award for their project proposal titled Untethered Teaching: A Pilot Project for Teaching With Mobile Computing Devices. Great work, everyone!
Untethered Teaching will be a year-long project that will examine the use of mobile devices in the classroom while determining best practices, challenges, implementation strategies, future steps, and overall value of the technology. The research team will work in collaboration with trained faculty to implement mobile devices into their curricula, then collect data via personal interviews and pre- and post-surveys. The final result will be a cost-benefit analysis, which will determine if implementing the technology formally and on a broader scale will be worth the costs and resources required.
This project, along with six others, are the first to ever receive this award. Established in February 2013, the Worthington Innovation Fellows Award provides funding and support to group or individual projects that "support the use of technology to enhance innovation across the campus". The final findings from all projects will be presented at an on-campus public forum, such as the Chancellor's Innovation Forum and the Teaching and Learning Symposium.
We look forward to the project's findings in the coming year. Congratulations again to Andreas, Joe and Ian!
Click here for more information about the Worthington Innovation Fellows Award.


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Lots of awesome people were able to come this time. And Jenny hosted again. And since someone is pregnant, we decided to also make it a surprise baby shower.
We had a great time and talked about everything (as usual) (we're a gabby bunch).
And it was great to have an afternoon out, especially since Aaron left for a business trip today and our basement flooded last week and oh shit, I'll just bitch about all that tomorrow.


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Our Cancer Development & Progression program is focused on understanding the mechanisms of cancer growth and progression. This program integrates basic and applied research in areas such as genomic integrity, tumor microenvironment, inflammation, and hormone action. Our members provide important mechanistic insight into the process of tumorigenesis leading to new cancer prevention and treatment strategies, diagnostics, and biomarkers of cancer. Interdisciplinary collaborations with members of the Experimental & Developmental Therapeutics program and the Population Science & Prevention program further develop discoveries from bench to bedside and back.
Our Experimental & Developmental Therapeutics program works to refine the way cancer is treated. This program's activities span the range of experimental and developmental therapeutics from initial target discovery to regulatory approval for new treatments. The strength of the EDT program is the fostering of collaboration between pre-clinical and clinical researchers to develop novel therapies aimed at giving patients the best possible treatments. The Institute for Drug Development (IDD) specializes in the conduct of Phase I clinical trials using new anti-cancer drugs and is integrated within the EDT program.
Our Population Science & Prevention program conducts collaborative, hypothesis- and evidence-based translational cancer prevention and control research. The PSP program crosses the entire cancer continuum—primary prevention, early detection, laboratory research, clinical trials and applications, diagnosis and treatment, quality of life and survivorship. A major focus of the PSP program is to reduce the Latino cancer burden, particularly in South Texas. To accomplish this, PSP program members work closely with the UT Health San Antonio's Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR). The IHPR investigates the causes of and solutions to the unequal impact of cancer, chronic disease, and obesity among Latinos in South Texas and beyond.
We have several research core facilities that are available to our members. These include Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery & Structural Biology, Flow Cytometry, Mass Spectrometry, Next Generation Sequencing, and Optical Imaging.
Membership is open to faculty at UT Health San Antonio or any of our consortium partners with a cancer-research focus. Membership is also open to collaborating faculty at institutions that are not already affiliated with an NCI-designated cancer center.
Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge of childhood cancer, contribute to the understanding of childhood cancer, and accelerate the translation of knowledge into novel therapies. Through discovery, development, and dissemination of new scientific knowledge, Greehey CCRI strives to have a national and global impact on childhood cancer.


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Excludes WOW items, Season's Savings items. Outlet items, Pre-Owned Rolex, trade-ins/break-ups, care plans, repairs, appraisal services, Patrick Mahomes jewelry collection, call stones, and Helzberg Diamonds® gift cards. Cannot be combined with any other special offer including military discount, student discount, watch discount, customer appreciation certificates, credit card reissue offer, online only deals and cannot be used at Helzberg Diamonds® Outlets. Offer has no cash value and cannot be used as a payment on account or for past purchases. Void if copied, transferred or sold through online auction.
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Find deals from Helzberg Diamonds and find the quality jewelry you trust with fantastic savings. Our full selection of clearance jewelry includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and even engagement rings. When you purchase jewelry on sale you want to know that it is covered by a return guarantee. At Helzberg you can shop for jewelry on sale and never worry. We have beautiful jewelry at discount prices that make the perfect gifts for that special someone. Shop our full clearance and sale jewelry selection that changes daily.


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Campus shootings spark increase in lockdown drills
At 10 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2013, students' cellphones at South Carolina State University buzzed or beeped with this text message:
"Initiation of Lockdown: The following alert is an active shooter mock drill being conducted by SC State Police. This is only a drill."
There was no threat to the campus that day, but Mernard Clarkson, the interim chief of police, wanted to test the university's mass notification system and response to an active shooter situation.
"Anytime you can train on something and have pre-information on what to do, the better the outcome will be," Clarkson said. "Folks knowing what to do will reduce the likelihood of more people being injured in this type of incident."
Clarkson had no idea that less than two months after the drill, the university would be sending out a similar text message for real. Brandon Robinson, 20, was shot and killed by a fellow student on Jan. 24, sending the campus of 3,200 students into lockdown.
A growing number of universities are implementing active shooter drills to help their students prepare for the possibility.
The Jeanne Clery Act, named after a 19-year-old woman who was raped and murdered in her Lehigh University dorm room in 1986, requires campuses to test their emergency response plan annually. It's up to the school to decide what type of drill is most beneficial – active shooter, fire, chemical, or weather, according to Alison Kiss, executive director of the Clery Center for Security on Campus.
"I can say since 2008, active shooter drills have become more common," Kiss said.
On April 16, 2007, 33 people – including the shooter – were killed on the Virginia Tech campus, spurring national conversation about campus security.
There have been at least five shootings at universities this year: Jan. 20 at Widener University in Pennsylvania, Jan. 21 at Purdue University in Indiana, Jan. 24 at South Carolina State, Jan. 28 at Tennessee State University, and Jan. 30 at Eastern Florida State College.
Kevin Foust, interim chief of police and director of security of the Virginia Tech police department, declined to comment on the university's current preparations, but several other schools have plans well in place.
"This active shooter problem has been on everybody's mind and things haven't gotten any better," said David Tedjeske, director of public safety at Villanova University. "We wanted to orient the entire university community to the idea of a lockdown."
One day last November, Villanova's 10,000-member student body and staff were instructed not to leave the buildings, and classes continued in lecture halls. As teachers clicked through PowerPoints and students scrawled down notes, the buildings on campus were locked down.
In addition to giving safety personnel practice at quickly securing the buildings and providing a test for the university's alert system, the drill gave students and staff something to think about, Tedjeske said.
"It promoted awareness of what the procedures would be, which spawned conversation and made people contemplate what actions they would take in the event of an emergency," he said.
At Simpson College, in Indianola, Iowa, an active shooter drill in 2012 involved the police department, the fire department, college security, and the school's approximately 2,000 students, who were instructed to act as either victims or survivors.
Police officers practiced neutralizing the "shooter" inside an academic building on campus, and rescue personnel tended to student "survivors" who were dealing with an array of injuries.
"You can really never do enough," said Chris Frerichs, director of security. "If it's more realistic, it gives you a better sense of, if it does happen, you have more experience and know what to do."
This year, all five of the Maysville Community and Technical College campuses in Kentucky are holding active shooter drills involving the entire school community, said Bruce Florence, the Licking Valley Campus branch campus director, said. In January 2013, three people were shot and killed in a parking garage at Hazard Community and Technical College – about two hours away from MCTC.
Larger universities said it would be difficult to do such elaborate active shooter drills on campuses that are more like small cities than schools.
Western Michigan University, which has more than 25,000 students, had an active shooter drill a few years ago, but the school doesn't do them on a regular basis like fire and tornado drills, said Cheryl Roland, executive director of university relations. They do, however, have more than 100 workshops a year on the active-shooter situation, Roland said.
In Michigan, K-12 schools are required to have five fire drills, two tornado drills, and three lockdown drills yearly. At the university level, however, only two tornado drills and eight fire drills are mandated.
There have been nine on-campus, fire-related deaths from January 2000 to March 2014 according to the U.S. Fire Administration. There have been 80 on-campus, gun-related deaths during that same time period.
Rick Crepas, president of Emergency School Safety Systems in Kalamazoo, Mich., said colleges should be doing more.
"They have the responsibility toward students and faculty to ensure the safety of the campus," Crepas said. "Just because things are difficult doesn't mean they're not worth doing."
At Drake University in Iowa, Director of Campus Security Services Scott Law said that drills specifically for active shooters aren't necessarily needed as long as the alert system is properly tested.
"Having an actual active shooter on campus is a very dynamic situation. The actual event is dependent on our ability to communicate to students what's going on and we practice our Bulldog System numerous times a year," Law said. "That communication will be essential if we have an active shooter situation on our grounds."


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Angel tattoo
Angel tattoo designs are used by men and women alike. These tattoo designs are very popular these days. There are a number of angel tattoo designs and each one of them have their own meanings. Men and women chose to get these tattoos as a symbol of their religious devotion. Angels are normally found in almost all religions. St. Michael, the archangel slaying Satan, is one of the very famous and popular body art piece. These tattoos are made on any part of the body including arms, forearms, shoulders, chest, legs, back and lower back. Angel tattoos are often symbolic to men. Men who are extremely fond of women are said to wear these tattoos. However, as there are angel tattoo designs for men, there angel tattoo designs for women as well. You may wish you learn more on angel rib tattoos. Read further for the history of angel tattoos and more about angel tattoo designs.
History of Angel Tattoos
Angels are a part of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and angels play similar roles in all of these religions even though there are differences in the three religions. Angels perform the job of a bridge between the Almighty and a common man. They are said to be the messengers as well as protectors of faith. They fight evil, keep a track of all good and bad deeds of people, as well as carry out the orders given by God. Angels guard heaven as well as hell. The other meanings of angel tattoos are peace, beauty, innocence and purity, spirituality, protection, devotion, faith and love. Some angels are depicted as fun loving and peaceful cherubs while some are shown as powerful, strong and filled with God's strength of God, like the guardian angels.
Angel Tattoo Designs
The size of angel tattoo depends on the person. He can get a small tattoo made or a large one. Some of the large angel tattoos cover the entire back. Often the tattoos are pictured with wings. The tattoo designs are normally taken from classical art. A number of tattoo designs have their origin in middle age and Renaissance art. The angel tattoo designs are usually combined with swords, harps, trumpets, banners, bows, halos, clouds, fairies, a cross or a devil. The angel tattoo designs can also be combined with tribal tattoos. Now lets see what are the various angel tattoo designs.
Angel Wing Tattoos
The angel wing tattoos are either depicted as a whole angel, which is in a classical pose of either flying or resting. There are some people who opt only for angel wings in their tattoo design. These tattoos are often made in between the shoulders. As that is the area, where the wings would have been placed, if humans had wings.
Guardian Angel Tattoos:
These tattoos come in different sizes and shapes. Whatever be the size and shape of these tattoos, they have a singular purpose and that is to protect the person that is wearing it. The best advantage of these guardian angels tattoo is that they always protect the wearer in all good and bad times. They are normally shown to be holding or keeping a watch over children.
Cherub Tattoos
Often people assume cherub tattoos to be synonymous angel tattoos. These tattoos are usually naked, have wings and look like babies. These are often male babies and are pictured as sitting on clouds with trumpets or bows in their hands. These cherub tattoos are said to be bringers of love. The best known cherub is the cupid, who makes people fall in love by shooting an arrow into their hearts.
Archangel Tattoo
The word 'arch' means chief in the Greek language. The archangels are seven in number and these angels hold the highest rank in the tattoos. They are known to be closest to God, as they stood before God in Revelation. Like I have previously mentioned, the most famous archangel tattoo is that of St. Michael, a warrior angel. Lucifer is another archangel, who became a fallen angel with the name Satan.
Fallen Angel Tattoo
Like humans, angels also have free will and hence are free to choose to do good or bad things. The fallen angels are called fallen angels, because they have fallen for wrong things. These angels are banished from heaven for disobeying the orders given by God. The fallen angels have a menacing look and torn wings and horns. These angels often have a thug-like appearance. The fallen angel Satan, is also considered as an archangel. The other famous fallen angels are Leviathan and Beelzebub.
Angel of Death Tattoo
The angel of death is in the category of dark tattoos and is also known as the Grim Reaper. However, there is a difference in the way both angel of death tattoos and grim reaper tattoos are pictured. The angel of death is shown with wings, whereas the grim reaper is shown without wings. Sometimes Satan is identified as the angel of death. In the Roman Catholic faith, there are two angels of death. Michael is the good angel of death and Samael is an evil angel of death.


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Barrett, other US mayors urge Obama to act on guns
Group sends letter to president
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is joining hundreds of mayors from around the country urging President Barack Obama to act quickly on gun-control legislation following last week's Connecticut school massacre.
Barrett is one of the founding members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The group formed in 2006 and has grown to more than 750 mayors.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the group sent a letter to Obama Wednesday asking him to put forward an agenda that will "make it harder for dangerous people to possess guns, and easier for police and prosecutors to crack down on them."
Also on Wednesday, Obama said he had asked his administration to come up with concrete proposals to address gun violence in the country.


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NEW YORK -- Augie Nieto, founder of Life Fitness, released his book "Augie's Quest: One Man's Journey from Success to Significance" on Wednesday, making an emotional appearance on "The Today Show" with his wife, Lynne. Nieto was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2005. After attempting suicide soon after the diagnosis, he has focused his life on raising funds to cure the disease. Proceeds from the book, which goes on sale Nov. 13, will go to find a cure.
So far, fundraising efforts, including the Augie's Quest Bash at the last two International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) conferences, have helped Nieto raise $11.8 million.
"The Today Show" interview was conducted by Natalie Morales, a reporter and an occasional host of the show. She interviewed Nieto a year ago for a story on the show. During that interview, the two walked on the beach in California. During Wednesday's interview, Morales noted the decline in Nieto's physical abilities since that interview. Nieto was in a wheelchair during Wednesday's interview and spoke with difficulty. Morales will be the host of the Beach Bash for Augie's Quest, a fundraising event to be held March 7, 2008, at the IHRSA conference in San Diego.
To purchase a book or to see the interview from "The Today Show," go to www.augiesquest.org.


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Russian Spy Ring: What Will Happen to the Kids?
Parents get to decide who cares for their children.
July 2, 2010 -- No matter what happens to the couples who were charged with being secret Russian spies living a cloak and dagger existence under assumed names in the U.S., their children's lives will be forever changed, a man whose father passed U.S. secrets to Russia told "Good Morning America."
"I'm not sure whether it's possible for them to have normal lives after this," Boria Sax said.
He speaks from experience. His father, Saville Sax, passed U.S. atomic secrets to Russians during the cold war.
His son spent 10 years trying to come to terms with his father's actions.
"It takes a great deal of time to find the human being in your mother or your father who is a spy. You, in effect, like everybody else, have to break through their cover," Sax said.
Six of the eight American children born to the members of an alleged Russian spy ring busted earlier this week are underage, and with both parents under arrest, it's unclear what will happen to the children.
'Fake' Names, Actual Children
Their parents may have had fake names, fake passports and fake marriages, but the children are real American citizens, and their fate is still uncertain.
Two of those children, 16-year-old Timothy Foley and 20-year-old Alex Foley, went to court Thursday to support their parents, Donald Howard Heathfield and Tracey Lee Ann Foley of Boston. The Foley sons waved to their parents as they were brought into the courtroom in shackles.
Their parents were among 11 people arrested earlier this week following a multi-year investigation. The suspects are accused of having lived in the U.S. under assumed false identities while secretly working as covert Russian spies on long-term, "deep-cover" assignments to obtain information on nuclear weapons.
The ring was charged with using classic cold war tactics -- including invisible writing and Morse code messaging -- to send intelligence to the Russian government, the FBI said.
In addition to Heathfield and Foley, Richard and Cynthia Murphy of New Jersey, Michael Zottoli and Patricia Mills of Arlington, Virginia, Juan Lazaro and Vicky Pelaez of New York -- all couples with children -- were arrested.
Also arrested were Anna Chapman of New York, Mikhail Semenko of Virginia and Christopher Metsos, a Canadian citizen.
Son on Investigators: 'They Knew Everything'
Metsos reportedly skipped bail in Cypress, while Pelaez made bond and is under house arrest. Lazaro, her husband, confessed to authorities that he had been working for Russian intelligence, saying that he would not violate his loyalty to "the Service" even for his son, officials said Thursday.
Lazaro was arrested as he, his wife and his 17-year-old son were driving home. The teen says he was questioned by investigators.
"They knew absolutely everything," their son, Juan Jose Lazaro, told the Spanish-language newspaper "El Diario." "They knew I'm a pianist. They asked me if I spoke either Russian or German."
Investigators say the children were an integral part of the long-term spying operation, helping the supposed spies to build a picture of the perfect suburban life.
In New Jersey, the Murrays allegedly spied for Russian while they raised daughters Katie, 11, and Lisa, 7. Friends say the Murrays were arrested as Katie was returning home from a pool party.
Even though they are behind bars, the parents will retain full custodial rights to their children, and will therefore be able to made decisions about their care, said Jane Spinak, a professor of law at Columbia University School of Law in New York.
The two girls are with child protective services while authorities reportedly vet the guardians their parents have designated for them.
Those children will undoubtedly have a hard time handling this trauma.
"Even if the child ultimately ends up being able to go home to the parent or relative of close friend, it's still traumatic to see this happen to the parents," Spinak told "Good Morning America."
ABC New's Jason Ryan, Megan Chuchmach, Richard Esposito and Matthew Mosk contributed to this report.


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Local Bloomingdale elder care consultants
We realize finding the right senior living community near Bloomingdale is an overwhelming task. Share your story with us and we would be happy to guide you through your next steps.
Who are Senior Living Experts?
We are a free referral service that guides families through the overwhelming task of finding the right senior living solution for your loved one near Bloomingdale. Our advisors have over 75 years of combined experience and have helped hundreds of Chicagoland's families over the years. Let us help yours!
Bloomingdale # 1 senior referral agency
75 years of combined experience
Our service is free
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Assisted Living and Memory Care in Bloomingdale
Partnering with the best Bloomingdale senior care providers
Our Leading Bloomingdale Expert
Ellen is a specialist in the field of Aging. She has a degree from the University of Wisconsin and a certificate in Gerontology. She specialized in Senior Housing. Ellen has spent her 30-year career working with Bloomingdale seniors (and their families,) as they age and move thru the continuum of living independently in their homes all the way through to nursing home and hospice care. She is well versed in the various housing options in Bloomingdale, IL and helping families find the right fit.
What you need to know
Step 1
Care Level Assessment
Take our short questionnaire to determine the care you need.
Step 2
Expense Calculator
For a better comparison between senior living and living at home, calculate your expenses here.
* Senior living options In Chicagoland start at $2000/mo.
Explore your Options
- Range from high-end city apartments, to town homes, to gated communities
- Offer amenities like gourmet kitchens, golf courses, movie theaters, in-house gyms and barber shops, 24/7 concierge service, yoga, and more
learn more
Luxury Senior Living
You've spent your whole life working hard, and now you're looking to live your best life. Chicago has high-end communities in every suburb.learn more
- Supports active lifestyles
- Great community engagement
- Broad variety of amenities
- Care services can be purchased on an a la carte basis
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Independent Living
Personal care assistance available for residents with active lifestyleslearn more
- Assistance with daily living activities
- Robust activity calendar to keep residents busy and engaged
- Different levels of care will accommodate residents' changing needs
- Meals, housekeeping, transportation, and utilities included
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Assisted Living
Provides your loved one with assistance in their daily living activitieslearn more
- Research-based activity calendar specific to those with dementia
- Secure, homelike, and comforting environment
- Transitional care available for residents' changing needs
- Purposeful features in the environment that support dementia diagnosis
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Memory Care
Specific level of assistance which supports those with Dementia and other memory related disorderslearn more
- Assisted living that is subsidized by the State of Illinois
- Assistance with daily living activities
- Medicaid certified
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Supportive Living Facilities
Assisted living communities that are subsidized by the Statelearn more


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Some guys* know a motorcycle is more than a motorcycle and a road is more than dirt and gravel. They know every back road and alley, every side street in town. They know it's not always about the destination, and they know exactly how much fun you can have between Point A and Point B.
Some guys know what it's like to have bugs in your teeth and dust from the road in your hair. They know there's more to life than heated seats and a couple of cup holders. Some guys know adventure has 2 wheels and handlebars and everything can revolve around that machine.
Matt Work is one of those guys. Owner of Piston & Chain motorcycle club in San Francisco, California, Matt's obsession with motorcycles began while putting through cornfields as a kid. Then, one day, he felt that tire hook up on asphalt … and there's been no looking back since.
Meet Matt in the latest video from Esurance and find out how he ended up with motorcycles in his blood.
Need more motorcycles?
Check out esurance.com/whyiride for more on Matt and lots more on motorcycles.
#WhyIRide, motorcycle stories
Share your motorcycle mojo and connect with other bikers at #WhyIRide.
Motorcycle music
If you're lovin' the music from our "Why I Ride" video, you're not alone. The Sam Chase is a San Francisco band that won Best Singer-Songwriter in the SF Bay Guardian's Best Of The Bay Readers Poll 2013. Check out their video for Perfect World.
Esurance now offers motorcycle insurance in California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Wisconsin. Insure your ride.
*Some girls know this too. And we salute all you motorcycle mamas out there.


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Long after degrees have been conferred and careers have been launched, many folks just can't seem to quit school. For them, life provides an overstuffed cornucopia of educational opportunities that don't necessarily require hefty loans and navigating different professorial strategies. Those with a lust for learning who happen to also enjoy testing the limits of what the iPad offers definitely don't have to worry about finding resources to pique their fancy. Hundreds, if not thousands, of apps are out there just twitching for users to fire them up and absorb a mental nugget or two.
History and Geography
- World Atlas HD iPad users can download this stunning, popular digital atlas by the National Geographic Society and educate themselves about the planet's physical and cultural properties and relationships.
- MyCongress Stay up-to-date with the latest news and views from the House of Representatives and the Senate with profiles of Congresspeople and information about current bills.
- National Geographic Today Indulge in bite-sized, nourishing daily doses of geography videos, photos, and more through the globe-trotting juggernaut.
- WORLD BOOK – This Day in History for iPad Like the title states, this app displays what historical events happened on what particular day; flipping through the calendar function and looking ahead is encouraged!
- History: Maps of the World History and geography (duh) collide on this very popular resource, which provides access to maps past and present so users can watch how borders and projections shift over time.
- Constitution and Federalist Papers Win (or lose, but we're trying to be nice here) any argument about American politics by keeping some of its core founding documents on hand as a reference.
- Google Earth Explore the world in veritable real-time thanks to the detailed (and sometimes super creepy) Google Earth tool, now available on the iPad.
- World History Atlas for iPad Maps.com provides an absolutely stunning visual resource about the most important, influential maps — and their corresponding events — of all time.
- 205 National Anthems, Maps, Flags, Facts Enjoy a crash course in the basic characteristics of 205 countries and use it as a springboard into deeper geographical inquiry.
- Top 100 – People in History Read up on the biographies of some of the world's most influential names and kickstart lessons in some not-so-famous folks who still left a major impact.
Language, Reading, and Writing
- British Library: Treasures HD Access some of the world's rarest and most influential manuscripts from anywhere thanks to the British Library's seriously cool high-def app collecting some of its most memorable holdings.
- iTranslate Lifelong learners who want to pick up a second, third, or fourth language will get quite a bit of use out of this handy app helping them with their vocabulary in more than 50 tongues!
- iBooks iBooks converts the iPad into an ebook reader, so users enjoy near-immediate access to thousands of free and paid publications both popular and obscure.
- Instapaper iPad enthusiasts adore Instapaper because it allows them to save their favorite blogs and websites for offline reading and (hopefully!) enjoyment.
- Penultimate This highly acclaimed handwriting app means no future Fitzgerald will ever lose an idea because of a lack of writing implements in the immediate vicinity!
- Goodreader If iBooks and Instapaper brought a bundle of digital joy into the world, it would probably resemble Goodreader and cause a bit of a family rift. Use it to indulge in anything from ebooks, Microsoft Office documents, .pdfs, audio, video, and many more media!
- TOTALe Studio HD Rosetta Stone TOTALe subscribers can download this free app to help them along on their language-learning voyage.
- Reading Rainbow Nostalgic parents who want to encourage their kids to "take a look, it's in a book" and share a love of the written word must absolutely take advantage of the brand new Reading Rainbow resource.
- Chronicle for iPad – a personal journal Whether writing for public or personal consumption, Chronicle makes keeping track of ideas in a digital notebook painless and easy.
- Goodreads Join up with this wildly popular (and free!) social network and use the app to rate and catalog books read, currently reading, and to be read, as well as snag recommendations from other participants and automated reports.
Open Source and General Learning
- TED Venerable open source institution TED makes its impressive suite of video lectures on every subject imaginable available on the iPad for maximum infotainment.
- Khan Academy Like TED, Khan Academy features some incredible videos by experts hoping to educate viewers about anything and everything they might find interesting.
- iTunes U Some of the top universities in the world contribute to iTunes U, providing open source content to keep users constantly learning.
- Flashcards Put those brand new skills to the test with this amazing customizable flashcard app that allows users to write up their own quick quizzes.
- PBS Watch favorite educational PBS programming anywhere, anytime, and even pick up shows broadcast only in other cities.
- iMovie Channel that creativity into shooting and editing movies directly on the iPad – perfect for lifelong learners who want to share everything they've picked up on their educational journeys.
- BrainPOP Featured Movie Because BrainPOP aims itself at kids, the app works best for parents wanting to spend time with their children in edifying ways. Every day, it features a new movie about a different subject, crammed full of fun facts and other quick tidbits.
- Wikipedia The groundbreaking open source encyclopedia is available for both browsing and editing, and lifelong learners can use it to both add to their own knowledge banks and contribute to others'.
- AskPhil Read and ask questions of living philosophers and philosophy experts about both the pressing questions of the day and general inquiries about the nature of life, the universe, and everything.
- NPR NPR's official app features more than just current events — iPad enthusiasts love listening to podcasts, watching videos, and reading stories about the latest movements within science and culture.
- Dictionary.com – Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad Lifelong learners will undoubtedly come across words they just plain don't know, so keeping a digital dictionary and thesaurus on hand should be considered essential.
- eHow eHow provides instructions about doing almost anything and everything, making it a great resource for DIY types hoping to pick up new skills.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica If Wikipedia's open editing format makes you doubt the information, consult its prodigious predecessor instead, though a subscription fee is required.
- Musee de Louvre Art lovers browse the legendary halls of the Louvre without having to travel to Paris and soak up everything they can about the world's most influential and famous works.
- Wolfram Alpha Turn the iPad into a veritable Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (yes, we know we're mixing up our sci-fi references here) by downloading this amazing, low-cost app that generates reports on pretty much anything imaginable when one types in and sends an inquiry.
- Ask.com Part search engine, part community, Ask.com encourages participants to post up questions and receive detailed answers.
- Guinness World Records: At Your Fingertips Sometimes the records people break are quite silly indeed, but that doesn't mean Guinness' official app isn't worth keeping on hand for quick factoids and debate settling!
- First Aid by American Red Cross Definitely a handy app to keep in hand, as it overflows with information on how to administer First Aid for most common (and some not-so-common) incidents.
- 2012 World Factbook Every year, the CIA releases its World Factbook via iPad — among other mediums, of course — and presents the most current geographical, cultural, economic, and political data regarding all the nations.
- Articles for iPad While it fetches information from Wikipedia, Articles so often lands on recommended lists because it enhances the experience even further using maps, more streamlined searches, saves, and other time-saving features.
Science and Math
- Star Walk Point a Star Walk-enabled iPad device towards the sky and learn all about the night's current offerings, from their history to their scientific classifications.
- The Elements One of the most talked-about apps of all time delves deeply into the periodic table through videos, photos, and detailed information about every element.
- MathBoard While mainly targeting kids, critics adore MathBoard for its accessible lessons in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Lifelong learners needing a little push in the math department might want to check out what it has to offer as a refresher.
- MathStudio No matter what kind of calculating users require, chances are MathStudio offers up such a function to help them get things done.
- Popular Science+ Subscribers to the beloved periodical enjoy extended content — not to mention full issues — in digital format, providing them with a wealth of information about a wide range of scientific content.
- Frog Dissection Get a traditional three-dimensional anatomy lesson without the ethical questions and chemical stench for only $3.99!
- Math Ref Free Math Ref Free helpfully provides both novices and wizards a quick resource for looking up the formulas, equations, and advice about all different mathematical disciplines.
- Math Formulas – Reference Guide Consider this a handy-dandy cheat sheet when self-learning the principals of math, though be forewarned that it mostly targets the high school levels.
- Mythbusters HD Discovery Channel's fabulous Mythbusters crew keep on blending entertainment and science together via videos exclusive to the iPad app.
- PLoS Reader On lazy days when lifelong learners would rather read than interact, the PLoS Reader lets them scan articles from seven different scientific journals.
This is a cross-post from our content partners at OnlineUniversities.org; Image attribution flickr user gustavodevito


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We don't know why the Japanese are fascinated by toilets, but it seems as if they really do enjoy heated, musical and automated models with soft lighting. Now there's one that can be controlled remotely by an Android app.
The Satis models by Lixil not only offers easy cleaning, but a stereo built into the toilet, and a way to remotely flush or move the seat up and down.
(We realize that this may be a way to avoid touching the toilet with your hands, but realize this: You're touching your smartphone and it's harder to wash those.)
If the music and other features don't appeal, there's also the handy poop diary you can use on your smartphone. Don't worry, the pictures are considered "euphemistically cute," according to Japanese Trends.
Some say that the reason the Japanese are into very modern toilets may have to do with the "old-style" toilets that greet visitors in busy transit centers -- basically troughs in the floor that may puzzle even the most resourceful tourists.