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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
Suit Says Red Robin Fired Employee for Religious Tattoos, Saying It Wanted 'All-American Kid'
SEATTLE – Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a casual dining chain with restaurants throughout the country, will pay $150,000 and make substantial policy and procedural changes to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged the company with refusing to accommodate the religious needs of an employee and then illegally firing him.
The EEOC alleged in its suit, Case No. C04-1291 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, that Red Robin refused to offer Edward Rangel, a server at the restaurant, any accommodation for his Kemetic religion, an ancient Egyptian faith. As part of his practice, Rangel went through a rite of passage where he received religious inscriptions in the form of tattoos. The inscriptions, less than a quarter-inch wide and encircling his wrists, are a verse from an Egyptian scripture and are written in a liturgical Egyptian language. The inscriptions symbolize his dedication and servitude to his creator and Rangel's beliefs make it a sin to intentionally conceal the religious inscriptions.
Rangel had the religious inscriptions on his wrists when he was hired at the Bellevue, Wash., Red Robin, which has a dress code that prohibits employees from having visible tattoos. The EEOC said that although Rangel worked at Red Robin for approximately six months without a complaint from customers, co-workers or his immediate supervisors, a new manager saw the tattoos and fired Rangel for not concealing them.Rangel claimed that he had multiple conversations with management, giving "lengthy explanations" about his faith and need for an accommodation. He sought an exemption from the dress code, but Red Robin refused to provide it or any alternatives. In the words of the ex-chief financial officer James McCloskey, if Rangel could not cover his tattoos it "would be better he seek employment elsewhere." At a recent investment meeting, McCloskey stated that the company has "Christian" values and that Red Robin seeks out "that all-American kid" from the suburbs for its server positions, not those with "that urban kind of experience."
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would cause undue hardship to the business. Throughout the suit Red Robin maintained that allowing any exceptions to its dress code policy would undermine its "wholesome image." Before the parties settled, Red Robin's argument was rejected by the Court, which held that Red Robin was required to support its undue hardship claim with more than hypothetical hardships based on unproven assumptions.
Red Robin agreed to settle the case, paying Rangel $150,000 and agreeing to make substantial policy and procedural changes to insure that management understands its obligations to accommodate religious beliefs and employees have a better chance to have their needs fairly considered. These changes will be monitored by the EEOC through a Consent Decree approved by the Court.
"I never imagined I'd be fired for my religious practices," said Rangel. "Red Robin forced me to choose between my religion and my job. But I am happy we could resolve the case and ensure that no one will have to go through what I went through."
According to Seattle EEOC District Director Jeanette Leino, "We were dismayed Red Robin's refusal to acknowledge its legal obligations, but are happy that our litigation brought about a very satisfactory settlement."
Acting EEOC Regional Attorney Kathryn Olson noted, "We live in a diverse society where individuals have the religious freedom to practice many different belief systems. We are pleased that Red Robin is willing to make changes to its policies in recognition of this rich variety of religious expression."
In addition to enforcing Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment or pregnancy) or national origin and protects employees who complain about such offenses from retaliation, the EEOC enforces the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects workers age 40 and older from discrimination based on age; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits gender-based wage discrimination; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits employment discrimination against people with disabilities in the federal sector; Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits employment discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector and state and local governments; and sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Further information about the Commission is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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Build an Online Store For Different Products Under One Umbrella. Currently mostly small electronics.
Költségvetés $30-250 USD
Build an online store. The contents are available online. We'll provide the model number and YOU can get the details off of the internet.
For instance, Drone F801C (Quadcopter) or Speaker Qone. We also have a few seconds video of speakers Qone. Currently we have 10 to 12 items.
The website must be easy to maneuver and aesthetically pleasing. Clean lines. Responsive (Mobile friendly).
In Our Service Package of the project we will provide you the following things: 1. After completing the project we will provide you Backend Maintenance Documents that will help you to manage your website by yoursel Több
102 szabadúszó tett átlagosan $301 árajánlatot erre a munkára
Hi, I am experienced Shopping cart developer. Please check some of the recent work: [login to view URL] [login to view URL] [login to view URL] All above site has Ad Több
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We can create this online store for you at very low cost as we have a team of experienced designers and developers. We want to have long term relations with our clients that's why working at very good prices. Hope you Több
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Free Offer: 03 mock ups will be provided for desired project before hiring us. We have read your job post & found that you are looking for website Online Store. We can provide you the upgraded website which would be Több
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subset: commoncrawl


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Return to Top
Admissions · Advising · Catalog · Financial Aid · Registrar · Scholarships
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the website for the College of Science and Technology at Tarleton State University. I invite you to explore this web to find out more about the faculty, students and programs that are part of the College of Science and Technology. Our college is home to seven departments and two programs:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry, Geosciences, and Physics
- Engineering and Computer Science
- Engineering Technology
- Mathematics
- Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP)
- Program for Astronomy Education and Research
The future is bright for the College as we maintain high quality programs focusing on student success while seeking new opportunities in teaching, scholarship, and service. Thank you for your interest in the College of Science and Technology. Feel free to stop by my office for a visit or contact me by phone or email if I can be of assistance.
Dr. James R. Pierce
Dean College of Science and Technology


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49ers ink RB Lattimore
Santa Clara, CA – The San Francisco 49ers signed running back Marcus Lattimore to a four-year deal on Friday. Terms of the pact were not disclosed.
Lattimore was the second of San Francisco's two fourth-round draft picks (131st overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The 21-year-old's college career was cut short in October after he suffered a gruesome dislocated right knee and tore three ligaments. Lattimore had surgery a month later before declaring for the draft in December.
Lattimore holds University of South Carolina program records for rushing touchdowns (38) and total touchdowns (41). Over 29 games -- 28 starts -- and three seasons with the Gamecocks, the three-time All-SEC selection finished with 2,677 rushing yards.


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Scams Awareness Month
Scams Awareness Month is in July and is being run by Citizens Advice. The aim is to raise public awareness of scams, share stories and find out how to protect yourself and others from these crimes. You can find out more and access their downloadable and online resources from the Citizens Advice website
We also wanted to share NTS Scams Team resources to help support the campaign and give you some ideas on how you could get involved:
Friends Against Scams:
What a great opportunity to get involved in Friends Against Scams, you can use it as a tool to support you during the month
- If you haven't done so already become a Friend by attending a session or doing the online training
- Register to become a SCAMchampion
- Once a SCAMchampion, deliver a session in your community
- Point people towards the Friends Against Scams website to find out more about the initiative and to complete the online training
- You can download and access the Citizens advice materials from the above website
- There are additional NTS Scams Team resources hosted on the website, in the partner hub
- You can distribute these to within your local community or to any groups who may benefit from the posters.
- Join our new public Friends Against Scams Facebook Page. Here you can advertise any sessions you are having, promote the work you are doing for Scams Awareness Month, share the FAS training, invite people to join the group etc.
- Make a pledge on the site and share the training via Facebook e.g., "I pledge to tell at least 5 people how to be Scam Aware", " I pledge to tell at least 10 people about Friends Against Scams"
- Send out tweets during this month using our social media images and the hashtag #scamaware
- The team will be hosting two Twitter chats on the 3rd July and the 31st July, via our @AgainstScams account on the first and last Monday of the month. The first will invite people to discuss their personal experiences and thoughts surrounding scams with the team posing questions to those participating and the second chat will be a Q&A session where the participants will get to ask questions. Both chats will be using the hashtag #SAMchat.
If have any other ideas or plans for the month it would be great to hear from you, and don't forget to use the Friends Against Scams tool to support your work and advertise what you're doing on social media and our new public Facebook page.


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Music Releases
Orange Caramel releases short PV for "Cookies, Cream & Mint"
Orange Caramel have released the short PV for "Cookies, Cream & Mint" from their upcoming Japanese album.
The After School subunit debuted in Japan last year with "Yasashii Akuma" and "Lipstick/Lum no Love Song", and now they'll be releasing their self-titled album on March 13th. The album will include "Cookies, Cream & Mint" as well as some of their hit Japanese and Korean songs.
Check out the short PV below!
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Question: "What does the Bible say about abortion?"
Answer: The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, there are numerous teachings in Scripture that make it abundantly clear what God's view of abortion is. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He forms us in the womb. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God's active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22-25 prescribes the same penalty—death—for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as for someone who commits murder. This clearly indicates that God considers a baby in the womb to be as human as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman's right to choose. It is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6).
The first argument that always arises against the Christian stance on abortion is "What about cases of rape and/or incest?" As horrible as it would be to become pregnant as a result of rape and/or incest, is the murder of a baby the answer? Two wrongs do not make a right. The child who is a result of rape/incest could be given in adoption to a loving family unable to have children on their own, or the child could be raised by its mother. Again, the baby is completely innocent and should not be punished for the evil acts of its father.
The second argument that usually arises against the Christian stance on abortion is "What about when the life of the mother is at risk?" Honestly, this is the most difficult question to answer on the issue of abortion. First, let's remember that this situation is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of the abortions done in the world today. Far more women have an abortion for convenience than women who have an abortion to save their own lives. Second, let's remember that God is a God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it. Ultimately, though, this question can only be decided between a husband, wife, and God. Any couple facing this extremely difficult situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have them to do.
Over 95 percent of the abortions performed today involve women who simply do not want to have a baby. Less than 5 percent of abortions are for the reasons of rape, incest, or the mother's health at risk. Even in the more difficult 5 percent of instances, abortion should never be the first option. The life of a human being in the womb is worth every effort to allow the child to be born.
For those who have had an abortion, remember that the sin of abortion is no less forgivable than any other sin. Through faith in Christ, all sins can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:14). A woman who has had an abortion, a man who has encouraged an abortion, or even a doctor who has performed one—can all be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.
Recommended Resource: The Cost of Choice: Women Evaluate the Impact of Abortion by Erika Bachiochi, Editor.
This page is also available in: Chinese, Indonesia, Hebrew, Arabic, Español, Português, Polski, Korean,Russian, Thai, Hrvatski, Français, Italiano, Srpski, Română, Greek, Bulgarian, Japanese, Melayu,Slovenčina, Sinhala, Trad-Chinese, Farsi
What does the Bible say about abortion?
Question: "What does the Bible say about abortion?"


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P-N Semiconductor Membranes for Ion Filtering and Rectification
Licensed according to this deed.
Published on
Jean-Pierre Leburton's research at the Beckman Institute deals with transport and optical processes in semiconductor nanostructures such as quantum wires and quantum dots that exhibit a high degree of quantization dependent on the semiconductor materials and geometrical confinement. This important property has far-reaching technological consequences as it creates new opportunities for making high performance electronic and photonic devices with non-conventional quantum mechanical principles of operation. More recently, Leburton's research has focused on the manipulation of spin effects in quantum nanostructures for applications in solid state quantum computing. He is also involved in the investigation of protein and DNA molecule transport in artificial silicon ion channels and the design of a novel nanoscale detector for DNA sequencing. His approach to these problems involves use of advanced numerical techniques such as three-dimensional self-consistent Schroedinger-Poisson modeling based on the density functional theory.
Uploaded by Omar Sobh - University of Illinois
Matagne, P and Leburton J.P., (2003), "Quantum Dots: Artificial Atoms and Molecules," in S. Bandyopadhayay and H.S. Nalwa, eds., Advances in Nanophase Materials and Nanothechnology, American Scientific Publishers Series, pp. 1-66.
Thean, V-Y. and Leburton, J.P., (2002), "Flash Memory: Toward Single Electronics," IEEE Potentials, Oct-Nov., pp. 35-41.
Sheng, Weidong and Leburton, J.P., (2002), "Anomalous Quantum Confined Stark Effect in Stacked InAs/GaAs Self-Assembled Quantum Dots," Physical Review Letters, 88, p. 167401.
Leburton, J.-P. (1999), "Photo-refractive Properties of GaAs and Superlattices," in J. Webster, ed., Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 16, pp. 366-377, Wiley Publishing Corporation.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:


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Facebook is making you buy things
Even if you never click on Facebook ads, they are making you buy.
This is a story about advertising on the web. Specifically, it's about ads on Facebook, a hugely popular free service that's supported solely through advertising, yet is packed with users who are actively hostile to the idea of being marketed to on their cherished social network.
Every time I write about the online ad economy, especially ads on Facebook, readers tell me: "I don't know how Facebook will ever make any money – I never click on web ads!"
And that's not all. You've checked with your friends and relatives – no one you know has ever intentionally clicked on a web ad. OK, once, years ago, a co-worker told you about a guy who knows a guy who tapped an ad on his phone. True story! But don't worry. People close to the situation dismissed it as a one-time deal. The guy wasn't trying to tap the ad; he just had really fat fingers. He felt really bad about it afterward, too.
So, the question persists: how does Facebook expect to become a huge business if most people you know never click on ads?
The answer is surprisingly obvious. It's a fact well-known to advertisers, though it's not always appreciated by people who use Facebook or even by folks in the web ad business: clicks don't matter. Whether you know it or not – even if you consider yourself sceptical of marketing – the ads you see on Facebook are working.
Sponsored messages in your feed are changing your behaviour – they're getting you and your friends to buy certain products instead of others, and that's happening despite the fact that you're not clicking, and even if you think you're ignoring the ads.
This isn't conjecture. It's science. It's based on a remarkable set of in-depth studies that Facebook has conducted to show whether and how its users respond to ads on the site. The studies demonstrate that Facebook ads influence purchases and that clicks don't matter. They also shed light on Facebook's long-term business strategy.
The tech world is consumed by the war between Facebook and Google – two huge sites that are constantly battling one another for users, engineers and advertising clients. Yet Facebook's studies suggest that its advertising fortune won't necessarily come at the expense of Google. Instead, the findings show that people react to ads on Facebook in the same way they respond to ads on television. If Facebook's ad business takes off, it might be at the expense of the biggest ad-supported medium in the world.
Last year, Facebook partnered with Datalogix, a company that records the purchasing patterns of more than 100 million American households. When you stop by the supermarket to buy Tide, Rice-A-Roni and Mountain Dew this evening, there's a good chance you'll hand the cashier a loyalty card to get a discount on your items. That card ties your identity to your purchases – it puts a name on your Tide, Rice-A-Roni and Mountain Dew. After you leave the store, your sales data is sent over to a server maintained by Datalogix, which has agreements with hundreds of major retailers to procure such data.
Over the past few months, Facebook and Datalogix figured out a way to match their data sets in a manner that maintains people's privacy. In other words, Facebook can now tie its users to the stuff they buy at supermarkets. Armed with this data, Facebook began running a series of analyses into the effects of advertising campaigns on its site.
If, say, Procter & Gamble ran a Facebook ad for Tide, Facebook could look at Datalogix's data to see whether people who were exposed to the ad tended to purchase more Tide in the weeks after the campaign. (Tide is just an example here; Facebook has conducted more than 60 such studies for major advertisers, and while it was willing to give me general insights about its findings, it wouldn't discuss specific advertisers.)
These general insights make a strong case for Facebook ads. First, according to the study, Facebook ads work. "Of the first 60 campaigns we looked at, 70 per cent had a three times or better return-on-investment – that means that 70 per cent of advertisers got back three times as many dollars in purchases as they spent on ads," says Sean Bruich, Facebook's head of measurement platforms and standards. What's more, half of the campaigns showed a five times return: advertisers got back five times what they spent on Facebook ads.
But the most interesting finding was the total lack of correlation between purchases and clicks. "On average, if you look at people who saw an ad on Facebook and later bought a product, [fewer than] 1 per cent had clicked on the ad," Bruich says. In other words, the click doesn't matter; people who click on ads aren't necessarily buying, and people who are buying are almost certainly not clicking.
As Facebook's measurement systems improve, you might even see better ads. One of the eventual goals the system, Bruich says, is to figure out what kinds of ads appeal to what kinds of users, so over time you'll be presented with ads that are less likely to annoy you. And if, as you insist, ads really don't work on you – that you never buy things because of marketing you see on Facebook – it's theoretically possible that Facebook's system would be able to figure that out, too, and maybe the site won't show you any messages.
But that's unlikely. You may not love the ads you see – and you'll still never click on them. But unbeknownst to you, Facebook ads still work on you. Resistance is futile.
Farhad Manjoo is Slate's technology reporter and the author of True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society. Twitter: @fmanjoo


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The To-Do List is getting a lotta play right now under one of two basic headlines: Aubrey Plaza Is Awesome and It's Time She Had Her Own Movie and *OMG, Sex Stuff! Hilarious.*I can vouch for the veracity of both of those headlines, and yet neither really speak to why I loved the movie so much. What The To-Do List did for me (and what it just might do for you too) was totally time-capsule the '90s teen experience in a way I don't think any other movie I've ever seen has.
Pretty much since I was old enough to work a VCR, I've been obsessed with high school movies. They're kinda perfect: It's the ideal setting for change and growth. There's always someone to relate to. The actors can play up to five years older or 15 years younger than they actually are, and somehow it always works out, because high school movies are magic. And, maybe best of all, high school movies always do a bang-up job of showing off the trends and slang and feel of a certain time, because nobody's more into feelings, slang, and trends than teenagers.
I've always felt like Molly Ringwald and Co. did a great job of immortalizing the '80s high school experience, and Freddie Prinze Jr. and his assorted crop-topped ladies did right by turn-of-the-century, butterfly-clip-laden times. Mean Girls picked up the torch a couple years down the road. But wait—what about the '90s?
See, the '90s had no shortage of awesome teen movies—but, to me, each of them felt specific to an area, or a type of clique, or a specific scheme. Maybe your high school experience mirrored the ones in our precious Clueless, or the romantic 10 Things I Hate About You, or the twisty Cruel Intentions (I hope not!), but mine did not. High school movies from the '90s were often sort of ahead of their time, both in terms of being a little hipper than their era and in terms of the kids acting about twice as old as I did in high school.
Enter The To-Do List, in which Aubrey Plaza's Brandy makes lists in magic marker, has to do her teenage phone bidding on the family land line (gasp!) and wears oversize T-shirts not unlike the Cher Heart of Stone tour one I spent most of 1992 through 1996 in. Most important, she's as bewildered as every girl coming of age in the Land Before Internet was—clueless with a lowercase c.
Plus, there's a Kaboodle in the opening credits. I would send you to the theater for that reason alone. Enjoy.
What teen movie reminds you most of your own high school days?


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Help with Social Media Campaign designed to draw attention to a solution to Climate Change Issues
Budsjett $10-20 NZD / time
Facebook , Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, Linkedin work to integrate a social media push designed to collect information about residential community development and the market acceptability of certain technologies intended to reduce construction industry's impact on the planet. A secondary purpose of attracting Potential Development Joint Venture Partners, and to fill a pipeline of potential home buyers.
www.puawaidevelopments.co.nz for an understanding of what the campaign will be about
8 frilansere byr i snitt $16/t for denne jobben
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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- While the majority of his peers were selling, legendary investor George Soros was adding to his stake in Apple ( AAPL) during the fourth quarter. According to his latest 13F filing, Soros owned 183,976 shares. This compares to his third-quarter filing, when he owned 84,858 shares of the technology giant. Soros, known for his philanthropy and ideas on economics, also cut his position in other technology names, including Facebook ( FB) and Amazon.com ( AMZN). Soros owned 300,000 shares of Facebook as of the end of the third quarter, but owned none at the end of the year. His entire stake in Amazon was sold as well, going from 260,000 shares to none. Outside of technology, Soros chopped his stake in AIG ( AIG), going from 15.2 million shares, down to just 8.8 million shares. He initiated a new position in Ford ( F), buying 3.1 million shares of the Dearborn, Mich.-based auto maker. In addition to his equity stakes, Soros, known for breaking the Bank of England in the 1980's by betting against the British pound, is now in the midst of another profitable currency trade. The Wall Street Journal reported that Soros had gained nearly $1 billion by betting against the Japanese yen, as the currency has depreciated nearly 20% in the past four months. --Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York >Contact by Email. Follow @Commodity_Bull
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When you meet the Smallmans, it becomes clear they don't believe in barriers - either literal or figurative ones.
They are set to move in a matter of days into a house that they have made as accessible as possible for their seven-year-old son Sidney, who has cerebral palsy.
When Sidney was born in 2003, Kirk and Dina Smallman were living in a small condominium in Vancouver's West End. Sidney would be the oldest of the couple's three children.
"We were learning how to be parents for the first time, anyway," says Dina with a smile. "This [the CP diagnosis] just happened to come along with all of that other stuff at the same time."
That positive attitude seems to have never wavered. The Smallmans want their lives to be defined by what Sidney can do, rather than what he cannot.
Still, when a family has a child with CP - or other special needs - considerable forethought must be given to everyday activities. When the family is planning an excursion, for instance, there can be challenges in moving a wheelchair in and out of a home, especially if that home is less than thoroughly accessible. Consideration must be given as to what supplies need to be taken, and what facilities might be available at the destination.
Kirk, a movie location scout, has been well-equipped to handle those challenges, yet he and Dina began yearning for a home where they could truly relax, where they could turn off the parts of their minds always ticking off checklists.
By 2006, Sidney's little sister Aubrey had been born, and the family had moved to a bungalow in East Vancouver. They knew it was mostly a stopgap measure because they would need a larger home. They realized a home elevator would make their lives much easier, and put it at the top of their wish list.
The Smallmans began looking for a Vancouver Special, believing that style of two-level home would be more suited to become completely accessible than a heritage house, which may have had narrower hallways and perhaps increased stairways.
After more than a year of searching, they found the perfect home on a corner lot in East Vancouver. They also found Ed Bascombe, of Bascombe Construction, who would take on the work of transforming the house into a place where Sidney will be able to roam around just like any other kid his age.
Bascombe had worked for years in construction on public buildings at the Point Grey campus of UBC, so he has a little more familiarity than most with accessibility issues. The Smallmans had invited other contractors to bid on the job, but unlike some of them, Bascombe instantly understood that the focus was function much more than form. He and his team also realized early on that this was no ordinary renovation.
"I've worked with some of these guys [his tradespeople] for a long time," he says softly. "It's probably been 20 years with my tile guy. He was just finishing up the tub area,
and he was almost in tears - they all know how much of a difference this is going to make."
What the elevator alone will give them back is the gift of time, especially as Sidney gets older and heavier.
"Getting Sidney in and out of his walker is lots of work - he's 40 pounds of pure muscle, and the CP means that he does lots of arching," says Kirk. "Then there's bringing all his supplies . just carrying him upstairs takes 20 minutes."
Sidney has a metal walking frame that straps in behind him, allowing him to essentially walk on his own. He has little to no cognitive impairment and he knows full well that if he pushes the big black wall button that the elevator will arrive. He can also now reach all of the light switches in the house now that they've been lowered.
Installing a 30-foot support beam between the lower and upper floors allowed the home to be really opened up. There are now no hallways at all on the bottom floor, with the living room flowing directly to the kitchen to the bathroom to the den.
All of the hallways and doors are extra wide, as is the clearance around the island in the kitchen. The thresholds have been minimized to allow for smooth transitions from every area of the property.
There is an automatic door switch that will allow Sidney to easily come in from outside, and a wash station in the garage that will let Kirk and Dina wash down muddy wheels before the chair enters the house. Bascombe also came up with the idea of removing several inches of topsoil from the yard so that it's as flat as possible.
Dina, meantime, quietly advocated at city hall until they were granted a street parking spot alongside the house that is designated wheelchair only.
The upstairs houses an exercise room, all of the bedrooms, and more bathrooms. Sidney's has a cable lift that will allow him to be hoisted directly into the tub. All of the "extras" have gone to accessibility; there is no home theatre, for instance, and no wine cellar.
"The term 'accessible' is used quite loosely," says Dina. "People seem to think you put in a couple of ramps and that's it!"
Chimes in Kirk: "All of the stuff done here means that we'll be able to age in place too - this is probably the last home we'll live in."
Sidney tears around the block a few times in his walker, a wide grin on his face. Then it's on to making mudpies with Aubrey in the back yard, with little brother Atlee looking
on. In some ways, that says it all.
Special to The Sun
. Work with a builder who will listen to your priorities, someone who truly understands utility versus better home appearance. The Smallmans pulled back on esthetic things - crown moulding and dormers over the deck doors, for instance - so they could keep items like the automatic door opener in the budget.
. Find people who have experience working on accessibility issues. They'll be better equipped to propose ideas, like the support beam that's allowed the main floor of the Smallman house to be so open.
. Look for tax breaks, grants and other forms of assistance. There are a number of groups out there that want to help people in need. The Smallmans funded their renovation on their own only because they had already used up all of the available assistance.
. Do your research, and then do some more. There are many products that can ease the way around accessibility.


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Brand new here, but have been digi scrapping for a while now. Besides the scrap booking I find fun designs, like cute butterflies and fairies or castles and princesses, I print them out large and cut and put them on my kids' walls for decoration.
What Else Can You Make?
As glue and me don't go well together, I welcomed DS in my life. Made lots of DS kits, layouts and the occasional FB header, but designing kits is what I love most. I've made my very first (paper) Artist Trading Cards a few months ago and I'm thinking of trying a hybrid ATC.
I've used DS graphics for my photo-albums - the ones you create online and get them delivered on paper - and they turned out really nice, so I'll definitely keep doing that.
I love everyone's ideas! I love digital, but sometimes I get a bit antsy and can't sit in front of the computer to craft, so I love thinking up other options. I can't craft like I used to due to my illness, but I still like the feel of tangible items in my hands. I get vertigo daily, so the computer can make me all sorts of dizzy, lol.
I use mine for email stationary, signature tags, wallpapers for the puter, and printouts for miniatures (my other crafty hobby)!
I use my ever increasing digi stash for so many hybrid projects, making nice backgrounds for cards, ATC's, custom made boxes for large book cards and have just started playing around with art journaling, I also print out nice background papers & putting them in folders with samples of stamps that go well with them, so when the mood takes me I have everything to hand for a particular project, because for some reason I seem to play around with ideas for ever and then it leaves me really short of time for actually making a birthday card in time for someones birthday
I also love playing with inks & paints and learning new techniques and ways to use them, I'm building up a nice little stash of pretty backgrounds too:-) I also enjoy making home furnishings and bags with images from some of my photos transferred onto calico and made into the focal point. I enjoy the practical aspect of planning how a bag will come together. I also enjoy cross stitch and tapestry & have more than one cross stitch/tapestry project on the go. Plus I have also just started a small patchwork quilt, (whew!!) as the nights are now getting dark so early, I thought it would be good to do in front of the tv when I get home from work.
I enjoy making toppers for candy bags, and cards, and tags to print for presents.
Afghans, baby blankets, girls' and dog hair accessories, bowties for boys
I make cards, decorative boxes and decorative wallhangings.
I've never thought of making desktop backgrounds with the kits, but it's a marvelous idea.. thanks everyone.


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Posted December 16, 2010, 3:24 pm
Poachers are thieves who steal your wildlife — turn them in!
Turn in a poacher
You may also make a report online.
The law enforcement section contributes to the success of the Division's mission through enforcement of wildlife law, ensuring compliance, educating the public and promoting the value of wildlife to all.
News and information regarding wildlife law enforcement activities around the state.
Please call us toll-free to report poaching violations. Your report can remain confidential if you wish. Most wireless phone users can dial *DEER.
If you turn in a poacher, you might qualify for a substantial reward. Do yourself and the rest of us a favor by turning in wildlife thieves.
Before reporting a wildlife crime, try to get as much information as you can. Learn what kind of information that officers need.
Poaching is a serious crime with penalties that include fines, paying restitution, jail time, confiscation of hunting equipment, and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
The DWR was one of the first wildlife agencies in the country to institute a toll-free wildlife violation report telephone line.
The job of protecting wildlife and enforcing wildlife laws is important, challenging and rewarding. Find out what it takes to become a conservation officer.


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Update: Microsoft's Karl Stricker has chimed in to let us know that these three games were removed by the develoeprs because the game's licenses had expired. So the good news is the games are pefectly fine for playing, the bad news is you can no longer play them if you haven't previously bought/downloaded them.
Bad news folks, looks like we have another case of missing Xbox LIVE games for Windows Phone again. This time three titles have disappeared:
- Fast & Furious: Adrenaline (review)
- Start Wars: Battle for Hoth (tag)
- Star Wars Cantina
Once again, we are left without reason as to their disappearance or whether they will return or not. Usually, the case has been they return at some point with an update or bug fix that was sorely needed, but we all know about the Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst fiasco.
Regardless of the reasons, duration of them missing or circumstances, we find the frequency of which Xbox LIVE games being pulled alarming. For one, these are the "A-list" titles and therefore shouldn't be having any such problems and if they do, they should have their updates fast-tracked. Number two, we find the lack of communication disturbing, to paraphrase our favorite Darklord of the Sith. Once again, we're all adults here and while we may not like games being yanked if we're told why and how the situation is being resolved, well, it goes a long way in ameliorating our concerns.
As usual, we'll work on getting answers. Until then, we're left with just questions. And frustration. And disappointment. Thanks, Tom S. & Mike J., for the heads up!


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- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 18, 2010) - The ETSU baseball team is set to open the season Friday at 4 p.m. against The Citadel in The Citadel Memorial Challenge at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.
The Bucs close out the tournament with Kansas State at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Delaware on Sunday at 10 a.m. The meeting between ETSU and the Bulldogs on Friday will be the 24th meeting between head coach Tony Skole and his alma mater.
ETSU is 27-50 all-time against The Citadel, while this is the first meeting against both Kansas State and Delaware.
Live stats will be provided for The Citadel Memorial Challenge at the link above. Fans can also watch every game live via streaming video provided by The Citadel for $4.95 for a single day pass and $9.95 for the tournament pass.
For more information on Buccaneer baseball or any other athletic news, please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


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Mark of Falworth
Siercon and Coral
Hello, Classic-Castle!
The time has come, once again, to post the sign-ups for the Sigfig Photoshoot for BrickCon 2012.
For newcomers to the community, your sigifig is your plastic representation of yourself. This does not have to be castle-y for our purposes; not everyone has a castle oriented sigfig. While preferred, it's certainly not required.
The ultimate goal is to get as many sigfigs from CC as possible, line em all up, and take a picture. Pretty simple, right? Here's a look at previous photos:
BrickFest 2007
BrickCon 2007
BrickCon 2008
BrickFest 2009
BrickCon 2009
BrickCon 2010
And finally, BrickCon 2011:
There are ALL sorts of figs there. It's a ton of fun. Sigfigs will be treated with the utmost respect, and will not be placed in compromising situations. Mostly. Probably. Then again, Josh is in charge of Castle (with help from his minions) and I'm coordinating the photoshoot, so who knows?
I try as hard as I possibly can to make sure that every fig posted in this thread is present in the photo. I'm not perfect, and conventions are chaotic. I guarantee you ever single figure is built, but it can be awfully difficult . Sometimes it's hard to see your figure since there are so many figs, but I can assure you, everyone will be represented. (Keep in mind that LEGO is not an easy medium to photograph under the best conditions, and this is taken at a convention. With lots of bad lighting.)
FOR ATTENDEES: Please be sure to bring your sigfig with you! The photo will be taken Friday night sometime, likely after any ceremonies that evening.
FOR NON ATTENDEES: You have a choice! You can either A) Post in this thread or send me a PM detailing what your fig looks like, or B) if you have a custom fig, you can send it to me and I'll be sure it gets returned to you.
For Option A: You MUST provide picture reference for your fig. For example:
It's a clear photo, and it's easy to reference the torso, face, hair, and legs. If you don't have a photo and aren't able to take one, please browse either Peeron or Bricklink and give us the references. This makes it easier on us, the attendees, to construct your figs. If you have a particularly rare piece for any of it, please also consider alternatives: If your sigfig uses the forestwoman torso, for example, or the white ninja, please give us a cheaper, easier-to-find alternative. With the massive collections between the attendees, we should be able to construct your fig, but we'd like a back-up plan.
For Option B: Please send me a PM, and I will let you know what snail-mail address to send your fig to. If at all possible, Option A would be best, because it has less room for the USPS to err and lose your fig. But if you really want YOUR fig to be there, we'll do what we can. Just shoot me a PM.
After BrickCon, photos will be posted in a myriad of sites. I'll have mine in my flickr account, and I'm sure plenty will be on various image hosting sites that are used by the community. You'll find most pictures from BrickCon in the Flickr Group.
Pleas post photos of your fig prior to SEPTEMBER 18, 2012. This is earlier than before; it will give us more time to construct them all. If you are sending me your fig, PM me no later than September 15.
(Attendees: you know what to do. Lemme know who you can build, and as we get closer, I'll update the list that will appear at the top of this thread!)
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Just post em' here.


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Olive Motel in Black & White, Silver Lake | Photo by Irene Mason/Flickr
- Council District 13 candidates raise $1 million in contributions. KPCC
- What's all that squawking? Wild parrots return to Eagle Rock. Patch
- More Birds: L.A. River bird watching in Atwater Village. Corralitas Red Car
- DWP to buy excess solar power from residential and business customers but utility might end up over paying. Daily News
- Happening Today: "Bird's Flock," Montecito Heights; Second Saturday Gallery Night, Northeast L.A. Save The Date


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Windproof, breathable fleece construction with DWR finish
Soft shell cuffs, neck & side panels for increased durability
Full-length YKK® VISLON® corrosion-resistant front zip
Lined collar; drop-in style hand warmer pockets with interior cell phone stash pocket
Chest pockets with zip closure; dual draw-cord adjustable bottom hem with cord pull cinch
Fabric Tech: WINDSTOPPER® Technical Fleece with100% Polyester face; 100% Polyester microcheck fleece backer
Approx Weight: 652g
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Simms' ADL jacket keeps you casting through mixed shoulder season weather thanks to WINDSTOPPER® technical fleece in a DWR rain-repelling finish. Soft-shell cuffs, neck, and side panels increase durability, while the lined collar bolsters next-to-skin comfort and helps contain heat. Source chest pockets with zip closures for fishing essential safe-housing and drop your frozen mitts into perfectly placed hand warmer pockets with an interior stash compartment awaiting digital devices and more.


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LG G TAB Tablet | High-resolution display that creates clearer images, Finer picture quality with improved pixel density of 273ppi.
LGV500 White
Key Features
- Optimal One-Hand Grip
- Narrow Bezel Display
- Dual Rear Speakers
Android 4.2.2(Jelly Bean)
4,600 mAh Li-Polymer
8.3" Full HD IPS Display 1920x1200pixels, 273ppi
Main: 5MB AF BSICamera Front: 1.3MB
Do you desire a device that shows you accurate colors and high-definition details for both work and play? Presenting cinema like views with incredible clarity, G Pad 8.3 provides true to nature color expression that is great for everyone and just right for you.
8.3" Full HD IPS DISPLAY
Catch every eye with G Pad 8.3"" Full HD (1920 x 1200) display, providing an incredible visual experience with vibrant and clear imagery that shows off every Detail even when zoomed in. With superior IPS Technology, G Pad 8.3 offers vivid and true-to-nature color expression without distortion for full color fidelity and the most natural imagery reproduction.
Rich 273 ppi Pixel Density
The 273 ppi resolution yields a finer quality image thanks to improved pixel density, resulting in sharp and detailed imagery on-screen.
Have you been searching for a device that provides a large and exceptional viewing experience and also fits easily in your pocket?
Built to be immersive yet comfortable to grip in-hand, G Pad 8.3 is the portable edge-to-edge experience that is just right for you.
Near Zero Bezel Display
Discover a form-fitted tablet with a comfortable one-handed grip, allowing the most convenient use and natural navigation. And due to its sleek profile, it is perfectly portable fitting snugly in your pocket. Experience virtual edge-to-edge viewing with no wasted space thanks to a 7.2 mm near zero bezel.
Do you need a device that lets you switch between tasks effortlessly while juggling all your priorities efficiently? With an intuitive and simple user interface, G Pad 8.3 is easy to use and easy to love therefore, it is just right for you.
Snapdragon™ 600 Processor with 1.7 GHz Quad-Core CPU
Make every on-device interaction smooth and swift with G Pad 8.3' Snapdragon™ 600 Processor featuring Quad-Core 1.7 GHz CPU.
Multitask efficiently with the simultaneous use of multiple apps, adjusting window size and transparency of up to Two QSlide windows, which float on top of the original screen.
Slide Aside
Switch between any three different apps at once by sliding the screen left or right with three fingers, so you can juggle more tasks simultaneously on the big screen.
Multi-User Function
Share G Pad 8.3 with a child or a guest, allowing them to use your tablet while keeping your personal information safe. Pre-set app restrictions and access the mode directly from the unlock screen.
Knock Knock… G Pad 8.3 requires only two taps with a fingertip to wake the display or put it to sleep, sensing the gesture and turning it on or off automatically.
Life Stream
Archive your activities (posts, photos, music listened to, etc…) and have them summarized conveniently and easily accessible as an interactive scrapbook/diary.
Voice Mate
Voice Mate is G Pad 8.3's voice-powered personal assistant. Using Voice Mate is easy just speak naturally, and ask it to do anything you like, such as searching for a nearby restaurant, sending an email to a friend, updating your calendar, or more.
How great would it be to have the ability of using all your devices together, connecting with a simple touch? Now you can move between devices easily, without missing a beat in between. G Pad 8.3 provides a seamless experience that's just right for you.
QPair : Call / Message Notification
G Pad 8.3 alerts you if your smartphone receives a call or message you can even reply to messages right from the screen.
QPair : Recent App Sticker
After turning off your smartphone, G Pad 8.3 will receive a pop-up sticker of the URL, video, or web browser you were using.
QPair : Internet via Phone
Just push a button and G Pad 8.3 will sync with your smartphone's wireless connectivity, or another open network.
QPair : QuickMemo Transfer
QuickMemo allows you to write or draw on any screen and then share the memo seamlessly between G Pad 8.3 and your smartphone.
G Pad 8.3 features universal control for TVs and cable set-top-boxes in any room. You can use the keyboard on your tablet to control the cursor of the TV Guide on your big screen.
Share your world by streaming images, music, videos, or documents wirelessly from G Pad 8.3 to other devices through a simple, one-touch connection.
1) QuickPad™ - Direct Access to screen : When opening / closing the cover, LCD is automatically On/Off.
2) Detachable : Cover can easily be detached/attached by magnetic
3) Stand : QuickPad™ enables dual-mode docking (Standing / Typing)
Multimedia Charging Dock
ㆍHolds your tablet at a comfortable reading angle for comfortable multimedia enjoyment.
ㆍCompatible with LG official case.
ㆍSupports your tablet in both portrait and landscape formats.
Download LG product manuals and documentation
Software & Firmware
Check for LG Product software & firmware updates
Help Library
Help yourself to useful product information
Video Tutorials
Learn how to install & operate your LG product
Product Registration
Get the most out of your new purchase
Warranty Info
Refer to warranty info
Voice Assistant
Control select LG products with your voice
Simply choose a support option from the icons below:
Live Chat
Chat with an LG Support Representative.
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Call an LG Support Representative at
Customer Service1-888-542-2623(7am-12am)
For Business Support
Business Solution
No time to chat?


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Who knew there was so much humor in social media?
Funny Facebook updates and tweets – some unintentionally hilarious or revealing – are being mined for laughs on the web, and even in old-fashioned print.
The website Oversharers mocks Facebook and Twitter users who give too much personal information in their status updates, prattling on about bodily functions and offering randy thoughts they wouldn't want mom to read (warning: some entries NSFW).
"A tip: No matter how hot it is, never pull out sizzling chicken while topless," is one of tamer and less gross of the entries.
(Advice from President Obama, who told the nation's children Tuesday to "be careful" when posting on Facebook – "Whatever you do, it will be pulled up later in your life," he warned – obviously came too late for serial oversharers.)
Meanwhile, a collection of clever tweets fill a new book called "Twitter Wit." The effort recently notched the official tweet of approval from Twitter co-creator Biz Stone, who wrote the forward for the book, which is filled with one-liners, in 140 characters or less.
"Whenever I see the word 'Chicagoland' I envision a cold theme park where everyone is eating sausages and looks like Mike Ditka," one contributor observed.
Social media has been satirized quite a bit lately in other mass media, notably in Conan O'Brien's "Twitter Tracker" gag, and Ben Stiller's videos about his comically clueless forays into Facebook and Twitter. The attention is a sign of social media's growing prevalence, even if everybody isn't yet in on the joke.
The difference with ventures like Oversharers and "Twitter Wit," is that the humor is being generated from within the online world, rather than from the outside looking in. Internet users send ridiculous posts to Oversharers, while Nick Douglas, the compiler of "Twitter Wit," sought quips for the book via Twitter.
For all the narcissism social media has been accused of fostering, it's refreshing to see that some folks are using Facebook, Twitter and the like, to poke fun and get some laughs. Now the trick is to heed the President's advice, and avoid becoming someone else's punchline…
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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In the age-old debate between nature and nurture, scientists studying breast-feeding and IQ have declared a tie.
The international team of psychologists, psychiatrists and geneticists wanted to know whether genes are primarily responsible for determining a person's intellect or if environment plays a dominant role. They decided to examine breast-feeding because studies have found that nutrients in breast milk boost neurodevelopment in babies and that kids who were breast-fed tend to have higher IQs.
So they searched for a gene that was likely to help babies get an intelligence boost from breast milk. The team focused on FADS2 because it plays a crucial role in metabolizing the fatty acids DHA and ARA that help neurons build connections in the developing brain. DHA and ARA are abundant in breast milk but have only recently been added to infant formula.
The study hinged on the fact that babies are born with one of three versions of FADS2. For children in two of those categories, those who were breast-fed scored an average of 6.8 points higher on IQ tests than kids who were raised on formula, the researchers found. Breast-feeding didn't make a difference for youngsters in the third group.
The disparity was found in two groups of children -- about 1,000 born in New Zealand in the early 1970s and 2,200 born in Britain in the mid-1990s.
The results showed that both nature and nurture -- the right genes and a parental decision to breast-feed -- are necessary to gain the IQ advantage.
"Genes are not a blueprint," said Avshalom Caspi, professor of personality development at King's College London and lead author of the study published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We hope that this research will help put a nail in the nature-versus-nurture coffin." Figuring out precisely how certain versions of the gene allows babies to benefit from breast milk will require further research, Caspi said.
Besides, he added, an array of other genes almost certainly play a role in helping babies get the most out of the myriad nutrients found in breast milk.


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.
There is currently no available "Beginner" label. The following is the default level label: While it is possible that this old buggy was left out in the fields to go to ruin, it is more likely that it was dragged out of a barn and the neighborhood children were encouraged to hop on board to have their picture taken. The Allen sisters of Deerfield, Massachusetts, were well known for their photographs of rural children.
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There are 54 Water Resources Research Institutes or Centers. The programs of the individual institutes are as varied as the states and territories that they serve
In March 2011, the KWRRI was designated as an EPA Region 4 Center of Excellence for Watershed Management. The mission of the Center is to provide administrative support for watershed management activities across the state by facilitating relationships between Center Partners and various stakeholders.
Kentucky River Watershed Watch is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization formed in 1997 through the cooperation of the Sierra Club, the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, and the Division of Water's Water Watch program. Its membership focuses water quality monitoring and improvement efforts within the Kentucky River Basin.
The Research Translation Core provides updates on Superfund events and coverage in the popular press, overviews of the program's research projects and support cores, a listing of academic presentations and publications based on Superfund projects, information for program faculty, and contact information for individuals participating in the Superfund Basic Research Program at the University of Kentucky.
The Kentucky Research Consortium for Energy and Environment (KRCEE) supports the Department of Energy's efforts to complete the expeditious and economically viable environmental restoration of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, the Western Kentucky Wildlife Management Area, and surrounding areas.
ASDSO is a national non-profit organization of state and federal dam safety regulators, dam owners and operators, engineering consultants, manufacturers and suppliers, academia, contractors and others interested in dams safety.
the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. has partnered with us to serve as the technical support. They will provide expertise to localize the event, identify problems and solutions, and create the panel discussions that enliven the debate.
The National Geologic Map Database.


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Message Board
Fiona Patton Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Patton has written!
Author Patton's Book Reviews
The Golden Sword - Branion Series 4
Dew, August 2001, 6.99, 432 pp. ISBN 0886779219 Camden DeKatherine never questioned his role in his family's empire as everyone served the Flame including him. That belief ended on his twelfth birthday when his father died. His older brother, Alec, now the Duke, shut him out and Cam felt like a stranger in his own home. He found comfort in the Wind who called to him and realized he was that Aspect's Chosen. Cam's Uncle Celestus saw t...
The Stone Prince - Branion 1
The Stone Prince is the story of Prince Demnor and his Companion, Kelahnus. Demnor has been taught by his mother that only flawed vessels show emotion and have feelings for others. And flawed vessels crack under pressure. When he was sixteen, Demnor fell in love with Kelahnus, but they were separated by his mother's command. Demnor eventually wins Kelahnus back, but then he is forced into marriage with the Duke Isolde. Despite Demnor's affection for his ...


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Save All The Robots!
Before you access to the SAVE ALL THE ROBOTS (henceforth, 'the website'):
The website should remind you that cookies will be used in order to keep your session up during your game. Cookies are only useful to maintain your session and show you the website in your favourite language. Cookies will never be used for either marketing or adverstising goals.
The website does not need any personal information, except your email, which will be useful to allow your access to the website and identify your user to save your games. The username can be invented and the image (if you have logged in through social networks) can be deleted by yourself.
Your data (described in the previous step) will be stored on our sever until you cancel your account.
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text: A room created for self tasting sesstion inside the HOUSE OF BOLS building in Amsterdam. An experience that proved that sense of sight is equally if not more important than sense of taste and smell. I was blindfolded and was asked to taste and smell some of the flavours that is very common around us, and guess what it was hard for me to identify flavours like Lychee, banana, Green Tea and Apricott. That's when I belived that ~Seeing is believing. If you don't trust me on this; its time for you to take a hike to Amsterdam and believe it for your self.


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He grew up on a farm in Gilroy, where he was surrounded by ducks, rabbits and chickens and participated in the local 4-H club. But he is one of very few people who can boast of having lived at the "birthplace of Silicon Valley" — the iconic Addison Avenue home where Bill Hewlett and David Packard founded the company that bears their names.
He is an avowed environmentalist who calls himself a "big proponent of recycling." But he also on the council minority that opposes the construction of an anaerobic digestion plant at Byxbee Park — a plan city officials are now studying.
He served as a board member at the Chamber of Commerce, both in Palo Alto and Mountain View, but also picked up an endorsement from local labor groups when he decided to run for the Palo Alto City Council in 2007.
Espinosa was praised by his colleagues Tuesday for his intelligence, independence and willingness to help the city make tough decisions during sour economic times. But he was also one of few council members who opposed a business-license tax for Palo Alto — a tax that staff said was badly needed to prevent huge budget cuts.
Espinosa, who at 38 became the fourth youngest mayor in the city's history Tuesday night, doesn't speak as often as many of his colleagues and often defies expectations when he does. On the issue of composting, while others on the council stressed the need to keep operations local, Espinosa has constantly urged his colleagues to think regionally and argued that city borders are "very much artificial."
"People don't know when they drive from Mountain View to Palo Alto and Menlo Park," Espinosa said at an April meeting. "We should think regionally about our approaches to waste management and recycling."
Though his colleagues don't always agree with Espinosa's positions, they unanimously agreed that he should be the city's mayor in 2011.
Councilman Larry Klein, who nominated Espinosa for mayor, read through Espinosa's list of jobs and achievements — including his positions as a trustee at his alma mater, Wesleyan University, his degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and his job as Reno's aide — and proclaimed him "one of the more distinguished people we've ever had on the job."
Councilman Greg Scharff also applauded Espinosa's experience and compassion and called him "truly a nice guy."
"Sid really delves into details; he understands what's going on — and he makes it look so easy," Scharff said.
Espinosa was born in Santa Clara and moved to Gilroy as a second-grader. He grew up in Gilroy and says he became interested in public policy as a junior high student. As a senior at Gilroy High School, Espinosa was elected class president.
From Gilroy, Espinosa went on to Wesleyan University, where he studied government, and later to Washington, D.C. After a brief stint in the Democratic National Committee in 1994 — a dark year for Democrats — he went on to the White House and worked in presidential speechwriting. A year later, he went on to work for Reno, a mentor with whom he continues to keep in touch.
Espinosa said Reno "shaped who I've become professionally and how I think about public service."
"To have someone, while you're in your 20's, mentor you and take you under her wing — especially someone so focused on justice and on doing what's right, someone who has spent her entire career not focused on fame or recognition, but on making the society a better place — she instilled those qualities into everyone who worked for her," Sid told the Weekly.
Espinosa ultimately returned to California and was interviewed for a job at Hewlett-Packard by Gary Fazzino, a former Palo Alto mayor and the city's unofficial historian (as well as the third youngest mayor in the city's history). He got the job and went on to serve as director of philanthropy at Hewlett-Packard. He also helped the company restore the venerable Addison Avenue residence with the famous garage.
After the restoration, he was offered a chance to live at the restored house. He happily accepted.
"It's an incredible part of California, Palo Alto, really world history, and it was wonderful to be there," Espinosa said. "Every year, I felt like I was living history."
After more than three years at the famous house, Espinosa was recruited by Microsoft and moved out. He now serves as the company's "director of citizenship" — a position that includes giving the company a greater presence in Silicon Valley.
At the same time, he remained devoted to local issues and served on the board of the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation. While on the board, Espinosa helped the foundation reach a partnership with the city to rebuild the art center.
He also helped to lead Palo Alto's effort to rebuild local libraries, which was boosted by the 2008 passage of Measure N, a $76 million bond for library renovation.
Building libraries seems to be in Espinosa's blood. While Espinosa was helping to raise money for local libraries in 2008, his mother was doing the same thing in the Dominican Republic, where she was a library volunteer. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Tami, a principal at Brentwood Academy in East Palo Alto, was working to strengthen the library in her school, he said.
Espinosa sees some humor in the parallel between his mother's library project and the one in Palo Alto, where the planning process is notoriously thorough. He noted that both he and his mother reached their fundraising goals at about the same time in late 2008.
"By the next February or March, Palo Alto was just beginning its review and approval process, which will take years," Espinosa recalled. "My mom's library, meanwhile, was already built and painted."
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11-01-2018 | Event report | P2Fuels | P2Chemicals
On 18 December, the first symposium on e-Refinery in which sustainable electricity forms the basis for a decarbonized economy, was held at TU Delft, organized in collaboration with VoltaChem. Approximately 170 researchers, representatives of companies, and other interested parties were present in Delft to discuss the challenges and ideas about accelerating technical breakthroughs in e-refinery, the electrocatalytic production of base chemicals and fuels. In the laboratory, the individual steps of the e-Refinery are already possible. You can convert water into hydrogen on an industrial scale, with the help of electric current: oxygen is produced on one electrode, on the other hydrogen, used as fuel and raw material. But further steps are needed, such as the conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels and other organic chemical feedstock. Or, for example, coupling hydrogen with nitrogen to form ammonia. However, the Technology Readiness Levels for industrial applications of these processes are still far too low. With 2050 in mind, the key question is how do we bring these processes - as quickly as possible - to practice?
There is no silver bullet! Many roads have to be followed for the energy transition: there is not a single, simple solution." According to one the speakers at the e-Refinery symposium on 18 December at Delft University of Technology.
There is, however, with e-Refinery an overarching vision on the future of sustainable chemicals and fuels; the transition of the chemical and energy sectors from fossil fuels to renewable feedstock and electricity, the latter preferably from renewable sources such as wind and solar power. This will form the basis of an extensive network of chemical and energy conversions; although it's not yet exactly clear what it will look like in detail.
Under the chairmanship of Delft chemist Bernard Dam, approximately one hundred seventy researchers, representatives of companies, and other interested parties were present in Delft to discuss the scientific challenges of this development.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
Scientists have already shown that the individual steps of an e-Refinery are possible. By using electrolysis you can turn water into hydrogen on an industrial scale: one electrode produces oxygen and the other hydrogen, useable as fuel or as a chemical feedstock.
But further steps are needed, such as the conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels and other organic chemical feedstock. Or, for example, coupling (linking?) hydrogen with nitrogen to form ammonia. Many of these processes are technically possible, but the Technology Readiness Levels are still too low for industrial application and there are still fundamental research questions. So how do we accelerate these technologies to practice?
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Posted on June 21, 2013
To tell you the truth, I hung up my prophet's hat long ago. I was a very good prophet, I thought. I made excellent prophecies. Was it my fault they all turned out to be largely filled with air?
My very first radio interview took place just before the 1976 Presidential election, when I opined that a largely unknown peanut-growing governor could never unseat a sitting President of the United States. I actually followed that four years later with a confident pronouncement that an amiable but elderly actor could never unseat a sitting President of the United States. (Have I ever mentioned that for the first twelve years I voted not a single candidate who was not running unopposed won if I voted for them? I may be the only person in Chicago who offered to sell my vote by saying "For twenty bucks, I'll vote for your opponent.")
In my master's thesis I stated clearly that it would be 2025 or 2030 before laser technology would produce a format that could compete with the reliable vinyl LP, and somewhere around that time I also predicted that Madonna would quickly fade from the music scene, being no more than a cheap clone of Cyndi Lauper.
I could go on, but the point is made. My life as a prophet is no threat to the work of Nostradamus, Jeane Dixon, or Carnac the Magnificent.
So all you people who keep asking me what I think the future of the Book Fair is in a world of Kindles and Nooks (or Noodles or Kooks or whatever else they come up with) would do just as well asking me about your latest perpetual motion machine.
Nonetheless, since you seem to want an answer, I will tell you. We aren't going to have a world of Kindles and Nooks.
I came to this flash of insight when someone told me, "My 10 year-old and 8 year-old have those things."
"Oh," said I, reinforcing a reputation for snappy patter.
"Love 'em," he said. "They play games on them and stream movies. Never have seen 'em read an e-Book, though."
It struck me at once that we had jumped back a century to the days when phonograph manufacturers were out there making records that could be played only on their device, figuring that if they had the best records, people would naturally come buy their very expensive hardware. It wasn't until some genius invented a record player with variable speeds and spindle adapters that companies realized the money was in the software. Sure, RCA and Zenith and the others still vied to make the best phonograph, but all the new models could play the standard format and speed adopted by the industry.
I note that Microsoft and Apple haven't quite reached this point, so I don't suppose Amazon and Barnes & Noble will either. But the day is coming when the e-reading app will be available for any mobile pad, phone, wristwatch or other device The publisher of an e-Book will matter to you just as much as the publisher of a hard copy does now.
And once the e-Book becomes just another app, we've got the whole digital reading thing licked. Between trying to find that app among the 300 or so you've downloaded AND realizing that you can just as easily get in a few games of Angry Birds in on the same device, reading will go back to being something you do between the pages of a three-dimensional book, far from the distractions of a host of other e-playthings.
Remember, you heard it here first. And, given my record in prophecy, maybe last.
Submitted by Jaime on June 21, 2013 Permalink


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New Analysis Shows Age has a Significant Effect on Outcomes in Patients Being Treated for Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI)
- Results published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society demonstrate continuous declines in clinical cure and sustained clinical response after age 40 -
Feb 14, 2013, 08:00 ET
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTR) today announced that the February 2013 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published results from a multivariate analysis demonstrating that advancing age is a predictor of deterioration in treatment outcomes in patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The analysis was performed using data from two large, randomized Phase 3 clinical studies that compared the efficacy of DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) tablets to vancomycin for the treatment of CDI. The new analysis predicts that with each decade increase after the age of 40, rates of clinical cure and sustained clinical response decrease by 17% and 13% with treatment, respectively, per decade (OR=0.83, 95% CI [0.72, 0.95], p=0.008; and OR=0.87, 95% CI [0.79, 0.94], p<0.001), while rates of disease recurrence increase by 17% (OR=1.17, 95% CI [1.04, 1.30], p=0.007).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090413/LA97352LOGO)
Results of the analysis showed that DIFICID and vancomycin were comparably effective in attaining clinical cure in all age groups studied; in those younger than 40 years of age, clinical cure was achieved in 97.2% of patients and in those older than 80, clinical cure was achieved in 87.5% to 88.2% of patients. For patients who achieved clinical cure, DIFICID-treated patients were half as likely to have had a recurrence compared to patients treated with vancomycin (OR=0.46, 95% CI [0.32, 0.67], p<0.001). The analysis showed the probability of sustained clinical response nearly doubled among DIFICID-treated patients compared to patients who received vancomycin (OR=1.86, 95% CI [1.40, 2.47], p<0.001). When researchers conducted an analysis adjusting for age and other factors that may impact treatment outcome, including the administration of concomitant antibiotics and C. difficile strain, DIFICID was associated with a 60% lower risk of recurrence (p<0.001) compared to vancomycin.
"This analysis reinforces the serious consequences of CDI for patients as they get older, including significantly increased risk of disease recurrence and treatment failure, " said Sherwood L. Gorbach, M.D., co-author and Optimer's Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President. "Most notably, results showed that the decline in treatment outcomes can begin as early as age 40, which suggests that age is an important risk factor for patients."
About the Analysis
The analysis was based on two multi-center, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 clinical trials, which enrolled 1,164 adult patients throughout Europe and North America. Patients with confirmed CDI, received either 200 mg of DIFICID (fidaxomicin) tablets dosed orally twice daily or 125 mg of vancomycin dosed orally four times daily for 10 days.
CDI was defined by a change in bowel habits, with more than three unformed bowel movements (or >200 mL unformed stool for patients with rectal collection devices) in the 24 hours before randomization, and the presence of either toxin A or B of C. difficile in the stool within 48 hours of randomization. The primary endpoint of the study was non-inferiority in clinical cure, which was defined as resolution of diarrhea (no more than three unformed stools for two consecutive days) maintained until the end of therapy for two days after. Patients who achieved a clinical cure were monitored for a subsequent four-week period to evaluate recurrence, which was a secondary endpoint. Sustained clinical response, an additional endpoint, was defined as patients who achieved clinical cure and did not experience a recurrence of symptomatic CDI by the end-of-study visit. The modified intent-to-treat population (mITT) was comprised of patients with documented CDI who received at least one dose of study medication (n=1,105). The per protocol population was comprised of patients in the mITT group with at least three days of treatment (for failure) or at least eight days of treatment (for cure), documented adherence to protocol, and an end-of-therapy evaluation (n=999).
Researchers used logistic regression models (SAS, Cary, NC) to test the effects of age, study (NCT00314951 or NCT00468728) and treatment group (DIFICID or vancomycin) on clinical cure, sustained clinical response and disease recurrence. Patient data was stratified as inclusive age categories: <40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80 and >80 years. The relationship of age or treatment group to clinical cure, sustained clinical response and disease recurrence was determined using Chi-square tests. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and P values were determined. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Multiple regression analysis of all other risk factors found to have a statistically significant association (p< 0.1) to outcomes was performed.
About Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI)
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a serious illness resulting from infection of the inner lining of the colon by C. difficile bacteria, which produce toxins that cause inflammation of the colon, severe diarrhea and, in the most serious cases, death. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is the most common symptom of CDI. In recent years, C. difficile has surpassed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the leading cause of healthcare-acquired infections in community hospitals. Patients typically develop CDAD from the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt normal gastrointestinal (gut) flora, possibly allowing C. difficile bacteria to flourish.
About DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) Tablets
DIFICID is the first macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) to be approved in over 25 years in the U.S. It is indicated for the treatment of CDAD in adults 18 years of age or older. DIFICID is administered in 200 milligram tablets given orally twice daily.
Important Safety Information for DIFICID
DIFICID is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to fidaxomicin or to any of the excipients in the formulation. DIFICID should not be used for systemic infections. Only use DIFICID for infection proven or strongly suspected to be caused by C. difficile. Prescribing DIFICID in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected C. difficile infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug resistant bacteria. The most common adverse reactions are nausea (11%), vomiting (7%), abdominal pain (6%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (4%), anemia (2%) and neutropenia (2%).
About Optimer Pharmaceuticals
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative hospital specialty products that have a positive impact on society. Optimer developed DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) tablets, an FDA-approved macrolide antibacterial drug for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age and older and is commercializing DIFICID in the U.S. and Canada. Optimer also received marketing authorization for fidaxomicin tablets in the European Union where its partner, Astellas Pharma Europe, is commercializing fidaxomicin under the trade name DIFICLIR™. The Company is exploring marketing authorization in other parts of the world where C. difficile has emerged as a serious health problem, including Asia. Additional information can be found at http://www.optimerpharma.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements related to, the potential benefits of DIFICID in treating certain patients and the risk, impact and burden of CDAD. Words such as "believes," "would," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "may," "intend," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Optimer that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations on the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Optimer's business including, without limitation, risks relating to: the possibility of alternative means of preventing or treating CDAD, whether Optimer will conduct additional clinical trials with respect to DIFICID or whether any such trials will be successful, and other risks detailed in Optimer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and Optimer undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David Walsey, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Canale Communications, Inc.
Jason I. Spark, Senior Vice President
SOURCE Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


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On this day in 1985, George Foster had a big day for the Mets with three RBI in a 14-7 victory at Montreal. It was one of his few, if not his last.
Even with his performance, Foster was overshadowed as Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and Wally Backman also drove in three runs apiece.
After several monster years with Cincinnati, including hitting 52 and 40 homers in consecutive seasons, the Mets landed the slugger for Greg Harris, Jim Kern and Alex Trevino.
Finally, a true power machine was on his way to Shea
Foster, who already seemed on the downside of his career, was given a five-year, $10-million contract (worth over $22 million by today's standards).
Foster hit 13 homers in 1982, his first year with the Mets, but bounced back the following year to hit 28, but it was merely a glimpse of his former self as he never hit that many again.
In parts of five seasons with the Mets, Foster hit 99 homers with 361 RBI and will always be regarded as one of the most disappointing acquisitions in club history.
Maybe Foster felt more at home in laid back Cincinnati with its roster of stars in Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez. Perhaps the expectations were too high in New York in the early years, but in the end Foster was also surrounded by stars so the spotlight wasn't only on him.
Old accounts of him said he was moody, surly and didn't hustle. In the end, Foster played the race card when talking about his diminished playing time.
"I don't want to say it's a racial thing, but … ''
He was waived shortly after that and signed with the Chicago White Sox. Funny thing, it was Kevin Mitchell who replaced Foster in left field.
At the time the Mets dumped Foster in 1986, he had one homer and 13 RBI.
At one time the guy could play, but he'll always be remembered as one of the most disliked Mets joining a group that includes Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, Bret Saberthagen, Kaz Matsui and Scott Schoeneweis.
If you can think of others on the list, let us know.


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Inspired by graphic and organic shapes, this semi abstract landscape series is by Mara Girling. Designed and made in Australia.
Paper & Size Options
Art Prints: 8x10, 12x16 -Textured Art Paper 270gsm
Art Prints: 50x70cm, 61x91cm - Cotton Rag Art Paper (made to order)
Printed on 300gsm smooth acid-free cotton rag art paper, using quality archival inks.
Posters: 50x70cm, 61x91cm - Matt Poster Paper 160gsm (made to order)
All prints are shipped using Australia Post, unless otherwise specified.
8x10" and 12x16": Packed in a sturdy flat cardboard mailer
3-7 working days for Australia, 1-3 weeks for International Orders
50x70cm and 61x91cm: Packed a solid tube mailer.
2-3 weeks for Australia, 3-6 weeks for International Orders
Framing Suggestions
All prints are sold unframed, however they will fit standard frames;
8x10", 12x16" prints fit standard photo frames
12x16", 50x70cm & 61x91cm prints fit Ikea frames
© Copyright 2019 Mara Girling


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Holographic storage's corpse twitches
Storex sniffs cash, but InPhase out of luck
Failed holographic storage start-up InPhase is selling off its patents as Eugen Pavel's Storex has developed 2nm optical lithography which could lead to a 100 exabyte optical disk.
At one end of the holographic storage spectrum we see a crumbling corpse, while at the other holographic gee-whizzery is talking about a disk with almost unimaginable capacity. It could store the data held in 25 million 4TB hard disk drives, they say.
Dr Eugen Pavel is the CEO of Storex Technologies, and he tells us: "Storex Technologies Inc. has developed a novel optical lithography technique with a resolution of 2nm half-pitch lines ... The capacity of an optical disc based on 2nm optical lithography is estimated at 100 Exabytes (one hundred billion GB)."
Pavel has previously mentioned 1PB optical disk technology. Now we are at 100EB – 100,000 times more.
There was a presentation describing Storex's 2nm optical lithography last December 2011 at Agilent Technologies' UK and Ireland SPM Users' Meeting in Yarnton, Oxford, UK. A second is scheduled for SPIE Advanced Lithography, taking place this year from 12 to 16 February 2012 in San Jose, with paper 8323-63 entitled: "2nm Quantum Optical Lithography".
The technology involves writing vanishingly thin lines with a 650nm laser beam in fluorescent photo-sensitive glass-ceramic material that has been doped with samarium. A quantum multi-photon confinement effect is used.
Here is the SPIE paper abstract:
Diffraction effects limit the minimal resolvable feature size to the Rayleigh diffraction limit of λ/2. In the past decades many lithography techniques has been tested in order to beat the diffraction limit. Some schemes of quantum lithography are based on an N-photon absorption process and achieve a spatial resolution of λ/(2N). Here, we are able to present an optimized material with a significant improvement of the lithography resolution beyond diffraction limit of visible light. AFM (Atomic Force Microscope), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope )and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) reveal 2nm and 4nm lines realized by direct laser writing. Channel depths between 1.5 - 5 nm were obtained on the recorded samples.
An EE Times article about the Storex paper mentions more realistic capacity levels for an optical disk using this technology:
With a green light wavelength of 532nm, this should lead to 4 bits μm−2 or more than 4 Gigabytes on each side of a 120mm diameter 1mm thick disk. But by storing data throughout the volume at a density of 1/λ3, the capacity of the same disk could be increased 2000-fold, to 8 Terabytes.
That is a lot, lot less than 100EB. Pavel said about this disparity:
8TB was an estimation carried out by [the] EE Times reporter. 100EB could be computed by taking into account that we have a 3D optical memory with the volume of a disc = 11309 mm3 = 1.1309 x 1018 nm3 (diameter 12 mm; thickness 1 mm) and the volume of a bit = 64 nm3 resulting [in] a capacity of 1.76 x 1020 bits = 2.2 x 1019bytes = 22x1018B = 22EB.
With CD, DVD and Blu-Ray experience in increasing recorded data, 22 EB could be replaced by 100 EB.
Storex is trying to commercialise its process. Until such commercialisation is completed we have no idea of the I/O rates to an 8TB optical drive – or of the likely drive costs.
It was drive development that sank InPhase, which was founded in 2000 as a Colorado-based spin-out from Bell Labs. It tried to develop a holographic drive that could store data on 300GB disks. InPhase ploughed through $95m before hard times and development problems resulted in it entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October.
The majority shareholder is a venture capital fund, Signal Lake, and it has decided to license or sell InPhase intellectual property through Drakes Bay Company, an IP brokerage firm. Signal Lake's MD, Bart Stuck, is the kind of guy who doesn't give up. He would say InPhase is not dead, not absolutely, finally. It is in something like a deliberately induced corporate coma, waiting to be resurrected, he might say. But selling the IP though, surely that's like siphoning the blood from the comatose body; it's hard to see a way for the patient to recover from this. ®
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