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IK Multimedia Releases AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Anniversary Collection
IK Multmedia have announced the Jimi Hendrix Anniversary Collection which includes several new amps and a classic tape echo.
Sunrise, FL (February 7, 2013) -- IK Multimedia, in collaboration with Authentic Hendrix, LLC, is proud to announce the AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Anniversary Collection, an expanded and updated version of its renowned AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix software for Mac and PC, featuring new officially licensed, ultra-accurate models of genuine Hendrix gear. The updated set provides users with even more options for tapping into Jimi's legendary sonic artistry.
Named to commemorate the recent 70th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's birthday, the new collection runs inside the AmpliTube Custom Shop software, which can be used as a DAW plug-in or as a standalone application, featuring a built-in 4-track recorder and speed-trainer. In addition to being released in the collection, all the Hendrix models are now available for à la carte purchase from the Custom Shop.
The new gear was modeled using IK's state-of-the-art modeling technology, resulting in remarkably authentic representations of the original units. The collection expands the acclaimed AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix gear lineup of 4 amps, 7 cabinets, 5 microphones, 10 stomps and 4 rack effects, with 3 new amp models and a classic tape echo. Combined, there are 34 pieces of must-have vintage guitar and bass equipment, all of which have helped define the history of rock and modern music.
The SilverTwelve (model is based on the Silvertone Twin Twelve 1484) is a 60W tube head with a separate 2x12 cabinet, which Hendrix used in the early part of his career. The amp produces a powerful clean sound and a gritty distortion, and has stood the test of time from the psychedelic era through the Grunge period and into today's modern rock.
The JH Gold (model based on a Marshall JTM 45) is "the" amp that Hendrix used almost exclusively from 1968 on. He liked to crank it to full volume and chain multiple heads to produce a huge, mind-blowing wall of sound. The new model has been reworked from the ground up, using IK's DSM and SCC modeling technologies, and includes both the Normal and Treble channels, plus fully modeled channel bridging.
The JH 1200 (model based on the Sunn 1200), is a high-powered tube bass head. Concertgoers at any Hendrix show between 1967 and 1968 would have seen an entire backline consisting of Sunn amps and cabinets. As with many amps from the psychedelic era, the ultra-loud 1200 was popular with both guitarists and bass players.
The EP Tape Echo (model based on the Maestro Echoplex) is the gold standard of vintage tape-echo units. Hendrix liked experimenting with it to produce wild psychedelic effects in the studio, and he used it heavily during the recording of Electric Ladyland.
Because all the Hendrix models are available in the Custom Shop, users of other AmpliTube versions,including the free AmpliTube Custom Shop, have access to these models for individual purchase.
The Custom Shop is the IK exclusive online gear shop and is integrated into AmpliTube software and plug-ins. It provides users with a huge range of amps, cabinets, microphones and effects that can be purchased individually. The "Try Before You Buy" feature makes it possible to download a fully functioning version of any model to audition it prior to purchase.
The AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Anniversary Collection is the latest addition to the IK family of guitar and bass products that, thanks to IK's unmatched modeling technologies, offers products with the best names in guitar effects and amplification such as Fender, Ampeg, Orange, Soldano, Seymour Duncan, T-Rex, and the rock icon Slash.
Pricing and Availability
The full version of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Anniversary Collection is available for $99.99/€79.99 (excluding taxes), as a digital serial-number delivery that can be purchased inside the AmpliTube Custom Shop or from the IK Online Store. Previous users of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix and AmpliTube 3 are eligible for a special upgrade price of only $39.99/€29.99 (excluding taxes) for a limited time. Each of the new models will also be available individually inside the AmpliTube Custom Shop with a price ranging from 20 to 30 Gear Credits - the currency used inside the Custom Shop for single gear purchases.
For more information:
IK Multimedia


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Bay Area Rapid Transit workers walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Friday after six months of on-again, off-again negotiations fell apart. The move threatens chaos beginning Friday morning for the estimated 400,000 commuters who use the San Francisco Bay Area's largest commuter rail line.
This is the second BART strike, the nation's fifth biggest commuter line, in four months.
The ultimate impasse came late Thursday afternoon after a marathon negotiating session that ran more than 24 hours.
Both sides had been working toward a deal to end the months-long contract dispute that has left many riders under the repeated threat of a commute-crippling strike.
A team of federal mediators who participated in the talks for four days said the parties succeeded in agreeing to a number of significant items, such as salary, healthcare and pension contributions, but were ultimately "unable to bridge the gap'' on the work rules. BART unions had offered to have these rules be put in front of an arbitrator, but management did not want to.
Federal mediator George Cohen walked out of the meeting and gave this grim announcement. "Unfortunately, regrettably, we were not able to bring home the result we all want to achieve, which is a voluntary collective bargaining agreement.''
"This is a classic example of a labor dispute that has implications far beyond that of the individual parties,'' said Cohen.
Roxanne Sanchez, president of Service Employees International Union Local 1021, said BART and its two largest unions were "extremely close'' to agreement on economic, health care and pension issues. However, she said the parties remained apart on work rule issues.
PHOTOS: BART Unions Threaten to Strike
She said the unions suggested taking the remaining issues to arbitration but management refused. Workers would walk off the job at midnight unless BART officials change their mind, Sanchez said.
BART General Manager Grace Crunican said the rules that the agency wanted to include in the contract were necessary to help managers run the system efficiently. She urged the union leaders to let their members vote on management's offer by Oct. 27.
"We hope to continue to work with the unions, but what's critical at this juncture is that unions take this offer to a vote,'' Crunican said.
BART Board President Tom Radulovich late Thursday asked the unions to return to the bargaining table. He said they are willing to negotiate wages and benefits if the unions are willing to negotiate workplace rules.
MORE: BART Strike Resources
Commuters have endured seven strike deadlines, sometimes staying up past midnight waiting to hear if the trains will run in the morning.
BART rider Leatrice Williams said she is tired of the uncertainty during labor negotiations. She since gave up on the train service and started riding the ferry.
In anticipation of a Friday strike, many commuters began planning for alternative ways to get to where they need to go.
"It's going to be chaotic coming from the East Bay," said Eddie Manganon, a Fremont resident. "It's going to be torture."
The contentious labor talks between BART and unions have dragged on for six months -- a period that has seen a chaotic dayslong strike, a cooling-off period and frazzled commuters wondering if they'll wake up to find the trains aren't running.
BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said the agency has been flooded with calls and emails this week from commuters frustrated that they haven't been given earlier notices.
The key issues during most of the talks had been salaries and worker contributions to their health and pension plans.
Talks began in April, three months before the June 30 contract expirations, but both sides were far apart. The unions initially asked for 23.2 percent in raises over three years. BART countered with a four-year contract with 1 percent raises contingent on the agency meeting economic goals.
The unions contended that members made $100 million in concessions when they agreed to a deal in 2009 as BART faced a $310 million deficit. And they said they wanted their members to get their share of a $125 million operating surplus produced through increased ridership.
RAW VIDEO: Midnight Strike Threat Announcement
But the transit agency countered that it needed to control costs to help pay for new rail cars and other improvements.
On Sunday, Crunican presented a "last, best and final offer'' that includes an annual 3 percent raise over four years and requires workers to contribute 4 percent toward their pension and 9.5 percent toward medical benefits.
The value of BART's proposal is $57 million, Trost said, adding that the agency is looking at ways to incorporate the unions' counterproposals into that cost.
SEIU Local 1021 executive director Pete Castelli said Monday the parties were between $6 million to $10 million apart.
Workers represented by the two unions, including more than 2,300 mechanics, custodians, station agents, train operators and clerical staff, now average about $71,000 in base salary and $11,000 in overtime annually, the transit agency said. BART workers currently pay $92 a month for health care and contribute nothing toward their pensions.
MORE: Board to Investigate AC Transit Labor Dispute
Meanwhile, Gov. Jerry Brown has stepped in to at least delay a strike by workers for regional bus system Alameda-Contra Costa Transit. Such a strike would leave commuters stranded without a mass transit alternative if a BART strike is underway simultaneously.
Brown appointed a three-member panel to investigate a strike notice by union workers. The move effectively prevents a strike, which had been threatened for Thursday, for a week. A 60-day cooling-off period in the contract dispute could then be imposed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm going to show you in a second how I went about using the Transdoodle by Mistyfuse with my applique pieces because it might just be my most favorite new notion, but first let's point one thing out....remember my fancy little tip last month about flipping your fabric over and using the "wrong" side if it is just a little "too"? Well, this month my grey fabric was just a little too dark and features that little trick..and if you compare the photo above of the pieced grey pieces with the photo below of the grey piece I used for applique, you can totally see it. It's like two fabrics in one! Who wouldn't love that?
To transfer the markings, I layered the Transdoodle sheet (I'm using white here, since I started with the flower, which is a dark color) on top of the WRONG SIDE of the fabric (ie the Mistyfuse side)
blogger and giveaway spot herself last week - My annual Teal Mini Swap. It's a mini swap (natch) and fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and I'm running it for the fifth year to coincide with September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
This year's fabric sponsor (I'm big enough for a fabric sponsor, anyway! Woo Hoo!) is Moda, and swappers all receive a piece of this fabric, modeled by me, to be used in the mini they will make for their partner.
Here's a few of the cool minis swappers received last year. You can see even more by scrolling through our Teal Mini Swap Facebook group. The talent in this group amazes me more every year.
Mod-ified Trees kit. This silly little pattern is way fun to whip together and takes just an afternoon - FOR REAL! It's almost as much fun to pick out the fabrics, so I love putting together the kits!
|It's even a really great pattern when done in country colors, like one customer made!
Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to Block #4 with you!


text: From writer/director Katherine Dieckmann, the acclaimed filmmaker of DIGGERS and A GOOD BABY, comes MOTHERHOOD, starring Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver. Shot entirely on location in New York's West Village, this bittersweet comedy distills the dilemmas of the maternal state (marriage, work, self, and not necessarily in that order) into the trials and tribulations of one pivotal day. MOTHERHOOD forms a genre of one "" no other movie has dedicated itself in quite this way to probing exactly what it takes to be a mother, with both wry humor and an acute sense of authenticity.


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To view original article click here
Science Daily
Apr. 14, 2008
The use of antidepressants is likely to account for only 10 per cent of the fall in suicide rates among middle aged and older people, suggests a large study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Globally, more than 800, 000 people commit suicide every year. Rates have been falling in many countries, a factor that has been associated with better recognition of depression and the increasing use of antidepressants, particularly the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
But research involving more than 2 million Danes aged 50 and above and living in Denmark between 1996 and 2000, throws this into question.
The researchers assessed changes in the numbers of middle aged and older people committing suicide during this period and the types of antidepressant drugs they had been prescribed.
Only one in five of those committing suicide was actually taking antidepressants at the time of death.
Suicide rates in older men fell by almost 10 per 100,000 of the population during this timeframe, but among recipients of antidepressants, the fall was less than one. For older women, only 0.4 of the 3.3 fall per 100, 000 of the population was accounted for by those being treated with antidepressants.
Overall, treatment type made little difference, although rates among men taking SSRIs were slightly higher than among those taking tricyclics.
Suicide rates were five to six times higher among those taking antidepressants than those who were not.
Previous Scandinavian and US research has suggested that a fivefold increase in the use of antidepressants could lead to a 25% decrease in suicide rates, with SSRIs having saved as many as upwards of 33, 000 lives, say the authors.
Sales of antidepressants in Denmark have soared from 8.4 per 1000 of the population in 1990 to 52.2 in 2000.
And suicide rates among older people have more than halved from 52.2 in 1980 to 22.1 per 100, 000 of the population in 2000.
The authors conclude that current antidepressant treatment accounts for only a fraction of the falls in suicide rates among older people.
But they nevertheless suggest that more should be done to pick up and treat depression among older people.


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7.4 cu. ft. Smart Top Load Gas Dryer WGD6120HC
AccuDry™ sensor drying technologyTwo built-in sensors measure moisture and temperature levels to help prevent overdrying and automatically stop the cycle when the load is dry.
Wrinkle Shield™ optionHelp keep wrinkles from setting into clean, dry fabrics with the Wrinkle Shield™ option. It keeps clothes tumbling for up to 150 minutes after the cycle ends or until you open the door.
Intuitive ControlsLet the dryer guide you to the right cycle combinations or customize up to 36 of your own to get the right type of fabric care for whatever you're drying.
Smart ApplianceConnect to more. Enjoy smart features that help you streamline your laundry routine and keep your day moving. No subscription required.
EcoBoost™ optionUse less energy while still getting great drying performance with the EcoBoost™ option that uses less heat and extended cycle times for greater energy efficiency.
Sanitize cycleThe Sanitize cycle provides care for your clothes in the dryer while eliminating 99.9% of common household bacteria.
Quick Dry cycleDry a small load quickly or customize settings to add more time. Plus, you can choose to remember your settings for your next load of laundry.
7.4 cu. ft. capacityWith a 7.4 cu. ft. capacity dryer drum, there's plenty of room to easily handle the large loads you washed in the matching top load washer.
Hamper DoorEasily transfer loads from the washer to the dryer and from the dryer to the laundry basket without worrying about clean clothes falling on the floor with this wide-opening door.
An American Company for Over 100 YearsWhirlpool Corporation started in 1911 as a small company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Today we are a global home appliance business selling products around the world. We are proud of our American heritage and ingenuity that have driven innovation for over 100 years.
Cycle MatchGet the right kind of dry for your load. The Whirlpool® App will suggest the dry cycle that matches the wash cycle you used.
Voice Control with a Compatible Voice-Enabled DeviceKeep up with laundry no matter what you've got on your hands with simple voice commands using a compatible voice-enabled device.
Quick ConnectYou don't need to be a tech expert to connect your new appliance. Simply open the Whirlpool® app, add your appliance and follow the guided experience to get up and running quickly.
Assign a taskManage laundry day from anywhere by assigning family members the next laundry step from the Whirlpool® app. Activate the app to send customized text messages for transferring a load to the dryer or folding clean clothes.
Personalized quick tipsThe Whirlpool® app delivers quick tips to make sure your family's laundry gets the care it deserves while helping laundry day go more smoothly.
Favorite CyclesSave your favorite cycles under any name and edit at any time. Access Favorite Cycles from the Whirlpool® app to send laundry cycles to your dryer and start the load remotely.
Prop 65Standard
ADA CompliantNo
Energy Star® QualifiedNo
Emerging Technology AwardNo
Power Cord IncludedYes
Works WithWiFi,App,Remote Access
ConnectivityAmazon Alexa,Android,Google Assistant,iOS
Smart ApplianceYes
Control TypeTap Touch
End of Cycle SignalYes
Control LocationRear Console
Feedback-Status IndicatorsCooling Down,Drying,Drying Complete,Sensing,Wrinkle Shield™
Electronic Display Type2.4in LCD
Eco Monitor/Efficiency MonitorNo
Maytag Commercial ComponentsNo
Hoses IncludedNo
Drum MaterialPowder Coat
Heating Burner (BTU)20000
Lint Screen LocationFront
Interior LightIncandescent
Quad BafflesNo
Steam Hose Y ConnectorNo
4 Way VentingYes
Sound PackageNo
Pedestal OptionsNo
EcoBoost™/Energy SaverYes
LP ConvertibleYes
Moisture SensorYes
Automatic Dry ControlYes
Cycle Time RemainingYes
Secondary Lint FilterNo
Lint Filter IndicatorYes
Door OpeningDrop Down
Reversible DoorNo
Door StyleHamper
Number of Dryness Levels3
Selection of Drying LevelsMore,Less,Normal
Installation Considerations
Venting DirectionLeft, Right, Bottom, Rear
Long VentNo
Maximum Vent Length (ft.)64
Flat BackNo
Number of Dryer Options4
Dryer Option SelectionsCycle Signal,Damp Dry,Eco Boost™,Wrinkle Shield™
Cycles and Options
Number of Temperatures5
Temperature Settings
Temperature SelectionHigh,Low,Medium,Medium High,Air Only
Number of Dryer Cycles35
Drying Cycles SelectionsBulky Items,Colors,Delicates,Heavy Duty,Normal,Quick Dry,Regular,Sanitize,Timed Dry,Towels,Whites,Wrinkle Control
Accessory RelationshipsYes
Fuel TypeGas
WHR DryerSanitize Cycle,Smart/WiFi Enabled
Carton Depth31 5/16"
Carton Height45"
Carton Width28 11/16"
Gross Weight137 Kg.
Net Weight119.6 Kg.
Capacity (cubic feet)7.40


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Hassan Rouhani greeted with cheers, protests on return to Iran after phone call with Obama
Hundreds of Iranians have cheered their president Hassan Rouhani on his return from New York, after a historic phone call with US president Barack Obama.
While an anticipated handshake between Mr Rouhani and Mr Obama at United Nations headquarters failed to materialise, they held a 15-minute call on Friday at the end of Mr Rouhani's trip for the UN General Assembly.
Iranian media said hundreds of Rouhani supporters keen to see him make good on pledges of "constructive interaction" with the world turned up to hail his UN visit.
About 100 conservative hardliners also appeared and, shouting the "Death to America" slogan common since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, pelted his official car with eggs and stones in protest at Mr Rouhani's diplomatic opening towards Washington, according to witness reports posted on Twitter.
The semi-official Mehr news agency ran pictures of groups of protesters holding up a Death to America placard and banging the sides of Mr Rouhani's limousine as it began to depart the airport.
Mehr said one protester threw his shoes at the car, a gesture of deep insult in the Islamic faith.
Local politician says phone call shows Iran's importance
There has been little reaction so far from Iran's political leaders but one senior parliamentarian tentatively welcomed Mr Rouhani's conversation with Mr Obama as a sign of the Islamic Republic's "position of authority".
"This (phone call) shows that Iran's place in the world is of critical importance. That the president of America insists on a telephone call is a sign of sincerity," Mehr quoted the head of parliament's committee for national security and foreign affairs, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, as saying on Saturday.
Mr Rouhani won election in a landslide last June, buoyed by many voters keen for steps towards moderation and reform after eight years of intensifying repression at home and isolation abroad under hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
But new high-level contacts with US officials at the United Nations were unlikely to have happened without the approval of Iran's clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The polarised reactions on Mr Rouhani's return hinted at the challenge he faces in getting hardliners, especially in the powerful security elite, behind his conciliatory approach.
'Insufficient time' to coordinate earlier meeting
US officials said the phone call - which concentrated on how to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program - was requested by the Iranian side.
But in comments to journalists after his return, Mr Rouhani indicated it was an US initiative.
Mr Rouhani told journalists that contrary to reports in Western media, he had not refused a meeting with Mr Obama earlier in the week but there was insufficient time to coordinate it.
"To have a meeting between the presidents of these two countries there are many necessary steps. If this meeting had been compressed into the program, it would have been premature," the official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.


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Our eyes are capable of determining the depth and perspective of scenes before us, such as never-ending tunnels and rolling mountains in the distance. However, the camera needs a helping hand to transform what would be a flat photograph into the depth-filled image we see before us. If your scene would benefit from a bit of oomph in the depth department, then this can be controlled with a carefully considered choice of lens coupled with a decent viewpoint.
To exaggerate the effect of distance in a tunnel of a long straight road, you need to emphasis the converging verticals ? a term referring to appearance of the scene squeezing to a point in the distance. Do this by using a wide-angle lens, which will exaggerate the width at the start of the scene and the narrowness at the back.
Position yourself centrally so the converging lines look longer and even consider giving the camera a slight upward tilt to really maximize the sense of distance between the beginning and the end of the scene.
Just as lines are important to perspective, they also play a vital role in other aspects of photography too. The term ?leading lines? is frequently thrown around in photography and refers to structural elements in a photograph that lead the viewer?s eye into the picture.
The most obvious line used in photography is that of the horizon ? a perfectly straight line by which everything else is arranged around. Just think how obvious it is when a scene has a skewed horizon ? it?s the epitome of distraction and a serious schoolboy error, which separates the amateurs from anyone more serious about photography.
There are plenty of man-made lines to think about too including buildings, power lines, cranes, vehicles and structures. Think about how lines feature in your scene and where they are leading. Are they a main feature of the scene? Are they leading your viewer into the scene or are they causing a distraction to the main event? Consider your viewpoint and perspective to establish how you can make lines work well in the scene.
For example, certain lines impart different qualities. A diagonal can give the impression of speed, curves can have a calming influence and angular lines often impart a sense of discord.
Fine art photography relies on the soft curves of the body to achieve a calming natural flow throughout the image. A racing car?s speed can be accelerated by capturing it on a diagonal or a slight tilt, while an abstract image is given energy and dynamism by accentuating its angles and edges. Pick a theme you want to emphasize and use the available lines to your advantage.
To take an image that really appreciates form, look out for areas of shading within your subject. The greater degree of shading and number of tones there are, the more pleasing the subject. Position yourself to capture as many shades as possible.
Hopefully these pointers will help you consider the scene and its outcome before you press the shutter.


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Stupničkoobreška 17
Stupnički Obrež
10255 Gornji Stupnik
Dirt, saltwater, vibrations, extreme temperatures, high levels of mechanical stress and the risk of explosion are the most frequently occurring problems that impair the performance of drilling equipment and other devices used for oil and gas extraction. In such surroundings, where downtime is costly, the energy chains from igus® offer the performance characteristics needed to ensure smooth and continuous operation.
The alternative to the service loop to guide cables safely in hanging applications. Ideal for three-dimensional applications.
Trying things out made easy: with the igus corner, you always have the most recent motion plastics that are suited for your individual industry sector at hand.
We will bring the display to you, assemble it upon request and fill the compartments with the products of your choice. Or you can set it up yourself. As a permanent exhibition or for a limited period of time.
Smart plastics, intelligent e-chains, or plain and linear bearings report the maintenance date during operation and integrate seamlessly into your processes.
The flexibility of polymers has made energy chains and energy supply systems a valued asset in the oil and gas industry. What are the advantages of igus energy supply systems in top drive systems? What differentiates them from other solutions, such as festoons or service loops?
What is the fastest way to replace cables in e-loops? Heavy duty for e-chains - what does that actually mean? You can find interesting contributions about our products in the oil and gas industry in the igus blog.
Monday to Friday from 7 am - 8 pm.Saturdays from 8 am- 12 pm.
By selecting your country you will be shown local offers and information.
Select preferred language:


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Category Main Page
Articles & Reviews
Fish, Seafood, Caviar
Main Nibbles
Main Page
Articles & Reviews of Foods From A to Z
Product Reviews
Main Page
Food, Beverages, Books,
News & More
June 2005
Whether you're a connoisseur or just learning about caviar, these restaurants either specialize in caviar or have signature dishes that let you compare and contrast different types. They also have knowledgeable staff that will help educate your palate.
If you'd like to add restaurants to the list, click here—and please send us as much information as you can.
New York
Caviar Russe
Fire Bird
San Francisco
Tsar Nicoulai
676 North Saint Clair (between Erie & Huron Streets)
The signature crystal Caviar Staircase starts with Osetra on the top and steps to Salmon Caviar, Wasabi-Infused Whitefish Caviar, and Ginger-Infused Whitefish Caviar. Garnishes of chopped eggs, capers, and Bermuda onion let you mix and match flavors with the accompanying crème fraîche. (You can buy the staircase from Chef Tramonto.com and enjoy your own staircase at home.)
New York City
Caviar Russe
538 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor (between 54th & 55th Streets)
You will almost feel transported to pre-revolution Russia, where the choices include a caviar tasting menu with caviar in every course. So that you don't suffer withdrawal the next day, there's an ample selection from the take-out shop.
1012 Lexington Avenue (between 72nd and 73rd Streets)
Caviarteria has been New York's answer to Petrossian for about 20 years: started by New Yorkers with a love of caviar. It's a retail shop with a caviar bar where you can sit on a bar stool alone or with a friend and enjoy plates of caviar with Champagne. Some might call that a better alternative to Starbucks.
Fire Bird
365 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
With the Russian Tea Room now just a memory, Firebird is what New Yorkers think of when they want imperial Russian cuisine. The beautiful townhouse "the 1912 home of a Russian gentleman," is the project of J. William Holt and his wife, Baroness Irina von der Launitz, granddaughter of Vladimir von der Launitz, the mayor of St. petersburg until his assassination in 1907. The restaurant reflects the Holts' extensive knowledge of, and passion for, Russian art, literature, and cuisine.
182 West 58th Street at Seventh Avenue
Perhaps the number one caviar restaurant in the country in terms of breadth of offering. Petrossian's Art Deco retail shop and restaurant are located together in a beautiful Beaux Arts building where you can enjoy caviar for lunch, dinner, and brunch. Because all of the company's retail inventory is at hand, you can put together your own sampler of any and all caviars: the only limit is your appetite and pocketbook. For the more cautious, there's a pre-set tasting plate with 50 grams each of Beluga, Osetra and Sevruga. A supremely knowledgeable staff will educate you in Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced Caviar Tasting.
San Francisco
Tsar Nicoulai
1 Ferry Building #12
This may be the most casual venue for such luxurious food—and that's what makes it even more of a luxury. Anyone can dress up in his best and sit an an elegant banquette for an evening of white glove service. Here, you sit on a stool at a bar in an open-front stall in the bustling Ferry Building, San Francisco's biggest gourmet marketplace. You're nestled amid cheese shops, mushroom shops, tea shops, Italian food provisioners—and fellow foodies everywhere. But they're racing by with packages and you're the one relaxing with a flute of champagne and a Premium Caviar Sampler, comparing the differences among California Estate Osetra, California Estate Osetra, Iranian Asetra, Imported Sevruga, Hackleback Sturgeon. When you're done, you can do some shopping and come back for the American Caviar Sampler. There should be a Tsar Nicoulai in every town.
Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Images are the copyright of their individual owners.
© Copyright 2005-2023 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. All images are copyrighted to their respective owners.


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Upgrade your mountain bike for a better ride and lighter weight with Bontrager's Rhythm Elite TLR 27.5/650b Wheels. These tubeless-ready hoops feature tough, 6061-aluminum rims, sealed-bearing hubs, stainless-steel spokes and locking aluminum nipples to strike the perfect balance of burliness, lightness, and ride quality. And, the wide 28mm rims provide you with a stable platform for running fat, grippy all-mountain knobbies and the convertible axle plays nicely with quick-release skewers and 15mm through axles.
These Tubeless-Ready wheels come with a special rim strip to seal the spoke bed and a presta valve. With a Tubeless-Ready tire and sealant (sold separately) you can roll without tubes for less flats, lower tire pressure, and better cornering. Plus, you'll shave rotational weight, so your bike will feel lighter and more responsive.
These wheels feature a front hub that is interchangeable between a standard 9mm quick-release, or 15mm through-axles. All parts are included.
Standard- and tubeless-tire compatible
|27.5-inch / 650b
|Rim Material
|Rim Width
|28mm outer, 22.5mm inner
|Bontrager, 6-bolt disc mount
|Spokes (Front/Rear)
|DT Swiss 14/15-gauge stainless-steel
|Holes (Front/Rear)
|Aluminum, locking
|Quick-release / 15mm through-axle
|Weight (Front/Rear)
|815 grams (QR)
|Black Anodized
|Tubeless rim strips, Presta valve cores, axle kit
* Subject to change without notice.


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Message Board
Sister Souljah Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Souljah has written!
Author Souljah's Book Reviews
A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story
A young girl lands in a New York juvenile detention facility when foster home placements don't work out and her parents abandon her. Ten-year-old Porsche is doing an eight year sentence in a New York juvenile delinquency facility. She lives on a ward for violent girls. In and out of foster homes where she was not treated as a member of the family, Porsche has survived beatings by one foster mother, and being starved in another placement. Unsure of where ...
The Coldest Winter Ever
This book starts off by introducing us to the main character: a teenaged girl named Winter in Brooklyn, New York. She was named after a really bad snow storm, but her life is even worse as the book progresses. She is a spoiled brat whose father is a drug king. Winter lives with her mother, her sisters, and (sometimes) her father. She is used to getting everything se wants--until her father's enemies retaliate by shooting her mother! Eventually, her fa...


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LOS ANGELES – Marisa Miller is giving up her career as a supermodel so she can become a Catholic nun.
Marisa Miller was born Marisa Lee Bertetta and was raised a devout Catholic. Throughout her childhood she was considered a tomboy, hanging out with mostly male friends and having little to do with anything "girly." She was an altar-girl as a child, and soon became known in diocese for the remarkable way she rang her bells. But it wasn't until she attended Monte Vista Christian High School that she became obsessed with the work of Mother Teresa and with the idea of becoming a nun.
Miller's path to becoming a Catholic nun was interrupted at age seventeen when she was discovered by two Italian modeling agents at a San Francisco cafe. Her mother thought it would be a good opportunity for Marisa to go to Italy so she could visit the Vatican. So off Marisa went – clutching her bible and her bikini.
Marisa never made it to the Vatican. Even though she is notoriously shy, she soared to international fame after appearing in the first issue of Perfect 10 magazine in 1997.
Miller became disillusioned with the world of modeling and decided to move back to Manhattan Beach, California where she started a surfing school. She had dreams of being the first Catholic nun to surf the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii. She called it, "Jesus on the pipeline." But once again her nun dreams were thwarted. Mario Testino found Miller in California and got her back into modeling. She became a certified supermodel. Marisa married Jim Miller in 2000, then divorced him and married music producer, Griffin Guess in 2006.
After taking the Lord's name in vain numerous times, Guess finally accepted his wife's decision and understood that she had to leave him so that she could honor her vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Guess, himself, is now considering entering the priesthood, so that he and Marisa can meet on a "higher spiritual level."
Marisa said she will still appear in future SI Swimsuit issues as well as an upcoming issue of Playboy – "Girls of the Convent."
God is happy.
LOS ANGELES – Marisa Miller is giving up her career as a supermodel so she can become a Catholic nun.


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Alchemy is having a good year at NAHBS. The company moved from Austin, TX to Denver, CO, and now, they've taken home the prize on home turf for Best Carbon Construction for NAHBS 2013. However, it wasn't their road bikes that we were interested in, and we got some up close and personal looks at their cyclocross bike.
We've profiled Nationals bronze medalist Nicole Duke's Alchemy carbon cyclocross bikes before, but we wanted to snap a few more shots of it today, all cleaned up and kitted out at NAHBS. Complete with Zipp 303 wheels with Clement PDX tubular tires, a Chris King headset, ENVE Disc fork, Avid BB7 Sl disc brakes (reviewed in the upcoming Issue 20) and a 2012 SRAM Red groupset, the Alchemy bike designed for Duke weighs in at 17 lbs. The front end is stiffer than a normal cyclocross bike, taking into account Duke's background as a downhiller.
The bike shown at NAHBS is the same one Duke rode at Nationals, it's just been painted white. Matt Simpson, president of Alchemy, is particularly proud of this, saying that now Duke has a black one and a white one. Before, he told us, "We finished Nicole's bike with a choice of black-and-white for paint. The color choice was incredibly deliberate for us. A great metaphor for Nicole." Clearly, they're taking that to the next level.
Jesse Pisel contributed to this report.
Love custom and handmade bicycles? Stay tuned to our NAHBS 2013 page for more drool-worthy goodies coming up over the weekend!
Alchemy Bicycle Company's Carbon Balius Cyclocross Bike Photo Gallery:
The Specs:
Frames: Balius from Alchemy Bicycle Company (990g.)
Fork: ENVE Cross 1.5″ Taper disc fork, raw carbon finish
Handlebar: ZIPP Service Course SL Traditional Bend / 46cm. o-o (44cm. center-to-center – with Duke's downhiller background, she prefers a wider handlebar than most)
Bar Tape: ZIPP Service Course CX Tape
Stem: ZIPP Service Course SL / 100mm
Brakes: Avid BB7 SL Road Mechanical Disc Brakeset / SRAM HSX Rotors
Wheelset: SRAM Rise 60 Hub / ZIPP 303 Firecrest Tubular Rim (Black Box)
Tires: Challenge Team Edition Tubular Tires 33mm – Fango, Limus and Grifo
Shifters: SRAM Red DoubleTap Controls-2012
Rear Derailleur: SRAM RED Rear Derailleur-2012
Front Derailleur: SRAM RED 2012 YAW Front Derailleur
Crankset: SRAM RED 2012 Compact 110BCD BB30 Crankset
Chainring: Wick Werks 44t x 34t Compact Chainrings for SRAM Red 2012 Crankset
Cassette: SRAM XG-1090 12-27 Cyclocross Cassette
Chain: SRAM 1090 Chain
Seatpost: ZIPP SL Speed Carbon Seatpost / 20 Degree Setback
Saddle: Prologo Scratch PRO DEA saddle
Bottom Bracket: PF30
Pedals: Shimano 980 XTR Pedals


text: If your ancestor was awarded a medal for armed conflict or appeared in a roll of honour, you may find them referred to within this set of records. Whether you're researching the Battle of Waterloo or a relative's role in World War One, these detailed distinguished service records will help to add colour to your relative's time in the forces and those with which they served. Many records will also contain photographs of those mentioned within them.


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Results: 5
Your biggest challenges won't wait for you to get back to the office, or stay on hold while you look for information. To stay competitive, you need the power of your entire business system at your fingertips no matter where you are. Epicor mobile solutions give you the tools you need to respond faster and make quicker decisions so you can outperform your competition. Optimize service requests for technicians in the field, empower sales personnel on the road or in the aisles, and never miss an opportunity for growth.CONTÁCTENOS


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Taryn Simon Work from Contraband. "Passengers, airliners, workers, baggage, cargo, taxis and trains flow ceaselessly through Kennedy International Airport. Taryn Simon recorded another ceaseless flow — one the public rarely sees: contraband detained and seized from international flights. Ms. Simon, 35, a Guggenheim fellow who lives in New York, spent five days and nights at […]
Archives for posts tagged 'legality'
Taryn Simon
Friday, 30 July 2010


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
18-year-old student Kevin Foley, a member of the Lewiston-Porter High School Class of 2012, has created a patriotic garden on the Lewiston-Porter Creek Road in honor of the brave men and women who serve in the U.S. military.
The four-tiered garden, which features red, white and blue flowers, was created as part of Foley's Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troup 829 from Youngstown.
Foley is a member of Lewiston-Porter's JROTC program. He recently joined the Air Force Reserves and leaves for Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas on July 10.
He will then move on to the Sheppard Air Force Base for six months to complete his training in aerospace maintenance. When Foley returns home in February 2013, he plans to attend Niagara County Community College. His future plans are to become a police officer or become active in the Air Force.
Foley has also been an active member of the Lewiston Police Explorers program. As part of his Eagle Scout project, Foley was responsible for designing, assembling and installing the garden, which is located between the middle and high schools. He independently sought out and received generous donations for all the wood, stones, topsoil, flowers and other materials from the following: A-1 Landscaping, Goodman's Farm Market, Home Depot, Lincoln Park Nursery, O'Connor's Nursery and Lewiston-Porter High School Principal Paul Casseri.
The Lewiston-Porter JROTC program will maintain the garden.


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The Day I Was Born
Wednesday, October 04, 2023
Online Project - Discovering YOUR Place in History Since 1999
For Students
Have you ever wondered, "What happened on the day I was born?". In this project you will discover many answers. But first, a little fun...
A Day You Were Born greeting from the Beatles can be heard by clicking on the speaker.
In this project you will see instructions for what to do AFTER you click on certain links.
For example, the first project section shows you what you will see on the website you will visit, such as this:
We'll give you instructions on what to do when you reach the website, such as:
You will type in the Month (1) Day (2), and Year (3)you were born. Then you can simply click on Today (4) and then Calculate duration (5)
You will record your information in the project handout,
Next, you'll always see a photograph of a mouse, which leads you to click on a certain link, such as:
Click on the mouse to see how old you are in days:
We took out the links here so you won't be tempted to click on them but you WILL click on them while completing the project.
After you record your information in the project handout you will need to click the browser back button to return to the project.
If you can't find the information you need you will click on the question mark below to search the Internet:
Again, we took out the link in the question mark and the text here but it WILL work while you are working on the project.
Then, we'll share some fun or interesting audio or video sounds or images, such as:
And at the end of each project page you will see a link which leads you to the next page of the project. Let us begin now by clicking the link below:
Sponsored Links


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1. This Privacy Policy sets out how we will treat the personal information which you provide to us while using the website located at www.filmfriendsforever.com (the "Site") and/or the services provided from it (the "Services"). You are deemed to accept the terms of this Privacy Policy on your first use of the Site. We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time and such changes shall be effective from the date and time the revised Privacy Policy is posted on the Site. The Site, together with all its content is owned or controlled by Film Friends Forever, having its office at 22 Coronet Street London N1 6HD.
2. To provide the Site and the Services, it is necessary for us to hold and process certain personal information. We take reasonable care in keeping this information secure and preventing any unauthorised access or unlawful use of it. All personal information is processed by us in accordance with data protection legislation applicable in the UK.
3. From time to time, we may collect or ask you to provide some or all of the following: name, address, date of birth, gender, music preferences, details of your music player devices, email addresses and/or mobile phone numbers, financial information such as credit/debit card numbers, IP addresses, web-browser details, operating system details, and/or your activities on the Site. This information will be stored together with any additional information you may provide to us from time to time, and will be used to provide you with the Services and services associated with them. We may also use your personal information to analyse use of the Site and/or to keep you up-to-date with other products and services, which we think may be of interest to you.
4. We will only keep your personal information for as long as is necessary. We may, from time to time, expand or reduce our business and this may involve the sale of certain divisions or the transfer of control of certain divisions to other parties. Data provided by Users will, where relevant, be transferred and the new owner or new controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Policy, be permitted to use the Data for the purposes for which it was supplied by you.
5. We may use 'cookies' while you access the Site to avoid the need to re-enter details on different occasions. If you do not wish to receive 'cookies', you may change the settings on your computer or browser accordingly.
6. Please note that, from time to time, we may transfer your personal data for internal business purposes to locations outside the European Economic Area, some of which may have different data protection laws to the UK, or no data protection laws. Note that in respect of information transmitted to the US, we shall only transmit such information to entities that comply with suitable policies.
7. If you do not want us to retain or use your personal information in any way, please do not provide the data to us or, if you have already provided personal information and wish to withdraw your consent, please contact us at email@example.com
8. If you have any queries about this Privacy Policy or wish to resume receiving information which you may have previously opted-out of receiving, please contact us at please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Keep up the prayers
Even if he takes the White House this will have been heard.
Supremes to review Barack's citizenship Case challenging his name on ballot set for 'conference'
Posted: November 20, 2008 1:10 am Eastern By Bob Unruh © 2008 WorldNetDaily
Supreme court ruling on Obama's eligibility for presidency~
Subject: Obama Administration
Supreme court ruling on Obama's eligibility for presidency
Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS) Justice David Souter has
agreed that
a review of the federal lawsuit filed by attorney Phil Berg against
Hussein Obama II, et al., which was subsequently dismissed for lack of
is warranted. SCOTUS Docket No. 08-570 contains the details.
A review of that docket and the Rule 10 of the Supreme Court makes
clear that Justice Souter's granting of a review on the Writ of
Certiorari is
not a right entitled to citizen Phil Berg, but rather is a matter of
discretion based upon a compelling reason. That compelling reason is the
Constitutional requirement that "No person except a natural born citizen
shall be eligible to the office of President..."
What this means is that on or before 1 DECEMBER 2008 Barack Hussein Obama
must respond to the writ of certiorari, and since the Berg v Obama case
primarily on the question of Obama's place of birth, it is almost
that Barack Obama will thumb his nose at the Justices of the Supreme
Court and
he is absolutely compelled to provide a vault copy his original birth
Another very salient fact to consider at this time is that, despite all
of the
pronouncements of the print and broadcast media, Barack Obama is not yet
President-elect of the United States. Barack Obama can only become the
President-elect after the Electoral College convenes on 15 DECEMBER 2008
their respective state capitals around the nation and casts their votes
to elect
the President and the Vice President. As you can see this election day
two weeks after the required response to the Supreme Court granted Writ
The bottom line is this: the presidential election of 2008 remains an
process, the outcome of which remains undetermined, and all talk about a
potential Constitutional crisis in the United States are at least 36 days
The inevitable constitutional crisis regarding President-elect Obama, of
revolves around his inability (or unwillingness) to produce an authentic
Hawaiian birth certificate with the raised certificate stamp that the
Elections Commission can independently verify.
Here are some of the unanswered issues hanging over the head of
Barack Obama and the question of his American citizenship:
· The allegation that Obama was born in Kenya to parents unable to
automatically grant him American citizenship;
· The allegation that Obama was made a citizen of Indonesia as a child
and that
he retained foreign citizenship into adulthood without recording an oath
allegiance to regain any theoretical American citizenship;
· The allegation that Obama's birth certificate was a forgery and that
he may
not be an eligible, natural-born citizen;
· The allegation that Obama was not born an American citizen; lost any
hypothetical American citizenship he had as a child; that Obama may not
now be
an American citizen and even if he is, may hold dual citizenships with
countries. If any, much less all, of these allegations are true, the suit
claims, Obama cannot constitutionally serve as president.
· The allegations that "Obama's grandmother on his father's side, half
and half sister claim Obama was born in Kenya," the suit states."
reflect Obama's mother went to Kenya during her pregnancy; however, she
prevented from boarding a flight from Kenya to Hawaii at her late stage
pregnancy, which apparently was a normal restriction to avoid births
during a
flight. Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama) gave birth to Obama in Kenya, after
which she
flew to Hawaii and registered Obama's birth."
· The claim could not be verified by inquiries to Hawaiian hospitals,
state law bars the hospitals from releasing medical records to the
Even if Obama produced authenticated proof of his birth in Hawaii,
however, the
suit claims that the U.S. Nationality Act of 1940 provided that minors
their American citizenship when their parents expatriate. Since Obama's
married an Indonesian citizen and moved to Indonesia, the suit claims,
forfeited both her and Barack's American citizenship


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Andrew McClintock of Ever Gold Gallery here in San Francisco was out in NYC last week for the art fair maddness and has been blogging it up for Fecal Face. This round he covers the Volta Fair. Below are his words and photos.
Richard Colman, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen , Denmark.
Joyce Hinterding, Breenspace, Sydney
Jim Houser, Jonathan Levine Gallery, NYC


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According to the American Academy of Audiology, as of 2009, of the 315 million people in the United States, it is estimated about 36 million have hearing loss. Although hearing loss is often associated with aging, hearing loss is clearly present in newborns, children, teenagers, young adults and adults. Healthy human ears can perceive an enormous range of sounds in terms of pitch and loudness, and our hearing is the primary sense through which we learn speech and language. The ability to hear clearly from birth is extremely important with regard to normal development of speech and language skills, auditory processing skills, a sense of self, as well as normal emotional and psychological well-being and more.
As we age, our ears are exposed to a lifetime of noises such as lawnmowers, telephones, industrial machinery, leaf blowers, chain saws, industrial noise, hair dryers, weapons, and recorded and live music. Many of these sounds occur at loud and potentially injurious levels. Although some people are born with hearing loss, many people will notice a gradual decline later in life. People may be born with, or acquire hearing loss for a number of reasons and may include a genetic predisposition, ear disease, noise exposure (including music, industrial, military and more), ototoxic medicines (medications that attack the hearing structures), head trauma, and others.
There are three primary hearing loss categories:
The first category of hearing loss is the most common, called "sensorineural." Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when tiny hair cells within the inner ear (the cochlea) are damaged. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and in most cases there are no medical or surgical treatment options. Hearing aids are the primary treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. In some situations, such as when hearing aids have not been beneficial for particular patients with severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss, these people may benefit from cochlear implantation.
The most common sensorineural hearing loss is a high-frequency hearing loss, typically associated with aging or noise exposure, and often both. High-frequency hearing loss may be difficult for patients to "self-diagnose" because it occurs slowly over decades. Persons with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss often note they can hear, but they cannot hear clearly. They may say "people don't speak as clearly as they used to…" These are common observations from people with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. The primary rehabilitative tool for these individuals is hearing aids.
The second most common type of hearing loss is referred to as "conductive." Most often, conductive hearing loss results from a blockage of the normal air conduction sound pathways. Conductive hearing loss may be due to ear wax (cerumen) blocking the ear canal or perhaps a foreign object may be lodged in the ear canal. Another example of a conductive hearing loss is when fluid occupies the middle ear space, as might occur with common ear infections (otitis media).
The third most common type of hearing loss is called a "mixed" hearing loss. As its name implies, it involves both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss components.
Audiologists use general terms (normal, mild, moderate, severe, and profound) to characterize the degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss is measured in decibels (dBs) and the general categories refer to an average of the decibel level of hearing loss present.
In general, people with normal hearing (up to 25 dB hearing loss for adults, up to 15 dB for children) can hear most speech sounds in quiet and comfortable listening situations. For information regarding children with hearing loss, please see "Children and Pediatric Hearing Loss."
Adults with mild hearing loss (between 26 and 40 dB) may hear reasonably well in one-on-one conversation, but will miss words and speech sounds when speech is quiet or when there is background noise present.
Adults with moderate hearing loss (between 41 and 70 dB) miss a lot of speech sounds and telephone conversation. They often ask for repeats and often say, "What did she say?"
Adults with severe hearing loss (between 71 and 90 dB) need hearing aids to perceive speech sounds almost all of the time. People with severe hearing loss will miss the vast majority of conversational speech and using telephones will be very difficult.
Adults with profound hearing loss (91 dB or more) cannot hear speech sounds even if they are very loud. People with profound hearing loss need hearing aids or cochlear implants to perceive speech sounds.
People with untreated hearing loss (people with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids) experience a decreased quality of life. Untreated hearing loss has been shown to cause sadness, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and poor social relationships. People with untreated hearing loss may have a difficult time in their careers—often earning thousands of dollars less than their hearing peers. However, the difference in wages between people with untreated and treated hearing loss is reduced by half, when people wear hearing aids.
If you think you may have a hearing loss, find an Audiologist and set up an appointment to have your hearing checked.
—Materials obtained from the American Academy of Audiology website (2009).
All content ©2023 by Maine Academy of Audiology. All rights reserved.
site by: iKnow


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Unless you're an astronaut, we're willing to bet that you have never seen the Moon depicted as stunningly as it is here. For close to three years now, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been snapping high resolution photos of the Moon's surface. Now, the Goddard Visualization Studio has used those images to create an applet that lets you see — in absolutely mind-blowing detail — what the Moon will look like on any given hour throughout 2012.
That's over 8,700 hi-res images of the moon waxing, waning and librating in space. But those are (and we mean no disrespect here) just images. Fortunately for us, the brilliant minds at Goddard had the good sense to string all these images together into a video. Then, Bad Astronomy's Phil Plait had the ingenious idea to kick things up a notch by adding a dramatic score and a bunch of informative annotations that explain, among other things, what the hell "libration" is.
The result is a truly remarkable, high-definition video of the Moon, unlike any you've ever seen. Full screen, 1080p, volume up. You know the drill. (Those interested in watching the video without the score & annotations can watch it on the Goddard site.)
[NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio via Bad Astronomy]


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Punch Up Your CAD Power-New Athlon, Pentium Systems Pay Off with Performance28 Feb, 2005 By: Ron LaFon
Cadalyst Labs looks at the latest and greatest workstations for CAD.
This workstation review produced record performance numbers, with scores well above 160 on our C2001 Cadalyst Labs benchmark—this just after the 150 barrier was broken in the November 2004 roundup. In terms of price and performance, a number of systems clustered at the top of the heap, reflecting a growing maturity as vendors put together ever-speedier PCI Express systems with fast (and often expensive) new graphics cards.
Reviewers Report Card
For the first time since I've been reviewing workstations for Cadalyst, all the systems reviewed earned the Cadalyst Labs Highly Recommended rating. Whenever a given system had a deficiency such as, for example, slightly limited expandability, another characteristic of the system offset that lower grade. Because all the systems evaluated here are excellent, I was loathe to split hairs on which got a marginally higher or lower grade. I wouldn't mind having any of them sitting under my workbench—they're all that good.
We did receive one system based on dual Athlon processors that was ultimately pulled from the review. This system, like two from the last review in November 2004 produced scores that were markedly lower than others in the review. For more information.
Time to buy a new workstation?
Review RequirementsFor this first workstation roundup of 2005, we requested systems with the fastest available Intel or AMD single processor with at least 2GB of system memory, 120GB or more of total hard drive storage, a CD-RW drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a network card and a mouse with wheel. We also requested a 3D OpenGL graphics card with at least 64MB of RAM that supports a resolution of 1280X1024 with 24-bit color and a minimum refresh rate of 85Hz. Submitted systems had Windows XP Professional installed and configured to the Classic system interface. We asked that no monitor or speakers be included with the system.
Systems earned grades in several different categories, with each category given a specific weight. Categories include performance (7X), price (4X), warranty (2X), expandability (2X) and return policy (1X). Extra credit is available for systems that offer some outstanding feature or benefit that is not reflected in these categories, but none of the systems received extra credit this time around.
Overall Performance : Price/Performance
Testing ProcedureWe ran the most current versions of our usual set of test suites: the Cadalyst C2001 benchmark test with AutoCAD 2005 Service Pack 1 installed, SPECviewperf 8.0.1 proe-03 viewset and MAXBench4 using Discreet's 3ds max 7. All systems were tested with the supplied drivers at 1280X1024@32-bit color depth. Default accelerated drivers for AutoCAD 2005 (WOPENGL8.HDI) were used for testing purposes. If an accelerated AutoCAD driver is available, it's noted in the accompanying feature table, but was not used for the tests. If a special driver is available for 3ds max 7, which we used in this roundup, we tested with these drivers and noted the results in the accompanying table.
SPECviewperf 8.01 was recently introduced (www.spec.org) and this is the first major roundup that uses the proe-03 viewset. This is also the first series of benchmarks we ran using AutoCAD 2005 with Service Pack 1 installed. The MAXBench4 test setup was unchanged from previous evaluations.
When we last tested workstations, Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) was fairly new and not installed on all the systems we tested. This time around, all systems came with SP2 preinstalled.
Users of NVIDIA graphics cards can now gain a significant performance boost by setting the system-level graphics drivers for a per-application optimization. This feature has appeared in NVIDIA graphics drivers for some time, but in previous iterations we found the performance benefits to be minimal or nonexistent. This is not the case with current graphics cards and drivers, so we recommend making this adjustment to gain maximum performance benefits from NVIDIA hardware.
During the course of testing, we often run into problems with systems, which we try to resolve with the vendors at the time the testing is underway. Though this can at times make for a harried reviewer, the understanding is that many of these systems are brand new and may not be available to the public at the time of testing, so all the bugs may not be resolved.
What's next?SLI (scalable link interface) technology that is currently available in lower-end graphics cards should be appearing soon in workstations. SLI takes advantage of the increased bandwidth of the PCI Express bus architecture and supports two graphic cards linked by an SLI connector to drive an image to a single monitor. SLI requirements include a PCI Express motherboard that supports two graphics cards, two SLI-capable graphics cards (the NVIDIA FX 1400, FX 3400 and FX 4400, for example), an SLI connector that links the two graphics cards, and software drivers that make this all possible. The systems from BOXX, Polywell and @Xi reviewed here have motherboards that are SLI-capable, although other parts of the technology aren't yet ready for prime time. All systems for this roundup were tested with a single graphics card, even if they were capable of handling more than one.
When it all comes together, we'll have workstations that reach new levels of graphics performance, although systems so equipped will certainly cost more because of the extra hardware required. As these SLI-based workstations become available, we'll look at them later in 2005.
No other major workstation changes are likely before Longhorn, the next iteration of the Windows operating system, becomes available. Certainly performance will benefit from faster and more sophisticated components and peripherals, as well as the continued development of software applications, but these are likely to be along the lines of the incremental, steady improvements and developments we're accustomed to.
Xi MTower 64SLI@Xi Computer
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $4,399
The Xi MTower 64SLI system from @Xi Computer posted the fastest scores ever on the Cadalyst C2001 Benchmark test, breaking the record that @Xi previously set in November.
The @Xi MTower 64SLI system led the pack with top scores on all three benchmark tests.
Housed in the standard @Xi Computer case—a midtower design with a swing-away drive bay door and a panel on the front with USB and FireWire connections—the MTower 64SLI offers additional USB connectors and a FireWire connector on the back, for a total of 10 USB 2.x connections and two FireWire connections. The case design features ten drive bays—four 5.25" and two 3.5" external, and another five internal 3.5" bays. Combined with the 460W Enermax power supply, this system offers tremendous opportunities for expansion and earned an A+ in this category.
The MTower 64SLI is one of three systems in this roundup that are SLI-capable, providing two PCI Express 16x slots. The system also has two onboard 10/100/1000 network circuits, adding further to expandability options. We tested the system with 2GB of DDR 400/533 memory, although fully populated the MTower 64SLI holds 4GB of RAM.
On the test bench, the Xi MTower 64SLI achieved a sizzling C2001 Total Index Score of 166.61, 143.26 on the averaged frame rates of the MAXBench4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme 6.00.07 accelerated driver, and 58.54 on the proe-03 viewset of SPECviewperf v8.01. These represent the highest scores in the roundup for each of these benchmark tests. The MTower 64SLI received an A+ for performance.
The system we tested is priced at $4,399 with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 PCI Express card with 512MB of RAM. The same system costs $3,845 with the speedy but less expensive NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400 that has 256MB of onboard memory. The system price is a little higher than we typically expect from @Xi, but reflects the cost of the graphics card and the AMD Athlon FX55 2.6GHz processor—for which AMD is currently charging a premium price. Highly Recommended.
MJ-12 5500Alienware
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $4,399
The Alienware MJ-12 5500 is the second system that we've tested from Alienware, and it delivered great performance at a moderate price—proving that sometimes it's the second time that's a charm, not the third. The MJ-12 5500 is a sleek, stylish and relatively compact system that's easy on the eye.
The Alienware MJ-12 5500, priced at $4,399, offers excellent expandability options.
The MJ-12 5500 that we tested was built on an Intel 3.8GHz Pentium 4 processor on an ABit AA8XE motherboard that used the 925 XE chipset. As tested, the system was listed as having 2GB of DDR2 RAM installed, though the system panel indicated 3GB of installed RAM. When fully populated, the system accommodates 4GB of RAM.
As with many of the speedier systems tested in this roundup, the Alienware MJ-12 5500 used the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 16x PCI Express graphics card. Testing was done with NVIDIA 22.214.171.124 drivers and MAXtreme v6.00.07 for the 3ds max benchmark tests.
The system was priced at $4,399, which, considering the extras included with the system, earned it an A for pricing. The Alienware MJ-12 5500 received an A+ expandability. It provides fourteen drive bays: four 5.25" and two 3.5" external bays, and six 5.25" and two 3.5" internal bays. Combined with an Enermax 460W power supply, eight USB 2.x connectors and a single FireWire 1394 connector, the system has room for expansion and the means to support it.
On the Cadalyst Labs test bench, the Alienware MJ-12 5500 achieved a Total Index Score of 154.71 on the Cadalyst C2001 benchmark, 120.91 on the averaged frame rates of the MAXBench 4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme 6.00.07 accelerated drivers, and a score of 54.02 on the proe-03 viewset of SPECviewperf v8.01. These are all very respectable numbers that earned the system an A for performance.
The only complaint I have with the Alienware system has to do with the noise level, which is louder than I like. However, the system is rife with niceties. I've never seen a mousepad delivered in an embossed metal box, and I must admit that I enjoy the whimsy. Highly Recommended.
3DBOXX 3206BOXX Technologies
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $4,944.50
For this roundup, BOXX Technologies submitted the 3DBOXX 3206, a new system from its 3200 series of high-performance workstations based on AMD Athlon 64 FX processors.
The 3DBOXX 3206 from BOXX Technologies comes in a stylish metal case and, more importantly, posted solid test scores.
BOXX's system cases are distinctive and attractive, with the company logo cut out of the metal housing. These systems are not just for appearance, however, as shown by the solid scores they earned during our testing.
The 3DBOXX 3206 is based on an AMD Athlon 64 FX 55 seated in an Asus A8N-SLi Deluxe motherboard that uses the NVIDIA nForce4 SLI chipset. As tested, the system had 2GB of DDR400 RAM, though the motherboard accommodates 4GB.
The 3DBOXX 3206 provides nine drive bays: two 5.25" and one 3.5" external and six 3.5" internal bays. The Emacs/Zippy 400W power supply may be a little on the weak side, depending on how many of the drive bays you plan to use. The 3DBOXX 3206 offers six USB 2.0 connectors (two in the front, four in the rear) and two FireWire connectors (one in front, one in the rear).
Cadalyst Labs test results for the 3DBOXX 3206 included a strong Total Index Score of 157.13 on the Cadalyst C2001 benchmark, 132.93 for the averaged frame rates of the MAXBench 4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme 6.00.07 accelerated drivers, and 54.94 on the proe-03 viewset of the SPECviewperf v8.01 benchmark. These very good performance scores earned the 3DBOXX 3206 an A for this category.
With a price of $4,944.50, the 3DBOXX 3206 is the most expensive system in this roundup, due in part to the premium that AMD is exacting for its new Athlon 64 FX55 processors and the inclusion of a very speedy, though expensive, NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 graphics card. The price is on the high side, but is not too far from the range of other systems included in this roundup. The system still earned an A for pricing, though it was admittedly a close call. The good news is that as the AMD FX55 microprocessors come into wider distribution and production scales up, per-unit prices on the chips are likely to drop. Highly Recommended.
Dell Precision 370Dell
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $3,631
The Dell Precision 370 was one of the more compact systems in this roundup, measuring only 7.1" X 16.7" X 17.6" (wXhXd). As it turned out, good things do come in small packages, as the Precision 370 turned in good performance numbers on our benchmark tests. Based on an Intel Pentium 4 3.6GHz processor housed on a Dell-designed motherboard that uses the Intel 925X chipset with a Memory Controller Hub and I/O Connection Hub, the Dell Precision 370 came with 2GB of DDR2 533MHz ECC memory. A fully populated motherboard holds 4GB of RAM.
Dell's Precision 370 will conserve desk space, though at the expense of expandability options.
Testing the Dell Precision 370 produced a Total Index Score of 154.91 on the Cadalyst C2001 benchmark. The system registered 108.18—a little on the low side—for the averaged frame rates of the MAXBench 4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme 6.00.07 accelerated drivers. The score for the proe-03 viewset of the SPECviewperf v8.01 benchmark was 52.92. These numbers indicate that the Precision 370 would serve well as a CAD workstation rather than as a visualization and rendering station. The results are solid, however, and earn the Dell an A for performance.
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Though the Precision 370's compact case was striking, its size ultimately limited expandability options. The system offers six drive bays: two 5.25" and two 3.5" externally accessible bays and two 3.5" internal drive bays. Combined with a 350W power supply, the expandability options are limited when compared with other systems in this roundup, so the system received an A- score in this category. The Precision 370 proivdes eight USB 2.x connectors, two in front and six on the rear, with a FireWire connection as an optional add-on.
The system received a second A- score for the return options, which at 21 days is on the short side, although there is no restocking fee.
The Dell Precision 370 is very quiet—one of the quietest systems to come through Cadalyst Labs. The system is well-designed and engineered, and should provide a long life of useful service. Highly Recommended.
IntelliStation MPro 6225IBM
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $3,955
For this roundup, IBM sent an IntelliStation MPro 6225 system, a compact and solidly built workstation that measured 19.4" X 6.9" X 17.7" (wXhXd). The system demonstrates all the attention to detail and engineering that we typically associate with IBM workstations.
Priced at $3,955, the IBM IntelliStation MPro 6225 is a compact system with a range of configuration options.
New features and capabilities in this workstation are PCI Express, 64-bit memory architecture for large models, PC3200 DDR 2 memory and eight USB slots as well as IEEE 1394 connections. The IBM IntelliStation MPro 6225 is based on an Intel Pentium 4 3.8GHz EM64T processor on an IBM motherboard with the Intel 925X chipset that includes the 925X Memory Controller Hub for PCI Express x1. The system reviewed came with 2GB of PC3200/400MHz DDR2 RAM and supports 4GB when the motherboard is fully populated.
Performance scores included a Total Index Score of 147.21 on the Cadalyst Labs C2001 benchmark, 38.73 on the SPECviewperf proe-03 benchmark, and an averaged frame rate of 116.03 on the MAXBench4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme v6.00.07 accelerated driver. Note that these numbers were with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400, rather than the 3D Labs Realizm 800 graphics card. This is a very capable system that costs $3,955 as tested.
Configuration options on the IBM IntelliStation MPro can make this same system an entry-level 3D workstation when you specify the inexpensive ATI V3100 graphics card, or a higher-end system when a more expensive NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400 card is installed. This is an ideal system for those whose budget dictates an economical system because it offers the potential for an easy upgrade to higher performance by simply changing the graphics card and drivers.
Even greater performance numbers are likely possible from the IBM IntelliStation MPro 6225 by including the newer, and more expensive, NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 PCI Express graphics card, though as this article goes to press, IBM does not yet offer this as an option.
Though IBM is selling its PC business, the IntelliStation workstations are part of the IBM server group and remain under the aegis of IBM. Highly Recommended.
Poly 939N4-4400FXPolywell Computers
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $4,199
Polywell Computers sent us a Poly 939N4-4400FX system, which proved to be one of the speediest systems we've ever received from the company. The Poly 939N4-4400FX was housed in a sturdy and stylish case.
The Polywell Poly 939N4-4400X is one of only two workstations to earn an A+ for performance in this review.
The system is based on an AMD Athlon FX55 (2.6GHz) microprocessor and an ASUS A8N-SLI motherboard that uses the NVIDIA NForce 4 SLI chipset. The review system came with 2GB of DDR 400MHz RAM installed, half the maximum 4GB possible when the motherboard is fully populated.
Expandability options are good for the Poly 939N4-4400FX, which features ten drive bays: four 5.25" and two 3.5" external bays, plus four 3.5" internal bays. The system has a 400W power supply and incorporates six USB 2.0 connectors and two FireWire connectors (one each, front and back). The Polywell Poly 939N4-4400FX is ready to roll with SLI capabilities once all necessary components and drivers are released.
The Polywell Poly 939N4-4400X posted a sizzling Total Index Score of 161.46 on the Cadalyst C2001 benchmark and a score of 54.16 on the SPECviewperf proe-03 benchmark test. The averaged frame rate was 132.37 on the MAXBench4 benchmark using the NVIDIA MAXtreme v6.00.07 accelerated 3ds max driver. These excellent scores earned the Poly 939N4-4400FX a rare A+ for performance—one of only two systems in this review to warrant that grade.
The Poly 939N4-4400FX uses the 16x PCI Express NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 graphics card that's referenced in the system model number, which we ran with NVIDIA Windows XP driver number 220.127.116.11 and with the NVIDIA accelerated driver for the 3ds max 7 components of the benchmarks.
Polywell offers a good warranty on this system, with 60 months coverage on labor, 36 months on parts and 12 months of onsite service. Also standard are 24-hour replacement parts and 24-hour telephone support. In addition to a nice software bundle, Polywell includes a Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard and a Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical v1.1a with the Poly 939N4-4400FX system. Highly Recommended.
StarStationTriStar Corp.
Cadalyst Labs Grade: A
Price: $3,048
The TriStar StarStation system tested here was based on an Intel 3.4GHz Pentium 4 microprocessor seated in an Intel D915PBL motherboard based on the Intel 915P chipset. The system arrived with 2GB of DDR2 memory, with 4GB possible when the motherboard is fully populated. The StarStation is housed in a very attractive case with a full front swing-away cover with a mesh grille for ventilation. The cover is cantilevered to easily swing out of the way and incorporates a locking mechanism.
Though TriStar's StarStation benchmark scores are slightly low, it had the slowest processor and lowest price of all workstations tested.
On the Cadalyst Labs test bench, the StarStation achieved a Total Index Score of 137.46, 50.68 on the SPECviewperf v8.01 proe-03 viewset and an averaged frame rate of 106.99 on the MAXBench4 benchmark with the NVIDIA MAXtreme v6.00.07 accelerated driver. These scores are slightly low as a result of the StarStation's 3.4GHz Intel Pentium processor—the slowest in this roundup—but they're still high enough to give the system an A- score for performance. The speedy NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 certainly helped to boost overall system performance. We tested the system with NVIDIA drivers v22.214.171.12422.
Even with the expensive graphics card, TriStar quoted us a system price of $3,048, the lowest of any workstation in this roundup. This earned it an A+ in the pricing category.
The StarStation provides nine drive bays: four 5.25" and two 3.5" that are accessible externally, with an additional three 3.5" internal bays. The system includes an Allied 400W power supply and incorporates eight USB 2.0 connectors (four in front, four in back) and two FireWire connectors (1 in front, 1 in back).
Warranty coverage is 36 months for both labor and parts, with onsite coverage available. Telephone support is available from 7am-7pm EST. Highly Recommended.
Ron LaFon, a contributing editor for Cadalyst, is a writer, editor and computer graphics and electronic publishing specialist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a principal at 3Bear Productions in Atlanta.
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About the Author: Ron LaFon
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