text:
|Detecting contraband by employing interactive multiprobe tomography
|Krug et al.
|Three-dimensional reconstruction based on a limited number of X-ray projections
|Bjorkholm et al.
|Flue gas conditioning system
|Automatic concealed object detection system having a pre-scan stage
|Peschmann et al.
|Device for irradiating containers.
|Three-dimensional visual screening system.
|Detector for nitrogen-, phosphor-, chlorine-, and/or oxygen-containing substances.
a conveyor system for carrying said item along a path; and
an array of sensors, each sensor comprising a radiation source (SO1,SO2,SO3) and a radiation detector (SE1,SE2,SE3) disposed upon opposite sides of said path and serving to generate transmission signals indicative of opacity to radiation between said radiation source and said radiation detector in a plane intersecting said path, said sensors being disposed at a plurality of different locations along said path and being arranged to irradiate said item from a plurality of different angular orientations about said path; characterised by
a signal processor for processing said transmission signals from said array of sensors to detect contours of maximum local rate of change in opacity within a plane through said item to generate cross section signals indicative any boundaries in said plane between said regions having different opacity to radiation and responsive to said cross section signals for a plurality of planes through a region to detect if said region matches one or more predetermined screening criteria.
carrying said item along a path; and
generating transmission signals with an array of sensors, each sensor comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector disposed upon opposite sides of said path and serving to generate transmission signals indicative of opacity to radiation between said radiation source and said radiation detector in a plane intersecting said path, said sensors being disposed at a plurality of different locations along said path and being arranged to irradiate said item from a plurality of different angular orientations about said path; characterised by
processing said transmission signals from said array of sensors to detect contours of maximum local rate of change in opacity within a plane through said item to generate cross section signals indicative any boundaries in said plane between said regions having different opacity to radiation and responsive to said cross section signals for a plurality of planes through a region to detect if said region matches one or more predetermined screening criteria.
This invention relates to a screening apparatus and method of the type that may, for example, be used to screen aircraft-hold luggage for concealed weapons or explosive devices.
It is known from International Published Patent Application WO-A-9309512 to provide an object-based 3D X-ray imaging technique that based upon the principal of imaging objects/regions within an item by detecting discontinuities in the opacity to the transmission of X-rays from different directions surrounding the item. This technique is based upon taking approximately ten views through the item with those views being uniformly distributed in solid angle.
Whilst the above mentioned imaging technique is capable of imaging weapons within aircraft-hold luggage, it suffers from the disadvantage that the uniform distribution in solid angle of the views requires an extremely bulky device to operate upon luggage sized items and would be ill-suited to anything other than piecewise operation.
European Published Patent Application EP-A-0,485,872 discloses a baggage security screening system including a portion that contains several X-ray sources and line detectors for detecting the opacity to radiation in a series of planes intersecting an object under test. The signals detected are processed to produce an opacity map of the object.
Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides apparatus for screening an item to detect regions within said item having different opacity to radiation, said apparatus comprising:
a conveyor system for carrying said item along a path; and
an array of sensors, each sensor comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector disposed upon opposite sides of said path and serving to generate transmission signals indicative of opacity to radiation between said radiation source and said radiation detector in a plane intersecting said path, said sensors being disposed at a plurality of different locations along said path and being arranged to irradiate said item from a plurality of different angular orientations about said path; characterised by
a signal processor for processing said transmission signals from said array of sensors to detect contours of maximum local rate of change in opacity within a plane through said item to generate cross section signals indicative any boundaries in said plane between said regions having different opacity to radiation and responsive to said cross section signals for a plurality of planes through a region to detect if said region matches one or more predetermined screening criteria.
The invention recognizes that an imaging technique based upon the detection of contours or maximum local rate of change in opacity to the transmission of radiation need not provide the maximum 3D imaging resolution and yet still be able to spot potential security hazards and adopt a sensor arrangement more suited for continuous operation with a large number of items to be screened.
Whilst the invention could use shape recognition algorithms as the predetermined screening criteria (e.g. to detect handguns), it is preferred that said predetermined screening criteria is whether said regions is of material having an opacity to radiation with a predetermined characteristic, said signal processor using said cross section signals in combination with said transmission signals to determine said opacity to radiation of said region.
It has been found that the opacity to radiation is characteristic of the material through which the radiation is travelling and accordingly this technique makes it possible to screen for explosives largely irrespective of the shape into which they are formed.
This capacity is further enhanced in embodiments in which at least one of said radiation sources generates radiation at at least two frequencies and said predetermined characteristic is a relative opacity at at least two frequencies of said radiation falling within a predetermined range of relative opacities.
Whilst the absolute value of the opacity may be subject to error depending upon the precise location of the region being investigated within the item and the nature of the surrounding regions within the item, it has been found that the relative opacity at two different radiation frequencies provides an accurate identification of the material of the region.
The determination of the opacity of the material of a region is enhanced as the invention is able to determine the 3D shape of the region and so calculate a penetration depth of a particular ray through the material under investigation and so compensate for absorbtion in surrounding regions. If R distinct regions are intersected by this line, the opacity of no one region can be determined in isolation: R distinct lines of this type arre required to determine the opacity of all R regions.
Multiple measurements of opacity can be made and then those falling outside a predetermined limit from the others discarded as this variation is quite likely to be due to a topological error in shape determination. This may cause the length of path of a given source-to-sensor ray to be incorrectly apportioned between the variuos regions penetrated by it. When the erroneous measurements have been discarded the remainder can be averaged.
It may be convenient to arrange the majority of the sensors such that they image planes orthogonal to the direction of movement on the conveyer system. Alternatively, the viewing axes of the fan-beanm sources may be quasi-uniformly distributed in two-dimensional angular space, permitting superior derivation of the 3D regional boundaries, albeit at the expense of a somewhat more complex system configuration and more complex processing.
In order to enhance the ability to investigate thin sheets of material that may happen to be oriented such that the main sensors cannot produce an accurate determination, it is preferred that at least two additional sensors are disposed to irradiate said item in a plane non-orthogonal to said path of said item along said conveyer system.
If the conveyer system comprises a plurality of rollers, then the sensors may be conveniently disposed between the rollers.
The invention may be utilised to screen many different sorts of item, but it is particularly well suited for the screening of aircraft-hold luggage and for screening to identify explosives within that luggage.
The radiation source used could theoretically have various forms, but is preferably X-ray radiation.
Embodiments of the invention are able to utilise relatively inexpensive line detectors as the radiation detectors so reducing the overall cost of the screening system.
Viewed from another aspect the invention provides a method of screening an item to detect regions within said item having different opacity to radiation, said method comprising the steps of:
carrying said item along a path; and
generating transmission signals with an array of sensors, each sensor comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector disposed upon opposite sides of said path and serving to generate transmission signals indicative of opacity to radiation between said radiation source and said radiation detector in a plane intersecting said path, said sensors being disposed at a plurality of different locations along said path and being arranged to irradiate said item from a plurality of different angular orientations about said path; characterised by
processing said transmission signals from said array of sensors to detect contours of maximum local rate of change in opacity within a plane through said item to generate cross section signals indicative any boundaries in said plane between said regions having different opacity to radiation and responsive to said cross section signals for a plurality of planes through a region to detect if said region matches one or more predetermined screening criteria.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a one source and 2D sensor array for a "Object-3D" solution;
FIG. 2 shows a one source, line-sensor and slice of tunnel irradiated for a CT (or new-type) solution;
FIG. 3 shows time-shared source positions and sensor array with limiting and intermediate source positions for a CT solution;
FIG. 4 shows three interleaved 20° CT source systems (SO) and their sensors (SE);
FIG. 5 shows a triplet of source positions and partially-common sensor array;
FIG. 6 shows coplanar plus spaced screens accepting radiation at -24°,0° and +24° only;
FIG. 7 shows three rotationally displaced viewing planes generating distinct occluding outlines
FIG. 8 shows a simple object and its tangent lines from fifteen equally-spaced source positions;
FIG. 9 shows tangent lines defining concavity within a reconstructed occluding outline;
FIG. 10 shows non-uniform distribution of tangent lines for eccentrically-located object;
FIG. 11 shows an extra fan penetrating the constant-Z plane for the analysis of thin sheets in that plane.
Do we need Object 3D?
The "object-3D" technique (as described in WO-A-9309512) of object-based 3D X-ray imaging, developed at Imperial College is better than necessary for screening cabin luggage; full 3D reconstruction, based on about 10 views distributed uniformly in solid angle, is not needed. Three orthogonal views should be quite sufficient to reveal the shape of any weapon. The main need is for aspect-independent shape-recognition algorithms which would recognise all potentially-relevant weapons.
Object-3D is also better than necessary for screening hold luggage; in this application, 3D reconstruction needs only to be good enough to permit density determination, for the identification of substances.
In neither application do we need real-time interactive image manipulation, and hence we do not need to convert an analytic representation of the surfaces into near-equivalent triangular facets.
In both applications the constraints of operating outside a continuous-flow luggage-handling "tunnel" would preclude the use of a single source and 2D sensor array, positioned by a two-axis rotating arm system. In place of this any object-3D configuration would require approximately 10 separate fixed sources and 10 extra-large 2D sensor arrays. See FIG. 1. The total assembly would occupy a volume of at least three times the diameter of the tunnel itself, even if the image plane is tilted towards the tunnel. Furthermore, it would be difficult and expensive to make the local section of the moving belt mechanism compatible with the sensing system.
The 2D sensor arrays would have to be many times larger than any 2D array currently in use. Although this requirement could be satisfied primarily by increasing the size of the sensor pixels without necessarily increasing their number, this would almost certainly require some expensive specific development, and it would probably result in a very expensive final system.
On the other hand, as in the medical application, object-3D should be excellently matched to the detailed interactive examination of a suspect item, within a given diagnostically significant sub-volume, subsequent to the primary mass-screening function.
Is CT a Viable Alternative?
Radiation Dosage
Since CT is pixel based, it needs of the order of 1000 views, each comprising a distinct 1000 point line view, to generate a high resolution (1000×1000 pixel) slice image. Moreover, the requirement to resolve around 1000 independent pixels in each "ray" entails the requirement for very high signal/noise ratios and hence very high source levels in each of these 1000 views. These very high radiation doses carry with them the requirement for very substantial and expensive screening. They also entail source levels which are expensive and difficult to generate, even with rotary-target, fluid-cooled X-ray tubes. Above all, the irradiation levels involved are unlikely to be acceptable to the owners of the luggage.
Physical Configuration
At the assumed belt speed of 500 mm/s, an axial resolution of 1 mm would require a helical-scan CT system to rotate at 500 revs/s (30000 r.p.m), i.e. an ω of 3140. At a radius of 1 m, this would correspond to a centrifugal acceleration of 106 G: hardly feasible. However, the progressive movement of the luggage along the belt should make is possible to distribute the sensing function amongst an number of planes normal to the direction of travel, with a number of fixed sources and line arrays in each plane. Indeed, with a rather expensive specialised X-ray tube, the electron-beam could be electrically switched between a number of closely spaced target positions, and an appropriate, somewhat extended line-sensor array could be time-shared between these sources.
Since a source might have to be positioned at or close to a corner of the tunnel, its fan angle will have to be rather less than 90°. Let us assume it will be 70°. Consider an X-ray tube capable of catering for 60 source positions uniformly spread over 20°, using such a 70° fan-beam angle per source. The lead mask would then limit the fan beam to 90°, of which only 70° at a time would be used. Similarly the sensor array would cover a 90° circular arc (or comprise several straight line segments approximating to that circular arc), of which only 70° at a time would be used. See FIG. 2. The source and sensor jointly would account for 110° of the circumference, and hence three such systems could be accommodated in one plane giving a joint coverage of 60°. See FIG. 3. Hence a total of 6 such planes would be required, probably accommodated between successive rollers of the roller track underneath the continuously moving belt. Thus the total angular extent of sensors would be "only" 6×3×110°=5.5×360°, but these sensors would have to accommodate quite sophisticated time sharing. Furthermore, 18 very complex and advanced, very high power, 60 way switched X-ray tubes would be required.
One potentially serious reservation is that most of the sensors would have to accept X-rays arriving over a 20° range of fan angles. Although this tolerance is restricted to the X/Y plane of the fan, it is not certain that it would provide sufficient immunity to side-scattered X-rays to yield the high signal/noise ratio (contrast) required for CT processing. Hence it may in practice not prove possible to achieve as much sensor sharing and multiple-target common X-ray tube operation as postulated above.
Thus we conclude that:
CT would need drastic adaptation, e.g. as outlined above, for holding luggage screening;
The very high radiation dosage of high resolution CT is unlikely to be acceptable in this mass-screening application;
Any CT solution would need a considerable number of very complex and expensive specialised, yet to be developed, X-ray tubes;
It is uncertain whether this solution would yield the contrast (signal/noise ratio) required for CT processing. In the limit, a much larger number of single view sources and sensors might therefore have to be provided, resulting a large increase in the physical length and in the already very high financial cost of any CT solution.
Basis of the Proposed Technique
Hence it is now proposed to employ some of the concepts, techniques and skills developed on the context "object-3D", together with some of the ideas developed above for adapting CT to luggage screening and some entirely new ideas, in a radically different approach to the X-ray screening of hold-luggage. This entails a physical configuration similar to a drastically scaled-down version of the novel CT scheme, proposed and discusses above for this application, together with a processing scheme adapted from that developed at Imperial College for "object-based 3D X-ray imaging" ("Object-3D").
The basic sensor system, for this purpose, would comprise, say, 15 fan-beam X-ray sources and line arrays, similar to those currently used for airport cabin-luggage screening, but distributed uniformly in 1D angular orientation. (The choice of the number of fans is discussed more fully in a later section). For much the same reasons as those discussed above in the context of the CT, it is not feasible to use a spiral-scan mechanism to time-share the 15 viewing directions via a single rotating source/sensor pair. Hence, as in our solution to CT, all the fans would be fixed in the X/Y plane, orthogonal to the Z direction of travel of the belt, but they might be accommodated, in 5 groups of three sources each (with a common sensor), in 5 consecutive inter-roller gaps of the belt-transport mechanism.
The viewing axes of our postulated 15 sources would be separated by 360°/15=24°. Assume that the sensor array facing source n is curved in a circular, arc centred on that source, or else comprises several straight line segments approximating to that circular arc, so that all sensor elements look (near enough) towards the source n. Hence radiation from the two flanking sources, (n-1) and (n+1) will only differ by 24° from this viewing direction. So, subject to extending the array from, say 70° to 70+(2×24)=118°, see FIG. 5, this sensor array could be time-shared between the three consecutively-excited sources, (n-1), n and (n+1). These would probably be independent separate sources. (A single special X-ray tube, whose electron beam is switched electronically between three target locations, is probably not cost effective.) Since each such triplet would account for 3 of our 15 viewing axes, spaced by 24°, five identical such triplets rotated 72° one to the next, could be accommodated in consecutive inter-roller gaps to cover 360°.
As discussed below, the source fan angles might be 70°, and the sensor could be curved or composed of, say, three straight lines, so as to be approximately normal to the incident rays. Even then, the outer envelope of the system would be a cylinder of about 2.25 m diameter.
Some reduction of this diameter could be achieved, by recognising that most of the objects to be examined will arise in the lower portion of the tunnel, and also that their lateral position is more likely to be reasonably central than hard up against the tunnel wall. Hence it may well be acceptable to degrade the coverage to the top right and left hand comers of the tunnel by moving the laterally offset sources closer in and lower down, and lowering the position of the topmost sources. Objects in one of the top comers of the tunnel might then miss four tangent lines in their top corner: one each from the two fans whose viewing direction are roughly orthogonal to the relevant tunnel walls and one each from the two fans whose viewing direction are roughly orthogonal to the diagonal through that corner (from opposite directions).
It takes only two parallel lead plates to screen the whole curved line-sensor array from any side-scatter outside the plane of its three fans and so the Z-axis separation between these 5 fan triplets should eliminate any triplet-to-triplet side-scatter interference. Since the three fans within a triplet are separated in the time domain by consecutive operation, there will also be no mutual side-scatter interference between them. Thus we are only concerned with side-scatter within a single fan. As explained below, the nature of the image processing in our scheme renders it relatively undemanding in respect of contrast.
Assuming that even this is potentially troublesome, we note that the right and left outer 24° segments of each 118° array would serve only one source each. Hence a lead screen in front of the sensors could readily be penetrated, at each sensor element, by a hole in line with the direction joining that element to the corresponding source. For the next inner right and left 24° segments of the line array, each element will, at different times, be associated with either of two sources, and hence needs two appropriately directed holes through its lead screen. See FIG. 5. Similarly, for the innermost 22° each element will, at different times, be associated with three sources, and hence needs three appropriately directed holes through its lead screen. Thus, at worst, side-scatter could be received via two narrow holes, say 2° diameter, i.e. 0.001 steradian each, out of a total potentially relevant solid angle of say 1 steradian. It would thus be completely negligible. FIG. 6 shows how we can admit the three wanted directions of radiation but no others, using two appropriately separated screens. It shows that the price paid for three-fold sharing of a predominantly common sensor array is then a reduction in aperture efficiency (from, say, 80%) to 50%. Since we are dealing with a line array, the side-walls of the screen do not obstruct any wanted radiation. If need be, the screen could be vibrated, for gapless cover of the line-sensor, without affecting this aperture efficiency.
The number of fan views taken for CT would be about 1/60 of that required for a high-resolution CT system, and the X-ray intensity in each of these fan views would be at most 1/10 of that required for CT. The radiation dosage for our scheme would still be some 15 times more than that used in normal cabin-luggage inspection. Nevertheless it could probably be made film-safe and should be acceptable to the user and to the general public for the routine luggage screening.
Object Reconstruction
As the luggage travels along the conveyor past the fans, each fan will generate an occluding outline of each object, unique to this fan's viewing direction. See FIG. 5. In the context of "object-3D" Imperial College has already achieved significant advances in:
Segmentation techniques for identifying closed contours;
Edge extraction methods and edge-linking techniques for optimally defining the boundaries of these closed contours;
Techniques for linking the different views of the same object, for identification of that object, by the common position of their leading and trailing endpoints, in the Z-direction of conveyor travel. (Indeed all pairings of views will generate common 3D locations for the Z-direction endpoints of the given object).
Thus the full 3D information on the shape and density profile of the object is invoked, and used fully, to determine the best reconstruction of the projected occluding outline of the object, as seen from the direction of the relevant source. "Internal edges", i.e. loci of discontinuity in the projected aggregate density inside the occluding outline are also noted, but they are put into "cold storage" at this stage.
In each discriminable Z position, between the Z-axis end-points of a given object, any given projected outline views will thus define 2 points. For each of these 2 projected points we then compute the line joining it to the source position. This defines a locus line, tangential to the given object in the X/Y plane for the given Z value. Hence the 15 views jointly define 30 such tangent lines, which jointly constitute a polygonal approximation to the true occluding outline of the object in the given Z-axis position. There will be multiple intersections of these locus lines, but the occluding polygon is uniquely and simply defined by the innermost set of lines. See FIG. 6.
Smoothly curved regions in that polygon are then estimated by fitting a B-spline or other appropriate polynomial tangential to the mid-points of the sides of that polygon, using the B-spline fitting techniques developed for "object 3D". Any sharp corner or edge in the object, where the tangent angle changes by more than about 12° (i.e. 360°/30) will be marked by the intersection of two or more tangent lines. In other words, one or more sides of the polygon will then shrink to zero. These corners will therefore be automatically included in the above curve-fitting algorithm. Thus the position or corners will be accurately defined in 3D, but the precise shape of smoothly curved regions has to be inferred from their polygonal approximation.
Indentations, excrescences and other complications of shape would generate the additional "internal edges" of the object which we put into "cold storage" above. Consider a simple concave indentation from the occluded outline. Its internal edge will generate an additional set of tangent loci. This will be equivalent to a section of a distinct monotonically curved convex object, and so its tangent lines, too, will have an average spacing of 360°/30=12°. See FIG. 7. Hence its shape is determined by the innermost sequence of these locus lines, describing the concavity. Some smoothing may then be applied to the transition between the concavity and the main occluding outline.
More complex shapes can be broken down into monotonically curved segments, and hence these will similarly have tangent lines spaced by average of 12°. The number of tangent lines will merely be increased accordingly but the problem of defining the break-down of the total shape into its monotonically-curved segments is increased disproportionately and this is currently the subject of further study.
For a round object in the centre of the tunnel, the right hand tangent directions from the 15 sources will each differ uniformly by 360°/15=24° one from the next, and so will the 15 left hand tangents. If the angle subtended by the object at the sources is an odd multiple of 12°, the two sets of 15 tangents are perfectly uniformly interleaved, with identical spacings of 12°. In general, of course, the objects are not perfectly round, nor centrally placed in the tunnel, nor do they subtend precisely an odd multiple of 12° at the sources. Hence we still have an average external angle of 12° in the defining polygon, but with significant variations from one corner to the next. See FIG. 8. However, on the basis of the limited paper experiments, we expect that the proposed total of 15 viewing directions will allow sufficient margin for these variations to permit the shapes of all relevant objects to be adequately derived from the resulting polygons.
Discussion of Object Reconstruction In "object 3D", with n viewing axes distributed uniformly in solid angle, each of n(n-1)/2 pairings of views generates a minimum of two distinct precisely-defined 3D points, distributed uniformly over the object's surface. By contrast, in the system here discussed, the viewing axes are distributed in a single plane. The n(n-1)/2 pairings of views then still generate the precise 3D location of two points each, but they all are the same z-axis end-points of the object! This redundant waste of potential information is the price we pay for the economy in hardware and in space usage.
The reconstruction of complex shapes will then pose some novel problem. It is simpler than in "object 3D" in so far as the problem arises only within 2D slices; but more complicated in so far as the input information comprises only tangent lines and except for any sharp corners does not include the explicit precise positions of any points.
Given correct 2D cross sections, 3D reconstruction, even of quite complex objects, will be taken care of by continuity and correlation in the Z direction, using well established techniques for building up solid shapes from a stack of crosssectional slices. Thus, in this respect, we have an easier problem than direct 3D object reconstruction. Indeed, there is a scope for using this continuity in the Z-direction so that simple cross sections (or other cross sections reconstructed with high confidence) can guide the 2D reconstruction of nearby more complex ones. However, as shown below, we do not in fact depend on an accurate 3D reconstruction of all the features of complex objects.
Objects which are too small in volume and/or too complex in shape to constitute potential explosive charges may be recognised as such, and then may not need reconstruction at all. This does entail the risk that a density reconstruction ray passes through such an object and hence produces an erroneous result. However, such erroneous results can be recognised and eliminated from our redundant set of density samples, as explained in section F below.
The computation for object reconstruction should be rather different, but somewhat less demanding than for object-3D:
B-spline cross-section outlines derived from tangent-line polygons,
3D shapes derived from a continuous stack of such cross-sections, in place of:
identification and 3D location of common points,
3-line approximations to outline segments between such 3D points,
generation of surface net, derivation of sets of triangular facets representing the surface of each mesh of this surface net.
Object Density Determination
The derivation of a 2D cross-sectional shape from a set of tangent lines may introduce some errors in reproducing excrescences or indentations in the X/Y plane. Hence some of the multiple estimates of an object's X-ray specific density may be in error, due to incorrect assumptions of the relevant rays depth of penetration through one or more of the objects traversed.
We reduce this risk by choosing our sampling-ray positions to minimise the number of objects penetrated. Subject to this constraint, we seek a position as central as possible in the given projection of the object. We achieve this by shrinking the object's projected outline, normally to that outline, at a constant rate until it collapses into a single point within, or on the perimeter of, the sub-area of fewest overlaps. We perform this process separately for each object, in each of the 15 views. With the resultant 15 fold over sampling, we obtain 15 independent estimates of the density of each of our objects. As long as, say, a minimum of 4 of these give consistent results, we can safely assume that these do indeed represent the true specific density of the object (and of any other-objects penetrated by these sampling rays). We can disregard the (up to 11) other, mutually-inconsistent measurements as being evidently due to local imperfections in the 3D reconstruction of at least one of the objects penetrated by their sampling rays. If necessary, the number of density-sampling rays could easily be increased to whatever number is required to generate an unambiguous histogram distinguishing the consistent common value from the scattered false values.
We can then refine the estimate by averaging the consistent subset of data, weighting each by the ratio O/A, where O={aggregate density due to the relevant object}; A={aggregate density due to all objects penetrated by the given sampling ray}.
Thus good density estimate can be derived from a mediocre reconstruction of object shape.
The foregoing should cope very satisfactorily with solid objects. However, it is not adequate for the important special case of thin-sheet objects. Their outline will be well defined in 3D from even just 2 of our 15 source views. However, there is no practical way to measure their thickness with high fractional accuracy.
Thin-sheet objects are important, since explosive might be concealed in the lining of a suitcase. Fortunately, it seems improbably that a sheet of explosive would be so perfectly matched to the complete outline of the lining of one side of a suitcase that the X-ray system would not detect a separate edge from the explosive sheet. On the other hand since the thickness of this sheet could only be estimated within quite wide tolerances, its X-ray specific density would be somewhat indeterminate.
However, it might well be acceptable to operate an alarm when encountering:
a thin sheet,
in (near) surface contact with a somewhat larger thin sheet (the "wall" of the case)
within the (somewhat wide) density bracket of potential sheet explosive.
Other means might then be involved to examine these rare suspect items.
Dual-Voltage Material Classification
We would also enhance the diagnostic capability of the routine screening system by the use of dual-voltage operation: The ratio of the "densities" of the same object, observed in the same ray path, at two distinct X-ray voltages, is independent of the assumed depth of penetration through that object, provided the same assumption is made for both voltages.
If we can assume that the side of the case which is "lined" with explosive is most likely to finish up horizontal on the conveyor system, we can limit the dual-voltage operation to the vertical "fan". It could be accomplished either by the provision of an additional vertical axis X/Y-plane fan, operating at the alternative voltage, or by time share switching of the given single source and sensor between the two modes.
If, however, we have to cater for vertical surfaces too, these can arise in any orientation. Assuming it is very unlikely that one side of a case will be accurately aligned with our X/Y plane, (where the path of near-tangential sampling rays might be too uncertain), it should (on the face of it) normally be sufficient to provide dual-voltage operation also for one source of near-horizontal (X-direction) viewing axis (in the X/Y plane).
If thin sheets fairly accurately aligned with the X/Y plane of the conveyor system are likely to be a significant problem, we might have to provide one additional (16th) horizontal axis, vertical-plane fan at, say, at 60° to the Z axis (the conveyor's direction of travel) and make this yet a further instance of dual voltage operation. See FIG. 9.
When (as usual) multiple objects overlap, we must derive the two distinct specific densities (for the two voltages) for all the overlapping objects, and hence we must ensure (as mentioned above) that our sampling rays are ones giving consistent results. With only two or three dual-voltage fans, it may not be possible to guarantee this process.
Benefitting from the 3D shape information derived from the full set of 15 (or 16) sensors, it should however be possible to define suitable density-sampling rays within the view of the central sources of our 5 triplets, thus restricting dual-voltage operation to these 5 sources and sensors and to the special one at 60° to the Z axis, if used.
The dual-voltage technique for material classification from the ratio of the dual-voltage "specific densities" could then of course be used for all objects. The basic system of, say, 15 single voltage fans would then still be required for the identification and shape reconstruction of objects. However, the accuracy specification for the reconstruction of the shapes of these objects could then be further relaxed.
Conclusions A scheme based on object-3D, although performance-wise "ideal", would be too large and too expensive to constitute an optimum solution to this problem.
A system based on CT could meet the required throughput rate only if it took the form of the novel, multiple fixed-sensor configuration here proposed. However, it would then be too large and too expensive, and involve too high a radiation dosage to constitute an acceptable solution.
The alternative here proposed is based on an adaptation of the sources and sensors already in use for the screening of cabin luggage, but uses these in substantially larger numbers.
The solution is compatible with existing conveyor systems--provided only that the relevant section of the belt is reasonably transparent to X-rays. (Its residual signal can be noted and subtracted from the observed images).
The space requirement is fairly modest, and so should be acceptable to the user;
We can exploit the fact that we merely seek to classify the material of which objects are made, rather than to reconstruct their shape with very high precision, to achieve significant simplifications in information collection and in signal and data processing.
The presence of suspect thin sheets can be detected and indicated by an alarm.
If required, however, thin sheets, or indeed all objects, can be classified by dual voltage operation.
If single voltage operation is acceptable, there would be 15 fan-beam sources and line arrays.
If we include dual-voltage operation this would probably be restricted to 5 of the 15 fans, together, possible, with a special fan oriented at, say, 60° to the X and Z axes.
It seems likely that the proposed system could be produced commercially within acceptable cost limits.
The system would probably be film-safe.
In at least preferred embodiments of the invention, the luggage to be screened is carried on a conveyor system referred to as a tunnel. On the outside of this tunnel, at various positions along its length and around its cross-section, are placed sources of penetrating radiation. The radiation from each source crosses the tunnel and is detected by a sensor array on the opposite side of the tunnel, but not necessarily at the same axial position along the tunnel. In some circumstances, several sources may make use of part or all of a common sensor array on a time sharing basis. The radiation from each source is constrained to a sheet or fan, intersecting part or all of the cross-section of the tunnel, so that the corresponding sensor can be restricted to a line array rather than an area array. The passage of the luggage through such a sheet or a fan of radiation produces information in the relevant sensor which can be converted into a projected image. Within this image, each object or identifiable part of an object is identified by its outline and its aggregate opacity profile for the given type or types of penetrating radiation. The specific opacity of an object or any desired part of an object can also be derived from this data. All of the foregoing information can then be checked against various decision criteria.


text:
Words of Mass Destruction (2006)
In 2006, just two years after its initial release, Words of Mass Destruction was re-released in a joint endeavor between Tom Myers Entertainment and MT6 Records.
Tom's debut CD, recorded September 2004 in the Gopher Hole at Goucher College in Baltimore, tackles subjects such as the George W. Bush administration, the War on Terror, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the rather active hurricane season in what his college newspaper The Quindecim describes as a "unique style of comedy ... " and "... an amusing form of social commentary." $6.99 + S&H
Order by PayPal
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subset: commoncrawl


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MILO's official tour cameraman was assaulted and has his equipment broken by anarchist protesters at the University of Washington tonight.
Matthew Perdie, the official cameraman for MILO's Dangerous Faggot tour, was filming protesters outside the University of Washington when he was suddenly assaulted and his equipment thrown to the ground. Luckily, Perdie was recording the entire time meaning that we have two angles of the attack which can be seen below.
When asked for comment Perdie said, "I was filming the protesters with my 2 cameras, my AF100 and my GOPRO. The protesters were doing their usual tactics of blocking the camera and calling me a fascist when out of nowhere a fat guy wearing a red handkerchief basically charged into me from the back, attempting to push me to the ground while also hitting me in the head. He continued to try and knock me over and push me into the concrete. I bent my knees a bit and used my legs to keep myself from falling over. I then tried to get his name several times while he threatened to assault me repeatedly."
The video shows that police make no effort to apprehend the man that Perdie identifies, and also that the attacker quickly blends in with the rest of the masked crowd. Despite the growing number of protesters outside the university, MILO still plans to take to the stage soon, watch the full event here.
MILO wears jeans by True Religion, $200. Shirt by Pam & Gela, $220. Sneakers by Gucci, $750. Glasses by Givenchy, $350. Louis Vuitton belt, $450. Topshop fur coat, $140. Huf socks, $15.99. Chains, jewels, pearls n shit: more than your tuition.


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Hi All,
Does anyone know how to correctly do a butt crunch?
i want to tone my butt and ive heard this exercise is vrey good for doing that,
ive heard that people do it at their desks at work etc..
but when i attempt it i look like im trying very hard not get up and run to the loo if you catch my drift !! lol..


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Liberal icon and all-around bad guy Michael Moore recently appeared on MSNBC with Chris Hayes to talk about what Moore believes the American people should be doing over the next few days, weeks, and months. In a word – he wants them protesting the just held, legally conducted, and cleanly won (by Donald Trump) election. Moore's coup de grâce? This gem of a line, where he argues that the American people should act lawlessly to protest Trump's lawful election.
Trending: Trump Breaks Silence on Swamp-Draining Declassification
When asked what Americans should be doing, Moore says…
Protesting, obstructing, disrupting, civil disobedience. I mean, the man has no right to enter that house.
Moore's always been out in left field, but with this latest diatribe he has walked out of the stadium, gotten on the train and is well on his way to the suburbs. I mean, this is crazy. Even if the Russians played a role in the leaks of the DNC and Clinton campaign emails, it's not like they invented the information those emails contained! Hillary Clinton, John Podesta, and all of the Democrat operatives who were embarrassed by the emails that they wrote actually wrote the emails! The Americans who voted against them for these things were right to do so, even if the Russians played a part in getting the information out there.
It's unconscionable to think that Democrats are actually arguing that the election is illegitimate because the American people learned truths that they weren't supposed to know. Yes, the Democrat Party has reached a new, disgusting low, and Michael Moore is the embodiment (and perfect image) of that nadir.
Listen, we are hours away now from the Electoral College coming together on Monday. This needs protest, this needs people's voices. You can go to Vigils For America, I think it's dot org, and they have a list of all the state protests at the state capitols this weekend and on Monday.
People need to have their voice heard. Don't say to yourself, oh, what's the use? How do we — nothing's going to happen. You don't know that. You don't know that. That's why we have to keep fighting. We have to fight all the way to inauguration day and then be ready for them to start the day after the inauguration passing law after law after law…
Protesting, obstructing, disrupting, civil disobedience. I mean, the man has no right to enter that house. There are too many questions about whatever collusion was going on. I mean, they admitted that they were in touch with the Russians during the campaign. They have said that… So we would need to know as Americans what the hell was going on there and he does not have a mandate. He does not have a mandate. And that just needs to be said over and over and over again. And the media, for God's sake, please do your job.


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A great traffic experience
The National – News
24 Jan 2011
I had a great experience I'd like to share with your readers. I was hit from behind at a traffic light on Saturday. I rang the police and within three minutes there were two Saaed vehicles to apportion blame. Both individuals (Yemeni) spoke perfect…read more…


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Matt Gardner, the director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, took a look at Tim Cook's terrible letter to EU consumers regarding Apple's tax evasion, and pretty much tears it to shreds.
Apple created a complicated web of subsidiaries to avoid taxes, and the Irish government allowed it. Both the company and the country were complicit in this agreement. The idea that Ireland gave Apple guidance on "how to comply correctly with Irish tax law" makes both parties sound less guilty than they are. A better characterization would be that Apple cooked up a tax-dodging scheme, and Ireland allowed it.
Further along, Gardner actually opens up a major can of worms, arguing that either Apple provided false figures in its annual report, or Tim Cook is lying in his letter to EU consumers:
It doesn't appear to be even remotely truthful based on the numbers they publish in their annual reports. Each year they report that the majority of their profits are earned outside the U.S., with roughly a third (on average, over the past five years) coming from the U.S. When you look at the 10K, the annual report for 2015, you see the company reports earnings of $72 billion worldwide, and just one third of those profits are attributed to the U.S. And yet Cook's statement says that the vast majority of their income is taxed in the U.S.
We think that is a very low estimate. It certainly appears that the company is shifting profits out of the U.S. and into tax havens overseas. So one of these things must not be true: Either the numbers presented to shareholders in their annual report are false, or Tim Cook's new statement that the majority of its profits are taxed in the U.S is false. They both can't be true.
That's a bold claim to make, but it's hard, if not impossible, to argue with Gardner on this one. Since it's incredibly unlikely Apple is falsifying its annual reports, the most logical conclusion is that Tim Cook is lying in the open letter.
Tim - if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
It will be for a judge to decide this and not some self proclaimed expert seeing a chance to get into the spotlight for a moment. The "Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy" is some opaque leftist lobbying group that has no democratic legitimacy.
What about the most serious of allegations, that Ireland gave Apple a special deal on taxes? It is obviously nowhere founded and this Gardner guy conveniently ignores that.
Tax avoidance is not a crime. Everybody tries to avoid taxes and as long as they follow the rules it is their right in a jurisdiction that is based on rule of law. Better blame the lawmakers for the messy legal situation they create.


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My obsession with chasing perfection happened long before my son was born. I would read all the fashion blogs and beauty magazines and look for inspiration to make my life prettier. Endless hours wasted on articles that taught me what I needed to tweak and exactly what products I could purchase to make the new and improved me unrecognizable to my friends and family.
Let me tell you chasing perfection pre-kids is nothing compared to how perfect you are supposed to look once you have them. Not only do we need to have six-pack abs three days after giving birth, but our children have to be child models with stain, smudge, and dirt free designer clothing that costs no less than 5 times as much as mom and dad's. Nothing less than runway ready at all times.
My house has to look like I don't have children and God forbid his set of Legos makes it into the family picture, then it certainly must be scrapped. No dishes, messes, laundry, spills, children's toys, children's books, children's artwork or children's furniture may ever litter the child filled house.
Who are "they" that made some of this stuff normal in society? We can blame celebrities, certain mommy bloggers and the advertising industry, but the sad thing is many of us moms feel pressure to live up to these ridiculous standards. Its time to stop this insanity!
I've come up with my own checklist on being a perfect mom if you care to join:
How to have a perfect body: If you woke up today breathing and alive you're pretty close to being there already. I get that we all have parts that we don't love, but most of the time we don't give enough credit where it's due. Our arms are strong from carrying babies, our heads are held high from knowing we are raising impressive human beings and our legs can outrun a toddler at warp speed. Change what you can if you really want to but give yourself permission to be happy with who you are in this moment too.
How to have a perfect child: Your child is already perfectly matched to you mama. Even in their mistakes and spills and messes there is beauty to be found. What is perfect about kids is their ability to see the world through these huge, inquisitive eyes and call it like they see it.
If I'm having a rough day I try to look at the world through my son's eyes and it always takes me back to a time of innocence and wonder. Even when he refuses a nap, spills a box of cereal on the floor, breaks my favorite necklace and then falls into a mud puddle (all of which have indeed happened in one day) I try to find the humor and wonder in it. He may not be a perfect kid but I wouldn't love him any more if he were.
How to have a perfect home: As cliché as it sounds home is where the heart is. Whether living in a cozy apartment or a sprawling mansion home is sanctuary from the chaos in the world. It doesn't take much to decorate. Put up some pictures and artwork that make you smile, fill it with board games and books you all love, finally organize that overflowing closet.
Don't worry about the mess. Life is inherently messy. A true friend won't care if they have to step over dried up Cheerios and dodge still wet paint splatters to make it to your couch. Besides there's probably a bottle of wine waiting for their obstacle course efforts!
How to have a perfect life. First things first stop chasing a perfect life. Even if you were to spend 24 hours as your favorite celebrity sure you'd get some cool perks but you'd also have to take all the negatives that come along with it too. Some people will show you their seemingly unflawed life through social medial. Please don't forget to realize that it's filtered literally and figuratively. We don't see what really goes on, the low points, the struggles, the bad days. It is an image and a moment in time that may have taken hundreds of pictures and lots of staging to create.
Here's to all of us living perfectly imperfect lives and loving (mostly) every minute.


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----- AMD 5200+ 4GB 800MHz Gainward 9600GT Golden Sample 2 x 320GB Sata 2 x Pioneer 212D Corsair HX-520 Antec 900 modded
----- "It is the war we cannot win, nor can we lose nor drop. There is evidence of an instability of ideas, a floating series of judgements, our policy of nervous conciliation which is very disturbing." - US Senator Hugh Scott
----- Storm G5 email@example.com 1.47v 2x1g 8800gt 1g 1.35v 850c 2100m pcp&c 510w CM Stacker Dell 24" 2405fpw Z-680 http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83/dasa09/P1080547.jpg
E8500 @ 4.0Ghz Daily || 2GB OCZ Special Ops || X38-DS4 || HD 4870 ViewSonic 26" || Logitech Z4 || TJ07 || G11 and G5
----- ....it's called a 'snuke'.
----- Atomic – Tech Writer Quote by Shikimaru TheFrunj doesn't guess, when he forms words with his lips, the world will Warp and change to do his bidding.
----- QX6700:GA-P35-DS3P:XFX9800GTX:4GB Crucial PC2-8500 Ballistix Tracer LED:3x146GB Cheetah SAS 15K.5 RAID0:2x1TB RAID1: "I think Linux supports trinary." http://www.zaimc.com - NEW MIX EPISODE 17! gogo


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Roy Ullyett
Roy Ullyett, one of the most popular and distinctive sports cartoonists of his generation, died on 20 October, aged 87.
His professional career spanned 65 years, including four decades as the Daily Express sports section cartoonist, and he was the last surviving member of a quartet of Express cartoonists described by the paper's legendary editor, Sir Arthur Christiansen, as "the greatest masters of their art".
The other three were Sir Osbert Lancaster, Michael Cummings and Carl Giles.
Christiansen signed Ullyett from the London Evening Star in 1953 and said of him: "There are millions of people who draw and paint but there is only one Roy Ullyett." He went on to entertain Express readers for the next 44 years and, arguably, filled more newspaper space than any artist in history.
As his biographer, I worked with Roy on his book, While There's Still Lead in My Pencil (published in 1998). He was the amiable assassin. He poked gentle fun at his "victims" without ever crossing the fine line between humour and humiliation. Above all else he was a wonderful human being.
Royden Herbert Frederick Ullyett was born in Leytonstone in East London on 16 March, 1914. His mother, Hilda, was the granddaughter of noted Essex landscape painter John Glover.
But Roy did not follow the conventional artistic route of his great-grandfather. His first cartoons were of his schoolteachers at Earls Colne boarding school in Halstead, Essex. From the first moment he put pencil to paper he showed a distinctive style that was frowned on by his art teacher, who told him: "You have talent, Ullyett, but you are far too frivolous to ever make an impact in the art world."
Roy spent the rest of his life proving his teacher wrong. His first commissioned work was for his local newspaper, the Southend Times, at the age of 17. He was paid 10 shillings for weekly caricatures of the artistes appearing in the local music hall.
It started a life-long link with show business and for 45 years Roy was one of only 20 elected Companions of the Grand Order of Water Rats (Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh are among the others). In 1989, he was awarded the OBE for his services to journalism and charity fundraising after his cartoons, auctioned through show business channels, had raised more than £1m.
Roy served in both the Army and the RAF during the war.
In the last year of the war he met and instantly fell in love with Margaret (Maggie) Wright, a fashion buyer from Bradford. They married and settled in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.
Freya, their only child, arrived in 1946.
"I am so proud that my father brought so much pleasure to so many people," she said.
David Emery, one of the five sports editors Roy served under at the Express, said: "There have been few more widely loved and respected men in the history of Fleet Street. He was a genius at his craft and a wonderful human being."
Norman Giller


text:
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New born pet mouse
Z918/0268 Rights Managed
530 pixels on longest edge, unwatermarked
Request/Download high-res file
Uncompressed file size: 54.3MB
Downloadable file size: 4.7MB
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Credit: JEROME WEXLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: animal, baby animal, baby animals, baby mouse, infant mouse, mammal, mouse, muridae, mus, nature, newborn mouse, pet mouse, wildlife, zoology
Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.


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Friday, January 25, 2013
Home Teaching the Scout Unit
4 comments:
That is exactly how our district commissioner described it at the first commissioner meeting I attended - "home teaching for scouting units" (75% of the units in out district are LDS). I have found the analogy really does fit perfectly and makes it very easy to understand the job.ReplyDelete
BTW, visit reports are generally done online now. Our district is so small, I don't even know if we have an ADC. If we do, it definitely isn't anyone from our stake presidency. (I guess things are done a little differetly here, though. I was recruited by the district, not the stake.)
Great post. I am really enjoying your blog.Replies
Thanks for your comments Evenspor. Yes, reporting is now done online. Ideally an ADC (if you have one) would also get some sort of verbal/email report so that he is in touch with what's happening at the unit level.Delete
- AnonymousFebruary 27, 2013 at 7:15 AM
Great post! Thanks! Just an fyi. We recently spoke with a member of the general primary board who informed us that the unit commissioners are not supposed to come from the stake primary presidency. They can certainly be one but it is in no way shape or form part of the job. She said that a very well meaning person published this as LDS church policy but it is another "false tradiation" floating around out there. Love the analogy you made!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks for that clarification. Even if it's not mandatory, it still seems to align very well with their calling overall!Delete


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£750,000 Guide Price
11 Bedrooms Detached House for sale
Offering an outstanding opportunity, and positioned in the centre of this delightful village in the heart of the wye valley, a very versatile house with two holiday cottages and a…
3 Bedrooms Detached House for sale
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A quaint and delightful three-bedroom detached stone built cottage, with common fishing rights, full of character, it also benefits from an adjoining, cider barn, which is currently…
£595,000 Guide Price
5 Bedrooms Detached House for sale
Now requiring some modernisation and improvement, an extensive converted mill offering sizeable and adaptable living accommodation, situated within easy striking distance of hereford…
£525,000 Guide Price
4 Bedrooms Detached House for sale
Oak House,Tresseck Mill Road, Hoarwithy, HR2 6QJ
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3 Bedrooms Semi Detached House for sale
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Two high spec large semi-detached three bedroom new build properties coming with luxury interior, modern contemporary solid oak/glass open tread staircase, en-suite master bedroom…
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Two high spec large semi-detached three bedroom new build properties coming with luxury interior, modern contemporary solid oak/glass open tread staircase, en-suite master bedroom…
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Site for the erection of 4 dwellings on land adjacent to green banks, hoarwithy, herefordshire, hr2 6qj situated close to the heart of the dispersed riverside village of hoarwithy,…
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An idyllically situated three bedroom cottage with exquisite countryside and river views.breakfast kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, three bedrooms, gardens, woodland, picturesque views.…
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A spacious, detached, four bedroom family house in popular area near to a range of amenities | hall | lounge | dining room | kitchen breakfast room | conservatory | store room with…
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text:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- While her son had a busy weekend in store being honored with a special statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium and having his jersey retired by the Colts, Peyton Manning's mom Olivia received a special honor herself.
A room at Peyton Manning's Children's Hospital was named after her. The room has a nautical theme and includes an anchor, which is a symbol for hope.
"It's a wonderful thing for a child to be able to stay in a cheerful room" Manning said. "You know, we feel very blessed and I'm glad that all my boys have been really interested in giving back. But I think this is the most special thing of all, the hospital."
Manning was a Delta Gamma at the University of Mississippi. The Indianapolis chapter of the sorority raised $60,000 to renovate the patient suite.


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TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's foreign minister has criticized demands for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad, saying such calls will prolong the Arab country's civil war.
Mohammad Javad Zarif says those demanding Assad's ouster "are responsible for the bloodshed in Syria."
Zarif didn't name any specific country but was likely referring to Turkey's and Saudi Arabia's repeated calls for Assad to step down. The two Sunni Muslim countries have supported rebels fighting against Assad.
The Shiite-majority Iran is a leading patron of Assad and Tehran has also sent military advisers to Damascus to help the Syrian president's troops against the Islamic State group.
Zarif spoke at a press conference on Monday with his visiting Spanish counterpart, José Manuel García-Margallo. The top Iranian diplomat also said the Syrian crisis has no military solution.


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At LOPC we are always on the hunt for new instructors. If you would like to join our team, here's some information that might be useful to you.
At Longsleddale OPC everybody is helpful to us - no matter what skills you do or don't have. Whether you fancy leading a group around the mountainside or simply making a brew for everybody when they return from the mounatin - we need you!
If you currently have any outdoor quailifications, such as you Mountain Leader Award or Single Pitch Award, these are certainly very useful for the activities we run.
However, if you are willing to learn and have an interest in what we do at the centre, our qualified staff will be more than willing to help in your training.
We have put together an information pack for those who are interested in becoming a volunteer instructor at LOPC. It includes the usual information - who, what when, where and how? - and can be downloaded here.


text:
.... How to Find Your Subject Study Group & Join .... .... Find Your Subject Study Group & Join ....
We are here with you hands in hands to facilitate your learning & don't appreciate the idea of copying or replicating solutions. Read More>>
[ + VU Study Groups Subject Code Wise ] [ + COMSATS Virtual Campus Study Groups Subject Code Wise ]
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VU Need Based Scholarships for Spring, 2016
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Students are informed that need based scholarship link for Spring, 2016 has been opened for deserving students. If you are a deserving student and you are eligible to apply for need based scholarship, please apply at your earliest. The last date to apply for need based scholarship is April 28, 2016.
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why virtual university is not giving scholarships to those students who have not taken full study load or student who taken full study load in current semester and some courses of previous semester are remaining? although there cgpa is also good.
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text:
The latest Futurama episode
The one that was out tonight, who's seen it?
Probably my favourite ever episode, and it didn't even have Zapp Brannigan in it.
i haven't seen the latest latest one
(if today/yesterday is when it comes on in the US), but last weeks, the one where Bender found out he was mortal, was brilliant - really felt like proper futurama again. the ending too <3
it was only ok.
Seem to be getting better at making the episodes a little bit more than just humor, which is nice in a way.
the best ones
were always the 'dramatic' ones
more humour would be appreciated
but my complaints about the first handful relying on really poor pop cultural references (Susan Boil...just no) have been eviscerated. They are using the Futurama universe and the almost limitless possibilties of the show as only they know best. Which is superb.
A bit less of an insular cast would be good though. Though Leela finally found her character again, which is good. They seemingly forgot how to write her beforehand. Amusing turn from Elzar.
the insular cast has been a problem with the show since about season 4 though
they settled on a large group of characters and stopped creating new ones a looooong time ago.
but it seems like the group is less large this time around
- guntrip this'd this
- SCROTUM this'd this


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I've been very busy blogging over at IPexpert's CCIE Blog and this personal space was neglected for a very long time. I want to keep blogging here, too.
As the first step in that direction, I decided to move the blog over from Blogger to my own hosting and upgrade to WordPress. Blogger never quite gave me the satisfaction with the look and feel. At one point, I was happy with it, but I'm afraid that's no longer the case. I'm so much more used to WordPress now and I believe it will allow me to keep on writing more efficiently.
That said, I will, of course, still write detailed technical articles on IPexpert's blog. This space here will become more for my own personal networking thoughts. Since they are most likely not going to be "pure Cisco", name change was in order. To reflect more personal nature of this blog, I also chose a very creative name of "blog".
Other than the name change, there are obviously going to be some visual challenges and tweaks moving forward. I primarily want a clean, uncluttered design that will offer me the best platform to write short technical posts. Since this doesn't even qualify as a hobby at this point, it will probably take a year or two before I manage ti find the look I'm looking for. That's good enough for me.
She's upset with me wasting a whole Sunday on this.
P.S. Apologies to both of my RSS subscribers for RSS spam. Apparently, Feedburner got a little bit confused with the migrated articles. Oops.


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Views: 596, Replies: 5 » Jump to the end
Apr 16, 2012 3:50 PM CST
|When we moved here in 1996 I brought these with me from St. George Island, Fl. The person who shared them with me just said they were tiger lilies. Does it have a "proper" name and if not can it still be added to the DB and where ??
Each cloud has a silver lineing if only you look for it.
Apr 16, 2012 4:33 PM CST
|Does not look familiar to me. My Mom's tiger lilies were true lilies, not daylilies. Your photo shows a daylily. Maybe it was a knickname?
I did find this link for true lily "tiger lilies"
This link shows daylily "tiger lily". Which they say is the species fulva.
I have grown fulva, and yours does not really look like fulva to me.
[Last edited by daylily - Apr 16, 2012 4:42 PM (+)]
| Quote | Post #243240 (2)
Apr 19, 2012 3:34 PM CST
|bump in case my baby can get a name or place in the DB
Each cloud has a silver lineing if only you look for it.
Apr 19, 2012 4:31 PM CST
|Ginger, the problem is with 70,000 registered. And lots of species, plus a gazillion seedlings each year, seldom will you really know for sure what the daylily is. I have a few that I love that have been "No ID" for years.
Apr 20, 2012 8:58 AM CST
|OK....thanks Juli
Each cloud has a silver lineing if only you look for it.
Name: Dick Henley
Central Ohio (Zone 6a)
Apr 20, 2012 8:30 PM CST
|Anyone who comes to my garden and is unfamiliar with daylilies wants to know about 'tiger lilies' and I don't know what to say. I generally take them to see some true lilies and daylilies. They then want to know what they call the orange ones that grow along the road. Then I explain...
Dick in Ohio
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text:
Come and join us to experience some of the best riding anywhere in the world…
With the amazing diversity and beauty of the Arizona mountain biking terrain (including AZ's forested high country), to the magnificent mountains of Colorado, AZ Mountain Biking will plan an adventure that will be one of the best. With epic riding in Moab, Utah, Durango Colorado, and the much talked about Sedona and Black Canyon Trail system in Arizona, you can leave the planning to us and enjoy the ride. We will help you make the most out of your valuable time, by arranging the trails, the bikes, and the lodging.
There are tours and rides for all levels, for individuals, families, corporate groups, and groups of friends. You can join one of our regularly scheduled tours, or you can have us plan one just for you by telling us a little bit about your riding experiences, if any, and we will find the trail that suites you best. There are bike rentals available to minimize your trip planning, or bring your own – whichever works best for you!
Where you stay is just as important to us as where you ride and we plan your R&R time as carefully as we plan your riding.
Your lodging is in highly rated vacation homes, cabins or cottages that have already passed "our" test (Amy is very picky), to make sure your place is pristine; quiet, convenient, and cozy, making you feel at home, and with the charm and warmth of the southwest.
You can also call 602-448-9567 for with questions and to let us know exactly what will work for you.


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It seems the last 3 or so weeks have been very up and down. From a week of tiredness, to a week of productivity, and now to a week of uncertainty (and more tiredness!). Not sure if the uncertainty is getting me over the hump for this week, but talking it out sure does help! Here are some of the ambiguous areas of my week.
1. Still sick?
For what feels like a decade, I am still sick despite finding out I have high cholesterol and (VERY) low iron. Despite watching what I eat and shovelling in more steak and iron supplements, I am still struggling with almost-constant nausea. Keeping a food diary seemed to show quite random foods, but hubby and I now seem to think that it could be a yeast intolerance causing the problems, which means trying an 'elimination diet' of no yeast. Not only that, but there are also foods which seem to trigger a flare up in the natural yeast in your body, so you know, that's fun too. It is UNCERTAIN because I could be full of it and it could have nothing to do with yeast at all, but right now I'll give anything a shot!
2. Going back to work?
Hubby and I have started the conversation about when I would return to work, and how many days I would go back for. Let's be honest, I don't really want to go back at this stage. I really enjoy my days with Starfish and blogging at home – it seems a much simpler existence in many ways (and crazily-hectic in others!!). My dream is to make millions of dollars blogging (ha!) so I can choose how many days to go back to work. While this isn't until July, the planning needs to be done now and obviously there is still a lot of uncertainty around the situation. How am I facing it? But trying to initiate conversations with hubby to get it organised sooner rather than later, including looking at babysitting and day care options.
3. Teething and Sleep?
Over the past week my son's sleeping patterns have been all over the shop. The once placid and great-sleeping child has turned into an hourly-waking cryer who is struggling to self-settle. Our uncertainty here is we don't actually know if the sleep problems are cause by the teething (although there doesn't seem to be any other cause), and we have NO idea when (or IF?!?!) his sleeping patterns will return to normal. All I can say is, this sick and tired mumma sure hopes they do soon (for bub's sake as well as her own). How am I trying to face this uncertainty? By getting extra naps if/when I can, and helping soothe bubba as best as possible!
Have you had any uncertainty this week? How did you face it?
Hump-Day Hype! A new blog link-up!
Welcome to week 3 of Hump-Day Hype! This is a blog link-up to help us get through the week. You know how Wednesdays (aka. Hump Day) are usually the toughest to get through, because it means we're well into the week but not quite to the weekend? Well this blog link-up is a way to share our favourite blog posts of the week, have a cuppa and laugh/cry/inspire ourselves to make it to the weekend! We hope you enjoy Hump-Day Hype! and we can't wait to share some amazing linked blog posts with you all!
Hump-Day Hype! Button
Hump Day Hype! Featured Button
Meet your hosts!
Suzy – In the Lyons Den: BLOG // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // PINTEREST
Fi – Mumma Morrison: BLOG // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // PINTEREST
Week #2's Featured Post
My choice of Featured post for this week is Handbag Mafia's "To Miranda Devine, from a mum who works". Not only are her hilarious gifs spot on, but she was very articulate in discussing the heated topic of the week, namely Miranda Devine's article about women who work being bad mothers. She highlights the hypocrisy Miranda spouts with humorous clarity, and verbalises exactly what we were all thinking.
Awesome post Amy – feel free to use one of our "I'm Featured!" buttons above for your post if you'd like! Thanks also to everyone else for sharing great posts, it really helped us get over the hump of last week! Can't wait to see what we have this week!


text: Continue reading, to learn how Edinburgh Private Detectives works. This is a local investigation agency that helps both private and corporate individuals to get to the bottom of many cases. A group of professional private detectives carries out different kinds of scrutinization to gather facts and evidence using high-tech equipment, modern resources, and techniques in order to verify the truth. Some of the investigations carried out are matrimonial investigations, corporate investigations, fraud investigations and missing persons investigations. How do you become a private investigator at Edinburgh Private Detectives? A private investigator is an interesting and prosperous career. Dedication for the service, quick thinking, friendly attitude, patience, perseverance and being trustworthy are some features that an investigator should have. Following closely and learning from a skillful investigator to acquire know-how and comprehension is an excellent way to begin. It is not necessary for you to have any specific education to become a private investigator, however when you become licensed, you will be required to take a test. Why become a private investigator at Edinburgh Private Detectives? Private Edinburgh offers a good foundation for the industry therefore, becoming a private investigator for them is worthwhile. You'll get enough help through the early stages of training by working with the large team of professional and experienced private investigators. Who Is The Regulator For Edinburgh Private Detectives? Presently, no authorising law of private detectives or private investigators is established in the UK. Although plans are being made for the SIA (Security Industry Authority) to introduce the practice of authorisation. Where to get private detective training in Edinburgh? There are instructional classes accessible to individuals who wish to come to be a private investigator and have next to zero understanding. At Edinburgh Private Detectives instructional classes are offered in conjunction with at work shadowing background detectives and investigators. For more data please call 0131 235 2014 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Tycoon Sir Philip Green wants to DOUBLE his retail empire in the next four years.
The billionaire says business is booming – especially abroad – and it's not only Topshop doing a roaring trade.
Other fashion firms such as Wallis and Dorothy Perkins have launched successfully overseas.
Sir Philip told the Daily Mirror: "We have just opened German and French websites and the sales are doing very well.
"We have brands that are recognised and not just Topshop and Topman. We could double our size easily."
The bold forecast came despite Sir Philip's Arcadia group, which also owns Evans and Miss Selfridge, reporting that turnover was flat at just under £2.67billion in the 12 months to August 25. UK sales dropped 3.2%, but internet takings leapt more than a fifth.
Sir Philip remained confident despite the tough times.
He said: "We've got to up our game.
"If we sit there and cry and put on my front window the Bank of England said X, it is not going to help me take any money.
"We have got 45,000 staff, we have a payroll of almost £500million, I have got to focus on feeding all these people."
Sir Philip called on the Government to incentivise firms to invest in more training.
He said: "If they want people off the street we've got to get people trained up."
Sir Philip, who twice tried to bag Marks & Spencer, said he was open to other offers.
"There's two or three things in my head.
"If they ever turned up, we'd have to look at them," he said, adding: "Do I think I could go and find one, two, three, four billion pounds? Yes, I do."
Monaco-based Sir Philip refused to discuss his own tax affairs, saying: "I don't want to get into that."
But on his business, he said: "We have been a full UK taxpayer for the last 10 years and paid £591m in that time and have paid whatever is due in corporation tax."
Sales from its international franchise stores were not included in yesterday's results


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Question about to start a career in Cricket
I want pursue a career in cricket. Guidance required to pave a path in cricket for a novice.
I am 21 years old and I want to make my career in cricket. I played cricket from my childhood days.
But never played for any club. So, is it possible to start my career at this stage? If yes, then can you please tell the path to achive my goal and what will be the cost I have to pay for that?


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FREE first session- includes a personalized fitness evaluation & custom sample workout
- 1 hour session $50
- 10- 1 hour sessions $450 $50 savings
- 20- 1 hour sessions $800 $200 savings
My style of training has largely developed from my own personal fitness philosophy. When I was young, there was nothing I couldn't do. As a college athlete, I felt invincible. As I got older however, the ability to perform all the training, in addition to keeping up in the athletic activities I enjoyed, became increasingly difficult. My body began to break down and injuries seemed to manifest one after the other. Through my own experience as a runner, surfer and yogi in training, I've developed a fitness equation that allows me to feel stronger, healthier and happier than I ever was training three times as hard. What has developed for my clients and what continues to develop is a workout session that includes:
- The flexibility and balance of yoga
- The strength and power of weight training
- The stamina and metabolic factor of cardio
Training sessions are held at North Park Fitness, conveniently located on University Avenue, just off I-805.
I also do home visits & boot camps. Please call for details.


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Blythe Thomas left her hometown of New York to pursue photography in Nashville, but when her impromptu 2014 video of Devin Dawson and Louisa Wendorff covering "Blank Space/Style" went viral within a week, Blythe decided to dive into the video world headfirst.
Since then, and at just twenty-five, Blythe has established herself as a creative music video director and shooter, with a portfolio of content ranging from official videos to documentarian work. Her clients include Sony Music Group (Columbia Records), Warner Music Group (Warner Nashville, Atlantic), and Universal Music Group (Def Jam, Republic). To date, her work has been credited in virtually all major outlets, including TIME, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Vice, Billboard, People, Snapchat, Glamour, and Teen Vogue. Her recent directorial debut for (America's Got Talent winner) Grace VanderWaal's hit single, "Moonlight," has already reached over 30 million views. As of Winter 2017, Blythe's videos have collectively been streamed over 100 million times.
Blythe is passionate about producing killer content with a personal touch. She's about the big dreams, and will work tirelessly to achieve an artist's vision. No matter the scale of the project, she's all in all the time. Her only set rules? No bad vibes, and ideally, someone brings tacos.
Blythe is a CMT Award nominated director currently living + traveling between Nashville and New York City.
Complete business profile PDF available upon request.


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The Best Moose Hunt We've Seen Ends in a Completely Unexpected Way
This is the best moose hunt we've ever seen and we think you'll agree.
In this video, FakeTreeTeam shoots an arrow through both lungs of an enormous bull moose.
Check out what happens after he goes down!
These hunters use a bow and arrow to take down a prize winning bull moose. Once the bull is down, we couldn't believe the other competing moose came over to fight again.
The hunters could only watch from afar as they waiting for the other moose to lose interest.
What a rush!


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Five [Awesome] Things I Read This Week, May 10th Edition
It's been a while, my friends. It's good to see you again.
Todd Hendrickson's My Client Will Die:
"You screwed up. Man up. Admit you made a catastrophic mistake. Pay up and let my client try to enjoy the remaining time he has until the cancer literally squeeze the life out f him. Pay up and let him travel or spend time with his grandchildren or experience something he's always wanted to do. Pay up and let him enjoy his remaining time rather than waste even one of his dwindling days in mediation or in trial."
David Marshall's A Defense of Studying Literature:
"Of course the world needs scientists and mathematicians, and, because rigor probably has scared people away, it's important to urge others to fill those roles. But we also need brilliant people who can accommodate soft thinking and appreciate elusiveness and uncertainty and—dare I say it?—beauty."
Jenny Lawson's Rules for Life:
"10. Don't use the word "literally" when you really mean "figuratively". It literally makes me want to stab you a little but I don't do it because that's illegal and also because I have a very limited amount of knives.
11. Read more. Watch shows that inspire you. Embrace whatever makes you geek out. Even if it's Laura Ingalls. Because Laura Ingalls is fascinating and there's nothing wrong with obsessively knowing every detail about her life and death. Stop judging me."
(emphasis mine. I LOVE LAURA INGALLS WILDER WITH A FIREY PASSION SURPASSED ONLY BY MY LOVE FOR CANNONS AND PIRATES.)
Ashleigh Baker's Simple Stories [an invitation to old-fashioned blogging]:
"But we've become stuck, silenced by our own fear and the pressing expectations to create stellar shareable content, to catch eyes and make it all mean something. When did blogging start taking itself so seriously? Nobody has life-changing thoughts every day."
Allie Brosh at Hyperbole and a Half's Depression Part Two:
"However, I could no longer rely on genuine emotion to generate facial expressions, and when you have to spend every social interaction consciously manipulating your face into shapes that are only approximately the right ones, alienating people is inevitable.
. . . Everyone noticed."


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A romantic and joyful wedding in Praiano on the Amalfi Coast
Dario and Anna live and work in the United States, so it has been quite challenging for them to plan the wedding in Italy Amalfi Coast from a distance. But nevertheless, they have been able to get just everything they wanted, and exactly the way they wanted. They got in touch with me long before the wedding while looking for a wedding photographer in Praiano. They wanted someone who would document the events of the day with candid shots, in a pure photojournalism style. Their idea about photography just matched mine so we immediately empathized. They didn't want any posed pictures and expressly asked me to be unobtrusive at my best. I said hey.. that's just what I want!
The exchange of rings took place in the gorgeous San Gennaro Church in Praiano. Right after we went for a long walk in the surrounding area. The light was amazing, and they very much enjoyed hanging around while I documented the romance and fun from an outside point of view. It has been such a great experience, they were romantic beyond measure and absolutely natural, and didn't mind me at all. I really enjoy taking pictures in such circumstances and thus I felt happy to be their wedding photographer in Praiano. We then returned to the beautiful Hotel Tramonto D'Oro, with stunning terraces and breathtaking views on the Amalfi Coast and the Mediterranean sea. The open-air party on the terrace was very enjoyable, with delicious food, fantastic live music and lovely people.
Read what Dario and Anna wrote about me in their review.