text:
Electrode array for use in electrochemical cells
The invention features an electrode array (7) in which pairs of electrodes (1) are geometrically arranged so that the broadest faces of the exposed electrodes are not directly opposing to each other. Rather, the broadest facing surfaces of the electrodes in the array are parallel, adjacent, or offset at an angle. The electrode geometry of an electrode array of the invention permits electrodes to be in close proximity, thereby lowering series resistance, while minimizing the possibility for short circuits that can cause electrical leakage. An electrode array of the invention can be used in an electrochemical cell, such as a battery, e.g., a lithium battery, a capacitor, a flow-through capacitor, or a fuel cell.
Latest Biosource, Inc. Patents:
This application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/307,789, filed Jul. 25, 2001, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
This invention was funded under contract with the Army Research Office, under Contract No. DDAD 19-00-C-0448. The United States Government may have certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is electrodes for electrochemical cells.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In electrochemical cells, such as capacitors, batteries, fuel cells, and flow-through capacitors, it is desirable to reduce series resistance and electrical leakage, which waste energy. Normally, to reduce series resistance, it would be desirable place the electrodes close together. However, proximity is difficult to achieve with purely opposing electrodes. In order to place the electrodes close together, for example, closer than 0.03 inches (˜760 μm), the dielectric between them must be thin, but this geometry has the undesirable effect of increasing the electrical leakage. Moreover, where the electrochemical cell is a flow-through capacitor, thin dielectric spacers lead to a drop in pressure. Therefore, it is desirable to provide for a new and improved electrochemical cell with minimal series resistance and with low electrical leakage.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention features an electrode array in which pairs of electrodes are geometrically arranged so that the broadest exposed faces of the electrodes are not directly opposed to each other. Rather, the broadest faces of the electrodes in the array are parallel, adjacent, or offset at an angle. The electrode geometry of an electrode array of the invention permits electrodes to be in close proximity, thereby lowering series resistance, while minimizing the possibility for short circuits that, can cause electrical leakage.
The electrode array of the present invention may function as an anode, cathode, or as a stand-alone capacitor or electrochemical cell combining cathodes and anodes in one sheet of material.
Electrodes may be formed as patterns of lines, dots, or other shapes placed on, attached, or formed onto a substrate, including a conductive material, or, alternatively, a nonconductive sheet material. These lines, dots, etc., may be formed in very thin layers and may be spaced very close. An electrochemical cell, fuel cell, battery, capacitor, or flow-through capacitor is formed by the adjacent pairs or groups of lines and dots.
Thus, one aspect the invention features an array of electrodes, whereby the broadest exposed electrode faces of the electrodes are adjacent to each other. Alternatively, the broadest faces of the exposed electrodes are coplanar or offset at an angle, but not directly opposite to each other, whether on the same sheet of a material containing both anodes and cathodes, or between separated anode sheets and cathode sheets. This minimizes the possibility for short circuits that cause leakage. The electric field comes up out of the anodes and curves back to the cathode. The electrodes of the array can be dots, shapes, or lines that can be recessed into the dielectric spacer as a further means of protecting against electrical leakage between them.
The electrode array of the present invention uses a geometric arrangement of parallel, adjacent, or offset electrodes in order to create capacitors, electrochemical cells, or flow-through capacitors. A dielectric insulator serves as a spacer between adjacent electrodes; the spacer may be a porous, nonporous, ion-permeable, ion-selective, membrane, or other dielectric material. Optionally, current collectors are in electrical contact with the electrodes, either placed under, or embedded in, or sandwiched between, the electrodes.
The adjacent geometry of the electrodes within the electrode array reduces series resistance and leakage sufficiently that the distance between the anode and the cathode can be less than 0.03 inches, or can preferably be reduced to 0.005 inches, or to less than 0.001 inches. Electrode materials in any shapes separated by insulating materials may be manufactured with a narrow distance between adjacent electrodes, reduced to 1 micron or less, by using manufacturing methods commonly used to print circuit boards in the semiconductor industry. Where it is preferred to use a wider space between the electrodes, for example, over 0.001 cm, manufacturing methods such as screen or other printing or coating methods will suffice to manufacture the electrode array of the present invention.
The electrode array of the invention can be used in any type of electrochemical cell, such as capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells. An electrode array of the invention can be a used in a flow-through capacitor. Alternatively, an electrode array of the invention can be used in a lithium battery.
In one embodiment, the electrode array is comprised of dots, shapes, or lines that may be recessed into the spacer as a further means of protecting against electrical leakage between them. The broadest faces of the electrodes are offset from each other.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that the electrode arrays may be lines, dots, or any other shapes that can be arranged in patterns with small distances between shapes of each pair of electrodes, for example, less than 3 millimeters, thereby allowing construction of an electrode array containing anode-cathode pairs within a single sheet of material. Therefore, the electrode array sheet may comprise anode-cathode pairs to act as an integrated capacitor, electrochemical cell, or flow-through capacitor. These electrode array sheets, containing one or more anode-cathode pairs per sheet, may be stacked together in any geometry known to prior art flow-through capacitors, electrochemical cells, water filters, batteries, or electronic capacitors.
In one embodiment, the electrode pattern of the present invention forms a two-dimensional electrode array. The electrode array may be used as a double-layer capacitor, capacitor, flow-through capacitor, fuel cell, or any other electrochemical device. The thin electrodes, for example, less than 0.13 cm thick, and thin spacing, for example, less than 0.13 cm apart, of this array reduce leakage and ESR. Leakage is reduced because the broadest face of each electrode of an electrode pair is offset from the other electrode. Because the electrodes may be placed close together without generating electrical leakage, series resistance is reduced. Series resistance of less than 50 ohms/cm2 of electrode array facial area and leakage resistance of more than 30 ohms/cm2 of electrode array facial area can be achieved by the present invention.
The electrode array of the present invention may be used in double-layer capacitors; flow-through capacitors or electrochemical cells; solid polymer electrolyte or nonelectrolyte-containing capacitors; nonelectrolytic, nonelectrolyte-containing, solid electrolyte-containing, or in nondouble layer batteries or capacitors, by use of any conductive metal or material for the electrode, and use of any dielectric material for the spacer, including ceramic, polymer, MYLAR® (MYLAR is a registered trademark of E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Corporation of Wilmington, Del.) sheet material, or any other materials commonly used to make film-type capacitors. Arrays of electrodes of the present invention may also be used for lithium storage or other intercalation battery devices, either combined with an electrolyte or with a solid polymer electrolyte material.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the use of the array for electrolyte-containing electrochemical cells and flow-through capacitors. Any carbon or carbon binder mixture known in the art in doublelayer capacitors may be used. Gel and hydrogel binders are also efficacious, including use of ion-permselective (i.e., selective permeability) or cross-linked, ion exchange, polyelectrolyte gels. Where both anodes and cathodes are included in the same sheet array material, the sheet itself may form an entire electrochemical cell or flow-through capacitor. These sheets may be stacked together in any geometry known to flow-through capacitors, batteries, or water filters, including spiral wound, pleated, stacked polygon, or disc. Where anode-cathode pairs are contained within the same sheet of material, each sheet itself functions as an electrochemical cell. In this way, anode and cathode pairs do not need to be formed between two opposing layers or sheets. The spacing between adjacent anode-cathode electrode pairs within the same sheet may be small, and no longer simultaneously depends upon the thickness of the flow spacer, as in prior art flow-through capacitors, electrochemical cells, and flow-through electrochemical cells. The spacer does not need to do double duty as both an insulator, which requires thinness for low series resistance, and a flow channel, which has the opposite requirements of open area. Therefore, when used in flow cells, such as flow-through capacitors and fuel cells, the spacing between opposing electrode array sheets may be much thicker than the spacing between sheet electrodes of prior art electrochemical cells. Because the sheet electrodes of the present invention can constitute complete electric cells, unlike prior art electrochemical cells, the separation distance between sheet electrodes may be increased without substantially increasing series resistance. For example, the surfaces of the sheet electrode or electrode array may be separated by flow spacers or spacers of greater than 0.002 cm thick, for example, up to 1.0 cm thick or more. No flow spacer at all may be used, in which case the electrolyte, working fluid, or purification or concentration feed stream may be simply flowed past or over the electrode array. Where flow spacers are used, the cells may be made using any cartridge geometry, cartridge holders common to prior art flow-through capacitors, or electrochemical cells, with the option that spacers between layers may be replaced by holding the layers apart under tension, with shims or supports placed more than 1.0 mm apart, or alternatively, the thicker spacers above may be used to achieve low pressure drops of less than 2 kilograms per square centimeter and not significantly increase series resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,354, issued Aug. 29, 2000, teaches electrode arrays used for electrochemical sensors, whereby the nonfaradaic, capacitance component is minimized. An additional purpose of the present invention is to maximize the nonfaradaic, capacitance component used in energy generation, energy storage, or other electrochemical cells. This is done by the selection of relatively high surface area electrode materials. For use in capacitors and many other electrochemical cells, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is use of electrode material with a surface area of over 10 square meters per grain B.E.T. For use in capacitors, certain batteries, and other electrochemical cells, electrode materials with a surface area of over 300 m2 per gram are preferred. Otherwise, U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,354 and the references cited therein teach methods of manufacture and electrode array geometries that may be directly adapted to the present invention by the incorporation of said relatively high surface area electrode materials. The present invention may make use of electrodes with the less than 100 micron spacing described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,354, or, may alternatively make use of wider electrodes with over 10 to 1000 times greater surface area and spacing than described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,354. All the means of fabricating and interconnecting electrodes, as well as the general geometry and method of making flow channels with or of the electrodes described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,354 may be used in the present invention. Use of inert electrode materials, such as graphite, gold, platinum series metals, and any form of carbon, is particularly preferred. However, for use in many batteries, electrochemically reactive metals, and other conductive compounds which form reversible surface area compounds or complexes may be preferentially used.
Another preferred form of the present invention is the selection of electrode array dimensions, whereby the distance between anode and cathode electrodes is less than the diffusion length of the electrolyte solute for a given charge cycle time.
The electrode array of the present invention may also be used for analytical electrochemistry of any material present in the electrolyte, including organic, inorganic, or biological compounds.
The electrode array 7 of
In an alternative embodiment, the order of addition of materials used to form these two layers can be reversed. In this configuration (not shown), the substrate layer is formed from a sheet of a dielectric material, on which is deposited a current collector material as the layer analogous to that shown in
Generally, the insulating layer is manufactured such that a pattern of current collector lines, dots, squares, stars, polygons, circles, any other shapes shows through, is made on top of, or, is produced parallel and adjacent to, the insulating layer(s) 2, creating current collector layer(s) 6 with exposed faces. Photo masking, photo lithography, pad printing, screen or other forms of printing are one good ways to make the structures shown in layers 4B, 4C, and 4D.
One preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
As shown in
Another method to create a flow channel is to use a separate flow spacer 3 between electrode array sheets. Any membrane or spacer known to be used in reverse osmosis, flow-through capacitors, batteries, fuel cells, or capacitors can be used as an electrically-insulating layer and/or as a flow spacer 3 between electrode arrays.
Geometries which allow for anode-cathode pairs of electrodes 1 or electrode material where the majority of the facial surface does not directly oppose the opposite polarity electrode 1 will form the electrode array of the present invention. One way to achieve this is for the electrodes to be coplanar. Anodes and cathodes may be coplanar in the same sheet of material. Alternatively, electrodes 1 which comprise, at any one time, anodes or cathodes, which may be contained in different sheets, separated by a spacer, while at the same time having less than 50% of their facial areas directly opposing each other, according to the present invention. For example, electrodes 1 made as arrays of lines or other shapes may be made into separate anode and cathode sheets, which may be placed on top of each other and separated by a spacer layer. The only portion of these lines that would oppose each other would be when the lines or shapes intersect. More than 50% of the facial area of the electrodes would not be directly opposed to each other. In the case where anodes and cathodes are formed on the same sheet of material, the amount of overlap between separated sheets of materials does not matter. When electrode array sheets containing both anodes and cathodes within the same sheet are layered, these array sheets may be electrically isolated by means of an extra thick spacer, for example, over 0.001 inches thick, without increasing electrical resistance. The thick insulating spacer in this case also serves as a means to contain electrolyte. However, unlike in the prior art, making this spacer thick in order to insulate one layer from the next does not increase resistance. The resistance is governed by the space between the lines or shapes that form the electrode array. Electrodes 1 formed as lines, strips, or rectangles upon a flat nonconductive surface, with the widest capacitive surface of the electrode 1 in the same plane as the nonconductive spacer surface 2, will form a capacitor, battery, electrochemical cell, or anode-cathode pair or grouping or electrode array 7, according to the present invention. In this case, the electrodes 1 are also coplanar with the current collector 6 and dielectric spacer 2. The widest capacitive surface or surfaces off the electrodes 1 may also be offset from the plane of the spacer or spaced apart layers. For example, the capacitance or electrochemical electrodes 1 may be formed as indentations, grooves, or sides of holes cut into an electrode material.
Any of the layers represented in
In additional alternative embodiments, the electrochemical system can further comprise an accumulation tank, and may be, for example, a bladder tank. Cartridge holder 11 may be engineered so that the cartridge or electrode array 7 can be easily removed. An existing cartridge-cartridge holder combination common to the water filtration industry can be adapted for this purpose, as would be understood to those skilled in the art. Any existing means of connecting a removeable battery to a load while inside a device or cartridge may be duplicated as a means of providing power to the cartridge or electrode array 7 inside of the cartridge holder 11.
The electrode arrays of the invention can be prepared with the materials discussed below.
The electrode material may be, without limitation, a fringe field electrode, a carbonaceous material, a conductive polymer, ceramic, metal film, aluminum or tantalum with an oxide layer, metalized polymer or MYLAR®, a binder carbon mixture, a binder carbon powder mixture, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) carbon powder, PTFE carbon black, or PTFE activated carbon mixture. One preferred embodiment is to use a carbon material having a surface specific capacitance of about 5 microfarads per square centimeter of electrode surface area, where single electrode capacitances are measured in concentrated sulfuric acid or in 0.6 M sodium chloride (NaCl). The electrode surface area above refers to the internal surface area of the electrode material, as measured by the B.E.T. or nitrogen absorption method.
Also useful as an electrode material of the invention are those materials that provide over 1 farad/cubic centimeter capacitance. Carbon is particularly advantageous, due to the fact that carbons may be selected for long life times, for example, over 1000 hours, while cycle charging in 0.6 M NaCl. Forms of carbon that may be used include, without limitation, carbon black activated carbons, aerogels, reticle carbons, nanotubes, high capacitance carbon blacks, alkali- and acid-activated carbons, carbon fibers, and carbons selected for resistance to oxidation.
Where it is desirable use an electrode material that includes a binder, various forms of binder may be used, including latex, polyolefins, PTFE, phenolic resin, and carbonized binders. Binders known to the art and used to bind carbon particles together in capacitors may be employed, including sintered organic binders. A particularly advantageous form of binder is a polyelectrolyte or polymer, either cross-linked or noncross-linked, which forms a hydrogel in water. These include, but are not limited to, polystyrene with ionic groups, including sulfonic acid and amine groups, strong acid groups, strong base groups, as well as weak acid or weak base, or a suitable group known to those skilled in the art to be useful in ion exchange resins. Other binders that may be used include: cross-linked, acrylic acid; methylacrylic acid; acrylamide; acrylonitrile; melamine; urethane; acrylic, heat, or radiation curable polymers; epoxy; water absorbent polymers; and polymers modified with crosslinks, ionic, or hydrophilic groups. Hydrophilic binders are preferred. Binders that occlude less than 50% of the B.E.T. measured surface area of the carbon particles are also preferred. The amount of cross-linking may be varied from between 0.1% and 75% in order to increase ion exchange capacity.
Additional polymers and manufacturing methods of forming a polymer layer may be used as a binder to form the carbon or other conductive material together into electrodes for use in the present invention. See, Gray, Fiona M., Solid Polymer Electrolytes, VCH Publ., 1991. Amounts of cross-linking may vary from 0% to 50% or more. Suitable carbon particle electrode binding polymers include: polyethers, polyamides, polyacrylic acid, polyamines, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylcaprolactam, and vinylpyrrolidone polymers, as well as any homopolymers, copolymers, block, dendritic, cage, or star polymers, comb branched, network, random, or other polymer mixtures of the above.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,914 B1, issued Feb. 6, 2001, discloses a polymerbased conducting membrane. This material, as well as the prior art materials cited in this patent, may be mixed with carbon particles to be used as a binder formulation used to manufacture electrodes according to the present invention. Polyelectrolytes may be used together or combined with electrodes as described in PCT International Application No. US01/12641, entitled "Charge Barrier Flow-Through Capacitor"(WO 02/086195). These polyelectrolytes may, for example, be cross-linked or intertwined together so that the electrode does not swell more than 50% in water. The percent of cross-linking needed to achieve this may be 2% or more. Polyelectrolytes may be held together inside a different network polymer, particularly by selecting polymers or polyelectrolytes with molecular weights above 1000. Block or copolymers may also be used. Polyelectrolytes may be derivatized, either before or prior to incorporation into the electrode, using any ionic group, chemistry, or manufacturing method known to be used in ion exchange resins or permselective membranes.
For use in integrated charge barriers, the hydrogel may have ionic or ion exchange groups bound to it, as known to those skilled in the art. Without limitation, ionic groups described in the charge barrier flow-through capacitor of PCT International Application No. US01/12641 (WO 02/096195) may be used. These ionic groups may be fixed to a binder material or may be fixed to a coating, membrane, polymer, or polyelectrolyte either as a layer on top of the electrolyte, infiltrated throughout the electrode, used to bind electrode material together, or fixed directly to the carbon or other electrode material itself. The amount of cross-linking may be varied so that the ion exchange capacity of the hydrogel polyelectrolyte binder may be above 0.1 milliequivalents per cubic centimeter, for example, above milliequivalents per cubic centimeter, up to 4-7 or more milliequivalents per cubic centimeter. High ion exchange capacity of over 0.1 cubic centimeter is advantageous to exclude ions from the pores of the electrode due to Donnan Exclusion. Ionic groups may be selected from strong acid, strong base, weak acid, weak base, chelating, ion selective, or biologically selective groups, including the use of antibodies and enzymes fixed to the hydrogel binder.
In other embodiments, electrodes can be prepared from a carbon material or carbon binder mixture currently used in electrochemical cells, as known to those skilled in the art. In addition to the already cited examples, this can include, without limitation to: polymer-grafted carbon preparations, such as those described in http://ecl.web.psi.ch/Publications/Richner A00.pdf, and reticulated carbon, aerogel carbon, carbon fibers, nanotube carbons, activated carbons, carbon-hydrogel mixtures, suspensions of carbon binder mixtures formulated for use in coating processes, graphite, or any kind of carbon, in addition to other metallic, ceramic, polymeric, organic, or inorganic conductive materials. Optionally, any of these above materials may be mixed with a binder, sintered, or combined together in other combinations.
Some electrochemical cells may beneficially require that alternate electrodes be of different materials. For example, electrode arrays for use in lithium ion batteries can be of alternating groups of intercalating graphite electrodes and oxide electrodes such as, without limitation, oxides of nickel, manganese, cobalt, or mixtures thereof. Solid polymer electrolytes, or other various electrolytes used in a given electrochemical cell technology, can be used together with the electrode array of the present invention.
Generally, electrochemical cell technology may be directly adapted to the present invention by using their anode and cathode materials into the anodes and cathode materials of the electrode array and using their electrolyte within or between electrode arrays, such as separated by a fluid-containing space or spacer to contain the electrolyte. For general use in energy storage devices, such as lithium ion or electrochemical batteries, the electrodes of the present invention may be separated by a spacer whose purpose is not for flow, but to contain electrolyte. Flow spacers within the cell, together with a cartridge holder containing inlet and outlet means, may be added for fuel cells, flow-through capacitors, and other flow-through electrochemical cells. In either case, the electrolytes, electrode materials, and spacer materials used in any prior art electrochemical cell may be used as electrolytes, electrodes, and fluid-containing spacers with the electrode array of the present invention.
Dielectric Spacer
The dielectric spacer used as an insulating material between the electrodes may be a sheet of material of less than, for example, 0.1 inches, preferably under 0.02 inches, for example, 0.0001-0.020 inch. The sheet may be of MYLAR®, polymer, plastic, or a nonporous or porous sheet material known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the spacer may be prepared from a material that is an electric and ionic insulator, that is electrically insulating but an ionic conductor, is a membrane, e.g., a NAFION® membrane (NAFION is a registered trademark of E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Corporation of Wilmington, Del.), a membrane of selective permeability, or a nonwoven, woven, ceramic, or other thin sheet material.
Current Collector
An optional current collector-layer may be used comprised of metal, titanium, or graphite foil or graphite coatings on a nonconductive film, or of a metal foil or film, a metallized polymer film, or of a conductive layer, such as a layer of conductive polymer or ceramic substrate. Foils or films under 0.1 cm thick are preferred, for example, 0.02 cm or less thick. The current collector may either be coated on or embedded within the electrode, or, may serve as a flat substrate for electrode or spacer layers.
Optional Flow Channel
Materials useful for forming a channel for the flow of fluids in a flow-through capacitor include those materials known to the art to be suitable as flow spacer in prior art flow-through electrochemical cells, including without limitation: netting, biplanar filtration netting, thermoplastic material, insect netting, nonwoven textile spacers, protrusions or bumps, and screen-printed pairs of offset lines. Flow channels can be of a thickness chosen by one skilled in the art. Given that capacitance is formed within the electrode layer, flow channels may be as thick or as thin as desired to optimize flow properties and to optimize pressure, for example, to reduce any potential drop in pressure. Without limitation, pressures can be optimized at below 100 psi, for example, 10 psi or less.
Any of the above layers may be laminated, glued, or formed together into an integral composite material.
Numerous embodiments besides those mentioned herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the range and scope of the invention. All references cited in this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety. The following examples illustrate the invention, but are in no way intended to limit the invention.EXAMPLE 1
A thin sheet electrode array, under 0.1 inches thick, preferably under 0.02 inches thick, with alternating electrodes such as shown in
Carbon powder PTFE electrodes of 0.01 inch thick are laminated with a graphite current collector layer and a 0.001-inch thick, nonporous, polymer spacer on one or both sides of the electrode/current collector. Arrays of holes 0.005 inches wide, spaced 0.010-inch center to center, are cut through spacer, electrode, and current collector layers in order to form a thin sheet electrode array. This array may be spiral wound, stacked flat against, or laminated for use with a separator used to form a flow channel and formed into an electrochemical cell or flow-through capacitor of any prior art geometry, where the electrode array of the present invention replaces the electrode used in the prior art.EXAMPLE 3
Carbon powder PTFE electrodes of 0.01 inch thick are laminated with a graphite current collector layer and a 0.001-inch thick, nonporous, polymer spacer on one or both sides of the electrode/current collector. This is subsequently stacked or rolled into a jelly roll and heat treated or glued together in order to bind the layers together into a monolith. The monolith may be a rectangle, or cylinder, or any other shape. The monolith is subsequently skived diagonally or perpendicularly across the layers in order to form thin electrode sheet arrays of the present invention for use in electrochemical cells or flow-through capacitors.EXAMPLE 4
Arrays of conductive lines 0.003 inches thick, 0.0005 inches tall, and spaced apart 0.001 inches, are printed onto polymer or MYLAR® film in order to form an electrode array of the present invention.EXAMPLE 5
A carbon black binder mixture is screen-printed onto an insulating spacer to form an array of lines 0.003 inches wide, 0.0005 inches tall, and spaced apart 0.001 inches. The spacer may be a polymer, porous, or nonporous, for example, MYLAR®, or a nonwoven porous polyolefin sheet material, or a thin film of any polymer. Every other line extends out further than the next line. These lines may be connected in parallel by placing a conductive strip down a side, back, and/or length of the alternating anodes on one side and the cathodes on the other side. Alternating the power supply means used to apply voltage to the electrode lines may reverse polarity.
To form a current collector, a graphite or other conductive layer may be printed or coated directly on top of the lines, in order to form a conductive layer.EXAMPLE 6
Layers of electrode, insulating spacer, and optional current collector are rolled into a jelly roll or into concentric circles. By use of binders, heat, calendars, coating, spraying or other means, these layers are formed into a composite that is subsequently skived or sliced into 0.020 inch or less sheets, by cutting diagonally or perpendicularly across the layers. This forms electrode array sheets. These electrode array sheets may be further layered or laminated with a flow spacer in order to form a flow-through capacitor. The laminated electrode arrays may be put together with additional spacers, porous spacers, ion conductive spacers, membrane spacers, nonwoven or woven or net spacers, screen-printed, open, or any other spacer means used in facing geometries as in any other prior art flow-through capacitor or electrochemical cell.
Flow may be through or preferably across the electrode array and through the flow space between the facing electrode arrays.EXAMPLE 7
A laminate of alternating electrodes and spacers is formed by coating, spraying, electroplating, extrusion, or calendaring methods to form a log, rectangle, or cylinder which is subsequently cut into layers less than 0.5 inches thick, or which is extruded into thin sheets with the parallel laminations running across the width or the length of the sheet. Sheets may be less than 0.5 inches thick, for example, less than 0.02 inches thick. Electrodes in this sheet may be thinly divided by insulating spacer lines, less than 0.02 inches apart. Alternating electrodes or current collectors may be masked or insulated at the ends, so that a perpendicular connecting lead may connect alternate electrodes on each end to form anode/cathode pairs, as illustrated in
A thin conductive film of graphite or polymer-backed graphite is painted with a photo resist masking chemical and illuminated through a pattern to expose a series of lines 0.05 cm or less wide and 0.05 cm or less apart. Upon washing, a pattern of grooves is revealed exposing the underlying current collector material. A carbon black material of over 500 BET is mixed with a 5% or more cross-linked, strong polyelectrolyte or hydrogel binder containing strong acid or strong base groups, or, alternatively, is mixed with any other binder to form a slurry. This slurry is wiped, sprayed, or coated onto the current collector/photo resist layer. Any excess is wiped off, revealing an alternating pattern of electrode and insulating material lines. This carbon binder mixture may be cross-linked, dried, or solidified by temperature, or by light, catalysts, time, or other methods. Two of these identical sheets may be sandwiched together with a flow spacer and manufactured to form a flow-through capacitor according to any prior art flow through capacitor geometry, such as those described in Andelinan U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,192,432, issued Mar. 9, 1993; 5,196,115, issued Mar. 23, 1993; 5,200,068, issued Apr. 6, 1993; 5,360,540, Nov. 1, 1994; 5,415,768, issued May 16, 1995; 5,547,581, issued Aug. 20, 1996; 5,620,597, issued Apr. 15, 1997; 5,748,437, issued May 5, 1998; 5,779,891, issued Jul. 14, 1998; or in Otowa U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,611, issued Jul. 23, 1996; or in Andelman PCT International Application No. US01/12641, "Charge Barrier Flow-Through Capacitor"(WO 02/086195). Alternatively, all layers may be screen-printed. Electrode or spacer layers may be made as protruding ridges in order to form flow channels when two electrode arrays are placed together in an opposing manner, with the sets of lines offset at an angle from each other.EXAMPLE 9
The electrode array of the present invention may require the manufacture of patterned thin films of materials in juxtaposition to each other, layered together, or on top of each other. A particularly useful method to do this is to use electrostatic or other self assembly methods, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,316,084, issued Nov. 13, 2001, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,266, issued Sep. 18, 2001, and Spillman Jr., et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20020037383A1, published Mar. 28, 2002, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. These methods can be used to manufacture the electrodes, spacers, and current collectors of the present invention. Electrostatic powder coating technology can also be used to form the electrode, current collector, insulating spacer, and flow spacer layers. Especially where electrodes are dots or shapes other than lines, and need to be connected in groups of anodes and cathodes, technology such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,036, issued Dec. 3, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,440, issued Dec. 11, 1990, can be used to form interconnecting groups of current collectors.
1. An electrode array for use in an electrochemical cell, said array comprising:
- at least one pair of oppositely-charged electrodes comprising:
- a) an anode having a first anode face and a second anode face, said first anode face being broader than said second anode face; and
- b) a cathode having a first cathode face and a second cathode face, said first cathode face being broader than said second cathode face, wherein said first anode face is not directly opposed to said first cathode face in said array; and
- c) a dielectric material between said second anode face and said second cathode face.
2. A sheet material containing the electrode array of claim 1.
3. An electrochemical cell consisting of the sheet material of claim 2.
4. The sheet material of claim 3, wherein said sheet material is wound in a spiral.
5. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein said electrode array further comprises a planar substrate, and said electrodes are coplanar on said substrate.
6. The electrode array of claim 2, where said electrodes of said pair of electrodes are made from a carbon material.
7. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein said electrode array has a series resistance of less than 50 ohms/cm2 of electrode array facing area, and an electrical leakage resistance of more than 30 ohms/cm2 of electrode array facing area.
8. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein the first anode face is separated from the first cathode face by a distance of less than 3 millimeters.
9. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein the second anode face is separated from the second cathode face by a distance of more than 0.002 centimeters.
10. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein each of said electrodes in said electrode pair has a concentric spiral shape.
11. The electrode array of claim 1, wherein each of said electrodes has a surface area of greater than 10 m2/gram B.E.T.
12. A flow-through capacitor comprising the electrode array of claim 1.
13. The flow-through capacitor of claim 12, further comprising a fluid flow path for the passage of a fluid across the surface of said array.
14. A flow-through capacitor comprising the electrode array of claim 5 and a flow path for the passage of a fluid across the first anode face and across the first cathode face in said array.
15. The flow-through capacitor of claim 14, wherein said flow path comprises a porous, nonelectrically-insulating material.
16. A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- a) at least two electrode arrays of claim 5; and
- b) a flow path for the passage of a fluid across the first anode face and the first cathode face of the electrodes in said array, said flow path having a thickness of at least 20 micrometers in thickness.
17. A method of lowering the series resistance of an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an electrode array, said array comprising a planar substrate and at least one pair of electrodes on said planar substrate comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said anode has a first anode face and a second anode surface, said first anode face being broader than said second anode face, and wherein said cathode has a first cathode face and a second cathode face said first cathode face being broader than said second cathode face and wherein said first anode face is not directly opposed to said first cathode face; and
- b) inserting said electrode array into said electrochemical cell.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said electrochemical cell is a flow-through capacitor.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said electrochemical cell is a lithium battery.
|April 1966
|June 1970
|Johnson et al.
|March 1975
|August 21, 1979
|Azarov et al.
|August 26, 1986
|December 30, 1986
|Giuffrida et al.
|May 31, 1988
|Siu et al.
|September 11, 1990
|Giuffrida et al.
|December 11, 1990
|December 3, 1991
|March 9, 1993
|March 23, 1993
|April 6, 1993
|May 3, 1994
|Ganzi et al.
|November 1, 1994
|May 16, 1995
|April 2, 1996
|Elyanow et al.
|July 23, 1996
|August 20, 1996
|August 20, 1996
|Chen et al.
|September 24, 1996
|Gallagher et al.
|April 15, 1997
|January 6, 1998
|Saito et al.
|May 5, 1998
|July 7, 1998
|Firsich et al.
|July 14, 1998
|January 12, 1999
|DiMascio et al.
|February 9, 1999
|Ganzi et al.
|August 1, 2000
|Farahmandi et al.
|August 29, 2000
|October 3, 2000
|February 6, 2001
|Yao et al.
|April 10, 2001
|Gadkaree et al.
|September 18, 2001
|November 13, 2001
|Claus et al.
|December 4, 2001
|July 2, 2002
|Otowa et al.
|September 30, 2003
|March 23, 2004
|Andelman et al.
|August 17, 2004
|August 24, 2004
|March 28, 2002
|Spillman et al.
|0 436 436
|August 1994
|May 1990
|December 1997
|February 1998
|April 1999
|June 1999
|August 1999
|September 1999
|June 2000
|November 2000
|April 2001
|2001 300535
|October 2001
|April 1998
|June 2001
|November 2001
|November 2001
|November 2001
|December 2001
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 23, 2002
Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
Patent Publication Number: 20050079409
Assignee: Biosource, Inc. (Worcester, MA)
Inventors: Marc D. Andelman (Worcester, MA), Jon Zulkiewicz (Palmer, MA)
Primary Examiner: Brian Sines
Attorney: IP Legal Strategies Group P.C.
Application Number: 10/484,981
International Classification: H01M 8/00 (20060101); H01M 8/04 (20060101); H01M 10/44 (20060101); H01M 2/00 (20060101); H01M 4/00 (20060101);


text:
Really? I thought for sure I was past this. Will there ever come a point and time where I'll be able to function as a normal person again? …. I guess I should put this into context for you eh?
It's been a little while since I've had a coherent thought that warranted adding to The World Is Broken and since then there has been significant changes in my life. This gym idea has been an absolute godsend for my physical and psychological well-being. Even though the last 24 hours have been a very bad hiccup on my path of physical fitness.
Not going to the gym, but opting to drink a significant amount of alcohol doesn't seem like a very productive choice, however I think I needed last night just as it was as much as I need to persevere at the gym.
I've come to some conclusions about the people I've surrounded myself with in recent weeks. Some good, some bad, but all important. This season essentially has begun with the re-emergence of Kathryn, and the introduction to a new Emily & Johnny. It's a group dynamic that isn't going to sustain itself for very long (especially since the Emily of this dynamic is leaving), but it is a very welcome throw back to two years ago when one of the most intense seasons of the last decade began.
Last night, we found ourselves having some drinks. I indulged a little nostalgia and led the gang to O'Reilly's for Open Mic. Anyone who knows me knows full well how significant Open Mic has been to my developing of social skills and the maintenance of my own sanity. It has always worked as the very best outlet for what is in my head at the time.
Last night it didn't quite work as such, because I tried to play songs that people would recognize and like more so than trying to give an accurate reflection of what is on my mind. I ended up breaking into my rendition of Freshman by Verve Pipe, Asshole by Denis Leary, and following up with the song that has become a signature of mine (even if it is over played and pop-ish) Brian Wilson by The Barenaked Ladies.
Before getting up there I contemplated actually playing "View From Heaven"… I've played it every open mic since Elaine passed away and as I've explained in the past, this song is a word for word accurate description of how I felt about her, and how I continue to feel to this day.
Last night felt absolutely amazing. It was the first time I actually felt like myself in a very long time; the feeling was intoxicating. My friends were having a great time before the group somewhat split and went their own separate ways, I felt like a Rock Star having people coming up to tell me how good the set was. I even won the bar tab that O'Reilly's gives out each week. Later I opted to stay downtown for a little while extra once I knew that my friends were safely on their way back home.
There was a golden question circulating last night about why I decided to do that. I was a little hesitant about going into details last night with anyone other than the birthday girl (simply because she already knew)… The short answer is that truthfully, I don't know how or why, but I couldn't get my mind off Elaine.
It sounds lame, and makes me come off as probably a lot weaker than I actually am, but she was on the back of my mind before I went up.. the fact that I didn't play View From Heaven made me think of her on stage.. and getting the bar tab for "winning" open mic brought me back to the last time I played O'Reilly's… and how excited I was to tell her all about it and how happy she seemed for me.
I couldn't shake her face, and I couldn't get control of my own thoughts. So instead of letting these new friends of mine, friends that I have not been associated with long enough to know whether or not seeing me in such a contemplative state would be something they can be okay with… I decided to stay and ponder.
I eventually managed to get a buddy to get me and my car up to the new Johnny's place, where I hung out with them for a little while before later having that same buddy (I REALLLLY OWE you big time sir) get my car and bring it to where I would crash last night.
I think my efforts to NOT worry the new friends was in vain, especially when after I told them to go to bed I was sitting in my car with the engine running and I know they were convinced that I was going to drive.
Anyway, as much as I know I'll never really be able to let go of her, I thought for sure I was at least past the point where I am going to be haunted by her at every turn. I know Elaine would be pissed to know that she was the root cause of my mood completely dropping out last night… but it isn't something that can be helped.
I will say this though, there were no demasculating tears, or heartfelt rants that needed to be said.. so maybe that's progress. What I do know for sure is that last night I felt better than I have in many moons, and it just reinforced the idea that I don't think I'll ever be truly done with doing Open Mics. It just flows through me, it's my lifeline no matter what is going on.
Anyone up for a jam?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dr. Antonio López, Advanced driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) group leader will give a presentation about the work developed by the research group.
Dr. López presentation will take place at 17:20h on May 14th at� Fira de Montjuic
The Sociedad de Técnicos de Automoción (STA), organizes the 8 th Technical Symposium on Intelligent Vehicles, aiming to showcase the main technological advances in this field, and with this to have the opportunity to discuss the State of the Art of these topics with several of the main companies and institutions that research the technologies which allow the integration of more and more intelligent functions into the vehicles.
The event has brought together automobile companies, component makers, software developers, universities, consultants, etc. to have different points of view and thus increase the interest of the topic.


text:
Post Details How Life In The Puppy Mill Has Scarred Her Dog
If there's one thing that will turn some Singaporeans away from buying dogs bred in puppy mills instead of adopting them, it might be the opening of this heartfelt Facebook post:
The house is clean. There are no pee stained newspapers, no wet paw prints on the floor, no food scraps by the bowl. And my heart is breaking.
Posted by Ms Li-Anne Sia last Friday (Apr 20), the post details how her 8-year-old dog had to undergo traumatic surgery to cure a hernia.
She writes,
My Po lies in a cage in the pet hospital scared and in pain after a major operation to fix a herniation so extensive that even the vet was shocked.
A hernia occurs when part of an organ is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it.
One is bad enough. But Po – short for Potato – suffered a hernia in four different parts of her body.
Po in happier times
Ms Sia believes that her dog's multiple pregnancies weakened her muscle tone, making Po more susceptible to hernias.
You can read her post in full here. We summarise it after the jump.
Yes, puppy mills exist in Singapore
Ms Sia hopes that her post will raise awareness of a darker side of Singapore's pet industry.
You see, Po didn't grow up in a warm home like some dogs do.
Instead, she spent her early years in a puppy mill, where she was forcibly impregnated over and over again to raise puppies for sale.
As Ms Sia puts it,
How could people use (Po) as if she was a machine, making her bear litter after litter of puppies?
How could they callously cut her up time and again to extract those puppies in short order so as to make a quick buck?
How could they chuck her battered, bleeding body aside, amidst filth and neglect, expecting her to heal herself only to repeat the horrifying cycle again when she's hardly recovered?
In 2010, a CNN report highlighted the shocking conditions that dogs like Po face in puppy mills.
Crammed into tiny squalid cages, their coats filthy and the floors filled with their faeces, these dogs are not given basic veterinary care or taken out for walks.
Female dogs are made to breed repetitively (a female dog should only breed once a year) till her fertility wanes, after which one of her daughters will then take her place.
It isn't clear how Po made it out of the mill but she was eventually picked up by a shelter.
After some rehabilitation, Po was displayed at an adoption drive, where Ms Sia first laid eyes on her.
Love at first sight
Ms Sia recalls,
She was curled up quietly in a corner, staring forlornly out of the cage. There was no fur around her eyes, which added to her disconsolate demeanour. Volunteers told us she just underwent an operation to remove a hernia and she had fresh stitches to show for it.
She elaborated that she didn't worry about the possible "hefty bills over her medical care" and decided to take Po home, writing,
I remember looking into those huge, pitiful, pleading eyes and feeling my heart break. I just wanted to take on her previous baggage no matter the cost or difficulty.
And Ms Sia has done just that: hernia surgeries at vets here cost anywhere between $900 and $2,500.
That figure excludes medication and hospitalisation costs, which can easily run into the thousands of dollars.
But kudos to Ms Sia and her family for forging ahead with the treatment and giving Po a better life after years of abuse.
Not vilifying dogs from pet shops
Ms Sia clarifies that she does not want her post to vilify dogs who have been bred — or the people who buy them.
It does not and will not help anyone if I judge those who have bought a pup from the pet shop or a home breeder.
You didn't know better then. Cos if you did, I'm sure you would steer clear of these places like the plague.
Instead, she hopes that it will raise awareness of the plight of breeding dogs in puppy mills here.
When the buying stops, the breeding can too
According to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, there were more than 60,000 dogs kept as pets in 2016.
The agency does not differentiate between dogs that are bought from stores and those adopted from shelters, making it difficult to ascertain just how big the puppy mill industry here is.
But judging by the list of most popular dog breeds in Singapore, it's safe to say that it's an industry that's well and alive.
Popular breeds here include toy poodles, golden retrievers and Jack Russell terriers.
It's unlikely that these breeds make up Singapore's 7,000-strong stray dog population.
A Singapore Special
Instead, most of our stray dog population comprises Singapore Specials, an affectionate term for local mongrels.
Ms Sia hopes that potential dog owners will work with animal welfare groups to adopt these dogs instead of supporting the puppy mill industry, which she calls a "ruthless machine".
If you truly want to make changes in animal welfare, take a stand with me and rally against irresponsible breeding practices.
We're with you, Ms Sia. We're with you.
Po's improving
Thankfully, Po is on the mend. In an update on Sunday (Apr 22), Ms Sia shared that Po had been discharged and was recovering at home.
Despite the good news, Ms Sia believes that Po will never be the same again.
She writes,
We will always have to curb her enthusiasm lest her delicate internal sutures rupture again.
My beautiful Po whose little heart is so filled with love – despite what human beings have done to her – will just have to show all her enthusiasm in our arms.
We're not crying, you are.
You can track Potato's progress on Instagram at @potato_the_doggie.
Featured image from Facebook.


text:
Bellevue, Wash.-based game developer Bungie has made a reputation for itself over the last couple of decades by, well, taking over the known universe once every couple of years. Its current bid for world domination is Destiny 2, the Activision-published massively-multiplayer-online first-person shooter, and it's preparing for the imminent release of patch 1.1.3 on Feb. 27.
In the regular This Week at Bungie blog, Bungie's community manager "dmg04" disclosed the current development roadmap for Destiny 2 and discussed the biggest new feature coming in next Tuesday's patch: Nightfall Challenge Cards, several changes to how players score points in Nightfall raids, and a series of tweaks to how the Emblem system works.
Nightfall strikes are a weekly event that must be played solo or with a premade team, meant to be one of the most difficult challenges in Destiny 2. In patch 1.1.3, the scoring rules will change in a variety of ways meant to encourage smart, fast runs. Your points will now be team-based and determined mostly by scoring kills, and your score will bleed off slowly over time. You're now more rewarded for actually engaging with enemies, rather than avoiding them.
You will also receive a Challenge Card for clearing a Nightfall strike in 1.1.3, which adds an additional score multiplier to a run in exchange for several drawbacks, such as increased damage taken from certain sources.
A bigger possible change is in the removal of auras. Previously, an aura in Destiny 2 was essentially a cosmetic buff, which advertised to others what you'd been up to lately, and which disappeared on each weekly server reset. As of this patch, however, auras are going away as a separate feature on your character, and their effects will be rolled into Emblems.
Emblems, in turn, are gaining additional features. In Destiny 2, Emblems are special graphics for your character card, earned in-game and equipped to customize your displays. In 1.1.3, Emblems will have more available, visible stats for players that want to advertise them, such as a new Emblem that proudly shows off your lifetime kill counts in the player-vs.-player Crucible mode.
Patch 1.1.3 will be available to download and install, as of this writing, at 9 a.m. PST on Feb. 26, though the game will be down for server maintenance until 10 AM that morning.


text:
Renton Technical College not only provides an educational environment for students to learn new skills but also to expand their academic and personal experiences through a variety of clubs and organizations.They have included:
- Accounting Club
- Black Student Union
- Business Leaders of Tomorrow
- Game Players
- Muslim Student Union
- Phi Theta Kappa
- Skills USA
- LBGTQ Community
- Veterans
Consider starting a club. It can be program-related, identity-related interest-related. Generally, all clubs are open to students with some requiring certain criteria to join. Come to J-216, fill out an application and begin the sanctioning process. For further information contact:
Michelle Iko
425.235.2352 x 7785


text:
Bio-Based Acrylic Acid
- Dow Chemical Company and OPX Biotechnologies (OPXBIO) announced a collaboration to develop an industrial scale process for the production of bio-based acrylic acid using fermentable sugar (corn and cane sugar) feedstock with equal performance qualities as petroleum-based acrylic acid.
- The petroleum-based acrylic acid market is $8 billion and growing 3 per cent to 4 per cent pr year. If collaborative research is successful, the companies will commercialization opportunities that could bring bio-based acrylic acid to market in three to five years.
- Myriant is aggressively advancing our pipeline and diversifying our product offering of bio-based chemicals," said Cenan Ozmeral, Chief Operating Officer at Myriant.
- "Bio-acrylic acid, like our first two products, is an important chemical building-block monomer and demand exists for affordable, high-performing drop in bio-acrylic acid for existing large market applications.


text:
Do you think that all outdoor speakers are alike? Well, I did too, until I bought a set last year for my backyard and they did not even last throughout the summer. With that being said, I decided to do a little research this year before spending any more money on another set of speakers. What I found was the powerful Klipsch KHO-7 Outdoor Speakers.
What I was looking for was a set of speakers that could withstand all weather conditions, yet still produce high quality sounds. While, I was not looking for the cheapest pair of speakers I could find, I certainly wanted to purchase good speakers at an affordable price. So, my job was to find the best outdoor speakers that are durable, with high-quality sounds, at an affordable rate.
Are The Klipsch Outdoor Speakers Durable?
Since my major problem last year was that my outdoor speakers could not withstand the outdoor weather, durability is the first thing I looked for in a new set of speakers. The Klipsch Out Door Speakers is enclosed in a UV-resistant casing, which means that sun will not damage the speaker over time. Another plus is that the grille and hardware are made from durable stainless steel, adding to the life of the product. In addition, the C-style brackets that are used to mount the speakers outside are designed to be rustproof, so the brackets will not deteriorate even in bad weather. Overall, these added features to the speakers increase the products durability and guarantees that it is built to last for many years. This fact, made me look a little closer at these speakers.
Does It Have Good Sound Quality?
Now naturally the most important aspect of any speaker is how it sounds. After all, if the speakers do not produce good quality there is really no use for them. Although, these speakers are designed for both outdoor and indoor use, I plan to use them in my backyard. This means that they have to produce good sound quality outside. As you can image, using speakers outside can present an array of disturbances, such as low mowers, traffic, and even the wind. So any outdoor speaker I buy has to provide excellent sound quality despite these external conditions.
I know that for outside performance, I needed to find the best outdoor speakers with a low frequency response curve. Speakers frequency can range from 65 to 30,00 Hz, but people rarely use below 50 Hz or above 15,000 Hz because it cannot be heard very well, if at all, by the human ear. The Klipsch KHO-7 Outdoor Speakers has a frequency response range of 65 Hz to 20,000 Hz, which is perfect for my outdoor use.
Another factor that determines the quality of sound is the tweeter and woofer capabilities. These speakers come with a 1-inch silk dome tweeter with the unique Klipsch Tractrix horn technology, which is more than adequate. In addition, it has a 5.25-inch poly cone woofer that provides brilliant and excellent sound quality.
Number Of Watts
The amount of watts the outdoor speakers have is another important feature to look at when choosing the best speakers. Speakers typically have between 60 and 300 watts. Obviously, the more wattage the more volume the speakers will produce and the better quality they will have. The Klipsch KHO-7 Outdoor Loudspeaker Set has a peek power handling of 300 watts, with a RMS power range of 75 watts. This provides enough sound for nearly 1,200 square feet of space, and is perfect for most outdoor spaces. This was more than adequate for my yard.
Is The Impedance Important?
Most people do not even consider the impedance of the speaker when considering which ones to purchase. It is true that this does not have a lot to do with the sound quality of the speakers, but it can directly affect the amps. The problem is if the impendence is not high enough it will not provide enough power for the amps and reduce their power. The impedance can be anywhere from 4 to 8 ohms. These speakers have 8 ohms meaning that it provides that ultimate power and the amps will always work correctly.
Size Of The Speakers
If these speakers were going to be used inside, the size might not be quite as important, but when you are going to mount them outside size becomes a major factor. These speakers are great because they are only six-pounds each making them very easy to work with. The product size itself is 12.2 by 6.8 by 8.2-inches which is a nice size speaker to hang up somewhere outside. I mounted mine right on the sides of my house, which worked perfectly.
What Kind Of Reviews Does The Speakers Have?
The Klipsch Outdoor Speakers Set is one of the highest rated outdoor speakers on Amazon. Almost all of the 49 people who left reviews on Amazon, rated the product with either a four or a five star rating, giving it an overall rating of 4.7 stars. Here is just a few of the comment left about this product.
"The clarity of the sound is amazing."
"The sound quality is really good, very clear."
"I would definitely recommend these to anybody in the market for outdoor speakers."
"They sound great, look good, the price is right and they come with everything you need to mount them."
Need I say anything else, these speakers are perfect for any outdoor space.
Where Can You Buy These Speakers?
The Klipsch KHO-7 Outdoor Speakers Set is available at Amazon. They are currently offering a special deal with a discount of 43% off the original price. This drops the cost for best outdoor speakers from $349 down to $198. On top of that, they are also offering free shipping on all orders. Amazon also offers six-month financing options for eligible buyers allowing you to make lower payments over time.
To find out more about the Klipsch KHO-7 Outdoor Loudspeaker Set or to read some of the reviews yourself, go to Amazon.


text:
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tbs of coconut palm sugar
1 tbs rice wine Vinegar
1 tbs tamarind puree
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1 head of napa cabbage
Mix together sauce ingredients in saute pan with heat on medium until palm sugar dissolves. Cut Napa Cabbage into thin ribbons. Once palm sugar dissolves and sauce reduces a little add napa cabbage and toss around until it i all covered in sauce. Cook 5 minutes until the thicker ribs are soft.
You could of course add a protein but I just made this a side dish to my sticky sesame drumsticks.


text:
The Voices of IRIS Depend on You!
All IRIS listeners live with a disability. Most are seniors living on a fixed income. Though our listeners contribute as much as they can, the daily costs of transmission, equipment and programming are greater than listener donations alone can sustain.
We are so proud that we continue to provide all IRIS equipment and services to our listeners at no cost to them.
Why Now?
For years, IRIS operations were supported by federal dollars. Like so many organizations, that type of funding no longer exists. But the need for our services is still there – and growing. For the first time, we are funded entirely by contributions. We now look to the communities we serve to keep the Voices of IRIS on the air to over 3,000 listeners each day.
IRIS By the Numbers
IRIS provides continuous programming 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
From around the state, listeners hear IRIS from their homes, hospitals, and living facilities.
Volunteers read from 7 different locations around the state of Iowa.
IRIS provides accessible options for listeners, including custom radio & digital receivers, web stream, podcasts, mobile phones, smart speakers, & mobile devices.
Equipment costs to IRIS range from $33-$335 per listener, depending on location.
Programming cost to IRIS is approximately 13 cents per listener per day.
We are able to keep our services free to all listeners thanks to donors like you.
What kind of gift would you like to make?
Your gift enables Iowans with disabilities continuous access to current printed news and information. While many of our listeners have visual impairments which prevent reading print materials, others have difficulty simply holding or turning the page. Regardless of the disability, your gift means that we can continue to offer our services and equipment at no cost to them.
General Online Donation
Make a secure online donation of any amount using PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express.
Sponsor an IRIS Receiver
Make a secure online donation of $30 and sponsor the gift of an IRIS radio or digital receiver to a listener!
OVer the phone
Call the IRIS office now to make a donation. We can take your information securely and confidentially.
Legacy Giving
Remember IRIS in your final planning. Your legacy gift is an enduring testament to the future of IRIS.
Underwriting SPonsorships
Support IRIS and tell our listeners about your business or organization.


text:
Im gonna talk about my email address in this post. Lolll. It seems like a lousy post but I dont care, blog still. HAHA! At least, it's a part of my memories in my life.
So let's start. My first email address:
Parents asked why not I just put my name for my email. It's much more easier. I said I dont want let people know my name. Now think think ha, I MSN or friendster (that time my generation was friendster, wtf feel myself so old) also put my real name one. So what's the point I hide my name for email address. =____= Super dumb wtf.
Why planetshakers_794?
Planetshakers…by that time I was quite into this church band. And so yeaa, I put 'planetshakers' as my email address wtf.
794 is because firstname.lastname@example.com got people took liawww wtf. So the hotmail gave me the suggestion of planetshakers_794. I saw there 7 and 4 since this two number is my birthday 7 April. So I just took this without hesitation and lazy to think of another email already.
In the end, I used firstname.lastname@example.com for around 4 to 5 years? If Im not mistaken. Day by day, whenever ppl asked me why planetshakers? CANT YOU GUYS ASK OTHER QUESTION???!
'You're into planetshakers as well, oh great some big fan over here. So which church are you from?'
Again wtf. I have to explain and explain. Lol. People love to ask me about this when I stopped anything from church. Gg.com you sengaja or what. 😛
Ofc, in these few years I was not only used the email address above. I created quite many email address. Seriously, Im thinking now why the fuck I created so many address. =_____= Okay, the second email address:
WTF. Pinkycole, I feel so disgusting for it now. The reason why I created this email is because of Friendster. Yeaaa, friendster. You know laaaa, quite a lot of ppl added me then I just simply approved approved. Then I guess most of you know how dumb is friendster, only 1000 friends allowed in an account. So yeaaaa, we called it 'Account full, pls add my second account, nicole2 thankyou so much' wtf.
I was that kind of girl who wanted for fame and popularity for that particular time. So what. Lol. Somehow I really wonder why would I do that? Quite silly. I created another account of Friendster and approved back the same people in the previous account. In the end, both accounts had the same faces. What's the point wtf? =_____= memories amazing. LOLLLL.
Additional point, even the photos were same also. =____= The photos I uploaded in the second new account, I also uploaded to the old account. So like really, why I created the second account? Pointless duhhhhhhhh.*Shaking my head here
Go on with the third one:
Wtf again for this email. The reason I created this email, I FORGOT. Hahhaha. Seriously cant recall what's the reason I created this. But I remembered password for this email was 'auntycole' wtf troolollololl.
Why duckiecole. Because last time my friends used to call me duck because they said I was like a duck wtf. Yea, no more people called me 'duckie' now, but there're a lot of ppl called me 'BODOH' LOL! Transformation of my nicknames also very li hai one. I will blog about it if I have time. ahaha.
Oh yeaaa. I used this email for my blog leee. Teeheee, quite memorable. When I created my blog, I used this email. I really forgot why I dint use the 'email@example.com'. Okay whatever. Hoit! Yesss, recalled me about the blog link also. HAHAHA! Okay tag along. heee.
First blog link : duckiecole74.blogspot.com
HAHAHAHAHA! Point at it and laugh wtf. What a dumb blog link. Why duckiecole74? Because I was using firstname.lastname@example.com lorhh. =____= Crapss. Isshhh. Can you believe it, I used this blog link for 2 to 3 years? Omg. I just change my blog link to nicccchang.blogspot.com last year wtf. Why wouldnt I think of a better blog link at that time instead of duckiecole74.blogspot.com. Oh dear, I guess I need to improve myself a lot by reading so that I could think of a better blog link. LOL. Be patient I will explain about the nicccchang. Lol
I used the 'duckiecole' and 'planetshakers' at the same time until the both emails hacked by some bastards. I couldn't sign in both of them wtf. Im wondering why there're hackers in this world? Izit so much fun to hack ppl's account?? =.= For what's the reason hacking someone else that you dont know.
Okay, congratulations to myself and I straight away register a new email address. Still stick to hotmail. This time I wanna use my name as my email address. Easy. No need to think so much.
So I planned 'email@example.com' . Then waited the hotmail to check whether this email been used or not. I waited for quite some time and wtf. There's someone called 'nicole chang' as well used this email already. Why the hell there are so many 'nicole chang' in this world?? =.= I guess I should change my name. From primary to secondary, my school always a lot of 'nicole'. Worst of all, ppl called the other 'nicole' and I thought ppl calling me and turned my head to them and in the end not my friends called me. =______________________________= This already happened unknown time in my life till now.
Super embarassed you know.
Okay, nicolechang cant be used. Alright, I typed 'firstname.lastname@example.com' since ever there are some of friends called me 'nic' or 'nick' or 'nicky' ah whatever it's just a name. Somehow I dislike people called me 'nicky'. Dont ask me the reason. I just dislike it. Lolll. Okay, waited again and guess what.
'firstname.lastname@example.com' not available also! wtf. =____=
I stunned at there and looked at the screen and asked whyyyyyy???? Even the short name also let ppl rampas already. Phewwww. I sat and thought of what can I put for my email?
Ching ching. 'nic' way of too common? Okay, I made it uncommon,
'niccc' LOL.
Actually I just added another two 'c' behind. HAHAHAHA! You called it uncommon by adding two letters?? Yea bro you mad?? So call me niccc now. Niccc~ niccc niccc yea niccc X)
Yeaa, that's how 'email@example.com' created. After this email created, I changed everything to this email address. My facebook, twitter, blogspot and many more. Finally problem solved. So far so good. At least I can sign in.
Somehow hotmail sometimes quite dumbo because couldnt send out the mail one. =.=
So yea, firstname.lastname@example.com came after that. Gmail is actually much better. Duhh. In the end, I lazy to change again so I just let it be and used this two emails at the same time now.
Yes. Any enquiries or suggestion or you want to hire me to write some reviews for you ahhahah, pls email me at,
firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com
Dont worry, I checked both mail box everyday #likeaboss.
I guess it's very easy to remember right? ni+cccc+hang@hotmail or gmail.com. Only 4c's dont mistype. Teehhee.
Have good night peeps. *blow kiss


text:
Classmates sometimes tease his two sons. His mother refuses his advice on home loans. For former mortgage broker Kevin Barnes, it's all part of being a convicted felon.
Barnes, 44, was convicted in the early 1990s of being part of a ring that perpetrated $24 million in mortgage fraud in the greater Kansas City area.


text:
I've been trying to get back into my walking again but haven't been having a lot of success. Last year I walked over 1000 kilometres and I think I focussed too much on walking as much distance as possible, so now this year I am a bit over the walking, however, I must do some form of exercise for my health so walking is it.
Sometimes I take my camera with me but more often I pick something up along the way and bring it home to take a picture of. I love the colours of these berries (I think they might be from a pepper tree).
The colours of the leaves seem to go with the lizard and the edge of the tile, and I love how the leaves curve.


text:
COPD Channel
Topics & Medications
Related Channels
Other Information on Levalbuterol
What If I Take an Overdose of Levalbuterol?People who take too much levalbuterol may have overdose symptoms that could include:
- Chest pain (angina)
- High blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension)
- A fast heart rate (tachycardia)
- Nervousness
- Headaches
- Shakiness (tremors)
- Dry mouth
- Feelings of a rapidly or forcefully beating heart (heart palpitations)
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Fatigue
- Low potassium in the blood (hypokalemia)
- Cardiac arrest
- Loss of life.
If you happen to overdose on this drug, seek immediate medical attention.
(Click Xopenex Overdose to learn more.)
How Should It Be Stored?Levalbuterol should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?If you do not take your levalbuterol as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember, but do not take your doses more often than every four hours, unless absolutely necessary to control an attack.
- Levalbuterol 0.31 mg/3 mL vials
- Levalbuterol 0.63 mg/3 mL vials
- Levalbuterol 1.25 mg/3 mL vials
- Levalbuterol Concentrate 1.25 mg/0.5 mL vials (which must be diluted before use).
Levalbuterol (Xopenex)
List of references (click here)
Levalbuterol Inhalation Solution [package insert]. Morgantown, WV: Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;2009 March.
Xopenex Inhalant [package insert]. Marlborough, MA: Sepracor, Inc.;2005 July.
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Electronic orange book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. FDA Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/. Accessed August 31, 2012.
National Library of Medicine (US). Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMED). NLM Web site. Available at: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT. Accessed April 9, 2007.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


text:
1–10 of 34 posts
South Florida group?General Discussion
I'm on the 305/954 border but on the 954 side... So i get the lower rates of Broward with all the perks of Miami... It's awesome. lol
Love is in the ForumsGeneral Discussion
V-Day... It's either awesome or horrible... Not much of a middle area.
Pet GiveawayGeneral Discussion
Ooohh a Cinder Kitty would be awesome! Grats to the winners in advance! :D
How Long Does It Take For A Name Change?General Discussion
02/05/2014 02:41 PMPosted by Deadhorsethat was unwarranted... it was a perfectly valid question. I recently changed a toon's name, and it was almost instantaneous.Now, Now little fella... It was indeed very warranted. Could it have been a valid question? Sure, except the OP came on here demanding an explanation, accusing Blizzard of not having anything to do, so clearly his sense of entitlement led me to have a strong unpleasant taste in my mouth. Aside from it being in the wrong forum in the first place... So... ::TROLL MODE ACTIVATED::
How Long Does It Take For A Name Change?General Discussion
ZOMG! The World doesn't revolve around OP?! ... you mean there are MILLIONS of other players, and possibly others who are waiting for various name, faction, server changes... and it's taken HOURS?!?! Blizzard must hate you OP... ...clearly.
I want to summon something in an AV match.General Discussion
Ah... Classic AV. Darn that Frostwolf GY!
BRez!General Discussion
02/05/2014 10:32 AMPosted by Arylliaare you a Tank or a Healer?if not then you aren't worth the BRezI'm sure that's how most feel, but it can be frustrating when you go down and announce: I have BRez available, get me up and I can get someone else up... and the response? ... nah, there is no response lol
BRez!General Discussion
I have to ask if this is an epidemic, or just the servers i'm linked on: BRez's, why don't people use them?!In LFR, in Flex, in Randoms, it's like this concept doesn't exist. Thankfully I use my trusty Quillen, but if a Healer or heaven forbid a Tank goes down, everyone (and by everyone I mean the Druids and DK's), just starts running around, "OMG here comes the wipe" panic mode. So I just set my pet to come to me, find the body and get it up and move on. Hunters just recently got a BRez, why does it seem I am the only one using this? I can understand not using it on a DPS or the like, but eve…


text:
Air Products has reported its first quarter fiscal 2014 results, with strong performances in its Electronics and Performance Materials, and Equipment and Energy business segments.
The company has seen cost reduction efforts contribute to higher operating income, while its project backlog is described as strong and even greater momentum is expected in the second half of the year.
This would build on first quarter (ended 31st December 2013) net income of $287m, which has itself risen 4% against the results of first quarter 2013.
Air Products revealed first quarter sales of $2.546m decreased 1% versus prior year on slightly lower volumes and stable pricing, partially offset by higher energy pass-through. Volumes were higher in Merchant Gases, Electronics and Performance Materials, and Equipment and Energy, while refinery customer outages impacted volumes in the Tonnage Gases segment.
Underlying sales, excluding the exit from the Polyurethane Intermediates Business (PUI), decreased 1%.
Sequentially, sales decreased 2%, with underlying sales down 3% mainly due to seasonality in Merchant Gases, and Electronics and Performance Materials, and outages.
Operating income of $386m increased 4% versus the prior year on strong results in Electronics and Performance Materials, and Equipment and Energy, while operating margin of 15.1% was up 60 basis points. Sequentially, operating income was down 8% and margin declined 120 basis points, primarily due to seasonal volumes and higher costs driven by Tonnage Gases maintenance outages.
Commenting on the quarter, John McGlade, Chairman, President and CEO, said, "We continue to execute against our 2014 priorities to deliver even greater value for our shareholders. In the first quarter, our cost reduction efforts contributed to higher operating income, further strong signings improved asset loadings, and we continued to execute on our strong backlog, bringing on major new plants in China."
Looking ahead, he added, "We still see greater momentum in the second half of the year. Full year performance remains on track and we expect to drive earnings growth by continuing to focus on our priorities – improved asset utilisation, productivity and cost reduction, winning in the marketplace and disciplined project execution."
When looking at first quarter performance by business segment, Merchant Gases sales of $1.048m increased 4% versus the prior year on higher volumes.
Liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon volumes were up in all regions, partially offset by weaker packaged gases demand in Europe and lower helium volumes due to global supply constraints.
Operating income of $169m decreased 1% versus the prior year, with the positive impact from higher volumes more than offset by under-recovery of higher power and fuel costs. Sequentially, sales decreased one percent on lower seasonal volumes in US/Canada and helium availability.
A sharp decrease was seen in Tonnage Gases sales of $808m, which fell 10% versus last year; while there was continued strong demand in the US Gulf Coast, this was more than offset by plant outages and lower Latin America volumes. Sales decreased sequentially by 3%, primarily on lower volumes due to the outages. Operating income of $118m was down 15% versus prior year and 13% sequentially.
Electronics and Performance Materials sales of $579m increased 5% versus the prior year, on 6% higher volumes. Electronics sales rose 4%, driven by higher equipment and onsite sales, and Performance Materials was up 8% with all product lines and all major regions showing positive growth. Operating income of $84m increased 36% versus prior year. Sequentially, sales were unchanged with currency offsetting lower volumes.
Sales of $111m in Equipment and Energy increased 4% versus prior year and were down 6% sequentially. Operating income of $21m was unchanged sequentially and up 144% versus the prior year, driven by LNG projects. The sales backlog of $343m decreased 12% versus the prior year and 15% versus last quarter.


text:
Summertime by T&T Fashions
Take fashion inspiration as you ready for Sumfest from T&T Fashions and Kadian Nicely.
Fashion: T&T Fashions and Kadian Nicely
Stylist: Kadeem Rodgers
Photographer: Cleopatra Powell
MUA: Rennay Campbell
Models: Schnel Francis & Silena McFarlane
Shoot location: Hope Botanical Gardens
Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive
1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper � email addresses will not be published.
2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: email@example.com.
6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy


text:
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pop music royalty and legends in the making were on hand for exclusive performances and a surprise special guest as ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) celebrated the writers and publishers of the most-performed music of the past year at the 36th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards tonight in Los Angeles.
A capacity audience of industry VIPs and tastemakers packed the historic Beverly Hilton International Ballroom as songwriter Louis Bell received the 2019 ASCAP Pop Music Songwriter of the Year award for the first time for his work on songs including "Better Now" (Post Malone), "Havana" (Camila Cabello Feat. Young Thug) and "Wolves" (Selena Gomez & Marshmello).
Two radio and streaming favorites nabbed top trophies for their popularity last year: "The Middle" (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey) was recognized as Song of the Year, co-written by Stefan Johnson and Anton Zaslavski (Zedd) and published by 1916 PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music, Universal Music Publishing Group and Zedd Music Empire. Most Streamed Song of the Year went to "God's Plan" (Drake), co-written by Ronald "Cardo" La Tour, Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels and Noah "40" Shebib and published by 1Damentional Publishing, Cardo on the Beat, Sony/ATV Tunes LLC and Universal Music Publishing Group. Songwriter Emily Warren performed an acoustic version of her Dua Lipa hit "New Rules," also among the year's most performed songs.
Pop music icon and leader of ELO Jeff Lynne was feted with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award for his unparalleled hitmaking talent and a career that spans more than five decades. Famed guitarist and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joe Walsh bestowed the honor. Previous recipients include Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Patti Smith, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young. As part of the show, Lynne treated the audience to an unusual stripped-down performance of three of his monster hits, "Telephone Line," "Evil Woman" and "All Over the World."
Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke of punk and new wave game-changers Blondie received the ASCAP Golden Note Award for their extraordinary career and influence on the worlds of music, fashion and art. The award has previously gone to such luminaries as Duran Duran, Lindsay Buckingham, Trent Reznor, George Michael, A Tribe Called Quest, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and more. The band members delivered a power-packed live performance of their hits "Call Me," "Long Time" and "Heart of Glass."
Oscar-winning actress and superfan Julia Roberts made a surprise appearance to present the ASCAP Vanguard Award to newly minted superstars Billie Eilish and FINNEAS. The two join the ranks of previous recipients of the award — such as Portugal. The Man, St. Vincent, Nine Inch Nails, Janelle Monáe, Beastie Boys and Björk — which recognizes ASCAP members whose innovative work is helping to shape the future of music. In the most anticipated performances of the night, the brother/sister team provided riveting acoustic versions of Billie's songs "when the party's over" and "i love you," and from FINNEAS solo, "I Lost a Friend."
Publisher of the Year went to Sony/ATV for their role in multiple hits of the past year including "Girls Like You" (Maroon 5 Feat. Cardi B), "Something Just Like This" (The Chainsmokers & Coldplay) and "God's Plan" (Drake).
For their first time winning in this category, Kobalt Music took home Independent Publisher of the Year in recognition of hits including "God Is a Woman" (Ariana Grande), "I Like It" (Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin) and "High Hopes" (Panic! at the Disco).
Photos, videos and a complete list of winners can be found on the ASCAP website: www.ascap.com/popawards19.
About ASCAPThe American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 700,000 members representing more than 11.5 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louis-bell-named-ascap-pop-music-songwriter-of-the-year-the-middle-is-song-of-the-year-at-36th-annual-ascap-pop-music-awards-300852185.html
Copyright 2019 PR Newswire
By accessing the services available at ADVFN you are agreeing to be bound by ADVFN's
Terms & Conditions


text:
By Graham Peterson
In cultural arguments about economic growth and poverty authors allege that there are good poors and bad poors, so it is perfectly clear to me why such arguments have been abandoned: they're empirically incorrect, and insulting.
The old cultural hypothesis about economic growth dates to long before Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, but the book is a nice exposition of the ideal type. Weber began his investigation by falling for a Simpson's Paradox, where one observes a trend in subgroups running one direction, but when one zooms out to the next level of aggregation, the trend disappears or runs in the opposite direction. The thesis never recovers from that mistake.
Weber started by noting the way German Protestants were getting richer than German Catholics in the 19th century. From that he concluded that the spread of values for thrift, temperance, and hard work, and the instantiation of these values into progressively more calculative social systems made some nations rich and others poor. But this is like looking for the origins of economic growth by comparing the relative variation between the cultures in rural and urban Afghanistan. Germany was in the 19th century an economic laggard, barely adopting the technologies spilling out of England and Holland.
If there are cultural differences to be found that explain economic growth and concomitant modernization, they will be found in comparative differences between England and Holland and their neighbors, or indeed between them and other regions and cultures in history.
Regardless, Weber and his grand theory of increasingly disciplined and prudential bureaucracies remains popular. Weber himself constantly admits the massive proliferation of bureaucracies down through history since settled agriculture — he resolves this contradiction by claiming there is something just ever so slightly different about modern bureaucracies, if not in kind, in degree.
But there is very little to recommend a difference of kind in his extensive discussion of Calvin-inspired discipline and systemization. And explaining the change as a difference of degree would be to explain nothing at all — myriad politicians and merchant classes had turned up the volume on bureacratic systems and control many times in history with no Industrial Revolution resulting.
Moreover, the academic left long ago pointed out the nasty things that Weber's line of reasoning implies about those who are not rich: that they are profligate, intemperate, imprudent, disorganized, imprecise, and lazy.
Those who hope to rescue Weber must wrestle with the very good theory and empirics of 20th century macroeconomic growth measurement. We now know that increases in the economic productivity of labor come from working smarter, not harder. Merely expending more calories by swinging a hammer faster cannot create exponential increases in economic productivity. The returns to more calories diminish. Savings and investment cannot of themselves create growth either. The returns to such investment diminish as well. It has been shown empirically by macroeconomists over and over again, and is now an uncontroversial central tenet of modern economic theory.
You simply cannot get exponential growth in productivity from impressing workers with a spiritual calling to work harder and organize more systematically, and to reinvest held over gains into production of accumulating capital. So even though Protestants may have appeared and even been slightly more enterprising than Catholics in 19th century Germany, these group differences do not explain macroeconomic productivity.
What needs to be explained is where technological innovation comes from, where the good ideas that combine capital and labor resources together in new ways, come from. And I do believe that the explanation will be in large part cultural and sociological. But if we are going to invite conversation on culture and economic outcomes, the old Hard Work, Thrift, Systemization, and Discipline hypothesis has to go.
We do not start arguments about global warming by comparing today's weather with yesterday's and we cannot similarly start to argue about economic productivity by looking at tiny group differences in countries that are otherwise economic laggards.


text:
6 Things to Know About Your New Home
6 Things to Know About Your New Home
Moving into a brand new home is such an exciting time for many. It is blank slate for you and your family to truly make the space your own and create memories together. Much of this excitement moving into a newly constructed home can lead to missed insights on your home's functions and other important information that you need to know down the road. Here are 6 important things to know about your new home when you move in.
Humidity Control
Homes today are built far more energy efficient and air tight than they were 20 years ago. With this thought in mind there is less air escaping your home, which means it would take much longer time for humidity to escape your home as well. A new home takes some adjusting in that you need to take the proper precautions to prevent high humidity levels that could lead to condensation in your windows. Most thermostats in new homes display the humidity level in the home. You will want to try to keep that between 30-40%. To prevent high humidity you should run a fan in the bathroom each time you are showering and also run the fan in the kitchen if you are doing dishes, opening the dishwasher, or boiling water.
Furnace Filter
Many are under the impression that since this is a brand new home that a new furnace filter isn't necessary right at the recommended replacement date. This is in fact the opposite. Because of the fact that the home was under construction and had many materials in it to put the home together the filter actually has to be replaced more often than suggested.
Register your Warranties
After all of the madness of moving and getting settled, set aside time to register for all of the warranties involved in your home. If you miss a window to register your warranty it can cut your warranty time in half and in some cases can give a company more leverage to deny a claim a the future. It typically does not take more than following a website, entering some information, and possibly a code as a unique identifier. With each element in your home that involves a warranty, it is best to block off time and complete registering them all at once.
Important Contact Information
In many newly built homes important contact information can be found in a bag attached to the furnace. Most of these contacts are on separate sheets or business cards. Compile a list of these important contacts in case anything were to go wrong in your home. Have a brief understanding of who to call in which cases and keep the contact sheet in a convenient location(s).
Have a Dedicated Notebook
During your New Home Orientation you will want to notes on the many important details that are given. You will find yourself needing to reference this for certain functions and you may want to glance over it once or twice before move in day to ensure you are aware of any day-of move in tasks.
Many new home warranties involve a 30 day, 60 day, and 1 year visit. To help you keep track of what may need attention in your home during these appointments, have your dedicated notebook to write down any observations in the home that you believe warranty could help you take care of. This makes it easy on you and your warranty specialist so that there doesn't need to be multiple trips in the case that you may miss a couple details on accident.
Home Maintenance
A home, even when brand new, can endure wear and tear and will still need normal maintenance. It is important to know what issues fall under warranty of either your builder or the manufacturer and deciding if the issue is fixable on your own or if you should consult with someone.
Buying a new home is one of the biggest investments you will make in your life. Many people hesitate to ask questions out of fear that they should already know the answer. A home builder's construction managers and warranty specialists are there to answer your questions. They are a resource for you to help navigate your new home, so do not be afraid to ask. They ultimately want you to be happy and comfortable in your home. Knowing these details can help you feel less overwhelmed and help you get off to the best start possible.


text:
My friend Shmeil, at the end of Yom Kippur, after the blessing on the moon would have (and hopefully still has) a "rekida" (a dance) after which he would wish everyone a Gut Vinter!
The seasons are changing people. It's after Yom Kippur - almost Sukkot.
Days are getting shorter....and so, in the spirit of the shorter days (and only 6 hours to the East Coast of the US) we are going to start cookin' for Shabbos at 9:00 PM tonight, and for the next few weeks, and then decide if we will keep the "cookin' for Shabbos" show at 9 cause we like it, or go back to it's original and regular 10:00 slot. There is something for starting a show at 10:00 PM. I really don't know what it is, but there is something.
Anyway, Thursday is "coming down upon us."
7:00 Temple Talk with Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzhak Reuven
8:00 Some "hors d'ouevres" - some prep for the "cookin'" show
9:00 Cookin' for Shabbos - where we bring down good vibes/shefa/musical seasonings to help you cook for Shabbos.
Hey, everyone needs a soundtrack, and that's what we're here for.
Radio Free Nachlaot - the soundtrack for your life!
C Ya on the Radio!


text:
Baby Burger moulds
Baby Burger moulds
Moulds for minced meat
Nice preparationsfor children's menu suggestions
decoStick® Salted finger food moulds
Uncooked or cooked snacks on a stick
ideal for buffet service.
Nice preparations on a stick
for children menu.
Design complements for aperitifs and
Design complements for modern desserts.
Mini popsicle of fresh fruit or other ingredients
for innovative cocktails.


text:
Aberdeen is a beautiful city based at the top of the corner of Scotland and perfect for all stag and hen weekends. Our impression of Aberdeen before our first visit has drastically changed for the better. This is one of the best cities Pop the Fizz has tested, with a really great feeling and atmosphere surrounding the city.
People of Aberdeen live life and really want to enjoy themselves, from participating in lots of different activities to enjoying all of the amazing restaurants and bars that the city has to offer. Aberdeen prides itself on having an array of accommodation options that can suit every budget from one night to a long weekend.
Click on the link to see all the great stag and hen Activities in Aberdeen.