text:
- Home
Christmas Gifts For Men (That They'll Actually Use Everyday)Dec 15, 2017
Boys and their toys….As it can be tough (or near impossible) to shop for the men in your life, we wanted to help you out this holiday season by featuring some of our top picks to go under the tree or stuff those stockings for Christmas 2017.
Stocking Stuffers (Gifts Under $70)
Boys and their toys….As it can be tough (or near impossible) to shop for the men in your life, we wanted to help you out this holiday season by featuring some of our top picks to go under the tree or stuff those stockings for Christmas 2017.
Stocking Stuffers (Gifts Under $70)
Earbuds and Headphones are a great choice for Christmas. Listening to music is a daily ritual for most people, and having some quality headphones or earbuds can make the music sound even better than you thought possible.
The House of Marley earbuds have a great sound quality, feature a fabric wrapped cable, and include a microphone and controls so you can use your voice to control your phone (such as Siri on iPhone). There are many different colour combinations available so you should have no problem finding the perfect gift.
What's great about these earbuds is they are made with sustainably sourced materials and a portion of their profits go towards reforesting efforts.
Another great choice is the Rebel BT Over-Ear headphones. These headphones are completely wireless and use Bluetooth to connect to your phone. These are great for use while commuting, or at the gym as there are no wires to get in the way.
If you're looking for a way to let them fill the whole room with sound, consider a portable Bluetooth speaker. The Chant Mini Speaker is splash resistant, has 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, and unlike other Bluetooth speakers, has an integrated microphone so you can use it as a speakerphone. This is a handy feature if you want to have a group of people in a room be able to all talk at once (perfect for those Christmas family phone calls!).
Under The Tree (Gifts Under $250)
Here we have some more substantial sound systems sure to surprise and delight the music lovers in your family.
For those who have large CD collections, we recommend the LG CM2460 Micro Hi-Fi Audio System. This 100W system plays CDs, but also lets you stream music wirelessly via bluetooth from your phone or computer, and will also accept a USB drive full of your favorite tunes. If you happen to have an LG TVelevision, it can sync up wirelessly to improve your TV audio as well!
For the Old-School vinyl connoisseurs, Denon makes a great fully automatic turntable to keep your music spinning all day long. This turntable does include a PHONO preamp so it can be connected to any existing stereo system without any additional equipment, and for those with large vinyl collections they wish to digitize, it includes a USB port and built-in MP3 encoder to transfer your records to your computer with ease!
The Kanto YU2 Speakers are a great way to improve the music played from a computer. Featuring a USB and 3.5mm Input, you can connect virtually any audio source to the YU2's. The best part has to be the style of these speakers. Shown here in the bamboo trim, they are also available in a variety of other colour options.
Wow, Thanks Santa! (Gifts Under $1000)
If you are looking for a speaker to fill your home with HiFi audio, the Paradigm PW800 Wireless Speaker has to be one of your top choices. Paradigm is well known by audio enthusiasts across Canada as a premiere brand, making some of the highest quality speakers available today. The PW800 allows you to utilize your homes WiFi network to stream music to the speaker. This speaker can also be combined with other Paradigm wireless speakers and sync to create a truly wireless multi-room audio system.
Another great Christmas Gift idea for the private music listener are the Denon AH-MM400 Over Ear Headphones. Featuring the amazing sound quality that Denon is known for, the AH-MM400's also feature a stylish Walnut exterior, and a noise suppression ability so music can be listened to uninterrupted by the outside world.
We hope this list has helped you find a Christmas gift for your husband, boyfriend, son, brother, or any other hard to shop for man in your life!Christmas Gifts For Men originally posted on blog.avu.ca.
Holiday Highlights: The Best Sound Systems For Under $500Nov 24, 2017
Struggling to choose the best gift for your friends and family as the holidays approach? Then why not give them something they can enjoy throughout the year? No matter their interests or tastes, they're sure to appreciate a new home audio system. From watching movies to playing video games to
Struggling to choose the best gift for your friends and family as the holidays approach? Then why not give them something they can enjoy throughout the year? No matter their interests or tastes, they're sure to appreciate a new home audio system. From watching movies to playing video games to catching up on their favourite shows, there's no shortage of ways a soundbar or speaker set can enhance their lives.
If sound equipment seems like a great gift but you're worried you can't afford it, worry not. Some of the best audio systems on the market cost less than $500. Just take a look at:
A Sonos speaker system is the gift that keeps on giving. Designed to adapt to local acoustics, these speakers get better the longer they're played. They stream music directly from WiFi rather than mobile devices, meaning your friends won't be interrupted by notifications or calls as they listen to their favorite songs. You can buy two Sonos Play 1 units for just under $400; these small but powerful speakers can be mounted in a wide range of heights and locations, including a left-right stereo configuration. Alternatively, consider buying a single Sonos Play 3 unit; this will provide a richer array of sounds, especially for bass.
Kanto YU4 Speakers
Designed to maximize both form and function, these speakers offer crisp sound quality at any volume, as well as:
- A Variety of Finishes– From gloss black to bamboo to matte grey to gloss teal, these speakers come in countless different finishes and colors, allowing you to match them to the appearance of each room.
- Flexible Connection Features– Kanto YU4 speakers support 2x Optical Audio, Bluetooth, RCA, and a myriad of other inputs. You can even connect them to a turntable, making these the perfect present for friends who love vinyl.
- Remote Management– With the push of a button, you can adjust the volume, switch between inputs, and control all other aspects of these speakers.
Available in either stark black or clear white, Denon Heos speakers are ideal for supporting high-resolution audio. When linked to an AAC or MP3 source, they can play audio up to 320kbps; with WAV, FLAC, and ALAC sources, they play up to 24-bit and 192kHz audio. Denon Heos speakers also come with 3.5-millimeter audio jacks, making it easier to play music from analog sources.
For those shopping on a $500 budget, consider the Heos 3, which comes with a Class D amplifier and two sound channels. You could also choose a pair of portable Heos 1 speakers, which provide similar quality audio on the go. You'll have enough money left over to get the Heos 1 Go Pack, which allows you to carry and charge those twin speakers in any environment.
Designed for use with televisions and home theatre systems, the YAS107 soundbar offers 3D surround sound from a convenient, compact source. It is notable for providing quality bass without needing a separate subwoofer, as well as for its high level of adaptability. This soundbar comes in five different modes, each tailored to different types of programs: television, movies, sports, music, and video games. The YAS107 is compatible with Bluetooth, and can be hooked up to your TV with a single HDMI cord.
Whereas the YAS107 balances a wide variety of different types of content, this soundbar is designed to maximize TV and movies specifically. The HWK550 comes with a built-in subwoofer as well as three separate audio channels. The middle of these channels focuses specifically on dialog, allowing you to hear characters clearly even while enjoying other sounds and music in the same scene. This speaker thus makes the perfect gift for film and television buffs.
If you're still not sold on these speakers, consider that each device is fully powered, and that you don't need to buy any receivers or other equipment to use them. This means that you can give your friends and family a full surround sound experience for the cost of the speakers alone. For more information on these and other holiday gift options, visit our online store today!The Best Sound Systems For Under $500 originally published on blog.avu.ca.
Advanced Audio: How Dolby Atmos Brings Surround Sound To New HeightsNov 14, 2017
Sound is nothing if not complex. In any given scene of a movie, concert, or game, there are dozens of different sounds happening simultaneously, each of which contributes to the overall quality of the audio. Surround sound systems seek to include each of these contributing sounds for a rich
Sound is nothing if not complex. In any given scene of a movie, concert, or game, there are dozens of different sounds happening simultaneously, each of which contributes to the overall quality of the audio. Surround sound systems seek to include each of these contributing sounds for a rich listening experience, but doing so requires both advanced audio storage methods and a flexible speaker system that can blend multiple different sounds at different levels of intensity. As one of the most complex surround sound systems on the market, Dolby Atmos can play sound from a wide range of objects at once, allowing you to experience every element of modern audio.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is one of the latest and most advanced methods used to produce surround sound. Unveiled in 2012 for the theatrical release of the Pixar film Brave, this technology made an instant impression on audiences, who enjoyed the highly complex, crisp audio of the movie. Growing numbers of theatres have adopted Atmos sound systems since then, and in 2015, it first became available for home theatre systems.
In order to understand how Dolby Atmos works, it is first necessary to consider the history of surround sound technology. First developed in 1969 and popularized in the 1980s and '90s, surround sound seeks to mimic the way that people experience sound in the real world. Sound is an immersive experience, with different elements coming from every direction at different levels of intensity. Only by matching the way that sound surrounds the listener, moving back and forth and from left to right, can audio systems make you feel that you are truly experiencing what you are listening to.
The earliest successful sound system was the Dolby 5.1, which set the standard for all future surround sound endeavors. This device used five speakers: typically 3 speakers in the front (Left Centre Right) and a back left and back-right speaker, with the centre channel handling most dialogue and music and effects being assigned to the other speakers. The 5 in "5.1" refers to these speakers, while the 1 refers to the device's single subwoofer.By separating out sounds in this way, Dolby was able to prevent them from mixing together and confusing the listener, thereby avoiding the problems that had foiled previous attempts to develop surround sound. Along with new, more discrete methods for encoding audio files, this made it easier than ever to offer a rich, varied listening experience in any environment.
While the Dolby 5.1 remains the standard for surround sound systems, the company and its competitors have developed increasingly complex versions of this technology since its release. These have included the Dolby 6.1, which uses 6 speakers and one subwoofer; the Dolby 7.2, with 7 speakers and two subwoofers; and the Dolby 11.2, which possesses eleven speakers and twin subwoofers. Each of these systems brought surround sound to new heights of quality and complexity.
The Dolby Atmos surround sound system continues this march toward clearer, crisper, more complex sound. Able to support as many as 64 speakers at once, the system can process 128 different sound objects in one scene, each at a different location and level of intensity. It also distributes sound among speakers differently. Whereas previous surround sound systems mixed sounds together and tied individual effects to particular speakers, Atmos systems move sound from one direction to another. The hardware determines which speakers should play an effect at any given moment, moving the sound around the room to create a three-dimensional feel.
For example, on a 5.1 system you may hear a helicopter flying from right to left, but on an Atmos system you'll hear it from 200 ft away….100 ft away…50 ft away…then right on top of you as it passes. From music to films to video games, this technology makes virtually any listening experience more immersive and realistic. To achieve this level of "3D Sound", Atmos systems include speakers that fire upward or are mounted in the ceiling; a Dolby 5.1.2 system, for example, uses two upward or ceiling speakers (the extra '.2') out of 5 total speakers, along with a single subwoofer.
Setting Up Dolby Atmos Surround Sound in Your Home
Homeowners have a wide variety of options for bringing the benefits of Atmos surround sound into their homes. Most people will choose one of the following three solutions:
The most comprehensive way to experience Atmos surround sound in your home is to build a Dolby Atmos sound system directly into your entertainment room. By installing speakers in a number of key locations, particularly in the ceiling, you can achieve full audio depth from as many channels as you choose, given your budget and preferences.
This type of Atmos sound system offers the highest levels of quality and is thus the preferred solution for homeowners with a commitment to audio excellence. It is, however, the most expensive method, as it will require you to make physical changes to your home to hold both the speakers and their wiring. There are also some logistical difficulties. Because you cannot move the speakers around once they are installed, you will need to figure out the room's acoustics before you install. Even a minor mistake can lead to significant audio problems that are difficult to fix once the system is in place. Nonetheless, homeowners with the budget to install such a system often find that the audio benefits are well worth the cost and risks.
If you opt for a full audio system installation, you'll need a receiver that can support all the channels that you install. The Paradigm AVM60, Denon AVRX6300H, and Yamaha RXA3060B all offer support for large numbers of speakers and subwoofers.
If you're not up for transforming your entire living room, you can get many of the same benefits by utilizing Atmos' signature upward firing speakers around your entertainment room. While the sound quality is unlikely to be quite as good as if you had installed a ceiling system, you can still get many of the same 3D effects at a much more affordable cost.
Audio Video Unlimited carries Pioneer SPBS22ALR speakers, which we sell in pairs of two. Able to handle up to 80 watts, these speakers provide an immersive listening experience. We also offer compact Pioneer SPEBS73LR speakers, which can serve as either forward or rear Atmos channels.
Rather than investing in multiple speakers for separate locations, consider setting up a single soundbar with more than a dozen speakers on it. Modern soundbars include speakers that fire upward, allowing them to create a three-dimensional listening experience from a single location. This method is often the cheapest, as it only requires you to invest in a single piece of equipment and does not necessitate disrupting your house. This option is perfect for those in condos, apartments, or want to set up their home theatre in a smaller room where having rear speakers is simply not possible.
The Samsung HWK950 Atmos Home Theatre System features one of the best soundbars with Dolby Atmos. With 15 speakers, including four that fire upward, and a combined 500 watts of power, this home theatre system lets you enjoy immersive Dolby Atmos audio from virtually any location.
For more information on Dolby Atmos surround sound and other audio advances, contact us today.Dolby Atmos article originally featured on blog.avu.ca
Ignition Enhancements: The Benefits Of Installing A Compustar Remote Car StarterOct 31, 2017
Cold winters are par for the course in Alberta. At our location in Leduc, we're used to winter temperatures well below zero. This makes something as simple as walking to your car a struggle to stay warm.
While Leduc Audio Video Unlimited can't prevent the cold, we can get you out of it
Cold winters are par for the course in Alberta. At our location in Leduc, we're used to winter temperatures well below zero. This makes something as simple as walking to your car a struggle to stay warm.
While Leduc Audio Video Unlimited can't prevent the cold, we can get you out of it as soon as possible. We offer a selection of remote engine start devices as well as remote car starter installation in the Edmonton / Leduc area. With a Compustar remote starter, you can get your engine running before you even leave the building, making your car warm and cozy by the time you get to it.
An Array of Compustar Remote Starters
Leduc Audio Video Unlimited doesn't limit you to one starter, you can choose from:
- The Compustar RF1WG6AMCN- This 1 way starter sends radio signals to start your engine from up to 300 metres away.
- The Compustar RFP2WR3SS- As a 2 way remote start device, this starter is not only sends signals that start your engine, but also receives signals confirming that it is running. It works over distances of up to 1,500 metres.
- The Compustar RF2WG9- This 2 way remote starter works at distances of up to 900 metres.
In addition to selling these starters, the Leduc AVUteam installs them. Compatible with almost all makes, most installs can take as little as 4 hours.
Automatic Car Starter Advantages
Climbing into a warmed-up car on a cold Alberta day is a huge relief, but the benefits of a remote car starter don't end there. With a Compustar device, you can:
- Speed Up Your Day- Who hasn't rushed to get to work after oversleeping or being tied up at home? If you're struggling to make up for lost time, a remote starter lets you get your engine warmed up while you're still on your way out the door. As a result, you can hit the road as soon as you get behind the wheel of your car.
- Melt the Ice- Don't want to stand out in the cold scraping ice off of your windshield on winter mornings? With a Compustar starter, you can turn on the heat from the comfort of your home. Just wait a few minutes for the windshield to warm up and the ice will all be melted by the time you go outside.
- Stay Cool in the Summer- As Leduc residents, we've seen temperatures rise as high as 35 degrees in the summer, turning every car in the area into an oven. A Compustar starter lets you turn on the AC while on the way to your vehicle so it'll be nice and cool by the time you get inside.
For more information on automatic car starters and other devices from Leduc Audio Video Unlimited, contact us today.
Kanto YU4 Powered Speakers ReviewOct 26, 2017
Recently we had the chance to review the new Kanto YU4 Powered Bookshelf Speakers. Boasting a wide variety of connection options, with the promise of crystal clear Hi Fi Audio, we were excited to hook these up and give them a try!
The Kanto YU4's utilize 4" Kevlar
Recently we had the chance to review the new Kanto YU4 Powered Bookshelf Speakers. Boasting a wide variety of connection options, with the promise of crystal clear Hi Fi Audio, we were excited to hook these up and give them a try!
The Kanto YU4's utilize 4" Kevlar Drivers, with a class D amplifier. The speakers are available in a wide range of colours / finishes, including Bamboo, Gloss Black, Gloss Red, Gloss Teal, Gloss White, Matte Black, Matte Grey, Matte White. The YU4 also offers many different ways to connect, including Bluetooth, 2x Optical (TOSLINK) Audio inputs, 3.5mm mini-Aux jack, and RCA inputs. It also the ability to switch on a phono preamp for the RCA input, letting you connect a turntable directly to the speakers, and a subwoofer out option as well. The unit also includes a remote control to choose inputs, adjust the volume, etc.
First Impressions
Out of the box, the first thing you notice is the sharp & clean look of the speakers. Though I may be a bit biased, as my personal home décor features many matching gloss red appliances (Coffee maker, toaster, etc). The speakers instantly looked at home, and with the variety of colours available, it should be easy to find the right fit for your own home décor.
Connecting my iPhone via Bluetooth was extremely easy. Personally I've always had issues connecting to other speakers via Bluetooth, so I was glad that connecting and maintaining a connection to the YU4's was not an issue.
Sound Quality
The Kanto YU4's displayed an impressive amount of clarity during our listening tests. So much so in fact, that like most high quality speakers, they will expose poor mixes, especially with much modern pop music that's a casualty of the "loudness wars".
First we listened to a fresh off the rack modern pop song, Slide by Calvin Harris released in 2017. The song features a variety of synthesizers and effects, as well as a very punchy bass / kick drum. The speakers did an excellent job in producing tight, punchy bass at all volumes, and the mix felt very full throughout.
The speakers really showed their clarity however, when we went back to 1964 and listened to Miles Davis The Complete Concert Live. When positioned as instructed, the speakers created an amazing stereo field. The clarity of the instruments, and even the crowd noise was well produced, so much so that you could close your eyes and really feel like you were back at the Lincoln Center seeing Miles in his prime.
We did have issues with the bass response when listening to some modern R&B & hip-hop, such as the aptly titled "Super Bass" by Nicki Minaj. In this case, the bass response had a box like quality and was unappealing. However, I would attribute this more to the mix of the music being more targeted towards clubs & cars with subwoofers, than Hi-Fi speakers (and to be fair, the first lyric of the song is "This one is for the boys with the booming systems"). Luckily, the YU4 has the option to add a subwoofer, and once we added the Kanto SUB6 the system was booming!
The Verdict
After the test, I didn't want to return these speakers, based on their great sound quality, and that they fit in so perfectly with my home décor. The only recommendation would be to get the subwoofer if you primarily listen to club shaking hip-hop.
The sheer number of connection possibilities makes the Kanto YU4 a very attractive option, especially in smaller living spaces where your audio system will likely have to double as your TV audio. You could have the YU4's connected to your TV via the optical cable, stream music via Bluetooth, and even connect a little mixer via the RCA input and play a guitar through them if you so desired. If you upgrade to a full home theatre system in the future, you can easily find another use for these speakers elsewhere in your home.
Rating: 4/5
We hope you've found our review of the Kanto YU4 Speakers helpful. Do you have any questions about the speakers? Let us know in the comments below!
Tweeters: 1 inch Silk Dome
Woofers: 4 inch Kevlar®
Remote: Included
Amplifier Type: Class D
Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohm
Frequency Response: 60 Hz – 20 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.25% Crossover System: 2-way Crossover Frequency: 2.0 kHz
Inputs: 1 x 3.5mm mini-jack AUX | 1 x RCA L/R with Phono Switch Inputs | 2 x Optical (TOSLINK) | 1 x Bluetooth™ with Qualcomm® aptX™
Outputs: 1 x Subwoofer | 1 x USB Charge 5V 1A
Speaker Terminals: Left and Right Binding Posts
Input Voltage / Frequency: 100V 60 Hz /240V 50 Hz (auto switching)
Input Sensitivity: 560 mV
Power Output: 140W Peak Power (70 Watts Total RMS)
Standby Power Consumption: < 0.5 W
Dimensions (each speaker): 5.5" W x 7.5" D x 8.7" H (14 x 19 x 22 cm)
Net Weight (active): 6.9 lb (3.2 kg)
Net Weight (passive): 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)
Gross Weight: 16.5 lb (7.5 kg) (boxed pair)
Shipping Box Dimensions: 16.7″ x 13.2″ x 11.3″ (42.5 x 33.5 x 28.7 cm)
Remote with batteries
Power cord
Speaker Wire
3.5mm Auxiliary Cable
Rubber feet
Kanto YU4 Powered Speakers Review originally posted on blog.avu.ca
Using a 4K TV As A Computer MonitorSep 29, 2017
In the past, TV's and computer monitors were quite different. Traditionally TV's were built to handle an analog signals, from things like antennas and coaxial inputs, whereas computers relied on their trusty VGA ports. Today however TV's receive their video through the same HDMI ports used on
In the past, TV's and computer monitors were quite different. Traditionally TV's were built to handle an analog signals, from things like antennas and coaxial inputs, whereas computers relied on their trusty VGA ports. Today however TV's receive their video through the same HDMI ports used on computer monitors. With the popularity and relatively lower cost of a 4K TV compared to a 4K computer monitor, many have asked, Why can't you simply use your 4K TV as a computer monitor?
Before the advent of 4K, Computer monitors traditionally had a higher resolution and a faster sync rate than televisions, making their pictures clean and crisp — and more importantly, easier to use. Comparatively, most SD or HD televisions would struggle to display text clear enough to read, and there would be significant lag to the cursor. With Ultra HD 4K resolution quickly becoming the norm in TV's, people have again stared exploring the possibility of using a 4K TV as a computer monitor.
The Pros of Using a 4K TV as a Computer Monitor
A 4K television is going to cost much less than a computer monitor of the same size. For those who are visual fields or those who enjoy gaming as entertainment, monitors are becoming much larger. It can be more cost-effective to purchase a small television than a large monitor.
You can easily switch a television to different consoles, cable boxes, and streaming boxes when you're finished using it as a computer. That means that you can have a single setup for all of your gaming, entertainment, and media, hooked directly into your living room or entertainment room. For those who have limited space, this can be a huge space saving technique.
With a monitor, you generally have to purchase the speakers separately. A 4K TV will have speakers built in, and while they may not provide an amazing surround sound experience, they will be good enough for most computer uses.
Additional ports
A 4K television will come with many more ports than a monitor, including additional HDMI ports for game consoles and other devices that a computer monitor wouldn't have. This gives you the flexibility to create a complete entertainment system where you simply need to switch inputs to use a new device.
The Cons of Using a 4K TV as a Computer Monitor
Lower DPI
Even a 4K television will have lower DPI (dots per inch) than a computer monitor. Functionally, this means that those in graphic design fields are not going to have as clear an image to work with. Those who work a lot with text may find the text blurry and indistinct, especially if the text is particularly small.
Input lag
Depending on the refresh rate of the monitor, there may be a noticeable input lag when it comes to moving a cursor or performing actions on the screen. This input lag can be enough to impact things such as games, but this may also be based on the particular model of television rather than all 4K TVs. Choosing a 4K TV with a faster refresh rate will negate this problem.
If you don't have a lot of real estate on your desk to begin with, using a 4K TV may be difficult. You may even find that the television is too close to actually be easy to use — or you may find yourself having to setup your room so that your television/monitor is farther away.
4K TVs are heavier and thicker than computer monitors; this is one reason that they are less expensive. For some setups this can make them more challenging to move, as they may not be able to fit on a small desk and may instead need to be mounted.
Getting the Right 4K TV for a Computer Monitor
Not all 4K TVs are made to similar specifications. Many of the issues that are encountered when using a 4K TV as a computer monitor are only issues with mid-to-low range televisions. A higher quality 4K TV can be lightweight and high resolution, with minimal lag and many additional, advanced features that can make the transition worthwhile. Consequently, if you're considering replacing a computer monitor with a 4K TV, you generally want the highest quality television available. Here are a few televisions that meet these specifications:
LG OLED 4K HDR Smart TV
The LG OLED 4k HDR Smart TV line is a smart television system with some impressive technical specifications. Tru Color Accuracy and Active HDR with Dolby Vision ensure that the picture will be clear and that lag will be minimal, making it one of the best 4K TV's for PC Gaming, and a good solution for graphic designers, video editors, and others that need to work with a process visual media. Smart television features add tools such as streaming and web browsing bulit in, and the "blade slim design" keeps it from taking up too much space.
Sony 4K HDR OLED
Sony's line up of 4K HDR OLED televisions are premium televisions designed to provide the best in picture quality and clarity. These televisions will not have significant motion lag and can display text cleanly. With sizes that go beyond 70″, the Sony 4K HDR OLED can be used to create an all-in-one entertainment system that can still be connected directly to a computer. This line includes Acoustic Surface Technology (for better audio), HDR X1 Extreme Processor, TRILUMINOS Display, and Motionflow XR.
Samsung UHD Smart LED
Though Samsung's UND Smart LED line uses LED rather than OLED technology, it also provides PurColor, UHD Upscaling, and HDR PRO technology with the help of a quad-core processor. All of this technology together provides a high quality image at lower prices than OLED 4K models. Though it may not have the crystal clear picture of an OLED, it's still a suitable 4K tv for PC gaming and other entertainment.
Panasonic 4K Ultra HD Smart LED
Another LED-based television, the Panasonic 4K Ultra HD Smart LED comes with its Hexa Chroma Drive, Quad Core Pro processor, web browser, and smart technologies, all of which make it suitable for most PC use. This Panasonic may not be suitable for video or image editing, but would still be suitable for light computer work, reading, and video games.
Whether using a 4K TV for a computer monitor works depends largely on the functionality that you need from your computer. If you're primarily streaming videos, gaming, and doing other media-heavy pursuits, a 4K TV is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you're doing a lot of reading, typing, and web browsing, there may be some issues. For the most part, those who can get away with using a 4K TV as a computer monitor will often find it convenient and cost-effective, and as the technology advances it's likely that the line between television and computer monitor will become increasingly blurred.
Soundbars VS. Sound ProjectorsJul 31, 2017
HDR & OLED VS. QLEDJun 23, 2017
Is everyone enjoying the age of screens? Everything has a screen and every screen is different technology. Is it Touch, OLED, Retina, IPS? Do you know what it all means? Which is best?
Let's take a look at the leading standards for your TV. You are on your own for your bazillion other
Is everyone enjoying the age of screens? Everything has a screen and every screen is different technology. Is it Touch, OLED, Retina, IPS? Do you know what it all means? Which is best?
Let's take a look at the leading standards for your TV. You are on your own for your bazillion other gadgets ;-)
Let's start with OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). OLED is best described as a light emitting paint. Manufacturers paint the light emitting colors of Red, Green and Blue onto a TV screen. Tiny electrical connections feed power to the little dots of colour. When a dot is powered-up it emits coloured light. Varying the amount of voltage to each collection of coloured dots varies the brightness and allows for mixing of the three primary colours to display the whole rainbow.
The pigments are 'ORGANIC' but only in the chemical definition. They aren't alive and aren't particularly full of nutrition.
The strength of OLED technology is that it can be completely powered down to create true black. The result is a more precise colour gamut. Also, because it is a coating, the screens can be as flexible as the material onto which it is applied. OLED is the technology you may have seen in flexible, foldable or rollable screen demonstrations.
The weakness of OLED is that it cannot achieve the blinding brightness of quantum dot.
QLED, also known as quantum dot, is a totally different approach. QLED screens are advanced LCD screens with special layer of quantum dots that glow in one of the primary colours when energised by light. They are still lit from behind like traditional LED/LCD screens, but QLED uses the dots to refine the light into a more precise colour palette.
The strength of a QLED screen is being able to go far brighter than a traditional LCD or a new OLED panel. This is how QLED achieves the huge colour gamut.
The weakness of QLED is that, like a traditional LED/LCD screen, they can't produce a true black. There is always a bit of the backlight bleeding through.
HDR is a new industry colour standard referring to screens that can reproduce a wider colour gamut for a more precise picture. Even some high quality LED/LCD screens are capable of HDR.
Choosing a HDR capable screen could make a more noticeable improvement to picture quality than quadrupling the pixel count with 4K/UHD. Unless we are viewing a 65inch or larger TV, most people don't sit close enough to their screens to see pixels. (Bigger TV = bigger pixels. All screens of the same resolution use the same number of pixels to cover the surface. 720P<1080P<4K/UHD)
So what's better? This is actually easy; even if you still don't understand the differences. The answer lies in your room.
Is your room generally bright with a good amount of windows? The extra brightness of QLED is for you. Make sure to get a screen with HDR for the best picture quality.
Is your room generally dimmer, like a basement or a home theatre room, with light control like heavy curtains? You need OLED for those beautiful rich blacks without the blinding brightness of QLED. Once again HDR is always a good choice for the better colour dynamics.
So there you have it: Always HDR. Pick OLED screens in a dark room or QLED in a bright room. I hope this has helped you to better understand the difference between HDR / OLED vs QLED TV's.
Marley Stir It Up (turntable)Jun 14, 2017
There's no denying that vinyl has had resurgence in the past few years. There's something magical about those big black disks silently spinning while your speakers buck and kick.
Unfortunately between vinyl's previous hurrah and the hipster revival most of the turntable manufacturers
There's no denying that vinyl has had resurgence in the past few years. There's something magical about those big black disks silently spinning while your speakers buck and kick.
Unfortunately between vinyl's previous hurrah and the hipster revival most of the turntable manufacturers closed up shop or moved-on to other things. As a result we are hardly spoiled for choice in turntables. Enthusiast gear never really dies, but what about all the young vinyl fans? It's hard to justify $1000+ dollars when you only have a few records and your budget barely covers your dorm and daily cup-o-noodles
Bingo! The Marley Stir It Up turntable is $299 dollars, it sounds fine and because it's built from sustainable materials, you won't anger your 'green' roommate.
The Great: Styling is an obvious win for the Stir It Up. The accents are clever and styling cues are mostly from a beautiful mix of materials. The Stir It Up looks great on a shelf and can even steal the show away from more expensive gear. The platter mat is also delightfully soft and grippy.
The Good: Sound quality is good enough for new enthusiasts. The operation ticks all the boxes that make up the unique ritual of vinyl. A 33 or 45 rpm selector with a conversion insert allows you to play both vinyl formats. A built in preamp allows you to listen directly from the table via headphones or use RCA cable to feed a larger amplified system. Don't like the preamp they provide? No problem; there is a bypass switch. Don't like those options either? The USB port should cover most digital devices. Still can't connect? Implausible!
The Less Good: Balancing the tonearm is nearly impossible because the bearing surfaces are slightly sticky.* It might free up with time but for now I had to crank up the anti-skate and run what I considered to be too high of a needle pressure. Even given these precautions the Stir It Up was prone to skipping at slight vibrations. The good news is that we can mitigate this by setting the unit on a solid, heavy, table. My other complaint would be the fabric dustcover. To be clear, it works fine but I would prefer an acrylic cover so I could display the artful design.
The terrible: During this review I realized I had overheated my favorite record; warping it sometime last summer when I had it on display. If you are new to vinyl, be aware of how delicate this storage medium is.
TLDR: The Marley turntable is a great option for new members of the vinyl community. It's not perfect, but given the price, it might be perfect for your needs!
*Balancing the tonearm: tonearm balance is achieved when you set the counterweight to cause the arm to float exactly in the middle of its travel. At this point you zero the indicator on your counterweight. Once zeroed the scale should indicate the grams of down-force on your needle. Proper down-force is important to avoid scarring your records (too much), or skipping (too little). The arm on the Stir It Up does not float freely, so once I was close to floating it would stick in any position I moved it to. Because the forces involved in tonearm balancing are minute (1-5 grams depending on your cartridge), a sticky tonearm will make your records prone to skipping or scarring.
Much of the cost of a high-end turntable is due to the time it takes to carefully machine and balance the lightest and freest possible arm. Remember that vinyl is a mechanical storage medium. This means that precision hand made parts make a huge difference in how it sounds. The Stir It Up is not targeting the HiFi high-end market; It is a starter turntable to ignite the fires under new collectors and make vinyl accessible to everyone.
Audioquest: NightOwlMay 23, 2017
A little over a year ago I crowned Audioquest's semi-open-back NightHawks the most comfortable pair of headphones EVER. In a way, they have returned as champions for 2017. Only, this pair is called the NightOwl and they are quite a bit different in every way but shape and comfort.
A little over a year ago I crowned Audioquest's semi-open-back NightHawks the most comfortable pair of headphones EVER. In a way, they have returned as champions for 2017. Only, this pair is called the NightOwl and they are quite a bit different in every way but shape and comfort.
The new 'carbon' metallic grey finish is flawless and stunning. The frame and headband feel the same and comfort is once again remarkable. However, you switched the headband material to new synthetic leather didn't you? It squeaks and pops as the elastic tensioners shift on my head. Yes, I could fix this with a quick dust of baby powder, and it might wear-in, but last year I don't remember the creaking.
The biggest difference with the NightOwl is that they are closed back headphones. This changes the expansive soundstage from the NightHawk's to a more in-head experience. As someone who often uses his headphones in a noisy office, I LIKE IT A LOT. They don't actively cancel noise but that extra few degrees of dampening allows me to dial them in low and retreat into my own sonic space
The frequency response is once again that baffling curve where Audioquest manages to smooth out harsh treble and keep a tight bottom end without losing any fidelity. I am at a loss to explain the phenomenon. At first it feels like the track is softened. So I try to listen for lost fidelity in cymbals and high-hat. There isn't any, so I try to feel out the bass; also solid. Everything is there in the correct measure.
After a while, I start to wonder if perhaps all my other headphones are coloring the audio and the NightOwls are the only pair presenting the track on a neutral soundstage. The listening experience is at once beautiful, flowing and utterly baffling. The only thing I can say to a prospective owner is: "give them a moment to steal your heart". They don't sound like you will expect, and it's a beautiful thing. Imagine buying a supermarket apple pie and tasting it to discover they are using your grandmother's orchard-fresh recipe. Suddenly you realize you have previously eaten many overly sweetened pies (and liked them; just not in the same way).
Finally we come to the new cable. It doesn't grab my stubble anymore, and the microphone for taking calls is a welcome addition. Gone are the machined strain reliefs and the material textures that added je-ne-sais-quoi to the aesthetic. I liked the simple woven jacket cable from last year's NightHawks but I respect that Audioquest is a cable expert. The new cable is tougher and it certainly reduces rustling and scuffing noises.
So ultimately what's my impression of the NightOwls? At first, it might sound like I'm a bit conflicted. I'm not. NightOwl's are great headphones. I loved listening to them. These are truly audiophile grade cans that I would proudly set amongst the greats.
Audiophiles are a funny bunch. The closer manufacturers get to perfection the harder we critique the minor choices. We see they can take the critique, we see they are masters of their craft; we know there must have been other considerations. We are here to remind manufacturers that some of us really, truly care as much as they do.
Control 4... Everything?Apr 26, 2017
We specialize in custom home automation… Queue the glazed over expressions. Few people really know what that means. Even our installers struggle to explain home automation because no two systems are alike. So let's start smaller.
Whose systems do we prefer for home automation or
We specialize in custom home automation… Queue the glazed over expressions. Few people really know what that means. Even our installers struggle to explain home automation because no two systems are alike. So let's start smaller.
Whose systems do we prefer for home automation or control? We use Control4 for our main hub because it integrates the most sub systems into one easy to use platform. From there we can add just about anything from video, audio climate, lights, security, pool controls and the launch pad for Thunderbird 1.
NEAT! Are you going to ask me to cut into my walls and destroy my house for installation? No, Control4 often has wireless options to integrate into existing structures. This includes keypads that integrate into existing switch boxes. Our installers have integrated Control4 into 100+ year-old heritage homes where we preformed absolutely zero visible cutting.
Of course, the cleanest most technically intensive installations still should to be prewired during construction. Most of the cutting and drilling required is usually to provide juice to gadgets, like power blinds, where there were no devices before. However, don't worry, our teams will have it all hidden, patched and polished before they call it a day.
Price; I can afford this? You might be surprised to find that basic Control4 home automation can cost as little as your average home theatre package. (About $2500) We would never go so far as calling it 'cheap', but you don't need to rob a bank to get started.
What sorts of things can I #Control4ize? You might want to tie in your security system so you can monitor your home from abroad. Adding a few cameras and smart locks would allow you to grant access to a courier or contractor, while you are out. The Zigbee mesh network that wirelessly powers the Control4 ecosystem actually gets more robust as you add components.
Home theatre systems are a popular option because we can give you one remote or app instead of the handful most of us fumble with. At the same time, we usually tie in your music and video libraries so you don't need to keep so much physical media around. This can be handy in small living spaces.
Also high on the list is your home climate control from heat and air-conditioning to Power curtains, motorized blinds or electrically tinted windows! AVU can build a very energy efficient system, and/or just save you the trouble of reaching for physical controls.
On the wilder end of things, people have been known to use Control4 to create outdoor theatres, control pools, hot-hot tubs or automate a wine cellar to deliver a fresh bottle directly through the center of a table! The options are nearly limitless.
Sonos 2017Mar 24, 2017
'VERSATILE'; this word is the reason SONOS is dominating the audio market.
Before Sonos you had to pick your poison when it came to sound. You could have whole home, 2-channel, home theatre, sound bars and a million more options. BUT you had to pick one, maybe two, functions at best.
'VERSATILE'; this word is the reason SONOS is dominating the audio market.
Before Sonos you had to pick your poison when it came to sound. You could have whole home, 2-channel, home theatre, sound bars and a million more options. BUT you had to pick one, maybe two, functions at best. Once you decided where your priorities lay, you could either cut open your walls or live with discrete bundles of wire snaking around your home. Let's be honest, most of the time it sucked but we made it work.
Then Sonos changed the audio world. Suddenly, all you need is power and WiFi. Suddenly, a handful of reasonably sized speakers could be everything. We have talked about Sonos products before as they offer a solid line of speakers that can fill almost any audio role.
The magic of SONOS is in the app. The app is inexplicably easy to use. Once installed you have instant access to all your own content plus streaming sources. Organizing your component collection into rooms and groups is easy. Deciding to change up your layout is hardly a chore.
Sonos is all about building and adding to your collection of Sonos. The app loves them all. You can pile on Play:1s, Play:3s, Play:5s PLAYBARs and SUBs; then organize them into rooms, pair them as stereo left and right, or setup a full surround sound layout. It never feels difficult. The instant you are inspired to rework your setup you just do; no hesitation or trepidation.
Sonos is a beautiful and self-contained architecture. Extreme care has been paid to make sure each item is brilliant on its own and completely integrated into the larger Sonos universe. Their position at the top of the networked steaming speaker market is well deserved.
For those who are familiar with the Apple iProduct family; Sonos will feel very much the same. Solid well designed pieces that integrate easily with intuitive interfaces. Despite their similar philosophies Apple and Sonos are not affiliated.
If you are interested in exploring SONOS contact your local AVU for an extended demo.


text:
Just your average 184-point high school football game
There are shootouts and then there's what happened on Friday between Harrells Christian and Davidson Day School, which was more like dueling machine guns. The two schools met in the NCISAA 2A football playoff semifinals, and Davidson Day won, 104-80. That score is not a typo: a private high school football playoff game outscored six NBA games on the same night. Video-game numbers were par for the course for Harrells Christian this season: the Crusaders (9-3) scored at least 80… Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Posted 18 January 2009 - 11:05 PM
First and most obvious: This guy is our doctor now. Yes, he is young. Yes, he will take getting used to. Yes, he's got some really bad hair sometimes. I do disagree with the argument that he's too janky-looking. Have you even looked at David Tennant? Christopher Eccleston? Every other doctor ever? And you say this guy looks funny? Come on, now.
I'm reserving judgement until a few episodes into the 2010 series. I hated Catherine Tate with a passion, too, and now I think she made Series 4 the best new series season ever. GIVE IT TIME, GIVE IT TIME.
Second: The specials in 2009. I am not into speculating, but I am really, really looking forward to them.
Third: The Christmas special.
I both liked and hated how they completely pulled our legs on the "Next Doctor" thing. I mean, I honestly didn't much like David Morissey very much in this, even if he got me to want to give him a big bear hug by the end. The plot was alright. I have always really, really hated the cybermen, anyway, so anything relating to them just makes me want to gag. Bring back a better villian, please. Those weeping angels sure did make me jump, how about them?! (Although we did get a nice nod to them midway through, which made me happy.)
Overall I was pretty underwhelmed, but I did still enjoy it. It sort of made me realize all over again that the doctor/companion interaction is a huge part of what I love about Who. By himself the Doctor was just kind of... boring.
Posted 19 January 2009 - 01:00 AM
CE had me from the word "Run". I absolutely loved him from the second I first saw him until regeneration. But for Ten, I never really liked him. I found DT over-the-top, manic, and just... flailing, so to speak. I never really bought him as The Doctor until Season 4.
As for Eleven, I am cautiously optimistic. I like how he uses his hands in the interview; very expressive and much like Ten's crazy eyebrow waggling.
I see a bit of Tennant in him, but maybe I'm just bonkers. Maybe it's the sideburns.
I miss Donna.
Posted 19 January 2009 - 01:29 AM
The only news besides the announcement of Eleven that got me excited for the new season is the snippet I read about Patrick Stewart coming aboard to play an old villain that will be revived - the Meddling Monk. After the whole re-mastering of the Master thing seemed to go over quite well with fans, I am looking forward to see what they do with this one as well. Patrick Stewart amuses to no end in everything he does.
As for DT's departure, I like the guy and I like what he did in the role. What I disliked were the masses of fangirls that somehow appeared for the show after he was around for a bit.
I try to watch the show mostly for the writing and Moffat's work always seemed to be my favorites, so I really want to see how well he takes the reigns from RTD.
Posted 19 January 2009 - 03:51 AM
I see a bit of Tennant in him, but maybe I'm just bonkers. Maybe it's the sideburns.
I miss Donna.
No, I see a lot of Tennant. You're definitely not crazy. Oh, man. I miss Donna so much. She was just... man. Man that was such a good season because of her. MAN. I am so sad she's gone, I'm not even joking. Like, I actually feel sad.
I agree about Eccleston being great. He out-acts Tennant in every aspect, every moment, all the time. Banana?
...Patrick Stewart...
I try to watch the show mostly for the writing and Moffat's work always seemed to be my favorites, so I really want to see how well he takes the reigns from RTD.
Moffat is just incredible, and I'm so glad about the production change. I really, really really love his stories.
I won't lie, you know I had a crush on Tennant early on, but that didn't last all that long. Combination fangirls, overexposure, and a little mentality switch toward men on my part.
At this point I just don't think he can carry the show on his own anymore without just a GREAT companion like Donna was, and with no "he's dreamy!" driving me to watch it, that = me being bored. Bring on the new guy; I'm excited to see what he'll do with the role.
Posted 19 January 2009 - 07:14 AM
From Jon Pertwee to David Tennant I have enjoyed them all. (Yes I am that old. )
I find that it's NOT the actor that makes The Doctor, It's the script.
The attitude of The Doctor is unchanged in all the actors. (I'm old as hell but I still look at everything as new.)
I'm sure that the new Doctor will be just fine.
I have audio of Fan shows where the actor is awful but you can still hear The Doctor in every line.
Also have you all seen the concerts with the music of the show? (There are 2)
Fantastic stuff!!
Posted 19 January 2009 - 08:24 PM
This new guy looks like a good fit. The Doctor is supposed to be a little weird looking and he is, while also looking just enough like Tenant that the switch might not be quite as jarring as the last one.
Posted 20 January 2009 - 12:48 AM
Also have you all seen the concerts with the music of the show? (There are 2)
Fantastic stuff!!
I ADORED those. They were gorgeous.
Posted 07 April 2009 - 07:06 AM
Posted 07 April 2009 - 11:18 AM
Anyway, the only place that has Doctor Who is the Library a few towns over, but I am not about to drive half an hour just for a series. Sorry, not gonna do it. Is there like... any other place I can look to find this series?
Posted 07 April 2009 - 11:53 AM
(New series seasons, I mean. I think Series 1 Ep 1 was "Rose"?)
Posted 07 April 2009 - 01:14 PM
PQ - It's true that the campiness/cheesiness of the series is what is so endearing. That is even more evident in the older episodes when special effects were not ILM-quality stuff, like back in the 60's and 70's.
For more info, there is a Doctor Who wiki.
On YouTube, there are mostly parodies from other Brit shows and a lot of fan music videos but no real full-length episodes. Well, maybe some of the newer episodes are, but not the really old ones. As Pflaume said, it is beneficial to watch the episodes in order and it will make more sense if you see at least some of the older Doctor episodes (Doctors #1 - #8).
Have you tried looking for anything through Netflix to rent? I am quite sure I saw some of the much older episodes on DVD at Borders Books and Music at some point, but I definitely know that the newer series (Doctor #9 and Doctor #10) has been released on DVD (so, Series 1 DOES start with "Rose", as Pflaume pointed out, and that is actually the first appearance of Doctor #9. For reference, Voyage of the Damned is Doctor #10 and it is the Christmas special after the end of Series 3).
Posted 07 April 2009 - 08:10 PM
Posted 25 April 2009 - 12:08 PM
I just watched a torrent of the Doctor Who Easter Special titled "Planet of the Dead" and, while I liked it, it did not seem to have that same epic hilarity and coincidental circumstances that the tradition of the Christmas specials have.
Rob grabbed the torrent of this special from Pirate Bay.
I am not sure what your luck will be to find older episodes on there (you know how it is when there are no seeders and such too), but I can ask other Whovians who might be able to help out if you want. They sure know more than I do.
Posted 25 April 2009 - 12:35 PM
Posted 01 January 2010 - 09:36 PM
It airs tomorrow on BBCA tomorrow so I'm spoiler-tagging myself.
Tthough I like Tennant, I did not like Ten. I did not shed any tears over his leaving. I only watched the special for Donna and Wilf.
I did, however, get misty-eyed when I thought Wilf was going to sacrifice himself. When BC and DT were in scenes just the two of them, it was magic. BC is amazing. When the Doctor is like "I'm alive!" and then hears Wilf knocking on the glass... oh my god my heart broke. If Wilf had died I WOULD HAVE HURT SOMEONE.
Nice touch with the companions at the end, though WTF at Mickey/Martha? Did not see that coming since Martha was engaged to Tom in Sontaren Stratagem.
SO excited for Matt. He's hilariously geeky. "I'm a girl!... No, I'm not! I'm CRASHING! GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
I loathe Rose, but I thought her bit at the end was handled remarkably well. I'm still sad Donna didn't get to see Ten before he regenerated, but that lottery ticket means awesome things and hopefully a good future for her with Sean. She deserves to be happy.
Posted 02 January 2010 - 12:37 AM
Posted 02 January 2010 - 12:44 AM
Posted 02 January 2010 - 03:15 AM
Posted 02 January 2010 - 05:06 AM
Posted 04 January 2010 - 11:05 PM
I think what's the real kicker is that I don't like this new Doctor very much. Maybe he came on too strongly or he needs to grow into his face or something. And then, Geronimo, really? Is that going to be his new catch phrase? REALLY?! Give me back Tennant!!!! But then I guess Tennant had his quriks too, he seems to do this thing with his eyes that's kind of weird like he can't seem to work his eyebrows right.
Okay here's a question from the last special. I wonder if that Woman that opposed Bond, I mean Lord President, will appear some more in the next series? And who was she? People say she was the Doctor's Mother but then if I think about all the regenerations he's done, can it really be her? She seems sorta young. And do you think the Master is truly dead? D:
Posted 04 January 2010 - 11:47 PM
Also, the last Rose episode is THE SADDEST THING ON EARTH. I bawled for about an hour.
Re: The Woman. If it's his mother, she'd have been regenerating as well and so wouldn't look old. And yeah, I think Julie Gardner said she was The Doctor's mom somewhere, but it wasn't explicitly stated in the credits or episode.
Posted 07 January 2010 - 03:15 AM
Now I need to sit through Martha. I'm not to fond of her, but I have to get through her to get to Tate.
Vote Saxon! ;D Can't wait for the Master to appear. I should be there by sometime at the end of the week if I keep my schedule of watching a few episodes a day.
... Did I mention I'm not fond of Martha?
Oh and Russell T Davies, There are some episodes I'd really like to forget. Love & Monsters? Really? The best part of that whole episode was the use of Mr. Blue Sky, and Shirley Henderson. Oh and Fat Bastard the Alien. Mike Myers would be so proud. They could have used that episode for so much more then a filler. :<
Posted 07 January 2010 - 03:52 AM
Posted 07 January 2010 - 12:12 PM
It was not just DT saying goodbye. It was also RTD saying goodbye since he wrote this episode, I believe, and he is stepping down as head guy.
I also agree that Blink is a fabulous episode. Well-written and minimal Martha (who I am not a fan of either as far as companions go).
It also has one of my favorite lines: "Wibbly wobbly timey wimey."
This new Doctor has an odd face. It is... square and flat. Maybe I am just not used to it after seeing DT's angular features for so long.
Posted 07 January 2010 - 10:56 PM
Posted 08 January 2010 - 12:36 AM
I just watched the last episode with Rose last night. I was so sad after watching the episode. Tennant had this sad little lost look. At least Tate made up for it in the end since I watched The Runaway Bride this morning. I always liked her.
Now I need to sit through Martha. I'm not to fond of her, but I have to get through her to get to Tate.
Vote Saxon! ;D Can't wait for the Master to appear. I should be there by sometime at the end of the week if I keep my schedule of watching a few episodes a day.
... Did I mention I'm not fond of Martha?
Oh and Russell T Davies, There are some episodes I'd really like to forget. Love & Monsters? Really? The best part of that whole episode was the use of Mr. Blue Sky, and Shirley Henderson. Oh and Fat Bastard the Alien. Mike Myers would be so proud. They could have used that episode for so much more then a filler. :<
I was not a Martha fan either.
Blink may be my favorite episode. I just love it. It's so unbelievably creepy.
Love & Monsters was such a strange episode, but I read some people discussing weird sneaky references that apparently made it very clever. I got none of them, so I just found it weird.
RTD gets on my nerves. He really does. Moffat makes me squee, on the other hand.
Posted 08 January 2010 - 01:25 PM
I concur. When naming my top 10 favorite episodes, Moffat-written ones are all at the top of the list.
RTD gets on my nerves. He really does. Moffat makes me squee, on the other hand.
Posted 30 March 2010 - 08:24 PM
Anyone else excited or am I the only one left? D:
I can't wait for the return of the Weeping Angels for sure.
Posted 19 April 2010 - 06:31 PM
Posted 20 April 2010 - 06:51 PM
11 is the perfect combination of 9 and 10. 9 was too emo, 10 was too batshit insane/crazy. 11 is a nice mixture of both.


text:
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
The folk music and dances add more flavor to traditional values of Teej. It is fascinating to see women, in "Red" dancing and singing on the street, going to temple in holy and fasting mood. Teej is also called Hari Talika Teej. This festival is celebrated by Nepali Hindu women all across the world. Teej is a small red insect that comes out of the soil during the rainy season. It is said Teej got its name from the same red insect. That is why Teej is celebrated in red.
Guide of the month: January 2018
Traveling gives us the opportunity to disconnect from our regular life. You get to forget your problems/issues for a few weeks, it can also help you figure things out that you would not have understood without the distance traveling can give you. We all have crazy schedules, work and a family to take care of, going away alone or with some friends can give you distance and perhaps even make you realize how important these people are for you. Like the saying says: we never know what we have until we lose it.
Another great benefit is the relaxation you get to do. It's nice to live life to its fullest and enjoy a stress free time with yourself. Going on vacation lets us recharge our "batteries" by disconnecting us from our regular life. When we come back we feel invigorated and we are happy to be back in our day to day routine. It's a very good stress remover that has a lot more to give than most people are willing to accept.
Traveling increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. To view new customs, different ways of living is fantastic for the mind. It gives us a new perspective about life and especially our life, it can help us change some of our habits or even create new ones. When I travel I usually make it a point to try new food, some cultures don't have fries in their diet and they are all skinny, others use spices to give taste and not oils or fats. Discovering different values and ways to get by in life is really interesting. You also need to visit exotic new places and discover what this wonderful world has to offer.


text:
Message Board
Mary Anne Kelly Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Kelly has written!
Author Kelly's Book Reviews
The Cordelia Squad
Dunne, Jun 2003, 24.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 031231065X Recently divorced Claire Breslinsky moves herself and her two teenagers, Anthony and Tree, into a mansion in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. Her new home needs mucho renovation, but also enables the single mom to live near her bossy mother, her retired pop, and her sisters (Zinnie the cop, and Carmela the beauty writer). Claire and her extended family work on converting the mansion into a ...


text: On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Joshua Baker-LePain<jlb17 at duke.edu> wrote: > Well, as there are only 8 "real" cores, running a computationally intensive > process across 16 should *definitely* do worse than across 8. However, it's > not so surprising that you're seeing peak performance with 2-4 threads. > Nehalem can actually overclock itself when only some of the cores are busy > -- it's called Turbo Mode. That *could* be what you're seeing. That could very well be it! Is there any way to test if the CPU has overclocked itself? Or can I turn the "turbo mode" off and check? -- Rahul


text:
CHICAGO -- Bally Total Fitness will refund money to former members in Texas in an agreement it signed today with the Texas Attorney General.
According to the final judgment, Bally, which operates 24 clubs in the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio areas, will no longer send "past due" bills to former members who do not owe the Chicago-based company and will refund money to the more than 1,000 former members who paid fees they did not owe and who did not use the clubs. Bally had mailed more than 11,000 past due notices to former members to encourage them to rejoin.
"Although Bally denies all allegations made by the Texas Attorney General's office, we have chosen to resolve this matter consensually in order to minimize the cost and disruption of litigation," Bally spokesperson Pete Marino said in a statement today. "Notably, our settlement does not involve any finding of any wrongdoing on the part of Bally, nor were any civil penalties imposed. We are pleased to put this matter behind us so that we can continue to focus on enhancing our member experience."
An investigation by the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott revealed the notices were sent between the summer of 2009 and March 2010. Bally had included in the notices that harmful information may be submitted to the former members' credit bureaus if they did not pay the balance on those notices, which were part of Bally's "value plan" that demanded immediate payment.
The judgment includes an injunction that prohibits Bally from indicating that current or former members owe a balance unless that balance is actually owed.
Bally Clubs Close
In other Bally news, the company has recently closed two clubs, one in Cincinnati and one in Rockford, IL. The Cincinnati club is expected to close today. The Rockford, IL, club closed on Friday after being in business for 30 years.
"Like other retailers, we are always looking to optimize our club network so that our members have the best possible facilities to work out in," Marino said. "Occasionally, this means that we will close older club locations when their leases expire. When we make these decisions, our members are always our top priority, and that is why in most cases the large majority continue to stay and work out at other Bally clubs in the area."
According to published reports, one other Bally club remains in the Cincinnati area, and the nearest Bally to the one in Rockford is in the Chicago area.
Last year, Bally closed 26 clubs as part of the company's bankruptcy reorganization.
In addition to the two closed clubs, a Bally club in Fairmount, NY, is ending all group fitness classes beginning Wednesday, according to a local media report.
"It was a tough decision made with the business in mind as classes are expensive to operate," Marino said.
Marino added that Bally plans to open several new, contemporary clubs around the country this year and next year "to provide our members with even more choices for locations for their workouts." Marino declined to elaborate on the nature of those contemporary clubs.


text:
Acting: A Handbook of the Stanislavski Method
Toby Cole
Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1995 - Performing Arts - 272 pages
Reset and redesigned to offer a fresh look, this is an essential, comprehensive guide to the art and science of acting, as taught by the creator and great teachers of the Stanislavski Method.
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Introduction by Lee Strasberg
Direction and Acting by Constantin Stanislavski
The Work of the Actor by I Rapoport
7 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
achieve acting actor and director actor's creative artistic attention attitude audience become begins behaviour Blue Bird Brabantio character Chichikov cinema circumstances colors concentration consciousness Constantin Stanislavski council of guardians course create creative fantasy Dead Souls Desdemona direct dramatic elements emotions everything exercises experience expression external feeling of truth film gesture give given Gogol's gondola Iago imagination important inner justification Lee Strasberg Lilina listen living manner material means mechanical method Moscow Art Theatre movement muscles muscular freedom muscular tension nature necessary never object one's organic Othello performance person Petker phrase physical play playwright Plushkin pose problem production Quintillian reality rehearsal result rhythm Roderigo role scene scenic script shooting simple action sound speak spectator speech stage action Stanislavski Stanislavski system subconscious technique theatrical thing thoughts tion Uncle Vanya understand Vakhtangov voice watch whole Wit Works Woe words
References to this book
Stanislavsky in Focus: An Acting Master for the Twenty-First Century
Sharon Marie Carnicke
No preview available - 2008
All Book Search results »
Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers
James Michael Thomas
Limited preview - 2005


text:
MAC Retro Matte collection created a buzz all around the world. At our store, it got sold out within an hour of the launch. If you missed the chance to grab your favorite Retro Matte Lipstick, here's a good news for you. Most of the colors from this collection will be permanent, so don't be disappointed. 🙂Read More »
Home / Tag Archives: MAC RETRO MATTE LIPSTICK RELENTLESSLY RED


text:
After improving in 2011, foreclosure activity ramped up again in 2012, and the expectation is that it will continue to rise as banks finally clear out bloated backlogs of distressed loans. More than half of the top 200 U.S. housing markets saw foreclosure numbers rise, according to a new report from RealtyTrac, but not where you might expect; investors should take note.
(Read More: Is the Refi 'Apocalypse' Really Upon Us?)


text:
The versatile Plantronics® .Audio™ 355 headset delivers superior voice quality for Internet calling with full-range stereo for enjoying music, DVDs and games. It works with PCs, as well as smartphones and tablets with the included 3.5 mm adapter.
Enjoy quality and versatility with the .Audio 355!
Listen in total comfort — thanks to the lightweight design and pillow-soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions.
Includes 3.5 mm adaptor — for smartphone and tablet use.
Convenient in-line controls — for music and microphone mute.
QuickAdjust™ microphone — lets you position the microphone precisely where you want it.
Noise-canceling microphone — filters out unwanted background noise.


text:
Girl Scouts Conserving the Tropics!
Number 21 - December 2000
C. Baldyga
At Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami Florida, a collaboration with the Girl Scouts resulted in new badges that the girls can earn in Native Plant Identification and Conservation. Formal and informal assessment is integrated into all Girl Scout program management and is a basic component of education program development at Fairchild. By implementing existing familiar assessment methods and field testing all components, the partnership between Fairchild and the Girl Scouts created plant identification and conservation activities suitable for girls of different ages and ability levels, and for their adult leaders. The badges can be earned at Fairchild, at a natural area, or at Girl Scout summer camps where actual conservation activities are conducted as a component of the badge program.
Tropical Heritage Project
Fairchild Tropical Garden and the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, Inc. received a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in May 1998. The project, Tropical Heritage, involved the development of four products aimed at teaching Girl Scouts and other children about native plant species and conservation. These include: the Tropical Heritage Native Plant Patch, a Brownie Girl Scout Conservation Badge, a Junior Girl Scout Conservation Badge, and an Enviro-kit containing resource materials to help scouts earn these emblems. Evaluation was integrated throughout activity development and implementation. Girl Scouts are accustomed to using evaluation methods to guide program development and determine effectiveness.
Assessment methods developed by Girl Scouts and the project team had a significant impact on the success of the collaboration to make Tropical Heritage activities appropriate for girls of varying ages and abilities.
Miami-Dade County is a sprawling metropolitan urban area. Many adults and children spend little time outdoors, so we wanted to assess their willingness to participate in activities related to the natural environment. Adult Girl Scout leaders participated in front-end assessment to determine the communitie's interest in native plants and conservation, their knowledge about these topics and their willingness to learn and teach about them. Results from a questionnaire, administered at training workshops for leaders, revealed a high degree of interest in the proposed project and a willingness to participate with scouts in the eradication of exotic pest plants at Girl Scout Camp locations. A similar questionnaire was administered to Girl Scouts to determine if they would be interested in activities to earn the Native Plant and Conservation badges.
The leaders' questionnaire addressed personal interest and comfort in experiencing outdoor activities related to nature, knowledge of environmental issues in South Florida, willingness to lead outdoor nature activities, willingness to visit Fairchild Tropical Garden with the Girl Scout group to learn about native plants, and acceptance of the Tropical Heritage patch and Conservation badge as appropriate Girl Scout activities.
Native Plant or Conservation Badges Assesments
The front-end assessment conducted with girls elicited 'Yes/No' responses to questions about their interest in science, interest in outdoor activities, knowledge of plants and the environment, and willingness to work toward a Native Plant or Conservation badge. We also asked if the girls had previously visited Fairchild Tropical Garden. To gain additional information about proposed Tropical Heritage activities, we conducted a sample program at Girl Scout Special events and summer camps. Informal recorded observation added to our understanding of the girls' ability to follow instructions and participate in activities. Girls were asked if they were interested in learning more about native plants and responses were recorded. Questions were open-ended and administration was either written or oral. In addition to providing valuable planning data, groups of scouts who participated in sample activities began to sign up for leader training and participation. During routine evaluation of Girl Scout special events and camp experiences, girls and leaders listed Tropical Heritage as a preferred activity for the coming year. Implementing both Fairchild and Girl Scout assessment methods demonstrated a strong commitment by both organizations to the Tropical Heritage program.
Formative assessment consisted of field testing all activities and materials with scouts at Fairchild or at Girl Scout camps. We observed and recorded the ability of leaders to conduct the activities, how well girls followed instructions, their success at identifying native plants and communicating their knowledge to others, and their understanding of terms such as habitat, exotic, ecosystem and native plant. Learning aids were developed to help leaders and girls identify the leaves of native trees and shrubs. A paper and pencil activity for older girls was replaced by expanded field-based activities that focused on plant characteristics.
Summative assessment for the Native Plant patch consisted of verification that Girl Scouts can identify at least five native plant species, distinguish leaf types, recognize the sabal palm (official Florida palm), identify mangroves and observe wildlife in a natural area, park or botanical garden. The Conservation badge assessment included completion of five of seven activities presented. These included selecting a local ecosystem to visit and research uses for the area, conducting a species diversity test in a 10 metre area, researching the history of the Everglades water flow, determining the wildlife habitat requirements for a local neighborhood and planning a landscape that will support them, and investigating careers in conservation and using the Internet to learn about natural areas. Conservation badges earned at a Girl Scout camp location included identification and removal of invasive exotic plants and replacement with species native to that region. Camps are located in three different south Florida environments. The appropriate patch or badge is presented upon completing the activities.
The Native Plant Badge can be earned at Fairchild Tropical Garden or at another site. Leader training was provided at regularly scheduled Girl Scout workshops. Girls aged 6-15 learn basic plant identification skills, identify native plant species including mangrove, and hardwood hammock species. They focus on endangered species and the need to conserve habitats. Families can earn the Tropical Heritage patch at Fairchild by completing activities presented in an Enviro-kit available at the entrance.
The Brownie Conservation Badge teaches girls aged 6-8 the basics of conservation. They learn the importance of conserving the natural world and are encouraged to try some conservation measures at home. Each girl grows a native wildflower and learns about important roles many women have played in conservation.
The Junior Conservation badge for girls aged 8-12, builds upon the Brownie Conservation badge. Participants investigate an ecosystem in their local area and participate in at least one conservation activity. Sampling species diversity, designing a backyard wildlife habitat, learning about careers in conservation, and researching ethnobotany are among the activities from which they can select to complete the badge requirements.
Tropical Heritage Enviro-kits contain all of the resource materials required for earning the patch or badges, as well as supplemental games, hand lenses, a resource booklet and laminated field guides. The kits are available for check out at Fairchild, the Girl Scout offices and the Miami-Dade County Public Libraries.
During the course of the grant cycle, Tropical Heritage was introduced at local Girl Scout summer camps, special events, and at the Fairchild Ramble, a garden festival. Articles on Tropical Heritage have appeared in the Girl Scout publications sent to leaders and families of scouts.
Presentations have been made at the annual conferences of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, the Association of Science and Technology Centers and the Girl Scouts of American Annual Meeting. Support from the Girl Scouts has been strong and many leaders are inquiring about conservation projects at camps and other natural areas.
Evaluation has been a significant component in the development of Tropical Heritage badges that will be attractive to target audiences. It has guaranteed that program activities are effective and appropriate to the needs and interests of leaders and scouts. The desired outcome, measurable activities that increase awareness of the importance of plants and the need to conserve them, will continue to be a collaborative goal of Fairchild Tropical Garden and the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida.
Les Scouts au Service de la Conservation en Région Tropicale!
Au Fairchild Tropical Garden une collaboration avec la section féminine des scouts a conduit à créer des labels récompensant la capacité à identifier et conserver les plantes indigènes. Une évaluation formelle et informelle est intégrée dans le programme des scouts; celle-ci fait également partie du programme d'éducation de Fairchild. En mettant en œuvre les méthodes d'évaluation habituelles et en testant sur le terrain tous les éléments, ce partenariat a permis de mettre en place des activités d'identification de plantes et un programme de conservation adaptées aux jeunes filles d'âges et de capacités différents ainsi que pour leurs accompagnants. Les labels peuvent être acquis à Fairchild, dans une réserve naturelle ou pendant un camp d'été durant lequel des actions de conservation sont menées dans le cadre de ce programme.
Las Girl Scouts Conservan las Plantas en los Tropicos!
En el Fairchild Tropical Garden (Jardin Tropical de Fairchild) la colaboracion con las Girl Scouts ha resultado en nuevos emblemas que pueden conseguir las chicas en la identificacion de plantas autoctonas y en la conservacion. Los asesoramientos formales e informales se integran en la gestion de todos los programas de las Girl Scouts y es un componente basico del desarollo de los programas educativos en Fairchild. Usando metodos de asesoramiento familiares y ya existentes y comprobando todos los componentes sobre el terreno la colaboracion creo actividades en la identificacion de plantas y en la conservacion, adecuadas para chicas de diferentes edades y abilidades y para sus lideres adultos. Los emblemas se pueden conseguir en Fairchild, en algun espacio natural o en los campamentos de verano de los Girl Scouts donde se llevan a cabo actividades practicas de conservacion como un componente del programa de emblemas.


text:
MarketingNZ needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 64 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
Australia Mint Bullion and Coin
Selling gold bullion coins and bars to investors internationally, Australia Mint Bullion and Coin is sophisticated, private, trusted, exclusive and classy.
About the company: Providing a trusted service to people investing in gold and silver bullion (investment grade precious metal), Australia Mint Bullion and Coin is professional, customer focused and honest. A start-up company, the founder was once the CEO of a well known international bullion trading company. The Mint provides expertise, bullion products and bullion storage to discerning, sophisticated investors in Australia and internationally. The typical customer will have a significant investment portfolio and be diversifying their risk into precious metals or are concerned by inflation and currency issues internationally and wish to use gold as a "safe haven".
Aims: The design of the logo will immediately portray a company that is safe, trustworthy, honest and highly professional. It also needs to clearly identify that the company is Australian.
Applications: It needs to be web-friendly, simple, clean and designed in web friendly colours without too many intricate details so as to cope with low res social media applications. There should be either a core logo that is capable of translating to social media, or a core logo and a social media icon.
Target demographic: Most investors will fit into the following demographic: Over 40, Male, earning over 100,000 per annum, living in the Australian eastern seaboard.
Design features: Imagery is at the discretion of the designer, an Australian icon is preferred, but NOT the Kangaroo - the Australian map or a stylised version is a desired option.
Competitors: Perth Mint (http://www.perthmintbullion.com/Home.aspx), ABC (http://www.abcbullion.com.au/), Bullionmark (http://www.bullionmark.com.au/)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
I am in. Hope it works like last time where it is paypal or credit card, but if only paypal that is fine too. We need to do something if this is going to happen.
I am in. Hope it works like last time where it is paypal or credit card, but if only paypal that is fine too. We need to do something if this is going to happen.
Your table is set Dragon. I am in all in
I'm thinking the way to do this so Paypal doesn't flag my account for a bunch of friend/family payments is to do it as a purchase. Everyone would have to send me $51.80 as a purchase so that with the Paypal fees I would have exactly $50 from each transaction or else everyone just sends $50 even as a purchase and we deduct the fees from the prize pool.
Thanks for stepping up to the plate.
I have spoke to Jeff. He is good with you running the contest. Here is Jeff's response.
I'm ok with that. Just need to let me know so I can try and promote it.
We need to save this contest 7 years running here at Bettors World. It is looking dire at this point.
Dragon your table is set- Monroe Eaford can you do scoring ?
We are so close to a solution.
I'm not super confident we're going to have enough entrants to make this worth while but depending on how many we get we can then decide whether or not to continue or refund and say screw it. If you'd like to start a sign-up thread you can have everyone Paypal $51.80 to email@example.com as a purchase so it doesn't attract as much attention as 20 or 30 Paypal to friends/family might.
Carpet, I am listed as "doubtful" for the contest this year.
8 scant Days for NFL Kick Off.
The Mock Hilton contest status is deep in doubt to happen.
We are very late in the game to pull this off- I feel the train as left the station.
DRAGON has stepped up to the plate for payments.
MONROE EAFROD- Great score keeper has listed himself as doubtful this year.
It pains me deeply we let the Mock Hilton contest to die after 7 years here. WideStrides has gone to great length to compile historical stats for the Best cappers in this contest.
I have at least 5 people lined up to play this year and all they ask me is what is going on with the contest.
Much to my chagrin it seems this contest is not going to happen.
I lived for this contest in the winter it brought family closer to watch NFL with their picks- Many hours pouring over picks looking at data and talking with fellow members is all going bye-bye. It pains me.
its just a contest
The Rx Contest is very good. Last Years winner took home $11,000 and some change, I believe. They have an excellent College Contest also, Pick 6 Games per week in that and its just a hundred bucks to get in that one. Sides Only. No Totals in either contest. If I can get permission to post about other contests I know of one other that is lower entry fee than RX's $200...it includes Totals though....I think, anyways. I generally don't take part in LVH/Westgate Style Contests that include Totals.
That "Vegas Hilton Style" COLLEGE FOOTBALL Contest (Pick Six games weekly Against The Spread) Deadline is TONIGHT Thursday August 31 2017
"Last year's Prize Pool was $6,500. trytrytry emerged as The College SuperContest Champion for 2016 and collected $2600 for his efforts."
I don't know what time today the cutoff to enter is....if you're seeing this late, after Aug 31 but before The Central Week 1 Card goes off SATURDAY Sept 2nd at 9AM Pacific/12 Noon Eastern and you really want in I'd personally ask them over there if theres any way you can be let in.
The Reason I say if ya wanna get in to that ^^^^ NCAAF Contest but its after Thursday Aug 31 but still before the Saturday games go off it might be worth a try to get in s cuz of whats Bolded below:
Contestants must submit their weekly selections by 10 pm Eastern time each Friday Night.
*** ONLY SATURDAY GAMES WILL BE USED *** Any contestant who fails to submit weekly selections by 10:00:59 pm Eastern time on Friday will earn zero points that week. The spreadsheet timestamp will be used to determine a valid entry. This time deadline will be strictly enforced.
7) Weekly Lines will be Posted Each Tuesday Night (we will use 5Dimes Lines)
Worth a shot anyways.....for those that'd like to be in it. Really Exciting and fun Contest.
General Contests Forum at "The Pharmacy": http://www.therxforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=289
"7) Weekly Lines will be Posted Each Tuesday Night (we will use 5Dimes Lines)" doesn't = just 7 Lines to chose from, that was Rule #7 so that 7) was there.
Usually most every (Saturday) game is posted.
I haven't looked into it that much, there may be Totals involved or maybe not 100% Payout. Some Reason.....https://www.worldseriesofhandicapping.com/
Ask Carpet...on this forum about "Choking" ask Carpet how that Devil that he bought in here "Joliet Jake" worked his Devil Shit and stole my money.
Thats Choking.
You are LOVED at RX. Cuz You have a Brain. And Use that.
Enter the damn contest.
I agree with you about not having totals in these contest. That's what made this one and the RX one the best.
Closed Minds
Yeah but always
this on this Planet meant
to say up above that You Are Loved


text:
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Lam Aviation, Inc., has successfully flown a Lancair Columbia (now Cessna Corvalis) airframe retrofitted with a new wing equipped with a simple version of the Lam Aileron.
Flight test and evaluation show that the modified aircraft realizes improved performance by every measure when compared to the production Corvalis, company officials said. The plane will be on display at the Innovations Pavilion at AirVenture.
Flight test results have demonstrated dramatic improvements in fuel economy, cruise performance, rate of climb and flight handling, including roll rate, roll authority at slow speeds and stall speed, company officials report. The modified aircraft also has an increased useful load and range.
Key test results of the airplane equipped with Lam Aileron include:
- Improved Cruise Performance – at equivalent power settings, the modified airplane cruises 12-16 knots faster.
- Decreased Fuel Consumption – at equivalent airspeeds, the modified airplane consumes 20-30 percent less fuel with corresponding increases in range.
- Increased Rate of Climb – 40-50 percent greater rate of climb after modification.
- Increased Useful Load – aircraft useful load increased by 200 pounds.
- Improved Flight-Handling Characteristics – roll rate is increased and stick forces decreased. Roll authority and flight-handling characteristics are improved in slow flight.
Test pilot Len Fox, a former naval aviator and US Navy test pilot, said: "From the pilot's perspective, operation of the Lam Aileron is seamless. With the Lam Aileron, a slower stall speed was achieved with a smaller wing. The reduction in wing area contributed to a higher cruise speed. It was determined that the horizontal tail required to provide optimum stability will also be smaller, resulting in yet faster cruise speeds."
The Lam Aileron uncouples the traditional interdependent relationship for sizing between ailerons and flaps, allowing wings to be equipped with ailerons and flaps of any span, without the use of spoilers or flaperons.
The Lam Aileron enables aircraft to use smaller wings that weigh less and produce less drag, yielding higher cruise speeds and rates of climb, lower fuel consumption and improved ride comfort through turbulence, while also improving roll control and slow-speed flight handling, according to company officials.
The Lam Aileron also allows the traditionally separate functions of flaps and ailerons to be mixed, providing additional functionality for more operations, including speed brakes and drag rudders, and may offer more effective methods of spin avoidance and recovery.
"Our aileron increases the range of variable geometries for airplanes, helping to maximize the benefits of trailing-edge devices like flaps and ailerons," said Michael Lam, CEO of Lam Aviation. "All aircraft designs that use flaps can gain performance, efficiency and safety from the Lam Aileron."


text:
All questions and answers are based on the 2008 NEC.
Q. What are the requirements for installing fixtures in a bathroom?
A. No part of chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires, track luminaires, or ceiling paddle fans can be located within 3 feet horizontally and 8 feet vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold, as shown in Fig. 1.
Luminaires located within the actual outside dimensions of a bathtub or shower to a height of 8 feet from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold must be marked for damp locations. Where subject to shower spray, the luminaires must be marked for wet locations [410.10(D)], as shown in Fig. 2.
Q. What are the requirements for installing communications cable underground?
A. Communications systems aren't subject to the general requirements of Chapters 1 through 4, or the special requirements of Chapters 5 through 7, unless there's a specific reference in Chapter 8 to a rule in Chapters 1 through 7 [90.3]. The cover requirements contained in 300.5 don't apply to communications wiring, because nothing in Chapter 8 references 300.5.
Q. Can a 3-pole breaker be used on a single-phase (2-wire) load in a 3-phase panel?
A. Yes. According the UL White Book (Product Category DIVQ), multipole common trip circuit breakers rated 120/240V are suitable for use for a single-phase, multiwire circuit, with or without the neutral connected to the load.
Note, if the system is a delta with a hi-leg, the slash (120/240V) breaker would not be acceptable due to the fact that the hi-leg to ground will be 208V, not 120V. They would have to be rated for 240V straight. This would include any overcurrent device connected to the hi-leg of the system.
Q. What are the requirements for the placement of general-purpose receptacles in nondwelling unit occupancies? Is it every 12 feet like dwelling units?
A. No. The NEC is not a design manual; therefore, it does not have any requirements for convenient receptacle placement in non-dwelling occupancies. This is all up to the designer.
Q. Is there a minimum and/or maximum height when installing circuit breakers?
A. There is no minimum height, except for manufactured homes [550.32(F)], which is 2 feet above grade. Circuit breakers must be installed so the center of the grip of the operating handle of the fuse switch or circuit breaker, when in its highest position, isn't more than 6 feet 7 inches above the floor or working platform [240.24(A)].
Q. Is a warning ribbon required for underground service conductors if installed in a raceway?
A. No, only direct-buried service-lateral conductors not under the exclusive control of the electric utility [90.2(B)(5)] must have their location identified by a warning ribbon placed, in accordance with the requirements of 300.5(D).
Q. Is a warning ribbon required for service conductors installed by directional boring?
A. No.
Q. What is the minimum size feeder/service for a construction trailer panel that has three or more branch circuits?
A. The feeder/service conductors must have a rating not less than 60A [225.39(D) and 230.79(D)].
Q. Does the NEC limit voltage drop for parking lot lighting?
A. Maybe. Electrical equipment must be installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, which typically indicate that the maximum voltage drop is limited to 10% of the luminaire voltage rating. Many believe that the Code requires conductor voltage drop to not exceed 3%, as per Fine Print Note (FPN) 4 of 210.19(A)(1). Although this is often a good practice, it's not a Code requirement because FPNs are only advisory [90.5(C)].
However, ASHRAE 90.1 – 1999 Energy Code has a voltage drop requirement for all commercial buildings, which is similar as referenced in the FPNs in the NEC.


text:
Dr. Jonathan Saunders is a plastic surgeon who has been performing cosmetic surgery in Wilmington Delaware since 1991.
Dr. Saunders grew up in Wilmington and graduated as a three sport athlete from Tower Hill School in 1975. He finished his undergraduate studies in 1979, graduating with honors from the best liberal arts college in the country, Williams College.
Dr. Saunders then enrolled at Northwestern University Medical School graduating in 1983. Eight years of surgical training culminated in a three year fellowship at the University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics. He was board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1995 and recertified in 2005
Dr. Saunders is the founder and senior partner in Christiana Cosmetic Surgical Consultants. He has personally treated over 21,000 patients since 1991. Though his practice has evolved largely into cosmetic surgery, he also treats patients with deformity caused by cancer or trauma with great passion.
This well rounded practice enables Dr. Saunders to excel in all aspects or areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
His surgical prowess has been personally recognized by Delaware Today as a "Top Doc" ('94,'96,'98,'01,'04,'08, '11, '12) and by News Journal readers as a "Readers Choice Selection" ('04,'05,'06,'07,'08, '11). He also has been recognized as one of Americas "Top Doctors" by the Consumers Research Council multiple times ('02,'04,'06,'07,'08. '09, '10). He was awarded the Certificate of Advance Education in Cosmetic Surgery by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Saunders calm confident demeanor and enjoyable personality enables him to relate to patients of all ages and both sexes. His dedication to his craft is evident by his exceptional surgical results and thousands of grateful and satisfied patients.
See real patient Breast Implants reviews on RealSelf.


text:
How to Use
The cities marked in all capital letters indicate places where Madam Walker established or headquartered her business. The cities in italics indicate places where J.C. Penney opened his early stores or headquartered his business.
Questions for Map 1
1. Compare the locations of the cities marked on the map. What do they have in common? How do they differ? Do the various places each person established businesses show any pattern?
2. Both Madam Walker and J.C. Penney established a base of operation in New York City and ultimately made it their permanent home. Why might this have been the case?
* The map on the screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Map 1, but be aware that the file will take as much as two minutes to load with a 28.8K modem.