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The increasing role of functional safety in complex machine design
Mechatronics and safety: Proper application of safety standards is required to attain CE Marking, vital for machines placed in Europe. See the five steps to self certification.
One of the biggest challenges facing U.S. machine builders is the transition from the old safety standard EN954-1 to the new ISO 13849-1 or IEC 61061 safety standards. Proving conformity with these safety standards helps a machine builder obtain a CE Mark, required for placing machines in Europe. Achieving a CE Mark need not be difficult if the right steps are taken.
The new standards are used to demonstrate conformity to the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC for safety-related parts of a control system (SRP/CS). This functional safety approach to machine design is a necessary response to the changing complexity of automation and the increasing role of new software-based controllers in carrying out integrated safety functions. While the task of designing the safety control system has become a bit more complicated, functional safety offers a more flexible method to design the SRP/CS and to mitigate hazards with safety functions.
Although the use of functional safety concepts has its origins in the process control industry, this approach for machinery-specific implementation is gaining momentum with machine builders. But with two years of implementation now passed, there are still many machine and robot builder OEMs in the U.S. struggling to understand the Machinery Directive and how to implement the standard(s) to show conformity on the way to CE Marking.
Bottom line for U.S. manufacturers looking to place machines in the EU market: You have to build your machinery such that the essential health and safety requirements in the Machinery Directive are met. This overview of designing for the Machinery Directive includes references and suggestions for those requiring more detailed information, and provides best practices for others.
Applicable directives, standards
The safety of machinery depends to a large extent on the correct application of directives and standards. In Europe the national legal requirements are harmonized by European directives, such as the Machinery Directive. Such directives describe general requirements that are specified in more detail by standards.
The directives define basic objectives and requirements and are kept as technologically neutral as possible. In the area of health and safety at work and machine safety, the following directives have been published:
- Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC – aimed at the manufacturers of machinery
- Work Equipment Directive 2009/104/EC – aimed at organizations that operate machinery
- EMC Directive 2004/108/EC
- Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC
Manufacturers must take into account the integration of safety during the design process. In practice, this means that the designer makes a risk assessment as early as the machine's development phase. The resulting measures can then flow directly into the design.
CE Marking Machinery and the conformity assessment procedure under the Directive can take several paths, depending on the type and risk level of the machine.
5 steps to self-certify a machine
Most machines are not listed in Annex IV of the Machinery Directive and can therefore take the self-certification route, which requires the manufacturer to complete these five steps:
- Perform a risk assessment
- Demonstrate conformity to the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) of Annex I, or against the requirements of applicable C-type harmonized standards.
- Compile all technical documentation into a Technical File
- Complete an EC Declaration of Conformity
- Affix the CE Mark
This procedure does not involve the intervention of a Notified Body, but the manufacturer or an authorized representative may choose to seek independent advice or assistance as necessary to carry out the conformity assessment of the machinery. Any technical report(s) generated must be included in the Technical File.
Directives describe basic requirements, and A, B, and C level harmonized standards demonstrate conformity to the directives. A list of harmonized standards is available. Figure 1 shows the basic A, B, and C level harmonized standards typically applied.
If a C-type standard exists for a machine-such as ISO 10218-1:2011 Robots and Robotic Devices - Safety requirements for industrial robots-then this standard has priority over all other A and B-type standards and any information in these guidelines. In these cases, only the C-type standard applies.
While the use of standards is not mandatory, the selection of a standard and its correct application is the surest way to obtain conformance with the relevant EHSRs. The end user is still responsible for ensuring that the equipment complies with the directives and that the standards were applied correctly.
Performing risk assessment
The first step on the path to a CE Mark is a risk assessment. When designing a machine, analyze the possible risks and, where necessary, add protective measures to protect the operator from any hazards that may exist.
To aid a machine manufacturer with this task, ISO 12100:2010 defines and describes the process of risk assessment, including risk estimation and risk evaluation. A risk assessment is a sequence of logical steps that permit systematic analysis and evaluation of risks.
The aim of the risk assessment is to:
- Identify hazards
- Identify tasks associated with each hazard
- Determine whether a risk reduction is necessary or not
- Determine how the required risk reduction shall be reached
- Identify safety functions
- Determine the Required Performance Level (PLr).
The documented outcome of the risk assessment is critical when risk reduction measures are implemented by devices that perform safety functions. The machine must be designed and built taking into account the results of the risk assessment.
Section 6 of ISO 12100:2010 outlines applying inherently safe design measures for control systems. It states that the design measures of the control system shall be chosen so that their safety-related performance provides a sufficient amount of risk reduction. To prevent hazardous machine motion and to achieve safety functions, the design of control systems shall comply with the principles and methods presented in subclause 6 and shall be applied as appropriate to the circumstances (see ISO 13849-1, IEC 60204-1, and IEC 62061).
Determining the PLr for the system defines the performance of control components and their integration into the control system for the SRP/CS. The performance level is defined in five discrete steps, from "a" to "e" (Figure 2), and is calculated via a complex formula. The PLr depends on the structure of the control system, the reliability of the components used, the ability to detect failures, and resistance to multiple common cause failures in multiple channel control systems. In addition, further measures to avoid design faults are required.
Documenting calculations for the PLr is an essential part in building the Technical File for the machine. While these calculations can be a bit complex, there is a free software program (Safety Integrity Software Tool for the Evaluation of Machine Applications, or SISTEMA) from IFA, an institute for research and testing of the German Social Accident Insurance.
The IFA website includes information and examples on how to install and use the software. A critical step in the correct use of SISTEMA is the inclusion of component manufacturer libraries that list their devices for use with the software. This aids in the reliability calculations of safety devices used in performing safety functions. Current manufacturers' device libraries can be found on the IFA website as well as on the manufacturers' own web sites.
After the PLr is established for various machine functions, the designer must make sure the safety systems meet either ISO 13849-1 or IEC 62061 requirements. Table 1 from ISO 13849-1 summarizes the scope of applications for IEC 62061 and ISO 13849-1.
Functional safety methods found in ISO 13849-1 give guidance to design adjustments that define what a safe control circuit is. ISO13849-1 can be applied to all areas of the SRP/CS, including hydraulic and pneumatic components when analyzing the complete safety system.
The advantage of using these standards is that it allows design engineers to adjust their safety circuit structure and the quality of their chosen safety or even non-safety devices according to the level of risk defined by the PLr. This eliminates over-engineering and ensures the proper application of both safety and non-safety rated devices.
See next page for an application photo, diagram, and more about Declaration of Conformity and affixing a CE Mark.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Judith Jones
Photo: © Christopher Hirsheimer
About the Author
Judith Jones was a longtime editor at Alfred A. Knopf. Her authors included Julia Child, Lidia Bastianich, James Beard, Marion Cunningham, Rosie Daley, Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey, Edna Lewis, Joan Nathan, Jacques Pépin, Claudia Roden, and Nina Simonds. She is the author of The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food and The Pleasures of Cooking for One. She is the coauthor with Evan Jones (her late husband) of The Book of Bread; Knead It, Punch It, Bake It! (for children); and The Book of New New England Cookery. She also collaborated with Angus Cameron on The L. L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook. Recently, she has contributed to Vogue and Saveur. In 2006, she was awarded the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Rivera, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor of Bioethics
Department of Bioethics
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Suzanne Rivera is the Associate Vice President for Research at Case Western Reserve University. She has broad responsibility for the research enterprise, including development of research policy, pre- and post-award management of sponsored projects, scientific integrity, compliance with research regulations, and education of faculty and students regarding the responsible conduct of research. She also is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioethics.
Dr. Rivera holds a BA from Brown University, a Master of Social Welfare degree from UC Berkeley, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs (health policy emphasis) from the University of Texas at Dallas.


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2K Sports invites gamers and fans of The BIGS video game series to the Nintendo World Store in New York City on Monday, July 6 for The BIGS 2 Home Run Pinball tournament. Attendees will have the exciting opportunity to meet and get autographs from the New York Mets' Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora, who will help kick-off the tournament.
Eligible participants in the The BIGS 2 Home Run Pinball tournament will have the chance to win prizes such as a Wii system from Nintendo, an authentic Major League Baseball® jersey autographed by Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, the cover athlete and spokesman for The BIGS 2, and a variety of other prizes. Attendees will also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase The BIGS 2 for Wii a full day before the game is released in retail stores. Registration for the tournament begins at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and registration slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tournament play begins at 4:15 PM Eastern Time. All prospective tournament participants must be 10 or older, and participants 17 or younger must be accompanied by and have permission from a parent or guardian.
Monday, July 6
Nintendo World Store
10 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
(646) 459-0800
12:00–3:30 PM – Home Run Pinball Tournament registration
4:00 PM – Event introduction
4:10 PM – Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora of the New York Mets to faceoff in The BIGS 2
4:15 PM – Tournament begins
6:00 PM – Tournament concludes
Coming to retail stores on July 7, 2009, the Big Leagues will get BIGGER with The BIGS 2. Rated E 10+ by the ESRB, The BIGS 2 will be available on all major video game platforms. The BIGS 2 has been elevated to new heights this season with amazing visual effects and a variety of new gameplay modes, including the fan-requested Season Mode and Become a Legend. With improved player animations and pick-up-and-play controls, The BIGS 2 will deliver an action-packed MLB® video game experience.
For more information on The BIGS 2, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/thebigs2.


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Bosch 4100-09 10" Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand
The Bosch Smart Guard System, is a ground-breaking new design for portable table saws that includes a blade guard, riving knife and anti-kickback pawls. All three elements are modular and tool free, so users can quickly and easily remove or add each component independently based on the task. The blade guard is particularly user-friendly with a new split-guarding innovation that offers optimal line of sight and maximum protection, no matter the intended amount of material removal.
Standard Equipment:
- 4100 Table Saw
- Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand
- 40 Tooth Carbide Blade
- Squarelock Rip Fence
- Smart Guard System
Optional Accessories:
Free Shipping!
Purchasing this item qualifies you for free FedEx ground shipping within the lower 48 states on your entire order.
- Rating: 120 V AC
- Amperage: 15.0
- No-load RPM: 3,650
- Blade Size:" 10"
- Bevel Angle Range: -2 to 47°
- Rip Capacities...
Right of Blade: 25"
Left of Blade: 9"
Dado Capacity: 8"x 13/16"
- Max Depth of Cut...
90°: 3-1/8"
45° Bevel: 2-1/2"
- Work Length: Table Top dimensions 29"
- Weight: 60 lbs (with Stand 99 lbs)
Table Saw
- Powerful 15 Amp, 4.4 HP max. tool output power to tackle any material.
- Precision rip fence with patented "square-lock" technology provides accuracy with every cut.
- Soft start for quieter, smoother start-ups.
- Constant Response Circuitry constantly monitors torque demand and instantly delivers additional power, plus protects against overload.
- Large machined & coated aluminum table top 29" x 21-1/2" easily handles bigger stock.
- Integrated cutting rail system extends to a full 25" rip cutting capacity.
- Arbor lock allows single wrench blade changes.
- Cord Wrap cord is coiled up for transport and storage.
- On Board storage system locks down rip fence, miter gauge and blade tote for transporting.
- Molded grip areas more secure and comfortable for carrying.
Gravity-Rise Stand
- Gravity-Rise stand takes the work out of setting up and breaking down the saw.
- Rugged and portable stand provides a mobile base for tool transport between jobsites.
- Universally adaptable mounting slots for competitor's table saws - DeWalt, Makita, Hitachi, Craftsman.
- 8" Treaded Pneumatic Wheels Handle rough terrain.
- Heavy-duty steel construction built to last.


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When You Should Vote For Book Burning
The people of Troy, Mich. almost lost their public library—until they launched a shocking reverse-psychology campaign to convince their city it still needs books.
"Vote to Close Troy Library Aug 2."
"Book Burning Party Aug 5."
So read the yard signs designed to get people's attention and change the conversation about library funding in Troy, Mich.—from one all about taxes to one about the value of libraries.
The provocative campaign to save a library at risk of losing funding was intended to counter Tea Party supporters' messaging about what the vote primarily addressed—tax hikes, in the their book.
Touching people's emotions to make them think about the issue in a new way, the campaign turned a vote that was almost certain to cause the closure of the library to one that reflected what the community really wanted.
The recall failed. So what's next for the Cheddar Revolution?
A sense of history and community tugged at the heart of Mindy Fullilove and pulled her back to the Jersey home she'd forsaken.
How to build community here and now—because neighborhoods are more than houses in proximity.


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Ependymomas are also glial cell tumors. They usually develop in the lining of the ventricles or in the spinal cord. The most common place they are found in children is near the cerebellum. The tumor often blocks the flow of the CSF (cerebral spinal fluid, which bathes the brain and spinal cord), causing increased intracranial pressure. Ependymomas can be slow growing, compared to other brain tumors, but may recur after treatment is completed. Recurrence of ependymomas results in a more invasive tumor with more resistance to treatment. About 5 percent to 10 percent of childhood brain tumors are ependymomas.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call St. Louis Children's Hospital at 314.454.5437 or 800.678.5437 or email us.


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Job scheduling for petaflop parallel systems
Principal Investigators: P. Sadayappan, D.K. Panda and P. Wyckoff
Funding Source: Sandia National Labs, NM
Duration: 7/1/2002 - 12/31/2002
Description: Although a number of research efforts have addressed architectural issues in pursuit of Petaflops Systems, job scheduling issues for such systems have not been addressed. In this project, we propose to assess the suitability of current scheduling techniques for future Petaflops systems and explore approaches to improving utilization on such systems.


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Originally posted by johbur
I would say the Packers two biggest needs are a new franchise running back and an impact defensive tackle. Ahman Green is done as done can be, and while Gado is decent, he's upgradeable. I keep hearing that the Packers have a nice "rotation" of defensive tackles but none of them are in the slightest way scary. The Bears rotate a lot too but they still have impact players like Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson, and soon to be Dusty Dvorachek.
Other than that, I think the Pack had a decent foundation for the future if Rodgers is the answer at QB. One thing to note is that some of their impact players beyond just Favre and Green are getting older. Donald Driver is 31, Al Harris is 31, and Charles Woodson, while 29, is always hurt. They'll need other people to step up and take the load off them at some point.


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Tired of waiting?
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The first details have finally been announced about the upcoming second and third episodes of the Fallen Angel series. The information can be found at my new blog (URL below). You can expect some big changes to come to the FASeries site in the upcoming weeks as more info about the new episodes is revealed.
A new version has been uploaded with improved sound quality and a few other minor changes.
Thanks for the great feedback, everyone! There are a few issues that many people have brought up in their reviews, and I'd like to address some of them here.
1) A lot of people are downplaying the movie because of its "Teaser" nature. However, I should explain that when I started work on this animation, I actually intended for it to be the first episode of the Fallen Angel series. But by the time I finished it, I had decided that I could do much better, and since this animation consisted entirely of action and didn't reveal anything about the plot, I decided to go ahead and release it as a sample to keep everyone entertained while I work on the real first episode. So while it is technically just a teaser, try to think of it as more of a sample episode, or something.
2) A lot of people have been worrying that since the teaser is 6.5MB in size, the actual episodes will be so ridiculously large that they will never be allowed on NG. No need to worry about this; the large filesize is due to the fact that I originally built this to be an actual episode, not just a short teaser. All other Flash-based episodes that I release will be made to fit within NG's size guidelines, so they will all be comparable to the size of the Teaser episode. And besides, if any of the episodes are too large to be submitted as one piece, I can always split them up into seperate parts like I did with The Hunt.
3) There has also been some confusion in regards to all the people listed as Production Assistants in the movie credits. Just to clarify, I was actually the one who did all the animation/graphics stuff, and the people listed in the credits contributed by giving me generous assistance and helpful feedback whenever I needed it. They also contributed many of the ideas that came together to form the Fallen Angel storyline, and offered assistance on some other technical things, such as sound mixing. But as far as actual construction of the movie goes, I did most of the dirty work.
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Uceny doesn't finish Olympic 1,500 after falling
One moment Morgan Uceny was in the middle of the pack, getting
ready to make her move in the 1,500 meters.
The next, she was down and pounding her palms on the track in
Another major meet, another major fall for the American
Uceny was tripped from behind on the last lap of the final
Friday night, landing hard on her right knee and hip. She was in
position to challenge for a medal, but her performance goes down as
"DNF" – did not finish.
She was on her hands and knees, staring at the track in
disbelief, when Asli Cakir Alptekin of Turkey won the race.
Shortly after, Uceny trudged off the track – blood dripping from
her leg – and into the medical area. She left the stadium without
speaking to reporters.
Last year at the world championships, Uceny, of Mammoth Lakes,
Calif., entered the race as one of the top runners. But she became
entangled just before the final lap and fell, all but ending her
chances for a medal. She did pick herself up and finish a
disappointing 10th.
This time, there was no getting up.
Uceny's fall was a reminder of what happened to Mary Decker
Slaney, an overwhelming favorite to win gold in the 3,000 at the
1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. In one of the most memorable moments
in Olympic history, Slaney collided with barefooted runner Zola
Budd and tumbled to the track.
In tears, her eventual husband, British Olympic discus thrower
Richard Slaney, helped her from the track.
No one was all that sure what happened to Uceny. She was
comfortably cruising along before crashing to the ground. British
runner Lisa Dobriskey was tucked in right behind Uceny and didn't
get a good look at what took place.
"Too many bodies running together and too comfortably,"
Dobriskey said. "I think someone got tangled up with her. She just
went flying – with quite a big bang.
"But it wasn't me that clipped her. It was just too many


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Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy
Saint Louis University is a Catholic university sponsored by the Society of Jesus. It welcomes persons from all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds and beliefs to join its faculty and staff and seeks to create a sense of community which facilitates their development.
Saint Louis University prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. All University policies, practices, and procedures are administered in a manner consistent with our Catholic Jesuit identity.
Saint Louis University is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. All administrative and management personnel involved in the hiring and supervision of University personnel, along with the Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer, have the responsibility to recruit, hire, train, promote and in all ways provide fair treatment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. Such action includes, but is not limited to the following:
Employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, assignment of work duties, recruiting, advertisement, layoff, termination, rate of pay, benefits, and selection for training.
Saint Louis University will take affirmative action to ensure that persons from minority groups, females, Vietnam Era Veterans, disabled persons, and disabled veterans are identified, recruited, and enter the University's workforce.
This policy applies to all prospective and current staff, faculty, and student workers of Saint Louis University.
Special Requirements/Special Conditions
Accommodations for Disabilities
Saint Louis University will attempt to make a reasonable accommodation to the physical and mental limitations of any employee or applicant. Employees and applicants are invited to identify physical or mental disabilities at any time prior to or following employment. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject a person to discharge or disciplinary action. Information obtained is kept confidential. Employees and applicants may disclose this information to either their supervisor, the Human Resources Office or the Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action. The purpose of this disclosure is to assist the University in determining the suitability of accommodations and provide employment opportunities. Supervisors, in consultation with the employee or applicant and the Human Resources Office, will attempt to develop a reasonable workplace accommodation. The only factors involved in determining the extent of accommodations should be (1) business necessity, and (2) financial cost and expense of that accommodation. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, restructuring work, assignments, modified equipment, and change of work schedule.
[NOTE: The complete Affirmative Action Plan for Handicapped Persons, Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era is available for review at the Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action during normal working hours.]
Religious Accommodations
Saint Louis University will attempt to make reasonable accommodations for the religious observances and practices of employees or prospective employees when such accommodations can be made without undue hardship to the University's operations and the performance of necessary job duties. We will attempt to accommodate persons who regularly observe some day of the week as the Sabbath and/or observe certain religious holidays during the year and who are conscientiously opposed to performing work on such days.
Upon notification, the supervisor will attempt to accommodate the employee's request directly or through a reasonable alternative. If a satisfactory resolution is not possible or the requested accommodation would be an undue hardship on the department's operations, the supervisor should contact the campus Human Resources Office for assistance.
Complaint Procedure
Any employee of the Saint Louis University or Health Science Center may file a formal or informal complaint with the Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action for instances where his or her employment situation has been adversely affected due to decisions based on one's race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status. Employees may experience this bias in the following areas:
Hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, assignment of work duties, work conditions, recruiting, advertisement, layoff, termination rate of pay, benefits and selection for training.
All discussions are kept confidential unless a formal complaint is filed. A formal complaint must be a written statement describing the incident, the person(s), and /or office perpetrating the discriminatory action and the person's desired resolution of the complaint. The Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action will notify the supervisor and the next level of management that a complaint has been filed. The Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action will investigate the complaint and inform all parties of a formal decision. No employee can be retaliated against as a result of filing a grievance.
In instances where the grieved action does not involve behaviors prohibited under the University's nondiscrimination policy, the Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action may direct an employee's use of all or a portion of the Staff Grievance Procedures.


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Last Update: October 11, 2014
On this page I will try and describe what I know about End Fed Half Wave Length Antennas. I am always learning so you may see this page change from time to time as I learn more and correct errors. I don't expect anyone to take this information as gospel. I just hope that it helps others successfully use this type of antenna since it does have some unique advantages.
An End Fed Half Wave Length Antenna is a variation of the much more common half wave length dipole antenna. When an antenna that is one half wave length long has RF energy applied to it at its resonant frequency a standing wave develops on it. This standing wave consists of both current and voltage that are 90 degrees out of phase. The end result is a distribution of current that is at a maximum at the center and a distribution of voltage that is at a maximum at the ends (fig.1).
Figure 1 - Dipole Voltage and Current Distribution
The most common method of feeding energy to this type of antenna is at the center where the current is maximum and the voltage is minimum. Consequently, the impedance at this point is low and on the order of 72 ohms. This makes it convenient to feed the antenna directly with low impedance 50 ohm coax cable. To minimize the chance of common mode currents on the coax that can cause the coax to become part of the antenna a balun is sometimes used. Feeding the antenna at the center is by no means a requirement however. Energy can be fed anywhere along its length and the impedance will increase as the feed point moves away from the center (more voltage, less current). Taking this to the extreme is to feed the half wavelength antenna at its end. At first thought this would seem to be impossible yet many people have done it very successfully. In practice the impedance at the end of an end fed half wavelength antenna is on the order of 1800 to 5000 ohms.
It is often commented that the End Fed Half Wavelength Antenna needs no "counterpoise" or radials to work. In practice this type of antenna is often used in the field with no "counterpoise" and it performs well. In reality something is always being used as a "counterpoise" even though it may not be evident at first glance. There have been many heated arguments between folks who really only differed in whether they sided with the practical aspects of using this antenna or the sterile theoretical description of the antenna (fig. 2).
Figure 2 - Theoretically Will Not Work
Since myself and others have been very successful at doing the seemingly "impossible", I will attempt to describe what I think is going on. Even though there should be no limitation as to what frequency this antenna can be used on my discussion here is mainly related to HF since this is where this type of antenna is most practical. Also, keep in mind that I usually use this antenna at low power levels (<20W). There are high voltage issues to take into consideration when using higher power levels, mainly with the capacitor in the tuned LC circuit. Don't try to run 1.5kW through a tiny coupler using polyvaricons! There are some distinct advantages to using QRP. With proper component scaling high power can be used. I have successfully used 100W without any problems with this coupler. For permanent home use you may also want to try a conventional L-network consisting of an inductor in series and a capacitor to ground on the antenna side. The L-network does not offer the feedline isolation that a link coupled tuned network does but it does offer a larger bandwidth for a given setting.
Hams have been successful end-feeding resonant half wavelength antennas for decades. Typically, a parallel tuned circuit is used at the end of the antenna with the feed line link coupled or tapped to the coil in the circuit. I found empirically that the impedance of this antenna is about 1800 to 5000 ohms when things are adjusted properly. Antenna modeling suggests that the impedance is closer to 1800 ohms depending on the "counterpoise" length used. As the "counterpoise" itself approaches a half wavelength, the impedance approaches 5000 ohms. In the graph below I have plotted what MININEC predicts for the impedance of an end fed half wave antenna versus the "counterpoise" length. The antenna's length (approx. 0.47 free space wavelength) was determined by modeling the length required to obtain resonance (jX = 0) when the "counterpoise" was the same length. In other words, it was modeled as two half wavelength wires end-to-end and the length of each was kept the same but adjusted to obtain a purely resistive match.
Figure 3 - Impedance versus "Counterpoise" Length for an End Fed Half Wave Free Space Antenna
Figure 4 - Two Half Wave Length Conductors End-To-End for Determining Resonance in Modeling
In figure 3, particular attention to the points where the impedance is purely resistive (jX = 0 ohms) at 0.05 wavelengths and about 0.47 wavelengths. The 0.05 wavelength "counterpoise" length is what I also determined empirically as to being the ideal length for the counterpoise. The coupler can be adjusted to compensate for any reactance that may be present due to other lengths but it is around this length where the whole antenna system is the most stable and provides a purely resistive load to the coupler. Notice that there is nothing magical about the often recommended 1/4 wavelength "counterpoise" with this antenna!
Below is the ideal setup for an end-fed half wavelength antenna that I have determined through experiments and antenna modeling (fig. 5).
Figure 5 - Ideal End Fed Half Wave Length Antenna
The exact impedance of an end fed half wave length antenna has been debated but if you design a coupler to match close to the impedance range in figure 3 a good match can be obtained. Some hams have had great success with this antenna with no feed line imbalance problems (common mode currents) while others have had very bad "RF in the shack" problems due to the feed line radiating as much as the antenna. If you adjust your coupler into a resistive load on the bench first and then adjust the antenna for a proper match then you should have a resistive match that will minimize current through the coupler and through the "counterpoise".
When you design a coupler for this antenna it helps to know what turns ratio you should use. Use the formula below to determine the turn ratio. Based on the predictions above a 6:1 to 8:1 turns ratio will be close enough. I have often used a 10:1 ratio with acceptable results. The exact ratio will probably be a function of the inductance value that you need on the secondary to obtain resonance in the frequency range desired with the capacitor that you have available.
Za = antenna's resistive impedance
Turns Ratio = √(Za/50)
For example:
6:1 for Za = 1800 ohms
7:1 for Za = 2450 ohms
8:1 for Za = 3200 ohms
9:1 for Za = 4050 ohms
10:1 for Za = 5000 ohms
If you look at the predictions below (fig. 6) you will see that a ratio of 8:1 provides the most stable SWR versus "counterpoise" length. This is assuming direct transformation of the antenna's complex impedance to 50 ohms. In reality, most couplers will be able to tune out the reactance to achieve a much lower SWR but you should try to operate at the point where the antenna's load is resistive, especially if the feed line and coupler are the "counterpoise" as in figure 15. In circuits where the feedline is physically isolated (link coupled, fig. 5) there doesn't seem to be much of an issue. The only reason that I suggest adjusting the antenna so that it provides a resistive match is because I believe that is the point at which the current through the coupler will be at a minimum and therefore the least amount of return wire ("counterpoise") is needed to complete the circuit.
Figure 6 - SWR vs "Counterpoise" Length vs Turns Ratio for an End Fed Half Wave Free Space Antenna
The graph below (fig. 7) is of actual measured data of an end fed half wavelength antenna with an isolated coupler using an 8:1 turns ratio. The coupler was tuned to resonance on the bench first using a resistive load. Although not exactly the same, you can see that the data resembles the predicted (red) data in the graph above (fig. 6), especially for the shorter "counterpoise" lengths. I suspect that the difference in data is due to the fact that the predicted data was for a free space antenna and the measured data was for a real antenna at a low height in a relatively cluttered environment.
Figure 7 - Measured SWR vs "Counterpoise" Length vs Turns Ratio Data for an End Fed Half Wave Antenna
Keep in mind that even in the real measurement above the SWR could have been brought down to 1:1 in most circumstances by simply adjusting the coupler's tuned circuit and/or turns ratio but the idea is to show the result when the coupler is fixed tuned at the bench first. With higher antennas I almost always achieve a 1:1 SWR without retuning the coupler.
According to Moxon [1], because of the very high impedance (i.e., very low current) at the end of a half wavelength antenna, only a small counterpoise (1m @ 14 MHz) or a few pF of capacitance to ground is required to return the current. However, in order to maintain a balance an equal amount of length is required to be added to the antenna itself. So even though the antenna is fed at the end, a good balance is maintained. Below (fig. 8) is what I understand Moxon [1] tries to describe.
Figure 8 - Moxon's Ideal End Fed Half Wave Length Antenna (with a bit added by AA5TB)
In the above diagram you can see that the half wave portion of the antenna presents very high impedance to the 0.05 wavelength section added and free space presents very high impedance to the other end of the 0.05 wavelength "counterpoise". Therefore the center fed portion between the two 0.05 wavelength sections is essentially balanced. With no physical connection to the feed line common mode currents along the outside of the feed line will be at a minimum. The main potential path for imbalance will be through capacitance to the surrounding environment, just as is the case with any dipole. Notice that the antenna is no longer a resonant length.
At first I agreed with Moxon because it made sense and my usual couplers could easily tune out the reactance in the load. For a link coupled antenna this would all work fine. However, I now believe that the way to minimize common mode current in circuits where the feedline may not be totally isolated is to use a resonant half wave length antenna adjusted to provide a resistive load to the coupler. If this is done then the current into any length of "counterpoise" is minimal except when those lengths approach a half wave length. If the current is minimized on the "counterpoise", then potential common mode problems are minimized too.
Below are some photos of an experimental setup for 20m that helped me understand what is going on with end fed half wavelength antennas. I first adjusted the LC circuit using a 4.7k Ohm resistor (fig. 9) in the CW portion of 20m to obtain a 50 Ohm match using my MFJ-259B Antenna Analyzer. When the antenna was properly installed I adjusted its length along with a 1m long counterpoise to obtain the same 50 Ohm resistive impedance without having to retune the circuit (fig. 10). At this point the antenna worked well. I then removed the 1m long counterpoise and I was no longer able to obtain a match at any setting (fig. 11). Essentially, the antenna was not energized. I had taken measures to prevent as much coupling as I could to the shield of the coax (no direct connection, fig. 12, and ran the coax 90 degrees to the antenna). There may have been some stray capacitance but there was not enough to "complete the circuit". It should be noted that increasing the counterpoise beyond 1m made no noticeable improvement. Also, if this method of adjusting the tuned circuit (using resistor first) is not used then any deviation from the optimum antenna length will cause an increase in return currents in the "counterpoise" making the "counterpoise" requirement more critical. I believe this accounts for some of the failures that have been described in ham reports that were supposedly corrected when a 1/4 wavelength radial was added. Any deviation from the resonant antenna length will require a similar increase in "counterpoise" requirement. This is not to say that the antenna cannot be used at other frequencies. If you do plan on operating over a large range of frequencies then the "counterpoise" requirement increases but a match can usually still be obtained by retuning the coupling circuit.
Figure 9 - The Proper Method of Tuning an End Fed Half Wave Length Coupler
Figure 10 - Proper Feed - 1m return (counterpoise).
Figure 11 - Improper Feed - No counterpoise at all, no worky.
Figure 12 - Close-up of Transformer (Typo Note: The torroid is actually larger than a T-50-2)
Figure 13 - Close-up of Capacitor
Figure 14 - Match when properly adjusted with 1m counterpoise
In many configurations of the end fed half wave antenna a counterpoise is not used at all. So how is this possible? The test above proved that this is not possible. However, in the real world it is possible to connect the return side of the LC circuit to the ground side of the feed line as shown below (fig. 15). Even though no apparent "counterpoise" is connected the feedline and/or rig is actually used as the "counterpoise". This is often my arrangement for field work.
Figure 15 - Return via Coax and Rig
In some cases simply the stray capacitance of the LC circuit to the environment and feed system will provide enough counterpoise as shown here (fig. 16).
Figure 16 - Return via Stray Capacitance to Environment and Feedline
Obviously the above two configurations appear to have the potential for the dreaded common mode currents if some sort of choke balun is not used. However, due to the very high impedances involved currents levels are very low when the antenna is of the proper length and when the LC circuit is adjusted properly decreasing common mode currents. Given that the impedance is high designing a choke balun with enough impedance to be effective may be difficult anyway. However, if this setup is being used in the field with very short or no coax (direct attachment to rig) then any common mode currents that do exist will be negligible. Only when the "counterpoise" (and/or feed line common mode path) becomes near a half wave length itself will the return currents equal that of the antenna. Another possible problem scenario could be when the antenna is fed through a 1/4 wavelength of coax to a grounded rig. In most field setups where I use this type of antenna neither of these two cases occurs. It should be noted that in these cases adding the often recommended 1/4 wavelength radial will not necessarily alleviate the problem either. The 1/4 wavelength radial recommendation often given is based on the assumption that a high impedance at the open end of the "counterpoise" will present a very low impedance at the return side of the coupler. This is indeed true but not required. Remember, the impedance is relatively high at this point so a very short "counterpoise" is all that is required. A longer "counterpoise" offers nothing to the performance and this can be verified by computer modeling. If the coupler and end fed half wave antenna are properly adjusted then you should have no problems using a very short "counterpoise" or depending on stray capacitance for the return.
So far this discussion has had the antenna floating in space for the most part. Down at earth it can be used in any configuration that an ordinary center fed dipole can be used. One common orientation is vertical. In this case many people say that a large radial system consisting of up to 120 radials are required just as is required for a 1/4 wavelength vertical (see below). As far as completing the half wavelength antenna is concerned there is no difference between vertical and horizontal orientation! No radials are required. However, an improvement of the ground system below ANY antenna (except maybe a Beverage antenna) will help its overall performance. The closer any antenna gets to the ground the more current is induced into that lossy ground. Any improvement that you make to this lossy ground will improve this situation. There is just no need to unduly require it to "complete" a half wave length vertical, whether fed at the end or anywhere else. Once again the "counterpoise" requirements are the same as above. There have been many manufactures over the years that built half wave vertical antennas that had only a few short radials. For VHF, anyone who has ever used the old AEA Hot Rod end fed half wave antenna for an HT know the drastic improvement it made over a 1/4 wave antenna.
Here are some other examples of the end fed half wave antenna. The LC lumped component tuned circuit described above can be replaced by a 1/4 wave length of shorted transmission line (stub) as shown below (fig. 17).
Figure 17 - Lumped LC Circuit Replaced with 1/4 Wave length Stub (End Fed Zepp)
If you take this a few steps further you can see how the antenna evolves into a classical J-Pole antenna that is often used at VHF with good success (fig. 18). This shows the general idea anyway. N3GO has a much more detailed description of the J-Pole antenna here.
Figure 18 - J-Pole Antenna
There are many ways to configure an end fed half wave length antenna. Another very effective DX antenna is a ground mounted half wave length vertical antenna as shown below (fig. 19). A single ground rod will often suffice for a ground system to complete the circuit since very little current has to flow through this ground system.
Figure 19 - Ground Mounted Vertical Half Wave Length Antenna
The graph below (fig. 20) gives an example of the feed point impedance of a vertical monopole versus its height in terms of wave length. The ground plane is assumed to be perfectly electrically conducting (PEC). Notice the points where jX = 0 ohms. These are the points where the antenna is resonant, at 0.25 wave lengths, 0.47 wave lengths, and again at 0.74 wave lengths. The main difference between the points is the impedance. For a height of 0.25 wave lengths the resistive impedance is about 35 ohms and a height of 0.5 wave lengths it is about 2450 ohms.
Figure 20
If you design a coupler to feed an impedance of 2450 ohms (7:1 turns ratio), then the expected SWR for a vertical monopole operated against ground is shown below (fig. 21). Note that a perfect match occurs when the vertical is about 0.47 wave lengths tall.
Figure 21
Here are my thoughts (right or wrong) about ground losses with end fed half wave vertical antennas. Let's say you just use a ground rod for a return. To return the displacement currents that enter the ground from the field around the antenna there will be a high earth resistance with such a simple ground. Let's use 35 Ohms for an example. For the 1/4 wave length vertical with 35 Ohms of feed point resistance, the input power will be divided between the ground resistance and the feed point resistance. The two resistances will add up to a total feed point resistance of 70 Ohms but the efficiency of the system will only be 50%. For the 1/2 wave length vertical with an assumed feed point resistance of 2450 Ohms the feed point resistance will be 2485 Ohms (2450 + 35) and the power dissipated in the earth at the feed point will only be 1.4%. This gives us an efficiency of 98.6% for the 1/2 wave length vertical. With an efficiency of 98.6% I don't see any reason to lay down an elaborate radial system for a 1/2 wave length vertical from an efficiency point of view. However, at about a 1/4 wave length from the base of a 1/2 wave length vertical the ground currents once again increase. Of course this pattern will repeat itself out for many wave lengths from the antenna. For this reason a bunch of (>1/2 wave length) radials should make an improvement on ground wave field strengths or on very low elevation sky wave paths by lowering the pseudo-Brewster angle. However, I am skeptical about how much of these ground (or surface) wave currents, if any, return back to the feed point and contribute to the feed point losses. In any case, to reiterate my earlier statement, improving the ground conductivity out for many wavelengths will improve the far field of any antenna, at least at some elevations. This does not mean that an elaborate ground is required for an end fed half wave length vertical antenna to "have something for the antenna to push against" or to "complete the circuit" as is often said. Whether or not you consider ground loss several wave lengths from the antenna as antenna system loss or not is up to you.
I hope that I have shown that feeding a half wave length antenna on its end without an extensive ground system or "counterpoise" is practical and it really works. I use this type of antenna extensively in the field with my little single band QRP rigs. For example, I have found that my 20m vertical end fed half wave antenna with the bottom 1m from the ground is an extremely effective antenna. During Field Day activities I can usually rack up 500 contacts using only 4 or 5 Watts. DX is very easy with this arrangement as well. Give it a try!
[1] HF Antennas for All Locations, L.A. Moxon, RSGB, 1990, pgs. 43,46.


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GALESBURG — Galesburg Police Department officers arrested a West Virginia man Monday on Interstate 74 for transporting roughly 145 pounds of marijuana, making it one of the largest single pot seizures in recent years.
David G. Joseph, 68, is facing two Class X felony charges of marijuana trafficking and the manufacturing and delivery of marijuana, as well as one Class 1 felony of possession of marijuana.
According to police, Joseph was pulled over as part of a routine traffic stop near mile marker 53 early Monday morning. Officers reported Joseph was acting "nervously" during questioning about his travels and destination.
Following additional questioning, GPD officers employed the department's K-9 unit, which alerted police to the presence of marijuana hidden inside a number of plastic bags in suitcases in the backseat of Joseph's SUV.
GPD officials estimate the total street value of the marijuana seized during the arrest to be about $600,000.
Monday's seizure dwarfs those of late in terms of sheer weight. The GPD recovered 24 pounds of pot in a bust last May, and 20 pounds was seized during an Amtrak drug interdiction arrest this past August.
Additionally, 13 pounds of marijuana was uncovered in two unconnected drug arrests on the same Amtrak California Zephyr line train earlier this month.
Police told The Register-Mail Friday the incident remains under investigation. Joseph remains in the Knox County jail on $150,000 bond. He will appear in court with an attorney at 9:45 a.m. Monday.
Nick Ostdick: (309) 343-7181, 255; email@example.com; @NickOstdick


text:
131 photos
Meet Maribella, this gorgeous brunette babe looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth but she has a hidden talent for delivering the best teen blowjob ever.
She sits on the bed wearing a tight little top and shorts and sexy long white socks as she waits for her man. The ambient light that pours in from the window backdrop frames her beautiful radiant body and makes her pale white skin glow.
Her guy enters the room and walking over to the bed he takes her by the shoulders, tenderly rubbing them as he tells her he has been waiting for her. She lifts her head upwards to look him in the eyes with a wry smile on her face that lets him know she is his for the taking. The teen couple enjoy a long and passionate kiss before he slowly slides his hands into her top, her nipples swell as he runs his warm fingers gently over those little dark nuggets. His hands start to explore more of her tender body, he pulls off her top, takes both breasts firmly in his hands and they begin to kiss again as he fondles her lovely small but juicy tits.
Adjusting her position to face him she takes him by the waist and pulls him towards her, he know now that her is about to get a fantastic teen blowjob and he hardens with anticipation. Her hands move down to his fly which she quickly unzips, she slides her hands into his pants and feels his hardness and she carefully takes out his cock and brings her face forward to meet it.
She sucks him long, hard and deep but this is a girl of many talents, not just giving a great teen blowjob, join us now to find out what happens next!


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Former England captain Michael Atherton said Andrew Strauss had picked the right time to go as he ended his reign as England Test skipper by announcing his retirement from all cricket on Wednesday.
Atherton, also a former opening batsman, said the Middlesex left-hander's loss of form had been the key factor in his decision rather than the fall-out from Kevin Pietersen's controversial texts, alleged to contain criticisms of Strauss, which have seen the shotmaker exiled from the England side.
"I believe him when he says he has been having these thoughts for a while," Atherton said. "He's been in gentle decline for a year or so.
"The time is right for someone else to take over," he added, after Alastair Cook, Strauss's opening partner, was announced as England's new Test captain.
Meanwhile, experienced England seamer James Anderson took to Twitter to salute Strauss.
"Really sad to hear Straussy has called it a day," said Anderson. "He's done so much for this England team not just as captain but also as a player.
"He will be missed but he hands over to a very fine replacement in Alastair Cook. Best of luck to Cooky and to Straussy in his future."
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke hailed the 100-Test career of the 35-year-old opener and insisted the controversy over text messages from England exile Kevin Pietersen to South African players had not been a catalyst for retirement.
"I think it was very clear from his (Strauss's) comments prior to the last Test match that this matter has only recently reached a serious position and, therefore, it was no part of his decision-making process," said Clarke.
He added: "Andrew Strauss has embodied everything that the nation expects from the England cricket captain. For us all, it has been a rare privilege to work with such a remarkable man.
"But the game must move on and we must congratulate Alastair Cook as Andrew's successor."
Former skipper Atherton says Strauss right to go
Former England captain Michael Atherton said Andrew Strauss had picked the right time to go as he ended his reign as England Test skipper by announcing his retirement from all cricket on Wednesday.


text:
Spicy Lamb Sausage and Walnuts
Enticing aromas emanate from these lamb sausage appetizers. The flaky phyllo dough is a perfect wrapper for the delectable sausage mixture within.
1 tbsp. olive oil
1⁄4 cup diced onion
1⁄4 cup diced fennel
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1⁄2 lb. lamb sausage
1 tsp. paprika
1⁄2 tsp. ground cardamom
1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄2 tsp. ground coriander
1⁄4 tsp. cumin
Coarse salt, as needed
Ground black pepper, as needed
1⁄2 cup California walnuts, toasted
2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
1 egg
2 tbsp. water
1⁄2 lb. (approx. 12 sheets) phyllo dough
1⁄2 -3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- Heat oil in skillet over med. heat. Add onion, fennel, and garlic and sauté about 4 min., until softened. Add sausage and cook for 5 min.,` breaking up sausage with a spatula. Add paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and cumin and cook 5 min. more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in walnuts and chives and remove from heat. You will have about 3 1⁄2 cups sausage mixture. Set aside.
- Whisk egg and water together. Set aside.
- To form phyllo pastry triangles, cut 1 sheet of phyllo in half lengthwise. Fold each half in half lengthwise, making 2 strips each about 3 in. wide. (Keep any phyllo you are not using covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Brush each strip lightly with melted butter. Place about 3 tbsp. sausage mixture to the left of each strip. Working with one strip at a time, fold corner of phyllo over filling on a diagonal, so left edge of strip is flush with bottom edge. Continue folding, as you would fold a flag, forming a triangular packet. Repeat buttering, filling, and folding with remaining phyllo sheets. Brush tops of finished pastries with egg mixture and set aside.
Per Order: Place four phyllo triangles on parchment- covered sheet pan and bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for about 15 min., until crisp and golden. Serve hot.


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One Direction Accused of Ripping Off the Clash in 'Live While We're Young' Intro
One Direction made fangirls happier than ever when their video for 'Live While We're Young' leaked, but they also got some other people really P.O.ed — namely, fans of classic punk outfit the Clash.
The 'X Factor U.K.' alums are being accused of ripping off Joe Strummer and Co.'s 'Should I Stay or Should I Go.'
While the introductory riffs do sound very similar, it's not as obviously derivative as, say, Vanilla Ice's sample of David Bowie and Queen's 'Under Pressure.' Fans of the Clash took to Twitter to denounce 1D, writing, "Oh no. One Direction have nicked the intro to Should I Stay Or Should I Go by the Clash. Sacrilege" and "One Direction clearly tried ripping off the Clash with the intro to their new song."
Thing is, One Direction didn't actually pen the tune. Savan Kotecha, Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk are all listed as the track's songwriters (per The Hollywood Reporter). It's the same team who wrote the bubblegum staples 'What Makes You Beautiful' and 'One Thing,' so it's only natural that the group would want to work with the hitmakers again. And based on their youth and pop nature, we highly doubt that 1D would intentionally rip off the 'London Calling' crooners. You can listen to both tracks below and decide for yourself!
In any case, the controversy isn't hurting 1D's sales. The single already broke records for the fastest selling preorder in history, and it's so catchy that once it's actually on sale, we're sure it'll sell even more copies. And uh, that video of the boys in sopping wet T-shirts? We'll take it, thanks.
And there's an added benefit to the similarity between the riffs: Perhaps younger fans will be exposed to the Clash, whom they may not have heard of before One Direction were accused of snagging their riff. A silver lining to every cloud, right?
Watch the Clash 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' Video
Watch the One Direction 'Live While We're Young' Video


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Every man has the desire to possess and keep youth and health up to an advanced age.
Since the remotest times, he drew all the materials he needed for his health and beauty care from the vegetal world.
Plants always did big services to the human being, and soon they became indispensable.
They provided not only beauty and perfume, but an inimitable grace.
The come back to nature has been perceptible in cosmetology when natural and organic components were introduced into the beauty products.
It is obvious that natural products can be but beneficial for health, youth and beauty.
Cosmetology is not only a science,but also and mainly an art.


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Can The 'Gist' Of A Book Be Defamatory, Even If Nothing Is Proven False?
from the chilling-effects dept
With the trial now underway, Main's lawyers are pointing out that the book is "political and social criticism," and that Royall has not proven she got any facts wrong. Royall's response is somewhat stunning. His lawyers seem to be indicating that even if there's nothing factually wrong, the "conclusions" drawn from those facts are defamatory. In other words, there may be nothing wrong with the book, but the analysis of those facts, as a whole, is somehow defamatory. This sounds an awful lot like "well, I don't like what she said, and it makes me look bad -- even if based on fact -- and thus, it must be defamatory."
Once again, this seems like a clear SLAPP situation, where someone didn't like the speech of someone else, and filed a lawsuit. Claiming that the general "gist" of a book is defamatory without being able to show any actually false statements seems like a real stretch on defamation law.


text:
Mozilla SeaMonkey v2.4 Beta 2
Vista / Win10 / Win2k / Win31 / Win7 / Win8 / WinXP
SeaMonkey comes with the the look and feel familiar to users of its predecessors, the Mozilla Application Suite and Netscape Communicator packages, but adds many new features as well as back-end changes that improve security, stability and performance. Some highlights are: drag&drop reordering of tabs, phishing e-mail detection, support for a single shared inbox when using multiple accounts, and support for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG).
Other editions:
HTML code for linking to this page:
seamonkey sea monkey web browser www internet secure internet
1License and operating system information is based on latest version of the software.
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text:
Trucks are designed to perform a job. For some, it's to haul freight. For others, it's to accomplish tasks such as utility work or landscaping. For these companies, it's becoming increasingly important to have the proper vehicle for the job. A truck too big and you burn fuel. A truck too small, and the work takes twice as long. The wrong type or size of body on the truck, well, it's then almost useless.
Because of that, Robert Johnson, director of fleet relations for the NTEA, has put together a list of the three most common mistakes (working out of order, doing what you've always done, and guessing) companies make when spec'ing their work trucks.
First, he wrote, is the decision to spec a chassis. In fact, the decision on which chassis to use should come much later in the process.
"Think about it," he said. "An effective, productive work truck is designed to perform a specific job or series of jobs. Therefore, it makes sense to start the process by defining the job or jobs the truck will perform. From there, you can address the equipment and associated truck body needed to perform those tasks."
Once these decisions are made, then you should look at the type of body and equipment needed. These will define the required payload, cab-to-axle chassis length, and the vehicle's center of gravity.
"This information enables you to select an appropriately sized chassis and perform an accurate weight distribution and payload analysis to determine the appropriate chassis," Johnson said.
Finish by choosing the powertrain most suited to your needs.
The second mistake to avoid is following a tried-and-true method. Just because your current vehicle is spec'd one way doesn't mean it's appropriate for the tasks ahead.
"For starters, the current vehicle may not have been optimized for the job it is doing," Johnson said. "In such a case, the end users probably figured out how to make it work as well as they could, but that does not mean you shouldn't improve the new unit. Even if the vehicle was properly spec'd at the time it was initially acquired, requirements change and new/ improved products are constantly being introduced."
In particular, Johnson advised paying close attention to chassis selection. Because of changes made by OEMs, your current Class 3 chassis may not have the same attributes as the new model from the same OEM.
"One of the challenges facing work truck designers is keeping up with these changes," Johnson pointed out. "To some degree, you can accomplish this by reviewing new product literature and reading industry trade journals. However, nothing really beats seeing the equipment firsthand and talking directly to representatives of the companies developing this new equipment."
The third mistake made is guessing. It's not good enough to make a "best guess," because that can lead to a vehicle not suited for the job at hand.
Johnson advised performing a detailed weight distribution analysis on the chassis you have chosen. This will ensure that optional axles, suspension components and frames are included if necessary to prevent vehicle overloading and equipment-mounting requirements have been met.
Then, shift your focus to the powertrain, electrical system, fuel tanks and cab requirements.
"In far too many cases, vocational truck designers make powertrain selections based on guesses instead of a careful analysis of horsepower and engine torque demands," Johnson said. "Start by defining your performance criteria (road speed, starting gradeability, reserve gradeability, etc.) and then calculate your actual requirements. This will allow you to select the proper engine, transmission and axle ratio to ensure that the truck performs as required. The payoff in this process is a truck that has better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs."
This also includes any trailers you will be hauling into the total vehicle weight.
NTEA's Work Truck Show, to be held March 5-7, 2014, in Indianapolis, IN, will include information on proper spec'ing.


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Strathfield in New South Wales is one step closer to receiving the National Broadband Network (NBN) following the first fibre optic cable being laid in the area.
The fibre will link the Homebush exchange to the local area and was laid at the corner of Todman Place and Barker Road.
Around 7900 premises will be linked to the NBN in Homebush and Strathfield by mid-this year, which would allow premises to connect to the network shortly afterwards.
NBN Co announced on Friday it had completed construction on 4000 premises in Gungahlin in the ACT.
Around 1700 premises in Toowoomba were also recently connected to the NBN.
Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @stephmcdonald0
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU


text:
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Three of the top picks in last month's draft are adjusting to NBA at different speeds at the Orlando Pro Summer League.
Marcus Smart, the sixth overall selection, had his second straight rough offensive outing Monday in Boston's 97-77 loss to Indiana. He started off strong before finishing with 11 points on just 3-for-15 shooting.
It came just two days after a disappointing 2-for-8, 10-point effort in his rookie debut.
Meanwhile, both of the Orlando Magic's lottery pickups had solid second games.
Forward Aaron Gordon, taken at No. 4, rebounded from an uneven debut to finish with nine points on 4-for-7 shooting with seven rebounds in Orlando's 87-69 win over Houston. Elfrid Payton, 10th overall, had 12 points and nine assists.


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Francisco hopes changes alter perception
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Juan Francisco knows what you are thinking.
He is on his third team in six years, and he changed positions, moving from third base to first base in the last year. He has a reputation for striking out -- a lot -- and his long home runs are legendary.View Full Game Coverage
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Juan Francisco knows what you are thinking.
He is on his third team in six years, and he changed positions, moving from third base to first base in the last year. He has a reputation for striking out -- a lot -- and his long home runs are legendary.View Full Game Coverage
But Francisco asks you to keep an open mind before you put a label on him. The 26-year old is competing with Mark Reynolds, Lyle Overbay, and prospect Hunter Morris for the Brewers' job at first base, and he's optimistic the adjustments he's made at the plate will make a difference and keep him on the roster when camp breaks.
And for the record, Francisco's baseball hero is Boston's David Ortiz, arguably the most famous designated hitter in baseball.
"I don't think I'm all that powerful," Francisco said in Spanish. "Yes, I have some strength and I can hit some home runs, but I don't think I have super power or anything like that. I want to be a better hitter overall, and that's what I'm trying to do."
At the end of last season, Brewers hitting coach Johnny Narron urged Francisco to consider some changes aimed at simplifying his swing to cut down on strikeouts. The first baseman heeded the advice, and hit .260 with three home runs and 24 RBIs in 40 games for Licey in the Dominican Winter League while employing the adjustments. He still struck out 42 times during that stretch.
"I've changed some things in my stance, the things I was missing, and it's working," Francisco said. "The biggest adjustment was working on my balance. I've done the work and I think I just have to show them my development and demonstrate that I'm here to work."
Something had to change. Francisco, acquired by the Brewers from the Braves last summer, hit .227 and struck out 138 times last season. He was plagued with an inconsistent approach in the batter's box for eight years while in the Reds organization, and was eventually traded to the Braves in 2012.
"I'm on my third team, but that's just part of the game and I don't have control of that," he said. "Cincinnati, Atlanta and now here. The whole world knows that this is a business and you can only do so much, but like they say, 'It's not about where you start, it's where you finish.'"
Francisco is off to a nice start this spring. He hit two home runs against Oakland in his first Cactus League game before striking out Friday as a pinch-hitter, and said his new approach is a big reason why he's had immediate success.
"He came into camp and told Johnny that he's trying to get away from his leg kick, he's trying to get away from the long finish, so he's keeping both hands on the bat," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "So he's made some adjustments that Johnny likes, and coming in, he said right off that he's going to [continue] to do it."
It's no surprise that Francisco downplayed his two home run effort. He's hit 32 home runs in the big leagues and 112 more in the Minors, so a couple of Spring Training homers are not important to him.
Make no mistake, Francisco's homers are a big deal.
"When he squares up balls, it doesn't matter what part of the park, he's really got some power," Roenicke said. "Only a handful of guys have his power."
But Francisco's focus remains on the process of becoming a better hitter, and driving a baseball out of the ballpark isn't as important to him as it once was. He said he would take a single or double if the hit drives in a run.
"I have to keep working on what I'm doing at home plate, keep practicing and getting better," he said. "I'm really happy that they have given me a chance to win a job here. I'm really trying to make the adjustments that are going to help me now but also to have a long career."
Francisco said the biggest adjustment on defense is the footwork around first base. Like in the batter's box, he's said he's open to instruction -- in any language.
"Juan understands almost everything I tell him [in English]. He's very quiet and he doesn't like to reply, so in the beginning I would tell him to repeat what I said," Roenicke said. "It's just him being comfortable in replying, whether it's the language or personality or one or the other."
Ultimately, Francisco's statistics will speak for him. He just hopes it tells a different story this time around.
Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB.


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I made it through the first 5 lessons of the NGS Home Study Course, so that's about 30% done. I gave a presentation on social media to my genealogical society, and wrote two articles for the quarterly. I was also
Obviously, there is still much to learn, which brings me to my goals for 2013:
1. Complete the NGS Home Study Course by June. This is by far my most important goal for this year.
2. Attend IGHR in June. I want to finish the NGS-HSC before I do this.
3. Attend FGS in Ft. Wayne in August.
4. Get into a ProGen Study Group by July.
5. Perform a census survey/census search for each direct-line individual on my tree through my 2nd great grandparents. (See this post for explanation)
6. Obtain DNA tests for my maternal uncle, my maternal grandmother, and my father.
7. Double-check source citations in RootsMagic for accuracy. I'd like to get through my 2nd great grandparents on this one too.
8. Blog at least twice per week. I've really fallen off on this and I want to get back on track.
9. Add 5 new ancestor biographies to my website and update WikiTree accordingly.
10. Contribute at least two articles to society quarterly.
11. Transfer website and blog to new host. This will involve a complete redesign of my website, relinking of all my toolbox links, and transferring my blog to WordPress.
12. Join APG - probably the Second Life chapter.
13. Continue my indexing efforts for FamilySearch. I'd like to index a minimum of 100 records per month. (I know this seems low, but in light of goals #1-4, I'd like to actually be able to meet this!)
There. Those are my 13 goals for 2013. What goals do you hope to reach this year?
Do we share any ancestors?
Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Actually it doesn't. One could conceivably be all-powerful but not exceptionally intelligent.
Power Behind Primordial Soup Discovered
I'm a bit disappointed in the integrity of the article. Here's the headline:QuotePower Behind Primordial Soup DiscoveredBut the article is filled with soft terms like could have, might have, may indicate, generally supports, etc. The science is fascinating, but I think the headline oversold it a bit (IMO).
The science is facinating, but I think the headline oversold it a bit (IMO).
As far and the title - well one has to make sure people read this stuff, doesn't one?
Yeah, well how do we know that god din't send the meteorite into the lava pool?


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Luka Modric has stressed his belief that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Real Madrid, and will not be leaving the club in the next transfer window.
Rumours of Ronaldo's potential departure this summer first started circulating in September last year when he revealed he was "sad" at the Blancos, though more recently he has insisted those issues are behind him.
"Our conversations are private but I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo will stay, I think he's very happy here," Modric told reporters.
"He is one of our best players around and it would be a shame to lose him."
Modric then reflected on Madrid's surprising defeat away to Granada last weekend, while also looking ahead to the showdown with Sevilla on Saturday.
"In Granada I did not play well, clearly," he continued.
"In every game we want to do our best but sometimes, unfortunately, we can not always achieve this. The other teams give their utmost against us so it's not easy. Still, we are Real Madrid and we have to try and win every game.
"Teams are more motivated when they play against Real Madrid so we need to be at our best if we want to win. When we don't play at our best, we start to have problems.
"Against Sevilla we will show what we are capable of. Sevilla have played much better since the arrival of [coach] Unai Emery. It will be a good warm-up ahead of the Champions League."
Modric then revealed how taken back he was after watching a video released by TV3 in Catalunya which depicted the supposed violence demonstrated by players from Real Madrid during Clasicos.
"I've seen it on TV and I don't know what to say. I've played in Croatia and England and I have never seen anything like it. It is not journalism and it is unacceptable," he added.
"It is very difficult to compare normal games with a Clascio. It's the largest match in the world with great teams and everyone enjoys them. Both teams give it their all, but, I have not noticed anything unusual in the behaviour of the Barcelona players."


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encore des suggestions...
1 if he should do these things/this, we would withdraw
2 if we should/were-to provide/supply a market-place, you would have both food and wine
3 if we should win, he would not plunder the country
4 he would have worthy friends, if they should have the weapons
5 if I should lead them back to Greece again, they would justly give thanks
6 if it should seem best to/for the footmen to collect supplies/forage, what would you do?
7 if they should close the gates, you would surround them both by land and sea
8 if the river should prove not to be fordable on foot, they would bring boats together
9 if he should send them a reward, he would have just and brave allies.
They were crossing the river on foot ? for they did not have boats. Never had this river been passable on foot except (if not) at this time, but by boats (alone/only). Indeed it seemed to be a portent to all the generals and soldiers. From there he marches on through Syria, nine stages, fifty parasangs ? and they arrive at the river Araxes. There were villages there stored with grain and wine. They remained there three days and provisioned up.
1 the ruler sent a guide to the Greeks, that he might lead them through the hostile country
2 he assisted this man, that he might have him as a friend
3 who is exercising/taking care, that the soldiers might/will receive their (the) reward?
4 he was taking care of the barbarians, that they might be both sufficient/capable to make war, and (be) well disposed to him
5 they were seeking the rulers, that they might plan with/advise them
6 Menon was plotting against Clearchus, so that he might be a friend to the satrap
7 you would be friends worthy of honour, if you would/were-to provide arms for the army
8 Cyrus will exercise care, that the soldiers will be grateful to him/give him thanks
9 and with them I would be valued ? but if I was deprived of them, I would not be sufficient/capable to assist my friends
From there he marches out through Arabia ? having the river Euphrates on (his) right ? (for) five uninhabited/desolate stages, 35 parasangs. In this place the ground was a plain, all flat/(one level plain) like the sea. All sorts of wild animals were in (it/there), wild asses and ostriches (Arabian sparrows?!); there were also bustards and gazelles. The soldiers sometimes pursued these creatures from horseback ? and the asses were difficult to catch, since/for they ran faster than the horses.
1 he feared that the foe might be honoured
2 if the Greeks should approach, the enemy would be frightened
3 we made Xenophon our ruler that we might be saved
4 Cyrus would be kind to the Greeks, if they should vote to accompany/march-with (him)
5 if we were not to have/should not have arms, we would be deprived of our bodies/lives also
6 if we should be hard pressed by the enemy, we would proceed in a circle
7 the soldiers feared that they would be left behind
8 if we should win, we would both be saved and have provisions
9 but yet the general was afraid that he would be encircled on both sides
10 I was calling the men inside so that I could plan with them what was (is) right/just before both gods and men
For the asses, when the soldiers were pursuing them, used-to-run ahead; and again, when the horses used-to-approach, they also did this, and it was not possible to take them unless the soldiers posted themselves at intervals. Nobody caught/took ostriches. For they use their wings as a sail, and those (who) pursue (them) quickly desist/give-up. If some one quick(ly) pursues the bustards, it is possible to catch (?em) ? for they fly a short distance and give up quickly.
best wishes


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I think I know what our new Thursday evening ritual will be.
Pack the kids in the car, battle a little bit of bottleneck traffic around Franklin and the 101, and drive up the hill to Yamashiro around the magic hour, where L.A. City Farm recently started up the Yamashiro Garden Market. (Here's my preview on Squid Ink ago just before it debuted.) Truth be told, it was my first visit to the sprawling, historic property at the top of Sycamore Avenue.
It's certainly not an extensive market by any means, but you can find most fruits and veggies and basics (Rivadeneira Farm, the vendor I buy eggs from at Barnsdall and Atwater was there tonight), while get a massage, chocolate, popcorn, coffee, and most importantly, Bulgarini Gelato. A certain member of our family lucked out by having Bulgarini's mango yesterday BEFORE noon thanks to a hidden stash in the freezer and a nasty fever + diminished appetite for everything else, followed by a fresh dose tonight.
Two tacos with a big blob of wasabi guacamole at the spawn-of-Kogi-style YamaSada by Yamashiro and a fresh spinach and cheese crepe made for a substantial dinner. But I hope some more prepared vendors will occupy the tents up on the hill tucked just below the illuminated homes and ridges of Outpost and Runyon. Plus balloons, a puppet show, clown, and $2 valet parking sweeten the deal. Be prepared to wait for your car, but that's a nicely subsidized price.
Here's to more opportunities for public life in Los Angeles! Especially those that combine gem locations, local food, and good intentions. The killer views don't hurt either. And neither does the access to Bulgarini.


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Usually, whenever one region of the U.S. Peanut Belt experiences a good crop year, another one suffers a weather calamity, but that wasn't the case in 2012.
"There wasn't a weak spot in the entire country, with west Texas and the Carolinas producing bumper crops along with the lower Southeast," says Marshall Lamb, research director for the National Peanut Research Laboratory and advisor for the Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards.
"Considering that we'll produce about 3.2 million tons of peanuts this year, I'd say it has been a pretty good year. Followed by two years of drought, we had outstanding crop conditions for 2012 that allowed the entire peanut industry to produce higher yields and higher quality than we've seen in the past," says Lamb.
Many in the industry were wondering what growers could do with improved peanut varieties in a perfect year, and they may have found out in 2012, he says.
However, the resulting over-production will dampen prices going into 2012, says Lamb.
"Growers who have not already contracted will have to put their peanuts into loan and wait and see. We will have to cut acreage significantly in 2013 to get supply and demand back in balance."
Considering this past year's production, there should be no shortage of nominations for the 2013 Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards, says Lamb.
"A tremendous number of growers had near-record or record-high peanut yields in 2012. The difference this year in determining winners might be in how a crop was marketed, and that's something growers would had to have taken care of early on, when contracts were still being offered," he says.
In the previous two years, with severe drought conditions, growers struggled to keep irrigating to make a good crop, says Lamb.
"When we have a year like 2012, farmers who had managed their crops in extreme conditions are able to take it to the next level, and we saw that over and over this past season. It's never easy to make a crop, but years like 2012 make it possible to reach your full potential."
Growers can learn from an ideal year just as they can from an extreme year, says Lamb, and that makes the educational component of Peanut Profitability more important than ever.
(For additional information on the Peanut Profitability Awards program and a list of former winners, click here).
Lamb, who was instrumental in developing the criteria for the awards program, has been advisor since the program's inception. He says it's no easy feat for growers to be nominated for and then to win the award.
"Peanut Profitability has set a standard of excellence during its existence, and while it has never been an easy honor to earn, I expect another fine group of nominees in 2013.
Based on production efficiency
The Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards are based on production efficiency, honoring those growers who produce the highest yields at the lowest cost per acre.
Awards are presented to growers from the Lower Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi; the Upper Southeast, including Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and the Southwest, including Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
The awards program has honored 13 classes of winners from throughout the U.S. Peanut Belt. Since the program's beginning in 2000, the Peanut Profitability Awards have honored 39 deserving growers or farms.
The Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards Program began with the first-ever Southern Peanut Growers Conference in conjunction with the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
Winners of the 2013 awards will receive an expenses-paid trip for two to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, set for July of next year in Panama City, Fla. In addition, the winners are featured in special Peanut Profitability issues of Southeast Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press and Delta Farm Press.
"While achieving consistently high yields and grades is important, it's only part of the equation to maximizing profits. The elements of production cost and price are equally important factors in our evaluation of nominees," says Lamb.
The grower nomination form for the Peanut Profitability Award is very extensive, notes Lamb, and it considers both fixed and variable costs.
"We've had nominees in this program with higher yields than most, but they did not correctly manage their cost structure. We're looking at per-unit costs, and how effectively farmers manage their cost structures," he says.
The awards program, he says, is based on a producer's or farm's entire peanut operation.
"We're not talking about small plots in select fields. Rather, we look at the overall management by these growers. This includes yields, costs and marketing management for the entire farm, and most of our winners come from sizable farms," says Lamb.
Assisting with the awards program is an Advisory Board comprised of Extension peanut specialists, county agents, economists and commodity group officials from the major peanut-producing states. They help to distribute nomination forms within their respective states and educate potential nominees about the program.
Farm Press editors, working with Lamb, select the regional winners from the pool of state nominees. Members of the Advisory Board, along with Lamb, are charged with periodically reviewing the awards program to insure consistency and accuracy.
Data entered on a farmer's nomination form, notes Lamb, should be based on an entire farm operation and not on individual farms or small plots. Actual per-unit costs and returns information will remain confidential to Lamb and his staff.
Growers may submit their nomination form directly to the National Peanut Research Laboratory, or they may submit it to their county Extension agent, peanut specialist or economist. The deadline for all nominations is April 15, 2012.
Growers can access the nomination form via the Internet at southeastfarmpress.com, southwestfarmpress.com, and deltafarmpress.com. In addition, it can be linked from various commodity group websites.
To receive a hard copy of the form, call Farm Press headquarters at (662) 624-8503.