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Recyclables are picked up once per week in Omaha. Deffenbaugh Industries, our collection contractor, uses packer trucks, commonly called garbage trucks, with large yellow RECYCLING signs on the side to collect and transport the recyclables. The recyclables are taken to an indoor, semi-automated, processing facility operated by Firstar Fiber. Firstar Fiber separates the different materials, compacts and bales the material for shipment to various companies to make new items. By using recycled resources to make new items, companies save billions of dollars each year in energy costs.
Here is an example of the process: an aluminum can that is recycled in Omaha, will be shipped to an aluminum plant where it is melted and used to make a new can that is then back on store shelves in as little as 60 days. That is called closed loop recycling and it starts right in your kitchen when you choose to recycle that can!


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Ross Emerson
Ross Emerson (GB) presents ceramics in which he refers to the past culture periods. Humorously processed Emerson elements from the gothic, baroque, rococo, neo-classicism and art deco to bizar 'memorials'. Thanks to the basic colours and the classic dial the first impression is of a decent clock that would fit on any chimney or dresser. The multicolored, ceramic clocks come to life because homey scenes are added with both literally and figuratively a twisted perspective. Music instruments, chess boards, birds and animals, a colourful combination is done with a lot of humor. With his parodies of different art movements and comment on other artists, such as the black and white pattern of Escher, it recalls the inexorable passage of time.
The earthenware is fired around the 1150 °C making a stoneware character. The work shows the public the versatility of ceramics as an art form and shows the British culture with lots of self-mockery.
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Clock Aquarium€ 1,700.00 Read more
Clock Dodo€ 1,075.00 Read more
Clock Jesters Palace€ 2,250.00 Add to basket
Viola Clock Parrotdice€ 2,150.00 Read more
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subset: commoncrawl


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Several perspectives on naturist Croatia, from the clothing optional beaches near Hvar, to the expansive naturist resorts of Istria
See our other post about Naturism in Croatia
Several perspectives on naturist Croatia, from the clothing optional beaches near Hvar, to the expansive naturist resorts of Istria
See our other post about Naturism in Croatia
This is a bit off track of my typical blog posts, but I think this is truly a timely and worthy cause!
I have referenced the Young Naturists of America (YNA) several times in my blog as a group of body-positive people known for bold action beyond words in their efforts to promote family-oriented naturism in the United States. To the extent, that they are trying fervently to sustain a naturist friendly business in central New Jersey, but at the moment, it's rough going…
You can read about the current situation here.
I intend to make a contribution, and encourage those who've been following my blog to do the same! Their work has been the most encouraging efforts I've seen on behalf of US naturism in a long, long time! Win or lose, they need our support in fighting the good fight!
– Naturist Dan
POST SCRIPT (April 2015): Sadly, the Terlam Spa project didn't make, and I did make a smallish contribution. No regrets on my part! The YNA is still alive and kicking, sponsoring truly unique events in the Metropolitan NY area. I applaud them for forging forward in their campaign for body positive social nudity!
Should you be foolish enough to pick an argument with an acquaintance at a cocktail party about the birth time and place of European naturism, you're likely to find three viable contenders in the final round for this illustrious title; Germany, France, and… CROATIA! The last of which, by the way, owes much of its naturist reputation to its proximity to Germany, but I'll get to that in a while.
Regulars on my blog are already well acquainted with my infatuation with French naturism, and the various resorts that have come to define our own personal sense of family naturist nirvana. But as I kept digging deeper into the adverts and propaganda directed at those suffering from chronic-sun-addiction-disorder, names like Koversada and Valalta kept resurfacing in naturist guides and pre-Google-era web searches! Strangely enough, I had a vague awareness of this eastern European phenomena, as my first trip to Europe was in 1985 when I was in college; a trip that included a wide swing through (what was then) Yugoslavia, which generated a fair number of wise-cracks on the bus, "Hey, we should go to the beach and see the naked Germans!"
At twenty-two years of age, I had not yet 'come out' as a naturist, but at the time, I thought the whole thing sounded pretty intriguing. Given our two-day stopover in Zagreb, I hadn't the vaguest idea as to where we were in relation to the nearest naturist beach or nudist resort. Turns out that beach would have been at least four hours away, on the Istrian peninsula on the Adriatic Sea.
Before I continue, I should proclaim that with this post, I am making a decisive departure from the documentary style of our Naturist Odyssey across Europe that I had intended to post – blow-by-blow – last summer as we actually forged our way some 10,000 kilometers from Spain to Greece. (You can read about that here.) My journalistic ambitions were thwarted by poor Internet connections and a limited skill-set in navigating the blogosphere, so I finally gave up. That's a particularly important point, as I have decided to use this post to encapsulate five different visits to naturist Croatia over a period of the last ten years, amalgamating trip reports from 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The consequence is a series dated photos and details that may well be lacking in the realm of immediacy and accuracy, but my desire here is to capture the prevailing sense and atmosphere of naturism in Croatia.
That said, during the 2013 Naturist Odyssey, we made an early departure from Origan Village (in the foothills above Nice) with the objective of blasting straight across the admittedly prudish region of northern Italy (more about that in a future post) to reach naked Croatia by nightfall at the end of the day. Remarkably, our mission was accomplished, despite an aggravating, bumper-to-bumper, final approach down the narrow highway that leads to Istria, where 90% of Croatian naturist activity takes place. This particular time, our destination was the naturist apartment complex at Koversada; a sprawling property self-proclaimed as the largest naturist resort in all of Europe!
This would be our second visit to Koversada, our fourth visit to Istria, and in all, our fifth visit to Croatia. At the risk of being redundant and/or patronizing, it is worth reiterating the fact that Croatia is a part of former Yugoslavia, which was a 'nation' created in the wake of WWII, held together for nearly four decades with bailing wire, a charismatic dictator, and a good deal of imagination when it came to creating reasonably attractive seaside resorts with little in the way of external (or internal) capital investment. As one might imagine, the result of all this can be found in hotels and seaside apartment complexes that are… almost… luxurious! Things have improved, significantly, since our first visit in 2005, but suffice it to say, if you're accustomed to traveling in Western Europe, once in Croatia, you will know that you're in Eastern Europe.
Our first venture in 2005 included a mid-June visit to Valalta, near the Lim Fjord on the Istrian Penninsula, where you can see Koversada on the facing shore. I have recounted elsewhere in these pages the deep affections my children held for a place called La Jenny in the southwest of France, but to put it bluntly, the weather on the Cote d'Argent (southwest France) can be unpredictable at best. Seasoned travelers in the know suggested that we would have a better chance at winning the New York lottery than experiencing a rainy day on the Adriatic, so we took the bait, and as it happened, had a week of postcard-perfect weather in this Croatian naturist resort during the summer of 2005.
By this time, our kids were in their late teens, and I have vivid recollections of our youngest daughter trying to recreate the French naturist experience at the dance party near the Valalta pool. "A+ for effort," but it simply wasn't the same. Of course not, we were 1000 kilometers, and a million miles away from France. Sadly, that was the last time our entire family embarked on a naturist adventure to Europe. It wasn't bad – it just wasn't French!
But wait! Before you dismiss Croatia as a viable family naturist destination, I need to mention the calm, warm-water inlets, the deep blue skies, and the local eateries with lamb or roast pig on the spit; or the fact that especially in the northern region, almost any beach is a naturist beach! While traditionally Catholic Croatians aren't so keen on naked sunbathing, they are quick to realize the value of the tourist revenue to be had from the good (naked) people of nearby Italy and Germany.
That, along with the weather, was enough to inspire us to venture back to Croatia four more times, with a penchant for more adventurous explorations to the islands of Rab and Hvar, the historical cities of Dubrovnik and Split, and two additional visits to the Istrian peninsula, with extended stays in the lovely, remodeled apartments at naturist Koversada that afford the luxuries of modern living (thinking dishwashers and air conditioning here) along with a stunning view of the Adriatic Sea.
To date, we have stayed once at Valalta (2005), twice at Koversada (2012 and 2013), made a day visit to a third major resort called Solaris (2012), and have worked our way down through the Dalmatian Islands with stops on the island of Rab (supposedly the birthplace of Croatian naturism), the large island of Hvar (including the lovely little naturist islet of Jerolim), and even paid a visit to a small naturist beach on an island near Dubrovnik, which as it turns out, proved to illustrate a very important point…
Croatia is a stunningly beautiful region! In fact, I dare say, with the dissolution of the Yugoslavian state, the Croatians ended up with the lion's share of magnificent beachfront property! But typical tourist Croatia – Dubrovnik, Split, and Hvar – is a significant distance from the "bazillion naked Germans" Croatia, where you may, indeed, find Europe's largest naturist resorts with loads of naked Europeans during the months of July and August. But all those naked people are a long day or two of travel from Hvar and Dubrovnik.
In fact, one of the most startling moments during our journey down the Adriatic coast was our visit to the island of Rab, renowned for her remote and exquisitely beautiful naturist beaches. We set out one day on foot to find said beaches when finally, upon discovery, overheated and dehydrated, I doffed my shorts underneath the sign that indicated we were on an FKK (naturist) beach. I waded out into the tranquil shallows, only to realize that I was the only naked guy on the entire beach! Nobody seemed to care, but I had clearly failed the 'blend in with the locals' test. Never had I been so cognizant of the fact that guidebooks, even naturist guidebooks, are outdated the day they are printed! Naturism may have been allowed on this beach, but it most certainly wasn't the common practice on the day of our visit.
Once this post is up, I will go to work on a new photo gallery that should provide a good sense of naturist life in Croatia. We will go back one day, but as it turns out, the Adriatic weather can be temperamental as well as we have learned that Croatia is not a slam-dunk guarantee for uninterrupted sunshine. But swimming in the Adriatic is hard to beat, and for those who enjoy exploring the rocky coastline, there are an infinite number of places where jumping naked into the sea is completely acceptable.
In the meantime, the Istrian peninsula remains the principal naturist region, near the quasi-Italian villages of Rovinj and Poreč. Friends tell me Valalta is reaching out to make naturism more relevant to the modern naturist, which I take to mean they are updating accommodations and working to create dining and entertainment options that will keep your tourist dollars in the resort. I would rent our sweet little apartment at Koversada again in a heartbeat, as a naked afternoon at the fish restaurant on the adjoining naturist island there constitutes an indescribably delicious slice of nirvana. And even though we have only made a perfunctory visit to Solaris, I would stay there without hesitation as well – a smaller resort with newer apartments, and a great little pool area overlooking the sea. Given that these incredible naturist places are roughly a six-hour drive south from Munich, (ironically, much closer than driving from Dubrovnik!) it seems you could hardly go wrong if your main objectives are sun, swimming, and the sensuality that is a nakation.
In my humble opinion, there are two Croatias; one that caters to westerners who are willing and able to pay the price to stay in five-star hotels, and another that is a bit more earthy, where people go to lay out on innumerable and expansive rocky slabs for an all-over tan. We are quite enamored with each, but have come to realize that you can't do it all in a week!
You may also be interested in our other Naturist Odyssey installments:
It's a lazy Sunday morning and I was looking for something interesting to read when I came across this thread on the Young Naturists America (YNA) page about their ongoing efforts (and to date, some recent successes) in normalizing coed nudity in an urban spa setting, where people can hang out for a few hours of relaxed, social interaction… without clothes!
The article spawned a lengthy and somewhat argumentative banter amidst readers who challenged the business model, the legalities, and even the likelihood that such a place could ever exist in the United States, suggesting that even if it did, it would fall to the immediate infestation of male voyeurs looking for a cheap thrill. The debate has meandered on while the young entrepreneurs at YNA have quietly gone about creating such a place at a New Jersey health club, if only during limited hours on a weekly basis. A brilliant move in the spirit of "I'm going to build it while you tell me why it can't be done."
What I simply don't understand is how we, – and I'm trying to avoid nationalist-driven superlatives here – such a well educated, well traveled, and by comparison, well moneyed population, who live in the land of the free and the brave, can be so incredibly closed minded when it comes to anything that has to do with social nudity, while our European counterparts are floating happily about in a sea of inter-generational nakedness that feels about as deviant as a day at the minor-league ballpark!
Take Therme Erding near Munich, for example, which is about the most compelling reason I can think of to begin any European journey with a good long soak, given it's convenient location near the Franz Joseph (MUC) International Airport. It is from this article in an international business magazine that I have derived the title of this blog post, noting that in 2007 they expanded operations in the clothing optional Sauna World to handle a daily capacity of over 1500 visitors per day, 364 days per year. One might say, "Well yeah, but how often do they hit capacity?" Having visited at least eight or ten times now, each time on a different day of the week, at various times during the year, it appears that it's just about every day! Try and find two empty lounge chairs after 11:00 am on any morning is like looking for a parking space at the mall on December 23rd. (Click here for yet another perspective on this theme park for grownups; a particularly animated review from a British perspective.)
Under the banner of 'what's possible?' you might want to take a look at one of their promotional videos, or even dig around on their website for a while. But it's pretty easy to let an entire day slip by floating in the lazy river, sweating away your stress in a themed sauna, reading or taking a nap in one of the atmospheric quiet rooms, or simply socializing over a naked Erdinger Weissbeer at the swim-up bar, under the shade of real palm trees and a protective glass dome that brings Tahiti to Bavaria every day of the year.
It would be impressive if this were the only place in Europe where one is afforded a day of clothing optional recreation, but in fact, these mega spas can be found throughout northern Europe, each one seeking out a distinctive marketing edge congruent with the region, and the people who are drawn there. (Some are only clothing optional on certain days of the week, while others only allow swimsuits during designated hours.) Consider the Ludwigsfelde Therme near Berlin, seemingly the flagship of the Kristall Therme chain, but with extended hours that cater mostly to those who wish to bathe textilfrei (or Naked!). Or Mediterana near Cologne, where the pools are a bit more on the tepid side, but the specialty here is a pervasive sense of Zen. My favorite 'attraction' is a large room where everyone sits on a tiled bench around the perimeter, feet immersed over the calves in warm water, while a mesmerizing fire draws your attention away from the other naked onlookers.
Perhaps it's due to the fact that the Netherlands share Germany's gloomy climate that the naked spa culture is alive and thriving there as well. To date, we have only managed to find our way to two Dutch spas, but Elysium near Rotterdam apparently set the bar years ago for what many of the newer places in Germany seek to emulate today, where my favorite space is something like an IMAX theater where cinematic images of nature and wildlife are cast in 360 degrees around the room, but the seating consists of tile recliners submerged in a warm pool. Or how about the quirky Sauna von Egmond on a side street in Haarlem – smallish by comparison, but reminiscent of Gene Wilder's imagined private quarters at the Wonka Chocolate Factory, with a surrealist décor, a deliciously warm pool, several dry saunas to help one thaw from the winter chill, and a particularly intimate reading room with a fireplace equipped with huge leather couches, where regulars curl up to read the Sunday paper over a cup of tea.
Interestingly enough, I don't believe any of these places consider themselves a part of the commercial naturist industry such as the huge resorts in Spain, France, or Croatia; nor is their marketing strategy aimed at people who identify themselves as naturists! In fact, for those who are accustomed to visiting naturist places, it takes a bit of effort and patience to fully grasp the culture of nudity at the spa, where in fact, each and every spa seems to have it's own unique culture. It's typically a delicately choreographed dance between one's robe, a bath towel, and nakedness. Where each is acceptable and/or appropriate varies from place to place, sometimes day to day. And it makes sense when you think about it. These are not places that cater to people who insist on being naked. These are places that market to people who aren't afraid to be naked.
I have much admiration for the good people at YNA who are working so diligently to encourage a similar ideology in the New York metropolitan area, and having lived much of my life on the west coast, I know there are similar places where such environments have survived within a successful business model. We were once regulars at a little place called Frogs in Marin County, which apparently embraces a very similar ethos to the Common Ground Cooperative in Portland, Oregon. And, in fact, the interesting nuance of the aforementioned business article about Therme Erding is that they, the owners and investors, were responding to an evolving market as well. One that supersedes that more traditional spa culture in Germany with famous bathhouses in places like Baden-Baden or Wiesbaden; each of which still exist, but are seemingly spending most of their energy catering to American tourists who take a once-in-a-life time dare to get bare, while the new super-spas in Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin are pulling in another half-million customers a year – few of them naturists – all of them naked.
I am well acquainted with the prevailing arguments about prudery and paranoia in America, but it occurs to me that not everyone in Europe is eager to drop their worries with their clothes as well. In fact, only a mere half-million per year in metropolitan Bavaria! Maybe what America is really lacking is a bit of imagination and a new marketing plan!
[Not to be confused with my post on 100 Naked Places!]
So a few weeks ago, while staying at Vera Playa, we decided to exploit a particularly lovely morning with a leisurely walk down the beach. Having done my homework before departure for this, our first visit to this famous naturist town on the Andalusia coast, (you can read that report here) I had a pretty good sense of the general layout of the authorized naturist zones, as compared to the nudity tolerated zones, well delineated on the most excellent map on the Vera Playa friends webpage where the color fades away to indicate, "You have now left naturist wonderland! Have a nice day!"
Of course, I didn't bother to print out the map before heading off to Spain, and it seemed less than practical to lug along my MacBook as we meandered down the broad sandy shoreline, simply for the benefit of adhering to these rather arbitrary borders on this Spanish beach where the law reads that any beach can be a naturist beach, as long as you don't offend the locals. Well! That pretty much clears things up! How far can we walk naked until we should turn around or cover up? And how do we assess the attitude of the locals as to their collective threshold for taking personal offense?
How about this for a possible guideline: As long as we can see another naked person, it's all good!
Intellectually, that policy makes a lot of sense to me, though in practice, the margin of error related to such real-time-decision-making is incredibly wide. For starters, how does one identify "the locals," and once having done so, how do you determine whether or not they are offended? That topless middle-aged woman reading a book on the beach – is she a local? How about that nude woman simply lying out, working on her all-over tan? Is she a local? And what about that naked guy walking the beach about 100 paces in front of us? He doesn't seem to be offending anyone. Oh wait! He's not naked!
As we close in to about 70 paces, we notice he's wearing one of those little nylon bathing suits that European men seem to prefer, in a color that might be best identified as "skin tone." And it turns out one of the nude women is, in fact, only topless, adorned by a very small piece of fabric that, even at 50 paces, has created the appearance of one who is fond of that natural look below the waist. We turned this into sort of a game, "I can tell if that person is naked at ___ (fill in the blank) paces!" Followed by discrete, observation-based research during which we each had to adhere to the golden rule of the nude beach – DON'T STARE!
Long time Vera Playa patrons might be appalled to learn that we (quite by accident!) walked all the way to Garrucha, which is most definitely beyond the delineations of the naturist zone that adjoins Vera Playa. It was a Tuesday morning in May, so there were few tourists on the beach, and you could see life running full tilt up in the city near the port. Our pace accelerated as we were eager to walk the length of the beach, but we weren't too crazy about getting in trouble with the local authorities for indecent exposure, and even more so, we are typically very sensitive about doing anything under the banner of pushing the envelope (e.g. being naked where you're not supposed to) as that may well lead to negative consequences for the authorized naturist area down the way. But, alas, we were able to adhere to our "naked person in sight" rule for the duration of our outing, thanks to a couple of liberated young women who had settled in for a good read not far from their mainstream hotel.
But finally, to my point! Assuming "a pace" is between two and three feet (For the purpose of this argument, we'll stretch the truth a bit to equal "one yard.") and most of us can easily visualize the length of a football field as a measurement of 100 yards, it turns out that it's really quite difficult to discern whether someone is naked or not from the distance of 100 paces. In fact, in many cases, depending on the color, cut, or size of the swimwear, it can be difficult to tell if a person is naked at 50 paces, or even 25 paces if that person is fond of flesh-tone bathers. And having gone that far, I have to say that even at 25 paces, depending on juxtaposition, lighting, and I truly hate to say this… body condition, it can be very difficult to discern whether you're looking at a topless woman, or a "well endowed" man. But alas, regardless of breast size, topless men have been socially acceptable for nearly a century now.
What I find most intriguing about this topic, however, is the nuance of just what people find offensive about public nudity in the first place, when one really needs a very keen eye to discern the degree of nakedness when that person is more than at arm's length. I find this particularly curious in the United States, where there are only three officially recognized nude beaches in the entire country. THREE! And the recurring theme at the official and non-official nude beaches in America is the ongoing problem with gawkers – those people who feel compelled to stand along the cliffs of the California coast to gaze upon the naked people playing Frisbee on the beach below. Really? At the distance of 200 paces, can you even discern who is naked, let alone, the corresponding genders or body proportions? The more resourceful voyeurs may arrive with binoculars and telephoto lenses, but really, is it worth all that? It's sort of the same argument of watching a football game on portable TV while you're sitting in the stadium so you can actually see who did what on the field, but in this case, you're not trying to identify the players, but very specific (and relatively small) body parts. So much work for so little reward!
Yet the hysteria and paranoia about public nudity remains at a feverish pitch, as someone may well be offended by another's nakedness, to the point that there have been recent citations and arrests on US beaches as a result of mothers helping their 2-year-olds change into a swimsuit – in public – on the beach! Such "reckless behavior" apparently represents child endangerment. Try that as an adult, and you risk being labeled a sexual predator.
Apparently, in the minds of so many, the simple state of nudity can't be as innocent as purported… by naturists… to be. I defer, once more, to Philip Carr-Gomm (A Brief History of Nakedness, 2010) where he quotes Pope John Paul II, "Nakedness itself is not immodest… Immodesty is present when nakedness plays a negative role with regard to the value of the person, when its aim is to arouse concupiscence, [had to look that one up!] as a result of which the person is put in a position of an object for enjoyment." As best I can tell, even the Pope thought it OK to be naked if your nakedness is devoid of the intent of personal exploitation or the desire to offend. But clarification, please! Is that from 100 paces away? 1000 paces away? Within sight of the people behind you on the beach, who decide to turn you in to the ranger for an accidental display of nipplage? How's a naturist to know?
Those of us who take delight in simple and forthright naturist pursuits bear the burden of seeing ourselves as others see us – naked. It will be interesting to see if the people marketing the nipple bikini (pictured above) actually end up promoting the cause for positive public nudity, or simply stir up another round of hysteria as onlookers pull out the cameras and magnifying devices to discern – "Are those really your breasts, or are they just painted on?" History suggests the pendulum swings back and forth on issues like this over time, but as best I can tell, it's been a while since the pendulum has moved in a direction that favors the naturist cause.
So much ado… about (wearing) nothing!
So, it was a year ago to the day that we set off on our "naturist odyssey" across Europe; a three month expedition that would begin on the small island of Ile du Levant, circle around to the south of Barcelona for a stay at El Templo del Sol, and following an extended stay at our naturist home base, La Jenny (from whence I am writing this post – now a year later), straight across Europe with two stops in Provence before making our way to the Adriatic coast where we would finally end up in Greece.
At least to my sensibilities, Provence is what people think of when they think of the South of France, along with the nearby Cote d'Azur and the legendary St. Tropez peninsula, which seems to have a reputation in the imagination of most Americans as the land of a thousand topless Brigitte Bardots! We made our first visit to naturist Provence in 1997, carefully tracking down secluded nude beaches with highly detailed Michelin maps in hand, finding that more often than not, the officially sanctioned nude beach was about five kilometers down the road from the stunningly beautiful beach that was clearly the more scenic destination. But alas, it turns out there are many options for total sun worship in the region, and for this journey, we had chosen two: Domaine naturiste de la Sabliere near the Roman ruins and the Ardèche gorge, and Origan Village, in the foothills of the Alps above Nice.
Ironically enough, one of the most challenging things about taking a naturist vacation in Provence is finding the balance between naked time on the terrace, and doing normal tourist things, like going to the local market, visiting ancient castles, and exploring the nearby villages to taste the wine, honey, and lavender ice cream. Unlike some of the more remote naturist destinations (take La Jenny, for example) Provence gives you a myriad of reasons to put your clothes on, and in fact, once you get home people will say, "Oh you went to Provence! Did you see … ???"
"No," you reply, "It just seemed like too much trouble to get dressed in the morning."
An important factor in this equation is that when Europeans go on vacation, they tend to put down roots and stay for two or three weeks, minimum! If it's a naturist place, and the sky gets cloudy on the tenth day, that might be an excellent time to see the ruins of the local chateau with a bit of wine tasting en route. You choose a naturist resort the same way you choose a summer camp for your kids. "They have archery, horse-back riding, water aerobics, yoga classes, art lessons, and a camp orchestra – good choice!"
Such is the case at La Sabliere on the Cèze river gorge near the village of Barjac. In French naturist circles, this place seems to be an anchor of naturist ideals, family owned and operated for nearly four decades now. Set on the steep hillsides of the gorge, the areas near the river are mainly camping for tents and small trailers, with small neighborhoods up the hill sporting small portable chalets that have all the amenities of home (with the exception, perhaps, of a lot of space).
We first visited La Sabliere back in 2004 on a day trip while staying elsewhere in Provence. Having become regulars at La Jenny by that time, where there always seems to be a perpetual controversy about whether "this is a naturist place or a clothing-optional place," we were pleased to see that nudity was much more the norm at La Sabliere, with many families with adolescent children. As in the US, family nudity has become increasingly controversial in Europe as well; a frequent topic in French naturist publications and web forums. In fact, my comment elsewhere in this blog noted that during this visit (2013), most of the kids swimming in the river were wearing swimsuits; an observation that stirred up quite a few pointed replies on a French naturist forum, in that publishing such remarks may well do harm to a place that is renowned for strong naturist values. (I have subsequently changed the language in that review.) In fact, La Sabliere is about as naturist as it gets in a country celebrated for upholding naturist ideals, but the business of family naturism has become increasingly complicated in this age of obsession with fashion, body image, and the proliferation of publishing digital photos on the web. Seems that it's a challenging time to manage a naturist resort, even in France.
All that aside, if you can manage the basic accommodations of a simple chalet, you will likely be mesmerized by the ever-changing ambiance as the sun moves across the sky. The clever design of the pool gives you the sense that you're at the edge of a waterfall on the precipice of a steep canyon, and watching kids jump from the twenty-meter boulders into the river Céze provides hours of entertainment for those of us who are too cowardly to do it ourselves. The summer climate in this region typically facilitates dawn-to-dusk (and beyond) nudity, which is permitted throughout the resort – even in the restaurant.
Should you compromise your naturist resolve, there are innumerable options for immersing oneself in typical Provençal delights, such as the aforementioned Roman ruins, charming local marchés such as the one in Goudargues, and the incredible Cascades du Sautadet (sadly – not naturist) where hundreds gather to scale the rock formations before going airborne into dozens of fresh water pools. A great spot for swimming and people watching. And to my palette, it's difficult to find a poor restaurant in this region, where even the unassuming pizzeria will have a local specialty and charming atmosphere.
Our next stop in Provence represented our second visit to Origan Village near Puget Théniers in the Alpes Cote d'Azur above Nice. Also a family establishment, there had been many upgrades since our last stay about ten years ago, including several modifications to the pool area, renovations to the restaurant (where you have a breath-taking view of the valley below), and several new options for rental chalets amidst the expansive campground. Our favorite feature at Origan remains the wilderness trail that runs straight up the mountain behind the resort, then along the ridge for perhaps two kilometers before bringing you down on the other side of the property – about a 90-minute circuit that became our morning exercise routine – au natural! Naturist hiking is quite popular in France, but is best done in an organized group of card carrying naturists should you inadvertently wander your way into trouble. Of course, that requires that you are available to meet up with such groups when they have an organized naturist trek, and quite likely, some facility in the French language as well. Origan satiates our naturist hiking desires, on our own time at our own pace, and again, even a time deviation of fifteen minutes remarkably changes the landscape as sun and shadows morph throughout the day.
Our son and his girlfriend would visit us near the end of our stay at Origan. For her, it was the first visit to a naturist place, and while a good sport about the whole thing, you could tell her brain was working overtime trying to figure it all out. This became even a bit more complicated the last night of our stay when we went to the Friday Night Spectacle in the resort restaurant – a cabaret extravaganza of sorts. We had remembered a similar production from our visit years ago that featured an older couple who were once renowned for their professional ballroom dancing. It was dated, but nonetheless, charming.
This time I think it's safe to say the show had a more burlesque feel about it, with a bizarre mixture of clichés that you might associate with the sort of tawdry humor that one associates with, well… burlesque! It all seemed a bit peculiar to me in this "holistic naturist environment," and I daresay, a bit awkward while sitting across the table from our son's girlfriend who was still grappling with all things social nudity. It appeared that most other people in the audience were French, (and thus, they likely got the jokes!) laughing uproariously throughout the show. Even a year later, I'm not sure how to contextualize that evening, except to say that it was memorable, and will likely resurface at family gatherings for a long, long time under the banner of, "Hey dad, remember that evening we went to that cabaret show in Provence…"
Both Sabliere and Origan are situated in stunningly beautiful locations that would be well worth the effort even if naturism was not part of the deal. That is something I long for at home, but even when one finds such a place in the US, it's so remote that you have to drive for hours to find a supermarket or tourist attraction. Seems that in Provence, you are never farther than an hour from a naturist place.
There are a lot of options, especially if you broaden the brushstroke a bit to include the region near Montpellier (including the offerings in and around Cap d'Agde), the well known Bélézy to the north of Avignon, or any number of smaller camps in remarkable locations, such as La Messidor, a modest naturist resort near the village where we resided for a year. I suppose ultimately one needs to decide if you're going to Provence to see Provence, or if you're going to Provence to exploit her most precious resource – immeasurable doses of sunshine. That's the problem with naturist travel, especially if you've only managed to carve out a week or two. Places like La Sabliere and Origan Village beg you to step out of the fast lane and simply absorb the ambiance and conviviality of a real holiday in France. I suspect that's not the way most Americans experience Provence. For my naturist dollar, it's the only way to experience Provence.
You may also be interested in our other Naturist Odyssey installments:


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text:
Lifetime, Nick top cable charts
Lifetime Television and Nickelodeon tied for the top spot in last week's
cable Nielsen ranks, with both channels posting a 2.0 average in prime time.
Nickelodeon got a boost from its 15th annual Kids Choice Awards April
20, which earned a 3.7 household rating, according to a Turner Entertainment
analysis of Nielsen Media Research numbers.
TBS Superstation was buoyed by a 4.1 rating April 21 for its latest original
movie, Disappearance
, and it finished second with a 1.6
prime time average.
Sister networks Turner Network Television and Cartoon Network followed with
1.5 ratings.
For the second consecutive week, MTV: Music Television's The Osbournes
ranked as the highest-rated cable show, recording a 5.2 rating April 16.
The World Wrestling Federation on TNN: The National Network remained in
second place with a 4.8 rating April 15.
MTV finished the week with a 1.2 average and TNN
collected a 1.0.


text:
Pope Francis has come under fierce fire from Namibians, after omitting to mention the atrocities committed against the OvaHerero-Nama between 1904 to 1909, when he recently labelled the 1915 genocide against the Armenian people as the first event of this kind to occur in the 20th century.
Nudo Secretary-General Meundju Jahanika said there is no way the pope could not have heard of the OvaHerero-Nama genocide.
"On one end you might think that he might not know about the OvaHerero-Nama genocide and on the other end you might also think that he is selective, maybe because it involves black people and not of his skin tone," said Jahanika.
"By not mentioning our genocide, it shows that he is selective and discriminatory in his remarks. He did it deliberately, because he has no regard for black people."
Jahanika further questioned why the pontiff did not do his research on other genocides before making his remarks.
"We condemn his opinion. It should have never come from someone of his calibre."
The pontiff's omission has also sparked fierce debate globally, especially on social media.
Many questioned whether the pope could plead ignorance of history or whether he deliberately ignored the German genocide in the then South-West Africa.
Vatican notes have revealed that the pope recently met with a Namibian clergymen delegation, led by Roman Catholic Archbishop Liborius Nashenda.
Commentators said they should have used that opportunity to educate the pope about the OvaHerero-Nama genocide.
Namibian Sun was informed yesterday that the delegation is still in Rome and will return home soon.
Jahanika agreed that Nashenda and his team should use their trip to Rome to educate the pope about the OvaHerero-Nama genocide.
Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua, whose party has also been calling for reparations to be paid by Germany, is of the opinion that the global community should be educated about the OvaHerero-Nama genocide.
He stressed it was difficult to say whether the pope omitted to mention this genocide deliberately or whether he was ignorant about what had happened.
"He is from Argentina – a developing country. He would not have done it deliberately, but this shows how the world is ignorant about the Namibian genocide," Maamberua said.
"This is why I want us as Namibians to launch an information dissemination and education campaign about what transpired in Namibia."
He said this should not only be done on a global stage, but Namibians also needed to be educated about the genocide, particularly about the methods used and the magnitude of what occurred.
Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) leader Hewat Beukes, who is also a member the Nama Technical Committee, promised to leave no stone unturned in its quest to get the bottom of the pope's comments.
"If the pope made such an erroneous statement, he must correct it. It must be corrected and we will take it up in Parliament," warned Beukes.
"We can't rely on this government to have the statement corrected, because they are for the distortion of history. So we will take the matter up."
Ueriuka Tjikuua of the OvaHerero/Ovambanderu - Council for Dialogue on the Genocide of 1904 said he did not agree with the pope's statement.
"The first genocide of the 20th century was that of 1904. The pope was either not well informed or did not conduct research to acquaint himself with the correct facts. He must correct his statement," said Tjikuua.
"In the same manner in which he (the pope) sympathises or condemns the Armenian genocide, he must do the same with that of 1904. He must also express his condemnation."
Both chairperson of the OvaHerero Genocide Committee, Festus Muundjua, and committee member Utjiua Muinjangue could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Muinjangue said she was "busy in a meeting", while Muundjua's mobile went unanswered.
By Elvis Muraranganda: Namibian Sun


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Non-GMO Project Client Technical Communications Specialist Alli Willis holds a BA from Western Washington University where she focused on technical writing and communications. Prior to joining the Non-GMO Project, Alli served as a copywriter for an SEO-focused public relations firm. Today, she develops engaging written content as part of the Non-GMO Project Client Experience team.
Articles by this contributor:
March 9, 2020
Shoppers and Brands Agree: We Want Proof It's Non-GMO!
It's not just grocery shoppers who are looking for Non-GMO Project Verified products — the brands you know and trust look for the Butterfly when they source ingredients too! As shoppers demand more transparency from food brands, brands are in turn demanding more transparency and more documentation from their suppliers. For the supply chain participants… » Read more
August 29, 2019
Organic and Non-GMO: The Gold Standard for Food
We all love organic food here at the Non-GMO Project. Like most of our readers, we prefer not to consume foods that were produced with the use of harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Some people are surprised to learn that the Non-GMO Project doesn't test for those types of chemicals; our single-issue program focuses exclusively… » Read more
August 21, 2019
That Watermelon Isn't a GMO, But it Might Be a Mutant!
Now that summer is in full swing in North America, people have been asking one of my favorite GMO questions again. Let's clear up a point of confusion: there are no commercially available GMO watermelons! Like all living things, the crops we eat have chromosomes inside the nucleus of their cells. This is where their… » Read more
August 7, 2019
Does Mutation Breeding Produce GMOs?
As we mentioned in our last post, breeding techniques don't have to be low-tech in order to be non-GMO, but we hear from many of you that some modern takes on traditional breeding techniques don't always feel completely natural. Quite a few of you would like to learn about mutation breeding this week, so let's… » Read more
August 2, 2019
Technology and Crop Breeding: What's NOT a GMO?
If you read last week's blog, you know that there is some ill-intentioned disagreement about what counts as a GMO. Consumers overwhelmingly rejected the first wave of GMOs, so biotech companies are mounting campaigns to convince the public that new GMOs aren't actually GMOs. Meanwhile, these companies are also working hard to mix up biotechnology… » Read more
July 29, 2019
New Standard, Same Butterfly
The Newest Non-GMO Project Standard is Out Now! You already know that the Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. We believe everyone has a right to know what is in their food and deserves access to non-GMO choices and… » Read more
July 25, 2019
CRISPR and TALEN and RNAi, Oh My!
You already know about herbicide-tolerant crops, Bt crops, and other types of transgenic GMOs such as the AquAdvantage salmon—we've been talking about them for years. If you have been paying attention to the news, you have probably heard a little about CRISPR and the newest wave of GMOs. These technologies, which may be referred to… » Read more
June 17, 2019
Bee-cause It Matters
It's National Pollinator Week, a time to celebrate all the living creatures who help humans grow crops. The Non-GMO Project uses a butterfly logo because pollinators are important to our shared food system and because we recognize the many human-caused problems they face. All humans rely on pollinators in order to eat! Pollinators are a… » Read more
May 31, 2019
Got Milk? Then Be Sure the Cows Steered Clear of GMO Alfalfa
Alfalfa, sometimes called lucerne, is the fourth-most prevalent crop in the United States. At least 18 million acres of alfalfa are grown in the US each year—this nutrient-dense legume makes up a sizeable portion of our farmland. Meant almost exclusively for animal feed, alfalfa is typically cut, dried, and bailed. It can also be stored… » Read more
May 21, 2019
Don't be Caught off Gourd by GMO Zucchini
Zucchini, a delicious type of summer squash, is one of the lesser-known GMO risk crops. It is almost exclusively grown in the United States. There are only about 2,500 acres of GMO zucchini—that's ten small family farms worth. While there are well over 200 different varieties of GMO corn, there are only two known GMO… » Read more
May 7, 2019
If You Eat Meat or Dairy, You Eat Cotton
We're all familiar with cotton—this versatile crop is used to make a good portion of the clothing and other textiles most people use daily. However, these consumer goods represent only a small piece of cotton's impact on our economic and environmental systems. Cotton is considered a high-risk crop under the Non-GMO Project Standard because GMO… » Read more
April 17, 2019
It's All Going to Pot
Blame it on the Times You may have heard news about the Agricultural Improvement Act (commonly known as the farm bill) in the US and the Cannabis Act in Canada, both of which effectively legalized hemp and CBD. Despite these laws, the legal status of CBD as a food additive remains murky and confusing in… » Read more
March 12, 2019
The World's First GMO Salmon is Coming to America
GMO Salmon have made headlines before—check out our older blog for more details on the fishiest GMOs. AquAdvantage Salmon to be Sold in the United States On March 8, the American FDA lifted its ban on the import of the genetically modified AquAdvantage salmon created by AquaBounty Technologies. The FDA initially approved this GMO for… » Read more
February 19, 2019
GMO Feature: Canola
Yes, There is Non-GMO Canola! Our readers write to us almost every day to ask why they saw canola in a Non-GMO Project Verified product. There's a fairly pervasive misconception that all canola is genetically modified, but this is not true! Non-GMO canola does exist; when you see canola in a product bearing the Butterfly,… » Read more
February 7, 2019
What's so Clean about "Clean Meat" Anyway?
You probably already know that the Non-GMO Project requires GMO testing all the way back to animal feed—it's one component of our program that sets it apart from the new federal GMO labeling law and other GMO avoidance programs that don't check out what animals eat. This is important because most GMOs are large-scale commodity crops… » Read more
January 23, 2019
Non-GMO Feed, Non-GMO Future!
Learn more about the importance of non-GMO animal feed and non-GMO eggs. Click to view the full-sized infographic. Thank you to our friends at NestFresh!
January 9, 2019
Can You Tell Which GMOs Will Be Labeled under the NBFDS?
Read part one of this blog. Jump to quiz Jump to FAQs Read the NBFDS The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard requires some food producers to put labels on some products that contain GMOs. Unfortunately, there are two glaring problems with this law that mean consumers will still not be able to tell what is… » Read more
January 4, 2019
Americans Deserve Better than the USDA's GMO Labeling Law
After a lengthy delay, the USDA published the final National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) in the Federal Register on December 21. This law, which you may have heard called the DARK Act, is the start of mandatory GMO labeling in the United States. It means that some—but not all—products containing GMOs will have to… » Read more
December 21, 2018
State of the Non-GMO Landscape: Highlights of 2018
As we wrap up the calendar year, it's time to look back at 2018. We celebrate our victories, we reflect on our hard work, and we express gratitude for the many people who helped us further our mission this year. The number of Non-GMO Project Verified products grew to 54,000 The Non-GMO Project's key mission… » Read more
October 31, 2018
The GMO Potato: What Consumers Need to Know
Jump to Frequently Asked Questions Read the Non-GMO Project Standard You're probably aware of the best-known GMO crops such as corn, soy, and canola. Did you know that there are also GMO potatoes? They have been around since 2015, but it is just now that they are becoming widely available in the American food supply…. » Read more
October 26, 2018
It's Alive: Spooky GMOs for Halloween
Frankenfish The AquAdvantage salmon is the first genetically engineered animal available for purchase in North America. The mad scientists at AquaBounty Technologies spliced it together with parts from the Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and the Ocean pout to produce a GMO fish that grows scary fast. The modified salmon is currently sold completely unlabeled… » Read more
August 30, 2018
GMO Feature: Soybeans
Soybeans are one of the most prevalent commodity crops grown in North America today. At 89.1 million acres, American farmers planted more acres of soy than any other crop this year. However, most of that acreage is not producing food for humans. According to the USDA, just over 70 percent of that soy becomes animal… » Read more
August 14, 2018
GMO Feature: Corn
Corn: A Brief History Did you know that well over half of a typical American diet is derived from corn? It's true, and if you'll remember from The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan famously calls North Americans "processed corn, walking." He's not wrong, and since more than 90 percent of corn grown in North America is… » Read more
June 25, 2018
GMO Feature: Sugar Beets
We Got the Beet Did you know humans have been growing and enjoying beets for more than 4,000 years? Beets, or Beta vulgaris, are part of the Caryophyllale family like cacti, carnations, succulents, and many types of carnivorous plants. Thousands of years ago, they had long, thin, fibrous roots and were grown primarily for their… » Read more
May 9, 2018
What is Scientific Consensus?
There is no scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs. According to a 2015 statement signed by 300 scientists, physicians and scholars, the claim of scientific consensus on GMOs frequently repeated in the media is "an artificial construct that has been falsely perpetuated." In the newly-released film MODIFIED, renown researcher and UN Messenger of Peace… » Read more
April 16, 2018
The Importance of Testing
The Non-GMO Project's butterfly verification mark is North America's most trusted and meaningful label for GMO avoidance. Consumers trust our label because the Non-GMO Project is a third-party verification program backed by North America's most rigorous Standard for GMO avoidance. The Non-GMO Project's product verification program has three main components: testing, traceability, and segregation. Each of… » Read more
March 26, 2018
The Precautionary Principle: Let's Protect Our Food Supply Together!
What is the Precautionary Principle? Better safe than sorry. Err on the side of caution. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We have many ways to say that it is wise to avoid foreseeable problems whenever possible. This idea is so important that the governments of the world created the precautionary… » Read more
February 23, 2018
Hundreds of Grocery Stores Say "No" to GMO Salmon—Will Yours?
The Non-GMO Project team is fortunate to call the beautiful Pacific Northwest our home. We bike, climb, run, ski, hike, kayak, sail, and play in our natural environment every day, and we enjoy an amazing view of the Salish Sea from our offices. Orca whales, river otters, sea birds, and more than 250 species of… » Read more
November 21, 2017
Bt Crops and their Ecosystems
The Latest News on Bt A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. This creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding… » Read more
October 1, 2017
What is the "Modified" in Modified Corn Starch?
Here at the Project, we have received an influx of queries about modified corn starch over the past few weeks. Let's talk about modified corn starch! The "modified" in modified corn starch (and other types of modified starches) does not stand for genetically modified. In this context, "modified" simply means that the corn starch has… » Read more
July 6, 2017
Care for Your Skin, Care for Your Body
July is in full swing, which means plenty of fun in the great outdoors. While protecting your skin from ultraviolet radiation is especially important this time of year, protecting your skin from substandard ingredients in topical products is important all year long. Skin is the largest organ in the human body. It helps protect us… » Read more


text:
applying an input signal to a first differentiating means and a first comparing means;
differentiating said input signal and transmitting a first differentiated signal to a second differentiating means and a second comparing means;
comparing said input signal and said first differentiated signal to different predetermined reference signals and obtaining an output from each comparing means whenever said input signal and said first differentiated signal is greater than its respective reference signals;
differentiating said first differentiated signal and obtaining a second differentiated signal;
generating a zero-crossing signal whenever said second differentiated signal crosses zero;
generating a logic output whenever said zero-crossing, first differentiated and second differentiated signals occur simultaneously; and
utilizing said logic output to trigger an output signal associated in time with said input signal.
a first differentiating means to which the input pulse is applied:
a first comparing means for providing an output when the input pulse exceeds a first predetermined reference level;
a first reference signal applied to said first comparing means for providing said first predetermined reference level;
a second differentiating means connected to said first differentiating means;
a second comparing means connected to said first differentiating means for providing an output when the output of said differentiating means exceeds a second predetermined reference level;
a second reference signal applied to said second comparing means for providing said second predetermined reference level;
zero-crossing detecting means connected to said second differentiating means for providing an output whenever the output of said differentiating means crosses zero;
monitoring logic means connected to the outputs of said zero-crossing detecting means and said first and second comparing means for providing a change in state of its logic output when it receives an output from said zero crossing detecting and first and second comparing means;
storage means whose inputs are connected to the output of said first comparing means and the output of said monitoring logic means;
first retriggerable monostable multivibrator means connected to the output said monitoring logic means and one output of said storage means for providing an output for a predetermined period of time in response to a change in state of its input signals;
digital delay means connected to one output of said storage means for providing a digital delay; and
a second monostable multivibrator means connected to said first monostable multivibrator and said digital delay means for providing an output signal when its input signals change state whereby said output signal is associated in time with said input signal.
This invention relates to signal detection circuits and more particularly to circuit means which automatically determines pulse position or arrival time in a way that is independent of amplitude variations and minimizes the effects of unwanted noise on the detection circuits.
It is often necessary in nuclear spectroscopy, radar and communications systems to determine the relative time positions of a sequence of received pulses. If the pulse positions are nearly periodic or exhibit a simple recursion relation, then the conventional time discrimination methods of radar systems can be effectively employed. If not, then different techniques known as time position methods must be employed. If the shape and duration of the pulses are known, then established methods using a matched filter or methods based upon the estimation of "centroid" are used. However, if the signal structure is incompletely known, these methods will not be satisfactory.
An additional problem that arises when detecting received pulses is that they are usually accompanied by impulse and thermal noise. The former is usually caused by electrical disturbances generated externally or by neighboring systems and the latter by the primary stages of the receiving system. In pulse time systems where transmitted intelligence is desired from the timing of a pulse edge, noise may displace the pulse edge from the value corresponding to the signal. Noise impulses in effect may modulate other characteristics of the signal pulse such as amplitude, and slope of the pulse edges and width of the pulse but the ultimate result is translated into a pulse time displacement, producing a distorted intelligence signal. While there are many types of interfering noise pulses, only those that actually coincide in time with the signal edge will create any difficulty in determing the time of receipt of such edge. It is therefore desirable to eliminate, as much as possible, the effects of such noise on the detector circuit.
In the past, two methods have been used most frequently to determine the true time of receipt of an incoming signal. Both systems utilize only the slope characteristics of the incoming signal to determine its time of receipt. One such method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,411 to Arnold. This device is a peak detector which provided a signal output every time the input signal crosses zero, or whenever it has a slope of zero. While Arnold's method circumvents having an output signal which is dependent upon the maximum amplitude of the input signal, substantial noise remains which may falsely trigger the detector circuit.
The other means of timed-pulsed detection is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,367 to Adams and Harvey. This circuit utilizes the maximum slope of an input signal pulse to provide a time of receipt output pulse. This circuit utilizes a delay line between the input signal and output pulse indication of its receipt and is undesirable in many applications because it causes signal degradation. In addition, the means of Adams and Harvey is costly and does not provide maximum protection from false triggering due to noise.
It is therefore an object of this invention to determine the relative time position of a received signal independent of its maximum amplitude.
Another object of this invention is to determine the relative time position of a received signal without the use of a delay line.
A still further object of this invention is to determine the relative time position of a received signal by a method which minimizes the effect of signal noise.
Yet another object of this invention is to determine the relative time position of a received signal while obtaining a maximum amount of false alarm protection.
The invention is an improved means and method of time-pulse signal detection in which an output is provided corresponding to the zero-crossing point of the second derivative of the incoming signal. In addition the incoming signal and a first differentiation of it are both transmitted to different comparators to obtain an output from either if the compared signals are greater than or equal to separate reference signals. The output of the two comparators and the zero-crossing detector are fed to a NAND gate which provides an output if all three signals coincide in time. The output of the NAND gate triggers a flip-flop resettable by an output signal of the first comparator. The coincidence of outputs from the flip-flop and the NAND circuit at a first monostable multivibrator means starts an output by said system. In a similar manner, the presence of an output from the Q terminal of the flip-flop and the output of the first multivibrator means cause a second monostable multivibrator means to output a signal. The time at which this signal starts is closely associated with the time at which the leading edge of the incoming pulse signal was received.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2a and 2b are graphs of an input signal and several voltage waveforms it induces at several different points in the circuit of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram in which an input signal is applied to a first differentiator 10 and a first comparator 14. A reference signal 18 is also applied to the first comparator 14. The output of first differentiator 10 is applied to a second differentiator 12 and a second comparator 16. A second reference signal 20, different from the first reference signal 18, is also applied to the second comparator 16. The output of the second differentiator 12 is applied to a zero-crossing detector 22. The logic outputs of zero-crossing detector 22, first comparator 14 and second comparator 16 are applied to a NAND gate 24. The output of the first comparator 14 (Sc1) is also applied to the reset terminal (R) of a storage means, in this case a flip-flop 26. The output of the NAND gate 24 is connected to the set terminal (S) of the flip-flop and also to an input of a monostable multivibrator means 30. Said multivibrator means is composed of an inverter 36 connected to one input of an AND gate 34 whose output is connected to a standard monostable multivibrator 32. These three components are standard components contained in monostable multivibrator chips manufactured by such companies as Texas Instruments, but separate inverters, AND gates and monostable multivibrator elements may be used if desired. Because the inverter 36 is a standard component of monostable multivibrator means 30, the use of NAND gate 24 is necessary in place of an AND gate. An AND gate may be used where the signal is not inverted before transmission to the monostable multivibrator 32.
The not output (Q) of the flip-flop is connected to another input of AND gate 34. The output (Q) of the flip-flop is connected to the inverter pair 28, a pair of inverters in series, whose output in turn is connected to an input of AND gate 44 which is a component contained in a second monostable multivibrator 40. The output of first monostable multivibrator means 30 is connected to a second inverter 46 which is connected to another input of AND gate 44. As previously stated, separate components may be utilized in place of the second monostable multivibrator 40 so long as the resulting logic patterns described below remain the same. The AND gate 44 is connected to a second monostable multivibrator 42 whose output constitutes the output of the system and is directly associated with the time of detection of the input or received signal.
In operation, the received signal is applied to both a first differentiator 10 and a first comparator 14. Whenever the signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, the comparator transmits a logic 1 signal to NAND circuit 24. The reference signal level is set below the minimum value of the desired pulse amplitude range. The first differential of the received signal is transmitted to a second comparator 16 and a second differentiator 12. This first derivative signal provides the key to false alarm protection for the invention since the derivative of the noise contained in the received signal is statistically independent of the original noise in the received signal.
It is a well known theorem that when two Gaussian processes are uncorrelated, they are statistically independent. (See Anthanasois Papoulis, Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes, 315-317 (McGraw Hill 1965). The invention utilizes this theorem in that the noise associated with the input signal and the first derivative of the noise associated with that signal are uncorrelated Gaussian processes. Therefore, the second comparator 16 will produce an output signal when the first derivative of the input signal is below the predetermined reference level of that comparator. The maximum negative amplitude of the first derivative of the input signal occurs at the point of maximum slope of the input signal. Since the reference level is set lower than the expected noise level the second comparator 16 will produce an output substantially independent of the noise associated with the received input signal. The output of this second comparator 16, Sc2, is transmitted to the NAND gate 24.
The second derivative of the received signal is transmitted to a zero-crossing detector 22. Whenever the second derivative crosses zero, i.e., whenever the rate of change of the slope of the received signal is zero, detector 22 produces a logical output which is transmitted to NAND gate 24 as signal So.
The use of the second derivative of the received signal, in addition to the use of the first derivative and the received signal itself, provides additional false protection against noise-triggered outputs because it requires that the received signal pass three relevant tests performed upon it, and it can be shown statistically that the chance of a noise signal passing all three tests is slight indeed.
The three logic signals generated by the received input signals: So, from the zero-crossing detector; Sc2, from the second comparator; and Sc1, from the first comparator, are transmitted to the NAND gate. When all three signals are logic 1, the output of the NAND gate will be a logic 0. For any other input combination of logic values, the output of the NAND gate will remain a logic 1. Thus, a logic 0 output is transmitted by the NAND gate only when both the input signal and its first derivative Si (t) and S1 (t) exceed predetermined values (indicating that the input signal is probably a true signal), and when the second derivative of the input signal S2 (t) has crossed zero.
The logic 0 output of the NAND gate is transmitted to the inverter 36 and presents a logic 1 input to the AND gate 34. The flip-flop is initially in the state where Q=0 and Q=1. There is then a concurrence of logic 1 inputs at AND gate 34 which causes monostable multivibrator 32 to turn on. The multivibrator output changes from 0 to 1 and remains in that state for a predetermined period of time. The flip-flop 26 also receives the logic 0 signal from the NAND gate, but has inherently more delay time in reacting than the multivibrator and latches or changes state immediately after the multivibrator turns on. This change in state of the flip-flop 26 results in Q=1 and Q=0. The flip-flop cannot reset at this point in the operation of the circuit because of Sc1. The input signal to the reset of the flip-flop remains at the steady-state of logic 1. The flip-flop will not reset unit Sc1 changes state to logic 0. This condition will not occur until the received signal falls below the reference level of comparator 14, indicating that no signal greater than the noise level is present. However, there is again an inhibiting input to the multivibrator 32 since Q=0. It should be noted that multivibrator 30 must be of the retriggerable type in order to obtain quick system recovery in the event of the receipt of a noise spike greater than the predetermined reference levels of the comparators which would cause the NAND gate to change state and trigger the multivibrator 30.
The logic 1 output from the Q terminal of flip-flop 26 is transmitted to monostable multivibrator 40 through the inverter pair 28. The inverter pair provides a digital delay that ensures that the signal from the Q terminal arrives at the monostable multivibrator 40 later than the signal from the first monostable multivibrator. This provides protection from false triggering due solely to the leading edge of the Q signal. When the signal from multivibrator 30 changes state from 1 to 0, the second monostable multivibrator will change state from 0 to a logic 1 output for a preset period of time. The output pulse represents the time of receipt of the input signal, but is slightly delayed in time from that signal. It is not necessary that the second monostable multivibrator be retriggerable.
This system and method provides an output signal indicative of the time of receipt of a true signal when the received signal is of sufficient magnitude and of a duration large enough to cause the output of the first comparator 14, Sc1, to exceed the time duration of the output of monostable multivibrator 30; where simultaneously, the received signal causes S0 and Sc2 to go to logic 1 signals. Discrimination between "true" and "false" signals is provided by utilizing both signal amplitude, derivative, and duration characteristics. When a true signal has been determined and multivibrator 30 is turned on, the trailing edge of the output of the first multivibrator will trigger the second multivibrator 40. The signal thus transmitted by the second multivibrator indicates the receipt of a true signal.
Appropriate adjustment of the reference level to the second comparator 16 allows additional false alarm protection for the system. When the propagation delay due to the differentiators is substantial, triggering of the first monostable multivibrator can be prevented by digitally delaying Sc2 before it reaches the NAND gate. Both Sc2 and the flip flop Q output prevent multiple triggerings of the first multivibrator during a single input signal.
Thus, the system and method disclosed requires that the input-signal noise trigger all three inputs to the NAND gate to obtain a false pulse signal. Such an occurrence is highly unlikely.
FIGS. 2a and 2b are graphic representations of the signals present within the invention at the points specified. Si (t)(A) represents the input signal, S1 (t)(B) the negative first derivative of Si (t) and S2 (t) (D), the second derivative of Si (t).
As long as the amplitude of Si (t) equals or exceeds the level of reference signal 18, signal Sc1 (C) remains at a logic 1 level. As long as the amplitude of S1 (t) equals or is below the level of reference signal 20, signal Sc2 (E) remains at a logic 1 level. Finally, whenever S2 (t) crosses zero, the zero-crossing detector 22 will provide a logic 1 output, So (F).
Whenever these three logic signals (C, E, and F) are all at the 1 level, the output from the NAND gate (G) will fall from a logic 1 level to a logic 0 level. This occurs at time t1. The change in state of the output of the NAND gate triggers monostable multivibrator 30 at time t1, to transmit a logic 1 output, (H), for a predetermined period, being at least the minimum amount of time which determines an acceptable signal width. While the change in state of the output of the NAND gate activates the flip-flop, at time t1, the flip-flop is somewhat slower to react and thus the Q output (I) changes state after the monostable multivibrator turns on.
By time t2, S1 (t) is no longer sufficient to maintain Sc2 at a logic 1 level and the NAND gate again changes state and returns to a logic 1 level.
At time t3, the Q output after having been delayed by inverter pair 28 arrives at the second monostable multivibrator 40 either simultaneously with or after the change in state of the first multivibrator from logic 1 to logic 0. The arrival of the IP 28 signal (J) from the inverter pair allows the trailing edge of monostable multivibrator 30 to trigger the second monostable multibibrator which transmits an output (K) which is delayed in time from the time of receipt of the leading edge of the received input signal from which it results.
When a large noise spike occurs immediately preceding a true signal, the retriggerable characteristic of the first monostable multivibrator will cause its output pulse to become extended in time a corresponding period such that the operation of the disclosed invention is not interrupted.
It should be noted that the disclosed invention has been described for the zero propagation delay case. If some propagation delay time is present, inverter pairs connected between the comparators and the inputs of the NAND gate will compensate for such a delay.
It should further be noted that wherever inverter pairs of the digital delays are taught in the present invention, they may be replaced by delays inherent in the circuitry which comprises the invention.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.


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Hawkins House of Burgers is a legendary fixture in the Los Angeles burger scene. People make the trek to Watts like faithful Muslims make pilgrimage to Mecca; I saw freaking Macklemore there. Just bring an empty stomach as this burger was the only one I could not finish in the history of Bang for your Burger Buck. Heed my instance of shame, and for God's sake don't go double and ask em to go easy on the mayo. But don't take my word for it, well actually you have to.
Read the original story here: Hawkins House of Burgers @ LA TACO


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How To Select The Best Mortgage Deals
If you are planning to buy a new home, it is crucial that you choose to take out your mortgage. Mortgage makes home owning process stress-free. It is worthwhile knowing that not all the mortgage lending institutions offer the same best deals that you need. That is why you need to take your time to find the best mortgage deals.
There are plenty of mortgage lenders that are available on the market these days – you need not find it hard to locate the one you need as long as you know the kind of services you need. What can be tricky, though, is when you have no clue on the elements that define the best mortgage company that you need.
Here are some of the great concepts that should help you make the right decisions when it comes to choosing the best mortgage firm that will understand your needs and offer you the services you need. You should go for lending institution that has the credibility that you need – buying a home is something that you need to think through carefully as you can't afford to make any mistake.
To start with, you need always to consider the mortgage firms that are highly reputed. You may have to ask around – talk to people whom you know are trustworthy, such as your relatives and colleagues. You will not miss finding a converting referral. You need to find out the kind of stories that people have concerning the mortgage lender that you are considering.
You also need to choose a mortgage lender that will provide you with the lowest interest rates. Your primary concern is to be able to pay the least amount of money in the long run.
It is recommended that you go for the mortgage lender that offers financial help with a fixed rate for the rest of the repayment period. Nevertheless, you should be able to accept such rates if you are sure you are going to be comfortable paying them. And the great thing about the fixed rate is the fact that you will not have to be surprised by some undesirable effects of financial volatility.
What's more, in cases where you feel you are comfortable with adjustable rates, they are always available. Nonetheless, you always need to readjust these rates every three months.
The good thing that you need to find out is if the mortgage lender is willing to offer you lesser rates of the market rates goes down. It is essential that you choose a mortgage dealer that is ready to lower interest expenses by shortening the life of your house loans.
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Reference: pop over to this website


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Sunday, October 08, 2017
Viking chest...
The idea is to hold an ESSA class in which students will spend two days making the chest, two days making the hardware for it, and on the final day, everything will come together in collaboration. It will be a way that the black smith shop and woodworking studio can work together, and students can say, "I made the whole thing."
Our hope is that it will lure blacksmiths into woodworking, and woodworkers into blacksmithing, and lead to greater confidence for all.
A leading Apple designer of the iPhone said in an interview that it is being abused. What is that abuse? He said it mainly involves "constant use." People are addicted to technology that leaves them disengaged from the real wonders that surround them. What are those wonders? You will not find them on google.
Make, fix, create, and enlist others in learning lifewise.
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Maple-Cream Apple Pie
Total TimePrep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 20 min. + cooling
Makes6-8 servings
- 4 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1-1/2 cups cold milk
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- In a large bowl, toss apples, sugar and cinnamon. In a large skillet, cook apple mixture in butter for 10-12 minutes or until tender; cool. Spoon into pastry shell; set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. In another bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Gradually beat into cream cheese. Stir in extract. Spoon over apple layer. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Spread onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden brown, stirring three or four times. Cool. Just before serving, sprinkle topping over pie.
Nutrition Facts1 piece: 469 calories, 27g fat (16g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 463mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Dec 1, 2013
A hit from day one
Aug 4, 2013
This is my favorite pie. I make it when ever I need to bring a dessert or when company comes and I have enough apples. I'm making 2 tonight again! Everyone Loves it and askes for the recipe . I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Thank you
Oct 17, 2011
The recipe sounded delicious, so I had high hopes. But the maple filling was overbearing and there was too much of it. My family did not like it so I won't be making it again.
Oct 12, 2009
I made this pie 3 years ago and it is my favorite apple pie! I'm making two and taking them in for a work pitch in and will be taking several copies of the recipe!


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Interaction between ink particles and air bubbles has been determined by contact angle and flotation experiments. Different parameters have been tested concerning their effect on these interactions.
The contact angles for the ink-soap agglomerates were much lower than expected, which means poor interactions between the solid surface and the air bubble. The angles were in the range between 18° and 63°, indicating an area for improvements. The angle was improved by increased electrolyte concentrations, a hydrophobicing agent (AKD), a non-ionic surfactant, increased amount of calcium soap and strangely enough with CMC.
The contact angle has to be more than 50° (Dalmijn 1995) for flotation of large particles while lower contact angles can be accepted when flotating smaller particles, due to hydrodynamical reasons.
No correlation between surface tension of the liquid phase and the contact angle was observed. This indicates that the contact angle is mainly determined by the hydrophobic/hydrophilic property of the solid surface.
The flotation experiments showed that a high agglomeration efficiency (right size) is more important for the flotation than a high contact angle. Actually all chemicals with dispersion properties i.e. CMC, starch and non-ionic surfactants, decreased the flotation efficiency.


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- Comotomo Natural Feel Silicone Baby Bottle 250ml / 8oz (Pink) - 23% OFF!!
Product Description
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Comotomo Natural-Feel Pure Medical Grade Silicone Baby Bottle - Pink - 8 oz
Comotomo Baby Bottles feature innovative and sensible design to most closely mimic natural breastfeeding. Our naturally shaped, soft, silicone nipples are ideal for babies who have trouble transitioning from nursing to bottle-feeding. Your little one will love to hold onto the skin-like, soft and squeezable body that is like no other bottle in the world. And you will fall in love with our wide-neck design for brushless, stress-free, cleaning bliss!
Our bottles are equipped with truly innovative vents that are smartly designed to prevent colic, while completely eliminating annoying leaks. They are quite possibly the most thoughtful bottles ever made.
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Love it!! Review by juju
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my baby loves it! We've tried other brands but she prefers como tomo (Posted on 8/30/2018)
For breastfeeding baby Review by Annie
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This bottle save me actually . Another week suppose to start my work and send my baby to babysitter . I have tried many brand but my baby refuse to drink it .Bought it in babydash ,now my baby only drink milk from this bottle . Plus easy to clean without using bottle brush . Tq babydash and comotomo . (Posted on 3/13/2018)