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Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 929865, 6 pages
Incorporation of Functionalized Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes into a Polyurethane Matrix
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Stegerwaldstraße 39, 48565 Steinfurt, Germany
2Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84536 Bratislava 45, Slovakia
3Vitrum Laugaricio - Joint Glass Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Slovak University of Technology, the Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, and Rona Glassworks, Studentska 2, 91150 Trenčín, Slovakia
Received 16 May 2013; Accepted 17 July 2013
Academic Editor: Jörg M. K. Wiezorek
Copyright © 2013 Martin Michálek and Michael Bredol. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Functionalized and raw multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated colloid-chemically in order to study the role of polar versus nonpolar interaction with a polyurethane (PU) matrix. Both kinds of MWCNTs were dispersed by ultrasonication in the presence of a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate) in aqueous solution. Functional groups on the nanotube surface were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and by the ζ-potential in aqueous suspension. Such suspensions were added to waterborne PU dispersions, drop-cast on glass substrates and cured. The percolation threshold for electrical conductivity with polar (functionalized) MWCNTs was reached at 0.24 wt.%, whereas at concentrations as high as 2 wt.%, PU films with nonpolar MWCNTs stayed below the percolation threshold. With an addition of 0.4 wt.% polar MWCNTs, the electrical conductivity increased to >10−6 S/cm in the cured coating layer. These results are interpreted with respect to the chemical nature of the PU matrix.
1. Introduction
The unique combination of mechanical and functional properties makes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) an ideal reinforcing agent for many matrices, including synthetic and natural polymers [1, 2]. Polymers with CNTs find application in many fields such as corrosion protection [3, 4], optically active composites [5], battery technology [6], or chemical sensors [7].
Ideas to use CNTs for charge mitigation in coatings have been around for some time already [8], however, typically for applications like in the aviation industry, where transparency or colour is not rated as high as in domestic applications, and a greyish appearance may be tolerable.
With respect to electrical conductivity, a composite of a polymer with a conductive filler will show reasonable low resistance as soon as the percolation limit is reached; with CNTs of high aspect ratio, this can be the case at considerably smaller volume fraction than with other more spherical conductive fillers. Moreover, there is the possibility to aggregate fillers during the curing process by depletion forces; this approach has been used successfully to produce holographic patterns in polymer nanocomposites [9–11]. Conductivity at drastically smaller CNT contents can also be obtained by a specific texture of the CNTs, as shown in [12], by the use of aligning electrical fields. If similar approaches could be realized with CNTs as well, the volume fraction for reaching percolation should be even smaller than with random distribution and orientation. Of course, such effects will depend crucially on the interface chemistry between polymer and filler, which is the subject of this work.
When preparation or curing of the composites starts in the liquid phase, the preparation of (meta-) stable suspensions of well-separated CNTs is a prerequisite for the fabrication of solid polymer bodies with homogeneously dispersed CNTs. Unfortunately, due to their high aspect ratio, nanosized diameter, and huge surface area, it is very difficult to overcome the strong van der Waals forces between the CNTs to form a stable dispersion. The likely presence of CNT bundles and agglomerates in the final composite can lead to intolerable effects on the desired properties. Despite this fact, investigations described in [13, 14] showed that a certain amount of agglomerates can decrease the necessary content of CNTs, for obtaining the percolation threshold. To overcome these inherent obstacles and put the excellent mechanical and functional properties of CNTs [15, 16] into focus, mechanical treatment and/or chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes has to be employed; some general approaches to this have been described, for example, in [17].
Mechanical methods available for the incorporation of CNT powders into a liquid (pre-) polymer matrix are stirring processes [18], ball milling [19], and/or ultrasonication [20]. Ultrasonication appears to be the most efficient way for disentangling CNT bundles in the first step of preparation and therefore is commonly used [21]. These methods are called "noncovalent" (the surface chemistry of the CNTs is not altered), and CNTs may be bonded to the polymer through nonpolar types of interaction like -stacking, provided that the polymer has conjugated double bonds or heteroatoms with nonbonding electron pairs [22].
Chemical functionalization on the other hand involves replacement of C–C bonds on the nanotube surface by functional groups. Functionalizations realized by using acidic and strong oxidant media are convenient methods [23]. With these approaches, covalent attachment of polar functional groups to the CNT surface is obtained. They can interact with amino- or hydroxyl-moieties from polymer chains [16]; therefore dispersion of CNTs in polymers with at least partial polar character becomes easier.
The aim of this work was the preparation of conductive or semiconductive polyurethane (PU)/CNT composites. This class of polymers is very interesting, since it can be prepared in aqueous dispersion, and in this state is the base of a range of waterborne coating formulations, suited also for use under heavy duty, for example, as a finish for wooden floors. The favourable properties of the polymer system under these conditions are at least partially explained by an extended system of H-bridges between the typical polar acid amide units of the polymer, being responsible for the special viscoelastic behaviour of this class of polymer coatings ("reflow," meaning partial self-healing of scratches). Technical PU dispersions typically at the same time are modified by fatty acids; therefore polar as well as nonpolar regions are present in the final films. In view of environmental aspects, nowadays PU dispersions are supplied exclusively as waterborne systems. Applications as, for example, wood finish imply that the final film stays completely transparent and does not change the colour of the underlying substrate too much. Scattering by aggregated fillers or extensive blackish appearance thus will not be tolerable.
However, there is not much information to be found in the literature about composites of such PU dispersions with CNTs; reports available concentrate on the assessment of mechanical properties of the final films and typically use very high loads of CNTs in the blend [24], which will not lead to transparent and colourless coatings. With respect to electrical properties, a recent compilation of 147 polymer composite systems with CNTs lists only two systems with PU matrix, both based on organic solvents [25]. Typical percolation limits over all systems are >0.2 wt.%, with the exemption of some epoxy-based systems.
In view of the ambipolar character of PU films, this work evaluated nonpolar and polar dispersion methods of CNTs with respect to the homogeneous distribution of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a commercially available PU dispersion matrix, ready for use as a wood finish. The results were assessed by the observation of the electrical conductivity in the final material as a proxy for successful dispersion and homogeneous distribution. Results were compared to the development of the optical transmittance in order to correlate a potentially useful increase of the conductivity with (in most cases not wanted) reduced optical transmittance of the films. The effect of this kind of functionalization is discussed in front of the colloid chemical background, and for this purpose, infrared spectra and -potential measurements have been employed.
2. Materials and Methods
MWCNTs used in this study are commercially available from Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co., Ltd., China, with purity >98%. They were synthesized by chemical vapour deposition and have a length of ca. 25 μm with a diameter in the range of 7–15 nm. The anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS, molecular weight 288.38 g mol−1, linear formula CH3(CH2)11OSO3Na) was supplied by Sigma Aldrich Co., Germany, in order to get a homogeneous dispersion of nanotubes in aqueous solution and to facilitate their incorporation into the polymer matrix. All other chemicals (NaOH, HCl, HNO3, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) were obtained from Sigma Aldrich Co., Germany, in analytical grade.
Functionalization of raw MWCNTs (r-MWCNTs) was carried out using 65% concentrated HNO3, at 80°C for 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours. Treated MWCNTs (t-MWCNTs) were dispersed in 0.1 wt.% SDS/water solution to obtain a stable suspension by ultrasonication (Sonoplus, HD 3200, MS 73 microneedle, Bandelin electronic GmbH & Co. KG, 93 W, 45% amplitude, 10 min).
Prepared CNT-suspension was added to a commercial waterborne PU dispersion with polyisocyanate hardener (Bona Traffic, a two-component system intended for use as finish of wooden floors, manufacturer: Bona AB, Malmö, Sweden) and sonicated for 30 s at the same conditions as before, with different solid content of t-MWCNTs and r-MWCNTs (0, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, 0.32, and 0.4 wt.%). Layers on glass substrates were formed by a simple casting technique of the suspension with an amount of 0.3 mL on an area of mm.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used before and after functionalization of the MWCNTs. For this purpose, the KBr disk technique was utilized (Perkin Elmer, Spectrum 100 FT-IR Spectrometer).
A Zetasizer Nano (Malvern Instruments Ltd., UK) was employed for measuring the -potential of raw and treated particles in aqueous suspension. For these measurements, the suspensions were diluted to a concentration of 0.1 wt.%, and the pH was shifted with 0.5 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH. Ultrasonication was carried out at 93 W and 45% amplitude for 10 min prior to measurements. From repeated messurements on calibration samples, the uncertainty of an individual measurement is estimated to be ±2 mV.
Optical transmittance was measured with a Thermo Scientific Genesys 10S Series ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer.
The specific electrical resistivity of films was measured with a Mastech Digital Multimeter MS8229 (Pollin Electronic). Measuring was carried out on the layers prepared on a glass substrate, with an electrode distance of 1 cm. Values of electrical resistivity >108 Ω cm are out of the range of this device and have not been processed further.
3. Results and Discussion
In preparation of the fabrication of composites, the as-received MWCNTs were first functionalized in hot concentrated HNO3 for 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours. One of the indicators for successful treatment is the presence of functional groups as probed by FTIR spectroscopy; the development of such spectra over time of functionalization was used to find conditions for optimal pretreatment.
The conditions used for functionalization caused small changes in band intensities after 2 and 4 hours, while after 6 hours, the full formation of a new band system centered at 1635 cm−1 was observed, which can be assigned to a water bending mode (also present in t-MWCNTs). This effect however might well be caused by humidity adsorbed from the environment during the measurement procedure and thus is visible also on the unprocessed raw material. More interesting, the generated nonpolar groups (C–H bond stretching at 2922.95 cm−1 and 2852.53 cm−1) at the MWCNT surface are clearly visible only after 8 h of functionalization in HNO3. Therefore in the following, only composites with t-MWCNTs having received 8 h of functionalization in HNO3 will be discussed in more detail. Functional groups like –COOH, –C–O–, or C=O were not observed in the FTIR spectra, probably due to their low concentration, although they should be present under the strong oxidizing conditions of functionalization. This is in accordance with the investigations described in [26], where among the functional groups introduced by functionalization, CHx were dominating (76.6%); O-containing entities made up for less than 25% of the groups introduced.
In order to assess the polar surface groups after functionalization more directly, -potential measurements in aqueous dispersion were performed and are depicted in Figure 1. Only the O-containing surface groups are polar enough to either dissociate or accept a proton from solution; changes in the curves of -potential over pH thus are coupled directly with the presence of polar groups on the nanotube surface. It was found that the functionalization with HNO3 has a great impact on the surface charge. The isoelectric point of r-MWCNTs (close to ) is strongly shifted to the acidic region (ca. ) in case of t-MWCNTs. Obviously, the polar surface groups invisible in the IR spectra, due to their comparatively low concentration, dominate the interface chemistry of the CNTs. Although this effect is present after short functionalization time already, there is a clear trend for still decreasing -potential at prolonged functionalization. (Anionic) SDS alone on r-MWCNTs does establish a negative surface potential at high pH range only, since the only way of interaction is of weak nonpolar nature. After functionalization of the MWCNTs, SDS adsorbs very strongly by polar interaction, establishing a negative -potential in the whole pH range investigated (down to , which is close to the pKs value of sulfonic acids). Taking the amphiphile SDS as a proxy for ambipolar PU, the polar interaction clearly is much stronger than the nonpolar one, and it is to be expected that t-MWCNTs can be dispersed much better in aqueous PU dispersion as well as in the PU matrix as it develops during curing.
Due to functionalization, the electrostatic repulsion between the t-MWCNTs is obviously increased and causes more stable suspensions in a wide range of pH values. The maximum absolute value of the -potential was reached with ca. −44 mV at high pH levels (≅10), but it is still as high as −35 mV at . The strong (stabilizing) charge at the t-MWCNT surface therefore can be retained over the full (technically) useful pH range. However, t-MWCNTs with adsorbed SDS do offer polar as well as some nonpolar surface regions, therefore being able to interact with both parts of the PU network.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of r-MWCNTs and t-MWCNTs after 8 h are depicted in Figures 2(a) and 2(b). r-MWCNTs form bundles, while t-MWCNTs after dispersion in SDS solution and subsequent drying are well separated. For comparison, a solution using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, predominantly polar interaction) as dispersant was prepared in the same way. In Figure 2(c), agglomerates of MWCNTs are clearly visible in a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph, with diameters >1 μm. Here, interaction is too strong and leads to untolerable agglomeration tendencies.
Unfavourable agglomeration effects on the distribution of MWCNTs will also influence the electrical conductivity of the material. Electrical conductivity in this case was not reached even with MWCNT content of >2 vol%. Therefore, further experiments were performed with MWCNTs dispersed in SDS solution only.
A direct comparison between incorporation of t-MWCNTs and r-MWCNTs into the waterborne PU dispersion is depicted in Figure 3, from the point of view of visible appearance.
More polar surface nature of t-MWCNTs leads to more homogenous dispersion of these CNTs in the composite as compared to the noncovalent bonding. SDS from aqueous solution is attached to the functional groups of the t-MWCNTs surface and inhibits the van der Waals attractive forces, reducing the formation of bundles. Nonpolar interaction alone between the untreated nanotube surface and SDS does not lead to homogeneous distribution in the polymer matrix. The nonpolar nature of r-MWCNTs leads to unprotected particles and thus to the creation of agglomerates, optically visible even with the naked eye from the lowest solid loading of 0.08 wt.% and then to an increasing amount of bundles with increasing amounts of loaded r-MWCNTs.
Electrical conductivity in cured coatings of >10−6 S cm−1 assures dissipation of free electrostatic charges and thus is a prerequisite, when electrostatic charging needs to be avoided. A plot of electrical conductivity over concentration of the prepared coating films is shown in Figure 4. At ca. 0.24 wt.% of t-MWCNTs the percolation threshold for conductivity was observed, whereas at approximately 0.32 wt.% solid content of t-MWCNTs the required level of electrical conductivity is reached.
Comparing these results to the entries in the compilation in [25] shows that the covalent functionalization with polar groups leads to state-of-the-art dispersions, whereas without that functionalization, heavy agglomeration is induced, leading to lower conductivities and higher percolation thresholds. For nanocomposites of MWCNTs with PU, the message is clear and has been underpinned by the data compiled in this work: full dispersion can only be reached when the filler (here: MWCNTs) is functionalized with polar groups in order to keep it compatible with the more polar parts of the polymer as well as with the nonpolar parts. Without polar functionlization, no composites can be formed by simple mixing processes.
Unfortunately, high electrical conductivity correlates with low optical transmittance, as compared to the pure material. From Figure 5, it is obvious that the effect on transmittance is enormous. At threshold for electrical conductivity, the transmittance has dropped in the optical region to ca. 10% of the pure polymer, which will not be acceptable for most optical applications.
4. Conclusions
Functionalization of MWCNTs with 65% HNO3 for 8 hours induced enough polar bonding sites on the surface of the nanotubes to achieve well dispersed aqueous suspensions, miscible with waterborne PU dispersions by simple techniques (stirring and ultrasonication). The presence of polar surface groups was confirmed by -potential measurements in suspension; negative surface charge then was observed over the full range of pH values investigated. After curing, the MWCNTs were distributed homogeneously in the polymer matrix, as judged by the percolation threshold of conductivity. The functionalized MWCNTs therefore were not only well dispersed, but also readily accepted by the ambipolar PU matrix during the coating as well as the curing process. It was possible to obtain an electrical conductivity >10−6 S cm−1 with 0.4 wt.% of polar MWCNTs in the PU matrix. However, the optical transmittance of the conductive films was so small that unacceptable decolorization would occur in coating applications. Therefore, the use of MWCNTs as charge mitigator in PU in transparent coating systems does not only need functionalization of the nanotubes with polar groups, but rather additional alignment or texturizing to achieve conductivity simultaneously with sufficiently high transparency.
Parts of this work were supported by a grant of the Heinrich-Hertz-foundation of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The project was initiated by K.-H. Bode of Bode Parkett, Geldern, Germany. Inspiring discussions with L. Sallinger of IRSA Lackfabrik, Deisenhausen, Germany were much appreciated.
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whos looking forward to the season on both accounts then?? What are peoples tips on Play-off contenders and overall winners? Is?
I feel i dont know the teams very well but i will be biased go for The Packers making the superbowl
dont know about the NCAA though :hmmm:
I really wish that the football pyramid would take a proper system with promotion and relegation. Seems like NASL is being killed off to favor USL, but I wonder if a pyramid system is in their plans with USL as a tier 2 as it is more than half a development league?
Any thoughts on MLS expansion...
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Live on YouTube tonight for £14.99 (I daresay it can be found for something less that that though:wink:).
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Anyone follow it or have a team to follow?
Detroit Tigers for me, family connection.
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'Mon Roscommon :thumbsup:
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To avoid hijacking a thread in the dug out:
Predictions for Hiac?
I reckon:
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looking forward to the cricket season.
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Because of his hip injury.
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One last time! :not worth
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Looking forward to it already!
I'm wondering if any of the golfing contingent would be interested in trying an outing again. We've done 2 big ones that I can recall to date (Turnhouse and The Carrick) and they've been great fun.
I'm aware of the logistical problems in trying to organise subsequent ones, but I'm game to try...
See a few different threads at times about boxing so thought we could maybe have one mega thread?current fights future fights? Any gossip,favourite ever fight/fighters?
I see degale has got his unification match against badou jack should be a good fight fancy degale to win then,dunno where that...
Very slow start in their first game, 24 minutes gone and lots of mistakes. 7-3 down.
It's that time of year again when all the toffs get out their top hats and tails but as always the most important thing is the horses! Anyway my two horses for the week are Lady Aurelia in the kings stand stakes on the Tuesday and Limato in the Diamond jubilee stakes on the Saturday,double should...
Andy Murray knocked out of Queen's in the first round losing 7-6 6-2 to Jordan Thompson who is 90th in the world. He only played after Aljaz Bedene pulled out through injury!
Not great preparation for Wimbledon!
Disappointing after last weeks result.
Has been diagnosed with Motor neurone disease at the age of 46. How really sad that a fit and relatively young guy like Doddie has been struck down with this dreadful disease.
Wishing him well in the struggles ahead.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lance Alan Duncan
Business Directory
Lance Alan Duncan, 32, of Lake Mexia, passed away March 31, 2014 at his residence. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church, with Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Interment will follow at Mexia Cemetery. Family visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lance was born March 19, 1982 in Ardmore, Okla. to Richard and Tommie Lu Nabors Duncan. He had been employed for 12 years as an insurance agent and realtor at his father's business, Mexia Insurance Service.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Joyce A. Duncan; nephew, Gabriel Brokmeyer and his best friend, Tyler Archibald.
Survivors include his wife, Jaclyn Duncan; sons, Weston Lane Duncan and Cade Alan Duncan; parents, Richard and Tommie Lu Duncan; sister, Amanda Heiner and husband, Matt; nephew, Luke Heiner; niece, Scarlett Heiner; grandparents, Albert and Billie Nabors; mother-in-law, Barbara Boren; father-in-law, Roger Garrett; grandmother-in-law, Sally Mitchell; sister-in-law, Kimberly Brokmeyer and husband, Andy; nephew, Samuel Brokmeyer, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Serving as pallbearers are Kent Vest, Russell Henderson, Shane Turner, Kevin Nabors, Randy Ratliff, Derek Brubaker, Andy Brokmeyer, Cole Master, Kyle Smith and Brandon Caraway. Honorary pallbearers are Bert Harrison, Ronnie Masters, Jon Masters, Pete Masters and Kevin Vest.
Visit porterfuneralhometx.com to sign the guestbook and leave a memorial message for the family.
Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


text:
June 6, 2014
Come see this beautiful Cape Cod home surrounded by mature landscaping on a corner lot that is steps from the Marina and Pier!
This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home has a 1st floor Owner's Suite with full Bathroom. The 2 Bedrooms are upstairs with another full Bathroom. The Living Room has a floor-to-ceiling brick Fireplace, and the floor plan is open. There is extra space over the garage that can be used as a Den or Bonus Room!
Don't miss this great opportunity to own this home!
Offered at: $259,900
Please call EDIE PAGE to see this home or any other homes in Sussex County - Edie can be reached in the Long & Foster Lewes Office or call her at 302-745-3543.
Calendar of Events
- Today
- Wednesday, September 27
- Thursday, September 28


text:
It's getting down to crunch time for Gaithersburg (Md.) Avalon athlete Jacquille Veii. The 5-foot-10, 174-pound two-star recruit is deciding between Iowa and Maryland and will visit both schools be...
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text:
Location: Houston, TX
Member since 6/27/2011
- 2 total posts
- 2 questions
Questions from petunia2
Can Restylyne Migrate Into The Eyes? They're Burning And Swollen.
Two days ago I had restylyne injected into the hollowed area under my eyes, and a few hours later my eyes were burning terribly. This pain lasted all night and as of today my... READ MORE
Restylane Migration - Bacterial Infection
I had posed a question re the possibility of restylane migration into my eyes caused from a nurse practitioner here in Houston. Thanks to all the doctors that responded. I went... READ MORE


text:
Rock Drawings represents Long's first print series. Each of the screenprints is made from a photograph of an original rock rubbing, produced on an eight-day walk from the Rimrock area of the Mojave Desert in Southern California, in January 1994. The area is extremely dry and the landscape is studded with rocks and boulders. The dryness made it the perfect location for making rock rubbings. Richard Long has made walking into a form of sculpture. He has remarked that 'A walk is a line of footsteps, a sculpture is a line of stones. They're interchangeable and complementary. For me, walking can liberate the imagination. Through the rhythms of walking, sleeping, walking, sleeping, I can understand better the rhythms of nature'.
Additional Information
|First Name
|Last Name
|Artist Description
|Richard Long (born 2 June 1945) is an English sculptor, photographer and painter, and one of the best-known British land artists. Born in Bristol, Long studied at the University of the West of England's College of Art during 1962-65, then at St Martin's School of Art and Design, London during 1966-68. Early on he established a pattern of marathon walks in remote areas from which he brings vestigial traces, such as stones, mud and driftwood, along with documentation such as maps and photographs, back to the studio to give landscapes a presence in the exhibition space. He has exhibited consistently over 40 years in Europe, the US and Japan and is the only artist to have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize four times, winning the award in 1989.
|Edition of
|Ed Date
|Certificate signed, dated & numbered by the artist
|Short Technique
|Sheet Size
|79 x 73.5cm
|Sheet Size (Inches)
|31 x 28.9in
|Image Size
|Image Size (inches)
|Technical Description
Screenprint – three screens for each rock drawing printed on 300gsm VelinArches paper. From a series of 13 screenprints titled Rock Drawings published by The Paragon Press in 1994.
|Technique Pop ups
|Also known as silkscreen. In its simplest form, this is a technique by which the artist blocks out a section of a fine, woven screen (formerly made of silk), which is stretched over a frame. With a squeegee, ink is pressed evenly through the screen on to a sheet of paper beneath. Only the areas of the screen not blocked out will be printed. The artist will use as many of these transparent sheets (separations) as the numbers of colours required in the print, and each sheet must be aligned very carefully with the others. The films are transferred on to the silkscreens via a light-sensitive process: only the areas which are painted by the artist will be blocked out and will not allow ink through.
|Price on Application
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text:
Reader Peter emailed this new study [1] today after he saw a discussion in which I was participating on Rusty's site (fitnessblackbook.com [2]) regarding the Maasai diet. Investigators in this new study suggested that one reason that the Maasai (African nomadic cattle farmers) have lower rates of heart disease, despite a high fat diet, is the amount of low-level aerobic activity they do on a daily basis. Many of you will recognize this as rule #2 of the Primal Blueprint [3], "Move around a lot at a slow pace." Seems the Maasai take that to the extreme, burning 2500 calories a day in excess of their basal metabolic rate by walking. The fact that they have a fairly low carbohydrate intake simply reaffirms that most of their energy demands are coming from the high amount of animal fat in their diets – and that at low level aerobic activity carbs are simply not necessary. Don't think that doesn't mean they can't sprint occasionally or lift heavy things though (Blueprint's 3 and 4), because we know they are able to produce enough glycogen each day from this same high-fat, moderate protein diet to fuel those all-out short bursts.
Finally, while the researchers claim it's the exercise that prevents the heart disease, they approached it from the typical "high fat diets generally increase CHD risk" POV, which we all know to be an erroneous old Conventional Wisdom assumption. A high fat diet doesn't actually increase risk of heart disease or death unless it's also accompanied by relatively high carbohydrates and, hence, insulin.
Further Reading:
Dear Mark: Primal Blueprint for Both Men and Women? [4]


text:
Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN - License & software assurance - 1 user - local, Microsoft Qualified - MOLP: Government - Win - All LanguagesItem#: M180-9JD00047A | Model#: 9JD-00047
Currently Out Of Stock!
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Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN Product Details
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- Microsoft logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


text:
Artist description:
:) *poke*
Java Draw Created Apr 25, 2011 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2011 milkymoomooo.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
omg amazing love it
i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
woow nice.........!
Wow -- Awesome drawing!!! 5h!!!
All I can say is wow! 5h c manga ^A^
Great draw!
this is very realistic and beautiful amazing job looks like he is wearing a roxas shirt from kingdom hearts XDD or maybe my eyesights just messing up i give you a 5/5 terrific job
stunning reallly awsome :)
OAO; this is wow.


text:
Ingram's Flat Spot On Hamlin's Not Sitting Pretty by Jonathan Ingram One more hotly contested motor racing championship to go. And what could be more NASCAR-like than a title decided in a sleepy little burg known as ...
Ingram's Flat Spot On
Hamlin's Not Sitting Pretty
by Jonathan Ingram
One more hotly contested motor racing championship to go.
And what could be more NASCAR-like than a title decided in a sleepy little burg known as Homestead?
Heading into one of Florida's oldest towns, yet another balmy season-ending locale, Denny Hamlin has lost momentum and become more of the chasee. Jimmie Johnson has gained momentum and become more of the chaser in the final round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Is it better to be trailing by 15 points, as is the case with Johnson, or better to have at least an edge going into the finale like Hamlin?
From a statistical point of view and the scoring, Hamlin is in the best position. He won the race at Homestead a year ago and led the most laps in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
"For us, it's about going out and performing like we have every Homestead race I've ever ran," said Hamlin in the pre-race media conference, adding that he's going to focus on winning the race. But that is easier said than done.
"Things have changed so much in our sport since (last year)," said Hamlin. "Obviously the spoiler change has changed the dynamics of the setups. I feel like the cars are much better than what they were last year. Everyone's car is. The speeds at every racetrack really are higher this year than what they've been in years past."
For his part, Johnson regrets not being in the position of leader. He's been the leader entering the Homestead finale every year since his four-year streak of Sprint Cup titles began. Prior to that, he trailed in the points each year at Homestead and came up short in 2004 versus Kurt Busch and in 2005 versus Tony Stewart.
"It's different from recent time, but it is what it is," said Johnson. "In professional sports, things aren't always going to work out as you hope. I wish we were leading the points and had the pressure of defending a championship down here. But I'm making the most of where we are. It's not far from where we are to where Denny is. We're going to have to go out and have a great day on Sunday afternoon, take it from there, see what happens."
OK. So much for the composed point of view on behalf of the pre-race stories.
At Phoenix last week, once the checkered flew, it was a different perspective.
Hamlin hovered near doom and defeat after the ecstasy of kicking ass turned elusive due to ponies from his Toyota that proved to be thirsty, forcing a late-race pit stop for fuel that cost him dearly. But after leading the most laps and then falling behind and losing most of his points lead, the Virginia driver was determined not to lose the psychological edge, eventually acknowledging that there can be worse things than leading the championship headed into the final race at a track where his team knows how to win. Still, he talked in the past tense. "We were sitting pretty," he said.
Once a prima donna, Hamlin has refocused on leading his Joe Gibbs Racing team to the promise and relief of a championship in Homestead. It's the sort of resilience everybody looks for in a champion. After weeks of being slagged off as the man who has changed the image of NASCAR and cost the sport some of its fan following, Johnson showed some resilience and fire of his own.
Johnson, who sometimes suffers from making it look easy, coaxed enough laps from one tank of gas in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevy without losing too many positions to close the gap in the title hunt, the sort of determination it takes to finish at the top. Afterward, he shrewdly declared his team was ready to take the title if the boys of Hamlin were not "on their toes," the first direct challenge to the opposition from the driver who always handles interviews with the confidence of a poker player holding at least one ace. This time he played it.
One can forgive Johnson for crowing, because his pit crew -- the one borrowed from Jeff Gordon midway during the race the week before in Texas -- had out-performed the crew of a rattled Hamlin in Phoenix. The week before, it was the Hamlin crew giving Johnson the needle over his under-performing pit crew.
Now one hotly contested title remains between three drivers. As for Kevin Harvick, who trails the leader by 46 points, it's impossible not to count him out after Sebastian Vettel came from third to first in the Formula One season finale in Abu Dhabi. There's no reason whey the Richard Childress Racing driver can't lead the most laps and win on a 1.5-mile track, one of his favorite types of venue.
"For us, there's not a lot for us to lose," said Harvick. "Obviously these guys are a few points ahead of us. We just race as hard as we can. Winning a race makes things a lot better for us. This has been our best racetrack as far as statistics go. So that's a good thing."
With a 15-point difference between the top two, theoretically the race in Homestead could end in a dead heat between Hamlin and Johnson. It's reminiscent of the day in 1992 when owner/driver Alan Kulwicki -- now there was a determined fellow -- finished second to Bill Elliott's Junior Johnson Ford in Atlanta but claimed the title from the redhead by leading the most laps. In Homestead, it could end up in a dead heat with Johnson winning, but unable to clear Hamlin in the points if the latter leads at least one lap and finishes second. It's going to be that close. The number of victories is the tie-breaker, in which case under this scenario Hamlin would beat Johnson 8-7.
It may come down to who leads the most laps and gets the five bonus points. In all cases, somebody's going to have to be holding a pretty wheel under a lot of pressure to claim the trophy and declare an end to this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Jonathan Ingram can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Is the play/TV broadcast known in the US?
Abigail's Party
|by Bev
|reply 10
And say to yourself, Ange, "I have very. Beautiful. Lips. Okay?"
|by Bev
|reply 1
Ange. Tone.
I need to watch it again. Thanks for the reminder, OP.
|by Bev
|reply 2
I saw a production of it at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe several years ago....best thing I saw, didn't know a thing about it and only went because it was getting a certain "buzz".
Can't imagine many Americans have every heard of it.
Our loss.
|by Bev
|reply 3
I know the New Group in NYC did it around 2005 starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as Beverly.
|by Bev
|reply 4
Sue's been vomitting, Lawrence.
|by Bev
|reply 5
I want to put on the Demis Roussos record.
|by Bev
|reply 6
I saw Jennifer Jason Leigh in the 2005 production.
Leigh mumbled her way through it, as always, but I did like the play.
I think it was extended and Leigh may have even been replaced for the last few weeks of the run.
Lisa Emery stole it. Amazing performance.
|by Bev
|reply 7
Never heard of it before, but the whole thing's on YouTube, so I'm watching it now!
|by Bev
|reply 8
This is our downstairs toilet..ok?
|by Bev
|reply 9
Thanks for the tip, OP! Watched it last night and loved it.
|by Bev
|reply 10


text:
Skip to comments.NM:Gun buyback names released in error
Posted on 02/23/2013 7:09:46 AM PST by marktwain
SANTA FE (KRQE) - A unique solution to a shortage of gift cards and a big mistake led to the personal information of dozens who participated in Santa Fe's gun buyback program open to the public.
"It shouldn't have happened, but it did," said Santa Fe Police Department Chief Raymond Rael. "I apologize on behalf of the city, I don't think that information should've been out there."
(Excerpt) Read more at krqe.com ...
Korean War "assault weapon" is probably a M1 Carbine, though it could be a MI Garand. Both are highly desirable collector items that bring from $800 to $2,000. Turning one in at a gun "buy back" is wasteful. Dean Weingarten
Liberals and do-goooders never see beyond their immediate desires.
So there are always things that shouldn't happen, but always do.
But it never slows them down and they are always ready to forgive themselves.
After all - they truly believe the end justifies whatever they do because they really mean well - really, really.
I agree that that's how they think, but it's not good enough. Not because of these type unintended consequences they get because they're stupid and incompetent, but rather because no one died and left them the sole prerogative to define "well" as in they "mean well".
I don't want the world they're trying to create and they have no more authority than I to decide which ends are "good". Less, actually, both because I'm smarter than they are (the liberal standard for deciding who's in charge) AND because in my ideal world I'm not trying to tyrannize them, while in their ideal, they DO tyrannize me (conservative/libertarian standard).
It's not just the privacy issue but a typical government scam. So, the first group of IOUs were never paid off and now there's a second group. Next time there will be another group and another and another. Hey, if they keep delaying payment maybe they'll never have to pay for goods delivered. Reminds me of my county guilting people who were called in for jury duty to donate their $5 back to the county. Just be honest and tell people up front they get zip.
Sure....it was an accident, thats the ticket.
What a bunch of idiots.
If you participated in the New Mexico gun buyback program, you might as well put a sign out in your front yard that says, "Burglars, rapists and home invaders welcome! We gave away all our guns in the gun buyback program, so the best we can do against you would be dialing 911 and waiting for help to arrive."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
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netstarstudio.pl{Got nothing to say about myself really. Lovely to be a part of {this community I just hope I'm useful at all
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text:
Nepal Relief Volunteering
Hello Everyone,
Those of you that know me well know that I volunteer frequently with Habitat For Humanity. As even fewer know, I myself am a product of a HFH home. I lived in a Habitat home from 10-19 yo. And I'm both proud and thankful for the individuals that made that happen. Now it's my turn.
For years, I've volunteered on odd weekends to help provide homes for other in-need or impoverished families, but this time it's different. I've never asked someone for money, and fewer still for help, but I'm not asking for me. Help me to volunteer to build homes in Nepal in the wake of, not 1, but 2 devastating earthquakes that has also claimed the lives of over 5,000 people.
I'm asking you, the good people I've been raised by, grown up with, and befriended along the way to help me help others. The proceeds from this campaign go towards travel and lodging expenses for me from Phoenix to Porkhara (as arranged by HFHI), as well as a be used to purchase and transport buidling materials to the site. Help me give back in a significant way by contributing whatever you can and feel comfortable with.
My thanks go out to each of you for just reading this. God bless.


text:
Hollywood sets out next week's entrees early, a day before Thanksgiving feasts and football will keep many folks lounging at home.
Three movies debut Wednesday, a lazy Susan of offerings for various tastes.
Australia (PG-13) is for viewers with hearty appetites, reportedly clocking in at more than three hours. Baz Luhrmann's movie combines two dependable genres — Westerns and war — with two photogenic stars, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Kidman plays Lady Sarah Ashley, a British aristocrat who inherits a cattle ranch Down Under shortly before World War II. Jackman comes with the deal as Drover, a hunky cowpoke determined to drive a herd to market because that's what cowpokes do. Sarah helps, since everyone else has quit or gone to war and Drover looks mighty fine in his chaps.
Four Christmases (PG-13) is fluffy, not stuffy. Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn (who has watched the Oscars on TV) play a married couple traditionally skipping out of family holidays. They get caught, and since divorce runs in their families, they're stuck with four dysfunctional homes to visit.
Transporter 3 (R) is another gut-puncher starring Jason Statham, an underrated action star. Statham returns as Frank Martin, whose job is transporting dangerous cargo wherever the Mob sends him. Kind of like FedEx with guns, contraband and lax traffic laws. Consider this the movie menu's fruitcake: hard to swallow.
Reviews of Australia and Four Christmases will be published Wednesday on Etc., Page 2B.
Steve Persall, Times film critic


text:
Beautiful roses require little care
Updated 12:00 am, Sunday, February 2, 2014
SAN ANTONIO — A number of old-fashioned and modern tough roses deserve consideration for their beautiful blooms and their easygoing ways. These varieties are drought-tolerant, do not need regular pruning or pesticide spraying and will bloom for long periods each year.
'Carefree Beauty,' 'Martha Gonzales' and 'Belinda's Dream' all perform well with little maintenance.
'Carefree Beauty' makes a shrub about 6 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter. The flower opens to be about 4 inches across with a single or double layer of rich pink petals and a light, pleasant fragrance. 'Carefree Beauty,' which sometimes still is called 'Katy Road Pink,' forms nickel-size rose hips through its long blooming period. The rose hips are seed pods and look like berries that decorate the plant in winter and are eventually eaten by the birds unless the gardener harvests them for rose hip tea.
Use 'Carefree Beauty' as a specimen plant or in a bed. The blooms and buds make attractive cut flowers but, once cut, do not last as long as other roses.
'Martha Gonzales' is an old-fashioned rose that grows to about 5 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter. The flowers are half-dollar size and blood red. As attractive as the flowers are, the foliage is also showy. New growth is red, changing to a mix of red and green that lasts through the growing season.
Lifestyle Channel
'Martha Gonzales' makes a great low hedge in full sun. With its savage thorns, the plant often is used to steer traffic around flower beds. Pedestrians find it easier to admire 'Martha Gonzales' from a sidewalk rather than taking a shortcut.
'Belinda's Dream' is a tough modern rose with a flower that could come from a florist. The plants grow to 5 feet tall and wide. The buds are exquisite and open to multilayered blooms of pale pink. It makes an excellent cut flower.
Calvin R. Finch is a horticulturist and director of the Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center. Contact him at email@example.com.
Calvin R. Finch is a horticulturist and director of the Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center. Contact him at email@example.com.
More Information
This week in the garden
Aerating the lawn and top dressing with compost will improve the health of the grass.
Plant potatoes, broccoli transplants and cabbage transplants over the next month. You can also plant carrots, radishes, turnips and beets by seed.
Prevent winter weeds in the lawn from producing seed by keeping the lawn mowed. Mowing will also speed up decomposition of the leaves.
It is still a good time to plant trees and shrubs.


text:
For a franchise that gets no respect in critical circles, it's amazing how well Ron Howard and Tom Hanks' Dan Brown movies have done in theaters. The first one, "The Da Vinci Code" broke the bank when it opened with a $77 million opening weekend, and went on to dominate the global markets with $540 million haul. The sequel, "Angels & Demons" continues the tradition, albeit to a lesser degree. The second movie based on Dan Brown's book of the same name earned a respectable $48 million in its debut, down from the first movie, but still good enough to take first place at the weekend box office.
The Tom Hanks-Ron Howard film just barely beat out J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek", which continues its strong showing (no doubt thanks to continued heavy ad rotation on TV), taking in another very impressive $43 million in its second week, giving the sci-fi reboot a two-week total of $147 million. It doesn't look like "Star Trek" is going to slow down anytime soon, either, so can the announcement of a sequel or two be far behind? Methinks not.
As for former #1 "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", the comic book movie took the third spot with another $14.8 million, giving it a three-week total of just over $151 million in domestic grosses. The film was budgeted at $150 million, not including PR costs, so it still has a ways to go to turn a profit. At this point, it's look like Wolverine's momentum is slowing down, especially with next week's "Terminator Salvation" hitting theaters.
Meanwhile, the week's counter-programming "Management", a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn, failed to do much damage, landing at #16 in limited release.
Here's how the Top 10 broke down over the weekend (via):
1 —–Angels & Demons —–$48,000,000 —– $48,000,000
2 —–Star Trek —– $43,000,000 —–$147,611,000
3 —–X-Men Origins: Wolverine —–$14,800,000 —– $151,091,000
4 —–Ghosts of Girlfriends Past —–$6,860,000 —–$40,062,000
5 —–Obsessed —–$4,550,000 —– $62,571,000
6 —–17 Again —–$3,400,000 —– $58,395,000
7 —–Monsters Vs. Aliens—–$3,000,000 —– $190,552,000
8 —–The Soloist —–$2,425,000 —— $27,527,000
9 —–Next Day Air —–$2,281,000 —– $7,649,000
10 —–Earth (2009) —– $1,680,000 —–$29,071,000


text:
via press release:
2012 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY TO PRESENT THE TOP TEN LIST ON CBS's "LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN,"
NEW YORK, December 16, 2011 – 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will present the Top Ten List on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Monday, Dec. 19 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, will be making his third appearance on the LATE SHOW. Previously, he sat down for an interview with Letterman on March 2, 2010, and he presented the "Top Ten Things You Don't Know About Mitt Romney" when he appeared on the broadcast earlier this year, Feb. 1, 2011.
Also featured on the LATE SHOW on Monday, Dec. 19 are Tom Cruise, who stars in the highly-anticipated film "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," and musical guest Anthony Hamilton.
The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan, Maria Pope, Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.
RATING: TV-PG (Rating may change on day of broadcast due to specific subject matter.)
Photos available at www.cbspressexpress.com
Official CBS Web site: http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Letterman
Twitter: http://twitter/#!/Late_Show
CBS Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CBSTweet


text:
TAMPA — Some teachers might not be thrilled about it, but Hillsborough County middle schools will likely switch from six daily periods to seven this fall.
Officials said the changes, which were enacted two years ago at the high school level, would allow students to take more elective classes. They could also save the district $10 million compared with the cost of hiring more teachers by August to meet the state's class-size amendment.
"This was driven by kids and what they need," said superintendent MaryEllen Elia.
But union officials said teachers are likely to see heavier workloads — more class preparation time, or more students and paperwork — and plan to bring that up during contract negotiations.
At a School Board workshop Tuesday, the district stressed the benefits for students in moving from six 60-minute periods per day to seven periods of 50 minutes each.
Right now, students who are forced into remedial classes due to low scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test often can't take elective classes such as music or art, said Josie Sanders, general director for middle school education.
"The remedial kids really were being disenfranchised," said board member Jack Lamb.
With the change, teachers who are now teaching five periods a day would teach six. But their total number of teaching minutes would remain at 300, making it unnecessary to renegotiate the district's contract with teachers, officials said.
Some teachers might be concerned at the prospect of teaching an additional class period, Elia said. But doing so will make it possible for all students to take the full range of course offerings, from agricultural sciences to band and Spanish.
"This is a great scheduling model for all kids," said principal Maribeth Franklin, who piloted the change last fall at Barrington Middle School. "I think it's been great for all of my kids on campus."
Those benefits didn't stop 200 union representatives from voting unanimously against the changes at a meeting last week, said Nick Whitman, executive director of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers' Association.
He said the district was likely within its rights to make the changes without negotiating.
"But what they do need to negotiate with us on is the impact of this," he said.
For example, English or special-needs teachers might see more students and therefore get more paperwork. Such changes in working conditions would require concessions from the district, he said.
Cash-strapped districts across Florida are searching for ways to meet the final phase of the 2002 class-size amendment. By August, they must comply with firm limits of 18 students per teacher at the elementary level, 22 students in middle school and 25 in high school.
Hillsborough is already facing the prospect of possibly changing some school boundaries in order to comply with the law. If it didn't change the middle school schedule, the district would also have to hire more teachers in core academic subjects, said deputy superintendent Ken Otero.
And if an elective that once enrolled 12 students now enrolls 25, it's less likely to be eliminated due to budget cuts.
"For the elective teachers, it keeps their job," Otero said.
Tom Marshall can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or (813) 226-3400.


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A designer and an engineer cooperate to make a traditional tool.
Technology seems to go full circle sometimes. This beautiful loom was designed by Chilean designer Mauricio Rojas and the plastic parts were 3D printed by Erwin Ried, an engineer, on his MakerBot. So this project is one of the oldest manufacturing technologies known to humanity made with one of the newest. I love the irony.
The project is a work in progress, and the digital files are available for download on Thingiverse.
Via Thingiverse


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Toke my truck out today for a run and found it was losing signal and cutting off.
I previously opened my transmitter for doing some mods but accidentally broke the wire from the transmitter circuit board, I did solder it back on and all seemed fine but when I toke it out today when it goes about 50 yards away it stops moving, engine still running, and as soon as I walk closer it starts moving but all this is still very temperamental.
Diagnosed the problem and put it down to the the aerial.
I'm presuming I need to re-solder it but should I be soldering it a certain way or should I buy another wire or could I use something new in it's place to make it better?


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Let's make rad things.
Hey! I'm brennan, a human-shaped machine that turns ideas into gorgeous objects
Mechanical design by schooling and product design by trade I've been 3D modelling, physically building and virtually rendering for a decade; a craftsman of both digital and physical tools.
Let's make your dream tangible.
3D modeled and rendered
Recently started a feed of all the day to day scraps of things as I make them - far more current than this website gets updated.
Designed and physically built
Products I rendered but didn't design
2D graphics and misc.
Videos and animation
Twitter :: Instagram :: Dribbble :: Medium :: Linkedin :: Email
◦ Full time deckhand / 3D architecture animation artist for Smart City Media
◦ Put together a 3D Reel as seen at the top of this page.
◦ Built a little website called brennan.pizza just in case you wanted to know when I last ate pizza.
◦ Secret project for a camera brand you know and love.
◦ a dozen smaller freelance design projects, mostly also under NDA.
◦ Frequent collaborator / 3D architecture animation artist for Smart City Media
◦ Asgard Gear is a premium Magic the Gathering / TCG deck storage box startup I'm a co-founder and product designer for.
◦ Every week on sunday morning I wrote PHD in Curiosity, an email newsletter of varying topics both obscure and interesting. It ran exactly 52 issues / one year.
◦ Writer / researcher for 25 issues of Opportunity Overload, an email newsletter started by Need/Want for entrepreneurs + a five week crash-course for startups.
◦ Featured in three different issues of 3D Artist Magazine first for my popular Blender for Physical Prototyping article / design philosophy and then general tips for 3D artists.
◦ Collaborate with Dax Justin and we started a small firm specifically for video and photography campaign work, recently for GoRVing Canada and a forthcoming Kickstarter project for Kel52.
◦ Built a variety of websites and branding packages for Courtney Martin and Amanda Becker as they service various chiropractic and medical professionals with outreach.
◦ Dozens of freelance projects, some featured as images above like the Cole Rise NASA Hasselblad camera or the smartwatch design for teens.
◦ Forgelock is a video channel with DIY projects on Instagram and Youtube. I help build things, shoot most of the video and all the edit.
◦ Started selling my famous Minimalist Dymaxion Map of the World and other 3D illustrations.
older stuff
◦ Acrylo Inspiration Tumblr, a curation of design and architecture.
◦ Wrote a short, short surreal fiction book called the Anthology of Alternate Calgarys.
◦ Featured in Geekpreneur for a my few years writing and growing the Acrylo Design Blog so big. (Hint: never stop posting).


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- 5 total posts
- 1 review
- 3 comments
- 1 question
Reviews & Stories
No More Loose Skin - Aventura, FL
I had the procedure done in Aventura, FL by Moises Salama. My situation was very unique bc I had no fat on my stomach but I had loose skin. Dr. Salama and his team treated me like I was important. He listened to my needs and answered all my questions. The procedure went well and I'm thankful that I chose him bc he is absolutely the best of the best! READ MORE
Questions from lucygooseynomore
Full or Reverse Tummy Tuck? (photo)
I have had abdominal lipo 15 yrs ago. I have no stretch marks on my stomach and my abdominal muscles are in tact. I had a breast reduction 4 yrs ago as well. My stomach is flat... READ MORE
Recent comments from lucygooseynomore
You look amazing!!! I have a question you hear a lot about loose skin especially in the inner thigh and arms after lipo. Do you foresee that being an issue that you will have to contend with? READ COMMENT
You look AMAZING!!!! I want to be like you when I grow up!!! lol you made me feel a lot better!!! Im probably going to end up like you and do everything within about a 2 week window!!!! READ COMMENT
Hi ladies Im really needing some advice. Im really debating whether or not the bbl is something I should have done or if Im just being a knit picker. I had liposuction done about 16 years ago now over time I developed saggy skin on my... READ COMMENT


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By UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon It is a particular pleasure to have this opportunity to share some of my thoughts through the inaugural edition of this bulletin – which I hope will become a vibrant medium of communication and exchange in the period ahead – as we each do our part to keep the promise […]
By UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
It is a particular pleasure to have this opportunity to share some of
my thoughts through the inaugural edition of this bulletin – which I
hope will become a vibrant medium of communication and exchange in the
period ahead – as we each do our part to keep the promise we made in
Bali and to realize success in Poznań and then Copenhagen.
Our achievement in Bali came as the
culmination of years of hard work by many who grapple with the multiple
dimensions of the complex challenge of climate change on a daily basis:
scientists, economists, politicians, policy makers, technological
innovators, public servants and ordinary citizens around the world. To
succeed in Copenhagen, we must bring our best to the table in service
of a higher purpose. Time is short and the stakes extremely high.
commend the Parties to the Convention for starting work in earnest
during the Bangkok Climate Change Talks and for the progress they made
in Bonn. And I wish them all success at future sessions in Accra and
I have made it a personal
priority to ensure that the United Nations plays its full role in this
process, not only because climate change is just the kind of global
challenge that the UN is best suited to address but also because of the
clear moral imperative for bold, decisive and urgent action. We have a
duty to the vulnerable who contribute least to the problem but
experience its impacts most severely, and we have a responsibility to
succeeding generations. We also have an historical obligation to
successfully transition to a low-carbon global economy. In the last
century, we rose to the occasion to welcome the Industrial Revolution,
the technology revolution, and the era of globalization. In this
century, responding to the climate change challenge demands that we
harness that same resolve.
The United
Nations system is taking action to support the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the journey
through Poznań to Copenhagen. In this effort, we are guided by the
Parties' wishes, as expressed in the existing agreements under the
Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, and in the Bali Action Plan.
continue my personal advocacy and action through consultations with
world leaders and other measures to sustain political momentum towards
a shared vision for long-term cooperative action.
have repeatedly conveyed the UN system's commitment to strengthen and
coordinate its work on climate change. Recently, all UN agencies,
funds, and programmes agreed to organize their work on climate change
along the lines of the building blocks of the Bali Roadmap. They have
committed to delivering concrete results in support of Member States –
especially through implementation in five focus areas – namely,
reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation;
technology transfer; finance; capacity building; and adaptation. And
they are also backing action in four cross-cutting areas that underpin
progress on each building block – science, assessment, monitoring, and
early warning; global, regional, and national action; public awareness;
and a climate-neutral UN. These areas were identified primarily in
response to the negotiation process, and in pursuance of the broader
mandates and capacities in the UN system. I expect to report progress
from this process in Poznań.
Raising public awareness among governments, businesses, civil society
organizations and individuals remains high on my agenda. On 5 June
2008, this year's World Environment Day, we promoted the message "Kick
the CO2 Habit: Towards a Low-Carbon Economy." That theme was chosen in
recognition of the damaging extent of our dependence on carbon-based
energy and our belief that solutions are within reach.
I also pledge to lead by example. With the groundbreaking ceremony of the
renovations for the UN Headquarters in New York on 5 May 2008, we have
started the march towards a greener and more efficient UN. It is my
sincere hope that at the conclusion of this historic period of
renovation we will have facilities that are not only safer and more
modern but also a model of environmental stewardship. I know the chief
executives of all United Nations programmes, funds and specialized
agencies are following suit and moving towards climate neutrality in
their respective organizations.
are examples of some of the specific actions we are taking. When
different players – be they an individual, organization, business or
government – take action bound by a common cause, we are all energized
and our vision is brought that much closer to reality.
Our common priority is a deal in Copenhagen, on time, and in full. This bulletin
is a welcome way to keep us in touch and on track as we each do our part to meet our collective obligation to realize this goal. [Climate-L Bulletin]
Photo: Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General (Credit: UN)


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Film Academy Invites 276 New Members
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ava DuVernay and Paul Feig are among the 276 new members invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ava DuVernay and Paul Feig are among the 276 new members invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
It's Comic-Con week, which means that Hollywood is ready to unleash a slew of comicbook adaptation deals.
Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany will star in "Born," a psychological thriller that Guillermo del Toro, Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin will produce, and horror vet Clive Barker will exec produce.
Paramount Pictures is in negotiations with British director Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Supremacy") to helm vigilante action-adventure "The Watchmen," with Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin producing.
The good news about "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" is that Angelina Jolie is even hotter, faster and more commanding than last time around as the fearless heiress/adventuress, plus a…
Darkly comic, vastly entertaining and utterly original, Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights" is one of the most ambitious films to have come out of Hollywood in some time. Spanning the height of…
The Devil's Own" is neither the best nor the worst $ 90 million-$ 100 million-area budgeted picture ever made, but it must be the one in which the cost is least evident on the screen.
Chuck Gordon, Tom Craig and Mike Richardson will join Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin to produce "The Green Hornet" for Universal Pictures. Their names were omitted from the story in Wednesday's paper…


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Dads Appreciating Down syndrome (D.A.D.S) is a community group within the DSA of Delaware composed of fathers of children who happen to have Down syndrome. We hesitate to call ourselves a "support group", even though we do, in many ways, support each other.
We are a network of fathers willing to develop a program based on the needs of the men involved. We try to increase a father's knowledge and resources about children and individuals with Down syndrome. We also try to enhance personal advocacy skills while heightening a family's ability to cope with the unique challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome. D.A.D.S. provides a safe atmosphere of support where men can openly share, have fun, and build camaraderie and friendships among fathers.


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Animal Specialty Center
What can we dig up for you?
Animal Specialty Center
9 Odell Plaza, Yonkers, NY, 10701
Open 24 hours
Call us today at
Animal Specialty Center is a 16,000-sq-ft. hospital staffed with leading board certified veterinary specialists, emergency doctors and a highly skilled support staff. Located in Yonkers, NY, we serve pet owners and their pets from Westchester and Rockland Counties, Connecticut, Manhattan and the Bronx. In fact, clients from all over the world have traveled to our hospital to consult with us because of the expertise of our highly skilled veterinary specialists as well as our advanced, cutting edge diagnostic equipment and therapeutic procedures. We also pride ourselves on our compassion and strive for excellent client service. Our facility is a full-service hospital offering 24/7 emergency care; critical care; internal medicine; neurology; medical oncology; radiation oncology; dentistry; cardiology; surgery and acupuncture. Providing an unparalleled level of comprehensive, specialized care, we take a team approach working closely with you and your family veterinarian from diagnosis through after care.
Animal Specialty Center began as a dream for Dr. Richard Joseph nearly a decade ago. In the fall of 2007 it became a reality - a comprehensive, purpose-built, specialty veterinary center providing clients, veterinarians and specialists with the most innovative diagnostic tools and advanced treatments available...
Our hearts go out everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. To help those in need, all donations received via the VCA Charities Pennies for Pets program through September 30th will go directly to support the local shelters and animal relief efforts in Florida, Texas and the impacted areas. You can make a donation today by visiting VCACharities.org/donations/.
At VCA Animal Hospitals, your pet's health is our top priority, provided through high-quality, professional care and genuine personal service. We pledge to instill client trust and confidence that your pet will always receive compassionate, gentle care, as well as the highest standard of veterinary medical service available. We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for you, our clients and your special pets.


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We're looking for contractors who represent the highest standards in business acumen, equipment management expertise, attention to safety and community involvement.
You can nominate yourself, or someone can nominate you. Just meet the following criteria:
Get true bragging rights in the construction industry by becoming our next Contractor of the Year!


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You're more than welcome to Edit the info or Upload a manga chapter for share. You can also keep track this manga by subscribe the RSS feed or Bookmark it.
|Murao Minoru, Gonzo
|Murao Minoru
|Action, Ecchi, Sci-fi, Shounen, Yuri
Meet Takeru, an ordinary boy who's always bullied because of his lack of self-confidence. What will happen when one day two mysterious girls show up in his room seeking shelter from a group of blood-thirsty thugs?
Discover the changes in Takeru's life after meeting two girls that are definitely more than what meets the eye in Bakuretsu Tenshi.
Bakuretsu Tenshi: Angel's Adolescence is a prequel to the anime Bakuretsu Tenshi.


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First, I wish to clarify that my response is not meant to be a personal attack on Canon Kenneth Kearon. My reference to the "heart of darkness" refers to a pervasive mentality in some parts in our Communion, which takes a view that the "post-liberal" outlook is superior, and should be enforced to the rest of the world. The title "Heart of Darkness" comes from Joseph Conrad's critique on a similar European "civilising project" in Congo a hundred years ago. As I suggested in my response, all (both East and West) are prone to such outlook. I do apologize to Canon Kearon for any misunderstanding I caused.
Second, Canon Kearon's rendering of the Primate's request to the TEC House of Bishop do adopt phrases and concepts used in previous Primates' communiques and the Windsor Report.What caused great anxiety and confusion on my part—and perhaps to others as well— was that he did not simply reiterate the specific request of the Primates in the Dar es Salaam Statement, which of course was composed with great care. To rephrase the Primates' request in connection to the TEC HOB's statement (which was again composed with great care), however well-intentioned this may be, may lead to greater confusion at this important time in the Communion's history. I raised similar concerns on the Subgroup Report earlier this year.
Third, I believe the present socio-economic and socio-political structures can become a liability in the listening and discerning processes. Present-day forms of communication can easily be turned into manipulative tools that promote falsehood rather than truth. This is why I take a more sober view on Anglican structures, and am concerned in how languages are used. Communication is costly; it involves a personal commitment to live plainly: to repent from what is false, receive truth, convey truth, and live out the truth under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.


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Guide your boat effortlessly onto your trailer
Fit I-Beam, Box, and Channel Frames
Galvanized steel construction
Includes all zinc-plated hardware
Pontoon Boat Bunk-Style Guides allow you to load your pontoon boat onto your trailer with less effort. These bunk-style guides are designed to support your pontoon boat and keep it centered while you're loading it onto your trailer. While installing you can set the height between 24" and 36" above the frame for a better fit to your boat. Support posts clamp onto the top of channel, box-beam, or I-beam trailer frames up to 3"W x 4.25"H. The mounting bracket lets you adjust the distance between the posts. Constructed of sturdy, corrosion-resistant galvanized steel with marine-grade carpet to protect your boat. Includes two carpeted 24" bunks and all necessary zinc-plated hardware. Made in the USA.
• Bunkboard Dimensions: 24"L x 4"W x 2"D
• Post Dimensions: 23"L x 1.5"W
• Mounting Area: 9.5"L
• Mounts to frames up to 3"W x 4.25"H (For mounting to I-beam frames larger than 3"W x 4.25"H use the I-Beam Clamp Kit item #87786 sold separately)


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[25 April 2011]
Dinosaur Bones' debut album is full of competent indie-rock songs with very little character. The responsibility for this must be laid at the feet of singer/songwriter/guitarist Ben Fox. When you do all the heavy lifting for your band, you get to shoulder the blame as well as take the credit. Fox's singing voice is solid, but his melodies leave a lot to be desired. His mid-range vocals, sung without much passion, give the impression that he's bored with his own songs. It doesn't matter if it's the poppy, tempo-shifting album opener "Making Light", the torch song ballad "Ice Hotels", or the upbeat rock single "Royalty", Fox's permanently disaffected tone of voice makes My Divider sound detached, and worse, disinterested. The rest of the band is made up of solid players, so it sounds tight and focused as a unit, but it's in service to a songwriter who seems to be mediocre at best. We've all heard plenty of mopey indie-rock at this point, and Ben Fox's songs bring absolutely nothing new or distinctive to the table.
Published at: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/139352-dinosaur-bones-my-divider/


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ESPN ratings: Only Minneapolis-St. Paul had fewer U.S.-Germany viewers than D-FW
Only Minneapolis-St. Paul showed less television interest in the U.S.-Germany World Cup game on ESPN than Dallas-Fort Worth among the nation's 56 major markets.
Thursday's 11 a.m. start earned a 3.6 in D-FW to place it just ahead of Minneapolis-St. Paul at 3.5. Germany won the game, 1-0, but the result was good enough for the U.S. team to advance from group play to the single-elimination Sweet 16.
The game averaged a 6.7 nationally.
For the 48 group games, D-FW averaged 1.6, which placed it at No. 53, just ahead of Minneapolis-St. Paul and Knoxville (1.5) and Cleveland (1.4). The national average was 2.2.


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Last Wednesday, the K-Tokyu Express train bound for Demachiyanagi, in Kyoto, pulled out of Osaka's Kyobashi Station exactly on time at 5:36 pm and was comfortably full. The Keihan express trains are painted an elegant orange-red and yellow, and have a small painting on the front inside wall of each carriage and large picture windows. These carriages feel more like European inter-city trains than the usual point A to point B crush of Japanese rush-hour lines.
The conductor's baritone guided us through the stops until Kyoto in a brief announcement as we pulled out of Kyobashi. We were three or four minutes into our ride and easing into cruising speed when, suddenly, the sound of rocks--scattering violently or hitting the windows or skidding across the bottom of the carriage--made everyone duck reflexively and look around.
The lights then went out as the cable bounced from the overhead wire and against the roof above us. The car was nearly dark but for the emergency lights along the floor.
Using the the euphemism for suicide, the conductor came on again: "There has been an accident, and we are going to be delayed." His voice was calm, but the delivery was not silky smooth as it had been minutes before.
An awkward silence came over the carriage, and we all glanced out into the night. Nothing but rain-streaked windows and darkness.
People began text-messaging and calling home or friends to say they would be late. After several minutes the sound of a distant siren could be heard. The riders spoke in hushed voices in the darkness, and settled in for a long wait. The train finally started up after 25 minutes.
According to my brother-in-law, a driver for JR, "it is not a matter of if, but just a matter of time" before the train you are driving will kill someone.
At the bottom of page 33 of the next morning's Asahi Shinbun newspaper, there was a small article stating that "a 73-year-old woman who was on the tracks of the Osaka-Kyoto route of the Keihan Line was hit by an express train at approximately 5:40 pm and killed instantly. Trains were delayed up to 40-minutes, and 340,000 commuters were affected."
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Novice group looking good
There's some great young wrestlers coming up through the ranks in the Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club.
The island novice tournament at Esquimalt was proof of that, with several first-timers and relative newcomers earning high placings. "You're looking at your first- and second-year wrestlers at most,'' said coach Nick Zuback. "It's a great one for new kids.''
CVWC had 21 members in the competition and 17 earned medals.
Standouts on the junior side included Andrea Morris, who earned gold in 46-kilogram girls in her first tournament.
Rowan Gillard is only in Grade 4, but wrestled in the 38-kg division with kids in Grades 6 through 8 and finished second. "He's going to be one to watch in the next few years, for sure,'' said Zuback.
Ian Tuck, a Cowichan club member who's from Nanaimo, came first in 45 kg while Conner Smith was second in 51 kg and Jacob Berry-Mckechnie took second in the 57 kg class in his first-ever event.
"It's nice to see when a wrestler wins his first match,'' said Zuback.
Dylan Pilon won the 76-kg senior event and Ayden Claus, who never won a match last year, topped the 69-kg field. "He was so pumped after he won a match and he kept on going and won gold,'' said Zuback.
Cowichan finished first in the junior boys' standings with 65 points and third in girls with 16.
The club is hosting its annual meet Saturday at Cowichan Secondary School.