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This is when an author writes in an atypical pattern. The reasons for this can vary, from Leaning on the Fourth Wall (if it's related to the story in some way), to keeping certain plot points and twists hidden to the very end (e.g. avoiding gender pronouns for a Samus is a Girl twist) to simply being a stylistic choice. Some types of self-imposed challenges include writing in a particular metre, or making each line a letter longer than the one that preceded it; writing in code (e.g. replacing words with ones that appear a few places afterwards in the dictionary); avoiding certain common letters (the correct term for this is a lipogram, by the way); using words that display some sort of complex pattern (e.g. making large chunks of the story alliterative or in palindromes); drabbles (stories of precisely 100 words) and many more. Remember this applies to any challenge imposed on the author by themselves, so normal deadlines and schedules don't count, though improvising with limited resources or using a particularly strict time limit does. The alternative name "Oulipo" is from a group of French writers who were dedicated to this style of writing. The Other Wiki also has an article on the concept. Some authors might adopt this as a Signature Style. Unconventional Formatting can be related. When this is used within an otherwise normal piece of writing to show something specific then it is Painting the Medium.
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The colorful friendship bracelets come in counts of 72 that are each 4" in length and 4" wide. The colorful friendship bracelets are perfect for party favors, pinata prizes and, of course, for your best friends. Each package contains orange, green, pink, yellow, black and red bracelets. These friendship bracelets are made of a quality nylon. For anyone ages 3 years or older. Includes 72 nylon friendship bracelets.
" Got my morphsuit early enough to party at my office for halloween. Everyone loved it, including my boss. "

subset: commoncrawl


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Maggie Weaver Staff Writer email@example.com The hymn marathon held at Goshen College on Nov. 14-16 was not limited to this [...]Read more
Category "Features"
Leafs And Fans Hit The Road Together
Hayley Mann Staff Writer email@example.com As Goshen's men's soccer team suited up at Taylor University on Nov. 8 for the [...]Read more
Headed To Nationals, 'Pumped' And 'Energized'
Headline: Headed to nationals, 'pumped' and 'energized' Kolton Nay Features Editor email@example.com Maddie Birky Features Editor email@example.com The Maple Leafs cross country team could [...]Read more
Team Talks Sexual Misconduct
Hayley Mann Staff writer email@example.com The Sexual Misconduct Response Team (SMRT) is the center for Goshen College's policy for handling [...]Read more
Chocolate House Showcases Talent
Katie Hurst Contributing Writer firstname.lastname@example.com The Goshen Student Women's Association's (GSWA) annual Chocolate House took place on Sunday and was, [...]Read more
Letter To The Editor
Gretchen Geyer is a senior social work major at Goshen College. Last Wednesday, Reyna Grande presented a very [...]Read more
Expatriates and Kumquats Band Together
Maggie Weaver Staff Writer email@example.com At 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16 at College Mennonite Church, the Theory Expats, a [...]Read more
The SST Stories Project: An Open Call For Stories, New And Old
Dear SSTers, There's a new project about to unfold, but it cannot begin without you. An initiative to collect [...]Read more
Sing From Your Ovaries
Ramona Whittaker Contributing Writer email@example.com Lying over a chair in Dr. Debra Brubaker's office is a black t-shirt with a [...]Read more
Students Connect Via Art
Maria Bischoff Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com From weekly meetings to field trips, art club is grabbing the student body's interest quickly. [...]Read more
Beyond Poetry: Annie Agutu
Maddie Birky Features Editor email@example.com First-year student Annie Agutu made her mark on Goshen College early in the school year, [...]Read more
Halloween Hits Goshen College
Chelsea Risser Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com Looking for something fun to do this Halloween weekend? Look no further. Fun and exciting [...]Read more
New Campus Band Showcases Talent
Hayley Mann Staff Writer email@example.com The new and powerful All-Campus Band will have a joint concert with Lavender Jazz this [...]Read more
Apartment Council Fosters Community
Kolton Nay Features Editor email@example.com Tuesday morning, residents of the student apartments received a wonderful surprise if they left the [...]Read more
International Student Club Tours Chicago
The International Student Club took a trip to Chicago over fall break. Hayley Mann Staff Writer email@example.com During the first Saturday [...]Read more


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Man dies after aircraft crashes during test flight
A man died Sunday after crashing a single-engine ultralight aircraft during a test flight at the Lowell City Airport.
A man died Sunday after crashing a single-engine ultralight aircraft during a test flight at the Lowell City Airport.
The San Francisco Bay Area's strongest earthquake in 25 years struck early Sunday, sending more than 120 people to hospitals.
It has been more than a month since police said Brady Oestrike killed Charline Oppenneer, Brooke Slocum and their unborn child.
A man has been arrested after assaulting an officer Saturday.
A suspect who was wanted on warrants fled from police into a house after dropping a loaded handgun on the front porch.
Republican activists have nominated Gov. Rick Snyder's running mate and other candidates for this fall's statewide ballot.
Authorities are searching for a man who walks walking around an apartment complex holding a double edge knife.
The National Zoo in Washington threw a party Saturday in honor of the first birthday of panda cub Bao Bao.
The 10th Annual 28th Street Metro Cruise event continued for the second day Saturday.
Police are investigating after two people out for a walk discovered a body near Plaster Creek Family Park.
A man has been charged after allegedly stabbing three people at a mobile home park in Plainfield Township.
Authorities say a teen's crutches might have caused a Ferris wheel cab to tip and two children to fall about 15 feet at a southeastern Michi…
Fire officials are trying to determine what sparked a small blaze inside a duplex.
Two people on a motorcycle were injured when they hit a downed tree Friday.
A federal prisoner serving time for being a felon in possession of a firearm was mistakenly released from the Newaygo County Jail Thursday.
An auto safety advocacy group is asking the government to investigate power system failures in thousands of Chrysler vehicles that could cau…


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A huge statue of Buddha watches over the dining room at Surin of Thailand, although his peaceful gaze is subverted by complex curries, spicy stir-fried noodle dishes, and flavorful barbecue-chicken entrees a day in the making. Half chickens are marinated in Thai barbecue sauce overnight before being slowly roasted and grilled, then they?re plated with scoops of shrimp fried rice and reminders to chew each bite thoroughly, not matter who?s threatening to steal the flavorful dark meat.
Surin measures its dishes' spiciness on a three-pepper scale, where one is "spicy" and three is "Thai hot." Though most dishes fall between nonspicy and hot, a few earn their trio of peppers, including a medley of mussels, scallops, and shrimp with spicy basil sauce.
Another Buddha?actually, just a head?guards the sushi bar, where nigiri, sashimi, and creative maki rolls are born. Under the two Buddhas' protection, diners settle into leather seats or tuck into booths backed by ferns and foliage. Outside the stone-walled eatery, a patio seasons dishes with sunlight and refreshing breezes.
Creamy curries, drunken noodles, and barbecue eel and fried shrimp helped earn Stir Fry Cafe runners-up nods in both the Best Asian and Best Sushi categories for Knoxville News Sentinel?s Best of 2012 list. Teriyaki chicken and spicy noodles stand on plates beside walls decorated with art from local artists. Wine and beer flow freely at the black-and-white checkered bar, which also served as the base for Stir Fry Cafe?s attempt at crafting the longest fish taco in known space.
Hibachi Factory churns out Japanese grilled surf and turf with speed. Tender morsels of beef, chicken, and seafood taste like they were born in the hibachi sauce—a dark, viscous, and tangy concoction that bubbles up naturally in the pristine reaches of Mount Fuji. Hibachi entrees come in regular ($5.79–$8.29) or large ($7.79–$10.89) portions and are flanked by fried rice, mushrooms, and a choice of glazed carrots or zucchini and onions. Sides of baked veggie egg rolls and salad round out the savory selections ($1.99 each). For dessert, dip a ladle into creamy slices of silk pie or cheesecake ($3.59 each). Soft drinks and sweet tea come by the 20-ounce or two-liter bottle, providing quick and complete sustenance for an all-nighter or a relaxing evening at home listening to Pat Boone audiobooks.
Descending from the high ceiling, the diffused light of a hanging lamp glows in contrast to the deep reds and blacks of the dining room's walls. Behind the colorful cases of the sushi bar, chefs gently hunch over their workstations while carefully constructing specialty maki and slicing fresh fillets of fish into sashimi, nigiri, and tootsie rolls. Ebi Sushi and Sake House's kitchen receives a shipment of seafood from Honolulu daily, ensuring consistent freshness.
An extensive selection of red, white, and plum wines fills glasses alongside cocktails composed of Asian rice vodka. Sake offers a traditional complement to Japanese bites and comes in both hot and cold varieties, much like the national beverage of the United States, ice cream.
The steady hands of experienced chefs drizzle rich sauces across glistening cuts of fish at Koko Japanese Grill and Sushi Bar, where sushi displays meet succulent cuts of seafood, steak, and poultry. Each dish's precise presentation, from fillets flanked by vibrant carrots and greens to salmon- and eel-stuffed maki wrapped around slivers of avocado and cucumber, underscores the eatery's use of fresh, colorful ingredients and its kitchen cabinets filled with T-squares. Framed by leafy plants, a saffron-hued color scheme, and glowing amber ceiling fixtures, guests can sit near the open kitchen or gather at the sushi bar to watch the delicate construction of their chilled rice rolls.
Anaba Japanese Cuisine's skilled chefs roll up more than 90 types of sushi, which beckon hungry stomachs from an eclectic menu of diverse Japanese dishes. Rice rolls stuffed with crunchy shrimp ($6 full; $4 half) represent traditional touches, and exhibitionist samplers such as mackerel sashimi ($3) shed rice robes to flaunt protein-packed forms. More conservative specialty rolls, such as the rainbow roll ($12), encase a variety of underwater treasures, including whitefish, yellowtail, shrimp, and salmon, and can only be won over by the touch of chopsticks or a love note written in soy sauce. Across the kitchen, hibachi grills goad kimchi pork, green pepper, and scallions ($13) into proving their taste-bud-worthiness by walking barefoot over open flames. In between savoring sushi rolls and altering the consistency of soy sauce with wasabi, guests can quench thirsts with an array of spirited sakes. Anaba's cheery ambiance employs a juxtaposition of sumptuous dark wood and leather booths against neon signs and flat-screen TVs, creating a delightful fusion of elegance and fun, just like the karaoke bar in the basement of the White House.


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DE Davis among defensive workouts
October, 6, 2011
By Mike Rodak | ESPNBoston.com
Former Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis was among three defenders worked out by the Patriots on Thursday, according to a league source.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesChauncey Davis at work for the Falcons.
The 28-year old Davis played in every game for the Falcons over the past six seasons, starting 25 contests before being released during final cuts this season. At 6-foot-2, 271 pounds, he has ten career sacks, having played mostly as a 4-3 defensive end.
The Patriots have Andre Carter (0.5 sacks), Shaun Ellis (0 sacks), Mark Anderson (2.0 sacks), and Jermaine Cunningham (0 sacks) currently on their roster at the position.
In addition, the Patriots worked out safety Sean Considine, who had played four games for the Panthers this season before being released on Tuesday. The 28-year old Iowa product has also played in 71 games for the Eagles and Jaguars, making 28 starts. Despite having Patrick Chung return to action last Sunday, the Patriots are still considered thin at the safety position.
Finally, linebacker Robert Eddins worked out on Thursday for the Patriots. The 6-foot-3, 248 pound Eddins went undrafted out of Ball State this season and played in the regular season opener for the Bills. He sustained a foot injury in the game, was placed on injured reserve, and was later released with an injury settlement.
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Consultant urges people to embrace preparedness
Oct 3, 2012 | 1 Comment
By Nicole Montesano
Of the News-Register
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While being very far from being experts or prepared enough ourselves, I think our family has done enough to keep us going for at least a little, on a small budget, if everything happens to be disrupted. We now have two 50-gallon blue poly drums of treated potable drinking water for emergency use that are refilled every year, I might add a third this year because the cost is negligible even the space to store it isn't. A new hand pump allows us to access the water.
We have a gas fireplace so if the electricity fails we still have the ability to heat food and water. We've sealed beans, rice, peas, wheat, and corn in foil bags, along with dry ice to replace the oxygen and kill pests, and then sealed the bags in five-gallon buckets for long-term food storage.
As for canned goods, whenever we go to the store for the things we normally use we try to pick up at least an extra couple cans for our emergency stash, which we rotate thru. Always keep at least one extra case of both toilet paper and paper towels on hand. We are well-stocked in candles picked up at sales and oil lanterns, with at least 10 gallons of fuel for them.
Also have rechargeable batteries and a solar charger for the flashlights. When it comes to defending what is ours, I have at least 3k rounds for my primary defense weapon, and a couple hundred for my sidearm.
One area where we are lacking is a more coherent first-aid kit. I have a basic kit, and also a kit for trauma/gunshot use, but I would like more durable medical equipment. A port-potty and bigger garden is on the 'to do' list for next year.
No one knows what the future might bring but I do think that common-sense efforts NOW to prepare would pay huge dividends regardless of any calamity that could befall our area.
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"I can remember coming to Murfreesboro in the 1920s in a horse and buggy. Traffic was both ways in the square,"
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"The way we speak of our parents teaches our children the way they will speak of us to our grandchildren."
"It affected (network) traffic going to and coming from the West Coast and other Western parts of the U.S.."
"The return seems to be working relatively smoothly. We are seeing high traffic levels coming in, but the traffic is still flowing."
"The most important thing we needed was a separation of the traffic patterns coming out of New York tunnels and going to New England. You build something like this every 100 years. If you don't get it right, you have to live with it a long time and it was difficult, but we got it right."
"You simply can't have 90 percent of email and phone and fax traffic coming into a newspaper ombudsman from just one ideological perspective."


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Welcome to Sarahhomfray.com, a site dedicated to hand embroidery, passing on skills, inspiring you to stitch and providing the tools to do so! Sarah trained on the prestigious 3 year Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship and now works as a freelance hand embroiderer, artist, author and teacher and is based on the edge of Sherwood forest in Nottinghamshire, England. Check out the gallery pages for some inspiration, pick up some useful hints, tips and ideas through the blog and 'how to...' videos, or buy your embroidery supplies from the shop; sarahhomfray.com has an excellent selection of goldwork embroidery threads and metals as well as needles, kits and other must have embroidery items. To learn with Sarah, a visit to the new 'Learning Zone' (below) is a must; pick up a kit, come to a class (now taking bookings), or find out about the upcoming distance learning classes.
To read more about Sarah click here, and to keep up with current events visit Sarah on social media!
Shop and site survey - click here to have your say.
Please give a few moments of your time to help us provide the service you want.
Next class: Saturday 29th November, Lincoln Castle, Embroidery samplers. More info and booking here!
See Sarah's beetlewing project in the Oct/Nov (issue 91) of Stitch magazine! More info here
Beautiful beetlewings...


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Traditional Pool Cues
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Online Tile Shop has over 40 years in the tile industry. We supply and distribute high quality ceramic floor and wall tiles for trade & retail.


text: The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this abstract. The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Program Committee has reviewed all presenting author disclosure reports, identified potential conflicts of interest, and implemented strategies to manage those areas of conflict, where appropriate. All relationships are considered self-held and compensated unless otherwise noted. Employment/Leadership relationships are considered compensated employment unless otherwise noted. L = Leadership, U = Uncompensated, I = Immediate Family Member, B = Both Myself and Immediate Family Member, Inst = My InstitutionEffectiveness of gemcitabine and capecitabine in advanced colorectal cancer patients: A retrospective analysis.Mercedes SalgadoNo relevant relationships to discloseMargarita ReboredoNo relevant relationships to discloseAna MedinaNo relevant relationships to discloseGuillermo QuinteroNo relevant relationships to discloseMaria Luz PellonNo relevant relationships to discloseCarlos Romero ReinosoNo relevant relationships to discloseMónica JorgeNo relevant relationships to discloseAna Fernandez-MontesNo relevant relationships to disclose


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I have a Mary Plaiford (or Plaford) marrying Thomas Grimes in 1818 in Dersingham, Norfolk, UK. No information about where Mary was from...at leasy not yet!
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A device for the insertion and extraction of a plug-in module into a module frame which has at least one front module bar, contains a swivel-mounted lever which is located in the front area of the plug-in module and whose short lever arm has at least one lever cam and a push-off nose and a pressure piece which is fastened to the module bar. The pressure piece absorbs the forces transferred from the lever, whereby the pressure piece has at least one recess, in which the lever cam of the lever reaches into during the insertion of the plug-in module. Furthermore the pressure piece has at least one push-off shoulder against which the push-off nose of the lever pushes off during the extraction of the plug-in module.
1. A device for the insertion and extraction of a plug-in module into a module frame having a module bar, the device comprising:
a swivel-mounted lever located in a front area of the plug-in module, the swivel-mounted lever having a short lever arm having at least one lever cam and a push-off nose; and
a pressure piece that is mounted to the module bar to absorb any forces transferred from the lever, wherein the pressure piece has at least one recess in which the at least one lever cam of the lever reaches during insertion of the plug-in module, and at least one push-off shoulder against which the push-off nose of the lever pushes off during the extraction of the plug-in module.
2. The device of
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This application claims priority under 3 U.S.C. 119 from European Application No. EP 02 002 749.6, filed Feb. 7, 2002, which application is incorporated by reference.
The present invention concerns a device for the insertion and extraction of a plug-in module into and from a module frame. More particularly, the invention can be used with plug-in modules that can be inserted in slots of a module frame designed for electronic and electrical equipment.
Module frames for the reception of plug-in electronic modules are known in the industrial electronic field. One version of such a module frame includes two side walls and four parallel module bars, which border with their two-sided front faces on the two side walls. A metal cover and a metal bottom as well as a rear panel can supplement the module frame to a chassis, from whose open front side the plug-in modules are slid into on inserted guides. The module bars can also be integrated parts of the metal cover, the metal bottom respectively; such a module frame with integrated module bars is, for example, described in the DE 198 17 089 C1.
The plug-in modules are inserted into the module frame on guides from the front in such a way, that the partial front panels of the plug-in modules are adjacent to each other. Each plug-in module is, with the help of multipolar plug connectors, connected on the rear panel of the module frame with a rear wiring board, the so-called back plane. Due to the ever-increasing packing density on the individual plug-in modules and the progressing miniaturization of electronic components, plug connectors with always increasing numbers of poles. The individual contacts are hereby arranged in several rows next to each other. Great forces, which increase proportionally to the number of the poles of the plug connector, are necessary for the insertion and extraction of the plug connectors from the contact strip. Without suitable help, devices such as the plug-in modules cannot be loosened from the module frames, nor is it possible to establish a reliable plug connection between the plug-in module and the back plane.
Lever systems with operation grips in different versions are known as plug-in and pull aides. The plug-in and pull aides are located in the upper and/or lower front area of the plug-in modules.
German Patent DE 44 28 529 C1 reveals a device for the extraction of plug-in modules from a module frame with a module bar. The plug-in module has an angle lever as well as a holding block for a front panel and a circuit board. The angle lever, which is rotatable around a swiveling axis in the holding block, includes a long lever arm that is formed as a grip and a short lever arm that has two push-off shoulders that have different distances to the swiveling axis. The module bar has a small strip attached to the front which extends the module bar forward so that an overhang, the so called roof, is created. During the extraction of the plug-in modules from the module frame the two push-off shoulders push off in succession from the attached strip.
The currently known plug-in and pull aides have several disadvantages.
The dimensions of the front overhang (roof) of the module bar are determined by the standard. The roof is formed as a narrow crosspiece with rectangle sharp edged recesses. The front contact surface is only a few millimeters high. The push-off shoulders of the lever can therefore only grip at a small contact surface, so that a very high contact pressure is generated during the transfer of the lever forces to the module bar.
The module bar and its overhanging roof are usually produced from metal. To avoid unwanted metal abrasion the angle levers and the push-off shoulders are often produced from plastic. When the push-off shoulders glide under high contact pressure over the sharp edges of the module bars, the additional problem is generated that the plastic adapts to the sharp metal edge due to flexible deformation. This kind of unwanted shaping additionally increases the existing frictional forces.
The lever forces appearing during the insertion and the extraction have a component in the direction of insertion or extraction and a component vertical to this direction. The vertical component of the lever force has an effect on the small edge of the roof of the module bar parallel to the front side of the module bar. If very high lever forces are transferred, the module bar bends, so that the lever slips off the module bar and finally does not engage any more. The slipping of the lever is further aided by the very small contact surface of the overhanging roof, which offers the lever only a small abutment.
For module bars without a roof overhanging to the front, the push-off shoulders can only grip directly on the front side of the module bar during the extraction of the plug-in module. But the front side of the module bar is interrupted by the common T-groove. The remaining contact surfaces on the front side, from which the push-off shoulders push off, are barely larger than the contact surfaces of the overhanging roof. Very high contact pressures are generated by the gripping lever as well.
A levering of the plug-in modules into the module frame is currently only possible at module bars with roof, since the push-off shoulders grip into the recesses of the roof strip of the module bar and push off from the inner surface of these recesses that are facing away from the module bar. Common module bars, meaning such without roof, have no abutment for the levering.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a device for the insertion and extraction of a plug-in module that also enables the transfer of very high insertion and extraction forces, whereby damages to the module frame or to the plug-in module can be avoided.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a pressure piece, which is fastened to the module bar and absorbs the forces transferred from the lever. The pressure piece has at least one recess and at least one push-off shoulder.
During the insertion of the plug-in module the lever cam of the lever reaches into the recess of the pressure piece. The rotation of the lever has the effect that the lever cam glides into the recess along the push-off shoulder and at the same time the point of rotation of the lever at the plug-in module and therefore the plug-in module is pushed into the module frame in the direction of the plug-in. By design of a deep recess at the pressure piece and a respective design of the lever cam it is possible to realize a wide rotation angle of the lever and therefore a long pull-in path of the plug-in module. The working surface at the push-off shoulder of the pressure piece offers the lever cam a larger area than the overhanging roof of the module bar. The contact pressure of the lever cam is therefore lower. The transfer of very large forces as well by the lever on the module bar is therefore possible without the danger of damages.
In one embodiment, the pressure piece can also be attached to module bars without overhanging roof. If module bars without overhanging roof are equipped, or equipped at a later time, with pressure pieces according to one embodiment of the invention, plug-in modules with levers can also be used in module frames with common module bars without roof. To that respect, the suggested pressure piece has the function of an adapter which makes it possible to equip module frames with module bars without roof at a later point in time for the use with levers. Naturally, the pressure piece can also be fastened to a module bar that is integrated in a metal top or bottom of a module frame.
During the extraction of the plug-in module the push-off nose of the lever pushes off against the push-off shoulder of the pressure piece. Such a push-off shoulder does not exist in the module bar whose design is determined by the standard. The pressure piece on the other hand is not defined by any standard since it is a separate, additional part. The therefore free design of the pressure piece especially allows a design of the push-off shoulder as a large and smooth surface. Therefore, the push-off shoulder has a larger contact surface than the module bar, by which the contact pressure of the push-off nose of the lever is reduced and substantially higher forces, generated by the lever, can be transferred. Therefore, plug-in modules with multipolar plug connectors as well can be easily, reliably and comfortably removed from the module frame, at long service lives.
In one embodiment, the pressure piece has an additional contact surface against which the lever cam presses during the extraction of the plug-in module. The push-off procedure during the extraction of the plug-in module is therefore divided between the lever cam and the push-off nose of the lever. It is especially advantageous if the lever cam is aligned not parallel but in an acute angle to the push-off nose. During the extraction of the plug-in module the lever cam is first of all engaged with the pressure piece, while the push-off nose presses against the pressure piece at a later point in time. The pulling path generated by the lever can nearly be doubled by the successive engagement of lever cam and push-off nose.
In one embodiment, the push-off shoulder and/or the push-off surface of the pressure piece are aligned parallel to the front side of the module bar. This arrangement of the push-off shoulder and the push-off surface gives the lever the best engagement possibilities and a high efficiency.
In one embodiment of the device according to invention, the pressure piece is removable and attached to the front side of the module bar. This offers the advantage that the pressure piece is exchangeable in case of damage and on the other hand the pressure piece can be mounted exactly at the position in which the plug-in module is to be inserted, by which the flexibility is increased.
In one embodiment, the pressure piece has at least one drill hole for the reception of a mounting screw. The mounting screw extends through the drill hole into the T-groove of the module bar. A tapped hole strip with thread holes is slid into the T-groove of the module bar. The mounting screw reaches into the corresponding thread holes of the tapped hole strip and by this holds the pressure piece to the module bar.
In one embodiment, in cross-section the pressure piece can have a T-shaped base. The T-shaped base serves for the insertion in the corresponding T-groove of the module bar. The T-shaped base increases the hold of the pressure piece at the module bar, which prevents a deformation or bending of the pressure piece at great lever forces. If the T-groove of the module bar is filled completely with pressure pieces with T-shaped bases, they hold each other in the required position.
In one embodiment of the invention a holding part, with has a gliding guide, is fastened to the plug-in module. At the same time a gliding-surface bearing is formed at the pressure piece. The gliding-surface bearing reaches in the corresponding sliding guide of the holding part to absorb the forces that are transferred from the lever and operate vertically to the direction of insertion. The lever and the holding part are both fastened to the plug-in module so that they compensate the forces that are operating vertically to the direction of insertion.
The forces that are transferred from the lever affect the push-off shoulders and the push-off surface of the pressure piece as well as the gliding-surface bearing of the pressure piece. The effect of the force is distributed on a larger area, so that the contact pressure decreases and larger forces of the lever can be transferred. The cooperation of gliding guide and gliding-surface bearing prevents a deformation or bending of the pressure piece, the module bar respectively, since the vertical components of the lever force are compensated. The gliding guide that reaches into the gliding-surface bearing also reliably prevents that the lever disengages from the pressure piece.
In one embodiment, the holding part has a pivot bearing for the lever. The pivot bearing can be formed as pin or swivel bolt which is guided through a drill hole in the holding part and to which the lever is swivel-mounted. The direct gripping of the lever at the holding part further improves the force transfer so that even higher lever forces can be absorbed.
The gliding guide at the holding part can be shaped as a guiding bar, which runs parallel to the direction of insertion. The gliding-surface bearing at the pressure piece can be shaped as a groove that corresponds with the guiding bar. The guiding groove and the guiding bar automatically cause a centering of the plug-in module. The plug-in module is fixated vertically to the direction of insertion in the desired position, but is at the same time moveable in the direction of insertion. Therefore, guiding bar and guiding groove take over the centering function, which is usually performed by the industry known centering pin.
The guide bar can have an L-shaped cross-section, whereby the short L-leg runs parallel to the module bar of the module frame. The guide groove then has a corresponding rectangular cross-section so that a safe gripping of the guide bar into the guide groove is guaranteed and a slip out is reliably prevented. The centering effect is improved at the same time and a good transfer of the forces that appear vertically to the direction of insertion is possible at the same time. The L-shaped cross-section of the guide bar can technically be easily produced. It additionally offers the advantage, that the L-leg of the guide bar can be designed relatively strong to withstand even strong forces. Also, the side parts of the guide groove can be designed strong accordingly. The rectangular cross-section of the guide groove that fits with the L-shaped guide bar can easily be produced by sawing it out or milling.
The short lever arm of the lever can have two lever cams that are arranged distant from each other and two push-off noses that are arranged next to each other. For practical purposes the pressure part has a center piece which has one push-off shoulder and one recess on each side, whereby the guide groove is formed in the center part. In this case the pressure piece has a structure that is symmetric to the center part. The dual design of the lever cam and the push-off nose at the short lever arm of the lever corresponds with the two recesses and push-off shoulders of the pressure piece. The total contact area for the lever is therefore doubled. The contact pressure during the insertion and extraction of the plug-in module is therefore cut in half. With this distribution of force very high lever forces can be transferred to the pressure piece as well.
The two lever cams of the lever reach into the two recesses on both sides of the guide groove, so that the two lever cams as well take on a centering function in direction parallel to the module bar. At the same time, the centering function is complemented by the guide groove and the guide bar. This arrangement absorbs cross forces generated by the adjacent plug-in modules. The plug-in module also remains in its position with lateral forces.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
A pressure piece 11 is fastened on the front side 8 of the module bar 7. The pressure piece 11 is carried by the roof 9. Two fastening screws 12 reach into the T-groove 10 of the module bar 7 and establish the connection between the pressure piece 11 and the module bar 7.
The holding part 3 has a console 13 with two fastening drill holes 14. The circuit plate 4 (not shown) will be attached with screws to the console 13 of the holding part 3, whereby the screws reach into the fastening drill holes 14. A cross slot 15 serves for the reception of the front panel (not shown here). A bearing bracket 16 connects to the cross slot 15. A pivot bearing 17 is located in the bearing bracket 16 and formed as drill hole that runs transversal to the direction of insertion. The bearing bracket 16 receives a swiveling axis 18. The swiveling axis 18 reaches at the same time into the holding holes 19 of the lever 2.
The lever 2 has a short lever arm 20 and a long lever arm 21. The long lever arm 21 is fork-shaped, whereby the two side forks are connected with each other at the upper end by a cross bar.
The holding part 3 has at the bottom side of the bearing bracket 16 a guide bar 24, which runs in the direction of the console 13. A corresponding longitudinal groove 25 is formed in the console 13.
The pressure piece 11 is shown in
A detailed illustration of the individual parts of the device shows FIG. 3.
The guide bar 24, located on the bearing bracket 16, is formed L-shaped in cross-section and extends in the direction of insertion. The short L-leg 27 of the guide bar 24 is oriented transversal to the direction of insertion. The end of the guide bar 24 that is positioned away from the console 13 narrows to a wedge. A counter bearing that is inserted from the small side of the wedge can therefore easily glide, at the beginning with clearance, over the guide bar 24 to engage it.
The two lever cams 22 of the lever 2 are formed parallelepiped, whereby the ends narrow towards the top, so that a frustum is formed. The push-off noses 23 are distant from the two lever cams 22. They are positioned parallel to each other and align with the lever cams 22.
The pressure piece 11 is essentially symmetrically built. A center part 28 that runs in direction of insertion forms the symmetry axis. One push-off shoulder 29 and one push-off surface 30 are arranged on both sides of the center part 28. The push-off shoulders 29 and the push-off surfaces 30 connect the center part 28 with outer parts 31 that run parallel to the center part 28. A drill hole 32, which extends in the direction of insertion and serves for the reception of a fastening screw 12, is located in each of the outer parts 31. The center part 28 and the outer parts 31 define, together with the push-off shoulder 29 and the push-off surface 30, a recess 33 which has a rectangular cross-section. Because of the symmetrical structure of the pressure piece 11, two recesses 33 exist on both sides of the center part 28 in which the lever cams 22 of the lever 2 reach into.
The center part 28 has a gliding-surface bearing which is formed a guide groove 34. The guide groove 34 extends along the center part in the direction of insertion, whereby the opening of the guide groove 34 points in direction of one of the outer parts 31 and therefore transversal to the direction of insertion. The guide groove 34 serves for the reception of the guide bar 24 of the holding part 3.
The push-off shoulders 29, which connect the outer parts 31 with the center part 28, are rounded in the upper area, so that sharp edges on the top parts are avoided. The push-off surface 30 is part of a connecting bar 35 which is positioned between the center part 28 and the outer part 31. The connecting bar 35 is beveled at its top. It is higher than the outer part 31, but lower than the center part 28.
Positioned on the bottom part of the pressure piece 11, locking blocks 26 are arranged in the area of the outer parts 31. They are slightly beveled to avoid sharp edges on the top part of the locking blocks 26.
With the beginning of the extraction of the plug-in module 1 from the module frame (
With the progressive rotational movement of the lever 2, as shown in
In the further course of the extraction of the plug-in module 1 from the module frame the lever 2 is further rotated until it reaches a position that is inclined by approximately 80� (
The reversed movement of insertion of the plug-in module 1 in the module frame is illustrated in the
It is proceeded from the lever position of about 80�, in which the lever 2 is almost horizontal (
The further turning of the long lever arm 21 of the lever 2 counterclockwise has the result, that the push-off nose 23 is no longer in contact with the push-off shoulder 29 (
With the progressive rotational movement of the lever 2 counterclockwise, the lever cam 22 glides downwards along the push-off shoulder 29. The lever cam 22 continues to push against the push-off shoulder 29 and therefore transfers the lever forces of the lever 2 to the pressure piece 11, which leads to a further insertion of the plug-in module 1 into the module frame (
The insertion of the plug-in module 1 into the module frame is completed when the lever 2 reaches its final position (0�). The lever cam 22 is now completely engaged in the recess 33 but it does not touch the push-off shoulder 29 or the push-off surface 30 (
If the lever 2 with the lever cam 22 and the push-off nose 23 and the pressure piece 11 with the push-off shoulder 29 and the push-off surface 30 are made of metal, for example produced by die-casting, metal abrasion could occur. Excessive abrasion is avoided by the fact that the lever cam 22 as well as the push-off nose 23 is designed accordingly in size. But metal abrasion can be prevented completely if either the complete lever 2 is made of plastic, or at least the lever cam 22 and the push-off nose 23 are coated with a material with low friction coefficients. Examples of materials for such a coating are plastic or Teflon.
At the beginning of the pull-in of the plug-in module 1 into the module frame the lever cams 22 push from the top at an angle of approximately 40� on the push-off shoulders 29 (not shown) against the pressure piece 11. Thereby, a vertical force is applied from the lever cam 22 on the pressure piece 11. The lever cams 22 and the lever 2 support themselves upwards on the pressure piece 11. Along with the lever 2, the holding part 3 also supports itself upwards and is connected with the lever 2 by the swiveling axis 18 (compare
The position of the pressure piece 11 is determined by the tapped holes 37 of the tapped-hole strip 36 so that the pressure piece 11 is centered in front of a slot for the plug-in module 1.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
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Arden B Ribbed Double Scoop Tank
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This Australian documentary, that has won praise from professionals in the field, highlights how real estate distorts the rest of the economy.
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How economies work – and don't
what you do when you see economies as part of the ecosystem, following feedback loops and storing up energy. Surplus energy – fat or profit – enables us to produce and reproduce. To recycle society's surplus, the commonwealth, geonomics would replace taxes with land dues (charged to users of sites and resources, in-cluding the EM spectrum, and extra to polluters), and replace subsidies with rent dividends to citizens (a la Alaska's oil dividend). Without taxes and subsidies to distort them, prices become precise, reflect accurately our costs and values; then, motivated by no more than the bottom line, both producers and consumers make sustainable choices. While no place uses geonomics in its entirety, some places use parts of it, most notably a shift of the property tax off buildings, onto locations. Shifting the property tax drives efficient use of land, in-fills cities, improves the housing stock, makes homes affordable, engenders jobs and investment opportunities, lowers crime, raises civic participation, etc – overall it makes cities more livable. Geonomics – a way to share the bounty of nature and society – is something we can work for locally, globally, and in between.
a study of a phenomenon David Ricardo noted going on two centuries ago. When wine grapes rise to $10,000 a ton from the very best land (last year, cabernet sauvignon commanded an average of $4,021 a ton in the Napa Valley), then vineyard prices soar from $18,000 an acre in the 1980′s to $100,000 an acre five years ago and now for a top pedigree up to $300,000 an acre (The New York Times, April 9, via Wyn Achenbaum). Pricey land does not make wine pricey; spendy wine makes land spendy. While vintners make their wine tasty, nature and society in general – not any lone owner – make land desireable. Steve Kerch of CBS's MarketWatch (April 5) notes that much of what a home sells for on the open market is a reflection of intangible factors such as what school district the house sits in. The price the builder has to pay for the land also tends to be driven by the same intangibles. Because the value of land comes from society, and because one's use excludes the rest of society, each user owes all others compensation, and is owed compensation by everyone else. Sharing land's value, instead of taxing one's efforts, is the policy of geonomics.
one of many words I coined over 20 years ago: geoism, geonomics, geonomy, geocracy, etc – neologisms that later others came up with, too. CNBC once had a Geonomics Show, and Middlebury College has a Geonomics Institute. If "economy" is literally "management of the household", then geonomy is "management of the planet". The kind of management I had in mind is not what CNBC was thinking – top-down. My geonomics is not hands-on, interfering, but hands-off, organic. It'd strive to align policy with natural processes, similar to what holistic healing does in medicine, what organic farming does in agriculture. Geonomics attends to two key components: One, the crucial stuff to track is fat – or profit, especially profits without production, such as rent, or all the money we spend on the nature we use. Society's surplus is the sine qua non for growth, needed to counter death – not merely more, but sustainable development, more from less. Two, the basic process to respect is the feedback loop. These let nature maintain balance automatically and could do the same for markets, if we let them. Letting them would turn our economies, now our masters, into a geonomy, our servant, providing us with prosperity, eco-librium (to coin a term) and leisure, time off – a hostile environment for economan but a cradle for a loving and creative humanity.
a manual. The world did not come without a way for people to prosper, and the planet to heal and stay well; that way is geonomics. Economies are part of the ecosystem. Both generate surpluses and follow self-regulating feedback loops. A cycle like the Law of Supply and Demand is one of the economy's on/off loops. Our spending for land and resources – things that nobody made and everybody needs – constitutes our society's surplus. Those profits without production (remember, nobody produced Earth) can become our commonwealth. To share it, we could pay land dues in to the public treasury (wouldn't oil companies love that?) and get rent dividends back, a la Alaska's oil dividend. Doing so let's us axe taxes and jettison subsidies. Taxes and subsidies distort price (the DNA of exchange), violate quid pro quo by benefiting the well-connected more than anyone else, reinforce hierarchy of state over citizen, and are costly to administer (you don't really need so much bureaucracy, do you?). Conversely, land dues motivate people to not waste sites, resources, and the ecosystem while rent dividends motivate people to not waste themselves. Receiving this income supplement – a Citizens Dividend – people can invest in their favorite technology or outgrow being "economan" and shrink their overbearing workweek in order to enjoy more time with family, friends, community, and nature. Then in all that free time, maybe we could figure out just what we are here for.
suitable for framing by Green Parties. When Greens began in Germany two decades ago, they defined themselves as neither left nor right but in front. Geonomics fits that description. The Green Parties have their Four Pillars; geonomists have four ways to apply them:
- Ecological Wisdom. Want people to use the eco-system wisely? Charge them Rent and, to end corporate license, add surcharges. To minimize these costs, people will use less Earth.
- Nonviolence. Want people to settle disputes nonviolently? Set a good example; don't levy taxes, which rely on the threat of incarceration, to take people's money. Try quid pro quo fees and dues.
- Social Responsibility. Want people to be responsible for their actions? Don't make basic choices for them by subsidizing services, addicting them to a caretaker state. Let people spend shares of social surplus.
- Grassroots Democracy. Better have grassroots prosperity. Remember, political power follows economic. Pay people a Citizens Dividend; to keep it, they'll show up at the polls, public hearings, and conventions.
a POV that Spain's president might try. A few blocks from my room in Madrid at a book fair to promote literacy, Sr Zapatero, while giving autographs and high fives to kids, said books are very expensive and he'd see about getting the value added tax on them cut down to zero. (El Pais, June 4; see, politicians can grasp geo-logic.) But why do we raise the cost of any useful product? Why not tax useless products? Even more basic: is being better than a costly tax good enough? Our favorite replacement for any tax is no tax: instead, run government like a business and charge full market value for the permits it issues, such as everything from corporate charters to emission allowances to resource leases. These pieces of paper are immensely valuable, yet now our steward, the state, gives them away for nearly free, absolutely free in some cases. Government is sitting on its own assets and needs merely to cash in by doing what any rational entity in the economy does – negotiate the best deal. Then with this profit, rather than fund more waste, pay the stakeholders, we citizenry, a dividend. Thereby geonomics gets rid of two huge problems. It replaces taxes with full-value fees and replaces subsidies for special interests with a Citizens Dividend for people in general. Neither left nor right, this reform is what both nature lovers and liberty lovers need to promote, right now.
not a panacea, but like John Muir said, "pull on any one thing, and find it connected to everything else." Recall last month's earthquake in El Salvador. We felt it and its formidable after-shocks in Nicaragua. Immediately afterwards, my host nation, one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, sent aid to its Central American neighbor. The Nica newspapers carried photos of the devastation. They showed that the cliff sides that crumbled had had homes built on them while the cliffs left pristine withstood the shock. Could monopoly of good, safe, flat land be pushing people to build on risky, unstable cliffs? If so, that's just one more good reason to break up land monopoly. What works to break up land monopoly, history shows, is for society to collect the annual rental value of the underlying sites and resources. That'd spur owners to use level land efficiently, so no one would be excluded, forced to resort to cliffs. To prevent another man-induced landslide is yet another reason to spread geonomics.
the study of the money we spend on the nature we use. When we pay that money to private owners, we reward both speculation and over-extraction. Robert Kiyosaki's bestseller, Rich Dad's Prophecy, says, "One of the reasons McDonald's is such a rich company is not because it sells a lot of burgers but because it owns the land at some of the best intersections in the world. The main reason Kim and I invest in such properties is to own the land at the corner of the intersection. (p 200) My real estate advisor states that the rich either made their money in real estate or hold their money in real estate." (p 141, via Greg Young) When government recovers the rents for natural advantages for everyone, it can save citizens millions. Ben Sevack, Montreal steel manufacturer, tells us (August 12) that Alberta, by leasing oil & gas fields, recovers enough revenue to be the only province in Canada to get by without a sales tax and to levy a flat provincial income tax. While running for re-election, provincial Premier Ralph Klein proposes to abolish their income tax and promises to eliminate medical insurance premiums and use resource revenue to pay for all medical expense for seniors. After all this planned tax-cutting and greater expense, they still expect a large budget surplus. Even places without oil and gas have high site values in their downtowns, and high values in their utility franchises. Recover the values of locations and privileges, displace the harmful taxes on sales, salaries, and structures, then use the revenue to fund basic government and pay residents a dividend, and you have geonomics in action.
a discipline that, compared to economics, is as obscure as Warren Buffett's investment strategy, compared to conventional investment theory, about which Buffett said, "You couldn't advance in a finance department in this country unless you taught that the world was flat." (The New York Times, Oct 29). The writer wondered, "But why? If it works, why don't more investors use it?" Good question. Geonomics works, too. Every place that has used it has prospered while conserving resources. Yet it remains off the radar of many wanna-be reformers. Gradually, tho', that's changing. More are becoming aware of what geonomics studies – all the money we spend on the nature we use. Geonomics (1) as an alternative worldview to the anthropocentric, sees human economies as part of the embracing ecosystem with natural feedback loops seeking balance in both systems. (2) As an alternative to worker vs. investor, it sees our need for sites and resources making those who own land into landlords. (3)As an alternative to economics, it tracks the trillions of "rent" as it drives the "housing" bubble and all other indicators. And (4) as an alternative to left or right, it suggests we not tax ourselves then subsidize our favorites but recover and share society's surplus, paying in land dues and getting back "rent" dividends, a la Alaska's oil dividend. Letting rent go to the wrong pockets wreaks havoc, while redirecting it to everyone would solve our economic ills and the ills downstream from them. People must learn to stop whining so much and feel enough self-esteem to demand a fair share of rent, society's surplus, the commonwealth.
as unfamiliar as geo-economics. The latter is a course some universities offer that combines geography and economics. A UN newsletter, Go Between (57, Apr/May '96; thanks, Pat Aller), cited an Asian conference on geopolitics and "geoeconomics". The abbreviated term 'geonomics" is the name of an institute on Middlebury College campus and of a show on CNBC. Both entities use the neologism to mean "global economics", in particular world trade. We use geonomics entirely differently, to refer to the money people spend on the nature they use, how letting this flow collect in a few pockets creates class and poverty and assaults upon the environment, and how, on the other hand, sharing this rental flow creates equality, prosperity, and a people/planet harmony. This flow of natural rent, several trillions dollars in the US each year, shapes society and belongs to society.
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Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
It gets late early out there.
Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.
It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom.
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.
I just want to thank everyone who made this day necessary.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.
Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.


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Industry Analyst,
Altimeter Group
Rebecca Lieb is an analyst at Altimeter Group, where she covers digital advertising and media, an area that encompasses brands, publishers, agencies, and technology vendors.
Lieb previously launched and oversaw Econsultancy's U.S. operations. She was VP and editor-in-chief of The ClickZ Network for over seven years. For a portion of that time, she... more
Measuring digital advertising is relatively easy, but owned and earned media? That's a whole other story. The metrics and the methods for measuring digital marketing are less exact, the platforms are...
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3 5 predictions for the future of social media
4 The most meaningless (and hilarious) job titles on LinkedIn
5 Moms in marketing: Making it work


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GJ2 Glendora NLTSubmitted by gunner4life on Sat, 10/11/2014 - 09:49
Price Paid:
Country of origin:
Body wood(s):
Neck wood:
Fretboard Scale:
Number of frets:
The heart of this guitar is basically a Charvel So Cal/San Dimas, in terms of playability. Grover fans and loyalists asked for a bolt on neck similar to the Charvel's he created, and he gave them this.
Compound radius fingerboard, differing slightly from the Charvel, having a 10"-14" radius, and feels really comfortable. Neck contour is what you would expect from Grover Jackson, thin C shape.
Though mine was new, it was a dealer exclusive based on the older model specs, which included Gotoh non locking tuners and a Floyd style string retainer bar. I was having tuning stability issues, and upgraded it with the current spec tuners, Hipshot staggered locking tuners, which was a huge improvement. Though I believe the issue was with the condition the dealer left this guitar in, because Gotoh products are great. I would have gotten locking tuners eventually anyway.
Tremolo is a solid Gotoh 510T 2 point tremolo, I know it's definitely a Gotoh, but assuming which model based on pics.
Other dealer exclusive/ GJ2 optional features are the infinity inlays, and stainless steel jumbo frets.
Guitar is pretty light for it's size, and resonant, due to the basswood body.
Price, no matter what I say in the cons, this is essentially a custom shop guitar that was picked up new for under $900, I've paid more more mass produced imports. Even though it was being liquidated, I find the regular prices to be good, and the quality is definitely up there.
I have to say that customer service is fantastic, and one of the better qualities of a smaller operation.
Volume knob is in a weird spot, not as close as a Fender Strat, but halfway between there and what is foundon a Charvel. I really don't get the placing, on the San Dimas style Glendora, the knobs are where you'd expect them to be. GJ2 can make a new pickguard, out of standard material, for $35, which isn't a bad deal. Charvel pickguards won't fit, and neither will Fender and Fender licensed pickguards. Warmoth pickguard with the D-Long volume placement option is $40.
Not a huge fan of basswood. In this case the guitar feels awkward to me, in that the body is pretty bulky, it feels a little bigger than any Charvel or Fender Strat I owned, but very light. For me it's kinda like taking a sip of iced tea when you were expecting soda. Alder and ash are both options though.
Pickups. What can I say. They sound great, but for me, trying pull pinch harmonics from the bridge pickup is like milking a rock. I believe the pickup to be a GJ2 Habanero Classic, haven't been able to check that, it just doesn't have the raw power I would expect from the 17k Habanero Spicy, and the eBay dealer (they had a real store front) has not replied to any questions. It kinda sounds like a Duncan Alnico 2 Pro, but I've gotten better dynamics from the Duncan. The neck pickup I love and will keep, basically, to my ears, it sounds somewhere between like a Duncan Alnico 2 Pro and '59. If the bridge pickup is a Classic, I will probably try the Spicy, but if it turns out to be the Spicy, it's getting chucked for a Duncan. There is no specs data on what the magnets are, but I suspect the Classic both use Alnico 2, and the Spicy is either Alnico V or ceramic.
I prefer 3 way toggle switches over 3 and 5 way blade switches, this has a 3 way blade.
The condition the guitar was kept in by the dealer is just unacceptable, strings were so dirty and old they were black, and didn't even bend when removed.
I never had a problem with how this guitar played, neckwise, my real issue is only volume knob location, and the bridge pickup. I like playing it enough that when I tried to trade or sell it, it was to get a San Dimas styled GJ2 Glendora, with better volume placement, 3 way toggle, and a hotter bridge pickup. I've even grown to like the tone I'm getting from the basswood using the neck pickup clean and dirty, and clean on the bridge.
I've spoken to Jon Gold, the CEO of GJ2, through email and on Facebook (I've been Facebook friends with him since 2012, and thought he was just a fan of the brand lol). He's the only GJ2 customer service I've dealt with, even if you don't know him, the customer service email at GJ2's website is his, he answers it.
I'd definitely purchase another GJ2, but more than likely a non pickguard model Glendora, made of alder or ash. Would have a higher rating from me if not for the fact that I hate the knob location, or Grover's preference of basswood. Unless you wanna save some dough by paying $850, and paying $60 for new tuners if needed, I'd not purchase another Wichita Guitar Works exclusive (I believe they have 2 more left on eBay), I still think it was a steal, but it was a headache.
Two Notes Engineering Torpedo LiveSubmitted by andy gavin on Sun, 09/21/2014 - 10:51
Price Paid:
For those that don't know what this is - it's a device that takes the speaker output from your amp and adds microphone and loudspeaker emulation to it, allowing you to record silently.
Ease of Use:
5 (easy)
Incredibly easy to use. Plug the speaker cable from your amplifier into the Torpedo Live and then connect the Line Out into your DAW, recording device or PA.
Very realistic and impressive sound. This really delivers!
Aside from choosing different cabs and mic's (which makes a HUGE difference), the EQ section is incredibly useful. The 5 band eq frequencies are very well chosen, allowing you to re-shape the tone very well.
Very low latency. The device has a verifiable latency of only 2.85ms.
Excellent build quality - the unit is robust and solid - the whole thing gives a feeling of quality.
For those of us wanting a home recording solution that allows us to use our existing valve amp(s), the Two Notes Torpedo Live may well be the answer.
I've been using impulse responses for home recording for years now, combining the use of a load box (attenuator) to reduce/negate the amp's signal to the speaker and provide a line signal to my DAW, which is then processed by a plugin, which can load speaker and mic impulse responses. The results are very impressive and unless you are a skilled engineer with a sound-proofed studio, will usually be much better (and above all consistent) than if you tried to mic your cab yourself.
Now - to do this and monitor the results in real time without interference from your cranked valve amp, you would need a good load box (such as a Weber Mass, TAD silencer, Palmer, THD Hotplate) and most importantly a VERY good sound interface, a DAW and a good computer. For it to work well, your sound interface and computer need to be able to process the analogue DI from the load box, apply the impulse response for microphone and cabinet and then spit it back out to your monitors - and it needs to do it quickly enough for there to be no discernible latency. Human beings have different abilities to detect latency, but anything upwards of 10ms and you are looking for trouble. You need some quite impressive hardware to achieve that - and the more tracks you have in your DAW project, the more stress you put on your system - meaning less processing power to monitor your guitar in real time.
So what the Two Notes Torpedo Live does is to take care of this procedure in one unit. It provides the load box, plus the impulse response processing for different cabs, mic's (and even power amps if you want to record with just a preamp or an overdrive pedal), and eq. And it does it all with 2.85ms of latency, which is very impressive.
The downloadable software editor is very easy to use and allows easy modification and adjustments of the setup. In addition to being able to select different cabs and microphones, there is also the ability to adjust microphone position - both the distance away from the cab and the distance from the centre. You can also select a mic position behind the cab if you desire.
The array of microphones is a list of the usual suspects - dynamic mic's such as the Sure SM57, Sennheiser MD421, ribbon mic's such as the Royer 121, Beyer 160 (damn nice mic!) and condensers such as the Neumann U87 and Blue Dragonfly.
The cabinets available are numerous - 4x12s, 4x10s, 2x12s, 1x12s from the typical sources - Marshall, Fender, Engl, Roland etc.
I got VERY impressive results from the Torpedo Live and depending on your circumstances and what gear you already have, I would strongly recommend it - OR strongly recommend one of two alternatives...
A) If you DON'T have a top-notch, studio-quality sound interface that can process and monitor very low-latency signals, and you DON'T already have a good load box that can handle your amp's output, then get the Two Notes Torpedo Live.
B) If you DON'T have a top-notch, studio-quality sound interface that can process and monitor very low-latency signals, but you DO have a good load box for your amp, then buy the Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B. instead. It does everything the Live does, but doesn't have the load box (and is thus much cheaper).
C) If you DO have a top-notch sound interface and computer and you DO have a good load box, then you are in luck - buy the Two Notes Wall of Sound III software plugin, which does everything that the flagship VB101 unit (about twice the price of the Torpedo Live) can do, but does it all in software.
More and more people are turning to using this method for recording - both at home and in professional studios. Even if you use a low wattage amp (even 1 watt), you'll know that if you crank it, it's blisteringly loud. You can get that cranked tone recorded by using the Two Notes.
For those that may be interested - I ended up NOT buying the Torpedo Live, as I fall into category C) above, and I was able to get the same results by using the Wall of Sound software plugin, and I'm not doing any live work.
Only 100 watts load box. Those people using a 100 watt valve amp will doubtless be producing way over 100 watts peak, which may overload the Torpedo Live. Bearing in mind how many 100 watt amps there are, I'm surprised they didn't opt for 150 watts (as they have in their flagship VB101 model). However, unless the "sweet spot" of your amp resides at ultra-high volume, this is not going to be a problem.
All-or-nothing attenuation. Unlike most standalone load boxes, you cannot *partially* attenuate the amp. You either get the full volume speaker signal, or you kill the speaker signal altogether. For studio recording, that's no problem, as you will probably want to monitor the pure signal from the Two Notes (and what you hear is what you get!), but for playing live, I can imagine that you might want to partially attenuate your screaming amp, yet still monitor yourself through your speaker, whilst sending the processed signal to the mixing guy, which is not possible - it's all or nothing.
Sound Quality:
5 (excellent)
Seems very well built.
Customer Support:
Very good - I mailed their help desk with a couple of questions and they were very quick to respond and solved my problems.
A / DA FlangerSubmitted by inmyhands on Thu, 08/21/2014 - 19:38
Price Paid:
Original signal path of the 2nd generation, (1978 - 1979) A / DA Flanger with the following changes:
The reissue is true bypass where the original was not.
The PC Board has a slightly different layout but retains the original signal path.
As of 2014 the A / DA Flanger still sports original NOS Panasonic bucket brigade chips but the supply is running down.
Ease of Use:
It makes me feel young again. Although the A / DA Flanger wasn't released until 1976, (the reissue is of the 2nd generation '78 / '79 version), it remains the only flanger pedal that sounds like it was built to reproduce the studio flange effects used during the psychedelic '67-'69 era. The flanging effect of this era was more about a metallic shimmer or spacey mix match. Phasers sweeped or swooshed while flangers shimmered. Other flanging models released in the late '70s / early '80s, (maxon / Ibanez), used flanger tones but more phaser like controls. Their sweeping sound relates more to the '80s. I'm a "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" kinda guy. The A /DA is perfect for me.
The A /DA reissue may be on it's last legs. The NOS Panasonic chips are running out. I wouldn't order a new one without getting a guarentee on the chip being used.
If you were born after 1970 you may have a different take on what a flanger should do and the controls it should feature. Four knob Ibanez FL9s actually provide more direct control than the 5 knob + toggle switch of the A / DA. An Airplane or EVH swoosh type flanger, (that Eddie used more like a phaser), offers more direct control. The A / DA, (being a reissue and remaining true to the original), does not offer "next generation" control. It's true vintage quality may not work for '80s affectionados.
Sound Quality:
5 (excellent)
So far so good. I've been playing the hell out of it for a couple of months and it works as good as new.
Customer Support:
I've had no need for customer support so far.
Teese RMC5 (Wizard) WahSubmitted by inmyhands on Wed, 08/20/2014 - 19:35
Price Paid:
True bypass with "fuzz friendly" technology. Karmaflux custom Inductor. RFI filtering. EFI filtering. Easily adjustable rocker tension. One switch, located beneath the rocker, that alters sweep speed and low end resonance.
Ease of Use:
The Wizard Wah has a voice that's "one of a kind" among the wah wah pedals available for guitarists to choose from. The sweep is much shorter. High frequencies are reduced and bass frequencies are clearer. A poor but understandable comparison would be to say the vocal range of most wahs are a wide alto / 2nd soprano while the Wizard Wah is a solid tenor. I'd call the Wizard Wah the "Meatloaf" of wah wahs pedals. The shorter sweep keeps the Wizard solidly "vocal" as used in wah descriptions. No high end bite. No "Shaft". The "sweet spot" is at a lower frequency and is wider than you'd expect. The "Sweet Spot" in a wahs sweep is harmonically rich. The larger than average sweet spot of the Wizard offers up a multitude of harmonics the user can utilize to create interesting templates of vocal colorizations. Another common descriptive used in describing a wah wahs voice is "quack". The Wizard doesn't quack like a duck. It caws like a crow. It's different. I like it.
The Wizard Wah does not provide what would be considered a normal wah voice. It would not be a good choice for the generic wah wah sounds a guitarist in a cover band would want available. Also, the use of output volume rather that bright high frequency at the toe down position to cut through the mix takes some getting used to. I gave the Wizard a 4 in the "ease of use" rating because of this added learning curve.
Sound Quality:
5 (excellent)
Considering the amount of time I've spent rocking Geoffreys Wah Wah pedals, as well as multiple rocker type pedals by Thomas, Dunlop, GigFX, Ernie Ball, etc., I believe RMC pedals to be the most reliable. I've only had one issue come up with an RMC product and that was a failed internal component from one of RMC's suppliers that Geoffrey immeadiatly made right at 0 cost to me. The usual Wah problems, (rocker issues, potentiometer failures, "scratchyness", etc. have never occured with any of the RMC wahs I've owned.
Customer Support:
Geoffrey Teese at Real McCoy Custom, RMC), provides excellent customer support. You can contact him with any questions or problem and he provides whatever you need. No one knows the Wah Wah pedal designs better than Geoffrey. Mike, over at Analogman, also swears that Geoffrey is The go to guy for anything Wah Wah related.
The importance of downward pick slanting - 5 minutes that can change your life.Submitted by Dinosaur David B on Mon, 08/04/2014 - 10:13
IF YOU PLAY GUITAR, WATCH THIS 5 MINUTE VIDEO. IT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE. And I sure wish I had this information 25 years ago. That said, the whole Troy Grady Cracking the Code series is excellent.
GIbson Les Paul '70s TributeSubmitted by Mike Hansen on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 06:23
Price Paid:
Country of origin:
Body wood(s):
Mahogany w. Maple top
Neck wood:
Fretboard Scale:
Number of frets:
Sound is fantastic. It roars, it squeals, it growls, all of the sounds I wanted from a Les Paul. Personally I really like the Dirty Fingers pickups, and they are really the heart of this guitar. Neck shape is comfortable, not super thin, but not a boat either. I like the faded finishes, I believe the colour is like a dark cherry, I think it looks great, and it could be buffed to a brighter shine if that is a concern. Tuners are Grovers, and do the job. Surprisingly the nut was cut properly and doesn't stick/ping at all.
The fret ends were sprouting rather significantly. I expected this as I am sure it sat in a warehouse during this eternal winter. I have the tools and skills to address. It took me about 45 minutes to file them even to the fretboard and re round the fret ends. If you are not comfortable with this, it would probably cost you $75 to $150 to get that work done, and it was necessary, as they were deadly sharp at the start. The gig bag is truly a piece of crap, down to the plastic zipper. I will need to get a case.
I love the sound of this guitar, I guess it would be safe to say that was the major selling point, and the price is not too high either. It is by no means a fancy looking Les Paul, in fact, rather plain. However, for me that holds a certain elegance in itself. I would recommend this as a guitar for playing just about any kind of dino music, it certainly gives a good sound for John Sykes (early), Gary Moore, and later Thin Lizzy type tones. Beware of the fact that as the price is budget, the finishing/setup will be rough and you will likely have to do some of the work yourself, or get it done by a professional.
Kemper Profiling Amplifier (rackmount non-powerhead unit)Submitted by andy gavin on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 13:45
Price Paid:
Country of origin:
Tube Type:
No power tubes
Far too many to list, but here are the main things:
Sound Quality:
Seems very solidly built.
Customer Support:
No personal experience, but Kemper's techs (and even the inventor himself) are known to be quick, courteous and very helpful. If you find glitches or technical difficulties, apparently, they will work with you to fix them.
The official Kemper forums are a very good source of information - I was able to find solutions to several noob problems very quickly be searching the forums. Just be aware that some users have their egos tied to the Kemper - watch out for the bitch-fights with AxeFX users and don't dare tell anybody that your real amp sounds better than the KPA.
I've been putting off checking out the Kemper Profiling Amplifier (KPA) for a couple of years now, but finally decided to give it a serious test since hearing the testimony of Wolf Hoffman - I heard him using the KPA live on Accept's tour of Stalingrad, and discovered that all the guitars on Stalingrad were made using the Kemper itself.
Also, both famous dino producer Michael Wagener and Accept producer Andy Sneap have pretty much raved about the Kemper - although despite bold claims that you can't hear the difference between the real amp and the profiled version, Hoffman, Wagener and Sneap refuse to go as far as saying they'd actually get rid of their real amps for the Kemper.
I had 3 big questions over the KPA:
As far as my expectations go - my requirements were very simple. I'm a dino-rock player with nearly 30 years playing under my belt and very sharp and discerning ears. I've spent a fortune on amps and gear over the years, chasing good tone - both for live use and (with more difficulty) for home studio recording.
I want the sound of a real JCM800 Marshall, well-mic'd and recorded, but I do not have access to the expensive microphones, preamps or studio needed to create it myself. My current best efforts have been to use a loadbox with my real Marshall JCM800, take a line signal from that, then use a speaker cabinet simulator VST in my DAW, using speaker impulse responses. So the KPA has to beat that.
I soon discovered that the factory-supplied profiles were a very mixed bag. The clean sounds were very impressive - although I have little interest in them. Most amp simulators can pull off good clean sounds - the real test is how well they can sound like a cranked, distorted tube amplifier.
Sadly, the factory preset distorted profiles were VERY disappointing. Flat and lifeless and curiously, despite the clear difference in character between Marshall and Mesa Boogie profiles, I discovered that pinched harmonics were first of all quite difficult to get, but more alarmingly, sounded almost identical, regardless of which profile I chose. I also found that string handling noise had a spiky, nasty sound - reminiscent of the Line6 Pod series or VST guitar plugins.
Power chords and riffing were adequate, and the FEEL of playing a real amplifier was definitely there. Dynamics were there and the KPA allows you to adjust pick attack, the compression, the power tube sag. There's a limited window of usability with these parameters though, as adjusting any of them very far gives very unusable results.
This brings me to the core issue I have with the KPA. And it seems obvlous, but it cannot be overstated. The Kemper Profiling Amplifier is only as good as the profiles it uses.
I spoke to my friend (a knowledgeable KPA user) about the problems I was having with the harmonics and he explained to me that the way that a Kemper profile is created is that you set up the original amp and speaker that you intend to profile so it sounds the way you want. You set up your microphone(s) and preamps and whatever else you use in your signal chain, so the sound from the mic(s) is just right and you hook it up to the KPA. The KPA sends various strange sounds through your rig and does its magic - this is the automated process. Then you have to "refine" the process by actually playing your guitar through it.
Now, Kemper doesn't actually specify WHAT you should play here and this step is a bit mysterious. But bearing in mind how differently guitarists play. Almost all the factory distortion profiles seemed incapable of producing a screaming, early Gary Moore/John Sykes-style pinched harmonic. Power chords and riffs were ok, but dig in for a screamer and the KPA sounded like I was plugged into the microphone input of a hi-fi. But if the guys who created those profiles didn't play any screaming harmonics or whatever through their Marshall/Boogie/ENGL, how would the KPA know what it's supposed to sound like? And if you don't make pick noise/string handling noise during that phase of the profile, how could the KPA reproduce that? It's not the KPA that is at fault, it's the person who made the profile.
Herein lies what I believe is the biggest weakness of the KPA (for me at least). If you want to be able to get ALL the nuances of YOUR playing through a particular amp, you're going to need a superbly made profile (of which there are very few) or you're going to have to profile that amp yourself. Which means that aside from procuring the amp you want, you need to be able to mic the speaker so it sounds great.
This is where it starts to fall apart for me. The ENTIRE reason for me trying the KPA, is that I am a guitarist - and NOT an audio engineer. I don't have a soundproof and acoustically treated room, nor do I own a $1200 Royer 121 ribbon mic, or a Neumann or an expensive mic preamp or any of the other industry-standard recording gear that is used to create professional guitar sounds in a proper studio.
When Wolf Hoffman recorded the guitars for Stalingrad with the KPA, he profiled himself playing his own amps. Well - Wolf is not exactly short of cash or gear, and he's close personal friends with (and a lives next-door to) Michael Wagener (producer for Accept, Dokken, Skid Row etc. etc.) - who owns Wireworld studios and knows more about mic'ing amps and dino hard rock sounds than anybody else on the planet.
I ended up purchasing some 3rd party commercial profiles from theampfactory.com. This place has some quite impressive audio samples of their profiles and from what I could hear, the guy doing the demo playing sounds at least partly similar to me - a clean, dynamic hard rock player. And I got MUCH better results than anything from the factory presets.
But all the while I was testing the KPA, I kept going back to compare the sound with my own setup - an attenuated Marshall, comparing both the "in the room" sound and the direct recorded sound (the Marshall going direct and using a VST speaker simulator). Despite the good progress I'd made with the KPA, it still fell short when compared to my own amp. Both in the room and recorded direct.
I did everything I could to give the Kemper a fair shot. At one point, I actually played nothing but the KPA for two days and I actually began to adapt to it. It brought a smile to my face (playing a Blackstar Series One profile). It's funny how these things are relative. Because I was really starting to think I could go for the KPA. Right up until I plugged my Marshall back in.
I told my KPA-using friend about this, and he urged me to profile my Marshall. He told me that I could profile a line signal from the Marshall's power amp and forget about microphones - then use the speaker sim that I currently use, and it should sound just as good as my own Marshall. I raised an eyebrow. $2200 to sound just like what I already have? AND add another 6ms latency to the chain? He then told me I could also convert the impulse response of the VST speaker simulator to a Kemper compatible format and then monitor it in hardware.
Cool. But that's $2200 to get what I already have, and to maintain the low latency I use, have to reprofile it every time I want to change an effect from my DAW? This is getting silly. Ok. So maybe I'm a specialist. But why shouldn't I be? When Wagener or Sneap say that "you can't tell the difference" between the KPA and the real amp, I DO believe them. But think about what they are actually referring to. These are music engineering experts who have profiled the amps themselves. They have world-class skills and professional studios and gear to create AMAZING profiles. And MOST importantly, they're talking about the same guitarist AND guitar going through the amp and the profile.
Don't get me wrong - the Kemper is good. It can sound good recorded AND it can sound good amped with a solid state power amp and sent to a guitar cab (I got some nice results with that Blackstar profile). But as nice as the results were, they were still a compromise and fell short of what I was already achieving through my own rig.
Your own requirements may be different. Maybe your playing style is more similar to the guy who created the profile you try. The best I can say is to try one out yourself. Perhaps the KPA is the best evidence yet that "tone is in the hands." If the guy who makes the profile doesn't cover all the bases you'll need, there's not much you can do, but make the profiles yourself. Good luck with that... Other players may get better results than I did - it could well be that I missed something very important, but I did my best with it for a week, with the help of an experienced KPA user to guide me, but I still couldn't get it to sound as good as what I currently use, so it went back to the shop.
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I was at the gym. They store all the exercise balls on top of the lockers, because apparently they hate short people and want us to either not use them or look like asshats trying to get then down.
Anyway, there was a high school kid putting his shit in a locker who happened to be about 6 and some feet tall, so I asked him politely if he would mind grabbing an exercise ball for me. I thanked him profusely and told him I knew it wasn't his job and that I appreciated his help. He got one down for me, and made a comment (kiddingly) how much work that was and then laughed. I then thanks him again, he says "oh no problem" and I told him "Well if you need me to grab anything down low for you, let me know!" Then followed a horrified look on his face while I pretended like that little gem didn't just fly out of my mouth.
And then the floor opened up and I disappeared into it. I wish.
I told my husband about this whole exchange and he gave me the same horrified look as the kid did.
I don't want to grab people's things. I swear.


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Calendar › Housing and neighborhood stability
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