text:
A digital hearing aid according to the present invention is capable of measuring its own performance. The measurement and initialization capability may be entirely integral to the hearing aid, or an external processor may be used to download the measurement program and the run time program, and assist in computing the parameters. The hearing aid includes a test signal generator for feeding a test signal into the hearing aid amplifier. The response to the test signal is acquired at a specific point in the hearing aid, depending upon what aspect of performance is to be measured. Various elements of the hearing aid and/or the hearing aid feedback may be bypassed. The hearing aid further includes the capability of initializing hearing aid parameters based upon the performance measurements.
1. A method of fitting a hearing aid to a hearing aid user comprising the steps of:
a) engaging the hearing aid with the user's ear;
b) establishing a bidirectional data communication link between a host processor and the hearing aid;
c) generating an acoustic test signal within the hearing aid;
d) recording an input signal at the hearing aid input microphone resulting from the fed-back test signal;
e) transmitting data based upon the recorded signal to the host processor;
f) computing an estimate of the physical feedback transfer function of the hearing aid from data based upon the recorded signal;
g) determining a maximum stable gain curve based upon the computed physical feedback transfer function; and
h) displaying the maximum stable gain curve of the hearing aid on a display screen associated with the host processor.
2. The method of
providing audiogram data characterizing the hearing loss of the user in the host processor;
determining prescribed gain characteristics of the hearing aid based upon the audiogram data;
displaying, on the display screen, at least one hearing aid gain response curve representing the prescribed gain characteristics.
3. The method of
displaying a first maximum stable gain curve representing a maximum achievable gain with the feedback cancellation means disabled;
displaying a second maximum stable gain curve representing a maximum achievable gain with the feedback cancellation means enabled.
4. The method of
determining initial filter coefficients of the adaptive filter within the feedback cancellation system based upon the estimate of the physical feedback transfer function;
transmitting the initial filter coefficients to the hearing aid; and
storing the initial filter coefficients in the hearing aid.
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. Apparatus for fitting a hearing aid to a hearing aid user comprising:
a hearing aid having a microphone, a signal processor, and a receiver, and further including a signal generator for generating an audio test signal within the hearing aid, and a recorder for recording the fed back test signal at the microphone;
a host computer;
a communication conduit for transmitting data between the hearing aid and the host computer; and
a display associated with the host computer;
wherein the hearing aid transmits a signal based upon the recorded fed back test signal to the host computer via the communication conduit;
wherein the host computer generates a maximum stable gain curve based upon the transmitted signal; and
wherein the display displays the maximum stable gain curve.
8. The apparatus of
9. The apparatus of
10. The apparatus of
11. The apparatus of
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of copending patent application 09/413,732 filed on Oct. 6, 1999 for Integrated Hearing Aid Performance Measurement and Initialization System. U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,4278, issued Apr. 17, 2001 and entitled �Feedback Cancellation Improvements� is incorporated herein by reference, and was also incorporated by reference into patent application Ser. No.09/413,732.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention:
[0003] The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for hearing aid performance measurement, fitting, and initialization.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art:
[0005] In general, hearing aid performance measurements, whether on the production line or in the individual wearer's ear, have used an external test system that generates the test signal and analyzes the response. For example, an audiogram is a major tool used in fitting a hearing aid. An audiogram is a measurement of hearing loss, typically plotted as loss in dB as a function of frequency. Measuring an audiogram typically involves playing a set of tones through headphones while adjusting the level and frequency of the tones, and having the patient indicate whether each tone can be heard or is inaudible. Computer systems for measuring audiograms are commercially available. U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,082 to Englebretson et al describes one method for measuring an audiogram.
[0006] The measurement of the frequency response of a hearing aid in the ear, for example, typically requires the use of external signal generating and measurement equipment (Egolf, D. P., Tree, D. R., and Feth, L. L., 1978, �Mathematical predictions of electroacoustic frequency response of in situ hearing aids�, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 63, pp 264-271; Bade, P. F., Engebretson, A. M., Heidbreder, A. F., and Niemoeller, A. F., 1984, �Use of personal computer to model the electroacoustics of hearing aids�, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 75, pp 617-620; Sanborn, P -E, 1998, �Predicting hearing aid response in real ears�, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 103, pp 3407-3417). Measurements of the feedback path from the receiver back to the hearing aid microphone also have required the use of external equipment (Egolf, D. P., Howell, H. C., Weaver, K. A., and Barker, S., 1985, �The hearing aid feedback path: Mathematical simulations and experimental verification�, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 78, pp 1578-1587), as does the determination of the maximum output signal level (Revit, L. J., 1994, �Using coupler tests in the fitting of hearing aids�, in Strategies for Selecting and Verifying Hearing Aid Fittings, ed. by M. Valente, New York: Thieme Medical Publishers).
[0007] A conventional digital hearing aid is shown in FIG. 1A (prior art). Input sound signal 152 is converted into an audio signal by microphone 154. Hearing aid processor 156 is a digital signal processor (analog to digital conversion at the input and digital to analog conversion at the output are omitted for clarity). The processed audio signal is amplified by amplifier 158 and converted back into a sound signal 162 by receiver 160. Conventional digital hearing aids like hearing aid 110 use digital signal processing for the run time system, but still rely on conventional measurement equipment for measuring the hearing aid response and setting the processing parameters. Most digital hearing aids do not contain a programmable DSP circuit, but instead use a dedicated processor that can only perform the run time processing operations (Schweitzer, C., �Development of digital hearing aids�, Trends in Amplification, Vol 2, pp 41-77). These hearing aids are therefore incapable of performing any measurements, calibration, or parameter initialization.
[0008] An example of a conventional hearing aid test system 101 is illustrated in FIG. 1B (prior art). The hearing aid 110 to be evaluated is placed in a test box 102. The input to hearing aid 110 is an acoustic test signal 109 from loudspeaker 108, also contained in test box 102. Hearing aid 110 is configured to perform the desired signal processing function, such as linear gain or multiband compression. The hearing aid output is an acoustic signal that is then piped to acoustic coupler 114 via a piece of tubing 113. The acoustic coupler consists of a microphone 118 placed at the end of a cavity 116. An external computer 104 controls the generation of test signal 109 and acquires and processes the microphone response 120. Display 116 displays test results. A commercial hearing aid test system that conforms to this basic design is the Fonix 6500, manufactured by Frye Electronics, Inc, Tigard, Oreg. 97223.
[0009] For independently performing measurements, the digital hearing aid must be able to accept a program for generating a test signal and recording the response as well as accept the program for the run time processing. A need remains in the art for apparatus and methods for integrated hearing aid performance measurement, fitting, and initialization.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for integrated hearing aid performance measurement, fitting, and initialization.
[0011] In addition to providing digital processing of the audio signal being amplified to compensate for the hearing loss, the programmable DSP circuit of a hearing aid according to the present invention is also used to measure the characteristics of the hearing aid on the production line or fitted to the individual ear. Such a hearing aid might perform measurements such as maximum output signal level, distortion, or the response characteristics of the microphone or receiver. By using the signal processing system described herein, these and other tests can be performed all or in part by the hearing aid under test. A test program is loaded into the hearing aid and the tests are performed. Then the program used for the run time amplification, along with any processing parameters set during the tests, is loaded into the hearing aid memory.
[0012] Improvements according to the present invention include improvements to the fitting and initialization of the hearing aid. With regard to fitting and initializing the feedback cancellation hearing aid, the feedback path model determined during initialization may be used to set the maximum gain allowable in the hearing aid. This maximum stable gain can be used to assess the validity of the hearing aid design, by determining whether the the recommended gain for that design exceeds the maximum stable gain. Further, the hearing aid fitting in the ear canal may be tested for leakage, by testing whether the maximum stable gain computed for the hearing aid with its vent hole blocked is substantially higher than the maximum stable gain computed for the hearing aid with its vent open.
[0013] Another fitting and initialization feature allows the use of the error signal plotted versus time in the feedback cancellation system as a convergence check of the system, or the amount of feedback cancellation can be estimated by comparing the error at the end of convergence to that at the start of convergence. The error signal may also be used to do an iterative selection of optimum bulk delay in the feedback path, with the optimum delay being that which gives the minimum convergence error. Or, the bulk delay may be set by choosing a preliminary delay, allowing the zero model coefficients to adapt, and adjusting the preliminary delay so that the coefficient having the largest magnitude is positioned at a desired tap location..
[0014]FIG. 1A (prior art) shows a conventional hearing aid.
[0015]FIG. 1B (prior art) shows a conventional hearing aid test system.
[0016]FIG. 2A (prior art) is a block diagram showing a hearing aid with feedback cancellation, configured for initial determination of zero filter coefficients at start-up.
[0017]FIG. 2B (prior art) is a block diagram showing the hearing aid of
[0018]FIG. 2A, configured for optimizing zero filter coefficients at start-up.
[0019]FIG. 3 (prior art) is a block diagram showing the hearing aid of FIG. 2A, configured for operation.
[0020]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a first integrated hearing aid performance measurement and initialization method according to the present invention.
[0021]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a second partially integrated hearing aid performance measurement and initialization method according to the present invention.
[0022]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a first configuration for performing the measurement steps of FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0023]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second configuration for performing the measurement steps of FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0024]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a third configuration for performing the measurement steps of FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0025]FIG. 9 is a plot of the error signal during initial adaptation of the embodiment of FIG. 2A.
[0026]FIG. 10 is a plot of the magnitude frequency response of the IIR filter after initial adaptation, for the embodiment of FIG. 3.
[0027]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a process for setting maximum stable gain, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, during initialization and fitting.
[0028]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing a process for assessing a hearing aid based on the maximum stable gain, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, during initialization and fitting.
[0029]FIG. 13 is a flow diagram showing a process for using the error signal in the adaptive system as a convergence check, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, during initialization and fitting.
[0030]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing a process for using the error signal to adjust the bulk delay in the feedback model, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, during initialization and fitting.
[0031]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a process for estimating bulk delay by monitoring zero coefficient adaptation, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, during initialization and fitting.
[0032]FIG. 16 is a flow diagram showing a process for adjusting the noise probe signal based upon ambient noise, for the embodiment of FIG. 3, either during initialization and fitting or during start up processing.
[0033]FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 (prior art) are block diagrams showing a feedback cancellation hearing aid during initialization and operation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,4278, issued Apr. 17, 2001, entitled �Feedback Cancellation Improvements� and incorporated herein by reference, describes this embodiment in greater detail. A brief description follows.
[0034] The IIR filter design proceeds in two stages. In the first stage the initial filter pole and zero coefficients are computed. A block diagram is shown in FIG. 2A. The hearing aid processing is turned off, and white noise probe signal 216 is injected into the system instead. During the e.g. 250-msec noise burst, the poles and zeroes of the entire system transfer function are determined using an adaptive equation-error procedure. The system transfer function being modeled consists of the series combination of the amplifier 218, receiver 220, acoustic feedback path 222, and microphone 202. The equation-error procedure uses FIR filter 206 after the microphone to cancel the poles of the system transfer function, and uses FIR filter 212 to duplicate the zeroes of the system transfer function. Delay 214 represents the broadband delay in the system. Filters 206 and 212 are simultaneously adapted during the noise burst using an LMS algorithm 204, 210. The objective of the adaptation is to minimize the error signal produced at the output of summation 208. When the ambient noise level is low and its spectrum relatively white, minimizing the error signal generates an optimum model of the poles and zeroes of the system transfer function. In the preferred embodiment, a 7-pole/7-zero filter is used.
[0035] The pole coefficients are then frozen and undergo no further changes. In the second stage of the IIR filter design, the zeroes of the IIR filter are adapted to correspond to the modified poles. A block diagram of this operation is shown in FIG. 2B. The white noise probe signal 216 is injected into the system for a second time, again with the hearing aid processing turned off. The probe is filtered through delay 214 and thence through the frozen pole model filter 206 which represents the denominator of the modeled system transfer function. The pole coefficients in filter 206 have been detuned as described in the paragraph above to lower the Q values of the modeled resonances. The zero coefficients in filter 212 are now adapted to reduce the error between the actual feedback system transfer function and the modeled system incorporating the detuned poles. The objective of the adaptation is to minimize the error signal produced at the output of summation 208. LMS adaptation algorithm 210 is again used. Because the zero coefficients computed during the first noise burst are already close to the desired values, the second adaptation will converge quickly. In many instances, the second adaptation produces minimal changes in the zero filter coefficients. In these cases the second stage can be safely eliminated.
[0036]FIG. 3 (Prior Art) is a block diagram showing the hearing aid during operation, including the running adaptation of the zero filter coefficients, in a first embodiment of the present invention. The series combination of the frozen pole filter 206 and the zero filter 212 gives the model transfer function G(z) determined during start-up. The coefficients of the zero model filter 212 are initially set to the values developed during the start-up procedure, but are then allowed to adapt. The coefficients of the pole model filter 206 are kept at the values established during start-up and no further adaptation of these values takes place during normal hearing aid operation. The hearing aid processing is then turned on and the zero model filter 212 is allowed to continuously adapt in response to changes in the feedback path as will occur, for example, when a telephone handset is brought up to the ear.
[0037] During the running processing shown in FIG. 3, no separate probe signal is generally used, since it would be audible to the hearing aid wearer. The coefficients of zero filter 212 are updated adaptively while the hearing aid is in use. The output of hearing aid processing 402 is used as the probe. In order to minimize the computational requirements, the LMS adaptation algorithm is preferably used by block 210. More sophisticated adaptation algorithms offering faster convergence are available and could be used instead, but such algorithms generally require much greater amounts of computation and therefore are not yet as practical for a hearing aid. The adaptation is driven by error signal e(n) which is the output of the summation 208. The inputs to the summation 208 are the signal from the microphone 202, and the feedback cancellation signal produced by the cascade of the delay 214 with the all-pole model filter 206 in series with the zero model filter 212. The zero filter coefficients are updated using LMS adaptation in block 210. The LMS weight update on a sample-by-sample basis is given by
[0038] where w(n) is the adaptive zero filter coefficient vector at time n, e(n) is the error signal, and g(n) is the vector of present and past outputs of the pole model filter 206. The weight update for block operation of the LMS algorithm is formed by taking the average of the weight updates for each sample within the block.
[0039]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a first integrated hearing aid performance measurement and initialization method 400. The hearing aid might be very similar to that shown in FIG. 3, but the hearing aid processor is a programmable DSP. The initial processing steps 404-408 shown in FIG. 4 are preferably run prior to the run time operation 414 of the hearing aid, as an initialization process. This initialization may be performed once, or each time the hearing aid is turned on, or at other times. In FIG. 4, the initialization process is entirely integrated within the hearing aid. FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in which some or all of the processing is offloaded to a host computer. For example, the host computer could estimate the physical feedback path.
[0040] In the example of FIG. 4, the code used to perform measurements and set initialization parameters is resident in hearing aid memory 403, and all processing is performed within the hearing aid.
[0041] In step 404, the measurement program is loaded from hearing aid memory 403. Preferably, this program is stored in some form of rewritable memory, so the program can be updated if desired. Step 406 performs measurements of hearing aid performance, for example transfer functions of various combinations of hearing aid elements. FIGS. 6-8 illustrate various measurement configurations which could be employed. In step 408, processing parameters are computed from these measurements. In step 412, the hearing aid run time program is loaded into operating memory, and in step 414, run time hearing aid processing begins.
[0042] Note that the two step procedure of loading the initialization code followed by loading the run time code is most appropriate when the hearing aid has a limited amount of program memory; if enough memory is available, the initialization and run time code can be combined into a single program.
[0043]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a second, partially integrated, hearing aid performance measurement and initialization method. In this embodiment, the hearing aid establishes a bidirectional link, or communication conduit, with a host computer 502 to download program code and process the measurements. Display 516 displays maximum stable gain curves, hearing aid response curves, and the like. In step 504 the measurement program is downloaded from host computer 502. The hearing aid DSP runs the program and acquires data in step 506, and may also partially process the data. The raw or partially processed data is then sent up to host computer 502, which computes some or all of the processing parameters. Step 508 stores the processing parameters for use by the run time processing program. The run time code is then downloaded to the hearing aid in step 512. Real time processing begins in step 514.
[0044] The method shown in FIG. 5 might be used when there is simply not enough storage memory in the hearing aid for both the measurement program and the run time program. Thus, each must be separately loaded into the hearing aid when needed. In general, the initialization is performed only once in the scenario shown in FIG. 5, since an external computer is required to load the two programs. However, the process of FIG. 5 could be repeated, if better initialization or run time programs became available, for example.
[0045] FIGS. 6-8 show configurations for performing measurement steps 406 and 506 of FIGS. 4 and 5. FIGS. 11-16 illustrate examples of computing processing parameters, either in the hearing aid or in a host computer.
[0046]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a first measurement configuration. The characteristics of the feedback path, which includes the amplifier 218, receiver 220, and microphone 202 along with the acoustic and mechanical feedback 222, can be measured by exciting the system with a test signal 602 (e.g. Probe 216) and recording the response 612 at the hearing aid microphone 202.
[0047] The impulse response of the feedback path can be obtained, for example, by using a periodic maximal-length sequence as the probe and accumulating the corresponding periods of the microphone response. The circular correlation of the microphone response with one period of the excitation will then give the impulse response of the feedback path. System identification techniques can then be used to produce an all-zero, all-pole, or pole-zero model of the feedback path from the impulse response. An alternative would be to excite the system with a white noise probe sequence and adapt a set of filter coefficients to produce the model of the feedback path.
[0048]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second configuration for performing measurement steps 406 and 506 of FIGS. 4 and 5. The characteristics of receiver 220 can be determined using the configuration of FIG. 7. As in the case of the FIG. 6 configuration, a test signal is generated by block 602 which passes through amplifier 218 and receiver 220. However, in this configuration, a calibrated microphone 708 is electrically connected to the hearing aid input via pre-amp 710, thus bypassing the feedback path and the hearing aid microphone. The signal is recorded at 712.
[0049] A maximal-length sequence can be used as the excitation, and the impulse response of receiver 220 determined from the output of the calibrated external microphone connected to the audio input of the hearing aid. Or, as in the case of the feedback path estimation shown in FIG. 6, a white noise excitation can be used and a set of filter coefficients adapted to produce a model of the receiver response.
[0050] If only the magnitude frequency response is desired, the system can be excited with a sine-wave sweep and the response recorded at the hearing aid input, or individual tones can be used with the magnitude at each frequency determined at the hearing aid input. Distortion can be estimated by increasing the level of the sinusoids and measuring the power at the frequencies of the harmonics, or a noise signal can be used to measure the coherence between the excitation signal and the signal recorded at the hearing aid input.
[0051] The minimum digital signal level that drives the amplifier or receiver into saturation can be determined by increasing the level of a sinusoid excitation and observing the maximum output signal level. The maximum receiver output signal level for the D/A converter input at full scale can be determined by generating a sinusoid at full scale and measuring the output signal power.
[0052]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a third configuration for performing the measurement steps 406 and 506 of FIGS. 4 and 5. The system shown in FIG. 8 can be used to estimate the characteristics of microphone 202 once the receiver impulse response or transfer function has been measured. Receiver 220 is connected directly to microphone 202 via a short acoustic tube 808, so the feedback path is bypassed but amplifier 218, receiver 220, and microphone 202 are included. Since the amplifier-receiver characteristics are already known, only the microphone remains to be measured. A maximal-length sequence, white noise, or a sinusoidal sweep or a set of tones can be used to measure the overall system response, after which the known receiver characteristics are divided out to produce the estimate of the microphone response.
[0053] There are several ways in which the measurements can be used to adjust the processing parameters. In a feedback cancellation system such as that shown in FIG. 3, for example, the impulse response of the feedback path can be used as the input to a system identification procedure to produce a nonvarying all-pole, all-zero, or pole-zero filter to model the feedback path or to provide the starting filter coefficients for an adaptive all-zero or pole-zero model. Receiver measurements made in an acoustic coupler can be used on the production line to check that the receiver sensitivity, maximum output signal level, frequency response, and distortion are within specifications. Differences in frequency response could then be used, for example, to adjust equalization used to compensate for irregularities in the receiver frequency response. An external microphone connected to a probe tube inserted in the ear canal along with the hearing aid earmold could be used to provide equalization for the receiver as it will be used in situ. The microphone response measurements can be used to provide equalization for the microphone in a manner similar to that used for the receiver. The receiver and microphone response and calibration curves can also be used to adjust compression parameters for each hearing aid so that the amplified input signal never exceeds the maximum digital level that can be handled by the DAC without distortion.
[0054]FIG. 9 is a plot of the error signal during initial adaptation, for the embodiment of FIG. 2A. The figure shows the error signal 104 during 500 msec of initial adaptation. The equation-error formulation is being used, so the pole and zero coefficients are being adapted simultaneously in the presence of white noise probe signal 216. The IIR feedback path model for this example consists of 4 poles and 7 zeroes, with a bulk delay adjusted to compensate for the delay in the block processing. These data are from a real-time implementation using a Motorola 56000 family processor embedded in an AudioLogic Audallion and connected to a Danavox behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid. The hearing aid was connected to a vented earmold mounted on a dummy head. Approximately 12 dB of additional gain was obtained using the adaptive feedback cancellation design of FIG. 3.
[0055]FIG. 10 is a plot of the frequency response of the IIR filter after initial adaptation, for the embodiment of FIG. 3. The main peak at 4 KHz is the resonance of the receiver (output transducer) in the hearing aid. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the frequency response shown in FIG. 10 is typical of hearing aids having a wide dynamic range and expected shape and resonant value.
[0056]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an example of a process for setting maximum stable gain in hearing aids according to the present invention. In general, this maximum gain is set once, at the time the hearing aid is fitted and initialized for the patient, based upon the the feedback path model determined during initialization. The procedure is to perform the initial filter adaptation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in steps 1102-1106, transfer the filter coefficients 1108 to a host computer 1114, which performs an analysis that gives the estimated maximum stable gain 1110 as a function of frequency. Step 1112 then sets the maximum stable gain (or gain versus frequency) of the hearing aid. Noise bursts 1116 could be the test signal 602 or probe signal 216.
[0057] The initial adaptation of the feedback cancellation filter (performed in steps 1102 through 1106) gives an estimate of the actual feedback path, represented by the filter coefficients derived in steps 1102 through 1106. The maximum stable gain for the feedback cancellation turned off can be estimated by taking the inverse of this estimated feedback path transfer function. With the feedback cancellation turned on, the maximum stable gain is estimated as a constant (greater than one) times the gain allowed with the feedback cancellation turned off. For example, the feedback cancellation might give a maximum gain curve that is approximately 10 dB higher than that possible with the feedback cancellation turned off. The estimated maximum gain as a function of frequency can then be used to set the gains used in the hearing aid processing so that the system remains stable under normal operating conditions.
[0058] The maximum stable gain can also be determined for different listening environments, such as using a telephone. In this case, an initialization would be performed for each environment of interest. For example, for telephone use, a handset would be brought up to the aided ear and the maximum stable gain would then be determined as shown in FIG. 10. If the maximum stable gain is less for telephone use than for normal face-to-face conversation, the necessary gain reduction can be programmed into a telephone switch position on the hearing aid or remote control.
[0059] More specifically, the maximum gain can be estimated by host computer 1114 as follows. If the feed-forward path through the vent is ignored, the hearing aid output transfer function is given by:
[0060] where:
[0061] X=input signal
[0062] H=hearing aid gain versus frequency
[0063] M=microphone
[0064] A=amplifier
[0065] R=receiver
[0066] B=feedback path, and
[0067] W=adaptive feedback path model
[0068] and all variables are functions of frequency.
[0069] Assuming there is no feedback cancellation, W=0, and that the hearing aid gain is set to maximum gain Hmax at all frequencies gives:
[0070] The system will be stable if |Hmax(MARB)|<1, so that the maximum gain can be expressed as:
[0071] Note that when the hearing aid is turned on, the adaptive filter initialization produces W0≅MARB after initial adaptation during the noise burst. Thus we have:
[0072] Thus, Hmax for no feedback cancellation can be estimated directly from the initial feedback model. The maximum gain for the system with feedback cancellation is estimated as δ dB above the Hmax determined above, for example δ=10 dB. The value of δ can be estimated from the error signal at the end of the initial adaptation in comparison to the error signal at the start of the initial adaptation.
[0073]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing a process for assessing a hearing aid according to the present invention during initialization and fitting, based on the maximum stable gain determined, for example, as shown in FIG. 11. For example, the maximum stable gain can be used to assess the validity of the earmold and vent selection in a BTE hearing aid or in the shell of an ITE or CIC hearing aid. The analysis of the client's hearing loss (based, for example, on an audiogram) produces a set of recommended gain versus frequency curves for the hearing aid, step 1202. These curves, and maximum stable gain curves, may optionally be displayed on display 516 (see FIG. 5). Step 1204 compares the recommended gain versus frequency curves to the maximum stable gain curve. If the recommended gain exceeds the maximum stable gain, the hearing aid fitting may drive the system into instability and �whistling� may result.
[0074] Step 1206 indicates that the hearing aid fitting may need to be redesigned. The maximum stable gain is affected by the feedback path, so reducing the amplitude of the feedback signal will increase the maximum stable gain; in a vented hearing aid, the difference between the recommended and maximum stable gain values can be used to determine how much smaller the vent radius should be made to ensure stable operation.
[0075] The initialization and maximum stable gain calculation can also be used to test the hearing aid fitting for acoustic leakage around the BTE earmold or ITE or CIC shell. The maximum stable gain is first determined as shown in FIG. 11 for the vented hearing aid as it would normally be used. The vent opening is then blocked with putty, and the maximum stable gain again determined in step 1208. The maximum stable gain for the blocked vent should be substantially higher than for the open vent; if it is not, then acoustic leakage is making an important contribution to the total feedback path and the fit of the earmold or shell in the ear canal needs to be checked, as indicated in step 1210.
[0076]FIG. 13 is a flow diagram showing a process for using the error signal in the adaptive system as a convergence check during initialization and fitting. The error signal in the adaptive system is the signal output by the microphone minus the signal from the feedback path model filter cascade. This signal decreases as the adaptive filters converge to the model of the feedback path. For example, a feedback cancellation system may be intended to provide 10-12 dB of feedback cancellation. The magnitude of the error signal can be computed for each block of data during the adaptation, and the signal stored during adaptation read back to the host computer when the adaptation is assumed to be complete. If the plot of the error signal versus time does not show the desired degree of feedback cancellation, the hearing aid dispenser has the option of repeating the adaptation, increasing the probe signal level, or increasing the amount of time used for the adaptation. The fitting software can be designed to fit a smooth curve to the error function, and to then extrapolate this curve to determine the intensity or time values, or combination of values, needed to give the desired feedback cancellation performance. The amount of feedback cancellation can be estimated from the ratio of the error signal at the start of the adaptation to the error signal at the end of the adaptation. This quantity can be computed from the plot of the error signal versus time, or from samples of the error signal taken at the start and end of the adaptation.
[0077] The process of utilising the error signal in the adaptive system as a convergence check is as follows. The wearer turns on the hearing aid in step 1102. Step 1104 comprises the start up processing step in which initial coefficients are determined (detuning the poles is optional).
[0078] Steps 1302 through 1304 would generally be performed by host computer 1114 for example, though they could be incorporated into the hearing aid as an alternative. Step 1302 monitors the magnitude of the error signal (the output from adder 208 in FIG. 3 for example) for each block of data. Step 1304 compares the curve of error signal versus time obtained in step 1302 with model curves which indicate the desired performance of the hearing aid. Step 1306 indicates that the hearing aid fitting may need to be redesigned if the error versus time curves strays too far from the model curves, or if the amount of feedback cancellation is insufficient.
[0079]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing a process for using the error signal to adjust the bulk delay (block 214 in FIG. 3) in the feedback model during initialization and fitting. The initial adaptation is performed for two or more different values of the bulk delay in the feedback path model, with the error signal for each delay value computed and transferred to host computer 1114. The delay giving the minimum error is then set in the feedback cancellation algorithm. A search routine can be used to select the next delay value to try given the previous delay results; an efficient iterative procedure then quickly finds the optimum delay value.
[0080] In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the wearer turns on the hearing aid in step 1102. The bulk delay is set to a first value in step 1402, and start up processing is performed in step 1404 to determine initial coefficients. Step 1406 monitors the magnitude of the error signal over time for the first value of the bulk delay. This process is repeated N times, setting the bulk delay to a different value each time. When all desired values have been tested, step 1408 sets the value of the bulk delay to the optimal value. Steps 1406 and 1408 would generally be performed by host computer 1114.
[0081]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a different process for estimating bulk delay, by monitoring zero coefficient adaptation during initialization and fitting. During start up processing the system adapts the pole and zero coefficients to minimize the error in modeling the feedback path. The LMS equation (computer in block 210) used for the zero coefficient adaptation is essentially a cross-correlation, and is therefore an optimal delay estimator as well. The system for estimating the delay shown in FIG. 15 preferably freezes pole filter 206, in order to free up computational cycles for adapting an increased number of zero filter 212 coefficients (to better ensure that the desired correlation peak is found). The preliminary bulk delay value in 214 is set to a value which will give a peak within the zero filter window. Then the zero filter coefficients are adapted, and a delay depending on the lag corresponding to the peak value coefficient is added to the preliminary bulk delay, resulting in the value assigned to bulk delay 214 for subsequent start up and running processing.
[0082] In a preferred embodiment, the normal 8 tap zero filter length is increased to 16 taps for this process, and the the zero filter is adapted over a 2 second noise burst.
[0083]FIG. 16 is a flow diagram showing a process for adjusting the noise probe signal based upon ambient noise, either during initialization and fitting or during start up processing. The objective is to minimize the annoyance to the hearing aid user by using the least intense probe signal that will provide the necessary accuracy in estimating the feedback path model. The procedure is to turn on the hearing aid (in step 1102), turn the hearing aid gain off (in step 1602), and measure the signal level at the hearing aid microphone (step 1604). If the ambient noise level is below a low threshold, a minimum probe signal intensity is used (step 1606). If the ambient noise level is above the low threshold and below a high threshold, the probe signal level is increased so that the ratio of the probe signal level to the minimum probe level is equal to the ratio of the ambient noise level to its threshold (step 1608). The probe signal level is not allowed to exceed a maximum value chosen for listener comfort. If the ambient noise level is above the high threshold, step 1610 limits the probe signal level to a predetermined maximum level. The initial adaptation then proceeds in steps 1104 and 1106 using the selected probe signal intensity. This procedure ensures proper convergence of the adaptive filter during the initial adaptation while keeping the loudness of the probe signal to a minimum.
[0084] While the exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein with particularity, those skilled in the art will appreciate various changes, additions, and applications other than those specifically mentioned, which are within the spirit of this invention. In particular, the present invention has been described with reference to a hearing aid, but the invention would equally applicable to public address systems, speaker phones, or any other electro-acoustical acoustical amplification system where feedback is a problem.
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In covered saucepan over medium-low heat, cook leeks and stock until leeks are softened, 12 to 15 minutes.
Uncover and cook over high heat, stirring almost constantly, until moisture has evaporated.
Add cream, butter, and salt and pepper to taste.
Keep warm or reheat before filling omelets.
To fill omelet, spread about 1/4 of mixture in row across centre of omelet at right angles to handle of pan and roll the omelet.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
08 Dec 13
Gerard Deulofeu Goal Cancels Out Mesut Özil, Denies Arsenal Seven-Point Lead Atop EPL Table
Quite the turn of events.
Quite the turn of events.
Rivals meet Sunday, though their fortunes have flip-flopped.
If you want to watch Americans in the EPL, you have to watch Stoke City. Boo-urns.
Be grateful ESPN doesn't sink its teeth into this.
Real Madrid musical chairs.


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SPANA's centre in Mauritania opened in 2001 and the huge demand for our services ever since shows just how much it was desperately needed.
You can read about some of the animal welfare cases we treat such as Ali the donkey, or the probelms they face in our article wounds, water and welfare.
Video: Mali, Mauritania and the refugees in Mbera
SPANA's chief executive Jeremy Hulme talks about the situation in Mali and the impact it has had on the Mauritanian refugee camp in Mbera.Find out more
Project Water Trough 2012
Under a blazing desert sun, donkeys work to deliver water to the people of Nouakchott - but not enough animals are getting a drink… until nowFind out more
Farriery in Mauritania
It's amazing the way some people ignore their animals – I suppose it happens here in the UK as well.Find out more
Video: Water cart donkeys
Why do working animals suffer? Education is key to animal welfare.Find out more
Wounds, water and welfare in Africa
There are many reasons a working animal can suffer. Poor fitting harnessing and equipment can cause terrible wounds as this case demonstrates. Is this cruelty and what can SPANA do?Find out more
Donkey tales: Animal welfare stories from Mauritania, Ali the donkey
Mauritania in west Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world and many of the people living there rely on animals to do the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis.Find out more


text:
wanted: wanted: bamboo (central nj)
achang89(Z6)May 31, 2009
Interested in tall bamboos. I have plenty of space for them. I'll use them for screening.
In Somerset county. Thanks.
Hi Steve,
I know this has been a couple of years. I just wonder if you still have any bamboo to share. I also remember there is some gathering at your place from time to time. We have been just too busy to attend.
Let me know. We have an empty area and some bamboo screening would be great. Thx.


text:
A 16-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in the Englewood neighborhood and six other people were injured in separate shootings since Tuesday morning, according to police.
A 16-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in the Englewood neighborhood and six other people were injured in separate shootings since Tuesday morning, according to police.
When the California Blue Line stop in Logan Square reopened in October after a six-week, $11.2 million renovation project, the hot topic wasn't the new paint or platform fixes.
Jakeshia Beals, 31, said when she arrived at the CTA nearly three years ago, she was homeless and looking for work.
Another sign spring is here: Some water taxi service will begin Monday.
Some of Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock's current and previous employees will appear before a federal grand jury next month to answer questions about their old boss. When they do, they'll likely face a prosecutor with a tough, meticulous reputation.
A Northwestern University student told officials she was sexually assaulted in her dorm room Monday evening at the school's north suburban campus in Evanston.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has opened up a substantial lead on challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia with only a week to go in the runoff campaign, a new Chicago Tribune poll has found.
And you thought distracted driving was limited to sending text messages, reading email and talking to fellow passengers.
Standing in the basement dining room of a West Loop Greek restaurant Sunday afternoon, Mayor Rahm Emanuel accepted the endorsement of one of his chief antagonists -- former mayoral candidate and outgoing 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti.
Steven Rogers' tidy, cream-colored wood frame house and the house next to it sit oddly alone, deserted among vast stretches of vacant lots in Englewood. On a recent afternoon, as he stood outside his house, he could picture himself as a young boy racing down what was once a vibrant, populated...
Two men were wounded in separate shootings Sunday evening on the city's South and West sides, police said.


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Originally written on Fox Sports | Last updated 11/16/14
JACKSONVILLE, FL - 2009: Dirk Koetter of the Jacksonville Jaguars poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by NFL Photos)
Completing an unusual swap of offensive coordinators, the Falcons have hired Dirk Koetter from Jacksonville to replace Mike Mularkey only four days after the Jaguars introduced Mularkey as their new coach. The Falcons announced the hire on Sunday. ESPN first reported the move. The Falcons lost both coordinators after the season. The team is still looking to replace defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who moved back to the college ranks to head Auburn's defense. Mularkey, whose Falcons offense was shut out in a 24-2 playoff loss to the New York Giants, was introduced as Jacksonville's coach on Wednesday. He hired former Falcons quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski to be his offensive coordinator. Koetter was a combined 66-44 as the head coach at Boise State (1998 to 2000) and Arizona State (2001-06).
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The Senate is expected to begin floor debate on a bipartisan bill from the Gang of Eight next week. S. 744 would create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, toughen border security, create a guest worker program and boost high-skilled immigration.
Sanders said one part of the bill, which cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan vote last month, reforms the J-1 visa program. He said the change would allow younger foreigners to work lower wage jobs that young Americans are struggling to find.
"I fear very much that this J-1 program is being exploited by corporations such as Hershey's and McDonald's," Sanders said. "What people are saying is that American young people are too lazy to work these jobs. ... I think that is a slap in the face to our young people."
Sanders added that when underemployment is considered, the real unemployment numbers are closer to 14 percent than 7 percent. He said young Americans need those low-skill jobs to help them pay for college.
Despite having bipartisan support, some Republicans have complained that the legislation would provide amnesty for illegal residents before strengthening border enforcement.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Flake (R- Ariz.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Michael Bennet (D-Co.) comprise the Gang of Eight.


text:
August 24 2011
Open House held at Elementary
Posted by Lucy Halverson
The halls of Lyman High School were empty last Monday night during the open house at Presho Elementary with the exception of new Lyman Superintendent Douglas Eppard. An elementary student presents Mr. Eppard with a balloon.
- Successfull Shamrock Shuffle
- Speed limit and fees increase April 1
- Wheat Growers holds open house in Kennebec
- Central South Dakota 's Scavengers Journey set for June
- Coach receives star quilt
- Irish celebration draws near
- Annual event draws crowd to Presho gym
- Presho, Kennebec to hold city elections
- Wheat Growers releases site layout for new facility at Kennebec
- Lyman meets Jones Co. in Dist. 13B Championship game on Thursday
- Lyman plays Whiter River tonight at Dist. 13B
- Lyman to host Dist. 13B Girls Tournament


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Do People Get HIV From Giving Oral
Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:
Get the Facts
What Are the Symptoms of HIV and AIDS?...known as AIDS. HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system. During its initial assault (which is known as acute infection or primary infection ), your immune system tries to mount a defense. That defense can cause many people to develop symptoms that usually go away after a few days. Here's the catch: Those symptoms, when they do occur (most people experience only very minor symptoms, some people experience none at all), are almost...
Ask the Experts
Truth about oral sex and hiv - mixed messages received from a test counselor (TRANSMISSION VIA ORAL SEX, 2010)I have been tested at 3 months, 6 months and a year all negative. I was told that I should test up until six months from a possible exposure. The year test was the start of yearly testing I want to begin as part of my routine exams. I also tested...
Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.
The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation...Hi Confused,Yes, there are many mixed messages out there regarding the HIV test window. Guidelines in parts of Australia advise that a six weeks test is conclusive. Other older guidelines claim six months Read more »
Question #1: Can HIV be passed by kissing someone who has given oral sex to a third person?Question #2: Kissing and licking a small cut or scrape?Question #3: Protected Sex with a womanQuestion #1: In a threesome with a couple, I kissed a guy who had just finished giving oral sex to his boyfriend for a couple of minutes. Although, the third guy was no where near cumming, he may have had some pre-cum. I have no idea. I also have no...
Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.
Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program...Theoretically, just about anything is possible. But we must keep things in a realistic perspective. The chances that the first person was exposed to pre-cum, and the chances that the second person was exposed to blood or breastmilk (under the... Read more »
Oral Sex, HIV, and Braces: One Persons StoryDear Mr. Sowadsky, Why is there little or no warning information to the public about the risk of oral sex and braces for transmission of HIV. I was infected in November of 1992 and developed AIDS by May of 1997. I was shocked by the diagnosis...
Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.
Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program...your case).If a person has irritated or bleeding gums (due to braces, gum disease, and other causes) this makes it easier for HIV (and other infections like Hepatitis B) to enter the bloodstream. Therefore, the fact that you were infected this... Read more »
saliva (Facts for Life: What you and the people you care about need to know about HIV/AIDS )can i catch HIV if my partner "sprays" when he talks and his salive gets in my eye? Also can i get HIV from an infected partners saliva on my anus?
Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.
The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation...think is a heat rash, and a sore throat and a few bumps on my inner thigh. I'm so worried. I understand that there are many people who have questions far greater than mine and I understand if it takes you a while to answer this question but... Read more »
MSF Calls on Roche to Reduce Cost of Oral Antibiotic to Prevent Blindness Among People With HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries...valganciclovir at a reduced cost in developing countries to help prevent a virus that can cause blindness among people living with HIV/AIDS, Reuters reports. Cytomegalovirus retinitis -- which can cause blindness within three to six months in... Read more »
Oral Health is Vital for People With HIV...Oral Hairy Leukoplakia Oral Warts Kaposi's Sarcoma Preventionis Important Dental Services in Los Angeles County for People with HIV/AIDS Approximately 70 to 80 percent of people with HIV will experience thrush, oral hairy leukoplakia... Read more »
Did You Just Test HIV Positive?... Table of Contents Normal Feelings Get Help and Support It's Better to Know HIV and Women Make a New Start Useful Info Sheets for Newly Diagnosed Getting an HIV diagnosis can feel like the worst news Read more »
HIV Transmission...Mother-to-Child Transmission Rare Types of Transmission How HIV Is, and Is Not, Transmitted How HIV Spreads Many people still misunderstand how HIV is passed from one person to another. Knowing the basics helps you avoid getting the... Read more »
Connect With Others
worried I've got HIV after oral without
Posted by anonymouslad, 6 Replies...feeling mildly sick is getting me very worried I'm one of the tiny tiny percent of people who've been unlucky enough to get HIV through unprotected. Do these symptoms(in particular the severe band and neck pains) sound like I could have possibly... Read more »
Insertive Oral
Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply...Has anyone here acquired HIV from insertive oral (receiving a blowjob)? Thanks... Andr D Read more »
Oral Sex
Posted by Anonymous, 4 Replies...Need some opinions please. Aside for mental health reasons, under what circumstances is it necessary for a man to test for HIV when RECEIVING oral sex? Read more »
Study shows very low HIV risk from oral sex
Posted by Anonymous...they have already sparked controversy among AIDS activists across the country. "Its been acknowledged for a long time that people can acquire HIV through oral sex I dont think anyone is disputing that. What people are at odds about is what is... Read more »
Resource Centers
Guides for People With HIV


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The following groups meet at the library and are open to the public. New members are always welcome. Just drop in. For more information, please contact Readers Services at 630/887-8760 ext. 239.
Adult Chess Players
Beginner or advanced, join this congenial group for friendly competition on the first three Mondays of the month at 6 p.m.
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Join these lively discussions on foreign and domestic policy issues on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. February through May, the Great Decisions Discussion Group replaces this group.
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Practice your English pronunciation and conversation skills guided by a volunteer from Literacy Volunteers of DuPage. Meets on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m.-noon. Call co-sponsor Literacy Volunteers of DuPage (LVD) at 630/416-6699 for details.
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Genealogy Group
Local genealogists share their tips on doing research. Meets on the fourth Thursday, January through October, and the third Thursday in November from 1 - 3 p.m. View the 2015 schedule. If you are unable to attend a meeting, check the IPGG blog for copies of handouts from the programs.
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Discussions on foreign policy issues at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays, February through April, and on the second and third Mondays in May. Topics are based on the Foreign Policy Association briefing book ($22). Register in person at the Ask Us Desk.
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The movie discussion group is led by staff after viewing the movie of the month.
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Enjoy reading? Join one of our lively book discussion groups. A copy of book discussion titles will be at the Checkout Desk one month before the discussion. New members are always welcome. Find other discussion groups in the area.
…a book club for 20-30 somethings
Join GenLit for drinks, dinner, and discussion with fellow 20-30 somethings. Meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month (January-October) at 6:30 p.m. at various local restaurants. Find GenLit on Facebook.
...a book club for readers who like unraveling clues, interpreting evidence, and analyzing characters
We partner with the Woodridge Public Library to bring crime readers together on the third Thursday of the month (September-May) at 7 p.m. at Home Run Inn (7521 Lemont Rd., Darien) to discuss novels of crime and mystery. Follow Crime Readers on Facebook.
...a book club for for readers who like to delve into a book's characters, plots, setting, and themes
Drop in for one of our librarian-led discussions. Held the second Wednesday of the month (September-May) at 7 p.m.
Upcoming Book Discussions
Novel Idea- Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh HguyenWhen: Wednesday, April 08, 2015 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Meeting Room, 2nd Floor
Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen, 2014
Discovering a family heirloom that her mother may have received from Laura Ingalls Wilder, PhD graduate Lee Lien explores the tenuous connection between her ancestors and the famous pioneer author only to discover a trail of clues that lead to fateful encounters.
Crime Readers: The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö (2009)When: Thursday, April 16, 2015 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö (2009)
Meets at 6 p.m. for dinner (optional); 7 p.m. for discussion at
Home Run Inn Pizza, 7521 Lemont Rd., Darien. Drop in. Visit facebook.com/CrimeReaders.
GenLit (for 20-30somethings): The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (2006)When: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (2006)
Meet at Tap House Grill, 6010 S. Cass Ave., Westmont
Novel Idea- China Dolls by Lisa SeeWhen: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Meeting Room, 2nd Floor
China Dolls by Lisa See, 2014
It's 1938 in San Francisco: a world's fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is brewing overseas, and the city is alive with possibilities. Grace, Helen, and Ruby, three young women from very different backgrounds, meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City nightclub.
Crime Readers: Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (2003)When: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (2003)
Meets at 6 p.m. for dinner (optional); 7 p.m. for discussion at
Home Run Inn Pizza, 7521 Lemont Rd., Darien. Drop in. Visit facebook.com/CrimeReaders.
GenLit (for 20-30somethings): The Expats by Chris Pavone (2012)When: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - 6:30 PM - 6:30 PM
The Expats by Chris Pavone (2012)
Meet at La Cabanita, 118 Burr Ridge Pkwy., Burr Ridge
Databases for Book Lovers
BookBrowse features reviews, recommendations, readalikes, author bios and interviews, resources for book clubs, and much more.
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Visit this online community to discover good discussion titles, tips for book clubs, and sign up for a monthly newsletter.


text:
Meir Panim delivers warmth, special care to families in need.
I sleep every Tisha B'Av night on a narrow cushion in front of the Me'aras HaMachpelah in Hebron. I do this because the following chiddush came to me many years ago: When the spies went to Israel, the pasuk says "vayavo ad Chevron" – "and he came until Hebron." He instead of they. Rashi says only Calev ben Yefuneh went to Hebron, to pray to Avraham Avinu that he not fall for the plan of the spies.
The spies gave their horrible report on Tisha B'Av night, and this night became a night of crying through the ages. So I said, "Hebron and Me'aras HaMachpelah is where I'm going sleep to remember the power of the prayer of Calev."
And as I traveled to Hebron, how could I not stop at the tomb of Rachel Imeinu? It's right on the way.
The Tenth of Av is my birthday, and this year as I walked from my car to Rachel's Tomb I found myself singing, "Unhappy birthday to you, unhappy birthday to you, Dov Shurin!" – since on my birthday we are all crying for Mashiach.
Once I was in the tomb I took a Tehillim and beg David HaMelech to direct me to a verse that would consol me on my "unhappy" birthday. With my eyes closed, I asked that my finger open to a special page. I opened the book, my eyes still closed, and I asked, "Which page, right side or the left?" I imagined I was told the left. Then I ran my finger down the page until I sensed I should stop.
I opened my eyes and I was on the verse in Psalm 104 that reads "You send forth your spirit and they are created, renewing the face of the earth." What a birthday present from above! It's all about one's birthday, about renewal. The verse before this is about death, and this verse is birth. I thought about the Torah giant we just lost, Rav Elyashiv, zt"l, and how Hashem certainly is renewing the earth with new tzaddikim; in fact, we're told that Tisha B'Av is when Mashiach will be born.
Then I went to Hebron and stayed until Minchah time. At first it was difficult for me to deal with the Nachem prayer we say only on Tisha B'Av in the middle of the Vel'Yirushalayim Ircha blessing in the Shemoneh Esrei. The verses read: "Console the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem …. the city is destroyed, disgraced and empty."
That's not the case today, with close to two hundred thousand Jews living here, and we even have our light railroad. It just seemed to me the Nachem tefillah should be updated.
I did notice the Nachem prayer distinguishes between Zion and Jerusalem. So I decided to consult the amazing sefer of the Malbim, HaCarmel, which discusses relevant words and concepts. I turned to where he writes about Zion and Jerusalem. He notes that Metzudas Tzion was the city of David, which was occupied by children of kings, important personalities and Torah scholars, and the rest of Jerusalem is where the simple multitudes lived.
So Zion was what we refer to today as East Jerusalem. In my previous column I wrote about a police officer who was stabbed to death years ago by an Arab who came up from Silwan, which is Zion, which was the city of David and is called exactly that by those Jews who have settled there. So unfortunately the words of the Nachem prayer are in fact relevant today regarding East Jerusalem and its status in the eyes of the international community.
On Tisha B'Av Mitt Romney became the latest presidential candidate to promise to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, may it really happen this time. The Israeli government needs to make it clear that Jerusalem, and especially Zion, the city of David, is not for sale, period. Until then, the Nachem prayer remains true to its text.
May our Charming Nation see the consolation of Zion, the final Godly building of Yerushalayim, and the renewal of the face of the earth with the coming of Mashiach quickly in our day, amen.
Dov Shurin is a popular radio personality and the composer and producer of several albums of original composition. He lives with his family in Israel and can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com. His column appears in The Jewish Press every other week.
About the Author: Dov Shurin is a popular radio personality and the composer and producer of several albums. He lives with his family in Israel and can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com. His Jewish Press column appears the third issue of each month.
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German poet Heinrich Heine: "Since the Exodus, freedom has always been spoken with a Hebrew accent."
Our ability to teach is only successful if done by example.
Outside of the High Holidays, Pesach is probably the most celebrated biblical holiday for the majority of Jews.
"If I notify people, nobody will buy the matzos!" exclaimed Mr. Mandel. "Once the halachic advisory panel ruled leniently, why can't I sell the matzos regularly?"
So what type of praise is it that Aaron followed orders?
Her Children, Her Whim
'Kesubas Bnin Dichrin'
(Kesubos 52b)
Question: Must one spend great sums of money and invest much effort in making one's home kosher for Passover? Not all of us have such unlimited funds.
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Yachatz is not mentioned in the Gemara. What is the foundation for yachatz?
First, the punishment for eating chametz on Pesach is karet, premature death at the Hand of God.
Why is it necessary to invite people to eat from the korban Pesach?
How was I going to get to Manhattan? No cabs were going, we didn't have a car, and many people who did have cars had no gas.
Did you ever notice that immediately upon being granted our freedom from Egypt, the Jewish people accepted upon themselves the yoke of a new master – Hashem?
Why does Torah make the priests go through a long and seemingly bizarre induction ceremony?
Often people in important positions separate from everyday people & tasks-NOT the Kohen Gadol
You smuggled tefillin into the camp? How can they help? Every day men risked their lives to use them
Rambam: Eating blood's forbidden because connected to idolatry;Ramban: We're affected by what we eat
Fortunate are we to have Rosh Hashanah for repentance, a shofar to awaken heavenly mercy.
Israel feebly begged Hamas to end the barrage, promising that "quiet will be met with quiet."
Isn't it comforting to know that our God loves life, grants life, and promises eternal life?
While the phrase "Let It Be" implies doing nothing, "Lu Yehi" implies working toward a goal.
An Israeli company should make "Arafat's Dead Sea Tonic" with this warning: "may cause severe vomiting or even death."
"The bigger they are the harder they fall" describes what God had in mind for Olmert.
Boundless love was something Rav Kook had for the nation of Israel. Just as one cannot question the boundless love of Hashem for Israel, one cannot question the boundless love of a Torah giant for his people.
I hollered over and over again, waving a clinched fist toward the heavens.
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"When a victim is being threatened with abuse, time can be everything," said Mayor Greg Fischer. "This new electronic system is vastly more efficient and is a huge step forward for public safety in our city."
The slogan "Keep Louisville Weird" is just right for our little town on banks of the Ohio.
To vote, you need to register, and the deadline to register to vote for the first time, make an address change to a previously registered voter, change political party affiliation or update a name is Tuesday, October 11, 2011.
Day three of Occupy Louisville began with some 30 citizens waking up on The Belvedere after having spent the night outside to keep the "occupation" continuous. There are no actual demands yet, but the leaderless group has managed to develop a process for self-governance, gotten donations of food, water, and other necessities, and set up a website. In other words... they are well on their way to their goal of creating a protest that, like others in New York, Boston, and nearly every large city in the country, will continue on "until their one demand is met"... whatever that one demand ultimately turns out to be.
Louisville news: What's doing worse, Republican ticket or Fourth Street Live! businesses? edition [News]
Local news for Oct. 7, 2011
Norb was a grassroots political organizer, par excellence. He knew more about the down-and-dirty art of precinct politics than anyone I ever met.
The sixth annual Mayor's Healthy Hometown Hike takes place in the wild beauty of Jefferson Memorial Forest and boasts much more than just a walk in the woods.
Local news for Oct. 6, 2011
"So yesterday, I tested the President's rhetoric. I proposed that we do exactly what he wants and vote, right away, on this second stimulus bill he's proposed as the supposed solution to our jobs crisis."
The Occupy Louisville movement has begun its journey of representing "The 99%" with kindness, community and a positive attitude for change.
Local news for Oct. 5, 2011
President Obama obviously believes that he can blame the failure of his flawed American Jobs Act on Republican refusal to allow a vote on the bill. Today, that plan became inoperative, thanks to Sen. McConnell.
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Medical Discovery News
It's walking into a room then forgetting why you're there, or failing to remember the name of a known acquaintance.
The loss of memory that comes with older age has been the source of endless embarrassing moments and jokes.
Some view mental decline as an inevitable symptom of getting "over the hill." Now, a study may have revealed why people experience senior moments, attributing them to brain microbleeds — or BMB — because of stiffening arteries.
Cognitive decline normally begins at about 25 years old, starting with a decrease in numerical abilities as well as arithmetic processing speed. Memory declines can be measured in the late 30s, perhaps as late as the 60s.
Reasoning, verbal ability and visual processing skills begin to decline in the 50s and 60s, although word knowledge, vocabulary and word reading skills remain stable into late adulthood. Continue reading


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Ekta Kapoor issued a public statement denying the wrong report of suing Sanjay Dutt for Rs 1.5 crore. She along with Sanjay's wife Manyata Dutt issued a public statement to clear the issue. Ekta Kapoor said, "The story is frivolous, I value relationships more than money. The Dutt family i
Bade Acche Lagte Hai - Episode 142 - 30th January 2012
Doctor informs Ram that they will not be able to detect Priya's problem until and unless the Biopsy is not conducted later, Priya comes to know that Ram didn't slept for whole night. Ram is surprised to see Priya's inner strength as she has the fighting spirit to fight against any problem and Priya reveals Ram that everything depends on the Biopsy reports as her life will divide in 2 differents paths if the reports comes positive or negative. Ram is too worried about Priya and her Biopsy reports. Will Priya's life change once the Doctor reveals her Biopsy reports? Will Ram support Priya? Bade Acche Laggte Hai is the story of two strangers getting married ... and falling in love. Priya is a happy go lucky woman in her early 30s, not married so far and quite sure that she wouldn't be able to get married ever. She takes tuitions for college students and is happy with the world.Ram Kapoor, a wealthy man in his early 40s, is a ruthless entrepreneur who also believes that he has missed the bus of marriage. But as fate would have it, they bump into each other through a minor car accident which hurts their egos more than their vehicles and then after a series of miscommunications and misunderstandings, destiny contrives once again to get the two married.What more surprises await Ram and Priya? Will they fall in love? To get these answers, watch Bade Acche Laggte Hai ... yeh dharti, yeh nadiyaa, yeh raina aur tum.
ekta kapoor
Television queen Ekta Kapoor sues actor Sanjay Dutt for Rs 1.5 crore which the producer has paid to Sanjay after signing a mega deal project in 2008. The project was supposed to be a joint venture of Suniel Shetty and Ekt
Fire broke out on the set of Ekta Kapoor's 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein' show starring Divyanka Tripathy and Karan Patel. The entire cast and the crew was present when the unfortunate incident took place and fortunately all are safe and sound. The set almost damaged but there is no causa
Latest Bollywood News
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- Deepika, Sonam, Aishwarya sizzle at HT Most Stylish Awards
- Sakshi Tanwar to star in desi version of 'Game of Thrones'


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Testing Negative After Touching Stripper
Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:
Ask the Experts
Test Result Negative... Can I Woo-Hoo now? RE: Precum-filled Penis tip touched stripper's body...Pls help...worried sick!Thank You Dr Bob for your reply.Just for putting all my fears to rest, as per your advice, I got myself tested using a Tri-Dot Rapid test today and the result came back to be non-reactive. It is the 103rd day since my strip-bar incident. I am...
Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.
The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation...Hi,WOO-HOO! Your results are conclusive. No additional testing is warranted.Happy Holidays.Dr. Bob Read more »
Another stripper story with a twist!Dear Dr. Bob, I really appreciate your gesture of answering our endless questions.Well I guess u... Read more »
ID doctor, PCF, Nurologist, Urologist and two ~5 - 5.28 month hiv tests (Orasure and EIA) say negative but still symptoms2nd post.At 9 months after a possible low risk handjob in Nov08 where I believe the stripper... Read more »
Safer Sex Guidelines...activity. Unsafe Activities Unsafe sex has a high risk of spreading HIV. The greatest risk is when blood or sexual fluid touches the soft, moist areas (mucous membrane) inside the rectum, vagina, mouth, nose, or at the tip of the penis. These... Read more »
What Are the Symptoms of HIV and AIDS?...than the others) That's it. For any other type of activity -- kissing someone with HIV, sharing food or drinks with them, touching something an HIV-positive person touched -- there's basically no chance that whatever you did resulted in you... Read more »
Stopping the Spread of HIV...HIV if you practice abstinence (not having sex). You also won't get infected if your penis, mouth, vagina or rectum doesn't touch anyone else's penis, mouth, vagina, or rectum. Safe activities include kissing, erotic massage, masturbation or hand... Read more »
HIV and the Brain...(PML) Some of these conditions may be treatable with drugs, therapy, or other medical interventions. If these conditions are ruled out, your doctor may determine that you are experiencing MCMD or HAD. Treatment for MCMD and HAD The best way... Read more »
Connect With Others
My test came back negative
Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply...hey casie my test came back negative.....howevger I'm still going to test again in DEC. just to be safe.its been like 3 months since possible exposure with a Read more »
Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies...Hi! I think this site is great and I now have a question of my own. My boyfriend of 3 years tested postive 3 weeks ago..I got tested last week and it came back negative. The last time we had sex was 6 or 7 weels ago. I have Read more »
Positive, then negative. Going out of my mind!
Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies...went back and had the 2nd test done. That was last Friday and I haven't heard from the doc yet, and I've been unable to get in touch with him as if he's out of town or something. I wanted to go elswhere for support so I went to Planned Parenthood... Read more »
Positive, then negative! Going out of my mind
Posted by Anonymous, 4 Replies...went back and had the 2nd test done. That was last Friday and I haven't heard from the doc yet, and I've been unable to get in touch with him as if he's out of town or something. I wanted to go elswhere for support so I went to Planned Parenthood... Read more »
Resource Centers
Guides for People With HIV


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Hotel Weisse Taube
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Dresden, German Christmas markets
... Crunching leaves on the ground Monster rock fingers Grew up every surround The sights were amazing, But our photos can't sell Of the shear height and glory That only nature can tell ~ Dinner and opera Sounds a fancy affair A night out, just us To end my twenty fifth year Well, not just us two, But a rioting crowd Joined in my birthday To get rowdy and loud We would have stayed on To thank them for coming But the cold of outside Was ...
... roads, buildings, and footpaths. It's now totally illegal to remove pieces of the wall so 99% of the souvenirs available claiming to be bits of the wall are fake, so I won't be bringing any back! The segment we visited is used as a street art gallery with extensive graffiti from numerous renowned artists decorating it. Some other sections are near the Brandenburg Gate, and around the old Gestapo and SS Headquarters building. ...
Dresden - A time of sadness for the family
... buildings and quite a few new ones as well which
have been built since the unification, we spent our time exploring the city and
the obligatory Christmas markets whilst making time to support each other
during this sad period.
A highlight of the trip
so far was visiting the beautiful Bastei Bridge which is located a short drive
from Dresden. The engineering feet to
build this bridge ...
Desifering Dresden
... I was determined to make the most of my only full day in Dresden. I met Ullrich for my 'tour' at 9 and spent the next couple of hours wandering the city! Because he didn't know much English he had gone out and brought a guide book for me, so I knew what the places were! He did attempt some English though, and told me about the King that had 3 children with his mattress! I can only assume he meant mistress. But of course it was nice of him ...
Last day alone (for realz this time (I think...))
... wine is. Oh no, this is NOT okay! You have to hold it with the tips of your fingers down below so that it makes a beautiful sound when clinking them together *eye roll* I mean, yoi! someone kill me! hahaha (ok, sorry, that was WAY too much of a rant on that, but... oiyoiyoi, yeah, I really don't like being told how to eat, especially when the reason is "well, when you go to a five star restaurant, people are going to be looking down at you if you eat like that". Like... I'M NOT AT ...


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Hunger TrilogyTaylor and Francis 2015; US$ 44.95
This autobiographical novella was written in 1980 by one of China's leading dissidents, who was released from jail in late October 1990 again after being imprisoned as a pro-democracy activist in the wake of the Tiananmen incident of spring 1989. Wang recounts three episodes of extreme hardship in his life: incarceration in a Guomindang jail during... more...
Ausgew�hlte Schriften zur Vergleichenden LiteraturwissenschaftFrank & Timme 2015; US$ 45.76
In seinen Forschungen zur komparatistischen Imagologie hat der Belgier Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hugo Dyserinck anhand literarischer Gegenst�nde den �bergang vom nationalen zum postnationalen Denken nachgezeichnet. Angesichts der Multiethnizit�t und Multilingualit�t Europas gewinnt an Aktualit�t, was der �berzeugte Europ�er Dyserinck im Laufe von f�nf Jahrzehnten... more...
Internet Literature in ChinaColumbia University Press 2015; US$ 39.99
Since the 1990s, Chinese literary enthusiasts have explored new spaces for creative expression online, giving rise to a modern genre that has transformed Chinese culture and society. Ranging from the self-consciously avant-garde to the pornographic, web-based writing has introduced innovative forms, themes, and practices into Chinese literature and... more...
Memories of Mount QilaiColumbia University Press 2015; US$ 34.99
Hualien, on the Pacific coast of eastern Taiwan, and its mountains, especially Mount Qilai, were deeply inspirational for the young poet Yang Mu. A place of immense natural beauty and cultural heterogeneity, the city was also a site of extensive social, political, and cultural change in the twentieth century, from the Japanese occupation and the American... more...
The Lyrical in Epic TimeColumbia University Press 2015; US$ 59.99
This book positions the lyrical as key to rethinking the dynamics of Chinese modernity and emphasizes Chinese lyricism?s deep roots in its own native traditions, along with Western influences. Although the lyrical may seem like an unusual form for representing China?s social and political crises in the mid-twentieth century, David Der-wei Wang contends... more...
Southern Identity and Southern Estrangement in Medieval Chinese PoetryHong Kong University Press, HKU 2015; US$ 79.00
From ancient times, Chinas remote and exotic Southa shifting and expanding region beyond the Yangtze Riverhas been an enduring theme in Chinese literature. For poets and scholar-officials in medieval China, the South was a barbaric frontier region of alienation and disease. But it was also a place of richness and fascination, and... more...
New Perspectives on Chinese SyntaxDe Gruyter 2015; US$ 140.00
In the last thirty years, Mandarin Chinese has been playing an increasingly important role in general linguistics and has become a ?must? for everyone interested in crosslinguistic comparison and syntactic theorizing. The book aims at demystifying Chinese. It places controversial issues within the larger context of current syntactic theories,... more...
Tense and Aspect in Han Period ChineseDe Gruyter 2015; US$ 140.00
Many grammatical issues of Archaic and Medieval Chinese still lack a comprehensive analysis. The book provides the first thorough investigation of the syntactic and semantic constraints of the linguistic categories tense and aspect and their relation with the lexical aspect of the verb in Han period Chinese. The author uncovers fascinating... more...
The Orphan of Zhao and Other Yuan PlaysColumbia University Press 2014; US$ 64.99
This is the first anthology of Yuan-dynasty zaju (miscellaneous comedies) to introduce the genre to English-speaking readers exclusively through translations of the plays? fourteenth-century editions. Almost all previous translations of Yuan-dynasty zaju are based on late-Ming regularized editions that were heavily adapted for performance at the Ming... more...
Twentieth-century Chinese Women's Poetry: An AnthologyTaylor and Francis 2014; US$ 44.95
Chinese women's writing is rich and abundant, although not well known in the West. Despite the brutal wars and political upheavals that ravaged twentieth-century China, the ranks of women in the literary world increased dramatically. This anthology introduces English language readers to a comprehensive selection of Chinese women poets from both the... more...


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For Your Visit
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At Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Associates, your time is as valuable to us as it is to you. That's why we provide online access to a variety of forms that patients may complete before their visit.
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New Medicare Bill Covers Anesthesia Services during Colonoscopy
In the Calendar Year 2015 Physician Fee Schedule final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revised the definition of colorectal cancer screening tests to include anesthesia services.Read More
Colon Cancer Screening: Which Test is Best?
When it comes to something as important as preventing colon cancer, your ultimate concern should be efficiency and accuracy. In this department, there's one test that beats them all: the colonoscopy.Read More
Colon Cancer Awareness Month
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, an annual observance dedicated toward raising awareness for this deadly disease and educating people on the importance of routine colon screening.Read More


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Restaurants in China
China's cuisine is amazingly complex and multi-faceted and travelers will find restaurants in China that specialize in all the various regional styles of cooking. The best restaurants in China range from some that offer white-glove service and banquets with countless courses to humble stalls that may sell only one particular broth or noodle dish. Peking duck is, of course, one of China's most famous dishes and the Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing is one of the best places to taste the duck exactly as it should be prepared and served, in three courses.
The Donglaishun restaurants began as a food stall in 1903, but now they are famous for their Mongolian hotpots where diners cook their own meat (traditionally, thinly sliced mutton) and vegetables in a tableside pot of broth. The China restaurants scenes isn't limited to just Chinese fare. Miichelle Garnault's M restaurants (M on the Bund in Shanghai, M on the Fringe in Hong Kong, and M Capital in Beijing) are some of the most acclaimed of the many using locally sourced ingredients in European—and Middle Eastern and North African—dishes.
Perched atop the 66th floor of the Park Hyatt hotel, China Grill provides diners an unparalleled vantage point of the city that includes views of the CCTV Tower, World Trade Center, and Changan Avenue.
A number of restaurants offer views of West Lake, but this one stands out with its covered terrace and extensive menu featuring dishes from throughout China. Regional specialties include longjing xiaren, shrimp cooked with longjing tea.
Despite the Gallic name, this restaurant is unmistakably and indelibly Chinese—from its courtyard-style entryway to its menu of fine, time-tested Cantonese cuisine.
The story goes like this: three painters from Guizhou, a poor south central province, came to Beijing seeking to earn a fortune with their brushes. They soon realized their Sichuan fare could fill a void in the city, and Three Guizhou Men was born.
Although located on the second floor of the Xintiandi shopping mall, this restaurant is far from the typical food court options found in malls. Bright red poles line the entrance, and noodle crafters can be seen shaping noodles from dough in the La Mian style.
Drawing such former guests as Jackie Chan, this Michelin two-starred restaurant serves gourmet Cantonese cuisine inside the Langham Hong Kong hotel.
There's nothing better than fresh fruit on a plane. Stop at this clean kiosk—which sells fruit by weight or prepackaged—for mangoes, dragon fruit, green apples, and more.
The dark, Deco-y Shanghainese restaurant serves roast duck wrapped in mantou buns, kao fu, a warm, brown, bready, tofu-like rice-gluten substance that is very comforting; and steamed fish head.
Nine lights at the end of a cement staircase make up the unmarked entrance to this trendy restaurant and bar. Once the mystery of entrance is solved, a modern gray interior is the setting for contemporary Chinese cuisine.
This high-design hot spot in a converted siheyuan (courtyard home) is the latest offering from chef Jereme Leung—already well known in Shanghai for taking traditional cuisine and turning it on its head.


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The Story of Paul And Margaret Brand - Education Videos
Embed dayofdiscoveryvideos 786 views 2010-11-17T12:45:35 Do you ever wonder about the purpose of pain? Gain fresh insight into this topic as you follow the lives of doctors Paul and Margaret Brand and their pioneering work with lepers in India. Their research has led to a whole new understanding of the important role pain plays in our lives, seeing it as a gift, a sensory warning to the body and soul. Click here to view full feature: http://tinyurl.com/DOD-PAMB
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Oracle, NetApp Drop ZFS Patent Suit 66
from the there-will-be-peace-in-our-time dept.
We've improved Slashdot's video section; now you can view our video interviews, product close-ups and site visits with all the usual Slashdot options to comment, share, etc. No more walled garden! It's a work in progress -- we hope you'll check it out (Learn more about the recent updates).
While that's nice for NetApp, I'm still hoping that they decide to change or dual license ZFS to be GPL compatible. Of course, I don't actually expect them to do that, but the sentence in the summary saying they have "a 'common vision' focused on providing solutions that reduce IT cost and complexity", almost made me laugh. You can say many good things about Oracle, but low cost isn't really their strong point. And if they really cared about reducing IT complexity/cost they could make sure that ZFS becomes standard that anyone can use. If they did that I would bet that ZFS would rapidly grow to become the standard enterprise file system. Oh well, I can dream, can't I?
that NetApps (and everybody else) are a little more scared of their new Oracle overlords than of geeky, hunky-dory Sun?
Prediction: Google and Oracle are going to patch things up like nothing ever happened. You heard it here.
Probably, Larry just got around to noticing that NetApp had patent-trolled Oracle's new acquisition and he had Oracle's lawyers send NetApp an offer they couldn't refuse: drop your suit and we'll drop our counterclaims, otherwise we'll bring Oracle's entire IP portfolio into play and totally horse fuck you.
Let's not all lose sight of the fact that two big companies coming to an agreement, whether explicitly or implicitly, not to sue each other over patents does not help small companies, individuals, or Free Software/Open Source.
Small companies, individuals, and Free Software/Open Source in general does not have a large enough patent chest to get the same kind of, "I won't sue you for patent infringement, if you don't sue me for patent infringement," kind of a deal.
Is your job running? You'd better go catch it!