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A laser device for producing laser radiation at an eyesafe wavelength from a diode-pumped solid-state laser. The device consists of three stages. The first stage is a laser diode whose output pumps the second stage. The second stage is a guided-wave laser or guided-wave Raman-shifted laser whose output pumps into the upper laser level of the Erbium laser dopant of the third stage. The third stage is an Erbium-doped solid-state crystalline-host laser whose output wavelength is in the eyesafe region. One embodiment of the device is: a cw laser diode with a wavelength in the range 0.9 to 1.0 microns, which pumps a guided-wave laser doped with Ytterbium and Erbium that produces laser output with a wavelength near 1.5 microns, which further pumps an Erbium-doped crystal laser that produces laser output with a wavelength in the eyesafe region near 1.6 microns.
1. A method for producing laser radiation from an Er-doped solid-state crystal laser device, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) activating a laser diode to produce an output emission having a predetermined wavelength;
(b) coupling a guided-wave laser to receive the output emission of the laser diode, wherein the output emission of the laser diode stimulates the guided-wave laser to produce a guided-wave laser output emission;
(c) coupling the guided-wave laser output emission to upper-state pump the Er-doped solid-state crystal laser device, wherein the guided-wave laser output emission stimulates the solid-state crystal laser device to produce the laser radiation.
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25. A device for producing laser radiation comprising:
a laser diode having an output emission at a predetermined wavelength;
a guided-wave laser coupled to receive the output emission of the laser diode, wherein the output emission of the laser diode pumps the guided-wave laser to create a guided-wave laser output emission;
an Er-doped solid-state crystal laser coupled to receive the guided-wave laser output emission wherein the guided-wave laser output emission upper-state pumps the solid-state laser to produce the laser radiation.
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This invention relates to lasers and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for producing eyesafe high-peak-power laser radiation from a diode-pumped solid-state laser.
Diode-pumped solid-state lasers are generally considered the most practical source of laser radiation for applications requiring high efficiency and compact, low-weight, and rugged packaging. Laser diode pump sources have high electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency, and the narrow-band spectral output of laser diodes can be chosen to closely match the absorption bands of solid-state laser materials. As a result, heat loads in diode-pumped solid-state lasers are significantly lower than for the flashlamp-pumped solid-state lasers that have been largely supplanted by diode-pumped lasers for applications requiring compactness and high efficiency.
For many applications the laser radiation must be in the �eyesafe� band, that is having a wavelength longer than 1.4 microns. Laser radiation in this range is strongly absorbed by liquid water. As the fluid in the human eye consists primarily of water, laser radiation in this range does not damage the retina because it is absorbed before reaching the retina.
Several solid-state lasers operate in the eyesafe band, have absorption features suitable for diode pumping, and have millisecond duration fluorescence lifetimes. These lasers are doped with trivalent rare-earth ions and are well-known. An advantage of these lasers is that their long fluorescence lifetimes (i.e. energy storage times) readily allow the production of high-energy Q-switched pulses, and their relatively low emission cross-sections result in pulsewidths that are hundreds of nanoseconds in duration. These pulsewidths are ideal for active remote sensing instrumentation such as coherent detection laser radar systems. Examples of these lasers include:
1) the 1.53-micron ytterbium/erbium co-doped glass (Yb,Er:glass) laser
2) the 2.05-micron thulium/holmium co-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Tm,Ho:YLF) laser
3) the 2.01-micron thulium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Tm:YAG) laser
4) the upper-state-pumped 2.10-micron Ho:YAG laser
5) the upper-state-pumped 1.6-micron erbium-doped bulk crystal (for example, Er:YAG) laser.
Existing eyesafe diode-pumped solid-state lasers have deficiencies that make them non-ideal for critical applications such as remote sensing.
The 1.53-micron Yb,Er:glass laser does not perform well at high average power owing to the poor thermo-mechanical properties of the glass host material. This limits operation of the laser to low pulse repetition frequencies (PRF), thereby severely limiting the sensitivity of remote sensing systems based on this laser.
In the 2.05-micron Tm,Ho:YLF laser, the Tm ion absorbs the pump light and transfers the excitation energy to the lasant Ho ion. This laser suffers from upconversion loss from the upper laser state between pairs of Tm and Ho ions, which reduces the efficiency and energy storage capacity of the laser medium. Energy storage is an important consideration for applications such as remote sensing (where high energy laser pulses enable long-range sensing), because a long energy storage lifetime is required to convert the intrinsically continuous wave (cw) or quasi-cw laser diode pump power into high peak power. In typical Tm,Ho:YLF lasers the energy storage time is reduced from an intrinsic lifetime of 10 ms by upconversion to a lifetime of approximately 1 ms.
The 2.01-micron Tm:YAG laser similarly suffers from upconversion loss, in this case between pairs of Tm ions in the upper laser state. As a result the energy storage lifetime in a typical Tm:YAG laser is reduced from an intrinsic lifetime of 8 ms by upconversion to approximately 3 ms.
The detrimental effects of upconversion loss can be eliminated by pumping the Ho:YAG laser directly into its upper laser state. In this case a low concentration of Ho can be utilized, which suppresses the concentration-dependent upconversion process. The Ho:YAG laser can not be operated efficiently when pumped directly into the upper state by laser diodes, however, because presently there are no laser diodes with sufficiently high power and brightness in the wavelength range (1.85 to 1.95 microns) of strong absorption for efficient upper-state pumping of Ho:YAG. Instead, the Ho:YAG laser must be pumped by an intermediate solid-state laser, for example the 1.94-micron Tm:YALO laser or the 1.91-micron Tm:YLF laser. These lasers have sufficient brightness for pumping the Ho:YAG laser, but have the disadvantage of requiring liquid coolants.
The upper-state-pumped 1.6-micron Er-doped bulk crystal laser operates in a similar fashion to that of the upper-state-pumped Ho:YAG laser. In the case of the Er-doped laser strong absorption for upper-state pumping occurs at 1.533 microns. As in the case of the Ho:YAG laser, laser diodes do not exist presently with sufficiently high power and brightness for efficient upper-state pumping of the Er-doped laser.
A need has existed for many years for efficient eyesafe lasers suitable for remote sensing applications. Such devices are required to operate in the Q-switched mode with high pulse energy and long pulsewidth (hundreds of nanoseconds). In recent years development efforts for such devices have concentrated on solid-state lasers operating at wavelengths near 2 microns. The 2.01-micron Tm:YAG laser and the 2.05-micron Tm,Ho:YLF laser (and variations on these such as the 2.02-micron Tm:LuAG laser) are generally considered to be the most practical sources of efficient, eyesafe, high-energy, long-pulsewidth, Q-switched laser radiation.
In particular, the upper-state pumped 1.6-micron Er-doped bulk crystal laser has been considered to be impractical owing to the lack of a suitable pump source. The 1.6-micron Er-doped laser is known to operate with two pump sources: 1) flashlamp-pumped Yb,Er:glass lasers, and 2) 1.5-micron InGaAs laser diodes. Neither of these pump devices provides output radiation that is suitable for efficient operation of the 1.6-micron Er-doped laser. High-power Yb,Er-doped, Raman-shifted Yb-doped and Raman-shifted Nd-doped fiber lasers have been commercially available for several years; however, these devices have not been previously proposed as pump sources for the upper-state pumped 1.6-micron Er-doped laser. Use of guided-wave lasers, such as fiber lasers (typically having a doped core of circular cross section) and bulk waveguide lasers (typically having a doped region of rectangular cross section), as the pump source is an aspect of the subject invention. In a guided-wave laser the laser radiation is confined to the laser medium (which occupies the same space as the laser resonator) by total internal reflection from the transverse surfaces of the guided-wave structure. The guided-wave geometry is in contrast to conventional lasers in which the laser resonator is defined by discrete mirrors at the ends of a free-space resonator. Guided-wave lasers have the advantage of a small resonator cross section that results in a low laser threshold and efficient removal of heat from the laser medium. An aspect of the present invention is that the pump source of the Er-doped bulk crystal laser is either a Yb,Er-doped guided-wave laser, a Raman-shifted Yb-doped guided-wave laser, or a Raman-shifted Nd-doped guided-wave laser.
A suitable pump laser for the Er-doped laser must meet the following requirements: 1) the pump laser must have sufficiently high electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency, 2) the pump laser must be of small size and low weight, 3) the pump wavelength must be strongly absorbed by the Er-doped laser material, 4) the pump brightness must be sufficiently high for efficient pumping of the Er-doped laser medium, and 5) the pump linewidth must be sufficiently narrow for efficient pumping of the Er-doped laser medium. The flashlamp-pumped Yb,Er:glass pump laser does not meet requirements 1 and 2, while the InGaAs pump laser does not meet requirements 4 and 5.
The flashlamp-pumped Yb,Er:glass laser is known to be impractical as a pump source, because of the large size and weight, and low efficiency of these devices, and also because of the short operational lifetime of flashlamps. Therefore, investigations into the use of the flashlamp-pumped Yb,Er:glass laser as a pump source for the Er-doped bulk crystal laser are considered to be a precursor for direct pumping of the Er-doped laser with 1.5-micron InGaAs laser diodes. However, owing to the unconventional nature of the 1.6-micron Er-doped laser, it is not generally recognized that direct pumping with 1.5-micron laser diodes imposes serious limitations on the performance of the Er-doped laser. Such limitations include: 1) 1.5-micron laser diodes have insufficient brightness for pumping the Er-doped laser, owing to the necessity of avoiding upconversion loss in the Er-doped laser material by utilizing a low Er doping concentration which requires the use of a laser rod having a length greater than the depth of focus of the laser diode pump light, and 2) 1.5-micron laser diodes typically have linewidths greater than 5 nm, making them unsuitable for efficient absorption by the Er-doped laser medium which has a substantially narrower absorption linewidth of approximately 1 nm.
Examples of the use of the flashlamp-pumped Yb,Er:glass laser to pump the 1.6 micron Er:YAG laser are given in two papers by K. Spariosu and M. Bimbaum: 1) in �IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics,� Volume 30, pages 1044-1049, April, 1994, and 2) in OSA Proceedings on Advanced Solid-State Lasers, Volume 13, pages 127-130, 1992.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an efficiently operated upper state pumped 1.6 micron Er-doped laser. The present invention meets these and other needs in the art
It is an aspect of the present invention to produce eyesafe laser radiation from an Er-doped bulk crystal laser device by pumping the Er-doped laser device with a guided-wave laser device, for example a circular-core fiber laser or a waveguide laser (such as a waveguide with rectangular cross section).
It is another aspect of the invention to operate the laser in the Q-switched mode.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide high peak power output from the laser device.
The above and other aspects of the invention are accomplished in a method and apparatus for producing laser radiation with high peak power at an eyesafe wavelength from a diode-pumped solid-state laser. The Er-doped laser is a well-known source of laser radiation operating at an eyesafe wavelength of 1.6 microns. The method and apparatus uses a cw 0.9 to 1.0 micron wavelength laser diode to pump a Yb,Er-doped fiber laser or a Raman-shifted Yb-doped fiber laser or a Raman-shifted Nd-doped fiber laser at a wavelength in the range 1.45 microns to 1.54 microns. The fiber laser further pumps the Er-doped laser to produce high peak power at an eyesafe wavelength of 1.6 microns.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reading the following more particular description of the invention, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the invention;
FIG. 2 shows the impact of beam quality of the pump source for the 1.6-micron Er-doped laser;
FIG. 3 shows the absorption spectrum for Er:YAG material;
FIG. 4 shows the Er:YAG absorption spectrum with an expanded wavelength scale;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a one embodiment of the upper-state pumped 1.6-micron Er-doped laser;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a test configuration of the upper-state pumped Er:YAG laser;
FIG. 7 shows continuous wave performance of the upper-state pumped Er:YAG laser for a laser rod temperature of −40� C.;
FIG. 8 shows the output from the 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser in the Q-switched mode plotted as average power;
FIG. 9 shows the same data as shows in FIG. 8, but plotted terms of pulse energy.
The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims.
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing laser radiation with high peak power at an eyesafe wavelength from a diode-pumped solid-state laser. The Er:YAG laser is a well-known source of laser radiation operating at an eyesafe wavelength of 1.6 microns. This laser has been shown to operate with low output power in the continuous wave (cw) mode when pumped by a laser diode operating at a wavelength of 1.533 microns. This operating scheme can not be utilized, however, to efficiently produce laser output with the high peak power required for applications such as remote sensing. The present invention produces an eyesafe laser output with high peak power from the 1.6-micron Er-doped bulk crystal laser by pumping the Er-doped laser with a 1.533-micron guided-wave laser such as the Yb,Er-doped fiber laser or the Raman-shifted Yb-doped fiber laser or the Raman-shifted Nd-doped fiber laser. The fiber laser is pumped by a cw 0.9 to 1.0 micron wavelength laser diode. A block diagram of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a solid state diode laser 102 is used to pump a fiber laser 104, which is then used to pump an Er-doped laser 106. The Er-doped laser then produces the desired output emission 112.
This invention takes advantage of the high output power, excellent beam quality, and narrow linewidth output 110 of the diode-pumped fiber laser. These properties are required for obtaining high peak power output 112 from the Er-doped laser, and can not be achieved by direct pumping with the 1.533-micron output 108 from the laser diode 102.
Diode-pumped solid-state lasers operate most efficiently when in the end-pumped configuration. In this configuration the propagation direction of the laser diode pump radiation into the laser medium is coincident with the propagation direction of the laser radiation within the laser medium. In the conventional geometry the laser medium is a cylindrical rod with an axis parallel to the propagation direction of the laser radiation. In the end-pumped geometry the pump laser radiation has a strong degree of overlap with the output laser radiation, thereby providing the most efficient conversion of the pump radiation to output radiation.
A fundamental requirement for the end-pumping configuration is that the pump source must have sufficiently high brightness to achieve the laser threshold condition. Pump brightness is inversely proportional to the beam quality parameter M2, given by
where w0 is the pump spot radius at focus, θ is the half-angle far-field divergence of the beam, and λ is the pump wavelength. The brightness is therefore a measure of the depth of focus that can be achieved for a given pump spot size. A diffraction-limited beam has the highest possible brightness, with an M2 value of unity. That is, a beam with an M2 value of 100 has a brightness 100 times lower than a diffraction-limited beam.
The output radiation from high-power laser diodes is incoherent over the emission aperture, resulting in M2 values for these devices significantly higher than unity. For example, a typical high-power (15 W) fiber-coupled laser diode device has a wavelength of 0.80 microns, a fiber bundle diameter of 0.80 mm, and a half-angle divergence of 0.12 radians. This device has a beam quality of M2=190. This property of high-power laser diode devices makes them unsuitable for pumping the Er:YAG laser, which simultaneously requires a small pump spot size and a large depth of focus.
FIG. 2 illustrates the impact of the beam quality of the pump source for the 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser. Referring to FIG. 2, the y-axis 202 illustrates the pump spot size over a range of 0 to 1500 microns while the x-axis 204 illustrates the position of the beam in the laser rod over a span of 2 cm. As will be described below, a moderate-power Er:YAG laser requires a pump spot size of 300 microns and a depth of focus of 2 cm. Spot size as a function of position in the laser rod is shown in FIG. 2 with the beam focused at the center of the rod. The solid curve 206 shows the spot size for a diffraction-limited beam (M2=1). This curve represents pumping with a diffraction-limited fiber laser pump. The pump spot is essentially perfectly collimated over the required 2-cm length of the laser rod, thereby yielding nearly perfect overlap of the pump and laser modes. The dashed curve 208 shows the spot size for a typical laser diode pump beam, with M2=190. For the laser diode the pump spot varies significantly over the required 2-cm laser rod length, resulting in a very poor overlap of the pump and laser modes. As a result the Er:YAG laser can not reach threshold when pumped by a high-power laser diode, owing to the significantly lower brightness of high-power laser diode devices in comparison with a diffraction-limited laser such as a fiber laser.
While FIG. 2 clearly shows that the low beam quality (high M2) of a laser diode pump is not suitable for pumping the Er:YAG laser, a diffraction-limited (M2=1) pump beam is not required. An M2 value of 10, for example, will have sufficiently high brightness for pumping the Er:YAG laser. As a result the performance requirements on the fiber laser pump can be relaxed, thereby enabling manufacturing of the fiber laser at lower cost.
A fundamental requirement for efficient conversion of the pump radiation into laser output is that a significant fraction of the pump radiation be absorbed by the solid-state laser medium. In the case of the end-pumped geometry, the fraction of pump light ηa absorbed by the laser rod is given by
where α is the absorption coefficient of the laser medium, and L is the length of the laser rod.
The absorption coefficient is given by
where N is the number density of the active ion doped into the laser crystal, and σ is the adsorption cross-section of the laser transition. The absorption cross-section is a material property of the laser medium, fixed for a given host crystal, dopant ion type, and laser wavelength. Therefore, for a given laser transition, the absorption coefficient α can be varied only by changing the number density N. As a result, for a fixed N, ηa can be varied only by changing the laser rod length L.
It is to be understood that for optimum performance of the 1.6-micron Er-doped bulk crystal laser, the Er ion concentration should not substantially exceed a value of 2% for efficient operation of the 1.6-micron ErYAG laser. For higher dopant concentrations, upconversion loss from the upper laser state reduces the effective energy storage time and, therefore, the laser efficiency. The storage lifetime reduction is detrimental to high-energy (and thereby high peak-power) Q-switched operation, because the Q-switched pulse energy E is related to the effective storage lifetime τ by
where P is the laser average output power.
Given this limit on the value of N, Equations (1) and (2) determine the minimum length of the laser rod L for a given value of ηa. The absorption spectrum for Er:YAG is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, the absorption cross-section σ is plotted on the y-axis 302 versus wavelength on the x-axis 304. The absorption peak 306 at wavelength 1.533 microns is the most suitable for pumping. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that if practical pump sources in the range 1.45 microns to 1.54 microns become available they would be suitable for pumping the Er:YAG laser in the manner described herein.
The peak absorption cross-section at wavelength 1.533 microns is σ=10.5�10 −21 cm2. For a 1% concentration of Er ions in YAG, the number density N=1.39�1020 cm−3. Therefore the absorption coefficient at wavelength 1.533 microns in 1% Er:YAG is α=1.46 cm−1. Using Equation (1), for 95% absorption of the pump radiation (ηa=95%), a laser rod length of at least 2.0 cm is required.
FIG. 4 shows the Er:YAG absorption spectrum of FIG. 3 using an expanded wavelength scale on the x-axis 404. This Figure illustrates an additional advantage of the fiber laser pump over the laser diode pump. The high-power Yb,Er-doped fiber laser has a linewidth of 0.0002 microns, while a typical high-power laser diode has a linewidth of 0.003 microns. As box 406 in FIG. 4 shows, the strength of the Er:YAG absorption peak at the 1.533 micron wavelength varies considerably over a 0.003-micron range. This effectively reduces the absorption coefficient for laser diode pumping, thereby requiring the use of a longer laser rod for efficient pump absorption. This imposes an additional brightness requirement on the pump beam for laser diode pumping.
The laser threshold power Pth, for a quasi-three-level laser is given by
where hvp is the pump photon energy, WL is the laser spot size, wP is the pump spot size, τ is the laser upper-state lifetime, T is the laser output coupling, σe is the laser transition stimulated emission cross-section, and fL and fU are the Boltzmann population fractions of the lower and upper laser levels respectively.
For the 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser, the upper-state lifetime is 8 ms, the Boltzmann ratio fL/fU ratio fL/fU is 0.103 at a temperature of 300 K, and the emission cross-section is 5.1�10−21 cm2. For a laser rod length of 2.0 cm, an Er concentration of 1.0%, an output coupling of 20%, and pump and laser spot sizes of 300 microns, the Er:YAG laser threshold is 2.4 W. This is an acceptably small threshold for a moderately high-power laser pumped by a 15-W fiber laser. In particular, the use of a larger pump spot size, for the purpose of relaxing the pump depth of focus requirement, will result in an unacceptably high laser threshold. In particular, the required threshold would be tens of watts for currently available laser diode pumps rather than a few watts for the fiber laser pump.
A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the upper-state pumped 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser is shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, the pump emission 504 from the 1.533-micron Yb,Er-doped fiber laser 502 is coupled into the Er:YAG laser rod 508 through a dichroic mirror 506 with a surface 516 that has high reflection at 1.6 micron and high transmission at 1.533 micron.
The Yb,Er-doped fiber laser 502 is tuned to the 1.533-micron absorption peak by an intracavity Bragg grating (not shown in FIG. 5). In this configuration the fiber laser emission 504 linewidth is typically less than 0.0002 micron. The center wavelength of the fiber laser output 504 can be specified to within 0.0001 micron, and is insensitive to temperature variations. The 1.533-micron wavelength coincides with one of the channels (channel #55) specified for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Therefore fiber Bragg gratings are readily available for this optimum pump wavelength. The Q-switch 510 can be used to produce high peak power output, and can be of any type, including but not restricted to acousto-optic, electro-optic, or passive (saturable absorber).
A schematic diagram of a system used to test the upper-state pumped Er:YAG laser is shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, the Er:YAG laser resonator is of the simple hemispheric type, defined by the highly reflecting plano end surface 616 of the laser rod 612, the output coupler 614 with a 10-cm radius of curvature, and the plano fold mirror 610.
The fold mirror 610 has a polarized dichroic coating on surface 620, which couples the pump light into the Er:YAG resonator. The coating on surface 620 is highly reflecting for s polarization at the 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser wavelength, and highly transmitting for p polarization at the 1.533-micron pump wavelength.
The pair of pump lenses 606 and 608 shown in FIG. 6 are used to magnify the fiber laser emission 604 spot to a size appropriate for efficient pumping of the Er:YAG laser. The fiber laser beam 604 waist can be determined by measuring the divergence of the fiber laser beam. The divergence in the example of FIG. 6, measured directly from the fiber 602 with no coupling optics, was 0.098 radians (5.6 degrees), corresponding to a beam waist of 5.0 micron. The collimating lens 606 has a focal length of 1.8 cm, and the focusing lens 608 has a focal length of 20.0 cm, giving a nominal magnification of 11.1, and therefore a nominal pump beam waist of 56 microns in the Er:YAG laser rod. The longitudinal positions of the pump lenses are adjustable, allowing variation of the actual beam waist over the range 50 to 80 microns. For the laser tests of FIG. 6, a pump beam waist of 80 μm was utilized.
The plano back end surface 616 of the Er YAG laser rod is highly reflecting at both the 1.533-micron pump and the 1.6-micron laser wavelengths. The plano front end surface 618 of the laser rod is anti-reflecting at both wavelengths. The laser resonator mode has its waist at the back surface 616 of the rod. The overlap of the pump and laser modes is optimum when the pump mode is focused near the back surface 616. The pump spot size varies from 80 microns at the back end 616 of the rod to 110 microns at the front end 618 of the rod. The Er:YAG laser spot size was optimized by adjusting the longitudinal position of the output coupler 614. At the optimal position, the laser mode waist was 70 micron, as determined from a measurement of the divergence of the output beam. The laser spot size varies from 70 microns at the back end of the rod to 115 microns at the front end of the rod. Therefore the overlap of the pump and Er:YAG laser modes was near optimum.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications to the embodiment described above can be made. For example, the laser cavity can be linear rather than folded as shown in FIG. 6. The pump and resonator spot sizes can be scaled to a larger area in proportion to the power available from the pump laser. A range of Er dopant concentrations, with corresponding laser rod lengths determined by the equations shown above, can also be utilized. A variety of crystalline hosts in addition to YAG can also be utilized.
The cw performance of the upper-state pumped Er:YAG laser for a laser rod temperature of −40� C. is shown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7, the output power 702 is plotted as a function of pump power 704. The open circles, for example circles 706 and 708, are measured with a 5% output coupling, the filled circles, for example circles 710 and 712, are measured with an 8% output coupling. The line 714 is a linear least-squares fit to the filled circles, and the line 716 is a linear least-squares fit to the open circle measurements. The slope efficiencies, extracted from the least-squares fits, are 42.5% for an output coupling of 5%, and 47.1% for an output coupling of 8%.
The average output power 802 from the 1.6-micron Er:YAG laser in the Q-switched mode is shown in FIG. 8, as a function of the reciprocal of the laser pulse repetition frequency (PRF) 804. An acousto-optic (AO) Q-switch (not shown in FIG. 6, but inserted in the laser resonator as shown in FIG. 5) was used for this example. The output power in the cw mode is indicated by the data point 806 for I/PRF=zero, showing that the high-PRF efficiency is consistent with that for cw operation. The solid line 808 is an exponential least-squares fit to the data. The fit gives an effective energy storage lifetime of 3.3 ms.
For clarity, the same data from FIG. 8 are plotted in FIG. 9 in terms of pulse energy rather than average output power.
The effective energy storage lifetime is limited to 3.3 ms for these measurements owing to cooperative upconversion loss from the laser upper state. For these measurements the Er concentration is 0.5%. It is expected that energy storage for the fill intrinsic upper state lifetime (8 ms) will be possible for Er:YAG material with even lower Er concentrations. The pump brightness requirement is even more critical for lower dopant concentrations, because lower dopant concentration requires a longer laser rod, which requires a lower M2.
Beam quality measurements were made on the Er:YAG laser described above. The measured M2 value was 1.0�0.1; that is, no deviation from diffraction-limited performance was observed. This property of the Er:YAG laser is particularly important for remote sensing applications utilizing coherent detection.
Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and geometry and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. The disclosures and the description herein are intended to be illustrative 115 and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, defined in scope by the following claims.
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Arendelle's Royal Family has made the move from Norway to Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland. That's not all that moved, so did the extremely long wait times. On Easter Sunday, the first day the sisters were appearing in the Magic … Continue reading
Queen Elsa Let It Go inspired T-shirt is TeeFury Shirt of the Day
I really love today's TeeFury t-shirt featuring Queen Elsa from Disney's Frozen and the words "Let it Go." It reminds me of the "We Can Do It" Rosie the Riveter poster. The Shirt of the Day is just $11, but … Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Photography course dates
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- Lomo LC-Wide hands on review
- Portfolio
Recent Blog Posts
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Category Archives: Events
Snap Photo Festival Wales
In April 2015 I'll be teaching some workshops at the Snap Photo Festival in Wales along with 13 other photographers with a diverse range of styles and skills. There will be talks, workshops, camp fires and parties over the space … Continue reading
Brighton Photo Fringe business: MiniClick talk, Tim Andrews Over the Hill Exhibition and The Shot I Never Forgot
The Brighton Biannual and companion Photo Fringe festival are now in full swing. I've not got any stand alone shows in this years festival but I have images in two group shows and I am speaking at a MiniClick event. Combined the Biannual and Photo Fringe is a massive photography festival and would be well worth a trip to Brighton from London and further afield. If you are from London and this post does not tempt you down I recommend you go to 'Make Life Worth Living' and 'Open for Business' at the Media Space at the London Science Museum.
Posted in Brighton, Events, Exhibitions Tagged Brighton, exhibition, festival, fringe, photo fringe, talk Leave a comment
Speaking at the Birdie photography conference
On the Saturday 13th September I will speaking at the Birdie conference in London's East End. Birdie will be an intermit one day photography conference which is more about stories behind photos and photographers than than kit they use to produce their images. My talk is about how I turned … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Talks Tagged Bridie, conference, london Leave a comment
New photo book Published by MiniClick: I Dare the Wave, A Life to Save
MiniClick has started publishing small photo books focusing on one project. For those of you that don't know MiniClick has been organising free photography talks in Brighton and further afield since 2010. I have had the pleasure of speaking at MiniClick on several occasions. So it's with great pride that I can tell you that my work will be published along with 4 other photographers in the first set of photo books. They will launch on June the 25th at the Old Market in Hove.
Posted in Books, Events, projects, Published, Talks Tagged Brighton, Dave Sawyers, MiniClick Leave a comment
The Frank Hurley portrait I wished I'd taken.
At the last MiniClick along with nine other photographers I gave a five minute talk on a portrait I wished I'd taken. The format was that each speaker had five minutes and were only allowed to show the image they were talking about. For a little more context, I thought I would show some of the other images I referred to in my talk in this blog post. MiniClick has a blog post where you can see see the list of the photographers that were speaking with an example of there work plus the photo they were talking about here. After talking to some of the other speakers I found that I was in a minority in that no portrait had immediately sprung to mind for me like it had for them. After some thought I decided to talk about Frank Hurley's 1915 portrait of John Vincent, The Bosun of the ship the Endurance.
The portrait theme was due to MiniClick launching their second publication which theme is portraiture. You grab a copy here but hurry it's a limited edition of 200!
John Vincen Bosun Of The Endurance by Frank Hurley 1915
Paris Samsung NX speed event
A few weeks ago I was in Paris for the Samsung NX speed event. I was there following some Facebook voting after a similar event I attended in the UK. I'd just like to say thanks for all the people that voted for me, without your votes I would not have been there! It was a fun filled three days where we got see Usain Bolt sprint and DJ, check out racing at Le Mans and see the sights of Paris (check out the photos below). As well as all the Parisian fun we also got the chance to see some of Samsung's new camera products which you can read about here. All the photos below were taken on a Samsung NX300 (read my NX300 review).
Posted in Events Tagged Paris, Samsung 3 Comments
Samsung Championship of speed
I recently took part in the Samsung championship of speed. The event was geared towards showing all the speedy attributes of the Samsung NX300 camera. Samsung invited 30 Photo / Fashion / Tech bloggers from all over Europe to the UK … Continue reading
Posted in Events Tagged london, Samsung Leave a comment
Talk at PhotoForum in London on Thursday (14th March)
On Thursday 14th of March I'm giving a talk about my work at PhotoForum in London. PhotoForum is a free monthly photography talk with each of the events featuring two speakers. Speaking on the same night as myself will be photo journalist Mimi Mollica. I have spoken about my work in various places like: Book shops in San francisco, Google's headquarters in California, galleries in Germany, Wales & Leeds, BLAB in Manchester, various Universities and of course the mighty MiniCLick! Until now I have not spoken in London, so it feels like quite a special event for me.
Speaking at BLAB Manchester – Photo by Matth Booth
Posted in Events, Talks Tagged london, PhotoForum, talk 3 Comments


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I just started a 1 gallon batch of Welch's grape juice wine with Red Star Pasteur Red yeast. Any one ever use this yeast cake for Skeeter Pee?
Well I finally succeeded in doing something I tried to do months ago - carbonate my skeeter pee.
I don't remember exact dates, but while it was cold I made a batch of skeeter pee. I let it ferment and sit in secondary for months until it was warm out. I bottled without having ever added sulfites in hopes it would carb. No luck. So I've put my last case under the basement stairs around 58deg, just to get it out of the way. Well the last 3 bottles I've opened are a little carbed. This one I opened tonight was carbed about like a normal beer with maybe 2-2.2 vols.
What's scary is now I have to keep these cold probably 9-10 mo after I pitched the yeast. Pretty unexpected after all this time.
My piss is ready to go sans sweetening and stabilizing, I tasted it a lil' and yes it def needs the sweetening! Also, then lemon flavor just seems a little bland I guess, but may be different with the sweets. I am thinking about leaving it in the carboy till spring and then make sun tea with it, then sweeten and stabilize accordingly. Any thoughts ideas or predictions?


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How you did this?
My first tracks was ambient tracks. A little later I understood that you will newer get decent money with such music. Since i write corporate
Congrats, Max! Keep on going!
Welcome friends! And good luck!
Antarctic is realy good in what he do. Amazing tracks and wise promotion. Many sales to you, mate!
Hi Macoedm. I've notice that my the most popular tunes was made fast enought (4-5 hours). We have to catch a "moment of inspiration".
Who's next? Soundinside? Soundbehind? Nice track.
Don't miss this GREAT combination of ATIKO theme and FHR music: http://videohive.net/item/slideshow-photo/3195540 http://audiojungle.net/item/getaway/240012
Just bought. Great deal!
Hi guys. Could you please recomend VSTi Drums with fat sound like here: https://soundcloud.com/twisterium/preview Thanks!


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Quiz: Remember the definition of mal de mer?
1570s, "to look at furtively," from a Scandinavian source, cf. Old Norse glotta "to grin, smile scornfully, show the teeth," Swedish dialectal glotta "to peep;" or from Middle High German glotzen "to stare, gape." Sense of "to look at with malicious satisfaction" first recorded 1748. Related: Gloated; gloating. As a noun, from 1640s with sense of "side-glance;" 1899 as "act of gloating."


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Bruce Springsteen, Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit , 4/12
Itinerant Wanderer and paulgrobman added this photo to their favorites.
Hi! I hope you don't mind if I use this picture for an article in the site: liveperformances.com. We'll be sure to give you proper attribution and we'll link your photostream to the site. Thank you very much!


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Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Enters Alpha
After saying farewell to the functionally replete Ubuntu 9.10, developers are working on the next version, 10.04, which should be particularly stable. The first alpha of its LTS version has now arrived.
Steve Langasek officially announced the Lucid Lynx Alpha 1 on the Ubuntu Announce mailing list. It's quite definitely an unstable test version that should never be used in production and best be installed on a virtual machine if development work is undertaken.
The focus of development is stability. Ubuntu is intended as a long-term release that needs more extended care than the other releases, three years desktop and five years server, and should have a large presence on servers. The idea is to iron out the Karmic Koala bugs and stabilize any newly introduced features. A few changes do exist, such as kernel mode setting for ATI cards and the Plymouth bootmanager.
The alpha already presents a few previews of coming attractions. On board are Kernel version 2.6.32-7.10, X.org 7.5 and GNOME 2.29. HAL has been fully removed. Even a new KDE SC 4.4 beta 1 has found its way into Lucid Alpha 1. Digikam 2 in version 1.0.0 RC1 is included and Webkitde 0.1, along with a new version of Flash Player.
To test the new alpha, either use the existing Karmic installation (see below) or download the ISO for:
- Desktop and Server
- UEC und Amazon EC2
- ARM architectures
- Kubuntu desktop und Netbook Remix
- Xubuntu 10.04
Users of NVIDIA cards should use the vesa driver, because nv can lead to crashes, as does a manual partitioning with the graphics installer. To upgrade from Karmic to Lucid alpha, use the command update-manager -d.
Issue 174/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Microsoft Frees Code for .NET Build Engine
MSBuild is now just another GitHub project as Redmond continues its path to the light.
Researchers Demonstrate Hack by Heat
Malware could pass data and commands between disconnected computers without leaving a trace on the network.
Kernel Developers Adopt Code of Conflict
New rules emphasize collegiality in coding.
Ubuntu Switches to systemd
Upstart lands in the dust bin as a new era begins for Linux.
Old Vulnerabilities Are Kept Alive Through Bad Configuration
HP's annual Cyber Risk report offers a bleak look at the state of IT.
Linus Torvalds Announces Linux 4.0
But what do the big numbers really mean?
Microsoft Frees CoreCLR
.NET Core execution engine is the basis for cross-platform .NET implementations.
New Trojan Attacks Linux Servers
The Xnote trojan hides itself on the target system and will launch a variety of attacks on command.
Cisco Releases Annual Security Report
Spammers go low-volume, and 90% of IE browsers are unpatched.
Zero Day Exploits Target Flash
Adobe scrambles to release patches for vulnerable Flash Player.


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Queen Victoria in Sydney Harbour taken during Sydney Redbubble's Saturday 23/02/2008 night's shoot .
Wonderful shot great comp.
So much going on Gino….love the composition..very spectacular image
Superb capture, great colours, light and clarity!! Great work!!
Lovely shot Gino, you do Sydney justice :)
Fantastic shot Gino!
u captured so much more than l did, which rooftop were u on,its great
Nice job Gino!
great shot, I don't know what to admire first .. ??!! realy good. I like it.
Great shot, I really love the composition of this one.
Thank you all for your comments. I have responded to Rosina Lamberti's question by Bubble mail.


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|Reviews for Most Precious
| Guest chapter 2 . 10/21/2014
Gah! Where is the more, please?
Loving how this is going, I hope you do return to it soon :)
| Guest chapter 2 . 10/20/2014
i sincerely hope that you're feeling well and that things have gotten better for you. i really want you to finish this because i am still trying to wrap my head around how kenshin as a bird/lion mythical creature is going to get together with kaoru... and what will happen when people notice that the statue's gone (assuming he can change form) or if the 'statue' comes to life (like some godzilla movie). xD
| TOSoldtimer chapter 2 . 9/12/2014
This story is marvelous! Such a brilliant merger of RK and mythology. Battle Scythe
Battousai. Kenshin is a gryphon. That's a new one. And now he's waking up. How does he know about the monkfish? Is he somehow watching? Is he going to try to claim Kaoru? It's only been a year. Please, please, PLEASE continue this very creative tale!
| FaerynShade chapter 2 . 6/23/2014
This is an awesome story. I'm being kept on my toes trying to guess what kenshin really is... Jiggling on my toes waiting for more update -please! *grins-
| Morgain13 chapter 2 . 4/4/2014
I found "Most Precious" because I am a Mabinogi scholar, and it contains a reference to the Mabinogi heroine Rhiannon, my top interest - I am doing a PhD on her.
I really enjoyed the story so far. There's clearly some good research gone into the Welsh background, the lively relationships, and evocative landscapes are skilfully done.
As a scholar I would respectfully comment that in fact educated mediaeval people in Wales were familiar with Greek myth, including the Gryphon characteristics. The Roman (partial) conquest of Wales and their stay here, meant that Greek and Roman myths became part of Welsh culture. Many Welsh words are borrowed or derived from Latin. So this part of building the mystery doesn't work so well.
There is a Gryphon outdoor wall sculpture in Newport Gwent Wales where I live. It's very large maybe 15ft across and a good standard of art. It's near our ruined castle remains at the centre of the city. However I don't know how old the tradition is locally; so far my online researches are not productive. The only connection historically I can find is with the local noble family Morgan. Their local manor house has a stone gryphon, quite worn; it looks st least Victorian but may be older as this family goes back to pre Tudor period.
Newport is a long way from the site of this story anyway. Snowdonia is NW and we are SE, two very different Welsh cultures. The story here is in the wild hill country, perfect for a remote village with odd traditions. The Newport (Cas Newydd) gryphon is in the heart of a small city, and SE Wales is fairly urban, with a strong mix of English and Welsh culture being close to the border.
The gryphon or griffin can look very like a dragon, and of course the Ddraig is the national symbol of Wales. (See here from wikipedia
wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/Bevan_ /180px-Bevan_
We also have the male name Gruffydd, which looks similar but isn't really it has a different word root.
I would be very interested to see how this story develops. I know nothing of the Japanese story elements. Also the hostility of the gruyphon to horses and Rhiannon is not historical, but a very interesting creative addition. I do hope the author returns to give us more chapters.
| deliriou599 chapter 2 . 3/22/2014
WOW! This is incredibly well written! You had me gripped from the beginning! It is so unlike other KK fics I have read and everything just flows so naturally. I do you hope you update soon! This is turning out to be one of my favorites!
| bonghi chapter 2 . 2/24/2014
This story is something else. So refreshing and extremely interesting. I hope for an update as soon as it is possible. Please.
| bonghi chapter 1 . 2/24/2014
So good. So interesting. Absolutely unique. Well written. I love it.
| hootowl chapter 2 . 2/16/2014
so intriguing! more! please?
| UrmixMoonstone chapter 2 . 12/28/2013
Loved it. Please update soon. :3
| Bellaria chapter 2 . 12/27/2013
Well, wow. I like the detail and the intricacies and I hope you eventually update! Great job, I'll be watching!
Bella x
| Mama Kat chapter 2 . 11/5/2013
Hey there Tae, are you planning on working on this, or is it complete? It is charming and I would love to see the story further explored...Please?
sutlesarcasm on MM
Mama Kat on FF
| kawaii sakura-chan chapter 2 . 11/5/2013
Wow! I love all the details in your writing and the "historical background " of it. You really set the atmosphere. I can't wait to see what happens next! :)
| Fenris Jin chapter 2 . 9/30/2013
Reading your story makes me want to up and leave in search for a quaint little town in the middle of somewhere and live a quiet unobtrusive life.. Pact seems like a nice place to live in. XD
First meeting went well enough, if you could call it that.. Minus Misao's teasing of course.. lol, I'm not sure if Kaoru would have appreciated Kenshin's smugness after her star-struck reaction to him.
I can't wait for more of this! :)
| Fenris Jin chapter 1 . 9/30/2013
Oh Tae! You're still one of the best! Folklores! And so many of them touched! I'm dancing with glee! XD
Battle Scythe huh? I guess 'Battousai' would have left those Welsh tongue tied. :P
Anyway, here I thought that Belyn's mark was rare..Yet we have two cousins, each sporting one!


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Some Advertising
People say teenagers aren't responsible enough to buy Plan-B over the counter. Yeah, they should probably play it safe and just have kids.
Jan 15, 2014 @ 12:57pm
So according to American Apparel, women's pubic hair has only two speeds: newborn baby or Gabe Kaplan.
My favorite holiday is the Apocalypse.
Everyone at Trader Joe's would like you to check out their podcast.


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I am solving a weird issue with ListFragments. I have a simple FragmentActivity with one FrameLayout witch is a container for my ListFragment. I use my custom adapter for the data. Everything is diplaying fine until I rotate the device to change the orientation. After that the listview is displyed twice - one list is overlaping the second. When I scroll the list, only one of the lists is moving and it creates artefacts as shown at the picture.
I initilize the adapter in onCreateActivity and I dont do anything in onDestroy method. Is there anything I should do in onDestroy method to clear the list. Please did you ever met this issue ? I really dont know what to do with it.
Thank you!


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Buy properties in Northaw Place, Coopers Lane, Northaw, Potters Bar EN6
Northaw Place, Northaw, Hertfordshire EN6Detached house for sale - 4 bedrooms
Approached through a grand electronically controlled gated entrance, The Lodge stands to the east of Northaw Place, enjoying fine views to the west across the grounds of this historic and exclusive estate. The Lodge is a unique detached house with its ... More details
Note: Distances are straight line measurements
- Potters Bar (1.4 miles)
- Brookmans Park (2.0 miles)
Marketed by Statons - Brookmans Park, AL9. Call 01707 524014


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$34.00 $22.00
Style #210602
Is it an order? Is it a declaration? Is it a warning? Nah, it's just your favorite thing to do: RUN. Get the indulgent feel of lush cotton with the functionality of TransDRY technology in our new line of graphic tees. Engineered to dry 50% faster than standard cotton, these comfy tops are made for the everyday or race day. Our Run Happy tees come in rich colors and fun prints like this "RUN" print.
Product Actions
- Climate: 65F and above
- Fit: Relaxed
- Fabric: 100% cotton with TransDRY®


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Islamabad: 24 Nov: Federal Public Service Commission has nominated the following candidates for appointment against the posts of Lecturers (Female) (BS-17), Islamabad Model Colleges for Girls, Federal Directorate of Education, M/o of Education (Devolved) Capital Administration and Development Division.
S.No. Roll No. Name of Candidate Domicile / Subject
01 25/K Shehnaz Begum Sindh (R)/Geography
More on www.fpsc.gov.pk


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Nov 19, 2012 - While Facebook is pushing its own newly-launched ecommerce effort, Facebook Gifts, retailers connected to Facebook are also seeking a piece of the holiday shopping action ahead of Black Friday. Comments
Mar 30-Apr 1, 2015
June 23-25, 2015
July 9, 2015
August 10-12, 2015
September 8-10, 2015
Hong Kong, May 5-6, 2015
A Buyer's Guide to Affiliate Management Software
Manage your performance marketing with the right solution. Choose a platform that will mutually empower advertisers and media partners!
Google My Business Listings Demystified
To help brands control how they appear online, Google has developed a new offering: Google My Business Locations. This whitepaper helps marketers understand how to use this powerful new tool.
May 6, 2015
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT


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PHILLIP Hughes' tragic death rocked Australian cricket to core, but the popular batsman would have been proud of his former teammates for their courageous summer.
AUSTRALIANS may be celebrating another Cricket World Cup triumph this morning, but the sentiment around the globe is one of disappointment.
ONE of the Hunter Valley's leading thoroughbred studs is expected to complete the purchase of unbeaten Golden Slipper winner Vancouver this week in a deal which values the colt at more than $40 million.
AMID Michael Clarke's fairytale it was easy to forget that it was another odds-defying fighter who will go down in the record books as man-of-the-match.
JAMES Faulkner was man of the match while some big name Kiwis went missing in a one-sided World Cup final. See how every player rated.
Aug 18, 2013
Event: AFL Round 21
Teams: Melbourne v Fremantle
Date: Sunday August 18, 2013
Start time: 1.10pm
Gate opening:
Public/AFL members: 11.00am
MCC members: 11.00am
Car park opening:
Due to the poor condition of Yarra Park and expected rainfall this week the Yarra Park car park will be closed for this event.
The following groups will still be able to park in the limited spaces available via Gate 3 on Sunday August 18:
• Disabled
• Pass holders (Corporate/Clubs)
• Police
• St. John
• Accredited Media
• MCC Event/Permanent Staff
Patrons are encouraged to make alternative parking arrangements or catch public transport to the ground.
Expected attendance: 17,000
Expected general admission seating:
Ponsford Stand
Olympic Stand
M53 - M55 (Rows A-Z)
Great Southern Stand
Reserved seats are available at Ticketek
Cheersquad allocation:
Melbourne - Bay M2 (Rows A-K) and Bay M3 (Rows A-K)
Fremantle - Bay M33 (Rows A-S)
View MCG conditions of entry
Follow the MCG on Facebook and Twitter!
Special offer - Kids eat free!
All juniors (14 and under) that attend the Melbourne v Fremantle game at the MCG on Sunday August 18 have the opportunity to receive a free lunch offer!
Thanks to the MCG, Coca-Cola and DON KRC, kids may receive a free drink, meal and snack.
Kids may choose one option from each of the following categories:
- Mt Franklin Water (600ml)
- Goulburn Valley Juice (350ml)
- Chicken sandwich
- Four'N Twenty meat pie
- Four'N Twenty sausage roll
- Don Hot dog
Freddo Frog
Simply collect a voucher from an MCG volunteer upon ground entry and present it at any FOOD STORE outlet located inside the MCG before three-quarter time (see locations below).
Olympic Stand – Level 1, (M56)
Members Reserve – Level 1, (M41)
Members Reserve – Level 4, (Q45)
Ponsford Stand – Level 1, (M31)
AFL Reserve - Level 1, (M20)
Southern Stand – Level 1, (M6)
Terms and Conditions
- Offer is valid for Melbourne v Fremantle game - Sunday August 18, 2013.
- Available only to junior attendees (aged 14 and under), limit one voucher per junior.
- Valid at MCG FOOD STORE outlets only.
- Junior must be present at the FOOD STORE outlet to redeem the offer.
- Items included in the above offer cannot be substituted for other similar menu items.
- Offer is only available up until the end of the three-quarter time break.


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Tag: Books - Page 2
Book review: "How to Be Vegan" by Elizabeth Castoria
This beginners' guide to cutting animal products out of your life is full of charts, illustrations, graphs and recipes.
Artist's insane swarm of animal cutouts spring from 1,200 recycled books
Over a thousand recycled textbooks come to life with this remarkable installation.
"Toxin Toxout" is a must-read for how to detoxify our bodies and our lives (book review)
This book is a helpful road map for the rather confusing world of detox methods out there and clarifies what works and what doesn't.
"Why Our Children Need Real Food, Not Food Products" (book review)
Jeannie Marshall explores the negative impact of processed food on children the world over.
Creative loom-inspired bookcase suspends books in mid-air
This is an unassumingly elegant solution to an age-old problem: how to get a mess of books to look more organized, but not boring.
15th century Dutch church converted into 21st century bookstore
A great example of adaptive reuse, creating a shrine to the book.
Summer reading list! Book recommendations from TreeHugger
It's summer, and that means it is time for a summer book recommendation list tailored to TreeHuggers.
The Ethiopian Wolf: Hope at the Edge of Extinction
The Ethiopian wolf is seriously endangered, with only 450 individuals left on Earth. However, hope remains among conservationists who are doing heroic work to preserve this fascinating species for future generations.
Good looking shelves and frames for all your knick knacks
These playful shelves would be good design with or without the chotchkies.
Fire Island Modernist: seductive and sustainable architecture (VIDEO)
A new book by Christopher Rawlins explores the life and work of Horace Gifford.
Food revolution reading list from Michael Pollan and Ruth Reichl
Recommended reading from two of America's biggest food writers.
More free books! Little Free Library pops up in New York City
Looking like a submarine or one of those famed rooftop water tanks, a small, communal repository of books is making its debut in New York City.
Could a subway swipe & read scheme for smartphones boost visits to public libraries?
Subway riders could take advantage of an "underground library" that lets smartphone owners swipe a poster to get a free digital reading sample from the New York Public Library.
Expanding (or shrinking) bookcase gets updated
Reinier de Jong's REK comes back for more in a new and improved version
15 great books for making your own gadgets
Here are great titles on everything from beginner Raspberry Pi projects to DIY home automation.
Colorado library combines book rental and seed rental
Basalt Regional Library in Colorado is combining the best of both a traditional public library and the ever more popular seed library.
New Society Publishers Lives Another Day
It's tough out there in the book biz, but one of our favourite green publishers gets saved by its founders.
What's the Best Way to Read a Book?
A recent experience doing a book review on an iPad raises some questions.


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Explore related products
action adventure apocalypse drama fps games horror horror fiction horror video games playstatio n 3 ps3 psychologi cal thriller resident evil scary sci-fi science fiction shooter silent hill stephen king survival suspense thriller undead video games wii xbox 360 zombie zombie apocalypse zombie book zombies
What's a tag?
Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find products on the Amazon site as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify products for later recall.


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License Plate
Police Arrest 16-Year-Old Driver Accused Of Running Over San Leandro Police Officer With Stolen Car
Authorities have arrested a 16-year-old on suspicion of running over a San Leandro police officer and nearly hitting another officer Thursday morning, prompting the officers to open fire. A 19-year-old man was also arrested in the case.
Provocative License Plate Spotted In Danville Could Make You Blush
After KPIX 5 first reported an obscene license plate that slipped through the DMV's censors, a viewer found another one that's blush-worthy.
Vulgar San Jose License Plate Overlooked By DMV's Rigid Research Process
A driver spotted recently in San Jose is going to have to get a new license plate after caught sporting one of the foulest, most vulgar phrases in the Vietnamese language.
11 Ways The Government Is Spying On You
You don't have to read too far into the dystopian works of George Orwell's 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World before drawing up some similarities between fiction and real-world governments.
Belvedere To Start Tracking Cars With License Plate Cameras
Cameras will soon be taking pictures of your license plates when you enter or leave Belvedere.
Despite Criticism, Los Altos Adopts Controversial License Plate Surveillance Policy
After a year on the beat, a license plate scanner used by Los Altos Police now has a new policy for how long that data can be stored.
California 9/11 Relatives To Get Second Shot At Scholarships Funded By Memorial License Plates
Relatives of Californians who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will get a second chance to apply for college scholarships under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown after investigations found that the state mishandled the program.
Fremont Votes For Surveillance Camera, License Plate Reader System
The Fremont City Council has voted unanimously to set up a system of surveillance cameras to watch who is going in and out of town.
California DMV To Produce Retro-Looking Black And Yellow License Plates
Drivers in the Golden State can take a trip down memory lane, no matter what vehicle they own. The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced this week they will issue some retro-looking license plates.
State Senate Approves Snoopy License Plate Bill
The state Senate has passed a bill allowing the DMV to issue a commemorative license plate featuring Snoopy, Charles Schulz's beloved `Peanuts' character.


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Alexander Abramov's comment, March 27, 2013 1:17 AM
Forgot?Want to try Swayy out without having to wait? Go to this secret URL and enter the promotion code thenextweb . The first 300 people to use the code will get access.
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BackHome » Luxury Hotels UK Search » England Luxury Hotels
Luxury, 4 Star and 5 Star Hotels in England
Luxury Hotels in England, including 4 Star and 5 Star Hotels, such as Ghyll Manor Hotel & Restaurant and Cannizaro House are listed below.
Mallory Court
Harbury Lane, Royal Leamington Spa
Mallory Court Hotel is privately owned by the Eden Hotel Collection, winners of the 'AA Small Hotel Group of the Year' 2014-2015. This breathtakingly beautiful Mallory Court hotel and award-winning restaurant is the perfect retreat from the stresses... more
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The Old Rectory Hotel
Martinhoe, Exmoor National Park, Barnstaple
Set amidst 3 acres of gardens surrounded by National Trust land, high up on the cliffs of Exmoor National Park, this charming Boutique Country House Retreat is a real gem. Originally a Georgian Rectory, the house has been beautifully and... more
Editors' Picks containing The Old Rectory Hotel
Brudenell Hotel
The Parade, Aldeburgh
The Brudenell Hotel sits in the unique, unspoilt fishing town of Aldeburgh in Suffolk and has the perfect location between the town and sea. Just a stones throw from the wonderful shingle beach. All bedrooms are individually styled, a combination of... more
Netherstowe House
Netherstowe Lane, Lichfield
Netherstowe House is the only establishment in Staffordshire to be listed by The Good Hotel Guide 2012. It has received awards in both 'Restaurant of the Year' and 'Outstanding Service' categories at Taste of Staffordshire's Good Food Awards.... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Netherstowe House
- Light Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Special Offer
- To view the full details of all (7) Special Offers & Deals for Netherstowe House, click here
The Barnstaple Hotel
Braunton Road, Barnstaple
On the edge of Barnstaple, this luxury hotel is conveniently situated for visiting the golden beaches of Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton, all of which are east of Barnstaple. And it is only a 15 minute walk into Barnstaple town centre, where you can... more
Hotel Felix- Cambridge
Whitehouse Lane, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge
Hotel Felix has brought 21st century style to the fore, offering contemporary design, luxurious accommodation and a refreshing new experience to staying in Cambridge. Set in tranquil grounds with mature trees, the addition of two new wings has... more
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- Book two nights at Hotel Felix and we'll treat you to a third night free!
- To view the full details of all (3) Special Offers & Deals for Hotel Felix- Cambridge, click here
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Bicester Hotel, Golf and Spa
Akeman Street, Chesterton, Bicester
Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa is surrounded by stunning Oxfordshire countryside with tranquil gardens and grounds. The 52 deluxe bedrooms are furnished to a high standard with a number of themed designs. Other great facilities include a high quality... more
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Stoke Place
Stoke Green, Stoke Poges
A modern country house through and through, lord it up at Stoke Place - a beautiful late 18th century pile in Buckinghamshire reborn with all five star hospitality trimmings. A sense of cool tranquillity pervades at this boutique-style hotel, where... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Stoke Place
- Luxury Break From £179
- To view the full details of all (2) Special Offers & Deals for Stoke Place, click here
The Fairlawns Hotel and Spa
Little Aston Road, Aldridge, Walsall, Birmingham
Fairlawns Hotel and Spa is situated in Walsall and offers an extensive accommodation service, with sixty rooms in total that come complete with Internet access and satellite television. This modern hotel is set in landscaped grounds and welcomes... more
Editors' Picks containing The Fairlawns Hotel and Spa
The Pinewood Hotel
Wexham Park Lane, George Green, Slough
Set in 5 acres of mature gardens and grounds, The Pinewood Hotel is convieniently located less than 10 miles from Heathrow and less than 10 mins from Windsor & 3 major motorways. An ideal location in leafy South Buckinghamshire for business or... more
Stratford Road, Dedham, Colchester
Milsoms hotel is set in a stunning 2 acre garden . There is an informal atmosphere, with fifteen en-suite bedrooms, and this is the perfect place to eat, drink and stay as well. The contemporary gastro bar and brasserie are at the heart of the... more
Mottram Hall
Wilmslow Road, Mottram St Andrew, Prestbury
Mottram Hall in the heart of the Cheshire countryside is, ostensibly, a golfers' paradise, with championship standard 18-hole, par 72 course, relaxed but luxurious clubhouse and fabulous post-game chilling out opportunities such as great dining and... more
Old England Hotel & Spa
23 Church Street, Windermere
Perched on the shores of England's largest lake, the Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa is a winner on scenery alone. Sit and sip a cuppa, munch on some cake and cast your eyes from the elegant balcony terrace across the mature lawns to Lake... more
The Swan at Streatley
High Street, Streatley-on-Thames
The Swan at Streatley hotel is the perfect location, in a natural valley alongside the river Thames, complimenting the high standards of food and service. The hotel has forty five bedrooms and many rooms with a riverside view. The hotel has an... more
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford
Such is the fame of Raymond Blanc's legendary Buckinghamshire restaurant that people tend to forget that Le Manoir is also a hotel in its own right. Sparing no expense, each room and suite is individually decorated, from heritage rooms with... more
Editors' Picks containing Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Hillthwaite House Hotel
Thornbarrow Road, Windermere
The family-owned Hillthwaite House Hotel, set in three acres of landscaped gardens between Windermere and Bowness, is one of area's highest hotels, overlooking England's largest lake and with magnificent panoramic views over to Langdale Pikes,... more
The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa
South Street, Midhurst
The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa was originally a coaching inn to the visiting aristocracy, dating back, in parts to 1430. Walking through the hotel is like a journey in time, with its 14th century lounge, warmed by huge fire places and Tudor bread... more
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The Gibbon Bridge Hotel
Green Lane, Chipping nr Preston, Forest of Bowland
The Gibbon Bridge Hotel is one of Lancashire´s finest, privately owned hotels with a special atmosphere. Once experienced you will want to return again and again. Situated in the beautiful Forest of Bowland, a designated ´Area of Outstanding Natural... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Gibbon Bridge Hotel
- Mid Week Tariff £95 per person Dinner Bed & Breakfast
- To view the full details of all (5) Special Offers & Deals for The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, click here
Basingstoke Country Hotel
Scures Hill, Nately Scures, Nr Hook, Basingstoke
The four-star Basingstoke Country Hotel is surrounded by mature woodland and provides a serene, relaxing setting for any holiday or special occasion. Just off the M3 yet surrounded by thatched cottage villages, it has 100 air-conditioned bedrooms,... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Basingstoke Country Hotel
- Enjoy up to 40% off Winter Breaks
- To view the full details of all (1) Special Offers & Deals for Basingstoke Country Hotel, click here
Hatton Court
Upton Hill, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester
Tucked away behind a bank of mature trees, Hatton Court sits on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment between the Cathedral City of Gloucester and the glorious village of Painswick. Hatton Court is a reassuring size; not large and impersonal, nor too... more
Editors' Picks containing Hatton Court
Corse Lawn House Hotel
Corse Lawn, Gloucester
Corse Lawn House Hotel has been owned and run by the Hine family of Cognac fame since 1978. Baba Hine is in charge and is on hand to welcome her guests, supported by her wonderful friendly team, who give a warm atmosphere to this elegant Queen Anne... more
Editors' Picks containing Corse Lawn House Hotel
Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa
Main Road, Worleston, Nantwich
19th Century Georgian Splendour - Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa is a magnificent country house hotel set in 38 acres of beautiful grounds and gardens near Nantwich, Cheshire. This Georgian mansion has retained much of the 'Old Hall' charm with cosy... more
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The Marylebone Hotel
47 Welbeck Street, London
For anyone who appreciates style, faultless service and understated luxury, The Marylebone Hotel is the perfect West End London hotel. In the heart of London's West End, crossing fashionable Bond Street and past the cafes and boutiques, you enter... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Marylebone Hotel
- Retail Therapy from £325
- To view the full details of all (3) Special Offers & Deals for The Marylebone Hotel, click here
Hotel du Vin - York
89 The Mount, York
In its quest for a quirky, interesting building in a prestigious area of York, Hotel du Vin alighted upon a former orphanage sitting proudly on The Mount near the historic heart of the city. The group then proceeded to create yet another one-off,... more
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1 person found this review helpful
The BREAST CANCER SOCIETY INC Reviews
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Not only do I volunteer here I am also a survivor ( 4times). When I first found this organization I was not really expecting much. I was impressed the first time I ever went. They took me thru the warehouse and gave me items I really needed. Not only did they do this they ask me if there was something I needed to put on a wish or needs list. I did not have a bed at the time. I was sleeping on the ground then was given a air mattress by a friend. I recieved a call one day and was told they had a bed for me. I could not believe it. They helped me so much thru my whole surgery. Told me what programs were out there. It was unbelievable!! The staff, everyone there is there for me and what ever I need physically and emotionally. I deserve me being and keeping strong. I owe them so much. Thank you to EVERYONE THERE !!!!!!
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What changes can be done to a place they give you things plus they care about you. We are a family !! They make you feel like a family. So changesi would say they are a prefect organization that does this !! ? No one!
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FABTV: Paula Abdul "Cold Hearted"
FABTV: Paula Abdul "Cold Hearted"
I know there are some other serious Paula Abdul fans beside me. Paula was actually one of my first idols, a bit later than Punky Brewster - you heard me right. Aside from Paula's antics today, she was wicked in her hey day. She could dance - shut up and dance! - she could sing, she was cute and she had style. Whether she was rockin' menswear or sultry dancewear, see video below, the girl was on top of her game. This video blew me away and tickled my dark side.
The old fashioned dance hall with scarce scaffolding provided the perfect playground for jazz dancing rebellion. And Captain Paula - in her groupie hat, black sheer top with black bra and skating skirt - led a scantily clad dance troupe in a raw, sensual yet poppy routine. Draw the curtains and get a glimpse of a tangled web of skin, fishnets and flexing muscles. This video is a testament of the power of Paula. Enjoy.
- Meet Cara's Insta-twin, Olivia Herdt — Lucky
- 19 ways to dress like a New York City gal — Who What Wear
- And Kanye West's latest fashion venture is . . . — Racked
- This video forces you to think about diversity in fashion — HuffPost Style
- Buy Stuart Weitzman heels, fight cancer. It's a win-win — The Cut
- Avoid all wardrobe mishaps with these essentials — InStyle
- A stylish belt to DIY — and it won't break the bank — Man Repeller
- Are live-stream cameras about to change Fashion Week? — Style.com
- The new ring we can't stop obsessing over — SheFinds


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Omg so during like past hour and a half i was like folding my clothes and putting them away and stuff (and i also sewed a button on so yay XD first real sewing ive ever done i think). Anyways, i was hungry so I ask my dad to go out and buy me some food to eat.
Couple of minutes later, he comes back with pad thai. If you don't know what that is, its noodles. Thai noodles. So they're spicy. I mean, they have bean sprouts, and peanuts, and shrimp, and eggs, and all that good stuff, but its spicy.
And then before I eat, i just take the chili in the corner and mix it in with the noodles and stuff, and same thing with the peanuts in the other corner. Yeah...huge mistake. I just ate like a couple of bites of food and then its killing me with its spicyness so I get water. Better than nothing. >.< And then like I run out of water so I'm like hmm... would soda work? o.o Huge mistake. again. I forgot about the fizz for some reason. I guess I'm a derpy sort of stupid. XD Lol. And then I'm like oh well food is food. -keeps eating-
And i paused in the middle of my eating to go write in my journal here and complain about my low tolerance of chili powder or spicy stuff. Ikr it's lame. XD Ok ima go back to eating to my food now. Hope I don't die. X.x
Some Notes and Scribbles~
Updated weekly whenever possible. Pretty much simple stuff like how im feeling or how my day went, or darker stuff like venting out my feelings and stuff i hide or rarely let anyone know about.


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Can someone please tell me what BB standard the Giant PowerCore bottom bracket is for a 2013 Anthem X 29er? There are so many standards out there (BB30, 86, etc) and can't really tell what this is?
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At church I work with the teenage girls (love it!) and this year the theme (churchwide-meaning all over the world) is "Embark in the Service of God." To kick off this theme, a few weeks ago we had a fun little meeting and talked a lot about things we … [Read more...]
Cookie Dough Egg Rolls
Cookie dough egg rolls-something you maybe haven't ever heard of or even thought of-have been a vital part of my life for nearly 10 years. Deep fried cookie dough in a warm, crispy shell. Perfection. Back when we lived in Madison, WI we made these … [Read more...]
Alphabet Bingo Game
The bingo games that I have done on my blog for holidays in the past are some of my very favorite projects that I have done. I was thinking about what others I could do since I have so much fun doing them and you all seem to enjoy them and realized … [Read more...]
25 Things to Sew for Kids
It's way too much fun to sew for little people isn't it? There are so many ideas of fun things to make for them and there are always little people around-whether it's your own kids, grandkids, baby showers or birthdays. I realized that my site has … [Read more...]
Bubble Gum Donuts {for the kids!}
Moms. Grandmas. This post is NOT for you! It's for the kids! I know that when you read that title, Bubble Gum Donuts, you cringed. A bubble gum doughnut recipe? Not the first dessert idea you want to try right? But think of the children! They will … [Read more...]
Heart Attack in a Box-Valentine's Idea
This is it-the final week before Valentine's Day! Are you ready or do you need an idea for someone you love? Spouse? Boyfriend? Kids? Here is a very quick and easy last minute Valentine's idea that you could put together and customize to whoever you … [Read more...]
Free Printable Valentine's Day Word Search & Tic Tac Toe
I have had so much fun with my various holiday Bingo games, like this Valentine's Bingo, that I thought maybe it would be fun to expand into other areas! So today I have put together a cute and fun Valentine's word search and a Valentine's Tic Tac … [Read more...]
3 Valentine's Ideas for Your Spouse
We have marched right into February (bye bye January!) and it's time to start thinking about all things love! (If you haven't already.) Today I have put together 3 totally silly, cheesy Valentine's gift ideas for your spouse (or boyfriend or fiancé … [Read more...]
How to Start a Blog {And Make Money Doing It!} Free eBook
Guys! This is a project that I have had in my mind for a long time and in the works for all of January. I have put hours and hours into this project and it is finally ready and I am so excited. I have friends and acquaintances ask me for blogging … [Read more...]
Cute Valentine's Gift Tags & Packaging Ideas
There's just something fun about putting together a treat and making it look cute and then taking it to a friend. It's the best right? Or am I alone in this? I thought it would be fun to put together some Valentine's gift tags and cute ways to … [Read more...]


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Craftsman String Trimmers
Thinking about buying a refurbished Craftsman 4 cycle string trimmer model 79193. It has a detachable, straight shaft. Is it worth $130?
Wolf: Yes this unit in the straight shaft model is well worth $130.00 in good running order. It comes with electric start option (plug in) but all the units I have checked over usually start with one or two pulls normally . Lots of power for a 29 cc engine , rather quiet also . Normally a $200.00 + Model .
Check, recheck, and check again.
If this 4 cycle is anything like the current yellow "pro" 4 cycle trimmer, stay away.
To keep it simple, i went through 4 in 9 months. They kept giving me a new one. With all the problems, sears was kind enough to just give me a refund.
Mine spit out oil or would burn oil (thus overheat).
At the service center do they have 8 refurbished for sale like mine does?
If u get it and it works out, i have a starter motor that might work with yours 4 sale.


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Reward offered in Ada house arson
ADA, Minn. – Police here are looking for information about who might have deliberately set a man's home on fire here in early September.
Ada Police Chief Jody Bueng said an investigation had determined that the Sept. 1 fire, which happened at about 11 p.m. at the home of Brock Robertson at 207 N. Jamison Drive, was intentionally set.
Police are offering a reward of up to $2,500 to anyone with knowledge about the fire that leads to an arrest.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can help you.


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Bmw 325is auto in silver 2001 tipronic gears cruise control electric windows
Bmw 325is auto in silver. Has 246000 miles. Two previous owners from new. Has 12 months MOT. Car has high mileage, and a few scrapes and dents as shown. For the age of Car a must see! Slight blow to the exhaust, no affect on the recent mot! Car avai
- 2001
- 247,000 miles
- Petrol
- 2,494 cc


text: http://ubuntuforums.org – I recently updated to 12.04 (from 10.04), and am having issues with transcoding some mpg files. Basically, I want to take a 1280x720, 60fps file and convert it to DVD-compatable format (so 720x480, 30 fps) I used to be able to do it with a command like ffmpeg -i in.mpg -cropleft 100 -cropright 100 -target ntsc-dvd -r 29.970 -s 720x480 -aspect 4:3 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 out.mpg but since ffmpeg has been updated, the -cropleft/-cropright no longer work. (And ffmpeg is deprecated) I attempted to switch over to avconv and use the new crop filters, but that isn't working avconv -vf " (Hardware)


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News & Articles
Crossing Boundaries in Ministry with the Poor
May 22, 2014 12:00 AM
Sixty-five United Methodists from 16 conferences in 12 states gathered on May 6-7, 2014 at the Church For All People on Colum... Read More
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26 people were at the chartering of the Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas over 30 years ago. ... Read More
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Retired for the second time, Lynn Parsons was able to attend the 2013 session of the North Texas Annual Conference. She was ... Read More
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May 21, 2014 12:00 AM
The Rev. Owen Ross lists himself as "pastor/missionary" at Christ's Foundry United Methodist Mission in Dallas. The church w... Read More
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April 03, 2014 12:00 AM
On September 15, 2013, we had a wedding right in the middle of our regular Sunday morning worship service at Sunnyside UMC i... Read More
Ministry with the Poor Roundtable Roundup
January 28, 2014 10:00 AM
For those of you who have been following the Ministry with the Poor Roundtables that were held in Dallas in November 2013 an... Read More
Roundtable delves into ministry with the poor
January 28, 2014 9:55 AM
Editor's note: The following was originally published in the December 2013 issue of The North Texas Conference Connection . ... Read More
Mobilizing in Ministry with the Poor
January 23, 2014 1:20 PM
Editor's note: The following was originally published on UMC Connections and has been reposted with permission. � The chur... Read More
- ministry with the poor
- social justice
- hunger
- race
- Methodism
- United Methodist Women
- power
- Rural areas
- General Conference
- Occupy Wall Street
- grassroots
- Inclusiveness
- Interfaith Worker Justice
- Prayer
- Florida
- safety net programs
- Disease Prevention
- Restorative Justice
- undocumented immigrants
- Recession
- Pennsylvania
- health disparities
- Community Garden
- respect
- Response Magazine


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boat lift
My question is about cable choice and conduit size, please help if able.
I need a circuit to protect two 3/4hp motors (240V/15amp about 150' run) Will use 10 guage cable.
I want to run another circuit to protect two GFI outlets and two lights. Will use 12 guage cable.
Should I use a direct burial wire within my conduit? What size conduit do I need to comfortably pull and contain both cables? This is in Florida where they are using NEC 2005 codes, how deep should my trench be for the conduit?
Any other thoughts on this typical boat dock/lift wiring?
Instead of running two cables from the house, why not run one bigger one and put a small subpanel at the dock? Then branch off for your motors, lighting, etc. It also gives you room for expansion should you find the need down the road.
If you're going to use conduit, why use cable too? Just use wire rated for wet locations (most wire today has multiple ratings so whatever your home center/electrical supply house will probably work).
Do NOT put direct burial cable (e.g., Type "UF") in conduit. (That's not optional--it's against code.) THWN individual wires are the way to go. (Look for "THHN/THWN" at a big box store.)
First, let me make sure I understand your requirement correctly. That'd be one 15-amp 240V circuit (not 120/240V!) for the two motors and one 15- or 20-amp 120V circuit for lights and outlets, right?
To start with, I see no reason to use #10AWG for the 240V circuit. At 150', if you use #12AWG copper instead, the voltage drop for a full 15-amp load is only about 3.7%, which should be quite acceptable. If anything, it's the 120V circuit that may need the larger wire guage if you plan to draw more than approximately 10 amps.
(Keep in mind that a 240V circuit is more efficient with respect to voltage drop over distance than a 120V circuit.)
So you'd probably be pulling 2 x #12 (one red, one black for the motors) and 2 x #12 (or #10) for the hot and neutral of the 120V circuit. Plus, you need one equipment ground wire (green or bare) sized according to the largest of the current-carrying conductor (i.e., #10 or #12).
That is: 5 #12s or 2 #12s and 3 #10s.
Assuming a fairly straight and uncomplicated 150' run, 1" PVC conduit oughta work out OK with some lube. 1 1/4 might be slightly easier and 3/4" is possible, but definitely a good bit harder to manage. (I wouldn't use 3/4" for this myself.)
Unless there are complications (a driveway or a goofy local code requirement, for example), the conduit needs to be buried a minimum of 18" deep.
This is a dock, not a building.
Also, UF is certainly "allowed" in conduit, it's just a really bad idea, for several reasons.
PVC conduit needs to be 18" in a residential setting.
UF cable needs to be 24" unless under a residential driveway which can then be 18".
Thank you all.
Based on the input I will put a 30amp two-pole gfi breaker in the main box and run 10ga wire to a subpanel at the dock. With the subpanel (back fed to a 30 amp breaker as a main breaker)and with a 15 amp two-pole breaker for the motor control panel and a 20 amp gfi outlet for convenience plugs and lighting.
Any last thouhts appreciated as well, I will dig this over the weekend. Thanks Again
I have a 4 motors boat lift with 2 controllers on the post of the dock. It is a sealed double latch weather tight control box with 2 up and down manual switches.
It is too far away from the boat and I would like to reposition the control box on the water side of pole so I can reach it from on the boat to lift up and down easily.
Is there a code that specifies an EXACT location for up and down manual lever control panel box?
It seems the neighbors all have installed where it is easiest for the electrician and not convient for the boater. no offense meant.
I have a 100' foot pier and boat lift and ran # 10 stranded with no problems. 220v for the lift and 110 for lights and outlet plug. The 110 for the lights was for a transformer for 12v lighting for 20 lights and 110v lights and plug for the lift.
Instead of going into the house, I put a water tight double switch box at the beginning of the pier.
Hope this helps
I have a Dayton 1 hp single phase motor turning a Dayton reduction gear box. It has ben use for over 20 years with no problems. Last week I was lowering my boat and when I turned off the switch the boat continued to lower at a quicker pace. I hit the lower switch and it slowed the boat down. It will hold in the up position but not in the lowering position.


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The outside patio at Chiquita's Mexican Restaurant.
Posted June 27, 2011
Well-manicured shrubbery outside a church in Alta Vista.
Mastros' treehouse restaurant inside the mall at Encore in Las Vegas.
Posted Oct. 4, 2010
Art Alive at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Posted May 2, 2010
Taken while flying over the western edge of Canada
Posted March 31, 2010
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Top Posts
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Baseball Notebook – March 30
Mar 30, 2015, 3:18 PM EDT
College of Charleston and Northeastern swept their CAA series last weekend, while UNCW and William & Mary took two-of-three to stay near the top of the standings.
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 26
Mar 26, 2015, 1:25 PM EDT
This week's CAA Minute wraps up today as Bobby B comes back to close out the weekly award winners in men's and women's tennis, track & field, and men's and women's golf. Check back here tomorrow for the return of the Weekend Preview.
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 25
Mar 25, 2015, 12:39 PM EDT
Tim McDonnell pulled the old switch with Bobby B to being you Wednesday's #CAAMinute, powered by Lumber Liquidators. McDonnell takes a look at highlights from the weekly honorees in baseball and softball. Enjoy.
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 24
Mar 24, 2015, 2:20 PM EDT
Bobby Broyles is back on Tuesday with the latest CAA Minute, powered by Lumber Liquidators. Check out highlights below of all the weekly award winners in both men's and women's lax.
Baseball Notebook – March 23
Mar 23, 2015, 2:29 PM EDT
College of Charleston, Elon and UNCW all got off to 3-0 starts in CAA play last weekend.
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 20
Mar 20, 2015, 1:02 PM EDT
Friday's CAA Minute, powered by Lumber Liquidators, caps off men's postseason #CAAHoops play, recaps other women's hoops play and then looks forward to the final league basketball team still playing, JMU, when the Dukes take the court for the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 19
Mar 19, 2015, 11:44 AM EDT
Bobby B takes a seat today for the #CAAMinute, while Tim McDonnell comes back to recap a busy night in #CAAHoops on Wednesday. Plenty of action on the men's side before today's NCAA tilt, while McDonnell also takes a look ahead to tonight's postseason women's hoops games. Enjoy.
Softball Notebook – March 17
Mar 19, 2015, 11:35 AM EDT
Weekly CAA Softball Honors/Report – March 17 This week's award winners started off with Drexel senior Leticia Matsuoka, who batted 8-for-14 from the plate to help her team win three of four games played at the North Carolina A&T Tournament. The Pitcher of the Week nod went to a familiar face in James Madison junior…
#CAAMinute, Presented by Lumber Liquidators – March 18
Mar 18, 2015, 1:04 PM EDT
Warning: Don't freak out, please. This is not a test. The #CAAMinute, powered by Lumber Liquidators, is finally back. Bobby B, of course, started things fresh on Wednesday in men's postseason #CAAHoops, and also looks forward to two more contests scheduled to take place Wednesday night featuring Hofstra and UNCW.
Baseball Notebook – March 16
Mar 16, 2015, 2:43 PM EDT
William & Mary took two-of-three from Hofstra to open CAA play last weekend. The other seven teams begin league action on Friday.
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MLAX: PostGame Interview following Towson's 3OT Loss to Navy
Length: 2:48 | March 4, 2015
MLAX: Tigers Fall to Navy in 3OT, 8-7
Length: 3:58 | March 4, 2015
MLAX: Tigers Fall to Navy in 3OT, 8-7
Length: 3:58 | March 4, 2015
Baseball Game Preview: Campbell
Length: 2:39 | March 4, 2015
SB Highlights: Elon 2, Campbell 0
Length: 1:45 | March 4, 2015
@CAASports on Twitter
- Baseball Weekly Report - March 30
- Men's Lacrosse Weekly Report - March 30
- Softball Weekly Honors - March 30
- Women's Lacrosse Weekly Report - March 30
- Weekend Preview - March 27
- Ten CAA Players Honored On NABC All-District Men's Basketball Team
- W&M's Inghram Named Senior CLASS Award Finalist
- CofC's Zach Munroe Named Men's Golfer of the Week
- Elon's Kelsey Badmaev Named Women's Golfer of the Week
- JMU's Good Named National Player of the Week