text:
A fluidic optical device, systems utilizing fluidic optical devices, methods for manufacturing fluidic optical devices and actuators are disclosed.
1. A fluidic optical device, comprising:
a skeleton having an aperture and a reservoir in fluid communication with the aperture, wherein the aperture and reservoir are unitary to the skeleton;
a fluid enclosed within the aperture and reservoir; and
one or more optical surfaces that at least partially bound the aperture;
wherein in response to displacement of the fluid as a result of a distortion of the reservoir at least one of the one or more optical surfaces is displaced from an initial position to vary an optical property of the device,
and wherein there are sufficient restoring forces in at least a portion of the displaced reservoir, fluid or optical surface to restore the displaced optical surface to its initial position upon release of a distorting force applied to the reservoir.
2. The device of
3. The device of
4. The device of
5. The device of
6. The device of
7. The device of
8. The device of
9. The device of
10. The device of
11. The device of
12. The device of
13. The device of
14. The device of
15. The device of
16. The device of
17. The device of
18. The device
19. The device of
20. The device of
21. The device of
22. The device of
23. The device of
24. The device of
25. The device of
26. The device of
27. The device of
28. The device of
29. The device of
30. The device of
31. The device of
32. The device of
33. The device of
34. The device of
35. The device of
36. The device of
37. The device of
38. The device of
39. The device of
40. The device of
41. The device of
42. The device of
43. The device of
44. The device of
45. The device of
46. The device of
47. The device of
48. The device of
49. The device of
50. The device of
51. The device of
52. The device of
53. The device of
54. The device of
55. The device of
56. The device of
57. The device of
58. The device of
59. The device of
60. The device of
61. The device of
62. The device of
63. The device of
64. The device of the
65. The device of
66. The device of the
67. The device of
68. The device of
69. The device of
70. The device of
71. The device of
72. The device of
73. The device of
74. The device of
75. The device of
76. The device of
77. The device of
78. The device of
79. The device of
80. The device of
81. The device of
82. The device of
83. The device of
84. The device of
85. The device of
86. The device of
87. The device of
88. the device of
89. The device of
90. The device of
91. The device of
92. The device of
93. The device of
94. The device of
95. The device of
96. The device of
97. The device of
98. The device of
99. The device of
100. The device of
101. The device of
102. The device of
103. The device of
104. A fluidic optical system including a number of fluidic optical devices as set forth in
105. The device of
106. The system of
107. The lens system of
108. The lens system of
109. The system of
110. A fluidic optical system, comprising:
a fluidic lens unit of the type set forth in
an image receiving device optically coupled to the fluidic lens unit;
a chipset adapted to control focus and/or other optical properties of the fluidic lens unit.
111. The system of
112. The system of
113. The system of
114. The system of
115. The system of
116. The device of
117. The device of
118. The device of
119. The device of
120. The device of
121. The device of
122. The device of
123. The device of
124. The device of
125. The device of
126. The device of
127. The device of
128. The device of
129. The device of
130. The device of
131. The device of
132. The device of
133. The device of
134. The device of
135. The device of
136. The device of
137. The device of
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/680,632 to Robert G. Batchko et al entitled "FLUIDIC OPTICAL DEVICES", filed May 14, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/683,072 to Robert G. Batchko et al entitled "FLUIDIC OPTICAL DEVICES", filed May 21, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/703,827 to Robert G. Batchko et al entitled "FLUIDIC OPTICAL DEVICES", filed Jul. 29, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/723,381 to Robert G. Batchko et al., filed Oct. 3, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/747,181 to Robert G. Batchko et al entitled "Electrostatic Actuation of Fluidic Lens", filed May 12, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments of this invention are directed to variable optical devices and more particularly to fluidic optical devices and methods for making such optical devices.
The prior art contains a number of references to fluidic lens systems. A notable example is provided by those based on the electro-wetting effect (see, e.g. Bruno Berge, et al., "Lens with variable focus", PCT Publication No. WO 99/18456). In that system, a lens-like volume of one refractive liquid is separated from its surroundings on at least one side by another immiscible refractive liquid. Although this yields a conveniently compact system, it is difficult to provide enough refractive index difference between the two liquids to provide adequate light-ray bending ability. A refractively superior system has also been demonstrated (see J. Chen et al., J. Micromech. Microeng. 14 (2004) 675-680) wherein only one lenticular body is provided, bounded on at least one side by an optically clear, compliant membrane. In that system, the refractive power of the lens is controlled by pumping in or out a controlled amount of fluid, thereby changing the curvature of the bounding membrane. Although improved, that system still suffers from the disadvantage that the pressurized fluid source is located remotely. This makes the form-factor of the whole system inconvenient.
Thus, there is a need in the art, for a fluidic lens that overcomes the above disadvantages.
The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the following detailed description contains many specific details for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
A common inventive thread in each of the preferred embodiments of this invention is a compact arrangement of the actuator structure and fluidic lens. The task of reducing the profile of the actuator is facilitated in part by judicious choice of its mechanical interface with the compliant fluidic lens. In order to achieve efficient adjustment of the focal length of the fluidic lens (for example, maximizing the range of focal power of the lens while minimizing the work, mechanical motion or stroke required by the actuator), some means of mechanical amplification may be incorporated into one or more of the actuator, mechanical interface and fluidic lens. Such means of amplification form another common thread among the following embodiments. The following design principles guide the embodiments of the present invention: (i) it is desirable for a relatively small work load (or movement or stroke) of the actuator to result in a relatively large change in the optical properties of the fluidic lens. In this fashion, a relatively small stroke of the actuator results in a sufficient displacement of fluid contained in the lens, resulting in a relatively large change in the radius of curvature of one or more of the optical surfaces of the lens; (ii) it is desirable for the actuator to be disposed in the close proximity of the fluidic in order to reduce the overall size of the system; (iii) it is desirable for actuation forces to be distributed as uniformly as possible to minimize points of high stress, reduce optical aberrations, and/or increase product reliability and longevity; (iv) it is desirable that the physical size and mechanical complexity of the actuator and fluidic lens be reduced as much as possible; (v) it is desirable that the response time of the actuator and fluidic lens be minimized. In this fashion, the actuator should be able to adjust the focal length of the lens to any position within its range of operation in as short a time as possible; (vi) it is desirable that a small distortion or strain induced in the membrane results in a large range in focal power for the fluidic lens. By minimizing the strain induced on the membrane, the lifetime of the membrane can be increased and the membrane can be fabricated using a wider selection of materials; and (vii) these design principles are desirable but not to the extent that performance of any or all of the actuator, fluidic lens or system as a whole are compromised.
As depicted in
In some embodiments, it is desirable for the lenslet 100 to be of a size suitable for use in digital cameras, cell phone cameras or other mobile devices. By way of example, the flanges 112 of the skeleton 102 may have an outer diameter D of about 5 to 6 millimeters, an aperture diameter d of about 3 to 5 millimeters and a thickness T of about 3 to 4 millimeters. In some embodiments, the flanges 112 may taper to accommodate an inward curvature of the membrane 106 under a net negative pressure, e.g., to achieve a negative focal length or bi-convex lens shape as described below.
The fluid 104 fills the aperture 108 and reservoir 110. The fluid 104 may have a refractive index between about 1.1 and about 3.0. The fluid 104 desirably has a viscosity of about 0.1 to about 100 centipoises over a temperature range from about −10� C. to about 80� C. By way of example, the fluid 104 may be silicone oil (e.g., Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone). The fluid 104 and skeleton 102 may be index matched, i.e., have refractive indexes that are equal or nearly equal. Additionally, fluid 104 may include fluorinated polymers such as perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) inert fluid. One example of a PFPE fluid is Fomblin� brand vacuum pump oil manufactured by Solvay Solexis of Bollate, Italy. The chemical chains of PFPE fluids such as Foblin� include fluorine, carbon and oxygen and have desirable properties including low vapor pressure, chemical inertness, high thermal stability, good lubricant properties, no flash or fire point, low toxicity, excellent compatibility with metals, plastics and elastomers, good aqueous and non-aqueous solvent resistance, high dielectric properties, low surface tension, good radiation stability and are environmentally acceptable. The fluid 104 may include dopants, dyes, pigments, particles, nanoparticle and/or chemical elements that serve to modify the transmissive optical properties of the fluid. By way of example, it may be desirable in certain camera applications that the fluid 104 may include infrared absorbing particles or pigments that serve to prevent infrared wavelengths of about 670 nm and greater from being transmitted through the fluidic lens while allowing visible wavelengths to be transmitted generally without loss.
The membrane 106 defines one or more optical faces 107. Faces 107 act as optical interfaces disposed between the fluid 104 and the external environment within which the lenslet 100 is disposed. In many applications, the external environment will be air at standard atmospheric pressure. However in certain applications it may be desirable to dispose the lenslet 100 in other external environments, including, for example, vacuum, pressurized gas, plasma or liquid. At least one of the faces 107 is sufficiently flexible that it can elastically deform as a result of a change in pressure of the fluid 104. The membrane 106 preferably has properties suitable for use in a variable focal length lens. Specifically, the membrane 106 should be sufficiently elastic, rugged, and transparent to radiation in a frequency range of interest (for example, to visible light). The membrane 106 should be capable of stretching elastically, should be durable enough to have a lifetime suitable for its application. For example, in a cell phone camera application the membrane 106 should have a lifetime of several years and move than about one million cycles of operation. By way of example, and without limitation, the membrane 106 may be made of a silicone-based polymer such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) also known as PDMS or a polyester material such as PET or Mylar™. It is noted that if the fluid 104 and membrane 106 have sufficiently similar refractive indices, or include a suitable optical coating, scattering of light at their interface can be significantly reduced. Further, it may be desirable to select a membrane 106 having an index of refraction that serves to substantially impedance match the refractive indices of the fluid 104 and the external environment, thereby reducing optical scattering in the proximity of faces 107.
Operation of the lenslet 100 may be understood with respect to
There are many variations on the fluidic lenses described above. For example, portions of the lens skeleton may be deformable in order to enhance the deformation of the fluid reservoir during actuation. For example, as shown in
It may be desirable to fabricate optical devices of the type described above with a seamless membrane providing a closed surface that encapsulates the lens skeleton. A seamless membrane results in lower stress, higher optical quality and fewer defects. It may be further desirable to fabricate devices of the type described above in a high-yield manufacturing process that is scalable to manufacture hundreds of millions of lenslet units at a manufacturing cost per device of between about $0.001 and about $0.10.
There are a number of possible approaches to making a crosslinked shell of PDMS around oil wetted lens skeletons. One possible approach, among others, is to douse the lens skeletons in vinylated PDMS and push them into an aqueous phase so that the fluid immiscibility and relative surface energies of the PDMS/plastic and PDMS/water keep a shell of oil around the plastic piece.
Once the fluid 504 wets the skeletons 502, the excess fluid 504 may be drained as shown in
Another approach to manufacturing PDMS lenses is to simply cast lenses out of crosslinked PDMS and to squeeze them in a controlled way to change the focal lengths. For example, PDMS can be cast over a Fresnel lens. After sufficient cross-linking, the PDMS layer can be peeled away and used as a lens. If the cast PDMS is squeezed isotropically, the lens' focal length could be changed in a simple manner. Depending on the degree of cross-linking, cast PDMS may serve as both a fluid and a membrane for the purposes of embodiments of the present invention. It is to be noted that very small features can be fabricated using cast PDMS. For example, Whitesides et al have used a mechanical strategy in PDMS soft lithography to achieve a desired structure having very small feature sizes. A microchip master is generated by conventional lithography PDMS is cast on the microchip master to make a rubber stamp that is the negative of the desired structure. Then the master is isotropically squeezed in order to physically reduce the size of the cast and a new reduced size master can be made using polyurethane. PDMS can then be cast on the new polyurethane master, and the cast PDMS can be mechanically squeezed down to make a new master. By repeating the process it is possible to make a rubber stamp for soft lithography that would give ˜10-50 nm lines on a substrate. Such a stamp can be used to produce PDMS lenses on a large scale.
Although much of the preceding discussion deals with lenslets having a flanged skeleton, the invention is in no way limited to this particular design. For example,
When a displacing force is applied to the upper portion 602A (e.g., as indicated by the shaded arrows in
In some embodiments of the invention, a lenslet may have a rigid optical surface.
Operation of the device 700 as a lens may be understood by referring to
Applying actuation forces around the periphery of the actuator serves the design principle of a small reservoir wall displacement resulting in large optical surface deflection because the resulting volume displacement is generally proportional to the outer circumference, which is larger than any other circularly symmetrical feature of the lens. Combining axial displacement and radial displacement further enhances the actuation mechanical amplification effect. These attributes are incorporated into a peripherally actuated fluidic lens 1000 depicted in
As shown in
The fluidic lens of
In the embodiments depicted in
As described above, both peripheral and axial compression may be used to enhance the volume compression of the fluidic lens 1000. There are a number of different mechanisms that may be used to achieve both peripheral and axial compression. For example,
Although many of the above embodiments constrict the reservoir peripherally, the invention is in no way limited by such a feature. Furthermore, although in many embodiments the reservoir and aperture sections of the skeleton are separated by some sort of wall or barrier the invention is in no way limited by this feature. In such a case, the reservoir may be regarded as that portion of the fluid filled membrane upon which the actuator exerts a fluid-displacing force. For example,
Additional detail of a variation on this type of fluidic lens can be seen in the three-dimensional drawing of
Additional embodiments of the invention may utilize a number of different constriction-type actuators in lenses having a transparent fluid encapsulated in a transparent compliant membrane with or without a lens skeleton. By way of example, as depicted in
There are a number of actuator designs that may be used to provide such a radial constricting force. For example,
A variation on the constricting band actuators described above is a constricting ring actuator, examples of which are depicted in
In other embodiments, the actuator may operate by axial constriction. For example,
Additional embodiments also utilize combinations of radial and axial constriction for enhanced fluid displacement. For example,
Other actuation schemes may be implemented that do not require the constriction of the fluid-filled membrane. For example,
Many of the preceding embodiments describe the skeleton as being external to the membrane or, in some cases, where a distorted, strained or stretched elastic membrane provides restoring forces that act on the fluid. However, the invention is not limited to just these embodiments. It is also possible for a fluidic lens or optical device to have an internal skeleton that provides the restoring forces. For example,
Fluidic optical devices, e.g., lenses, of the various types depicted above may be advantageously produced in high volume using arrayed fabrication.
As shown in
After the lens and housing arrays are nested together the assembled fluidic lenses 1820 containing the lenslets 1802 and the housings 1812 can be can be diced and sealed. For example, as depicted in
Furthermore, although much of the preceding discussion addresses fluidic lenses, those of skill in the art will recognize that the features described herein can be applied to other optical devices such as variable mirrors, variable prisms, variable diffractive optics, variable irises, variable optical phase delays and adaptive optics. For example, in any of the above embodiments, one of the optical surfaces, e.g., an inside or outside surface of the compliant membrane may be coated with a reflective material such that the device is a variable mirror. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may include static optical components, e.g., lenses, diffraction gratings, reflective surfaces, optical filters, wave plates, holograms, optical wedges, prisms and the like incorporated within or in the proximity of a fluidic optical device. Such components may be incorporated, e.g., into the substrate 702A of the device 700 depicted in
For example, referring again to
In alternative embodiments of the invention, it is possible to have a static optical component incorporated into a fluidic optical device. For example,
In many of the preceding embodiments, application of a force on the fluid to the reservoir resulted in a deformation of a membrane to form a convex lens. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited by such a feature. Both convex and concave lens shapes may be obtained with embodiments of the present invention. For example, as depicted in
A fluidic lens 2800 with bi-directional actuation as described above may be constructed as depicted in
Additional embodiments of the present invention include fluidic devices having dissimilar deformable optical surfaces. For example,
The previous embodiments can be utilized in order to help realize some of the design principles discussed above; specifically, minimizing the strain induced in the membrane while maximizing the resulting range in focal power for the fluidic lens. In such an embodiment, the maximum volume of fluid that can be displaced is a generally fixed value. The fluidic lens is fabricated such that with no actuation force applied (and, hence, no displacement of fluid) the membrane is concave and thereby contributes negative focal power to the fluidic lens. With the application of a medium actuation force corresponding to a displacement of a volume of fluid approximately equal to half of the maximum fluid displacement, the membrane generally flattens out and thereby contributes generally zero focal power to the fluidic lens. When the maximum actuation force is applied (resulting in the maximum displacement of fluid) the membrane is concave and thereby contributes positive focal power to the fluidic lens. In this fashion, the maximum volume of fluid that can be displaced is fully utilized in order to realize a large range of focal power. Likewise, by causing the sign of the strain on the membrane to alternate as the membrane moves between the concave and convex states, the maximum absolute value of strain that is induced on the membrane is reduced. As described above, static lenses can be used in conjunction with the fluidic lens and can be used in order to add or subtract a static amount of focal power to or from the fluidic lens.
Furthermore, although in embodiments described above the membrane deforms in such a way as to provide a single focus it is possible to configure fluidic lenses as multiple focus, e.g., bi-focal or tri-focal lenses. For example,
Variations on the concepts described above with respect to
When the aberrations vary with time, an active control technique called adaptive optics can be applied. In adaptive optics, a sensor like a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor or an interferometer measures the aberrations and an adjustable optic like a deformable mirror or liquid crystal spatial phase modulator to compensate the aberrations. A simple version of this system is in every compact disk (CD) player. In such a system, a sensor is used to determine the focus of the beam reflected from the CD and an electromagnetic actuator is used to move the position of a lens to compensate for the focus. More complex versions exist at almost every large astronomical observatory to compensate for the aberrations induced by the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the complexity and cost increase between the adaptive optics system in a commercial product such as a CD player and that used in an astronomical observatory is substantial. Typical CD players sell for less than $30 today. Complex adaptive optics systems in observatories are often more than $10 million. It is this cost that has prohibited the introduction of adaptive optics into lower end optical systems like lasers and microscopes. A substantial portion of this cost is the deformable mirror. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a low-cost alternative to the deformable mirror using fluidic optics. Fluidic optics can be tailored to produce the higher-order aberration compensation.
For example, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the elasticity and other mechanical and physical properties of the membrane can spatially vary over any portion of its surface, including but not limited to portions disposed in or near the clear optical aperture. For example,
There are a number of different approaches to giving the membrane a variable elasticity. For example as depicted in
Alternatively, as depicted in
Alternatively, as depicted in
In addition, as depicted in
Other approaches to variable elasticity membranes include selective constraint of the membrane. For example,
An alternative approach to variable elasticity membranes is to vary the membrane thickness. For example,
Yet another possibility for providing a variable elasticity fluidic lens is to combine an elastic membrane with a patterned overlay. For example,
There are a number of mechanical actuation schemes for fluidic devices of the types described above. One particular scheme, amongst others, uses a lead screw mechanism to provide the actuation force.
As shown in
Although many of the mechanical actuation schemes for the fluidic lens designs described above are practical, more compact actuators are desirable to deflect the surface of the fluid reservoir used in a fluidic lens optical system as described herein. Such actuators may also be used to transport a coaxially mounted standard lens or any other such object. In a preferred embodiment depicted in
As an example,
The wave-like deflection of the actuator can be excited by building into the actuator cylinder 6902 a segmented piezoelectric ceramic structure. This structure may follow the example of certain existing ultrasonic motor designs wherein patterned electrodes are provided. By electrically stimulating each of the piezoelectric segments in suitably phased relationship to each other, it is possible to excite a resonant or nearly resonant vibrational wave as described above. It is envisioned that the electrical interface to the actuator 6902 would be supplied by compliant or low mass conductors which would not provide an excessive parasitic load to the actuator 6902, but would restrain it from counter rotating. It is also envisioned that the portion of the piston 6904 in contact with the actuator 6902 would include elastic links with the rest of the piston 6904 such that the mechanical interface between the two finds itself under a static preload. This would assist with both operation as well assembly of the system.
Although a threaded piston is depicted in FIG 69A the interface between the piston 6904 and the actuator 6902 need not have threads per se. Projections on the actuator 6902 or piston 6904 that lack mirror symmetry are sufficient. A thread on either the actuator 6902 or the piston 6904 obviously meets that requirement, but not uniquely so. In order for a circumferential surface wave in the actuator 6902 to induce an axial translation in the piston 6904, it is necessary that the latter be endowed with either a uniform or average helicity (or handedness). One way to embody that is by way of inclined ridges or corrugations. A surface wave first meets a ridge either near the top surface or near the bottom of the piston 6904, depending on the wave propagation direction. Axial motion of the piston 6904 may be thought of as the effect of the ridges "surfing" on the actuator waves.
In operation, one or more nearly degenerate vibrational modes would be excited in the actuator cylinder 6902. Each mode has several peaks and valleys where the surface shape departs from the static cylinder shape. Degenerate modes have the same number of peaks and valleys but differ in their location along the circumference. To excite such modes, it is necessary to have independent mechanical drivers distributed along the circumference of the actuator cylinder 6902. One way to accomplish that is to have a thin-walled metallic cylinder on which substantially rectangular, slightly curved piezoelectric "patches" 6908 are glued. The metal cylinder would be at ground potential and electrically contact one side of each piezo "patch". The metal cylinder would also serve the function of bearing the mechanical oscillations. The other side of each patch would be contacted by compliant or light weight flexible conductors to supply the addressable signal from an oscillator unit 6910. The inside of the cylinder 6902 would thus mechanically contact the outside surface of the piston 6904. As mentioned above, there would have to be an elastic pre-load or compression between the two surfaces, which means no clearance. In order to assemble such a device, the piston 6904 would have to have sufficient elasticity to temporarily compress its circumference while inserting into the actuator cylinder.
It's useful to realize that the configuration of a piezoelectric "patch" bonded to a passive elastic member forms a classical actuator form called generically a bender of more specifically (for piezos) a unimorph. Here are a couple more ways of forming actuators of the type described above:
Start with a finished piezoelectric cylindrical shell. Place a mandrel (or core) made of a reducing material (such as graphite) inside and in intimate contact with the shell. Place the structure in an anneal oven and treat at high temperature (near 1000� C.) to cause an inside layer of the piezo material to become reduced (conductive and piezoelectrically inert). This method was previously invented by Gene Haertling of Clemson University to create the so called "Rainbow" wafers. This technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,721, which is incorporated herein by reference. The outside of the "rainbowed" cylinder could have a thin film electrode patterned either photo-lithographically or a thick film electrode by screen printing and firing a conductive paste.
Alternatively, one may start by coating a suitable elastic metal sleeve with piezoelectric green ceramic paste. Such a sleeve may have to be made of or coated with a precious metal such as platinum to withstand piezo firing temperatures. The green paste may itself be coated with a pre-patterned fireable electrode. Alternatively, the electrodes may be formed after the ceramic is formed by methods outlined earlier.
Methods, that include a metallic cylinder are probably more favorable since a metallic cylinder would better withstand tensile stressed imposed by preloading an elastic member in its interior. On the other hand, the entire configuration could be turned inside-out, thus forming another embodiment. In an example of this embodiment, depicted in
It is often desirable to provide a "self-locking" actuation to a fluidic lens of the types described herein. Such a self-locking feature would prevent unwanted counter movement of the actuator once a desired actuating force and membrane curvature have been achieved. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicted, e.g., in
The worm gear lead screw has external threads and internal threads. The internal threads engage an externally threaded depressor ring lead screw 7014 similar to the lead screw 6922 described above. The depressor ring lead screw 7014 is part of a fluidic optical device 7016, which may have construction similar to that described above with respect to
When sufficient electric current is supplied to the coils 7002, e.g., through leads 7005, the nut is driven linear along the common axis of the magnetic nut 7006, worm gear lead screw 7010 and depressor ring lead screw 7014. Engagement between the internal threads on the worm gear nut 7006 and the worm gear lead screw 7010 causes the worm gear 7010 to rotate. The pitch of the worm gear nut 7006 should be sufficiently so that the actuation force supplied by the solenoids 7002 can provide the required rotation. As the worm gear 7010 rotates its internal threads engage the external threads on the depressor ring lead screw 7014 causing the depressor ring lead screw 7014 to rotate and actuate the fluidic lens 7016. The magnetic nut 7006 fits inside a sleeve housing 7008. The sleeve housing 7008 includes internal slots that engage the worm gear nut 7006 and prevent it from rotating while allowing it to move linearly. Due to the conversion of thrust-to-rotation-to-thrust, the fluidic optical device 7000 can be self-locking.
The concepts described above may also be applied to actuation of fluidic optical devices having two deformable optical surfaces. For example,
One depressor ring lead screw (e.g., the upper lead screw 7108A) has a right-hand (RH) thread and the other (e.g., the lower lead screw 7108B) has a left-hand (LH) thread. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The internally threaded lead screw 7114 may have slots 7118 cut out of its sidewall as shown in
The dual depressor ring design of the device 7100 can increase the efficiency of actuation motion compared to a single compressor ring design. The device 7100 allows roughly a factor of 2� increase in diopter range for the same actuation stroke as single-membrane design. In alternative embodiments, changes in curvature of the membranes 7104A, 7104B can be controlled quasi-independently from each other, e.g., by using two separate internal threaded lead screws in place of the single lead screw 7114. Counter-rotation can also be applied to other actuation methods (e.g., piezo motor, etc).
In embodiments of the present invention it is possible for the aperture and the reservoir to be different yet integral portions of the same fluid-filled volume. For example,
Other embodiments of the present invention may utilize a fluidic lens having a structure referred to herein as a liquid pill. The liquid pill is an example of a fluidic optical device wherein the aperture and reservoir are fully integrated with each other. As shown in
The operation of the liquid pill lens 7300 is readily understood from
Fabrication of the liquid pill lens 7300 can follow well-known industrial methods. By way of example, the following sequence may be used. As shown in
In the design of the perforated sheet 7402, sufficient space may be allocated between perforations 7406 to allow for: (a) adequate membrane bonding area, (b) some clearance between the welding head and the edge of the perforation to prevent forceful evaporation of the filling fluid, and (c) space for cuts separating individual Liquid Pills (see next step).
As mentioned above, the shape of the liquid pills may be other than circular. This would create additional spacer area, which could be used for locating features such as registration pins and anti-rotation keys.
Additional variations on the embodiments depicted herein include:
1. Fluidic optical devices wherein one or more of the skeleton, membrane, reservoir and aperture are symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to a plane of the membrane, whereby the device is a fluidic cylindrical or anamorphic lens having variable focal length.
Two or more lenses of the type shown in
Cylindrical, astigmatic or anamorphic lenses of the type shown in
2. Fluidic optical devices wherein one or more of the skeleton, membrane, reservoir and aperture are symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to a plane of the membrane, whereby the device is a fluidic cylindrical lens having a variable cylindrical-lens focal length, whereby the device is a fluidic astigmatic lens having one or more variable astigmatic-lens focal lengths, and whereby the device is a fluidic prism having a variable prism apex angle.
3. Fluidic optical devices wherein each can include a plurality of actuators.
4. A digitally addressable fluidic optical device including a number N actuators, wherein the N actuators are capable of being independently actuated, wherein the value of the maximum change in focal power (or the volume of fluid that can be displaced, actuation stroke or other parameters corresponding to the actuators) of each actuator utilizes binary weighting with respect to at least one other of the N actuators, wherein the device is capable of being selectively activated in a number 2N states, wherein the states may include discrete values of focal length, prism apex angle, focal power, etc, wherein the discrete values of focal power form a linear progression. Examples of combinations of optical devices to achieve 2N states are described e.g., in U.S. Patent Application Publication 20020158866 A1 published Oct. 31, 2002 to Robert G. Batchko entitled "Combinatorial Optical Processor" and US Patent Application Publication 20040114203 A1 published June, 2004 to Robert G. Batchko entitled "Digital Focus Lens System" the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. One possible application for such a device is in a multiplanar display system 4800, such as that depicted in
Any number of the Modules (7590) and addressable optical elements (7580) may be actively addressed, controlled or modified by the module control signal (7600). In this fashion, the state of the control signal (7600) may determine the optical states or properties of the modules (7590) and addressable optical elements (7580), and hence, the optical properties of the system (7510). The control signal (7500) may enable the independent control, or "random access", of any or all of the addressable optical elements (7580). The control signal (7600) may include signals that may include without limitation, electronic signals including standard voltages for TTL, CMOS and ECL, optical signals including continuous-wave or mode-locked laser pulses, magnetic signals, acoustic signals and mechanical movement.
In one embodiment, an object source (7540) may generate the object (7550). As used herein, the term object may be understood as a set of radiation emitted from the object source (7540). The object source (7540) may include without limitation image displays utilizing technologies such as liquid crystal (LC), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), laser, light emitting diode (LED), cathode ray tube (CRT), optical telescopic, image relay, holographic or any other method of generating, projecting or imaging optical images. The object (7550) may be positioned on or away from an input focal plane (7520) that intersects the system optical axis (7530). The modules (7590) interact with light from the object (7550) to produce a related image (7620) of the object (7550). The properties of the image depend, in part, on the optical properties of the addressable elements (7580), modules (7590) and system (7510). Since these properties may change in response to the control signal (7600), the image may change in response to the control signal (7600). The system may produce the image (7620) at an output focal plane (7610), which may generally proceed the second module (7570) and which may intersect the system axis (7530). Properties of the output plane (7610), including without limitation, optical properties such as position, magnification and aberrations, may be modified by variation of the states of the control signal (7600), modules (7590) and elements (7580).
In an embodiment of the present invention, a set of output plane locations (7630) may comprise a number of discrete locations along the system axis (7530). In this fashion, the output plane (7610) may be positioned at any of the output plane locations (7630) by the use of an appropriately defined Control Signal (7600). As will be further described below, the output plane (7610) may be randomly positioned at any output plane location (7630) by the use of an appropriately defined control signal (7600). In this fashion, the image (7620) may be randomly projected on any output plane location (7630). Such random imaging of the Image (7620) at any output plane locations (7630) may have applications in areas that include, without limitation, imaging and tracking of moving objects, image displays, optical networking and optical computing.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the output plane locations (7630) may be uniformly spaced adjacent to one another. Further, the magnification of the image (7620) may be a constant value independent of which output plane location (7630) the image (7620) is positioned on. Furthermore, the output plane (7610) may be simultaneously positioned at one or more output plane locations (7630) by the use of an appropriately defined Control Signal (7600). Simultaneous imaging at multiple output plane locations can be accomplished by addressable optical elements (7580) that include without limitation variable-efficiency diffractive optics, holographic optical elements and nonlinear optics. Such optics may include without limitation, holographic optical elements imbedded in electrically-activated liciuid crystal or electrooptic diffractive optical elements in domain-patterned ferroelectric materials. In this fashion, the image (7620) may be simultaneously projected on multiple output plane locations (7630). Such simultaneous imaging of the Image (7620) at multiple output plane locations (7630) may have applications in areas that include, without limitation, image displays.
In the present embodiment of the invention, the image (7620) may be a real or virtual image projected into free space. However, other embodiments may additionally incorporate apparatus for enhancing the image (7620). For example, an imaging medium (7640) may be dispersed to coincide with at least a portion of output plane locations (7630). The imaging medium (7640) may thus serve to enhance or provide visibility, or to expand or modify the scattering angle, of the light comprising the image (7620). In this fashion, the imaging medium may serve as one or more point sources of light. Such an imaging medium (7640) may include without limitation light scattering particles including microscopic glass beads, liquid vapor, and ionized or fluorescing gases. In other embodiments of the invention, the imaging medium (7640) may be at least partially contained within an imaging chamber (7650). Such an imaging chamber (7650) may include without limitation one or more transparent glass or plastic tanks, pressurized tanks, tanks with electric voltages, fields or currents applied across at least a portion thereof. In other embodiments of the invention, light from the image (7620) may be used to excite at least a portion of imaging medium (7640), thereby causing imaging medium (7640) to radiate light.
The second module (7820) may also comprise one or more optical elements (7834). The optical elements (7834) may include without limitation lenses, prisms, mirrors, gratings, optical fiber and holographic optical elements. While in the present invention such elements (7834) include fixed or passive optical elements, the optical elements (7834) may include active or addressable optical elements including without limitation those elements described previously with respect to Elements (7830). Furthermore, in additional embodiments of the invention, the second module (7820) may be connected to the system controller (7730) and may be driven by control signals (7852) via control conduits (7854).
An Object Source (7714) is positioned at an object plane location (7716). The object source (7714) may include without limitation display sources such as liciuid crystals, lasers, light emitting diodes, mirrors, holographic optical elements, and micro-electro-mechanical mirrors and any other display source. The object source (7714) may be connected to a system controller (7730) via one or more control conduits (7734). The system controller (7730) may include, without limitation, control electronics, processors, drivers, optical, electronic, acoustic, mechanical and other hardware, software and apparatus for generating, receiving and transmitting control signals and for enabling data links and communications between various electronic, optical, mechanical and other apparatus internal to and external to the system (7710). Furthermore, the control conduits (7734) may include without limitation data communications apparatus such as fiber optic, electrical, electronic, mechanical and other cables and wires, and optical, microwave, acoustic and other free-space communications links. An input device (7740) may be connected to the system controller (7730) via control conduits (7744). The input device (7740) may include data and sources of data external to the system including without limitation data storage devices, computers and communications networks. An output device (7750) may be connected to the system controller (7730) via control conduits (7754). The output device (7750) may include receivers of data external to the system including without limitation data storage devices, computer and communications networks. The object source (7714) may be driven by control signals (7756) thereby generating an object (7758). The object (7758) may include without limitation one or more displayed images, as well as other forms of optical or electromagnetic fields.
The object (7758) may be transmitted from object source (7714) and a portion of the radiation comprising the object (7780) may propagate through a partial reflector (7790). The partial reflector (7790) may include without limitation mirrors, wave plates, optical coatings, polarizers and optical gratings, holographic optics, flats, prisms, lenses, wedges, diffraction gratings, grating light valves. In the present embodiment of the Invention, partial reflector (7790) may be disposed between the object source (7714) and the first module (7810), however, the partial reflector (7790) may alternatively be employed at other locations in the system (7710). After propagating through the partial reflector (7790), radiation from the object (7800) may propagate through the first module (7810) and through the second module (7820). After propagating through first module (7810) and through second module (7820), the radiation from the object (7860) may be focused at an image plane location (7870) thereby forming an image (7880). The image (7880) may be a relayed real image of the object (7758). In this fashion, the first module (7810) and the second module (7820) may perform the optical function of relay imaging of the object (7758) from an object plane location (7716) to the image (7880) positioned at the image plane location (7870). While in the present invention, system (7710) performs the optical function of relay imaging, the system (7710) may alternatively perform other optical functions, including, without limitation, image magnification, angular beam deflection and beam spot size magnification. Further, while the example depicted in
The first module (7810) and, in other embodiments of the invention, the second module (7820), may be driven by control signals (7840) such that the image (7860) may be selectively focused at one or more image plane locations (7890) thereby forming a plurality of images (7900). The first module (7810), second module (7820) and object source (7714) may be synchronized such that a plurality of objects (7758) may be generated and relayed onto corresponding image plane locations (7910). The images (7900) may be generated and refreshed at a sufficiently rapid frequency and with sufficient brightness such that an observer (7920) viewing images (7900) may perceive images (7900) to be appearing simultaneously. In this fashion, a set of images (7900) may be generated which, when viewed together, form a composite three-dimensional Image (7930). Any number of observers (7922) may simultaneously view the three-dimensional Image (7930). The three-dimensional Image (7930) may be a real image and may exist in free space. Alternatively, the three-dimensional image (7930) may alternatively comprise without limitation virtual, two-dimensional and curved two-dimensional images. In other embodiments of the invention, an imaging Medium (7932) and an imaging chamber (7934) may be employed near or coinciding with at least a portion of three-dimensional image (7930).
A pointer (7940) may be positioned to coincide with a portion of the images (7900). A portion of the pointer (7940), e.g., a pointer tip (7950), such as a rounded tip or point, may be reflective to a portion of the light or spectrum comprising the Images (7900). The pointer (7940) may include without limitation physical objects such as a human finger or pointing device such as a pen or wand. In this fashion, the observer (7920) may position the pointer tip (7950) in coincidence with a portion of three-dimensional image (7930). In the present embodiment of the invention, the pointer (7940) may be not physically connected to the system (7710). However, in additional embodiments of the invention, the pointer (7940) may be connected to the system controller (7730) and may be driven by control signals (7952) via control conduits (7954). The pointer (7940) may further include apparatus that provides the observer (7920) with physical feedback related to three-dimensional image (7930). Such physical feedback apparatus may include, without limitation, gloves, pressure sensors and other force feedback devices. A portion of the light or spectrum comprising the images (7900), e.g., reflected Image light (7960), may then be reflected off the pointer (7870). A portion of reflected image Light (7960) may then propagate through the second module (7820) and through the first Module (7810). After propagating through the second module (7820) and through the first module (7810), a portion of the reflected image light (7970) may then reflect off the partial reflector (7790). After reflection off the partial reflector (7790), the reflected image light (7980) may then propagate on to a detector (7990). The detector (7990) may include without limitation photodetectors and cameras employing such technology as CMOS, photomultiplier tubes, silicon, germanium, and semiconductor detectors and detector arrays. The detector (7990) may be connected to the system controller (7730) via one or more control conduits (8000). The presence and location of the pointer (7940) may be identified and utilized to enable the observer (7920) to interact with the generation of three-dimensional image (7930).
In an alternative embodiment, a detector, or detector array may be placed at or proximate the location of the object source (7714). Similarly, a detector array may be placed at or proximate the location of the image plane locations (7890), e.g., in applications that utilize a system of the type shown in
8. Fluidic optical devices of the types described herein may be used as part of an optical system such as a camera, zoom lens, lens system, eyeglasses, binoculars, telescope, microscope, etc. In a particular example, the device may include an image sensor, e.g., a charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip optically coupled to the aperture. The fluidic device, e.g., a fluidic lens, may be positioned to form an image of an object on the image sensor. Actuation, e.g., as described above, can allow variation of the focusing properties of the lens to optimize the image. Such a device can be used, e.g., as a cell phone camera.
9. A fluidic optical system may include a number of fluidic optical devices of the types described herein, wherein devices are stacked as set forth in U.S. Patent Application Publications 20020158866 A1 and 20040114203 A1. The devices may be stacked generally collinear to an optical axis. Examples of optical systems that include stacks of fluidic devices includes combinations of fluid optical devices and static optical components. By way of example, as depicted in
A fluidic lens optical system of the type depicted in
Microscope applications of fluidic optical devices may also be used in an electron microscope 3600 as depicted in
Fluidic lenses of the types described herein can also be used in hand held magnification devices 5200, e.g., of a type commonly used in cutting and polishing gemstones as depicted in
Further applications of fluidic lenses include eyepieces 5300 for optical instruments, e.g., as depicted in
Embodiments of the invention include fluidic optical devices configured as optical mirrors, e.g., by reflectively coating a deformable membrane optical surface. Such deformable mirrors find application in optical systems such as astronomical telescopes. For example
Optical systems that may use fluidic devices of the types described herein are not limited to those used for focusing visible, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR) and radar wavelengths. Such devices may also be used for significantly shorter wavelength radiation such as X-rays.
Optical systems employing fluidic optical devices as described herein can have the advantage of relatively low weight compact size. Such features make fluidic-device optical systems ideal for applications where low weight and small size are highly desirable. Examples of such applications include, but are not limited to optical sensing systems used in un-manned, robotic or remotely controlled vehicles, such as aircraft, sometimes referred to as UAVs.
Alternatively, fluidic lens optical systems may be employed in remotely operated vehicles other than aircraft as illustrated, e.g., in
Fluidic optical devices according to embodiments of the present invention also find application in stereolithography, also known as three-dimensional imaging and three-dimensional modeling. Stereolithography is a method of creating real three-dimensional models by using lasers driven by CAD software. In contrast to the normal practice of removing material, this process polymerizes a liquid to quickly produce shapes that are untouched by human hands or cutting tools. As shown in
Additional embodiments utilize fluidic optical devices in conjunction with solar power systems. For example, as depicted in
Fluidic optical devices according to embodiments of the present invention may also be used in conjunction with vision aids such as eyeglasses and sunglasses. For example,
Control of fluidic optical devices may be accomplished as depicted in the flow diagram 4600 of
Focus control as described with respect to
Fluidic optical devices, such as lenses, of the types described herein may also be used in projection televisions (e.g., front and/or rear projection televisions), as illustrated in
Other applications of fluidic optical devices include di-chromatic elements for wavelength-selective light splitting, e.g., as in the di-chromatic optical system 5800 illustrated in
Furthermore, as depicted in
Fluidic lenses as described herein can also be used in combination with optical network cables. For example,
Other applications of fluidic optical devices as described herein include radar systems, e.g., as depicted in
Fluidic lenses may be used in currency authentication systems 6200, e.g., as illustrated in
In addition, fluidic lenses may be used video surveillance systems 6300, e.g., as illustrated in
Fluidic optical devices as described herein can also be used in an orthoscopic device 6400 as depicted in
While the above is a complete description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to use various alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined not with reference to the above description but should, instead, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with their full scope of equivalents. In the claims that follow, the indefinite article "A" or "An" refers to a quantity of one or more of the item following the article, except where expressly stated otherwise. The appended claims are not to be interpreted as including means-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase "means for." Any feature described herein, whether preferred or not, may be combined with any other feature, whether preferred or not.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
Original Image


text:
Brooklyn Nets v Chicago Bullss
Imágenes similaresVer todos
Palabras clave
Carlos Boozer of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Mirza Teletovic of... Fotografía de noticiasBaloncesto,Basket-ball - NBA Pro,Carlos Boozer,Chicago,Chicago Bulls,Deporte,EE.UU.,Encestar,Illinois,Lanzar la pelota,Mirza Teletović,New Jersey Nets,United Center,VerticalPhotographer Ray AmatiCollection: National Basketball Association 2013 NBAECHICAGO, IL - MARCH 2: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Mirza Teletovic #33 of the Brooklyn Nets on March 2, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ray Amati/NBAE via Getty Images)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Search Options
Safe Search
Your search is confidential. Forrest Brown will not be notified of your purchase.
Related Searches
Connect With Us
99 Matching Results!Showing Top 20. Use filters to see more.
|Select a record below to get Complete Report
|Has lived in
|Related to
|View Details
Forrest Keith BrownAge 68
|Keith K Brown
|Puyallup, WA
Peoria, AZ
Surprise, AZ
Blaine, WA
Pullman, WA
Tacoma, WA
University Place, WA
|Sandra Brown
Aaron Brown
Brown Harrington
Darell Brown
Ona Brown
|View Details
Forrest C BrownAge 85
|Hampton Falls, NH
Acton, ME
Altamonte Springs, FL
Winter Park, FL
Durham, NH
Jacksonville, FL
|Glenn Brown
Lainie Holland
Charlyn Brown
|View Details
Forrest Daniel BrownAge 42
|Las Vegas, NV
Killeen, TX
Vernon Hill, VA
Barstow, CA
South Boston, VA
Fort Irwin, CA
Scottsburg, VA
|Ana Azul
Lenna Brown
Leah Brown
Izumi Brown
|View Details
Forrest Marshall BrownAge 60
|Marshall Brown
|Arlington, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Granbury, TX
Trinity, TX
|Matthew Brown
Glenn Brown
Morgen Brown
Elaine Brown
Rebebcca Brown
|View Details
Forrest Carroll BrownAge 75
|Forrest E Brown
F C Brown
|Dallas, TX
Walnut Creek, CA
Somerville, MA
Boston, MA
Hackensack, NJ
|Lcdr Brown
Virginia Brown
Benjamin Brown
Marilyn Brown
|View Details
Forrest Alexander BrownAge 62
|Oceanside, CA
Bremerton, WA
Rio Rancho, NM
Corpus Christi, TX
Silverdale, WA
Poulsbo, WA
Washington, DC
|Josephine Brown
Ian Brown
Mark Brown
Margaret Brown
Jacqueline Brown
|View Details
Forrest Matt BrownAge 55
|Forrest J Brown
|Todd, NC
Boone, NC
Vilas, NC
Hickory, NC
Chula Vista, CA
Sparta, GA
Fpo, AE
|Alison Brown
Allison Brown
Sarah Brown
|View Details
Forrest S BrownAge 70
|Fairfield, CT
Cortlandt Manor, NY
New Windsor, NY
Bridgeport, CT
Ossining, NY
Yonkers, NY
|Tracey Brown
Lynda Brown
Kareem Brown
|View Details
Forrest P BrownAge 58
|Forrest L Brown
|Camp Hill, PA
Enola, PA
Harrisburg, PA
Carlisle, PA
Reading, PA
Lemoyne, PA
|Linda Brown
Ashley Brown
George Brown
Lois Brown
|View Details
Forrest Marshall BrownAge 42
|Forrest J Brown
Marshall J Brown
Marshall Forrest Brown
Marshall J Samc
|Cherry Hill, NJ
Westminster, MD
Brooklyn, NY
New York, NY
Baltimore, MD
Southern Pines, NC
Denver, CO
|Taiesha Brown
Dale Brown
Francine Brown
Marva Solomon
Ruth Brown
|View Details
Forrest William BrownAge 66
|Monroe, MI
Litchfield, MI
Chicago, IL
Carleton, MI
Allen Park, MI
Newport, MI
Battle Creek, MI
|Janice Brown
Tracy Brown
Tomel Lamb
Norisea Brown
Jayna Brown
|View Details
Forrest E Brown
|Paris, IL
Marshall, IL
Sebring, FL
Vermilion, IL
Bloomington, IL
|Adam Brown
Joan Brown
Virginia Brown
David Brown
Paul Brown
|View Details
Forrest G BrownAge 72
|Peoria, IL
Champaign, IL
Urbana, IL
Danville, IL
|Crystal Brown
Katheryn Brown
David Brown
Tiffany Brown
Sally Brown
|View Details
Forrest Cecil BrownAge 67
|Jasonville, IN
Spencer, IN
Bedford, IN
Bloomfield, IN
|Joan Freeman
|View Details
Forrest W BrownAge 84
|Westerville, OH
Dallas, TX
Columbus, OH
Fort Worth, TX
|Kimberly Brown
Kristina Ringenbach
Nancy Brown
Kara Elfers
Lcdr Brown
|View Details
Forrest J BrownAge 75
|Forrest S Brown
|Carson City, NV
Reno, NV
Dayton, NV
Long Beach, CA
|Eliesse Brown
Jermaine Brown
Douglas Brown
Leslie Brown
Ken Brown
|View Details
Forrest Kent BrownAge 23
|Rocky Mount, NC
Nashville, NC
Hillsborough, NC
Wilson, NC
|Andrea Brown
Matthew Brown
|View Details
Forrest Alexander BrownAge 62
|Navarre, FL
Oceanside, CA
Silverdale, WA
Shalimar, FL
|Josephine Brown
Joel Brown
Mark Brown
Margaret Brown
Arianna Brown
|View Details
Forrest M BrownAge 79
|Atlanta, GA
Acworth, GA
Smyrna, GA
|Allison Brown
Cynthia Brown
Mary Brown
Nancy Stinnett
|View Details
Forrest Bunyan BrownAge 48
|Fort Mill, SC
Orlando, FL
Charlotte, NC
Matthews, NC
Arlington, TX
Euless, TX
Fort Worth, TX
|Phillip Brown
Paige Brown
Melba Brown
Noelle Brown
Michelle Griffith
PublicRecords360 is designed to help you safely find people and learn about others. PublicRecords360 is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Learn more about FCRA restrictions. By using our website you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


text:
What did you think of this review?
Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.
The Gogo Inflight Internet is an in-flight broadband Internet service offered by Aircell. Gogo allows airline passengers to connect to the Internet through a system of cell towers on land.
Aircell owns and rents a total of 92 towers that cover North America, including Canada and Mexico, and up to 300 miles off-shore in some areas. The towers are cellphone towers that have been outfitted to point their signals at the sky rather than along the ground. The aircraft picks up the signal through a receiver installed on its underside. Once in the aircraft, the data signal is distributed throughout the cabin via a Wi-Fi system. Customers are required to enter their e-mail address and solve a CAPTCHA before using the service.
Official Site: http://www.gogoinflight.com/gogo/splash.do


text:
Super Metroid
Credits & Info
- Views
- 11,615
- Score
- 4.63 / 5.00
Share this submission?
Related Stuff
Licensing Terms
You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this work under the following conditions:
- Attribution:
- You must give credit to the artist. Please consider sharing revenue!
- Noncommercial:
- You may not use this work for commercial purposes unless you make specific arrangements with the artist.
- No Derivative Works:
- You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.
Author Comments
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Love how you retained the original proportions (before Samus became more "mech proportioned"). The lighting and effects are great. And I really like how you did the jelly-ish membrane of the metroid, really gives the viewer a sense of the texture and transparency of the material. I say if they ever re-release this game, this should be the box art. <3 good job.
That would be awesome!
Rated 5 / 5 stars
after metroid prime 3 Nintendo has FUCKED UP THE METROID SERIES.
The Super Nintendo version is the best!
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Heheh, I was just playing this the other day, and that quote always made me laugh! Great job Matt!
Yeah, I have been playing this a lot lately.
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Great work!
: v 0


text:
Giving sharks safe homes
Scientists help to understand and protect sharks and coral reefs
By Mark Schrope, 00:00 AM November 25, 2009
Small bicolor damselfish swim above a patch of Acropora coral in the Line Islands.
|Kevin Lafferty/USGS
Being surrounded by sharks may sound like a bad thing, but scientists say sharks are actually a good sign of ocean health. Even knowing that, Enric Sala, a marine ecologist and National Geographic Fellow, was a little nervous when he first dived at Kingman Reef. It's the heart of a massive, newly protected area south of Hawaii now called the Pacific Remote Islands Marine Nationa...
Source URL: https://student.societyforscience.org/article/giving-sharks-safe-homes


text:
Pronunciation: Verunglimpfung
Added on: 2011-10-09 Listened: 6 timesin: Add categories to Verunglimpfung
Pronunciation in German [de]
- Pronunciation by JohannaGeisel (Female from Germany)
0 votes
Could you do it better? different accent? Pronounce Verunglimpfung in German
Accents & languages on maps
- Random word: Tragödienregel
by Wiktionary Phonetic spelling:
Not satisfied?
Modify word:
· Add languages
· Add categories
Report word:
Is there anything wrong with this word?
Please report it here.


text:
Catherine Cruz KITV4 News Reporter
Getty Images
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Serena Williams has won virtually everything on offer in women's tennis, so it's no surprise she's feeling relaxed -- in a dream world, even -- about the prospect of setting another piece of sporting history.
The world No. 1 is aiming to win the 20th ...
Nigel Treblin/Getty Images
A pop singer from Sweden won the 60th version of the hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday. Mans Zelmerlow, a 28-year-old from Stockholm, sang "Heroes" to defeat 26 other finalists.
No email address was supplied by
To complete your registration on this site, please supply an address.
Please confirm or modify the email address to which you will have subscription offers sent.
For a more personalized experience, please supply the following optional information.


text:
Letters: water, jobless report, Hurricane Sandy and more
It seems so obvious that the powers in office have been given money from the taxi and bus lobby to keep the San Diego public and visitors dependent on cars, taxis and buses.
If we have to build, why not build in the former Navy Hospital Parking Lot, or in Balboa Bowl? (No Starlight any more, anyway.) How about a structure (if we have to have a structure) in Florida Canyon with a moving bridge across Park Boulevard? I would not vote to build anything, but just to extend the trolley as it should have been extended in the first place.
I urge our new mayor, or anyone else in charge to reconsider this entire project. – Jonnie Johnson, El Cajon
Pointing fingers about Libya
The recent accounting by the CIA ("New details on Libya attack," Nov. 2) may help to explain some of the events which occurred in Benghazi but does not answer all the questions raised especially the lack of military involvement. The CIA's statement was made because the White House through the State Department was pointing the finger at Petraeus. It still doesn't excuse the president and the secretary of state from misleading comments initially made about the attack. Who did order the "stand down"?
Secondly the episode in Mogadishu was another example of an administration playing politics with lives at stake. The Clinton administration failed to understand the danger in Somalia and did want not to have a large military footprint. Our forces there had requested tanks and light armor to support their mission. Unfortunately Obama, like Clinton, failed to grant additional requests for support. – Peter Malaspina, Cardiff
The aftermath of Mogadishu was a direct result of denial of armor and support requested by command and ground personnel in the planning stage. – Harvey Lee Feaster, San Diego
How about a little fairness comparing and commenting on the Benghazi event and a [National Intelligence Estimate] warning of a terror attack on the U.S. during the Bush years? – Gus Pappas, Chula Vista
Bridgepoint's aims faulted
In response to "Bridgepoint takes steps to bolster accreditation" (Business, Nov. 6): The math is nauseating. Using the figures in this article, $31 million per quarter, translates to $124 million annually.
At least 85 percent of that is U.S. government tax dollars. Most of that, $105 million, is loaned to students who will not graduate yet they are left with loans they cannot hope cover. Accreditation is Bridgepoint's first priority? How about some humanity for the thousands of students whose impoverishment that for-profit-college augmented? No charity from the lead administrators who pocket annual salaries in the millions? – R. Larry Schmitt, San Diego
A double standard in Israel?
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' willingness to give in to Israeli demands and forgo the Palestinian right of return ("Palestinian leader makes stunning statement," Nov. 5) is interesting on several levels. First, millions of Palestinian refugees could not participate in the elections, held in the West Bank and Gaza, precisely because they are prevented from returning to their homeland, so he has no mandate to give up their right to return.


text:
- Road to the Kentucky Derby
- Horses
- Racing & Wagering
- Derby Experience
- Plan Your Visit
- Store
Prep Race HistoryDownload Past Performances
|Nov 24 2012
|Remsen Stakes Aqueduct
Todd Pletcher
Pletcher won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver and also trained Kentucky Oaks winners Rags to Riches (2007) and Princess of Sylmar (2013). He won four straight Eclipse Awards as top trainer from 2004-2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014. The Texas native has also been the leading American conditioner by money won nine times since 2004. He's conditioned multiple Eclipse champions including Uncle Mo, Ashado, English Channel, Speighstown, Fleet Indian, Wait a While, Lawyer Ron, and Left Bank – and has saddled a co-record five starters in the Kentucky Derby twice before (2007 & 2013). Pletcher ranks second by Kentucky Derby starters with 40, trailing only living-legend D. Wayne Lukas.
WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing
In 2010, WinStar experienced its first victory in the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. That same year Drosselmeyer, was the surprise winner of the Belmont Stakes and would go on to capture the Breeders Cup Classic in 2011. Their first Derby starter came in 2006 with a second place finish by Bluegrass Cat. In 2008 both Colonel John and Court Vision made a Run for the Roses, as did Mr. Hot Stuff in 2009. They were represented in 2009 as well with homebred Well Armed winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup.Bill Casner (founded Excel Communications) and Kenny Troutt (developed B&R Equipment) partnered in early 2000 and bought the 1,450-acre Prestonwood Farm property near Versailles, Kentucky, and named it WinStar. Bill Casner stepped down from his role and Mr. Troutt now remains as the owner of WinStar LLC. Steve Davison races under the name Twin Creeks Stable with several partners. He is from Louisiana and has raced horses for over 20 years including Louisiana Derby winner and Kentucky Derby starter Mission Impazible.
Dixie Union--Art Show, by Out of Place
Delhomme's pedigree doesn't scream 1 1/4 miles, but neither does it cast a pall entirely over his chances, leaving it as an open question.
He is by Dixie Union, who earned his most significant victories in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell and seven-furlong Malibu in 2000. A few of his top performers have stayed farther than he did -- most notably Union Rags, last year's Belmont winner; Dixie Strike, who beat the boys in the 2012 Prince of Wales; and Grasshopper, close runner-up in the 2007 Travers. Others, like the smart juvenile filly Hot Dixie Chick and turf/synthetic runner Dixie Chatter, had distance limitations.
Delhomme is the second foal from stakes winner Art Show, who placed in four additional stakes and earned $243,500. Most often competing on turf, she was effective from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.
Art Show is a daughter of 1 1/8-mile specialist Out of Place, the winner of the 1991 Clark Handicap and runner-up in the Whitney, Philip H. Iselin and Donn Handicaps. Although very well bred himself, Out of Place did not sire many top-class runners. His best offspring was the millionaire sprinter Nightmare Affair, but some stayed farther, such as turf/synthetic marathoner Free Fighter. Out of Place's daughters are responsible for speedier types like Rightly So and Position Limit.
Art Show is a half-sister to turf stakes winner Pink Pallet. Their dam, Art Student, was unbeaten from three starts and ended her career with a victory in a 1 1/16-mile stakes at Laurel.
Art Student was sired by the influential El Prado, a son of Sadler's Wells who could lend further substance to the pedigree. El Prado, an Irish champion juvenile, is the sire of turf champ Kitten's Joy and the outstanding Medaglia d'Oro.
Powered by Brisnet


text:
ANAHEIM – Call it the Curse of Being Mike Trout.
The Angels star is on pace to hit 28 homers and drive in 109 runs. He's playing outstanding defense in center field, which has led to a Wins Above Replacement – an all-encompassing stat that factors offense and defense – that ranks him second only to Josh Donaldson in the American League.
But the curse is this: That's not quite enough.
In Trout's first two full seasons, his numbers were so good that expectations have been through the roof. That's why Trout's performance this season, particularly this month, has spurred a handful of baseball analysts and even fans to dissect his decline.
Trout has taken notice.
"I don't care what people say," he said. "Some of that stuff doesn't make sense to me. That's their job, I guess, to talk about it."
Mike Scioscia is also quick to dismiss the Trout questions.
"Let's wait until the season is over to talk about where his numbers are," the Angels manager said. "He's helping us win games. He's a unique talent in the batter's box, and he's going to have a terrific season."
It's certainly fair to point out that the season is barely a quarter old, and even if Trout doesn't improve at all from his first 45 games, he's still one of the best players in the majors.
That being said, even Trout concedes that something has been missing.
Trout's OPS in his first two full seasons was .976, which ranked second only to two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera. This year it's .872, which ranks 27th among players with 150 plate appearances.
A slightly deeper look into the numbers shows what's happened. Trout is swinging and missing more often, and when he's hitting the ball he's hitting more fly balls.
Trout's contact rate has gone from 82 percent in 2012-13 to 79.2 percent this season, a modest decline that has contributed to a strikeout rate that's jumped from 20.3 percent to 27.3 percent. He leads the American League with 56 strikeouts, a pace for a franchise-record 197 punchouts. He struck out 136 times last year.
The results have not been as good when he has made contact, either. His batting average on balls in play (BABIP) has gone from .379 in 2012-13 to .342 this season. His line drive rate is down from 22.8 percent to 18.0 percent. His ratio of ground balls to fly balls went from 1.25 to 0.96.
What all of that means is instead of hitting hard line drives and ground balls, he's hitting more fly balls and pop-ups.


text:
FMLY Fest assembles dozens of musicians for DIY weekend
By Emily Eveland
Hollow Boys embrace the dark on third album
By Sarah Stanley-Ayre
10 Thousand Sounds 2014: Behind the bands
By CP Staff
Black Market Brass delivers hip-shaking funk rhythms
By Zach McCormick
For the Love brings hip-hop festivities to Lowertown
By Jack Spencer
Kitty Cat Klub hosts Tourniquet Noise series
By Sarah Stanley-Ayre
Max Gremillion steps into the spotlight
By Rob van Alstyne
The world of Howler's sophomore album
By Zach McCormick
Arto Lindsay
Righteous Babe
ARTO LINDSAY'S ABILITY to conflate and confuse categories lesser mortals consider opposites--animal passion and contemplative cunning, "natural" samba and "artificial" electronics--shows no signs of lagging on Prize. But his sensual, bilingual murmur has become a mixed blessing you'd sooner associate with Luther Vandross than a No Wave guitarist: He has the seeming potential to shut his lover's eyelids in midcoital bliss by dreaming a future of infinite yet ever subtler orgasms. But unless you're a compulsive musical bed-hopper who finds only the unfamiliar erotic, a sexy--if predictable--pop like this will do just fine at sundown.
Having blown his snazziest conceptual moves (retooling Al Green and Prince songs on 1996's definitive Mundo Civilizado), here Lindsay's less broad strokes--drum 'n' bass eruptions, sax glides--please you without seeming to try. Most important, his singing has slipped another notch below his previous punk hysteria, its grain all but stripped of gawk. I've even come to prefer his sonorous Portuguese to his brainy attempts to show himself as the John Donne of the Lower East Side.
Sponsor Content


text:
Book Search
1-2 of 2 results for Author: john graziano (sorted by Publication Date, showing all)
The Development of Political Science
A Comparative Survey
In recent years the history of political science has become recognised as an important but neglected area of study. The Development of Political Science is the first comprehensive discussion of the subject in a comparative international perspective. Offering a wide-ranging account of the...
Published May 19th 2014 by Routledge
Italian Opera in English
Cinderella, Adapted by M. Rophino Lacy, 1831, from Gioachino Rossini, La Cenerentol
Series: Nineteenth-Century American Musical Theater Series
First Published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company....
Published March 1st 1994 by Routledge


text:
Climate Change and Evolution
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Increasing temperatures on the planet might mean catastrophe for some species -- including humans -- but it might present new opportunities for others. Science writer Carl Zimmer explains why researchers believe that some species are already adapting to a warmer world. You can read his article here.
Guests:Carl Zimmer
Comments [1]
If I remember right, Darwin was aware of rapid change in moth populations during the industrial revolution (which brought layers of soot on everything, favoring darker moths). Of course, Darwin didn't know about DNA.
Aug. 11 2009 12:58 PM
Leave a Comment
Email addresses are required but never displayed.


text:
You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Contact Us
Join NACo
Site Map
Privacy Policy
Member Log-in
About Counties
Find a County
County Search
City-County Search
County Explorer
Population Search
County Seats
County Elected Executives
Learn About Counties
Overview of County Government
History of County Government
Research County Names
Counties Work Game
Code of Ethics
What Counties Do
Why Counties Matter
County Government Works Campaign
National County Government Month
Model County Programs
Sample Codes and Ordinances
Legislative Affairs
American County Platform
Fact Sheets & Priorities
Washington Watch Blog
Presentation Center
Join a Steering Committee
Legislative Staff
Policies & Steering Committees
Large Urban County Caucus
Rural Action Caucus
Western Interstate Region
Research Center
Research Blog
Trends Analysis Paper Series
Policy Research Paper Series
Why Counties Matter Paper Series
NACo Publications
Other Surveys and Publications
Media Center
County News
News Releases
Media Tools
Social Media
Major Conferences
Annual Conference
Legislative Conference
WIR Conference
Events & Information
Event Calendar
Future Conference Dates
Exhibit at a Conference
Education Resources
Education & Training
Conference Learning Center
County Leadership Institute
County Solutions
Practice Areas
CSI Blog
Community and Economic Development
Health & Human Services
Justice and Public Safety
Education & Training
Technology and Innovation
Transportation & Infrastructure
Cost-Saving Tools
Corporate White Papers/Case Studies
Network of Care
Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program
County Administration
Find a Grant
Hire Quality Staff
Awards Programs
Our Programs
Deferred Compensation Program
Public Finance Authority
U.S. Communities Cooperative Purchasing
About NACo
Regional Representatives
Board of Directors
Presidential Initiatives
Committees and Caucuses
State Associations
Affiliated Associations
Mission & Vision
How to Join NACo
Membership Benefits
Member Center - Get Involved!
Annual Reports
Inside NACo
NACo Staff
Contact/Visit Us
Employment Opportunities
Corporate Engagement
Premier Corporate Membership
Event Sponsorship
Caucus and Initiative Sponsorship
Corporate White Papers/Case Studies
Upcoming Corporate Sponsor Events
Logging in enables NACo members access to Member's Only information.
Your username is your e-mail address. If needed, use the "Forgot Password?" link to access password information.
If you do not already have a username and password, please use the
New Account Registration
to register.
Log In
Email address
Forgot password?
American County Platform
Fact Sheets & Priorities
Washington Watch Blog
Presentation Center
Join a Steering Committee
Legislative Staff
Policies & Steering Committees
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Community, Economic & Workforce Development
Environment, Energy & Land Use
Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs
Human Services & Education
Justice & Public Safety
Public Lands
Telecommunications & Technology
Large Urban County Caucus
Rural Action Caucus
Western Interstate Region
Legislation & Policy
How Counties can Address the Proposed Rule
Latest Updates & Resources
ay 11, 2015
Action Needed on Waters of the United States
April 30, 2015
NACo, mayors, cities and regions support
efforts to protect
April 13, 2015
NACo Supports House Bill to Withdraw, Improve WOTUS Proposal
March 24, 2015
NACo Reaffirms Local Concern About WOTUS Proposal
March 24, 2015
Commissioner Lynn Padgett testifies before Senate Ag Committee on WOTUS Proposed Rule
March 17, 2015
Commissioner Pete Smeltz testifies before House Subcommittee on WOTUS Proposed Rule
February 11, 2015
NACo Testifies Before Rare Joint Senate & House Hearing on WOTUS Proposed Rule
November 14, 2014
Joint WOTUS Comment Letter
, and
November 14, 2014
NACo's WOTUS Comments to EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
November 14, 2014
NACo Urges Feds to Withdraw and Clarify "Waters of the U.S." Proposal
NACo Policy Brief and Comparison Chart -- Analysis of "Waters of the U.S." Proposed Rule
NACo Policy on "Waters of the U.S."
NACo Testimony on "Waters of the U.S."
June 2014
"Waters of the U.S." -- Questions to A
August 2014
Estimated Fiscal Impacts on Selected Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permittees
On April 21 the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) jointly released a new proposed rule –
Definition of Waters of the U.S. Under the Clean Water Act
– that would amend the definition of "waters of the U.S." and expand the range of waters that fall under federal jurisdiction.
The public comment period closed on November 14, 2014. The agencies will review the comments and plan to release a final rule by late Spring of 2015. The focus now moves to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers plan to introduce and debate legislation to stop the proposed rule.
Read NACo's analysis on how the proposed rule would impact counties
The proposed rule would impact county-owned and maintained roadside ditches, flood control channels, drainage conveyances, stormwater systems, green infrastructure construction and maintenance.
EPA and Corps Documents
EPA's and Corps' Proposed "Waters of the U.S." Rule
Economic Analysis of Proposed Rule
"Waters of the U.S." Proposed Rule - Presentation by Acting Assistant EPA Administrator for the Office of Water Nancy Stoner during NACo 2014 Annual Conference
Waters of the U.S. Q & A
NACo Resources
NACo Policy Brief and Comparison Chart -- Analysis of "Waters of the U.S." Proposed Rule
NACo Policy on "Waters of the U.S."
NACo Testimony on "Waters of the U.S."
June 2014
"Waters of the U.S." -- Questions to A
August 2014
Estimated Fiscal Impacts on Selected Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permittees
NACo Letters on "Waters of the U.S"
Joint WOTUS Comment Letter
November 2014
WOTUS Comments to EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
November 2014
Joint Request for a 90-day Extension of Comments for "Waters of the U.S." Proposed Rule
May 2014
Joint Letter to OIRA Administrator on Process Used for State & Local Consultation
November 2013
Comments to EPA on EPA's Draft Connectivity Report
November 2013
Federalism Comments on the Draft "Waters of the U.S." Proposal
December 2011
Comments on the Draft "Waters of the U.S." Guidance Proposal
July 2011
Other Resources
October 12, 2014
Rep. Goodlatte (R-VA) writes in the
Daily Progress
on the need to ditch the proposed WOTUS rule.
October 7, 2014
Sen. Donnelly (D-IN) to EPA and Army Corps: Clarify Proposed WOTUS Rule
October 6, 2014
EPA and Army Corps of Engineers announce WOTUS comment period extended from October 20, 2014 to November 14, 2014.
September 24, 2014
Letter: EPA's 'Water' Fix Would Create Confusion
September 9, 2014
NACo letter to House Transportation + Infrastructure Committee in support of H.R. 5078
August 18, 2014
Proposal on Federally Protected Water Sparks Local Opposition
August 16, 2014
EPA's proposed definition change concerns county, Thune
July 8, 2014
Op-Ed by NACo 1st VP Sallie Clark: "
Proposed Waters of U.S. Rule Would Drown Counties in Red Tape
June 11, 2014
NACo Testifies on "Waters of the U.S." Proposed Rule
Submit an Op-Ed or Editorial to Your Local Media Outlet
View a Guide for Submitting an Op-Ed
Example Op-Ed by NACo 1st Vice President Sallie Clark, published in the
Denver Post
Educate Your Member of Congress
iew a Draft Letter to Congress
Pass a County Resolution on "Waters of the U.S."
Sample Passed County Resolutions
Have a resolution to share? Email NACo Associate Legislative Director Julie Ufner
Submit Pictures and Maps to NACo
NACo needs pictures, examples and maps of county-impacted infrastructure. Please send the following information, if available, to NACo Associate Legislative Director
Julie Ufner
Currently regulated, county-owned roadside ditches and flood-control channels
Non-regulated ditches, channels and stormwater conveyances
Green Infrastructure projects and brief explanations
GIS maps/layers showing county public infrastructure ditch systems in relation to uplands and wetlands areas
Share these messages with your social media followers to raise awareness of the proposed rule, ask questions and propose recommendations
It's complicated: #Counties are both the regulators & regulated, new #WOTUS proposed rule has huge potential impact
Changes in the definition of #WOTUS will impact #county operations, increase cost & permitting time
#Counties are proud to partner with Feds, states, @EPA & @USACEHQ to protect nation's #WOTUS resources
Changing #WOTUS definition: More Fed jurisdiction = tighter local regulations = more unfunded mandates for #counties
County Infrastructure Potentially Affected
Public Safety Water Conveyances:
Roads and roadside ditches, flood control channels, drainage conveyances, culverts, etc.
Stormwater Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4):
Comprised of channels, ditches and pipes
Green Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Projects:
Includes, but not limited to low-impact development projects (LID), bioswales, vegetative buffers, constructed wetlands, stormwater detention ponds, etc.
Drinking Water Facilities and Infrastructure
(not designed to meet CWA requirements)
: Reservoirs, dams, ponds, canals, large water transport systems (Central Arizona Project, California Aqueduct, Colorado River Aqueduct, etc.)
Water Reuse and Infrastructure:
Includes facilities built to generate additional water supply, their ponds, recharge basins, canals and ditches.
Julie Ufner
Associate Legislative Director,
Environment, Energy & Land Use
Tweets about "#WOTUS OR #DitchTheRule"
NACo on Capitol Hill
Presentation Center
Washington Watch
Policy Positions
Fact Sheets
Conferences & Events
Upcoming Events
Future Conferences
Annual Conference
Legislative Conference
WIR Conference
Key Groups
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Steering Committees
Rural Action Caucus
Large Urban Caucus
State Associations
NACo Affiliates
Information & Data
County News
Jobs Online
Model County Programs
Find a County
Counties Work
Cost-Saving Programs
U.S. Communities
Rx Discount Card
Dental Discount Program
Deferred Compensation
Corporate White Papers
Green Government
Healthy Counties
Smart Justice
Cyber Security
Corporate Engagement
Inside NACo
Presidential Initiative
Staff Listing
Contact/Visit Us
Privacy Policy
© 2014 National Association of Counties | 25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202.393.6226


text:
Japan passes crucial deficit-financing bond bill
TOKYO– Japanese lawmakers on Friday passed a crucial deficit-financing bond bill that will allow Tokyo to pay for a huge chunk of this year's public spending, avoiding the country's own "fiscal cliff".
The bill was a key condition for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda calling elections, now set for December 16, after he warned large parts of Japanese public life would grind to a halt unless the bill won parliamentary approval.
The opposition controlled-upper house of parliament passed the bill with 197 votes in favour against 40 opposed in its Friday session, following approval in the lower house on Thursday.
Opposition lawmakers had refused to green light the bill until Noda gave a specific timeline for calling elections.
The bonds are crucial to raising funds to pay for about 40 percent of government spending in the year to March.
Tokyo relies heavily on borrowing to finance its spending and had been facing a cash squeeze due to political deadlock over the bond bill.
Global markets have been jittery over a budgetary snarl up in Washington that threatens to take the economy over a so-called fiscal cliff, a combination of deep spending cuts and tax hikes that takes effect on January 1.
Unless divided Democratic and Republican lawmakers agree on a new deal, the package will come into effect and likely tip the country back into recession, dealing a major blow to the global economy.
Get Inquirer updates while on the go, add us on these apps:
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
To subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines, call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer's Reader's Advocate. Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City,Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94


text:
It's time for all of us to truly take stock of what's available to us and take advantage of our opportunities.
As for developing a culture of learning in the developing world: why not integrate schooling with shelter, food and safety? This will take considerable investment from governments, but from the K-12 level we can get children to see the school as a place where they're safe and happy. That's how to build a culture of learning in the developing world.


text:
I put Preme in my truck told him leave them streets alone
I predicted jail would happen, shit, I tried to put him on
from Jeezy (Ft. Jay Z) – Put On (Remix) Lyrics on Genius
Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff was a drug lord in Queens in the 80's who later got involved in the rap game by allegedly bankrolling the record label "Murder, Inc." Jay-Z is friendly with McGriff. McGriff never ceased engaging in criminal activity and was convicted of hiring hitmen to kill two of his rivals
In fact, "Murder Inc" was supposed to include Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule (who was being hyped as a combination of Jay and X). Once Jay and DMX realized what Supreme was getting into, they bailed on the project (Ja stayed because he really needed the money)
As part of putting on for his city, Jay tried telling Supreme to go legit before he goes to prison (but Supreme wouldn't listen)
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit Jeezy (Ft. Jay Z) – Put On (Remix) Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


text:
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
The Secret Life of Bees (original 2002; edition 2008)
by Sue Monk Kidd
Work details
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (2002)
Southern Fiction (8)
» 26 more
Top Five Books of 2013 (1,020)
Top Five Books of 2014 (668)
Female Protagonist (426)
Female Author (563)
Books tagged favorites (302)
Carole's List (136)
Great Audiobooks (69)
Unread books (1,301)
Historical Fiction (643)
A Novel Cure (728)
Best Young Adult (328)
No current Talk conversations about this book.
The story had inspiring elements and the characters were good, but I felt the author spent too much time dwelling on the alternate religion these women had created. I also felt that many of the plot elements were too drawn out.
I am lumping this book in with the other 1960's civil rights stories that I have read in the past couple of years, books like Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and The Help. An okay story but it failed to captivate me as a coming of age read like Saving CeeCee Honewycutt did or the more prominent civil rights angle of The Help. It has all of those things and then some but I found it hard to connect with a character who kept on lying about her past and the whole minor romance angle that was thrown into the story, almost as if to provide something further for readers to discuss. I never really bought into Lily Owens as a character. She lacks the clarity of wisdom of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, she doesn't have the same tenacity of [the Help's "Skeeter" Phelan, and while she kind of tries to come across a bit like Idgie Threadgoode from Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, she just didn't work for me as a character. I received the copy I read from my Mom and while I can appreciate that this story received some awards and accolades when it was released, I found it to be a bit of a 'ho-hum' story in comparison to the other books mentioned in this review. There was a fair bit of interesting information about beekeeping I did not know about before reading this one but overall, a good read, but on the 'ho-hum' side.
I just remembered that I didn't actually finish this, so I'd best not actually give it any stars.
Just as good, if not better, the second time around. This novel beautifully brings to life, the Civil Rights movement, broken families, and the fragility of the human condition. Lily, a fourteen year old white girl runs away from home and busts her black caregiver out of jail to go with her. Disgusted with her father, Lily decides that she wants to find out more about her mother, the only clues she has about her mother's life is a portrait of a black Virgin Mary, a photo, and a pair of gloves. On the back of the painting is a note that says Tiberon, NC so that's where Lily decides to go. They quickly discover the origins of the black Madonna, a trio of black sisters who produce honey and honey products. Lily convinces them that she is an orphan with no place to stay and the to are welcomed into their home. Lily falls in love with the three quirky sisters and their bees and starts to think of it as home. But what if her past catches up with her? Does she really want to know the truth about her mother?
A great read. For fans of The Help and Whistling Past the Graveyard.
Sue Monk Kidd has written a touching, coming of age story set in a newly segregated South Carolina in the sixties. Orphaned at age four, Lily Owens lives with a harsh and neglectful father whose form of punishment, beside the usual backhander, is to force her to kneel on hard grits for hours at a time. A pair of white gloves and a picture of a Black Madonna are the only connections Lily has left of her dead mother. Her nanny and surrogate black mother, Rosaleen, gets into trouble with the law when she tries to exercise her right to register her vote. Fourteen-year-old Lily sneaks Rosaleen away from the clutches of the police and they escape detection by living with three black sisters who operate a bee keeping outfit.
This is a moving story of a young girl searching for clues to validate her dead mother's love. The author's style is brilliant and her characters vivid and endearing. After rereading this book twice, I can, with great confidence, recommend it to both teens and adults, and to teachers who are looking for a great class read that will present both the historical and emotional spirit of that era.
Lily is a wonderfully petulant and self-absorbed adolescent, and Kidd deftly portrays her sense of injustice as it expands to accommodate broader social evils. At the same time, the political aspects of Lily's growth never threaten to overwhelm the personal.
Is contained in
Is abridged in
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English (1)
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0142001740, Paperback)In Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, 14-year-old Lily Owen, neglected by her father and isolated on their South Carolina peach farm, spends hours imagining a blissful infancy when she was loved and nurtured by her mother, Deborah, whom she barely remembers. These consoling fantasies are her heart's answer to the family story that as a child, in unclear circumstances, Lily accidentally shot and killed her mother. All Lily has left of Deborah is a strange image of a Black Madonna, with the words "Tiburon, South Carolina" scrawled on the back. The search for a mother, and the need to mother oneself, are crucial elements in this well-written coming-of-age story set in the early 1960s against a background of racial violence and unrest. When Lily's beloved nanny, Rosaleen, manages to insult a group of angry white men on her way to register to vote and has to skip town, Lily takes the opportunity to go with her, fleeing to the only place she can think of--Tiburon, South Carolina--determined to find out more about her dead mother. Although the plot threads are too neatly trimmed, The Secret Life of Bees is a carefully crafted novel with an inspired depiction of character. The legend of the Black Madonna and the brave, kind, peculiar women who perpetuate Lily's story dominate the second half of the book, placing Kidd's debut novel squarely in the honored tradition of the Southern Gothic. --Regina Marler
(retrieved from Amazon Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:23:46 -0400)
Now in paperback comes the intoxicating debut novel of "one motherless daughter's discover of ... the strange and wondrous places we find love" ("The Washington Post"). Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing work is set in South Carolina in 1964.
(summary from another edition)
Amazon Kindle (4 editions)
Audible (3 editions)
CD Audiobook (11 editions)
Project Gutenberg (0 editions)
Google Books — Loading...
Popular covers
3 editions of this book were published by Audible.com.
An edition of this book was published by HighBridge.
Is this you?
Become a LibraryThing Author.