text:
Property Details
House, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5+ Baths, (Sleeps 10)
Barefoot Villa is a new 3 bedroom, 3 full/2 half bath Luxury Villa, located in the prestigious K section of Guiones, on a dead end road just south of the Harbor Reef hotel and a very short walk to Guiones Beach (check out the sattelite map below). Construction was completed in June, 2010.
This house was designed to bring the sounds, smells, and feel of the jungle inside. The walls of the kitchen/family room completely slide away opening up to a large, covered patio that features a second lounging area and a beautiful Guanacaste dinner table that seats eight. Off the patio is the gated private terrace with lush tropical gardens where you can relax in the pool and enjoy a drink on one of the swim up barstools. Or, if you prefer, belly up to the outside bar at the rancho, which also houses an outdoor kitchen, a half bath, an outdoor shower and a full laundry room.
Cook your own meals in the very large, fully equipped, gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, gas stove, granite counter tops, top quality custom Pochote cabinetry, and a large island that seats six, or we can arrange to have some or all of your meals prepared for you. We can work with you to plan a menu, have the grocery shopping done prior to your arrival and have a wonderful local cook prepare your meals. We guarantee you'll love her!! Also, a guest at the Barefoot Villa is a guest at the famous Harbor Reef Hotel, just a few hundred meters away, where you will have their full range of concierge services available to you as well as a tab at their bar and restaurant.
The three bedrooms are accessed via the stair tower on the back of the house. Two bedrooms are on the second floor, each with air conditioning, ceiling fans and a full bathroom. One bedroom, a "second suite", has a queen bed with luxurious, 800 thread count sheets over a pillow topped mattress. A pair of French doors opens up to a private patio with a hammock and a pair of rockers shaded by a large mango tree. The other second floor bedroom is the 'bunk room'. It has a set of 'full size over full size' bunk beds with a third full size trundle below, sleeping a total of six.
On the top floor is the very private and very luxurious Master Suite. Stunning vaulted teak ceilings are complimented by matching teak floors. One set of French doors opens to a balcony overlooking the terrace and pool surrounded by lush jungle. Another set of French doors opens to a second balcony from which you have modest ocean views and can listen to the surf. After a hard day of surfing, yoga, swimming or hiking you will quickly fall asleep in the dreamy king size bed with 800 thread count sheets and a pillow topped mattress. The Master Bathroom features a large, tumbled tile walk in shower, a dual sink, granite topped vanity and a separate toilet room.
One unique feature of this house is the powerful, whole house attic fan located in the vaulted ceiling of the stair tower. Each level of the house can be closed off from the stair tower. In the daytime, with the bedroom doors closed and the bottom level door open, the fan provides a constant cooling airflow throughout the kitchen and living areas enabling one to comfortably enjoy the 'open to the outside' concept of the house. At night, although all the bedrooms have air conditioning, it's wonderful to fall asleep listening to the waves and the sounds of the jungle. Just close the bottom level door and cooling air is drawn through whichever bedrooms have their windows and doors open.
You can always sleep soundly because Barefoot Villa was designed with security as a priority. A security guard patrols the property from 6PM to 6AM as well as randomly during the day. There is an alarm system, two large safes, and all doors and windows have metal security bars. The set of electrically controlled roll down bars across the patio are also a nice feature for families with small children. When they are lowered they prevent access to the terrace and swimming pool while retaining the open feel of the living space, creating a kid safe zone.
The furniture was custom made by the very best local craftsmen using local hardwoods Pochote, Teak and Guanacaste. All the ceilings in Barefoot Villa, including the patio and rancho, are Teak. The floors throughout are quality tile except the Master Suite, which are Teak.
Many visitors to Guiones opt to not rent a car. In fact, Barefoot Villa's location is ideal because it is a four minute walk to the beach and within a five to ten minute walk to the famous Yoga Institute, several bars and restaurants, a surf shop, bakery, gym and market. At the same time you will feel out of the hustle of town because the house is located on a quiet, dead end street with no through traffic. Two beach cruiser bikes are also complimentary as well as two long boards, one 6' fish, one short board, two boogie boards, two 'Beater' boards and beach chairs. A gated driveway and outdoor bodega round out this gorgeous and well designed property.
Come create your own Costa Rican memories at the Barefoot Villa. You won't be disappointed!!!
Keywords: K Section, House, pool, Guiones Beach, Internet, WiFi, Phone, Quiet,
Recent Review
Hidden Gem in Paradise
The house itself was spectacular; elegant and practical, with abundant space for the five of us. Angie has taken great care of ensuring all instructions, tips, local contacts, and everyday living details are carefully documented and accessible. We felt at home right away, and comfortably secure with the comprehensive yet easy to use security system.
Our method of transportation was private shuttle from and to Liberia Airport, and 2 ATVs rented from David at Harbor Reef Hotel for local daily outings. This provided us with amazing opportunities to get to know the local area and beyond, without having to necessarily stay on the main roads. Angie has negotiated a discount with David's Guiones Beach Gear which made the ATV rentals very reasonable and far cheaper than a local car rental. Barefoot Villa also offers 3 bikes, 2 surfboards and a couple of boogie boards which were well used every day.
All in all I would rate Barefoot Villa as one of our very top vacation rentals, in a spectacular and so far secluded region of amazing Costa Rica. We will be going back! I am happy to provide a personal reference, you can get my contact information from Angie.
About the Owner
20 Reviews
5 based on 20 traveler reviews
Hidden Gem in Paradise
The house itself was spectacular; elegant and practical, with abundant space for the five of us. Angie has taken great care of ensuring all instructions, tips, local contacts, and everyday living details are carefully documented and accessible. We felt at home right away, and comfortably secure with the comprehensive yet easy to use security system.
Our method of transportation was private shuttle from and to Liberia Airport, and 2 ATVs rented from David at Harbor Reef Hotel for local daily outings. This provided us with amazing opportunities to get to know the local area and beyond, without having to necessarily stay on the main roads. Angie has negotiated a discount with David's Guiones Beach Gear which made the ATV rentals very reasonable and far cheaper than a local car rental. Barefoot Villa also offers 3 bikes, 2 surfboards and a couple of boogie boards which were well used every day.
All in all I would rate Barefoot Villa as one of our very top vacation rentals, in a spectacular and so far secluded region of amazing Costa Rica. We will be going back! I am happy to provide a personal reference, you can get my contact information from Angie.
Loved Barefoot Villa!!!
Barefoot Villa looked exactly like the photos. When we arrived there were no surprises, which is wonderful after a long day of travel. There were plenty of surf boards, a couple boogie boards, and 4 bikes that worked well. Nina, their cook worked out great and was very reliable. Laura the housekeeper was also very nice. Their english is limited, so if your Spanish is limited (like mine), you will have to be patient =). Also, I felt very comfortable with the alarm system and the security guard at night was great. He would always meet us at the door when arriving home after dark with a flashlight to assist us.
The only thing I think I would do differently next time would be rent a car for the entire trip. I gets dark early (around 6 p.m. and it was the rainy season) so getting around town for dinner was tough. Also, the town is fairly spread out. There is so much to do and explore in the surrounding area a car is a must.
I will be back for sure! Perfect trip for my wild and crazy family!
Also, monkeys will be a part of your stay here. We saw them in the trees at least a couple of times a day right behind the house. They also like to howl nice and loud right before sunrise…it's great!!!
surfers family paradise
Everything was taken care off and it was impossible not to drop my shoulders and relax.
The organised food was amazing as was the kitchen and whole house for that matter.
The area is private and very quiet and a handy scamper down to the beach. For beach loving families you will find this place perfect. snorkling at the southern end of the beach is good, the surf while we were here was fun and suitable for all standards.
The atmosphere of the property matches the area- laid back relaxing and friendly-
The staff were helpful as was the owner Angie who took a personal interest in making sure we had a great vacation and returned our left behinds-
Its hard not to just hang in Nosara but make sure you visit the surrounding beaches- they are just as amazing and so tranquil and beautiful- the high light of our visit
Thanks you Angie- we shall return
This is the place you want to stay in Nosara!
Kindest Regards,
Angie :)
Excellent Trip
You can even have a local cook come to the house and prepare fresh Costa Rican meals. The woman we were fortunate enough to have, Nina, was a great cook and a very nice, pleasant woman as well. I would hire her again in a heart beat!
I don't have any negative remarks for Barefoot Villa or the surrounding area. It was a great experience overall and we will be back!
One last remark which also made the experience terrific was the ease of dealing with the owners! VERY helpful and made the booking process and trip that much more enjoyable because of their willingness to ensure things were as described etc! A big thumbs up to Barefoot Villa!
Such a great trip!!!!
Activity and Interests
Canopy Tour Zip Lining, Nature Tours, Costa Rica has everything to offer for the outdoor enthusiast
Rental rates
|Rate Period
|Weekend Night
Mid Season
May 2 2015 - Sep 4 2015
Changeover Day: Saturday
7 night minimum stay
Low Season
Sep 5 2015 - Nov 6 2015
3 night minimum stay
Mid Season
Nov 7 2015 - Dec 11 2015
Changeover Day: Saturday
7 night minimum stay
High Season
Dec 12 2015 - Apr 29 2016
Changeover Day: Saturday
7 night minimum stay
Mid Season
Apr 30 2016 - Sep 2 2016
7 night minimum stay
Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (USD) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.
Additional information about rental rates
- Tax Rate 13.0%
Fifty percent deposit at time of reservation to secure the dates with balance due one month before check in. Preferred payment method is with a check or wire transfer. Credit card payments are also available through Paypal with a 3% surcharge.
Christmas, New Year and Easter weeks - $4500.00. Presidents Day week - $3750.00
Changeover on Saturdays during Mid, High and Holiday Seasons. Check in 4:00-8:00 PM, Check out by 9:00 AM
Rates are subject to change. Contact us for long term rental rates or with any questions whatsoever!! Thank-you
- 12
- Available
- 12
- Unavailable
- 12
- Today
Property Type
- house
- Away From It All
- Family
- Romantic
- Sports & Activities
- Air Conditioning
- Broadband Access
- Clothes Dryer
- Hair Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Parking Off Street ...
- Telephone
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Wireless Internet ...
- Catering Available
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking Utensils ...
- Dishwasher
- Ice Maker
- Kitchen ...
- Microwave
- Refrigerator ...
- Stove ...
- Dining ...
- Dining Area
- DVD Player
- Satellite / Cable ...
- Stereo
- Television ...
- Video Library ...
Pool / Spa
- Private Pool ...
Onsite Services
- Private Chef
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters ...
- children welcome ...
- non smoking only
- wheelchair inaccessible
- botanical garden
- health/beauty spa
- restaurants
Leisure Activities
- beachcombing
- bird watching
- boating
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- photography
- scenic drives
- shelling
- sight seeing
- walking
- whale watching
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- Babysitter
- fitness center
- groceries
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- cycling
- deepsea fishing
- fishing
- fly fishing
- hiking
- kayaking
- mountain biking
- rafting
- scuba diving or snorkeling
- snorkeling
- snorkeling/diving
- sound/bay fishing
- surf fishing
- surfing
- swimming
- tennis
- 3 Bathrooms,
- 2 Half Baths
- Bathroom 1 - toilet, shower
- Bathroom 2 - toilet, shower
- Bathroom 3 - toilet, shower
- Bathroom 4 - toilet
- Bathroom 5 - toilet, outdoor shower
- 3 full 2 half
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10
- Bedroom 1 - 1 king, Master Suits
- Bedroom 2 - 1 queen, Second Suite. Private patio with rockers and hammock
- Bedroom 3 - 3 double, Full size bunk beds with trundle sleeps six
- King size beds (1) Luxurious 800 thread count sheets over Pillow topped mattress, Queen size Beds (1) Luxurious 800 thread count sheets over pillow topped mattress, Double Beds (3) Double over Double bunk Beds with Double trundle below, Baby Cribs (1) one 'pack and play' crib
- Balcony ...
- Bicycles ...
- Deck / Patio
- Lanai / Gazebo ...
- Outdoor Grill
- Water Sports Gear ...
- 4 beach chairs
- Booking Possible
- Booking Possible
- Booking Possible
- Catering available
- 2 Shortboard, 1 6'0' fish, 2 longboards, 2 boogie boards, 2 'Beater' foam boards, 4 beach cruiser bikes, 4 beach chairs, 2 travel coolers, a few pool toys and floats for the kids


text:
DMV to Internet-less New Yorkers: Get in Line
By Jared Chausow
By Katie Toth
By Elizabeth Flock
City Hid Facts From Feds About Rikers
By Albert Samaha
Flood Wall Street Gets Pepper Sprayed and Arrested
By Anna Merlan
By Jon Campbell
Report Sheds Light on Anti-Muslim Bias
By Jon Campbell
Rikers Island Lawsuits Over Diabetic Care
By Albert Samaha
The Diaspora grows and grows and grows, and in theory the Cuban pianist's omni-Caribbean, pan-African tack bites off more than it can chew. But in practice, on 2002's gorgeous Sentir and the recent Pictures of a Soul, it does the deed. Echoes of Moroccan prayer and hip-hop battle raps float up through the forward motion pulses that everyone on my block would probably hear as swing. And because Sosa's music usually boasts as many passages of keyboard reflection as it does percussion intricacy, there's a perfect calm brewing in the middle of this truly cosmopolitan music.
April 15-17
Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson Street, 212.242.1063
Some saxophonists have a natural vehemence that occasionally pulls your concentration away from the actual trajectory of their solos. You can hear it in a host of musicians, from Sonny Rollins to Kenny Garrett. The Puerto Rican alto player is one such player; his new Ceremonial is built around a fluid sense of swing, but it bristles with earnestness. That ardor seems to multiply when you're sitting in front of him in a small club. His night at the Gallery should be an ear-opener.
May 26-31
Various venues, 646.331.1032
Center at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Mulberry Street and Prince Street
Up and running for almost a decade now, this annual gathering of musicians, dancers, and poets has become the flagship affair for New York's left-leaning improvisers. If you're well-versed in spontaneous combustion and fluent in loftspeak, it's likely you're on the bill. One hundred fifty artists participate in the fest during its six days, and this year's master stroke is the reuniting of the Revolutionary Ensemble, with violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone, and percussionist Jerome Cooper. Also booked are Kidd Jordan, James Blood Ulmer, Joe McPhee, Barre Philips, and Khan Jamal.
Sponsor Content

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The present invention relates to an electronic identification system comprising one or more transponders which store identification and other information in memory, and readers, which capture information from the transponders and write new information thereto, and in which communications between transponders and readers are accomplished using radio frequency signals. The present invention has attributes which make it particularly useful in automatic fare collection systems, where transponders, typically in the form of thin cards and used as pre-paid tickets, are carried by fare paying passengers to replace printed tickets and eliminate exchange of cash. Specifically the system achieves simultaneous identification of numerous transponders by one reader, permits a reader to selectively program any of many transponders under its control, exhibits fast transaction speed to maximize passenger throughput, and achieves exceptional data storage integrity.
1. In a radio frequency transponder system including an input for receiving a radio frequency signal modulated with data, said data including an error check field, a circuit for demodulating said signal so as to recover said data in serial format, and data memory for storing said data, the improvement comprising a first circuit for receiving said data in serial format and converting said data to parallel format, a second circuit for assessing any errors in said data with reference to said error check field and in the event said data is free of errors then storing said data in parallel format in said memory as a succession of pages each comprising one or more bytes of said data.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said first circuit comprises a scratchpad memory for bit-serially receiving and accumulating said data to form a page of said data for parallel storage in said data memory.
3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said second circuit comprises control and error check logic for performing a cyclic redundancy check on said error check field for assessing any said errors in said data, and an address decoder and latch for storing said data in said data memory.
4. A method of transferring data from a reader to at least one transponder in a communication system, comprising the steps of:
a) transmitting a packet of said data from said reader to said transponder, wherein said data includes an error check field;
b) assessing within said transponder whether said data contains any errors with reference to said error check field;
c) in the event said data is free of errors then storing said data in said transponder and transmitting an acknowledgement message from said transponder to said reader for reporting completion of said storing of said data; and
d) in the event said data contains an error then transmitting a predetermined message from said transponder to said reader for indicating that said data has been corrupted, thereby initiating re-transmission of said packet of data from said reader to said transponder.
5. In a radio frequency transponder for receiving data from a reader, said data including an address for identifying said transponder from among a plurality of transponders, the improvement comprising a fixed code area in said transponder for storing a unique identification number for said transponder, and logic circuitry for comparing said address included in said data received from said reader with said identification number so as to thereby ascertain whether said data is intended for said transponder from among said of transponders.
6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein said unique identification number is stored in said fixed code area of said transponder via laser fusing.
7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein said address is encrypted and wherein said transponder further includes security logic circuitry for decrypting said address and encrypting said identification number.
8. In a passive transponder system for receiving a radio frequency signal modulated with programming instruction data from a reader, deriving operating power from said radio frequency signal, demodulating said programming instruction data from said radio frequency signal and in response effecting internal re-programming, the improvement comprising:
a) an energy level detector for detecting energy available in said radio frequency signal; and
b) control connected to said energy level detector for determining whether sufficient energy is available in said radio frequency signal to effect said re-programming in accordance with said programming instruction data, and in the event sufficient energy is available then effecting said re-programming, and in the event that insufficient energy is available then transmitting a message to said reader for notifying the reader that re-programming cannot be effected.
9. In a passive transponder system having an antenna for receiving a radio frequency signal modulated with data a reader, circuitry for deriving operating power from said radio frequency signal, and further circuitry for demodulating said data from said radio frequency signal, the improvement comprising:
a) an energy level detector for detecting energy available in said radio frequency signal; and
b) an automatic gain circuit connected to said energy level detector and said antenna for varying load resistance to said antenna by increasing said resistance when said energy available is less than a predetermined amount, and decreasing said resistance when said energy available is greater than said predetermined amount, thereby dynamically varying loaded quality factor (Q) of said transponder relative to distance between said reader and said transponder so as to provide a wide dynamic operating range of said transponder.
10. A communication system comprising:
a) a reader for generating a radio frequency excitation field;
b) a plurality of radio frequency transponders, each of said transponders being capable of transmitting a message to said reader immediately upon detecting said excitation field; and
c) circuitry within each of said transponders for detecting transmission of messages to said reader by other ones of said transponders and in response delaying transmission of said message to said reader by a predetermined time period, thereby avoiding interference between said plurality of transponders.
The present invention relates generally to radio frequency transponder systems, in which there are a multitude of transponders and readers. More particularly, the invention relates to such systems wherein each transponder essentially comprises circuitry for radio communications and a control circuit in the form of a silicon integrated circuit (IC), in which identification information and variable data is stored, for use in automatic fare collection (AFC) systems, and wherein each fare-paying passenger is issued with such a transponder, typically in the form of a thin plastic card, similar to a familiar credit or debit card.
There are many transponder systems commonly available which use a variety of techniques to achieve identification. However, such prier art transponder systems suffer from a number of deficiencies which make them unsuitable for use in AFC systems.
As far as is known by the inventors named in this application, there is no prior art passive (field-powered) system which achieves simultaneous identification of numerous transponders by one reader, making it impossible in the prior art to satisfactorily handle a situation where more than one transponder is presented to a reader at one time, either accidentally or deliberately. For example, PCT/AU90/00043 (Turner, et al) describes an identification system which employs transponders that maybe field-powered (passive) or self-powered (active), in which a plurality of transponders may clearly be present near a reader, yet the system can only achieve error-free identification when just one transponder is under its influence and therefore this system is deficient when applied to AFC systems and other applications where many transponders may be under the simultaneous influence of one reader.
Active (self-powered) transponders systems are also known in the art, such as co-pending patent application POT/CA91/00147 filed in the name of the same assignee as the present application, which describes an innovative mechanism by which superior simultaneous identification performance is achieved. However, active transponders are unsuitable in AFC systems because of a number of factors, such as: limited operating life due to use of an exhaustible power source in the form of an encapsulated cell; transponder thickness which is limited by the thickness of the power cell; and added cost of the cell.
No prior art system is known to the inventors named herein which permits the reader to selectively write information to any of many transponders under its control, an essential corollary after achieving simultaneous identification. For example, PCT/US87/00466 (Froelich, et al) describes a transponder which employs photoelectric transducers for data communications. There is no consideration given in this reference to the need to selectively programme one of many transponders since this prior art system requires line of sight between the reader and each transponder.
Prior art passive (field-powered) transponder systems are also known which feature re-programmability of data via a radio link. However, such systems operate at programming rates which are unacceptably slow in AFC systems. High speed transfer of data from the reader to the non-volatile memory in the transponder is essential in AFC systems in order to minimise the duration of a "transaction "-- a "transaction" in this context is defined as the sequence of identifying the transponder, reading some information from an area of the transponder's data memory and then writing some new information back to the transponder for storage in its memory--, which in turn relates to the ability of the AFC system to achieve the desired high throughput of passengers each carrying a transponder for fare payment.
For example, GB 2163324 A (Electromatic) describes a field-powered transponder which may have a re-programmable memory. Information for storage therein is presented sequentially to the transponder by a reader using an elementary communications protocol, and the transponder requires time to commit each received data element to its non-volatile memory before it can accept a further data element for storage therein. In this example prior art system, the non-volatile memory is fabricated using electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM or E2 PROM) which is characterised by requiring approximately 10 ms to perform an erase/write cycle, which is the mechanism by which new data is written into the non-volatile storage array. This sequential process is time-consuming, and since in a typical APC transaction numerous packets of date are required to be written, this results in an unacceptably long transaction time.
The present invention addresses all of the above mentioned deficiencies observed in prior art systems, and further exhibits some additional inventive steps which in combination serve to provide an ingenious and advanced passive transponder which is particularly well suited to use in AFC systems.
Simultaneous identification of numerous transponders by one reader is achieved using the same techniques as those disclosed in co-pending application PCT/CA91/00147. To summarize, shortly after experiencing an excitation signal from a reader, the transponder sends an identification message. Without further action from the reader, the transponder sends further identification messages which are separated in time by a randomly varying interval, and that interval is an integer multiple of the time taken to transmit a single identification message. The interval between successive identification messages from a particular transponder is derived from a pseudo-random sequence generator, and the generators in different transponders are not synchronised. Hence, the various transponders submit respective identification messages in different time slots. An enhancement to this prior art technique is described in detail in the body of this specification, and forms an aspect of the present invention.
"Selective programming" is a term which is used to describe the mechanism by which a reader can write data to a nominated transponder privately and without interference from other transponders or confusion over the intended destination (ie. identity of the recipient transponder). This is achieved in the system of the present invention by giving every transponder a unique serial number which is used in defining the intended recipient of a particular data message packet transmitted by a reader. In this way a reader can be in control of numerous transponders simultaneously, each of whose identities is known to the reader through the simultaneous identification mechanism herein described. The reader can thus transmit a packet of data or instruction to a particular transponder by including the serial number of the destination transponder as an essential element of the communications protocol employed between the reader and transponders.
The speed of transfer of data from a reader to the non-volatile memory of a transponder is maximised in the system of the present invention by presenting a packet of data for storage rather than a number of elements (bits or bytes, for example) sequentially, which in turn acts to minimise the time needed to perform a transaction as previously defined herein. Prior art systems such as that disclosed in GB 2163324 A (Electromatic), suggest the possibility of storing information in a programmable memory (an E2 PROM, for example) which may be achieved by a contact or non-contact programming means, but no consideration is given to the need to store a substantial amount of information quickly. Rather, the programming process as described in this prior art system is a tedious bit-by-bit process. In order to address this deficiency of prior art systems, the transponder in the system of the present invention arranges a serially received message packet from a reader so as to present it in parallel to the specially structured non-volatile memory array for simultaneous storage therein. Hence, the transponder of the present invention commits a multitude of bytes (1 byte equals 8 bits) to the non-volatile memory in the same time that a prior art "bit-by-bit" sequential system presents at most just one byte, resulting in a dramatic reduction over the prior art in the time taken to perform a transaction.
Additional aspects of the present invention which illustrate further inventive steps over prior art systems are described in the Description of a Preferred Embodiment, below, and may be summarised thus:
According to the present invention, the communications protocol which supports bidirectional transfer of messages between transponders and readers has been carefully designed to minimise data communications time and thus reduce the critical element of transaction time for the system.
The transponder of the present invention is equipped with circuitry that allows it to make an autonomous assessment of the amount of energy available from the excitation field generated by a reader, which, in field-powered transponder, is the transponder's only source of power for operation, this being power that it must also use to perform storage of data in the non-volatile memory. At various times during its operation, the transponder makes an assessment of the available energy extracted from the excitation field and returns a status flag in a message to the reader to indicate whether there is sufficient energy to perform a programming operation. Prior art systems such as that described in GB 2163324 A (Electromatic) teach the use of an energy level sensing circuit to determine when there is sufficient energy available from the excitation field for correct operation in a primary identification mode. However, there is no suggestion in the prior art of important energy assessment measurement performed by the present invention, which is conducted with the specific purpose of determining whether it is viable to commence a programming operation.
In combination with the energy assessment technique, a further characteristic of the present invention is the provision of means for determining, if a programming operation is commenced, whether or not the operation can be completed if the power source is suddenly removed immediately after the transponder commences a programming cycle. This technique is referred to herein as "programming outcome prediction", and overcomes the critical problem suffered by prior art systems of partial data storage caused by loss of power during a programming cycle.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a reader sends information to transponders by applying a modulating signal to the carrier signal which creates an amplitude shift keyed (ASK) carrier envelops. This simple technique is used to permit the design of an elementary amplitude demodulater circuit in the transponder. But this simplicity has an accompanying disadvantage in that the dynamic range of a simple demodulater circuit can act to restrict the range of satisfactory operating distance between the reader transmission antenna and the transponder. Hence, according to an additional novel aspect of the present invention, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit is provided which acts to progressively reduce the quality factor (Q) of the field detector circuit thereby limiting the amount of carrier signal delivered to the rectifier circuit within the transponder's control circuit. This in turn increases the dynamic range of the demodulator circuit and hence the range of distance over which the transponder can operate satisfactorily.
A further aspect of the present invention is the use of a technique termed herein as "transmission hold-off". It will be shown in the following description that the transponder is inherently capable of detecting the presence of other transponders in an excitation field, and can make use of this information to defer starting a message transmission when it first experiences an excitation signal generated by a reader. This transmission hold-off technique acts to further improve the simultaneous identification performance of the system.
A yet further novel aspect of the present invention is the logical separation between the functions of memory elements associated with identification (ie the serial number of the transponder) and the read/write data memory, which is only ever accessed when there is a need to read or write data from or to the memory array. This has the distinct advantage that the control circuit in the transponder can be designed to minimise dynamic current consumption during the identification cycle, thereby increasing the maximum possible range over which the transponder may be identified.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein below with reference to the accompanying figures.
FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c show a diagrammatic representation of a control circuit for the transponder.
FIG. 2 illustrates how the control circuit shown in FIG. 1 may be incorporated in a field-powered transponder.
FIG. 3 illustrates how the control circuit shown in FIG. 1 may be incorporated in a self-powered transponder.
FIG. 4 shows a portion of the data memory and associated logic that provides parallel storage of several data bytes in order to minimise transaction time.
FIG. 5 shows a portion of the control circuit shown in FIGS. 1A-1C relating to automatic gain control (AGC).
Referring first to FIGS. 1-1C, a substantially sinusoidal excitation signal from a reader (not shown) is detected by a tuned circuit (FIGS. 2 and 3) external to the integrated circuit (IC) 1 at input terminals COIL1 and COIL2. The construction and operation of such readers is well known in the art, and no further detailed description thereof is provided herein. The detected signal is passed to a bridge rectifier circuit 2 which acts to rectify and regulate the detected AC signal. Energy level detector circuit 3 serves to generate a power-on reset and other signals which indicate to control logic 9 whether there is sufficient energy for various operations. The operation of this detector circuit is described in detail herein below with reference to the programming operations associated with data memory array 15.
Clock recovery circuit 17 extracts the clock signal from the excitation signal, which is then used to derive timing signals for the remainder of control circuit 1, through timing generator-block 8. Demodulation of modulations in the excitation carrier signal are performed by demodulator and discriminator 4, which then presents the demodulated information to control logic 9 for processing. Security logic 5 acts to prevent unauthorized access to the transponder's data memory 15.
All messages transmitted to the transponder by a reader and all messages sent by a transponder to a reader include an error check field. CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) accumulator 6 serves to assess the integrity of received messages and dynamically compose the error check field which is appended to transmitted messages.
Control logic 9 is combinational logic which functions so as to govern the operation of the transponder in accordance with pre-defined operating sequences, as discussed in greater detail below. Delay generator 7 is used by control logic 9 to manager he simultaneous identification feature of the present invention.
Information received by a transponder contains an instruction field which is processed by instruction decoder 11 to determine what action is required by the transponder in response to each received message. In response to a received message, the transponder may generate a reply message which also contains a message type field and this is generated by a message type code generator 12 under control of control logic 9.
Data contained in a message received by the transponder is temporarily held in scratchpad memory 13 before it may be written to data memory array 15 via address decoder and latch 14. Data memory array 15 may, for example, be an array of CMOS E2 PROM cells, which requires a relatively higher voltage for writing than reading. This voltage is produced by charge pump 16. Scratchpad memory 13 also serves to queue data fetched from data memory array 15 via address decoder and latch 14 during a data fetch cycle.
During the identification cycle which is entered shortly after the transponder experiences an excitation signal from the reader, control logic 9 accesses a special fixed code area 10 which holds the transponder's serial number and other key information, without any need for control logic 9 to access data memory array 15, thus saving dynamic power.
Data and other information to be transmitted by the transponder is routed via control logic 9 to modulation switch 18, which functions to vary the current in the external tuned circuit (not shown) and thereby convey information and data to the reader.
FIG. 2 shows a simple representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein control circuit 1 is employed in a field-powered transponder. In this configuration, the only power for operation is derived from the excitation field generated by the reader (not shown). Detector coil 19 and capacitor 20 form a parallel tuned circuit whose resonant frequency is equal to the frequency of the excitation signal generated by the reader.
Although tuning coil 19 and capacitor 20 are shown as discrete components and not as part of the IC 1, it is well known that such components can be fabricated on-chip, but this does not in any way affect the operation of the present invention.
The substantially sinusoidal signals transmitted by the reader and detected by the tuned circuit comprising detector coil 19 and capacitor 20 deliver a substantially sinusoidal signal to IC 1 at terminals COIL1 and COIL2. In this field-powered mode of operation, the transponder circuit comprising coil 19, capacitor 20 and control circuit 1 operates in the manner described in greater detail below, without need for any additional components or power source.
FIG. 3 shows a self-powered transponder, comprising detector coil 19 and tuning capacitor 20, which detects and delivers signals generated by a reader (not shown) to control circuit 1. The control circuit 1 is powered by primary cell 21, which may for example be a lithium manganese-dioxide chemistry cell capable of delivering a nominal terminal voltage of 3V.
Transmitter 22 is used by control circuit 1 to send response signals to the reader via antenna 23. Transmitter circuit 22 is controlled by control circuit 1 via two signals generated at output pins labelled TxON and MOD, which prompt the transmitter circuit to enter a power-up or power-down condition and provide a modulating signal for carrier modulation. It should be noted that the transmitter in this configuration of control circuit 1 is powered from cell 21 under control of IC 1 so that the power required by the transmitter is drawn from cell 21 rather than from the excitation field generated by the reader, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2. The design of the transmitter 22 is well known and conventional, and is capable of providing an identification system in accordance with application demands, without affecting the principles of operation of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a portion of data memory 15 and control logic 9 of control circuit 1, which provides parallel storage of a large number of data bytes. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, data memory 15 has an architecture of 16 byte wide "pages" with a number "n" of such pages being stored in the data memory array. Data is received by the transponder bit-serially from the reader and is shifted into the scratchpad memory 13. Before data writing to data memory array 15 commences, 16 bytes of data are accumulated in scratchpad memory 13, assessed for errors by control logic 9 and CRC accumulator 6 (shown in FIGS. 1A-1C), and If the data is error free the data is then presented to data memory array 15 via address decoder and latch 14.
The time taken to store the accumulated 16 bytes of data in data memory array 15 is equal to the time that would be required to store just one byte in a prior art sequential storage system, so in practice the method disclosed herein produces a storage time per byte that is 1/16th of the time required to store 1 byte in a prior art sequential system.
The communications protocol between reader and transponder of the present invention accommodates block transfer of data so that once a 16 byte page of data has been sent to a transponder and determined to be error free following it s receipt, there is only one acknowledgement required for this block of 16 bytes, in contrast to prior art sequential systems which typically have an acknowledgment from transponder to reader following receipt of each individual data byte in a data packet.
FIG. 5 shows a portion of control circuit 1 (shown in full in FIGS. 1A-1C) for implementing the AGC function of the present invention for limiting the amount of signal extracted from the field generated by the reader and delivered to remainder of control circuit 1 for operation. AGC element 24 is essentially a voltage controlled resistance such as a field effect transistor (FET) which acts to progressively decrease the loaded Q of detector circuit coil 19 and capacitor 20.
Theory of Operation
The communications protocol of the present invention has been designed to accommodate robust exchanges of instructions and information bidirectionally between readers and transponders, and particular attention has been paid to the transaction process. To recap, a "transaction" is a sequence of message exchanges between the reader and a nominated transponder, followed by the reading of a portion of data from the transponder's data memory array 15, writing of some fresh information into the data memory array and obtaining a confirmation from the transponder that the prescribed data storage action has been completed. The novel method employed by the present invention follows three simple rules:
1. The reader sends a packet of data to the transponder for storage, including an error check field so that the transponder may make a self-assessment of the integrity of the received data packet using CRC accumulator and comparator 6 in FIGS. 1A-1C under control of control logic 9, prior to presenting this data to the memory array 15 for storage therein.
2. If the received message is error free, then no immediate response is given to the reader by the transponder, thereby minimizing the transaction time. Instead, data is transferred immediately to data memory array 15, and when storage is determined to be complete by control logic 9 in FIGS. 1A-1C, a confirmatory acknowledgement message is sent to the reader for reporting completion of the prescribed programming operation and the new contents of the destination page is fetched from data memory array 15 and transmitted as an element of the confirmatory message.
3. If however the received data message contains a detectable error, then the transponder immediately transmits a special message to the originating reader to indicate that a corrupted massage has been received, thereby implicitly requesting the reader to re-transmit the message packet.
In this way, the overall transaction time is minimised for an error free exchange, since time is not spent explicitly acknowledging receipt of an error free message. Rather, the transponder performs the prescribed data storage task and then reports completion of this operation, and a message which is determined to contain errors is treated as an exception.
The aspect of the present invention described above as "selective programming", is an important aspect in that it allows the transponder system of the present invention to meet the demands of application in AFC systems, or in other situations where more than one transponder may come under control of a reader at a particular time and it is desired that the reader can determine which particular transponder should receive a certain transmitted message packet. It has been stated herein that every transponder is given a unique serial number (stored in fixed code area 10), at the time manufacturing the control circuit 1. For reasons of security and other operational advantages described herein, this serial number is written to IC 1 using laser fusing techniques. It is this serial number which is used by the reader to indicate to any transponders under its control which transponder a particular message is intended for.
Furthermore, control circuit 1 is provided with special security logic circuitry 5 (FIGS. 1A-1C), which encrypts and decrypts the serial number portion of any message transmitted or received by a transponder. By a proprietary mechanism performed by security logic 5, when a transponder sends an identification or other message its unique serial number may be transmitted in an encrypted format. A reader receiving such a message must have knowledge of the encryption algorithm implemented by security logic 5 in order to be able to deduce and include the unique identification and memory access code particular to the originating transponder. Otherwise, the message packet is rejected and read or write access to the transponder data memory array 15 is denied. In this way, dual functions are provided of individually addressing a particular transponder for data reading and programming and providing an encryption mechanism which results in a write-access code that is unique to each transponder, which further acts to advantageously minimise communication message lengths and hence reduce transaction times.
It has been noted that for a field-powered transponder as shown in FIG. 2, control circuit 1 is able to make an assessment of the amount of energy available from the excitation field produced by a reader. This is determined by energy level detector 3 which provides signals to control logic 9 which can thereby make periodic assessment of the amount of energy available for different internal operations. For example, storing data in data memory array 15 when this is fabricated using CMOS E2 PROM cells requires significantly greater power than when reading data therefrom.
Therefore, when control circuit 1 is requested to perform a data programming operation following receipt of an instruction and associated data packet from a reader, it makes an assessment of whether this operation can be performed given the amount of energy available from the excitation field. This is achieved by energy level detector 3 loading the supply voltage delivered to the majority of control circuit 1 by regulator 2 with a dynamic load representative of the load presented during actual writing to data memory array 15. The time taken to store information in memory array 15 is known, as is the power required to perform the data storage operation (ie. charge tunnelling in the case of CMOS E2 PROM). Hence, energy level detector circuit 3 can make a determination of the amount of energy required to conduct the data storage process.
If there is sufficient energy available, then control logic 9 manages the data writing operation in a predetermined manner. If there is insufficient energy control circuit 1 sends a message to the originating reader using the communications protocol described herein.
Furthermore, the aforementioned energy assessment technique provides the transponder with the facility to predict the successful outcome of a data writing operation even if the transponder's power source (the excitation signal generated by the reader) is suddenly removed immediately after the time energy assessment action is performed, since the assessment process is performed on the basis of energy stored in the transponder's energy storage device (not shown), which may, for example, be a capacitor and which may be an integral part of rectifier and regulator circuit 2 or connected to control circuit 1 via a signal input pin or terminal.
In the preferred application of the present invention in AFC systems, the "outcome prediction" capability is a particularly powerful facility since a passenger carrying the transponder and using it as an electronic ticket may pass the transponder through the excitation field generated by the reader so quickly that the reader has insufficient time to complete a transaction in situations where multiple pages of data are to be written to transponder. In the absence of the technique described herein, it would be possible that a page of data may not be properly stored if the transponder is suddenly removed from the excitation field during a data writing operation, resulting in consequential premature volatility of the data. The technique of outcome prediction described herein eliminates this potential problem and provides a system which features reliable data storage under such extreme conditions.
In practical installations of a transponder identification system, the distance between transponders and the reader's antenna for generating an electromagnetic excitation signal, is not fixed. Thus, the level of signal detected and extracted by a transponder will vary greatly as the transponder's position and orientation with respect to the driven antenna changes. AGC circuit 24 in FIG. 5 has been introduced in the present invention to give the transponder the greatest possible dynamic operating range.
Although not shown in detail, the AGC circuit 24 is preferably essentially a voltage controlled variable resistance element such as a field effect transistor (FET) which is designed to act so that when the level of signal detected by the transponder is below a predetermined threshold, the resistance approaches infinity and therefore presents negligible load to detector circuit coil 19 and tuning capacitor 20, resulting in the highest possible loaded Q for the detector circuit and hence the greatest efficiency. When the level of the signal is above this predetermined threshold, a variable control signal is applied to AGC element 24 which causes its resistance to progressively decrease, thereby presenting an increasing load to the tuned detector circuit which in turn serves to reduce its loaded Q and hence its efficiency as a detector.
This has the desirable effect of limiting the amount of signal available to the transponder irrespective of how close it is to the antenna of the reader which generates the electromagnetic field that excites and powers the transponder. This, in turn, means that the dynamic range of the transponder, and in particular its clock extraction circuit 17, is significantly increased in comparison with a transponder which does not incorporate such an AGC circuit.
In the field-powered application of control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 1 is described as functioning not only to receive the power and clocking signal via detector coil 19 and capacitor 20, but also to send signals from the transponder to the reader. However, the transponder circuit operates equally efficiently as a detector of signals originating from other-transponders which may be in the vicinity of the reader. Control circuit 1 incorporates circuitry for recognizing the modulation format associated with a transponder's transmission to the reader, and discriminator 4 and control logic 9 are arranged so as to be sensitive to such modulation patterns. In this way, a particular transponder may detect the near presence of other transponders when those other transponders are transmitting to the reader.
When a transponder first enters the excitation field generated by a reader, it initially determines whether there are any modulation patterns present in that field consistent with those which would be observed when a transponder is transmitting to the reader. Control circuit 1 is arranged to operate such that if it detects patterns which are determined to have originated from another transponder immediately after entering the excitation field, it "holds off" transmitting its identification message until the detected transmission is finished. This serves to enhance the simultaneous identification performance of the system and improve communications between reader and the transponders, and between the transponders and reader.
As discussed above, each transponder is provided with a unique serial number at the time of fabricating control circuit 1. This number is etched into the chip in special area 10 (FIGS. 1A-1C) using laser fusing techniques, and so presents a fixed code. This permanently stored identifier data is conceptually and logically separated from read/write data memory 15. Serial number area 10 is accessed by control logic 9 in a predetermined manner in order to complete the message transmission and reception operations defined in the communications protocol between transponder and reader. Control logic 9 is able to access serial number code area 10 without seeking access to data memory array 15 via functional blocks 13 and 14, which means that power consuming circuits 13 and 14 which are associated with accessing read/write data memory array 15, need not be enabled in order for the device to simply transmit an "identification only" message, comprising serial number, error check and framing fields. This results in a further minimisation of overall dynamic power consumption and hence increased range in the identification mode.
By reference to the preceding description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and to the accompanying drawings, it would be a straightforward exercise for one skilled in the art of silicon integrated circuit design to devise the detailed logic and analogue circuit elements required for the various functional blocks shown in FIGS. 1A-1C to implement the functionality herein described and claimed.
The preferred embodiment herein described and depicted is given byway of practical example only, and it will be readily appreciated to one skilled in the art of designing transponder systems that there can be many possible variations in implementation of such a transponder which permit fabrication of devices that retain close adherence to the operating principles described and claimed herein.
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FOX Sports Exclusive
Palhares a victim of his own history
The reality of the matter is that Rousimar Palhares' late release of a heel hook by itself was a punishable yet forgivable offense, if only it was a single instance. It was not. Palhares is a serial offender, with a record of ignoring the referee's order to release a submission. He did it in an MMA bout against Helio Dipp in 2007. He did it against Thomasz Drwal in 2010 while in the UFC. He did it in a jiu-jitsu match against David Avellan in 2011. Finally, he did it again on Wednesday, when it took him 31 seconds to beat Mike Pierce, and another tick to stop himself, holding and cranking the submission for an extra beat as referee Keith Peterson dove in to save Pierce's knee.
This is his history. Now it is his legacy. Palhares was released by the UFC on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the fastest victory of his career. It was a move that needed to be made to a fighter that has too many times been a blatant rule-breaker.
In the hours since the UFC announced they were releasing him, some observers have wondered what the difference is between what Palhares did and what, for example, someone like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson did in his knockout of Wanderlei Silva, when he threw an extra strike after the referee had already begun to pull him away.
It is a fair question to ask, and the only answer is that each situation must be examined in its context. In the case of Jackson, some punishment may have been in line, but he had no history of troublesome behavior in ignoring referees. You can justify a warning as a fair response to his action. The same is not true for Palhares.
In fact, back in 2010, when the New Jersey Athletic Control Board determined a penalty for that occurrence, it reached its decision partly after reviewing tape from some of his previous incidents.
In that instance, Palhares was handed a 90-day suspension. This time, it could not just be the responsibility of a regulator, because his behavior eventually reflects on a promotion which is still working to establish itself in many countries around the world. Anyway, a similar three-month ban to the one he got the last time would have been almost meaningless in the grand scheme of the UFC schedule. Palhares fought 12 times during his 5+ year UFC career, an average of once every 5 1/2 months. A 90-day ban would serve as nothing more than a standard post-fight vacation.
Any punishment had to be swift and significant, and the UFC acted aggressively to cut ties with him and make him someone else's problem. As a result, Palhares becomes a member of a very small and infamous club of fighters who were released after victories.
The company's decision was a message that fighters must always be in control of themselves and compete within the rules. They must be professional, even though admittedly, it can't be very easy to snap out of kill mode as though it's just a switch that can be flipped on and off. On the other hand, these incidents are remarkably rare. To date so far this year, the UFC has produced nearly 300 matches, and can you remember anyone else who's gotten himself into this type of hot water?
Nope, it's just Palhares, who for whatever reason, seems to have trouble sharpening his focus at important times. Aside from the aforementioned incidents, there was also the time when he completely ignored Nate Marquardt to complain to the referee, allowing Marquardt to knock him out, as well as the one when he dropped Dan Miller and started prematurely celebrating a victory that did not yet exist.
But holding on to submissions is the most severe of his sins, and it has become a trend that could no longer be ignored. People close to Palhares can't explain why he does what he does, but there is a hint in his history in his close association with his former professor, Murilo Bustamante.
Bustamante, a former UFC middleweight champion, trained Palhares and eventually awarded him his jiu-jitsu black belt, and he's known for teaching his fighters to hold on to submissions in a way that leaves no doubt regarding the loser's intentions to tap. That is a philosophy that must be partly born of the infamous 2002 "double tap" fight between him and Matt Lindland, when Lindland appeared to tap to a first-round armbar, then successfully argued to ref John McCarthy that he had not, and the fight was eventually restarted. Though Bustamante went on to win, the experience had to serve some role in shaping his teaching.
Still, Bustamante was never known for holding submissions too long. In fact, few submission artists have gained that reputation, an ugly one that Palhares will probably never find a way to erase.
So much can happen in a single moment. A punch is thrown that ends a fight. A submission gets locked in. A knee can be destroyed. The protection of fighters must always be prized, even in those split-seconds. Not every crime committed within those margins deserves the same career penalty that Palhares received, but at some point, when a fighter consistently proves that he cannot follow the rules, he also proves that he's probably not worthy of fighting within them.
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text:
Minnesota terror suspect deemed flight risk, held for trial
Abdirahman Daud is accused of trying to fight for ISIS in Syria. His lawyer talked in court about the long history of Americans going overseas to fight for causes.
Abdirahman Daud is accused of trying to fight for ISIS in Syria. His lawyer talked in court about the long history of Americans going overseas to fight for causes.
Now that she's finished college, the Eagan woman feels a need to pursue a different subject: deepening her Muslim faith.
It's a sure sign of spring: farmers markets all over the region are opening for the season.
Aiming to trim $341 million in costs from the light rail line, Metropolitan Council staff presented local leaders with about 50 possible reductions. City leaders didn't like what they heard.
Federal prosecutors say the men, all 19 and 20 years old, were conspiring to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.
USI Wireless already has a wireless network and fiber optic lines in Minneapolis.
A day after he was indicted, Minneapolis Officer Michael Griffin on Thursday pleaded not guilty to multiple federal criminal charges, including use of excessive force and perjury.
Minnesota United Owner Bill McGuire is still hopeful he'll win the property-tax exemption he said he'll need to make the stadium financially viable.
The grand jury indictments were unsealed Tuesday, revealing new charges of college financial aid fraud against two of the men.
Monday's game is the first of two exhibition matchups against the Sioux City Explorers. The home opener is Thursday.
By a 12-1 vote, Minneapolis City Council members gave CenturyLink the go-ahead to challenge Comcast for cable television customers.
Many Somali Minnesotans remain mistrustful of the pilot program spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.
Many demonstrators came up to Taye Clinton Thursday to tell him he was a hero.
Minneapolis officials are promising a thorough investigation after protesters say police on Wednesday night sprayed a chemical irritant on a group of demonstrators, including a 10-year-old.
Carver County prosecutors say Reinol Godines Vergara, of Richfield, and Edson Celin-Dominguez Benitez, of St. Paul, tied up and beat Earl Olander to death in San Francisco Township.
Oakdale police were called to Tartan Senior High School Monday after someone reported seeing a student with a gun. Authorities say there were no threats of violence.
A Minneapolis judge offered a flicker of hope Tuesday to the families of five young men accused of trying to join the ISIS terror group.
Advocates hope body cameras will improve police accountability. But the cameras also record people at their most vulnerable. As lawmakers weigh policy changes, here's a look at what cops see daily.
Inspired by a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, Alan Page became a Minnesota Viking and a state Supreme Court justice. He's convinced that young people can solve society's problems.
Mistrust is running high because the government used a paid informant in an anti-terror probe.


text: Publications Search Results Users may wish to consult What's Included in the Bibliography. Results 1 - 1 Results per page: 25 50 100 Sort by: Pub Date (newest) Title Recent Additions Author Clear All Pub. Year Citation 2001 Rubin, Rose M., White-Means, Shelley I. Race, Disability and Assistive Devices: Sociodemographics or Discrimination. International Journal of Social Economics. 28, (10-12), 927-941. Full Text Options: DOI Worldcat Google Scholar Export Options: RIS EndNote XML [1]


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After a week-long road trip to Yellowstone, my wife and I stayed the last night of our journey at The Sunburst Lodge. We are not, in general, "B and B people", but the Sunburst was one of the best places we've stayed at in a long time. We chose the the Evening Star room, which has a gas fireplace and... More
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Sake-Tasting Experience at Nombe
Nombe • San Francisco, CA
Use between Tuesday, June 11 – Wednesday, July 24
What you get
- Enjoy Five Pours of Sake!
- Focusing on Bold, Hearty Tastes
- In-House Sake Sommelier Has Studied Both Domestically and in Japan
Drink in all Japan has to offer at Nombe, named one of the country's best sake shops, where you'll enjoy a sake tasting on your choice of date in June and July. Billed as Yamahai & Koshu Sake - The Stronger Side of Sake, this experience lasts for 60 to 90 minutes and features five delicious 3-ounce pours, all carefully chosen by acclaimed in-house sake sommelier Gil Payne.
Choose from the following offers:
• $45 ($70 value) for an hour-long sake tasting
• $65 ($100 value) for an hour-long sake tasting + food pairing
Fine printREFUND POLICY: This event is nonrefundable. No full or partial refunds are given to customers who miss the event. In the event of a cancellation, your voucher will be fully refunded • Each voucher is good for 1 person • Must be 21+ to drink alcohol • The deal is valid only for tickets on the date[s] of the event as listed and may not be exchanged or redeemed for any other dates • Purchaser may change the name of the individual retrieving tickets up to 24 hours in advance of event via the LivingSocial website event details section; no name-changes or alternate pick-ups permitted without notice at venue • Entire value must be used in a single visit
Sake-Tasting Experience at Nombe
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South Tahoe Wooden Boat Classic Admission
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Thai or Swedish Massage; or Couples' Massage
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text:
definition of Wikipedia
Advertizing ▼
|X Japan
X Japan in Hong Kong 2009
|Background information
|Also known as
|Chiba, Japan
|Heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal speed metal, symphonic metal, glam metal
|Years active
|1982–1997, 2007–present
|Dada, Extasy, CBS/Sony, Ki/oon, MMG, East West Japan, Atlantic, Polydor, Tofu, EMI
|Associated acts
|Past members
|Former members
X Japan is a Japanese metal band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by Toshi and Yoshiki.[1] Originally named X (エックス Ekkusu ), the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They started out mainly as a power/speed metal band, but later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads.
Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,[2] the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei,[3][4] a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked the band at number 40 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[5]
After sixteen years, four albums, and selling out the 55,000 seat Tokyo Dome 18 times, X Japan disbanded in 1997. However after ten years, the band reunited in 2007 and recorded the new song "I.V.". After performing several concerts from 2008 to 2009, including their first overseas show in Hong Kong, the band held their first North American tour from September 25 to October 10, 2010.[6] In 2011, X Japan went on their first world tour throughout Europe, South America and Asia.[7][8][9]
In 1977, Toshi and Yoshiki formed a band called Dynamite in their hometown of Tateyama, Chiba, when they were just 11 years old. Dynamite changed its name to Noise in 1978, while they were still in high school. In 1982, Noise disbanded and Yoshiki and Toshi formed a new band, they named it X while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck. X began to actively perform in the Tokyo area in 1985 with a frequently changing lineup. Their first single, "I'll Kill You" was released on Dada Records in June and the band contributed "Break the Darkness" to the sampler Heavy Metal Force III in November, which also featured a song by Saver Tiger.[10][11] At the end of 1985 bassist Taiji (ex:Dementia) joined X, though he left the group shortly thereafter.
To ensure a continuous outlet for the band's music, Yoshiki founded the independent label Extasy Records in April 1986, and released their second single "Orgasm".[12] Taiji would officially rejoin the band in November of that same year. The songs "Stab Me in the Back" and "No Connexion", for the February 1987 Victor Records sampler Skull Thrash Zone Volume I, were recorded with Pata (ex:Judy) as a support guitar player.[13] Soon after these recordings hide (ex:Saver Tiger) joined as guitarist. After Pata once again provided support, this time at a live show, he officially joined completing the group's first well-known lineup.[10]
On December 26, 1987, the band participated in an audition held by CBS/Sony which led to a recording contract in August of the following year. In the meantime, the band released its first album, Vanishing Vision through Extasy Records on April 14, 1988 and toured extensively in support of the record.[10][12] The band made a brief cameo appearance in the American film Tokyo Pop, starring Carrie Hamilton and Diamond Yukai.[14]
X's second album Blue Blood was released on April 21, 1989 and debuted at number six on the Oricon chart. Its success earned the band the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1990.[15] Recording for the follow-up album, Jealousy, took place in Los Angeles.[16] It was released on July 1, 1991 and debuted at number one, selling over 600,000 copies.[17] It was later certified million by the RIAJ.[18] In August the band performed their first concert at Japan's largest indoor concert venue, the Tokyo Dome. Footage from most of the band's shows in that stadium would later be released on CD and home video.
By 1992 the band's success in Japan made an international breakthrough appear likely enough to warrant the renaming of X to X Japan, in order to distinguish the group from the American punk band X. Around the same time bassist Taiji left the group, with his last concert with them on January 7 at the Tokyo Dome. The official reason given for his departure was due to musical differences. However in his autobiography, Taiji claims he was asked to leave because he confronted Yoshiki due to the substantial income gap between Yoshiki and each of the other members.[19] On August 24, Heath (ex:Media Youth) was announced as their new bassist.
For the release of their next album, X Japan left Sony and signed a deal with Atlantic Records. Art of Life was released on August 28, 1993, and is comprised solely of the 29-minute, heavily orchestrated title track.[20] It debuted at number one, however the band only performed two concerts that year, as each member began solo careers. Aptly titled X Japan Returns, the concerts were held on New Year's Eve at the Tokyo Dome,[21] marking the beginning of a tradition that would last until the group's disbandment. The solo careers continued into the following year, with X Japan only performing a handful of shows.
1995 was also quiet, until November when the band embarked on the tour for their next album. Around this time, the group dropped most of its original visual kei aesthetics in favor of a more casual look. While it wasn't released until November 4, 1996, singles from the album had been released as early as a few months after Art of Life. Though this caused Dahlia to contain relatively little new material, the album reached number one on the charts.[22] The Dahlia Tour lasted through to the end of 1996, with several shows cancelled due to Yoshiki injuring his neck.
In September 1997, it was announced that X Japan would disband. Vocalist Toshi decided to leave the band as the glamorous, success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally, as opposed to a simpler life and career.[23] He later stated that he had made the decision back in April 1996, though it wasn't publicly disclosed.[23] X Japan performed their farewell show, aptly titled The Last Live, at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997, making it the last of five consecutive New Year's Eves the group performed at the stadium.
While reissues, compilations and live footage continued to be released,[24] the members of X Japan pursued various other projects: hide, who released his first solo album in 1994, Hide Your Face, continued his solo career with Spread Beaver, now formally including his previous live band and with a sound distinctively different from X Japan's music, leaning more towards alternative rock. But the new group did not last long, due to hide's death on May 2, 1998.[4]
Toshi has released several solo albums, and has performed numerous acoustic performances for smaller audiences. According to his website, his Utatabi Traveling Concert tour has included over 3,000 concerts, between 1999 and 2003.[23]
Pata and Heath teamed up with Spread Beaver percussionist/programmer I.N.A., who worked on several of X Japan's releases, to provide a track for the 1998 hide tribute album Tribute Spirits.[25] The three would reunite again in 2000 to form Dope HEADz, which released two albums before ceasing activity. Heath is currently pursuing a solo career and Pata is a member of the instrumental rock group Ra:IN, along with Spread Beaver keyboardist D.I.E.
Before the breakup, Yoshiki had already independently collaborated with Queen drummer Roger Taylor on the single "Foreign Sand"[26] and provided the Japanese contribution to the international Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, an orchestral arrangement of the song "Black Diamond".[27] A compilation with orchestral treatments of X Japan songs, titled Eternal Melody was also released. It was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and among others featured The Beatles producer George Martin as an arranger.[28]
Since 1998 Yoshiki has engaged in numerous activities, such as being briefly a member of the pop band Globe,[29] producing singles for the Korean rock band TRAX[30][31] and numerous others, as well as working on his solo project Violet UK, which as of 2007 had not yet published a major release. He has also contributed music to the movie Catacombs and produced the soundtrack of Repo! The Genetic Opera.[32] On May 25, 2007, the formation of the supergroup S.K.I.N. was announced, which besides Yoshiki consists of pop/rock artists Gackt and Miyavi, as well as Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo. The band gave its first and only performance at the Anime Expo convention in Long Beach, California on June 29, 2007.[33]
According to a report by the newspaper Sponichi, Toshi visited Yoshiki in Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on the song "Without You", as a tribute to hide.[34] However they instead decided to officially reunite X Japan. In March 2007, Toshi announced on his website that he and Yoshiki had recently resumed working together, stating that a "new project" would commence soon.[35] The reunion was officially confirmed on June 4, 2007, with Yoshiki announcing a tour (beginning in Los Angeles), "Without You" being released as a single and that he was in talks with Heath and Pata regarding their participation.[34]
The band made its first public appearance on October 22, 2007, on the rooftop of the shopping center, Aqua City in Odaiba, Tokyo, during which a music video for the newly recorded song "I.V." was filmed. "I.V." was used as the theme song of the American horror movie Saw IV. It was written by Yoshiki and recorded with all X Japan members of the pre-breakup lineup, as it utilizes previously unreleased guitar tracks by hide.[36][37] "I.V." was released through iTunes on January 23, 2008, topping the store's charts on that day.[38]
On January 20, 2008 two Tokyo Dome concert dates were announced for March 28 and March 30.[39][40][41] Due to popular demand, they added another concert for the 29th. These three shows were entitled Resume Attack 2008 I.V. - Towards Destruction, with each individual concert titled Night of Destruction, Night of Madness and Night of Creation, respectively, and featured three guest guitarists filling in for the late hide - Wes Borland, Richard Fortus and Sugizo.[38][42] The March 28 concert was aired live on the pay-per-view channel WOWOW.[43][44][45][46] During the song "Art of Life" a hologram of hide (taken from footage of the "Art of Life" performance at the Tokyo Dome in 1993) played alongside the band.[47] Because of technical difficulties, possibly due to the hologram, the first concert was delayed for over two hours and later came to an abrupt end when drummer Yoshiki collapsed eight songs into the performance.[47] The subsequent shows were without such difficulties and during a press conference, plans for a concert in Paris, France on July 5, 2008 were announced, with an intended audience of 20,000 people.[44][45] In addition to the Paris date, plans for concerts at the Madison Square Garden, New York City on September 13, and at the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei on August 2 were also confirmed.[48][49]
The hide memorial summit took place on May 3 and 4, 2008, with X Japan performing the second day. It also included numerous other acts such as Dir en grey and Oblivion Dust, Phantasmagoria and Luna Sea even reunited for one day to perform.[50] On June 8, it was reported that all previously scheduled shows would be postponed until further notice, due to a recurrence of Yoshiki's disc herniation. The Paris and Taipei concerts were re-scheduled, Paris for November 22, 2009.[51][52][53]
On September 15, 2008, Yoshiki held a press conference in Tokyo, where he announced a new, unnamed X Japan song was in the works.[54][55] Concerts for Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008 were also announced. After the conference Yoshiki went on a promotional tour across Asia.[56] On November 7, the French ticketing website Avos announced that the planned ticket sale for the show in Paris would be canceled. Later that day, X Japan released a press statement through their French language website apologizing for the second postponement and announced that the planned Christmas shows would likely suffer a similar fate.[57][58] In early January the previously announced Taiwan concert date was postponed for a second time. On December 31, X Japan performed their New Year's Eve countdown performance at the Akasaka Blitz, performing a set list which included older material.
On January 15, 2009, the band arrived in Hong Kong for their January 16 and 17 shows. On May 1, it was announced that Sugizo officially joined X Japan as lead guitarist. Their first show with him as a full member was held the next day at the Tokyo Dome,[59] where they played "Jade" for the first time.
On January 9, 2010 the band made its first public U.S. appearance by shooting four new music videos in Hollywood. The four videos were for "Rusty Nail", "Endless Rain", "I.V.", and their new song "Jade".[60] In February, Yoshiki confirmed that X Japan will be performing at Lollapalooza in August. Later that month, He announced at a press event that the band would be relocating to Los Angeles, California, with a concert being planned for a "simple" venue in the city area to mark the band's first official North American show.[61] It was also announced that a sixth album was in the works and was expected to be released in the fall.[62]
In March 2010, Yoshiki filed a lawsuit against Nexstar Corporation, for 375 million yen in damages.[63][64] The claim states that after X Japan reunited, they entered a contract with Nexstar Corporation in January 2008, which included the use of some recordings.[63] That initial deal was for 600 million yen in advance royalties and contract money, which has been entirely unpaid.[63] Between 2008 and 2009, the company also sponsored ten of the band's concerts in Japan and other parts of Asia. About 320 million yen in performance fees and merchandise sales from those concerts is due to the band as well.[64] In all, the total unpaid amount is more than 900 million yen.[64] The lawsuit is currently seeking only 375 million yen for the revenue earned from the concerts, but should the case go to trial, Yoshiki's side plans to file an additional claim for the 600 million yen in the initial contract.[63][64]
On July 1, the band appeared at Club Nokia in Los Angeles where they performed an acoustic setlist, and recorded a music video for the new song, "Born to Be Free".[65][66] On July 4, the two founding members Toshi and Yoshiki, appeared in Paris at the Japan Expo 2010 where they performed some songs.[67] During the following month, X Japan and Yoshiki were featured in numerous newspapers and websites such as ABC News, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times.[62][68][69] X Japan performed at Lollapalooza 2010 in Grant Park, Chicago on August 8. In the following days, Yoshiki did a Q&A article with the Phoenix New Times and was interviewed by ABC News.[70][71]
On August 14 and 15, 2010, the band performed a two-day show at Nissan Stadium, the largest stadium in Japan. It was reported[by whom?] that over 100,000 fans attended the two shows with some estimates as high as 140,000 in attendance. Ex-bassist Taiji joined them on stage both nights as a guest for the song "X", he would die the following year.[72][73][74] Soon after, former deceased guitarist hide's management company, Headwax Organization, filed a lawsuit against Yoshiki and X Japan's management, Japan Music Agency, for using images of the former member without a formal agreement in place.[75] The claim states that in 2000 the two companies signed an agreement allowing Yoshiki and X Japan to use visual images of hide during concerts. However, images were used at these Nissan Stadium shows, when apparently the contract was expired.[63][76]
From September 25 to October 10, X Japan performed their first ever North American tour with dates in Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto and New York City.[6] On December 17, Yoshiki announced that a new X Japan song, "Scarlet Love Song", was composed for the animated movie adaptation of the Buddha manga.[77]
It was announced on January 27, 2011, that X Japan signed a 3-year agreement with EMI in November 2010. The label will handle the American distribution of their single "Jade", which was to be released on March 15, and their untitled album, which was set for release in late summer. In promotion of the new album, it was also stated they would be touring extensively around the world throughout 2011.[78]
X Japan performed on March 6, 2011, at "Asia Girls Explosion", a fashion event and music concert that Yoshiki created with Jay FR. It was announced they would perform in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru later in the year.[79]
Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, the band decided to postpone the release of "Jade" until June 28. Yoshiki also decided to auction off one of his used signature Kawai crystal grand pianos, of which all proceeds were sent to help provide aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.[80]
Their song "Scarlet Love Song", was released in Japan on June 8. Their first worldwide single, "Jade", was released on June 28 on iTunes. That same day they performed in London, the first concert of the European leg of their ongoing world tour, which was followed by Paris on July 1,[81] Utrecht on July 2 and Berlin on July 4.[7]
X Japan also performed at the 2011 Summer Sonic festival that was held on August 13 and 14, in Tokyo and Osaka.[82] Their world tour's South American concerts were; Santiago on September 9, São Paulo on September 11, Buenos Aires on September 14, Lima on September 16 and Mexico City on September 18.[8] The Asian leg of the tour brought stops in Seoul on October 28, Shanghai on October 30, Hong Kong on November 4, Taipei on November 6 and Bangkok on November 8.[9] The Beijing show, originally scheduled for November 2, was cancelled by the promoters on October 25 due to "technical and production issues".[83]
In April 2012, X Japan won the Revolver Golden Gods Award for "Best International Artist".[84]
A fast song from the album Blue Blood.
A progressive song from the album Dahlia.
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X Japan's music developed in the wake of American and British glam and heavy metal music[3] and is characterized by driving power metal compositions with symphonic elements (e.g. "Kurenai", "Silent Jealousy") and emotional ballads (e.g. "Endless Rain", "Forever Love").[1][4] Many of the group's songs make use of orchestrated passages, particularly on longer tracks such as the ten and a half minute "Tears", "Crucify My Love", and the twenty-nine minute "Art of Life". The majority of the band's lyrics are in Japanese, the band's native language, however many instances show the lyrics alternating from Japanese to English and back. Examples of this include the spoken-word background vocals during the bridge of "Rusty Nail", multiple lines (including the entire prechorus) of the song "Week End", and the entirely-English "Alive" and "Drain".
The majority of the band's catalog of music was written by Yoshiki with relatively little composition from the other members. hide contributed several songs, including the single "Scars", while Pata's only claim is "White Wind from Mr. Martin ~Pata's Nap~". Toshi's contributions are limited to lyrics for a few songs. Taiji contributed music to a couple of songs, notably "Voiceless Screaming" on the album Jealousy where he plays the acoustic guitar. Heath's only writing credit is the instrumental song "Wriggle" on the 1996 album Dahlia, which he wrote with Pata. Only one song is credited as a full band collaboration, "Easy Fight Rambling" on the 1989 album Blue Blood. In 2010 it was reported that Sugizo has written some songs,[85] though no further information was given.
Yoshiki's composing style tends to make use of chords in sequences of eights or more with riff-based motifs or call-and-response style phrasing. He has maintained this style for the majority of his career as a composer. Having played classical piano since he was 3 years old, Yoshiki claims to be as influenced by classical music as he is by rock, a claim which is evident when considering the breadth of music released by the band. While also serving as the main songwriter Yoshiki has production credit on much of X Japan's later material.
During live performances the band relies, for the most part, on its members (with drummer and pianist Yoshiki and guitarist and violinist Sugizo switching between their instruments) and prerecorded tracks, e.g. for orchestrated strings, spoken word passages, and more recently, some of hide's guitar parts.[45]
The members of X Japan are credited exclusively by their stage names.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: X Japan
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In many ways, finding good health and a sense of connections to ourselves is really a matter of developing good habits; slowly and steadily replacing non-health-promoting habits with new patterns that ultimately help us feel freer and more relaxed.
A bit over 15 years ago, when I first encountered Ayurveda (the healing system from India) I made my first conscious choice to incorporate a new habit into my daily life, and I have never looked back since.
Each morning, upon waking, I drink a tall glass or mug of warm water before I do anything else. It may sound strange, but this habit changed my life when I adopted it, and it is one of the first things I recommend to any student or client that I work with.
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