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Search Results: 'parlour'
In the Mayor's Parlour
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"That's just it," said Bunning. "Well, then? Why shouldn't his Worship come here at night and stick up there as long as he likes? What's against it?" "Precedent!"... More > retorted Spizey. "Ain't never been done before--never! Haven't I been in the office I hold nigh on to forty years? Seen a many mayors, aldermen and common councillors come and go in my time. But never do I remember a Mayor coming here to this Moot Hall of a night, with books and papers--which is dangerous matters at any time, except in their proper place, such as my proclamations and the town dockyments--and sitting there for hours, doing--what?" Bunning shook his head. He was pulling steadily at his pipe as he listened, and he gazed meditatively at the smoke curling away from it and his pipe.< Less
Beinhof Parlour
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A group of revolutionary teenagers living in 90's Berlin attempt to change the course of history by campaigning for an alternative reality, but their success or failure is dependant on forces which... More > appear to be strongly out of their hands. Set at a time of great change in Western Europe in the early 90s, and during the fall of the Berlin Wall, the black-clad protagonists of Beinhof Parlour explore an insular social world absorbed in a love of the past, and passion for changing social doctrines. Questioning ideas of modern youth cults and inner-city living, Beinhof Parlour is a youthful fiction bringing together a host of vibrant characters and independent ideas which are now very much a part of teenage lifestyles in modern cities across the world. Preview here the first three chapters of Beinhof Parlour, as an introduction to the characters, their aims and their struggles.< Less
The Sunless Parlour
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Notes, stories and translations by Lara Biyuts, author of the novels La Lune Blanche (ISBN 9781409299011 and 9781445237596), Forever Jocelyn (ISBN 9781445204062), La Arme Blanche (ISBN 9781446157916)... More > and Silver Thread Spinner (ISBN 9781470988357). "…in a sunless parlour where an old clock ticked in the shadows and a cat slept by the empty grate." (Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited)< Less
Neptune's Parlour
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The Caribbean Islands are a haven for holiday makers seeking sun, blue seas, adventure, alcohol, and illicit drugs. Edwin Crosby an English lawyer is asked to defend a client charged with complicity... More > to murder her husband. During the course of his investigations he uncovers a vast illegal drug network and accidentally stirs up a hornets nest of intrigue.< Less
An Exploration of Ki Meditation
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Drawing on the wisdom of Grandmaster Gedo Chang, British instructor Tammy Parlour reflects on the principles and practice of Ki Meditation. Citing personal experience, she illustrates the modern... More > day applicability of this ancient Korean system. This book is an accessible guide to Ki Meditation training which will be of interest to both novices and more experienced practitioners.< Less
An Exploration of Ki Meditation
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Drawing on the wisdom of Grandmaster Gedo Chang, British instructor Tammy Parlour reflects on the principles and practice of Ki Meditation. Citing personal experience, she illustrates the modern... More > day applicability of this ancient Korean system. This book is an accessible guide to Ki Meditation training which will be of interest to both novices and more experienced practitioners.< Less
Neptune's Parlour a Gruesome Murder at Sea
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An English lawyer is hired to defend a female client who is charged with the murder of her husband in the Caribbean. He is given a series of clues to prove her innocence and uncovers an illegal drug... More > ring that brings the dreaded Mafia into the game. (this novel is unsuitable for anyone under 16 years of age)< Less
The Adventure in Super Smasho Pizza Parlour
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The adventure starts when a boy named Jeff daydreams in class. He ends up battling bizarre characters from his favorite video game.
Gaia's Beauty Parlour: 101 Homemade Beauty Recipes
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We are living in interesting times with state of the art beauty technologies and all kinds of synthetic artificial compounds. Never have there been so many different cosmetic products as there are... More > today. But at what cost? Are they all beneficial? Haven't we drifted too far from Nature? Learn how to prepare your own beauty remedies at home using only ingredients from Mother Nature. Making our own natural cosmetics can be fun, easy and effective. Because Gaia knows best!< Less
Parlour Games from Polyhedron Games LLC
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A Day at the Races, Leapfrog, Train in a Cup, Suits, Pickle Frenzy, Plates & Stones
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North Carolina Auto...
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College Algebra: A...
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All That Glisters and...
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UMass Dartmouth Engaged...
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Finding Meaning with...
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10 Rules For Radicals
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Reformation and Revival...
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Vision Changes Lives: A...
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Analog-valued floating-gate transistors are used as trimmable circuit components for modifying and/or controlling the gain, phase, offset, frequency response, current consumption, and/or transfer function of signal pathways in parallel and/or serial processing circuits in radio frequency, analog, or mixed-signal integrated circuits.
1. A parallel-configured image-reject receiver, comprising:
a receiver input node;
a receiver output node;
a first quadrature downconversion mixer having an input electrically coupled to the receiver input node, a first output and receiving a first local oscillator (LO) signal from a first LO block;
a second quadrature downconversion mixer having an input electrically coupled to the receiver input node, a second output and receiving a second LO signal from said first LO block, said second LO signal differing in phase from said first LO signal by 90 degrees;
a third quadrature downconversion mixer having an input electrically coupled to said first output, a third output and receiving a third LO signal from a second LO block;
a fourth quadrature downconversion mixer having an input electrically coupled to said second output, a fourth output and receiving a fourth LO signal from said second LO block, said fourth LO signal differing in phase from said third LO signal by 90 degrees; and
a summing junction having a first input electrically coupled to said third output, a second input electrically coupled to said fourth output, and a summing junction output node connected to the receiver output node,
said first, second, third and fourth quadrature downconversion mixers each including at least one floating gate, the charge on which adjusts the phase of the respectively received LO signal.
2. The parallel-configured image-reject receiver of
3. The parallel-configured image-reject receiver of
4. The parallel-configured image-reject receiver of
5. The parallel-configured image-reject receiver of
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/268,116, filed on Oct. 8, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,187,237, entitled "Use of Analog-Valued Floating-Gate Transistors for Parallel and Serial Signal Processing" in the name of the same inventors and commonly owned herewith.
The present invention is directed to the use of analog-valued floating-gate transistors as trim devices in parallel and serial signal processing circuits.
In order to efficiently process high-bandwidth or high-dynamic range signals, designers often employ serial or parallel processing methods. Parallel processing is a technique in which a signal, or some portion of a signal, is introduced into two or more signal paths and processed simultaneously by the plural signal paths. Parallel processing allows the use of many subcircuits, each with potentially relaxed specifications, to perform the signal processing work of a single circuit with possibly more stringent specifications. Parallel signal processing provides many benefits, but it also raises some unique challenges. The parallel paths must have tightly controlled characteristics to provide the coordination necessary for efficient operation. A recombination operation usually follows parallel processing, and the accuracy and purity of the final result depends on having known and controlled characteristics in each of the parallel signal paths. Serial signal processing is a method utilizing a cascade of processing stages. A signal propagates from the output of one stage to the input of the next, and is usually modified in some way at each stage. Serial processing provides many of the benefits of parallel processing through the relaxation of requirements at each stage to meet a given overall performance goal. The challenges of maintaining well-controlled characteristics that apply to parallel signal processing are also relevant in serial signal processing. In order to efficiently process signals, the stages must have known and consistent behavior.
Parallel signal processing is a technique well-suited to implementation in an integrated circuit. Advantages of higher levels of integration include the ability to construct many circuits in a small physical space. Digital circuits have benefited greatly from technology advancements that enable higher levels of integration. Unfortunately, the performance of analog integrated circuits has generally not kept pace with the improvements seen by digital circuits. One way to improve analog circuit performance, while taking advantage of higher levels of circuit integration, is to utilize parallel processing techniques. By employing multiple circuits, properly coordinated, with outputs suitably combined, significant performance improvement is possible.
Serial signal processing is an established and well-known technique for modifying the parameters of a signal by passing it through a series of processing stages.
While providing many benefits, serial signal processing has some disadvantages. Errors in the processing of a signal in a serial system are cumulative. If a signal is corrupted in a stage of the system, the corrupted version of the signal propagates through subsequent stages of the system. This signal corruption may lead to increased power draw, reduced gain, further corruption due to mixing effects, or undesired system performance. Serial processing systems that employ feedback paths must have controlled and predictable characteristics of the feedback signals in order to ensure system stability. It is imperative, then, for each stage in a serial signal processing system to have well-controlled characteristics.
Many applications call for a combination of parallel and serial processing methods. Each of the signal paths in a parallel processor may include a cascade of stages in series, or a serial processing system may incorporate one or more stages utilizing parallel processing techniques. The design of a system with any combination of serial and parallel processing must consider all of the attributes of each method. The requirement for well-controlled signal response is especially relevant in systems employing a combination of parallel and serial methods.
In conventional integrated circuit design, engineers construct circuits from transistors, resistors, capacitors, and other standard circuit elements. These circuit elements have variances in their respective circuit parameters. For example, transistors have variances in their threshold voltage, width, and length. These variances are due in part to process and temperature gradients. Minimizing the error in parallel and serial circuits requires reducing the effects of these variances. Many techniques for reducing these effects are known in the art, including using large transistors, using lasers to trim resistors, using capacitors to dynamically match devices in response to on-chip error signals, and the like. In general, these approaches have significant disadvantages. For example, large transistors require large currents to operate at high speeds, consume relatively large amounts of die area and power, and do not compensate for temperature- or aging-induced errors. Likewise, using lasers to trim resistors necessitates large resistors, a time-consuming laboratory laser trim process, and again does not compensate temperature- or aging-induced errors. Using capacitors to dynamically trim circuit elements requires wideband error-feedback loops and relatively frequent updates due to the fact that most on-chip capacitors leak due to the thermal generation of carriers in pn junctions.
Consequently, there is a compelling need for a simple and compact means to trim circuit elements on chip, at a slow and deliberate rate, without rapid leakage or the need for frequent calibration updates.
Analog-valued floating-gate transistors are used as trimmable circuit components for modifying and/or controlling the gain, phase, offset, frequency response, current consumption, and/or transfer function of signal pathways in parallel and/or serial processing circuits in radio frequency, analog, or mixed-signal integrated circuits.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention.
In the drawings:
Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of the use of analog-valued floating-gate transistors as trim devices in parallel and serial signal processing circuits. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The present invention pertains to the use of analog-valued floating-gate MOSFETs as trim devices to control or modify the electrical characteristics of the signal paths in parallel and/or serial signal processing circuits in order to accurately establish and maintain a desired signal response. It is applicable in RF (radio frequency), analog, and/or mixed-signal circuits such as amplifiers, mixers, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, analog filters, oscillators and the like. Such circuits are commonly applicable to telecommunications, signal processing, wireless communications, data storage and retrieval, instrumentation and the like. It provides an entirely new means for control of signal transfer characteristics: by adjusting the transistors themselves. It is not limited to any particular application, but instead is a general approach for performing circuit characteristic matching in parallel and/or serial RF, mixed signal or analog CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) integrated circuits.
Diorio et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,512 describe a p-channel floating-gate MOSFET (pFET) whose input-output characteristics can be continuously adjusted during normal transistor operation by adding electrons to or removing electrons from the floating gate. These kinds of pFETs are used in the present invention to reduce or eliminate error, inaccuracy, or distortion in parallel and/or serial RF, mixed-signal, and/or CMOS integrated circuits.
Two key attributes of analog-valued floating-gate MOSFETs (described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,990,512 and 6,125,053) are: (1) their operating characteristics can be adjusted after circuit fabrication, and (2) such adjustments are stored in a nonvolatile manner that can last for months or years without subsequent intervention. With these devices feedback techniques can be used to tune or trim individual transistors within an integrated circuit after circuit fabrication and one can be assured that the trim will not be lost by rapid leakage or other mechanisms. In this manner parallel or serial signal processing circuits can now be built in accordance with the techniques taught herein that can be adjusted for optimal performance using either off-chip or on-chip calibration loops, either once (typically at beginning of circuit life), occasionally (as required), or continuously during circuit operation. The ability to make these adjustments improves performance in parallel or serial circuits by maintaining consistent and controlled circuit behavior according to design parameters and by reducing errors due to device mismatch regardless of whether the mismatch manifests itself as gain errors, offset errors, phase-response errors, current consumption errors, frequency-response errors, or transfer-function errors. Trimming individual transistors on a one-time, occasional or a continuous basis greatly expands the applicability of parallel or serial analog signal-processing techniques, because trimming can remove mismatch-induced errors that could otherwise impair performance.
Using analog-valued MOSFETs as trim devices allows precise control over (1) gain, (2) offset, (3) phase response, (4) current consumption, (5) frequency response, and (6) transfer function in signal-processing circuits.
A floating-gate transistor, as it pertains to the present invention, is a conventional transistor with the following additional attributes: (1) nonvolatile analog weight storage, (2) locally computed bidirectional weight updates, and (3) simultaneous memory reading and writing. Floating-gate transistors use floating-gate charge to represent the nonvolatile analog weight, electron tunneling and hot-electron injection to modify the floating-gate charge bidirectionally, and allow simultaneous memory reading and writing by nature of the mechanisms used to write the memory. Various versions of a pFET floating-gate transistor may be used, for example, single poly versions of the pFET floating-gate transistor may be used.
The floating-gate transistor of
Key features of this floating-gate transistor are (A) the readout transistor remains a fully functional p-channel MOSFET; (B) high voltages applied to the tunneling junction tunnel electrons off the floating gate; (C) large drain-to-source voltages cause IHEI at the drain, injecting electrons onto the floating gate.
In accordance with the
Another example application of the present invention is a flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 280, as illustrated in the system block diagram of
FIGS; 7D and 7E are electrical schematic diagrams of example circuits 70 and 72, respectively, utilizing the resistive circuit element 68 of
The variable-gain amplifier of
These three versions of the trimmable R-C filter can be varied according to needs of either phase or frequency response.
Turning now in detail to
By combining the output power of two amplifiers, as illustrated in
Turning now to
In practice, the two outputs of each LO will not be in perfect quadrature due to manufacturing variations and thermal effects. Gain of the two paths will be slightly different for the same reason. As phase departs from quadrature, and as gain mismatch grows, system performance rapidly degrades because of interference from the unwanted sideband. In order to optimize and maintain system performance, it is desirable to have the ability to adjust the gain of the signal paths and the phase of the LO signals.
Yet another example application of an embodiment of the present invention is a channelized receiver as shown in
The efficiency and accuracy of the processing performed on the individual channels are dependent on the frequency response characteristics of the channelizing filter 364. A high-quality, precisely tuned channel filter will maximize the power of the desired signal, while minimizing the power of interfering signals entering the receiver path, resulting in superior sensitivity and reduced distortion. If high-quality channel filters are available, then implementing a channelized receiver in a parallel system can result in a wide-bandwidth, high data rate system with enhanced efficiency and reduced circuit dynamic range requirements compared to a non-parallel implementation. Analog-valued floating-gate MOSFETs provide a means for constructing tunable filters which are capable of reducing effects of manufacturing variation, as well as adapting to changing temperature or signal conditions.
Using adjustable transistors to improve the performance of parallel or serial systems presents several advantages over other techniques.
The present invention is advantageous over the prior art process of laser trimming or fusible link formation/destruction because adjusting the transistors themselves allows continuous calibration during a circuit's life, whereas laser trimming or fusible links typically are one-time factory trims. Also, adjustable transistors are generally much smaller than trimmable resistors or fusible links, saving circuit area and in some cases increasing circuit speed and/or power consumption (trim resistors and fusible links have relatively large parasitic capacitance, requiring large currents to change their voltage rapidly).
The present invention is advantageous over using trim capacitors and/or dynamic element matching because floating-gate MOSFETs have near-zero charge leakage, so the update rates required to maintain calibration are set by circuit dynamics rather than by charge leakage. Update rates ranging from millihertz to kilohertz are supportable. By contrast, traditional trim capacitors have significant leakage that increases with temperature. Consequently, applications that use traditional trim capacitors require rapid trimming (i.e. kilohertz rates or faster), often causing high-frequency spurious signals that interfere with the signal of interest. Likewise, dynamic element matching, that randomizes mismatch errors by continually swapping elements into and out of different parts of a circuit, must also operate at rapid switching rates. If an application requires only a few trim devices, then rapid updates pose no major issue. However, if an application requires hundreds or thousands of trim devices, rapid updates aren't feasible due to the sheer number of updates required. Floating-gate devices have significant advantage in these applications.
The present invention is advantageous over prior art EEPROM (electrically eraseable programmable read-only memory), Flash Memory and similar memory devices because such memory, when used to store trimming information for analog circuits presents two disadvantages. First, because the stored information is digital, converting it into an analog quantity requires a DAC. Using a DAC to generate analog trim values consumes much more silicon die area than using analog-valued floating-gate MOSFETs. Second, because such memories store digital values, any updates to the trim information must also be digital and thereby may require an analog to digital converter (ADC) to store the information.
The present invention is advantageous over digital calibration. Digital calibration simply means tolerating any errors in the analog circuitry, and reducing the impact of these errors (digitally) at a later point in the system. For example, given an ADC with a transfer-function nonlinearity, digital calibration seeks to eliminate the nonlinearity by multiplying the ADC output by the inverse nonlinearity. Although this approach works in selected applications, a primary issue with analog errors is that they cause information loss, and no amount of digital correction can recover the lost information. For example, if an ADC has a missing code (a situation in which two of the ADC codewords overlap), then the ADC cannot resolve an analog value that falls at the missing code location regardless of any subsequent digital processing. By contrast, using analog-valued floating gates to trim the ADC to eliminate its missing code solves the problem completely.
The present invention is advantageous over intrinsic matching. Intrinsic matching is a well-known technique for eliminating transistor mismatch errors, and basically involves making the transistors in a system large enough so that any statistical errors are negligibly small compared with the large transistors. A clear disadvantage of large transistors is that they consume large silicon die area, and also tend to consume more power because designers put more current through them to compensate for the added parasitic capacitance. Using analog-valued floating-gate MOSFETs to dynamically improve transistor matching saves silicon die area and reduces power compared with static trimming.
While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. For example, it is to be noted that while the present invention may be implemented in a single well single poly process and will work with low voltage processes (e.g., <=3 volts), the invention is not so limited and can be implemented in processes that support multiple polysilicon layers, multiple wells, and/or in higher voltage devices. The invention is also intended for use with single-ended signals as well as differential signals. Furthermore, the concept of an n-well as used herein is intended to encompass not only conventional n-well devices, but also NLDD (N-type Lightly Doped Drain) devices and other lightly doped, or isolated structures that increase the reliable gate-drain and drain-source voltages of the device so that it, in effect, behaves like a conventional n-well device in this respect. It may also be implemented in thin film above the substrate with equivalent thin film structures. Finally, those of ordinary skill in the art will now recognize that floating gate may be fabricated in a number of ways other than by using polycrystalline silicon. For example, they may be fabricated of metal or other suitable conductors. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
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Washed Up is a sexist.
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Washed Up is a sexist.
What makes her despicable? I find her to be an attractive lady. I also agree with Chance that what she is doing now is better than running for office. But yes, it was funny.
I sure hope the R's can come up with someone better than Palin in 2012, or we'll be treated to another 4 years of Obama. Palin is about right for a small-town mayor, but she is completely out of her element in any geo-political or complicated economic discussion.
McCain choosing Palin was the nail in the coffin for his campaign. His choice of Palin made most people question his judgement, if not his sanity.
Either way, regarding the video, it wasn't COlbert's best work, but it was still pretty funny. The Limbaugh bit near the end was the best, since he was clearly doing the same thing Emanuel did (and to be perfectly clear, I have no problem with what Emanuel or Rush said). That said, I feel like lately Colbert has been losing his fastball, and Jon Stewart has retaken his spot as the funnier of the two. Still, bot are very talented political satirists.
Every politican starting with Reagan uses the teleprompter. No one can think on their feet anymore. The Bushes & Clinton relied on it heavily.
Palin @ the Tea Party Convention is just the bought & sold part of the GOP trying to hijack a true grass roots movement.
Arguing the current political climate in DC is liek arguing about how you wanna die.
These guys are well invested in all the companies that lobby them: big Oil, Big Pharma, Insurance companies, Defense Contractors. It don't matter whether it's Palin,Bush, Obama or Biden. Your freedoms are going out the window while they get fat.
Colbert is funny but those guys still just wlak the party lineS.
Palin @ the Tea Party Convention is just the bought & sold part of the GOP trying to hijack a true grass roots movement.
Too late; the Tea Party just lost it's legitimacy as a grass roots movement with a expensive plate dinner, and a perhaps a future GOP candidate for POTUS.
That thing sure did fizzle as a true movement, to just another wing of a political party in hurry. On the otherhand they have replaced the social conservatives as the wing of the party that all Republicans must bow down to in the future..... that is probably a good thing.


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Annual community blood screenings Aug. 19-23
Date posted: July 29, 2013
SHERIDAN — Sheridan Memorial Hospital will offer its annual community blood draw and screenings Aug. 19-23.
The blood draws will be from 6-10 a.m. in the hospital lobby.
The appointment phone line opens Thursday. Appointments can be made from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays by calling 672-1196.
You can also register online at www.sheridanhospital.org starting Thursday.
Tests offered include blood chemistry/lipid-direct LDL, complete blood count, prostate specific antigen, hemoglobin A1C, vitamin D, celiac/sprue (gluten) and vitamin B-12 and folate.
Test costs range from $15 to $50.
The screenings are offered at a reduced rate, so cash or check is required at the time of service.
The screenings are not covered by Medicare.
In September, blood draw results will be mailed directly to each participant.
Copyright © 2015 The Sheridan Press or Sheridan Newspapers, Inc.
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Public wants to save Brooker Creek Preserve from sports fields
Seán Kinane
WMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday | Listen to this entire show:
Public wants to save Brooker Creek Preserve from sports fields
Seán Kinane
Yesterday in Clearwater, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners held a public meeting to discuss issues and policies related to Brooker Creek Preserve. One contentious topic was the proposed construction of ball fields on land that is currently forested. Forty members of the public signed up to speak for three minutes each. The first twenty-five opposed the construction of any ballparks within Brooker Creek Preserve. WMNF's Seán Kinane reports.Pinellas county has promised a group called East Lake Youth Sports Association that several sports fields would be built within Brooker Creek Preserve, but citizens are fighting that plan. The county is exploring some other possibilities for sports fields besides the Preserve. One alternative was to share ball fields that already exist at nearby schools. Another alternative is to construct them at the site of a vacant lot owned by the School Board at the corner of East Lake Road and Keystone. Several members of the public preferred this idea to building in Brooker Creek, including Glen Craft.
"It seems ludicrous that we spent tons of money back in the 80s to put trees into the preserve and now we're going to tear it up and put ball fields there. Just four hours ago I rode my bicycle by the field and looked at an absolute eyesore with two-foot high weeds. Commissioners, the kids need ballparks. That is certain. Do the right thing, purchase the field at East Lake Road and Keystone, if it gets down to that, and let's save the jewel of Pinellas County, Brooker Creek Preserve."
Another alternative was for Pinellas County to partner with Pasco County which has more land but doesn't have the approximately $12 million dollars that Pinellas plans to spend on building ball fields.
The first member of the public to speak was Beverley Billiris, the Mayor of the City of Tarpon Springs. She suggested a similar partnership between her city and Pinellas County that would save Brooker Creek by building the ball fields in Tarpon Springs instead. Her idea was well received and many people who spoke after her seconded the idea.
"For the last several years, we have been proposing building five ball fields in the city of Tarpon Springs although we've not been able to come up with the funding to do that. I haven't talked to my Board yet, and I'm sure they would be in total approval of this suggestion. But I'm suggesting that you consider the City of Tarpon Springs with a partnership. We have the land to build five full ball fields on our properties and would be more than glad to work with the county to do that [applause]."
During this meeting a proposed Parks and Environmental Lands Ordinance was discussed. It deals with restrictions on the sale of county owned parks and environmental lands by requiring a referendum to authorize such land transfers. The Environmental Science Forum, or ESF, is an informal group the county has put together to consult the County Administrator on current and future use of County parks and preserves, environmental lands and green space. They unanimously recommended that the county adopt the ordinance proposal, but only with some suggested amendments to address the ESF's concerns. Walt Hoskins is the Chair of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve. He pointed out one such concern.
"You can build, according to the current ordinance, a four-lane highway north and south and east - west, with a complete cloverleaf in the middle of it, because there's no size limitations on the utilities infrastructure. You can build as many roads as you want to in there. There needs to be limitations. There's a lot of these things that were put in the Environmental Science Forum recommendations that have been ignored and they still make the loopholes way too big."
John Miolla is the President of the Homeowners Association of Crescent Oaks, a development adjacent to Brooker Creek Preserve. He told WMNF he was there representing his homeowners association to keep Pinellas county from building sports fields within the Preserve.
"We're here to the meeting because the land-use change in the Brooker Creek Preserve, that northern portion lying north of Keystone Road, will permit the county in the future to develop it in any way they see fit. At the present time it is zoned for passive recreation as a Preserve."
Bill Stoker is with the Alliance for a Livable Pinellas. He pointed out to the Commissioners that a majority of their constituents want to keep Brooker Creek free of ball fields.
"Change the mindset that a small group of people want Preserve preservation. The small group is the possible 100 families that want sports fields on Preserve land. There are thousands upon thousands of citizens that do not want active recreation on Preserve lands."
Ray Wonderlick, a resident of St. Petersburg, asked the commissioners to keep Brooker Creek Preserve whole and intact and wondered how the Youth Sports Association had been promised access to the Preserve outside of normal channels.
"When county officials were asked at a recent ESF meeting several moths ago as to how the special interest group, the East Lake Woodlands Youth Sports Association had obtained the exclusive lease and $3 million approximately in promised grants. To build ball fields in part of Brooker Creek Preserve, despite contrary zoning and land management plans and lacking public scrutiny, no county person answered. A person from the Youth Sports Association answered."
Lorraine Margeson warned that citizens are watching whether the Commissioners vote for or against allowing ball fields to be built within the Preserve.
"So I say, if you send in your bulldozers, pumping apparatus, and chainsaws and touch one leaf on Brooker Creek Preserve - as advertised for years in countless glossy brochures --- I believe that the Pinellas County citizens will make sure that the face of this County Commission changes dramatically over the next year and a half."
Possible designs for a blending plant to pump drinking water that will be built within the Preserve were also discussed. It will replace the 55-year-old Keller pumping station. Depending on the design that is chosen, construction costs will most likely be between 74 and 87 million dollars.
You can find phone numbers and emails of the Pinellas County Commissioners by visiting their website at pinellascounty -dot- org -slash- commission .
For WMNF News, reporting from Clearwater, I'm Seán Kinane
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
Environmental Science Forum
Mayor Beverley Billiris
Recent Letters to the Editor in the St. Pete Times on this topic
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/22/Northpinellas/Today_s_Letters__Take.shtml comments powered by Disqus


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[[caption-width-right:202:Green: LifeMeter\\
Blue: Mana Meter]]
The partner to the LifeMeter, the Mana Meter describes the [[PowerSource amount of power]], often called {{Mana}}, a character has remaining for his special abilities. It is commonly associated with spell-casting characters in action {{RPG}}s and RealTimeStrategy titles.
In colour-coded games, this meter is most often [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience blue]], as a handy contrast to the LifeMeter, which is most often red or green (or green that turns red when low on health). Whether the Mana Meter recovers on its own, or needs to be replenished by items, is much more variable than it is for the LifeMeter or the SprintMeter.
This does not necessarily need to be magical in nature. It can represent an auxiliary power reserve, or other quantity that must be recovered between uses of a special ability. Sometimes it's a catchall, and KiAttacks, PsychicPowers, and FunctionalMagic all drain the same [[{{mana}} "stuff"]].
A ManaPotion can restore all or part of it, or it can restore on its own with RegeneratingMana.
* [[Characters.DragonRage Cael Cyndar]] from the game [[VideoGame.DragonRage Dragon Rage]] has a real interesting one, instead of it being a actual meter his {{Mana}} is represented by a bunch of particles swirling around a gem.
* Units in ''{{Starcraft}}'' have "energy meters" that can indicate either the unit's remaining energy reserve (Terrans), psionic power (the Protoss) or bioweapons (the Zerg). They are depleted as that unit's special abilities are used and recover with time (with the exception of several zerg units that can restore their energy by consuming another friendly unit).
** It gets a little odd when the terran [=EMP=] drains psionic power and bioweapons in addition to energy and shields, [[GamePlayAndStorySegregation but that's game balance for you]].
* ''BloodlineChampions'' averts this - despite using archetype common to {{MMORPG}}s, {{Cooldown}}s are used to limit abilities. An energy meter charges from hitting with abilities, [[LimitBreak to be consumed to use other ones]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' requires you to gather 5 fallen stars to craft into a mana crystal which expands it by 20 points. A player can also expand it by equipping accessories and armor which can expand it until taken off, such as bands of star power, accessories with the "Arcane" prefix, jungle armor, or the helmets made from hard mode ores such as the Cobalt Hat (increases by 40), Mythril Hood (by 60) or Adamantite Headgear (by 80). Those three can then be used to make the Hallowed Headgear ([[{{UpToEleven}} which increases it by 100 points]]).
* Supers in the MMORPG ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' have a blue endurance bar.
** Some archetypes have an extra bar. Brutes have ''Fury'', which increases their damage output as the bar fills while they attack enemies and are attacked in return. Dominators have ''Domination'', a bar that fills from dealing attacks and when full allows them to activate the ''Domination Mode'' that increases the strength and duration of their status effect powers and renders them heavily resistant to status effect powers from enemies..
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft has quite a bit of variants.
** First is the classic blue mana bar. It used to grow with increase of Intellect stat, but as of ''Mists of Pandaria'' it has been standardised to level and specialisation. However, while the bar remains the same, different classes use it differently
*** Most damage-dealing casters have a big bar and very good regeneration, leaving them with few worries about filling it. Arcane mages stand in a separate niche among them - unlike others who regenerate it passively, they consume it much faster and actively use special regeneration spells to restore it. Failure to hold back on nuking may result in running dry before their refills are ready and being forced to do minimal damage for a time.
*** The healers typically are more involved with their meters than casters - they obtain regeneration from stats on their gear rather than passive abilities and running dry is a constant threat. Thus they have to balance the heals they dish out to both keep everybody alive and to not run out of mana before the fight is over.
*** Mana-using melee classes, such as paladins and enhancement shamans, have a much shorter mana bar and their abilities tend to take solid chunks out of it with every use - however, their regeneration refills them just as fast. They tend to not run out doing their usual damage rotation, but will run out fast if the situation forces them to throw out some heals. Paladins also have a separate "Holy Power" bar which is accumulated via use of select abilities and can be used on powerful effects or free heals.
** Other classes have differently named and looking resource bars that fulfil the same function:
*** Warriors and Guardian Druids utilise Rage mechanic, a red bar that fills as they deal or take damage. It has a cap of 100 or 120 and their skills usually cost a hefty chunk of it, sometimes emptying it out entirely and dealing more damage the more full it was. It also slowly drains out of combat and thus warriors typically move from one monster to another in a hurry, unleashing the stored up rage on the new target before it vanishes.
*** Rogues and Feral Druids use Energy, yellow bar that refills fast by itself and limits them from spamming attacks at high speed and Combo Points which are accumulated as red dots on their current target and allow them to unleash powerful finishers.
*** Introduced in ''Wrath of the Lich King'' Death Knights use a double-type resource system: they had six runes, two of each type of Unholy, Blood and Frost and a light blue Rune Power bar. A portion of their skills cost specific runes to use, which then refill themselves - and activation of runes gives them rune power to be used on other skills. Similar to warriors, rune power drains out of combat.
*** As of ''Cataclysm'' expansion, Hunters have switched from mana bar to an orange Concentration bar, which refills by itself or with use of certain abilities.
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' uses round glassy "vessels", whose level of fullness varies. In ''[[VideoGame/{{Diablo}} Diablo II]]'', the mana orb is blue and held by a statue of an angel.
* In ''StarControl II'', spaceships in combat have battery meters, in red; many races have a special way of filling them, from the Pkunk's psychic insults to the Druuge's sacrifice of crew members.
* Both ''Rune Factory'' and its sequel fulfill this trope with a Rune Point meter. The RP meter is blue and the HP meter is green.
* ''EternalFighterZero'' has a rare example of a magic meter used for a 2D fighting game, albeit only for one character. Kano Kirishima, whose character is based off of RPG magic users, possesses a magic gauge that must be manually charged in order to cast her tiered elemental spells. Different tiers of spells consume different amounts of the bar.
* Most ''StarWars'' games have Force meters.
** The ''X-Wing'' games don't have mana, obviously, but ''every single laser'' has a meter which slowly recharges, or slowly drains if you're trying to run away really fast. The shields also recharge or drain if you're trying to run away really fast. There's also a beam weapon, which is essentially SprintShoes. Finally, missiles have a finite number; an X-wing, for instance, has 6 proton torpedos.
* The blue EVE gauge in first two ''Franchise/BioShock'' games.
* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games have MP, which stands for Magic Points (Or Mist Points in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''). Aside from certain actions (such as regular attacks, stealing, and items to name a few) most attacks drain MP.
** ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' makes use of a similar system, but uses it in a very different way.
* Various ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games have green meters for Link's spells and magical items. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' instead uses a purple one for most items, regenerating over time.
* The ''Franchise/TalesSeries'' games and ''Franchise/StarOcean'' games generally have one meter (Technical Points for the former, Magic Points for the latter) which are used in both techniques and spells.
** ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'' introduced the unusual mechanic of being able to die from losing MP. Physical attacks used HP, Magic attack used MP, and different attacks caused differing amounts of damage to one of them or both. In essence, you had two separate meters that both were a hybrid of HitPoints and Mana Meter.
** Although it's still technically a Mana Meter, later TalesSeries games by [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny Team]] [[VideoGame/TalesOfRebirth Destiny]] get rid of Technical Points in favor of some other mechanic that usually regenerates whatever it is you need to do special attacks quickly.
* ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' has PSI meter.
* ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'' is one of the few {{MMORPG}}s to avert Mana Meter. Instead of mana, runes are used to cast spells.
* ''VideoGame/{{Brink}}'' gives each player a "Supplies" meter, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation an abstraction of your side's current logistical capabilities]]. The bar is divided into segments referred to as "Pips", one of each is consumed when the player uses a special ability. [[note]]The specific abilities can be either universal, such as grenades, or specific, such as [[InfiniteSupplies ammo resupplies]] or [[SentryGun Sentry Guns]].[[/note]] The default is three pips, but can be increased with upgrades to six; additionally, the team that owns the Supply Command Post gets one additional pip [[note]]Two pips if a friendly [[TheEngineer engineer]] upgraded the command post[[/note]] for every member, increasing the potential amount to eight. Also, soldiers can unlock an additional ability to scavenge Supplies from bodies.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' has MP, which can be restored by resting, items, or certain familiars. If you're a caster, the game will call them "mana points", if you're a fighter-type, they'll be called "muscularity points", and if you're a rogue-type, they'll be "mojo points". Of course, everything that drains, restores or otherwise affects MP, does so in exactly the same way regardless of class.
* ''{{Arcanum}}'' borrows ''Diablo's'' liquid-filled vessels, with a unique twist on the local type of mana: It's called Fatigue and represents exactly that. In addition to being used for casting spells, it can be drained by carrying too much gear or getting hit with blunt weapons.
* ''[[GaiaOnline zOMG!]]'' has a blue, battery-shaped Stamina meter next to your Health. Stamina is consumed when you use rings. Like Health, you restore a certain amount of Stamina per tick, though you can increase the rate by kneeling (at the cost of tripling all damage received) or by using certain buffs. Certain power-ups also instantly restore a portion of your Health and Stamina. Unlike Health, your maximum Stamina never increases, nor can you reduce the Stamina cost of a ring. Like Health, having low Stamina causes a [[MostAnnoyingSound rather irritating sound effect]] to play constantly.
* ''VideoGame/LostMagic'' has a yellow bar that appears below Isaac's blue Health bar on his status screen. The rate at which it refills and the delay before it starts refilling are determined by the number of Mana Crystals on the map that are "pure" (captured by you).
* ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' plays this straight with its Will Gauge, but the [[VideoGame/FableII sequel]] doesn't even bother with it, resulting in magic, gunplay and swordplay being equally [[ButtonMash spammable]].
* The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' games have Flower Points which act as this, in keeping with the mushroom\flower\star theme of some Mario games.
* ''{{Freelancer}}'' has the power meter, which is consumed by firing your weapons. Usually, you consume power only slightly faster that it regenerates, which keeps you from just holding the button down forever. The [[InfinityPlusOneSword stolen Nomad weapons]] are awesome because they consume no power, which means that having a few can free up infinitely regenerating power for your other guns.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' has the Magicka meter, which is a Mana Meter in all but name. There's also a [[SprintMeter Fatigue meter]] which is drained by various physical activities, such as running, jumping, and attacking.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodrayne}}'' and its sequel have a 'rage' meter which fills by attacking enemies using Raynes wrist blades. It is used to power 'bloodrage' and other attacks.
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' features the Chi meter, used for magic attacks and transformations, as well as powering up your Martial and Weapon styles.
* The ''DungeonSiege'' series, being heavily influenced by the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series, also features a mana bar in the first two installments, but changes up the name and function in ''III'', splitting it into the Focus bar and Power Orbs. Both are used for special attacks/abilities, but refilling them is no longer a matter of simply waiting or drinking a potion; to restore focus attacking and defeating enemies is required and power is restored by using focus abilities, with certain talents and other abilities affecting the refill as well.
* ''{{Pokemon}}'' uses Power Points, or [=PPs=], which indicate how many times a move can be used (each move has it's own PP). When depleted, they can be filled with an item, or by fully healing the Pokemon at a Pokemon Center.
* Most champions in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' use mana as a casting resource, with a few variations. Some use Energy, which has a fixed cap and regeneration rate, some are CastFromHitPoints, some use Fury which builds when they attack, one uses Heat which builds when he uses an ability, and some use no resources at all and are completely cooldown reliant.
* ''EternalDarkness'' uses a magick meter for spells and it regenerates as you walk around or use items.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfMajEyal'' has a lot of different resources spread over the different types of classes. Mages, and a couple of hybrid classes, have Mana, which regenerates over time. Warriors, Rogues, and most of the {{Magic Knight}}s have Stamina, which also regenerates more slowly over time but is harder to restore otherwise. Psionic classes have Psi, which regenerates very slowly over time but can be gained quickly by using abilities that suck energy out of enemies. Corrupters have Vim, which does not regenerate over time but can be regained by killing creatures or from a few specific talents that all rely on enemies. Afflicted have Hate, which decreases over time, and can be gained by killing enemies or by being in a high-damage battle. Celestials have Positive and Negative, which both decrease over time but have talents whose cost to use is negative. Wilders have Equilibrium, which starts at 0 and increases with talent cost, and gives a chance of failure to associated talents once it gets high enough. Chronomancers have Paradox, which works similarly, but high Paradox increases the power of your abilities and also has a chance of causing random unintended effects or just backfiring on the caster.
* ''[[LegendOfHeroesVI Trails In The Sky]]'' has one, named [=EP=] Bar (Energy Points) which is used in Arts (read: spells). It also has a separate meter for LimitBreak and character-specific skills.
* ''StarFoxAdventures'' has a Staff Energy Meter which tells you how much energy Fox has available for the Staff Powers. It has three upgrades which you can, but are not required to, find. It is refilled by collecting Magic Gems. Tricky has a meter which tells you how many Grubtubs' worth of energy he has available for the Sidekick Skills that require it. It is refilled by feeding him Grubtubs from your inventory.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bioforge}}'': Your {{cyborg}} character's battery meter, used to regenerate health and to power your built-in gun.
* ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' was one of the first {{Fighting Game}}s to use a meter to power the characters' {{Special Attack}}s. Taunting could be used to drop the opponent's meter, while you could rapidly build it up by having your character stop and focus their Ki.
* The ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series adopted the Super Meter in ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII Turbo'', which increased by throwing attacks and inflicting and taking damage. When it was full, the player could pull off a [[LimitBreak Super Move]]. Later fighting games, in Street Fighter and other series, would enact varying variations and uses for the Super Meter, like maneuvers that only partially drained the meter, stackable levels that allowed the player to store multiple Supers, and other ideas.
* Instead of the usual EN bar, all [[VisualNovel/{{Demonbane}} Deus Machina]] in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsUX'' have an MP bar instead. It has a variety of quirks, such as scaling up through leveling skills rather than upgrades.
* In ''VideoGame/VampiresDawn'', mana represents the vampires' blood. Casting spells costs blood points, and if they suck an enemy for blood their mana meter fills up accordingly. If their mana/blood points fall below a certain percentage they will go berserk.
* The Vibe Gauge in ''SuperPrincessPeach''.
* ''DoubleDragonNeon'' has this for Sosetsitsu moves.
* In both ''VideoGame/EnterTheMatrix'' and ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' below the health-bar is the yellow focus bar. How full it is shows how many more focused moves, moves that are faster and harder than regular ones, that you can still pull off.


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text:
A poll watcher in Detroit was threatened with a gun on Tuesday, according to the Michigan Republican Party, which issued a statement condemning the threat.
"This morning, a legally credentialed poll watcher was threatened and intimidated while attempting to perform his legally allowed duties of observing the election process at precinct polling location 289 in Detroit," the Republican Party said in a statement.
It added that the poll watcher, who works as a lawyer, was told by a voter to show his credentials and when he produced them, the voter was not satisfied.
"However, the voter said that wasn't good enough and that he had 'a badge and a gun' and told the poll watcher get out of the precinct," the statement continues. "Rather than allow the situation to escalate, the poll watcher left before the voter produced a badge or brandished a gun."
The poll watcher then called 911 but police in Detroit refused to respond to the phone call even though the man had a gun and could potentially place others at risk, according to the Republican Party.
"Poll watchers, precinct workers and voters should not be put in danger when performing their duties, our Republic requires free and fair elections," Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak stated.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the voter turnout across the city was high and there were few incidents.
Detroit is frequently listed as one of the most violent cities in the U.S. In 2012, a report from Forbes magazine said it was the "Most Dangerous City" for a fourth year in a row.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.


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text:
NC State Returns Home To Host East Carolina On Wednesday
March 28, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Wolfpack's weekend in Clemson was not one to remember. So NC State (21-8) will look to make some memories back at home, beginning Wednesday night against East Carolina (17-9).
Game time at Doak Field at Dail Park is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on WKNC (88.1 FM) on on-line at gopack.com through Yahoo's subscription service.
THE STARTING PITCHER: Senior lefthander Jason Duncan (4--0, 4.85) will start Wednesday for NC State vs. ECU. Duncan has made eight appearances, half of them starts, and has allowed 18 runs, 14 earned, on 30 hits in 26 innings. He has walked 10 and struck out 18. Duncan's last appearance was a relief outing March 18 vs. Georgia Tech and he was charged with a run on two hits without recording an out. His last start was March 8 vs. The Citadel, and he got the win against the Bulldogs by allowing just two runs, one earned, on five hits in six innings, the longest outing of his career. He struck out two and did not issue a walk. A year ago, Duncan faced East Carolina twice and worked five scoreless innings against the Pirates, allowing just two hits and striking out five without issuing a walk. In six career appearances against ECU, Duncan has no record and a 0.90 ERA. He has allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on nine hits in 10 innings of work, with five walks and nine strikeouts.
NC STATE VS. EAST CAROLINA: NC State holds a 56-35 advantage in the series with the Pirates. NC State won three of four meetings with ECU a year ago, including two wins in Greenville, but the Pirates have won eight of the last 14 meetings between the two schools. Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent holds a 7-8 record against East Carolina.
LAST YEAR VS. THE PIRATES: NC State won three of four games from East Carolina in 2005. The Pirates laid a 13-1 whipping on the Wolfpack on February 26 at the Homewood Suites Shootout in Charleston, S.C. Adam Witter doubled, homered and drove in four runs, and Marc Minicozzi had four hits and three RBIs in six at-bats. ECU came to Doak Field at Dail Park on April 6 and the Wolfpack ambushed the Pirates, scoring eight runs in the third inning and coasting to an 11-4 win. Matt Camp and Matt Devine had two hits and two RBIs apiece, and Ramon Corona went 3-for-4. Phil Davidson allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings to get the win, and Andrew Brackman pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
NC State defeated East Carolina 3-0 in Greenville on April 20, and Brackman made his first college start a memorable one, allowing just two hits in six shutout innings. Jason Duncan worked two perfect innings in relief, and Joey Devine struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to record the save. On May 10, the Wolfpack returned to Greenville and used the same formula to get the same results, a 3-0 victory. Brackman started and allowed just two hits in five innings. Duncan worked three innings and allowed just a pair if hits. Devine worked the ninth, allowing a harmless single and striking out two.
BIG-INNING WEEKEND: There is an old baseball adage that in most games, the winning team scores as many runs or more in one inning than the losing team scores in the entire game. That was certainly true for NC State this past weekend at Clemson. In the first two games of the series, Clemson scored in only three of 16 offensive innings, but those three innings produced five, four and four runs as the Tigers won by scores of 9-5 and 4-2. In the other 13 innings in those two games, NC State pitching allowed no runs on just three hits. Clemson got 11 of its 12 hits in the first two innings of the first game, and five of its seven hits in the fourth inning of the second game. And won both games.
NC STATE IN THE RANKINGS: NC State's up-and-down season continues to be reflected in the national polls this week. The Pack dropped competely out of three of the five national polls -- Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and The Rosenblatt Report -- and fell in the other two, dropping from 14th to 21st in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll, and from 12th to 17th in the USA Today coaches poll.
THE ACC IN THE RANKINGS: Currently, the Atlantic Coast Conference has at least five and as many as seven teams ranked in the five national polls. Florida State is No. 1 in four of the five polls, and FSU, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Clemson are ranked in the top 10 of all five polls. Virginia is ranked in all five polls, anywhere from 14th to 23rd, and Miami is ranked in four of the five polls.
NC STATE LEADING ACC IN OFFENSE: Will Kimmey of Baseball America said in a recent on-line chat that NC State may have the best offense in the country. Clemson didn't think so, limiting the Wolfpack to nine runs on 21 hits this past weekend in Death Valley, but despite the bump in the road, NC State still is the Atlantic Coast Conference pacesetter offensively.
NC State heads into play this week leading the conference in batting average (.352), on-base percentage (.451), runs scored (284), hits (370), doubles (74), RBIs (256), and walks (169).
HOME TURF: Since Doak Field underwent a $5 million renovation during the 2003-04 seasons, NC State has been tough to beat at home. Although the Wolfpack played 10 games at the Doak in 2003 and 27 more in 2004, those were played while the ballpark still was under construction.
The 2005 season was the first season for the new Doak Field at Dail Park, and the Pack protected its home field well, posting a 27-5 record at home, the fifth best home record since the Doak first opened in 1966. Toss in a 15-4 record at home thus far this year and NC State is 42-9 at home since Doak Field at Dail Park re-opened in 2005.
MIDWEEK WARRIORS: NC State was a perfect 12-0 in midweek games in 2005. The Wolfpack is 5-0 in midweek games this season, and won its last midweek game in 2004, giving the Pack an 18-game midweek winning streak.


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text:
First Known Use: 15th century
verb muf·fle \ˈmə-fəl\
: to make (a sound) quieter : to decrease the noise made by (something)
: to wrap or cover (someone or something) in clothing or cloth for warmth or protection
muf·fledmuf·fling \ˈmə-f(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of MUFFLE
transitive verb
: to wrap up so as to conceal or protect : envelop
obsolete : blindfold
a : to wrap or pad with something to dull the sound <muffle the oarlocks>b : to deaden the sound of
See muffle defined for English-language learners
See muffle defined for kids
Examples of MUFFLE
- They tried to muffle the noise.
- I could hear their muffled voices from the next room.
Ask The Editor Videos
Origin of MUFFLE
Middle English muflen
MUFFLE Defined for Kids
verb muf·fle \ˈmə-fəl\
Definition of MUFFLE for Kids
: to deaden the sound of <muffle a cry>
: to wrap up so as to hide or protect <muffled in a coat>
Learn More About MUFFLE
Next Word in the Dictionary: mufflerPrevious Word in the Dictionary: muffin topAll Words Near: muffle
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Book Search
Image Statistics in Visual Computing
To achieve the complex task of interpreting what we see, our brains rely on statistical regularities and patterns in visual data. Knowledge of these regularities can also be considerably useful in visual computing disciplines, such as computer vision, computer graphics, and image processing. The...
Published December 13th 2013 by A K Peters/CRC Press
Color Imaging
Fundamentals and Applications
This book provides the reader with an understanding of what color is, where color comes from, and how color can be used correctly in many different applications. The authors first treat the physics of light and its interaction with matter at the atomic level, so that the origins of color can be...
Published July 22nd 2008 by A K Peters/CRC Press
Practical Parallel Rendering
Meeting the growing demands for speed and quality in rendering computer graphics images requires new techniques. Practical parallel rendering provides one of the most practical solutions. This book addresses the basic issues of rendering within a parallel or distributed computing environment, and...
Published June 26th 2002 by A K Peters/CRC Press


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'Mindy Project': Ike Barinholtz tweets first look photo of Glenn Howerton on setAdd to Favorites | The Mindy Project
"The Mindy Project" may be all about Mindy Kaling's girl-in-progress Dr. Mindy Lahiri, but we're way more excited about the surplus of good-looking men in Season 2.
Not only will we get to see the return of Danny Castellano (Chris Messina), Jeremy Reed (Ed Weeks), and Morgan Tookers (Ike Barinholtz), but Season 2 of the Fox comedy will also bless us with the likes of James Franco as Dr. Leotard and "It's Always Sunny in Philedelphia's" Glenn Howerton as Cliff Gilbert.
And thanks to Barinholtz, we've got our first look at Howerton on set. Barinholtz tweeted out the above photo on Friday (Aug. 23) of the men on set, with the simple caption, "Bros." Can we please work in that office? Please?
So what's Cliff Gilbert's story? Howerton's recurring role will be a handsome mild-mannered attorney who ends up wooing Mindy after they meet-cute in their office building. He will first appear in episode 4.
"The Mindy Project" Season 2 premieres Sept. 17 on Fox.


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Hotels in 19354 - Lyndell PA
Only hotels in 19354 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Lyndell, PA for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 19354 hotels and motels so you can review the Lyndell hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Chester county and area code 610 are also listed.
19354 Hotels, Motels & Accommodations
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Beef Burger | Green Tomato Agrodolce | Caramelized Onions
Sweet and sour. It's perhaps the most common example of creating a dish with contrasting flavors. Great dishes are all about balance. A dish can be sweet and taste great. However, that dish can become great when you add a component of sourness or spiciness which not only offers contrast in flavor, but ends up reinforcing the dish's intended flavor profile.
For example, let's talk about this agrodolce (literally, Italian for "sour-sweet"). I first encountered said sauce at one of my favorite restaurants – City House. The Chef had a dish – homemade sausage with green tomato agrodolce and abbey ale mustard. It was a phenomenal dish – the really fatty, juicy sausage was rich and hearty. But what made it great was the sauces, which cut through the richness of the dish and made the plate harmonious – great contrast in flavor and incredible balance. Ever since that day, I knew I needed to re-create this sauce.
Low and behold, I was at the market on Saturday for my CSA pickup, when I saw we were able to pick up 2 lbs of green tomatoes. The minute I saw them, I knew this recipe had to be made. And if that wasn't a sign, when I looked up "green tomato agrodolce" to try to get a recipe, I realized the City House recipe was actually featured in Bon Appetit! The recipe itself is really easy – it takes almost no time to make. So, I made a big batch and put it in the fridge.
The next day just happened to be Sunday – and that means football in my house. I had a few friends coming over and decided to make some burgers. And then it hit me – a juicy, fatty, beef burger with this green tomato agrodolce would be amazing. The match was made, the burgers were eaten, and all rejoiced! I might never go back to dill pickles – this agrodolce sauce is were it's at. And you better believe I'm going to use it on whatever I can!
This is one burger you are gonna love!
Beef Burger | Green Tomato Agrodolce | Caramelized Onions
For the green tomato agrodolce:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3 tablespoons sugar
2 cups chopped green tomatoes
1/4 distilled white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
For the caramelized onions:
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
kosher salt and black pepper
For the burgers:
2 lbs ground beef (I get mine fresh ground at the butcher - this was a mix of 50% chuck, 25% skirt steak, 25% brisket), molded into 8 1/4 lb. patties
8 slices jalapeno jack cheese
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the agrodolce:
Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onions to the pan and cook until they are soft, but have not browned, about 4 minutes. Then add the sugar and cook until the liquid in the pan becomes a little syrupy, about 5 minutes. Put in the tomatoes, vinegar, and mustard. Season the entire dish with salt. Bring the heat up to high and when it starts boiling, reduce the heat back to medium and cook until the tomatoes are tender, but not falling apart.
The mixture should not be too liquidy. If it is, strain the tomatoes and reduce until you have about 1/2 cup of liquid. Put the agrodolce in a bowl and bring to room temperature. Then, cover and chill in the fridge for one day.
For the onions:
Let the butter melt in a pan over medium low heat. Add the onions and season with thyme, salt and pepper. Cook for about 30 minutes until the onions are soft and deeply caramelized. Remove from the heat.
For the burgers:
Season the burgers liberally with salt and pepper. Grill the burgers for about 2-3 minutes on each side for medium. About a minute before the burger is done, put a slice of cheese and cover the grill so the cheese is completely melted.
To assemble the burgers, get your hamburger buns (feel free to toast them), and shmear on some mayonnaise. Then top it with the caramelized onions, the burger, and finish with the green tomato agrodolce sauce
Burger/onion recipe courtesy of Vivek Surti, sauce recipe courtesy of City House in Nashville, TN


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Swift Current Rural RCMP have cordoned off the scene of a semi truck accident on Highway #4 near Stewart Valley after a hydrochloric acid spill earlier today.
A HAZMAT team from Alberta is en route to the scene to assist with clean up after an unknown amount of hydrochloric acid spilled following an accident at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Two farm properties were evacuated when RCMP set up a one-kilometer perimeter around the accident, and traffic continues to be diverted around the accident near the junction of Highway #4 and Grid #738.
The driver of the semi was treated and released at the scene. RCMP report that road conditions were good at the time of the incident, and alcohol is not a factor.
The roadway near the accident scene will be blocked until further notice.
The investigation into the cause of this accident is continuing.


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‹ Exit photo gallery
Rusty the Red Panda caught (photos)
A red panda named Rusty caused a stir Monday after he fled from the national Zoo for several hours. Rusty was eventually caught near Adams Morgan Monday afternoon.
Rusty is seen in a tree before he was captured.
(Photo: Washington Humane Society/WJLA) fullscreen mode


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12% of MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES passengers are over 60.
Beirut, Frankfurt, Istanbul were the top destinations for MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES passengers.
The most popular airport for Middle East Airlines was Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport .
Middle East Airlines (ME) tickets on OneTravel let you fly on the national flag-carrier airline of Lebanon. Based at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, Middle East Airlines operates scheduled international flights to top destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Gulf, Africa, Middle East and Australia. Some of the top destinations to fly with Middle East Airlines include San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Sao Paulo, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Beirut, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Baghdad, Melbourne and Sydney – just to name a few.
Enjoy comfort on board service and a host of exciting amenities flying Middle East Airlines. Relax in the comfort of ergonomically designed offering maximum comfort. For entertainment, Middle East Airline offers a choice of movies, cartoons, audio programs and computer games. Enjoy a selection of freshly prepared Lebanese and European cuisine served as per the departure and flying time. Additionally, the airline provides special and dietetic meals to meet your needs. The staff is friendly, courteous and eager to serve. All Middle East Airlines passengers can sign-up for Cedar Miles frequent flier program allowing you to earn miles and use them for free travel and other member benefits. For discounts on a Middle East Airline flight check out the exclusive Middle East Airline deals on OneTravel.


text: Tax Withholding Calculator efile.com has everything you want to know about tax withholding and W-4s on the following pages: What's a W-4? Why should I adjust my tax withholding with Form W-4? How do I update my tax withholding on a W-4 form? Paycheck Withholding Calculator (this page) This free-to-use tax withholding calculator will help you to prepare a completed Form W-4. Based on the information you provide, the calculator will choose the appropriate number of allowances for your situation and help you to fill our your W-4 that you give to your employer. Get started below by determining your allowances. Once you have determined your allowances, you can estimate your paycheck withholdings. 1. Estimate Your Allowances This section will help you determine the recommended number of allowances you should claim on your W-4. You are free to change this number on the actual form, but let this serve as a guide. You may wish to reference the W-4 Personal Allowances Worksheet. We suggest that you refer to Form W-4 while completing this section of the estimator. Can anyone claim you as a dependent? Yes No Are you married? Yes No Are you filing jointly with your spouse? Yes No Are you filing as head of household? Yes No How many dependents are you claiming? How many jobs do you (and your spouse) currently hold? Do you have at least $1,900 in child or dependent care expenses, excluding child support, that you plan to claim as credit? Yes No How many children do you have that qualify for the Child Tax Credit? What's your expected annual income? What's your annual income for your other jobs or your spouses jobs? Recommended Allowances (This number will carry forward to section 2, below) Estimate Your Withholdings Clear Entries 2. Estimate Your Paycheck Withholding Need to make changes above? Go back Paycheck Withholding Information This section will help you to figure out what your estimated paycheck withholding and your net take-home pay will be. Marital Status Please Select Single Married Pay Period Please Select Weekly Biweekly Semimonthly Monthly Quarterly Semi-Annually Annually Daily/Miscellaneous Gross Income Pre Tax Deductions Post Tax Deductions Allowances Calculate Paycheck Withholdings Estimated Paycheck Withholdings These are the estimated results of using the number of allowances recommended above. You can change your allowances to see how it will affect your withholdings and your net income. Here are some tips to optimize your withholdings. Taxable Income Federal Withholding Social Security Withheld Medicare Tax Withheld Total Net Income NOTE: The Total Net Income shown here does NOT include any possible state or local taxes that may be withheld from your pay. Once you are satisfied with the results above,you can fill out your W-4 form based on the information in the section titled "Paycheck Withholding Information" Clear Entries Previous 1 2 3 4 tax calculators, w-4 tax withholding


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Margaret Island (Margit-sziget)
Tours & Tickets
Budapest Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
With a half day to discover Budapest, the Grand City Sightseeing Tour makes the perfect introduction for the first time visitor. With hotel pickup included ... Read more
Budapest, Hungary
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
Budapest Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Bus and Boat
Explore the beautiful and historical city of Budapest, much of which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a hop-on hop-off tour! Sightsee at your own ... Read more
Budapest, Hungary
Duration: Ticket valid for 48 hours


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Looking for fairly affordable, fairly sunny 2 month stay in Jan/Feb?
Hi all...Looking for fairly affordable, fairly sunny 2 month stay in Jan/Feb? Any and all ideas appreciated. Karen Smilesalot!
Hi all...Looking for fairly affordable, fairly sunny 2 month stay in Jan/Feb? Any and all ideas appreciated. Karen Smilesalot!
Was thinking about a 30 day trip to Italy-up one coast and down another via RV. I get some good reports and some bad comments? Gas prices, narrow streets etc. Rocco
Well I am traveling to Rome in January and then London and Paris I enjoy Europe during the off season...don't know if you were thinking tropical or not.
Karen: There aren't too many places in Europe that would be classified as fairly sunny in Jan/Feb as that is their winter also. Is that the only time you can travel? I am available to travel same time frame, but would go to a more southern destination. Are you looking for a travel partner or just ideas? Warm is Caribbean, Islands, Central America some places in Mexico. Maybe the Costa Del Sol, (Spain) but it isn't real warm there at that time.
Many Brits head to Florida in the winter.
Thank you all. I have made my plans to go to southern Turkey and check out the off-season and then finish up a couple weeks in Seville/Malaga. All of your ideas and comments have been greatly appreciated. I am just crazy about Turkey in the high season, so decided to see what winter is like there. Surely there will be off and on sunny days and the temps will not get too low. If you have any suggestions for these spots-- I am glad to hear them. Take care,
hi karen im in istanbul until the 22 of jan if you want to meet up let me know...
Karen, I love southern Turkey. I hope you will post your adventure stories. Did you stay in Kas? I have only been there prior to high season and have considered staying the winter as well. There are several nice places to swim and great food and perhaps the club is still there.
I love both Turkey and Southern Spain. I'd suggest taking some warm clothing- I've been in S. Spain a few times in Jan/Feb and it can get very chilly. Have a great time!
hi all, just wanted to report, decided on SW turkey and have been delighted--- DELIGHTED. so much so, i bought a house here and am planning on sticking around. town's name is yalikavak (outside of bodrum city) i have been here now 31 days and i am 100% i made the right choice really think of it as a 'no brainer"...or as "paradise found" ...so if anyone is interested in knowing more about a first hand experience here---i will be happy to share the info. all the best, Karen Yali (new nick name :-)


text: Research Outputs (Economics) http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4145 2015-07-03T02:47:50Z 2015-07-03T02:47:50Z Does governance matter in infrastructure: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa Akanbi, Olusegun Ayodele http://hdl.handle.net/10500/11949 2014-06-24T10:37:58Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Does governance matter in infrastructure: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa Akanbi, Olusegun Ayodele This study empirically examines the pattern of physical infrastructure that would unlock the productive potential of sub-Saharan Africa. The estimations are carried out in a panel of 21 selected sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000 to 2010 using the Two-Stage Least Square (TSLS) estimation techniques. The infrastructure variable is constructed based on the three physical infrastructure stock (roads, telecommunication and electricity) using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Whilst governance is measured using the worldwide governance indicators. The results conform to the findings of existing literature that real output, government capital expenditure, external balance, and inflation are significant determinants of physical infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. The distinctive feature of the study is the significant role played by governance in explaining physical infrastructure. The results from the panel estimations revealed that investment in governance/institutional structures is a necessary first step in providing quality infrastructure stock and hence, a pro-poor long-term economic growth for the region. Therefore, in modelling physical infrastructure, it is imperative to incorporate the important role played by governance. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Policy Changes: A Case of South Africa Akanbi, Olusegun Ayodele http://hdl.handle.net/10500/11926 2014-05-27T14:10:55Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Policy Changes: A Case of South Africa Akanbi, Olusegun Ayodele This study develops comprehensive full-sector macro-econometric models for the South African economy with the aim of explaining and providing the macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy changes in the country. The models are applied to test the effectiveness of fiscal policy actions in an economic environment with existing structural supply constraints versus demand-side constraints and also to detect which components of the fiscal would be more effective in stabilising the economy. Based on the structure of the South African economy and the framework presented, the study concludes that the South African economy can be characterised as one which is embedded with structural supply constraints. Thus, a model which is suitable for policy analyses of the South African economy needs to capture the long-run supply-side characteristics of the economy. A price block is incorporated to specify the price adjustment between the supply-side sector and real aggregate demand sector. The models are estimated with time-series data from 1970 to 2011, capturing both the long-run and short-run dynamic properties of the economy. The results from the series of fiscal policy scenarios suggest that fiscal policy actions are more effective in an economic environment with limited or no supply constraints. Fiscal expansion or consolidation that comes more from government spending changes will be more effective in an economic environment where structural supply constraints are absent while tax revenue changes will be more effective in an economic environment where there exist major structural supply constraints. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Interest rate liberalization and economic growth in Zambia : a dynamic linkage Odhiambo, Nicholas M. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4144 2014-04-23T17:03:41Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Interest rate liberalization and economic growth in Zambia : a dynamic linkage Odhiambo, Nicholas M. This paper examines the dynamic impact of interest rate reforms on economic growth in Zambia—using two models in a stepwise fashion. In the first model, the efficacy of interest rate liberalization is examined by regressing the interest rate on the level of financial deepening. In the second model, the causal relationship between financial depth and economic growth is examined by incorporating savings as an intermittent variable in the bivariate setting, thereby creating a simple trivariate model. Using the cointegration-based error correction model, the study finds strong support for the positive impact of interest rate liberalization on financial deepening. In addition, the study finds that financial deepening,which results from interest rate liberalization, Granger causes economic growth. The results apply irrespective of whether the causality is estimated in the short run or in the long run. Other results show that: (1) lagged financial depth leads to further financial deepening; (2) savings and economic growth Granger cause each other; and (3) financial development Granger causes savings in the long run. Journal article 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z


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The hostages were eventually released after extensive diplomatic negotiations on January 20 1981, Carter's last day in office, after 444 days of captivity. Jimmy Carter was determined to ensure the release under his administration, particularly as the Democratic nomination for the 1980 presidential election neared, but the release did not occur until immediately after Reagan had taken the oath of office.
After flying in under radar and landing at Desert One, the C-130 Hercules would off-load men and equipment and refuel the arriving helicopters, which would undertake the actual rescue operation. After refueling the helicopters at Desert One, the plan was for the ground troops to board the helicopters and fly to Desert Two near Tehran the same night where the helicopters would be concealed. The next night, the rescuers would be transported to the embassy by assets in place and overpower the hostage guards and extract the hostages across Roosevelt Boulevard (the main road in front of the embassy) to a soccer stadium, where the helicopters would land and retrieve the entire force.
The assets in place were a Tehran CIA team led by Richard Meadows, who were there for two purposes: (1) to obtain information about the hostages and the embassy grounds, and (2) to transport the rescuers from Desert Two to the embassy grounds with pre-staged vehicles. In reality, the most important information came from an embassy cook who was released by the Iranians and discovered on a flight from Tehran at the last minute by another CIA officer, and who confirmed that the hostages were centrally located in the embassy compound - this was a key piece of information long sought after by the planners.
The assault on the embassy compound would occur after eliminating electrical power in the area in order to disrupt military and civilian capabilities, communications, and any counter-attacks attempted by the Iranians. AC-130 gunships would also orbit overhead to provide supporting fire against reacting forces. The helicopters would transport the rescuers and hostages from the soccer stadium to Manzariyeh Air Base outside of Tehran where a Ranger force would have captured the airfield and C-141 transports would be waiting to remove the entire contingent out of the country under the protection of fighter aircraft.
However, only the delivery of the rescue force, equipment and fuel by the C-130 Hercules occurred according to plan. An unexpected low-level intense sandstorm of the kind known as a haboob contributed to the loss of three of the eight RH-53D helicopters by the time the helicopter squadron reached Desert One, behind schedule. The first helicopter was grounded and abandoned in the desert with equipment indicating a cracked rotor blade, and its crew picked up by another helicopter that continued the flight. The second helicopter abandoned the flight and returned to the Nimitz with reported erratic instrumentation blamed on the highly elevated temperatures inside the haboob. The third helicopter arrived at Desert One with a malfunctioning primary hydraulics system and insufficient confidence in the secondary (backup) hydraulics system to continue. The first and third helicopters, which were abandoned, now serve with the Iranian Navy.
Meanwhile, a fuel-smuggling tanker truck was blown up nearby with a shoulder-fired rocket as it tried to escape the site shortly after the first crews landed and began securing Desert One. The resulting fire illuminated the night-time landscape for many miles around, and actually provided a beacon to Desert One for the disoriented and dehydrated incoming helicopter crews, who flew in lower than the undetected C-130 Hercules flight because of miscommunicated instructions and faulty communications equipment, and subsequently encountered the sandstorm. The passenger in the tanker truck was killed in the attack, while the truck's driver managed to escape in an accompanying pickup truck, and was considered to pose a security threat to the mission, although subsequent evaluation realized that the clandestine smuggling nature of the tanker truck posed no immediate threat. Soon after the truck driver escaped, a civilian Iranian bus with a driver and 43 passengers travelling on the same road, which served as the runway for the aircraft, was forcefully halted and held until the site was fully evacuated.
With only five helicopters remaining for transporting the men and equipment to Desert Two, and needing a predetermined minimum of six helicopters at that stage (Col. Beckwith's plans anticipated losing additional helicopters at later stages, especially as they were notorious for failing on cold starts and they were to be shut down for almost 24 hours at Desert Two), Col. Beckwith recommended that President Carter abort the mission, and Carter did just that on April 25, 1980. While maneuvering the helicopters from refuelling positions directly behind the C-130 Hercules fuel aircraft so the C-130s could taxi out and take off, one of the helicopter pilots attempted to hop over its C-130 and became disoriented in the dust cloud raised by its rotors and crashed onto the C-130.
In the ensuing explosion and fire, eight US servicemen died: five USAF aircrew in the C-130, and three USMC aircrew in the RH-53D, with only the helicopter pilot surviving. During the following frantic evacuation of the scene by the C-130s, with many of the helicopter aircrews believing they were under attack due to munitions cooking off in the fire, five RH-53D helicopters were left behind mostly intact, some damaged by shrapnel, with the sixth helicopter on top of the C-130 where it crashed and was being consumed by the fire. Iranian gains from the failed operation total between four and six RH-53D helicopters. In their haste to evacuate the helicopters, the Marine aircrews inadvertently left behind classified plans that identified the Tehran CIA agents.
The C-130s carried the remaining forces back to the intermediate airfield at Masirah Island where two C-141 medical evacuation aircraft from the rear staging base at Wadi Kena, Egypt picked up the injured personnel, helicopter crews, Rangers and Delta Force members and returned to Wadi Kena. The injured personnel were then transported to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The Tehran CIA team fortuitously exfiltrated Iran, unaware that their presence had been compromised.
The failure of the various services to work together with cohesion forced the establishment of a new multi-service organization. The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was established and became operational on April 16, 1987. Each service now has its own Special Operations Forces under the overall control of USSOCOM. For example, the Army has its own Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) that controls the Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). The Air Force special ops unit that supplied the C-130 elements of the rescue attempt, and was awarded the AF Outstanding Unit Award for both that year and the next, was assigned its own squadron of HH-53H Pave Low (Super Jolly) helicopters for long-range low-level night flying operations, and became co-hosts at its home base of Hurlburt Field with the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
The lack of highly trained Army helicopter pilots that were capable of the low-level night flying needed for modern special forces missions prompted the creation of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) (Night Stalkers).
A second rescue mission was planned under the name Operation Credible Sport (a.k.a. Operation Honey Badger), but was never put into action. This second rescue attempt was planned using highly modified YMC-130H Hercules aircraft. Outfitted with rocket thrusters fore and aft to allow an extremely short landing and take-off in a soccer stadium, three aircraft were modified under a rushed secret program. One aircraft crashed during a demonstration at Duke Field at Eglin Air Force Base Auxiliary Field 3 on October 29, 1980, when its landing braking rockets were fired too soon. The misfire caused a hard touchdown that tore off the starboard wing and started a fire. All on board survived. The impending change in the White House led to the abandonment of this project. The two surviving airframes were returned to regular duty with the rocket packages removed. One is now on display at the Museum of Aviation located next to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Not long after the failure of the mission, on 6 May 1980, the Iranian Embassy Siege occurred in London.
As for the situation in Iran, the hostages were released after 444 days of captivity on January 20 1981, the day that Ronald Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter as president.
Retired Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James L. Holloway III led the official investigation in 1980 into the causes of the failure of the operation on behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Holloway Report primarily cited deficiencies in mission planning, command and control, and inter-service operability, and provided a catalyst to reorganize the Department of Defense, and the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986.