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Little Box Of HorrorsLittle Box Of Horrors (2006) - Class of the Titans Cartoon Episode Guide
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- Class of the Titans Cartoon Episode GuideEpisode GuideTelevisionSeriesCartoon
- Studio B Productions, Nelvana Limited, Top Draw Animation
- Distributed by: Nelvana Limited, Studio B Productions
- Cartoon Characters: Archie, Cronus, Theresa, Odie, Jay, Neil, Atlanta, Herry, Dionysus, Hope, Chiron, Hermes, Hephaestus, Hera.
- Voice Actors: Sam Vincent, David Kaye, Kelly Sheridan, Doron Bell, Kirby Morrow, Ted Cole, Meghan Black, Ty Olsson, Michael Dangerfield, Britt McKillip; Full Voice Cast ...
- Directed By Brad Goodchild.
- Written By Richard Clark.
- First Aired on March 22, 2006.
- Originally Aired on Teletoon (Canada).
- Running Time: 26 minutes.
- Color
- Canada / The Philippines
Cartoon Summary:
Archie's curiosity gets the better of him, and he opens Pandora's Box, unleashing a horrible plague and little hope. But when Atlanta, Odie and Herry are infected,... (more)
Cartoon Production Information:
Aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds, this series springs the lock on a legion of mythical monsters and forces Zeus to train seven unsuspecting teens who discover that they are modern-day descendants of the... (more)
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Last time on Snap Spot I shared the awesome Easy-Macro Cell Lens Band, which allows you to take hassle free macro photos with any iPhone.
This week, I have something you can use in conjunction with the Macro Band, the Gorillapod GripTight PhoneCam ClampStand, from Photojojo.
This is a phone stand that's so awesome it needs not just one name, not two names, but four names. I've been using a Gorillapod for years now, because I have one that I use with my DSLR, and I was super excited to try the iPhone version. As it turns out, the smaller Gorillapod functions just like its big brother, meaning its perfect for taking photos from any place that you can imagine.
So how does it work? Well, the Gorillapod has three flexible, bendable legs that can function as a tripod or twist around any available object – shelves, tree limbs, desks, chair arms – that you can find. Essentially, anything is fair game.
Your phone (of any size up to 3 inches) fits tightly in the Gorillapod's cradle, thanks to a retractable clamp. Because of the flexible design of the tripod itself, you can bend it in to any angle, resulting in some ultra creative photos.
The rubber feet are grippy enough to provide stable support on any surface, and my iPhone wasn't going anywhere in that cradle even in the most precarious of locations. This tripod can go any place, making it perfect for self portraits, low light photos, long exposures, macro shots, time lapse captures, and videos.
When using a tripod, it's helpful to have a self timer so you can avoid shaking your phone when taking a snapshot. Try an app like Camera+ with the Gorillapod – it will let you set up your phone at a great angle and then take a shake-free shot, resulting in a fantastic photo. The iPhone Shutter Remote ($40) is also a good option for hands free iPhonography.
If you read Snap Spot on a regular basis you know that I'm a huge fan of macro photography, and this tripod is an essential part of my kit. I can set it up on a branch, a fence, or even the side of a flower pot, and coupled with a self timer, I can get clear shots that I can't take otherwise. I've also had some luck with getting crisper photos in low light, which is always an issue with a pocket camera.
You can even use the phone clamp portion of the Gorillapod with other tripods, because it is detachable. This is handy because the clamp is so sturdy, much more so than other tripod options that I've tried with my iPhone.
My only minor complaint about the phone-sized Gorillapod is its construction. The top part is made of plastic, which I'm worried that I might break one day, though it hasn't happened yet. I do take extra care when I use it, because it's not as sturdy as the version I have for my DSLR. Still, for the price, the quality is spot on, and the legs haven't loosened up a bit with a couple of weeks of use.
If you want to get photos from exciting new angles, improve your macro photography, or just take better shots in general, the Gorillapod GripTight PhoneCam ClampStand is a solid choice. You can get yours from the Photojojo website for just $30.
Want even more Snap Spot? Check out my archives. And as always, if you have a suggestion for an app or an item that you would like to see featured, make sure to get in touch.

subset: commoncrawl


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A communication system is provided for the interconnection of telephones and other instruments capable of communicating via the voice spectrum, the system providing a single transmission line such as a coaxial cable by which full duplex communication is provided between any pair of telephones. Each instrument is coupled to the transmission line by a control unit which includes computer operated transceiver equipment for paging other ones of the control units to initiate a telephonic communication. Each control unit is provided with an identification number and circuitry for recognizing the identification number contained within a paging signal so as to initiate a response. In a separate spectral portion of the transmission line, there are provided sets of analog communication channels each of which has upper and lower spectral portions to provide two-way communication in opposite directions between a pair of telephones engaged in communication. A transmitter and a receiver in each of the control units is provided for the communication of analog signals of both voice and data via the voice channel, each control unit including circuitry for tuning the transmitter and the receiver to the selected channel in accordance with digital data transmitted via the transmission line and specifying a selected one of the voice channels.
1. A telephone system for communicating voice and/or data among a set of stations comprising:
transmission-line means intercoupling said stations, said transmission line means having sufficient band width for simultaneous transmission of a plurality of channels spaced apart in the frequency spectrum, a first of said channels being used for paging whereby a first of said stations initiates a communication with a second of said stations, the remainder of said plurality of channels being voice channels reserved for the communication of voice and/or data between groups of said stations;
each of said stations comprising a voice receiver and a voice transmitter for the reception and transmission of voice and/or data signals by a voice channel, each of said stations comprising tuning means for tuning the voice receiver and the voice transmitter of the station to an available voice channel;
each of said stations further comprising memory means for storing the usage and availability of the plurality of voice channels, thereby to permit said tuning means to tune the voice transmitter and the voice receiver to an available channel;
each of said stations further comprising a paging transceiver coupled to said paging channel for transmission and reception of control data by said paging channel, the microcomputer in each of said stations including means responsive to a station address received in a paging signal for generating a control signal on said paging channel indicating a busy/free status of a telephone at a station, said paging transceiver continuously monitoring control data transmitted on said paging channel and updating said channel availability and usage stored in said memory means in response to said monitored control data; and wherein
a control data word transmitted by a station via the paging channel in placing or accepting a telephone call includes the identity of a voice channel to be utilized for a full duplex communication between two of said stations.
2. A telephone system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission-line means comprises a coaxial cable.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer is a microcomputer, and wherein each station further comprises means for attenuating signals transmitted and received by said station, said attenuating means being responsive to a control signal from said microcomputer.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein a voice channel is divided into an upper frequency portion and a lower frequency portion for the transmission of signals in opposite directions simultaneously, each of said stations including a computer coupled to said memory means for implementing a protocol for assignment of transmission and reception functions to the upper and lower portions of a voice channel, said station address being in the form of an identification number, said assignment of the upper and lower portions of a voice channel being based on the relative magnitudes of the identification numbers of the station initiating a telephone call and the station receiving a telephone call.
5. A communication system comprising:
a transmission line having a transmission spectrum encompassing a plurality of spectral bands defining a set of voice channels suitable for conmunication of analog voice and data signals, said transmission spectrum including a further separate band for communication of digital control signals;
a set of telephonic instruments;
a set of control units coupled between said transmission line and respective ones of said instruments;
first means in each of said control units for communicating analog signals via said voice channel between individual ones of said telephonic instruments;
second means in each of said control units for communicating digital control signals via said further band between individual ones of said control units, wherein said second communicating means includes a transmitter and a receiver and means coupled to said receiver for detecting the presence of a signal of another of said control units on said further band, said computing means restraining a transmission by said transmitter until said further band is free of signals of another of said control units;
computing means in each of said control units responsive to said digital control signals for selecting one of said voice channels; and
tuning means operated by said computing means for tuning said first communicating means to a selected voice channel.
6. A communication system according to claim 5 wherein said first communicating means includes a transmitter and a receiver providing full duplex communication via a voice channel.
7. A system according to claim 6 wherein each control unit has an identification number, and wherein said computing means directs said transmitting means to transmit a digital control signal incorporating identification numbers of a sending control unit which initiates a communication and a target control unit which accepts a communication when no other digital control signals are present on said further band;
there being an upper spectral portion and a lower spectral portion in each of said voice channels;
said tuning means in said sending control unit and in said target control unit tuning the transmitter and the receiver of respective ones of said units to the upper and the lower spectral portions of the voice channel in accordance with a protocol of said computing means based on a relative magnitude of the identification numbers of the sending control unit and the target control unit.
8. A system according to claim 7 wherein, in accordance with said protocol, the transmitter of the first communication means in the control unit having the higher identification number transmits via said upper spectral portion of said voice channel, the receiver of the first communicating means of the control unit having the lower identification number receiving analog signals via said upper spectral portion of said voice channel.
9. A system according to claim 5 wherein said second communicating means includes means for modulating digital signals on to a carrier.
10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said first communicating means includes means for modulating analog signals on to a carrier, and wherein said detecting means detects the carrier of the digital modulated signals.
11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said telephonic instruments are telephones, and wherein each of said control units is provided with an identification number, each of said control units including keyboard means coupled to said computing means for entry of the identification number of the control unit associated with the telephone to be called.
12. A system according to claim 5 wherein said computing means includes:
memory means for storing data, associated with said set of voice channels, indicating which of said voice channels are being used for communicating signals, and
processing means operatively connected to said memory means, said transmitter and said receiver, for (1) selecting one of said voice channels in response to said stored data, (2) directing said transmitter to transmit digital signals indicating said selected voice channel to the other control units in said set over said further band, and (3) updating said stored data in response to digital control signals received by said receiver indicating voice channels selected by others of said control units.
13. A distributed telephone system comprising:
transmission medium means for conveying voice and/or data signals over plural predetermined voice channels and for conveying control signals over a predetermined control channel; and
plural communication units communicating with said medium means, each unit including:
transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals on a selected voice channel and for transmitting and receiving control signals on said control channel,
carrier sensing means operatively connected to said transceiver means for inhibiting said transceiver means from transmitting on a channel carrying signals thereon,
memory means for storing data associated with said plural voice channels, said stored data indicating which of said voice channels are being used for commnunicating signals, and
a digital signal processor operatively connected to said memory means and said transceiver means and programmed so as to perform the following functions:
(1) select one of said voice channels in response to said data stored in said memory means,
(2) control said transceiver means to transmit signals indicating said selected voice channel on said control channel,
(3) control said transceiver means to transmit and receive signals on said selected voice channel, and
(4) update said information stored in said memory means in response to control signals, conveyed by said control channel and received by said transceiver means, indicating voice channels selected by others of said plural communication units.
14. A system as in claim 13 wherein:
said transceiver means includes a control channel receiver and a control channel transmitter tuned to said control channel; and
said carrier sensing means includes a carrier detector coupled to said control channel receiver for inhibiting said control channel transmitter from transmitting on said control channel whenever said control channel receiver receives a carrier present on said control channel.
15. A system as in claim 14 wherein said transceiver means further includes a voice channel transceiver operatively coupled to said processor and tunable to a selected voice channel, said control channel receiver and control channel transmitter capable of operating simultaneously with and independently of said voice channel transceiver.
16. A telephone unit having distributed processing capabilities comprising:
transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals on a selected one of plural predetermined voice channels and for transmitting and receiving control signals on a predetermined control channel;
carrier sensing means operatively connected to said transceiver means for inhibiting said transceiver means from transmitting on a channel on which signals are present;
memory means for storing data, associated with said plural voice channels, indicating which of said voice channels are being used for communicating signals; and
a digital signal processor, operatively connected to said memory means and said transceiver means, programmed so as to perform the following functions:
(1) select one of said voice channels in response to said data stored by said memory means,
(2) control said transceiver seans to transmit signals indicating said selected voice channel on said control channel,
(3) control said transceiver means to transmit and receive voice signals on said selected voice channel, and
(4) update said information stored in said memory means in response to control signals, present on said control channel and received by said transceiver means, indicating voice channels selected by similar telephone units.
17. A system as in claim 16 wherein:
said transceiver means includes a control channel receiver and a control channel transmitter tuned to said control channel; and
said carrier sensing means includes a carrier detector, coupled to said control channel receiver, for inhibiting said control channel transmitter from transmitting on said control channel whenever said control channel receiver receives a carrier present on said control channel.
18. A system as in claim 16 wherein said transceiver means further includes a voice channel transceiver operatively coupled to said processor and tunable to a selected voice channel, said control channel receiver and control channel transmitter capable of operating simultaneously with and independently of said voice channel transceiver.
19. A method for distributing processing throughout a telephone system of the type including plural telephone units connected to one another via plural voice channels and at least one control channel, said plural voice channels communicating voice signals between said plural telephone units, said control channel communicating control signals between said plural telephone units, each of said plural telephone units having a respective memory, said method PG,40 comprising the steps, performed at each of said plural telephone units, of:
(1) selecting one of said plural voice channels in response to information stored in said telephone unit memory designating which of said voice channels are already being used for communicating voice signals;
(2) transmitting control signals on said control channel designating said voice channel selected by said selecting step;
(3) inhibiting said transmitting step (2) whenever signals are already present on said control channel;
(4) transmitting and receiving voice signals on said selected voice channel;
(5) continuously monitoring said control channel; and
(6) updating the information stored in said telephone unit memory in response to control signals monitored by said monitoring step (5).
20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said monitoring step (5) and said transmitting and receiving step (4) are performed concurrently.
This invention relates to telephone systems for transmission of both voice and data and, more particularly, to a system wherein all telephone sites are interconnected by a common coaxial transmission line with switching and routing functions being performed by on-site control units which couple the telephones to the transmission line.
Presently, there are two basic types of telephone and data switching systems in use. The first type of system, which is the most widely used, incorporates central office switching. Such systems include the private branch exchange (PBX) which operates in the manner of a miniature central office. The second type of system is the local area network (LAN) which employs digitized voice and data transmission over a common cable.
The central office or PBX type of system is characterized by the use of individual wires, such as a pair of wires or group of such pairs, to connect each telephone instument to a central switch. The overall configuration of such a system has the form of a star with the central office switching at the middle and the individual telephone instruments being connected to the central office by their respective telephone lines. The central switch and its control equipment performs all of the necessary management functions for providing the voice and data communications, thereby to allow individual telephone instruments to communicate with any other one of the telephone instruments. In recent years, the telephone management functions, whether in a central office or in an on-site PBX, have been expanded to include a variety of sophisticated capabilities such as call forwarding, call camp-on, conference calling, call back, autodial, and least-cost routing as well as providing statistical information for efficient management of the system.
The major disadvantages of the central switching approach arise from the dependence on the star wiring configuration, this resulting in an excessively large size and complexity to the central switch for the interconnection of thousands of telephone instruments. The star wiring configuration is not economical for small telephone systems. Furthermore, the star wiring configuration requires very large amounts of wire because the telephone line must extend from the location of each telephone instrument all the way to the central switch. Changes in the instrument may require new wiring as is the case wherein a call director instrument is substituted for a single line instrument necessitating the installation of multiple telephone lines. If the original single line instrument were re-installed, the surplus wire would be useless.
Other disadvantages arise with the star wiring configuration in that dependence on the central switch causes system fragility because a switch failure shuts down the entire system. If more advanced functions are to be accommodated with the central switch, the switching equipment must contain a complex and powerful computer and very sophisticated software to manage the thousands of instruments simultaneously, as well as to switch voice traffic among them. Such complexity further increases the fragility of the central office switch.
The LAN incorporates a number of interconnected on-site PBX's via a common cable capable of high speed data transmission. Each PBX is substantially smaller than the usual central office switch. The resulting system has the form of clusters of star-wired PBX units connected to each other by a common cable network which may be configured in either the shape of a ring or a star configuration. While such a system may employ somewhat less wire than a central office system accommodating the same number of instruments, the system suffers, essentially, from the same disadvantages as the aforementioned central office system. Although each PBX unit is smaller and therefore less complex than the central office system, the PBX unit must be provided with the necessary functions to permit the unit to coordinate and connect with other ones of the PBX units.
Another approach to the design of a LAN has been the use of a common cable to physically connect individual instruments or data terminals. Significantly, these systems have all relied on digital signal processing implementations to allow the multiplexing of both voice and data signals in high speed transmission bands of the common cable. Such digital signal processing has limited the practical capacity of the cable to a few hundred simultaneous conversations, in contrast with a desired capacity of carrying tens of thousands of conversations. The poor utilization of the digital approach results in such impracticality that the LAN's have been used primarily to carry high speed data traffic instead of voice communication.
Attempts have been made to enlarge the signal-carrying capacity of the cable by frequency division wherein plural transmission bands are provided to carry digital signals with the bands being spaced apart along the frequency spectrum. Such frequency division adds complexity to the coordinating and the connecting of communications among the plural transmission bands, thereby rendering such a system to be impractical for voice transmission. Additionally, broadband telephone transmission devices have heretofore required manual adjustment of their transmitting power levels to insure that all signals received on the common cable are of substantially the same strength. While the deployment of large numbers of such broadband devices would be desirable in the use of a telephone system, the manual adjustment of power levels would render such deployment impractical.
The foregoing disadvantages are overcome and other benefits are provided by a telephone system which, in accordance with the invention, is constructed with a transmission line that connects with the site of each telephone in the system. Preferably, a coaxial cable is employed as the transmission line. Connection of each telephone to the coaxial cable is accomplished with the aid of an intelligent control unit which controls all switching and routing of communication between the telephone and other telephones of the system.
Both conversation and control signals are communicated via the coaxial cable. Voice and data signals in analog format are transmitted between telephones via any one of a set of relatively narrow bandwidth channels within the relatively broad frequency passband of the cable. A single channel of relatively wide bandwidth is reserved for the transmission of control signals in digital format.
The system comprises many control units with one control unit being provided at each site. The control units are identical to each other. Each control unit can be employed with a telephone handset or other source of telephonic signal such as a facsimile transceiver for the the transmission and reception of picture information. Each control unit includes a microcomputer, two transmitters and two receivers. One of the transmitters and one of the receivers are used for the transmission and reception of radio-frequency (RF) narrow band telephone signals for voice and data communications. The second transmitter and the second receiver are used for wide band RF transmission and reception of control signals generated by the control units for the switching and the routing of the telephone signals on the narrow bandwidth channels.
The microcomputer is programmed to perform the various operations necessary to effect the various functions to be provided by the system, this programming including central-office channel selection and switching functions presently employed both in central offices and private branch exchanges. If desired, the system can utilize an existing two way coaxial cable system currently in use for the transmission of cable television or other communications. In particular, the microcomputer incorporates memory for storing the use and availability of the narrow band channels, and for selecting one of the channels in accordance with a preestablished protocol in response to a request to initiate a telephonic communication. The microcomputer also generates a data control word including an identification number of the telephone site which is to be called. The control word is received by all control units of the system, and the control unit at the desired site responds by way of a further control word identifying the channel to be utilized in the communication. In the event that the telephone at the desired site is in use (line is busy), or in the event that no person answers the phone, other control words are transmitted by way of response to indicate the condition of the telephone. It is noted that all control units receive all messages transmitted along the control signal channel, including channel usage, such information being most useful in the performance of more elaborate functions such as conference calling.
The aforementioned aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the system of the invention including a set of telephone instruments coupled by a corresponding set of control units to a common transmission line;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing components of a control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a data control word format for signals communicated between control units;
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a frequency synthesizer employed within the control units of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow charts showing the operation of a microcomputer in the control unit of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 is a graph showing spectrum utilization.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a telephone system 50 constructed in accordance with the invention. The system 50 includes a set of telephone handsets 52, each of which is connected by a control unit 54 to a common transmission line 56. Each control unit 54 includes a transceiver/58 for the reception and transmission of voice/data signals and a transceiver 60 for the transmission and reception of control signals.
Signals of a handset 52 are converted to RF signals by the transceiver 58, the RF signals then propagating along the transmission line 56 to all of the control units 54. In one of the control units 54, the transceiver 58 is tuned to the frequency of the RF signal and, in that control unit 54, the transceiver 58 receives the RF signal and translates the signal back to audio frequency for reception by the handset 52 connected to that control unit 54. The transmission line 56 has a bandwidth which is sufficiently wide to carry many channels, each of which is at a separate portion of the frequency spectrum, and each of which can carry a voice conversation between a pair of the control units 54. ln addition, the bandwidth of the transmission line 56 is sufficiently wide to incorporate a broad band channel having sufficient bandwidth for the propagation of digital control signals between the transceivers 60 and the respective control units 54. The transmission line 56 may be a coaxial cable or waveguide for the case of RF signal or, may be fabricated as a light pipe for the propagation of optical signals in which case the transceivers 58 and 60 would have suitable well-known devices for the conversion of electrical signals to optical signals. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission line 56 comprises a coaxial cable such as that utilized for the two way transmission of cable television programs.
In the use of the system 50, control signals are transmitted along the line 56 to initiate a telephonic communication between a calling party, or sender of the message, to another telephone or target which is to receive the message. It is noted that while handsets 52 are shown by way of example, is to be understood that communication can be maintained between other devices such as facsmile in which signals are generated within the audio spectrum for transmission over the usual telephone channel. As will be described in further detail, hereinafter, the control signals transmitted between the transceivers 60 are used for tuning the transceivers 58 to a common channel so that persons located at the sender site and the target side can converse with each other. In order to initiate a conversation, each control unit 54 is provided with an identification number. Thus, when a sender wishes to call a target, the control signal transmitted by the sender transceiver 60 includes the identification number of the control unit 54 associated with the target.
Referring also to FIG. 2, there is provided a more detailed description of components of the control unit 54. Each control unit 54 comprises two frequency synthesizers 1 which are further identified by the legends A and B such that the synthesizer 1A generates a carrier frequency in the upper half of a voice/data communication channel of the line 56 for the transmission of a message in one direction between the parties; the synthesizer 1B generates a carrier frequency at the lower half of the selected communication channel for transmission of the message in the reverse direction between the two parties. Thereby, by the use of the two carriers within the same communication channel, full duplex communication is attained. Typically, a voice/data spectrum has a bandwidth in the range of 3000 hertz (Hz) to 3500 Hz. Two of the foregoing voice spectra are incorporated within a single communication channel to provide for the full duplex capability, the center frequencies of the two spectra being spaced apart in a range of 7 kilohertz (kHz) to 15 kHz with a nominal value of 10 kHz being utiized to inhibit crosstalk between the two spectra of the communication channel. As will be shown with reference to FIG. 4, each of the synthesizers 1 incorporates digital circuitry which is responsive to a multiple-bit digital signal provided by a set of K1 frequency-data input lines 2.
Each control unit 54 further comprises a selector switch 5 connected by lines 3 and 4 to the synthesizers 1A-1B respectively. The switch 5 is operated in response to a signal on a control line 6. The switch 5 provides the capability of selecting either the upper or lower carrier frequency to be utilized for sending or receiving a message in accordance with a protocol to be described hereinafter.
The voice/data transceiver 58 in each control unit 54 comprises a demodulator 8 and a modulator 9 which connect with the earpiece and mouthpiece, respectively, of handset 52.
Also included within the transceiver 58 are a switch 11, a receiver 12 and a transmitter 13. RF signals coupled to the transceiver 58 by the transmission line 56 are received by the receiver 12, the RF signals then being demodulated by the demodulator 8 and then outputed along line 7 to be heard by the handset 52. Signals spoken into the handset 52 are inputed by a line 10 to the modulator 9 which then modulates the telephone signal onto a carrier. The modulated carrier signal produced by the modulater 9 is coupled by the switch 11 to the transmitter 13 for transmission by the transmission line 56 to a distant control unit 54 for the switch contacts of the switch 5 as portrayed in FIG. 2, the carrier frequency produced by the synthesizer 1A is employed by the demodulator 8 in the demodulation of incoming RF signals while the carrier frequency produced by the snythesizer 1B is employed by the modulator 9 and the generation of the outgoing RF signal. Typically, the modulation utilized by the demodulator 8 and the modulator 9 is phase modulation, it being understood that other well-known forms of modulation maybe utilized if desired.
The control unit 54 further comprises a keyboard or keypad 14 and microcomputer 15, the keypad 14 being used by the sender party to enter the identification number into the computer 15 for the target party which is to be called. The computer 15 is coupled by the foregoing lines 2 and 6 respectively to the synthesizers 1 and the switch 5, and is also coupled by a control line 16 to the switch 11 for initiating and terminating the connection of analog signals to the imput terminal of the transmitter 13. The transceiver 60 for the transmission and reception of control signals is coupled to the microcomputer 15 by lines 17 and 18, the line 17 coupling incoming control data to the microcomputer 15, while control data is outputed from the microcomputer via line 18 to the transceiver 60.
The transceiver 60 comprises a modulator 19, a demodulator 20, a switch 21, a transmitter 22 and a receiver 23. The components of the transceiver 60 operate as do the corresponding components of the transceiver 58, except that the components of the transceiver 60 operate at a single carrier frequency. The modulator 19 and the demodulator 20 operate with FSK (frequency shift keying) or another well-known form of modulation for the transmission of digital data along the transmission line 56. A control line 24 from the microcomputer 15 operates the switch 21 to initiate and terminate the transmission of digital signals by the transmitter 22. Control data signals initiated by the microcomputer 15 are modulated onto a carrier by the modulator 19 and transmitted by the switch 21 and the transmitter 22 to the other control units 54 of the system 50. Control data signals emanating from other ones of the control units 54 of the system 50 are received at the receiver 23 and demodulated by the demodulator 20 to be applied to the microcomputer 15.
Signals coupled between the transmission line 56 and each of the transceivers 58 and 60 are connected via variable attenuators 26 and 29, the attenuators 26 and 29 being of a well-known form for attenuating RF signals in response to multiple-bit digital signals applied via lines 25 and 28 from the microcomputer 15 to the attenuators 26 and 29, respectively. Connection between the attenuator 26 and the transmission line 56 is made by coaxial cable 27, and connection between the transmission line 56 and the attenuator 29 is made by coaxial cable 30. The attenuator 26 is used for adjusting the intensity of signals transmitted by the transceivers 58 and 60 to a suitable amplitude for reception by other ones of the control units 54. The attenuator 29 is utilized for adjusting the intensity of signals received from other ones of the control units 54 to a suitable signal intensity for reception by the transceivers 58 and 60.
In view of the fact that all of the control units 54 transmit over the same transmission channel, with respect to the transmission of the control data signals, each microcomputer computer 15 monitors the transmission line 56 for the presence of control data signals of other ones of the control units 54 prior to the generation and transmission of a control data signal. The monitoring of the transmission line 56 is accomplished by means of a detector 31 of the carrier of such other transmissions, the carrier detector 31 being coupled to the receiver 23 for the detection of the carrier of such other control data signal transmissions. Also included within each control unit 54 is an oscillator 32 for providing the carrier to the modulator 19 and the demodulator 20 of the transceiver 60.
The control data digital words transmitted between transceivers 60 of the various control units 54 has the form presented in FIG. 3. Such control word includes the line number identifying the sender, the line number identifying the target, a transaction code such as an indication that the party wishes to initiate a communication, and when required a channel number identifying the voice/data channel which is to be employed in communicating between two of the control units 54.
In FIG. 2, a ring signal generator 64 provides a ring signal under command of the microcomputer 15. In addition, the microcomputer 15 can be employed for the introduction of audible signals to the handset 52 via the line 33 , such as when the microcomputer 15 receives a data word via the transceiver 60 indicating that the telephone at the desired control unit 54 is in use.
FIG. 4 shows details in the construction of the frequency synthesizer 1A. The synthesizer 1B has the same form as the synthesizer 1A and, accordingly, only the synthesizer 1A will be described to facilitate the description of the invention. The synthesizer 1A comrpises a crystal oscillator 66, a frequency divider 68, and a phase locked loop 70. The loop 70 comprises a phase detector 72, a low pass filter 74, a voltage controlled oscillator 76, and a variable frequency divider 78. By way of example in the construction of the synthesizer 1A, the oscillator 66 provides an output signal at a frequency of one megahertz which is applied to the divider 68. Typically, the divider 64 comprises a counter, as is well known, which counts cycles of the oscillator output signal. By way of example, the divider 68 has a division ratio of forty resulting in an output signal of 25 kHz which is applied to the phase detector 72 of the loop 70. The oscillator 76 applies an output signal to the divider 78 which operates in a manner analagous to that of the divider 68 to provide an output signal at a frequency of 25 kHz to the reference input terminal of the phase detector 72. The detector 72 provides a loop error signal proportional the difference in phase between the input and reference signals, the error signal being filtered by the filter 74 in a well known manner to provide a control voltage to the oscillator 76. Thereby, the frequency of the oscillator 76 is locked to the frequency at the output of the divider 68 by a fixed ratio, N. The divider 78 comprises well known digital counting circuitry wherein the ratio, N, is established in accordance with digital words on the set of lines 2, these digital words being provided, as noted hereinabove, by the microcomputer 15. The output frequency on lines 3 and 4 can be raised in increments of the 25 kHz frequency appearing at the input to the phase detector 72.
Assuming, by way of example, that the butput frequency on line 3 has a nominal value of 10 megahertz (MHz), then the aforementioned nominal value of 10 kHz between the transmission and reception portions of a voice channel can be accomplished by setting the synthesizer 1B to a frequency which differs from that of the synthesizer 1A by 10 kilohertz (kHz). Thereby, the carrier signals on lines 3 and 4 of FIG. 1 differ in frequency by a nominal value of 10 kHz. As the carrier frequencies are scaled upwards and downwards by variations in the value of N, the frequency difference between the carriers in lines 3 and 4 remains constant. This provides a desired frequency spacing between the transmitted and received portions of a voice communication channel over a useful set of channels. The digital words on lines 2 select the desired channel and also set the carriers for the transmit and receive portions of the voice channels. Digitally controlled frequency synthesizers, such as the synthesizer 1, are commercial ly available, such as that provided by Radio Shack in the citizen band radio model #TRC-451 or that provided by Heathkit in the "ham" radio model #HW-5400.
In operation, the microcomputer 15 includes read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) with conventional input/output circuitry necessary to exchange information with other components of the control unit 54. The ROM contains the programming logic which allows the control unit 54 to interact with the other control units 54. The RAM provides facility for storing information, such as identification of the sender, unique to the control unit 54.
Upon installation of the system 50, each control unit 54 is provided with a unique "line" number, or identification number, which is entered into the microcomputer 15 via the keypad 14, to be stored in the RAM of the microcomputer 15. The keypad 14 may be of the standard form currently in use on pushbutton telephones. The line number is known to the users of the system 50 as the "telephone" number of the unit to be called as in any common telephone system. To facilitate an example in the use of the system 50, three of the control units 54 have been further identified by the letters X, Y and Z, these three units having line identifications as line 210, line 320, and line 430, respectively.
The placement of a call between unit X and unit Z, line numbers 210, and 430, respectively, would take place as follows. The control data receiver 23 in each of the units 54 receives, over the control data channel, any words transmitted by other ones of the control units 54. When a user at unit X wishes to connect unit X to unit Z, the user at X enters the number "430" into his microcomputer 15 via the keypad 14. The microcomputer 15 then checks the detector 31 for the presence of a carrier on the control data channel.
When no carrier is detected, the microcomputer 15 activates the switch 21 to transmit a control data word, having the format disclosed in FIG. 3, via the modulator 19 and the transmitter 22; thereafter, the microcomputer 15 turns off the switch 21 to terminate any further transmission. All of the units 54 receive the transmission from the sender via the transmission line 56.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, each of the units 54 maintains, in the computer memory RAM, a table of the busy/free status of all voice communication channels of the system 50. The microcomputer 15 in each unit 54 is also programmed to select, from the data received via the receiver 23, the information needed to maintain the status of other ones of the units 54. When the microcomputer 15 of unit Z receives the control data word transmitted by unit X, the microcomputer 15 of unit Z can than process the "call request". The microcomputer 15 of unit Z then selects a currently free channel from the channel status table and transmits along the transmission line 56 a data control word containing the sender's line numer (430 for unit Z), the target line number (210 for unit X), the transaction code for "accepting call", and the channel number to be used for the call.
Upon receiving this control data word, the microcomputers 15 in all of the control units 54 designate the selected channel as being busy. Also, the microcomputer 15 in unit X sets the frequency-data input lines 2 for the frequency synthesizers 1A-1B to the selected channel.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a protocol is established for each pair of units 54 communicating with each other wherein each unit 54 of the pair of control units 54 sets its selector switch 5 for transmission on the upper half of the voice/data channel if its "telephone line" number is higher than that of the other unit of the pair of control units 54, and to receive on the upper half of the voice/data channel if the line number of the control unit 54 is lower than that of the line number of the other unit of the pair of control units 54. In the foregoing example, unit Z has a higher number than unit X. Accordingly, unit Z will transmit on the upper portion of the selected communication channel to unit X which is tuned to receive on the upper portion of the communication channel. Unit X will transmit on the lower portion of the communication channel to unit Z which will receive on the lower portion of the communication channel. This provides for the full duplex transmission/reception between the units X and Z.
As the two control units 54, namely the units X and Z, communicate with each other via the voice/data channel by use of the transceiver 58, the two units can communicate simultaneously via the control data channel by the transceivers 60. This capability of control data word exchange between autonomous control units 54 even while full duplex conversations, voice or data, are taking place under control of programming in the microcomputers 15 allows the implementation of advanced PBX functions, and also permits each control unit 54 to maintain system status tables such as those required for multiple-line telephones as well as maintaining the status of each communication channel.
With respect to the control of power levels by use of the attenuators 26 and 29, it is noted that a new output power setting can be transmitted by a data control word utilizing the transceivers 60. A requested increase or decrease in transmitted power can be communicated by use of the appropriate transaction code in the format of FIG. 3. Thereby, power of a remote control unit 54 can be increased or decreased if necessary to improve communication with another control unit 54.
In FIG. 5, the flow chart describes the operation of the microcomputer 15 in the control unit 54 of the sender party requesting a communication. The telephone number is entered at the keypad to alert the microcomputer 15 that a telephone call to a remote instrument is desired. Thereupon the microcomputer 15 samples the output signal of the detector 31 to determine whether a carrier is present on the control data channel. The microcomputer 15 continues to monitor the control data channel until it is free of the presence of a carrier from some other control unit 54. Thereupon the microcomputer 15 initiates a control word with the format of FIG. 3 to transmit a call request to all of the control units 54. The control unit 54 having the designated telephone number, the target party, then transmits a response to the sender. In the event that the microcomputer 15 does not receive a response, then the sending party is alerted of a failure to communicate, whereupon the sending party could again dial the telephone number. In the event that a response is received, such response contains the identification of the channel to be used for the communication and, accordingly, the microcomputer 15 commands the frequency synthesizers to set the carriers for the modulator and demodulator of the transceiver 58 to the appropriate channel. Then, the sending party can communicate by speaking into the handset 52.
The flow chart of FIG. 6 describes the operation of the microcomputer 15 of the target party. An incoming control word having a transaction code indicating that a telephone communication is desired, and also having a target line number is processed by the microcomputer 15 to determine whether the target line number is identical to that of the control unit 54. If the number is identical, then the control unit 54 is alerted by the microcomputer 15 to the fact that it is the target party with whom a telephone call has been requested and, accordingly, the microcomputer 15 verifies if this unit is busy and if so sends a "busy" answer. If idle this unit's microcomputer 15 sends an answer indicating that this unit is "ringing" and then activates the generator 64 to ring. Such answers, in the form of control words, being transmitted only after a monotoring of the transmission line 56 determines that no other control units 54 are transmitting along the control data channel. In the event that the handset is lifted, then the target microcomputer 15 reads its memory, namely the RAM, to determine which voice/data channels are available and to select one such channel for the telephonic communication. The microcomputer 15 commands the appropriate frequencies from the synthesizers 1A-1B for the selected channel, and also transmits a control word to the sender party designating the selected communication channel. It is noted that the notification of the sending part of the desired channel is accomplished only after a checking of the transmission line 56 to determine whether any carrier is present from a communication of another control unit 54. The process of waiting for a free time slot on the control data channel insures that control information can be transmitted among the various control units 54 without any interference among the signals of the various control units 54.
In view of the foregoing description, it is apparent that the system of the invention presents a new approach to telephone switching and transmission. The inclusion within each control unit of a computer with memory and with a capacity for monitoring the status of the various communication channels provides intelligence to the control unit. The connection of the control units to a common coaxial cable introduces a wiring configuration such as that utilized in conventional two-way cable television systems. Each control unit has sufficient intelligence and switching capability to connect itself to any other control unit to establish two-way communication. This is accomplished without any telephone central switching system and, accordingly, there is no such central switch in the system of the invention. Thereby, inefficencies associated in the operation of a star wiring configuration with a central switch are not present with the system of the invention and, in addition, the complexity and fragility of the central switch are eliminated. The voice transmissions are performed in an analog fashion rather than in the digital fashion which would require a much broader bandwidth and a time division multiplexing of the signals of the various conversations being carried by the telephone system. Accordingly, the system of the invention can carry many more conversations simultaneously, the number of simultaneous conversations being increased by an order of magnitude. A single digital transmission channel is employed for the coordination of the individual control units. Thus, the system of the invention can perform all of the usual switching and transmission functions, as well as more advanced switching and transmission functions through the expedient of simply programming the microcomputer. The units can also adjust the power level of transmitted signals as required, and can also maintain data and statistics on the use of the various communication channels.
With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown a graph portraying the utilization of the frequency spectrum for the various voice/data channels and the control data channel. FIG. 7 shows two of the many voice channels and the control data channel. The bandwidth of a voice channel is substantially less than that of the control data channel. The channels carrying the voice and/or data are divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, with the two portions being spaced apart in the frequency domain by a protection band to inhibit crosstalk between signals propagating along the transmission line 56 (FIG. 1) in the upper portion and in the lower portion of the voice channel. The protocol for assignment of the foregoing portions of the voice channel for transmission and reception by one of the control units 54 (FIG. 1) is also shown in FIG. 7. In the upper portion of a voice channel, there is transmission of an analog signal by the control having the higher identification number, with the analog signal of the upper portion being received by the control unit having the lower identification number. Correspondingly, in the lower portion of the channel, there is transmission of an analog signal by the control unit having the lower identification number, with the analog signal of the lower portion being received by the control unit having the higher identification number. Thereby, FIG. 7 demonstrates the inventive feature of full duplex communication.
With respect to the installation of the system 50, a telephone and its control unit can be installed in a home, an office, and other locations where telephones are employed. The coaxial cable which serves as the transmission line may be supported on telephone poles or placed under ground. Each telephone with its control unit may be regarded as a station for the transmission and reception of information. The identification number identifies the station, and the interchanging of the handset, or the adding of additional stations does not alter the identification number. Also, the interposition of facsimile device for the transmission of pictorial data in lieu of the handset for the transmission of voice would not alter the identification number since it is the number solely of the control unit. All transmissions of a control unit, whether on a voice channel or a control channel propagate to all of the other control units in the system. Therefore, the initiation of a telephone call is in the nature of a paging of the desired party, which paging is "heard" by all parties. In the case of the control channel, only the control units having the called identification number respond. In the case of the voice channel, only the control unit which is tuned to the voice channel participates in the full duplex communication. The selection of the upper and lower portions of each voice channel to be designated for transmitted and received messages is accomplished in accordance with the protocol based on the relative magnitudes of the identification numbers of the sender and target parties.
It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of the invention is illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiment disclosed herein, but is to be limited only as defined by the appended claims.
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text:
YIELD: Serves 4
Cut the peppers into thin slices. In a large serving bowl, combine them with the romaine and green onions. Toss well.
Preheat an oven to 200°F. Place the tortillas in a covered heatproof container such as a tortilla warmer or a shallow casserole with a lid. Place the tortillas in the oven and heat for 20 minutes.
Place the duck meat, lime wedges, sour cream, and salsa in separate serving bowls. Let the diners spread a little sour cream on a tortilla, add a little salsa, a little duck, a little lettuce mixture, and squeeze a little lime juice over all. Roll and eat.
Cook's Notes: To roast and peel bell peppers: Cut off the top and bottom of the peppers and cut the peppers into fourths. Remove the seeds and ribs. Place the peppers skin-side down over a high gas flame (or under a preheated broiler, skin-side up) until the skin is black. Place in a plastic or paper bag, close it, and let sit for 10 minutes. Scrape the blackened skin off with a paring knife (don't rinse, or much of the flavor will be lost.
Hearts of romaine are the crisp leaves in the middle of a head of romaine lettuce.
Cooking for the Week by Diane Morgan, Dan Taggart and Kathleen Taggart
Chronicle Books


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ZAMBIAN producer Fred Phiri has won the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVC) for Best Television Series and Drama for his role in the production of local series Love Games Episode six.
And Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya, who attended the prestigious awards held on Saturday night at Eko Hotel here, said Love Games has made Zambia a popular destination in the movie industry.
Love Games is a television series focusing on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS and how it affects people.
Mr Phiri was represented at the awards ceremony by his sister Catherine Phiri, who is Media 365 managing director, the producers of Love Games.
"Love Games is a collaborative effort and I am happy that it has won tonight. Fred couldn't be here, but all the same, this award means a lot to us," she said.
She said after winning the best television comedy and drama series in Africa, she dedicated the award to the crew and the Zambian people for the support.
"I think it is the beginning of good things. By winning this award we hope that there will be more Zambian nominations next year," she said.
She encouraged actors in Zambia to keep dreaming, working hard and follow their passion by telling diverse and real African stories.
Times of Zambia correspondent Nancy Handabile who was one of the losers to Nigerian Bikiya Graham-Douglas for supporting actress category said, she was not disappointed with the loss.
"I have been exposed and I have established contacts. The sky is the limit for me," she said.
And Mr Kapeya said being Zambia's first AMVCA accolade, several upcoming movie makers in Zambia would be inspired to work harder.
"As Government we are pleased that the local production has won at the highly competitive stage.
"This is good for the country; it means our efforts are being recognised internationally. As you might know, film is one the industries that can create jobs, which is why we want to support it more," he said.
Multichoice Zambia general manager Simon Botha is happy Love Games Series has scooped the award after receiving three nominations.
"As Multichoice Zambian this a great honour for us. We are very happy that a local production has made it to the African stage at competitive level," he said.
He said Multichoice would continue to support the growth of film and art in Zambian.


text:
Originally written on nhl.com | Last updated 10/12/11
DENVER - NOVEMBER 08: Zack Stortini #46 of the Edmonton Oilers is restrained by linesman Brad Lazarowich against the Colorado Avalanche during NHL action at the Pepsi Center on November 8, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Oilers defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Nashville, Tenn. (October 12, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that forward Zack Stortini has cleared waivers and been assigned to Milwaukee (AHL). Stortini, 26 (9/11/8...
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Story behind the fireplace at the Wilson Center
Local sculptor creates work of art that links the artsUPDATED 2:33 PM CST Dec 20, 2013
Local sculptor creates work of art that has many meanings located inside the Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield.
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Salas, Juan F (1984) On the design and optimization of a smart microprocessor-based CRT terminal to serve as an operator interface to a frequency hopping radio. Masters thesis, Concordia University.
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How big is big for an erect penis in length and width?
How many inches long is considered big? How many inches in circumference/girth is big? Thank you.
Most Helpful Opinion
My ex boyfriend was 9 1/2 " and I considered that pretty darn big. I have yet to find a white boy with one that big since.. so I'd consider that massive. However, it was almost too big (at least for me) because I always ended up hurting after sex, sometimes even during sex, because I was too small for how big he was. Hahah, not really much of a complaint, but it was sort of lousy at times.
So what is the minimum size you would think to be big?
- Show Older Hide Older
Blessed? with 9.5? There's nothing you can do with 9.5 that you can't do with 8. That extra inch and a half doesn't do anything but hurt you. Tell me...would you have like it better if he was an inch or two shorter?
A blessing for him, not necessarily for me. I'm sure there's lots of girls out there who like ones that are way above average though. I was just saying that in response to "Did you see that in your dreams"
I probably would have personally, but I've always been smaller so I found it kind of painful to have it that big. Anyways, as I said it's not about how large it is but how you use it.
What Girls Said 3
According to Gebhard and Johnson (1979), the average erect penis of males in the US is 5-7 inches and the average circumference is 4-6 inches.
More recent data (not yet published) indicates an average erect penis length is between 5 to 6 inches, and average flaccid penis length ranges between 1 and 4 inches.
A study of 300 men (unpublished) conducted by Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Erick Janssen from 1989-1993 returned a mean penis circumference of 122 mm (approximately 4.8 inches)
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text:
April 25, 2005 4:00 AM PDT
Aerial taxis preparing for takeoff
- Related Stories
Get ready for the AirScooterApril 15, 2005
Gates a big investor in aircraft start-upMarch 23, 2005
On-demand private jets nearing takeoffMarch 23, 2005
WebEx hits Citrix with cybersquatting suitFebruary 3, 2005
Microsoft, Citrix strike patent-sharing dealDecember 21, 2004
Starting in mid-2006, DayJet (formerly Jetson Systems) plans to transport people between regional airports in the United States whenever passengers want. Need to get from Palo Alto in Northern California to Bakersfield in the southern part of the state and back the same day? For a moderate premium, DayJet, which calls itself a "per-seat, on-demand" air service, will do it.
The idea is to cater to business travelers who don't want to drive, but who also want to avoid the delays and stopovers that can plague jaunts between secondary cities on conventional airlines.
What's new:
Start-up DayJet is ready to launch a low-cost aerial taxi service for travel between midsize cities.
Bottom line:
Charter air travel isn't cheap, and it can be a hassle, factors that create an opening for new on-demand airlines. New technology helps the upstarts, but how much lift can they really get?
"This is a transportation system that adapts to your needs," said Ed Iacobucci, founder of software maker Citrix Systems and the man behind DayJet. "It is not about serving New York to Atlanta. It is more about serving the secondary and tertiary markets with a point-to-point network."
On-demand airlines have emerged as one of the buzzwords and potential opportunities in the field of aviation. Last month, at the Flight School conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., People Express founder Donald Burr discussed Pogo Jet, which will provide similar services, while Corporate Clipper will aggregate and book seats on these new types of airlines. (Flight School is owned by CNET Networks, publisher of News.com).
Currently, charter services provide on-demand flying services, but the expense--about $4 to $10 a mile--has put those services out of reach of most consumers and business travelers. The price, Iacobucci said, "tends to be $1 a mile for these regional flights" on conventional carriers.
DayJet (and, to a similar degree, its competitors) hope to exploit two technological achievements--lightweight components and scheduling software--to bring down the cost of these type of flights to around 75 cents to $3 a mile, somewhat close to the cost of tickets on conventional airlines today.
These new airlines will likely have to overcome consumer skepticism, said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst at Forrester Research. Will people be scared to fly in small planes? Will they miss conveniences, such as bathrooms? Will corporate travel offices spring for the transportation?
Still, "if the price is right, it might take people off the road," Harteveldt said. "It could even compete against people like JetBlue and American Eagle."
The first technological breakthrough is a new type of light airplane that's comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and fly. The Eclipse 500, from Eclipse Aviation, for instance, can hit a maximum speed of 375 knots, carry five or six people (including pilots) and fly for about 300 to 600 miles.
The plane will sell for $1.3 million, less than conventional small planes, and weigh less, which cuts down on fuel costs. The advantages in weight and cost come in part from the use of semiconductors to replace many mechanical controls. The two Pratt & Whitney engines that power it measure only about 14 inches long and weigh less than most engines of their type. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is an investor in Eclipse.
"We live and die by grams," Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn said.
DayJet has an order with Eclipse for 239 airplanes, with an option to buy 70 more. The planes will be delivered
Page 1 | 2
6 commentsJoin the conversation! Add your comment
- The International Marketplace
- It will be quite interesting to see if these proposals can take of also in the international marketplace particularly in places like the Caribbean (with their geographical area represented by an islands chain) and the Latin American region on the whole.
- Like Reply Link Flag
- Not cheap
- These flights may be convenient, but they will not be cheap. This
is still a high end product.
- Like Reply Link Flag
- Cost, Luxury Convenience may go Hand-in-Hand!
- Additionally, if these flights turn out to be as convenient as they were promised to be... then considerations should be given by the carriers with regards to the question of these becoming "feeder" services for the replacement Supersonic (Concorde) flights ( http://www.onera.fr/cahierdelabo/english/asup_ind01.htm ) from "airports" that be too far away to be convenient to "would-be" executive, celebrity, vacationing or commercial travellers. A very good scenario for computer software and company executives to put their financial, economic and technical "wizardry" to the test... Question: Will these ventures be economically feasible!!!
- Like Link Flag
- Anyone got a ticker symbol?
- This looks like an investment worth looking into... I can see businesses using a service like this very frequently, if the cards are played right?
- Like Reply Link Flag
- Which of these is not a question - Cost, Luxury, Convenience...
- Since it is the understanding that these modes of travel are not going to be for "free" then there naturally have to be the "questions" with regards to the costs that will be involved, how much luxury will be afforded and how convenient this form of travel will be, et cetera, et cetera. Lets see some figures someone: and; yes, if "other people's money" will be involved some sort of homework has to be done with regards to the profitability of these manufacturing (aircraft) and services (travel and aircraft maintenance) businesses.
- Like Link Flag


text: Jack O'Quin wrote: > Fons Adriaensen <fons.adriaensen at skynet.be> writes: > >>LISP is quite nice actually, but you'd need a complete LISP engine to >>read it... > > That wasn't really a serious suggestion. The libguile.so.12.3.0 file > on my system is over half a meg. Would all the LADSPA hosts be > willing to add that and whatever else it entails to their memory > footprint? If this is the only contro for lisp/scheme there are some nice and small implementations that are made especially for embedding and reading of configurations. Stupid me I can't remember the nicest and tiniest one of them :-((( Will look into it. But I found: - http://www.cis.rit.edu/~jerry/Software/lithp/ This is a basic, tiny LISP implementation. It was created to be a configuration/logic file format for a game I am working on. - http://tinyscheme.sourceforge.net/home.html TinyScheme is a lightweight Scheme interpreter that implements as large a subset of R5RS as was possible without getting very large and complicated. Uwe -- voiceINTERconnect www.voiceinterconnect.de ... smart speech applications from germany


text:
We make training convenient for everyone with a wide variety of programs in a town near you!
Special Olympics New Jersey is organized into 13 area programs. Each area is managed by a committee and each serves athletes in one, two or three counties. Within each of these area programs there are Local Training Programs (LTP). These LTPs can be community, school or organization-based. Some LTPs train and compete in multiple sports throughout the year while others are seasonal and may only offer one sport. Athletes can participate in multiple training programs.
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Atlantic County – AREA 8
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Gloucester County– AREA 7
Hudson County – AREA 1


text:
The fashion forecast
What will you be wearing in the next 12 months? An illustrated dress perhaps? Or maybe a chin-high silk ruff? More likely, you'll be pulling on the world's most flattering It-jeans, stepping out in cone-heeled shoes from Britain's hottest footwear designer or looking smart in a born-again blazer...Our A-Z of fashion has all you need to guide you through the looks and the labels that will be shaping your wardrobe in 2008.
Front page
Quit smoking. You'll live longer - and you'll never need to make a resolution again
Barbara Ellen: Don't get me wrong: - I'm into self-improvement in a vague 'So long as it doesn't hurt' kind of way. However, the New Year's resolution thing I've come to resent slightly.
Comment & features p7
Hugo Potter's minutiae
Top nations for drug usage
Rising star
Saira Hunjan, tattoo artist
Celebrity etiquette
What rebels! Ban or not, some rockers still think it's hard to smoke
Comment & features p10
This modern life
The end is nigh: Demise wise, 2007 was a killer of a year
The rules
New Year's resolutions
Comment & features p11
This much I know
Ken Buckle, mobile disc jockey, 45, Enfield
Comment & features p14
What lies beneath
Her layered portrayals have won Laura Linney two Oscar nominations and a well-deserved reputation as an 'acting machine'. Now, as she takes on dementia and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the former special-needs teacher is forcing Hollywood to rewrite the script for fortysomething actresses.
Comment & features p18
Neil Spencer on what the new year has in store for you in his revealing astrological round-up for 2008.
Comment & features p34
Ask Oliver
Ask Oliver: Flat or a magnified mirror? | Visible blackboard-style paint
What would you save if your house was burning down?
Emma Pierson: My cat Marvin would be the first thing that I'd grab from my house. I have a little escape plan where I put him in a rucksack, because he spends most of his time crawling into carrier bags and sleeping in holdalls
Comment & features p44
It's the torte that counts
Dark, elegant and understated, the world's most famous chocolate cake once stirred Vienna's rival patisseries to war. Nigel Slater grabs the spoils.
Comment & features p46
Ask Nigel
Large game casserole | Stabilising yoghurt
Life & style p49
Catch a falling star
He is the only chef ever to win three Michelin stars at three venues at the same time. But Alain Ducasse's London restaurant is a feast of overwhelming underachievement, says Jay Rayner.
Comment & features p50
Stumped by difficult relationship
Dear Mariella: A friend I have had since school has become selfish and rude. I wish to step back from the caring role I seem to be in, as I want to look to the future and be positive'
Comment & features p53
A clean sweep
The canes and string are in a tangle and the terracotta pots need cleaning. This is the perfect time to restore order before the work begins, says Dan Pearson.
Comment & features p54
Ask Dan
Dan Pearson answers your green-fingered questions
Comment & features p57
Can I make up for my Christmas excess?
A mountain of paper, empty bottles and festive leftovers can be put to good use, says Santa's little helper Lucy Siegle.
The green gaugeFrom juvenile fish to fat-based, oil-free candles
Comment & features p59
Books at bedtime
A literary festival in Cornwall gives Stephanie Merritt the chance to live out a childhood fantasy.
Incredible Journey
Incredible Journey: Hitchhiker Adrian Whittaker relives a hair-raising ride.
Comment & features p61
New Year reflections
Euan Ferguson: Never define yourself by mentioning exes, especially if you have a vague brain and some pride but have left them that night in the fridge


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Make Up Tips Why so serious? Have funwith absolutely authentic Joker makeup kit! Color your hair green, paint your face white and perfect that sneer...you have a plan!
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Be a part of a veritable rogue's gallery when you employ the officially licensed DC Comics Gotham's Most Wanted makeup kit to create or complete your costume. The Batman makeup kit includes a white cream make up, green hair make up, a red make up stick and a black make up stick designed to…
Take a chomp out of this Halloween with the Chatter Appliance. Whether you're a flesh eating monster or a sinister cannibal this blood splattered, disfigured face appliance will have your victims shrieking in fear.


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Denise Greening
Original recipe yields 12 servings
Amount per serving ({{servings}} total)
Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
This recipe is fantastic. It smoothes out the taste of the cranberries making it a great and coloful complement to the Thanksgiving meal.
I served this at my Thanksgiving dinner and once my guest figured out that it was not dessert they loved it. It does look fancy.
We love tasty jello salads and this one fits the bill! My kids love it!


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Raleigh / Durham Salvage Yards - Salvage Yard in Raleigh / Durham,NC in Asheville, North Carolina For Sale
Type: Misc, For Sale - Private.
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It's likely that you're looking for a salvage yard in Raleigh / Durham, NC for 1 of two needs. Either some area of your automobile is damaged and you're trying to find a that utilised component at an awesome cost expecting you'll grab it from a salvage yard close by and save some revenue Or you now have a busted down old or utilised auto and are searching to junk it and get paid out cash.
If you are searching to sell your auto to a salvage yard in Raleigh / Durham, NC then you should know several factors about selling your auto to a salvage yard. Firstly, they will often offer you significantly much less then it is easy to get for the auto because your not a skilled inside the company, additonally who's covering the towing fee to obtain your auto to the salvage yard?
That's why it's essential to obtain quotes from businesses that specialize in selling junk cars. Because they have a larger network they can often offer you far more revenue then everyone else even when they take a modest profit per auto.
If you are looking to get a utilised auto portion to obtain your auto up and running again, then you should also give consideration to checking auto replacement parts sites that warehouse and wholesale some new top quality parts rather then grabbing a utilised 1 from your Raleigh / Durham salvage yard.
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People that are just dipping their toe into the concept of using more native plants in their garden often wonder how many they should use. Reluctant to let go of some of their favorite non-native plants, they look for a recommended balance. I don't blame them – I enjoy my gardenias!
As a way of visually imagining what role non-native plants might play in your garden, I would like to suggest a concept to you: think of it like the food pyramid or perhaps like the dessert to your dinner. In either case, the bulk of what you have are the things that are "good" for you: protein, fruits, and veggies plus starches and grains.
The less healthy parts such as fats and refined sugars are the smallest portion of what you consume either in a day or in a meal. With this concept, it is easier to envision a goal for what your plant palette might look like. I am not the first to suggest this concept, but I hope this visual chart might reinforce the idea for some people.
Regional note: The suggested chart here is generally for the southeastern U.S.; southeastern coastal areas might have a slightly different mix. A teammate was quick to point out, for example, that a chart for the midwestern U.S. would have mostly grasses and forbs (perennials) and fewer trees.
The largest category, from the perspective of total biomass, is native trees, particularly canopy trees. Canopy trees would include oak, maple, hickory, pine (and other large conifer families), elm, beech, tuliptree as well as others.
Depending on the size of your property, you may only have one or you may have many. Remember this is relative to the size of your overall plant biomass. These large plants will contribute a significant amount of services to your local wildlife as many of them are top insect supporters, provide substantial food mast (acorns, nuts, seeds) and create large areas for shelter. In addition their roots provide erosion control and form large micorrhizal fungi networks below ground that help sustain the network of life in the soil.
The next two categories are native shrubs and understory trees. These plants support different wildlife such as different insect hosts, different fruits/seeds, and provide different habitat due to their shapes and sizes.
The final two native categories are native perennials: flowering perennials on one side and native grasses and ferns on the other. Although smaller in biomass, the impact of these plants is not to be denied both for wildlife and our own enjoyment.
Perennials offer a chance to provide nectar and pollen-rich blooms for many months, long after most trees are done blooming. In particular, the fall-blooming native perennials like goldenrod (Solidago), eupatorium (Eupatorium/Eutrochium), blazing star (Liatris) and aster (Symphyotrichum) sustain many pollinators as they head into the winter months.
Songbirds feast on the seeds of these and many others if stems are left in place until spring. Some insects nest in those stems over the winter, providing a source of protein to the birds that discover them.
Grasses provide seeds, nesting materials and shelter for many birds and small mammals. Ferns are used for both nesting and shelter as well. Grasses are also host plants for some butterflies/moths.
This leaves you with the top of the pyramid and the category that you would use sparingly or consider to be your dessert. Choose plants that have special meaning but which are not considered invasive. In my garden I have gardenia, tea olive, a few daylilies, and a potted dwarf date palm. I also use annual zinnias because they are a good nectar source. I do have a lawn, another non-native feature, but one that shrinks a little bit each year as I chip away at the sides to enlarge my native perennial beds.
I hope you find this useful as you ponder how to transition your garden towards more native plants. If you're looking for guidance, we're all here for you.
© 2013, Ellen Honeycutt. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com We have received many requests to reprint our work. Our policy is that you are free to use a short excerpt which must give proper credit to the author, and must include a link back to the original post on our site. Please use the contact form above if you have any questions.


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Featured: ADATA XPG V2 1866MHz 8GB DDR3 RAM - August 11, 2014
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Dell Latitude E7740 Review - June 23, 2014
Philips 19DP6QJNS is a 38-inch 2-in-1 Monitor - June 15, 2014
Portwell RTS-1771 Rugged Box PC - June 15, 2014
Epson introduces its first Direct-To-Garment printer - June 9, 2014
ASUS launches new ROG gaming machines - June 9, 2014
AMD brings top-notch performance to laptops w/ Mobile Kaveri APUs - June 7, 2014
SanDisk announces Extreme PRO SSD - June 6, 2014
Asus Maximus III Formula
A new motherboard from Asus, aptly named Maximus III Formula, is another model under the Republic of Gamers label. As such, one will obviously notice the striking red and black design of the board.
The Maximus 3 Formula is built for Intel's Core i5 and i7 — sporting an LGA1156 socket that can run the 45nm Lynnfield and 32nm Clarksdale processors.
Specs and features:
4 x DIMM with 16GB maximum DDR3 RAM
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 support single at x16 or dual at x8 mode
1 x PCIe x16 supports at x4 mode
2 x PCIe x1
2 x PCI 2.2
NVIDIA® SLI Technology / ATI® CrossFireX Technology Support
6 x SATA 3.0 GB/s ports
Gigabit LAN
2 x 1394a ports
There's also a separate card — a SupremeFX X-Fi audio card as shown below (powered by Creative).
SupremeFX X-Fi discrete Audio Card
8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
EAX® Advanced HD 4.0
X-Fi CMSS®-3D
X-Fi Crystalizer
Creative ALchemy
Supports 1 x S/PDIF out header
Supports Coaxial/Optical S/PDIF out ports on rear
Blu-ray support
This one's got the most number of ports we've seen yet — 14 USB 2.0 ports.
Similar to other RoG motherboards, the Maximus III Formula gets big scores for overclockers:
Extreme Engine Power Design (16-phase CPU power, 3-phase VTT power, 3-phase Memory power)
ROG Connect
CPU Level Up
Memory Level Up
Speeding HDD
Extreme Tweaker
Loadline Calibration
Intelligent overclocking tools (ASUS AI Booster Utility, O.C. Profile)
Overclocking Protection (COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX, Voltiminder LED, ASUS C.P.R. or CPU Parameter Recall)
We don't have a suggested retail price but this item is listed on TipidPC for Php18,999.
[…] remember the Maximus III Formula which has an add-on card for the SupremeFX X-Fi, this model also has the same but it is already […]


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Q: Do runners waste any energy output by raising their bodies vertically every step? If so, what percentage is wasted, and why do they do it?
A: Running is a series of leaps, in which we rise and then fall by about 6 centimetres (at a good marathon speed), gaining and then losing potential energy. Also, we accelerate as we take off and slow down as we land, gaining and then losing kinetic energy. Potential energy fluctuations predominate at low speeds, and kinetic energy fluctuations at high speeds. Most of the work required of our muscles serves to supply these components of energy.
The work referred to is wasted, in that there would be no need to do it if we ran smoothly on wheels. Measurements of oxygen consumption show that cycling needs less than half as much energy as running at the same speed. But we don't run on ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.


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|Paizo Pathfinder® Paizo Games
|Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Pathfinder Adventures Pathfinder Campaign Setting Pathfinder Player Companion Pathfinder Accessories Pathfinder Miniatures Pathfinder Fiction Pathfinder® Society™ Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible Products Pathfinder Apparel & Gifts Pathfinder Licensed Products
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Pathfinder Society Scenario #6–22: Out of Anarchy (PFRPG) PDF
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Player Character Folio
Pathfinder Society Scenario #20: King Xeros of Old Azlant (OGL) PDF
Pathfinder Tales: Winter Witch
Paizo Publishing, LLC(based on 33 ratings)
by Elaine Cunningham
In a village of the frozen north, a child is born possessed by a strange and alien spirit, only to be cast out by her tribe and taken in by the mysterious winter witches of Irrisen, a land locked in permanent magical winter. Farther south, a young mapmaker with a penchant for forgery discovers that his sham treasure maps have begun striking gold.
This is the story of Ellasif, a barbarian shield maiden who will stop at nothing to recover her missing sister, and Declan, the ne'er-do-well young spellcaster-turned-forger who wants only to prove himself to the woman he loves. Together they'll face monsters, magic, and the fury of Ellasif's own cold-hearted warriors in their quest to rescue the lost child. Yet when they finally reach the ice-walled city of Whitethrone, where trolls hold court and wolves roam the streets as men, will it be too late to save the girl from the forces of darkness?
From New York Times best seller Elaine Cunningham comes a fantastic new adventure of swords and sorcery, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
368-page mass market paperback.
Download a free sample chapter by clicking here! (84KB zip/PDF)
Winter Witch is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. Its Chronicle Sheet and additional are a free download (229 KB zip/PDF).
Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Tales Subscription.
Product Availability
Print Edition: Ships from our warehouse in 1 to 7 business days.
PDF/ePub: Fulfilled immediately. Will be added to your My Downloads Page immediately upon purchase of PDF/ePub.
Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at firstname.lastname@example.com.
See Also:
PTBC - Pirate's Promise,
Paizo Blog: Crisis of Faith,
Missing Pathfinder Tales short fiction on Apple iBooks,
News: Paizo is partnering with Tor for Pathfinder Tales Novels!,
Paizo Blog: Lord of Runes Sample Chapter,
Lord of Runes and advancing the timeline (Spoilers),
Ask the Pathfinder Tales Tellers all your questions here.,
PTBC - Pirate's Honor,
Paizo Blog: The Price Paid,
Paizo Blog: Hidden Depths: Delving into Dwarves and the Darklands,
Worldwide Playtest for New Pathfinder RPG Book, Ultimate Intrigue, Now Open,
Beastly Terrors, Intrigue, and Evil Adventures Announced for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game,
Pathfinder RPG Designers Unleash Their Wildest Ideas to Play the Game Like Never Before,
Pathfinder Society and Syrinscape Join Forces for Epic Gaming Events at UK Games Expo,
New Strategy Guide for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Available Now!,


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In not a single aspect is Another merely another anime taking another typical route of anything, not in visual, story, or sound – yet of those three, we focus on aesthetics, the extraordinary artwork far from any other.
Another is a series with an essence of the supernatural lingering with every episode – there's a sense of suspense ever present, an unknown force in the shadows, and an unsettling feeling that at any moment, something unforeseen will strike. It is through aesthetics this is all made so engaging a sensation – the combination of colors, shadows, and perspective all work in conjunction with one another to provide a flawlessly proven appearance of the ethereal and disconcerting, similar to those seen in AAA horror gaming titles (Silent Hill).
Technique is heavily intertwined in each frame of Another, without exception, to ensure the setting pulls off the feeling as desired by the creative minds of P.A. Works – the tense atmosphere as described above. And so, we look now to the strategic implementation of art's seven elements, alongside the principles of design, to understand why Another is not merely another anime.
Look to the still above – a frame taken from the sixth and latest episode of Another.
This scene has nothing flashy going on – nothing in particular will blatantly ask for attention, yet even the average man will be able to grace their eyes upon it and notice it has quite an entrancing charm. When watching Another, one will be ensnared by every single scene – and that is for the same reason as you see here, not a single frame goes without maximizing the full potential of aesthetic mastery that can be achieved.
The library is asymmetrical – books litter the right far more than the left. The left however has windows, both of which vary in amount visible – this is all informal balance, a contrast of components between the left and right portions of the artwork, done here at the background layer of the frame, which by the way, also happens to make use of depth. All lines of the bookshelves return, or point back, to the mid-level segment of the intersection between the large bookshelf and the wall, or where white and dark red meet bookshelf.
Before moving to the mid-ground layer, notice how the shadows submerge the right edge of the image, allowing the area of the windows, where the characters sit, to come forward as dark colors recede, whereas lighter colors stand out. The white clothes of our leading characters however allows them to not simply fade into the scene – however as a means of balancing the unity between both of them and the librarian, he sports a dark shirt, ensuring he doesn't overpower everything else in contrast, yet remains noticeable himself thanks to his grey hair.
Take note of how all three characters vary in size, and are angled at a precise off-set manner – it's not your remedial table conference scene where all characters are lined up under a common camera angle. The reason for this again refers back to balance and unity.
Sakakibara and Misaki are within the mid-ground, as is their section of the table – on the other hand, the librarian sits in the very foreground. Their shuffled placement prompts the focal point to become the transition from him to Misaki and Sakakibara – or in other words, the general vicinity of the table's far end.
Putting interest back on the room as a whole, the ceiling is practically shrouded in darkness – and while we can't see the floor much, the table, which accounts for most of the bottom portion of the image, is lit up and bright. Dark colors above to a light surface give a heavy atmosphere – as well as a tight, enclosed feeling, however this is not too much in effect here due to the windows.
Think deeply about how this is only one frame of many thousand which make up just one episode of Another – it incites incites all of this emotion, and is simply a lone frame, this is something which cannot be stressed enough. Understanding of artistic concepts is what ultimately gives the compelling aura sought by the innovators of the series – in turn, also setting the stage for story, sound, and more, as when it comes to animation, it really is all about animation, meaning visual art.
A second example from a seperate episode, incidentally another table scene, sports fish-eye view based depth and shadow to the far ends. An unevenness is prominent – both in the number of characters present to each side, as well as within the background itself as caused by the placement of the door. And lastly see that colors of attire all vary. These aspects all promote variety, which is one of the most potent principles of design – and that definitely shows.
A lack of symmetry especially is something which is said to capture not simply the eye, but the brain as well.
These small facets all act together – and that gives off the vibe one feels when watching Another.
Prevalence of artistic expertise extends to even our adorable Misaki, or rather, all characters, items, objects, and anything you can see within the series for that matter.
She has realistic highlights in the eye – this eye of hers is also responsible for an achromatic color scheme within this frame as aside from red, no other hues are to be found. Her head tilts in a manner which makes use of the rule of thirds – she's not smack center in the image, and that of course would have been nowhere near as lovely to look at. And finally, delicate, yet very defined and specific shadows line her hair – as well as the edge of her head.
A lack of light, met with a yet natural darkness. Every scene isn't simply predominately dark, but it feels as if it were so by nature itself – adding to the feeling of it all, in particular since the value is a hard transition. No gradually shifting gradients are used, this shows the encompassing direction, strong intensity, and far distance of the light source. Or more simply stated, light is scare in this series.
It's recommended to keep attentive the next time you view Another in order to not have this amazing anime be simply another of the season to pass – and instead, a work which goes appreciatively remembered for its abundance of sheer breathtaking respects.