text:
A multiple pass complementary dot pattern ink jet printing process for enhancing the uniformity and consistency of dot (drop) formation during color ink jet printing. Such enhancement in turn directly affects and improves the total print quality over a color printed area by minimizing the undesirable characteristics of coalescence, beading, hue shift, bending, cockeling and color bleed when printing on both transparencies and plain or special papers. Using this process, successive printed swaths are made by depositing first and second partially overlapping complementary dot patterns on a print media. Simultaneously, the dot spacing in coincident dot rows within the overlapping portions of the dot patterns is alternated between dots in the first pattern and dots in the second pattern. This invention is also directed to the novel process of combining complementary pass ink jet printing as described above with dot-next-to-dot (DND) super pixeling in order to further optimize the ink drop drying conditions desirable for producing the above optimized uniformity and consistency of dot formation over a given color printed area.
1. An ink jet printing process for enhancing the uniformity and consistency of dot formation during color ink jet printing, comprises the steps of:
a. depositing a first pattern of dots consisting of a predetermined number of dot rows such as dot rows one through sixteen herein which define a first swath or pass width over a preselected surface area of print media, and
b. depositing a second pattern of dots also consisting of a predetermined number of dot rows such as dot rows one through sixteen herein which define a second swath or pass width and which is complementary in spacing with said first pattern, and
c. overlapping only a predetermined fraction of dot rows within said first swath or pass width with a predetermined fraction of dot rows within said second swath or pass width.
2. The process defined in claim 1 which further includes alternating the adjacent spacing of dots in coincident rows of dots within overlapping areas of said first and second patterns, thereby minimizing dot variability as a result of variation in performance in the orifii used to create either the first or second pattern.
3. An ink jet printing process for enhancing the uniformity and consistency of dot formation during color ink jet printing, comprising the steps of:
a. depositing a first pattern of dots consisting of a predetermined number of dot rows over a preselected surface area of print media,
b. depositing a second pattern of dots complementary in spacing with said first pattern to form only a partial overlapping of said first and second patterns so that the swath or pass width of dot rows defining said first pattern overlaps only a fraction of the dot rows defining said second pattern, and
c. printing groups of dots in the overlapping areas of said first and second patterns in adjacent pixels which combine to form a larger super pixel wherein dot-next-to-dot (DND) color mixing is achieved.
4. The process defined in claim 3 which further includes alternating the adjacent spacing of dots in coincident rows of dots in said first and second dot patterns within overlapping areas of said patterns, thereby minimizing dot variability as a result of variations in performance in the orifii, used for producing either the first or second dot patterns.
5. The process defined in claim 3 wherein said super pixels each have sub-divided sections of smaller pixels which are adapted to receive the primary ink colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
6. The process defined in claim 3 which further includes depositing said second pattern of dots to overlap only a predetermined percentage of surface area of said first pattern of dots which is less than 100 percent.
7. The process defined in claim 4 which further includes depositing said second pattern of dots to overlap only a predetermined percentage of surface area of said first pattern of dots which is less than 100 percent.
8. The process defined in claim 7 wherein said super pixels each have sub-divided sections of smaller pixels which are adapted to receive the primary ink colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
This invention relates generally to color ink jet printing and more particularly to a process for improving the print quality and uniformity of color printed areas on different types of media which have been printed with color ink jet printers. These improvements in print quality and color uniformity are a direct result of the improvements in uniformity and consistency of dot formation as provided herein.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 290,543 of Mark S. Hickman entitled "Printing of Pixel Locations By An Ink Jet Printer Using Multiple Nozzles For Each Pixel or Pixel Row" is directed to an ink jet printer used in the formation of images to reduce the visual impact caused by improperly operating nozzles or inoperable nozzles. This approach uses multiple nozzles per pixel location or per pixel row, and this application is assigned to the present assignee and is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. (PD 189255) of Alpha Doan entitled "Interlace Printing Process" is directed to improving the quality of ink jet printed images by overlapping the ink dots which are printed on successive passes of a printhead. This approach further uses a grouping of printed pixels into super pixels, and is also assigned to the present assignee and incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,752 to Donald B. Bergstedt and entitled "Method of Improving Dot-On-Dot Graphics Area-Fill Using An Ink Jet Device" discloses a method of ink jet printing where successive swath overlapping is used for printing different colors over wide areas in order to reduce banding which is produced by hue shift on the print medium. This process uses dot-on-dot printing on special papers and is not particularly suited for printing with largely water based inks and using large drop volumes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,752 is also assigned to the present assignee and is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,018, issued May 29, 1990 of C. S. Chan et al entitled "Method and System For Enhancing The Quality of Both Color and Black and White Images Produced By Ink Jet Printers" is directed to a high resolution color printing process which provides for the distribution of ink on a printed medium in such a manner as to minimize paper cockeling. This approach also uses super pixeling in order to optimize the distribution of ink and maximize the resolution of the printed image. This application is also assigned to the present assignee and is incorporated herein by reference.
Substantial advances have been made in recent years in the field of color ink jet printing, and many of these advances relate to improving the print quality of the printed media, which include plain paper, special papers and various types of transparencies. Typical of these advancements in this art and technology are the various improvements embodied in the Hewlett Packard "PAINTJET" printer and described in some detail in the Hewlett Packard Journal, Volume 39, No. 4, August 1988, incorporated herein by reference.
In this field of color ink jet printing, various approaches have been used to control the overall pattern, size and spacing of individual ink drops ejected from an ink jet printer (hereinafter "dots") and printed within a given surface area of media in order to control the print quality of the printed media. This control is desirable to insure that the drops printed on one "pass" or traverse of an ink jet printhead relative to adjacent print media have an adequate time to dry before another overlying pass is made within that same printed area.
Inadequate drying time of these printed dots will produce a number of undesirable characteristics in resultant print quality, depending upon the type of print media used. For example, in the field of color ink jet printing on transparencies where ink colors such as cyan, yellow, and magenta have been printed over a given area in dot-on-dot (DOD) fashion, excessive volumes of ink per unit area on these transparencies will cause the ink to bead up, coalesce and sometimes produce banding as a result of an over-saturation of ink on some areas of the printed media.
It is also desirable that dots of different passes and within a given pass dry uniformly and consistently in addition to having adequate time to dry. Non-uniform or inconsistent drying will also produce a number of undesirable print quality effects depending upon the media used. Inadequate drying time is one possible cause of non-uniform drying of the ink, but there are also other causes which are discussed below.
In an effort to avoid the above problems of beading, coalescence and over-saturation using dot-on-dot (DOD) printing, some color ink jet printers have used dot-next-to-dot (DND) printing processes wherein successively printed dots are ejected onto side by side pixels in a given printed area. These pixels may, for example, form quadrants or other sections of a larger or super pixel as is known in the art, and color mixing takes place at the side by side or DND interface boundaries within the super pixel. This DND approach to color ink jet printing is preferable to DOD printing processes where either large ink drop volumes or largely water based inks, or both, are used in printing on plain paper.
One approach to solving some of the above problems with printing on transparencies is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,453 issued to Lin et al and incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, there is disclosed one type of complementary multiple-pass DOD ink jet printing process which was developed to avoid some of the above problems related to beading on transparencies. The Lin et al process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,453 successive multiple passes of an ink jet pen relative to the print media in a DOD process wherein a first ink swath is completed by the use of two successive ink passes having complementary dot patterns therein. Thereafter, a second swath is laid down immediately adjacent to the first swath and also by the use of two or more successive ink jet passes having corresponding complementary dot patterns therein.
Whereas the above described Lin et al process has to some extent minimized the problems of hue shift and beading on certain types of transparencies, this process can nevertheless still be characterized by the problem of "banding" at the boundaries between adjacent print swaths. This type of banding occurs frequently when largely water based inks are used on plain paper with accelerated drying. The characteristic of banding is one evidenced by repeated variations in the optical density, hue, reflectance, or anything else which visibly delineates the individual swaths or dot rows which make up a printed area. Banding is most visible in printed areas of solid color where it often appears as a narrow white or dark (over-saturated) line within a printed area. Banding can be caused by a number of things that effect dye placement, such as ink concentration, penetration, reaction on, into or with the print media or within the ink itself. Banding can also be caused by variations in ink surface tension which lead to beading, puddling and coalescence of the ink. These latter characteristics in turn can produce variations in ink drying times and non-uniform drying, and these variations can cause banding.
This characteristic of banding is particularly noticeable if the Lin et al process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,453 is used on paper instead of transparencies. For example, using the complementary multiple pass process of Lin et al, there are two different kinds of banding which can occur on plain paper depending on the properties of the ink used. A wettable (low surface tension) ink will rapidly cover the printed area, and in this case, drying is most rapid at the edges of the swath where the dye is concentrated after drying as a result of the edge evaporating water. A non-wettable (high surface tension) ink will tend to bead up in the middle of the printed area, thus causing the edges of the printed area to be of a lighter color than in the middle of the printed area where dye is concentrated in puddles or beaded areas. Thus, either a light band or dark band is possible depending on the ink additives used, and both types of banding are produced by non-uniform drying.
In addition to the above, the Lin et al process also exhibits the characteristic of beading on transparencies if the dots per inch or dot size per se exceeds a given threshold, or if the ink used has a low degree or speed of absorption into the transparent media coating. Thus, the Lin et al process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,453 is primarily directed to solving print quality problems associated with transparencies where it has met with limited success. The Lin et al process meets with still other more exaggerated problems such as banding when it is applied to either plain or special papers or when the ink formulation used is largely water based. In addition, the Lin et al process does not utilize super pixeling printing in order to minimize the above problems of banding.
Nozzle direction errors and ink drop volume variations as well as paper motion errors, carriage motion errors and paper shrinkage can also produce banding. In the normal mode of operation, weak nozzles in a printhead or missing nozzles therein can produce banding; and the concentration or lack of dye at the interface boundary between successive scans or swaths can also produce banding as previously indicated.
The general purpose of this invention is to provide a new and improved dot-next-to-dot (DND) process for controlling the ink distribution over a given printed area of print media during multi-color ink jet printing in such a manner that enhances print quality on all types of printed media. In addition, this process minimizes banding on such media which is caused for all of the aforestated reasons. This control not only minimizes the undesirable characteristics of coalescence, beading, hue shift and banding when printing on transparencies, but it also minimizes these characteristics, as well as paper cockeling and color bleed, when printing on plain or special papers.
This purpose is accomplished by depositing a first pattern of dots consisting of a predetermined number of dot rows over a preselected surface area of print media, and then depositing a second pattern of dots also consisting of a predetermined number of dot rows complementary in spacing with the first pattern of dots. The second pattern of dots overlaps the first pattern of dots only by a predetermined percentage of surface area of the first pattern which is less than 100 percent. Thus, this process is alternatively referred to herein as a "shingling" process which is in reference to the partial overlap of shingles on a roof. This percentage of overlap may vary depending upon a particular use combination of ink, print media, print density, print speed, and the like and will typically be about fifty (50) percent of overlap. This DND process further includes alternating the adjacent spacing of dots in coincident rows of dots in the first and second patterns of dots within overlapping areas of the patterns. This alternation minimizes dot variability and overall pattern variability and the visual effects thereof which may occur as a result of the variation in performance in the orifii used to print both the first and second patterns.
Thus, the novel process combination herein of alternating the adjacent spacing of dots in coincident dot rows when done simultaneously with overlapping the above first and second dot patterns by a predetermined overlap percentage which is less than 100 percent serves to enhance the print quality of the printed media. It does so by minimizing the characteristics of beading, hue shift, banding, coalescence, paper cockeling, and color bleed produced by ink printed on either transparencies or plain or special papers.
This invention is also directed to the novel process combination of:
1. providing complementary and overlying swath patterns of ink jet print, and
2. utilizing super pixeling in the overlying printed areas to generate dot-next-to-dot (DND) printed images. This process combination serves to enhance the uniformity and consistency of dot formation over the ink jet printed image.
The above advantages, operation and purpose of this invention will become better understood with reference to the following description of the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in plan view of the dot placement of ink printed by an ink jet printer when printing a first dot pattern on a given area of print media.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation in plan view of the complementary dot placement of a second dot pattern printed over fifty (50) percent of the pattern width of the first dot pattern.
FIGS. 3A; 3B, and 3C are two by two super pixels in which dot-next-to-dot printing is used to create the colors of red, green, and blue from the primary colors of magenta, yellow, and cyan.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a first dot pattern 10 includes sixteen (16) dot rows 12 with the encircled numbers 1 through 16 to indicate the relative dot placement for the dots in each row. The odd and even numbered rows are spaced in complementary positions as shown, and this complementary dot spacing per se is known in the art and provides a fifty percent area fill on the first printed pass. This complementary spacing is desirable in order to properly allow for the ink to undergo a certain amount of drying before starting a second pass, and also to allow the ink to dry uniformly.
As shown in FIG. 2, the second pass consisting of a second dot pattern 14 is made over only fifty percent of the width dimension of the first pass and is complementary in dot spacing with respect to the first dot pattern. In addition, each dot printed in each dot row of the fifty percent overlapping areas of the first and second dot patterns alternates in horizontal spacing between dots in the first and second patterns, respectively. That is, every other dot printed in the overlapping rows is printed with a different printhead nozzle, and this feature minimizes dot variability and banding as previously indicated.
Thus, it is the novel combination of this partial dot pattern overlap taken with the alternating of dots horizontally in the overlapping dot rows in FIG. 2 that enhances the overall print quality of the printed media and minimizes the above described undesirable visible characteristics such as banding.
There are three ways in which the "shingling" or partial dot-pattern-overlap process described above alleviates print quality problems:
1. The fifty percent checkerboard (or other suitable overlap pattern) is chosen to minimize interactions between individual d-ops while they are drying. These interactions include phenomena such as beading and dye migration or ink concentration at the edge of a swath. The above checkerboard like pattern also eliminates a single continuous horizontal line along which ink is forced to dry, and this tends to eliminate banding.
2. The fifty percent dot pattern overlap of the two swaths as described herein breaks up the horizontal drying patterns and minimizes banding.
3. The use of alternating nozzles in the overlapping dot rows minimizes the impact of nozzle variations.
Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, each of these two-by-two (2�2) super pixels defines a segment area of dot overlap in FIG. 2 above containing four adjacent dots which have been deposited in dot-next-to-dot (DND) fashion. This DND approach of the present invention distinguishes it from the dot-on-dot (DOD) or dot-on-dot-always (DDA) approaches employed in the above identified Hickman and Doan applications assigned to the present assignee. It was possible to use dot-on-dot (DOD) printing in the above Hickman and Doan processes because, among other reasons, these processes employed print drop volumes in the range of 60-80 picoliters (pL). Using ink drop volumes in this range, it is possible to operate with certain types of print media and their associated absorption rates and still provide acceptable ink drying times and uniformity and consistency of dot formation. The DDA approach is one in which every pixel always has two small drops applied to it in order to alleviate the problem created when larger drops printed in conventional DOD fashion could not be properly absorbed (e.g. at high dot-per-inch (DPI) resolutions) by a single pixel location in certain materials without excessive cockeling.
However, in accordance with the present invention where it is desired to be able to operate satisfactorily with increased drop volumes in the range of 120-140 pL and/or with largely water based inks on plain paper, the DND approach described and claimed herein is desirable in novel combination with the above "shingling" or overlap printing approach to even further maximize the uniformity and consistency of drop formation and the resultant uniformity and print quality of printed color images formed by same. One of the reasons for operating with this increased ink drop volume is to be able to convert existing large drop volume black and white pens to color.
Referring now to FIG. 3A, the color red (R) results from a DND mixture of the colors of magenta and yellow, whereas in FIG. 3B the color green (G) is produced by mixing the colors cyan and yellow. In FIG. 3C, cyan and magenta are mixed in the four quadrants of the two by two super pixel shown to produce the color blue (B) as indicated.
Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the following constituents of the novel process combination described herein include:
1. complementary swath passes,
2. shingling,
3. dot row alternation, and
4. dot-next-to-dot (DND) printing. These are the features which make up the novel process combination described herein and together serve to maximize both the uniformity and consistency of dot formation during color ink jet printing and also serve to enable each drop or dot deposited to dry on the underlying print media under a minimum influence of the wetting characteristics of adjacently deposited dots.
Finally, it should be understood and appreciated that the DND shingling process described and claimed herein is but one of several processes which must be carefully controlled in order to maximize the print quality output of color ink jet printers. Such print quality can be affected by many other parameters such as: a. consistency of ink drop volume of the deposited dots or drops, b. the uniformity of the drying temperature across the printed media and produced by adjacent heating elements, and c. variations in media texture and ink composition used.
Thus, these other variable parameters and process considerations are not treated in this application, but are discussed in several available textbook references such as Printing Fundamentals by Alex Glassman, Tappi Press, Copyright 1985, incorporated herein by reference. They are also described in various sections of the above-identified Hewlett Packard Journal article and particularly at page 45 thereof.
Various modifications may be made in and to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the percentage of successive swath dot patterns overlap may be varied from fifty percent (50%) to lesser or greater amounts of overlap depending upon the type of print media and inks used and also considering the print speeds and type of media drying system used. Also, other super pixel sub-divisions such as three by three (3�3) subdivisions may be desirable for certain types of color printing applications.
Finally, the use of the doctrine of incorporation-by-reference herein is not intended as a basis or supplement for the inventor's duty to disclose the best mode for carrying out this invention as required by 35 U.S.C. 112. Based upon a current understanding of present state-of-the-art developments, it is believed that this duty has been fully met without any use of the doctrine of incorporation-by-reference. Some of the processes and devices disclosed in both the patents and patent applications referenced herein may not be directly useful in the manufacture of the inventive subject matter disclosed and claimed herein. However, the above references to these patents and pending applications, some of which are assigned to the present assignee, are intended to: (a) provide an enhanced substance to the overall teaching quality of this document, and (b) provide a basis upon which further improvements may be made in the rapidly growing technical field of ink jet printing.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Oddometer: 170
With the extended swingarm and KTM shock there's no way the OE subframe will fit, and the subframe is something I thought I could replace with a lighter and simpler design.
There were a lot of things I needed to consider for the subframe design. It needs to support the seat, rear fender, tail light, license plate, luggage racks, muffler, etc., in such a way that they all fit and work together, plus it also needs to clear the tire when the suspension bottoms out and somehow needs to connect to the main frame and be strong enough to hold the rider and luggage. With just blank nothingness at the back of the bike the task seemed a little daunting at first. Here's what I was faced with:
To get an idea of what would work I made this mock-up with some aluminum flats I happened to have. I wanted to have as much as possible just straight tube so it would be easy to build and so it would have good load bearing for the weight.
Once I had an idea of what would work I made up this
subframe drawing
to work with. The GS subframe is made of 18mm thick wall tube. My idea was to make a lighter weight unit of 3/4" (19mm) thin wall 1018 steel that may not be as strong, but had a simple design that could be easily replaced when damaged or updated with a
or aluminum version without much effort. The design has only two bent tubes, the right front support needed to bend out to clear the shock reservoir, and the rear connecting tube needed to loop up and around the fender.
To prepare the tube ends for welding I used a 3/4" end mill on a vertical milling machine to plunge into the tubes at the proper angels. I didn't have a 3/4" hole saw but the end mill worked OK. The other cuts I could do in a standard milling vice but for the shallow cut on the lower front supports I needed to use this angle plate setup. It wasn't a very solid setup so I used a 4 fluted mill and went in real slow. I've since bought a 3/4"
ball end mill
that will allow me to do shallow angle cuts in a vise.
I have access to a
Hossfeld tube bender
. It only has
press bending
dies, but I thought that it would be enough to do the front support tube. I'll make up a set of 1/2"
rotary draw
dies to do the rear connecting loop and a top luggage rack. This photo is just a setup I did later to show the bender. When I did the bend I filled the tube with sand and sealed the ends with PVC electrical tape. The sand supports the tube from the inside and gives a smother bend.
With the tube ends done and the front support bent I did a trial fitting to check the tire clearance and figure out what kind of mounts were needed on the frame.
Here are the frame mounts I added. To get a shape and location that would work with my subframe I started with some templates from thick paper card stock then when I was satisfied with them I made up a set from 1/8" steel plate.
To add some strength at the mount points I put on a set of lugs made from 7/8" thin wall tube slid over the 3/4". The welded subframe would be too big to fit into the sandblaster I have access to, so I sand blasted the individual tubes in preparation for painting.
Here's a detail of a lug. I slid the outer tube over the main tube then crimped the end in an arbor press. I used a large open end wrench to form a rounded crimp edge which I thought would give a stiffer side-to-side crimp. I couldn't get enough force out of the press to completely flatten the tube and lug so I finished the crimp with a hammer and anvil. To finish the lugs I ground the crimped area to have a nice profile and have some clearance for the upper mounts, then welded a bead along the tube ends. In retrospect, I would have liked to put some relief on the ends of the lug to reduce the stress at that junction, similar to the way old lugged bicycle frames were done.
With the tubes prepared I did another trial fitting to check the tire, fender, and shock clearance. When I setup the shock I put it as far inboard as possible so that there would be enough clearance to allow a straight lower subframe support as seen here.
I used this
carpenter's level
to get the top tubes parallel to the main frame just before tack welding.
Here are the sides welded up. This photo shows the simplicity of the design.
To add some strength to the joining of the support tubes I made up this set of gussets.
I used this hole punch to punch the hole and cut out the reliefs.
And here's the subframe all welded up. I added a small plate on the middle cross tube to mount the fender.
And the subframe with a UFO enduro fender. I still haven't decided on a rear fender yet...
Here's a detail of the fender mount.
And a shot with my old seat pan, which unfortunately, will no longer work. I'll need to make a new one.
To finish the subframe I still need to make up the rear fender mount loop. I also plan to make a small detachable top luggage rack and two light weight detachable side luggage racks. All of these though depend on the rotary dies which need to be made.
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It's been a rough year for Kyrgyzstan. There was the uprising in April that saw a new government take charge, followed by violent ethnic clashes in June, then by a mass flight of refugees. And now it culminates with food scarcity and soaring prices that affect a quarter of the population amid a broken trade and supply network.
Richard Ellis
With all of the hullabaloo surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the government's lackluster performance in responding to that crisis, U.S. regulatory agencies have waved the yellow flag in allowing new offshore drilling in the Arctic.
While British Petroleum and federal regulators are certainly at fault for their reckless behavior, every American who uses oil—which is to say every American—is incriminated in this ecological holocaust.
Here's some footage to keep the dysfunction of U.S. politics in perspective. Our lawmakers may not agree on anything, they may be rude to the president and on the corporate take, but at least they have the decency to keep their eggs and smoke bombs at home.
There's a capitalist mantra that says if one person doesn't do something well enough, someone else will always come along to do it better. Well, it turns out that "one person" is us in this scenario, the "someone else" is Chinese carmaker BYD, and "it" is an electric car that can travel 250 miles on one charge.
Flickr / ThreadedThoughts
The Senate is finally getting around to approving more money for the wildly successful "cash for clunkers" program, which seems to have saved the auto industry from the forces of recession and bankruptcy. With an additional $2 billion on the way, the administration hopes to transform 500,000 more clunkers into cleaner, smaller, more efficient vehicles.
Flickr / DieselDemon
The Russians are coming ... to Cuba. Moscow has inked a deal with Havana to hunt down and suck out what could be as much as 20 billion barrels of oil from Cuba's share of the Gulf of Mexico. It's just like old times.
The basic question is whether the United States wishes to treat Russia as a permanent enemy, even if it is not. The result of treating states as enemies is that sooner or later they become them.
AP photo / Elizabeth Dalziel
Forget about terrorism for a moment. The potential catastrophe that climate change could unleash on America makes every other national security crisis pale in comparison. President Obama cannot secure the homeland without addressing this global emergency.
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Click Here & Sign Up to Download This Ringtone : http://www.Ringtones-
Winner is the latest single by Jamie Foxx. The song is receiving tons of radio airplay and the most popular downloads on iTunes. Winner is rising up music charts all over the world, including the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Winner Ringtone is the perfect choice for your next cell phone ringtone. Don't wait download the Winner Ringtone by Jamie Foxx now!
Foxx will release his fourth album, "Body", on March 2, 2010. The first single is "Speak French". Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and R&B singer. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a musical/comedy. He is also a Grammy Award winning musician, producing two albums which have charted highly on the Billboard 200: Unpredictable, which topped the chart, and Intuition.


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Retinoblastoma is a cancerous tumor that grows in the retina, a layer of nerve tissue in the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain.
A cancer of early childhood, retinoblastoma can affect developing fetuses in the womb, as well as newborns, babies, toddlers, and children up to 5 years old.
Many parents first see signs of retinoblastoma after noticing that their child's pupil (the dark circular area in the middle of the iris, the colored part of the eye) appears whitish in bright light. Some parents notice this effect in photographs. This happens because the pupil is translucent; so, retinal tumors that lie behind it may be noticeable.
While the majority of kids who develop retinoblastoma are born with it, most are not diagnosed at birth. The average age at diagnosis is between 12-18 months. When diagnosed, most kids are treated successfully and able to preserve their sight while maintaining good vision.
Like other forms of cancer, there is a genetic component to retinoblastoma. Kids who carry the genetic mutation (from either a parent or grandparent) usually get more than one tumor and are likely to develop the disease in both eyes. It also usually occurs at a younger age than kids without the mutation. This is called hereditary retinoblastoma.
The remainder of kids who develop the condition ― about 60% ― have no family history of the disease, and will usually get it in just one eye, with much less risk of developing retinoblastoma in the other eye. This is called unilateral retinoblastoma.
Kids with hereditary retinoblastoma in one eye could develop it later in the other eye, so regular checkups of the healthy eye should be done every 2-4 months for at least 28 months. After treatment is completed, follow-up exams should continue until a child is 5 years old.
A cloudy white pupil, which might look silvery white or yellow in bright light, is often the first sign of retinoblastoma. This is called leukocoria, or "cat's eye reflex." Other symptoms include:
Many of these symptoms are common side effects of other eye conditions, and don't necessarily mean a child has retinoblastoma. If your child has any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
If retinoblastoma is suspected, the doctor will refer your child to a pediatric ophthalmologist, an eye doctor who will examine the retina by dilating the eye, sometimes under general anesthesia. He or she might also order imaging tests, like an ultrasound of the eye, a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as blood tests.
If retinoblastoma is diagnosed, a pediatric oncologist (cancer doctor) will test to see if cancer is anywhere else in the child's body. He or she might perform blood tests, a spinal tap, or bone marrow biopsy. Live tissue samples, or biopsies, are rarely used to diagnose retinoblastoma because they can cause cancer cells to spread beyond the eye.
Once doctors have made a diagnosis of retinoblastoma, they use detailed staging systems ― including the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Reese-Ellsworth staging systems ― to determine the extent of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps doctors decide how to treat it.
Staging categorizes retinoblastoma that is either intraocular (within the eye) or extraocular (outside the eye):
Under the St. Jude's staging system, intraocular retinoblastoma is classified into four stages:
The Reese-Ellsworth staging system (an older model of staging developed in the 1960s) classifies retinoblastoma from Group I (cases that are considered the most favorable for saving the eye) to Group V (these cases are unlikely to be controlled with chemotherapy or radiation).
Recently, the National Childhood Cancer Foundation's Children's Oncology Group adopted a more modern staging system that considers a child's disease severity and predicts what type of treatment will be most effective while still preserving the eye.
A pediatric ophthalmologist, pediatric oncologist, and radiation therapist will work together to treat a child with retinoblastoma. This team will individualize a plan for each patient based on the extent of the disease within the eye, whether it is in one or both eyes, and whether it has spread beyond the eye.
There are many forms of treatment for retinoblastoma ― all targeted at killing cancer cells. The following treatments, or a combination of treatments, may be recommended:
During treatment for retinoblastoma, a child will need periodic examinations of the eyes (usually under anesthesia) to confirm the effectiveness of treatment.
Recurrent retinoblastoma is cancer that has returned or continues to grow after treatment. It may occur in the eye, tissues around the eye, or elsewhere in the body. Kids with hereditary cases of retinoblastoma are more likely to develop new tumors years after treatment. Therefore, close follow-up exams are important for these children, who also are at risk for other types of cancer later in life.
Kids treated with chemotherapy might develop flu-like symptoms afterward. Some might feel nauseated, weak, or dizzy after treatment, or run a fever. Those who undergo radiation therapy might feel more tired than usual. Their skin can become reddened or dry in the area being treated. During this time, the doctor may prescribe pain relievers for your child.
Once treatment is over, kids can get back to normal activities if they feel well enough and if the doctor allows. Recovery periods vary, depending on the treatment and the child.
In many cases, kids with retinoblastoma retain the use of both eyes. Children with one eye removed have good vision and receive a prosthetic eye to replace the missing eye. Prosthetic eyes are of such good quality that most people can't tell which eye is natural and which is prosthetic.
The majority of children treated for retinoblastoma survive and go on to lead normal lives ― in fact, more than 80% of them will retain 20/20 vision. Still, because those with hereditary retinoblastoma have a significant risk of developing secondary cancers, frequent checkups are vital.
Reviewed by: Gregory C. Griffin, MD
Date reviewed: March 2012
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995–2014 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.
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July 7, 2015
CHICAGO (AP) - Corey Crawford made 25 saves, Jonathan Toews had a big goal in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference final Sunday.
Brandon Saad added a goal and an assist for Chicago, which remained perfect in seven home playoff games this year. Duncan Keith had a tiebreaking score in the third period.
Playing just two days after a Game 7 victory over Anaheim, the Kings got a second-period goal from Tyler Toffoli and outshot the Blackhawks 26-20. But Crawford made a couple of solid stops in another terrific performance.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night.
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Gear Review
Damn I look good!
Freaking love my Merino long-sleeve shirt. I am 6 foot and 160 LBS and I do have longer arms and stoic makes their products longer in the sleeves and I love that. The shirt fits so well and keeps me dry in the day and warm at night. I get a lot of compliments from friends on hikes about the shirt. Just get it!
hey what size do you wear in this?
@zprp143830 I wear a medium and it fits great. I like more fitted stuff too.
View More Details on Stoic Merino 150 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's


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Crime, courts and legal issues in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin
Former MU star's wife sues for contract commission
The wife of former Marquette University and Tosa East star Scott Merritt has sued a Canadian sports agent, claiming he owes her half of a $13,700 commission earned off securing Merritt's latest contract.
According to the lawsuit filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Ashley Carr Merritt and agent Bernie Lee had an oral agreement to split any commission resulting from an extension of Scott Merritt's employment with Link Tochigi Brex, in the Japan Basketball League.
Ashley Carr Merritt, of Shorewood, alleges breach of contract, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment and intentional misrepresentation. Her suit claims she helped negotiate Scott Merritt's current deal, and reviewed past contracts Lee had found for her husband.
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It appears the Nuggets will be without Carmelo Anthony for at least one more game.
The forward wouldn't completely rule himself out for today's game at Dallas, but he sounded more optimistic about returning Monday from a left ankle sprain to play at New Orleans.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to go," Anthony said after Saturday's practice. "It will give me one more day of rest, and hopefully be back on Monday against New Orleans. If not (today), then definitely Monday."
Said Nuggets coach George Karl: "From what he did (Saturday), I'd say doubtful."
Anthony has missed two games after being injured Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets won both games, against Atlanta and New Jersey, but still know they need him.
Without Anthony, the Nuggets lose 25 points and seven rebounds a game.
Anthony did some treadmill work, among other things, Saturday with strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess.
"I did some rehab with the trainer, some ankle moves, doing some mobility with the ankle," Anthony said. "It felt pretty good, but then after a while it started stiffening up. I'm pretty sure if I don't go tomorrow, that will give me another day of rest."
On his history of bad ankle injuries, Anthony ranks this one high.
"I had ankle injuries in the past, but this is a little more severe than my past ankle injuries," he said. "This is probably one of the worst ones. I don't want to force it, but I gotta come back."
4:30 p.m. today, ESPN, Altitude, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Devin Harris:
The Mavericks are a much-improved team during the past month, and a lot of that is due to the play of guard Devin Harris. Harris has averaged 16.3 points and 5.5 assists in January, and the Mavericks are 9-2 for the month.
Nuggets: Nuggets coach George Karl is wary of the Mavericks, who have raised their level of play recently. "Offensively, they are much more in flow, in rhythm," Karl said. "They're always a good defensive team. We gotta play fast and attack their defense before it sets up. I'm sure they're going to play with a lot of pride, since we beat them the last time we played them there."
Mavericks: Josh Howard has played well lately, averaging 26.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in his past three games. . . . Former Ralston Valley standout Nick Fazekas plays in the Mavericks' system. He was assigned to the D-League's Tulsa 66ers in November. Dallas selected Fazekas in the second round of the 2007 NBA draft. . . . The Mavericks are 19-3 at home.


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1796 25C AU50 PCGS. B-1, R.6. The B-1 variety is ...
2003 July Baltimore, MD. Signature Sale #328
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Bright AU50 B-1 1796 Quarter1796 25C AU50 PCGS. B-1, R.6. The B-1 variety is characterized by the (slightly) lower 6 in the date, and it is the scarcer of the two varieties of this year. The dies were engraved by Robert Scot and John Smith Gardner, based upon designs by Gilbert Stuart and John Eckstein. This piece was most likely a part of the Colonel Green Hoard of some 200 high grade 1796 quarters. However, most of the high grade '96 quarters that exist today are from this hoard, and almost all are of the High 6 (B-2) variety. While not completely brilliant, there is just the faintest hint of golden toning on the upper periphery. Like a great many high grade 1796 quarters that are known, this piece has bright, semi-reflective fields on each side. Sharply struck, especially on the obverse, the only weakness seen on this piece is in the center of the eagle's breast (a result actually of wear) and on the eagle's head, as always. A few shallow adjustment marks are seen in the center and upper portion of the reverse, otherwise the surfaces show only the slightest handling marks. (NGC ID# 23RA, PCGS# 5310)
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In God We Trust Glitter Cuff
At first glance, this golden brass cuff looks simple. When you look closer, however, you'll see that the cuff is hand-cut with dozens of tiny facets, so it glitters like golden diamonds whenever the light hits it.
$60 at Dottie Clover | Buy
Buttercup and Co My Forest Ring
Featuring a vibrant, cabochon-cut green onyx stone, this ring is handcrafted from sterling silver with a brushed satin finish and scalloped silver bezel setting. It's sure to become one of your favorite go-to statement pieces.
$60 at Buttercup and Co | Buy
Kendra Scott Elle Earrings
Etched gold frames these stunning, dangling abalone shell earrings. No two pairs are alike, and the swirling hues of blue, green, and purple will complement a variety of outfits. Simple, organic, and utterly gorgeous - just like you, right?
La Mer Collections Bali Stud Wrap Watch
Treat your wrist to a bracelet and watch in one with this triple-wrap number. Accented with gold studs, the rich camel leather straps will weather beautifully over time.
$125 at Greta Bean | Buy
Baroque Bow Tie Stud Earrings
Bow ties are cool - just ask Doctor Who and thousands of bow tie-wearing, mustache-sporting hipsters. These enamel flower and glass gem studded-earrings offer a fun, feminine twist on the traditional tie.
$7 at Owl Monkeys | Buy
Cotton Candy Happy Lip Balm
Love the sugary-sweet, inherently summery taste of cotton candy? Now you can indulge all year round with this pink sugar lip balm from Perfumeria Gal. The tin features a reproduction of a print of a smiling face from the early 1900s, sure to make you grin every time you dig the container out of your purse.
$7 at Waiting on Martha | Buy
Wolf & Moon Egyptian Necklace
Adorn your collarbone with one of these colorful geometric pendants, cast in perspex and strung on a gold-plated silver chain. It's simple, graphic, and eye-catching - just what every wardrobe needs.
$26 at Wolf & Moon | Buy
Real Flower Resin Necklace
Flowers are in rampant bloom at this time of year, but disappear all too quickly once the temperature starts going back down. Keep a little summer with you all the time when you wear this delicate pendant, made from a small purple flower preserved in clear resin.
$20 at LOVEnLAVISH | Buy
Zoe Chicco 14k Pave Horseshoe Necklace
Horseshoes are lucky, and diamonds are a girl's best friend. Could there be any better jewelry combination? We think not. This delicate, tiny pendant is subtle enough to be a daily signature piece, but sparkly enough to stand out.
$650 at Zoe Chicco | Buy
Chanel Nail Polish iPhone Case
Lovers of vibrant nail polish and designer brand names alike will be hard-pressed to pass up these phone cases inspired by Chanel nail polish bottles in iconic shades like #461 Blue Satin and #475 Dragon. Each case is made from your choice of durable polycarbonate plastic or rubber.
$8 at SuperStarCase | Buy
Marc by Marc Jacobs Foiled Cover iPhone 5 Case
A demure, plain black phone case isn't for you, girl - you're ALL about the bling. This textured metallic gold iPhone 5 case should do the trick, and is significantly classier than that bedazzled Hello Kitty case you've got snapped onto your phone at the moment.
Not Soap Radio Awash in a Field of Four-Leaf Clover Trio
We've heard of wearing a four-leaf clover as a pendant, but all over your body? Why not? Absorb some good luck through osmosis with this soap, body wash, and souffle lotion trio, scented generously with green tea and clover sourced from the real deal: County Kerry, Ireland.
$49 at Not Soap Radio | Buy
Stack Wines
Here is a great reason to kick off picnic season. Stacks are a set of four wine 'glasses' zipped up in a sleeve for easy transport. Unzip, pop the glasses apart, and toast to the return of outdoor drinking. It is that easy, and yes, the wine is that good.
La Lueur de L'Aube Hydrangea Ring
SLR Camera Stud Earrings
Kendra Scott Delilah Earrings
Feeling blue? Pep yourself up with these 2.25 inch-long beauties! Wrapped in 14k gold plate, the simple cobalt-dyed cat's eye stones adds a punch of vibrant blue to casual or dressy ensembles.
$75 at Charm And Chain | Buy
War of the Worlds Litograph Print
A Litograph is every book lovers dream come true. The design of each Litograph print is created with the text from that classic novel. Choose from a childhood favorite (Alice In Wonderland or Pride And Prejudice, to name a few), or simply pick a print because it just looks so cool. Even better, Litograph donates to The International Book Bank with each purchase made.
$29 at Litographs | Buy
Laptop Desk
Picture it: You are being served a delicious breakfast in bed. Or better yet, you are lounging on the veranda, sipping tea while a gentle spring breeze rustles the pages of the magazine you are leafing through. Sigh. A girl can dream, right? If you are lucky enough to nab either of these experiences, EJbutik's smart little laptop desk/tray is a great way to balance your scones or iPad. Desks are available in several sizes, wood finishes and fabric choices, but we think a whitewashed surface and spring-inspired floral is the way to go.
Meet Chippmunk
Wouldn't it be awesome to have a personal coupon stash? Without the actual paper coupons cluttering up your bag, of course. And no math required- no figuring out minimum purchases and percentages off. And zero expiration dates, and not even a mention of restrictions. Then, if you could pair those miracle coupons with an easy and streamlined way to shop with them, well, now we're talking retail heaven. Think of all of the time you would save, no longer wandering the mall aimlessly or numbly staggering around the internet, waiting for something- but you don't quite know what- to jump out and grab you. That you can also get a really great deal on.
Yes, technically, you could hire a personal shopper and train them to do your gift purchasing and coupon corralling for you, but man, that would be super time consuming and expensive.
What you need in a gift home base- a jumping off point to begin your purchases. A website that would, say, present you with a wide array of shops that have oodles of gifts ready and waiting- all within your budget.
You should meet Chippmunk. Chippmunk, this clever little creature, is your virtual, fur-covered personal shopper with buck teeth. Chippmunk snatches coupons likes acorns, for tons of major retailers, and sorts them by your budget and by what type of gift you're looking for. You set the parameters, and Chippmunk scuttles around gathering the best deals for you. All in one, easy place.
Don't panic, you don't need to know exactly what you're looking for, which is actually the best thing about Chippmunk. Thinking about sending flowers to your Nana for her birthday, or clothing to a friend's new baby? Tell Chippmunk, and he'll get you started on the right path. Chippmunk will tell you that FTD has the best deal for Nana, but you might also want to look atProFlowers, too- they'll toss in a free balloon. And BabyGap will ship that new baby gift for free if you use the right coupon code, which Chippmunk has oh-so thoughtfully grabbed for you, just in case.
So you might not be able to get out of doing all of the work of gift-giving, but Chippmunk can make it infinitely easier and keep you both under budget and sane. Oh, and it's totally free. Amazing, we know! Go on and go, we don't mind- you know you want to check it out.
Succulent Monogram Planter
Wreaths will look so ho-hum on your neighbors homes when you hang this truly unique succulent monogram on your front door. If you feel like bringing some green indoors, the planter can just as easily lay flat on any surface. Water once a week and this living decor will continue to flourish year-round.
$130 at Rooted In Succulents | Buy
RachelleD Spring Necklace
Desperate for some warm weather and spring flowers? They won't be appearing for awhile yet, but you can bring a little spring into your wardrobe with this cheery handmade necklace, featuring turquoise beads, a coral red dahlia, and a golden sparrow in flight.
RossLab Bubble Speech Planter and Saucer Set
Who knows if the whole "talk to plants to get them to grow better" thing works? Given our track record of plant murdering, though, we're willing to give this reminder-emblazoned set a try. The pot and saucer are hand-thrown and painted, then finished with a clear gloss glaze to protect.
Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses
Wine isn't your significant other's thing. They would rather spend hours tasting and discussing the merits of reposado, blanco and añejo tequilas, and they shudder when someone orders a frozen margarita at a restaurant. Treat them to this set of four shot glasses carved from pink Himalayan salt. They'll add a nuanced, salty tinge to shot, but don't forget a few lime wedges and a bottle of their favorite tequila.
$30 at Uncommon Goods | Buy
Lovebirds Cookie Platter
Some gals and guys aren't really into candy, but gourmet cookies send their hearts a-racing every time. Instead of a box of chocolates, this selection of twelve hand-decorated, hand-baked chocolate sugar cookies is sure to be a hit come February 14th. We especially adore the lovebirds cookies - how tweet!
$35 at Trish Lynch | Buy
ElisabethMichael Joy Pillow
True, this Greek key-printed pillow with red sewn-on letters is technically a Christmas decoration. We'd be inclined, though, to put on the sofa all year long as a reminder to keep joy in your life, no matter what the date is.
$35 at ElisabethMichael | Buy
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Leading Indicators in U.S. Gain by Most in 8 Months
Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The index of U.S. leading economic indicators increased in November by the most in eight months, a signal the recovery will strengthen early next year.
The Conference Board's gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months rose 1.1 percent after a revised 0.4 percent gain in October, the New York-based group said today. The reading matched the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Americans grew more confident last month, stocks rose and fewer people filed for unemployment benefits, boosting the prospects for consumer spending in coming months. Until growth picks up and sparks bigger job gains, Federal Reserve policy makers will stick to a plan to pump more money into the economy.
"Momentum is building in the economy," said Michelle Meyer, a senior U.S. economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research in New York. "Outside of housing we are seeing strength in other parts of the economy."
Stocks in the U.S. declined as concern Europe's debt crisis will spread across the continent offset higher-than-estimated earnings forecasts from Oracle Corp. and Research In Motion Ltd. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 0.1 percent to 1,241.16 at 10:59 a.m. in New York.
State Jobs
A separate report today from the Labor Department showed payrolls decreased in 28 U.S. states in November, led by declines in North Carolina and Massachusetts, indicating the labor market is undergoing an uneven recovery across the world's largest economy.
The median forecast for the leading index was based on a survey of 59 estimates that ranged from gains of 0.3 percent to 1.3 percent. The Conference Board revised the October reading down from as previously estimated 0.5 percent increase.
The biggest contributors to the increase in the index were a slowdown in supplier deliveries, the spread between short- and long-term interest rates and a drop in jobless claims. Slower deliveries signal factories are having trouble keeping up with demand.
The Conference Board's index of coincident indicators, a gauge of current economic activity, rose 0.1 percent in November after a 0.2 percent increase the month before. The measure tracks payrolls, incomes, sales and production -- the gauges used by the National Bureau of Economic Research to determine the beginning and end of U.S. recessions.
The index of lagging indicators fell 0.1 percent last month, the first drop since May. This measures business lending, length of unemployment, service prices and ratios of labor costs, inventories and consumer credit.
Stock Rally
Evidence the economic recovery is advancing has driven up U.S. stock prices. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index has advanced 22 percent through yesterday since reaching a 10-month low on July 2. The gauge is up 5.3 percent so far in December.
Even so, Fed policy makers said economic growth isn't strong enough to bring down the unemployment rate, which rose to 9.8 percent in November. The central bank's Open Market Committee on Dec. 14 repeated its pledge to leave the benchmark interest rate low for an "extended period" and retained a $600 billion Treasury-purchase program through June.
Seven of the 10 measures that make up the Conference Board's leading index are known ahead of time: stock prices, jobless claims, building permits, consumer expectations, the yield curve, factory hours and supplier delivery times. Of those, five gained strength in November.
The Conference Board estimates new orders for consumer goods, bookings for capital equipment and money supply adjusted for inflation.
Today's report showed nine of the 10 components contributed to the increase, with only building permits showing a decline.
Balance Sheets
Improved household balance sheets may be boosting spending during the Christmas holiday period. The International Council of Shopping Centers on Dec. 14 revised its November-December holiday-season sales forecast up by 0.5 percentage point to a range of 3.5 percent to 4 percent, citing "the strong November performance and promising trends in early December."
"All the brands around the world are having so far so good a very great Christmas," John Demsey, group president of Estee Lauder Cos., said in a Bloomberg Television interview Dec. 15. "Consumer confidence is up and it's really about the power of the brands and pent up demand that consumers have."
The pickup in consumer spending complements factory growth that helped bring the economy out of the worst recession since the 1930s.
Broadcom Corp., the biggest maker of chips for television set-top boxes, this week increased its fourth-quarter revenue projection to about $1.9 billion, the top end of an earlier forecast range. Irvine, California-based Broadcom is making inroads in the mobile-phone market, supplying radio chips for handsets from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and Finland's Nokia Oyj.
To contact the reporter on this story: Courtney Schlisserman in Washington at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at email@example.com


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The Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Bloom serves northern North Jersey with centrally located offices in Hackensack and West New York.
Divorce disturbs every facet of our daily lives from our relationship with our children to our performance at work. It manages to cloud our thinking and preoccupy our thoughts. Even the strongest among us can fall prey to the emotional turmoil and vulnerability caused by divorce. During these highly charged times, it is crucial to have a strong, committed, and intelligent attorney protecting your legal rights and pursuing your objectives. Having an attorney to meet your legal needs gives you less to worry about and more time to focus on the healing and renewal process. Most people get through this rough period in their lives and so will you.
At the Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Bloom, we handle a variety of family law matters, including:
(All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service.)
Attorney Jeffrey M. Bloom was born in New York, NY. He moved to New Jersey as a young child and has lived in northern New Jersey for over thirty-five (35) years.
Mr. Bloom received his Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration from Emory University in 1985. Thereafter, he obtained his Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 1988 where he served as a member of the Editorial Board of the Brooklyn Journal of International Law.
Mr. Bloom is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and New York, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States of America and various other federal courts.
Jeffrey Bloom is a second generation attorney. His father, Irwin Bloom, graduated New York University Law School and practiced in New York City for over forty (40) years, primarily representing defendants and insurance companies. As a young man, Jeffrey Bloom realized that he did not want to represent corporations, but that he wanted to dedicate his career to defending the rights of individuals, including people crippled in horrible accidents or families torn apart by divorce. For his entire career, Mr. Bloom has worked hard to build a reputation as an attorney who will fight for the rights of his clients whether battling a manipulative spouse or an unsympathetic corporation.
Mr. Bloom is an active member of the National and New Jersey Associations for Justice where he is a contributing member of both the Personal Injury and Family Law Listserves. He is also a member of the New Jersey, Hudson and Bergen County Bar Associations.
Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Bloom
5700 Bergenline Avenue
West New York NJ 07093


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Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
Hello, I'm about to build a 42" interior oven. I have worked out the width of the cement stand to 58" (42" + 9" for brick + 6" for insulation + 2" for mortar). I am not building a walled enclosure but instead going for the "snail" look. Should I leave an additional 1" on both sides for a reveal and a safety margin or build the stand to match the exact width of the oven so that the water will run off? Second question: With regard to the depth, I am confused as I have a set of Forno Bravo plans and can't get the math to add up. By my numbers the depth of the cement stand should be 70.5 inches but I could be wrong. My 70.5 inches assumes 42" interior diameter + 4.5" for brick + 3" insulation + 1" for mortar + 8" for the vent landing and finally + 12" for the oven landing. Should I be adding additional space for the dome over the door? I think I'm missing something important? Should I leave an additional one inch for a reveal / safety margin at the rear? I truly thank anyone who takes the time to look at my math and find the error of ways for a newbie who is just embarking on what he hopes will be an awesome experience. Thanks, John
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
Hi John... Sadly I'll add to your question instead of answering it. I am planning my 36" oven and the materiel list shows a 71"x80" foundation but the chart under oven dimensions on page 13 indicates 67"x78".
Sorry to hijack your thread but I figure whoever answers your questions will know the answer to mine as well.
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
No worries about hijacking the thread. Actually, I've had a hard time getting an answer to my questions so I called FB directly. In short, they said that their manual / instructions have been found to have numerous errors and to view any measurements as "rough". Now I find myself having to question any measurement and am a bit disappointed that basic measurements may be wrong or needing further explanation.
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
I'd be happy to help you both, but am a newbie myself and have just started my own oven. I don't feel experienced enough to give you the answers you need. I also found the measurement related info in the FB instructions to be contradictory, etc. Maybe one of the experienced builders on here can help you both. Best of luck to you both and take pictures!! We love pictures and they are very helpful.
My Build:
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Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
The block stand n the forno plans had me a bit confused as well especially considering all the measurements were in feet and inches and I was working in a metric country. It was good in a way because I double checked my measurements before I started and even counted the blocks in the pics till I knew I wasn't really that bad with the math
These days I would consider it an easy construction method rather than a diffinitive plan. In fact gentlemen consider changing it shape to a H shape to give yourselves two shallow bays instead of one big one. Trust me its a long crawl to the back to get or stow wood. Much better to have two excessable ones.
Regards dave
Measure twice
Cut once
Fit in position with largest hammer
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Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
Thanks. It seems as if cobblerdave has the answer in a way. What I am going to do is try to mock the thing up in Visio with the dimensions for the materials and see what I end up with. Then maybe I can share the file. The biggest thing (which I'm sure you share) is not wanting to fix a foundation that is too small or make a foundation too large since for me space is at a premium. I'll work on a drawing and would be happy to share it.
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
You are kind of "screwing me up" with "the snail look" but, here goes:
I had origionally planned on a 42" dog house and went with a dry stacked 8" X 16" block stand (five blocks deep by 4 blocks wide) . Since "dry stacked" substracts the head joints, that comes out to about 78" deep X 64". By adding a 2X4 band around the stand and then a 2X6 form board I ended up with about an 80" X 67" hearth slab. That would have been enough had I not of switched to a 44" in mid stream.
Your figures dont add up for me on your depth (based on your figures). I come up with 79" instead of 70.5". Your stated "8" for the vent landing and finally + 12" for the oven landing". If I understand correctly, your flu/chimney entry will be 8" and your "landing" in front of the flu will be 12". Unlike others, I believe in a deeper flu entry. 12" works great to incorporate a transition to your flu. You can subtract from the "oven landing" to work this in. A longer reach is better than a smokey oven. An angled landing will help make up the diference. Also, I don't see where you have added a face brick into your figures. I would strongly suggest that you get some large poster paper or cardboard (taped together) and lay this this thing out in full scale. It will help you understand what you will need for dimensions for a stand. Post a pic of what you come up with and we will be able to help .
I did not catch if you are planning an igloo or doghouse style?. I would be glad to help both of you. This is my toughest time of the year though. My mill has it's annual outage the first week in may. Lots of over time, the month before, and the month after . Bare with me .
I don't care what folks say behind my back........They are either braggin or.......lyin
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Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
Your numbers don't add up - (42" + 9" for brick + 6" for insulation + 2" for mortar) = 59" not 58". And that would make your dome line to line with the width of your base. Gulf has already commented on your dimensions front to back.
Take your time and lay it out like Gulf suggested. Don't get confused. Just because some bricks are called "stretchers" that doesn't mean they are actually elastic.
Have Fun!
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
Listen to the wise-folks on this string.....sketch it out and you will get a visual of what you want.
I took the liberty of designing up a 42 inch just to go through the motions (see pics). The attached pictures show a 42" oven, 4.5" thick wall, 3" insulation" + 1 inch mortar. 8" chimney, Entrance comes out 34" from center of oven. Opening 18" x 12" high (Peak) x 9" high (at sides).
If you cant find paper that size, get some chalk and draw it full scale on the driveway or road.
The base shown is 80 "x 64". This gives you some room to play with. all around. Notice that the dimensions of the base are in multiples of 8"....This makes the construction of the base simple since you are stacking blocks. You want to avoid making your base using odd-ball numbers. The base will then define your slab dimensions.
Shown is a 4" slab for the oven base. I neglected to show any floor-insulation (either pearlite-concrete or insulation board....
Also shown is Cobbler Dave's idea of an H-base design with two small rooms. He is correct by saying that a single room is a long crawl back....two small rooms would be much better (and makes for a stronger base as well).
Re: Stand Dimension Question by Newbie
One other thing, I agree with Gulf about the larger chimney draw area. The last thing you want is smoke coming out the front of your oven and in your face. I have seen so many beautiful ovens with black soot caked on the front face, which indicates that they did not properly design their chimney.
There was a good thread posted back in Sept 2012 entitled "Arch Design Help"...it had some good images of how to design the chimney transition area.
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text: Beat egg yolks until they are thick and pale and gradually beat in sugar. Fold in whipped heavy cream and freeze the mixture until it is almost hard. Remove the cream from the freezer and let it soften slightly. Stir in the Cognac and dark rum, to taste. Stir in a few handfuls of rum-soaked raisins, if desired. Return the mixture to the freezer. Serve the eggnog in small punch cups, with spoons.


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Lockwood, CA; Richmond, BG; Jungers, WL; Kimbel, WH; (1996) Randomization procedures and sexual dimorphism in Australopithecus afarensis. Journal of Human Evolution , 31 537 - 548.
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Use of Existing Data for Public Health Planning: A Study of the Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Core Antibody in Al Ain Medical District, United Arab Emirates
Al-Owais, A., Al-Suwaidi, K., Amiri, N., Carter, A. O., Hossain, M. M., Sheek-Hussein, M. M., Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Voir page 1327 le resume en francais. En la pagina 1328 figura un resumen en espanol.
Hepatitis B (NB) is of major public health importance, infecting more than one person in every three of the world's population at some time during life and causing 2 million deaths annually (1, 2). Some infections clear up and are followed by long-term immunity (identified by the presence of HB core antibody (HBcAb) without the presence of HB surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum). Chronic infections, however, which do not clear up (identified by the presence of HBsAg in serum for more than six months), lead to the largest burden of disease and death (3). Public health officials need to know the prevalence of chronic infection and immunity in the population and the characteristics of those who are infected (risk groups) in order to plan public health programmes, particularly vaccination programmes (4). In the Eastern Mediterranean Region prevalence of chronic infection varies from 1.5% in Kuwait (5) to 1.8% in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (6) and 28% in Saudi Arabia (7).
There were no accurate estimates of the prevalence of disease markers or the risk groups in which they occurred in the population of Al Ain Medical District, United Arab Emirates. However, it was known that most children aged under 11 years were immune because of universal childhood immunization programmes in which 92% received all three doses (8). A formal study to gather this information would have been costly and time-consuming. It was therefore decided to identify existing databases that could be used to generate data on the prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAb and to determine whether sufficiently accurate information could be obtained from them for planning public health programmes, particularly immunization programmes (by identifying disease burden and risk groups and by aiding cost calculations).
Five databases were identified which contained recent information on the prevalence of the HBsAg marker; one of them also contained information on the prevalence of the HBcAb marker (Box 1). It was assumed that persons found to be HBsAg+ were chronic carriers as all the databases were created by screening of apparently healthy individuals. Approval for the study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University. Information was abstracted from each database on nationality (United Arab Emirates or non-United Arab Emirates), age, sex (where available) and the presence of HB markers for each individual tested, and was analysed separately for each database by means of the SPSS software. The statistical significance of differences between two or more categorical variables was determined by means of the [chi square] test, in which P< 0.05 was considered significant.
Box 1. Summary of databases containing recent information on the prevalence of HBsAg marker
* Two hospital laboratory databases created during routine antenatal screening between October 1997 and October 1998 (the Tawam and Al Ain antenatal databases)
-- one at Tawam Hospital, created by means of the HBsAg Axsym MEIA Kit (Abbott) for HBsAg and the Core Axsym MEIA Kit (Abbott) for HBcAb;
-- one at Al Ain Hospital, created by means of the Auszyme Monoclonal Diagnostic Kit (Abbott) for HBsAg.
* Database created during screening of students applying for higher education between July and October 1998, by means of the Auszyme Monoclonal Diagnostic Kit (Abbott) for HBsAg (higher education database).
* Database created during screening by the Preventive Medicine Department of individuals seeking immunization between May and July 1997, by means of the Auszyme Monoclonal Diagnostic Kit (Abbott) for HBsAg (preventive medicine database).
* Database created during screening of males applying for the government marriage gift in 1997 (the marriage gift is a government grant available to male United Arab Emirate citizens marrying for the first time who agree to undergo screening), by means of the Auszyme Monoclonal Diagnostic Kit (Abbott) for HBsAg (marriage gift database). …


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For nearly a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This new, expanded edition, with a fresh new design and new photographs throughout, preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate training manual for a new generation of dog owners - and, of course, for their canine best friends. The Monks of New… (più)
Editore: Little, Brown and Company (15 Maggio 2001)
Format: EPUB
Dimensioni del file: 3.3 MB
Protezione: DRM
Lingua: Inglese


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Daniel Nikolaison Plus
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Production, direction, camera, editing. Since my first productions in 2003, I've worked extensively as a film maker in all of the above departments.
The work you see here has taken me all over the world. Be it knee-deep in the Tagabe River squatter camps of Vanuatu or in the deepest jungles of the Congo; from the snowiest forests of The Rockies, Colorado to iciest Arctic Russia. Whether snowboarding with 20kg of film equipment down a luge or being sandwiched by a heard of Austrian horses threatening to collar my tripod, my work has dragged me through some extraordinary experiences and introduced me to some amazing people & cultures. I hope you enjoy these clips.


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tough one
It's either south east or central
SOUTHEAST!!! its got The Hawks, The Magic,The Heat, and The Wizards(i know they suck, but i still like watching them)
Central is pretty interesting too (Cavs,Bulls,Bucks)
Northwest, has my favorite team the Nuggets, along with Portland and Utah, all three teams winning 50 games this season.
ooo tough 1.. pacific is pretty cool the lakers and warriors are always fun to watch and the kings always put up a fight plus they got tyreke.... but the southwest is fun too with the spurs and mavs and rockets
You have gotta go with the Northwest They got playoff teams in everyone except the t-wolves who just suck in general. Plus you gotta love watching Durant do his thing.


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The BAP Handbook: The Official Guide to the Black American Princess is the work of four self-proclaimed BAPs: Tracey Lewis, Karla Lightfoot, Kalyn Johnson and Ginger Wilson. The following in an excerpt from their book.
The lights are bright, the camera is rolling, and both the baby BAP and her mother are screaming. Her parents, with the help of an expert team of doctors, escort her to center stage. It is her greatest entrance of all. This is why to this day she feels that those around her should celebrate her birthday as if it were a national holiday. Still protesting her untimely eviction from the womb? the ultimate condo? the baby BAP begins her quest to solve the major mysteries of her new life. With the abrupt end to her food supply and a totally unnecessary smack on the tush from a green-masked stranger, questions pop into her inquiring mind: What's going on? Where am I? How will I eat? Who will pay for my Ivy League education? Who will buy my clothes? I want Prada. I want Kate Spade. Jewelry? Cars? And my wedding? I want a Vera Wang wedding dress.
Amidst the commotion there is a moment of calm as father and daughter see one another for the first time. She gurgles and smiles as she is handed over to him; unbeknownst to both of them, she has just succeeded in wrapping him around her tiny little finger for life. At that very moment, her father vows that his little princess will have a regal existence and never want for anything.
Little does her father know that his pledge will cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Little does she know that her magical spell over him will result in a lifetime of zealous overprotection. Without enunciating a syllable, this demanding waif telepathically transmits her desires to her parents. Now, they will do anything to give her the "perfect" life?trips abroad, membership in the most coveted organizations, nice cars and homes, a closetful of beautiful clothes, and a top-notch education.
A creature like no other, she demands the Best and Nothing Less. She is the BAP, the Black American Princess!
BAPitude, the BAP mind-set, starts before she can even talk and only escalates after that. Her arrival home from the hospital marks the beginning of a life full of the Best and Nothing Less. Eager to provide their daughter with endless possibilities, her parents' first task is to ensure that she is fully equipped to meet life's challenges. So, the BAP's first housewarming gift is a solid value system.
The BAP is raised to be a respectful and considerate person. She may have a selfish moment or two (okay, or three or four) but she quickly learns that her parents will not tolerate it. Spoiled? Yes. Overindulged? Yes. Obnoxious and intolerable? No, never! Her BAParents, like the TV Huxtables, don't play that. Many-a-time she will be told, "That may be how those little girls you go to school with act, but that's not acceptable behavior in this household!" By hook or by crook, her parents instill their little girl with qualities that teach her to be a princess regardless of her material possessions and worldly experiences.
Surprisingly, this overindulged young child who has been tempered by pragmatism and love blossoms into a well-balanced individual. She is taught that BAPitude does not give her license to run roughshod over others. Imbued with a sense of largesse, the BAP remains grounded and appreciative of her charmed existence.
Etiquette, Schmediquette


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March 23, 2015
A good useful piece of equipment.
February 20, 2015
Great little product - very useful and gave hours of enjoyment over the new year period.
November 18, 2014
A very useful little tool. good for presents too
November 16, 2014
Good value for money a very useful purchase
October 28, 2014
Neat little item and so well priced
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Nov 12, 2011
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Nov 12, 2011
Wow! This would be a FABULOUS front page!
Thanks so much for the feature!
Wonderful collection! Thank you so much!
great theme - fantastic selection!
thank you for including my herb & spice kit!!
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Georgeous T!
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Nov 13, 2011
Great colours! Really lovely - thanks so much :)
This is stunning. Thank you so very much for including one of my creation. :)Doreen
Love the treasury! Looks awesome! Thank you for including my Industrial garment rack!
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