text:
Welcome to BrainDen.com - Brain Teasers Forum
|Welcome to BrainDen.com - Brain Teasers Forum. Like most online communities you must register to post in our community, but don't worry this is a simple free process. To be a part of BrainDen Forums you may create a new account or sign in if you already have an account.
As a member you could start new topics, reply to others, subscribe to topics/forums to get automatic updates, get your own profile and make new friends.
Of course, you can also enjoy our collection of amazing optical illusions and cool math games.
If you like our site, you may support us by simply clicking Google "+1" or Facebook "Like" buttons at the top.
If you have a website, we would appreciate a little link to BrainDen.
Thanks and enjoy the Den :-)
Posted 25 June 2008 - 11:30 PM
and about the No PMing rule- trust me, PMing behind the scenes ruins the game for everyone... including you. If you think about it, you have no idea who another person is, and PMing with them and giving them excess information will put you more likely to be on the chopping block just trust me when I say this: the only PMing-about-the-game that is allowed is at night between the living Mafiosos
dead people aren't allowed to give info out, either
just saying, cuz that can ruin a game
anyway... I'll start it soon. Should I start it right now?
- 0
Posted 25 June 2008 - 11:31 PM
Host: Unreality
1) Kingofpain
2) Thuhchris
3) Frost
4) Itachi
5) Brandonb
6) grey cells
7) pieman
9) dnae
10) pw0nzd
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 01:02 AM
hopefully we'll get more people next time 10 is good enough for an initial game ;D
Alright, I'm PMing the Mafiosos right now as well as the Innocents that have Special Roles (the Inspector doesn't find out his or her role til a bit later, remember). So if you don't get a PM, that means you're an Innocent ;D
once every single person I PM replies to the PM, I will start the game (the Mafiosos aren't allowed to PM each other about being a Mafia until Night actually starts, which will be when I start the game)
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 01:05 AM
There are three factions: Mafiosos and Innocents and the Grim Reaper
* Mafiosos know who the other Mafiosos are- the rest are all Innocents, except one Innocent is actually the Grim Reaper
* Innocents only know that they are an Innocent, they don't know about anyone else (at least at the start of the game)
* The Grim Reaper only knows who himself or herself is, but is unsure about everyone else
I (Unreality) am the Host- I am neither faction, but I oversee the game
In the beginning, everyone signs up to play, then I randomly pick Mafia members- there's always more Innocents than Mafiosos. I PM all the Mafiosos, telling them who ALL the Mafiosos are, then on this topic I post the total number of mafiosos, so that the Innocents know (but the Innocents do not know who among them are Mafia members). I also pick the Grim Reaper from among the Innocents
The game takes place in cycles of night and day.
* At night, the Mafiosos are allowed to PM each other to decide on a victim... then they all PM me on their choice- if there are differences, I take the majority vote. Also, during the night, the Doctor PMs me on one person he/she wants to save (it cannot be the Doctor), and if that person is chosen by the Mafia, they do not die!
Also, if it is an even-number night (2nd, 4th, etc), the Grim Reaper PMs me who he or she wants to exterminate that night (if this person was chosen by the Doctor, they survive)
* In the day, everyone still alive in the game speculates and discusses who they want to "lynch" (the Innocents want to lynch suspected Mafia members or the Grim Reaper). Once a majority consensus is reached, that person is written off the game as well. Remember, the Mafia members (secretly pretending to be Innocents) also vote who to lynch, so they can try to disrupt the vote and make the Innocents lynch one of their own.
* If the last person standing is an Innocent, the Innocents win.
* If the last person standing is a Mafioso, the Mafia wins
* The Grim Reaper wins if s/he kills off the last Innocent left OR the last Mafioso left, or if s/he kills the Inspector with proof that the person s/he is killing is the Inspector
Special Roles:
* The Doctor- I will secretly choose one Innocent to be the Doctor, who, every night, PMs me of one person they want to "save", which cannot be themselves. If this person is voted by the Mafia or chosen by the Grim Reaper that night, the person lives.
* The Martyr- another secret Innocent role. They can opt to, ONLY ONCE, and at any time, PM me with a suspected Mafioso. I reveal (to everyone) the role of this exposed person, but the Martyr DIES (thus everyone learns who the Martyr was, too). If I were the Martyr, only use this when you REALLY need to for your team, because the cost is your life
* The Inspector- a secret Innocent role that can, every other day (2nd day, 4th, etc) get PMed by me (until their first PM from me, they do not know they are the Inspector) the role of a Mafioso. However, the Inspector must be tricky and subtle, and not flash the information around, because if the Grim Reaper learns the identity of the Inspector, the Grim Reaper can win the game next night ;D
* The Ghost- the first person to die becomes the Ghost. The Ghost, at any time, can PM me with the name of one person, and that person's Special Role, if any, is revealed to the Ghost (not Mafia/Innocent role, but special role). What the Ghost chooses to do with this information is his or her own choice
Anyone can PM me anytime with a Grim Reaper accusation.
* If they were wrong: the Grim Reaper gets PMed immediately who made the accusation and who they accused (so oftentimes the person that made the wrong accusation pays with their life)
* If they are right: nobody finds out until the Grim Reaper's next kill, when, instead of making a kill, the accuser tracks the Grim Reaper and kills the Grim Reaper first
This is why the Grim Reaper tries to keep their identity secret
No outside contact! YOU CANNOT PM PEOPLE ABOUT THE GAME! This is the most important and ONLY rule in the entire game, and if anyone breaks it, they are never allowed to play Mafia ever ever ever again on this forum.
read this about the PMing thing:
Posted by Unreality
another thing: If I choose to not reveal someone's role after their death, the person cannot reveal their role! (until the end of the game, of course )
and about the No PMing rule- trust me, PMing behind the scenes ruins the game for everyone... including you. If you think about it, you have no idea who another person is, and PMing with them and giving them excess information will put you more likely to be on the chopping block just trust me when I say this: the only PMing-about-the-game that is allowed is at night between the living Mafiosos
dead people aren't allowed to give info out, either
just saying, cuz that can ruin a game
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 01:18 AM
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 02:07 AM
after we start -> no more joinees ;D
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 03:31 AM
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 03:33 AM
anyway, still waiting on 3 more people to PM me in reply, then I can start off the game
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 04:22 AM
- 0
Posted 26 June 2008 - 05:00 AM
hopefully we will start tomorrow- actually, we WILL start tomorrow, no matter what
- 0
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
Bob 612-991-1027. WE OFFER OUR OWN NATIONWIDE SHIPPING AT A MUCH BETTER RATE! "WE MAKE IT EASY" View our entire inventory online: Classic442.com All... More
Michael's Motor Cars is pleased to offer this 1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible in charcoal frost with black leather interior and black convertible top. This... More
Professionally Built High Quality Resto-Mod That's Been Driven Just 16361 Miles Since Completion. Originally Custom Built By Rich's Street Rods In Snohomish Washington And Maintained By... More
JUST IN !! MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!!! 2001 Lincoln Town Car Wide body Stretch Limo built by Executive Coach Builders of Springfield Missouri. Loaded... More
1958 Lincoln Continental. Black with gorgeous Black and contrasting Red upholstery. Powerful 430ci/375hp V-8 engine. Automatic trans. Honeycomb grille, fender skirts, power windows.This gorgeous... More
We are pleased to market this fantastic 1975 Lincoln Mark IV with only 15k original miles. This highly original vehicle is in remarkable... More
For sale in our Detroit showroom is this classic 1979 Lincoln Continental Collector Series. In 1979 the Lincoln Collector Series was the highest trim... More
2 OWNER CAR WITH 26,766 ACTUAL MILES. HAS ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER. THE CAR HAS SO MANY OPTIONS IT CARRIED OVER TO 2ND PAGE. FIRST... More
1979 Lincoln Mark V Continental Coupe. RARE Bill Blass beauty. Only 79K careful miles, just out of estate. Gorgeous original blue/white finish with like... More
CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
1976 Lincoln Continental This 76' Lincoln land yacht is completely all original and still cruises down the road. It's powered by the original 460 V8... More
Beautifully Restored to Original Condition!!Sought After by Collectors Everywhere!!Factory Air ConditioningThis Continental is presented in the rare color combination of Inverness Green with a... More
CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
73 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, Spectacular example of almost ALL original time capsule, Only 49,370 original 1 owner garaged miles (Only driven around a 1K miles... More
For sale in our Chicago showroom is a 1979 Lincoln Mark V. This triple black land yacht is ready to cruise you around... More
As enthusiasts, we all know the true appeal of owning classic cars is expressing our own individuality through timeless machines that are rolling extensions... More
For sale in our St. Louis showroom is a gorgeous 1979 Lincoln Mark V. This Mark V has only traveled 22403 miles in its... More
For sale in our Detroit showroom is a stylish and iconic 1969 Lincoln Continental. In the 60s the Lincoln was completely redesigned and shortened... More
For sale in our Detroit showroom is a stylish and classy 1977 Lincoln Mark V. In the 70s the Lincoln Mark series was the... More
GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 2001 Lincoln Town Car Cartier Edition Sedan for purchase. Lincoln has successfully been Ford's brand of... More
Offered for Sale by the California Automobile Museum 1970 Lincoln Continental Sedan We Offer Financing Exterior Very light green (mint) paint appears to be original and is in... More
A True Survivor with 26,406 Original Miles!!1 of 3,000 Mark IIs built for 56 & 57Fully Optioned with Factory Air ConditioningRobbins Egg Blue with... More
1977 Lincoln Mark V Bill Blass Edition1977 Lincoln Mark V in excellent running condition well maintained and no rust. Car has never been driven... More
For sale in our Detroit showroom is this clean green 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan. This classic Lincoln is powered its original 337 Cubic Inch flathead... More
1978 Lincoln ContinentalAn original or beautifully restored classic car elevates transportation toAn art form an indelible part of the american experience.American classicV8 cylinder engineAutomatic... More
1957 Lincoln Premiere 2D Hardtop CoupeThe 1957 Lincoln Premiere is a very elegant classic car from the 50s and is very beloved for its... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
1960 Lincoln Continental ConvertibleThe Lincoln Convertible from 1960 is a real eye-catcher and people will be absolutely amazed when you drive by in this... More
Classic cars have proven to be among the most resilient and rewarding investments in recent years. This 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V is equipped... More
1953 LINCOLN CAPRI "SPECIAL CUSTOM" HARDTOP COUPE. Red with Black and Red interior. Complete and accurate ground-up restoration. 1,847 miles since. $38,500. 1953 LINCOLN CAPRI "SPECIAL CUSTOM"... More
1978 LINCOLN MARK V 14,358 ORIGINAL MILES! FINISHED IN LIGHT JADE METALLIC WITH WHITE LEATHER INTERIOR! RARE CARRIAGE ROOF! 460-CUBIC-INCH V-8! AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION! 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES! ORIGINAL 8-TRACK CASSETTE PLAYER! CRUISE CONTROL! POWER... More
1979 LINCOLN MARK V COLLECTOR SERIES ONLY 18,840 CAREFULLY DRIVEN MILES! RARE LIMITED EDITION COLLECTOR SERIES! 1 OF ONLY 3,900 BUILT! LAST YEAR FOR THIS FULL-SIZE MODEL! FULL DOCUMENTATION,... More
... More
Under 11,000 original miles on this 1 owner well documented Lincoln Continental 2 door hardtop Built February 24th 1977 Sold new... More
1969 Lincoln Mark III Service manual and original owner's manual comes with sale. Automatic Transmission. Interior, carpet, dash, top and headliner in good condition. Tires... More
Motoexotica is pleased to introduce our newest 1971 Lincoln Mark III. 1971 saw the Golden Anniversary for the Lincoln Mark, and the third and final year... More
1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible Rare 4 door convertible only 6% of production in 65' Extremely rare dealer installed 2nd windscreen True Southwest car 430" V-8 big-block Turbo-Drive 3 Speed Transmission MotoeXotica... More
1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible. Runs good but needs a master cylinder as it leaks some. Don't hesitate to contact me with questions. I'm selling... More
GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1987 Lincoln Town Car Sedan for purchase. As all models were past 1979, the Lincoln Town... More
1976 Lincoln Mark IV. Great 2 owner history. With each owner, Both pampered and garaged this beauty. Only 65k actual documented miles.Have owners manual,... More
1947 Lincoln Convertible - fully functional custom. All mechanicals are new or rebuilt including the 302 H/O with auto, ps, pb, 4-wheel disc brakes,... More
1979 Lincoln Mark V one-owner personal luxury cruiser. Older gentleman cared for this baby until unable to drive. Odometer states 64000 miles, reported as... More
GR Auto Gallery is proud to present this 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Collector Series for purchase. Offered in Midnight Blue Moondust Metallic, the... More
JUST IN AND GREAT VALUE! THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DETAILED YET READY FOR SALE. LOTS OF PHOTOS COMING SOON. IF YOU WANT US... More
JUST IN AND GREAT VALUE! THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DETAILED YET READY FOR SALE. LOTS OF PHOTOS COMING SOON. IF YOU WANT US... More
1968 Lincoln Continental Lehmann Peterson LimousineThe limousines of Lehmann Peterson are known worldwide as high quality cars. The first limousines of Lehmann Peterson were... More
Rare Emilio Pucci designer edition. Versailles interior. Only 19,000 miles. Excellent condition.... More
1951 Lincoln Lido If you are interested in this vehicle or have any questions, please call Cliff at 707-768-1735. 337 cid flathead, Hydromatic trans. Only 44500 miles. Currently lic and insured. Trade... More
***2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR SIGNATURE SERIES*** *CARFAX CERTIFIED* DEALER SERVICED THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP* OUTSTANDING COLOR COMBINATION* *AMAZING CONDITION INSIDE & OUT* TOTAL LUXURY, POWER AND PERFORMANCE AT A... More
Nearly every part on this 1956 Continental Mark II is custom machined, chromed or polished. The underside is painted and is as clean as... More
1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Lipstick Edition. Only 6,425 Miles! 460ci/210hp/V8, Auto Trans. This gorgeous Mark IV is one of the rare Lipstick Edition... More
1979 Lincoln Continental for sale in our Indianapolis Showroom. This 79 Continental is powered by a 400 cubic inch engine backed by a 3-speed... More
1971 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK III COUPE JUST 1-OWNER FROM NEW! ONLY 14,713 ACTUAL MILES! SPECTACULAR CONDITION THROUGHOUT! FULLY DOCUMENTED WITH ITS ORIGINAL OWNER'S MANUALS, SERVICE BOOKS, ORIGINAL BROCHURES... More
Sold new in 1988 to Lakeland, Florida Owner #1, this rare special edition conversion remained with him until sold to Lakeland, Florida Owner #2 in... More
Great 80's American Luxury at it's finest with this 1986 Lincoln Town Car, Cartier Edition. V8, AT Transmission, ONE family owned Car, 46,240 original... More
For sale in our Chicago Showroom This 1982 Lincoln Mark VI Signature Sedan is ready for the road and sure to turn some heads.... More
1962 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONVERTIBLE $54,995.00 This is the second time we've had this car, last selling it in June 2006 at 89,115 miles. Luckily... More
This stunning 1973 Lincoln Continental Coupe was obviously someones pride and joy. It looks like the original owner "Ernest Johnson" Special ordered this beauty... More

subset: commoncrawl


text:
PhysX officially sucks.
View Single Post
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,525
Re: PhysX officially sucks.
Originally Posted by
PhysX was a CPU driven Physics engine long before they put in the PPU acceleration, and later GPU support (was called Novodex before they changed the name), and it has a software implementation as any other physics middleware.
it is available on Win, Linux, 360, Wii and PS3 platforms, but the CUDA based Hardware acceleration is obviously not supported where there is no supporting hardware, IE on the consoles.
My point was that in Cryostasis, the multithreading was disabled 'intentionally'.
Originally Posted by
You are aware that they put an on/off PhysX switch into the control panel for a reason. You can turn it off if you'd rather use your GPU only for rendering.
PhysX is great if you prefer single GPU cards, because you dont need to sell or give away your old GPU, you can use it as your dedicated PhysX card, at least thats what I will use my 8800GTX once I upgrade...
I have a CUDA path in the code of my BR2 Patch, and i could use my old 8800GTX for the CUDA calculations & the GTX285 for the graphics only, but, my PSU will explode if i do it
ASUS Rampage Formula X48 | Xeon 3350 @ 3.6 GHz (450x8/1.26v) | 4x1GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Reaper CL3 @ 900 MHz 3-4-4-15 | 1 x eVGA GTX 285 SSC | 1 x ASUS EN8800GTX (PhysX/CUDA ->
Burnt by nVidia 196.75 driver)
| X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty PCIe | 1 x Intel X25-M G2 80GB | 2 x 750GB WD RE2 7500AYYS SATA2 16MB | Samsung SH-B083L SATA | Enermax Revolution 1250W |
Samsung SyncMaster 275T 27" 1920x1200
| Thermaltake Black Armor | BloodRayne 2
FSAA Patch
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by walterman


text:
Although there are a lot of posts about this exact same question over the years, there is no definitive answer to this problem.
mediatransparent.com works, but mediatransparent.com/wp-admin is a white screen.
It happened suddenly without any changes between the day it worked and the day it white screened.
I'm a novice, would anybody have the definitive solution here? Thank you


text:
CHECKOUT 0 Items $0.00
... loading ...
Australia's BIGGEST Weddings & Party Sale STARTS NOW! Hurry, while stock lasts! >Shop Now
Birthday Party Stripes Thank You Cards
Average customer rating
Sale Price $6.69 Normally: $8.95 (Save 25%)
Massive Clearance Sale on Today! 25% or more off every product, storewide! Prices as marked.
Stripes Thank You Cards feature a vibrant multicoloured stripe design with the phrase "Thank You" on the front and a blank area inside for a personal message. Bold stripe colours in this ensemble include shades of: Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, Yellow, and Orange. Stripes Party Supplies will add colour and excitement to any celebration!
Card Size: 5 Inches x 4 Inches or 12.70cm x 10.16cm
You receive 8 Thank You Cards & White Envelopes.
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews of this product [1]
(5 of 5) posted 05-01-2012 10:50 am
Loove these bright stripes! So happy and cheerful.Brianna Thomas


text:
Dallas Cowboys Cuce Devotee Boots
The Official Shop of the Dallas Cowboys brings you the fun, warm Dallas Cowboys Devotee Boots. Made Cuce Shoes, the Devotee Boots are a stylish and unique way to show your Cowboys pride. These faux-fur knee-highs are comfy and cute and emblazoned with the Cowboys logo. A padded footbed and pull-on design ensure you are ready to jump and cheer all game long.
- Synthetic suede upper
- Faux-fur mid
- Synthetic outsole
- Knee-high boots
- Cowboys logo on shaft
- Padded footbed
- Pull-on design
- Officially licensed NFL product
Size Chart


text:
A method and apparatus for determination of battery end-of-service in a medical device in which the medical device comprises a cathode limited electrochemical cell having an active metal anode and a manganese dioxide cathode and means for digital telemetry of cell voltage. The sloped, well defined voltage curve of such a cell during cell discharge combined with precise information available through digital telemetry allows for improved determination of battery end-of-service for the medical device.
1. A medical device having battery end-of-service indication comprising:
(a) an implantable housing;
(b) a medical device within said implantable housing,
(c) a cathode-limited electrochemical cell having an active metal anode and a manganese dioxide cathode within the housing;
(d) analog voltage measurement means within the housing for measuring a voltage of the electrochemical cell;
(e) analog-to-digital conversion means within the housing for converting the measured analog voltage into a digital signal; and
(f) telemetry means within the housing for telemetry of the digital signal.
2. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the active metal anode is lithium.
3. A medical device according to claim 2 wherein a capacity ratio of lithium anode to manganese dioxide in the cathode limited electrochemical cell is in a range of about 1.0 to about 1.5.
4. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein telemetry of the digital signal is accomplished by pulse position modulation.
5. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein telemetry of the digital signal includes means for multiple voltage data transmission and means for error detection.
6. A method for determining battery end-of-service for implantable medical device comprising:
(a) providing a cathode limited electrochemical cell having an active metal anode and a manganese dioxide cathode in an implantable medical device;
(b) measuring a voltage of the cathode limited electrochemical cell in analog form;
(c) converting the analog voltage measurement into a digital signal; and
(d) transmitting the digital signal from the implantable medical device.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of providing an electrochemical cell includes the step of providing a lithium anode.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of providing an electrochemical cell includes the step of providing lithium anode and manganese dioxide cathode in the electrochemical cell in a capacity ratio of lithium to manganese dioxide in the cell in a range of about 1.0 to about 1.5.
9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting of the digital signal is accomplished by pulse position modulation.
10. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting the digital signal includes transmitting the digital signal at least twice with error detection comparison of the transmitted digital signals.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/896,641, filed Jun. 10, 1992, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/765,475, filed Sep. 25, 1991, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,404, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/468,407, filed Jan. 22, 1990, now abandoned.
The present invention generally relates to implantable medical devices, and to telemetry schemes for percutaneously transmitting end of battery service data from the implantable medical device and even more particularly to telemetry relating to manganese dioxide electrochemical cells.
In implantable medical devices, the desirability to transfer more data at higher speeds has resulted in the percutaneous transmission of data using a radio frequency carrier. The data to be transmitted are of two basic types, namely, analog and digital. The analog information can include, for example, battery voltage, intracardiac electrocardiogram, sensor signals, output amplitude, output energy, output current, and lead impedance. The digital information can include, for example, statistics on performance, markers, current values of programmable parameters, implant data, and patient and unit identifiers.
The earliest RF telemetry systems transmitted analog and digital information in separate formats, resulting in inefficient utilization of the available power/bandwidth. Also, these modulation schemes tended to be less than satisfactory in terms of battery consumption, and did not lend themselves to simultaneously transmission of differing data types.
Many types of RF telemetry systems are known to be used in connection with implantable medical devices, such as cardiac pacemakers. An example of a pulse interval modulation telemetry system used for transmitting analog and digital data, individually and serially, from an implanted pacemaker to a remote programmer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,063 issued to Thompson et al., herein incorporated by reference. An example of a modern pacemaker programmer for use with programmable cardiac pacemakers having RF telemetric capabilities is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,370 issued to Baker, herein incorporated by reference. An example of voltage telemetry is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,027 issued to Mann et al., herein incorporated by reference. However, the telemetry format which is used under these systems, as well as other prior telemetry systems, have not been entirely adequate.
In particular, it has been noted that certain electrochemical cells utilized in implantable medical devices have changes in voltage that are indicators of impending end-of-service for the cell. However, even when such voltage changes are highly predictable for a particular cells, the telemetry system has been inadequate to give an accurate voltage to reliably predict end-of-service for the cell.
In implantable medical devices which have high current components such as pacemakers with oxygen sensors there is a need for electrochemical cells with a relatively high rate of discharge. This rate of discharge can be provided by cells using an active metal anode and manganese dioxide as the cathode material. However, when manganese dioxide has been used as a cathode material in an active metal anode electrochemical cell it has typically been an anode-limited cell. That is, that a stoichiometric excess of cathode material has been present in the cell so that at the end-of-service for the cell, the anode material is substantially consumed. This produces a cell with a very flat discharge voltage curve. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,202 to Ikeda et al., it has been recognized that the slope of the discharge voltage curve at end-of-service can be increased by increasing the relative amount of manganese dioxide in the cell.
However, such a flat discharge voltage curve with a steep slope at end-of-service is not desirable for use in critical implantable medical devices since it could arrive unexpectedly at its end-of-service with adverse consequences for the patient. In fact, it would be desirable in such a cell to provide a highly accurate determination of end-of-service well in advance of arrival of its end-of-service.
We have discovered a method and apparatus for highly accurate determination of end-of-service for electrochemical cells with manganese dioxide as a cathode material in implantable medical devices. The cell is cathode-limited to provide a highly reproducible voltage curve and the voltage is percutaneously transmitted from the implantable medical device in a digital format.
The cell voltage has been found to drop in a highly predictable fashion for cathode limited manganese dioxide electrochemical cells as they approach end-of-service. This is directly related to the consumption of cathode material rather than the increase of cell impedance as in the case of lithium/iodine cells.
Cell voltage is therefore a highly reliable indicator of remaining service life for the cell and can be very useful in a clinical setting provided that the voltage information can be transmitted with a high degree of accuracy. This can be accomplished by digital data transmission.
The voltage data to be sent is initially analog but it is transmitted as digital information. The RF carrier can be pulse position modulated to conserve battery energy. In this manner, only a short burst of the carrier, e.g., one cycle, is actually needed to transmit a given unit of data. The time position of that burst relative to a synchronizing standard can determine the value of the data unit transmitted.
To accomplish this pulse position modulation, a frame of about 2 milliseconds is defined. Within this frame are positioned a synchronizing burst, a frame identifier burst, and one or more data bursts. The synchronizing burst is positioned at a fixed position in the frame. The frame identifier and data are variables, such that the corresponding bursts occur within a range of time within the frame. The range in which a burst is found defines the nature or type of the variable. The position in the range defines the value of the variable.
Transmitting the analog voltage data in digital form in this manner provides enhanced noise immunity and accuracy.
FIG. 1 shows discharge curves for two electrochemical cells of differing cathode capacities (2.50 ah and 1.75 ah) made according to the present invention in which voltage is plotted against capacity.
FIG. 2 shows discharge curves for the electrochemical cells of FIG. 1 with voltage plotted against normalized capacity.
FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic view of an implantable medical device employing an electrochemical cell and digital RF telemetry according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of one frame of a telemetry format according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a view of the actual transmission pattern of two frames of the telemetry format;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a portion of an implantable medical device for implementation of the telemetry format including conversion of analog voltage input to digital signals;
FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart showing the basic function of software to perform the telemetry uplink operation of the telemetry format;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the telemetry uplink hardware for implementing the telemetry format;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the telemetry timing for implementing the telemetry format; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the driver circuitry for implementing the telemetry format.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of the measured parameter request sequences for a dual chambered pacemaker.
FIG. 12 is a diagram of the measured parameter request sequences for a single chamber pacemaker.
The present invention is disclosed in detail for an implantable cardiac pacer, which may be programmable and which will therefore include bi-directional communication of data in addition to the digital transmission of voltage data according to the present invention. However, those of skill in the art will be readily able to adapt the teachings found herein to other implantable medical devices.
The electrochemical cell of the present invention provides a discharge curve at end-of-service substantially as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It will be noted that a although the cells have different cathode capacities, their normalized discharge curves as shown in FIG. 2 are virtually identical. Therefore, the voltage as an indication of end-of-service is independent of the amount of cathode material in the cell and can therefore be a highly reliable indicator of the state of discharge for any cathode-limited MnO2 cell. It should also be noted that the discontinuities shown in the curves for FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are only the result of change in the discharge rate from a higher rate to a lower rate during the test protocol.
The electrochemical cell includes an active metal anode such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium and alloys thereof; manganese dioxide as a cathode material; and an organic electrolyte including an organic solvent and a ionizing solute. The organic solvent can be, for example, 3-methyl-2-oxazolidone, sulfolane, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-substituted tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, ethylene glycol sulfite, dimethylsulfite, dimethyl sulfoxide or mixtures thereof and also, for example, low viscosity cosolvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl-substituted tetrahydrofuran (Met-THF), dioxolane (DIOX), dimethoxyethane (DME), dimethyl isoxazole (DMI), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethylene glycol sulfite (EGS), dioxane, dimethyl sulfite (DMS) or the like. The ionizing solute can be a simple or double salt or mixtures thereof, for example, LiCF3 SO3, LiBF4, LiAsF6, LiPF6 and LiCl04 which will produce an ionically conductive solution when dissolved in one or more solvents.
The relative proportions of anode material to cathode material are adjusted to make the cell cathode limited. That is, there is a stoichiometric excess of anode material so that when the cell reaches end-of-service the MnO2 cathode material will be substantially exhausted while reactive anode material will still be available. This assumes a reaction involving the transfer of one electron per mole of MnO2. For example, with a lithium anode, an appropriate capacity ratio of anode material to cathode material might be in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.5 while the ratio is preferably in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.2.
For example, in a preferred embodiment, cells can be constructed with 6.60 grams of a cathode mix of 91.8% manganese dioxide, 5.0% Shawinigan carbon, and 3.2% PTFE; an electrolyte of 1.0M LiClO4 in 60 vol % PC/40 vol % diglyme; a two piece lithium anode weighing 0.51 grams; and a Celgard 4560 separator between anode and cathode. The manganese dioxide is first pretreated at 350� C. for 4-5 hours under air. The PTFE is then dispersed in water with a surfactant and mixed with the manganese dioxide and carbon. The resulting mixture is then vacuum baked at 275� C. for 16 hours under vacuum. The dry mix is then ground in a ball mill and pressed in a die into the desired shape for the cathode. The resulting cathodes are vacuum baked at 275� C. overnight and assembled and hermetically sealed into a welded stainless steel case of conventional design.
FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of the telemetry system of the present invention as employed in a cardiac pacing system. An implantable pulse generator 10 is implanted in the patient under the outer skin barrier 28. Implantable pulse generator 10 is electrically coupled to the heart of the patient using at least one cardiac pacing lead 12 in a manner known in the art. Percutaneous telemetry data is transmitted from implantable pulse generator 10 by an RF uplink 26 to a receiving antenna 22, which is coupled to a programmer 20 via a cable 24. Receiving antenna 22 also contains a magnet which activates a reed switch in implantable pulse generator 10 as a safety feature, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,086 issued to Alferness et al., herein incorporated by reference. The telemetry data is demodulated and presented to the attending medical personnel by programmer 20.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the protocol of RF uplink 26. The uplink uses a damped 175 kilohertz RF carrier which is pulse position modulated as described in detail below. Shown at 30, the basic timing unit of the format is a frame, having a duration of tn5. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the present invention can be practiced using fixed-length frames having periods of shorter or longer duration. In the preferred embodiment, the main timing source of implantable pulse generator 10 comprises a standard 32.768 kilohertz crystal clock which provides a basic clock cycle of 30.52 microseconds. Thus, a frame comprised of 64 clock cycles and extending over a fixed time interval of 1.953125 milliseconds is a convenient frame period, since such frame period is a binary multiple of the basic clock cycle.
A synchronizing signal is positioned within a first fixed range of each frame 30. This signal comprises a synchronizing RF pulse 32 which is located at a time tn1 within frame 30. To properly function as a synchronizing pulse, it must be located at a fixed point within the first fixed range of frame 30, as shown at 34.
A four-bit frame identifier code is positioned within a second fixed range of each frame 30, such second fixed range comprising an identifier range 38. Identifier range 38 uses a total of ten basic clock cycles as shown, permitting 11 unique values of the four-bit nibble to be specified. This identifier code comprises an identifier RF pulse 36 which is pulse position modulated within the identifier range 38. The position of identifier pulse 36 within identifier range 38 identifies the nature or type of data found within each frame 30 which is being transmitted, such as battery voltage, peak sense, peak pressure, sense threshold and other, as described in further detail below. Shown at 40, time interval tn2 thus uniquely represents the value of identifier pulse 36, which value in turn identifies the data type being transmitted within frame 30.
Each frame 30 transfers one eight-bit byte of data along with the identifier code. This data is divided into two portions comprised of four bits of data each. A first portion of this data, namely the four least significant bits of the data byte, is positioned within a third fixed range of frame 30, such third fixed range comprising a lower nibble range 44. A second portion of this data, namely the four most significant bits of the data byte, is positioned within a fourth fixed range of frame 30, such fourth fixed range comprising an upper nibble range 48.
A lower nibble pulse 42 is pulse position modulated within lower nibble range 44, such that its value is uniquely identified by its location, such as at a time tn3 shown at 45. An upper nibble pulse 46 is also pulse position modulated within upper nibble range 48, such that its value is uniquely identified by its location, such as at a time tn4 shown at 50. Lower nibble range 44 and upper nibble range 48 each comprise fifteen basic clock cycles, permitting each of the sixteen unique values of the four-bit nibble to be specified. To prevent data overlap, suitable guardbands are positioned between each of the ranges within the frame to uniquely identify the synchronizing pulses, thereby avoiding unidentified and erroneous data transmission.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of two frames of RF uplink 26, wherein a first frame corresponds to Word 1 shown at 70, and a second frame corresponds to Word 2 shown at 72. A count of clock cycles is indicated along an upper horizontal axis of this diagram for each frame. Each basic clock cycle has a duration of 30.52 microseconds. The first frame at 70 is initiated by an RF pulse 52. A synchronizing RF pulse 54 is shown uniquely identified as precisely four clock cycles later. Because the guardbands are all greater than four clock cycles, no combination of a frame identifier and data can appear as a synchronizing pulse. Synchronizing pulse 54 is used to provide frame synchronization between the transmitter (i.e., implantable pulse generator 10) and the receiver (i.e., programmer 20).
An identifier RF pulse 56 is located within identifier range 38, which range is defined as nine to nineteen basic clock cycles from the beginning of frame 70. In Word 1, for example, identifier pulse 56 is located at clock cycle nineteen. This identifies the frame as a particular type of date transfer, namely, "Sense Threshold" as indicated in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1______________________________________Position Identification______________________________________ 9 Memory10 Idle11 EGM-112 Markers13 Peak Sense14 Pressure Waveform15 Peak dp/dt16 Peak Pressure17 Delta Capacitor Voltage18 Activity Counts19 Sense Threshold______________________________________
A lower nibble RF pulse 58 is located within lower nibble range 44, which range is defined as twenty-four to thirty-nine basic clock cycles from the beginning of frame 70. In Word 1, for example, lower nibble pulse 58 is located at clock cycle thirty-one, specifying a binary value of seven on a scale of zero to fifteen. An upper nibble RF pulse 60 is located at clock cycle fifty-eight within upper nibble range 48, which range is defined as forty-four to fifty-nine basic clock cycles from the beginning of frame 70, and is demodulated in similar fashion.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of that portion of implantable pulse generator be which is associated with formatting and transmission of RF uplink 26. Most of the hardware which embodies the present invention is located on a single substrate, being a custom chip or multiple custom chip device indicated generally by arrows 100 and 105. The remainder is microprocessor-based logic indicated generally by arrow 100, comprising microprocessor 102, random access memory (RAM) 104, and parallel bus 106. The function of microprocessor-based logic 100 is described in further detail below.
Chip 105 has an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 108 which receives a number of analog inputs 110 including battery voltage from a multiplexer within the analog-to-digital converter 108. Analog measurement of battery voltage can be accomplished by methods and apparatus that are well known to those skilled in the art. A/D converter 108 permits data to be transferred via RF uplink 26 to be digitized as necessary, so that all data is transmitted in a standardized digital form.
Circuitry (CRC) for generating and analyzing the cyclic redundancy code used to forward error detect telemetry data transmitted over RF uplink 26 is indicated at 112. In the preferred embodiment, it is also used for data received by implantable pulse generator 10 via a downlink (not shown). Circuitry (DMA) for providing direct memory access to RAM 104 is indicated at 114, thus permitting multiple byte transfers without constant management by microprocessor 102.
Key hardware used to implement RF uplink 26 comprises telemetry control and data buffer circuitry indicated generally within dashed lines at 121, which circuitry includes data buffer 116 and telemetry control 120, and uplink timing circuitry 118. Data buffer 116 includes storage for twelve bits of data. This storage is partitioned into a four-bit section 119 for storage of the frame identifier code, and an eight-bit section 117 for storage of the lower nibble and upper nibble of a frame. Date buffer 116 thus stores all of the variables for one complete frame. Data buffer 116 is used to stage the variables for the frame data which may be received from RAM 104, A/D converter 108, CRC 112, or elsewhere along parallel bus 106.
Telemetry control 120 consists primarily of a telemetry status register. This register stores the telemetry commands and status as loaded by microprocessor 102. The contents of the register are thus used to gate the data at the proper time of the defined protocol.
Up-link timing 118 encodes the twelve bits of data stored in data buffer 116 to produce a set of timing signals which key bursts of RF energy at the appropriate times to pulse position modulate the 175 kilohertz carrier. Up-link timing 118 also keys bursts of RF energy at the fixed positions within the frame corresponding to the frame-initiating pulse and the synchronizing pulse.
FIG. 7 is a basic flowchart showing the overall function of the microprocessor-based logic 100 and external programmer in conjunction with this invention. Software associated with RF uplink 26 is started at element 130, by a request from the use of the programmer via a keystroke or light pen entry.
At element 132 the programmer 20 requests measured parameter telemetry (MPT) via standard downlink telemetry as known to those skilled in the art. At element 134, the implantable pulse generator 10 (PG) tests for a correct downlink request. At element 136, the PG 10 measures the battery voltage and battery current as will be described later.
PG element 138 schedules the requested transmission via the up-link facilities. This scheduling prioritizes uplink transmission requests. Lower priority is given to continuous real time transfers, such as EGM and battery voltage, whereas higher priority is given to single occurrence transmissions of status information.
After scheduling, PG element 140 determines whether an uplink transmission is currently in progress. If an uplink transmission is in progress, element 140 reschedules the request.
If an uplink transmission is not in progress after scheduling, PG element 142 initiates the uplink transmission by activating telemetry control 120.
After completion of the uplink response at element 144 to the programmer 20 request for MPT, the programmer reports the results to the programmer user via a screen display or a paper copy via a printer (not shown). Exit is via element 148.
While some additional management of the process is required during the transmission, a description of such further details has been omitted, since that would not be necessary for one skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the major data and control signals of telemetry control and data buffer 121 (which includes data butter 116 and telemetry control 120 shown in FIG. 6), and also of up-link timing 118. A primary function of data buffer 116, as indicated above, is the staging of the twelve variable bits of a given frame which correspond to a four-bit frame identifier ID, and dual-nibble data comprising a four-bit lower nibble LN and a four-bit upper nibble UN. The data is received over an eight-bit, parallel bus 159 and can be from any one of several sources. Control lines EGMDATA at 150, PRSDATA at 151, DLDMA at 153, DMADS at 155, LDANDAT at 156, ENCRC at 161 and LDCRC at 171 specify the source. The output of CRC 112 is presented separately to data buffer 116 as an eight-bit parallel transfer to CRC (0-7) at 160, since those devices are located on the same substrate.
Telemetry control 120 outputs a number of control signals, including EGMGAIN at 162, RVPGAIN at 163, EGMTELEN at 164, ANULON at 165, RUMULON at 166, MEMEN at 167, PRSTELEN at 168, HDRCRCEN at 169 and EGMNPRS at 170. These control outputs are used to enable and control inputs to data buffer 116. The key outputs of telemetry control and data buffer 121 are TELRST at 182, which resets up-link timing 118 and initiates the beginning of a frame, and a parallel data transfer at 184, which transfers the frame identifier ID, lower nibble LN and upper nibble UN to up-link timing 118.
Up-link timing 118 receives the frame-initiating control signal TELRST at 182 and the parallel data transfer (ID, LN and UN) at 184. A primary function of up-link timing 118 is to key the transmission of 175 kilohertz RF energy at the proper times to indicate start of frame, frame synchronization, frame identifier, lower nibble and upper nibble. Timing for this function is provided by the 32.768 kilohertz crystal clock to up-link timing 118 with clock signal XTAL at 186. An output TELCLK is provided at 188 which keys the actual burst of RF carrier at the proper times.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of up-link timing 118. A frame timing generator 202 provides the desired timing for a frame according to clock input XTAL at 186, in a manner hereinabove explained. Thus, each frame is comprised of sixty-four basic clock cycles. The process is initiated by receipt of the frame-initiating control signal TELRST at 182, which enables uplink when in a low state and disables uplink when in a high state. The initial clock cycle of a frame contains a burst of RF energy which is keyed by control signal TELCLK at 188, which is also used to trigger the start of the data decoding by an uplink word multiplexer 200.
After the proper four-bit quantity is selected (i.e., frame identifier ID first, lower nibble LN next, and upper nibble UN last), a telemetry pulse timer 204 determines the appropriate timing for a burst to be provided to frame timing generator 202, and a corresponding burst of RF energy is keyed. Each of the four-bit quantities thus results in the keying of a burst of RF energy at the appropriate time within each frame.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram for the drive circuit for generating the RF carrier. A control signal TELCLK at 188 provides the timing information for keying the carrier. A non-overlap generator 220 functions as a delay device to save current by preventing output transistors 230 and 232 from conducting simultaneously. Every transition of control signal TELCLK at 188 causes one transition by non-overlap generator 220. Inverters 222, 224, 226 and 228 are scaled to provide efficient switching with sufficient drive to the gates of transistors 230 and 232. Transistors 230 and 232 drive the signal off of chip 105 to ANTDR at 234 to an antenna circuit. A tuned circuit of discreet components, capacitor 236 and coil 238, are located external to chip 105. Each transition thus causes this tuned circuit to resonate at 175 kilohertz, thereby generating one up-link burst.
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the measured parameter telemetry request sequences for dual chamber and single chamber pacemakers respectively. The following description relates to both figures. A programmer request 300 for Measured Parameter Telemetry (MPT) initiates the measurement of selected pacemaker data (i.e., battery voltage, output pulse width, output pulse amplitude, lead current, or battery current). In this preferred embodiment, the battery voltage value is measured at the second ventricular event 304 following a MPT request in VVI/VVIR modes, at the second atrial event 302 following a MPT request in AAI/AAIR modes, or at the second atrial event 302 and ventricular event 304 following a MPT request in DDD/DDDR modes. Standard uplink data 306 (e.g., model ID, status and parameter data) is uplinked immediately upon receipt of the MPT request with an pacemaker status bit value a data "1" until completion of the measurement and uplink process (this is used to indicate a measurement in process). Upon initiation of the downlink MPT request transmission 300, the markers or EGM transmission 308 in process will be terminated until the measurement and uplink process is completed at 310. MPT idle frames are transmitted at 316 during the period of time the marker or EGM transmission is off (308 to 310) except for the uplink transmission of the measured data (at 312 or 314). Measured battery voltage data is transmitted via an 8 bit word (B0-B7) preceded by a type identifier: (A0-A7)
______________________________________ A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7______________________________________Atrial 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ventricular 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0______________________________________
Both type identifiers and data are transmitted twice and compared at the programmer for simple error detection. The equation for battery voltage (BV) is as follows: ##EQU1## where V Ref=1.2 volts
(Both constant values stored in programmer)
Battery current telemetry may be determined by any of several methods as is known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,061 shows a method for measuring battery current via sampling the voltage across a small resistor connected between the battery and pacemaker circuit.
Upon receipt of both the battery voltage and battery current uplink data, the programmer may report expected time to end of service by comparing the battery voltage to the voltage value shown in FIG. 2. A percentage capacity remaining is determined and with the uplinked battery current data value, the time to recommended replacement (Time RR) may be calculated: ##EQU2## Where AH=Battery Amps Hour Capacity
In a preferred embodiment, the data in FIG. 2 is stored in a lookup table in the programmer 20. Alternatively, the battery characteristic data in FIG. 2 may be realized by a polynomial allowing the programmer to calculate the expected service life directly. The programmer may then report to the user the percent battery capacity used, the percent battery capacity remaining and the expected time to recommend replacement.
While the invention has been described above in connection with the particular embodiments and examples, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not necessarily so limited. It will thus be understood that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses and modifications of and departures from the teaching disclosed may be made as to various other systems for obtaining end-of-service information for an implantable medical device, without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed herein.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
Original Image


text:
Asus Zenbook UX301
SpecificationsNotebook: Asus Zenbook UX301 (Zenbook Infinity Series)
Processor: unknown
Graphics Adapter: Intel Iris Graphics 5100
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 2560x1600 pixels, glossy: yes
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: euro
Reviews for the Asus Zenbook UX301
Source: Gadget Show
Jon heads off to London to test off three of the best ultra portable laptops - but which one will come out on top? Can the Asus Zenbook UX301 rule supreme with its touchscreen and Windows 8 smarts? Press play to find out!
video review
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 04/21/2014
Source: Techradar
If Tony Stark was an Asus guy then the Infinity is Iron Man's ultrabook. It's the world's first laptop to have a lid made from Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which might make it the most robust computer around right now. Think you can scratch it? Asus laughs in your face. As our demonstrator told us, the Native Damage Resistance means it should be able to withstand some decent sized drops.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/06/2013
Foreign Reviews
Source: HardwareLuxx DE→EN
Positive: very good workmanship; very good input devices
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/02/2013
Source: SweClockers SV→EN
Positve: High resolution and bright screen; good build quality and slim size; high performance; touchpad; superb keyboard; great battery life; low noise. Negative: Very glossy screen; hot under load; limited expansion.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/11/2013
Intel Iris Graphics 5100:
Integrated GPU (GT3) with 40 EUs (sans eDRAM) as found on certain ULV Haswell CPUs. Second fastest GPU in its family.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
unknown: » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
13.3": This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Netbooks, UMPC and some subnotebooks have tinier displays. Nevertheless, the majority of standard laptops has a higher format. The advantage of a small display is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.4 kg: This subnotebook is one of the most lightweight of all notebooks and can be carried very easily. There exist only few sub-notebooks, which weight less. 10 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
Asus: ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, a Taiwanese multinational company, produces motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, PDAs, computer monitors, notebook computers, servers, networking products, mobile phones, computer cases, computer components, and computer cooling systems. The company's 2007 revenues reached US$6.9 billion. ASUS also produces components for other manufacturers. The Eee PC initiated the netbook boom in 2008.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.


text:
A friend who 1) tells you there are hot chicks at a party (and he actually thinks they are hot) but in fact they are fuglies or 2) a friend who proclaims there will be tons of girls at his party and there are not many at all. (Ironically, his mortness might still be revealed when the few girls that are there actually weigh a few tons)
Holy shit Randy, you said there were going to be a bunch of dimes here but there are only fuglies and blanca-looking femmes. Your such a fucking mort!
by J-Dolla May 07, 2006
23 more definitions
Top Definition
Anything used to describe someone who lacks sense of life, looks dumbfounded, and has only a limited ability to learn and understand. Often excluded from society.
"Look at harry, he looks like such a mort"
Also can be referred to as a withered like tree.
Also can be referred to as a withered like tree.
by Giorgio Mosto May 15, 2008
An unintelligent dimwitted individual who lives
(or should live) in the suburb location of Mortdale, NSW, Australia.
(or should live) in the suburb location of Mortdale, NSW, Australia.
"Look at that guy with the tamato sauce stained shirt, why won't he wash it off? What a fucking Mort!"
by Pete Scott October 10, 2006
A creepy mouse-lemur that looks like a rat and is crazy and low in intelligence.
Mort went crazy and smashed a penguin with a tree, then burned down New York City.
by PippyPoop June 22, 2009
sassy girl that always has something smart to say to everything. very loud and sometimes the volume of her voice can annoy people, particularly bar staff. She likes to win trifectas.
She didn't stop talking the whole time. She's such a morts
by mcdarcington January 05, 2010
word used to describe girls only just above the legal age of sexual consent whose promiscuity is evident from the way they dress, act and carry themselves in public. Boys will use this word to display their desire for a sexual encounter with such a female.
tonight im gonna go find me a dirty little mort to take home
by Mort Hunter May 13, 2011
an excellent cubby builder and accomplished sangria mixologist
also can be an undercover investigative journalist
also can be an undercover investigative journalist
the cubby had an excellent structure thanks to the morts.
by mcdarcington January 05, 2010


text:
Alma Mater
By Rita Mae Brown
By Rita Mae Brown
Category: Literary Fiction
Category: Literary Fiction
Ballantine Books | Oct 29, 2002 | 272 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9780345455321
Ballantine Books | Oct 29, 2002 | 272 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9780345455321
Praise for Rita Mae Brown's Outfoxed
"Set in a small town in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, the meticulously structured work could be a sociology thesis on the rarefied world of the fox hunt."
–Los Angeles Times
"Compelling . . . Engaging . . . [A] sly whodunit . . . A surprise finish . . . [Brown] succeeds in conjuring a world in which prey are meant to survive the chase and foxes are knowing collaborators (with hunters and hounds) in the rarefied rituals that define the sport."
"A rich, atmospheric murder mystery steeped in the world of Virginia foxhunting . . . Rife with love, scandal, anger, transgression, redemption, greed, and nobility, all of which make good reading."
–San Jose Mercury News
"A snappy mystery . . . [Brown] does a masterly job of putting you in the saddle."
–The Baltimore Sun
"Original, funny, poignant, irresistible: Brown's best work in years . . . Not since Anthony Trollope has foxhunting been so vividly novelized."
–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
From the Hardcover edition.


text: USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – With a score that better resembled a football games', the Air Force baseball team crushed Doane College, 37-13, Wednesday afternoon at Falcon Field. Matt Alexander hit for the cycle and drove in 11 runs and Addison Gentry tied the school record with seven runs scored for the Falcons, who improved to 10-16. The 37 runs is a Mountain West Conference record and is the second-most in school history. Continue reading Air Force Dismantles Doane College 37-13


text: Water from dehumidifiers and air conditioners should be boiled and filtered before use. This is due to the molds and spores picked up and to the dust that precipitates with the water on the condensing coils. You can actually see the molds and grunge grow in your DH "bucket" and if you use a drain hose for the bucket, that slime eventually plugs up the hose and must be reamed out. It is certainly not good for film, as many of those bugs and spores leave marks and eventually love to eat the gelatin.


text:
|ISSN 1088-6826(online) ISSN 0002-9939(print)
A note on the category of the free loop space
Abstract | References | Similar Articles | Additional Information
Abstract: A useful result in critical point theory is that the LjusternikSchnirelmann category of the space of based loops on a compact simply connected manifold is infinite (because the cup length of is infinite). However, the space of free loops on may have trivial products. This note shows that, nevertheless, the space of the free loops also has infinite category.
Retrieve articles in Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society with MSC: 55M30, 55P35, 58E10, 58F05
Retrieve articles in all journals with MSC: 55M30, 55P35, 58E10, 58F05
Additional Information


text:
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Downtown/Penn Quarter/Chinatown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Upper Northwest / National Cathedral
Please allow Bi-Partisan Tour Company to be your cure for the common tour! A private Washington DC tour guide can help every visitor get the most out of America's capital city, we've created DC...Read More
10:00 AM Mothers Day Gospel Brunch featuring The Howard Gospel Choir
Capitol Hill
On Mother's Day, The Hamilton will present an all-you-can-eat buffet filled with breakfast classics and Southern dishes to warm anyone's down-home heart. The menu is subject to change. Examples of...
Capitol Hill
...Read More
Bobby Rush
Capitol Hill
At a time when most of his contemporaries are resting on their laurels, Bobby Rush-a 50-year veteran of the stage-remains one of the most exciting and creative artists in the R&B/blues arena. Rush...
Capitol Hill
Even in a city that doesn't play by the rules, New Orleans' Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same...
Capitol Hill, Southwest Waterfront
The Capitol Skyline Hotel, Washington, DC is the perfect location for a hotel in Washington DC. Convenient to Washington DC attractions the Capitol Skyline Hotel is within walking distance of the...Read More
Chubby Carrier, Honey Island Swamp Band
Capitol Hill
The Circus Life Live! A Live Performance and Taping of Justin Trawicks Podcast
Capitol Hill
Justin Trawick is a Virginia native born in Leesburg, VA and now residing in Arlington, VA close to Washington DC. His music ranges in styles from folk/bluegrass all the way to funk/hip hop. Justin...
Capitol Hill, NoMa
Explore Washington DC from our hotel near the U.S. Capitol! Washington DC's ideal location, just one metro stop from Union Station - the transportation hub of our Nation's capital - puts guests...Read More
Maryland, Virginia, Capitol Hill
A founding franchise within America's top-flight soccer league, Major League Soccer. DC United games are played at historic RFK Stadium. Can accommodate groups (executive,...Read More


text:
Remember to keep your pets safe as weather warms
Spring is finally here and Summer is just around the corner, and with the onset of warm weather across the region Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service reminds us to keep our pets safe in the heat.
"Every summer, we respond to calls of animals being left in cars," says Nancy Hill, Director of SCRAPS. "Inside a car, the temperature will rapidly increase and can overwhelm a pet in a very short time period - sometimes with fatal consequences."
If you typically bring your dog or other pets along for the car ride consider leaving them home when temperatures rise. Dogs aren't able to sweat to cool themselves down so it doesn't take much for them to overheat. Cracking a window while you run into the store isn't enough to keep them healthy.
"The temperature outside doesn't have to be in the 90's or more for a problem to exist," says Hill, "On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees, and hit a scorching 160 degree if parked in the sun."


text:
Writing has always been a first love to Jennifer (J.A. Howell), but it took on a whole new level of passion shortly after high school. The idea for Mistaken was initially born through her own experience in grief after the sudden death of her father when she was eighteen.
"After the death of my father I became deeply depressed, we had all these unfinished conversations and unfulfilled memories that would never happen. Dillan and Trey both go through similar emotions that I found myself coping with. By breathing life into their characters I found myself healing through something I'd enjoyed doing since I was a kid. Writing."
The novel follows both Dillan and Trey as each of them edge toward the truth behind their shared loss, and closer than they think to the people responsible. It's a tale of not only mourning someone you love, but a tale of strength, redemption, self-sacrifice, and love.
In keeping with the indie spirit, Jennifer has teamed up with Sleeping Moon Café that is a long time supporter of local artists, musicians, and authors alike.
The book release party will be held on October 13th, 2012 from 2pm- 6pm at
495 N. Semoran Blvd Suite 1,
Winter Park, Florida 32792
J.A. Howell has put together some Mistaken giveaway packages and will be giving each away every hour with no purchase necessary to enter. Paperback copies and eBook copies will be available at the release party at a special discount with other free goodies as well.
Mistaken is currently available in eBook and Paperback format through Amazon.


text:
July 23, 2013
Pictured from left are Jeanne, Matt, Shauna and Ron Weiskotten.
Stories this photo appears in:
A special swim
brother, sister duo follow in dad's footsteps
On a warm Tuesday, July 9, a brother-and sister duo swam the 8-mile stretch between Willsboro Point, New York and Shelburne Point, Vermont. Matthew Weiskotten, 26, and Shauna Weiskotten, 24, were recreating a special swim, while their mother, father, and sister followed them in a motorboat.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


text:
Chesapeake Merchandising Inc. Pebbles 2 Piece Contemporary Bath Rug Set
Bath Rug
Chesapeake Merchandising Inc. Pebbles 2 Piece Contemporary Bath Rug Set
Weights & Dimensions
Bath Rug
Additional Weights & Dimensions
|Product Type: Bath rugs
|Pattern: Geometric
|Style: Casual
|Shape: Rectangle
|Color: Multi-Colored
|Material: 100% Cotton
|Number of Items Included: 2
|Pieces Included: The 2 piece set Includes a 21"x34" and 24"x40"rug
|Age Group: Adult
|Gender: Unisex
|Non-Skid: Yes
|Foldable: Yes
|Bathrobe Included: No
|Washing Type: Machine wash
|Drying Type: Tumble dry only
|Product Care: Machine wash cold separately, gentle cycle, non-chlorine bleach when needed - tumble dry low
|Country of Manufacture: India
|Assembly Required: No
|Additional Parts Required: No
About the ManufacturerChesapeake Merchandising, Inc was Incorporated in 1995 in the state of Maryland by Dan Arora, a second generation entrepreneur with family background in the field of textiles. The production processes are closely monitored by a team of experts who ensure quality at different levels. Their quality systems are well-entrenched and finely structured to ensure that there are no compromises at any stage - from sourcing the finest raw material to exercising control over dyeing & weaving to finishing stages. These production units follow the required social and safety norms and are audited from time to time by various renowned agencies. The textile market is very lucid, their experience and expertise have enabled them to function ingeniously with agility, giving their clientele just the upper edge they need. A strong team at the Chesapeake always stays abreast with the latest designs, weaves and ensures a fine blend of finesse and perfection in the home fashion.
Chesapeake Merchandising Inc. Pebbles 2 Piece Contemporary Bath Rug Set
Still have questions about this product? We're here to help
Customer Reviews
|5 star
|4 star
|3 star
|2 star
|1 star
4.5 Stars Great Quality/Look Nice
Kelli from Grangeville, ID – Verified Buyer
I'm very happy with these rugs. I like that I got two. I put one in front of the vanity and the other in front of the tub. They look great and one of the nicest things is they don't have that awful rubbery layer on the underside. It's not necessary and it really shortens the life of your rug because once it starts disintegrating, that's the end of the rug's usefulness. You can buy small, non-skid attachments to place on the corners of the rug to keep them from slipping if it becomes a problem. So far, despite being on tile, mine are fine and if they shift at all, it's just a small amount. I straighten them probably a couple of times a week and they are in the main bathroom. So far I love my rugs. I've been using them for about 2 months and they look great.
pebbles bath rugs
William from Prior Lake, MN – Verified Buyer
thought these were cool and unique. when they arrived I was surprised at how well they were constructed. They are not flimsy and cheaply made. Have had the auquamarine one in the master bath for a couple years now and it's holding up great. we ordered the spa colored one for the new bathroom downstairs. It looks great! Got the big one outside the shower and the small one in front of the vanity. They are perfect
Low Quality
Jacqueline from Wetumpka, AL – Verified Buyer
The weave is tight enough, but too low pile for the weave type, the main problem is that these are not looped weave, they are single stands pulled through that are not tied or knotted, but totally held in place by an extremely light latex layer is sprayed on the back. Does not look machine made - the stands are not cut evenly in areas where they should be. When they arrived there were about 10 pulls over an 1 long sticking out all over each rug. Washing instructions say no bleach -- this is likely more to do with bleach degrading that almost invisible layer of latex, without that layer the rug would disintegrate. They will take a long time to dry as you must dry on low to protect the layer of latex that hold the rug together - I haven't tried washing yet, but will use the gentlest of cycles to do so. Otherwise the rugs look like the picture (nap more uneven though especially on pebbles) and the color is spot on. I wanted 100 cotton and they are. Also, like other posters have said the rugs are much closer in size than the picture shows. But I feel I overpaid by at least 30, I would value these rugs at about $25 -$30 for the pair.
Love These Rugs!
Deborah from Billings, MT – Verified Buyer
I couldn't be more satisfied with these rugs. The color and texture of the rugs are great, made of durable and quality materials. The pattern appears to be rocks/pebbles, and when getting out of the shower with wet feet, I can literally grab hold of the rocks/pebbles with my toes, for added safety. I didn't know which way I was going to go in decorating the bathroom, and decided to go somewhat natural. These rugs did the trick, leaving other colors and patterns more likely to fit in, and making it easier to make the final decisions.
Perfect in master and kid's bathrooms
Janet from CHANDLER, AZ – Verified Buyer
If it holds up, it's a great rug, and is perfect with my decor. The gray is not as dark as it looks in the picture, but works great for me anyway. The blues were perfect for the girls' beach themed bathroom. The Spa colored rug works perfect with my decor, although the gray and brownish colors are much lighter than in photo. I love them, just do not walk on them if your feet are not perfectly clean, as they may get dingy. Pros: Plush, great colors Cons: Colors lighter than photo in spa selection
nice set
Kristine from Williamson, GA – Verified Buyer
I ordered this set and the runner rug in the "spa" colors and I'm very pleased with them. They do shed a lot during the first wash, but are still nice and fluffy and soft. They held their shape well also. For the price, these rugs are very nice. I did not want a rug with the full latex backing and these don't. We use in the bathroom and I don't have any issues with them slipping.
Love them!!!
Mara from Scranton, PA – Verified Buyer
These are great bath rugs for the price. They were just what we were looking for to complete a spa like look in our remodeled master bath. We didn't want regular bath mats. The colors are not as defined as the picture shows, but still very nice on the earth tone side. They did shed a bit, only had them for a short time, so we'll see as time goes on on the shedding factor. Pros: nice quality, good price Cons: sheds a little bit
Paler but perfect for me, love them!!
Anna from Redlands, CA – Verified Buyer
The colors are more subtle than the picture, but that turned out to be even better than I had hoped. I had repainted my bathroom a cool parchment color and was accenting it with pale moss and earth tones. I was a little concerned the saturated chocolate hue would be too much but for my decorating scheme but the paler colors were perfect!!! Soft, and the pebble pattern is playful for a "stone" floor look. Completes my soothing, earthy spa vision as if I had them custom made!
pebbles bath rug set.
Perez from East York, ON – Verified Buyer
The product is good enough and it fits in nicely with the colour scheme of my apartment. I like the feel of it and would buy another one of the same if the price is competitive enough. The only concern I had is that the price which I saw on your site was not the price I got when I was ready to pay for what was already in my shopping cart. I don't know why this happened but it is not such a pleasant experience. Overall, the product is very satisfactory.
Second purchase
Anna from Stratton, ME – Verified Buyer
These complete my bathroom look. There is a bit of grip to the back but not so much that they are hard to wash or dry. I had the first set for three years and the mildew started to grow and they looked worn. But the kids were younger and lots of wet bath times were had. I will say that after standing on them they are not as attractive and they seem to need a good shake fairly often. I love the size and look so I don't care.


text:
You are at: Sky Vegas > All Instant Win Games >
Slotblox brings the look and feel of some of the all-time glassic arcade puzzlers to the online casino world with this new fixed-odds game. Wager from as little as 10p up to £30 per spin.
How to play:
When you press play a series of blocks in various shapes will drop from the top of the screen into the grid. You don't have any control over the blocks, with the computer playing the game on your behalf.
Whenever a row is completed, that row disappears, so the more rows you get, the longer the game lasts - and that means more chances of winning! If one or more rows are completed, the game will pay out according to the paytable.
Resume point:
If the player is awarded free plays and if the player quits before they are all played, the game will resume to the correct number of free plays remaining and will display the correct free play winnings so far.
Free Play
When you complete a line featuring a MAGIC BLOCK, the game will reward you with 10 free plays. You'll be taken straight to FREE PLAYS mode - the screen background colour will change and a message will flash saying "10 Free Plays".
All wins during Free Plays mode are doubled. Free Plays can be re-triggered during Free Plays mode, so you could be awarded another 10 free plays.
At the end of Free Plays, a message will display the total amount won during Free Plays mode before you are returned to the game screen.
AUTO PLAY plays the game automatically for a set number of goes, up to a maximum of 25.
The game then continues until it has played the selected number of spins unless you either stop the spins manually or run out of credits. All of your winnings will be automatically collected and added to your balance while you're playing in AUTO PLAY mode.
If you win Free Plays while playing in Auto Play mode, the Free Plays will be played out as usual and then any remaining Auto Plays will continue afterwards. The number of remaining Auto Plays will be displayed after the Free Plays winnings are displayed.
The theoretical average return to player (RTP) is 94.5%. This RTP represents the long-term expected payback of the game which has been calculated by an independent testing company.
Malfunction voids all pays and plays.
We are committed to Responsible Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help or answer any questions you may have.
Customers in the United Kingdom: Sky Bet, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, Sky Poker and Sky Vegas are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission (Licence number 38718).
All other customers: Sky Bet, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, Sky Poker and Sky Vegas are licensed and regulated by the AGCC.
We accept payments from the following:


text:
|246 posts found
Elite Member
Joined: 6/10/09
Originally posted by Magnum2103
This is a good post in my opinion. I haven't funded a KS project yet, but I have directly funded small/indie projects early on. I ask myself similar questions. I typically wait until the developer or project has something to show for itself, can show a revenue plan, and can demonstrate a level of professionalism that sends a message they're serious.
No one has as many friends as a man with many cheeses!
Login or Register to never see this panel
Novice Member
Joined: 8/31/12
Originally posted by Miblet
For some of us, yes.
Those who are content with what's being shoveled out these days, will obviously feel differently. But for some of us, all we see is a whole lot of "not interesting" and very little "interesting." So we're a bit more wiling to risk our money on a potential project that does look interesting. And why not? It's not like that money is getting spent on any of the games that don't interest us.
Really didn't read the bulk of the thread...don't care about it much except to clarify.
The simple answer:
Kickstarter actually goes to the game and the development, the game development literally is based on whether or not they raise enough money.
Pre-orders go to the company, the game is being made either way, you pre-ordering just gives them confidence in the market awaiting the game.
Personally I don't do either. If it's on Kickstarter and gets funded then I know there will be enough of a base to actually play the game, hopefully. At this point there's no point to pre-ordering because they don't ever sell out completely. This didn't used to be the case back when they started pre-ordering, so the idea is more just for the bonuses (if they're worth it).
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
Originally posted by Doogiehowser
One of the easiest ways to solve the problem of something getting a bad reputation is to simply change the name. The truth is today's gamers are an easy mark, and marketing teams have been successfully playing the polarization and bias of the consumer base rather well.
It's about getting people to pay for a product before the product is even shipped. So far, with MMO gamers, there really hasn't been any fear of gamers catching on, especially since the gamers are doing the work for them. As distribution changes, so do the ways that developers/publishers get people to pay for products before they are even created. The shift to digital drove the necessity to change how to get money prior to shipping.
Pre-orders led to pre-order with bonus to pre-purchase and pre-purchase with bonus
which then opened the door for deluxe and collectors editions but they still required a physical product
because, seriously, who's going to pay 60-160 USD for a download?
Well, no one until that becomes more commonplace which is about where we are now
Companies can now pick and choose how they are going to get their early cash
Kickstarter is just one of several current ways to get money from gamers up front. It isn't too far removed from pre-order, except that pre-order guarantees you'll get a product or your moeny back eventaully. Kickstarter carries no such guarantee.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
"Kickstarter's clients ARE the people who pledge money. If Kickstarter didn't ensure that people weren't getting scammed, people wouldn't use it, and then Kickstarter wouldn't make any money. There is a contract, and it gives a very strict outline of what is required from the developer." - DavisFlight
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Advanced Member
Joined: 3/24/09
I never tell anyone else what to do with thier money.
However, I think you mis-understand the basic purpose of Kickstarters. When you GIVE money to a Kickstarter you are NOT purchasing a product. You are making a GIFT toward an individual or group trying to produce a creative work. You may be given some sort of "thank you" item in return for your gift...but it is NOT a purchase and you really shouldn't expect anything back.
Kickstarter is a way for small independant artists or groups to secure funding for thier projects that aren't able to secure funding through traditional means. This means a greater diversity of products will get produced and there will be a greater diversity of producers. In the macro sense, this is good for consumers particularly ones with niche tastes, as it creates greater competition in the market and it means ALL producers, even big ones have to put out better products and treat their customers better.
In the micro sense, smaller independant producers tend to have a closer relationship with thier individual customers because those individual customers make up a larger portion of thier revenue base, they are inclined to treat them better then a larger company.
Many people are disinclined to pre-order from many of the large producers because they've been burned too many times by those very same producers. They've noted a tendency from them to produce sub-standard products which are sold mostly on thier marketing budgets and hype.
I personaly won't pre-order any titles from the big game producers for that very reason. However I will happily pre-order from some (non MMO) game producers because I have been impressed with the quality of products produced by them and the quality of service I have recieved in the past. Therefore they have already established a good reputation with me. I would do the same if any big producers could meet that threshold...so far none have.
In terms of Kickstarters, I rarely participate them....but I occasionaly might be willing to contribute a few dollars to a project that I think is really worthy.....especialy if the principles involved have a past reputation for solid dealings and high quality work. As with anything else, one will see better results if one does some homework on who one chooses to hand money. YMMV.
Elite Member
Joined: 6/06/12
We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.
Originally posted by Doogiehowser
While I have kickstarted 2 games so far. 1 successfully and the other not so much. I did both because I wanted to see their game come to life. I also preorder the hell out of a game I look forward to. I see nothing wrong with either but I do have a problem with someone kickstarting a game and then being hyporcritical towards me because I bought a $200 Neverwinter Founders pack.
Elite Member
Joined: 6/06/12
We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.
Originally posted by DavisFlight
If this was true then the kicstarter project wouldn't offer all thsoe incentives. Because they do offer all thsoe incentives they are in fact eliciting the same response as someone who preorders.
Elite Member
Joined: 8/13/09
"It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver". - Niccolo Machiavelli
Originally posted by DavisFlight
you pay X amount before the game is made. The developer shares his vision with you. You interpret that vision in your own ways. THe game launches with the developer vision and not exactly how you envisioned the idea he shared with you. You end up with a game you dont like. You lost your money.
Kickstarter is a much riskier way to invest in games as a consumer. Both kickstarter and pre purchasing are bad. But if im doing one of the two i'd prepurchase something that i already tried the beta or at least seen enough content before making the move.
Thats just me. Each to his own, i guess.
Novice Member
Joined: 2/15/12
When you pre-order, you are buying into a vision of a game that you (the community) has little say in. The game is already made and will release despite any concerns the community has voiced. Most importantly, the game will have had the hands of publishers all over, trying to monetize every aspect of the game. In the end, it really isnt worth it to pre-order. You take all the risk with absolutely no expectation of return on pre-oredering. The exception are some of these pre-orders on steam where you get a free game. The Bioshock infinite preorder gave a free copy of Xcom. That is a damn good reason to preorder.
A kickstarter project is pretty much the opposite. The community has a say in the development of the game. The funding of the kickstarter project relies solely upon the demand for the game being sold. Furthermore, it cuts out the publishers and thier influence on the game, making it possible to get games made for specific audiences (niche markets) that traditional publishers don't see as a viable investment. Furthermore, you can see a pledge on Kickstarter as an investment. The return you make on that investment is potentially quite large. Without kickstarter we wouldnt be getting the upcoming Wasteland, the new Shadowrun or the new Torment. That alone is pretty huge IMO.
Any idiot knows the simplest way to cover yourself when "backing" something on kickstarter is to just pay on your credit card. If they don't produce the game you just dispute the charge, get your money back, and move on.
Seriously...not that hard.
Verbage, meant to put produce the game rather than fund.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 7/28/12
I love how almost everyone here is putting kickstarter down, but almost everyone here has bitched about the perfect MMO that should be made cause everything shit, and continues to be shit. So if this project appeared on kickstarter, it should not be funded, right? We shouldn't take that chance, sicne we all know it will never happen, it's a lie, and if it does it's going to suck.
Just like Wasteland 2 is ABSOLUTELY going to be horrendous, even with Brian Fargo at the head. Best not to ever risk it.
He's the real problem with both sides, it's a risk, but the problem with a preorder is you usually know what you are getting into. This was not the case that cause the video to be spawned that was linked in the first post. What happened there was pretty much lies. All of it.
I used preodering myself way back in the day before digital distribution, I bet half of you don't even know a world without it, because I live in a small ass town and a store could *gasp* run out of copies. The incentives on preorders at this point is bullshit. Just give me the game, and if some gun was supposed to be in the game, then put it in the god damned game, not just because I bought it from amazon.
It's a risk on all sides, and hell you can make the arguement that buying ANYTHING is a risk.
The more I'm around the forums on this site, the more bitter I become.
Elite Member
Joined: 9/19/06
Originally posted by Cirin
If it doesn't fund, you don't get charged in the first place.
SWTOR is the greatest mmo ever!
Originally posted by Maephisto
You're buying the completed version of the game. By the time you see what you're pre-ordering the game is basically set and finished (minus bug squashing).
Originally posted by Nightgroper
That's EXACTLY it.
Pre-ordering has no meaning any longer, at all. Unless you want the "bonuses" that they're offering there's no risk of them not having enough for you to buy (which was the main reason pre-ordering began back in the day).
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
Originally posted by Cirin
Which is why the name has changed several times over the past few years - to keep that pre-publish income rolling in.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Apprentice Member
Joined: 11/22/05
Unless I'm paying someone to give me advice on my money, I tend not to care what something thinks about how I spend it.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 3/14/12
Originally posted by Nightgroper
Yes buying anything is risky but what is more risky? placing a pre order for mere 50 to 60 bucks after watching lots of previews and video footage, participating in beta and testing the game before hand or spending hundered of dollars on mere promises of some guy who has his way with words and want to sell you a bridge to MMO utopia?
"The problem is that the hardcore folks always want the same thing: 'We want exactly what you gave us before, but it has to be completely different.'
"Online gamers are the most ludicrously entitled beings since Caligula made his horse a senator, and at least the horse never said anything stupid."
Apprentice Member
Joined: 7/28/12
Originally posted by Doogiehowser
You mean Aliens Colonial Marines? Bam! In your overly pompous face!
The more I'm around the forums on this site, the more bitter I become.
Elite Member
Joined: 1/06/05
Originally posted by botrytis
and what is the difference between that and investing in a startup?


text:
Approximately one in five patients with breast cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. will require a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy. As mastectomy results in the distortion of the body image, it is natural for some patients to seek reconstructive surgery. However, some women are just relieved to have had the cancer removed and are not keen on having breast reconstruction. Although an external implant is available that can be put inside the brassiere, it may be inadequate for some women.
The choice of reconstruction depends upon the woman's build, shape and size of her breasts, previous scars, and her own preferences.
An implant is inserted under a muscleTissue made up of cells that can contract to bring about movement. in the chest wall at the mastectomy site. Implant reconstruction can be performed immediately at the time of skin-sparing mastectomy or as a delayed procedure through the original mastectomy scar. There has been a recent concern regarding the safety of silicone implants. In fact, there is no evidence that FDA-approved silicone implants (Allergan and Mentor brands) increase the incidenceThe number of new episodes of a condition arising in a certain group of people over a specified period of time. of breast cancer or other diseases, such as arthritisInflammation of one or more joints of the body.. The main problems with implants are infectionInvasion by organisms that may be harmful, for example bacteria or parasites. (occurring in 2% of patients) and scarring around the implant. Scarring makes the breast feel hard and painful which is more common if the prosthesisAn artificial device attached to the body. is very smooth.
Modern implants consist of an outer silicone shell (roughened or textured) and an inner compartment that can be filled with saline (salt water) instead of silicone gel. Implants having a similar shape to the natural breast have recently been introduced. Your breast surgeon will explain the pros and cons of the various types of implant available to you and you should request to see pictures showing the outcome of the various methods.
All patients undergoing mastectomy should be offered the possibility of breast reconstruction, either performed immediately at the time of mastectomy, or as a later procedure. Mastectomy combined with immediate reconstruction is preferred and seems to cost less than mastectomy with subsequent delayed reconstruction. There is no evidence that immediate reconstruction at the time of mastectomy worsens the breast cancer outlook. Frail patients with other medical problems are not advised to undergo breast reconstruction surgery as they have a higher risk of complications.
There are various methods of reconstruction and the choice should be made after discussion with the breast surgeon, specialist breast nurse and other patients who have had breast reconstruction. I prefer the type of mastectomy that preserves most of the natural skin envelope of the breast (called a skin-sparing mastectomy) when performing immediate breast reconstruction in view of the superior cosmetic result.
Conventionally, the use of under the muscle implants has been restricted as expansion of the lower pole (infra-mammary fold) involves repeated sessions of gradual inflation of the implant to achieve a natural profile. The acellular
Containing no cells.
tissueA group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function. matrix has been shown to incorporate well into human tissues, with no rejection. The most commonly used tissue matrix (Strattice®) is derived from porcine (pig's) skin and does not contain any cellular DNAThe building blocks of the genes in almost all living organisms - spelt out in full as deoxyribonucleic acid.. This matrix allows for one stage breast reconstruction using a fixed-volume silicone implant and has widened the scope of implant-based breast reconstruction. Incorporation of the mesh results in an intact acellular matrix of natural biological components that promote rapid re-vascularisationThe process of blood flowing through the area. and cell re-population around the implant thus improving the cosmetic result and feel of the implant.
The skin-sparing mastectomy method of reconstruction involves the removal of the latissimus dorsi flap from the back for use in the reconstruction. For further information please click here .
Other methods of reconstruction include breast implants, either saline-filled tissue expanders or silicone implants.
Surgery carried out by the author, Kefah Mokbel , in 2003 (viewable on the link below) shows the long-term cosmetic result of SSM plus latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction. A 52 year old lady had right skin-saving mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction using a skin and muscle flap from the back for early breast cancer. She also had nipple reconstruction and enlargement of the opposite breast in order to achieve symmetry.
The following image link shows a left skin-saving mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction using a skin and muscle flap from the back for early breast cancer in a 49 year old lady. She also had nipple reconstruction and tattooing.
The image found on the link below shows the long-term result of an immediate breast reconstruction in a 47 year old woman. She had a bilateralOn both sides of the body SSM using implants followed by radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. to the right breast and nipple reconstruction using small local flaps and tattooing.
It is also possible to reconstruct the nipple using local skin, a portion form the opposite nipple, or a skin graft taken from the groin. The new nipple can be tattooed to make it a similar colour to that of the opposite nipple. A disposable tattooing instrument is used to minimise the risk of disease transmission.
The following image link shows the post-surgery result of a nipple reconstruction prior to tattooing.
From top right to bottom left this figure shows the steps of performing a nipple reconstruction using a small local flap.
In selected cases the nipple can be preserved during skin-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction in order to achieve a superior cosmetic result.
The photo found on the link below shows the excellent cosmetic result from bilateral nipple-saving mastectomy and implant reconstruction in a 40 year old diagnosed with breast cancer.
For further information please see the following article by Prof Kefah Mokbel and colleagues.
Reefy S, Patani N, Anderson A, Burgoyne G, Osman H, Mokbel K. 2010. Oncological outcome and patient satisfaction with skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: a prospective observational study. BMC Cancer 10:171.