text:
A recessed fluorescent light system includes a pair of saddle-shaped brackets having depending side legs resting on parallel bars of a hung ceiling structure, releasably locked thereto by bracket-carried lower spring latch members. A ballast and wire housing channel is coupled to the bracket top cross bars by bracket-mounted latch springs which also project through bracket transverse legs to define baffle assembly latch members. A horizontal plate reflector extends between and beyond the channel depending legs and is secured thereto. The plate includes depending longitudinal end flanges and inwardly spaced depending dimples. A light baffle assembly includes longitudinal upwardly and inwardly curved reflector plates terminating in horizontal flanges underlying and spaced from the side borders of the horizontal reflector by the dimples and spaced also from the depending flanges to delineate a sound attenuating tortuous elongated shallow air return passageway. The channel ends are closed by fluorescent bulb socket carrying depending side plates. The baffle assembly is releasably retained to the bracket by the baffle spring latch member engaging the upper flanges of the side baffle, and is connected at its upper corners by elongated bead chains to the bracket legs by way of the lower latch members. The sockets may be vertically adjustable.
1. A recessed light fixture comprising a transversely extending upper first reflector member having longitudinally extending side borders, a reflector assembly including a pair of longitudinally and vertically extending transversely spaced second reflector members terminating in transversely extending flanges, said first and second reflector members defining a lamp cavity having a light emitting opening, support means in said lamp cavity for supporting at least a lamp below said first reflector and between said second reflector members, means positioning said first and second reflector members with the flanges of said second reflector member located below and extending along the borders of said first reflector member and in spaced relationship to said first reflector member to define air flow passageways between said flanges and borders, said passageways having an entrance communicating with said lamp cavity and an exit communicating with the surrounding area, whereby air flows into said lamp cavity through said light emitting opening, around the lamp and through the passage from entrance to exit to be dissipated in the surrounding area.
2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes projections extending from one of the confronting faces of the borders of said first reflector members to the second reflector member flanges.
3. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said first reflector member includes longitudinal flanges depending from the side edges of said first reflector member and spaced outwardly from the outer edge of the flanges of said second reflector member.
4. The light fixture of claim 1 comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced saddle shaped brackets each including a transversely extending cross member and depending side legs, means securing said first reflector member to said bracket cross member, and means releasably securing said first reflector member and said reflector assembly including latch springs secured to opposite sides of said bracket cross member, and having first end portions depending therefrom below said first reflector member and having inwardly extending shoulders engaging the underside of said second reflector member flanges.
5. The light fixture of claim 4 wherein each of said brackets cross members includes an upper medial cross arm, vertically extending side arms depending from the ends of said side arms and terminating in outwardly horizontally projecting members, and said first reflector securing means includes a longitudinally extending inverted channel shaped housing, means securing said housing in the space delineated by said bracket cross arms and depending side arms, and means securing said first reflector member to said housing.
6. The light fixture of claim 5 wherein said housing includes upper flanges and the means to secure said housing include second end portions of said reflector assembly latch springs opposite said first portions thereof projecting through said bracket cross member depending arms and having upwardly facing shoulders engaging said housing flanges.
7. The light fixture of claim 4 wherein said positioning means comprises bumps integrally formed with and depending from the side borders of said first reflector member and engaging the upper faces of said second reflector member flanges.
8. The light fixture of claim 4 including at least one elongated flexible member connected between a bracket depending side leg and said reflector assembly.
9. The light fixture of claim 4 wherein said second light reflectors are upwardly inwardly curved and terminate at their bottoms in outwardly directed flanges and said reflector assembly includes vertical baffles extending transversely between and secured to the lower portions of said second reflector members.
10. A dropped ceiling recessed light fixture system including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending beams, a plurality of longitudinally spaced saddle shaped brackets extending transversely between said beams and having an upper cross member disposed above said beams, and depending side legs with their lower portions engaging respective beams, means for releasably locking said side legs to said beams against upward movement relative thereto, a reflector assembly including longitudinally extending transversely spaced side reflector members and light baffles extending between and supported by the lower portions of said side reflector members, means mounted on the upper part of each of said brackets for releasably engaging the upper parts of said side baffles for releasably supporting said baffle assemblies in a raised position between said bracket side legs, and means for supporting a lamp between said baffles and bracket cross members.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein each of said beams is of inverted T-shaped transverse cross-section, and includes a medial vertical leg with longitudinally spaced coupling openings and a bottom cross leg, and each bracket leg rests on the inner section of a respective beam cross leg and includes an outwardly offset vertically extending tongue projecting through a respective coupling opening.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the upper part of the vertical leg of each beam is transversely enlarged, and said means for releasably locking said side legs to said beams includes a spring member anchored at its upper portion to a respective leg and having an inwardly projecting upwardly directed shoulder at its lower portion resiliently urged into engagement with the underface of said beam medial leg enlarged portion.
13. The system of claim 12 including an upper longitudinally and transversely extending reflector member located proximate said bracket cross members, the upper edges of said side reflector member extending to proximate the borders of said upper reflector member.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said upper reflector member terminates in depending side flanges, and said side reflector members terminate at their tops in outwardly directed flanges parallel to and spaced below the side borders of said upper reflector member, and terminating inwardly of said depending side flanges.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein each of said bracket cross members includes a medial upper cross arm provided at its sides with depending side arm members from the outer ends of which depend said bracket side legs, and further comprising an inverted channel shaped housing extending between said brackets and located between said bracket depending side arms adjacent to said medial arms and means releasably locking said housing to said brackets.
16. The system of claim 15 including a transversely extending upper reflector member secured to the bottom of said housing and extending along the length thereof and having side borders proximate said bracket cross member outwardly directed side arms.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said upper reflector member terminates in depending side flanges and has depending projections along its side borders and said side reflector members are provided with upper transversely extending side flanges engaging said projections and spaced thereby from said side borders, said side flanges terminating short of said depending flanges.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein said housing includes outer shoulders and said baffle supporting and housing locking means comprises an elongated spring member secured to each of said bracket cross members, outwardly directed side arms one end of each spring member defining said baffle assembly supporting means releasably resiliently engaging a respective side reflector member upper flange, and the other end of each spring member defining said housing locking means resiliently releasably engaging a respective housing shoulder.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein said lamp supporting means comprises an end plate secured to and depending from each end of said housing, and a fluorescent lamp socket member mounted on each end plate below said housing.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein each of said sockets is vertically adjustable relative to said housing.
21. A recessed light fixture comprising a longitudinally extending reflector wall assembly including upper and side interior reflector faces delineating an interior space and a bottom opening, means defining a sound attenuating narrow elongated air flow passageway from said interior space to the exterior thereof through said wall assembly and extending along the length of said wall assembly, and means for supporting a lamp within said interior space.
22. The fixture of claim 21 wherein said passageway is tortuous transversely of the length thereof.
23. The fixture of claim 21 wherein said assembly comprises a top wall and longitudinally extending side walls, said side walls terminating at their tops in flanges confronting and substantially parallel to and spaced from the side borders of said top wall to define said passageway therewith.
24. The fixture of claim 23 wherein said top wall terminates in depending side flanges spaced from the outer edges of said side wall flanges.
25. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes projections extending downwardly from the flange of said first reflector member and bearing against the borders of said second reflector member, and spacing apart the flanges and borders.
26. The light fixture of claim 4, wherein said positioning means comprises a plurality of spaced bumpings integrally formed with and extending downwardly from the lower faces of the flanges of said first reflector member bearing against and spacing the side borders of said second reflector member.
The present invention relates generally to improvements in illuminating devices, and it relates particularly to an improved recessed fluorescent light fixture mounted on a suspended or dropped ceiling structure.
A common and widespread practice in illuminating spaces, particularly commercial and industrial areas provided with dropped ceilings, is to mount the lighting fixtures, particularly fluorescent light fixtures provided with light reflectors and baffles, in corresponding openings in the ceiling with the bottom of the fixture approximately coplanar with the ceiling. Frequently, in such installations, the recessed light fixture is constructed to provide openings which permit the flow of air between the illuminated space and the space above the dropped ceiling to permit or contribute to the return flow of air in air conditioning systems.
The conventional and heretofore proposed recessed lighting fixtures of the above type possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. Important among these drawbacks is the high degree of sound transmission between the illuminated area and the space above the ceiling. As a consequence, sound is transmitted between different parts of an area having a common ceiling space of intercommunicating ceiling spaces so that quietness and privacy of these separate parts even where the illuminated area with a common ceiling is partitioned or otherwise subdivided simply are not achieved. Noises, as speech, music, or other sounds emanating from one area, are audible to a substantial extent in other areas and this, of course, is highly annoying and undesirable. In addition, the conventional recessed fluorescent light fixture is often difficult to assemble, install, service, and maintain, is usually of little versatility and adaptability, and otherwise leaves much to be desired.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved illumination device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved recessed light fixture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dropped ceiling structure-supported recessed fluorescent light fixture.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a recessed fluorescent light fixture which, while affording a passageway for the flow of air, provides a minimum of sound transmission ability therethrough.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved recessed fluorescent light fixture which is inexpensive, rugged, reliable, efficient, easy and convenient to assemble and disassemble, install, service, and maintain, and of great versatility and adaptability.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.
In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a recessed fluorescent light fixture comprising a longitudinally extending reflector assembly including upper and side interior reflector faces delineating an interior space and a bottom opening and means defining a sound attenuating narrow elongated air flow passageway from said interior face to the exterior thereof, above said bottom opening and through the reflector assembly, and extending along the length of the reflector assembly, and means for supporting a lamp within said interior space. Advantageously, the reflector assembly includes a transverse top reflector supported by means of brackets on a dropped ceiling support structure and a subassembly including longitudinally extending side reflectors and transversely extending lower light baffles, the side reflectors terminating at their tops in horizontal flanges which confront the side borders of the top reflector and are parallel thereto and spaced therefrom by dimples depending from the top reflector. The top reflector is provided also with depending side flanges spaced from the ends of the top flanges of the side reflector, the confronting faces of the side reflector flanges and the top reflector defining at least part of the sound attenuating air flow passageway.
Further, the light fixture is of an improved structure including a pair of longitudinally spaced saddle-shaped brackets the depending side legs of which rest in spaced beams of the ceiling structure and include bottom positioning tabs and leaf spring latch members which releasably engage the respective beams to restrict the upward movement of the brackets. A longitudinally extending inverted channel shaped housing extends between the brackets and is located in arches formed in the upper cross-pieces thereof, the top reflector covering the bottom opening of the housing and being separably attached thereto. The reflector assembly extends between the brackets below the housing and leaf spring latch members and is located on opposite sides of the brackets, and each includes an end portion releasably locking the housing and top reflector to a respective bracket and an opposite end portion releasably locking the reflector baffle subassembly to the reflector.
The subassembly is connected by long chains to the brackets so that upon release thereof for serving of the fixture it is suspended from the brackets. The improved fixture, while providing a passageway sufficient for the flow of circulating air, highly attenuates the transmission of sound and thus functions as a sound barrier. Moreover, the fixture is simple and rugged, easy and convenient to assemble and disassemble, install, service and maintain, and is of great versatility and adaptability.
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a recessed light fixture embodying the present invention, shown in installed condition;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof with the baffle-reflector assembly in dropped condition;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp socket and mount assembly;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed perspective view of the lamp socket and mount in assembled condition;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the coupling between the top reflector and the housing channel;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the interface between the top and bottom reflector members;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12--12 in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a modified lamp socket and mount;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a fixture similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 13, but with the socket mount of FIG. 13, the socket being shown in its lower adjusted position; and
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but with the socket shown in its upper adjusted position.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 to 12 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved light fixture which is shown recessed in a dropped or hung ceiling 11 of generally known construction, which includes an overhead suspended structure supporting ceiling tile 12 in the known manner and the light fixture 10 in a recessed position. The tile and fixture supporting structure includes transversely spaced parallel longitudinally extending beams 13 of inverted T-shape transverse cross section.
Each beam 13 includes a bottom cross web 14 and a medial vertical web 16 terminating at its top in an enlarged integrally formed hollow rectangular or box section 17. Formed in vertical web 16 are regularly longitudinally spaced narrow rectangular positioning openings 17b located above the cross web 14.
The light fixture assembly includes a set of at least two longitudinally-spaced saddle-shaped brackets 18 for mounting light fixture 10 in recessed registry with a correspondingly shaped opening in ceiling 11 left by the omission or removal of respective ceiling tiles 12. Each bracket 18 is formed of a steel strip and includes an upper cross member 19 and depending side legs 20. The cross member 19 includes an upper medial cross arm 21 provided at its ends with downwardly diverging depending side arms 22 terminating at their bottoms in outwardly directed coplanar horizontal side arms 23. A longitudinal medial slot 24 is formed in each side arm 22 and a longitudinal medial slot 26 is formed in the outer end of each side arm 23.
Each bracket side leg 20 includes a downwardly outwardly inclined upper section 27 and a vertical lower section 28. Each lower leg section 28 is provided between the top and bottom of its outer face with an upwardly facing transverse shoulder 29, and has formed at its bottom a medial longitudinal tongue 30 which is outwardly and downwardly directed and divides the free end of the bottom section into a pair of spaced wide depending legs 25.
A dual purpose first locking member 32 is mounted in each side arm 23 and is formed of a leaf or resilient steel spring band which includes a medial arm 33 overlying and extending along and riveted to a respective side arm 23. The outer end of each arm 33 is provided with a depending portion 34 projecting through opening 26 and having an inwardly downwardly inclined arm 36 which terminates in a downwardly outwardly inclined resilient latch arm 37. The inner end of arm 33 projects through the bottom of slot 24 and joins a sharply upwardly and inwardly inclined long arm 35 located inwardly of bracket arms 22 and provided at its upper end with a short upwardly and outwardly inclined latch arm 45 projecting outwardly through slot 24 and terminating in an upwardly projecting stop arm 38 bearing on the side edge of cross arm 21.
A second locking member 39 is mounted to the lower part of each bracket leg 20 and is likewise formed of leaf spring steel, and includes an upper arm 40 overlying and riveted to the lower part of a respective side leg section 27 and provided at its lower end with an inwardly and downwardly inclined arm 41 projecting through a medial longitudinal slot 42 in the upper part of lower leg section 29. Joining the lower end of arm 41 is a downwardly and outwardly inclined arm 43 projecting outwardly through the bottom of slot 42 and joining at its outer end a depending vertical portion 44 which terminates in an inwardly projecting flange 46.
In the installed condition of lighting fixture 10, brackets 18 extend between a pair of beams 13 with the bifurcated bottom legs 25 of the bracket resting on the inside sections of the beam cross web 14, and extending along the inside faces of vertical webs 16 and the coupling tongues 30 engaging respective positioning openings 17. The bracket shoulders 29 engage the inside under faces of enlarged sections 17b of the beam vertical web, and the spring latch flanges releasably engage the outside under faces of enlarged sections 17 to releasably lock brackets 18 to beams 13 and prevent any relative vertical longitudinal or transverse movement thereof. The brackets are easily and rapidly positioned on and locked to the beams merely by spreading the spring latches outwardly, lowering the brackets onto beam cross webs 14, bringing tongues 30 into engagement with openings 17 and the shoulders into engagement with enlarged sections 17, and then releasing latch springs 39 to return the flanges to underlying engagement with the enlarged sections 17 of the beam web.
A ball chain-engaging opening 47 is formed in each latch spring 39 proximate the junction of the arms 41 and 43 thereof. Each opening 47 includes a longitudinal keyhole slot 48 formed in a respective arm 41 and having the enlarged circular opening 49 at the top thereof which communicates with an enlarged smaller diameter opening 50 in the respective arm 43. Openings 43 and 50 are respectively larger and smaller than the balls of the associated ball chain, as will be hereinafter identified.
An inverted channel shaped housing and support member 51 extends between and beyond spaced brackets 20 and registers with the arches defined by the upper bracket arms 21 and 22. Housing member 51 is formed of an extrusion and includes a top horizontal cross web 52 provided with outer depending ridges 54 spaced shortly inwardly of the outer edges of cross web 52, inner ridges 53 engaging between them a ballast 54. Also depending from cross web 52 shortly inwardly of outer ridges 54 are vertical parallel channel resiliently flexible side webs 57 which terminate at their bottoms in upwardly and inwardly open longitudinal C-shaped channels 55 having formed therewith depending downwardly and outwardly inclined inner flanges 58 and outer flanges 59 parallel to and spaced outwardly of flanges 58. Flanges 59 terminate at their bottoms in coplanar outwardly directed horizontal flanges 60 below the levels of the bottoms of flanges 58 and having ridges 61 formed on their top faces between their side edges.
In the bracket-supported condition of housing channel 51 top cross web 52 engages the under faces of the bracket cross arms 21 and extends for the widths thereof, and channel 51 is releasably locked in its assembled condition by spring arms 45 engaging the bottoms of ridges 54 and the junctions of spring arms 35 and 45 bearing on the upper parts of channel side webs 57.
A top reflector member 63 in the form of a flat rectangular plate with a reflector under face is mounted to the bottom opening of channel housing 51 and extends for the full length thereof and for substantially the full distance between the outer ends of bracket horizontal cross arms 23. The reflecting plate 63 terminates at the longitudinal side edges in depending flanges 64 and is provided with openings 65 in its side borders through which spring arms 34 project and are transversely movable. Recesses are formed in the medial end borders of plate 63 matingly to accomodate the lamp socket support assemblies, as will be hereinafter described.
In order to lock reflector plate 63 releasably to housing channel 51 a plurality of longitudinally aligned transversely spaced securing tabs 67 are integrally formed with reflector plate 63. Each securing tab includes a longitudinally extending vertical wall 68 terminating at its top in an inwardly directed horizontal flange 68 having a longitudinal rectangular tool-receiving recess 70 medially formed on its free edge. In the mounted condition of reflector plate 63 securing tab flanges 69 engage the top faces of channel flanges 60 with their free edges abutting ridges 61. The free ends of flanges 60 are accessible through recesses 70 so that a screw driver or similar tool can be inserted between the end face of a flange 60 and the base of a recess 70 to facilitate the inward flexing of web 57 thereby to make possible the coupling and uncoupling of securing tabs 67 to and with channel flanges 60. Tool-accomodating recesses for performing the above function may be otherwise provided for, for example, in the form of tool-receiving openings in plate 63 proximate to and longitudinally offset from respective securing tabs 67.
A fluorescent bulb socket and socket support assembly 71 is located and closes each end of housing channel 51 and depends below reflector plate 63. The assembly 71, as best seen in FIGS. 5 to 7, includes a main mounting and cover plate, a fluorescent lamp socket 73, a socket support plate 74 and a cover shell 76. The mounting plate 72 includes a rectangular upper section secured to and closing an end of housing channel 51 by screws engaging C-shaped channels 55 and holes in plate section 77 and aligned with channels 55. Formed along the top edge of section 77 is an inwardly directed flange 79 which overlies the top web of channel 21, and a circular opening 80 is centrally located in section 77 to engage a flexible conduit coupling 81 (FIG. 3). Medially depending from plate section 77 is a trapezoidal coplanar section 82 with downwardly converging side edges along which are formed inwardly longitudinally directed flanges 83 terminating in outwardly transversely directed coplanar flanges 84. Located in the lower part of flanges 83 are longitudinally extending coupling slots 86; formed in section 82 below the top edge thereof are a pair of transversely spaced inwardly directed abutment projections 87 with downwardly facing shoulders.
Socket 73 is of broadly known construction and includes an integral body provided with an upper horizontal block section 88 and a vertical block section 89 depending from the rear of upper section 88 and having the conventionally shaped socket 85 housing the socket electrodes. The upper part of lower section 89 flares upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a top shoulder 89a which delineates with the under face of upper section 88 longitudinal side grooves 90. Plate 74 includes an inner cross web 91 and outwardly projecting parallel coplanar side legs 95 which straddle socket member 73 and engages opposite grooves 90. Shell cover 76 includes a vertical trapezoidal inner wall 92 having a semi-circular recess 92a in its bottom edge and corresponding to wall section 82. Projecting outwardly from the side edges of wall 92 are rectangular side walls 94 each having proximate its lower outer corner a transversely outwardly directed curved coupling projection 96 with an outer cam surface. A pair of horizontal parallel slots 97 formed in side walls 94 engage the outer longitudinal borders of plate side arms 95, plate 91 extending between side walls 94 and the body lower section 89 depending below inner wall 92 with the lamp socket portion thereof being fully exposed through and below bottom recess 92a in inner wall 92.
Front wall 92 is provided at its top with an inwardly projecting trapezoidal horizontal top wall 98 and side walls 94 are provided at their tops with transversely outwardly projecting horizontal side walls 99 terminating at their outer transverse edges in upwardly projecting flanges 100. In the assembled condition of socket assembly 71 the socket-carrying housing shell projects between walls 83 the inside faces of which are engaged by shell side walls 94 and locked thereto by the intercoupling of projections 96 with respective openings 86, projections 87 overlying the border of socket upper section 88. Shell 76 engages a corresponding medial recess in the respective end border of reflector plate 63 the underface of which is engaged by the top edges of walls 83 and 84, shell top walls 98 and 99 being superimposed on reflector plate 63 with upwardly directed flanges 100 engaging the bottom outer border of plate section 77. A conventional fluorescent lamp 101 extends between and is releasably supported by sockets 85 in the known manner.
A reflector baffle assembly 102 extends between and beyond brackets 20 and is releasably supported thereby by means of resilient spring latch arms 36 in a position projecting above the under face of beam cross web 14 and engaging the opening in ceiling 11. Assembly 102 includes upwardly converging longitudinally extending reflector side walls 103 having formed along their bottom edges outwardly projecting horizontal flanges 104 and having along their upper edges outwardly directed coplanar horizontal flanges 106. Longitudinally spaced latch engaging rectangular recesses 107 are formed in the outer edges of flanges 106 and are positioned to engage corresponding latch spring arms 36. The end borders of opposite side reflectors 103 joined by transverse end walls including upwardly converging lower sections 108 having at their bottoms outwardly directed horizontal flanges 109 similar to and coplanar with flanges 104 are joined to the ends thereof. Extending upwardly from end wall lower sections 108 are vertical sections 110 which terminate in outwardly directed horizontal flanges 111 abutting the under faces of the end borders of reflector plate 63 and slightly upwardly offset from side reflector flanges 106. A vertical recess 112 is medially formed for substantially the full height of each wall section 110 and is shaped to accomodate snugly a registering socket assembly and provide access by the ends of lamp 101 to sockets 85 to permit the installation and replacement of a lamp 101 while providing a barrier between the interior and exterior upper spaces of fixture 10.
Extending transversely between and suitably secured to the lower portions of side reflectors 103 are longitudinally spaced parallel transverse cross baffles 113 of hollow V-shaped configuration. The top faces of baffles 113 are positioned directly below lamp 101 and the bottom apices thereof are coplanar with the frame defined by flanges 104, 109.
In accordance with the present invention, longitudinally separated depending spacer bumps 114 are formed in the outer side borders of top reflector plate 63 and engage the top faces of flanges 106 proximate their inner edges thereby positively to space the flanges 106 which terminate short of flanges 64 below the side borders of reflector plate 63 thereby to define therewith outwardly directed narrow relatively long air flow passageways 115 which extend for substantially the full length of the top reflector plate while the passageways 115 permit a suitable air flow consequent to the normal pressure differential between its opposite ends. These are the only significant openings between the inner and exterior spaces separated by the light fixture 10 and they function to attenuate considerably the passage or transmission of sound therethrough. Depending flanges 64 spaced from the full edges of flanges 106 further contribute to the attenuation of the transmitted sound.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention bumpings 114, four of which are located along each side of reflector plate 63, are about 0.05" deep, as is the height of passageway 115, flange 106 is about 0.5" wide to define the length of passageway 115 in the direction of air flow, and the length of flange 106 is about 47.5" to define the width of passageway 115. Accordingly, the cross area of the flow through the opposite passageways 115 which provide the only significant communication between the spaces on opposite sides of the light fixture 10 is approximately 4.75 square inches, highly suitable for the required air flow at the usual pressure differential, while the narrowness and length of the passageways 115 highly attentuate the transmission of sound therethrough.
Elongated bead chains 116 releasably engage at respective first ends thereof in openings 47 in respective joined spring arms 41 and 43 and at their opposite ends in vertical keyhole slots 117 formed proximate the upper corners of side reflectors 103.
In the normal installed condition of baffle reflector assembly 102 latch spring arms 36 register with respective recesses 107 in flanges 106, and engage the bottom edges of the bases of recesses 107 releasably to retain the flanges 106 in engagement with bumps 114 and parallel to reflector plate 63, and spring arms 37 bear on the upper outside faces of side reflectors 103 to position laterally the assembly 102. Furthermore, bottom flanges 104 and 109 engage the under face of ceiling 11 bordering the fixture-receiving opening therein. As will be readily appreciated, bumpings as 114 may be formed as desired in borders 65 of the first reflector to extend downwardly and against flanges 106, instead of the arrangement illustrated.
To obtain access to lamp 101 for replacement or servicing the reflector baffle assembly is manually drawn or pulled downwardly and thus disengaged from the opposite spring arms 36 and the respective resilient flange recesses 107 to permit dropping the corresponding side of reflector baffle assembly and subsequent disengagement from the other spring arms 36. The entire reflector baffle assembly is then lowered and suspended by chains 116. If desired, one or both pairs of chains 116 may be uncoupled from openings 47 to suspend further or entirely to detach the assembly 102. Not only is access to lamp 101 now available, but channel housing 51 and reflector plate 63 may be separated from brackets 20 against the influence of spring arms 35 and 45, and reflector plate 63 may be separated from housing channel 51 by deflecting channel arms 57 inwardly, as earlier described. Fixture 10 may be reassembled and installed in a reverse manner, spring arms 35 and 37 functioning as cams to facilitate the spreading thereof under the influence of upwardly moving channel webs 52 and bases of recesses 107.
In FIGS. 13 to 15 of the drawings there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention which differs from that first described only in the construction of the socket mounting assembly, and the change in configuration of the recesses in the reflector baffle assembly end walls to accomodate the modified socket mounting assembly. In all other ways the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is similar to that first described.
Specifically, the modified socket mounting assembly is designated by reference numeral 130 and it vertically adjustably supports a socket member 132 which is of the same construction as socket member 73 earlier described, and includes upper and lower sections 133 and 134 between which are longitudinal grooves 136. The assembly 130 comprises a mount 135 including an outer upper vertical rectangular plate section 137 terminating at its top in an inwardly directed flange 138 and provided with a conduit coupling receiving opening 139 and openings 140 for receiving screws securing section 137 to an end of housing channel 51. Depending from section 137 is an integrally formed coplanar rectangular lower plate section 141. Formed along the upper side edges of section 141 are inwardly projecting vertical side walls 142 terminating in coplanar transverse flanges 143 directed towards each other, a horizontal slot 144 being formed in one of the flanges 143 proximate its lower end and extending to and along the adjacent side wall 142.
Integrally formed with the bottom edge of section 137 and projecting inwardly and being of less width thereof is a horizontal medial rectangular frame 146 having a medial rectangular guide opening 147 delineated by cross leg 148, side legs 149 and plate section 141. Depending from the opening delineating edges of frame 146 are vertical side and inner flanges 150, side flanges 150 being coplanar with the free edges of flanges 143 and having vertical grooves 151 wherein aligned with the faces of flanges 143 directed towards section 141. A tapped opening 152 is formed in right hand leg 149, as seen in FIG. 13, proximate section 137.
A socket member carrying vertically adjustable support member 153 includes a carriage member 154 having a rectangular bottom wall 156 within which is a medial rectangular recess 157 in its rear edge flanked by coplanar side legs 158. Front and side walls 159 and 160 project upwardly from the corresponding edges of bottom wall 156, vertical legs 161 depending from and being coplanar with the rear borders of side walls 160. Formed along the front edges of legs 161 and extending linearly along the outer faces of side walls 160 are outwardly directed vertical flanges 163, the right hand flange having a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches 164 formed therein.
The socket member 132 is mounted on carriage member 154, the upper section thereof resting on bottom wall 156, socket member grooves 136 being engaged by side legs 158 and the lower socket section depending from bottom wall 156 with its rear face coplanar with the carriage near edges. Socket-carrying member 153 is slidably supported by mount 135, the carriage 154 and flanges 163 slidably engaging grooves 151 with the confronting faces of the flanges 144 and 163 slidably abutting, and the rear edges of side walls 160 and legs 161 slidably related with the confronting face of plate sections 137 and 141.
In order to lock socket carrying carriage 154 releasably in a vertically adjusted position there is provided a latch member 165 formed of resilient metal or leaf spring strip and including a vertically extending resilient leg 166 provided at its top with an outwardly directed horizontal tab 167 having an opening 168, and at its bottom with an inwardly directed latching tongue 169. Upper tab 167 is secured to the underface of right hand frame side leg 149 by a screw engaging openings 168 and 152, and latch tongue transversely slidably engages slot 144 and is biased towards an advance position therein under the influence of spring arm 166. Tongue 169 releasably engages a selected notch 164 to lock releasably the socket member carrying carriage in a vertically adjusted position. To adjust the vertical position of the socket member, latch tongue 169 is manually withdrawn from a respective notch 164 against the influence of spring arm 166 and carriage 154 is raised or lowered to bring another notch into registry with slot 144 to permit the tongue to advance under the influence of spring arm 166 into engagement with the registering notch.
Except as explained above, the construction and operation of the embodiment last described are similar to those of the embodiment first described.
While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and additions and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
Original Image


text:
Mississippi State's Ally McDonald needed a good showing in the second round of the U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst No. 2 if she was going to make the cut.Â
The junior Bulldog improved her score from round one by one stroke, but it wasn't enough to stick around and play the weekend.
McDonald turned in a 7-over, 77 on Friday to finished at 15-over for the championship. She shot a 78 in Thursday's opening round.
"This was not the way that I wanted to finish," McDonald said. "I learned a lot from this experience, and I can take a lot away from my first Open. I hope to have many more opportunities like this in the future."
To subscribe to the E-edition, please click here.View more articles in:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Originally written on Fox Sports | Last updated 8/21/12
The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder and leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with bruised left ribs and recalled outfielder Jordan Danks from Triple-A Charlotte. De Aza is hitting .281 with six home runs, 44 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 111 games this season. Danks batted .265 with one homer and three RBIs in 29 games with the White Sox from June 7-August 12 before being optioned to Charlotte. He hit his first major league home run on Aug. 10 vs. Oakland, a game-ending solo shot in the ninth inning to give the Sox a 4-3 victory. Dewayne Wise has taken over in center field for the White Sox in De Aza's absence.
Comments are closed.
What do you think?To leave a comment, you can:
MLB News
Delivered to your inbox
You'll also receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web. Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!
Follow us on Twitter
|Best of Yardbarker
|NFL News
|MLB News
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers
Join the Yardbarker Network for more promotion, traffic, and money.
Company Info
What is Yardbarker?
Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.
|© 2015 Yardbarker, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (What's New?)


text:
Living with the Lakes
Download PDF | Published February 2000
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system is a dynamic environment, still evolving over time. Ever since the last glaciers retreated more than 10,000 years ago, Great Lakes water levels and outflows have varied dramatically. The Great Lakes affect human activities and all aspects of ... Read More »


text:
Hotels/Motels close to Claremont Village are provided below in the order of their distance (closest at the top). Explore our favorite hotels to find accommodations near Claremont Village in Bronx NY for your upcoming individual or group travel.
We list the best motels and hotels close to Claremont Village so you can review the discounted Bronx NY hotels below and securely reserve your ideal hotel. Planning a group hotel block? Save with a Bronx NY discounted group rate
Lodging & Accommodations close by Claremont Village
Next 20 Hotels > [1 - 20 of 25]
Next: Show All Available Claremont Village Hotels with Pricing >


text:
PORTLAND — An Oregon sheriff's office has announced the launch of a database of people who suffer from a disability and are at risk of wandering away from home.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office's "Help Me Home" database takes the photos, personal identifiers and emergency contact information of voluntarily enrolled adults and children.
Any police officer or sheriff's deputy in the county will have access to the database from squad car mobile computers.
Registrants need to complete an enrollment form, sign an agreement, and pay a $20 fee that covers two years.
The sheriff's office says all information is kept confidential and is only available to law enforcement.
On the Web: email@example.com


text:
Russia signs cease fire agreement with Georgia
Bush urges Russia to honor the agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia, calling truce 'hopeful step'.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a cease-fire agreement with Georgia on Saturday, a day after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili reluctantly signed the plan that calls for Russian troops to pull back, but that also grants them limited patrols inside Georgia.
Medvedev spokesman Alexei Pavlov said the president signed the cease-fire order Saturday, but did not give further details.
Meanwhile Saturday, U.S. President George W. Bush called for Russia to honor the agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia.
After meeting with his national security team, Bush said that there was progress in resolving the Georgia crisis.
He said the fact that Russia and Georgia have signed a ceasefire pact was "a hopeful step."
But he said Russia now needed to honor the agreement and withdraw its forces. He said the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are a part of Georgia and "there's no room for debate on this matter."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy also called on Russia to withdraw from all Georgian territory, in a letter sent to Saakashvili. In the letter, Sarkozy said the withdrawal must come, in spite of conditions authorizing "additional security measures" for Russian forces.
The cease-fire plan both sides have signed appears to leave some tense issues open to interpretation, including whether Georgia will be able to send troops back into parts of South Ossetia.
A few hours earlier, a group of Russian troops moved further into Georgia from positions in the Georgian city of Gori, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.
According to the report, five tanks and 4 personnel carriers moved into the town of Igueti, about 35 kilometres outside the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
The activities of the group of Russian soldiers indicated that they were setting up a position in the area, the report said.
After signing the cease-fire plan on Friday, Saakashvili called the Russians barbarians who had been plotting for months to invade and occupy his country's sovereign soil.
Late on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. A U.S. official said Lavrov told Rice Russia would faithfully implement the ceasefire agreement. It wants to see Saakashvili's signature on the document first.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said Russian soldiers had blown up a key railway bridge on Saturday, cutting the country's main east-west rail link.
"At 12.20 this afternoon, Russian forces blew up a major railroad bridge near Gori," he told reporters. "That bridge being gone effectively results in the country losing east-west railway communications. For how long I do not know."
In Moscow, the General Staff strongly denied that Russian forces had blown up the bridge.
Bush: Russia's actions in Georgia 'completely unacceptable'
Bush called Russia's actions in Georgia "completely unacceptable" and said that Moscow must end the crisis.
"The world has watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatened a democratic government elected by its people," Bush said in his weekly Saturday radio address, which the White House released on Friday.
Bush said he would send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Brussels next week to meet with NATO foreign ministers and European Union officials.
Rice visited Tbilisi and France, which brokered a cease-fire this week, and was headed to Crawford, Texas, to meet with Bush at his ranch this weekend.
"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must act to end this crisis," Bush said.
Georgian leader Saakashvili on Friday told a joint news conference with the U.S. Secretary of State that his country would never be reconciled to losing any of its territory to Russia. He also criticized the muted reaction by European nations to the build up.
Of the cease-fire agreement, Saakashvili said it was not a done deal. "We need to do our utmost to deter such behavior in the future," he explained.
He later said that Russian tanks had moved on two more towns in central Georgia, widening their "occupation."
Saakashvili's claim could not be independently verified and Russian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Saakashvili said the tanks had moved to the towns of Khashari and Borjomi southwest of South Ossetia. "We now have an increasing area of Russian occupation of our territory," Saakashvili told reporters several hours after signing the cease-fire agreement.
Rice, visiting the Georgian capital Tbilisi in efforts to secure a peace deal between the warring states, said the Russian president had also signed the pact - and that Russian troops must now withdraw from Georgia as outlined in the deal brokered earlier in the week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"Georgia has been attacked. Russian forces need to leave Georgia at once," she said calling for the immediate and orderly withdrawal of Moscow's military and all paramilitary troops that went with the convoys.
"The Russian pullout must take place - and take place now," she said, speaking at the pro-Western Georgian leader's side at a joint news conference outside his presidential palace in central Tbilisi.
Rice flew to the Georgian capital Friday to discuss the cease-fire with Saakashvili after meeting with Sarkozy in Paris, saying the immediate goal was to get Russian combat forces out of Georgia.
She warned that Russia's military action had wider implications for its relationship with the U.S. - and the West.
Rice consulted with Saakashvili about details of the cease-fire, which requires Russia to withdraw its combat forces from Georgia but allows Russian peacekeepers to remain in the breakaway region of South Ossetia and conduct limited patrols outside the region.
The draft document also does not commit Russia to respecting Georgia's territorial integrity, but rather refers to Georgian independence and sovereignty, meaning Moscow does not necessarily accept that South Ossetia and the other rebel region Abkhazia, are Georgian.
Officials say the eventual status of the two areas will be worked out under existing United Nations Security Council resolutions which recognize Georgia's international borders and Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Georgian.
The U.S. and its allies had been pushing for Russia to agree to restore the situation in Georgia to the status quo ante, or how it stood before Georgian troops moved into South Ossetia last week prompting Russia's severe response and seven days of bloodshed.
Now they have been forced to back down on the key issues of the mandate of Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia, which did not previously include outside patrols, and the territorial integrity question, which Russia ostensibly accepted before but no longer does.
U.S. officials concede the agreement is not perfect but maintain it will get Russian combat troops out of Georgia, hopefully in a matter of days.
"It will be a major accomplishment for Georgia to get the Russians out of their country and back effectively to the status quo ante," Rice said.
In addition to the cease-fire document, Rice brought with her a letter signed by Sarkozy that clarifies the special security measures that Russian peacekeepers will be allowed to take on Georgian soil, officials said.
Sarkozy welcomed Georgia's signature of the ceasefire accord ending the hostilities with Russia and said the way was clear for a UN Security Council resolution to end the crisis.
"The President of the Republic considers that the conditions are now in place for the rapid adoption of a resolution by the Security Council and the definition of an international mechanism which will be charged with overseeing the implementation of the agreement on the ground," Sarkozy's office said in a statement.
Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, has the power to veto any resolution.
Rights group accuses Russia of dropping cluster bombs
Meanwhile, a U.S. human rights group on Friday accused Russia of dropping cluster bombs in populated areas of Georgia during its military offensive that began last week, but Moscow denied the charge.
Human Rights Watch said Russian aircraft had used cluster bombs in two separate raids on the towns of Ruisi and Gori on Tuesday, August 12, killing at least 11 civilians and wounding dozens.
Asked about the report, the deputy chief of Russia's General Staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, told a news conference, "We never use cluster bombs. There is no need to do so."
The Gori strike killed at least eight people, Human Rights Watch said, including a Dutch cameraman. An Israeli journalist was among the wounded in the attack.
Russian troops on Friday also allowed some humanitarian supplies into the strategic Georgian city of Gori but continued their general blockade, raising doubts about Moscow's intentions in the war-battered country.
Georgia has asked the United Nation's highest court to issue an urgent order to Russia to halt what it describes as human rights violations on ethnic Georgians, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said on Thursday.
On Tuesday Georgia filed a lawsuit with the Hague-based ICJ or World Court, which investigates conflicts between nations, accusing Russia of ethnic cleansing in the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Typically cases before the ICJ take years to settle but if a party requests an "indication of provisional measures," the court's judges can make a swift provisional order.
In its suit Georgia accused Russia of violating an anti-discrimination convention during three interventions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia from 1990 to August 2008.
The ICJ said in a statement that Georgia has requested it as "a matter of utmost urgency" to order Russia to comply with the anti-discrimination convention and to immediately halt what Georgia termed "discriminatory violations of the human rights of ethnic Georgians, including attacks against civilians... murder, forced displacement, denial of humanitarian assistance."
Russian troops and armor deployed around three Georgian towns on Thursday, as international pressure mounted on Moscow over its continuing occupation of parts of Georgia.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "extremely concerned" about the humanitarian situation in Georgia and called for a halt to lawlessness.
In Gori, west of the capital Tbilisi, correspondents saw signs of looting, which locals blamed on militias from the neighboring province of South Ossetia, where the conflict erupted a week ago Thursday.
Russian armed forces have occupied parts of Georgia since repelling a Georgian attack last week on the tiny pro-Russian separatist territory of South Ossetia, which threw off Tbilisi's control in the 1990s.
Bush accuses Russia of "bullying" in Georgia
Meanwhile Friday, Bush again expressed his support for Georgia and accused Russia of "bullying" and damaging its international standing by sending its military into Georgia.
But Bush, delivering a statement from the White House, also said the United States wanted to have good ties with Russia and not revert to Cold War-era relationships.
"A contentious relationship with Russia is not in America's interest and a contentious relationship with America is not in Russia's interest," Bush said before departing for Texas for a vacation.
But he added, "With its actions in recent days, Russia has damaged its credibility and its relations with the nations of the free world. Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."
Saakashvili: Need 'closer look' at U.S.-backed peace deal
Saakashvili said on Thursday he would need to "take a closer look" at a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal with Russia before signing it.
Asked in an interview with CNN's "Larry King Live" whether he would sign a six-point French-negotiated proposal that Rice is bringing to Georgia, Saakashvili said, "We have to see what she has to bring."
"We are still in the negotiating process.... Russians are trying to justify their invasion and to legalize their presence in Georgia," Saakashvili said.
"Without genuine international peacekeepers, without genuine international transparency, these people are going to make much more trouble for us and for the rest of Europe. I think we should take a closer look at it."
Like us on Facebook and get articles directly in your news feed


text:
606 Reviews
Average Customer Review
Share your thoughts with other customersCreate your own review
109 of 114 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very, VERY impressive.
You can get the gist of the story from other reviews here, I won't bore anyone with another summary.
What I will say is that I am a picky so-and-so and, as an example, I recently read Mark Charon Newton's first book (Nights of Viljamur)- didn't like it (dull characters and too many quotes lifted directly from 'The God Delusion', etc) despite other rave reviews,...
Published on 12 April 2013 by A. C. F. Guile
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A Concoction of Better Books
I can only assume Patrick Rothfuss hasn't read this book, or he'd sue the pants off Anthony Ryan.
Blood Song is essentially The Name of The Wind in a more martial setting, with more than a smidgen of Malazan Book of The Fallen and Wheel of Time thrown in, and a pinch of The Farseer books.
These are all great books (Middle section of WoT excluded),...
Published 2 months ago by TheHound
Most Helpful First | Newest First
109 of 114 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very, VERY impressive.,
A. C. F. Guile "eddygemmell" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
You can get the gist of the story from other reviews here, I won't bore anyone with another summary.
What I will say is that I am a picky so-and-so and, as an example, I recently read Mark Charon Newton's first book (Nights of Viljamur)- didn't like it (dull characters and too many quotes lifted directly from 'The God Delusion', etc) despite other rave reviews, and have given up on various other traditionally published books over recent years despite the time, effort and money spent on publishing them. There was a time I would finish a book even if I found it dull or hated it, I can't do that these days. I just don't have the patience for bad writing or stories that I don't like or don't grip me.
This is self published and is the best fantasy read I have had this year - though Mark Lawrence's Prince & King of Thorns is a close second.
It's not all constant action, it's a slow burn novel (like Robin Hobb and others) but you're always kept interested and the depth of character achieved and the nature and strength of the bond between the 'brothers' is great stuff. There's plenty of intrigue and the authorial 'reveals' along the way as the story unfolds have been paced very well indeed.
Ok, there are a few typos (names spelt wrong and a coma or two missing ...IMHO) but those issues are irrelevent and I forgive the author 100%. This is an amazing effort and a fantastic story.
Thank you, Anthony you have given self publishing a good name!
EDIT - I have the self published version. I see that Mr Ryan has quite rightly been picked up by a traditional publisher now. Quite right too. Well deserved. Comparison to David Gemmell though is something I don't understand. Ryan has his own voice. DG was indeed an Legend and while Ryan might quite enjoy the comparison, I think he stands up perfectly well on the strength of his own efforts.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The honourable and reluctant killer and general,
JPS - See all my reviews
This is a rather superb piece of "heroic fantasy", especially for a first novel, and it is indeed well worth the five stars that so many other reviewers have given it. It is not perfect, but then no book really is, and it all depends upon what is meant by "perfect" anyway! However, it has just about all the ingredients that make a piece of "heroic fantasy" outstanding: world-building, plot, characterisation, action, and talent in keeping the reader engaged.
The first quality of this book is the world-building, and the way it is done almost incidentally, in a seamless way as you read through the book.
You do not get "treated" with pages and pages of glossaries, because the author has accumulated so many characters and names of places that you would be simply lost and confused in the absence of such glossaries. You do however get a few maps: a general one at the beginning, and one blown up section of this general map that corresponds to each of the main parts of the story.
The story of Vaelin Al Sorna is told by one Lord Vernier, a historian and a noble of the Alpirian Empire and each part of the book begins with his account and comments on the events as told by Vaelin. However, each part is followed by a much longer piece that tells what really happened, as opposed to the rather "sanitised" version served by Vaelin to Lord Vernier. This is one of the tricks that keeps the reader engaged and interested all along, at least that is how it worked out for me as I looked out for (the many) discrepancies in the two tales.
The world in which the story is set is that of the Unified Realm, a northern continent made up of what were formally four kingdoms which one of the Kings forcefully unified a few decades before. Here is where there might be some inspiration drawn from Martin's Westeros, although the form of the Unified Realm made me thing of an enlarged Ireland rather than Britain. To the South-West of the Unified Realm lie the Meldenian Islands inhabited by pirates/traders. Far to the West is another mysterious continent that seems to be an equivalent of China and which is controlled by various merchant princes. To the South, across the Erinian Sea, lays the Alpirian Empire, which reminded me of a version of the Byzantine Empire that could somehow be set in Africa, which its northern part including a trio of ports and deserts.
Then there is the story itself, on which I will be brief because many other reviewers have already commented. The lonely boy left by his cold and apparently ruthless father to the "tender mercies" of harsh learners at the age of eleven - here the "Sixth Order" (inspired by Medieval Orders of warrior-monks) – and who goes through a gruelling training to become one of the most accomplished warriors of the Realm is not exactly original, although it is well told. Neither is the bonding with his fellow apprentices into a "band of brother-warriors", with each of them having their own "speciality" (the sword for Vaelin) very original, although it works mostly well. Having – predictably – graduated, Vaelin, who has very much become the leader of his little band, serves the King of the Unified Realm as the commander of one of his infantry regiments where his duty takes him across the whole Realm and then across the sea against the Alipirian Empire.
One interesting streak in the story is the theme of religious intolerance, with a faction of fanatic defenders of the Faith busy persecuting the "Deniers", meaning every sect and belief within the Realm that does not conform to the true Faith. As hinted at in this book, and as will be no doubt made more explicit in the following volumes, the truth is much more complicated than the "official version" and the various legends and accepted stories of the past hide a number of less than palatable events.
Another interesting feature is the careful mix of elements that this story includes. You get a hint at a couple of non-human races which pre-existed the arrival of the now dominant inhabitants of the Unified Realm. You will also have some supernatural powers and magical bits, including the "blood song" in itself and what looks like a daemon from the otherworld. You also get plenty of adventure, fights, plotting and intrigue, battles and assassination attempts, so that the story is fast-paced, but not excessively so.
What I particularly appreciated with all this was the measured way in which all these elements were introduced and carefully balanced and blended together. Some twists of the story are somewhat hard to believe however. One of these is the decision of the huge Alpirian army to attack the two strongest ports held by "the Northerners" instead of the weakest one defended by Vaelin, and this after Vaelin having given them plenty of reasons to go after him.
Then you have what I believe to be the third strongpoint of the book: the characterisation of the hero. The most prominent example is that of Vaelin Al Sorna himself who is indeed an honourable and reluctant killer but who will do whatever needs to be done because of his very high sense of duty to Crown and Faith, even when he knows perfectly well that he is being played with and used. However, and as other reviewers have also noticed, although a reluctant at killing and waging war, the hero is also very efficient at it, quite ruthlesss and does not indulge in any self-pitying that some authors feel obliged to introduce in their characters. He does not like it. He would prefer to do otherwise, but since he does not have a choice, he does it as efficiently as he can, even if others are going to see him as a monster as a result of his deeds.
Some of the other characters are also well-designed, such as the arrogant and prejudiced Lord Vernier, the ageing, cynical, unscrupulous and utterly ruthless King Janus who spent his life unifying the Realm and is ready to do just about anything to ensure that it survives him, his devious but vulnerable daughter and his noble but allegedly na�ve son and heir. Other secondary characters are perhaps not so well drawn. In particular, I found that Vaelin's brothers somewhat lacked depth.
Even the end of the story is rather good, with the author tying up all lose ends as his hero, after a long captivity and a near-suicidal mission that he was not expected to survive, heads for home where a new King has come to power. Five stars for this superb first novel, despite the few glitches noted above, and largely because you get (or at least I got) totally immersed in this book once you pick it up. Needless to say, I am rather impatiently waiting for volume 2 and hoping it will be at least as good.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars We Have No Banners,
Mr. T. Stacey "Laresistance4" (Sheffield, UK) - See all my reviews
I won't bore anyone with another summary. I'm just here to point out a few of the reasons why I enjoyed this novel so much and to add my own 5 star rating to the masses.
> The Characters - No black and white heroes/villains or run down cliche's here. Just characters that are all too real, with their own unique personalities, world views and faults. And as they go through deep life experiences, they actually develop! For example, when we first met Nortah, I envisioned him being your typical spoilt, petty brat. Very quickly I was disspelled of that impression - by the end of the book, he was one of my favourite characters. People shouldn't be judged solely based on first impressions, and they can change.
> The Pace - Considering the first 300 or so pages are dedicated to the 'training' section, there are a surprising amount of significant moments, many of which foreshadow later events. It nevers gets boring. Mr Ryan finds a fine balance when building his carefully crafted world, never cramming too much information in, yet not leaving his readers hanging either. It kept my interest, left me wanting more.
> The Intrigue - So many mysteries, large and small, are scattered throughout this novel: from the reason Vaelin was given to the Sixth Order; The Witch's bastard, the One Who Waits, and many questions surroundings the plot and various characters goals and motivations. What I especially enjoy is the fact that many of the answers are within the text before the reveals! Mr Ryan has created a consistent world, where every action makes sense within the context of his world. Learn the rules, then pay close attention.
All in all, a fantastic debut and an excellent start to the Raven's Shadow Trilogy. I will certainly be purchasing the next book, 'Tower Lord'.
(Additional Note: part of my motivation for writing this review in the first place was to counter a couple of the ridiculous negative reviews for this book. I can respect opinions that differ from my own. That's not the issue. But to give a book a low rating simply because the reviewer was stupid enough to buy the same book twice is sacrilege in my opinion. Reviews are intended to measure the quality of the product, not the IQ of the reviewer.)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a book,
Mr. E. Nzegwu "enwezor" (Portsmouth, UK) - See all my reviews
All I can say is 'goodness me'. This is a bloody good book. I have an innate distrust of unpublished authors, mainly because of the easy some of them shamelessly self promote. I know it's hard for them to get noticed but it just doesn't sit well with me. So, I stick with authors that are published - there's enough of then after all. I just happened on Anthony Ryan's book by chance. I think someone recommended it on Patrick Rothfuss's blog and thought I'd try it as all the reviews seemed genuine unlike the reviews you see of other unpublished authors. If a reviewer has only written one review ever it stats to ring alarm bells.
I digress. The point is, this is a truly impressive fantasy book. it is so well rounded - the story is fascinating, the characters interesting, there is depth, it's an interesting world you don't know where it's going and the story never disappoints. I don't put too much creedence in the adage that a first book can only be so good. Plenty of recent authors have proved that incorrect, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch, to name a few. I think this is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. Really, if you like fantasy then you won't be disappointed. I am flabbergasted that a book as good a this is not in print. What the hell are editors doing. Can't wait for the next one Anthony. I think your fame will spread. Completely changed my perspective on unpublished authors.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent fantasy,
Keris Nine - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blood Song: Book 1 of Raven's Shadow (A Raven's Shadow Novel) (Kindle Edition)
There's a lot to recommend about Anthony Ryan's Blood Song. In most respects it's a traditional fantasy novel that respects the genre's conventions, but's it's well-written and engaging and it has an interesting perspective that gives it a little bit of an edge and sets it apart from most works of this kind.
Even if the early part of the book seems to be fairly standard plotting, there's an underlying unease about the situation then that keeps you involved. This is as it should be since the "blood song" of the title is indeed a guiding sense of warning that keeps the young Vaelin Al Sorna alive throughout the difficult years of his training as a warrior in the service of the Sixth Order, defenders of the Faith and the United Realm of King Janus. The first part of the book then goes through the standard template of apprenticeship, the honing of Vaelin's skills through tests and bonding with fellow warriors, but in addition to being well told, you do get a sense of other elements of the wider problems in and beyond the Realm that will undoubtedly come into play once we get to the world outside.
Even that seems fairly familiar territory, with war being on the horizon and conflict not only with foreign states, but also with Deniers of the Faith and from mysterious agencies that use the power of the Dark, Vaelin seeming to play a part in a Destiny that has been foretold in ancient books. It doesn't take too long however to recognise that it's not all peace, love and goodness under the rule of King Janus, that the expected divisions between the forces of Good and Evil aren't that clear and that Vaelin - known now as Hope Killer - might not even be on the side of Right.
It's this kind of touch that makes all the difference. How often do we really get to see and understand the working of the "forces of darkness" from an insider's perspective? It's the way that it's told however that really counts, Anthony Ryan building up credible characterisation that takes into account the usual motivations of greed and ambition but also how fear, personality, power and the weight of history have a part to play in the shaping of Destiny. It's not just all about some ancient prophesy then, or the wielding of mysterious powers, but Blood Song becomes a question over how much power we have over our own destiny. And that's interesting.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Debut,
This review is from: Blood Song: Book 1 of Raven's Shadow (Hardcover)
I bought this book on the basis of earlier reviews and have to say it is one of the best fantasy books i have ever read (and i have read a lot). I find it hard to believe that this is a first novel and cannot wait for another in the series. There are moments of great characterisation (male and female - and animal!!!) Some parts of the plot you can work out as the book progresses (which i like) and others will have you groan as the oncoming train has been lighting the tunnel for a while. I found it an absorbing read and i wanted to know what happened next. I also liked the level of back detail that created a more believable world but that did not drown the plot or characters. I bought my copy from Amazon, but i think it is a shame that i have not seen a copy in any bookshops Unless they have all sold :-) Buy it, read it and enjoy it.
63 of 69 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Trust the good reviews!,
So, minding my own business, I was looking through the recommended section on my kindle and saw this for a few quid. As always I looked at the reviews, and immediately became suspicious. One bad review out of near a hundred good ones- but I took a gamble, and boy was I rewarded.
This is quite possibly one of the best opening novels I have ever read. My normal genre is fantasy, and as such I think I have quite high standards when it comes to these books- I haven't been this impressed with a first book since the farseer trilogy (Robin Hobb).
In terms of the book itself, there was something for me on every page. Not once did I become bored or frustrated with events, characters, story, or, well... anything! The pacing is extremely well done, as are the characters. Whilst it lacks the depth of detail in environments that I am used to with authors such as Hobb, the rest of the factors more than make up for this- character arcs are extremely well done, and I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the fate of almost everyone the book introduces to you.
Literally the only thing I found mildy off putting was initially the names were quite foreign- but this is something that I eventually liked anyway as it does perform the role of setting it slightly apart from standard lord-of-the-rings esque names for everything.
Believe the reviews, I have never been so grateful for taking a risk on a book- which is also minimised by the unbelievably cheap price I got it for. Brilliant read, and I cannot wait for the next book of what I hope is a long saga.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Hours Vanish,
This review is from: Blood Song: Book 1 of Raven's Shadow (Hardcover)
If you're like me and read in bed before sleeping you will find this book holds your imagination and attention so fantastically well, you will look up and find 4 hours have passed and you're due up in 5. The characters will stay with you, I didn't find myself thinking "hmm hang on who is that again ?". The lands are well planned out and traveled within the story. This has everything you look for in a fantasy book, I only hope the time passes by quickly so that I can get my hands on the second book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Blood Song,
Jenny, Wondrous Reads (UK) - See all my reviews
Blood Song is one of a handful of epic fantasy novels I've read, and it's up there with my favourite fantasy in general. It's a brilliant, visceral look at the life of Vaelin Al Sorna, engrossing right from the start and very, very difficult to put down. It's a hefty book but don't be put off by its size - it's easier than it looks, and you'll find yourself lost in the story within mere pages. Anthony Ryan writes well and his characters are all people you'll root for, even when things aren't as black and white as they may initially seem. Apologies for being cryptic, but I don't want to spoil anything!
This book follows Vaelin's life from when he's a young boy and just joining the Sixth Order, when he's learning to fight and wield a sword, as well as how to hunt a man and kill an enemy. It focuses on him and his group of friends as they find their way in this brutal, dark world, and what happens to him is truly shocking at times. I absolutely loved his character, his resolve and determination being stand-out traits and part of what makes him so strong. He's a true warrior, and that all becomes apparent as he gets older and leaves his training. A war is coming and the Sixth Order is one of the only forces that stands in its way - Vaelin's life is about to change, and there's not a single thing he can do about any of it.
Blood Song is a long, detailed book, but time passes quickly and it never feels like a chore to read. Each character is a joy to get to know, whether good or bad, and I particularly enjoyed the earlier sections that take place when Vaelin is a young boy. The regime and training they all go through to be part of the Sixth Order is pretty harrowing, and how they learn to be men is, at times, even worse. Anthony Ryan doesn't hold back on anything - battles are bloody, lives aren't always spared and there's no guarantee of a happy ending.
I found myself pulled into Vaelin's story almost instantly, so much so that I couldn't bear to put the book down. I read it on trains to London even though it makes me travel sick, and I couldn't stop until I'd finished it. Although this story isn't the typical kind of fantasy I usually read - there aren't any dragons or wizards - I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it. Vaelin's the kind of man I imagine would fit right in if he went to live in Westeros, and I can see why he turns out how he does. He's been surrounded by a life of brutality and order from a very young age, and for him that's all there is. His life is all about duty and honour, and he serves the Sixth Order like his whole existence depends on it. He's amazing!
Blood Song is one of the best books I read in 2014, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to write this review. It's stuck in my mind as a favourite fantasy novel, one that I'm really glad I decided to read and one that features one of the most memorable characters I've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm hoping to get around to reading the sequel, Tower Lord, sooner rather than later, and I just hope it's half as good as this. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for Vaelin, thought I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about how his story will end. I guess I'll just have to carry on reading and find out!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A strong opening book for both this series and a new author,
GOTTON - See all my reviews
I've finished this book really wanting to give it 5 stars but sadly that would be doing a disservice to anyone reading this review.
I'm relatively late coming to this book, having had it on my to-read list for a long time but not getting around to it until today. What really interested me was the huge number of five star reviews which of course is rare for a debut novel. Therefore I went into it expecting perfection straight from the start and for the first two thirds I had to keep checking that I had the right book as it really wasn't meeting my expectations. What I was reading was admittedly a well written and intriguing tale but one that lacked both the originality and the strength of character to make me really feel as though this book was anything above average.
This all changes in the final act when everything starts to come together in a very satisfying fashion and introduces enough new elements to the series that suddenly I find myself really drawn in only to find this book comes to an end just when I am really wanting more. I think this has happened because the questions that were raised all the way through the book were answered brilliantly with some really interesting twists that I didn't see coming. I have to admit that getting to the ending I am quick to forget what came before it and I am eager to call this a brilliant book.
However, the truth is that the first two acts really were quite bland. We are introduced to and given a great amount of back story on the central character (who strangely is not the first person character). Whilst this is interesting what it lacks is emotional depth.
As I have read in a lot of books since A Song of Ice and Fire went huge a few years ago, this book relies on the harshness of life rather than the up sides. This is a perfectly valid point of view but what so many authors miss is that life is varied and there needs to be some happiness and hope in order for the darkness to feel more terrible and real. The first two acts of this book are just a constant stream of situations getting worse for the characters with no high points whatsoever until really close to the end of the book. This made reading this part of the book seem like work which is never good.
To prove the point, this book really started to turn around the moment the title character finally reconciled one of his main relationships and for the first time he genuinely had something to lose that the reader cares about him losing. From that moment on this book took on a whole new energy and it had me turning the pages quickly and feeling very satisfied at the end of the book.
Overall as a standalone book I would have found this book to be less satisfying than I did. As the start of a series however, I have to admit that this is a really good book that has introduced me to a new world in a manner that has me really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I would happily recommend this book to fantasy fans, especially those who like dark fantasy where their title characters are forced to go through a great deal and face terrible sacrifices before the end of the story. I now eagerly look forward to the second book in the Raven's Shadow series and I can only hope that it picks up the story in the same manner that this one finished.
Most Helpful First | Newest First
Blood Song: Book 1 of Raven's Shadow (Unabridged) by Anthony Ryan


text:
Resolution: standard / high
Figure 3.
Protein expression in glioblastoma cell lines. VRK1, VRK2, EGFR and cyclin D1 protein levels were determined in three glioblastoma cell lines (A). At the bottom the ratio of EGFR expression respect to VRK proteins expression in each cell line is shown. Growth rate of astrocytoma cell lines (B). Cells were seeded in P60 dishes and were serum deprived for 24 hours. At time 0, serum was added and cell number was determined at different time points after serum readdition. To the right is shown the growth curve of each cell line at different time points after serum readdition. The values are the mean of three independent experiments and the standard deviations are shown. *** P < 0.001.
Rodríguez-Hernández et al. BMC Clinical Pathology 2013 13:23 doi:10.1186/1472-6890-13-23


text:
Results 1 to 2 of 2
March 17th, 2013 #1
Apollo Noir's Doodles and Drawings
Here is me drawing Batgirl:
- Similar Threads
- SketchBook: Doodles, drawings, and other stuff from my brain (will update as often as I can)
- SketchBook: Life Drawings, Studies, Doodles and More
- SketchBook: Frejasphere Sketchbook - drawings, paintings and doodles...
- SketchBook: muzzoids insane sci-fi doodles and drawings.
- SketchBook: doodles, sketches, drawings, paintings etc... big update(1.06)
Hide this ad by registering as a memberMay 12th, 2013 #2
A skater.
Members who have read this thread: 2
Tags for this Thread


text:
24 CFR 570.601 - Public Law 88-352 and Public Law 90-284; affirmatively furthering fair housing; Executive Order 11063.
(1) Public Law 88-352, which is title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), and implementing regulations in 24 CFR part 1.
(2) Public Law 90-284, which is the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601-3620). In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, the Secretary requires that grantees administer all programs and activities related to housing and community development in a manner to affirmatively further the policies of the Fair Housing Act. Furthermore, in accordance with section 104(b)(2) of the Act, for each community receiving a grant under subpart D of this part, the certification that the grantee will affirmatively further fair housing shall specifically require the grantee to assume the responsibility of fair housing planning by conducting an analysis to identify impediments to fair housing choice within its jurisdiction, taking appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintaining records reflecting the analysis and actions in this regard.
(b) Executive Order 11063, as amended by Executive Order 12259 (3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 652; 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 307) (Equal Opportunity in Housing), and implementing regulations in 24 CFR part 107, also apply.
[61 FR 11477, Mar. 20, 1996]
Title 24 published on 2015-04-01.
No entries appear in the Federal Register after this date, for 24 CFR Part 570.


text: The Tastes of Summer Summer Food: Blueberries, Texas Caviar, Tomatoes July 31, 2007 For many listeners, summer food is epitomized by fruits of the vine, tree, bush and stalk. They share stories about grandmothers and "blueberry slump," gardens and "Texas caviar," and a bittersweet tale of tomatoes, champagne and a light bulb. Listen Loading… Playlist Download Embed Embed Close embed modal <iframe src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/12374510/12376825" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no">


text:
The new Yardbarker app is here! Install on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. You can also find us in Google Newsstand.
Gophers find themselves in another NIT championship
In a game that felt like it would never end, and with a clown car of announcers and color commentators talking about anything other than the game in front of them, the Gophers overcame a back-breaking end of regulation to rebound and take care of Florida State in OT in the NIT semifinals, 67-64. With […]
Via From The Barn
April 02, 2014 | Discuss
Senior Day 2014
The home careers of Austin Hollins, Maverick Ahanmisi, Oto Osenieks, and Malik Smith will (hopefully) come to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Gophers celebrate senior day, and hopefully inch one step closer to a return to the NCAA tournament. The basketball game is self-evidently big, and if the Gophers do want to return to the tournament, they need to win. After thirty...
Via From The Barn
March 08, 2014 | Discuss
Osenieks calls it quits early for Minnesota
Minnesota junior Oto Osenieks will end his playing career a year early.
Via Philly Sports Live
March 06, 2014 | Discuss
Oto Osenieks is retiring.
The University of Minnesota announced today that Oto Osenieks will be honored as part of senior day festivities on Sunday afternoon, and that his playing career with the Golden Gophers. The red-shirt junior forward hasn't played in the last two games due to a knee injury that sounds degenerative in nature. There is a silver lining though. According to the announcement from the university...
Via From The Barn
March 05, 2014 | Discuss
Osenieks' Gophers career over
MINNEAPOLIS -- Oto Osenieks' Gophers career appears to be over. The University of Minnesota announced on Wednesday that Osenieks, a redshirt junior, will be honored on Senior Night on Sunday. Osenieks did not play in the Gophers' last two games due to a knee injury, and head coach Richard Pitino indicated the injury will end his career with Minnesota. "Oto has been a joy to work...
Via Fox Sports North
March 05, 2014 | Discuss
Gophers look to shake slump with lineup switch
MINNEAPOLIS -- Mired in a three-game losing streak, the Gophers men's basketball team hopes to shake things up by making a change to its starting lineup. Head coach Richard Pitino said Friday that sophomore Joey King will start at power forward for Saturday's game against Indiana, moving junior Oto Osenieks to the bench. Osenieks had started all 23 of Minnesota's games to this point...
Via Fox Sports North
February 07, 2014 | Discuss
It is the post power forward era and it is time to start four Gopher guards.
Lost among the chatter of arbitrary NCAA decision making, tournament expansion, and conference realignment, the power forward has gone extinct, at least in the Big Ten. Even a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Big Ten team to take the court without two true, back to the basket, low post players. With the graduations of Derrick Nix and Trevor Mbakwe after last season...
Via From The Barn
December 26, 2013 | Discuss
College Basketball News
Delivered to your inbox
You'll also receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web. Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!
Follow us on Twitter


text: The XMark Fitness Power Cage XM-7620 allows you to bring upper and lower body workouts to the next level. Barbell exercises can now be completed with a greater range of motion than a Smith Machine provides. The XMark Power Cage XM-7620 comes equipped with adjustable spotters and bar catches to make for a safer lifting experience and give you peace of mind during workouts.More security is available during the course of vigorous workouts thanks to this half cage�s reliable safe guards. This light commercial rated equipment will be a mainstay of gyms for years to come thanks to its consistent results and quality make.


text:
Time to dialogue with Boko Haram
SIR: Some northern politicians made threats that they will make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan if the zoning formula of the PDP is changed and if Jonathan became President. And since Jonathan became President, Nigerians have been sleeping with their two eyes opened.
Many police officers, soldiers, SSS officers and other law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the course of fighting Boko Haram. Head of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Nigeria, Zoran Jovanovic, puts the number of those that have died from activities of the sect at more than 1000 people.
The Boko Haram is beyond what all our law enforcement agencies can handle. For instance, Boko Haram stormed Louis Edet House, the headquarters of Police in Abuja with bombs. There were a lot of causalities; even the former IGP narrowly escaped death.
The former IGP Hafiz Ringim was retired compulsorily in the aftermath of the escape of Kabiru Sokoto alleged to have masterminded the Madallah bomb blast on Christmas day last year. Police Commissioner Zakari Biu was also dismissed from police. Yet, these have not put an end to Boko Haram crisis. Also many people have been calling for the sack of National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi, but I don't think this will bring solution to the Boko Haram menace.
The acting IGP MD Abubakar has been doing his best since he assumed office. In the process he lost DIG John Haruna and other gallant officers. Likewise all the service chiefs and DG SSS have been up and doing to overpower the sect members all to no avail. Even the Nigeria Army has reportedly recruited the services of 'professional dogs' in fighting the sect; I don`t know how far the dogs can go in fighting Boko Haram.
I call on the Federal Government to look for the way to dialogue with the sect to stop the killing of innocent citizens. Boko Haram members are not spirits, they are human beings living among us and I am sure northern leaders know them and how to reach them.
Sometimes in March, Dr Datti Ahmed and Mallam Nafiu Baba-Ahmed of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), offered to represent the Boko Haram in talks with the government. This initiative ended without any tangible result. According to SCSN, there was neither sincerity nor commitment on the part of the government for a peaceful deal. In addition, they said that the reporter who facilitated the contacts between SCSN and Boko Haram recently cried out that his life was being threatened from unknown quarters. They also claimed that the details of what they thought were secret talks were published in newspapers. Consequently, the SCSN withdrew from the talks, while the sect itself has forsworn further negotiation.
I still believe Federal Government can arrange another means of meeting Boko Haram. This is a political problem that needs political solution. The Federal Government needs political will to stop this menace.
Whatever it will take President Jonathan to meet Boko Haram successfully, he should please do it because of the blood of innocent people that are being shed daily. Federal Government must meet with 19 northern governors, northern elites/leaders, religious and traditional rulers on how to stop this bombing.
Some people have been calling for Sovereign National Conference; I will also join in calling for it if it will bring a lasting peace to our dear nation.
Our President, please we need peace.
• Ajiboye John Tosin,
Osogbo Osun State.
Rate this article
What Boko Haram and NADECO have in common
As we watched troubled President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his black kaftan with black cap behind the distraught emir of Kano last week, it was ... Full story


text:
Club Nintendo
Club Account Information
Member Sign In
Bowser Folder Set w/ Bookmarks
Do you harbor a sweet spot for the ruler of the Koopas?
Embrace Mario™'s most challenging adversaries with this folder set designed and created exclusively for Club Nintendo members. Features iconic 2D artwork of Bowser™, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, Goombas, Bullet Bills, and more.
Each set contains 3 unique folders and includes a matching set of 3 bookmarks.
• 2-Pocket Folders measure 9.5" x 12" folded with two 3.5" horizontal pockets
• Bookmarks: 2" x 6"
The purchase is subject to the Terms and Conditions.
250 coins


text:
Render product shots in their best light with Maya and After Effects.
Present product renderings in their best light with 3ds Max and After Effects.
Learn how to expertly control and animate cameras in your Maya projects and give viewers a window into your 3D world.
Create, render, and customize fur and hair for your 3D models in Maya.
Dive deep into the Hypershade window and shader creation with Maya and the mental ray rendering engine.
Shows how to create realistic landscapes, atmospheres, and natural light effects in Maya 2011.
Demonstrates one of the most powerful toolsets for photorealistic 3D image visualization, the mental ray renderer in 3ds Max.
"Your website has become a verb. I had a client tell me today that they were lynda.comming their way through learning new software. You've joined the ranks of Googling, Photoshopping, and Skyping!" —Jill W.
more from our members »


text:
In This Section
Journal Forum
Clean Audio for TV broadcast: An Object-Based Approach for Hearing-Impaired Viewers - April 2015
2 comments
Audibility of a CD-Standard A/DA/A Loop Inserted into High-Resolution Audio Playback - September 2007
13 comments
Sound Board: Food for Thought, Aesthetics in Orchestra Recording - April 2015
2 comments
AES Journal Forum
Enhancement of IEEE 802.11 in Handling Multiple Broadcasting Audio Data in Wireless ad-hoc Networks
Although modern WiFi technology has enough bandwidth to handle multiple audio channels, the current 802.11 standard has numerous defects that prevent widespread adoption for professional live audio. By augmenting the MAC algorithm used in the standard, many of the inherent problems can be addressed. For example, the use of CTS-to-Self was modified in order to distribute in broadcasting mode, the time the network is occupied for each transmission. This reduces the number of backoff counts and dropped packets. An Exclusive Backoff Number Allocation algorithm was also added in order to decrease the probability of collision while maintaining fairness and limiting delay to an acceptable level. A simulation of the modified 802.11 MAC algorithm showed drastically improved performance.
Download Now (295 KB)
This paper is Open Access which means you can download it for free.
No AES members have commented on this paper yet.
Subscribe to this discussion
To be notified of new comments on this paper you can subscribe to this RSS feed. Forum users should login to see additional options.
Start a discussion!
If you are not yet an AES member and have something important to say about this paper then we urge you to join the AES today and make your voice heard. You can join online today by clicking here.