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The system produces movements in a home entertainment chair. It has a motor controller and a plurality of movement generator units for generating small amplitude and low frequency movements in the viewers chair according to desired effects. A synchronization is achieved using an audio/video stream.
1. An apparatus for generating a synchronized motion effect for at least one actuator using an audio/video source stream signal, said apparatus comprising:
a track analyzer, receiving an audio/video source stream signal comprising a plurality of data packets and extracting a portion of interest in a data packet of the plurality of data packets;
a synchronization database comprising a plurality of time codes, each related to a specific sequence of data comprised in the portion of interest of a data packet;
a time code generator receiving and providing the extracted portion of interest of the data packet to the synchronization database, the time code generator further receiving a corresponding time code signal from the synchronization database; and
an effect generator receiving the time code signal from the time code generator and providing an effect signal, from a stored effect database, synchronized to that time code signal, to at least one actuator.
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11. A method for performing a synchronized effect using a time code in a datastream comprising a plurality of data packets, the method comprising the steps of:
defining a portion of interest in a data packet of a datastream;
creating a synchronization database comprising a plurality of time codes each related to a specific sequence of data comprised in the portion of interest of a packet of the datastream;
receiving a packet of the datastream;
extracting die portion of interest of the received packet of the datastream;
accessing the synchronization dathbase using at least the portion of interest of the received packet;
providing a corresponding time code related to the packet to a generator effect;
providing an effect related to said provided corresponding time code; and
actuating at least one actuator using the provided effect.
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The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/642,756 filed Aug. 22, 2000 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,266 filed Mar. 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,324 the specification of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to tactile and movement sensation generation, and more particularly to tactile and movement sensation generation for home theatre and/or motor simulation systems.
A century ago, the first movies did not include sound. The first sound tracks were music mimicking the action. A few inventions later, the spectator was finally able to hear at least the voice of the actors. From this point, improvements made the correlation between the sound track and the movie track more and more reliable. But viewers wanted more. The quest for realistic entertainment was beginning. A new need arose, mechanical sensations that would stimulate more deeply the senses of the users.
Unfortunately, providing a mechanical sensation to a viewer is not an easy task. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,162, Trumbull et al describe a motion picture amusement ride. This motion picture amusement ride works either in a manual mode or in an automatic mode. In the automatic mode, movements of each actuators are encoded on a tape cartridge which is synchronized with the movie. The apparatus described in this patent has a large size and it is therefore not convenient for a home theatre. Furthermore, in case of personal use, an individual may want to jump from one movie sequence to another, this may cause de-synchronization, as no specific synchronization scheme is described, which is fatal for the entertainment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,849, Hollingsworth, III et al describe a point-of-view motion simulator. As in the previous patent, the system described is not convenient for personal use. The synchronization is achieved using a single channel (the sixth channel) which provides a continuous stream of pulses which acts as start or sync signal. If synchronization may be obtained while playing the movie from the beginning to the end, the synchronization may be hard to maintain when a user wants to jump from a movie sequence to another. Finally, this approach by its core synchronization mechanism wastes an entire channel that will not be available anymore to the user. More fundamentally, the movie track may be altered in order to be used with this invention.
Therefore there is a need for a method and apparatus to provide motion sensations for a spectator watching a movie sequence without de-synchronization issues.
It is an object of the present invention to provide time stamps using an incoming data stream of information.
It is an object of the present invention to synchronize an effect with a data stream.
It is another object of the present invention to provide motion effects for a video track or a sound track.
Yet another object of the present invention is to create motion effects for a sound track or a movie track.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus to store and retrieve efficiently motion effects that may be played with respect to a sound track or video track.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating motion effects for at least one actuator using an audio/video source stream signal, the apparatus comprising a track analyzer receiving the stream signal and performing a track analysis of the stream signal to produce a time variable characteristic signal, an effect generator receiving the time variable characteristic signal and generating at least one effect according to at least one rule, and a movement generator receiving the at least one effect and compiling the at least one effect to provide a single signal to each of the at least one actuator.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for generating motion effects using at least one actuator with respect to an audio/video source, the method comprising the steps of receiving a signal from the audio/video source, analyzing the signal to generate a second signal, using the second signal and a rule to provide at least one effect; and compiling the second signal in order to provide a third signal to each of the at least one actuator according to said at least one effect.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing haptic and motion sensations to at least one viewer in a simulator environment, the method comprising the steps of providing at least three actuators supporting at least one seat for the viewer, the actuators being adapted to move the seat and the viewer with small amplitudes at a frequency representing mechanical vibration, generating a vibration signal representing a level of vibration in the seat corresponding to a level of vibration associated with a virtual environment at each point in time, generating a visual cue signal representing a reciprocal visual cue movement in the seat corresponding to motion in the virtual environment at each point in time, converting the vibration signal into a first actuator position value for all of the actuators, converting the visual cue signal into second actuator position values for the actuators for causing at least a tilt in the seat, combining the first position value and the second position values to obtain an activation control value for each of the actuators, and supplying the control value to the actuators in real time.
The invention will be better understood with the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a drawing which shows one embodiment of the invention; the apparatus is used with a sofa; four actuators are located under each leg of the sofa.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an overview of the system; an audio/video source provides signals to a processing unit which controls each actuators.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows one embodiment of the present invention; a audio/video player provides a sound track or a video track to a track analyzer, which provides a filtered sound track or video track signal to an effect generator, which provides reading channel signal to a movement generator.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, and which comprises a track analyzer, an effect loader, an effect database and a movement generator.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention which comprises a synchronization table, an EFF.1 file, an EFF.2 file and a .400 file.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the internal clock; which comprises a filtering unit, a serial stream converter, a serial to parallel converter, a processing unit and a time stamp generator.
FIG. 7 illustrates how entry points are located in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; during the portion of interest, the entry points are located every 1 second; the entry points are also located two seconds before each portion of interest spaced with 1 second.
FIG. 8 shows the fields which are comprised in one entry of an EFF.1 file; in one entry of an EFF.2 file and one entry of a .400 file.
FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the operation performed when reading an EFF.1 file.
FIG. 10 shows a symbolic screen shot of the software used by an operator which implements effects on a movie file.
FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a movement generator unit.
FIG. 12 shows a partially sectional view of the movement generator unit.
According to one object of the present invention, there is described a way to add a new dimension to an audio/video source by correlating to, either the sound track or the video track effects, which are transmitted to a group of actuators which create movement sensations to a user. The effects are either automatically generated according to one embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the effects are already pre-programmed by an operator and stored in a database.
FIG. 1 shows an overview of the invention. A sofa is used and actuators 18 are placed under each legs of the sofa. By performing height variation, the actuators provide movement sensations to the users seated on the sofa. It will be appreciated that a viewer may be also a player when using this invention while playing for instance a flight simulation game. In such a case, the invention will provide him realistic movement sensations. In a simulation, the invention may provide the viewer both small amplitude signals at a frequency of at least 50 Hz (vibrations) and motion cue signals.
Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown one embodiment of the present invention.
A main encoder module receives the sound signals from a video system such as a digital video disk (DVD or LD), a VCR system, a computer or a simple TV set and performs a digital sound signal analysis in order to output movement codes. Any source of video signal that also comprises a form of sound signals, such as analog or digital encoded sound signal may be employed as well, such as a satellite decoder (SAT) or a PC running a video game which creates a virtual environment. All these signals are received by the main encoder. The main encoder is preferably a digital signal processing unit that processes the incoming form of sound signal and outputs toward the motor controlling means a series of movement action codes designating the movement sensations the movement generator means are to produce. The movement action codes are preferably strings of digital data that the motor controller uses for outputting a power drive signal for powering the motors in order to produce the movements in accordance with the current sound signal read from the video presentation soundtrack.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises a remote controller that allows a movie viewer to turn ON and OFF the system or even to adjust the characteristics of the movements. For example, switching between movement modes, such as an automatic mode, a music mode or the movie mode would be possible. Choosing the type of movements to be generated for a given movie would be also possible, such as choosing science-fiction movements when watching a science-fiction movie. Each of these modes may have predetermined kinds of movements recorded in databases and when the movie viewer selects a mode, these characteristics of the movements are read and applied to the movement. In another variant of the invention, this feature involves the presence of an encoded mode for reading codes specific to a particular movie. For example, the main encoder may comprise encoded movements for particular movies and when these movies are played these codes representing encoded movements may provided even more accurate movements to be produced.
More precisely, the system comprises, in one embodiment of the present invention, a track analyzer 12, an effect generator 14, a movement generator 16 and a group of actuators 18. An audio/video player 10 provides a sound track or a video track signal to the track analyzer 12. In one embodiment, the audio/video source 10 is a DVD player. The track analyzer 12 performs filtering on the sound track or video track in order to be able to provide a filtered signal to an effect generator 14. According to this filtered signal, the effect generator 14 is able to generate effects. Theses effects are sent to the movement generator 16 which compiles the effects provided by the effect generator 14 and sends the results to a group of actuators 18.
Now referring to FIG. 4 of the present invention, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention wherein, the effects for a specific movie have already been created by an operator. The system comprises in this embodiment a track-analyzer 20, an effect loader 22, an effect database 24, a movement generator 16, and a group of actuators 18. An audio/video player 10, which is, in one embodiment of the present invention, a DVD player, provides a sound track or a video track to a track analyzer 20. The track analyzer 20 performs an analysis of the video track or sound track provided by the audio/video player 10. The analysis further explained in the following description comprises an extraction of the time for synchronization purposes. Time stamps are provided by the track analyzer 20 to the effect loader 22. The effect loader 22 retrieves effects from an effect database 24 according to the time stamps and provides the effects to the movement generator 16 which compiles the effects provided by the effect loader 22 and send the results to a group of actuators 18.
According to FIG. 5 of the present invention, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention wherein the effects related to a specific movie have already been created by an operator as in the embodiment described in FIG. 4. The audio/video player 10, which is in the embodiment a DVD player outputs an AC3 or DTS signal in S/PDIF format (IEC61937) using a RCA connector. In another embodiment of the present invention, the optical output of an audio/video source may be used. The signal then enters an internal clock 26. The purpose of the internal clock 26 is to provide an accurate time stamp. This accurate time stamp will refer to the elapsed time from the beginning of the audio/video sequence.
FIG. 6 shows the components of the internal clock 26 of one embodiment of the present invention.
The internal clock comprises a filtering unit 42, a serial stream converter 44, a serial to parallel converter 46, a processing unit 48 and a time stamp generator 50. In the preferred embodiment, the filtering unit 42 is a differential CMOS line driver and receiver pair such as DS89C21 from National. The filtering unit 42 can detect signal as low as 200 mV and it operates over 20 Mbps. The S/PDIF signal is therefore converted into a clean signal. A serial stream converter 44 decodes the filtered signal according to S/PDIF standard. It de-multiplexes the filtered signal to provide data in a serial way. In the preferred embodiment, the serial stream converter 44 is a CS8412 from Cirrus Logic. The serial signal is then received by a serial to parallel converter 46. The serial to parallel converter 46 allows a conversion of the signal into a 16 bit parallel signal.
In the preferred embodiment, the conversion of the serial signal into a parallel signal is performed using a shift register 74HC595 from Philips and a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) GAL16V8D. The programmable logic device receives the shifted signal provided by the shifted register and outputs a parallel signal. The 16 bit parallel signal is received by a processing unit 48. The processing unit 48 collects each 16 bit frames and rebuilds the frames splitted into an S/PDIF signal by the audio/video player 10. The boundaries of each frame are detected by the firmware of the processing unit 48. In the preferred embodiment, the processing unit 48 is a Texas Instruments TMS320C542 DSP. After detection of the boundaries of each frame, a group of bits is extracted in order to create a signature. One signature is therefore generated by each frame. In the case of an AC3 signal and in the preferred embodiment, the signature comprises the CRC1 field which is a 16 bit CRC located at the beginning of the frame, a byte located at ⅕ of the frame, one byte located at ⅖ of the frame, one byte located at ⅗ of the frame, one byte located at ⅘ of the frame and the CRC2 field which is a 16 bit CRC located at the end of the frame. The signature has therefore a fixed length of 64 bit. It is important to note that an object of the above signature creation is to obtain a good statistical distribution of the signature to avoid their repetition. It will be appreciated that the signature comprises two different CRC fields (CRC1 and CRC2). These two CRC are computed over two different parts of the digital audio frame. Therefore, 32 bits are highly statistically distributed information. They represent 232 different combinations possible. In the case of a AC3 signal, 31.25 frames are used per second. Each frame therefore lasts 32 ms. In a 3 hours movie, 337500 frames will be used (3360031.25), which is far smaller than 232 combinations. Experimentations confirm that very few signatures are identical. However, in the case of non-uniqueness of a frame, special operations are generated as explained below.
The processing unit 48 at this point does not perform a detection of the uniqueness of a signature and provides each signature to the time stamp generator 50. In the preferred embodiment, the processing unit is connected to an embedded PC module (OEMModule 486 from ZF Embedded Inc). In the preferred embodiment, the PC module has 16 Mb or Random Access Memory (RAM). The connection to this PC module is done via its ISA bus. The PC module runs Caldera DR-DOS V7.03. The time stamp generator is a program which runs on the PC module. The processing unit 48 provides therefore each signature to the time stamp generator 50 on the PC module via the ISA bus. The synchronization table 32 is located inside the RAM of the PC module for access speed purposes. The synchronization table 32 comprises two entries. The first entry is the signature which is, as previously explained, 64 bit long. The second entry of the synchronization table 32 is the frame number. The size of the frame number is 32 bits in the preferred embodiment. The frame number (Nframe) is directly related to the movie time and therefore allows a user to know the exact elapsed time (Tel) (Tel=Nframe×32.10−3). A combination of these two entries is called an entry point. It is important to note that the synchronization table 32 comprises entry points only during portions of interest. A portion of interest is defined as a portion of the movie played by the audio/video player where it is mandatory to know the exact time for synchronization purposes. Entry points are present two seconds before and during a portion of interested and they are spaced by a one-second interval as shown in FIG. 7. During each entry point, and when it is necessary, an interpolation is performed in order to determine the exact time. The interpolation is performed by the time stamp generator using the conventional PC tick (interrupt 0x08 and 0x1C) of the PC module as a time base. Its rate is reprogrammed to 2000 interrupts per second. It will be appreciated that this rate allows a period of 500 ns which is a perfect multiple of the sampling frequency of the actuators (400 Hz). It is also interesting to note that there are 64 ticks per AC3 frame. 64 ticks have the duration of 3 DTS frames. Therefore, an internal clock which provides the elapsed time of a video stream with increments of 500 ns is available. This internal clock 26 is using a Frequency Locked Loop (FLL). The FLL consists in readjusting the clock divider that sets the rate of 2000 interrupts per seconds using the incoming frames.
In the preferred embodiment, the synchronization table is created using two main principles. The first principle states that an entry point should be placed two seconds before and during a zone of interest. The second principles states that the synchronization table cannot comprise an entry with a signature that occurs more than once in the whole soundtrack.
Now referring back to FIG. 5, the time stamps generated using the internal clock 26 and the synchronization table 32 are used by the effect trigger 28 to provide the effects related to the present portion if any. In the preferred embodiment, the effects are stored using three different types of file. The EFF.1 file 34 is loaded in the random access memory of the PC-Module in order to guarantee a rapid access. The EFF.2 file 36 is loaded into a Random Access Memory disk, which is created into an hard drive connected to the PC-Module using the IDE interface. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hard drive has a size of 16 Mb. 15 Mb of the hard drive space are dedicated to the creation of the RAM disk. The .400 files 38 are stored either on a storage unit such as a CD-ROM unit connected to the PC-Module using the IDE interface or on the hard drive of the PC-Module.
Now referring to FIG. 8, the EFF.1 file 34 comprises, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two fields. The first field is the time start of an effect, while the second field is the length or duration of an effect. The origin for the start time of an effect is the beginning of the movie in one embodiment of the present invention; any time position may be, in another embodiment, the origin. The value for both field are in milliseconds. The EFF.2 file 36 comprises 9 different types of fields in the preferred embodiment. The field entitled "track" number is an 8 bit number which refers to a special combination of actuators. In the preferred embodiment, 4 different actuators are used. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the special combination of actuators is composed of 2 different actuators, such as the two actuators located on the left, or the two actuators located on the right or the 2 actuators located on the front or finally the 2 actuators located on the back of the system so as supporting surfaces are coplanar. The first track may refer, for instance, to a combination of 2 actuators. The field entitled "name" refers to the name of the corresponding .400 file to play for the effect corresponding to this entry. The field entitled "stream start" refers to the time for the beginning of the effect with an origin. The field entitled "stream length" refers to the duration of the effect corresponding to the entry using millisecond units. The field entitled "fade time in" specifies the duration of a "fade" or a gain ramp at the beginning of an effect. The field entitled "fade time out" specifies the duration of a "fade" or a gain ramp at the end of an effect. These two fields offer smoothness. The field entitled "gain" relates to the gain that has to be applied to the samples. The gain ranges between 0% and 100%. The field entitled "curve in" refers to the type of ramp that may be applied at the beginning of an effect. A ramp may be linear, parabolic, exponential etc. . . . The field entitled "curve out" refers to the type of ramp that may be applied at the end of an effect. As for the previous one, a ramp may be linear, parabolic or exponential. It will be appreciated that the size of the field allows a great amount of combination possible. For instance, 8 bits allows 256 different values. In the case of the gain, it allows gain values from 0 to 100% with increments of 0.39%.
The .400 file comprises only one type of field. This type of field is a data field with a length of 16 bits. This 16 bit signed field is sent to the movement compilation 30.
Now referring back to FIG. 5, the effect trigger 28 receives the time stamps from the internal clock 26. FIG. 9 shows more clearly the actions performed by the program located inside the effect trigger upon reception of a time stamp in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
According to step 60 of the present invention, the program performs access to the EFF.1 file located in the RAM of the PC-Module. A search in the EFF.1 file for an entry in the field "start time" is then performed according to step 62. In the preferred embodiment, a special technique is used in order to accelerate the search; this special technique consists in creating a buffer where links to entries in the EFF.1 that must be played in the following seconds are placed.
If an entry is located in the field "start time", at least one corresponding effect may be started. According to step 66, the EFF.2 file is accessed. As previously explained the EFF.2 file is located inside a RAM disk. A search is then performed in order to locate the first entry with a "stream start" that is equal to the last received time stamp. According to step 68, a reading channel is created. This reading channel comprises, in the preferred embodiment, the fields located in the EFF.2 for this first entry found. This reading channel is stored in RAM. This reading channel will remain in RAM during the whole duration of the effect. According to step 70 of the present invention, the EFF.2 file which comprises the core data corresponding to a particular effect is loaded in memory using the field "name" comprised in the program. One .400 file refers to one particular effect for an actuator. As previously explained, this file comprises 16 bit signed samples. The .400 file comprises information sampled at 400 samples per seconds. According to step 72 of the present invention, an access to the following entries in the EFF.1 file is performed in order to check if multiple effects may be started at the same time. If this the case, another reading channel will handle the effects found. Each reading channel provides a single signal to the movement compilation 30. Now referring back to FIG. 5, the reading channel signals are compiled by the movement compilation 30. The compilation consists in summing all the signals that must be provided to a certain actuator 18. Each reading channel created comprises a track field and as explained before, the track field refers to at least one combination of actuator. Therefore, it is possible, by reading the signal sent to the movement compilation by each reading channel and knowing the relation between a track number and a combination of actuator, to compute the global signal that must be provided to a single actuator 18. In the preferred embodiment, a limit value is imposed to the summation result in order to avoid damages to the actuators. Upon reception of each time stamp, all reading channel signals that handle effects and that should be over are killed, freeing up some memory.
FIG. 11 illustrates a further construction of a movement generator unit 110 which is adapted to be placed under a leg of a chair to generate reciprocate movements thereat. Typically, such a movement generator unit is placed under each leg of a chair or at each corner of a platform on which the chair is mounted. The movement generator units are typically operated in pairs to generate a variety of movements.
As shown in FIG. 12, the movement generator unit 110 generally comprises a base 112 defining a chamber 114 in which a first piston 116 is slidably mounted for raising and lowering a chair adaptor 118 having a leg supporting surface 120 defining an axially extending threaded bore 122 adapted to receive a fastener (not shown) for releasably securing one leg of a chair thereto. As will be seen hereinafter, a motor-driven piston 124 is also slidably mounted within the chamber 114 to displace the first piston 116 under fluid pressure.
The base 112 includes a main rectangular base member 112 a and a secondary circular base member 112 b connected to the main base member 112 a by an intermediate tube 126. The main base member 112 a includes a horizontal hollow cylinder 128 mounted between a pair of opposed end plates 130 and 132 attached to each other by means of axially extending threaded rods (not shown). A bearing 133 is mounted at one end of the cylinder 128 adjacent the end plate 130 for rotatably supporting a coupling 134 securely mounted on an output shaft 136 of a DSP-controlled brushless AC motor 138. The motor 138 could also be linear motor acting directly on the cylinder 190, and thus eliminating the need for the ball screw.
The cylinder assembly and the electric motor 138 are supported on a bottom plate 140 upon which a cover 142 can be releasably attached to form an enclosure. A bore 144 is defined in the end plate 132 for receiving the tube 126. The tube 126 is thereby connected in fluid flow communication with the interior of the hollow cylinder 128. The tube 126 is connected at its opposed end to a cylindrical body 146 forming part of the secondary base member 112 b. A recess is defined in the top surface of the cylindrical body 146 for receiving a cover 148. Circumferentially space-apart holes 150 (FIG. 11) are defined in the cover 148 for receiving corresponding fasteners (not shown) in order to secure the cover 148 to the cylindrical body 146. The cover 148 and the cylindrical body 146 cooperate to define a cavity 150 which is in fluid flow communication with the tube 126 and, thus, the hollow cylinder 128. An inlet 152 is defined in the cylindrical body 146 for allowing the chamber 114, which is formed by the internal space of the hollow cylinder 128 and the tube 126, and the cavity 150, to be filled up with a liquid, such as oil. A closure (not shown) is provided for closing the inlet 152 once the chamber 114 has been filled up.
The chair adaptor 118 has a bottom ball formation 154 freely received in an axially extending socket 156 defined in an axially extending stem portion 158 of the first piston 116. The stem portion 158 extends upwardly from a downwardly facing surface 160 of the first piston 116. A central opening 162 is defined in the cover 148 for allowing the stem portion 158 to project outwardly of the chamber 114. An annular peripheral wall 164 extends upwardly from the periphery of the downwardly facing surface 160 about the stem portion 158. The annular peripheral wall 164 is received in an annular recess 166 formed by a central cylindrical projection 168 depending downwardly from the inner surface of the cover 148. In operation, the first piston 116 moves vertically about the central cylindrical projection 168.
As seen in FIG. 12, a diaphragm or web member 170 has an integral peripheral ring 172 captively received in an annular seat 174 formed by an annular recess 176 defined in the inner surface of the cover 142 and an annular inner shoulder 178 defined in the cylindrical body 146. The web member 170 extends across a vertical section of the chamber 114 to act as a piston seal. The web member 170 has a central portion 180 which covers the downwardly facing surface 160 of the first piston 116 and which is secured thereto by means of a fastener extending through a disc 182 and into an axially extending threaded bore 184 defined in the downwardly facing surface 160 of the piston 116. The portion of the web member 170 extending between the peripheral ring 172 and the central portion 180 acts as a foldable skirt 186 which can telescope upon itself for allowing the first piston 116 to slide vertically within the chamber 114 while preserving the integrity of the piston seal. The downward movement of the first piston 116 will cause the skirt 186 to unfold, whereas the upward movement of the piston 116 will cause the skirt 186 to fold upon itself. The web member 170 is made of a flexible, pressure resistance, fluid impermeable material (i.e. rubberized nitrile).
A second web member 188 similar to the first web member 170 can be provided to act as a piston seal for the motor-driven piston 124. The duplicate description of the characteristics thereof will be omitted for brevity.
The motor-driven piston 124 generally comprises a cylindrical piston member 190 securely mounted on an internally threaded member 192, which is in turn threadably mounted on a motor-driven shaft 194 for longitudinal movements therealong in response to rotative movements of the motor-driven shaft 194. The member 194 is a ball screw spindle, and the member 192 is a ball screw nut. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical piston member 190 and the internally threaded member 192 are jointly displaced by a distance of ˝ inch for four complete turns of the motor-driven shaft 194. By reversing the direction of rotation of the motor-driven shaft 194, the direction of travel of the cylindrical piston member 192 and the internally threaded member 194 is reversed, thereby allowing the motor-driven piston 124 to be reciprocated within a horizontal section of the chamber 114.
A longitudinal slot 196 is defined in the horizontal cylinder 128 for receiving a pin 198 supporting a bearing extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical piston member 190. The pin 198 is constrained to move within the slot 196, thereby preventing the cylindrical piston member 190 and the internally threaded member 192 from rotating with the motor-driven shaft 194. The motor-driven shaft 194 is drivingly connected to the coupling 134 which is, in turn, drivingly connected to the output shaft 136 of the electric motor 138.
In operation, the electric motor 138 receives a power drive signal from a motor controller and rotates the motor-driven shaft 194 in accordance with the received signal. For instance, when it is desired to raise the chair adaptor 118, the motor 138 rotates the motor-driven shaft 194 in an appropriate direction so as to axially displace the cylindrical piston member 190 against the fluid contained in the chamber 114. This will cause the first piston 116 to rise under the fluid pressure by a distance corresponding to the displacement of the cylindrical piston member 190. As will be appreciated, the cross-section ratio of the horizontal and vertical cylinder sections defines the actuator's linear transmission ratio. Knowing the pitch of the motor-driven shaft 194 and of the associated internally threaded member 192, it is possible to precisely control the mechanical movement transmitted to the chair adaptor 118.
When it is desired to lower the first piston 116, the motor-drive shaft 194 is rotated in the opposite direction so as to cause the retraction of the cylindrical piston member 190 into the horizontal cylinder 128, thereby allowing the first piston 116 to move downwardly under the load supported thereby. The retraction of the cylindrical piston member 190 also creates a "suction effect" which contributes to lower the first piston 116.
The position limits are detected by sensing the current drawn by the motor as a function of rotational position. Rotational position is detected using the optical encoder 12. The upper limit is determined by forcing the actuator upwardly until the upper edge of 164 contacts the upper edge of 166. At the point of contact, the current drawn will be great and the rotation zero, as measured by the encoder 12. The lower position can be detected by counting the rotation of the motor, or by detecting an increase in current near the bottom of the travel as screw 184 contacts the bottom plate of housing 146. The DSP is programmed to set "soft" limits for the upper and lower limits which are safely within the actual physical limits (e.g. within 10 to 15 mils above and about 60 mils below of physical limits). This prevents any knocking and any damage to the web member.
The hydraulic actuator according to the preferred embodiment has the ability to lift up to 400 hundred pounds and to move such a heavy mass in an oscillatory motion with about a 0.25″ (6 mm) amplitude using a brushless DC motor (average power consumption of 100W) at up to 150 Hz and an acceleration of 2 g. The presently preferred nominal maximum operating frequency of the actuators is 100 Hz.
Creation of Effects
It will be also appreciated that this invention provides an efficient way to create effects. Now referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a symbolic screen shot of the software that the operator may use in order to create the effects. In the preferred embodiment, Vegas Video by Sonic Foundry is used. The screen shot comprises various menu such as a tools menu 80, an information menu 82, an editing menu 84, a file menu 86, a representation of the sound stream 90 and the video stream 88 as well as a certain amount of tracks 92. In the preferred embodiment, 14 different tracks are available. The audio video player 10 which is in the preferred embodiment a DVD player provides a bit stream that is converted into an .AVI format file in the preferred embodiment. The file menu 86 allows the operator to load the .AVI file. An information menu 82 provides an indication of the current elapsed time. A tools menu 80 provides to the operator an opportunity to create various effects.
At different places, the operator can select, from a catalog of available .WAV files available, one specific file to use. This file is an effect to send to at least one actuator. This file is represented, on the screen, with a certain shape and it can be inserted on any tracks such as track 92. A track is, as explained previously a group of at least one actuator. The operator can create new .WAV files using CoolEdit software. The .400 file is only a conversion of the .WAV file used during the creation of the effects and is, as previously explained, a succession of signed 16 bits without any headers. It will be appreciated that the creation of the .400 file can be done graphically by creating and modifying a shape of a .WAV file. Therefore any type of effect can be created and thus inserted within one track. In the preferred embodiment, a 3 hours film may require about 200 .400 files. It will be also appreciated that a .WAV file can be reused at different portion of the movie as shown on FIG. 10. Therefore, as the tracks 92 are linked with the video stream 88 and the sound stream 90, this interface gives to the operator of the system an interesting opportunity to visualize the result of his work and to edit it in an easy using drag and drop features for instance. When the editing process of the tracks is completed, a file is generated. This file comprises information such as: the track number, the beginning of an effect, the length of an effect etc. This file is used to generate the EFF.1 and the EFF.2 file. The generation of this file consists in selecting certain part of the generated file to create each file. In the preferred embodiment, the .WAV files used by the operator are 8 kHz sampled file, therefore they must be converted into 400 Hz .400 files order to be used by a user. As previously explained, the .400 file for the user is sampled at 0.4 kHz. In order to obtain a good synchronization between the effect and the movie track, practical experiments suggested that an 80 ms delay should be taken in order when inserting effects on each track during the creation process. During the playback mode, an average of 20 ms should be taken into consideration.
When no effects have been previously created, a computer may provide to the apparatus reading the channel signals each effect to play. For instance, a flight simulator may generate in accordance with the simulation events both vibrations and motion cues. The vibration and motion cue signals generated by the simulation software can then be converted to actuator position values and combined. The combined actuator position values can then be provided using, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port as the reading channel signals according to movement of the aircraft in real time. It will be appreciated by someone skilled in the art, that because of its nature, this invention may enable a user to feel simultaneously visual cue movements and vibrations. In the preferred embodiment the hydraulic actuator works with a frequency up to 150 Hz, and such a wide frequency range enables a flight or game simulator enthusiast to feel the vibrations of the engine(s) of planes ranging from propeller planes up to turbo jets, as well as a wide range of motor vehicles and other virtual environments.
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|Sq ft
|3 beds
|3.0 Ba
Lovely cottage close to Decatur, the Dekalb Farmers Market, Ga Perimeter College, Emory, CDC and I-285 east.
Great roommate layout.
This 3 bedroom, 3 full bath home has a large sunny kitchen and main living area with open floor plan. A vaulted ceiling, track lighting and corner fireplace are featured in the living room. Two bedrooms are downstairs and the third is upstairs with it's own bath and walk-in closet. This could easily be used as an office space. A library or bonus family room is off the living room and a garden room opens off the dining/kitchen area.
The house has a large fenced backyard and deck that opens off the garden room. The backyard is perfect for a firepit.
The house is on a a quiet cul-de-sac in a neighborhood where everyone walks their dogs and knows each other. The landlords live on the street.
One year or more lease with one month's rent as a deposit.
|District Type
|School District
|Unified School District
|Dekalb School District
|This listing is priced
|Zip Code
|29% more than
|30021 Homes for Rent
|39% more than
|Homes for Rent in Clarkston
|21% more than
|DeKalb County Homes for Rent
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|GA Homes for Rent
|Unified School District
|23% more than
|Homes for Rent near Dekalb School District

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Do you think that Cain's legacy will eventually surpass Cro Cop, Nog or *gasp* Fedor?
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Re: Do you think that Cain's legacy will eventually surpass Cro Cop, Nog or *gasp* Fe
There's no doubt in my mind that Nogueira was the best ''gatekeeper'' in MMA. This should be taken into consideration when glancing Fedor's record.
Add to the mix Cro Cop and Barnett too...
Similar situation is developing now, JDS has beaten better competition than Cain so far. Obvious difference being they are now 1-1, as opposed to 2-0-1
Cains next challenger isnt clear yet. If JDS beats Cormier/Reem, then loses again to Cain, who has the better resume? Is it a case of a bad style match up, or is it clear that Cain/JDS & Fedor/Nog is the superior fighter whilst, arguably, facing the weaker competition. It's quite conceivable Dan will decided to drop down if he gets past Mir and I think Reem v JDS is a no brainer comeback fight for the UFC to make
Long story short, Nog's resume is as deep as
in MMA and a good case for the strongest along with Hendo, GSP ect. Lets not lose sight of that. Maybe the argument is could Fedor have beaten the guys Nog did that he didnt face...
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Style #: 241096-105
Type: Multifilament Synthetic
Length : 40 feet / 12 meters
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Color : Black
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The Cage bridge.
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August 29 2013, 10:34 AM
Mario de Monti
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Re: The Cage bridge.
I´m really quite fond of the somewhat subdued color scheme of that bridge. IIRC the main reason for changing it was, that on b&w TVs (which were still widely in use in the 60s) the red "highlights" of the regular bridge provided a better contrast then the all-gray bridge in "The Cage". For the same reason they probably also changed the colors of the uniforms.
I also liked the "swan-neck" monitors attached to the chairs and consoles, although they might be a bit impractical in-universe.
"Do you give me attitude, Spock?" - "I´m expressing multiple attitudes simultaneously, Sir. To which are you referring?"
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I started out Toronto 2012 with my first Jason Reitman screenplay read-through--his first in Toronto--Alan Ball's Oscar-winning "American Beauty." I'd missed his series of live reads at LACMA, from "The Breakfast Club" to "The Apartment." In a way "American Beauty" was apt preparation for the festi...Read More »
TIFF Capsule Review: 'Road North'Read More »
When it was revealed earlier this year that divisive indie stalwart Joe Swanberg had cast Oscar-nominee Anna Kendrick as well as Olivia Wilde, Ron Livingston and Jake M. Johnson to star in his upcoming dramedy "Drinking Buddies," anyone familiar with his output probably did a double-take. "Something...Read More »
As soon as "Silver Linings Playbook" played in Toronto it became the front runner for the Oscar. This is something its Oscar handlers were seeking to avoid, but the film then went on to win the coveted TIFF audience award nabbed by such past crowd-pleasers as Oscar-winner "Slumdog Millionaire." Yes,...Read More »
As you may have seen this morning, we posted our usual end-of-festival films/performances poll for the Toronto International Film Festival. Aside from the year-in-review poll that we conduct every December, this is one of our biggest opportunities for lovers of movies and movie-related data to sift ...Read More »
The Toronto International Film Festival has been a launching pad for many of acclaimed director Mira Nair's films. Her debut feature "Salaam Bombay" debuted at the 1988 TIFF, and more recently, the festival screened her Jhumpa Lahiri adaptation "The Namesake."Read More »
She might be turning 66 next month, but Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon shows no signs of slowing down.Read More »
More than 40 Criticwire members submitted their top picks in five categories: best narrative film, best documentary, best lead performance, best supporting performance and most disappointing film. For TIFF observers, the results are both predictable and surprising.Read More »
In its fifth acquisition of the Toronto International Film Festival, a voracious Roadside Attractions has picked up U.S. distribution rights to the historical drama "Emperor." The film, directed by Peter Webber, had its world premiere Friday at Roy Thomson Hall and will receive a theatrical release ...Read More »
It's been four years since Xavier Dolan first came to the Cannes Film Festival. Only 19 at the time, he quickly gained international admiration after his film, "I Killed My Mother," swept the awards of the festival's Director's Fortnight section.Read More »


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Phoronix News Archives
The Grinch That Stole PTS Desktop Live 2009.4
While the plan was to release PTS Desktop Live 2009.4, the quarterly update to our Linux-based benchmarking operating system from a Live DVD/USB environment, shortly after the release of Phoronix Test Suite 2.2, this has not happened and it is not going to happen. I have decided not to make the release public of PTS Desktop Live 2009.4 (formerly codenamed "Loderhof"). I am just too bottlenecked at the moment and therefore cannot be certain that this OS update will far exceed my own personal goals and expectations for this release. Instead, these efforts will be diverted to ensuring a rock-solid release of PTS Desktop Live 2010.1, which is codenamed Anzhofen.
17 December 2009 - Loderhof
Lenvik Alpha 2 Gets Ready For Unigine Heaven
As of this morning the second alpha release for Phoronix Test Suite 2.4 "Lenvik" is available for PC benchmarking and testing. Phoronix Test Suite 2.4 Alpha 2 brings many changes, including but not limited to, GTK GUI improvements, test result merging improvements, new command options (analyze-image-delta and analyze-linear-tracker), support for soon-to-be-announced Phoromatic features, and many enhancements to bilde_renderer (our image rendering library that's used for generating the JPG/PNG/SVG/SWF graphs) and in particularly vastly improving the SVG renderer back-end.
15 December 2009 - Plus Many Other Changes - 2 Comments
A Few Reminders For This Holiday
When shopping online this holiday season, don't forget to use our shopping links (always available from the home-page) for NewEgg and Amazon. Additionally, if you want to get yourself something, consider a Phoronix Premium subscription for yourself that will let you view Phoronix and the Phoronix Forums without any advertisements, are able to view multi-page articles on a single page, and this is also a gift to us (or you can also make a tip/donation in being able to better support all of our Linux hardware efforts (we have some exciting announcements planned for this week!).
13 December 2009 - Phoronix - 3 Comments
Gosh, Our Test Farm Already Finds Big Regression
Back in October we made it possible to autonomously find performance regressions in a project's code-base by leveraging the Phoronix Test Suite atop Git's bisect command. A new Phoronix Test Suite module was created that would automatically run a binary search on a defined code-base and keep running the specified test(s) on each revision and then traverse to the next using Git bisect until the lone commit causing the defined regression was located. In that article we demonstrated this module by finding the commit that caused a serious performance drop for EXT4 by default in the Linux 2.6.32 kernel. While this feature is great for finding a regression that occurred at some point in the past, with the Phoronix Test Suite you can find regressions nearly in real-time now that Phoromatic is available to the public.
10 December 2009 - Phoronix Linux Kernel Test Farm - 12 Comments
A Call Out To Our Korean And Japanese Readers
To those of you reading Phoronix that are locating in Japan or Korea, we have a new survey we kindly ask that you take. IDG TechNetwork, which handles the graphics advertising responsibilities for Phoronix.com, is in the process of ramping up their efforts in Japan and Korea. This is a very short survey and can be found on this web-page. The survey is to just collect some statistics about the Phoronix reading population in Korea/Japan so that IDG will be able to better fit some advertising campaigns towards your interests. Thanks for participating.
4 December 2009 - Survey Request - 3 Comments
Help Us When Shopping This Holiday Season
With many Internet retailers starting their major holiday sales beginning today and tomorrow, if any of your online shopping adventures lead you to Amazon or NewEgg, don't forget to click our affiliate links. Clicking these links will lead you directly to the retailer, and will not take any other effort on your behalf, but will allow our Linux hardware and software efforts to benefit via the retailer paying us a commission. These links can always be found on the home page or they are also listed below.
26 November 2009 - ... Don't Forget To Click - 8 Comments
This Week: Benchmarks, Graphics, Enlightenment
This week at Phoronix we did our usual roundabout with X.Org / Linux graphics news coverage along with sharing new work on our benchmarking software, and we also broke the news that Samsung is sponsoring the development of Enlightenment. Another popular story was that Fedora 13 may support system rollbacks via Btrfs.
22 November 2009 - The Usual Roundabout
Phorogit Turns Two, Happy Birthday
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the creation of Phorogit.com. Phorogit is the Git repository that is sponsored by Phoronix Media to house the development of a few free software projects.
20 November 2009 - Phorogit Turns Two - 5 Comments
Benchmarking Mobile Phones & Devices
It was just a week ago that we confirmed the Phoronix Test Suite is being ported to Windows, then on Monday delivered Phoronix Test Suite 2.2, and a day after that announced a major advancement for Phoronix Test Suite 2.4 "Lenvik" and that was image quality comparison and analysis support to take our benchmarking software to the next level. Today we are continuing on this roll by announcing the Phoronix Test Suite is coming to mobile phones! To assist those in optimizing their software on mobile phones and devices for not only the pure performance but also matters like monitoring the battery power consumption, the Phoronix Test Suite has made the jump into the mobile space.
19 November 2009 - PTS 2.4 Lenvik Does It All - 11 Comments
This Week: Fedora 13, Gallium3D, Reiser4
Some of the notable news items we covered this week at Phoronix included a new GRUB 2.0 release, Mesa / Gallium3D coming to Android netbooks, exclusive word from a former Namesys employee that Reiser4 may go after mainline Linux inclusion in 2010, GNOME 3.0 being officially delayed to September, and a virtual Gallium3D driver coming for VMware.
15 November 2009 - Coverage This Week
Helping The X.Org Community By Taking A Survey
If you haven't already, head on over to this page to take the 2009 Linux Graphics Survey. This annual survey gives X.Org and driver developers -- along with distribution vendors and other interested users -- a better idea of the graphics hardware in use, leading interests by end-users, driver information, and other important data. This brief survey ends at the end of the month so be sure to complete it before there's no more time.
12 November 2009 - PGS 2009 - 2 Comments
Phoronix Test Suite 2.4 Is Coming To Windows
As was eluded to last week, the Phoronix Test Suite will be supported under Microsoft Windows operating systems in the very near future. Version 2.2 "Bardu" of the Phoronix Test Suite is arriving next week, but we will now confirm that version 2.4 will contain initial support for Windows 7 (Windows 7 will be our only focus, but earlier versions such as XP and Vista should work too). Phoronix Test Suite 2.4 is codenamed "Lenvik" (with regards to the Phoronix Test Suite "Rostock" screenshots showed off last week, that is another version of PTS being worked on) and will be released in the first quarter of 2010.
10 November 2009 - PTS 2.4 Lenvik - 10 Comments
Last Call For Bardu, It's Arriving Next Week
Last week we finally went into a public beta for Phoromatic, our server software that allows individuals and organizations to quickly and easily build their own benchmarking test farm(s), and also shared that Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 "Bardu" was on track for being released this month. Today it is now officially confirmed that Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 will be released next Tuesday, the 17th of November.
9 November 2009 - Phoronix Test Suite 2.2
2009 Linux Graphics Survey Reminder
Last week we launched the third annual Linux Graphics Survey to poll Linux users about the graphics hardware and drivers they use, their interests as it pertains to Linux graphics with Mesa / Gallium3D / X.Org, and other questions to help both developers and end-users. This survey is running through the end of the month so there is still time to submit your answers.
8 November 2009 - It's Still Going - 1 Comment
They Say A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
...but what about two pictures?
5 November 2009 - But What About Two Pictures? - 52 Comments
Supporting Phoronix When Shopping At NewEgg
Running Phoronix.com and developing the Phoronix Test Suite software consumes much time and is an enormous undertaking. You can support our Linux efforts already by joining Phoronix Premium, supporting our advertisers, making a donation, or using our Amazon.com affiliate link when shopping. For those that do not use Amazon for any online shopping (technology related or not), we have now partnered up with NewEgg and their affiliate program.
4 November 2009 - Linkage - 7 Comments
Bardu Picks Up Improvements, Phoromatic Is Ready
It was just last week that Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 entered beta, but now the second beta of "Bardu" is ready and with the changes continuing to roll in for our multi-platform benchmarking / testing software. The official change-log for Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 Beta 2 is listed below, but some of the highlights include support for logging the test's installation script within the results file, more updates to the PTS module architecture, new test suites, various bug fixes in pts-core and Phodevi, and official support for the Phoromatic module.
3 November 2009 - Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 - 1 Comment
This Week: Ubuntu 9.10, AMD Changes, DRI2 Sync
This week at Phoronix most of our articles and news postings were about... you guessed it! X.Org and Linux graphics, to no surprise. However, outside of this niche of ours, Ubuntu 9.10 was released so we did publish some comparative Ubuntu benchmarks from an old ThinkPad. We also launched the first Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 beta on Tuesday, which carries a horde of new features and improvements for all the Linux benchmarking junkies. We also reported on the possibility of Windows 7 benchmarking with our flagship open-source testing software along with the first details on PTS Desktop Live 2009.4, our Linux-based, performance-oriented, benchmarking OS.
1 November 2009 - Weekly Recap
A Few PTS Desktop Live 2009.4 Details
With Phoronix Test Suite 2.2 now in beta and this update offering a nice set of features with the official release landing in late November or December (chances are the third week of November), it's time to start talking about the PTS Desktop Live update. PTS Desktop Live, the Linux distribution that we designed to carry out automated Linux benchmarking from a LiveDVD environment that launched in conjunction with Phoronix Test Suite 2.0, will receive its first update shortly.
30 October 2009 - Loderhof Spotlight - 12 Comments
Windows 7 Benchmarking With The Phoronix Test Suite?
One of the most common questions that gets brought up with regard to the Phoronix Test Suite is whether support for Microsoft Windows will ultimately come to our open-source benchmarking platform. After all, even on Windows there really is no public software readily available (as far as we know) that is quite like what we have designed with an extensible test profile architecture/framework, support for uploading of any tests to a central repository (Phoronix Global), full automation of the testing process, remote test management (Phoromatic), etc. In future releases there will be several more unique capabilities that further distinguish the Phoronix Test Suite. The short answer is that Windows support for the Phoronix Test Suite could come.
28 October 2009 - It's Quite Possible - 22 Comments
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Mrs. Christine SimsPublished 10:42am Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The memorial service for Mrs. Christine Sims, 86, of Lanett, Alabama, will be Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Shiloh Baptist Church. Interment will be held at the church cemetery. Rev. Floyd Aikens will officiate.
The family will receive friends at Jones Funeral Home Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Mrs. Sims passed away on Sunday, Jan. 20 at her residence. She was born July 11, 1926.
Mrs. Sims was formerly of Shiloh. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist and was a homemaker.
She is survived by three children Barbara (Guy) Lankford of Lanett, Alabama; Geanette (David) Voss of New Site; Harold Simms of Lanett; special neice and nephew Kire and Barbara Pullum of Slocumb, Alabama; three grandchildren and three great grandchilren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Denson Sims.


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Forum Post: AFC Championship... Ravens vs Patriots Game Thread
Posted 01/20/2013 11:49:10 EST
The NFL game has passed by Bill Belichick. He has yesterday's defensive schemes for today's offenses. No pass rush to speak of. Cannot change on the fly or adjust. The young coaches are taking ove more »
Forum Post: NY Giants Defense is all Hype!
Posted 02/04/2012 07:46:53 EST
The NYG are a 9-7 team in a mediocre division. They GAVE UP more points than they scored!!! All this talk about the Jints being an unbeatable defense....HAAAA! Anything but. Did you any of you see more »
Forum Post: Belichick and Brady got it handed to them
Posted 01/16/2011 09:51:58 EST
The Patriots have not played a really good playoff game since they beat Phialdelphia in the Super Bowl. Since then, they have looked tight, out of sync, forcing plays, and trying to make up for it wi more »
Forum Post: Game Thread: Patriots vs. Broncos
Posted 10/11/2009 08:43:30 EDT
It's looking more and more like the game has passesd Belichick by - a la Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson. It was so obvious when those guys went past their prime. The play calling was mediocre, the t more »
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State of the City: In The Loop (past show)
August 5th – September 25th, 2011
Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)
State of the City 2011: In The Loop took Rochester's unmistakable, often maligned, and nearly 50-year-old ring highway 'The Inner Loop' as a departure point. The artists in the exhibition employed diverse methods to consider and discuss the history, present moment, and future of downtown Rochester. This vital series of exhibitions generated important discussions across the art community and fostered productive collaborations between artists, cultural institutions, urban planning/architecture professionals, and the general public in Upstate/Western NY.
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29 year old woman | Chandler, AZ, USA | Seeking men 25-36 within 50 miles
I am NOT high-maintenance...i love comfy clothes, I'm casual, love to relax and take it easy, even though I lead a busy life-style
I'm down to earth, adventurous yet realistic, a dreamer yet a planner, i make people laugh and love to laugh. I enjoy guys that have a sense of humor, are humble, love sports (because no guy should be deprived of that!), is family-oriented, down to earth and casual, not too philosophical yet not too airy, enjoys going out and staying in, can use their sarcasm in a nice way, not rude or inconsiderate. I am pretty understanding and flexible...are you? I am a HUGE family person...love spending time with my family, and hope you are too. I'm exciting and intriguing. I teach yoga. I play music (piano, cello, drums). I love to teach. I love helping people. I believe that children are our future, so teach them everything. I love to give back to the world. I'm compassionate and caring. I love dogs. I enjoy log cabins in the winter-time, playing with snow, being silly, exploring the world, eating tons of food, wearing whatever i feel like wearing, surprising you every minute, very attentive, adoring, funny...so message me if you'd like to learn more....there's so much to say and learn about me! CONS: I hate the sun...i know, living in AZ is a bad idea...I am very picky with guys, so if you hear back from me or hear from me at all...it means I found something in your profile worth checking out and/or I see some sort of potential and compatibility in getting to know you more....yeah, i know...but that's how i work. I'm serious yet playful! check me out :)
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— In 12 years as a professional athlete, Richey Reneberg earned $4.4 million in prize money with an investment strategy that maximized his skills and energy on a tennis court.
Now, from an eighth-floor office above Park Avenue, he talks to investors, accountants, financial advisers and business associates about the latest twists and turns of hedge funds.
Unlike most of his former adversaries, Reneberg, winner of three singles titles and 19 doubles crowns, has escaped the gravitational pull of the tennis world.
As he takes the court at Flushing Meadows this week for the U.S. Open's Masters Doubles Championship, Reneberg is a rare commodity: Someone who earns a living outside tennis.
Annual Return
The Masters competition is financed with $394,000 in prize money from the U.S. Tennis Association. Once a year, dozens of former top men and women players, now in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, step back onto the U.S. National Tennis Center courts for a week of camaraderie and competition.
Organized by Vic Kasser, a Philadelphia club player and former USTA director, the tournament is part reunion, part flashback.
"The invitations go to former Grand Slam champions [meaning those who won the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the French Open or the Australian Open], former top 10 players, and world-class former players who are still competing at a high level," Kasser says.
This year, he invited 68 male and female players. Their Masters' matches are played on outside courts as a sideshow to the U.S. Open championships, largely out of sight of the tens of thousands of fans who watch the younger stars in the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums and grandstand.
"It's a good way to see the guys," says Reneberg, who maintains friendships with a handful of fellow retired players, but sees many more of them during the U.S. Open Masters event.
As a businessman, husband, and father of two children, Reneberg limits his tennis workouts to once every week or two. As a player in the Masters' events, he says, the lack of practice means "there's a much higher risk of making an idiot of yourself."
In his sparsely furnished office recently, seven or eight tennis racquets were stacked against a wall. Nearby, two large tennis bags sat behind him under a window overlooking Park Avenue.
When a photographer placed one of the racquets on his desk to shoot a picture, Reneberg was focused elsewhere, explaining an investment option to a client over the telephone.
Tennis Temptation
The racquets were a reminder that Reneberg and his fellow former competitors face a wide range of temptations to stay within the tennis industry.
Many top players vanish from center court at the end of their playing careers only to reappear as tennis teachers, coaches, broadcasters, or corporate promoters.
John McEnroe, who won 77 titles and earned $12.5 million as a player, now dominates the U.S. airwaves during the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Gene Mayer, who ranked fourth in the world in 1980 and earned $1.3 million in his playing career, now stages promotional tennis events and coordinates paid appearances by celebrity players.
Gigi Fernandez earned $4.6 million in prize money, winning the U.S. Open women's doubles championship five times between 1988 and 1996. Today, she is a college coach in Florida.


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|Puff pastry
|1 Pound
|Beaten egg
|1 (for glazing)
Roll out pastry to 1/4 in. thickness.
Heat a 2 in. cutter in boiling water, cut four circles.
Re-heat cutter as it cools.
Using 1 in. cutter, also heated, cut a small round from centre of each alternate circle, thus making rings.
With back of small knife, mark centre of each whole circle with criss-cross pattern.
Brush pattern only, with beaten egg.
Brush outer rims with water.
Carefully place rings into position on top of circles with patterned base.
Do not stretch pastry.
Press edges firmly without squashing.
Again using back of small knife, mark the ring of pastry in pattern, brush with egg.
Place well apart on baking tin which has been sprinkled with cold water.
Bake in hot oven, Mark 7, 425°F., 5 minutes, cover with brown paper to prevent tops burning, reduce heat to moderately hot, Mark 5, 370°F., cook further 5 minutes.
The criss cross part of base will rise through centre ring.
When pastry cools, carefully cut out this part with a sharp knife, and use as a lid on filled bouchees.
Fill with desired filling just before serving, heat in a moderate oven until filling is piping hot.
Finely chopped chicken, drained flaked salmon, oysters, chopped prawns, lobster or crab, finely chopped mushrooms, or drained chopped asparagus, can all be folded into a well-seasoned white sauce, and used as a filling.


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Our .280 OBP shortstop who couldn't hit little league pitches, and our closer who can't get a freaking out. Guess he's too distracted by his undeserved $12 million salary and what real estate he's looking to buy with it to do his job.
Feel free to add your own updates to his Wiki page to let off a little steam.


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Results 1 to 13 of 38
Thread: kink back with candy colours
July 30th, 2004 #1
kink back with candy colours
I'm Denis from Germany. I like the athmosphere in this forum so I decided to show some stuff too.
Here are some of the sketches from the last week which I bring home for the weekend.
and I love Catgirls
- Similar Threads
- SketchBook: Kink Ironing
- i want candy
- some candy
- Art: Candy
- Art: candy
Last edited by kink; August 12th, 2005 at 11:22 AM.
August 1st, 2004 #2
August 2nd, 2004 #3
I did these today in free time between my appointments
August 2nd, 2004 #4
I like your style, keep up the goood work
this one rocks---> http://www.kinky-tattoo.de/pics/sketch07.jpg
August 2nd, 2004 #5
Welcome to CA and the DSB!
Detail is obviously no problem for you. The patterns on your medieval Maori warrior are great. If you get the chance, you might want to try doing some gesture drawings from a live model. They could help give a more naturalistic/fluid form to your invented figures.
Fun Stuff. Keep posting.
August 2nd, 2004 #6
I agree with johanson. Try some gesture stuff as you work has some 'stiffness' to it here and there. But, dude, I do really like your stuff. Keep posting.
August 31st, 2004 #7
and again
and again, this is the original size
zoom for better view, cause threw scanning always get a lot of details lost
Hello Adam
September 2nd, 2004 #8
September 2nd, 2004 #9
The barbarian fellow has a clean, sharp look to him. You ought to rough him up a little and let his wild side show through a little!
Jason Soares
Daily Sketchbook
September 22nd, 2004 #10
haven't had the time for doodling just for fun...too busy.
just a pic for showing: i'm still here
August 9th, 2005 #11
this morning my girl mentioned, she would like me to draw a girl with a kind of historian collar... the result is a baroque/geisha/fantasy-mix:
original size: 13,3x26cm
as usual no digital manipulations


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Vernon Davis believes he isn't the guy he used to be: "I think I was more concerned with the guys before me"
Everyone remember former coach Mike Singletary berating tight end Vernon Davis on the sidelines for being a selfish player? It was one of those moments where the modern football player met old school, and Singletary undressed him good, sending him to the locker room, only to call him back because he forgot his helmet. Davis can look back on the days with a smile as he's learned that being selfish gets you embarrassed, being selfless get you respect.
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The definitive list of the world's most beautiful women.
If you're not a French cineaste, chances are you didn't recognize this up-and-coming Parisian until she got your heart racing in Robin Hood. If you are a French cineaste, dig her sweet mise-en-scène.
A former Maxim Hometown Hotties finalist and current star of MTV's raunchy The Hard Times of RJ Berger, this seriously sexy Seattle native is about to become male America's newest crush.
See more Amber Lancaster, and see her Hometown Hotties video here.
Life can be hard even if you're rich and beautiful. That's why we supported Kristin's move to The Hills last year, and why we stand by her through every sexy catfight.
Check out more Kristin Cavallari.


text: Tiger Woods put himself in position to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the eighth time, making his third eagle of the tournament and shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead. Woods would move back to No. 1 in the world for the first time since Oct. 31, 2010, with a victory Sunday at the Bay Hill Club.


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30 year old man | Casselberry, FL, USA | Seeking women 21-31 within 30 miles
Let's explore the world together!
I'm looking for someone honest and trustworthy, to have a relationship with. Someone I could count on to travel with. I've been known to be funny and corny at times. A sense of humor is a must! lol I workout often and I'm looking for someone who does the same. If you're also into crossfit, that's a definite plus! I haven't had any luck meeting the right someone through conventional means, so I've decided to give this a try. Chemistry is important and you won't know if it exists unless you meet in person. I'm going to put effort in this and hopefully it'll pay off. Message/wink at me if for some reason I haven't found your profile. There are many to look through and maybe I have not found you yet ;)
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text:
Great gardeners sprout from great mentors
Memphis Horticultural Society: memphishorticulture.org
Memphis Botanic Garden: memphisbotanicgarden.com
Dixon Gallery and Gardens: dixon.org
"The Essential Earthman: Henry Mitchell on Gardening": Available at online booksellers and at bookstores
"The Mid-South Garden Guide": memphisgardenclub.org (click on publications)
Nature and nurture work together in great gardens and in great gardeners.While there are those who seem to be born with green thumbs, some of the best gardeners say they received theirs as gifts from other great gardeners, mentors who graciously shared their passion for plants, and in doing so, changed not only landscapes, but also lives.
Chris O'Bryan, arborist and horticulture assistant at Memphis Botanic Garden, traces the love of gardening that eventually blossomed into a career to his dad, Dennis.
"He kept a garden all my life since I was a young kid," said Chris O'Bryan, 24. "I spent many hours out in the garden helping him out. That's really where the interest came."
Now the two work at different gardens. Dennis O'Bryan is busy at Urban Farms in Binghamton, where he is farm manager, but the two find time to collaborate.
David Ellis, director of communications for the American Horticultural Society, said parents and family members are often credited as gardening mentors. "From our perspective, we have almost 20,000 members who are all over the country, and for many of them when we talk to them about why they got into gardening, they often talk about the person who taught them when they were a child."
That is certainly the case with nationally known horticulturist and garden writer Felder Rushing, who credits his great-grandmother, Pearl Boyer, with kindling the passion for plants that has been his life and livelihood.
"She would show me the difference between a wildflower and a weed, and sometimes it was the same plant depending on where it was growing," Rushing said.
"She would grow native plants in her garden because they were beautiful and good for butterflies when other garden club ladies were talking about her growing all those weeds in her garden," he said. "She was showing there was value in things that other people might turn their noses up at. She showed me just enjoy what you do. That influenced me for the rest of my gardening life."
Once the seed was planted, Rushing was open for other mentors. While working part time as a "grunt" at a garden center in his hometown of Indianola, Miss., he began learning from Elbert Taylor, an older man nicknamed "Chief."
"Chief taught me everything about plant propagation and a lot about life," he said. "When I went to college, I found out a lot of the stuff he was teaching me wasn't horticulturally correct, but it worked."
Paul Little, who along with his wife, Kay, owns Little Hill Nursery on Raleigh-LaGrange, says he came to the nursery business "kind of kicking and screaming" under the guidance of Stuart VanHoozer, a great gardener and contractor at the old Stringer Brothers Nursery at Poplar and Tillman.
"He encouraged me through the years as long as he lived to stay in the nursery business," Little said of his mentor. "He basically taught me everything that I knew, and I've learned a lot since then."
There are many ways to find a mentor to help nuture a love of gardening that nature has sown.
Little suggested joining the Memphis Horticultural Society or becoming a volunteer at Memphis Botanic Garden.
"There are so many good people that have just started out as volunteers at the garden that have become good gardeners just simply from what they have learned there," he said.
Or join a plant society, such as the Mid-South Hosta Society or the Memphis Herb Society. "Don't be afraid that you don't know anything, because we all started from there," Little said. "I went to meetings for a year before I ever talked to anybody much."
Ellis said local garden clubs are great resources for finding mentors.
Rushing advised seeking out a mentor at a locally owned garden center. "Get to know the person there who knows what they are talking about ... somebody who if you are a regular, they'll remember you and they'll start giving you advice instead of just selling you stuff."
He also recommended using a writer whose work you enjoy. He's partial to garden philosophy books instead of how-to books, and cites the late garden columnist Henry Mitchell's writing as having inspired him.
"There are a lot of teachers out there," Rushing said. "A mentor is someone that you naturally gravitate toward, and they change your philosophy, they change your outlook — instead of how to do it, why to do it."
Dale Skaggs, director of horticulture at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, was interested in plants at an early age, but credits many generous garden mentors for helping him grow that feeling.
"I knew at a very early age I wanted to work outdoors," he said, but he felt it was more of an ecological calling. That is, until the horticulture program at Bartlett High School and teacher Tommy Williams introduced him to the notion of having a vocation in horticulture and exposed him to people making a living at it.
At age 15, Skaggs got an after-school job with 80-year-old Karl Kaestle, owner of the old Four Fives Nursery at 5555 Summer, who became his mentor. "When I arrived there, I thought I was going to take this old nursery where he was growing plants that nobody knew anything about and I was going to make it more modern and better and have plants that were relevant and that people cared about," Skaggs said. "I didn't realize how forward-thinking Mr. Kaestle was and that he was having plants you wouldn't even see in the nursery trade until 20 years later."
Through Kaestle, he met others who shared the love of gardening and were only too happy to pass on their knowledge. He believes they mentored not only him, but also the local horticulture community.
"There was a whole group of people that really were responsible for horticulture in the Mid-South and shaping what it is," Skaggs said, mentioning the late nurseryman Plato Touliatos, iris hybridizer John Pierce, as well as garden designers Tom Pellett and Kitty Taylor, among others.
"I maintain that these people laid the groundwork for where we are now. And without their efforts, we wouldn't know what plants do so well in Memphis, because it's a very local knowledge."
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text:
Ban '1 year in office' congrats; 'Occupy Your Seat Protest'; 'Wanted: Opposition Policy Adverts'
Before the one year in office congratulations frenzy with billions spent on adverts in the electronic and print media, reflect on what has been achieved by governments at all levels. Exercise books, few textbooks, few potholes filled and a few street traders removed. Four years is not a long time in the political agenda but it is 365 days of suffering or benefit for the voters. Already a year will soon be over, 25% of this regime. What has happened in your city, village, community, street, road or your school to show that government is working near and for you? What has happened to your salary, pension, promotion, work prospects and, take-home pay to justify the employment of political office-holders in your country, your state and your LGA?
Do a government checklist and twitter or BB or e-mail it around to friend and foe. Governance is about you, personally and not just about government officials. As a post-strike renewed Nigerian, do not go quietly into the night while government officials have a celebratory lunch and set off multimillion naira worth of fireworks display burning more of your money as you suffer in silence. Is the main sign of government in your area an arrogant siren blaring convoy every Sunday morning when there is no traffic to chase away?
Are the people, the voting public, satisfied with the journey so far? Does that satisfaction, if any, justify a nationwide 'Political Congratulations' blitz of over 1000 pages in the newspapers of the media in April-May 2012? Each political advert in the newspapers will cost N3-500,000 totalling more than N3-500,000,000 of public money. On the electronic media, particular cable and TV stations a single advert can cost over N1 million on network TV and cable. Imagine just 100 such adverts costing N100m. What a waste. That money could better be spent 'celebrating' in a thousand better humanitarian ways to help the youth and empower the poor to also mark the one year in office with something positive.
Before this media delusional deluge in the name of 2012 democracy, can someone take out a nationwide court injunction against 'public money' being used for 'congratulatory' messages similar to how Prof Soyinka and others have been at the courts trying o declare the 1999 Constitution illegal? Can ICPC and EFCC please immediately, this week, inform governments and contractors that such congratulatory messages are an illegal, immoral and irresponsible use of public finances, a criminal offence and illegal budgetary expenditures for which a recovery of funds exercise will be undertaken? ICPC and EFCC should warn government beneficiary contractors using contract money for this purpose to also stop it.
Perhaps we need to adopt the American and British 'Political Policy Advert Strategy' and have Nigeria's opposition put out counter adverts telling the political story of the first one year from their side of the street. Imagine a number of counter adverts on the 'phantom fuel subsidy' on our roads and on our education system and its traumatic removal which as adversely affected the lives of every single Nigeria. Smart advert gurus should begin to develop this angle to the media agenda. Is it not strange that the fuel price hike is not even on the agenda at state governorship elections?
The people must protest the high salaries and allowances of political office holders until we get a marked revision downwards. Let us propose that Occupy Nigeria and all other NGOs and civil society and you and me decide never to stand up when a politician entered the room as a 'Protest Against High Allowances and Salaries of NASS and Other Political Office Holders'. The 'Occupy Your Seat Protest' could be very effective at public functions where public functionaries often come late and expect people to rise for them. Let us protest by staying stuck to our seats, except for maybe the President and Governor, if you like! We keep hearing it is no longer business as usual in politics. Well it should not be business as usual for the citizen. From now on the citizens should only stand up for politicians who are of proven worth and maybe not even for them. Nowadays people are standing up for chairmen of LGA councils. It is this sycophancy that allows politicians to grow wings and feel more important than they actually are and more important than their electorate.
Silence is not consent to 'phantom subsidy removal'. We must make the truth known so that repeated mistruths never become truth. Even a thief can make good 'big man' handouts or 'palliatives' with stolen money. That does not make the method of acquisition right. So even if government paves the streets with gold and constructs a second and third Niger Bridge, these do not make the 'phantom subsidy removal' right. The continuing revelations at the NASS NNPC and related matters probe confirm massive endemic fraud in oil. Take the discrepancies between measurement of fuel arrivals and landed loads of fuel. No one can guarantee functioning refineries which would eliminate corruption-prone imports. For years Nigerians have known that our outlets and loading bays have no or tampered-with meters to guarantee corruption. The GMD-NNPC spoke of vandalism. Do we not have an army? The billions mopped up contrast with the 70% poverty and still no text books and laboratory equipment in schools. Governments must increase the visible pace of work.
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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:
Sydney Morning Herald
CBD closures as protest shuts down George Street
Sydney Morning Herald
Rally disrupts Melbourne inner city. An estimated 600 people marched from Sydney Town Hall to The Block in Redfern on Sunday afternoon to protest the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. The group, Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal ...
and more [...]
Sun, Jun 28, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Darwin indigenous forum on development
The West Australian
Aboriginal protest blocks traffic. Compare & Save. Home Loans. Dream Home Loan Essentials comp. rate p.a. 4.05%; Breathe Easy Limited Time Offer comp. rate p.a. 4.13%; Fresh Start Variable comp. rate p.a. 4.20%; Great Rate Variable 150k+ comp. rate ...
ABC Online
Melbourne traffic in chaos as protest against closure of remote communities ...
ABC Online
A protest in Melbourne against the forced closure of remote Aboriginal communities is causing chaos during peak hour traffic. The Swan Street bridge over the Yarra River, in the busy sports precinct which includes the MCG, was closed to traffic after ...
and more [...]
Eureka Street (satire) (registration)
Speaking for others in the public square
Eureka Street (satire) (registration)
On arrival, we encountered an Aboriginal protest outside the courthouse. There was a bevy of media on hand including the ABC 4 Corners crew. Walking towards the courthouse, I heard a cry, 'Hey, Father Frank, over here! You've got to support us mob.
and more [...]
Mon, Jun 22, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Britain Planned To Resettle Hong Kong Population To Northern Ireland, Britain ... - International Business Times
International Business Times
Britain Planned To Resettle Hong Kong Population To Northern Ireland, Britain ...
International Business Times
In this photo, demonstrators show a Union Jack flag to passing by protesters during a march in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2015, the day marking the 18th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to Chinese sovereignty. Reuters/Bobby Yip ... to ...
Bizarre proposal reveals 1983 suggestion to move Hong Kong to Northern IrelandIrish Independent
all 164 news articles [...]
Fri, Jul 03, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Tucson Weekly
Repeal the Deal
Tucson Weekly
"We're fighting a multi-billion dollar company as well as our own Congress, so we're facing power and money and influence," says Wendsler Nosie, Sr., former tribal chairman and coordinator of the Apache Stronghold protest. ... body 7,000 feet below ...
and more [...]
Thu, Jul 02, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Damming Dissent: Community leaders behind bars in Guatemala after opposing ...
Mayan women protest hydroelectric dam projects in Santa Cruz Barillas in western Guatemala on March 16, 2014. Local opposition to the construction of dams and other natural resource projects in the area has resulted in a government crackdown on ...
Thu, Jul 02, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Banners of protest
Le Monde Diplomatique
Islamic fundamentalism, though, developed in most Muslim-majority countries as the left's competitor, and has replaced the leftin trying to channel protest against what Karl Marx called "real misery", and the state and society held responsible for it ...
'Criminalization' of local people in Indonesian province rife amid oil palm ...
Residents of Paser, a district in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, protest against a coal mining company in February. Photo courtesy of the Indigenous People's Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) ...
Minorities, Refugees and the Enduring Struggle for Survival in Thailand
The year 2014 marked the ten-year anniversary of both the Tak Bai massacre, where at least 78 Muslim protesters were killed after being pushed into overcrowded police trucks, and the disappearance of Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit.
teleSUR English
6 Years after Honduras Coup
teleSUR English
The current government has ignored the ongoing protests by social organizations and movements. Only a few months after the Zelaya was ousted, the World Bank awarded a US$15 million loan to the ... teleSUR Investigation: Garifuna at the Forefront of the ...
and more [...]
Sun, Jun 28, 2015, Continue reading at the source
Montreal Gazette
Joe Norton makes comeback as Kahnawake Grand Chief
Montreal Gazette
Most recently, the political pressure culminated in protests and vandalism outside people's homes, contributing to a fearful existence for dozens of families in town. It was, in fact, not Delisle but rather Norton whose council drafted the ...
and more [...]
Canadian Jewish News (blog)
ESSAY: The way forward on Jewish-Aboriginal relations
Canadian Jewish News (blog)
Reflecting on that experience, Heschel said, "the march was about protest and prayer. Legs are not lips and walking is not kneeling. And yet ... In calling for Canada to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous ...
and more [...]
Wed, Jun 24, 2015, Continue reading at the source
The Guardian
Brazilian indigenous leader to address UN council in effort to stop dam
The Guardian
Members of the Munduruku indigenous tribe dance during a "Caravan of Resistance'" protest in São Luiz do Tapajós against plans to build a hydroelectric dam on 27 November 2014. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images. Bruce Douglas in Rio de Janeiro.
Wed, Jun 24, 2015, Continue reading at the source


text:
A group of Brigham Young University graduates claim the university is discriminating against students who leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Utah) The balance between LGBT nondiscrimination and religious liberty has been a divisive issue in Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Utah) Religious leaders from various churches teamed up at the Capitol to support nondiscrimination legislation for the LGBT community.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss 'religious freedom and nondiscrimination.'
"Today's decision is a landmark decision for religious freedom," said Lori Windham, Hobby Lobby's lawyer, on Monday.