text:
Deactivating a data tag attached to packaging for user privacy or tamper-evident reasons. Each of a plurality of data tags stores identification information. At least one of the data tags is removable and capable of wireless signal transmission at a first range such that removal of the data tag substantially prevents communication of the identification information via the removed data tag and permits communication of the identification information via another data tag at a second range relatively smaller than the first range.
1. A method, comprising:
wirelessly transmitting a signal at a first range to a data tag set corresponding to an item, wherein the data tag set comprises a first data tag configured for wireless transmission at the first range, and a second data tag configured for wireless transmission at a second range different from the first range; and
automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags in response to a predetermined environmental condition, wherein the predetermined environmental condition comprises a threat to the item such that the first data tag is rendered substantially inoperable and the second data tag is rendered operable if the predetermined environmental condition is satisfied.
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13. A method, comprising:
wirelessly communicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag set associated with an individual object, and wherein the tag set comprises a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag, the second RFID tag having a switch that is configured to be activated by a predetermined environmental condition comprising a threat to the object;
detecting a signal from the first RFID tag at a first range; and
in response to the switch being activated by the predetermined environmental condition, detecting a signal from the second RFID tag at a second range different from the first range.
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24. A method of manufacturing an RFID tag set for use with an item, the method comprising:
forming a first RFID tag with an antenna configured to communicate a wireless signal at a first range;
forming a second RFID tag with a switch and an antenna configured to communicate a wireless signal at a second range different from the first range in response to the switch being activated automatically by a predetermined environmental condition that comprises a threat to the item; and
forming the RFID tag set by combining the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag into a single package.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/468,052, filed Aug. 29, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,701,346, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/835,862, filed Apr. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,098,794, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the field of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for using one or more RFID tags for orientation, tamper-evidence, and user privacy.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology refers to passive smart tags (miniature antenna-containing tags requiring no internal power supply) that may be embedded in or attached to a product or material to convey information that may be read by a scanner. Generally, conductive or passive smart tags include a data circuit and an antenna. In particular, smart tags include a semiconductor, a coiled, etched, or stamped antenna, a capacitor, and a substrate on which the components are mounted or embedded. A protective covering is typically used to encapsulate and seal the substrate.
In general, RFID systems include readers and tags in which the tags generate an electromagnetic response to an electronic signal from a reader. The response signal is read by the reader, typically with a readable range on the order of a few feet, though broader or narrower ranges are possible. The signal generated by the tag includes information (e.g., an electronic product code) that identifies the tag or the article comprising the tag.
RFID tags are expected to become ubiquitous in future products, and are already being implemented in some supply chains for tracking products. However, existing systems do not use RFID tags to ensure the proper loading or orientation of products and packaging. There is a need for a system using RFID tags to detect the loading and orientation of products.
Further, a major roadblock to the commercial implementation of RFID technology has been consumer privacy. Public fears about the potential misuse of the information that could be obtained by tracking purchases with RFID have resulted in delays in several efforts to implement RFID. Standards for product tagging from the Auto-ID Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology call for chips to have a switch that can be activated by a code to kill the tag. Killing the tag generally refers to deactivating the microchip itself or at least removing or erasing a portion of the data stored in the tag (e.g., an electronic product code). However, killing the tag may eliminate all or some of the functionality and the benefits that can be obtained through RFID technology (e.g., consumer benefits such as automated registration of products, automated interactions of other articles with the purchased items, consumer tracking and cataloging of purchased articles using RFID systems, and automated safety systems). There is a need for systems and methods that deactivate an RFID tag mechanically and reversibly while retaining the consumer benefits associated with RFID technology.
Further, there have been many efforts to protect consumers from product tampering. To date, however, the onus for detecting tampering has generally been on the consumer who bears the responsibility for checking the integrity of containers or the presence of indications of tampering such as whether a pop-up section of a bottle lid has popped-up or not. Many consumers are not trained in detecting tampering or fail to recognize that an indicator for tampering has been activated. In some cases, a tamperer can simply remove the indicating device or indicia. In general, for most products, there have not been successful methods brought to the marketplace for automatically detecting tampering and eliminating tampered products before the product is sold to the consumer. Thus, there is a need for improved systems providing tamper-evident packaging with automated detection of tampering.
Some existing systems include RFID-enabled labels that can detect damage or removal of the label, as disclosed in U.S. patent application serial number 2004/0066296 entitled "A Tamper Indicating Radio Frequency Identification Label with Tracking Capability" by Peter Atherton and assigned to Mikoh Corporation. This technology includes "COUNTERFOIL" smart labels that emit a signal when the labels are removed or broken. The labels have breakable conductive leads to RFID circuits. Tampering with the labels disables the RFID circuit or can be detected by circuitry that causes a particular code to be written to the RFID chip. For example, the use of RFID technology in this manner detects tampering with electricity meter boxes associated with electricity theft. The existing technology, however, is based on single RFID tag systems in labels in which the tag is permanently disabled by tampering or in which tampering causes a new code to be written to an expensive writable RFID tag. Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods that use two or more RFID chips or two or more antennae to allow deactivation of one RFID signal and activation of another RFID signal to retain the consumer benefits of RFID technology.
To solve these and other needs in the art, the inventors hereof have succeeded at designing systems and methods for load sensing, orientation sensing, detection of product and package tampering, and user privacy with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Embodiments of the present invention include RFID tags that include a load-sensitive mechanical switch capable of enabling communication of a signal when a package is not properly oriented or when the package is not loaded with product. Thus, multifunctional RFID chips assist not only in tracking goods, but also in ensuring proper loading or orientation of products and packaging.
Other embodiments of the invention include RFID systems that detect product tampering and may be implemented directly in products or product packaging, as opposed to attachable labels, or in which a low cost passive read-only RFID tag is inactive until tampering occurs. Such systems allow automated detection of tampering and overcome some of the limitations of the prior art.
Still other embodiments of the invention include products and product packaging comprising removable RFID tags to protect user privacy.
Alternatively, the invention may comprise various other methods and apparatuses.
Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In one embodiment, the invention includes mechanically activating or deactivating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag by load or orientation or user control. In particular, the invention includes a load-sensitive RFID circuit such as illustrated in
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
RFID smart tag technology is known and understood by those skilled in the art, and a detailed explanation thereof is not necessary for purposes of describing the method and system according to the present invention. With RFID or other smart tag technology, a vendor may associate a unique identification code with a batch of raw materials, and enter physical property data into a database in which the data is associated with the identification code. When the raw material shipment is received at a manufacturing facility, an RFID scanner may automatically scan the RFID chip and retrieve the associated information from the database, verify that usable raw material has been received at the correct facility, provide quality information, and so forth.
RFID chips may be used to track products grouped in various hierarchies: (1) individual items or single packages containing multiple items for consumer purchase; (2) cartons or cases of multiple items; (3) pallets of multiple cartons or cases; and (4) loads (e.g., truckloads, shiploads, or railcar loads) of multiple pallets. The products at each of these levels may be assigned an RFID label that is associated with information pertaining to at least one adjacent hierarchical level. For example, an RFID label on a pallet may be associated in a database with the RFID labels for each carton on the pallet, or may be associated with data pertaining to the RFID label from the truckload.
RFID tags responsive to environmental conditions may be helpful in preventing improper storage and transport conditions, particularly for paper-based packaging materials such as corrugated board or paperboard which may be sensitive to moisture or may fail when improperly loaded or oriented. Proper condition monitoring of conditions experienced by packaging or by the contents of the packaging may be important, for example, for perishable items such as food, beverages, agricultural materials, dairy products, and biological materials such as bacteria, enzymes, microbes, live plants and plant samples, live animals or insects, etc. Hazardous and toxic materials may also benefit from improved monitoring of environmental conditions during storage and transport.
RFID tags of any known type may be used, including active RFID tags, passive RFID tags, and semi-passive RFID tags. Active RFID tags are battery-powered devices that transmit a signal to a reader and typically have long ranges such as 100 feet or more. Passive RFID tags are not battery powered but draw energy from electromagnetic waves from an RFID reader. Passive RFID tags often have a range of about 10 feet or less. Semi-passive RFID tags employ a battery to run the circuitry of a chip but rely on electromagnetic waves from a reader to power the transmitted signal.
Any of these chips may be read-only chips, which comprise a fixed electronic code, or they may be read-write chips, which allow new information to be added. The chips may also be associated with sensors to read sensor information and transmit a signal responsive to the information, such as a value from a biosensor. By way of example, principles for associated RFID or related wireless identification technology with sensors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,642, "Vehicle Wireless Sensing and Communication System," issued Dec. 16, 2003 to Breed et al., herein incorporated by reference, which also discusses methods for identifying the location of RFID chips.
Exemplary RFID tag manufacturers include Matrics, Alien Technology, Philips Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments. Manufacturing may be done by robotic techniques (e.g., "flip-chip"/"pick and place" techniques), fluidic self-assembly (FSA), the Philips "I-connect" method or the Philips "vibratory assembly" method, or other known processes. Exemplary RFID reader manufacturers include Intemec Technologies, Symbol Technologies, Matrics, AWID (e.g., their multi-protocol reader operate at various frequencies), and others. Software systems to support RFID systems are provided by IBM Global Services (which has acquired PriceWaterhouseCoopers), Texas Instruments, Manhattan Associates (particularly for integrated supply chain executions), SAP, and others. Printed RFID labels may be made using equipment from Zebra Technologies and other vendors.
An antenna may be made by any known method, including metal deposition, printing of conductive inks, etc. By way of example, the RFID tags may employ conductive ink technology of RCD Technologies (Bethlehem, Pa.). Antennae may be printed using any known format, and may, for example, comprise double-sided, interconnected coils. Any known frequency may be used, such as 100 kHz or 125 kHz ("low frequency"), 13.56 MHz ("high frequency"), 860-930 MHz such as 900 MHz or 915 MHz ("ultra high frequency" or UHF), and 2.45 GHz or 5.8 GHz (microwave frequency), or other known frequencies.
The RFID system may follow the systems disclosed by the MIT Auto-ID Center, including the use of an electronic product code (EPC); a Savant system to manage the codes being read with a distributed architecture and processes such as data smoothing, reader coordination, data forwarding, data storage, and task management; and Object Name Service (ONS) for matching EPC information to item information, typically using a domain name service (DNS) to route computers to Internet sites; and Physical Markup Language (PML) to describe information about a product.
Other vendors of integrated RFID systems or other tools for RFID include CheckPoint Systems, Tyco Sensormatic, Escort Memory Systems, Psion Teklogix (particularly for software systems to assist in logistics), SAMSys Technologies, Savi Technology, SCS Corporation, TAGSYS, ThingMagic LLC, and others. Supply-chain software may be provided by Crimson Software, Descartes Systems, EXE Technologies, Globe Ranger, Manhattan Associates, IBM Global Services, SAP, etc. These commercial systems are adaptable to track additional information provided by the sensors of the present invention, and to initiate corrective action in response to detected problems (e.g., missing load).
It is to be understood that many other technologies are equivalents for and/or have equivalence to the RFID embodiments disclosed herein. For example, RFID readers could be replaced with optical scanners, image analysis devices, arrays of chemical detection devices, and the like.
A related technology within the scope of the present invention is Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology. For example, InfoRay (Cambridge, Mass.) markets a passive smart tag that is said to achieve long ranges (up to 30 meters) using a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device on a chip coupled with an antenna. The SAW device converts a radio signal to an acoustic wave, modulates it with an identification code, then transforms it to another radio signal that is emitted by the smart tag and read by a scanner. The identification code of the smart tag is extracted from the radio signal. RFSAW, Inc. (Dallas, Tex.) also provides minute Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) RFID devices that may be used within the scope of the present invention. Exemplary SAW devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Publication No. US20030111540A1, "Surface Acoustic Wave Identification Tag Having Enhanced Data Content and Methods of Operation and Manufacture Thereof," published Jun. 16, 2003, by Hartmann.
Another related technology is ultra-wide band (UWB) technology. UWB technology permits wireless communication between objects using low-power electromagnetic transmissions. However, receivers and transmitters generally are both active but use very low power, typically less than that of radio frequency noise, relying on intermittent pulses which cover a broad band of frequencies rather than transmissions of a particular frequency. UWB technology may provide much higher spatial capacity (information transmission per unit area) than other wireless standards such as BLUETOOTH brand computer communication services or Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (IEEE) 802.11a or 802.11b.
RFID Tags as Load Sensors or Orientation Sensors
Referring first to
Alternatively, in one embodiment, the switches of the present invention exclude those that can readily be operated by a human finger, but instead may be positioned such that finger contact cannot readily operate the switches, or may require loads greater than can be easily applied by a finger (e.g., greater than about 10 pounds or greater than about 30 pounds). In one alternative embodiment, the system does not rely on a pressure-sensitive mechanical switch, but employs other mechanisms disclosed herein.
Referring next to
Alternatively, the second RFID tag 204 may be mounted on the top of a box (not shown) and further may be load sensitive, such that the second RFID tag 204 operates to indicate crushing or excessive loading of a box by other items placed on top of it. The presence of a load above a predetermined threshold activates or inactivates the second RFID tag 204, as desired, by properly configuring the switch and the associated circuitry.
In other embodiments, a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device or the like serving as an orientation detector could be associated with an RFID circuit or label. A MEMS device, for example, could include a miniature gravity-sensitive circuit, such as a box with a small, unattached conductive plate or ball in it that allows gravity to pull the plate or ball into contact with conductive leads when the box is in a predetermined orientation; otherwise, the circuit remains open. Thus, a miniature orientation sensor allows an RFID tag to generate a signal only when the label is in a predetermined orientation. Such an orientation sensor could be operated in addition to or in series with a load sensor. When the orientation sensor is in series with a load-sensitive switch, the RFID signal is blocked (or greatly diminished) when either the load is absent or the orientation is wrong. Alternatively or in addition, when the orientation sensor and the load sensor are in the same circuit, a first RF signal is generated with a first RFID code from the load-sensitive circuit, and a second RF signal is generated with a second RFID code from the orientation-sensitive circuit.
In another embodiment, a MEMS gravity-sensitive switch or a load-sensitive switch toggles between two circuits with two different REID tags, such that when there is a load present or when the proper orientation exists, respectively, an RFID scanner will read a signal from a first RFID tag, which indicates that the container is in a state having a load or the proper orientation, respectively. When the load is not present or the orientation is improper, a second RFID tag is active and the first tag is inactive. In this matter, scanning a package would read a signal from one of two RFID tags that provides information about which of two states the package is in. Multiple sets of these toggling pairs of REID tags could be used to assess both the load state and orientation state, as well as other states. For example, MEMS accelerometers may also be used to trigger theft detection. Alternatively, both tags may be active or inactive as a function of conditions experienced by the container.
The RFID tags 204, 206 may independently be integral with the container or with packaging material for individual products. The RFID tags 204, 206 may be fixedly attached to the container or packaging in a substantially permanent manner (e.g., by adhesive means, sandwiching between adhesively joined layers, or embedding), or may be removably attached.
In one embodiment, the user-activated switch is a gravity-activated device in which the RFID chip is only scannable when the object is held in a predetermined orientation. One embodiment is shown in
Alternatively or in addition, the RF shielding 308 is capable of movement relative to the cylinder 302 and to the RFID chip 304. The movement of the RF shielding 308 may be related to or independent of the movement of the RFID chip 304. In another embodiment, the location of the RFID chip 304 relative to the cylinder 302 is fixed while the RF shielding 308 is capable of movement relative to the fixed RFID chip 304 to enable and disable communication by the RFID chip 304.
In another embodiment, two or more conventional RFID tags with distinct RFID codes are mounted on two or more opposing surfaces of a package or box to enable triangulation or proximity detection methods to be applied to determine the orientation of the box. Triangulation with RFID and related principles are disclosed in US Pat. Publication No. 20040036595, "Object Tracking," published Feb. 26, 2004, by Kenny et al., herein incorporated by reference. Two or more scanners are operatively associated to perform RFID triangulation, allowing the system to determine which of the RFID tags on the box is most elevated. Alternatively, a single RFID scanner (including a "smart shelf") is used to determine which RFID tag is closest to it based either on the delay time for a signal or by varying the strength of the emitted signal and determining which of two or more RFID tags on a package is the first to be read as the scanning signal power ramps from low to high levels. The first RFID tag to emit a readable signal in response typically may be presumed to be the most proximate. This knowledge may then be used to determine the orientation of the package.
Other states that could be probed with RFID technology using the architecture of
Further, the switch illustrated in
RFID For Tamper-Evident Packaging
The invention also includes RFID systems to detect product tampering. These RFID systems include a low cost passive read-only RFID tag that is inactive until tampering occurs. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented directly in products, product packaging, or attachable labels.
In one example (not shown), a tamper-evident bottle or other container is shown in which a single RFID chip is attached to the bottle (e.g., embedded in the plastic of the bottle itself or adhesively attached to a surface, such as an interior surface where removal would be difficult), and an antenna is attached to the cap or other closure of the bottle. The RFID chip is connected to the antenna with delicate conductive leads (e.g., micro printed conductive lines) to form a tamper evident seal that is broken when the bottle is opened. The leads may run to the inner surface of the cap, or may join to an exterior portion of the cap. The leads are printed conductive inks or other materials. Tampering with a package (e.g., removing the cap) breaks the continuity of the conductive pathway between an RFID chip and an antenna, such that the chip is deactivated and no longer scannable. That is, when the cap is removed, the leads are broken and the RFID chip is deactivated. Bottles that fail to return an RFID signal are rejected. For example, during checkout or during inventory inspection, bottles are scanned to ensure that the RFID system is intact.
Conductive leads as well as the conductive materials in an antenna may be manufactured by any known technique, including the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Publication US20020152605A1, "Method and System for Forming RF Reflective Pathways," published Oct. 24, 2002 by Debraal, and WO 2002/086910A2, "A Method and System for Forming Electrically Conductive Pathways," published Oct. 31, 2002 by Debraal, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The alert circuit may include a plurality of transistors and other components, and may comprise any known flip flop circuit, relays, or other systems that can switch the active pathways of the RFID circuits such that only one of the two RFID chips is active, depending on the state of the system.
In another embodiment, two or more chips and two or more antennae are combined in a circuit comprising a transistor. A first chip is active when the leads to the antenna in the cap are in place. Voltage from the antenna in the cap is applied to a circuit comprising at least one transistor to open or close a switch, such that when the first chip is active, the circuit for a second chip is inactive, but when the connection to the antenna in the cap is broken (e.g., due to tampering) and no voltage from RF energy is applied to the switching circuit during an RFID scan, then a second circuit is active in which a second RFID chip is connected to a second antenna. Thus depending on whether RF power from the first antenna in the lid is available or not, a switching circuit determines whether a first or second RFID chip is read during an RFID scan. The second chip may have a code that is recognized as an alarm indication. In this manner, an alarm signal is issued by a second RFID chip to facilitate detection of tampered product alternatively or in addition to detecting the absence of an RFID signal as an indication of tampering. Using two chips in this redundant manner improves the reliability of the tamper detection. Further, using two RFID chips instead of one RFID chip simplifies the circuitry in some implementations.
In other embodiments, the first RFID chip is removable such that no RFID signal is generated unless the power from the first antenna in the lid is not present during a scan, thereby enabling activation of the circuit for an RFID alarm chip (the second chip in
In other embodiments, active RFID chips with microbatteries (e.g., the flexible batteries of PowerPaper Ltd. of Einat, Israel) are used, such that when there is tampering, a switch is activated that connects the battery to the chip and issues an alarm signal that is immediately detected.
In related embodiments, a circuit may be disrupted by opening a box, removing a label, penetrating the wall of a container, slicing a film, etc. In some cases the packaging may be designed such that opening or cutting a package brings two conductive materials into contact to close a circuit and enable an RFID scanner to read an alert signal.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising a container and a closure and at least two RFID chips having distinct codes, each RFID chip being associated with its own circuit, wherein only one of the at least two REID chips is active at a time (e.g., to be easily read by a suitable scanner). First and second circuits for a first and second RFID chip, respectively, may include some common elements, such as a shared transistor, capacitor, resistor, conductive leads, etc., but at least one component of each circuit is not shared and is associated with either the container or closure, such that opening the closure, removing the closure, or changing the position of the closure relative to the container (e.g., moving the container a predetermined effective distance) toggles the circuits so that an active RFID circuit becomes inactive and an inactive circuit becomes active.
The container can comprise cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, wood, leather, rubber, glass, and the like, and may be in the form of a box, a disposable package, a pallet, a crate, a mechanical dispenser, a plastic bag, a product package comprising at least one of plastic, paper, and metal, and so forth. The container may be cylindrical, rectangular, ellipsoidal, spherical, or any other shape. The closure may be a cap such as a screw-on or snap-on cap, a cover, a panel, a hinged element, etc. The closure may be completely removable or may remain attached to the container when opened, with attachment means including a tether, a string, a chain, a hinge, an extensible element, a flexible strip, etc. Exemplary combinations of containers and closures include plastic pill bottles and child-proof caps, glass jars and screw-on metal lids, tin cans and removable lids, gas tanks and gas tank caps, shoe boxes and removable lids, cardboard boxes and flaps, and the like.
Products with RFID Tag Systems that Protect User Privacy
The invention also includes products and product packaging comprising permanent RFID tags associated with removable antennas to protect user privacy without removing an electronic product code (EPC) or other data from the tag.
Generally, the ability of third parties to scan RFID tags in consumer products depends on the RFID tags being connected with a suitable antenna to provide an adequate read range for scanners. Conventional-sized antennas provide significant scan ranges, with typical ranges of two to twenty feet for systems being proposed for consumer products. In one embodiment, the RFID tag is associated with a first removable antenna suitable for commercial applications (inventory scanning, automated checkout, product location, etc.), and a second small antenna with a relatively smaller read range such as less than two feet or less than six inches. The first antenna may be physically attached to removable packaging or to a removable label or tab on the product, allowing the purchaser to deactivate conventional scanning by removing the antenna, but retaining functionality of the chip for close-range scanning should the consumer wish to have the product ID read. Alternatively or in combination with a small read range, the second antenna may be shielded to prevent scanning unless a protective structure (e.g., foil casing) is removed or opened, or may have a mechanical switch activated by a deliberate action (e.g., a fail-open switch on the product for depression by a finger to close the circuit and enable use of the small antenna). For a given RFID reader operating on the system, the ratio of the read range after removal of the first antenna to the read range prior to removal of the first antenna may be less than about any of the following: 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, and 0.005.
Alternatively, the signal strength returned by the system when being scanned by a given RFID reader at a given location relative to the RFID tag is substantially less after removal of the first antenna. The ratio of the returned signal strength after removal to the signal strength before removal as measured with a conventional RFID reader of suitable frequency (e.g., 13.56 MHz or 915 MHz) at optimum orientation and a distance of 6 inches may be less than about any of the following: 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, and 0.005. Similar results may be obtained for other distances, such as 2 inches, 24 inches, and 10 feet.
One embodiment is shown in
In another embodiment (not shown), the RFID chip 502 is attached to the permanent secondary antenna 508 with a switch responsive to conscious action by the user to activate the circuit and enable RFID scanning. In this case, a load-sensitive switch is provided, which may be in the form of a bubble switch such as those used in electronic devices (keyboards, etc., to close a circuit and send a signal in response to a touch or finger depression from a user). The switch remains open unless depressed, and when open, the RFID chip 502 is not connected to the antenna 508, making the chip 502 substantially unreadable during a scan. In such embodiments, the permanent antenna 504 need not be small, since the user controls whether scanning is possible or not, but may be adapted to provide a small range (e.g., less than three feet or less than one foot) is desired.
Regarding the embodiments in
According to the present invention, two or more RFID chips may be associated with a product, and these chips may be associated with one or more antennas, including a removable antenna which may be associated with one or more of the chips.
In another embodiment, the purchaser selectively deactivates a permanent RFID tag that remains with the product to temporarily prevent scanning. For example, a switch that is closed by default, providing an active RFID circuit, could be opened by application of pressure or flipping a toggle switch to open the circuit and prevent scanning.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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With four games left in the regular season, the Wolves control their own playoff fate; Chicago can clinch a spot in the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs by winning all four of its games this week, beginning with a trip to Milwaukee on Tuesday.
--- Jordan Schroeder: Registered 2 goals and 3 points in three games last week, which included bagging the game-tying goal in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over Charlotte ... Has netted points in 11 of his last 13 AHL outings and 15 points (5G, 10A) during that span, which dates back to Dec. 29 due to NHL recall ... Shares fifth on Chicago with 18 helpers and sixth with 30 points in 39 games this season ... Made his NHL debut in 31 games with the Canucks this year, posting six assists and nine points
--- Bill Sweatt: Shared the team lead with 3 points (G, 2A) in three games last week ... He has notched 5 points (2G, 3A) in six games since rejoining Chicago from Vancouver on April 3 and has posted 9 points (2G, 7A) overall in his last nine AHL games dating back to March 27 ... Ranks fifth on Chicago with 14 goals and third with 34 points in 62 games this season ... Leads the Wolves with 164 shots and has fired 119 of them in 40 games since the calendar turned to 2013
--- Jon Matsumoto: Tallied the game-winning goal in his Wolves debut on Wednesday and notched the shootout winner two games later on Saturday after being loaned to Chicago from San Jose on April 1 ... Ranks fourth on the club with 15 markers and 33 points in 63 outings this season ... Accumulated 14 goals, 18 assists, and 32 points in 60 AHL games with the Worcester Sharks this year before joining the Wolves
--- Brett Sterling: Earned 2 points (G, A) in three games last week ... He has amassed 16 points (8G, 8A) in 12 tilts since returning to the Wolves lineup on March 22 after a 23-game absence ... Ranks first on Chicago with 23 markers and second with 44 points in 44 tilts this season ... Paces the team with a +16 plus/minus rating and shares the club lead with six power-play strikes
--- The Wolves have posted a 5-4-0-0 record in their last nine games and have alternated wins and losses during that stretch; Chicago shares ninth in the Western Conference playoff standings with 81 points through 72 tilts (36-27-5-4) and are two points back of the eighth and final playoff spot; the Wolves are tied with the Admirals in ninth position and both have played two fewer games than eighth-place Rockford.
--- The Wolves come-from-behind shootout win over Charlotte on Saturday marked the first time this season - and first time since April 6, 2012 - they rallied to win a game when trailing after two periods of play.
--- Goaltender Matt Climie is 124 minutes shy of setting a new career-high in minutes played in a season; the 29-year-old netminder has started 27 of the Wolves last 30 tilts since returning from injury on Feb. 8 and has notched a 2.45 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 50 games this year (23-23-3).
--- Defenseman Brent Regner dished out an assist and matched a career-high +3 plus/minus rating in his Wolves debut on Wednesday, one day after he was acquired via trade from the Peoria Rivermen.
--- The Wolves will host their annual Fan Appreciation Night when they close out their 19th regular season at the Allstate Arena at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. The Wolves players will give the "Shirts Off Their Backs" to 20 lucky recipients who purchased scratch-and-win cards throughout the season, with proceeds benefiting Chicago Wolves Charities. After the game, the winners will join the players on the ice to receive the game-worn autographed jerseys. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
Saturday, April 13
(at) Chicago 2, Charlotte 1 (SO)
--- The Wolves earned a come-from-behind win against the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in a shootout at the Allstate Arena
--- Center Jordan Schroeder scored in regulation, while forwards Darren Haydar, Brett Sterling, and Jon Matsumoto converted during the six-round shootout
--- Goaltender Matt Climie thwarted 35 of 36 shots in overtime and regulation and four of six shootout attempts
Friday, April 12
(at) Rockford 7, Chicago 3
--- The Wolves dropped a 7-3 contest to Rockford at the MetroCentre which allowed the IceHogs to win the 2012-13 Illinois Lottery Cup
--- Forwards Brett Sterling, Eric Kattelus, and defenseman Jim Vandermeer potted tallies for Chicago
--- Goaltenders Matt Climie (40 of 44) and Joe Cannata (11 of 14) split time in CLIMIE's loss
Wednesday, April 10
Chicago 3, (at) Grand Rapids 2
--- The Wolves used three goals in the game's opening 13 minutes to skate away with a 3-2 win over Grand Rapids on Wednesday
--- Forwards Jordan Schroeder, Bill Sweatt, and Jon Matsumoto lit the lamp for Chicago
--- Goaltender Matt Climie registered 28 saves

subset: commoncrawl


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The iPad cloners of the world are screwed. They can't beat iPad's low price (except for the e-waste bottom feeders like Coby.) They can't beat Apple's media and app delivery infrastructure. They can't beat Apple's integration between software and hardware (and between iPad and other Apple products like Macs.)
And here's the real killer: they can't beat the Apple Experience (tm). Sometimes it's the intangibles that are the hardest to get right.
iPad competitors considering delays in the face of tepid market reception?
The Motorola Xoom launched to sales that were okay but not breakthrough, the BlackBerry Playbook has gotten hopeful though mixed reviews, and now Digitimes reports other would-be iPad 2 competitors may be getting cold feed.
But sales of Xoom tablet PCs have been lower than expected, said sources at Taiwan's notebook makers, citing brand image, pricing, insufficient applications and the unstable performance of Android 3.0 as reasons for the doldrums. [...] With Google unable to offer sufficient support to cooperation partners at present, many players have decided to delay the launch of Android 3.0 tablet PCs, the sources added.
Last year we debated whether Apple had created a mainstream tablet market, or simply an iPad market, and whether tablets would end up being like iPods with Apple dominant, or like Smartphones with many players in contention. It's far, far too early to tell but it is telling that a year post-iPad launch the competition is still feeling their way out the of gate. (If not entirely flummoxed as Steve Jobs suggested at the iPad 2 event.)
We know some of you are considering the PlayBook, an Android Honeycomb tablet, or an HP/Palm TouchPad, what do you make of the struggle to get a strong competitor to market?
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Reader comments
iPad competitors considering delays in the face of tepid market reception?
The iPad cloners of the world are screwed. They can't beat iPad's low price (except for the e-waste bottom feeders like Coby.) They can't beat Apple's media and app delivery infrastructure. They can't beat Apple's integration between software and hardware (and between iPad and other Apple products like Macs.)
typical apple nut http://www.asus.com/Eee/EeePad/EeePadTransformerTF101/ says otherwise. The tablet is 399 has dual core, ipd (yes ips) display on a tablet. 3D stereo surround sound, 16 hour battery life, Android 3.0, and it even has usb ports. To give insult to injury it has multi card readers built in. Its light, and fast. Its everything the ipad2 should have had.
all android fanboy drones do is quote specs. Specs don't matter when the UI and apps are subpar now does it.
sure it comes with a card reader...just like the xoom shipped with an SD card reader......that wasn't functional.
All these things you list are useless if they can't be used or used effectively.
Example: The USB port on comcast boxes= unusable.
But does it actualy work....
If it does, that would be a great machine
I think that webOS offers a better experience. I have been using webOS for 16 months, and an original iPad since Christmas. I find myself reaching for my phone rather than the iPad quite often because of my preference for webOS.
In terms of "cloners", I'm not sure I agree that Android or webOS are "clones". iPad UI is basically a left-to-right scrolling app drawer. Android has widgets so you can get a lot of information without opening apps. webOS has real multitasking using cards. Three very different UI/user experiences for people that want their devices to work in different ways.
So far, I'm regretting buying my wife an iPad for Christmas rather than waiting for the HP Touchpad to be released.
"Last year we debated whether Apple had created a mainstream tablet market, or simply an iPad market, and whether tablets would end up being like iPods with Apple dominant, or like Smartphones with many players in contention."
It's going to end up like the latter scenario, because, like iPods, iPads aren't a primary device. A smartphone(any phone) is the user's primary communications tool, so everyone needs one, meaning the market is massive.
Freudian-slip. He clearly MEANT latter even if he gave the explanation for the former. :p
That table up the top seems to be forgetting theres a GSM Version of the Xoom
its a crap tablet anyway though.
You know, it will be real hard for competitors to catch up. Apple didn't just create a slew of great products, but also a vibrant ecosystem such as iTunes, iTV with airplay and airprint. I'm sure Apple makes changes to their game plan as times change, but they've had that game plan for years. Everyone else are in meet/design/manufacture/release (crap) mode. Sometimes the tried and true methods that have worked in the past, simply don't work now or there is a better way.
Microsoft is so much in belief that a tablet needs a full OS and pen. They are so inflexible in that belief and have a proud chip on their shoulder that Windows OS is "everything", that they will continue to fail.
Riiiight... just like it was hard to catch up and surpass the iphone... not sure who is holding up their release, seems to me all the big boys r coming out with their tabs in the june / july area.. and as far as price, its already known that the competition is going to meet or beat apples.. the xoom was just an overpriced dev model to get it out. Bith google and moto said their own expectations for sales were a mill or less, but it got something for us devs to work with.
It was hard to catch up and surpass iPhone. There is about 200 Android phones on the market on EVERY carrier (even pre pay) and another 100 scheduled for release before New Year versus a phone that was until 2 months ago only on one carrier. C'mon guy, don't kid yourself.
The iPhone still hasn't been surpassed! I'll give you any 2 Android phones against the sales if the one iPhone! You'd still suck ass! There is no iPhone competitor! Android added to 467754 different 5 cent phones by 456765 carrirers is not the same as a phone vs phone comparison! Now... Pick one Android phone and show me numbers that say that it beat the iPhone in sales! I challenge u and all the people who make stupid statements about Android vs iPhone! Pick one phone and do your comparison! Would you put Micheal Jordan against the Lakers or against Kobe? Would you say that Ford outsells the 2011 Porsche Turbo or Ford oustells Porsche? Let's be real the entire argument of Android vs iPhone is a Bitches Way Out! I'll even give you an unreleased Android like the Incredible 2 or the Bionic! Start counting on the day it drops and I won't even laugh when you lose!
The tablet makers need to stop expecting enormous sales and plan for reasonable sell-throughs. Compared to tablet PCs (I own one), 100,000 Xoom units is amazing. The makers need to get their offers out there, learn what they need to do, and update to compete. This is to say, the sooner that they realize people want an iPad, not a tablet, the sooner they'll make something more like an iPad (or a better experience than an iPad) and even out the market.
Releasing carrier versions first was definitely the major mistake of both the Tab and the Xoom. If you want to increase sales you need to have a much cheaper WiFi-only version either with or as your initial launch.
I got a chance to play with a Xoom recently and it was cool and sexy, but I didn't see anything that made me go "Whoa!". It did things differently from the iPad, but I'm not convinced it did them in a way I would call "better", nor did I see anything that made me second guess my decision to get an iPad 2. Granted, we are talking 15 minutes so I only had a taste, but my experience was not unlike what any average consumer would have when making a tablet purchase, and they outnumber fanboys 10,000 to one.
"iPad" is probably just as much a category name to most people as "iPod" or "Kleenex" is, meaning that if they want to move units, Motorola, HP and all need to really differentiate thier offering. They need to come up with things an iPad can't do, or figure out how to do what an iPad does in a much better way that can easily be demonstrated to my Dad (an average consumer).
Until that happens, there will be iPad, Motorola's iPad, HP's iPad, RIM's iPad, etc. in the minds of the majority of people who want a tablet computer. If iPad didn't exist, I would have bought the Xoom and been very happy with it - but iPad does exist and has the Apple quality, eco-system, experience and "cool factor" (even little kids know the iPad is cool) to back it up. Why would anyone (outside of Apple haters and other brand fanboys - i.e. 2% of the population) buy anything but the "original"?
Trust me, I want to see real competition in the tablet market to keep Apple focused, but first someone else has to get the general public's attention.
^ Looks like we've got ourselves a bonafide fanboy here.
They all should stop looking at the iPad for inspiration and begin creating a unique experience. The iPad is an experience not a spec driven device this is the key element in Apple it is all about the feeling one gets with their device the experience of the thing. Makes people fall in love with their products and once you are in love with Apple it's hard to change.
Apple knows how to make people desire their products not just want them but truly desire and crave to touch their devices. To be honest I love my iPhone my MacBook pro my AppleTV( not so much) my iPad and my ACD. That is what Apple does makes people fall in love with the device.
Android doesn't have the same experience it's all over the place too many phones too many versions of the OS all over the place. The market is horrible the apps could be better coded. Unfortunately Google whores the OS and now they want to implement a control to the so called open source!!
Android is an awesome OS if only Google had tighter control over it things would have been different. Apple would be shaking in their boots right but the reality is that all want to be like Apple and they will never succeed without copying.
Some specs are important. I read an interview with one of RIM's industrial designers today. He said that there was a lot of work done to get the screen size right and their inspiration was the Moleskine note pads that Picasso and Hemingway used and loved because they felt it was an ideal size. I laughed because first, he's talking about a display and making a comparison to paper. I then laughed louder when I realized that the folks he talked about are dead and never had a personal computer let alone a tablet.
In this case, the spec (screen size) is important because this device is intended for personal content consumption. The larger screen real estate is important to give the media it's best presentation.
Based on that, I feel that the headline should read iPad 2 Competition Delays due to Tooth Decay.
a lot of people might think that it's a lot of money to spend just to be a guinea pig for a new device. Apple supports their devices years after they are released, unlike Android where you might get support 6 months after release. The sure fire bet was iPad 2 for my money.
"what do you make of the struggle to get a strong competitor to market?"
It takes a good 12 to 24 months to develop a good device. If it was a cold start, from zero, it's probably 3 years. For any engineering project consisting of hundreds of people and lots of subs, getting a product released in a year, 12 months, would be hugely gargantuan task.
So, if you believe the circumstance of Apple surprising the industry with the iPad design and subsequent sales success, competitors are still about 6 months away or more from have good refined in shipping systems. Apple has been rumored to have been working on such a device for at least 6 years. (Look up "safari pad"). Competitors basically have the iPad as a reference design to shorten their development cycle, making a 12 to 24 month cycle possible depending on where the OS software is.
The Xoom and Playbook are simply examples of that. They are obviously not done and need at least another 6 months of work. The Touchpad I think has a best chance of being "complete" upon official release, but then again, I think HP had the least amount work to do and they aren't rumored to ship until Summer.
By next year, competing devices will be much better. Hopefully RIM and HP will persevere. Google obviously will as their business model is different.
The lion's share of work has been completed with the delivery of the iPad 1. Apple is now in an iterative update cycle for the product class. There won't be a revolution like the first release again.
Hopefully, Apple is working on the next big thing.
Competitors probably need to make their tablet or ui awesome, easy and revolutionary to make a dent in the market. I like the options, but manufacturers and os designers r gna have to put out for consumers now, settle for low sales, only manufacture as much as actually ordered, or give up.
If they r delaying, then that better mean thhat when they do come to market, their stuff is totally awesome, and they r gna have to get apps and devs, maybe they will have to bribe to get numbers there. For some, the money to get devs might make it not worth it to ever do it.
The iPad 2 competitors are getting weaker. They have a couple cool features, but in all other respects, they suck. iOS could use some android tablet features over to the iPad 3 though... (file systems, widgets, flash...)


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Monday, December 2, 2013
On Nov. 15, pre-kindergarten students from Chesterbrook Academy Preschool in Mount Pleasant delivered Thanksgiving donations to the East Cooper Community Outreach Center. Students, parents and teachers had collected canned goods and other Thanksgiving food items since the beginning of November. The donations will be used to provide Thanksgiving meals to local families.
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Track & Field
Duke Track & Field BIO
Jon Michael Hilsheimer
Honors: ACC Academic Honor Roll (2013, 2014)
2013-14: Indoors, focused primarily on the 800 during the indoor season, running a season-best converted time of 1:56.56 at the Tar Heel Open (1/25)…Outdoors, competed twice in the open 800 with a season-best time of 1:56.38 at the Joe Hilton Invitational (4/12).
2012-13: Indoors, competed in multiple middle distance events including the 600, 800 and 1,000 meters…ran his top 800 time at the Gene Anderson Invitational with a time of 1:58.59…Outdoors, ran a season best time of 1:55.55 in the 800 at the Duke Twilight.
Prior to Duke: Four-year letterwinner in track & field at Columbus Academy...three-year letterwinner in cross country...state champion in the 2012 Ohio Div. III 800m run...member of the 2010 Ohio Div. III 4x400m relay state champion and record holding team...member of two-time (2011,2012) Div. III 4x800m relay state championship squad...named the track and field team MVP all four years...named the cross country team MVP for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Personal: Born May 18, 1993...son of Larry and Cindy Hilsheimer...has two older sisters (Lauren and Kristina).
Indoor PRs:
Outdoor PR:
Jon Michael Photos:
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Legacy Fund
Varsity Club
Young Iron Dukes


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We took our preemies in for their monthly RSV shots and they weigh them before giving the injections- Ryan is 17 lbs and Dylan is 20! They're 7.5 months old- and the ped says they probably don't need to be on the preemie growth chart anymore LOL
I thought they were getting big! It's hard to believe it wasn't that long ago when they were 3 and 4 lbs and in the NICU


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Sonny Melendrez
Sonny Melendrez is a broadcaster, motivational speaker , and author, based in San Antonio. His positive multimedia site, SonnyRadio.com serves to leave thousands of daily visitors 'feeling better about being alive.'
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Happy Birthday San Antonio! 2009 Founders Day – Alamo Plaza
Even after leaving us this year, the late Frank Jennings is still pulling strings for San Antonio. No doubt, his first order of business upon arrival in heaven was to insure a beautiful day for this year's Founders Day Celebration at Alamo Plaza this past Saturday. You see, Founders Day (San Antonio's birthday party) was […] [Read More]


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Reviewed By Jerry T (RUSKIN, FL) Reviewed for a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee —8/22/2013 5:36 AM
The cargo protector does exactly what I wanted it to do
Reviewed By DANIEL D (BROOKLYN, NY) Reviewed for a 2008 Scion xB —6/18/2010 1:39 PM
This rear seat protector fits pretty well in a 2008-09 Scion xB... reaches from door to door. The material is very thick and rugged: even when my dog is pretty wet, nothing seems to seep through to the seats. It attaches well to the front seats as shown in Heritage's pictures. For the rear seat, you have a long nylon ribbon go around the entire seat (it doesn't attach to the headrests like it does to the front seats, which would have been better). Also, there are times when I wish it was a tiny bit longer because sometimes my dog's weight pulls it down a bit in the back, exposing too much of the top of the back seat. But all-in-all, it's the best alternative to buying semi- or custom-fit backseat covers if you don't want to shell out the dough for those options.


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MuseScore (home page) is a scorewriter, or musical notation software. It is open-source and available for free for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
It can read and write several file formats, and supports midi playback and note entry.
MuseScore.com is a website for sharing sheet music which integrates with the MuseScore program.


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Help conserve wildlife within the Amazon Basin, while seeking pink river dolphins, primates, macaw, caiman, giant river otters, piranha and exotic fish, and even bats.
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Aboard a riverboat deep in the heart of Peru's flooded Amazon region, you'll help to conserve river dolphins and monkeys, and protect the fragile South American wilderness.
The vast, pristine Amazonian forests of northeastern Peru are home to an incredible array of wildlife. Pink river dolphins and caimans still swim these waters, while extraordinary birds fly through the canopy. Uakari monkeys abound along the Yavari River and manatees swim in the lakes of Samiria. Rare giant river otters can sometimes be seen hunting and playing in area lakes and rivers.
So far, this remote region of the Amazon is safe from the intrusion of illegal timber companies, pet traders, and hunters. As part of an Earthwatch team, you'll help to survey the area's wildlife to develop conservation strategies for the region and the people who inhabit it.
You'll journey aboard a restored, remodeled, air-conditioned vessel from the Rubber Boom era. You'll travel for two days along the Samiria River into the heart of Peru's fabled Amazon region. There, in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, you'll discover a flooded forest whose waters run from the Andes Mountains to create a delicate wilderness. You'll also have the opportunity to meet and work with the Cocama people from a nearby village. With your help, Earthwatch and the Cocama will develop management plans to protect both the needs of the Cocama people and the wildlife of the Samiria River basin.
8+ days - See all dates
The animals you'll monitor provide key information about the health of the ecosystem and the sustainability of traditional hunting and fishing.
Global climate change and human intrusions threaten the Peruvian Amazon. Help us conduct critical surveys to protect this pristine wilderness.
The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the location of this study, is a rare example of how conservation can work in collaboration with local people. Today, global climate change, bringing severe droughts and floods, threatens even this protected area. Your help is critical in the effort to survey, manage, and protect the region so that wildlife and local human communities can thrive together.
What does it take to contribute to such an important project? You'll float down a lazy river, watching dolphins leap and counting the macaws as they fly overhead. You'll monitor the waters for once-endangered caiman, and keep your eyes open for large fish as the swim slowly by. If you're lucky, you'll spot recovering populations of giant river otters and manatees. And if you're on hand during the dry season (August-November) you'll count wading birds at the mouth of the Samiria river. You may catch and release river dolphins, measuring their health and growth.
Help conserve wildlife of the Samiria River basin.
When you're ready for more strenuous work, you'll climb aboard a canoe or motorized boat, and explore the shoreline, seeking out river turtles and helping to protect their eggs. Or you may walk slowly and quietly through the forest to record the movements of peccaries, tapirs, primates, and game birds. Working with local community members, you'll learn about local fishing, hunting, and conservation efforts.
Imagine motoring through the Amazon rainforests on your on air conditioned boat, complete with bar, tasty and ample cuisine, and a staff of trained researchers to explain and describe your surroundings. Now, imagine arriving at your destination: a flooded forest virtually overflowing with a diverse array of plant and animal species. You'll share this tropical environment with beautiful birds, flowers, monkeys, and more aboard a restored riverboat you'll call home during your expedition.
During your stay in the Amazon, you'll paddle among lakes and along shorelines. You'll motor into smaller rivers and tributaries. And you'll walk along forest paths, observing wildlife and monitoring the environment. In the evening, you'll return to your boat for a well-cooked meal along with lectures, movies, or sometimes even dancing.
While in the Amazon, you'll have the opportunity to interact with local people from a number of villages. The research team has formed very positive relationships with these communities over the past 16 years, and you can expect an open and friendly reception.
This is a summary:
Once you arrive via riverboat to your destination deep within the Amazon, wildlife surveys will run each day. You'll get to try your hand at all research tasks (and can spend extra time on your favorites). You'll:
Between activities, you'll relax on the riverboat, enjoy the roof deck bar, or peruse the library. Upon request, the crew may even take you on short canoe excursions.
Conduct wildlife surveys and censuses.
Dr. Bodmer in discussion with Earthwatch volunteers.
Dr. Richard Bodmer's travels for Earthwatch by riverboat into the heart of the Amazon region to help preserve the incredibly diverse rainforest habitat.
You'll stay on one of the project's restored rubber-boom-era vessels as you meander up the Amazon. These historic boats offer private, air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms. Towels and toiletries are all provided; cabins and toilets are cleaned daily and laundry can be done every few days.
After mornings and afternoons in the field, you can head to the air-conditioned dining room and be treated to an array of local delicacies as well as familiar offerings like roast beef and freshly-caught fish. The large dining room is also used for lectures, movies, and dancing.
Mid-morning coffee and afternoon tea (and cakes), are served daily, and beverages are available on the upper deck.
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Have you been on this expedition?
Jeffrey Olmstead | Wednesday, April 29, 2015
We had a fabulous time on Team 4 of Amazon Riverboat Exploration this month. Richard Bodmer has been running this expedition long enough that the logistics of the trip are well worked out. Any last-minute hitches (The road to Nauta washes out? Hire speed boats to get us there!) are smoothed over quickly. His lectures on the details of the trip are informative without being pedantic. His assistants Kimberly and Joseph, and native guides Samuel and Rolin, were friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Casa Morey and Clavero and her captain and crew also provided friendly accommodations in an early 20th century ambiance. This opportunity to visit and explore a managed tropical wildlife reserve away from (and in fact off limits to) the usual tourist routes is ready and waiting for you to take advantage of it.
Carole Hite Welch | Saturday, February 07, 2015
It is great to be a part of the conservation plan which has allowed this part of the Amazon to return to its original natural state. The riverboat was comfortable, the staff was expert in their field, positive and helpful, and the data collection was primarily done on small rivercraft. For those who are concerned about walking in the forest, there are a dozen other activities on the river and you choose which research birds/ mammals are of your interest each evening for the next day.
Gertrud Dingermann | Wednesday, January 21, 2015
The PI Dr. Bodmer was on the boat and gave several talks. For more than 30 years he has been involved in conservation and communal projects. On our way back we visited a village. The Cocama people are actively involved in conservation and Dr. Bodmer is kind of a "father figure"
One could choose from several projects every day. You could observe pink river dolphins, wading birds, macaws on their way from or to their feeding trees, catch, weigh, measure (and release) fish. At dusk fishing bats were on the agenda and after dinner you could join a boat looking for caymans.
There were terrestrial transects too. Howler monkeys, coatis and other interesting information on the way.
John Seidel | Tuesday, December 09, 2014
I went on Team 7 of this expedition from Nov 7 to 23 2014. The expedition was well organized the activities could be varied at your choosing. The boat was very comfortable with a great crew and good food. The research is very involving and hands on. The resident scientists are very knowledgeable and friendly. The research is making a difference in both the physical world but in the culture of the Cocama indians. From the Hotel Casa Morey in Iquitos to the final day you will enjoy and be amazed at the accomplishments and impact of Dr Richard Bodmer chief Earthwatch Scientist. Its hot, buggy and a good workout but its a great Earthwatch Expedition.
Regina Anavy | Friday, September 26, 2014
If you're interested in tropical ecology, I highly recommend this trip. Ditto if you like boats and are fascinated with Amazonia. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed the field surveys. You sign up every evening for the next day's trips, by boat or by land (hiking), and you can do as many or as little as you like. The boat has air conditioning and now has hot water. The cabins are comfortable and the food is ample and delicious. Drinkable water is provided at all times. I went at the beginning of September for two weeks and was sad to leave. P.S. The sunsets on the river are spectacular. Don't forget your camera.
Bill Pretsch | Sunday, June 08, 2014
A very diverse experience, between birds, mammals, plants, trees and fish. Definately somthing for everyone.
I took fishing tackle which was a waste of time. Bring cameras with extra data storage as lots to film. Binoculars a must have.
The 2 kilometer walk in the jungle is a must do, but will cause dehydration. Suggest wearing a T shirt under long sleeve shirt as mosqutoes will normally not get throughthe two layers.
Mary Rowe | Monday, April 14, 2014
You can't beat this project for comfortable immersion in the Amazon Rainforest. I did it both times when the water was high, because it was such an unusual experience, but if you like to hike, you will get more hiking opportunities during the low water season. (Low/high water doesn't refer to rain, but rather to the seasonal floods that come from the Andes.)
We saw many animals, including dolphins and macaws, and just hearing howler monkeys is a real treat.
We got lots of talks from the researchers and there are a variety of tasks to choose from each day.
Maria Chatzinakis | Saturday, February 15, 2014
This was my second time doing this project, that's how good it is; I've done 15. The accommodations were comfortable and the food was wonderful as were the lectures. Dr. Bodmer and the staff were very caring and looked after our needs.
The first evening on board, we were given a lecture on the geological history of the area. I liked getting up predawn and going bird counting; seeing the sun rise over the Amazon was beautiful. Breakfast was great. Then onto counting pink and gray dolphins. After lunch there were fish counts. There were treks into the forest in AM and PM; which I didn't do. Late afternoon, we went up to the top deck and watched the sunset. Then onto dinner and a lecture and briefing on the days counts (after we entered the days data into the computer), and then caiman counting. We did as many as we wanted. Seeing these amazing animals and photographing them was fabulous. Even though I wasn't a birdwatcher, I did get into it as there were so may beautiful ones to see. It was a worthwhile and wonderful experience. I did like the December one better as it was dryer, in fact there was a drought.
On our weekend off we visited various villages and even witnessed a kindergarten graduation. It was so cute when they marched in all dressed up and danced with each other and then with their parents.
I heartily recommend this project. I felt like I was doing something really important, surveying the health of the Amazon and its tributaries
Maria Chatzinakis
Gerhard Rehmann | Thursday, February 06, 2014
Richard, the chief investigator, gave us an interesting lecture on the history of the Amazon basin and the ecology of the Varzea, the areas that are regularly flooded.
There was a rich offer of activities to take part and we were free to choose among them as best we could.
You would start the day before dawn, go up the river on a canoe and watch the colourful parrots cross the river.
After a healthy breakfast you might switch to a bigger boat and count river dolphins.
If you're happier on solid earth, go for a 'transect' i.e. walk a few miles through the jungle and record every animal you see.
As for fishes, you may go fishing and count species and number of your catch. Yes, Piranhas may well be among them.
Have you ever tried to count a thousand? Here you will count several thousands of birds on the river bench.
Late in the evening, after a splendid sunset, you may either watch the milky way as clear as you never saw it before.
Or you go on another canoe excursion and try to spot alligators on the river banks in the light of a torch.
On your free afternoon, you might visit the neighboring village or experience a spectacular tropical thunderstorm.
One of the most exciting excursions was a night walk into the jungle, but be careful: the most beautiful caterpillars might be the most poisonous, too.
The staff is very knowledgeable and if you're lucky, the indian guides give you some insight into their traditions. I even was treated with an indian ceremony to 'clean my soul'.
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Join Earthwatch in South Africa to help protect the second largest colony of African penguins on the planet.
Join an archaeological excavation near Hadrian's Wall to discover how the Romans lived in northern England.
Climb aboard a motorboat and sail a tropical "inner sea" in search of endangered dolphins and whales in Costa Rica.
What can we learn about the behavior, habits, and needs of wildlife of the Mongolian steppe?


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Saturday, September 28, 2013
Leadership South Carolina, the state's oldest and most recognized leadership development program, welcomes Christopher Nickels to the Class of 2014.
Nickels is an attorney/partner at Clawson and Staubes in Charleston. He joins the Class of 2014 and more than 1,350 Leadership South Carolina members who have participated in the nine month program addressing current and critical issues facing South Carolina.
Leadership South Carolina accepts approximately 50 participants a year who demonstrate commitment to their community and strive to reach a higher level of service to the Palmetto State.
If interested in learning more about Leadership South Carolina or to apply, please visit us on the Web at www.LeadershipSC.com.
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Read the exciting story of how Calvary Chapel has grown.
Coming from all walks of life, ten Calvary Chapel pastors share how
God broke through the barriers of evil, pride, addiction, complacency
and anger to carry out His plan for this vital ministry.
160 Pages
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Available as an eBook - Click Here
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Compass Group Canada is the leading food service and support services company in Canada with over 25,000 associates and $1.45 billion in revenues.
Our vision for growth and success is a powerful one, to combine fresh ideas with the industry's greatest talent - Great People, Great Service, Great Results! Because we 'live' our values, Compass Group Canada was named to the 2012 Top 100 Employers list in Canada for the fourth consecutive year.
The Marquise Group Division of Compass Group Canada specializes in facilities and property management, hospitality services, and customer service. Currently we employ over 3,000 employees in over 100 different locations across Western Canada providing services to airports, commercial buildings, educational facilities, retail centres and healthcare industry.


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Used Honda Dealership near Providence, RI | Serving Johnston, Cranston & Lincoln
Metro Honda is a top destination when it comes to buying a high-quality used car near Providence, RI. We have an extensive selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs in stock to choose from. Use our up-to-date online vehicle inventory to shop for a pre-owned Honda Honda Accord, CR-V, Civic, Pilot, or Odyssey, from the comfort of your own home. Prior to any used car being added to our current inventory, it must first pass a comprehensive inspection to ensure that it's mechanically sound. You can rest assured knowing that each and every vehicle we sell will provide countless years of worry-free driving. Please feel free to give us a call at (888) 731-1653 or stop by our Honda dealership near Providence, Rhode Island to speak with an automotive sales' consultant. Johnston, Cranston, and Lincoln, and all across Rhode Island, we are ready to assist you in finding your perfect used Honda!
Call us today for special internet pricing! - (877) 432-1716
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Are you looking for a great deal on a used car? Look no further than our used featured vehicles and used vehicle specials pages to find additional savings. If you see something that piques your interest make sure to act swiftly. The vehicles listed on these pages are competitively priced and won't be in stock for long. Schedule your used car test drive today! Once you have found the used vehicle that best suits your transportation needs, it's time to begin the financing process. Our team of automotive financing consultants is here to help you obtain a competitive interest rate Honda loan near Providence, RI. Having difficulty finding the vehicle of your dreams?. Let us help you by continuing the search and contacting you once we have located a suitable match. All you have to do is fill out CarFinder form and we will handle the rest.
Honda Service Center near Providence, RI | Serving Johnston, Lincoln & Cranston
We proudly offer Honda auto repair to the drivers from Lincoln, Cranston, and Johnston, RI. Our expert Honda mechanics have the knowledge and skills required to get the job done right the first time. Whether your vehicle is in need a coolant flush, or is due for manufacturer's preventative service, your vehicle is in well qualified hands. Metro Honda carries a large selection of OEM Honda auto parts to help keep your vehicle operating smoothly for thousands of miles to come.
Contact Information:
Phone: (661) 949-3586
1880 Hartford Ave Johnston, RI 02919


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ANAHEIM, CA (April 22, 2010) -
Anaheim Public Utilities has announced that residents can receive as much as triple the rebates for energy-efficiency improvements around their home, starting today. The City has been offering double rebates since February 1 (which runs until June 30), for both Anaheim residents and businesses on a variety of ENERGY STAR® appliances and other qualified measures, like ENERGY STAR® windows.
Starting today – Earth Day – thru May 23, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is offering a similar deal for residential customers through its Cash For Appliances program. Combined with Anaheim's rebate program and the State's Cash For Appliances program, Anaheim residents could receive triple rebates during that month. For example, a new ENERGY STAR® refrigerator or dishwasher would typically earn the buyer a $50 rebate. But during this limited time period, Anaheim residents can expect $100 back through the City's rebate program and receive an additional $50 through the State's Cash For Appliances program, for a complete rebate of $150.
"The rebates, part of Anaheim Public Utilities' existing Home Incentives Program, were designed to encourage residents to make energy-saving updates to their homes with various monetary incentives and fee waivers," said Marcie Edwards, General Manager. "This temporary increase in the form of a rebate is intended to generate more interest in the program and improve energy efficiency citywide," added Edwards.
Anaheim's double rebates applies to more than a dozen appliances; the full list is available at anaheim.net/utilities, or call (714) 939-9020. The Cash For Appliances program applies only to specific eligible products: refrigerators, washer, and room air conditioning units. For more details on Cash For Appliances rebate, please visit cash4appliances.org.
ABOUT ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility.
ABOUT ANAHEIM The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is California's 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 2,100 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.3 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as CKE Restaurants, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim Arsenal, and the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning USA Men's Volleyball team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.


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American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Ortho Info—American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
Epidural steroid injections. Know Your Back website. Available at: http://www.knowyourback.org/Pages/Treatments/InjectionTreatments/ES%5FInjections.aspx. Published July 17, 2009. Accessed November 25, 2013.
Lumbar epidural steroid injections.
Beverly Pain Management website. Available at:
http://www.pain-clinic.org/lumbarepiduralsteroidinjections. Accessed November 25, 2013.
Manchikanti L, Staats PS, Singh V, et al. Evidence-based practice guidelines for interventional techniques in the management of chronic spinal pain.
Pain Phys.
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Details and Shopping
Customer Favorite
Sheer burnout patterned henley with button front opening at chest. A wonderful layering piece!
*58% Polyester, 40% Cotton, 2% Rayon
*Hand Wash Cold
Measurements for Size Small:
Length: 25"
Bust (all around): 29"
Sleeve Length: 26"
*58% Polyester, 40% Cotton, 2% Rayon
*Hand Wash Cold
Measurements for Size Small:
Length: 25"
Bust (all around): 29"
Sleeve Length: 26"
Rated 4.7 out of 5Â by 17 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Alaskanclotheshorse super new favorite This IS a perfect henley. The lace is soft and sweet without being overly delicate or snaggy. The fit is form-fitting but thanks to the soft fabric, doesn't look 'tight'. I adore it! 4.19.2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by erincolv love! I've gotten so many compliments on this top! It's comfy and goes with just about anything. Definitely a must-have. 4.9.2013
Rated 4 out of 5Â by Gshilly Love the light green It is a very sheer top, but very cute with a white tee underneath, just like the FP model. The colors are pretty for the spring. Highly recommend it with a pair of jeans and a denim jacket. 3.12.2013
Rated 4 out of 5Â by FPRich Pretty but delicate The top is sheer and pretty. I took the plum color and it looks beautiful. The top is available in some other pretty and different colors. The top is TTS. The only issue that I see is that the fabric is very delicate and will bobble easily. But I am very happy with the purchase on sale. 3.7.2013
Rated 4 out of 5Â by saria Cute and very delicate! Have the black one and I really like it. The only thing I have to criticize is that it's getting some fluff after a few washings. I do have an extra wash pouch and I only do delicates. Beside that, after reading the questions where s.o. said she has an older version of this top, it might be possible that I have an older one because the rim at the neckline looks different as pictured - more like stuff. But that's fine. 2.20.2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Zenn Love it enough to get 2! I rarely buy the same top in different color, but love this enough to get both Black and Dark Turquoise. I'm 5'4 36-30-38 and M fits just right. As pictured, need a tube/cami as it's a light-weight transparent piece. The material is not as soft as I thought, but hopefully a little fabric softener will fix it. I like the option to button/unbutton for different looks (more slimming than a round neckline) and I felt so feminine wearing it. 2.13.2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by LilyOfTheValley Absolutely beautiful I love this Henley top; got it in the turquoise/blue colour and it is just stunning. The fabric is very soft and high quality and it feels light. Love it. Fits true to size (small in my case). 1.17.2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by extraordinary Lovely top These are really lovely tops. The fabric is soft, the shape is perfect and the low neck with buttons really suits me. I like the trim around the neck and the raglan sleeve trim feature. The length is also perfect. I'm xs and the size is perfect for me. I bought three different colours, the black, plum and blue. The plum and blue shades are not the perfect colours for me as there is not enough blue undertone in the colour, but I will compensate with jewellery instead of sending them back. they are really lovely tops, you could team them with almost anything and wear them anywhere. Very happy with my purchase. 12.3.2012
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I need a rotary table and I will be running it vertically.
I was think a 4-6" table with a 3"-4" 4 jaw chuck would be perfect, because most of what I do would be .5" to 1" in diameter.
The biggest question I have is, should I get a tilting one? I'm running it on a Bridgeport, so I could tilt the head, but I think it would be easier to just tilt the rotary table.
Any advice or one sitting in the shop you don't need?


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School board passes measures about security, high school calendar
The Lee County Board of Education held a widely scrutinized vote Tuesday night on year-round calendar changes, but that wasn't all the board tackled in a meeting that lasted well into the night — when the board also addressed the high school calendar and security issues.
Other than its unanimous vote to hold off on moving all pre-K through eighth grade classes to a year-round calendar, the board held several other votes that also passed unanimously, including a resolution to seek permission to make slight changes to the traditional calendar for high schools and to approve security measures in the wake of the recent Newton, Conn., shootings.
The district wants to start high school classes earlier to align them more closely with classes at Central Carolina Community College. According to the resolution passed at the meeting (the full text of which can be found at http://bit.ly/WzMygH), the board maintains that such a change might ease local unemployment woes by making it easier for students to participate in vocational programs like the lauded Caterpillar apprenticeship.
The resolution asks the three elected officials who represent Lee County in the General Assembly to introduce and support a bill giving local schools a special waiver that's needed in order to deviate from the state's scheduling guidelines, under which high schools this year started 10 days after CCCC in the fall.
Superintendent Jeff Moss said that if a waiver were to be approved, future schedules for local public high school students will be similar to the one used at Lee Early College, which this year will be in from Aug. 8 to May 24. Traditional high schools started on Aug. 27 and will get out on June 7.
Moss said he hasn't spoken with state Rep. Deb McManus or state Sen. Ronald Rabin about the issue yet, but that he has had productive talks with state Rep. Mike Stone.
"He told me that he'd be willing to see what he could do to introduce something that would be helpful for our schools," Moss said.
If the bill passed before late spring or early summer, Moss said, the changes could begin with the upcoming 2013-14 school year.
The security vote has a less definite timeline. The plan is twofold but centers around installing an intercom system controlled by a receptionist who would act as gate-keeper for the main entrances of each school, which are now kept open and monitored lightly.
On Monday, Moss presented the lowest of three bids for the project, a quote of just more than $200,000, to the Lee County Board of Commissioners, but that panel tabled the vote. Instead, county and school officials and local law enforcement will hold talks at a later date to discuss school security. Moss said he brought the bid to the school board on Tuesday — which passed it pending county funding — so that everything can move ahead as quickly as possible should funding be approved.
He said he thinks that will happen, and that the upcoming meeting will mainly focus on additional measures, like placing an armed guard in each of the nine district schools that don't have one now.
"I think if the funding is available, that's a great idea," said Moss, who has opposed a proposal to arm individual teachers that was floated by the National Rifle Association. "The two areas I believe would have the greatest impact would be to first secure our buildings, and second, to have law enforcement at our buildings."
And although the board did vote earlier in the night not to amend the pre-K through eighth grade calendar just yet — which would also require the redistricting of all the county's elementary schools — several members did express support for year-round schools and said they would be interested in moving to such a calendar if future research shows it would be a good decision both academically and economically, possibly as early as the 2014-15 school year.
Before the vote, board members and speakers from the audience of 200-plus community members questioned the depth of research conducted by the committee that came up with the proposed change, as well as the speed with which it would've been done. Moss said Wednesday that financial analysis was done for everything except the cost of redistricting, and that he would soon be sharing those figures with board members for future consideration.


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Degree Compass: A Course Recommendation System
Key Takeaways To successfully match students with courses suited to both their talents and academic goals, Degree Compass combines data on a student's past grades with…
Personalizing Analytics through the Education and Career Positioning System
Key Takeaways Lone Star College System offers an integrated Education and Career Positioning System that lets students, faculty, advisors, and parents simulate, navigate, validate,…
Austin Peay State University: Degree Compass
This case study from the EDUCAUSE book Game Changers describes the Degree Compass course recommendation system implemented at Austin Peay State University. The system adv…
DataMASTER: Success and Failure on a Journey to Business Intelligence
Sharon E. Blanton is Associate Vice President and CIO at Portland State University. Key Takeaways The legacy reporting system at Portland State University often c…
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Jeffrey Cepull is Vice President for Information Resources and CIO, Rashmi Radhakrishnan is Associate Vice President for Information Resources and Director of Administrative Comp…
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Gordon Wishon is CIO and John Rome is Deputy CIO and BI Strategist at Arizona State University. Key Takeaways An enterprise data warehouse serves as…


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KFC secretly launches a Chick-fil-A competitor in Texas
Carrie Taylor, Houston Chronicle : April 7, 2014 : Updated: April 7, 2014 12:50pm
We're almost open! The countdown is ON to April 9th. #ChickenAndFries #Arlington pic.twitter.com/w9WNGNZiEd— SUPER CHIX (@SuperChix1) April 6, 2014
#SuperChix opens April 9th! Taste what we're talking about. #TheLastTrueChickenSandwich pic.twitter.com/diEColfZXQ— SUPER CHIX (@SuperChix1) April 5, 2014
#SuperChix is coming to the corner of Cooper & Park Row. #TheLastTrueChickenSandwich is almost here! pic.twitter.com/TKbK49p505— SUPER CHIX (@SuperChix1) March 31, 2014
Photo By Superchix.comVisit the Super Chix website here.
Photo By Cody Duty/Houston ChroniclePeople camp out at the latest Chick-fil-A opening in west Houston, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. The first 100 customers to walk through the doors tomorrow will receive a free Chick-fil-A meal per week for a year.
Photo By Cody Duty/Houston ChroniclePeople camp out at the latest Chick-fil-A opening in west Houston, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. The first 100 customers to walk through the doors tomorrow will receive a free Chick-fil-A meal per week for a year.
Photo By Cody Duty/Houston ChronicleMari Ann Wise, left, and her friend, Robin Allen, right, participate in a dance competition before the opening of a Chick-fil-A restaurant on Briar Forest near Eldridge Pkwy S, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, in Houston. Chik-fil-A put together activities to entertain the early arrivers as well as feed them three times on Wednesday. The first 100 adults in line will receive a free year's supply of Chick-fil-A meals. "I just wanted to experience it," Wise said. "You only live once."
Photo By John Davenport/San Antonio Express-NewsChick-fil-A, several locations around S.A. and New Braunfels
Free meal for military and their immediate families from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., www.chick-fil-a.com
Photo By Chuck BeckleyFILE - In this Aug. 1, 2012 file photo, customers line up outside the Chick-fil-A Restaurant at New Bern Mall in New Bern, N.C. It is not entirely clear wether Chick-fil-a has definitely ended its financial support for groups that oppose same-sex unions. But a statement issued by the company Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2012, just months after its chief spoke against gay marriage, indicates it now plans to keep its distance from the more controversial views held by its Southern Baptist owners. (AP Photo, Sun Journal, Chuck Beckley, File)
Vehicles line up at the drive thru at the Chick-fil-A off of Shearn St. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Houston, TX. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared it national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day", after the chicken chain came into the spotlight with its owner's comments on gay marriage last month. ( J. Patric Schneider / For the Chronicle ) (© 2012 Houston Chronicle)
Weston Stoler explains that his panda bear hat was the closest thing he could find that looked like a cow as he waited in line for over an hour outside the Decatur, Ala. Chick-Fil-A restaurant, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. Chick-fil-A supporters are eating at the chicken chain's restaurants as the company continues to be criticized for an executive taking a public position against same-sex marriage. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." (AP Photo/The Decatur Daily, John Godbey)
Photo By Alex Wong/Getty Images
Chick-fil-A Large Waffle Fries, 520 calories.
Photo By Sarah A. Miller/Associated PressVerlene Edgmon of Garrison, Texas, Glenda Penney of New York, Texas and Laura Pool of New York, wait in line to receive their food at Chick-fil-A in Tyler, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. Hundreds of people purchased food at the area Chick-fil-A restaurants as part of "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," a day to support the company which has recently received media backlash from its founder's stance against gay marriage. Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy, in his statement to "The Baptist Press" in July, stated he supported the "the biblical definition of the family unit." Tyler Manager Barb Carter said the restaurant had been packed all day and that people were waiting for them to open at 6:30 a.m. (AP Photo/The Tyler Morning Telegraph, Sarah A. Miller)
Photo By The EnterpriseCustomers line up in support of Chick-Fil-A in Beaumont as the company has come under fire for comments its COO made about believing in traditional marriage between a man and woman. Amy Moore/The Enterprise
The chicken sandwich is getting another makeover by a major chicken franchise.
Yum Brands, the brain behind fried-chicken giant KFC, as well as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, will launch a test store called Super Chix with a strikingly familiar menu and concept in Arlington this month, Ad Age reports.
Its marketing and overall look are like a cross between Five Guys and Chick-fil-A, with its website proclaiming its product as "the last true chicken sandwich." It looks like the menu will focus on premium products with just a few chicken selections (sounding familiar yet?), signature sauces as well as hand-cut fries.
The website also touts chicken with "no MSG, HFCS or phosphates" and is cooked in 100 percent refiend peanut oil.
Oh, and for dessert there is fresh frozen custard.
What's missing from the joint's minimalistic website is its connection to Yum and fast-food old-timer KFC. Industry experts say the move helps Super Chix establish its own identity without the stigma of existing names.
"This is an exploratory concept that may in the future be considered for international purposes," Yum spokeswoman Virginia Ferguson said in an email to the Associated Press. She added that the company will be exploring other concepts for international purposes in the near future, such as a "Banh Shop" that sells Asian subs.
Yum could be looking for a way to make up for KFC's recent loss to Chick-fil-A for the No. 1 spot in terms of sales volume for chicken-focused chains. It has also been experimenting with "KFC eleven" that does away with mentions to founder Colonel Harland Sanders.
According to the restaurant's Twitter account, it opens April 9, and you can find it at 612 W. Park Row Drive, No. 620, Arlington.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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I want to eventually get: Asus PB278Q 27.0" as my main display. Thought occurred of a secondary display to replace (or supplement?) this Acer X223W (22" with VGA/DVI).
- 5 MS response time or less
- HDMI/DVI/DisplayPort (if possible)
- Widescreen
- 22-25 inches or so
- Less than $300 (if not $250)
- I would like 1080p
At some point I may want to (or need to) connect some of my consoles to a monitor, I'd like to the option to and to compare displayed images . . .
Relevant rig specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($270.61 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ Newegg)


text: 20% Off Storewide ! The collection of DOG BEDS & PET BEDS at Dog Bed Works includes products from the finest manufacturers of designer dog beds, couches, blankets, orthopedic beds, outdoor beds and so much more. We're constantly updating new styles and fabrics for you and your best friend; all with design and function in mind.