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MILWAUKEE, Wis. --- When Milwaukee defeated the Chicago Wolves three times in the first three weeks of this season, Admirals goaltender Jeremy Smith surrendered just 5 goals.
The Wolves turned the tables on Smith during Saturday night's Amtrak Rivalry contest as defenseman Kevin Connauton's pair of early goals triggered a 6-3 triumph at Bradley Center.
Nathan Longpre, Mark Mancari, Mike Duco and Mark Matheson also contributed goals for the Wolves (6-5-0-2), who ran their winning streak to a season-high 3 games while scoring a season-high 6 goals.
Darren Haydar handed out 2 assists to give the Wolves veteran all-star forward 6 points in the last two games. Milwaukee's Michael Latta scored a pair of second-period goals just 27 seconds apart to give the Admirals (7-3-0-1) a 3-2 lead that didn't last long.
Longpre knotted the game at the 10:49 mark of the second period when he intercepted a pass deep in the zone and fed a quick pass to Haydar, who dished it right back as Longpre took advantage of an open net to tap in his third goal in the last six games.
Then Mancari, long known as one of the American Hockey League's best scorers, made a terrific two-way play to deliver what turned out to be the game-winner. Mancari stripped the puck from a Milwaukee defenseman at the blue line, dashed down the ice and stuffed the puck past Smith to give the Wolves a 4-3 lead at the 17:25 mark of the second period.
Duco and Matheson added empty-net goals in the final two minutes to clinch the game, though Duco's wasn't ruled an empty-netter as Smith reversed his dash to the bench and dove in vain to stop the shot. Then, with Smith firmly on the bench in the final minute, Matheson lofted the puck the length of the ice for his first goal of the year.
Milwaukee opened the scoring at 12:27 of the first period. Defenseman Scott Ford pounced on a loose puck at the near-boards and wristed a shot at the net, where forward Gabriel Bourque camped in front of Wolves goaltender Matt Climie and distracted him from making the glove save.
Connauton evened the score seven seconds after the Wolves killed off a Milwaukee power play. Connauton sneaked out of the penalty box and, after corralling a pass from Stefan Schneider, beat Smith on the breakaway with a nifty backhand at the 15:39 mark.
Connauton's power-play goal at the 3:32 mark of the second period gave the Wolves their first lead of the night. Haydar triggered the play as he controlled the puck and threaded the needle from one circle to the other. Connauton timed the pass perfectly with a slapshot that dented the top corner of the net.
Climie (4-2-0), who won for the third consecutive game, stacked up 34 saves. Smith (6-2-1), who entered the night second among AHL goalies with a 1.60 goals-against average, stopped 20 shots.
The Wolves wrap up their five-game road trip on Friday with a return trip to Milwaukee before hosting San Antonio on Saturday at Allstate Arena.
Chicago 1 3 2 -- 6
Milwaukee 1 2 0 -- 3
First Period---1, Milwaukee, Ford 1 (Bourque, Lajunen), 12:27; 2, Chicago, Connauton 3 (Schneider), 15:39. Penalties---Rodin, Chicago (tripping), 5:36; Beck, Milwaukee (goaltender interference), 7:13; Bartley, Milwaukee (hooking), 9:04; Connauton, Chicago (hooking), 13:32; Valentine, Milwaukee (holding), 15:57; Archibald, Chicago (hooking), 16:37.
Second Period---3, Connauton 4 (Haydar, Baumgartner), 3:32, pp; 4, Latta 3 (Josi), 6:46; 5, Latta 4 (Stortini, Ryan), 7:13; 6, Longpre (Haydar), 10:49; 7, Mancari 3 (unassisted), 17:25. Penalties---Stornini, Milwaukee (holding the stick), 2:12; Sauve, Chicago (tripping), 4:41; Flynn, Milwaukee (hooking), 11:42; Mueller, Milwaukee (cross-checking), 17:55.
Third Period---8, Duco 2 (Mancari), 18:33; 9, Matheson 1 (unassisted), 19:08, en. Penalties---Duco, Chicago (roughing, double-minor), 8:39; Lajunen, Milwaukee (roughing), 8:39.
Shots on goal---Chicago: 7-12-7—26. Milwaukee: 13-14-10—37. Power plays---Chicago 1-6. Milwaukee 0-5. Goalies—Chicago, Climie (34-37). Milwaukee, Smith (20-25). A---5,701. Referees---Mark Lemelin and Keith Kaval. Linesmen---Mathieu Chenier and Roger Behling.


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These are the bookings recorded for the Doris C. Gravat Detention Center for June 28–30, 2013. Some of the people listed may not have actually spent time in jail if they posted bond and were released. Although those listed have been arrested and charged, that does not mean they have been found guilty. All bookings may be viewed online by visiting www.aikenstandard.com and clicking on the "Crime" tab.
Richard Barrs Jr. – possession of cocaine bondsman off bond
Joshua Davis – shoplifting second offense
Lindsey Boyle – shoplifting less than $2,000
Jeremy Cokl – family court bench warrant
Jerome Cooper – hold for National Crime Information Center teletype
Leon Aspinwall – shoplifting $2,000 or less
Robert Brown Jr. – driving under the influence third offense
James Daily – shoplifting $2,000 or less
Agustin Campos – no driver's license, no vehicle registration
Ricky Gambrell – violation of conditions
Lacie Doolittle – driving under the influence
Crystal Campbell – criminal domestic violence
Charkrin York – family court civil contempt order
Sarah Singer – assault and battery
Jamar Gordon – unlawful carrying of pistol, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute, simple possession of marijuana, resisting arrest code, trespassing after notice
Randall Morris Jr. – failure to pay as ordered
Joshua Payton – obscene participation
Charles Willard – assault and battery of a high and aggrivated nature
Barnard Livingston – pointing and presenting firearm
Carlton Lamb Jr. – drug possession with intent to distribute first offense, unlawful possession of weapons
Donald Campbell – driving under the influence first offense
Stanley Brown – criminal domestic violence
Cher Collins – false information, soliciting prostitution
Michael Woodward – disorderly conduct
Timothy Lavallee – unlawful use of a telephone
Corey Fields – violation of probation, breach of trust with fraudulent intent $2,000 or less
Bobby Clemons III – driving without a license
Darryl Lawrence – disorderly conduct
Wendy Bogard – criminal domestic violence
Ashley Logue – family court bench warrant two counts
Sharon Lewis – driving under suspension, false information to an officer, drug paraphernalia, open container of beer
Jamie Ramsey – disobeying a lawful order, shoplifting first offense
Adam Seigler – disorderly conduct, open container in vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of marijuana, improper display
Derek Bolin – forgery five counts
Tony Logue – driving without a license
David Mikell Sr. – failure to appear in family court
Nora Padgett – unlawful use of telephone
Tiandra Sullivan – trespassing
Raymond Butler Jr. – malicious injury to property
Brad Johnson – criminal domestic violence
James Robinson – disorderly conduct
Cody Talley – possession of marijuana
Caleb Warren – simple possession of marijuana
Daryl Welsh – possession of marijuana
Terri Sanders – criminal domestic violence, simple possession of marijuana
Joseph Meyer – driving under the influence
LaShannon Cunningham – possession of cocaine, shoplifting first offense
Tyneisha Grier – shoplifting first offense
Johnny Wendelschafer – possession of meth, driving under suspension
Curtis Price – assault and battery third degree
Michael Krukowski – possession of methamphetamine
Matthew Calcutt – public drunkenness
Charles Harlin – criminal domestic violence
Paul Wright – shoplifting first offense
Margaret Carr – possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, reckless driving
Johnny Wells Jr. – hold for National Crime Information Center teletype
David Rosier – driving under the influence
Calvin Manning – disorderly conduct
Johnny Day – operating uninsured vehicle, failure to register, reckless driving, malicious injury to personal property
Johnny Wendel Shaefer – possession of methamphetamine, driving under suspension
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team honored its seniors in front of 2,763 fans Saturday night in a "pinked out" McKenzie Arena and extended its home-court win streak to 25 consecutive games with an 81-39 win over Western Carolina in Southern Conference action.
The Lady Mocs improve to 24-3 overall and 17-1 in league play while the Catamounts fall to 7-19 on the year and 5-12 against the SoCon. The win was Chattanooga's 14th straight this season.
Seniors Kayla Christopher (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) and Kylie Lambert (Etowah, Tenn.) were honored for their four years at Chattanooga prior to the game's tipoff. The night also brought attention to the fight against breast cancer in the "Play4Kay" game at McKenzie. The players donned pink shooting shirts with the "Play4Kay" logo emblazoned on front as well as wearing pink shoes and socks.
Chattanooga head coach Wes Moore spread out the playing time out with each of the 11 players getting at least 10 minutes on the court and all but one scoring. Senior Kayla Christopher (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) led four Lady Mocs in double figures with a game-high 15 points and three assists. Junior Meghan Downes (Newnan, Ga.) dropped in 13 points and had two steals while junior Ashlen Dewart (Spartanburg, S.C.) just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Tatianna Jackson (Atlanta, Ga.) had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Junior Taylor Hall (New Tazewell, Tenn.) had a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points. Freshman Alicia "Red" Payne (Memphis, Tenn.) had seven points, five assists and four steals and junior Faith Dupree went 4-of-5 from the field, including an old-fashioned 3-point play, for nine points in 11 minutes.
Over the first 5:43 of the first half, Chattanooga could only manage four points and five turnovers as the Catamounts got out front 5-4 with 14:17 to go in the opening stanza. But it would become all Lady Mocs basketball after that as Chattanooga went on a 37-4 run over the next 12:54 to take a 41-9 lead. Western Carolina's Janae' McKinney would get the half's final bucket for a 41-11 margin at the break.
Christopher started the run with the first of her three 3-pointers. Payne, Hall and Dupree combined for the next 16 while Christopher closed out the first 21 points of the scoring run with a short jumper to make it 25-5 with 9:30 to go in the first half.
Western Carolina scored the next four points, getting buckets from Lindsey Simpson and Erika Joseph, cutting slightly into the lead to make it 25-9 with 8:27 on the clock. The Lady Mocs started the second half of their run with a layup from freshman Tatianna Jackson (Atlanta, Ga.). Dupree added to her total with a jumper followed by five points from Downes, including one of her three 3-pointers. Dewart hit a pair of layups and senior Kylie Lambert (Etowah, Tenn.) capped off the run with a layup to make it 41-9 with less than a minute in the half.
Chattanooga kept up the pressure in the second half as more Lady Mocs got playing time. With a 37-point lead midway through the second half, Jackson ran off the next six Chattanooga points to make it 67-24 with 8:47 to play. Downes hit the two of her free throw attempts, but got the rebound and put up a 3-pointer to stretch the lead.
Chattanooga's largest lead of the game was 81-33 on a 3-pointer from junior Destiny Bramblett (Radcliff, Ky.) at the 2:19 mark of the game. Bramblett closed out the game with five points and seven rebounds including four on the offensive end.
The Lady Mocs outscored Western Carolina 48-18 in the paint and 45-21 off the bench. UTC forced 13 Catamount turnovers resulting in 19 points to WCU's seven off of nine Chattanooga mistakes. The Lady Mocs got 12 fastbreak points and out rebounded the Catamounts 40-23. UTC grabbed 19 offensive boards resulting in 22 second chance points compared to WCU's one point from four offensive rebounds.
Joseph led Western Carolina with 10 points and five rebounds while Simpson put in seven points. Makensey Campbell had five points, two assists and three of the Catamounts seven blocked shots on the night.
The Lady Mocs will host Davidson Monday night at the Roundhouse in a 7 p.m. start. A Chattanooga win Monday will clinch an 18th Southern Conference crown for the Lady Mocs and 12th of the Wes Moore Era. Tickets are available at the McKenzie Arena box office at 423-266-MOCS (6627) or online at GoMocs.com, the official website of Chattanooga athletics.


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Greatest Game Series of the Decade: Sweet 16 Rundown
Voting in our Greatest Game Series of the Decade brackets? Don't place your votes without getting the rundown on the top 16 games first!
Voting in our Greatest Game Series of the Decade brackets? Don't place your votes without getting the rundown on the top 16 games first!
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Battlefield series in one handy video. Presented by Danny O'Dwyer.
Next installment in Electronic Arts' multiplayer wartime shooter supposedly set in current day, due for release in late 2008
Trauma Studios ex-pats return to the frontlines with a new development house and a new publisher; lead designer Frank DeLise and THQ biz dev boss Dan Kelly talk about the ...
Transaction this week makes EA the majority owner of BF 1942, BF Vietnam developer.
Publisher picks up additional shareholder votes and extends its offer for another month.
[UPDATE] Digital Illusions stockholders balk at EA's buyout offer; deal that was to close December 27 now in limbo.
New $39.95 combo pack features Battlefield 1942, Road to Rome, Secret Weapons of World War II, and other subsequently released content.
Latest twist on Battlefield 1942 treats gamers to trench warfare.
This edition of TenSpot explores the staff picks for the top ten best first person shooters of all time.
BF1942 mod squad Trauma Studios will get $500,000 to assist the Swedish developer with an unnamed project.
The WWII shooter's latest update contains the Battle of Caen, Nazi helicopters, and a patrol boat-load of fixes.
What do the Master Chief, World War II, and Chris Toshok have in common?
Ever-popular online WWII shooter gets hit with a whopping great 250 MB update.
Andrew Park straps on his jetpack to review the second expansion pack to Battlefield 1942.
Secret Weapons of WWII offers new vehicles, weapons, and campaigns.
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Le Castellet, France: A Wood-Fired Pizza Truck in Provence
In Provence, France, buried in the hills of village Le Castellet, one pizza truck is making mouthwatering wood-fired oven pies. The crust, blended with hazelnut flour and baked into a nubby cracker-like crunch, is bested only by the sublime, decadent toppings, like creme fraiche, Reblochon cheese, and juicy lardons. More


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Just got to this post late. FF tubes pretty much keep anything from effecting the barrel giving it a more true point of impact. I have one on a S&W M&P 15 and love it. Many people get tight into there slings and when teh sling is mounted to the barrel it effects it even more. So now the thing to do is get a FF hanguard and attach the sling onto it as to not throw of the point of impact. If you put stress on that barrel you get unusual wear patterns in the barrel as well. I have another AR without FF tubes and my dad even has a 1st Gen AR with the rotary rear sight and the triangle hanguards and I will say I am accurate with all of them, but I have heard of accuracy increasing as much as 50% with them. I have gone 10 for 10 at 500 yds with an M16 A2 so like I said I dont notice it severely but I'm just an AR guy. There is a purpose to them though and it makes a difference for some guys.
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?" -Thomas Jefferson-
"Our rights come from our humanity and may not be legislated away -- not by a vote of Congress, not by the consensus of our neighbors, not even by agreement of all Americans but one." Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
To me if you're a competetive shooter, the free float is mandatory. If you're just a rugular shooter that busting paper and/or home defense, then there is ZERO need for a FF handguard. Of course unless you're into the Mall Ninja thing, so you can brag online about how accurate your AR is compared to everyone eles obviously inferior weapon because it doesn't have a "insert brand name and part here"!!! LOL.
Enforcement, NOT Amnesty!!!!!!
"If theyre going to come here illegally, apply for & receive assistance through a corrupted Government agency encouraging this lawless behavior, work under the table & send billions of dollars each year back to their families in Mexico, while bleeding local economies dry, protest in our streets waving their Mexican flags DEMANDING rights, while I have to press 1′ for English, then they need to be shipped back to where they came from!" -Chad Miller
Hell yea,, I free float everything, even my $89 Wal Mart Savage 22, and that was just a piece of milk jug between the stock and action lug, but it even made that one drive tacks, even though it shot great before, busting penney's at 50 m now one after another, no issue, before 1" groups. And all with 5 minites work and a piece of milk jug, not very high tech at all. Try it out, it really works well believe it or not.
EVEN BUBA,,, can do it!!!
Very good info.. Interesting.. Reading one of the gun books, I could not believe the barrel really does bend.
But the Mosin.
Check out Mr. "White Death."
Top sniper WWII... Finn. Russian commie killer..
Rifle, old beater Mosin Nagant.
First 500 kills, with no sights.
His next 201 kills, they broke down and bought him a scope..
That was nice of the cheap skates..
Total confirmed now 701.
Last edited by 4thIDvet; 04-23-2013 at 03:28 AM.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
i saw some ninjas ar-15 the other day--it was free floated and quad railed and even the quad rail had its on angle mount rails! which held more rails--damn rail crazy!--
i really need the FF quad just to be in with that IN crowd--sort of a fashion statement--LOL!


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NPR Story
The Role Of Political Spouses: Decoding An Image
By NPR Staff
One of the most talked about personalities on the Republican presidential campaign trail, Callista Gingrich, rarely says a word. That hasn't kept her out of the spotlight, though. From their hair to their home life, potential first ladies get attention on the campaign trail.


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The invention relates to identification documents, and in particular to pre-printing processing covert images, such as UV or IR images, provided on such identification documents. In one implementation, the invention includes a method of processing a digital image that is to be printed on a surface of an identification document as a fluorescing-capable image to improve the quality of the image. Edges or boundaries are detected within the image, the detected edges or boundaries forming an intermediate image. The edges or boundaries within the image are emphasized, and the emphasized image is used for printing the covert image. In some implementations of the invention, a digital watermark is embedded in the covert image.
1. A computerized method to reduce at least one of image washout and blurring caused by the fluorescence of a covert image that is to be transferred to an identification document for printing, said method comprising, prior to the transfer of the covert image:
providing a computer system, the computer system running executable software, the executable software running one or more edge detection algorithms, at least one digital image to be processed by the computer system using the executable software, the digital image being stored in association with the computer system and comprising image pixels of varying degrees of dark and light;
the computer system accessing and retrieving the digital image that is to be used as a model to generate a covert image that is to be printed using the computer system on the identification document using a fluorescing medium;
the executable software increasing contrast in the digital image, the step of increasing contrast including making dark pixels relatively darker and light pixels relatively lighter;
the executable software identifying one or more contour(s) of the image pixels of the digital image where luminosity of the increased-contrast digital image changes more sharply than at adjoining regions in the image using the computer system;
the executable software, in the step of identifying contours of image pixels of the digital image further comprising the steps of generating a horizontal edge image comprising horizontal edge components, generating a vertical edge image comprising vertical edge components and summing the vertical and horizontal edge images to form a composite image;
the executable software emphasizing said contour(s) by iteratively adding copies of the composite image onto itself wherein each added copy is offset with respect to the previous copy; and
the computer system forming a master for guiding printing of the covert image.
2. The method of
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This application claims the priority of the following United States Provisional Applications:
This application is also related to the following U.S. patent applications:
Systems and Methods for Recognition of Individuals Using Combination of Biometric Techniques (Application No. 60/418,129, filed Oct. 11, 2002—Inventors James V. Howard and Francis Frazier);
The present invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/747,735, filed Dec. 22, 2000, and Ser. No. 09/602,313, filed Jun. 23, 2000, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,594.
Each of the above U.S. Patent documents is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention generally relates to identification and security documents, and in particular, relates to enhancing the formation a covert image such as a fluorescing, ultraviolet, infrared, thermachromic and/or optical variable image on such documents.
Identification documents (hereafter "ID documents") play a critical role in today's society. One example of an ID document is an identification card ("ID card"). ID documents are used on a daily basis—to prove identity, to verify age, to access a secure area, to evidence driving privileges, to cash a check, and so on. Airplane passengers are required to show an ID document during check in, security screening and prior to boarding their flight. In addition, because we live in an ever-evolving cashless society, ID documents are used to make payments, access an automated teller machine (ATM), debit an account, or make a payment, etc.
(For the purposes of this disclosure, ID documents are broadly defined herein, and include, e.g., credit cards, bank cards, phone cards, passports, driver's licenses, network access cards, employee badges, debit cards, security cards, visas, immigration documentation, national ID cards, citizenship cards, social security cards, security badges, certificates, identification cards or documents, voter registration cards, police ID cards, border crossing cards, legal instruments, security clearance badges and cards, gun permits, gift certificates or cards, membership cards or badges, etc., etc. Also, the terms "document," "card," "badge" and "documentation" are used interchangeably throughout this patent application.).
Many types of identification cards and documents, such as driving licenses, national or government identification cards, bank cards, credit cards, controlled access cards and smart cards, carry thereon certain items of information which relate to the identity of the bearer. Examples of such information include name, address, birth date, signature and photographic image; the cards or documents may in addition carry other variant data (i.e., data specific to a particular card or document, for example an employee number) and invariant data (i.e., data common to a large number of cards, for example the name of an employer). All of the cards described above will hereinafter be generically referred to as "ID documents".
As those skilled in the art know, ID documents such as drivers licenses can contain information such as a photographic image, a bar code (which may contain information specific to the person whose image appears in the photographic image, and/or information that is the same from ID document to ID document), variable personal information, such as an address, signature, and/or birthdate, biometric information associated with the person whose image appears in the photographic image (e.g., a fingerprint), a magnetic stripe (which, for example, can be on the a side of the ID document that is opposite the side with the photographic image), and various security features, such as a security pattern (for example, a printed pattern comprising a tightly printed pattern of finely divided printed and unprinted areas in close proximity to each other, such as a fine-line printed security pattern as is used in the printing of banknote paper, stock certificates, and the like).
An exemplary ID document can comprise a core layer (which can be pre-printed), such as a light-colored, opaque material (e.g., TESLIN (available from PPG Industries) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material). The core is laminated with a transparent material, such as clear PVC to form a so-called "card blank". Information, such as variable personal information (e.g., photographic information), is printed on the card blank using a method such as Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer ("D2T2") printing (described further below and also described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,594, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.) The information can, for example, comprise an indicium or indicia, such as the invariant or nonvarying information common to a large number of identification documents, for example the name and logo of the organization issuing the documents. The information may be formed by any known process capable of forming the indicium on the specific core material used.
To protect the information that is printed, an additional layer of transparent overlaminate can be coupled to the card blank and printed information, as is known by those skilled in the art. Illustrative examples of usable materials for overlaminates include biaxially oriented polyester or other optically clear durable plastic film.
In the production of images useful in the field of identification documentation, it may be desirable to embody into a document (such as an ID card, drivers license, passport or the like) data or indicia representative of the document issuer (e.g., an official seal, or the name or mark of a company or educational institution) and data or indicia representative of the document bearer (e.g., a photographic likeness, name or address). Typically, a pattern, logo or other distinctive marking representative of the document issuer will serve as a means of verifying the authenticity, genuineness or valid issuance of the document. A photographic likeness or other data or indicia personal to the bearer will validate the right of access to certain facilities or the prior authorization to engage in commercial transactions and activities.
Identification documents, such as ID cards, having printed background security patterns, designs or logos and identification data personal to the card bearer have been known and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,970, issued Sep. 18, 1973 to M. Annenberg; in Great Britain Pat. No. 1,472,581, issued to G. A. O. Gesellschaft Fur Automation Und Organisation mbH, published Mar. 10, 1976; in International Patent Application PCT/GB82/00150, published Nov. 25, 1982 as Publication No. WO 82/04149; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,775, issued Mar. 31, 1987 to T. Raphael, et al.; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,949, issued Apr. 19, 1988 to G. S. Sethi, et al.; and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,987, issued Nov. 16, 1993 to J. W. Luening, et al. All of the aforementioned documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
Printing Information onto ID Documents
The advent of commercial apparatus (printers) for producing dye images by thermal transfer has made relatively commonplace the production of color prints from electronic data acquired by a video camera. In general, this is accomplished by the acquisition of digital image information (electronic signals) representative of the red, green and blue content of an original, using color filters or other known means. Devices such as digital cameras, optical sensors, and scanners also can provide digital image information. The digital image information is utilized to print an image onto a data carrier. For example, information can be printed using a printer having a plurality of small heating elements (e.g., pins) for imagewise heating of each of a series of donor sheets (respectively, carrying diffuseable cyan, magenta and yellow dye). The donor sheets are brought into contact with an image-receiving element (which can, for example, be a substrate) which has a layer for receiving the dyes transferred imagewise from the donor sheets. Thermal dye transfer methods as aforesaid are known and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,271, issued Nov. 4, 1986 to S. Brownstein and U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,989, issued Jun. 18, 1991 to Y. H. Chiang, et al. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference.
Dye diffusion thermal transfer printing ("D2T2") and thermal transfer (also referred to as mass transfer printing) are two printing techniques that have been used to print information on identification cards. For example, D2T2 has been used to print images and pictures, and thermal transfer has been used to print text, bar codes, and single color graphics.
D2T2 is a thermal imaging technology that allows for the production of photographic quality images. In D2T2 printing, one or more thermally transferable dyes (e.g., cyan, yellow, and magenta) are transferred from a donor, such as a donor dye sheet or a set of panels (or ribbons) that are coated with a dye (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, black, etc.) to a receiver sheet (which could, for example, be part of an ID document) by the localized application of heat or pressure, via a stylus or thermal printhead at a discrete point. When the dyes are transferred to the receiver, the dyes diffuse into the sheet (or ID card substrate), where the dyes will chemically be bound to the substrate or, if provided, to a receptor coating. Typically, printing with successive color panels across the document creates an image in or on the document's surface. D2T2 can result in a very high printing quality, especially because the energy applied to the thermal printhead can vary to vary the dye density in the image pixels formed on the receiver, to produce a continuous tone image. D2T2 can have an increased cost as compared to other methods, however, because of the special dyes needed and the cost of D2T2 ribbons. Also, the quality of D2T2-printed image may depend at least on an ability of a mechanical printer system to accurately spatially register a printing sequence, e.g., yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
Another thermal imaging technology is thermal or mass transfer printing. With mass transfer printing, a material to be deposited on a receiver (such as carbon black (referred to by the symbol "K")) is provided on a mass transfer donor medium. When localized heat is applied to the mass transfer donor medium, a portion (mass) of the material is physically transferred to the receiver, where it sits "on top of" the receiver. For example, mass transfer printing often is used to print text, bar codes, and monochrome images. Resin black mass transfer has been used to print grayscale pictures using a dithered gray scale, although the image can sometimes look coarser than an image produced using D2T2. However, mass transfer printing can sometimes be faster than D2T2, and faster printing can be desirable in some situations.
Printing of black ("K") can be accomplished using either D2T2 or mass transfer. For example, black monochrome "K" mass transfer ribbons include Kr (which designates a thermal transfer ribbon) and Kd (which designates dye diffusion).
Both D2T2 and thermal ink have been combined in a single ribbon, which is the well-known YMCK (Yellow-Magenta-Cyan-Black) ribbon (the letter "K" is used to designate the color black in the printing industry). Another panel containing a protectant ("P") or laminate (typically a clear panel) also can be added to the YMCK ribbon).
UV Security Features in ID Documents
One response to the problem of counterfeiting ID documents has involved the integration of verification features that are difficult to copy by hand or by machine, or which are manufactured using secure and/or difficult to obtain materials. One such verification feature is the use in the card of a signature of the card's issuer or bearer. Other verification features have involved, for example, the use of watermarks, biometric information, microprinting, covert materials or media (e.g., ultraviolet (UV) inks, infrared (IR) inks, fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials), optically varying images, fine line details, validation patterns or marking, and polarizing stripes. These verification features are integrated into an identification card in various ways and they may be visible or invisible (covert) in the finished card. If invisible, they can be detected by viewing the feature under conditions which render it visible. At least some of the verification features discussed above have been employed to help prevent and/or discourage counterfeiting.
Covert security features are those features whose presence is not visible to the user without the use of special tools (e.g., UV or IR lights, digital watermark readers) or knowledge. In many instances, a covert security feature is normally invisible to a user. Some technologies that involve invisible features require the use of specialized equipment, such as a detector or a device capable of reading digital watermarks. One type of covert security feature is the printing of information (images, designs, logos, patterns, text, etc.) in a material that is not visible under normal lighting conditions, but can be viewed using a special non-visible light source, such as an ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) light source. Use of UV and/or IR security features can be advantageous because although the devices (for example, UV and/or IR light sources) required to see and use such features are commonly available at a reasonable cost, the ability to manufacture and/or copy at least some implementations of such features is far less common and can be very costly. UV and IR based covert security features thus can help deter counterfeiters because the features cannot be copied by copiers or scanners and are extremely difficult to manufacture without the requisite know-how, equipment, and materials.
For example, the assignee of the present invention has developed and marketed a proprietary product called PolaPrime-UV™. PolaPrime-UV™ is a type of security feature. One application of PolaPrime-UV™ is for full color photo quality printing of fixed (i.e., not variable data) fluorescent images. The artwork that can be printed using PolaPrime-UV™ includes many images that can be produced with a combination of red, green, and blue phosphors. Under the appropriate light (e.g., a light source capable of providing UV light), the effect seen when viewing an image printed with PolaPrime-UV™ is similar in appearance to a television screen in that the image is formed by emission of light rather than reflection as with ink on paper. To date, PolaPrime-UV™ has been a reliable authenticator for genuine identification documents.
Printing of Covert Materials Such as UV
Many images, such as color images, are formed by subtractive techniques, e.g., light is passed through absorbing dyes and the combination of dyes produce an image by sequentially subtracting cyan, magenta, and yellow components to provide the full color image. In the case of a UV fluorescing image, the UV image is formed by light emitting from fluorescing dyes or pigments as they are activated by a UV light or energy source. A UV image can be imparted to an ID document via methods such as thermal transfer or D2T2.
Regardless of whether the UV materials are imparted via D2T2 or mass transfer panel, both panels produce transmissive images—the mass transfer panel produces a bitonal (e.g., two tones) image and the dye sublimation panel produces a monochromatic (or shaded) image.
For purposes of identification (e.g., of the bearer of an ID document or of the ID document itself), an ID document includes at least one image that is an "identification quality" likeness of the holder such that someone viewing the card can determine with reasonable confidence whether the holder of the card actually is the person whose image is on the card. "Identification quality" images, in at least one embodiment of the invention, include images that, when viewed using the proper facilitator (e.g., an appropriate light source for certain covert images, an appropriate temperature source for thermachromic images, etc.), provide a discernable image that is usable for identification or authentication purposes. To date, however, it has been very difficult to print images such as driver's license portraits with covert (i.e., not visible to an unaided human eye) materials/media such as UV, IR, thermachromic (materials whose appearance changes and/or becomes visible to a naked human eye with temperature), ferrofluids (materials whose appearance changes and/or becomes visible to a naked human eye upon application of a magnetic field) materials, where the quality of the covert image is sufficient to enable the image to be relied upon for identification or authentication. This can be especially difficult when attempting to print color images using covert materials.
Further, because of the enhanced security provided by the use of full color UV printing, such as is proposed in co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/330,032 (entitled "Covert Variable Information on Identification Documents and Methods of Making Same", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference), it would be advantageous to be able to print variable or personal UV information at the time of card personalization, in one, two, or three UV colors, especially images that have a high enough quality to be used for authentication and/or identification. It also would be advantageous if the same information could be printed in a visible and invisible (e.g., UV) form at substantially the same time or at substantially the same printing step, where the covert image would be "identification quality".
In one embodiment of the invention, we provide methods by which one improves a digital image from which a covert image is formed. One aspect of our invention provides improvements to reduce a "washed-out" effect that can occur when a covert image that has been printed using a covert media such as UV ink, IR ink, thermachromic ink, inks comprising ferrofluids, and the like, is appropriately stimulated so as to cause the covert image to become visible. For example, such washed out effect can be seen when a UV or IR image fluoresces.
One problem that has prevented covert images such as UV or IR images from being "identification quality" is the problem of blurred image details. For example, a problem that can be associated with printing a UV covert image is that since the UV covert image 14 "glows" under appropriate UV stimulation, image details can be less apparent, blurred or can be completely lost. The UV glowing is capable of essentially "washing out" an image's perceptible crispness (e.g., similar to a situation in which a dimly lighted object is in proximity to a brightly lighted object). Similar problems can exist with IR glowing and with thermachromic inks. The inventors of the instant invention have found that image details can be enhanced to overcome this washout problem. In particular, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the inventors have found that it is possible to digitally process an image prior to printing to compensate for the glowing effect.
UV (and/or IR) image glow which washes out the details of a fluorescing UV (and/or IR) image can thus present a considerable problem in relying upon such covert images for identification. To create a discernable fluorescing image on an ID document (useful for identification and security checks), in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the inventors have found that we can enhance the digital data that is used to create the UV image. Without the inventive enhancements described herein, for example if one simply prints the digital information as such from a digital camera or scanned image, etc., then one may get gets (when fluorescing) an image that may not as useful for security or identification purposes due to the washed out effect of the UV image. The details of our inventive techniques follow.
In a further embodiment of the invention, steganographic embedded code, such a digital watermark, can be provided in the covert image 14.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of processing a digital image that is to be printed on a surface of an identification document as covert image. At least one of edges and boundaries within the image is detected, the detected edges or boundaries forming an intermediate image. The edges or boundaries within the intermediate image are emphasized.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing a covert image to an identification document. Contrast is increased in at least a portion of the digital image. The contrast-increased portion of the digital image is dithered. The dithered image is transferred to the identification document.
In one embodiment, the invention provides and identification document comprising a core layer and a cover image printed to the core layer. The core layer comprises a core material capable of having printed thereon an image formed using a covert medium. The cover image is formed by providing a digital image that is to be used as a model to generate the covert image, increasing the contrast in the digital image, detecting edges or boundaries within the digital image, the detected edges or boundaries forming an intermediate image, emphasizing the edges or boundaries within the intermediate image, and printing the emphasized intermediate image in a covert medium on the core layer.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be even more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings and the claims.
The advantages, features, and aspects of embodiments of the invention will be more fully understood in conjunction with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
Of course, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, with emphasis rather being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate like elements or steps.
In the foregoing discussion, the use of the word "ID document" is broadly defined and intended to include all types of ID documents, including (but not limited to), documents, magnetic disks, credit cards, bank cards, phone cards, stored value cards, prepaid cards, smart cards (e.g., cards that include one more semiconductor chips, such as memory devices, microprocessors, and microcontrollers), contact cards, contactless cards, proximity cards (e.g., radio frequency (RFID) cards), passports, driver's licenses, network access cards, employee badges, debit cards, security cards, visas, immigration documentation, national ID cards, citizenship cards, social security cards, security badges, certificates, identification cards or documents, voter registration and/or identification cards, police ID cards, border crossing cards, security clearance badges and cards, legal instruments, gun permits, badges, gift certificates or cards, membership cards or badges, and tags. Also, the terms "document," "card," "badge" and "documentation" are used interchangeably throughout this patent application.). In at least some aspects of the invention, ID document can include any item of value (e.g., currency, bank notes, and checks) where authenticity of the item is important and/or where counterfeiting or fraud is an issue.
In addition, in the foregoing discussion, "identification" at least refers to the use of an ID document to provide identification and/or authentication of a user and/or the ID document itself. For example, in a conventional driver's license, one or more portrait images on the card are intended to show a likeness of the authorized holder of the card. For purposes of identification, at least one portrait on the card (regardless of whether or not the portrait is visible to a human eye without appropriate stimulation) preferably shows an "identification quality" likeness of the holder such that someone viewing the card can determine with reasonable confidence whether the holder of the card actually is the person whose image is on the card. "Identification quality" images, in at least one embodiment of the invention, include covert images that, when viewed using the proper facilitator (e.g., an appropriate light or temperature source), provide a discernable image that is usable for identification or authentication purposes.
There are a number of reasons why an image or information on an ID document might not qualify as an "identification quality" image. Images that are not "identification quality" may be too faint, blurry, coarse, small, etc., to be able to be discernable enough to serve an identification purpose. An image that might not be sufficient as an "identification quality" image, at least in some environments, could, for example, be an image that consists of a mere silhouette of a person, or an outline that does not reveal what might be considered essential identification essential (e.g. hair or eye color) of an individual.
Of course, it is appreciated that certain images may be considered to be "identification quality" if the images are machine readable or recognizable, even if such images do not appear to be "identification quality" to a human eye, whether or not the human eye is assisted by a particular piece of equipment, such as a special light source. For example, in at least one embodiment of the invention, an image or data on an ID document can be considered to be "identification quality" if it has embedded in it machine-readable information (such as digital watermarks or steganographic information) that also facilitate identification and/or authentication.
Further, in at least some embodiments, "identification" and "authentication" are intended to include (in addition to the conventional meanings of these words), functions such as recognition, information, decoration, and any other purpose for which an indicia can be placed upon an article in the article's raw, partially prepared, or final state. Also, instead of ID documents, the inventive techniques can be employed with product tags, product packaging, business cards, bags, charts, maps, labels, etc., etc., particularly those items including marking of an laminate or over-laminate structure. The term ID document thus is broadly defined herein to include these tags, labels, packaging, cards, etc.
"Personalization", "Personalized data" and "variable" data are used interchangeably herein, and refer at least to data, images, and information that are "personal to" or "specific to" a specific cardholder or group of cardholders. Personalized data can include data that is unique to a specific cardholder (such as biometric information, image information, serial numbers, Social Security Numbers, privileges a cardholder may have, etc.), but is not limited to unique data. Personalized data can include some data, such as birthdate, height, weight, eye color, address, etc., that are personal to a specific cardholder but not necessarily unique to that cardholder (for example, other cardholders might share the same personal data, such as birthdate). In at least some embodiments of the invention, personal/variable data can include some fixed data, as well. For example, in at least some embodiments, personalized data refers to any data that is not pre-printed onto an ID document in advance, so such personalized data can include both data that is cardholder-specific and data that is common to many cardholders. Variable data can, for example, be printed on an information-bearing layer of the ID card using thermal printing ribbons and thermal printheads.
Image Processing
In one embodiment of the invention, the inventors have found that different image processing techniques are used to preprocess an original image that is to be printed as a covert image (using, for example, a covert media) depending on whether the tonality of image reproduction (e.g., printing process) is bitonal (e.g., two tones such as black and white or a first color and second color) or monochromatic (e.g., shaded image, grayscale, etc.). The inventors also note that other optional factors to consider include the viewing methods used with the image, such as reflectance, transmissive characteristics (e.g., as discussed above with the UV glowing) and tactility.)
For the methods discussed below, assume that an image is in digital form, such as resulting from being digitally captured, e.g., via a digital camera, optical sensor, etc., or through scanning a photograph with a scanner, etc. In at least some embodiments of the invention, we provide methods to refine this captured image to produce an intermediate image, which can be transferred or printed (or used to generate an image to be transferred or printed) to the identification document as covert image 14.
Mass Transfer Images
In one embodiment, the invention provide a method that can be particularly well suited for producing bitonal images (e.g., black and white images), such as produced through mass-transfer thermal printing and Laser Xerography. Generally, in this embodiment, we process a captured image to bring-out or otherwise enhance relevant features found in the captured image. Relevant features of a human face may include the face outline, nose and mouth pattern, ear outline, eye shape, eye location hairline and shape, etc., or any other feature(s) that have been deemed to be relevant for identification purposes (e.g., particular features used with matching algorithms such as facial recognition algorithms). Once identified, these featured can be "thickened" or otherwise emphasized. The emphasized features can then form a digital version of a covert image, which can be transferred to an identification card.
The following discussion proceeds with reference to the accompanying flow diagrams and Figures and images (
We note that in an alternative embodiment, the identification document 8 need not include all three of the images 10, 12, and 14. For example, in one embodiment, the identification document 8 can only include covert image 14. In another embodiment, the identification document includes both covert image 14 and image 10. (Note that
In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is an ultraviolet (UV) image, meaning that it glows (e.g., visibly fluoresces or emits radiation) in response to appropriate UV stimulation. (In some implementation, the UV fluoresces in the UV spectrum upon excitation with visible light.). Covert image 14 is generally imperceptible under normal (e.g., non-ultraviolet or non-angle) viewing conditions
In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is an infrared (IR) image, meaning that it glows (e.g., visibly fluoresces or emits radiation) in response to appropriate IR stimulation. In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is a thermachromic image, meaning that it becomes visible only when the image (or entire ID document 8) is subject to a predetermined change in temperature, such as by heating or cooling. In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is an optically variable image, meaning that covert image 14 is most visible when viewed at an angle. In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is formed using a material such as a ferrofluid (available from FeroTec of Nashua, N.H.). Ferrofluids are responsive to magnetic fields, and we anticipate that ferrofluids can be used to produce covert images that become visible when an appropriate magnetic field is applied to the ferrofluid.
In one embodiment of the invention, covert image 14 is a combination of any one or more of UV, IR, thermachromic, ferrofluidic, and/or optically variable images. For example, covert image 14 can be both a UV and a thermachromic image by printing the card area, using the methods described herein, with both UV and thermachromic inks, meaning that when subject to appropriate stimulation, the normally "blank" area of the card will display either a UV image (if appropriate UV stimulation is provided) or a thermachromic image (if appropriate temperature is provided). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many combinations are possible. It is even envisioned that combination type inks, such as UV thermachromic inks (meaning inks that, to display an image, require both UV and appropriate temperature), the methods described herein will be usable with such inks.
In addition, it should be noted that although
We analyze the contrast-enhanced image to identify or detect edges and/or boundaries within the image in step 24. As noted, eyes, nose and mouth often include prominent edges. Our preferred edge detection algorithm is the Sobel algorithm, however, we note that many other conventional algorithms such as other gradient-based edge detection algorithms (e.g., Roberts, Prewitt), Laplacian (e.g., Morrs-Hildreth) and the Canny edge algorithm can be suitably interchanged with this aspect of the present invention, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Such algorithms are described, for example, in Alan Watt and Fabio Policarpo, The Computer Image, (Addison Wesley 1998) at p. 247-249, and also in many U.S. patent documents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,526,161 and 4,443,438 which are incorporated herein by reference. The results of an edge detector produce an outline-like image, which highlights the edges (or maybe just the significant edges) of the monochromatic image. If using a Sobel algorithm, or another algorithm that produces multiple planes, a horizontal edge plane (
The composite image is then smeared, thickened or otherwise emphasized in step 28 (
In one embodiment of the invention, this thickened image (
We have found that the method of
An alternative implementation of the invention is discussed with reference to
Referring again to
The composite image of step 36 is used to guide printing (step 38). In some implementations we convert the composite image into a binaryized or bitonal image (e.g.,
With reference to
In one embodiment of the invention, we embed a steganographic code into the covert image 14. For example, steganographic code can be embedded into a covert UV image 14. The code can be embedded in the master image, e.g., image 5 g. Or the code can be embedded in perceptually significant features, e.g., facial outlines, hair, etc. that are able to survive the processing of
One form of steganographic encoding is digital watermarking. Digital watermarking is a process for modifying physical or electronic media to embed a machine-readable code into the media. The media may be modified such that the embedded code is imperceptible or nearly imperceptible to the user, yet may be detected through an automated detection process. In some embodiments, the identification document includes two or more digital watermarks.
Digital watermarking systems typically have two primary components: an encoder that embeds the digital watermark in a host media signal, and a decoder that detects and reads the embedded digital watermark from a signal suspected of containing a digital watermark (a suspect signal). The encoder embeds a digital watermark by altering the host media signal. The reading component analyzes a suspect signal to detect whether a digital watermark is present. In applications where the digital watermark encodes information, the reader extracts this information from the detected digital watermark. The reading component can be hosted on a wide variety of tethered or wireless reader devices, from conventional PC-connected cameras and computers to fully mobile readers with built-in displays. By imaging a watermarked surface of the card, the watermark's "payload" can be read and decoded by this reader.
Several particular digital watermarking techniques have been developed. The reader is presumed to be familiar with the literature in this field. Some techniques for embedding and detecting imperceptible watermarks in media signals are detailed in the assignee's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/503,881, U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,403 and PCT patent application PCT/US02/20832, which are each herein incorporated by reference.
Returning to the present implementation, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a digital watermark is embedded in the covert image 14. For purposes of illustration, assume that the covert image 14 is a UV image printed in accordance with any of the methods of
In one embodiment, the watermark embedded in the covert image 14 may include a payload or message. The message may correspond, e.g., to the ID document number, printed information, issuing authority, biometric information of the bearer, and/or database record, etc. The watermark embedded in the covert image 14 may also include an orientation component, to help resolve image distortion such as rotation, scaling and translation. In at least one embodiment of the invention, we embed two or more watermarks in the OVD image.
In further embodiments, the watermark embedded in the covert image 14 corresponds to information printed on the ID document, or to information carried by a second watermark embedded elsewhere on the ID document (e.g., background pattern, image 10, etc.). More techniques for digital watermarks and ID cards can be found in Digimarc's U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/421,254, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/094,593, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,886. Each of these patent documents is incorporated herein by reference. We expressly contemplate that the techniques disclosed in this application can be combined with the aspects of the present invention.
Concluding Remarks
Having described and illustrated the principles of the technology with reference to specific implementations, it will be recognized that the technology can be implemented in many other, different, forms, and in many different environments.
The technology disclosed herein can be used in combination with other technologies. Also, instead of ID documents, the inventive techniques can be employed with product tags, product packaging, labels, business cards, bags, charts, smart cards, maps, labels, etc., etc. The term ID document is broadly defined herein to include these tags, maps, labels, packaging, cards, etc.
It should be appreciated that while
It should be understood that while our some of our detailed embodiments described herein use UV inks and/or dyes by way of example, the present invention is not so limited. Our inventive techniques and methods will improve the visibility and crispness of infrared and other fluorescing images as well. The inventive techniques and methods can improve the visibility and crispness of thermachromic inks and resins (i.e., inks and resins whose appearance changes and/or becomes visible with temperature changes). Moreover, our inventive techniques are useful for preprocessing images destined for ID documents using various printing processes including, but not limited to, dye infusion, mass-transfer, laser xerography, ink jet, wax transfer, variable dot transfer, and other printing methods by which a fluorescing image can be formed.
It should be appreciated that the methods described above with respect to
To provide a comprehensive disclosure without unduly lengthening the specification, applicants hereby incorporate by reference each of the U.S. patent documents referenced above.
The technology and solutions disclosed herein have made use of elements and techniques known from the cited documents. Other elements and techniques from the cited documents can similarly be combined to yield further implementations within the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, single-bit watermarking can be substituted for multi-bit watermarking, technology described as using imperceptible watermarks or encoding can alternatively be practiced using visible watermarks (glyphs, etc.) or other encoding, local scaling of watermark energy can be provided to enhance watermark signal-to-noise ratio without increasing human perceptibility, various filtering operations can be employed to serve the functions explained in the prior art, watermarks can include subliminal graticules to aid in image re-registration, encoding may proceed at the granularity of a single pixel (or DCT coefficient), or may similarly treat adjoining groups of pixels (or DCT coefficients), the encoding can be optimized to withstand expected forms of content corruption, etc. Thus, the exemplary embodiments are only selected samples of the solutions available by combining the teachings referenced above.
The other solutions necessarily are not exhaustively described herein, but are fairly within the understanding of an artisan given the foregoing disclosure and familiarity with the cited art. The particular combinations of elements and features in the above-detailed embodiments are exemplary only; the interchanging and substitution of these teachings with other teachings in this and the incorporated-by-reference patent documents are also expressly contemplated.
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Showing 1-24 of 34 items found in Sports & Gaming
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All Spoked Up
All Spoked Up has the best variety of kids, cruisers, road, mountain, fixed gear and BMX bicycles, along with the highest quality and best price service/rep.
Nettle Creek Country Club
Introducing Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris, Illinois. Nettle Creek is links-style golf in a beautiful prairie environment rich with wildlife. Renowned on the Chicagoland golf circuit for its fabulous greens, this upscale, 18-hole championship course is an easy drive from the populous Naperville-Bolingbrook-Plainfield area and just 18 miles west of Joliet on I-80.
The Foundry
This is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves sports. The only sports bar with 22 projection TVs and 140 flat screen TVs. If your sport is on TV they have it! OTB, slots, shuffleboard tables, pool tables, sand volleyball, team trivia, indoor tobacco shop and lounge. Fantastic menu, MUG club and drink specials. Three separate bars and private spaces available for catered parties. Salsa dancing w lessons featured on Tuesday's and Friday's as well as Team Trivia Tuesday's and Thursday's.
Penny's Place
Blackhawk Restaurant Group has created four brands in Illinois--- all with the same contemporary style, comfortable design, and tempting menu-- but each with its own unique personality. We offer a warm, contemporary and comfortable setting for adults to enjoy smaller plates, sweet treats, gourmet coffee and tea, along with beer and wine. We are your neighborhood place to play Illinois' newest slot and video poker games. Come in and experience a new kind of fun!
Chicago Golf and Tiki Tees
Located at 210 SOUTH POINTE COURT, DeKalb Illinois 60115. Chicago Golf and Tiki Tees course commands some of the finest views of Dekalb open space and trails. The facility features a challenging 9-hole championship golf course. Its beautiful, mature and lush foliage and trees complement the manicured greens, tees and fairways. Combined with its exceptional course design, golfers of all skill levels return time and again to play. There is also a Club House, Tiki Bar for outdoor events, and indoor banquet hall for up to 160 guests.
Turf Room
Relax, this place has a winning combination of fine dining and exciting atmosphere. OTB, cozy fireplace, fine wine, gourmet burgers. American eclectic menu that changes with each season. Whether in one of their three dining rooms, lounge, wine bar or track room you're assured of a great experience. So relax and enjoy the upbeat atmosphere, friendly services and most of all the unique gastronomy.
CITY:North Aurora
Ogee Golf & Country Club
Ogee features a nine-hole course.
CITY:Paw Paw
Prairie Pines Golf Course
Located 2 1/2 miles west of Annie Glidden Road on Route 38 in Dekalb, Illinois. The nine-hole, par 34 facility features a gently rolling course on 53 acres surrounded by farmland. Soothing views of pine trees and beautiful fields make the experience a pleasure and prevent worries about errant shots hitting homes nearby. Water features are promenant on holes number 2 and 3 and a meandering stream through the course provides ample challenge. Thinking of an outing or a family reunion? You can rent the whole facility at a reasonable price for a few hours or the whole day. Besides access to nine holes of golf and carts, "The Pines" offers fishing in their ponds, a large outdoor barbeque and plenty of space for horseshoes, volleyball, or bag games.
River Heights Golf Course
River Heights Golf Course is an 18-hole facility that winds along the banks of the Kiswaukee River in DaKalb County, offering a challenging mix of traditional and links-type holes for the weekend player or serious golfer.
Edgebrook Golf Club
This public course has tree-lined fairways and a hilly terrain. There is a creek and lake that come into play on six holes, and out-of-bounds stakes on just about every hole.
Buena Vista Golf Course
Buena Vista is a par 32, nine-hole golf course with a driving range, pro shop and snack bar. Open seven days a week during the season, weather permitting.
Sycamore Golf Club
This par 71, 18-hole golf club offers watered bent grass fairways, a putting green, swimming pool, tennis courts and horse shoes. Seats up to 120 people for meetings and events.
Naperbrook Golf Course
Naperbrook Golf Course is an 18-hole links-style course featuring rolling hills, native prairie grass and an ever-present breeze. The course offers a ten-acre driving range, separate teaching tee, 10,000 square-foot practice green and versatile clubhouse.
Northern Illinois University Sports (NIU Sports)
The Northern Illinois University Huskies play in the MAC Conference and have a diverse athletic department. Their many sports teams include: Men's football, baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis and wrestling, while their women's teams include: Basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
Blackberry Oaks Golf Course
This 18-hole course is par 72.
Sycamore Family Sports Center
Enjoy family fun at the Sports Center with a golf driving range, an 18-hole mini golf course, six batting cages from Little League to professional, go-karts and soccer kicking cages.
Fox Bend Golf Course
Fox Bend offers a challenging and scenic tour of streams, ponds, willow trees and elevation changes. This highly regarded course has played host to several tournaments and qualifiers.
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
A pool of clear bubbling water which sparkles like silver on sunny days provides the basis for the name of Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area. Even on extremely cold days, this pool does not freeze, and visitors marvel at the bordering beds of watercress. Majestic oaks and prairie grasslands provide a panorama of natural beauty to park visitors. The Fox River runs through this picturesque area which is also home to several small manmade lakes. A natural prairie restoration project gives visitors a feeling of the original landscape with native wildflowers, songbirds, waterfowl and upland game. Picnicking, fishing and hiking are popular pastimes in summer, with ice fishing, sledding, ice skating and cross-country ski trails available for the winter sports lover. For relaxing, exercising or just enjoying nature, Silver Springs is the perfect get away location.
NIU Convocation Center
Northern Illinois University's 10,000 seat Convocation Center is a $36 million multipurpose facility that hosts a variety of events such as concerts, family shows, theatrical productions, commencement ceremonies, job fairs, trade shows and NIU Huskie Division I athletic events (basketball, volleyball, track, gymnastics and wrestling). The NIU Convocation Center hosted a total of 200+ events per year.
Pine Hills Golf Club
Described as a Canyon Course complete with bluffs, valleys, hills and hundreds of trees. It is a challenge to both the beginner and the seasoned golfer and is recognized by many players as one of the finest 9-hole facilities in the country. The Club House offers a friendly atmosphere and includes a Pro-Shop, full service bar & restaurant with panoramic views of the Course and outdoor patio.
Ultimate Sports Dome
This sports spot features go-karts, batting cages, miniature golf and an indoor driving range.
Aurora Skate Center
Skate to the sounds of Top 40 music. The skate center also features special live organ music dance sessions.
Sycamore Speedway
A great location if you want to race your car or bring the whole family out to experience a racing event. Please visit their website to gain knowledge on all their rules and disclaimers for racers.
CITY:Maple Park
Fox River Games Paintball
Bring a group of friends to play a round of paintball at Fox River Games. Open play or "walk-on" play is recreational play for all ages (age restrictions) and skill levels. Play as an individual or play in groups. Typically we are open every weekend Saturday and Sunday and during the summer we operate on Wednesdays and Fridays too. Please check our website for our operating schedule and specific hours of operation.


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No. 3 Clemson held strong at that position in the Associated Press rankings for the sixth consecutive week, while No. 11 South Carolina was impressive enough in its westward journey to hop three spots in the latest poll released Sunday.
Week 8 AP poll
Week 8 AP poll (first-place votes)
No. 1 Alabama (55)
No. 2 Oregon (5)
No. 3 Clemson
No. 4 Ohio State
No. 5 Florida State
No. 6 LSU
No. 7 Texas A&M
No. 8 Louisville
No. 9 UCLA
No. 10 Miami
No. 11 South Carolina
No. 12 Baylor
No. 13 Stanford
No. 14 Missouri
No. 15 Georgia
No. 16 Texas Tech
No. 17 Fresno State
No. 18 Oklahoma
No. 19 Virginia Tech
No. 20 Washington
No. 21 Oklahoma State
No. 22 Florida
No. 23 Northern Illinois
No. 24 Auburn
No. 25 Wisconsin
The third-ranked Tigers (6-0, 4-0 ACC) escaped the first half of their season unblemished, rallying to top Boston College 24-14 amidst a sluggish start. Before the game even ended, ESPN announced College GameDay would return to Clemson for this coming Saturday night's showdown with its chief ACC rival.
With Stanford falling at Utah late Saturday night (and falling eight spots to No. 13), that gave way to No. 5 Florida State hopping into the top five for the first time this season. The Seminoles (5-0, 3-0) improved one spot after spending its Saturday on a bye week.
It also ensured the first matchup between top-5 teams ever to be played in the state of South Carolina will take place Saturday at 8 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium televised by ABC.
No. 5 Florida State (No. 4 offense, No. 7 defense) is one of two teams (No. 25 Wisconsin) rating in the top ten nationally in both total offense and total defense.
No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 8 Louisville and No. 9 UCLA are each in the top 20 in both categories.
By thrashing Arkansas 52-7 in Fayetteville, No. 11 South Carolina (5-1, 3-1 SEC East) garnered its most convincing win of the season to stunt the hand-wringing over defensive end Jadeveon Clowney's decision not to play last week vs. Kentucky.
The Gamecocks started their three-game road trip the right way, with planned treks to Tennessee this coming Saturday and then to No. 14 Missouri – which stunned new No. 15 Georgia in Athens yesterday – on Oct. 26.
Defending champion Alabama remained the top-ranked team in the land, leading the way for eight ranked SEC squads – the most ever for a conference in one individual poll. No. 6 LSU lept four spots after knocking off No. 22 Florida, which fell five spots.
No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 USC, No. 14 Mizzou, No. 15 Georgia and No. 24 Auburn rounded out the league's representatives.
The ACC now has three teams tucked inside the top ten, with No. 10 Miami vaulting into the fray. No. 19 Virginia Tech visits the Seminoles No. 9 in a pivotal Coastal Division battle.
No. 17 Fresno State and No. 23 Northern Illinois are the only ranked teams from non-BCS qualifying conferences.
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Obama is Living Large while Americans Suffer – Patriot Update
Obama is Living Large while Americans Suffer – Patriot Update
you know something is bad wrong when the president and his family are living higher then the queens family in the UK all the while the USA is facing massive debt, massive unemployment , with the military, and even food stamp programs being cut as 25% or more.
as many as 1 in five children in the USA go hungry every night.
the president, the congress and the house are all living like hollyweird celebrities , going to partys and fancy functions . wine and dine, jet around on private but publicly paid for jets--squads of armed guards and an eanteurage of people just to keep their hair nice?
sort of like just before the french revolution ain't it?
you fucks that voted this ass clown in need to take a look at what the president is doing with the money we don't even have!


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Great article Rene. I've only ever used the actual Twitter app on BlackBerry, or IOS for iPhone and iPad and it fit my needs but I know users who like some of the clients out there and actions like this is basically taking away the choice and variety out there. On another note, folks over at Crackberry are up in arms about the lack of clients on BB10/Z10, I'm sure this has something to do with it.
Thou shalt have no brand before Twitter
Tweetbot just updated to support Twitter's 1.1 API, and to partially support Twitter's new interface display guidelines. Come March 5, the old version of the app will stop working, and if you want to keep accessing Twitter, you'll have to do it with the new app, with it's new, more standardized look. Tweetbot won't be alone. Right now, every Twitter app designer is likely wrestling with the same problem -- how to conform to Twitter's new guidelines without losing what makes their app distinct, how to compromise without sacrificing what makes them special.
Here's the diversity we currently enjoy in 18 popular iPhone Twitter apps and 8 popular iPad Twitter apps. Take a moment to look at them and appreciate them.
Any and all of those that want to stick around will have to change, at least somewhat. The new guidelines include things like putting all avatars on the left, and displaying @usernames in specific ways and places. The bottom line message is this:
- Thou shalt have no brand before Twitter.
Or, less dramatically, "Twitter first". If you look over everything from the new display guidelines to the new user token limits -- no previous app can grow beyond 2x their existing account base, no new app can grow beyond 100,000 accounts -- then it becomes pretty clear what's at stake for Twitter -- perceptive ownership of their own platform. Twitter is in a battle for their own brand identity.
In a very real way, much of the brand identity now associated with Twitter came from those hard-working third-party developers. Indeed, much of it came from the Iconfactory and Twitterrific, including such fundamental things as the bird as mascot (see Ollie in the picture up top), and even the word "tweet".
We often look at that as a sign of how much Twitter gained from third parties. Their new management may look at it as a sign of how dependent they were on third parties.
For end users, the interface is the app, and the app is the service. Take a Twitter app and hook it up to a similar service, and the barrier of transition becomes incredibly low. Social has always been subject to migration, and from Friendster to MySpace to Facebook we've seen them rise and fall. And that was just with the browser as interface. The world has gone mobile, and now the app is the gateway.
From a brand identity point of view, Twitter made mistakes when they started. They abdicated ownership, and they failed to predict the importance of mobile apps. Facebook, by contrast, never really allowed third party clients to become established (and neither has Google for Google+).
"I use Twitter", from a branding perspective, should only ever be the answer a user gives. Not "I use Twitterrific" or "I use Tweetbot".
That's a simplistic take, and it ignores all the leadership changes, business (and non-business) directions, and mixed and conflicting messages Twitter has given developers over the years. But it is what it is now.
Twitter bought Tweetie from Loren Brichter's Atebits and then willingly sacrifices some brilliant interface work, and redesigned everything from web to iPhone to iPad to all look the same, and to all be unmistakably Twitter and nothing else. And they apply that strategy cross-platform.
At the same time, new guidelines for third parties instruct them, among other things, to display the Twitter logo (not their own logos) as a consistent interface element, and to otherwise conform to a singular, unified look and feel. That reduces differentiation and devalues alternatives.
They forbid mixing or mingling content with other services, likely in their minds to avoid a -- "hey, we now support X" [...] "hey, we now only support X" migration, as logistically tough as that might prove in reality. ("Tap here to re-find all your friends!")
Lastly, they impose user token limits so new brands can't take off and even powerful existing brands can't spread any further. Even if an app is spectacularly popular on iOS, with millions of users, if they try to go to Android or Windows 8, they'd be capped at 100,000 tokens (which means less than 100,000 users, assuming some users have multiple accounts, requiring multiple tokens). That makes for very little chance of reasonable profits, and very high chance for pissed off users caught on the wrong side of the cutoff.
As Twitter's ideal user goes from being a geek to being someone in the mainstream with almost no followers, who follows hundreds of celebrities, and who hashtags #americanidol everything, catering to, and ensuring the loyalty of, that user becomes paramount for them.
When your business model depends on brokering the attention of your user base, you have to control that attention. That puts Twitter in recovery mode, and preventing third party clients from establishing or growing their own brands, reducing their visual and feature differentiation to decrease their value, and always making sure Twitter is what the user knows and sees, is how they've decided to regain that control.
It just sucks for everyone who enjoyed making and using clients before Twitter figured that all out.
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Reader comments
Thou shalt have no brand before Twitter
Yes, no new Twitter app can probably ever get beyond 100,000 tokens (and if you have more than one Twitter account, you'll use more than one token). That means it makes no business sense to spend a lot of time and money making new Twitter apps.
Not the same interface, but increasingly the same conventions. So they become more like different paint jobs and decorations, less like different apps.
Basically, if you are a developer, whatever you do, don't use twitter and you will be a happier person.
I really can't figure out why the people who run Twitter are so stupid. They should keep their own free app, but charge devs a .50-1.00 fee per token or per app sale. It seems ridiculous that they haven't tried this model yet when it's the third party apps that are making the medium great.
Please learn the difference between "its" and "it's". This mistake come up repeatedly on your blogs :
"Come March 5, the old version of the app will stop working, and if you want to keep accessing Twitter, you'll have to do it with the new app, with ––– it's ––– new, more standardized look."
"It's" is ALWAYS short for "it is". "Its" is the possessive form of "it". You meant to write "its".
If you're going to be a grammar nazi at least make sure there are no errors in your post. Different type of error, but makes you look like a clown, instead of just a pretentious douche.
"This mistake come up repeatedly on your blogs"
--->This mistake COMES up repeatedly on your blogs
Granted, this is based purely on my own informal questioning, but most people I know say that if they had to rely on Twitter's own web site to use the service, they'd simply stop using it. I know I would. Prediction: if its leadership continues down the path of alienating users by forcing conformity to its own crappy UI principles, Twitter will be a MySpace-like ghost town within 3 years. They are treading on very dangerous ground.


text: Weight is always tough to keep off especially around the holiday season. I am not sure what CLA is but if I were you I were stay away from non-natural stuff as well as many fat burners because they are basically nothing more than a lot of caffeine and things that block appetite which in the long run don't do a whole lot of good. If you can just use healthy meals to get your metabolism up and workouts to get some extra calories burnt than you will be good and it will save you a lot of money you could waste. I agree with whoever said it above, a protein shake for breakfast will keep you full well into the afternoon.


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I am checking in here regularly. I have gotten some volunteers, but there is still room for more of you. I am in the process of setting up times for my current volunteers, and I intend to begin making photos at the end of this week and beginning of next week. When I get some images taken, I will put some samples up on my website.
I want to thank everyone for their interest and support in this project. I will update this thread at the top when there are new photographs to see.
Michael Crisovan


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Washington Gas Light Co. wants to get into the business of providing compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling to the general public, a move that has private industry and consumer advocates crying foul.
The utility has asked Maryland's Public Service Commission for permission to open two of its CNG fueling stations to the public and build custom compression facilities as part of a pending request to increase its rates and generate about $30 million more in revenue. Its case is still pending.
At issue is a regulated utility moving into a market where service is already provided by third-party businesses, and asking ratepayers potentially to subsidize the move, Maryland People's Counsel Paula Carmody said. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel opposes Washington Gas Light's request, she said.
"Why should a regulated gas distribution company with a monopoly go into a competitive business?" Carmody asked. "This is a competitive business. It is not part of providing gas service to customers and customers should not be paying for it."
Competitors in the CNG market fear that allowing Washington Gas Light into the game will give the regulated utility unfair advantage in an already competitive market.
Brett Barry, policy and regulatory adviser from Clean Energy, said Washington Gas Light is asking to overstep its authority. Clean Energy is a natural gas fuel provider for transportation customers.
"They're able to utilize their monopoly powers to undercut the free market," Barry said. "The utility is granted its monopoly status to fulfill gas distribution duties and not to start competing in nonregulated activities. It's just inappropriate for them to be involved like this. It's beyond the scope of their responsibility."
Those who favor allowing Washington Gas Light to provide public CNG fueling — including the staff of the PSC — say it will foster greater use of natural gas vehicles.
Washington Gas Light did not return multiple requests for comment.
Fueling station providers like Clean Energy receive the fuel they sell from utilities like Washington Gas Light, Barry said. Clean Energy has over 450 fueling stations in the nation.
"Every time we have to put in a natural gas fueling station, we have to go to the utility and ask what the pressure and line is," Barry said. "So we're tipping them off to our potential customers and they can poach them from us."
Carmody said there is a national trend of regulated utilities seeking to penetrate the CNG market and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates has taken a stand against it.
The National Association passed a resolution in June against allowing monopolies like Washington Gas Light to enter the market.
Traditional ratepayers could end up subsidizing the stations that perform poorly and the stations could cause an overlapping of monopoly and competitive utility roles, the resolution said.
"Natural gas refueling stations should be a competitive business. As such, retail ratepayers should not be required to subsidize, either directly or indirectly, any gas distribution utilities' natural gas refueling stations," the resolution stated.
In Utah and Pennsylvania, where utilities have been allowed to compete, private investment has decreased, Barry said.
"We really want to maintain a level playing field," he said. "When you have a monopoly enter the market it discourages investment. It actually has a negative effect."
When monopolies enter the CNG market it can deter future companies from building in this area, according to Bryn Marley, a regional operations manager at Blu. LNG, a natural gas fuel provider.
Many natural gas retailers have joined forces to combat these potential utility monopolies, Barry said.
Clean Energy and Blu. are fighting the case in Maryland. They remain in contact and coordinate efforts when a utility tries to get into the market.
Two public hearings in Washington Gas Light Co.'s case were held last week. Barry, who testified to the commission on Aug. 7, said he will inform Clean Energy headquarters about the Washington Gas Light plans and figure out a next step. Marley will be submitting written comments.


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Next Monday would have been my dad, Jim Dickson's, 81st birthday. And a week from today, it will have been three months since he passed away.
I still get teary eyed and even find myself sobbing at times. Saturday, after our Tennessee Volunteers upset South Carolina in football, was one of those times. It was the first big Tennessee win we haven't shared since I started following football almost 50 years ago.
I'm guessing I'll get a little weepy this week too, no matter what happens in the Tennessee-Alabama game. Dad really loved this game when fall is in full color and football games matter deep in the Heart of Dixie.
The last three months have been time for healing, but my heart will have a Dad-shaped hole in it the rest of my life.
A big part of my healing takes place each Friday night when I return to the sidelines for another Baker or Crestview football game. The local high school stadiums, even amid the craziness that is high school football, have always been a sanctuary of sorts for me, but the last few months the stadiums have been a special place of healing.
Yes, the games provide a release to focus my thoughts on the playing field. But the games are only part of the healing process. So many coaches and fans have been quick to inquire not only about how I'm holding up, but also wonder how the rest of my family is doing.
The kind words and gracious thoughts have been a comfort as I've walked this unknown path.
I would like to think of myself as a Christ Follower of deep faith and someone who knows the Bible well. Some people would say I know the Bible very well, but I can't tell you if the people in Heaven know what happens on a high school or college football field.
If I had to make an educated assumption, I would say there is no ESPN streaming into Heaven. Personally, I don't think the people up there are too concerned about football.
I do believe those who have gone before us take great joy in the comfort we give one another, and that Dad is smiling with each kind word or deed that you in the community have directed my way.
So here's a big THANK YOU to all of you for your continued support.
I'll see you at a game.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin's sports editor. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.


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Main Content
Make the boys' temperatures rise when you walk into the room in casually wild style with the Animal Fever thermal from O'Neill. Featuring a soft hand animal print, printed branding near the hem and an embroidered logo near the left cuff, this Laguna crew thermal is the perfect wintery top to keep you warm and the boys on their toes.
- 60% Cotton/40% Polyester
- Imported
- Laguna crew neck
- Model is 5'6" and measures 32-25-32
- Model shown is wearing size XS
- O'Neill lightweight thermal
- O'Neill logo embroidery
- O'Neill screen print
- O'Neill soft hand animal screen print
- Rib-knit collar & cuffs
- Rounded hem
- Waffle fabric
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Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.