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A method providing updates of feature package application processes, including changing data storage structures, in a controlled manner without losing call data. A service package application field update (SPAFU) process and a replacement feature process are started on the adjunct processor system. The SPAFU process is designed to interact with both the existing and new feature processes, and, is in communication with both. For changed data structures, a mapping is created in the SPAFU process that maps the old data to the new data. For each subscriber to the feature process, the SPAFU process waits until a subscriber is not actively using the feature, and temporarily blocks calls to that feature for the selected subscriber by refusing requests for use of that feature from the subscriber, reads the database structure associated with the subscriber, applies the mapping, and populates the database structure associated with that subscriber in the new feature process. The service block is then removed and the subscriber is then serviced by the new feature process.
1. A method, for use in a computer system, for replacing a first process with a replacement process, said first process using a first plurality of sets of subscriber data to provide one or more services for a plurality of subscribers, each of said plurality of subscribers being associated with one of said first plurality of sets of subscriber data, each of said first plurality of sets of subscriber data having a first predefined data structure, said replacement process using a second plurality of sets of subscriber data to provide one or more services for said plurality of subscribers, each of said plurality of subscribers being associated with one of said second plurality of sets of subscriber data, each of said second plurality of sets of subscriber data having a second predefined data structure, wherein said first predefined data structure is different from said second predefined data structure, said method comprising the steps of:
a. generating a mapping of data defining the difference between said first and said second predefined data structures and specifying processing required to transform said subscriber data from said first data structure to said second data structure, said mapping being generated when said replacement process is built;
b. providing said replacement process and said mapping in said computer system;
c. selecting one of said plurality of subscribers;
d. blocking request for service from said selected subscriber;
e. populating a set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber in said replacement process by comparing said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber from said first process to said mapping processing said data from said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber from said first predefined data structure according to said mapping, and writing said processed set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber in said replacement process in said second predefined data structure; and
f. subsequent to said populating, unblocking requests for service from said selected subscriber, and directing further requests for service from said selected subscriber to said replacement process, after which said selected subscriber is served by said replacement process and any other subscribers not yet selected are served by said first process.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said predefined data structures defines a location for data items in each of said sets of subscriber data and wherein said processing comprises:
changing the location of at least one of said data items of said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber relative to other data items in said set of subscriber data.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing comprises:
creating a data field in the set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber for said replacement process, which does not correspond to any data field in said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber for said first process.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing further comprises:
creating a data structure in said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber for said replacement process for a new data item.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of selecting comprises selecting a subset of said plurality of subscribers;
said step of blocking comprises blocking requests for services from said selected subset of said plurality of subscribers; and
said step of populating further comprises populating subscriber data associated with said selected subset of said plurality of subscribers from said first process to said replacement process at one time.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to said step of blocking requests for service, waiting until no processing is occurring with respect to said selected subscriber before initiating said step populating said set of subscriber data associated with said selected subscriber.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating steps c through f until all of said plurality of subscribers are served by said replacement process and then removing said first process from said computer system.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/422,665, filed on Apr. 10, 1995, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/083,923, filed on Jun. 29, 1993 abandoned.
This invention relates to the field of local telephone switching system features, and, more specifically, to a method for updating feature-providing processes on processors adjunct to a local telephone switching system.
In order to be responsive to customer demand, telephone service providers require switching systems (switches) that can be updated to provide new services (features) without having to reload or rebuild the entire software package (generic) that controls call processing. Such generic rebuilding is a very long and costly procedure, especially in proportion to the cost of developing the new features themselves. Switch manufactures have responded by providing adjunct processors systems, which can be programmed to assist the switch to perform most of the call processing functions involved in one or more features, without having to change or add to the generic in the switch. Generally, feature software can be added to the adjunct without affecting other processes on the adjunct or call processing on the switch.
Feature processes in adjunct processors must themselves be updated periodically in order to provide enhanced services, to fix bugs, or to fine tune the process. Currently, such processes are updated by process replacement; that is, by terminating operation of an old process, replacing it with a new one and starting up the new process. Process replacement is required, for example, when the data structure on which the process operates needs to be changed, because no currently available update system permits the structure of data (the way that the data is stored by the process) to change without completely stopping operation of the process, removing it, and substituting another process which is capable of operating on the new data structure. While this is a much simpler method than a generic update, it cannot be done while the process is operating on calls without losing one or more calls and associated call data.
Field update is one method of changing certain operating software without stopping the operation of the process. In field update, operational software is modified by writing a segment of memory with a new program and "patching" the old program. The patch is executed by causing the old program to jump to the new program upon execution of a specific instruction and then jump back into the old program. Obviously, field update is useful only for certain changes and limited by the amount of free space for patches allocated when the original generic is built. Furthermore, the compiler that is used to build both the original program and the patches must have detailed knowledge of both the original program and the patch in order to generate the jump tables necessary to support this procedure. Most importantly, data storage structures cannot be changed by this procedure, because only programs can be changed by field update, not the data on which they operate.
Therefore, a problem in the art is that there is no way to add a feature to an operating switching system which requires changes of data storage structures without losing calls and call data.
This problem is solved and a technical advance is achieved in the art by a method that provides updating of application processes, including changing data storage structures, in a controlled manner without losing call data. Assuming an existing feature process is in operation on an adjunct processor system, in accordance with the invention a service package application field update process (SPAFU) and a new (replacement) feature process are started on the adjunct processor system. The SPAFU process interacts with both the existing and new feature processes, and, once loaded, is in communication with the existing and the new feature processes. If data structures are different or changed from the existing to the new feature process, a mapping is created and used as input to the SPAFU that maps the old data to the new data. For each subscriber to be moved to the new feature process, the SPAFU process waits until a subscriber is not actively using the feature, and temporarily blocks calls to that feature for the selected subscriber by refusing requests for use of that feature from the subscriber. The SPAFU process reads the database associated with the subscriber in the existing feature process, applies the mapping, and populates the database associated with that subscriber in the new feature process. The temporary block is then removed and service for the subscriber is switched to the new feature process. In this manner, the data controlling the feature process may migrate gracefully from the old process to the new process without losing data from the old process. One customer at a time may then be moved from the existing process to the new process while each process provides feature services for its individual customers. Advantageously, both processes are running simultaneously so that the SPAFU process communicates with them, whereby migration from one process to another may take place when there are no calls for a specific customer to be moved, so that no calls or other data is lost. When all customers are transferred, the old feature process and SPAFU process can be removed from the adjunct processor. Optionally, some subscribers may be moved to the new process and some left on the old version, if desired.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art telephone system showing a service control point for processing certain feature requests for predetermined subscribers to a switching system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telephone system, similar to FIG. 1, wherein an exemplary embodiment of this invention is used to update processes in a service control point; and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a service control point as illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention illustrating the sequence of operations.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art switching network 10, comprising a switching system 12 connected to a service control point (SCP) 14 via a signaling network 16. Switching system 12 may be, illustratively, a 5ESS� switch as manufactured by AT&T, or any other switch as is known in the art. Switch 12 is connected to a plurality of telephones, represented by telephones 18, 20 and 22. Switch 12 provides connections from telephones 18, 20 and 22 to each other and to other telephones. Switch 12 establishes such connections by call processing software 24 which controls the interconnectivity of switching network 26, as is known in the art.
In order to provide flexible features as described above, switch 12 is connected to a service control point 14 via a signaling network 16. Service control point 14, which is an example of an adjunct processor, generally comprises a computer, such as a 3B20D computer manufactured by AT&T. Signaling network 16 comprises, for example, a CCS7 network as specified in CCITT signaling system No. 7. In some systems, SCP 14 may be an adjunct processor connected to switch 12 by data lines, as known in the art.
In operation, one or more of telephones 18, 20 and 22 may have access to one or more features. For purposes of this disclosure, "features" means services such as call forwarding, three-way calling, calling name delivery (displaying the name of the calling party at the called party telephone), area number calling (routing of a call based on the calling party's location) and other such services. This list is not meant to be exclusive, but is to be considered exemplary of features that may be affected by this invention. In this exemplary embodiment, call processing software 24 does not itself perform all of the processing for the features. Instead, call processing software 24 is assisted by service process application (SPA) processes SPA 1-SPA N, represented by processes 28 and 30. Each SPA process represents a different feature to aid call processing software 24 in configuring switching network 26 according to the type of feature or service provided by the SPA. When call processing software 24 detects a request for a feature provided by an SPA process, it sends a message across signaling network 16. Router process 32 determines which SPA process receives the message and delivers it to the appropriate SPA. The SPA process that receives a message responds by processing the request and sending configuration information back across signaling network 16.
According to one example of the teachings of the prior art, in order to update or fix bugs in SPA 1, 28 a new process SPA 1' (shown in phantom) is built as known in the art, loaded onto SCP 14 (if not built on SCP 14) the old process SPA 1' is removed and the new process SPA 1 is made operational. At this time, the router process 32 is informed to start delivering new requests for features to SPA 1' instead of SPA 1. All data regarding individual subscribers must be preloaded prior to the cutover of SPA 1'. If SPA 1' were properly built, then call processing will proceed. If there is a bug or error in SPA 1' then no call processing can occur and a cutback to SPA 1 is required. During any cutover, all calls in progress are lost and any data that may have been changed during the transaction may be lost. Therefore, a system is needed that can allow data to change, preserve calls, and gracefully move from one SPA process to a replacement.
Turing now to FIG. 2, switching network 10 is illustrated having, as in FIG. 1, a switching system 12 connected to an SCP 14 via a signaling network 16. Switch 12 includes a switching network 26 under control of call processing system 24 interconnecting telephones 18, 20 and 22 to each other and to other telephones (not shown for clarity).
Switch 12 provides features that are not available directly through call processing software 24. When one of these features is invoked, for example, by telephone 18 signaling to call processing system 24, call processing system 24 sends a message to SCP 14 via signaling network 16. Router process 32 receives the message from signaling network 16 at SCP 14, determines that the message is for the feature supported by SPA 1 28, and delivers the message to SPA 1 28. SPA 1 28 processes the information in the message, as described above in connection with FIG. 1, and sends directions to call processing system 24 for connections of switch network 26.
In order to replace SPA 1 28 with SPA 1 34, according to the exemplary embodiment of this invention, replacement process SPA 1'34 is built, along with a mapping which is generated during the building process defining how the data used by SPA 1 28 compares (maps) to the data expected by SPA 1'34. SPAFU 36 is also built so that it can use the mapping in order to transfer data from SPA 1 28 to SPA 1'34.
On a subscriber by subscriber basis, SPAFU 36 causes the SPA 1 28 to tell router process 32 to block requests for features for that subscriber when there are no currently active calls using SPA 1 28. After calls are blocked, SPAFU copies the operational data for the blocked subscriber from SPA 1 28 to SPA 1'34 and processes the data according to the mapping. Such processing may include adding data fields, deleting fields, moving fields around, and making fields larger or smaller.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a more detailed drawing of the processes in the adjunct processor 14 of FIG. 2 is shown. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a sequence of actions taken by the method according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention. This example will be described using a system wherein the service process SPA 1 28 provides call forwarding. This invention is not, however, limited to call forwarding and could be used for any service provided by an adjunct processor.
Associated with the call forwarding feature in SPA 1 28 is a data structure 40. Data structure 40 contains the information needed to implement call forwarding in this example. There are several fields associated with the call forwarding feature. A first field is an ID field identifying the line or user. The second field is the directory number to which all calls are to be forwarded, and the last field is the directory number of the telephone that has the call forwarding feature.
In this exemplary embodiment, SPA 1 process 28 is being updated to SPA 1'34. SPA 1'34 includes data structure 42 containing information from which it will operate. Data structure 42 includes the ID of the line, the directory number to be forwarded to, and the number of rings (a new, user-definable option). SPA 1'34 does not include the number forwarded as it was determined that this number is duplicative of the ID field and, therefore, not needed.
In order to update SPA 1 28 to SPA 1'34, a SPAFU process 36 is loaded into the adjunct system and started. SPA 1'34 is also loaded and started. SPAFU process 36 includes a mapping 44 which was generated when the SPA 1' process was built by comparing the data structure required by the original process 40 with the data structure required by the new process 42. The mapping tells the SPAFU process 36 how to populate the fields of data structure 42 from information found in data structure 40. In mapping 44 the ID fields from 40 map (or transfer) directly into ID field 42. The forward number field (FWD NUM) maps directly into the forward number field of 42. A new field is added, which is the number of rings. Optionally, there can be a default value placed in the number of rings, such as 2 if the desired value is not known in advance. Finally, the directory number forwarded (NUM FWD) is deleted according to mapping 44.
In the simple call forwarding scenario, according to this exemplary embodiment, the user may change the value in fields as part of the feature. In this example, a user may change the forward directory number at any time, in order to set or change the directory number of the forwarded-to telephone. Therefore, the SPAFU process must maintain any forward directory number from an original process to a replacement process and must not interrupt SPA 1 process while it is updating any fields in data structure 40.
In response to this, SPAFU process 36 first sends a block call message (number 1) to SPA 1 28 to block calls for a specific subscriber (ID). SPA 1 28 then determines if it is processing any calls for that ID, which includes changing or setting a forward number. If it is, SPA 1 28 waits until it is finished processing and then sends a block message (number 2) to router 32. After router 32 blocks service request messages for that ID number to SPA 1 28 it sends an acknowledgement back (number 3). After SPA 1 28 receives acknowledgement from the router 32, it sends an acknowledgement (number 4) to SPAFU process 36 so that SPAFU process 36 knows that it can begin to transfer data.
SPAFU process 36 starts to transfer data (number 5) by transferring for the ID number. The forward number is then transferred. SPAFU process 36 adds a number of rings which could include a default number in this instance, and does nothing with the forward number since it is being deleted. SPAFU process 36 moves the data to SPA 1'34 which populates data structure 42. After the data has been transferred, SPA 1'34 sends an unblock message (number 6) to router 32, which includes address of SPA 1'34. Router 32 then routes all call forwarding requests for that ID to SPA 1'34. SPAFU process 36 continues this procedure for each ID in database 40. Alternatively, a specified subset of IDs could be moved during a given time period. After all of the IDs have been moved, SPA 1 28 may be removed. Furthermore, a given subset of IDs may be left on SPA 1 28 and the rest transferred to SPA 1'34.
Advantageously, blocking service requests may be varied according to the needs of the feature being updated or the service provider. If desired, blocking may be desirable regardless of whether calls or call data exist in the old SPA to provide, for example, a faster update at the expense of lost call data. Further, blocking may be delayed until there are no calls, which results in calls being blocked for a shorter period of time; however, the ability of the SPAFU process to complete its task may be compromised because a particular subscriber may never become idle. Additionally, the SPAFU process may wait for a specifiable period of time for a subscriber to become idle. The SPAFU process may then optionally proceed regardless of the busy/idle status, or try again at a later time.
It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative principles of the invention and that many variations may be devised by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that such variations be included within the scope of the claims.
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Horse-drawn cabs were Corpus Christi's first transit system
CORPUS CHRISTI - Horse-drawn cabs operating in Corpus Christi in the 1880s were called Herdics, after Peter Herdic, a wealthy Pennsylvania lumber baron who invented them in 1881. The St. James Hotel advertised that "Herdics pass the house to and from the depot." The four-wheel cabs carried 10 passengers and featured side seats and a rear entrance.
Corpus Christi got a steam-powered railway in 1890 during the Ropes boom when Elihu H. Ropes, a land speculator from New Jersey, was trying to develop a deepwater port on Mustang Island. Among his many projects, he built the Alta Vista Hotel at Three-Mile Point and constructed his own transit system to carry passengers from downtown to his luxury hotel.
In May 1890 a shipment of rails arrived and workers started grading the route from Tiger Street near the Courthouse down Chaparral. When completed, the track stretched from the Miramar Hotel on North Beach to the Alta Vista Hotel six miles away. In June, a trial run was made. The coaches were pulled by a steam locomotive called a steam dummy railway. The steam engine was enclosed to make it look like a railroad passenger coach. Reporting on the trial run, the Caller said no horses were frightened and no one's eyes were filled with cinders. When the Ropes line opened on a Sunday, the Caller reported that "it was simply impossible to accommodate everybody, so large and unexpected was the rush."
After the Ropes boom collapsed in 1893, the railway was sold at a sheriff's sale, ending up in the hands of Norwick Gussett. He replaced the steam engine with mule teams, finding hay cheaper than coal. The Gussett Street Railway had six miles of track, 16 mules and six cars. When the cars reached the end of the line at Three-Mile Point or North Beach, the driver would unhitch the mules and re-hitch them on the other end.
In 1898, Gussett sold the line to P.A. Graham, who cut it down to one car pulled by two mules, one white and one yellow, and on some days Graham ran the mule car on Chaparral, but he would disappear for days at a time. He was out of business by 1900.
For the next decade, Corpus Christi had no public transit system, until the arrival of Daniel Hewett, a railway promoter from Tyler. He founded the Corpus Christi and Interurban Railway Company, the city's first electric trolley line. Local electric railways were called "interurban" at the time.
Hewett laid tracks on wooden blocks on the unpaved streets with copper wires strung above. The line began operations with four cars with electric power purchased, for three cents per-kilowatt hour, from the Peoples Light Co. The first run was made on March 28, 1910.
A year later, Hewett moved to Cleburne and sold his Corpus Christi line to the Heinley brothers of Denver, who had achieved some success with a street railway in Salina, Kansas. V.S. (Vinton Sweet) Heinley ran the operation while his brother Earl, a wholesale grocer, would visit to check on his investment. V.S. Heinley built a power plant that ran on Mexican oil and added three new cars. The seats ran down the sides, except for one open car that had rows of vertical seats, which was used in the summer on the North Beach run.
Four years later, the Heinley brothers sold out to a Philadelphia syndicate. The new owners changed the name to the Corpus Christi Railway and Light Company, added eight cars and extended the lines. One major change was to install coin boxes, which eliminated the job of conductor.
One line in 1915 ran from the City Drug Store at Mesquite and Starr to North Beach. The South Bluff ended at Third and Booty. One line ran to the Segrest and Rabbit Run area. Another was the Paul Court run, at Lipan and 13th. A fifth line ran to the Nueces Bay Heights, now known as the Hillcrest area. After the Epworth League moved to Port O'Connor, they changed the name of the Epworth run to the North Beach run.
There were plans for a second streetcar line in 1916, as I wrote about last week, when local investors planned to develop Ward Island into an amusement park and the plan called for building a streetcar line. The construction of the Ward Island Interurban Line was well under way when the 1916 storm hit and, soon afterward, the Ward Island project went under.
Corpus Christi's streetcar system was a losing venture until an Army training post was established in the Del Mar area in 1916. With thousands of soldiers stationed at Camp Scurry, the trolley business took off. Between the summer of 1916 and March of 1917, the number of riders exceeded one million. It was the golden age of streetcars in Corpus Christi.
That golden age ended with the 1919 storm. After the storm, the railway was virtually destroyed, with damaged cars, the car barn all but destroyed, and the power plant knocked out. With streetcars out of operation, a Jitney service was established, with Model-Ts, Buicks and Overland touring cars used along the street railway's fixed routes. It cost 10 cents for adults and five cents for children under seven to ride the Jitneys.
By Nov. 19, 1919, the streetcars were put back in operation and the Caller rejoiced. "The clang of the gong as the cars sped down the street brought smiles to the faces of many and remarks could be heard that the city seemed to be getting back to old times."
The old times didn't last long. Within two years, the system went into receivership and the electrical plant caught fire. The streetcar system was reorganized, but the golden age was over. It wasn't the storm or the destruction of the electrical plant that killed the trolley system, but the growing love affair with the automobile, as more people acquired their own means of transportation. Various attempts to revive the system failed and on Jan. 31, 1931, the last trolley car reached the end of the line in Corpus Christi. The streetcars were sold to Laredo. The clackety-clack as wheels hit rail junctures and the clang-clang of the warning bells were heard no more.
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Driving Directions to Nassau Inn
Nassau Inn is centrally located between New York and Philadelphia, on Palmer Square in downtown Princeton, New Jersey. Parking garages are located adjacent to the Inn on Hulfish and Chambers Streets.
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Take NJ Turnpike South to exit 9. Follow US-1 South to Princeton. Turn right at Washington Road/Route 571. Turn Left onto Nassau Street/Route 27. After 3 blocks, turn right onto Palmer Square East.
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Take I-95 North to exit 7B/206 North. Drive 6 miles. Stay right at the fork for Nassau Street/Route 27. After 3 blocks turn left into Palmer Square East.
From North Jersey
Take 287 South to exit 17. Continue to the Princeton Traffic Circle. Take the 3rd exit onto 206 South toward Princeton. Drive approximately 20 miles, and turn left onto Nassau Street/Route 27. Turn left onto Palmer Square East.
From South Jersey
Take 295 North to US-1 North to Princeton. At Washington Road follow the jug handle right for 571 West. At Nassau Street/Route 27 turn left. After 3 blocks turn right into Palmer Square East.
From Princeton Junction Train Station
Drive northeast on Station Drive toward Washington Road. Upon the approach of Route 1 Traffic Circle, take the 2nd exit onto Washington Road/Route 571. At Nassau Street/Route 27 turn left. After 3 blocks turn right into Palmer Square East.


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When upsets first burst upon the scene, a thrilling tremor ripples through the air of a tournament. Sooner or later, though, the aftermath of those upsets emerges to cause a situation less than thrilling: a sequence of predictable matches later in the draw just when the suspense should mount. The Wimbledon men's quarterfinals mark the moment at which spectators pay the price for the earlier excitement, when three top-six players meet opponents outside the top 20. Nevertheless, anything can happen at this year's edition of the summer classic, so we look ahead to these matches with perhaps a flicker more intrigue than we might otherwise.
Djokovic vs. Mayer: When this tournament started, Mayer stood just one victory above an even win-loss record. Four matches later, his stunning quarterfinal appearance provides yet another source of pride in a scintillating month for his nation. One of four Germans to reach this round, he survived two five-setters earlier in the tournament, saved match points in the third round, and needed to escape a two-set deficit in the second round against his compatriot Petzschner, whom most would consider more dangerous on this surface. Although he has compiled limited experience against the top four, Mayer defeated Nadal in Shanghai last fall and won a set from Murray during the clay season. Clashing with Djokovic just once before, he may benefit rather than suffer from that lack of familiarity with the world's best player.
Defeating a similarly streaky opponent in Gasquet on Tuesday, Mayer faces the challenge not only of overcoming the talent chasm that yawns between his foe and him but also of redoubling his energy for a match likely to require extreme physicality. As impressive this tournament as he has looked since the Australian Open, Djokovic emanates an aura of confidence intimidating in its understatement. The defending champion looks as though he could stroll to another title without even exerting himself to his fullest, an impression surely produced in part by the benign opponents who have populated his draw. A round ahead, the Serb might project a different image, but for now one struggles to imagine Mayer's unstable game posing more than a trivial obstacle. So much does he rely upon the most precise timing of his strokes, both on serve and from the baseline, and so much does his form fluctuate as a result that Djokovic comfortably can lie in wait until a dip in his challenger's form offers an opportunity to spring an ambush. Following the initial earthquakes delivered by Gulbis and Rosol, the draw has grown progressively more tranquil with each round.
Federer vs. Youzhny: Undefeated in their thirteen previous meetings, the Swiss master has won 21 of his last 22 sets against a Russian who has grown resigned to the legend's dominance. When their paths intersected in Halle, Youzhny mustered virtually no resistance to Roger in a capitulation that would have looked embarrassing outside the context of their non-rivalry. Not until the last game, amidst a negligent patch by Federer, did he even threaten the six-time Wimbledon champion's serve. But Youzhny perhaps can consider the example of Davydenko, a compatriot who also endured a double-digit losing streak to the Swiss before toppling him at the year-end championships.
Almost toppled here in the third round, Federer should feel fortunate to have escaped the title-less Benneteau by the margin of two points in a fourth-set tiebreak. Not greatly revitalized by that escape, he alarmed his supporters again in the fourth round by vanishing for a protracted injury treatment before dropping a set to the virtually irrelevant Malisse. Rarely afflicted by such physical concerns, Federer quickly dismissed questions about this disconcerting sign of frailty. Doubts still may hover if he looks at all uneasy against Youzhny, though, against whom anything but a dominant victory would stir concern in the Swiss star's camp and spark even greater hope among Djokovic's faithful. Succumbing in this round to Berdych and Tsonga at his last two campaigns here, Federer has suffered at times from his fading reflexes on his return of serve, a crucial and potentially costly shot here. Able to break serve somewhat more frequently this year, he can expect to create plenty of openings on Youzhny's solid but far from overpowering delivery. A versatile all-court player without a single fearsome weapon, this submissive victim allows Federer to showcase his mastery at leisure in a match where raw power plays a less central role. When Nadal departed from London for now, the six-time champion saw the stars align in an uncommonly propitious configuration that he will not squander easily.
Ferrer vs. Murray: As the Scot stated after his previous match, the Spaniard hardly has resembled a clay specialist while rampaging through the first four rounds for the loss of just one set. Surrendering just eight games to a listless (again) Del Potro, Ferrer played with a degree of confidence not seen from him before on the surface that had frustrated him most until this fortnight. One more victory would earn him the accomplishment of a semifinal appearance at each major, a fitting feat for a man who has built a career upon consistency in his game and effort level. Appearing unexpectedly on Centre Court against the Argentine, he responded by rising to the occasion better than he has for much of his career and playing the same confident, uncharacteristically aggressive tennis that he showcased in defeating Roddick on the same stage. All the same, Ferrer has earned four of his five previous triumphs over the home hope on his favored surface of clay and has lost all four of their matches on outdoor hard courts while winning just one set. On a similarly low-bouncing surface in this city, at the year-end championships, he has split two encounters with Murray in precedents that might reveal the most about their first grass meeting.
Never does a Wimbledon pass without at least one burst of drama from the Scot, and never has it passed until now without a heartbreaking denouement, usually at the hands of repeated semifinal nemesis Nadal. With Nadal gone, opportunity knocks almost as loudly for Murray as it does for Federer, for he will fancy his chances of reaching a first final on these fabled lawns. All of the British Isles no doubt fancies his chances as well, which could complicate the plot for him and perhaps already has. Rather more exciting than necessary was his four-set rollercoaster against Baghdatis, during which he could have wandered into much more dangerous peril had not the Cypriot thoroughly lost focus. Ready to punish any such meander, Ferrer nearly won the first two sets from Murray in an Australian Open semifinal last year before faltering within range of his debut major final. If the Scot slips into his counterpunching mentality, this quarterfinal could whiten the knuckles of his supporters, who watched excessive passivity cost him a winnable match against Roddick three years ago. Stimulated by the electric atmosphere that surrounds all of his matches here, however, he often has played more assertively at Wimbledon and simply must sustain that less natural mentality in adversity. Expect a match filled with crisp returns and longer rallies than grass usually produces. Although a surprising rate of service breaks may occur, Murray has protected his occasionally unreliable delivery impressively throughout the first four matches. That factor may prove decisive in by far the least predictable quarterfinal of this Wimbledon.
Tsonga vs. Kohlschreiber: Part a dream and part a nightmare, Tsonga's last major quarterfinal just a month ago appears to have catalyzed instead of unhinged him. From his most recent quarterfinal at this major can come nothing but bright memories of perhaps his most impressive victory ever, a comeback from losing the first two sets against Federer. No other man has defeated every member of the current top three at a major, a tribute to Tsonga's explosive playing style and the virtually unstoppable momentum that he can accumulate when all of his weapons coalesce into a unified whole. Sternly tested by Fish early in their fourth-round encounter, the Frenchman occasionally looked ready to concede a match played in awkward conditions. But his resolve revived together with his focus a day later, as he showed a competitive stamina reminiscent of his accomplishments in the second half of 2011. The grass propels Tsonga through many comfortable service holds, sheltering him from the consequences of his inevitable lapses by allowing him to win points more quickly.
Unlikely to extend the rallies is the German across the net, who might have fallen to his compatriot Haas in the first round but survived long enough to thrive in Nadal's absence. Although he upset the Spaniard in Halle, Kohlschreiber still will have rejoiced to watch his draw open before him like the portal to Ali Baba's cave of riches. Not gifted with Tsonga's abundance of talent, the surprise quarterfinalist still can strike audacious winners from well behind the baseline, and he will not flinch from seeking to seize the initiative from a much more powerful foe. Courage has availed Kohlschreiber little in his previous collisions with Tsonga, the last four of which have turned in the latter's favor without excessive ado. More than willing to trade blows from the baseline with anybody, Tsonga relishes the straightforward hitting contest that usually develops between them, where he needs to construct points less rigorously and must solve few nuances in his opponent's game. A contrast between elastic athleticism and fluid stroke production, this quarterfinal should feature the most electrifying shot-making of all.


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A dog walker can lend a hand when you are too busy to spend the right amount of time with your dogs.
Relieves your concerns about leaving your dog crated.
A tired dog is a Happy dog.


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Comfort and convenience are the hallmarks of Daryl Kimche, D.D.S., L.L.C.'s office operations. To ensure your convenience, below is the information you need about our hours, location, appointment scheduling, insurance acceptance and billing.
|Kimche Cosmetic & Sports Dentistry
2921 Piedmont Northeast, Suite E
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-262-7049 fax
|9:00am - 5:00pm
9:00am - 5:00pm
9:00am - 8:00pm
9:00am - 5:00pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
Click here for door to door driving directions
We know you have many choices when choosing a Dentist in Atlanta, GA so we have made requesting an appointment a simple process via our Web site. We also remind our patients via email and text message for ease. If, for any reason you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, or will be delayed, please call us as soon as possible.
Insurance and Billing
Our office accepts a variety of different insurance carriers except HMOs. Please call our office and our staff will help determine your dental benefit as estimated by your insurance carrier. Our preferred carriers include: AETNA ,Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental Premier, Metlife, Guardian, Cigna PPOs.
Payment Options
We accept checks, cash, and all credit cards. We also offer a flexible payment plan. Please see our Financial Coordinator for details. We are happy to file insurance for your reimbursement as long as you are free to choose your own dentist.
Financing Options
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As a Cosmetic Dentist in Atlanta, GA we work with our patients so they can achieve and maintain a beautiful smile and healthier gums and teeth. We take the time with our patients to explain their treatment options and inform them of additional preventative care. We feel this will lead to a more trusting doctor/patient relationship and, for many people, relieve the stress about seeing a dentist.
We take pride in providing you with a comfortable office experience where our qualified staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Our main office is conveniently located inthe heart of Buckhead Atlanta, GA and we invite you to call with any questions or email us via the contact us or request an appointment page of our Web site. We will do everything possible to ensure you a pleasant visit.
Facilities and Equipment


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I've added screen captures from the season premiere episode of How I Met Your Mother titled, Farhampton into the gallery! For those that have not seen the episode, please be advised the screen captures will contain spoilers. Head over to the gallery for the latest additions.
Gallery Links:
– Home > How I Met Your Mother > Season 8 > Screen Captures > 8.01 – Farhampton


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Done in ink wash markers. The lines in the background are a quote from Alice In Wonderland and reads... "If I had a world of my own, everything would be be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wiser what is, is wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, would. You see?"
I really like this. It will definately make a good conversation piece.
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Updated at: 02/10/2013 4:08 PM
(AP) STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Alex Bentley scored 24 points and Maggie Lucas added 19 as eighth-ranked Penn State beat No. 23 Michigan State 71-56 on Sunday to win its 18th straight home game and build a two-game lead in the Big Ten Conference.
Nikki Greene had 13 points for Penn State (20-3, 10-1), which closed the first half with a 21-7 run to take a five-point lead and opened the second half with another 21-7 run to build a 19-point margin.
Bentley continued her climb through the Penn State record books by becoming only the fourth Penn State player to make 300 steals and the fourth player in the Big Ten to score 1,500 points, record 500 assists and have 300 steals in a career.
Annalise Pickrel scored 16 points for Michigan State (18-6, 6-4).
Penn State's point total marked just the third time this season that Michigan State yielded more than 70 points. Penn State scored 76 on the Spartans in a Jan. 6 game at Michigan State (76-55). Sunday's victory marks the first time since 2003-04 season that Penn State swept the Spartans
Penn State, with 20 wins, is off to its best start since the 1999-2000 season.
Missed shots and turnovers by Penn State enabled Michigan State to jump out to a 20-11 lead until defensive pressure by Penn State sparked the Lady Lions' late first-half run.
Things got considerably worse for the Spartans as the second half began with missed shots and turnovers fueling a fast-break driven run by Penn State that widened Michigan State's deficit to 53-34.
Michigan State closed to within eight points with 3:44 left to play but Penn State regained control with five straight points from Greene, who also pulled down six rebounds despite playing with three fouls.
Penn State's consistent second-half defensive pressure forced Michigan State into committing 14 turnovers. The Lady Lions scored 29 points off the Spartans' 22 turnovers overall.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Heavy Rain
Humidity: 73%
69 | 91
20 | 32
68 | 87
20 | 30
|McKinley "Kenny" Key
|Saturday, 29 December 2012 16:21
McKinley "Kenny" Key, 75, Cave City, passed away Thursday, December 27, 2012 At TJ Samson Community Hospital. The Cumberland County native was the son of the late Olin and Etta Huff Key and was a service station mechanic.
Survivors include a son Darrell Key (Shelia) of Crestwood, KY and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 PM Sunday, December 30th at the Cave City Cemetery. Visitation at the Bob Hunt Funeral Chapel, Cave City, will be after 10:30 AM Sunday until time of services.


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Club Penguin Blog
Blog — What's New
Standard post
By Chattabox on August 5, 2014 - 00:09 | Comments (40)
G'Day Penguins,
I'm still excited from last week's ski race party – it was SO much fun! There were some awesome racers out there. Check out everyone hanging out at the top of the ski hill – n'ice'.
Sooooo this week I've been watching a lot of super hero movies and thought… lets have a Super Hero Party!!! Amazing! I want you to come along in your most epic super hero outfit and make sure you decide your special powers before you arrive because I want to hear all about them. I can't decide on whether I'm going to be a 'super pizza maker' who can make a million pizzas a minute… or maybe a 'magical bubble blower' who can blow huge bubbles for penguins to fly around in. Why not give your puffles a super hero make-over too; every super hero needs a sidekick! Let your imagination go crazy – I can't wait!
Let's meet in the Forest on the Down Under server on Thursday 7th August. Here are the times:
* 4pm East Australian Standard Time
* 6pm New Zealand Standard Time
* 11pm Penguin Standard Time on Wednesday 6th August for everyone over in the US and Canada
* 7am on Thursday 7th August for my pals in the UK.
Waddle on!
- Club Penguin Team
Image post
By Megg on August 1, 2014 - 10:14 | Comments (75)
Exciting news!
The team is working on creating a new mini-game app for iOS devices. The best part? It's a free download! We'll soon be releasing an exciting and insanely epic Sled Racer app! Can you tell that I'm stoked?
Like the mini game on web, you'll be racing down high speed sled runs. But this time, the aim is to see how far you can go! A new fast-paced challenge? Holla!
Here's a screenshot from when I was testing out the game:
Are you as excited as I am?! Let us know what you think in the comments.
Waddle on,
-Club Penguin Team
Standard post
By Daffodaily5 on August 1, 2014 - 02:18 | Comments (183)
It's Fridaaaaay! POTW time! :)
Let's all give a big congrats to Behappy80! He's such a kind penguin to both new and old players and is always willing to help players who are just finding their flippers on the island. If you're ever feeling a bit blue, you can be sure Behappy80 will lend a friendly ear and have a chat with you. P.S. Loving the glasses! :D
You know the score, each winner is rewarded with 10,000 coins along with the totally brill POTW background! Don't forget to nominate your friends for the next Penguin of the Week by leaving your submissions in the comment section below. Just so you know, there won't be a POTW post next week because I'm taking a short break, but we'll be back up and running on the 15th August. :)
-Club Penguin Team
Image post
By Megg on July 31, 2014 - 15:30 | Comments (159)
Have you tried the go-karting at the Stadium on PC yet? I just went around a few times and it was fun :D
I forgot to pick up my free item though...whoops!
What do you think of the go-karts? Let us know in the comments!
Waddle on,
-Club Penguin Team
Image post
By Megg on July 30, 2014 - 10:42 | Comments (129)
There have been rumors floating around and some of you may have already seen some confirmation of this month's party.
Well, here is your official Club Penguin Team-stamped confirmation seal of approval! (Did that even make sense?)
Everything is true! Club Penguin and Disney's Frozen are coming together! :D
Stay tuned to the blog, as we'll have more details and sneak peeks coming soon!
Waddle on,
-Club Penguin Team


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Another shot from my workshop with David Plummer at a badger sett in Sussex. This is the cropped version, I will load the uncropped version as well.
In case you didn't see the first photo I loaded from the workshop, I have again put the processes of how this photo was captured for those who may be interested.
Early in the afternoon we got together to access the sett (which is on private land owned by David) and decided the best spot for a photograph, it was extremely important we took into consideration the wind, as our scent needed to be carried away from the sett & our baited area.
Away from the sett in order not to disturb the badgers, David showed me how best to light the area and what settings I should use, we took a few test shots, making sure all the equipment worked and the settings gave us the correct exposure.
Later we took the gear back to the sett , 3 flashes, 2 to the front, either side & 1 behind, baited the area with peanuts, and tried some more test shots. We got into position at 7.30pm and sat in wait for until approx 9pm, very quietly and trying not to move, eventually a young cub came out first, nervous running around the sett. About 10mins later a different badger, probably a yearling came into view eating the peanuts we had laid out down the path and eventually came into our chosen position.
I managed to get 10 controlled shots off before the wind changed and it made a quick exit. We stayed for approx another 45mins, but the wind had changed and was carrying our scent over the sett. We knew there wasn't going to be much chance of seeing anymore badgers for sometime, so we made a very quiet exit from the area in order not to disturb them any further, but what an experience being so close to wild badgers.
I hope this has given you an insight of how difficult it is to get photo's of wild badgers and my workshop.
Many thanks for the c/c's on my last photo
|Canon 70-200mm L f2.8is
|Recording media:
|RAW (digital)
|Night Stalker 2
|17 Aug 2011 - 6:20 PM
|Badger, Badger sett, General, Wildlife / nature, Woodland
|VS Mode Rating
102 (100% won)
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|Variant - Tests
A wonderful wildlife image, it must have been a real privelege to view these beautiful nocturnal creatures at such closehand
Nominating Constructive Critique
Great capture with great detail & colour, nice one!
Nominating Constructive Critique
Very good narrative Philip and the balance of light/exposure is first class. I would love to know what light you used and approximately how far and power ratios you used to get the balance.
I'm off out Tomorrow and Saturday to try ours, luckily they are very tolerent and brave staying well and accepting movement and scent, but it has taken one of the guys 12 months to get them used to humans. Scent lock clothing does help a tad though
We'll get together soon, i'll let you know how we get on tomorrow evening
Nominating Constructive Critique
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John Ducey
Phil Marchildon
James Tip ONeill
Lester B. Pearson
George Selkirk
Frank Shaughnessy
Andrew Bilesky
Charles Bronfman
Jack Graney
Claude Raymond
Goody Rosen
Carmen Bush
Jack Kent Cooke
Dick Fowler
John Hiller
Ron Taylor
Reggie Cleveland
Bob Emslie
Oscar Judd
Bob Prentice
Russ Ford
George Moon Gibson
Ferguson Jenkins
Glenn Rocky Nelson
Reno Bertoia
Ted Bowsfield
Jeff Heath
Bill Phillips
Ron Piche
1838 Beachville & Zorra
Amateur Teams
Robert Brown
Jimmy Archer
Jackie Robinson
Pete Ward
Jimmy Williams
Tom Burgess
1991 National Youth Team
Terry Puhl
Justin Jay Clarke
Father Ronald Cullen
Frank ORourke
Pat Gillick
John McHale
George Knotty Lee
Ron Roncetti
Canadian-born AAGPBL Players
Frank Colman
Bobby Mattick
Jim Fanning
Gary Carter
Dave McKay
Paul Beeston
Cito Gaston
Don McDougall
Dave Shury
Harry Simmons
Bill Slack
Richard Belec
Joe Carter
Kirk McCaskill
Vancouver Asahi
Andre Dawson
Peter Hardy
Joseph JJ Lannin
Jim McKean
Steve Rogers
Charles Pop Smith
Dave Stieb
Harold Doc Younker
Ron Hayter
Tommy Lasorda
Larry McLean
Ron Stead
George Sparky Anderson
John Haar
Sherrard Sherry Robertson
Tony Fernandez
Billy Harris
Gladwyn Scott
Roy "Doc" Oscar Miller
Bernie Soulliere
Larry Walker
Ernie Whitt
By: Kevin GlewDecember 1, 2008When John Smythe and his wife, Kathy, were ripping up flooring in their 150-year-old home in St. George, Ont., 10 years ago, they couldnt have fathomed the baseball history that lay beneath it.
During this arduous renovation, the Smythes unearthed several newspapers from April and May 1947 the months when Jackie Robinson was rewriting baseball history by breaking its color barrier.
We found the newspapers under some old flooring when we were tearing it up. The papers had been covered by old tar backed linoleum and the oil from the tar helped preserve the paper, explained Smythe.
I remember skimming through the newspapers shortly after we found them and seeing the articles about Jackie. I then put the papers in our basement for safekeeping. When we visited the Hall of Fame this summer I saw all of the great historical items that had been collected there. Then I saw Jackies plaque and remembered the articles we had down in our basement, and thats when I asked Kevin (Kevin Glew, the Hall tour guide that day) if he would like them for the Halls collection, said Smythe. We are all glad that he said yes, and that the articles have found their rightful home.
In remarkable condition for their age, The Brantford Expositor and Hamilton Spectator papers feature articles about the baseball pioneer. One article describes the difficulty the Montreal Royals will face replacing Robinson on their 1947 squad. In the previous season, Robinson won the International League batting crown and led the Royals to Junior World Series title.
Smythe donated the newspapers to the Hall of Fame on August 20. The good-natured father of two had visited the museum in July, along with his daughters Susie and Jane, when Susie was playing in a fastball tournament in St. Marys.
Our youngest daughter, Susie, pitched for the Brantford Bobcat Tier 2 Novice All-Star team (13 and 14 year olds). During the season she pitched several shutout games, and in a tournament in Brampton, she pitched a perfect game, said the beaming father. After she pitched those games we found out that she had actually broken her baby finger on her pitching hand (shes a lefty) on an inside bunt attempt earlier in the season and had continued to pitch despite the pain.
Once they discovered the break, Susie went on the disabled list, before rejoining the team and helping them win the Tier 2 Novice All-Star provincial championship in Napanee in August.
Smythes oldest daughter, Jane, spent most of the 2008 season on the disabled list.
Our oldest daughter Jane (a catcher) tore her ACL working out with the Brantford Bantam Selects (15 and 16 year olds) early in the 2008 season and was sidelined for the remainder of the season waiting for knee surgery, said Smythe.
The proud baseball dad, who also donated a catchers mitt to the Hall of Fame in July, said his family enjoyed their visits to the museum.
We all enjoyed the museum very much. We had planned to visit it the weekend my daughter was playing in the St. Marys tournament and we were certainly glad we did, said Smythe. The museum was great and exceeded all of our expectations. I must admit my favourite exhibit was the Blue Jays home plate exhibit. Both our daughters were very pleased that you had a special section dedicated to womens baseball.


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by Des Ryan
Just getting nominated for European Boat of the Year is exciting for any boat builder or designer, and this week we introduce one of the boats nominated for this year's family cruiser category, the Allures 39.9.
Allures 39.9 at anchor
Allures 39.9 is the new model from the Normandy based shipyard Allures Yachting and you can watch its performance here:
The jury, composed of experts from 11 important and influential European nautical magazines, picked out Allures 39.9 as one of the five most interesting and most promising boats in this hotly contested category.
This nomination is a tribute to the teams involved in the design and construction of this boat. The Allures 39.9 is a centreboard yacht with rounded aluminium hull and composite deck that stylishly combines safety, comfort and performance.
At the end of the Southampton Boat Show in late September, the Allures 39.9 will host the jury on board to carry out any inspection and navigation assessments. The election results will be announced in January 2014, during the Düsseldorf boat show.
Allures Yachting specialises in the construction of ocean-going, centreboard yachts with formed aluminium hull and will be presenting this new model both French and international boat shows during the Autumn.
True to the concept successfully launched by its makers, the Allures 39.9 is a centreboard yacht with formed aluminium hull for safety, and composite deck for performance and comfort.
The firm Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, in collaboration with the design office of Allures Yachting, have designed the powerful and balanced yacht, comfortable and harmonious, capable of sailing around the world with a small crew.
As little brother to the Allures 45, it benefits from its innovations and carries them even further, with a novel deck layout, original design, and a bridge made with injection technology for greater respect for the environment.
Compared to the Allures 40 which preceded it, this new model brings major advances. The Allures 39.9 is more powerful with a hull longer by two feet on the waterline and also wider at the beam.
About nine months of studies have been necessary for Racoupeau Yacht Design team and the Allures engineering department to develop the design of this new model.
The design, they say, has been built to strict specifications driven by many round-the-world sailors' feedback. She has all the characteristics of a true ocean-cruising sailing yacht, strong and resilient.
In line with the innovative design philosophy, she has a lifting-keel, an aluminum hull for safety and a composite deck for performance and comfort. This means in her normal configuration she has a very shallow draft, ideal for snugging into shore and away from the wind when at anchor.
She also has twin helms, large lockers, technical room with light bunk, separate shower, dual chart table, swim platform lockers, light filled saloon.
Twin wheels steering system offers outstanding comfort in navigation and optimizes the circulation to the swim platform. The large technical room in which a workbench or a sea bunk can be installed allows the owners to set numerous equipment for ocean sailing (eg. generator, desalinater, diesel heating, machine washer, etc..). Finally the interiors offer a fresh and luminous style.
Length: 12,65 m
Maximum Beam: 4,15 m
Draft: 1,06 / 2,75 m
Displacement: 10,3 T
Air draft: 16,43 m
Engine: 55 CV
Main sail: 42,6 m2
For more information, contact the New Zealand and Australian distributors below:
NZ Boat Sales
Nelson - New Zealand
64 (03) 546 6976
Pittwater Yacht Sales
+61 (02) 9979 7217


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Cypress attractions are listed below. Find things to do in or near Cypress, TX for your upcoming individual or group travel for Cypress visitors. We also offer the great discounts on Cypress Texas hotel and motel rooms.
Reserving group travel? Save with Cypress Group Rates
Attractions + Things To See in Cypress
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What to do with Sonor 3003s: Messin with setups
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Detroit Rock City
Posts: 475
Re: What to do with Sonor 3003s: Messin with setups
Thanks again for the compliments guys. Missed the extra comments on this thread recently.
Originally Posted by
where did you get the idea to put the high hat in the middle? that is the most interesting thing i have ever seen... What are the Advantages/Disadvantages to doing that?
Like Boomstick mentioned I totally ripped off Bruford for this idea. Not sure if anyone did it before him, but that's that first time I ever saw it. For me it make some things I do more difficult, but also made other new things pop up. Just makes you think a bit differently. I also tried it because I was having arm cramps hitting the hi hat off to my left by crossing my right arm over like most drummers do. Since then though, I worked more on my technique and have alleviated those problems simply by improving that technique and my grip and most of the time still play a traditional setup.
Originally Posted by
How do you like the remote hats? Natural feeling or no?
I'd do the same thing but put my 14" floor tom on the left...so it goes 14", 8", 10", 12", 16" - from left to right.
I notice a bit of lag in the feel of the remote hats. They're DW 9000 and maybe I just don't know how to adjust them properly. I don't think it's that bad, but a friend of mine who also plays tried them and absolutely hated them saying they were too slow.
And the floor tom on the left is fun too. I think I tried that at one time or another, probably when I first read about Neil doing it. I'm such a thief!
Originally Posted by
BTW: what kind of sticks are those with the bumps.
Those are Trueline powergrip sticks which I totally love. They helped with the arm cramps that I mentioned earlier too and keep the sticks from slipping forward which I experienced alot of with my left hand. Sadly, due to our crappy economy, the company seems to have financial difficulties and has stopped producing sticks. Not sure if Trueline is completely out of business or not, but it's hard for a small company like them with a niche product like that to survive. Looks like the company is for sale according to the website. Billy Ward who is on this forum is an endorser.
Originally Posted by
It's all good...except for that snare. Yeesh, that thing's ugly. I assume it sounds good though.
Oh yeah, that is one ugly dog! And yeah it sounds good. Didn't Gavin Harrison have a Sonor kit completely done in that same finish? At least mine is hiding behind all the black sparkle.
My Sonor-Paiste Setup Mania
Look Mommy, there's an airplane up in the sky.
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|Andreas Hauser <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
|11 Apr 2005 20:32:47 -0000
dodell wrote @ Mon, 11 Apr 2005 21:11:39 +0200: > > Are the mirror files updated that are located on the wiki site > > currently ? I can pick up mirroring the site today. > > Great! Yes, I will send you a MySQL dump and the current > configuration in a minute. Thanks for offering to handle this > so quickly. I can also offer hosting. However this woks out please give me a heads up, cause i'm mirroring the wiki since some month: http://ftp.fortunaty.net/DragonFly/wiki/ Andy


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Results 1 to 7 of 7
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
- Posts
- 144
Posted On:
5/23/2013 4:15pm
Style: muay thai--
FMA: What to expect?
Howdy . I went to my first kali class the other day.
I became interested watching a guy who teaches it use some pretty impressive footwork in sparring and watching some vids on teh youtube.
It looks decent on that level; the knife and stick stuff really interests me.
There is some trapping-type stuff that reminds me of kung-fu (I ain't really sold on kung fu, to be honest).
Would love some feedback on what to expect and if it's compatible with ammy boxing.
pro nonsense self defense
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- San Diego
- Posts
- 13,044
Posted On:
5/23/2013 4:58pm
Please take a second to think about the context of your question before you choose in which forum to post.
Expect bruised up wrists and forearms. Some Jow definitely helps the sting. You'll get used to it.
A couple things I really gained from FMA were sensitivity (I'm an evasive mofo now), mobility (zoning), accuracy (like voodoo) and speed (combos like WHOA!). It's great for basic coordination too. The drills are fluid and fun. Excellent medium impact excersize.
Expect to make some lifelong freinds too! IDK how your FMA family rolls, but the people I've trained with have all been "old world hospitable". Really generous and welcoming people. No "secret techniques". No "cult of personality". Just awesome teachers who wanted to share their knowlege and preserve the arts. Some were more conservative and tougher on the classes than others, but all have been dedicated to their students success 110%. I'm sure there's exceptions out there, but I have yet to meet them. (This is comming from someone who's cross trained here and there with @ six or seven different schools.)
AFA boxing? Not being a serious boxer myself I can't say definitively, but I did train with a lot of people in FMA who had boxing backgrounds and they all seemed to think they mixed well.
There's even subset within FMA called Panaktukan that is specifically fisticuffs, though it's a tad dirty for the ol' Marquis of Qeensberry if you get my drift. I've also heard it refered to as "Mano e' Mano" depending on the school and it's lineage. Though the "Mano e' Mano" I've seen involved a lot of open hands and Dumog (grappling) techniques that wouldn't apply in a "boxing match".
Have fun, mang!
Style: FMA--
Do you know which system you're going to be training. Styles that emphasize corto.and medio range tend to focus on reflexes and speed.while largo systems seem to hit harder on footwork and distancing.of course all if the mentioned attributes are present in both approaches but in my experience certain skills are more vital depending on the approach a system has to fighting.
Registered Member
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Posted On:
5/24/2013 8:56am


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But the most interesting thing in the piece, for our money, was the drink wizard's new technique of "hard shaking," a practice so difficult that only its inventor, Kazuo Ueda of Japan, and Stanislav Vadrna of Czechoslovakia have successfully mastered it. Freeman, we are told, "cups his hands around the sides and holds it in front of his chest, his elbows out. He starts by slowly agitating the shaker while bringing it up and down in front of his body, then accelerates; the shaker sounds like a train gaining speed. When he reaches full momentum, the red-faced Freeman looks like he's performing some kind of ritual dance." Whether it works, just the fact that Freeman knows about something like that makes us want to go back to Tailor for drinks. Just not Coppertone drinks.
Secrets of a Cocktail Master [Food & Wine]


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LUDLOW-As the Town of Ludlow nears the 250th anniversary of its creation, town members are beginning the process of planning appropriate activities and events to commemorate the occasion.
Tentative plans call for activities on Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17.
The detailed program for Ludlow's birthday party will be finalized during the next few weeks.
Events being considered include the reading of the town's original charter, a brief history of Ludlow, patriotic music, a parade, BBQ picnic, block dance, and an appropriate movie.
Ludlow's original charter was issued on Sept.r 16, 1761 by Benning Wentworth, the royal governor of New Hampshire. The charter had several unique requirements and benefits: It permitted the first 50 settler families to become residents and hold two annual fairs. When the same 50 families were resident, they opened a market.
The 1761 charter spelled out the local governance for the town, citing Capt. Elakim Hall as the first town moderator.
Following the first town meeting in October 1761, all subsequent meetings were to take place on the second Tuesday of March.
Regarding land use, the charter required that five acres of land be cultivated for every 50 acres owned.
The charter also allocated certain acreage in the center of the town as a "town lot". It clearly specified that all "white and other pine trees" fit for use as masts in the Royal Navy could not be cut without the Governor's license.
The idea of taxation in 1761, as much a part of the zeitgeist of government as regulation, was relatively simple: Payment of one ear of Indian corn.
Later, the tax became one shilling for every 100 acres owned.
How these early tax requirements were satisfied is questionable, given the intervention of the Revolutionary War and the battles between New Hampshire and New York over control of the renegade Vermont Republic.
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A hand-held vibratory device for releasing bubbles of air which remain in the heart muscles after open heart surgery and which are normally difficult to release due to surface tension. The vibratory device includes a power source and a replaceable heart cradle support member having a soft and pliable heart engaging element.
1. A vibratory device for releasing air bubbles trapped in the heart muscle during open heart surgery comprising: an electrically operated oscillating unit, at least one arm connected to said oscillating unit and provided with a heart engaging support member having a soft and pliable surface and a rigid backing member and conforms to the contiguration of at least part of the heart, and a power source for supplying vibrations to said heart engaging support member to thereby cause said arm and support member to vibrate gently thereby freeing said air bubbles from said heart.
2. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said soft and pliable surface for said heart engaging support is a silicone bag upon which the underside of the heart rests.
3. A vibrating device for releasing air bubbles trapped in the heart muscle during open heart surgery comprising: an electrically operated oscillating unit, a pair of arms removably connected to said oscillating unit, a curved heart engaging support plate secured to said arms, said plate having a soft and pliable surface and a rigid backing member and conforms to the configuration of at least part of the heart, and an electrical power source for supplying current to said oscillating unit to thereby cause said arms and support plate to vibrate gently, thereby freeing said air bubbles from said heart.
4. An arrangement for releasing air bubbles trapped in the heart muscle during open heart surgery comprising: a vibratory device including an electrically operated oscillating unit having at least one arm connected thereto and provided with a heart engaging support member having a soft and pliable surface and conforms to the configuration of at least part of the heart, and an electric power source for supplying current to said oscillating unit to thereby vibrate gently said arm and said support member causing the surface tension of the air bubbles in the heart to be broken whereby the bubbles will float in the heart to a common high point.
5. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a pair of spaced bores in said vibrating device for receiving said removable arms provided with said support plate.
6. A vibratory device for releasing air bubbles trapped in the heart during open heart surgery comprising: an electrically operated oscillating unit provided with a clamp, a curved heart engaging support plate having a soft and pliable surface and a rigid backing member and conforms to the configuration of at least part of the heart and having an elongated arm with a projection at the end remote from said support plate, said arm being received in said clamp said clamp having a recess for receiving said projection, said clamp including means for rendering said arm and spoon unless responsive to removal of said arm from said clamp, and an electric power source for supplying current to said oscillating unit to cause said elongated arm and support plate to vibrate thereby freeing said air bubbles from the heart.
7. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a sensor mounted in said oscillating unit which when activated causes current to flow to said oscillating unit, and means on the end of said elongated arm remote from said support plate for activating said sensor when said arm is inserted in said clamp and said projection is in said recess.
8. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clamp is pivotally mounted on said oscillating unit from an open to a closed position and vice versa.
9. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a control for said device having a plurality of selectable power levels for said oscillating unit.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 275,679, filed 11/23/88, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 126,031, abandoned, filed 11/27/87.
The present invention relates to a hand-held device for releasing entrapped air bubbles in the muscles of the heart.
It is known that air bubbles in the circulatory system of a human can be potentially dangerous since they can move in the blood stream through the system to a location in the anatomy with serious or fatal consequences.
In open-heart surgery, the surgeon is often faced with the problem of eliminating air bubbles that are trapped in the papillary muscles of the heart. Prior to the present invention, a usual procedure of the surgeon was to gently massage the heart, with suction catheters in place, prior to suturing the chest, for removing the air bubbles that were introduced during surgery. However, the surgeon often could not be assured that all the air bubbles had been released from their entrapment and thereby avoid potentially serious after-consequences. As is known, it is often difficult to free up the air bubbles because of surface tension. Consequently, there is a need for a device that engages the heart and which operates to liberate the air bubbles from entrapment in the heart muscle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vibratory device which engages and cradles the heart for massaging the same whereby the entrapped air bubbles in the heart muscle are released to the atmosphere, or to a common high point to facilitate the gathering and removal of air through a secondary device, such as a suction catheter or a needle attached to a syringe, for the suction of said air.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heart vibrator that has a heart contacting surface that is soft and pliable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heart cradling member which is removably attached to a vibratory device, and which is designed to be disposable.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vibratory device in which the heart-engaging surfaces are either stiff or moldable to the heart configuration.
It is another object of the present invention to have a multiplicity of disposable soft heart-cradling members of graduated sizes for selection depending upon the heart size.
In order that the present invention will be more clearly understood, it will now be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the vibrator device for releasing entrapped air bubbles in the muscles of the heart in accordance with the teachings of my present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1 showing the device in a vibratory mode in dashed lines.
FIG. 3 is a vibratory device being utilized in open heart surgery.
FIG. 4 is a vibratory device with the heart in place and illustrating the release of the air bubbles from the heart.
FIG. 5 is another elevational view showing the heart in place on the vibratory device and FIG. 6 shows the heart contacting or cradling member mounted on rods which are removable from the vibrator device.
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the heart cradle device shown detached from the vibratory device.
FIG. 9 is a view of the cradle device taken along the lines 8--8.
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the vibratory device taken along the lines 10--10 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a partial side sectional view of the vibratory device shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a view of the vibratory device controls taken along the lines 12--12 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the cradle device connected to a part of the vibratory device.
FIG. 14 is a view taken along the lines 14--14 of FIG. 13 and
FIG. 15 is a view taken along the lines 15--15 of FIG. 13
FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the heart contacting vibrating member.
Referring to the drawings, a vibrator is referred to generally by the reference numberal 10 and constitutes a known electro-mechanical device employing an armature which is free to oscillate in a magnetic field that can be used for massage purposes on the human body. Consequently, the vibrator device 10 generates a rapidly acting oscillating motion which is utilized in the present invention. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the massage device 10 is provided with an on-off, low-high switch 12 for operating the device which is connected to a line cord 14 that derives power from an A/C outlet (not shown). In the alternative, it is possible to provide a vibrator device for the present invention which is battery operated, and is preferable rechargeable. The vibrating device is also provided with a handle 16 for grasping by the user. A pair of sleeves 18 is shown projecting from the vibrator 10, and through which oscillations are transmitted to a heart support and cradle device 20. This heart support device is attached to rods 22 which are removably mounted within bores 19 in the sleeves 18.
The heart cradle and support device, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, has a rigid plate 24 which is configured and so curved as to permit the heart to securely rest thereon through the intermediary of a soft and pliable contacting surface, such as a silicone bag 26. In this manner, the heart will be engaged on the underside thereof, as shown in FIG. 3 and supported on soft material backed by a heart conforming rigid backing member 24.
As is known from past experience, an ever present danger in open heart surgery is the possibility that air bubbles will remain in the papillary muscles of the heart after the patient is sutured following heart surgery. The previous method of patting and lightly agitating the heart in order to remove the trapped air bubbles therein did not ensure that all the air bubbles were removed. Consequently, the use of a vibrator that has a steady, and positive vibratory action, together with a specially adapted heart support for the vibrator arms, has greatly improved this technique.
Upon vibration by the present vibrator the surface tension of the air bubbles in the heart will be overcome and the bubbles will float to a common high point in the heart where they will be trapped in the papillary muscles. When this occurs, it is desirable for the surgeon to hand massage the heart in order to remove as much of the trapped air bubbles as possible. In the alternative, the surgeon may inject a hypodermic needle in the heart muscle. The hand massage procedure may be repeated if necessary, however, repetition will probably not be required if a hypodermic needle is used.
It should be observed from FIG. 6 that the heart engaging support 20 and the attached vibratory rods 22 can be removed from the vibrator instrument as a unit, and disposed of. Consequently, a plurality of heart cradling members may be employed by the surgeon who selectively chooses the heart cradling member which is more accurately sized for the specific heart patient. It should also be noted that it is possible to make the heart engaging surfaces of the heart cradling member to be stiff as well as soft, and to be permanent as well as disposable and replacable.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a secondary device such as a suction catheter or a needle attached to a syringe (not shown) for the suction of air from the heart, in conjunction with the use of the present vibrator device.
Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the vibrator device is provided with the heart cradling attachment 20 which vibrates up and down as seen in both full lines and dashed lines. Consequently, when the heart, in open heart surgery, is placed in this device, the air bubbles entrapped in the papillae muscles will be released and will be taken away by suction catheters or other devices so that the serious or possibly fatal consequence of movement of air bubbles in the circulatory system will not be encountered.
The most desirable result of utilizing the present invention is that both the patient and the surgeon are assured that air bubbles present in the heart muscle will be expelled, and if there is a restriction in the operating room against the use of an alternating current source, a battery operated device may be employed, which will work effectively and achieve the required results. It should be observed that FIG. 4 shows the present device prior to use on the exposed heart in which air bubbles are present, while in FIG. 5, after the device is operative for a period of time, the air bubbles have been evacuated.
Referring now to FIG. 7-15 in which an alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, the vibrator 10 is shown with a modified handle 16a in the form of a pistol grip having a line cord 14, and a strain relief 28. The operating mechanism of the vibrator 10 is more particularly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, having a vibrator coil 30 and vibrator arm or spring 32. The vibrator 10 further incorporates a sensor 34, which may be of the photo-electric type, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. As seen in FIG. 10, as well as in FIGS. 10-12, a control panel 36 is shown whereby a master power switch 38 can be utilized for activating the power source different power levels may be selected to achieve different levels of vibration, such as switch 40 for low, and switch 42 for high levels. Various display light emitting diodes 44 indicate the active power level at any given time.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a cradle device 20, which is in a form of a elliptical, heart cradling spoon is provided with an elongated attachment arm 22a, having a dimple 46, located on the underside of the attachment arm 22a remote from the spoon 20. As can be seen from FIG. 7, 11 and 12, the attachment arm 22a can be removable inserted within a pivotable clamp 48 mounted on the exterior of the vibrator 10. As further seen in solid lines in FIG. 7, as well as in FIG. 14, when the clamp 48 is in its latched position, the dimple 46 is forced into recess 50 in the bottom portion 52 of the clamp 48. It should be apparent that when the cradle device arm 22 is removed from the clamp, said clamp functions as a destruct device so that the arm and spoon 20 can not be reused.
In order to make the cradle device or spoon 20 vibrate, it is necessary to operate a selected switch on the control panel 36 in order to apply AC power to the vibrator device. However, the vibrator coil or spring 32 will not vibrate until the arm 22a of the cradle device is inserted within the clamp 48 and an elongated wire 50, attached to the end of the arm 22 remote from the cradle device or spoon 20 is forced by the guide 52 in the space 54 to interrupt the beam of the sensor 34 and thus apply current to the vibrator coil 30.
It should be apparent that the present arrangement shown in FIGS. 7-15 is a convenient operating device for a physician engaged in heart massage. Moreover, the disposability of the heart engaging spoon device is of great benefit in utilizing a device of this type, as well as the option to select various power levels depending upon the type of heart messages required by the patient.
FIGS. 16 and 17 show an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the vibratory device takes the form of a battery-operated oscillating unit 60 in which oscillations are transmitted through rod 62 to a relatively flat heart-contacting member 64. The member 64, because of its relatively small size and portability, permits the surgeon to place the instrument in tighter spaces within the body without having to lift the heart in order to place the same in a configured heart cradle. Thus, the heart may be contacted tangentially at selected locations by the contact member 64, which will still be effective to overcome the surface tension of air bubbles and the same will float to a common high point in the heart, as described herebefore in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3. In addition, the device of FIGS. 16 and 17 is more compact and lighter in weight than the previous described alternate constructions of the present invention.
While the invention has been disclosed and described herein with reference to a particular embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that variations and modifications may be made which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims:
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Black Swamp Arts Festival rocks Bowling GreenWritten by Joel Sensenig | Managing Editor | firstname.lastname@example.com
A blend of visual arts, music and family entertainment will once again take over Bowling Green with the 19th annual Black Swamp Arts Festival.
The free Sept. 9-11 event features arts and crafts from national and area artists, an eclectic mix of blues, rock, folk, jazz and zydeco tunes and hands-on creative opportunities for children.
Found in booths set up in the middle of Main Street, the festival's juried art show features more than 100 artists in mediums ranging from watercolor, jewelry and sculpture to photography, multimedia and glass.
More than 40 local artists will also display their work in the Wood County Invitational Art Show, which will include students from Bowling Green State University as well as Artists at Work, a demonstration/participation area. All art shows are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The festival features a mix of returning and new artists in an attempt to keep the event both fresh and familiar to the public, according to Linda Brown, chairperson of the festival's visual arts committee. She said the festival is an appealing one to the artists, many of whom apply to return after their initial visit.
"Part of it is sales, because if they don't sell well, they're not going to come back," Brown said. "As much, if not more, is the way they're treated by the volunteers at the festival and the public coming to the festival. Even if the sales are not as high at this show as they might be at some other big city show, it's a show they enjoy because of the community."
In fact, the Black Swamp Arts Festival is ranked No. 61 on a top 100 list of arts shows in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist magazine, which uses show ratings from artists to compile the list.
The festival is known for bringing a wide range of music to the 60,000 people who flock to the event, from Chilean folk music to zydeco to sweaty garage-rock.
This year is no exception, as the lineup features a number of up-and-coming bands from the national and international music scenes.
Saturday's headliner is Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, a James Brown-inspired blues band that has graced stages at Bonnaroo, Coachella and Wakarusa, as well as appearing on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
The band was actually scheduled to appear at Black Swamp last year, but an opportunity to play some large shows interfered with the Bowling Green appearance. Since then, the band's status has steadily grown, playing last fall at Austin City Limits and this summer at Bonnaroo.
"We felt very fortunate that after that didn't work out, we were able to get him back this year, because he has been on the rise, for sure," said Kelly Wicks, chair of the festival's performance committee, said.
Preceding Black Joe Lewis is Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves, who Wicks labels "another young, super-cool soul singer. … Whereas Black Joe Lewis is more on the James Brown side of R&B and soul, Eli Reed is more on the Rat Pack side of it. Both are young, hot, up-and-coming artists with full bands and horn sections. It should be a really cool, double punch of soul, R&B and rock."
As usual, musical diversity reigns supreme at the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
"One of the hallmarks of the festival really is that no matter when you come to watch the music, you're going to like it," Wicks said. "We always try very hard to represent a lot of different genres of music. There's rock, blues, jazz, zydeco, Saharan African blues. There's just a great diversity of musical styles, but all the players are top-quality representations of those genres."
The quality extends to the performers playing earlier in the day as well — not just the headliners.
"Take Howard Fishman, playing at lunchtime (12:20 p.m.) on the main stage," Wicks said. "Go to his website and look at the reviews of him in the New York Times and the Washington Post and the awards he's won and the people he's played with. We've been able to, over the past couple decades, build good relationships with artists and agencies that allow us to really bring in some nice people."
One of the other cornerstones of the festival is the youth art area, where children get the opportunity to take a hands-on approach to their creativity. The area is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"What makes that area so unique for festivals is that it's about kids creating art, about being artists," Wicks said. "It's not one of those things you go to where they hand you a balloon and paint your face. You leave with something you've created, something's that's a piece of art."
The family entertainment stage is located nearby, with performers gearing sets toward kids.
"The majority of the main stage artists are doing additional sets on either or both of the family or acoustic stages," Wicks said. "It's a really great opportunity to see a band on a big stage with full production and lights and the whole nine yards, and then later in the afternoon or the next day, you get to see this person in an acoustic setting or on the family stage in a completely different environment."
An acoustic stage is also set up along Main Street at the Huntington Bank courtyard, with performances scheduled throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.
The food at the festival is nearly as varied as the music. Edibles this year include fried crawfish, jambalaya, pad thai, sirloin tips, veggie lo mein, elephant ears, ribs, perch, fried Oreos, worm buckets and pie on a stick. An assortment of beers and wines will be available at the beer garden, set up near the main stage.
Through its nearly two-decade existence, the Black Swamp Arts Festival has built a reputation among art fans, music listeners and families in general as a destination, Wicks said.
"The mantra for the entire event is quality, from the selection process for the visual artists to whittling bands down from literally hundreds of applicants," Wicks said. "It's very rigorous, but at the same time, you'll see that we work very hard to have the local talent that exists in our backyard featured — the BGSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, BGSU Jazz Combo and BGSU Faculty Jazz Quartet — are performing at the event."
Another reason to head to the Black Swamp? The cost — or lack of one.
The musical performances are free, as are many of the children's activities.
"It's free and accessible to all," Wicks said. "The festival committee is very proud of that."
Brown said the festival is a chance to bring the arts-loving community of Northwest Ohio together.
"The festival itself is a party for Bowling Green and all of our guests from out of town," she said. "It's a wonderful time to celebrate music and the arts."
For more information, visit the website www.blackswamparts.org.
Tags: Black Joe Lewis, Black Swamp Arts Festival, Bowling Green, The Stone Foxes