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A computer system having a wireless keyboard which transmits make-break signals to the computer system. The wireless keyboard and/or computer system being adapted to have television (or other remotely controllable devices) commands mapped into the wireless keyboard such that the wireless keyboard can provide standard computer keyboard commands to the computer and also remotely control another remotely controllable device.
1. A computer system, comprising:
a computer;
a remotely controllable device connected to said computer;
a receiving device for receiving a plurality of wireless commands associated with at least one of said computer and said remotely controllable device; and
a wireless computer keyboard, having commands to control functions related to said remotely controllable device mapped therein, adapted to provide a first wireless command intended for said computer and a second wireless command intended for said remotely controllable device.
2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first wireless command comprises at least a make data and a break data.
3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said second wireless command comprises at least a code understood by said remotely controllable device.
4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said wireless keyboard is programmable to provide a third wireless command when a predetermined button on said wireless keyboard is pressed.
5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said wireless computer keyboard comprises an infrared transmitter for providing said first wireless command.
6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said wireless computer keyboard comprises an infrared transmitter for providing said second wireless command.
7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said remotely controllable device is adapted to be in communication with said computer.
8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer and said remotely controllable device are converged as a single system.
9. A computer system comprising:
a central processing unit;
a receiver for receiving wireless commands, said receiver being connected to said central processing unit;
a monitor connected to said central processing unit;
a wireless computer keyboard adapted to transmit wireless commands to said receiver, said wireless computer keyboard adapted to transmit a wireless computer keyboard command and adapted to transmit an equivalent of a predetermined remote control command; and
a remotely controllable device connected to the computer system wherein said predetermined remote control command controls said remotely controllable device.
10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said wireless computer keyboard command comprises a first data indicating a predetermined key has been pressed and a second data indicating that said predetermined key has been depressed.
11. The computer system of claim 9, comprising a remotely controllable device converged with said personal computer.
12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said wireless commands are infrared transmissions.
13. A method of using a computer and controlling a remotely controllable device from a wireless computer keyboard, comprising the steps of:
pressing and depressing a first key on said wireless computer keyboard;
transmitting a first signal from said wireless computer keyboard;
receiving said first signal at a first receiver associated with said computer, said computer performing a first function based on the receipt of said first signal;
pressing and depressing at least one of a second key and a key combination on said wireless computer keyboard;
transmitting a second signal from said wireless computer keyboard; and
receiving said second signal at said first receiver, said second signal being formatted differently than said first signal, said remotely controllable device performing a second function based on the receipt of said second signal.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said remotely controllable device is converged with said computer.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said first signal is an infrared signal.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said remotely controllable devices performs a third function based on the receipt of said first signal.
17. A method of using a computer and controlling a remotely controllable device from a wireless computer keyboard, comprising the steps of:
pressing and depressing a first key on said wireless computer keyboard;
transmitting a first signal from said wireless computer keyboard;
receiving said first signal at a first receiver associated with said computer, said computer performing a computer function based on the receipt of said first signal;
pressing and depressing at least a second key on said wireless computer keyboard;
transmitting a second signal from said wireless computer keyboard; and
receiving said second signal at said first receiver, said second signal being interpreted to control a remotely controllable device associated with said computer.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless computer keyboard device which incorporates the functionality of a wireless remote. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer system that has a computer mode and at least one other mode, such as a television (TV) mode, game mode, video phone mode, et cetera, that incorporates a wireless remote control and/or a wireless keyboard wherein the wireless remote control functionality can be accessed from the wireless keyboard.
2. Background of the Invention
A personal computer/television (PC/TV) convergence device is a fully functional computer integrated with television functionality, providing TV viewing (via broadcast, cable, satellite, VCR, digital disk, via modem, VBI, or other broadcast media) and personal computing functionality. The convergence of computer and television functionalities provides a user access to television programs, to computer related functionality, and to the Internet.
A PC/TV convergence device may comprise a fully functional computer which includes memory, a microprocessor, hard drive, floppy drive, fax-modem, CD-ROM player, keyboard, monitor, power supply, mouse, gamepad/joy stick, microphone, USB, DVD player, etc. The computer is interfaced with a television functionality module so that a television's/monitor's normal National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal is converted to a scan "video graphics adapter" (VGA) signal or the computer's scan VGA signal is converted to an NTSC interface signal.
The PC/TV convergence device is controlled by the computer's operating system (OS). Thus, the monitor can display both TV programs and computer applications either at the same time or separately. Furthermore, the convergence of a PC and TV functions into a single system permits the utilization of the communications bandwidth, mass storage and graphics applications of the computer to deliver, store and display applications within a television viewing environment.
The PC/TV is a user interactive device. For example, when a user is watching TV he can interact with the program and download information from another source (besides a TV station) about, among other things, the program being watched. Such information can originate from a web site or via phone lines or other data providers.
At present, when a television and a personal computer operate as separate devices, the TV may incorporate a remote control. A standard TV remote control may control a variety of functions of or related to a TV. The remote control transmits infrared (IR) signals to the TV indicating which button on the remote control was pressed.
There also exists wireless keyboards for use with a personal computer. One example of a wireless keyboard is and IR keyboard. An IR keyboard allows a user to operate the computer without a wire connection between the IR keyboard and the computer. When a key is pressed on an IR keyboard, an IR "make" signal may be repetitiously sent from the keyboard IR transmitter and be received by an IR receiver on or connected to the computer. When the same key is released from being pressed, an IR "break" signal associated with the key is transmitted from the IR keyboard to the computer. The combination of the make and break signals informs the computer that the key on the IR keyboard was pressed, held for a certain amount of time and then released.
One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the transmissions from an IR remote control and an IR keyboard are formatted differently. And, if a computer and a television are combined or converged into a single device, present devices would require a separate IR remote control and an IR keyboard to operate the two converged systems.
Thus, a problem associated with combining a computer with a TV system (or any remote controlled device) is that a separate remote control is necessary to remotely operate the non-computer device and a wireless (IR) keyboard may be required to operate the computer. In other words, the IR computer keyboard could not be used to control the remotely controlled device.
Another drawback is that present IR keyboards do not provide infrared signals that are the same as those produced by present day IR remote control devices.
Another drawback is that remote control commands are not presently mapped into an IR computer keyboard.
In view of the limitations and shortcomings of the aforementioned separate IR remote control and wireless computer keyboard, as well as other disadvantages not specifically mentioned above, it is apparent that there exists a need for a wireless or IR keyboard that is adapted to send standard make-break signals to an IR receiver associated with a computer, but also be adapted to transmit IR signals in a format that can be accepted and understood by an IR receiver associated with a television, VCR, CD player, stereo system or other remotely controlled device that is either associated with the computer or separate from the computer.
The present invention may provide schemes to map non-computer related remote commands into a wireless keyboard so that a converged electronic device can be controlled by a computer when the mapped commands are received by the computer from the computer keyboard.
The present invention may also provide an IR, RF or otherwise wireless keyboard for use with a computer that emulates wireless transmission of an IR, RF or otherwise wireless remote control device. In embodiments of the present invention a predetermined key can be programmed to transmit a signal normally transmitted by a wireless remote.
According to the teachings of the present invention, IR remote control functions are mapped into an IR (wireless) keyboard so that either a single key press or when a key combination is pressed on the wireless keyboard, the wireless keyboard produces the same signal that a wireless remote produces or the wireless keyboard produces a signal that is interpreted by the computer to be related to the converged electronic device. In other words, the present invention may provide a wireless keyboard wherein a single key or multiple key press on the keyboard produces a wireless transmission that is equivalent to that of a wireless remote.
Other features and characteristics of the present invention as well as methods of operation and functions of related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram of an embodiment of a convergence device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a PC/TV System.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and wherein the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular, to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a convergence device system 100 utilizing the teachings of the present invention. This block diagram illustrates features of the present invention and basic principles of operation of an exemplary embodiment. The block diagram is not necessarily intended to schematically represent specific modules of hardware or any particular data or control paths therebetween.
The convergence device system 100 includes a first subsystem, a display monitor subsystem 110, operable to receive and display thereon display signals received from a second subsystem, a computer subsystem 115. Although not depicted, the subsystem 115 comprises a processor unit coupled to a storage unit, and may further preferably contain a communication port for enabling communication between the convergence device system 100 and a network 120.
The network 120, it is understood, can be any network, for example, a local network, a telephone communication system, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, an intranet, or an internet network. The computer subsystem 115 is connected to a convergence functionality module 130 that is adapted to receive and/or provide various combinations of composite RF, video, audio, graphics and/or data signals. For example, the module 130 may comprise a receiver for receiving TV signals in any form, such as National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) form or the Phase Alteration Line (PAL) form, via any medium, digital or analog, such as a cable system, a digital satellite system or a network broadcast medium.
In another embodiment, the module 130 may comprise a consumer/home electronics unit adapted to be integrated with the computer subsystem 115. For example, a video gaming unit or a video disc unit may be provided such that the outputs (video, audio, or both) of the units are controlled or modulated by the computer subsystem 115. A video controller service in the subsystem 115 may be responsible for managing these outputs such that appropriately modulated (or decoded or processed) display signals are selected to be forwarded to drive suitable output devices, for example, the display monitor system 110 and/or an audio output device (not specifically shown).
Although the module 130 and the subsystem 115 are shown to be two separate yet interconnected entities, the module 130 may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be integrated into subsystem 115. Such an integrated subsystem may comprise in a single housing for one or more video sources (or consumer/home electronics units including receivers for TV signals, gaming units, video telephoning units, etc.), a video control device or means for managing and selecting among these sources and for generating appropriate display signals to be provided to suitable output devices, a processor, and data storage devices.
The convergence device system 100 may be operable with an input device 125. The input device may comprise any of the following: a remote control, a standard TV remote control, a remote track-ball/mouse device, a remote pointing device, a wireless keyboard, a wired keyboard, a keyboard integrated with a pointing device or a standard remote control device, etc. Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that convergence device systems 100 may contain hardware modules which include, but are not limited to, power supply module, TV tuner circuitry, video imaging circuitry, microphone/audio circuitry, CD-ROM devices, scanning devices, facsimile devices, etc.
Referring now to remote control devices, a generic consumer electronic remote control for, for example, a remote control for a television, may have standardized keys and specialized keys. A standardized key may be a button for channel-up, channel-down, volume-up, and volume-down. When a button is pressed, for example an up-channel key, the remote transmits an up-channel infrared (IR) signal to the television. The up-channel signal received by the TV indicates that the up-channel button has been pressed. The remote does not send a different signal when the up-channel signal has been released.
Another example of a remote signal is the volume-up signal. When a user presses a volume up button on the remote, the remote may send a volume-up signal repetitiously to the television until the user releases the volume-up button. In response thereto, the television will increase the volume output in accordance with a new volume setting.
Conversely, a wireless computer keyboard operates very similarly to a regular (electrically connected) computer keyboard in that when a key is pressed on a wireless computer keyboard a "make" signal is repetitiously sent to the computer indicating that the particular key is being pressed. When the key is depressed, a different signal, a "break" signal, is sent from the keyboard to the computer indicating that the particular key has been released.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted an exemplary embodiment of a personal computer converged with another electronic system 20. In FIG. 2 the personal computer is converged with a television system. It is understood that the personal computer could be converged with or be connected with a variety of other electronic devices. Such electronic devices include, but are not limited to, a video player; a digital disc player; a compact disk player; a RF tuner, cable tuner or satellite tuner; a telecommunication device such as a cell phone or video phone; and a gaming device such as a Sega® game system or Sony® game system.
In FIG. 2 the personal computer or CPU converged with the television comprises a monitor 22 which is connected by wires or a VGA bus to the CPU 24 of the personal computer. The CPU 24 may have another monitor 26 connected to it. The CPU may also comprise a hard drive 28, a CD ROM player, a floppy disk drive 30, and a microprocessor.
In this exemplary embodiment, the CPU 24 comprises a television tuner and control circuitry 34 and an IR receiver 36. Thus, the functionality of a television is converged into the exemplary CPU 24.
A wireless computer keyboard 38 is shown. The wireless computer keyboard 38 comprises alphanumeric keys 40; a trackball, mouse or other curser maneuvering mechanism 42, miscellaneous function keys 44 and at least one IR transmitter 46.
The exemplary CPU may incorporate a window based operating system such that the user of the system may run various software based programs simultaneously. Preferably, the exemplary PC/TV system can operate in a first mode which is exclusively a TV viewing mode wherein the system operates as if it were a present day TV. Furthermore, the exemplary PC/TV can operate in a second mode which is a computer or PC mode wherein the system operates under the guidance of a computer operating system, such as Windows 95®.
It is understood that the exemplary system, if converged with other electronic systems, such as a gaming system or video telephone system, could also operate exclusively in a gaming mode or video telephone mode. When exclusively in a mode, the inventors do not intend to be operating within a window of the computer operating system, but instead as if the system appeared to the user to be a dedicated machine. By stating this, one must understand that when in PC mode a video window application, or gaming window application or video phone window application can be implemented, but when operating in a window the PC is not acting as a dedicated machine to any single application.
The wireless computer keyboard of the exemplary embodiment will have functions, such as channel-up, channel-down, volume-up and volume-down mapped into the system. A user of the exemplary PC/TV system can use the wireless computer keyboard to operate both the personal computer and the remote control operations associated with the television mode of the system.
The advantage of a wireless computer keyboard configured to have remote control functionality mapped into it is that a user could be working on or preparing a document in PC mode and decide to switch to TV mode. At this time, the user would not have to put the wireless computer keyboard down, then find and pick up the television remote control to operate the system in TV mode. Instead, the wireless keyboard could be used as the television remote control as well. Channels could be changed, volume could be adjusted, etc.
Preferably, the user could either press a designated key on the keyboard or hold down a particular function key while pressing another predetermined key to send remote control signals to the IR receiver on the CPU or on the television.
A variation would require that the wireless keyboard emit IR signals to an IR receiver on the monitor 22. The monitor may translate the received IR signals into codes that are understood by the CPU. The codes are sent from the monitor to the CPU and are acted on accordingly. For example, the codes could be "make" and "break" codes for use by the CPU. The codes could be the result of a designated key or key combination that require the wireless keyboard to send a "universal remote" IR signal such as channel-up or that requires the remote to send a make-break style signal to the CPU which translates the keyboard style signal and requests the converged TV system to act accordingly.
In the exemplary embodiment, the wireless keyboard can send remote control signals that are substantially identical or interpreted to be the equivalent of various IR signals transmitted by an RCA television remote control. In particular, there may be fifteen keys designated on the wireless remote control as multifunction keys. There is a function key that does not generate any IR transmission when pressed, but if pressed in combination with one of the fifteen multifunction keys the wireless computer keyboard will transmit a remote control signal.
A specific example is now explained. When an up arrow is pressed on the wireless computer keyboard, a cursor that is present on the monitor may move in an upward direction, but if the function key is pressed, and then the up-arrow key is pressed, the volume associated with the television may increase.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the IR signal sent from the keyboard to an IR receiver associated with the PC/TV system are not the same as the signals sent by a standard TV remote, but instead the IR signals associated with the TV related functions are specifically formatted to be interpreted and translated by the IR receiver then be provided to the CPU which in turn controls the TV function such as channel-up or volume-down.
Referring now to TABLE A, there is an exemplary chart describing the mapping of various TV remote control functions on to a wireless computer keyboard. For example, if the function key plus the F1 key is held down, a main menu will appear on the monitor. If the function key plus F2 is held down, then a TV program guide will be displayed. If the function key plus F3 is held down, the exemplary PC/TV system will toggle between TV and PC modes. If the function key and F4 are pressed, the TV volume will be muted. If the function key plus F5 is held down, the channel will change (go back) to the previous TV channel that the user was watching. Pressing the function key and F6 will open a picture-in-a-picture window (PIP) on the TV screen. Pressing the function key plus F7 swaps the PIP with the main picture on the screen. Pressing the function key plus F8 "freezes" the picture.
Pressing the function key plus F9 switches the input device to the tuner. For example, the exemplary embodiment includes three inputs so that maybe a VCR, a laser disk player, or a gaming device can be connected to the system. Pressing the function key plus F10 turns the system to a low power or off state. Pressing the function key plus F11 changes the channel of the PIP. Pressing the function key plus F12 changes the PIP size. Pressing the function key plus the pause! key could be used to reset the system.
Pressing the function key plus the up-arrow or down-arrow keys changes the channel up or down respectively. Pressing the function key plus either the left or right arrow keys can change the volume up or down.
TABLE A______________________________________ RemoteFunction Key Control Key+ Mimicked______________________________________F1 ICON/MAIN MENUF2 GUIDEF3 TV-PCF4 MUTEF5 GO BACKF6 PIPF7 PIP-SWAPF8 FREEZEF9 INPUTF10 POWERF11 ChCtrlF12 SIZEPause RESET!Up Arrow CH (up)Down Arrow CH (dn)Right Arrow VOL (up)Left Arrow VOL (dn)______________________________________
Referring now to FIG. 3, another exemplary computer system converged with another electronic device in accordance with the present invention 70 is shown. A CPU 72 is connected or placed in communication with an electronic device 74 or system that may be remotely controllable by a remote control 76.
The remote control 76 transmits IR remote control signals 78 that are formatted such that the electronic device 74 can interpret the signals and be controlled by the remote 76. Furthermore, the wireless computer keyboard 80 can send computer keyboard style make-break IR signals to the CPU 72. These make-break signals 82 are interpreted by the CPU 72 to perform a predetermined function. The make-break signals can be interpreted by the CPU 72 such that the CPU transmits a signal over the bus 84 to the electronic device 74. The electronic device may perform a predetermined function (such as channel-up) in response thereto. Thus, a remote control function is mapped into the wireless computer keyboard 80.
Furthermore, the wireless computer keyboard 80 of FIG. 3, in addition to sending make-break computer keyboard signals 82 to the CPU 72, could be adapted to transmit remote control signals 78 directly to the electronic device 74 when a predetermined key or key combination is pressed on the wireless computer keyboard 80.
In another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4, a computer is converged with another electronic device 90. A CPU 92 is in bidirectional communication with the electronic device 94. A remote control 96, associated with the electronic device 94, transmits remote control IR signals to an IR receiver 97 associated with the electronic device and the CPU 92 in order to control the electronic device. Furthermore, a wireless computer keyboard 100 transmits make-break computer keyboard codes 102 to the IR receiver 97 wherein the make-break signals are interpreted and sent to the CPU 92 via a bidirectional bus 104. Furthermore, the wireless keyboard has remote control functions associated with the electronic device 94 mapped onto the keyboard. The wireless keyboard 100 is either adapted to send IR remote control signals or to send make-break signals. The IR receiver interprets the "signals" sent from the wireless keyboard and determines if they are intended for the remotely controlled electronic device 94 or for the CPU 92. Thus, remote control signals are mapped into the wireless computer keyboard so that the remotely controllable electronic device can be controlled by either the remote control 96 or the wireless computer keyboard 100.
The converged electronic device 74 and 94 of FIGS. 3 and 4 are preferably a monitor or television, but could be a variety of remotely controllable, electronic devices including, but not limited to, a VCR, a sound system, a stereo system, a digital disc player, a video game system, a video telecommunication system, and a home environment remote control system.
Furthermore, although the exemplary embodiments described above indicate infrared transmission for the remote control and/or wireless keyboard, it is understood that radio frequency, electromagnetic signals, sound waves (including audible and inaudible sounds) or other wireless communication transmitters and receivers can be used in the present exemplary embodiments with equivalent results. That is, the wireless keyboard can be used to control a plurality of electronic devices without having to use the remote control designated for the remotely controllable device.
It is also possible in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention to allow the user to program the wireless computer keyboard via at least one of a variety of programmable techniques. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, downloading remote control signals into an IR receiver associated with the wireless keyboard, updating a remote control signal database associated with the IR receiver and/or the CPU and/or the electronic device, or inserting memory modules into the wireless keyboard which contain information designated IR transmissions for predetermined key presses.
A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand and appreciate the multitude of variations with respect to mapping remote control commands into a wireless computer keyboard and/or transmitting the remote control signals from the wireless computer keyboard to control both a computer and at least one other remotely controllable electronic system that may or may not be converged with the computer. Thus, a few of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
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This is a touching tribute to this soldier and his family. God's blessings on this young newlywed couple for their thoughtfulness and caring.
C'mon guys!! Some of you players are making it very tough for us Spartans to defend our favorite team! Get your heads on straight and be the 'men' we know you can be, not thugs.
go green.......
I've always preferred the coney sauce at this A&W over any others I've tried. Haven't been to Mr. Hot Dog in a very long time since there isn't one on the East Side anymore, but theirs were also good. My dad loved coneys and quite a few years ago Mr. Hot Dog would have specials for like 25 cents or some ridiculously low price and he would bring home a sack of coneys for our supper. Good times!
My own take on the death of this unfortunate child is that someone, be it her mother, father or brother, but someone, deliberately killed her because of the sexual abuse testimony that was pending at that time. I know it's not up to us to judge and she and others will have to answer to their Maker in the end, but I've never believed Donna to be innocent. Just like Casey Anthony, there are many unanswered questions, someone knows the truth and will likely never reveal it. Perhaps on their own deathbed?
DisNDat, While it is very commendable that you help by donating to the poor and to the rescue mission, why are you donating foods you purchase with your bridge card?? The card should be used strictly for you and your family's needs! Are you going without meals yourself so that you can give food away?
And while I'm venting, I'm tired of the overused phrase, "I'm on a fixed income". I have worked for many, many years and guess what? My paycheck is 'fixed' too, raises are few and far between for a lot of workers and my check doesn't vary by 1 penny from one to the next.
That's all I have to say, I'll slink away now LOL
I pretty much agree with most of the comments but would also ask, beyond the fact that a 12-yr old has an ex, why is the ex 16?????? Even if she is...going on 13 soon, this is too far out of bounds. Sounds like she is headed for trouble in the future if she is already having problems like this at her young age. Probably could use some social intervention from other responsible persons if her parents don't have the ability to either guide her actions or don't care enough to guide her.
How very, very sad. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.
Interesting. I sometime would listen for about 20 minutes on my work drive in the morning and tuned in this morning and heard a woman instead of him, I just assumed he must be on vacation or otherwise off today. Oh well, it was just filler for me on days I didn't want to listen to music.
No, Mr DWB, the smell of the remnants of those holding ponds is a putrid smelling mess. I can say first hand that the trucks and equipment hauling it out of the plant area brought the smell with them to where ever it as being dumped and the residues left in the trucks carried the offending odors back to their parking grounds. It's a totally different reeking odor than the smell of cooking sugar beets.
The fact is that compulsive gambling is an addiction akin to drinking, smoking, drugs. I do enjoy an occasional trip to the casino for recreational purposes. I would be shocked if I ever won big and by that I mean even $100. I know I'm not 'lucky', never have been. But based on the overwhelming number of chain smokers I encounter on my visits, I would equate that to a lot of people with addictive behavorial tendencies sitting there burning $$ on cigs. and slots.
If it's just dirt why does it smell so bad?
Rest in Peace Tom and Jed. Sympathies to their families and friends on their untimely passing.
Wow, I guess my 85 yr. old mother needs to be careful when she attends Mass at St. Joe's, she's in a 'known drug-related area' and could be stopped for suspicion of needles!! I guess I'll not drive down 3rd Street anymore lest I commit a piddly misdemeanor with my car.
I doubt that the city governmental units will ever offer up the "whole truth" when it comes to them making questionable decisions or mistakes, whether it be involving the police dept, city mgr office, utilities or any other dept. Too much red tape and layers of supervision to ever get a simple, clean and honest answer especially if someone is guilty of a big boo-boo
I just have to post this comment because there is something that has bothered me for a very long time and recently when I watch tv it's brought to the forefront of my mind often. Have you seen the sad ads on tv for Humane Society, a sad ballad or tune playing mournfully in the background as pictures of abused, abandoned, neglected cats and dogs are shown on the screen? Everytime I see these ads it angers me to think that we should be seeing the same type for the abused, abandoned and neglected children in our country!!!! Don't get me wrong, animal abuse is cruel and rampant also, but REALLY, shouldn't we put even more effort in helping the CHILDREN who really need it? With all the horror stories lately in the news, not only in our own area, but in other states, what the H#(*& is our world coming to ?
To Janroma and baycitygar, Trenton told the officer where he was headed for dinner during his search.
I too believe all the allegations in Trenton's complaint are true and I also believe the police chief will do little to reprimand the officer involved. It's too bad this has to go on in our town. Granted we have problems with criminal activity but it doesn't sound like the officer had any reason to make the needle comments or do the search. Office Bartynski needs to man up to his poor conduct and apologize.
Martimurphys: Let's hope the accused are actually telling the truth about not finding any drugs or weapons on Mr Houston or in his vehicle. Maybe they did find stuff and used it or sold it or otherwise disposed of it. I'm NOT supposing that Ashley is or was any kind of innocent in this story but Houston must have been his connection to drugs at least one other time otherwise why the contact between them? Houston should not have been killed but there could be more details that we'll never know because he is unfortunately not here to tell his side of the story.
I feel as much sadness for the Ashley family as for the Houston family. This has to be as hard for the perpetrators families as for the victim's . All have lost family members, albeit, the Houston family through a senseless killing, but the others have to be questioning why their sons turned to this life of drugs and crime. It's a terrible shame all the way around for all involved.
LOSER. He obviously convinced the victim it was not his fault and she forgives him??? After he bashed her face in??? How many more beatings does she have to endure before she realizes the guy is out of control and not likely to change. He needs more than self help books. And so does she.
I've been across the bridge many times, the first was in 1958, the summer after it opened, my parents and my brother went across to UP on a bus.
Ever since I've been driving it's been kind of nerve wracking, as soon as the bridge comes into view headed north on 75, my palms start to sweat and my heart starts beating a little faster. I usually have to exit and drive thru downtown Mackinac City before I can cross the bridge. I'm fine once I'm on it but the anticipation gets me every time. But I've never crossed in the winter and this picture makes me think I'd probably chicken out and get a driver to take me across! LOL I'd like to see it in person though.

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Kent State University Competes in 2014 RecycleMania ChallengePosted Feb. 24, 2014
Kent State University is participating in the annual RecycleMania challenge, an international competition where colleges and universities strive to reduce waste and increase recycling. The month of February marked the official start of the 2014 eight-week RecycleMania competition that runs through March 29.
RecycleMania is supported by the sustainability office, which specializes in the ongoing recycling efforts at Kent State.
There are four challenges going on in one tournament where Kent State ultimately seeks to minimize waste and increase recycling:
- Kent State is competing in various waste minimization and recycling competitions categories against 461 colleges and universities in North America including 17 schools in Ohio.
- Kent State is competing for rights to the RecycleMania "Braggin' Wheel" against the University of Akron.
- Residence Services will reward residents who recycle the most (measured in pounds per capita) in the hall vs. hall competition with a $200 Hall Council party.
- Custodial area staff in administrative and academic buildings will compete to see which area recycled the most.
"This will be Kent State's fifth year participating in the tournament and the third year competing head-to-head with the University of Akron for the recycling 'Braggin' Wheel,'" says Melanie Knowles, sustainability manager at Kent State.
Knowles says that the eight-week tournament is a good time for students, faculty and staff to be mindful to reduce, reuse and recycle.
New this year, plastics # 1 through # 7 are accepted, instead of only # 1 - # 2. Want to win? Throw those recyclables in a blue bin!
The tournament is for the entire campus. By framing recycling in competitive terms, RecycleMania seeks to tap school spirit as a motivator. The larger outcome for the program is to build awareness, be mindful of our resources and to continue to build and reward the recycling habits of those individuals on campus.
The 2013 competition included 523 colleges. More than 3.5 million students and staff participated, collectively recycling 90.8 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials.
There will be various events around campus highlighting RecycleMania, including an online pledge, an electronics waste recycling drive held Wednesdays in March from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Administrative Services Building dock (open to the Kent Campus and community) and personal care item recycling collections for items that are hard to recycle like toothpaste tubes and deodorant packaging.
Kent State University at Stark also is competing in RecycleMania. It's game time! Let's go Flashes!
For more information, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability.


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It will automatically list any available Wi-Fi connections in your location.
connections are available – including T-Mobile® HotSpot ... city. Telecom Connection Manager will
Software-based router for Windows that turns your computer into a WiFi hotspot.
to connect to your hotspot, and select the Internet connection ... a WiFi hotspot to connect my mobile
Hotspot Shield secures your browsing session and protects your privacy.
Hotspot Shield secures ... Internet through a hotspot and you ... a secure tunnel connection between you
It is an app which allows you to turn your PC into a Wi-Fi router.
Wi-Fi HotSpot Creator is ... your broadband connection with an ... any Internet connection whether it


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I'm new to the site so this may be old news. I found two fun books at Amazon.com for men. The first is "Knitting with Balls - A hands on guide to Knitting for the Modern Man" - the patterns are pretty basic but its a fun book. The second is "Men who Knit and the Dogs who love them" - over 20 patterns for you and your dog.
I knit the grey cable vest from MWK and the Dogs who love them, except mine wasn't grey. :-)
hi, i made one of the sweaters in MWK and the Dogs who love them. I'm quoted in it too!
Welcome to the group. I have "Men who Knit and the Dogs who love them". I haven't made any of the patterns yet but will eventually.
Welcome to the group, Eric. I suspect many of us know the books and some will find them new, so thanks for mentioning them. I hope you enjoy the site and you will post, tell us about your knitting and yourself. I find this a great group and very helpful on all sorts of levels. So dont be shy.


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Palm Beach Atlantic baseball will welcome Florida Southern College to Palm Beach Gardens High School for a 6 pm first pitch and the beginning of a three-game weekend series. Admission is free to all home PBA baseball games.
|Christian Life
Life at PBA is about gaining perspective, and finding amazing opportunities to explore your faith, your potential and your world.


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Grohl, Jones, and Homme Team Up as Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures (DGC/Interscope)
God love Joshua Homme, but nothing he's done with either Queens of the Stone Age or the sidelight Eagles of Death Metal has quite equaled the incandescent majesty of his work with Kyuss, the archetypal '90s desert/stoner rock band. Maybe it's because in QOTSA, he lacks a strong collaborating influence like former Kyuss vocalist John Garcia, whose subsequent projects Unida and Hermano come closer to reaching that lofty stoner-rock Valhalla. Even with the sometime participation of former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan and Foo Fighters svengali Dave Grohl, QOTSA still had the feel of being one man's hermetic industry.
But now the singer/guitarist finds himself in a world not of his making—the impetus for Them Crooked Vultures reportedly came from Grohl—backed in close quarters by the drummer who gave Nirvana its propulsive thrashing energy, and flanked by the venerated Led Zeppelin bassman/producer/songwriter John Paul Jones. The result is an album full of riffs stronger than any Homme has been associated with since Kyuss, and Homme's most confident and versatile vocal performance ever. The opening track, "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," manifests the difference with bold strokes, bridging from its QOTSA-ish main riff into powerhouse Sabbathian stomp. The whole record has a comfortably warm analog feel and features a grab-bag of name-that-influence Classic Rawk-isms (Cream, Zep, and the Kinks, for a few) that keeps the project exhilarating. Credit Grohl for pounding the skins like the spirit of Bonham incarnate. But most of all, credit elder statesman Jones, whose steadying hand seems to have kept his exuberant, but occasionally errant younger proteges from straying off the path.


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Carlos is contracted to Corinthians, who have loaned him to second tier Oeste in a bid to gain regular first-team football.
With rumoured interest from Premier League giants, however, Guerra admitted that his club have no control over Carlos' contract, and admitted that the lure of European football may prove a temptation for the young defender.
"The player is under contract with us until the end of the Second Division," Guerra told Globo Esporte.
"But he is still a Corinthians player, so Corinthians have all the power in negotiations.
"When their board decide to have the player back he will have to return, be it to play for Corinthians or to negotiate with another club."
Carlos, whose full name is Antonio Carlos Cunha Capocasali Junior, joined Corinthians from Audax Sao Paulo in 2012.


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2. Part I: Mapping the Future
This week's post is relatively short, but it lays out my central argument. Think of this as a road map to where we're going in the book.
Nobody can predict the future of a market or business perfectly. If I could do it, I'd be retired someplace living off my stock income. If the authors of all those management books could do it, they wouldn't have to write books and give speeches for a living.
Part of the problem is that the world's very complex, and any absolute prediction is bound to break down as unexpected things happen. But the biggest challenge is that the future doesn't yet exist. It's no a single deterministic thing, it's a set of possibilities. We change the future every day with our own decisions. So what we need for the future isn't a prediction. We need a map, showing all the possibilities and consequences of various decisions: if you go here you'll end up in a valley, if you go there you'll end up in the mountains – and if you go over there you'll run off a cliff.
The better you draw the map of possibilities, the better your company can choose a good future for itself and its customers.
Mapping the future of a market or industry requires input from three different perspectives. You need to know first what's going on with the customers. Not just what they're doing today, but how they think, what they want out of life, and how they'd react to changes that might happen in the future. You need to know the insides of their heads so well that you can speak for them reliably.
Second, you need to know how technology is going to change, since that determines what your company can create. I'm using "technology" in a very broad sense here, meaning not just physical hardware like computer chips and paint formulas, but also processes companies can use to deliver services. The internet, for example, is a technology change that's changing business processes in almost all companies, and creating a lot of new opportunities. The telephone did the same thing in the early 1900s.
And third, you need a good understanding of what your competitors will do. It's not enough just to know their products and org chats, you need to understand how they think and operate, and what their basic personalities are, so you can anticipate what they'll do in future situations.
Lots of other information can also be useful for predicting the future. For example, it's very helpful to factor in future changes in government regulations (if you know what they'll be). But I think customers, competition, and technology are the most important factors in mapping the future, and they need to be brought together very intimately because there's so much synergy between them.
To understand how a future map is used, picture yourself as a Roman general leading your army to a winter camp. To the north there's a sheltered valley that would be perfect for your needs. The fastest path to the valley leads across a river most people think is impassable, but your engineers say they can bridge it, so you set them to work. You know the barbarians from the west are also searching for winter shelter in the same area. You don't want them to reach the valley before you. Your scouts have identified a hill that dominates the road from the west. You send your archers to fortify the hill immediately, to cut off any advance.
The valley's a potential market your customer research team found. The people building the bridge are your advanced technologists. The scouts who found the western road and the hill above it are your competitive analysts.
None of these people, working alone, could have drawn the map and told you where you could go on it. But once you had information from all three, you could see the likely future, plan out where you wanted to travel, and prevent the other guy from getting there first.
Unfortunately, this sort of map-making doesn't happen naturally in the business world. In most of the companies I know, the people doing competitive analysis, market research, and advanced technology mix together like oil, sand, and water. Good market researchers are practical and methodical, deeply grounded in data and in the processes by which they gather it. They're very uncomfortable with future speculation and unfounded predictions. Good competitive analysts are intuitive, prone to making wild predictions based on little or no evidence. They hate being tied down by process. And true advanced technologists often have very fixed ideas about the world, ideas that are linked to the intellectual problems they want to research (ie, I want to work on speech recognition, therefore I believe that many important problems can be solved with speech recognition). They can be very impatient with anyone trying to impose customer or competitive realities on them.
On top of the basic differences in outlook, the people who gravitate to these teams come from different academic backgrounds, so they often have different vocabularies and different professional standards. The work also attracts different personality types, which often don't mix well naturally.
Because of the differences, these teams often have pretty low opinions of one-another, sometimes bordering on contempt.
To make a good map of the future, you have to figure out how to mix data with intuition, to blend science and art. To do this, you first have to understand and appreciate each of the groups separately. Then you have to teach them to work together.
Please click here to rate this section (the link will open a one-screen anonymous survey, and you'll get to see the results after you take it).
Are there specific things you'd like to know about mapping the future, and in particular competitive analysis, customer research, and advanced technology? Please post a comment. I'll incorporate your feedback into what I write.
Next week: The Fall of Competitive Intelligence.


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How seniors can avoid scams: Senior versus junior decisioning
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
January 21, 2013
Fear of success
Blog By Steve Kloyda
January 25, 2012
How to be unique
Blog By Mark Satterfield
January 20, 2012
Decisioning in a two-way mirror
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
December 9, 2011
When decisions ricochet
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
November 28, 2011
The most important sale you will make
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
November 10, 2011
Stop discounting yourself
Blog By Troy Wilson
October 27, 2011
What is your most valuable asset?
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
October 25, 2011
Some current insurance and benefits facts
Blog By Philip Eide
October 13, 2011
Are you insane? Could that be causing low ROIs?
Blog By Sarah Carlson
October 4, 2011
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Blog By Jayson Lynch
September 23, 2011
Is closing a perishable commodity?
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
September 12, 2011
Destination check
Blog By Bill Bachrach
August 30, 2011
Why we don't buy green bananas
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
August 19, 2011
The psychology of marketing... coming this week!
Blog By Jeffery Hoyle
June 29, 2011
Emerging markets present opportunity for insurance and benefits industries — and the U.S.
Blog By Philip Eide
June 6, 2011
Different questions get different types of responses
Blog By Steve Drozdeck
April 5, 2011
How to increase your readership
Blog By Ernest Falkner III
January 26, 2011


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- 6
- people in the U.S. have this name View Yolanda Merrill on Whitepages
Meaning & Origins
Of uncertain origin. It is found in Old French as Yolande, of which this is a Latinate form. It may be ultimately of Germanic origin, but if so it has been altered beyond recognition. It is also sometimes identified with the name of St Jolenta (d. 1298), daughter of the king of Hungary.
|327th in the U.S.
English: habitational name from any of several minor places named with the Old English elements myrige 'pleasant' + hyll 'hill'.
|1,007th in the U.S.
Nicknames & variations
Yolande, Yoland, Yolando, Yolandia, Yolaunda, Yolandi, Yolanada, Yolands, Yolamda, Yolandaa
Merritt, Merrick, Merrell, Merriman, Murrell, Morrell, Merriweather, Morrill, Merry, Merryman


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I didn't see this one covered below. How do I add/change a profile pic? I feel like I've looked everywhere... I even accidentally posted a visitor message that I can't delete. Help?
The profile photo is only turned on for supporting members.
Do you want me to delete the "visitor message" that you posted?
Bruce, Life Member: NRA, NCRPA, GRNC, GOA
Naval Air Museum Barbers Point
"I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain."--Jane Wagner
"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
-Isaac Asimov
Yes please, if you would. Thank you.
How do I modify my Profile pic / Become a "supported member"?
Ok well an Avatar is gonna have to do.
Forum Rules


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Wednesday June 25, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Elvis Experience
Starring Martin Fontaine
From June 25 to September 7, 2014
Elvis Experience marks the triumphant return of Martin Fontaine in the role of Elvis Presley. In the summer of 2014, Le Capitole will present 50 new representations of this great production dedicated entirely to Elvis Las Vegas years. Accompanied by 24 musicians and 8 backup singers, Martin Fontaine takes us back to the early 70s portraying Elvis at the peak of his popularity. Relive the exciting experience of attending a concert by the King at the Las Vegas Hilton. Martin Fontaine performs all of the great Elvis Presley songs with the charm and elegance achieved by the superb musical arrangements of a full orchestra.
Ticket prices: $65.00 (plus tax)
Dinner show available from June 26 to September 6, 2014
Service Fees:
At the box office or by phone: $ 5
Online: $ 7
Schedules and rates are subject to change without notice.


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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas - Carolina Beach
Merry Christmas! I hope each and every one of ya'll are have a wonderful day!
BigBear and I are down at the beach with my family this year for Christmas.
We're possibly staying in the best house ever haha. I must say I have found my favorite room in the house ;)
We thought we'd let go of the big presents and just spend the holidays together instead(of course mom still got us all something lol).
We ran out to Walmart yesterday and grabbed a small tree to surprise mom with, you know we have to have some kind of tree ;)
So this year instead of a big family get together, dinners, lunches and gifts, running from here to there and other crazyness, we are spending the day relaxing, decorating Christmas cookies and collecting seashells & sharks teeth :) I am in LOVE with this Christmas. :)
BigBear got up this morning and made us all Sausage Gravy and Biscuits for breakfast. (Thank you honey)
Then mom and I baked and decorated some Christmas Cookies.
We used the piping set and cookie cutters from REAL Butter that I got when I went to Mixed. We used Sweetopia's Buttercream Recipe and some candy from the dollar store to decorate them.
I also used Sweetopia's Christmas Tree piping directions for a few of my tree cookies.
I'm making Picky Palate's Creamy Crock Pot Spaghetti for dinner tonight with Amanda's Cookin 's Mozzarella Provolone Bruschetta! YUM! It's going to be fantastic!
Later this afternoon we're going to see Les Miserables! I've never been to the movies on Christmas Day, hopefully it's not packed lol
I'm also thinking that a few Poinsettia Mimosas, Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks and Apple Crisps need to be made today as well! (My brother and his girlfriend are coming down tomorrow, so you know I need to have a few apple crisps ready haha ) ;)
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from our Family to yours!!
Written Angie Barrett at 1:38 PM
#sundaysupper (42) 4th of July (14) Apple (14) Apple Pie (6) artichoke hearts (3) Asparagus (5) bacon (19) Banana (17) Beef (26) Bread (22) Broccoli (14) Cake (49) Cake Pops (8) Candy (19) Caramel (7) Cheese (45) cheese pizza (3) Cheesecake (8) cherry (3) Chicken (59) Chocolate (92) Chocolate and Peanut Butter (14) Chocolate Chip (11) Cinnamon (6) Cookie (54) cookies (36) cream cheese (7) Cupcakes (24) Dinner (60) disney (16) Drinks (15) Easter (23) eclair (3) Egg (16) Gift Ideas (22) Giveaway (35) Gravy (4) homemade (11) Honey BBQ (2) icing (14) Jack Daniels (2) kiwi (2) Macaroni and Cheese (7) Main Dish (61) Mexican (8) Mushrooms (17) Pancakes (5) Parmesan (6) Party (29) Pasta (54) PeanutButter (9) Peas (7) Pie (20) potatoes (28) recipe (330) Restaurant (20) Rice (16) Risotto (2) Seafood (17) Shrimp (13) Smores (8) Snack (26) Spaghetti (5) spinach (15) Strawberry (19) Summer (18) Sun-Dried Tomato (1) Sunday Supper (20) Taco (5) thanksgiving (36) The Secret Recipe Club (18) Tomatoes (15) Treats (22) Turkey (6) Vegetables (31) Watermelon (3) wine (5) Wreath (9) Yancey House (4) yogurt (4) Zucchini (5)


text: COLLEGE STATION-Texas A&M and the SEC Office, in conjunction with ESPN, announced today that Saturday, Apr. 13 will be an Aggie afternoon on the network. The Aggie football spring game will be televised from 2-4 p.m. central and the Aggie women's softball game against LSU will air from 4-6 p.m. central on ESPN.


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Steve is the founding and senior pastor of Grace Church, with four campuses that minister to thousands of people in Texas and California. Steve's service and contribution to the church community include:
-President of Grace International, an association of more than 2500 churches with thousands of credentialed ministers.
-President of King's University with Dr. Jack Hayford.
-Executive member of the Houston Area Pastors Council, and contributes to other ministries in the city in various capacities.
Steve holds a Masters Degree from Oral Roberts University and a Doctorate from the King's University. A motion picture is in production that chronicles the unmistakable hand of God moving in Steve and Becky's life during a mission trip in the Philippines where they were taken hostage in an attempted prison break and were the only survivors. View "Between the Gates" Movie Trailer.
Garrett provides leadership for all of the Grace campuses and is regular part of the Grace Teaching Team. He is a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. Garrett and Andrea married in 1997 and enjoy serving Grace together. They like relaxing at the beach, waterskiing, eating at Tommy Bahama's and spending time with their kids. Garrett and Andrea have two young children – one princess and one cowboy.
Follow Pastor Garrett on Twitter
Follow Pastor Andrea on Twitter
Dario and Cindy Parish have lived and ministered throughout Latin America with their home base in Guatemala. Dario is a third generation missionary. Dario & Cindy presently lead a network of churches and ministries throughout Latin America, with missionary extensions in Europe, Africa and Asia. More than 650 congregations in 25 nations are under their leadership. They planted Comunidad de Gracia, the Spanish congregation in Grace. Dario & Cindy are the proud parents of four children, Darlena, Sara, Vicki, and Brian.
David has served in full time ministry for more than a decade as Associate Pastor of one of the largest churches in Latin America. He is also an established singer/song writer/recording artist. David leads a youth movement in Houston, Youth Fire, which brings together hundreds of young people throughout the city. David is a professional musician and studied theology at the Assemblies of God seminary in Colombia. David and Diana have three children, Daniella, Nathaniel and Jonathan.
Follow Pastor John on Twitter
Follow Priscilla on Twitter
Follow The Anthem on Twitter


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It's late Saturday afternoon, May 31, 1958, and the class of '58 is celebrating the past week's graduation by "dragging" the College and 11th Street traffic circle one more time, probably a favorite activity of the era at all such intersections in Texas. The girl in the Impala has been keeping track of the revolutions on a chalk board.
The Hub Diner opened in the mid-forties and was expanded to a full-fledged restaurant by the late fifties. Incidentally, it was my great uncle, Logan Welborn, who designed the additions.
For small prints, the sheet size is either 8x10" or 8.5x11" and the actual image size is approximately 6.75 x 10" For large prints, the sheet size is 16x20" and the actual image size is approximately 13.25x20"
Notes from the artist:
The Hub Diner was one of those 40s and 50s era places we love to reminisce about. Built in a factory, diners were shipped to a location by truck or rail. Featuring "pleated" stainless equipment and decor and plenty of colorful neon the diner was truly Americana.
Each classic car (and truck) in this scene has special memories for me. The '57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser reminded me of a space ship! The kids in the '55 Ford pickup are wearing a Davy Crockett Coonskin Cap and 3-D glasses.
But the most memorable thing is the blue '58 Impala like the one in the movie "Peggy Sue Got Married". Buddy's birthday is on the license plate because 1958 was the year his great classic songs were on the air all the time. The next year ... Feb '59 ... "the music died" ... but Buddy Holly's memory lives on.
Of course my '41 Cadillac is seen parked in front of the diner behind the custom classic '51 Mercury.
Dragging the Circle 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is made in the USA by Sunsout, Inc. Makes a perfect gift!
Order a print (OR NEW JIGSAW PUZZLE) of this painting for your home or office today.
8½ x 11" sheet
price ~ $34.95
16 x 20" sheet
price ~ $79.95
puzzle ~ $19.95
Home | Gallery | Fifties | Landscapes | Pen & Inks | Puzzles | Works in Progress | Biography | Contact | Facebook Page | Newsletter Subscription | Links | Tell a Friend | Shopping Cart
All Images Copyright © 2015 Randy Welborn Studio.
All Rights Reserved. Last revised: 2-21-2015


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- About
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- News
The Lay Academy of the Moravian Theological Seminary is offering a course, Theology, Literature and Coffee (TLC), that explores theological themes in selected literature. The course consists of three lunchtime classes that will be held on September 25, October 9, and October 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Luther Crest Church in Allentown.
Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy a time of fellowship as they discuss literature and its meaning. On September 25, Dr. Robert Everett, Institute for Jewish/Christian Understanding, Muhlenberg College, will lead a discussion of Stephen Wylen's book, Jews in the Time of Jesus, published by Paulist Press. On October 9, Susan Steinhaus, St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, will lead a discussion of Christopher DeVinck's book, The Power of the Powerless, published by Zondervan. On October 23, Judith Helm, Pastor, Nativity Lutheran Church, will lead a discussion of James A. Michener's book, Recessional, published by Fawcett Crest, Ballentine Books. Rev. Diane Kareha, Chaplain, Luther Crest, is coordinator.
The Lay Academy of the Lehigh Valley provides ecumenical adult education courses and workshops. The organization, which is based at Moravian Theological Seminary, includes representatives from several local denominations. Instructional resources are drawn from area churches, colleges, and community groups. Registration cost is $30. For registration information, contact the Office of Continuing Education at Moravian Theological Seminary at (610) 861-1519.


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The "Birthday Gift Test": the birthday of your wife or girlfriend is coming up. You're not sure what to get her. So you ask whom:
A. Her best girlfriend
B. Your best guy friend
Kat Gordon, the founder of the "3% Conference," a movement dedicated to building a business case for more female creative directors in advertising, posed that question to a packed house in the Boston office of Digitas. It struck a chord with me.
Gordon's 3% Conference is so named because, alarmingly, only 3% of the nation's creative directors are women. Three percent! Yet women make the great majority of consumer purchases.
Which brings us back to the Birthday Gift Test. The answer is obvious, right? You ask the girlfriend because she knows what women want, in general, but she also knows what your wife or girlfriend wants, in particular. Now look at the senior ranks of your agency's creative department. Full of men I bet. You wouldn't ask a man to help you with your wife's birthday present, but you would trust men to communicate effectively with millions of women who stand between you and a sale?
It's an idea problem.
I was a panelist at the event Kat Gordon spoke, along with Alyssa Toro, Edward Boches, Sue Baylow, and Deb Siegel, and I voiced my belief that the "3% problem" is not just a political problem, it's not just a glass-ceiling problem, and it's not just another tension between the sexes. To me, the 3% problem is an idea problem, which makes it all of our problem.
If you believe Steven Johnson (author of, "Where Good Ideas Come From") that new ideas are the result of two different existing ideas colliding, then it stands to reason that creative teams with differing perspectives increase the odds of these new collisions, or new ideas. With only 3% of all creative directors being women, there is only one perspective at the top.
Forget that it's the "right thing to do." Fixing this problem is in everyone's interest.
Men: if you truly want the work you are creative directing to be better, then adding women to the mix will add a new dimension to the work you are supervising. It's in your interest, men.
Agency: with more women at the top and more female perspective in the creative mix, your creative work will be more creative across all accounts. It's in your interest, Agencies.
Client: with the added female perspective at the top of your agency, the work they present to you will likely be more creative and effective. It's in your interest, Clients.
Wall Street: with more effective creative work from public companies comes increased sales, share, and stock prices. It's in your interest, Wall Street.
Economy: (might as well) with the increased value of public companies who use agencies with more women at the top, the stock market will go up, thereby helping our economy. It's in your interest, Economy.
Life doesn't have to get in the way of the idea.
According to Kat Gordon, the problem is that, for aspiring female creatives, life gets in the way. It's at the exact moment when women who have been in advertising for a while, doing well, and are hitting their stride, that the pressures of child rearing can present a painful choice. Do I continue in advertising and face the ridicule that comes with having to leave the office to pick up my kids (leaving the rest of my team behind to work), or do I just quit and focus on my family? I'm not here to criticize either choice or deem either "right" or "wrong," but I am here to challenge agencies to create a culture where the choice to stay in advertising is easier for talented women.
If a woman has the talent, who cares if she gets the idea in the office or while changing a diaper? If it's "all about the idea," which we often hear from agencies these days, then why is the agency-culture rewarding the amount of time creative people spend coming up with the idea? One could make a sound argument that those who are working until 2:00 a.m. don't have the talent to get it done during regular working hours. Or, worse, that they are just show-boating for attention, earning their stripes, proving their undying loyalty to the agency.
We're not going to solve such a complex problem here, nor did we expect to at the 3% Boston event. But when our biggest, most important brands are depending on a 97% homogeneous group for their ideas, the 3% problem is not just an injustice to women, it's an injustice to marketing itself.


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We are looking for software reviewers to write for us.
Click Here
General Introduction
Jfuse Screen Recorder([url removed] is a versatile screen recording software which captures what you see on screen, what you hear/say from your mcirophone, speakers, or line-in, and saves them as compressed video files in AVI or WMV format.
In detail, Jfuse Screen Recorder captures video, sound and pictures you see on your screen. You can record your web cam sessions, favorite games, any software activities on your desktop, any video being displayed on your screen. Hence, Jfuse Screen Recorder is the ideal tool to make video tutorials, create demos, make courseware, record your peformance in a game. You can, without any programming skills, smoothly use Jfuse Screen Recorder, due to its intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
Functions and Features:
* With JFuse Screen Recorder's flexible recording options, you can capture and record video from full screen, windows, region or a fixed region..
* Video Codec, Bitrate, Audio Codec or Audio format can be full personalized.
* Output to AVI file. You can choose the video compressor, and its compression quality. Supports DivX, XviD..
* Record mouse movements.
* Record audio from any sources including the microphone, line-in, or speakers.
* Record to make presentations, online tutorials, manuals, marketing materials, training handouts, web pages, emails and more.
* Record what you hear from your speakers--- Screen Recorder can internally integrate the audio information with the video.
* Customizable hotkeys.
* Customizable audio/video quality.
* Easy to start, pause or stop recording by using the relevant hot keys.
System Requirements:
* Microsoft DirectX 8.1 or later runtime
* Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/ Windows Vista/ Windows 7
Keywords: Screen Recorder, Screen Capture, Screen Sharing, Capture Streaming Video, Game Recorder
Recent Changes: Jfuse Screen Recorder is a versatile screen recording software which captures what you see on screen, what you hear/say from your mcirophone, speakers, or line-in, and saves them as compressed video files in AVI or WMV format.
Install Support: Install and Uninstall
Supported Languages: English
Additional Requirements: Microsoft DirectX 8.1 or later runtime, Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7
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Meet the T3 team and get your tech for less
To celebrate this year's T3 Award winning gadgets, we've teamed up with one of the UK's finest department stores to offer all T3 readers the chance to save pounds on a wide range of tech.
From TVs to audio visual kit, games consoles to laptops, you can claim up to a whopping 10 per cent off in the technology halls at Selfridges until November 25.
Simply visit your nearest Selfridges store and present your T3 Reward Card you will find with T3 magazine issue 183 to claim your discount. (Card expires on November 25 2010).
On October 21, T3 and Selfridges will be hosting a VIP readers' event at Selfridges, Technology Hall, Lower Ground Floor, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB. You're invited to join T3 as we take in everything that the comprehensive technology floor has to offer as well as some exclusive product demonstrations and talks from some of the technology world's leading brands.
Join us from 6pm-9pm to...
- Meet the T3 team
- Find out how we test, review and cover the biggest tech stories
- Experience exclusive product demonstrations
- Enjoy a relaxed shopping experience in the technology hall
- Drinks available throughout the evening
- Use your Selfridges Reward Card with the help of some expert shopping advice
- The first five readers will receive a fantastic tech prize
How to get invited to the T3 VIP Reader event
There are two ways to make sure you are with us at this event. You can email: email@example.com with "Selfridges VIP" as the subject line telling us what you'd spend your 10 per cent Selfridges discount on.
You can also head to Twitter and tweet #t3vipnight @t3dotcom telling us in 140 characters or less how you would spend that 10 per cent Selfridges discount.
The first 300 responses will be allocated entry to this one off in-store event.


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Membership Perks
Give yourself or someone special the gift of membership in one of Julep's frequent guest clubs. The PDQ Club is perfect for the manicurista. The Parlor Club for gals who love their pedicures.
Member Tuesdays - Share your member pricing with up to two friends every Tuesday!
Refer a Friend - Free upgrade to the seasonal pedicure or facial and your friend gets $10 off the first month of her new Parlor Club membership!
Download our Refer a Friend card
PDQ Club
A Subscription Includes: One PDQ Manicure OR Brow wax each month Member-only discounts on all other services and products.
Parlor Club
A Subscription Includes: Julep Parlor Pedicure OR Organic Facial OR PDQ Manicure/Pedicure OR Fab for 14 Manicure each month Member-only discounts on all other services and products.
Getting a Parlor Membership
Parlor memberships can be purchased at any of our four parlor locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get for my monthly membership fee?
Your monthly membership fee entitles you to:
- Exclusive member prices, which are 15-50% discounts off of retail prices, depending on service
- Your choice of one free service for each month of paid membership (PDQ manicure or Brow wax for PDQ Club members; Julep Parlor Pedicure or Organic facial or PDQ Mani/Pedi or Fab for 14 Manicure for Parlor Club Members)
- 10% off all Julep products
- Complimentary upgrade from Julep Manicure to Birthday Manicure or Julep Pedicure to Birthday Pedicure during your birthday month
- Other special offers throughout the year
What if I cannot make it in to get my monthly service?
Not a problem! If you cannot make it in to get your monthly service, it stays in your account and rolls to the next month for you to use when your schedule allows.
Can I pause my membership for a few months while I'm traveling?
Currently we do not have the ability to temporarily pause a membership; however, we are working on adding this enhancement in the future. If you find that you need to pause your membership due to travel or extended illness, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Can I switch between membership types (PDQ Club to Parlor Club)
Yes. To switch between PDQ and Parlor Club, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com, or speak with the front desk at your next visit to the parlor. Any rolled over services will be carried over to your new membership when you switch clubs.
Still Have Questions?
Feel free to contact us at 877.585.3707 ext. 6 or firstname.lastname@example.com with your questions.


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Click Here to Watch the Whole Video in HD at All American Heroes
All-AmericanHeroes features amateur straight guys out of uniform. These straight men are REAL current or former cops, marines, firemen, lifeguards, military police.
Married Fireman Ethan returns to give us another 'first' for our camera. Before this scene, he had never fucked a man before. And if straight Fireman Ben's screams are any indication, Ethan did a great job in getting his cock way up his fellow firefighter's tight ass. This is also a very arousing mutual oral scene. But it's always hot to see two goodlooking, straight men with dicks in their mouths. Please don't miss the huge creamy facial Ben gets shot in his face and mouth after Ethan screws him. It all looks good enough to eat.
Pixels: 320X240 | Bitrate: 350K
Pixels: 640X480 | Bitrate: 700K
"AHH SHIT....AH YEAH...!" Good stuff!
fireman ethan is a hottie!!


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This 1980 Chevrolet Malibu is one of those cars that just gets cooler the more you look at it. Sure, we all grew up... More
This 1981 Chevrolet Malibu Station Wagon features a 350 V8 F/I 8cyl Gasoline engine. It is equipped with a 3 Speed Automatic transmission. The... More
Straight, clean Malibu 2 door with a 6 point roll cage. It has a nice running small block mated to an automatic transmission. Was... More
1980 Chevrolet Malibu: 350 (383) CID Turbo V8 (with shift kit), automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Featured include Dart Heads, Pro Form... More


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Hang tight!
Recipe by NELL 2
"This is my daughters favorite. It is an easy mandarin orange cake with pineapple, nuts, pudding and whipped topping. Whip one up and it's pig-out time!"
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1 (18.25 ounce) package
yellow cake mix
2 (11 ounce) cans
mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup
chopped walnuts
1 (3.4 ounce) package
instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (15 ounce) can
crushed pineapple
1 (16 ounce) container
frozen whipped topping, thawed
I make this in a 9X13 pan and then frost the cake with the pudding/pineapple/whipped topping mixture. It is great after it's been refrigerated for a while.
Not a fan of this recipe. The icing is good which is why I am giving it 3 stars. The oranges sunk to the bottom of the cake and seemed way too chunky for this cake. Really disappointed.
41 Ratings
I've been making this for years (but without the walnuts...I'll have to try it that way next time!), and I've always gotten RAVE reviews! It's nice & light, not too sweet with a heavy frosting (perfect for the "I don't eat sweets" crowd)...just right for spring & summer! And the icing...I've literally had people just eat the icing right off of the cake! I've also seen folks scrape the leftover moist "goodies" from the pan after the cake is all gone (I'm a guilty gal on that escapade as well!)!!!
I have made this cake minus the nuts for almost 30 years. No one that has eaten it has not loved it. Great cake!
I did notice one big difference with the recipe I have used for years, I use 1 can of mandarin oranges plus the juice instead of the water called for on the cake mix box. You still use the eggs and oil. I use French vanilla flavored pudding mix. I have only ever used a 9X13 pan and no nuts. So I will have to try nuts sometime. I have made this recipe for years, but the lady I got it from was from the south and she called it Pea Picking cake. A light and moist dessert that everyone loves!!
Perfect cake when you are looking for something not too sweet yet filled with flavor. Note to self: Use light juice from oranges to replace part of the water in cake mix, save a few oranges to decorate cake. Add oranges and nuts halfway through beating cake to break up oranges. Add shredded coconut to the topping/filling if on hand.
This was a huge hit for 4th of July. However, because I was bringing it somewhere (and I imagine it isn't incredibly sturdy), I made it in a 13 x 9" pan. I also added 1/2 cup of coconut to the frosting.
My mom taught me to make this cake except she uses pecans instead of walnuts. Sometimes, if we have them laying around, we'll chop up strawberries and put it in the frosting as well. To me it's better this way, but mom likes it just fine he original way.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Pig Picking Cake III
Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 450
Calories from Fat: 188
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text: Prev | Next Purchase this photo Billy Summers/The Putnam Herald Teays Physical Therapy guard Jake Huff turns it toward the basket against GoinÕ PostalÕs Ian Cottrell on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, during Winfield Youth Basketball League play. Gallery: Putnam in Pictures, Friday, Dec. 28 Dec. 28, 2012 @ 10:41 AM The Herald-Dispatch / 2015 Did you miss something in Putnam County this week? Chances are, one of our photographers was there. ()


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Synapse Films
View Single Post
Closet SCREAM fan
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 888
Originally Posted by
Horror is my main thing, and occasionally I may grab one or 2 extraneous titles like THE WORLD SINKS EXCEPT JAPAN but, yeah, I don't have a whole lot of their stuff. I know they said they won't abandon horror (Scorpion has already hinted at this) but I get the feeling this is exactly what's going to happen.
I don't think Synapse is going to abandon horror completely, Don and Jerry are both enormous fans of the genre and in the past have been willing to risk losses for films that they really wanted to put out. That being said, their horror output in recent years has shown a divergence that I expect to continue, a divergence where, on the one hand, they have acquired big titles like SUSPIRIA and DEMONS and, on the other hand, they have acquired recent, rinky dink little horror movies like HEADER and what have you. The big titles require a lot of work on their part, but can be guaranteed to sell a certain number of units. The smaller new titles might not sell much, but they also don't require as much work to put out, since the rights holders usually already have videos masters, sound mixes and basic supplements that they can hand over. I think that trend is going to continue. And I expect we'll definitely see fewer releases along the lines of THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, a title which was not nearly as big as a SUSPIRIA or a DEMONS but was of a similar age and required a lot of work on their part.
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The Bachelor
Sources: Courtney Robertson Dumped Boyfriend Cavan Clark Right Before The Bachelor
Remember a couple months back when Ryan Seacrest's source told him that Courtney Robertson of The Bachelor Season 16 had dumped her long-term boyfriend to go on the show? Ryan said the guy was heartbroken. Well, Life & Style has details that seem to dovetail with that rumor.
"She was dating photographer Cavan Clark for months," an insider revealed to Life & Style. "Then one day she just stopped calling." "She literally vanished," another friend says. "And they were so serious. Even talking marriage. He was about to propose."
And here's a twist of the knife — Cavan reportedly discovered Courtney was on the show after watching her in a preview. "He saw her on TV and guess what? She filmed her promo in a dress Cavan had bought her while on a bicycle Cavan had bought. He hasn't heard from her since."
That story — filled with quotes from "sources" instead of from Cavan himself — follows an exclusive interview another ex of Courtney's just gave Wetpaint Entertainment that basically tells the opposite story. Her most long-term ex, high school sweetheart Chris Slawson, told Wetpaint "She's the most loyal girlfriend any guy could dream of having. She's completely respectful."
So what's the real story with Courtney? Why all the Jekyll and Hyde stuff?
Source: Life & Style
Need your daily dose of The Bachelor? Like us on Facebook! After all, you'd get our final rose.


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SBA City and County Data API
The Small Business Administration (SBA) strives to act as an engine of opportunity and economic growth in America by providing a variety of programs and support services for both current and prospective small business owners. The U.S. City and County Data API provides developers with programmatic access to a geographic names data set for official city and county government websites, as well as data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This data is composed of a variety of data types relating to geographical features such as the county they are found in, their official classification type, descriptions, links to associated governmental URLs, and latitude/longitude coordinates. This is a completely open and free RESTful API that returns data as either XML or JSON.
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Where is it from?
- A Maker Athens, Greece
- A User Athens, Greece
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Puppet Accessory - Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre, Hatziavadis' Beard, 1960s Reg. No: SH 911475 1
- Summary:
- This beard was made in the 1960s by the Greek puppeteer and popular artist Abraam (Antonakos) in his Athens workshop, and used in performances in Greece during the 1960s. This and most of the puppets in the collection were brought to Australia by Abraam Antonakas for his performances at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne in 1977. He then left the collection with Dimitri Katsoulis who used them in all his subsequent performances in Victoria and in South Australia from 1978 to 1991.Dimitri Katsoulis migrated to Australia in 1974 to escape a regime that repressed Greek artists. He had trained in Greece with theatre and film companies as an actor and technician. A master of the traditional Greek shadow puppet theatre, his performances explored contemporary issues such as the isolation of migrant women and children. Unable to obtain funding and support, he returned to Greece in 1991, leaving his entire collection to the people of Victoria. It includes 32 shadow puppets and around 170 props, set backdrops and technical tools and stage equipment. Dimitri has since returned to Melbourne and assists the Museum to continue to document this rich art form within both local and international contexts.
The beard was attached to Karaghiozis, a character in the centuries-old Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre (Karaghiozis) tradition. It was used in all the plays. In the play 'The Three Questions and the Lie to the Pasha', Karaghiozis takes Hatziavatis' cap, attaches some hair to it to create a beard and puts it on to disguise himself as Hatziavatis. He manages to answer the questions correctly and wins the 50 pounds.
Information supplied by Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre master Dimitri Katsoulis, 2007.
- Description:
- A piece of corrugated cardboard, cut to the shape of a beard and painted black. A strip of masking tape, also painted black, has been used to reinforce one edge. A fragment of brown packing tape is attached to the masking tape.
- Statement Of Significance:
- This collection of puppets, props, stage sets, and technical tools and equipment relating to traditional Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre is unique in Australia and rare in international public collections. The history of Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre, its puppet characters and the methodology of its performance has been recorded in partnership with the puppet master to whom the collection belonged. The collection is highly significant both as documentation of an important cross-cultural, centuries-old art form, and as an example of the transnational migration of cultural activity between Greece and Australia. It is a collection which was created and performed in Greece and Australia from the mid to late twentieth century, by two puppet masters, who transported the tradition between two countries. Abraam Antonakos came to Australia in 1977 to perform the puppet theatre and then deposited the puppets with Dimitri Katsoulis, who had migrated to Australia in 1974. Dimitri's story becomes one of migration experience, cultural maintenance and adaptation, and finally return migration and the discontinuance of this cultural art form in Australia.
|5.50 cm (Height), 4.50 cm (Length)
More information
|Tagged with:
|cultural maintenance, greek communities, greek immigration, karaghiozis theatre, shadow puppetry, theatres, working life
|Themes this item is part of:
|Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre - Dimitri Katsoulis, Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre - Lighting Technology, Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre - History, Working Life & Trades Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Ethnicity - Creative Practice
|Tertiary Classification:
|Mr Abraam Antonakos, Athens, Greece, 1960-1969
|Mr Abraam Antonakos, Athens, Greece, 1960-1977
Abraam made the puppet in Greece, and used it in performances during the 1960s and 1970s; and then in Victoria in 1977.
|Mr Abraam Antonakos, Victoria, Australia, 1977
Abraam made the puppet in Greece, and used it in performances during the 1960s and 1970s; and then in Victoria in 1977.
|Mr Dimitri Katsoulis, Australia, 1978-1991
Dimitri was given the puppet by Abraam in 1977 and then used it in his performances in Australia until 1991.
|http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/#; Malkin, Michael, R. Traditional and Folk Puppets of the World, A.S. Barnes & Co., Inc., N.J., 1977; Simmen, Rene, The World of Puppets, Elsevier, Phaidon, London, 1975; Hogarth, Ann & Bussell, Jan, Fanfare for Puppets!, David & Charles Publishers Ltd, USA, 1985; Yayannos, A & Ar and Dingli, J. The World of Karaghiozis, 1976
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Essence of this Article
Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a part of a thrombus, usually dislodged from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), passes into the pulmonary circulation, occluding the pulmonary arteries. PE is a potentially life-threatening condition and is the most common reason for preventable hospital death. Rapid diagnosis is crucial however the diagnosis of PE may be missed because of its non-specific clinical symptoms. Long-term complications of PE include chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The Wells score is one scoring system that is commonly used to predict clinical probability of PE. Ventilation-perfusion scanning had been the first-line approach in patients with suspected PE for decades, although other diagnostic methods are available.
Pulmonary embolism
PE is a potential cardiovascular emergency and occurs when a part of a thrombus, usually dislodged from a DVT (and then called an embolus), passes into the pulmonary circulation, occluding the pulmonary arteries. Nearly four-fifths of patients with PE have evidence of DVT,144 and approximately half of those with proven proximal DVT have an associated PE and, like DVT, PE is often asymptomatic.145 However, approximately 20–30% of cases are unprovoked (idiopathic).146
Epidemiological data indicate that, of the more than 1.1 million cases of VTE occur in the EU each year, approximately one-third are PE cases.124 PE is the most common reason for preventable hospital death.119 Long-term complications of PE include chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), which can have serious consequences.147, 148
Diagnosis of PE
Signs and symptoms
PE is a potentially life-threatening condition and in severe cases, the occurrence of circulatory collapse and cardiac arrest may result in sudden death. Early fatality occurs in up to 15% of patients,146 and thus rapid diagnosis is crucial. However, the diagnosis of PE may be missed because of its non-specific clinical symptoms.146
The most common signs and symptoms of PE are:126, 146
- Dyspnoea
- Tachypnoea
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Haemoptysis
- Tachycardia
- Anxiety
- Syncope
- Respiratory crackles (crepitations)
These symptoms are not specifically diagnostic of PE.144 For this reason, the diagnostic process, and decisions regarding the need for imaging studies specifically designed to detect PE, should begin with a careful clinical examination and a determination of the likelihood that the patient has suffered a PE.
The clinical severity of PE varies depending on the patient's baseline cardiopulmonary reserve, the size of the embolus, and the degree to which the embolus occludes the pulmonary circulation. A massive PE can cause cardiogenic shock, while small emboli may be asymptomatic.
A clinician should maintain a high index of suspicion for this condition, because prompt treatment of PE can dramatically reduce the morbidity and mortality of the disease.
Clinical probability scores
Scoring systems used in clinical practice include several key risk factors and markers for PE based on patient history and presentation. The Wells score is one scoring system that is commonly used method to predict clinical probability of PE.134 This prediction rule has been revised several times since its development to make it simpler and more accurate.149
Wells score for prediction of PE.149
A total score >6 indicates a high probability of a PE, a score of 2−6 moderate probability and a score <2 low probability.149
|Clinically suspected DVT
|Alternative diagnosis less likely than PE
|Rapid heart rate
|Immobilization within past 4 weeks
|History of DVT
|DVT, deep vein thrombosis; PE, pulmonary embolism.
Ventilation-perfusion scanning had been the first-line approach in patients with suspected PE for decades. A ventilation-perfusion scan indicating a high probability of PE provides sufficient evidence for the initiation of treatment, although it should be noted that a scan indicating a low probability of PE does not rule out the condition.150 Spiral CT has a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting large pulmonary emboli but is generally unable to detect small ones. One method that is used for diagnosis is CT pulmonary angiography. This is rarely a first-line diagnostic test, because it is more invasive than either ventilation-perfusion scans or spiral CT.126
Combined diagnostic methods
A number of diagnostic methods can be used to assess patients with suspected PE, including the use of a simple clinical prediction rule, D-dimer testing and CT. The efficacy of these methods as a combined approach was evaluated in a prospective cohort study involving over 3300 patients, and it was shown that this method could be applied in 98.5% of eligible patients, while effectively guiding the clinical management decision in 97.9% of patients.151 The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has issued algorithms for the diagnosis of PE depending on whether the risk of death based on clinical symptoms is judged to be high or not.146 High-risk PE in this context is usually suspected if shock and/or hypotension are present.
ESC algorithm for the confirmatory diagnosis of potentially fatal PE. Adapted from Torbicki et al.146 ai.e. with shock and/or hypotension ; bnot available if the patient's condition allows bedside diagnostic tests only; ctransoesophageal ECG may detect pulmonary arterial thrombi in a significant proportion of patients with RV overload and PE that is ultimately confirmed by spiral CT. Confirmation of DVT with bedside compression ultrasonography could also assist decision-making. CT, computed tomography; ECG, electrocardiography; PE, pulmonary embolism; RV, right ventricular.
ESC guidelines for the diagnosis of PE where the clinical symptoms are not suggestive of a high risk of death. Adapted from Torbicki et al.146 ai.e. not with shock and/or hypotension; be.g. Wells score. CT, computed tomography; PE, pulmonary embolism.
Risk factors for recurrence
As with DVT, the risk of recurrent PE appears to be higher in patients with an initial unprovoked PE and/or persistent risk factors than in those with transient risk factors.152
Persistent risk factors include:152
- Active cancer
- Elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies
- Elevated D-dimer concentration after discontinuation of therapy
Several studies have indicated that patients with an initial PE are at high risk of recurrent PE,153, 154 and one meta-analysis suggested that the risk for recurrent PE is 3.1-fold greater in patients who have had an initial symptomatic PE than in those with initial proximal DVT.155


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The Key to Dark Cleric Salem's Chest.
The Key to Dark Cleric Salem's Chest.
Wrathions Demon Hunter armor plus a copy of the newest xpac
Wrathion's Cat, it's undead.
Dragon porn magazines.
That's why you need me.... Need someone to punish you for your sins.
I hear it's filled with delicious red herring.
"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my comrade." - Albert Camus


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The big day had arrived- the day of hiking 10 miles to go surf. Once we set forth from camp, the CityWild crew wandered down Las Virgenes road for about half a mile before dropping into the Malibu Creek Canyon. While walking through an emerald green meadow just off the hot black pavement, I turned and asked Adam, "When does the trail start?" With a sly grin he replied, "I don't know- you're on it I suppose".
Pictured Above: RVCA Hat, Surfrider Tee, One Teaspoon Shorts | Below: Raen Sunglasses