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The System includes an Alarm Unit and a separate Alert Unit. The Alarm Unit is securely affixed to the parcel before the parcel is left at the delivery site, and the Alert Unit is placed at a secure site that is within radio range of the delivery site. The Alarm Unit is armed by the deliveryman upon depositing the parcel at the delivery site, and arming of the Alarm Unit results in the transmission of messages verifying to the seller or delivery agent that delivery has taken place and notifying the purchaser or intended recipient that the parcel has arrived. Movement of the parcel after it has been deposited at the delivery site and has been armed results in messages being transmitted to the shipping agent and to the intended recipient announcing that the parcel has been stolen. Such unauthorized movement of the parcel also activates a very loud audible alarm affixed to the parcel and activates a tracking beacon in or on the parcel, permitting the whereabouts of the parcel to be determined or tracked. The intended recipient of the parcel, after being notified of its delivery can disarm the Alarm Unit by inserting a secret number into a keypad on the Alarm Unit and then pressing a disarm button. Upon being disarmed, the Alarm Unit generates a signal that causes the Alert Unit to notify the seller and the delivery agent that an authorized person has taken possession of the parcel, thereby verifying receipt.
1. A high security method of delivering a parcel from a shipper to a recipient via a deliverer using a system that includes an alarm unit affixed to a parcel to be delivered, which alarm unit is operable in concert with an alert unit prepositioned at a recipient's delivery site, wherein the alarm unit and alert unit are responsive to a preestablished identification code, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a shipper-supplied alarm unit having at least one alarm device, a motion detector for detecting movement of the alarm unit, a wireless transmitter for sending one or more classes of messages taken from the group including a delivery confirmation message, a receipt message and a violation message, a data input device for receiving an arming input including said preestablished identification code and for receiving a disarm input also including said preestablished identification code, all connected to a first logic processor and a self-contained power source;
(b) providing a recipient-controlled alert unit having a wireless receiver, a message sender, a display means, all interconnected with a second logic processor and a power source;
(c) providing a preestablished identification code via an independent communications means to said deliverer and to said recipient;
(d) affixing said alarm unit to a parcel to be delivered before the parcel is left at the delivery site;
(e) placing said alert unit by said recipient at the delivery site within range of the wireless transmitter;
(f) arming said alarm unit by said deliverer by entry of said preestablished identification code via said data input device upon delivery of said parcel at said delivery site;
(g) whereupon said transmitter sends a delivery confirmation message to said alert unit for further dissemination by said message sender, the type of said further dissemination selected by said second logic circuit from the group including displaying said message on said alert unit, notifying said recipient on said alert unit, initiating an alarm from said at least one alarm device on said alarm unit, and notifying one or more third parties at preset remote locations using disparate messaging channels;
(h) and whereupon said motion detector is enabled to initiate a transmitter sent violation message to said alert unit for further dissemination as before should alarm unit movement detection occur before disarming of said alarm unit by the recipient; and
(i) disarming said alarm unit by said recipient by entry of said preestablished identification code via said data input device whereupon said transmitter sends a received message to said alert unit for further dissemination as before.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. A system for high security delivery of a parcel from a shipper/merchant to a recipient/addressee via a deliverer, said system of the type employing an alarm unit affixed to the parcel to be delivered and an alert unit operable in concert with the alarm unit, said alert unit prepositioned at a recipient's delivery site, and said alarm unit and said alert unit being responsive to a preestablished identification code, said system comprising:
(a) a shipper-supplied alarm unit having at least one alarm device, a motion detector for detecting movement of the alarm unit, a wireless transmitter for sending one or more classes of messages taken from the group including a delivery confirmation message, a receipt message and a violation message, a data input device for receiving an arming input including said preestablished identification code and a disarm input which also includes said preestablished identification code, all operatively connected to a first logic processor and a self-contained power source;
(b) a recipient-controlled alert unit having a wireless receiver, a message sender, a display means, all operatively connected to a second logic processor and a power source;
(c) a preestablished identification code provided via an independent communications means to said deliverer and said recipient;
(d) whereby upon affixing said alarm unit to a parcel to be delivered before the parcel is left at the delivery site, and placing said alert unit by said recipient at the delivery site within range of the wireless transmitter, and arming said alarm unit by said deliverer by entry of said preestablished identification code via said data input device upon delivery of said parcel at said delivery site;
(e) said transmitter under control of said first logic processor sends a delivery confirmation message to said alert unit for further dissemination by said message sender, the type of said further dissemination selected by said second logic processor from the group including displaying said message on said alert unit, notifying said recipient on said alert unit, initiating an alarm from said at least one alarm device on said alarm unit, and notifying one or more third parties at preset remote locations using disparate messaging channels;
(f) said motion detector under the control of said first logic processor is enabled to initiate a transmitter sent violation message to said alert unit for further dissemination as before should said alarm unit movement detection occur before the recipient disarming of said alarm unit; and
(g) whereby upon disarming said alarm unit by said recipient by entry of said preestablished identification code via said data input device, said transmitter sends a received message to said alert unit for further dissemination as before.
7. The system of
8. The system of
9. The system of
10. The method of
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of system and methodology for the delivering of goods and more specifically relates to the notification, verification, tracking and safeguarding of parcels delivered by a courier.
2. The Problem to be Solved
Everyday many millions of parcels, large and small, are delivered to households and companies all around the world by delivery companies such as United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, Airborne, DHL, etc., to name a few. More and more people today purchase goods from distant sources instead of buying them on site in local shopping malls or at local retail stores.
Typically a consumer orders goods from a source via telephone or mail (commonly referred to in the business as "MOTO" or Mail Order Telephone Order) and selects a delivery service, viz. regular ground, airmail or next-day speed delivery, etc. As proof of a successful transaction, the consumer receives a confirmation number and thereafter expects the ordered goods to be delivered to his residence.
Depending on prior arrangements, the delivery agent might have instructions to not deliver the parcel containing the ordered goods unless there is somebody present to receive it. Additionally, the delivery agent might demand someone's signature in exchange for the parcel in order to provide evidence of the delivery and receipt of the goods. Normally this is not a problem for deliveries made at a business as there is normally someone there to receive and sign for the goods.
However, deliveries to residences have always been a nagging problem to both the consumer and the delivery agent when the consumer is not at home to receive the ordered goods. This situation is a common occurrence as both members of a married couple may work during the day, and delivery agents seldom make deliveries after regular working hours. For consumers, this situation is highly inconvenient and incompatible with their lifestyle as more often than not they have to take delivery at the shipping agent's location, if they need the goods in a hurry. For delivery agents, the repeated delivery of the same ordered goods to the consumers' residences or the additional handling and storing of the undelivered goods needed in order to complete a delivery contract means extra expense without any added business advantage other than maintaining the company's good will and service reputation to the public. Mundane as it is, this problem has persisted for decades to the present time in this industry seemingly still without any physically and economically workable solution.
The advent of the Internet in recent years creates a new dimension of merchandise choice and convenience for consumers. This new mode of shopping further aggravates the decades old problem of home delivery of ordered goods. First, the goods ordered on the Internet still have to be delivered to the customers'residences. Consequently, the manner of conducting business has not changed. Second, in addition to MOTO, we now have the added volume of Internet orders to contend with, further exacerbating the frustration levels of both the consumers and delivery agents. Fortunately the potentially huge financial reward in coming up with an economically viable solution to this problem has finally caught the attention of a number of resourceful individuals. As a result, proposed solutions to remedy this problem have finally started to emerge as recently as only several years ago.
Prior to the recent proposed solutions to this particular package delivery problem, a number of item detection alarm methodologies aimed generally at the prevention of thefts via alarm or information transmittal for a variety of devices and objects, large and small, had been advanced.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,429 issued to Streeter on Nov. 12, 1996, a self-contained programmable alarm system securely attached to an article is described. The article is protected by activating an alarm device when the article is moved. Non-position-sensitive, vibration activated switching means are included for activating the alarm device after sensing movement of the article. Although this alarm system can protect against the theft of an article, its implementation is rather complex and expensive to use for solving the current package delivery problem where simplicity and low cost are mandatory in order that such a system can be deployed and accepted by the general public.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,456 issued to Staehle, Jr. on Aug. 26, 1997, a theft preventive purse comprising an opening with a keypad situated adjacent thereto with the keypad adapted to transmit an access signal for a predetermined amount of time upon entry of a proper code is disclosed. This invention is aimed specifically towards an improved anti-theft purse with the added feature of a panic button in addition to the conventional audible alarm when unauthorized access to the purse is encountered.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,066 issued to Murdy on Sep. 8, 1998, an instrument case and alarm is disclosed which provides a reliable alarm system that selectively uses audio, visual and radio alerts to attract attention to the case and instrument. The system advanced is meant for a very special application such as an expensive musical instrument in a carrying case and therefore not suitable, both from simplicity and cost standpoints, for the currently encountered general package delivery problem.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,286 issued to Kuma on May 25, 1999, there is described a transport container and managing system suitable for use when valuable goods are transported by a transportation service. Such a system is specifically advanced for delivery services used by banking facilities when valuable goods such as money, jewelry or security articles are transported.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,131 issued to D'Angelo et al. on Oct. 5, 1999, there is described a motion sensitive theft detector system for portable articles featuring two way communication between the theft detector unit installed in or affixed to the portable article and the control unit carried by the owner. One of the special features of this invention is the adaptive alarm sequence which allows the alarm to vary in response to frequency and duration of motion so that isolated movement triggers a warning but persistent motion triggers a full scale alarm. It is apparent that the complexity and sophistication of such a theft alarm works best for special situations but not so when a simple, low cost package delivery alarm system is called for.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,647 issued to Devine on Dec. 8, 1998, there is described an alarm for detecting the unauthorized movement of an object. The system includes a motion detector, programmable microprocessor and an audible alarm all contained within a housing. The specific objective of this disclosure is to provide a simple and effective motion detection means and to provide an alarm device that can be attached to valuable items, and that will sound an alarm if the item is moved.
Thus there is still today an urgent need, especially in view of the exponentially increasing Internet online shopping volume, for a novel solution to the home package delivery problem. Internet shopping online and the traditional MOTO shopping no doubt offer consumers with appealing conveniences, however, until such time that the home packages delivery problem is solved, the potential of these modes of shopping cannot be fully realized.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a viable yet economical solution to the home package delivery problem. The present invention provides adequate protection for the delivered package, notification and verification of the delivery to both the addressee and the shipper, and permits tracking of the delivered package in the event that it is illegally removed from the delivery site.
The package delivery system of the present invention, hereafter referred to as the Delivery Alert System or DAS for simplicity, includes an Alarm Unit, an Alert Unit and an optional Tracking Beacon. The Alarm Unit is securely attached to the parcel and cannot be easily removed from the parcel without literally destroying a significant portion of the parcel itself Thus, the Alarm Unit is left with the parcel at the delivery site and remains with the parcel.
The Alarm Unit contains an alarm circuit which works in conjunction with a multiple-digit keypad so that it can be armed or disarmed by entering the correct multiple-digit code into the keypad. The Alarm Unit also contains a motion detector which will trigger the onset of a very loud audible alarm when the parcel is moved while armed.
The Alarm Unit also contains a short-range wireless transmitter which sends a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal to the Alert Unit (see below) when the parcel is armed at the delivery site. When the Alarm Unit sounds the audible alarm indicating that the parcel is being moved illegally (i.e., the alarm is not properly disarmed), the Alarm Unit simultaneously sends a VIOLATION signal to both the Alert Unit and the Tracking Beacon. When the Alarm Unit has been disarmed, the transmitter sends a RECEIVED signal to the Alert Unit. Finally a power supply means, such as a lithium ion sheet battery, is included in the Alarm Unit in order to power all its operations.
The Alert Unit is typically located inside the intended recipient's home. It receives the DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal from the Alarm Unit when the Alarm Unit is armed at the time of delivery. After the receipt of this signal, the Alert Unit sends a signal (predetermined by the addressee to be by phone or e-mail or both) to the parcel's intended recipient. It also sends a signal to the designated local agent of the delivery company or agent notifying him that the parcel has been successfully delivered.
Upon receiving the VIOLATION signal from the Alarm Unit, the Alert Unit notifies the delivery agent and the local police that the parcel has been stolen.
Upon receiving the RECEIVED signal from the Alarm Unit, the Alert Unit notifies the delivery agent and the shipper (or seller) of the goods that the intended recipient has taken possession of the goods.
The Tracking Beacon is a small device which optionally may be included in any parcel. When the parcel is illegally removed from the addressee's premise after its delivery, the Tracking Beacon receives the VIOLATION signal from the Alarm Unit to commence broadcasting. The local police or other security personnel may use one or more receivers equipped with directional antennas to track or home in on the stolen package, using the signals broadcast by the Tracking Beacon.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a functional diagram illustrating the major components of the Delivery Alert-System of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the Alarm Unit in a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the Alert Unit in a preferred embodiment; and,
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the Tracker Unit in a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a functional diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the entire Delivery Alert System. FIG. 1 gives a broad overview of the System, and the major units of the System are shown in greater detail in the other drawings. The major units of the System are the Alarm Unit 1 and the Alert Unit 5. The Alarm Unit 1 is affixed to the parcel 3 by a very strong adhesive, and the Alarm Unit remains with the parcel when the parcel has been left at the delivery site. The parcel 3 is not part of the present invention.
In the preferred embodiment, the Alarm Unit includes a tracking beacon 4, which emits a characteristic radio signal when activated.
Because the Alarm Unit is so strongly affixed to the parcel 3, which usually is not reused, the Alarm Unit includes only essential components and is implemented as inexpensively as possible since it is considered to be disposable.
Other components of the System are contained in the Alert Unit 5 which is located at a secure site within radio range of the transmitter 17. The transmitter 17 selectively sends three types of signal: a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal that is generated when the Alarm Unit is armed at the time it is left at the delivery site, a VIOLATION signal that is generated when the motion sensor 15 detects subsequent unauthorized movement of the parcel, and a RECEIVED signal that is generated when the Alarm Unit is disarmed.
When any of these three signals is received by the receiver 20, the Alert Unit 5 sends messages to preset remote locations announcing that the parcel has been delivered, that the delivered parcel has been stolen, or that the delivered parcel has been received. These messages may be sent by any suitable communications mode, such as by telephone, by fax, by e-mail, by cellular telephone, or by radio, or by any combination of these modes. In addition, the Alert Unit 5 includes a display 22 that conveys the same information visually to anyone who may be present. In normal use, the messages would be sent to the addressee of the parcel or to an agent of the addressee and would also be sent to the delivery company. However, it is also feasible to send a message to the local police or to a private security company informing them that the parcel has been stolen.
The System is capable of sending these messages regardless of whether the tracking beacon 4 is included in or on the parcel 3. The tracking beacon 4 is helpful in permitting the police to locate a stolen parcel and (along with the audible alarm) in providing additional protection against a dishonest addressee who contrives to make it appear that a parcel has been stolen when, in fact, he has received it. It can be appreciated that the theft of parcels will be discouraged if thieves believe that the parcels contain or might contain a tracking beacon.
FIG. 2 shows the Alarm Unit 1 in greater detail. In the preferred embodiment, the sensor shown in FIG. 1 includes a motion detector 15 and a microprocessor 10. A keypad 11 is used for entering any combination of identifying numbers or letters into the microprocessor 10. The identifier entered in the keypad 11 is stored in the microprocessor 10 by pushing the ARM button 12, thereby arming the Alarm Unit. The Alarm Unit may be disarmed by entering the same identifier in the keypad 11 and pushing the DISARM button 13. A logic circuit associated with the microprocessor prevents disarmament from occurring unless the second identifier entered matches the one that was entered when the Alarm Unit was armed. It is not sufficient merely to press the DISARM button; disarmament occurs only if the user enters the correct identifier. The microprocessor 10 ignores the output of the motion detector 15 except during the time interval in which the Alarm Unit is armed. The microprocessor 10 also includes circuitry that ignores the output of the motion detector 15 even when the Alarm Unit is armed unless the output of the motion detector persists for a brief preset duration. This reduces the frequency of false alarms caused by accidental movements made in the course of disarming the Unit.
In the preferred embodiment, the Alarm Unit, upon being successfully disarmed, generates and transmits by the transmitter 17, a RECEIVED signal, signifying that the intended recipient has taken possession of the parcel. The RECEIVED signal is received by the receiver 20 of the Alert Unit and applied to the message sender 21 which notifies the shipper or seller of the goods and the delivery agent that the transaction has been completed.
If the Alarm Unit is armed, and if the motion persists sufficiently or if a specified number of invalid attempts have been made to provide the Alarm Unit with a disarm code, the microprocessor enables the transmitter 17 to transmit a VIOLATION signal and activates loudspeaker 16 that produces a very loud audible alarm. These signals persist until the Alarm Unit is disarmed or until the battery 18 is exhausted. In the preferred embodiment, the microprocessor also activated a dye dispenser when the VIOLATION signal is produced. The dye dispenser is located in or on the Alarm Unit, and when activated, it expels a brightly colored dye, which may also be photoluminescent, onto the thief to assist in identifying the thief.
It will be recognized that the use of the keypad 11, ARM button 12, DISARM button 13, and microprocessor 10 as described above constitutes the electrical equivalent of a mechanical combination lock. Although an electrical lock is preferred, it may be implemented in several ways, all of which are encompassed by the present invention. For example, the ARM button and DISARM button do not have to be pushbuttons, but instead, in other embodiments may be levers, knobs, or slidable elements that actuate electrical switches. Also, in other embodiments the keypad is replaced by an array of frangible conductors which are selectively broken to enter the identifier in a tamper-resistant manner.
Confirmation delivery is achieved in the following way. When the Alarm Unit is armed by pressing the ARM button 12, the microprocessor 10 orders the transmitter 17 to produce a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal that persists for a limited time. Note that it is the pressing of the ARM button 12 and not the entry of an identifier into the keypad 11 that produces the DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal. So long as the System is armed, the microprocessor 10 causes the indicator light 14, located near the keypad 11 and visible to the user, to flash repeatedly to give visual confirmation that the Alarm Unit is armed. Also, when the microprocessor 10 has determined that unauthorized movement of the parcel has taken place, the microprocessor causes the indicator light 14 to operate continuously. Power for the motion detector, the transmitter 17, the loudspeaker 16, the indicator light 14, and the microprocessor 10 is supplied by the battery 18. In the preferred embodiment, the battery 18 is of a type known as a lithium ion sheet battery.
FIG. 3 shows the Alert Unit in greater detail. Upon receiving a radio signal from the transmitter 17 of FIG. 2, the receiver 20 of the Alert Unit of FIG. 3 determines whether the signal is a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal, a VIOLATION signal, or a RECEIVED signal, and informs the microprocessor 19 of the presence and nature of the radio signal. If the radio signal is a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal, the microprocessor applies a signal to the message sender 21 causing the message sender to send a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION message to one or more addresses stored in the message sender 21. These messages are sent in succession and may identify the parcel and give the date and time of delivery. The message can be sent by the message sender 21 by Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) telephony, via a regular telephone line, or by e-mail through the Internet. The microprocessor also displays on the display 22 the receipt acknowledgment and the date and time of arrival of the delivered parcel.
In the event the receiver 20 has received a VIOLATION signal from the transmitter 17, the microprocessor sends a signal to the message sender 21 causing the message sender to send a violation message to a stored list of destinations, and the order and content of this list may differ from that of the list used in confirming delivery. Also, the microprocessor applies a signal to the display 22 causing it to operate continuously or otherwise produce a visual indication that the parcel has been stolen. Power for the display, the receiver 20, the message sender 21, and the microprocessor 19 is supplied by the power supply 23, which may operate from batteries or from line current.
After a parcel has been properly disarmed by the addressee, the Alert Unit 5 can be reset using the RESET button 24. Disarming of the Alarm Unit causes the transmitter 17 to transmit a RECEIVED signal. Upon receiving this signal, the receiver 20 informs the microprocessor 19 that a RECEIVED signal has been received. In response, the microprocessor 19 directs the message sender 21 to send messages to the delivery agent and to the shipper (or seller) of the goods acknowledging that an authorized recipient has taken possession of the parcel and its goods.
FIG. 4 shows the beacon 4 of FIG. 1 in greater detail. The tracking beacon includes a receiver 25, a transmitter 26 and a battery 27. The tracking beacon is designed to be compact and inexpensive, and is considered to be disposable. In the preferred embodiment, when the microprocessor 10 of FIG. 2 determines that the parcel has been stolen, the microprocessor 10 orders the transmitter 17 to emit a VIOLATION radio signal, which differs from the DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal. The antenna 30 of the receiver 25 intercepts the VIOLATION radio signal. When the receiver 25 determines that a VIOLATION signal has been received, the receiver 25 applies a signal to the transmitter 26, turning it on. The transmitter 26 thereafter continuously broadcasts a radio signal usable for tracking the parcel.
In operation, the Delivery Alert System functions and is used as follows. The purchasing customer or addressee obtains a valid disarm code (D-Code), referred to above as an identifier, from the merchant from whom the customer orders goods. The D-code is typically a multi-digit number assigned by the merchant, and associated with a particular purchase order for goods which are to be delivered to the customer.
For purchases in which the customer is face-to-face with the merchant, the D-code is written or printed on the customer's receipt.
For Mail Order and Telephone Order (MOTO), the customer receives the D-code either directly on the phone during the ordering process or later through a subsequent telephone, mail or e-mail notice. For Internet purchases, the customer will also receive the D-code associated with a particular order via e-mail.
Alternatively, a customer can arrange with one or more delivery agents such as UPS, FedEX, etc., to have a unique and confidential D-code assigned to him or her. Preferably, only one D-code per customer will work with all common delivery agents. It is also possible for the U.S. Postal Service to use the System of the present invention. In this case a person residing at a particular postal address can obtain his or her own unique and confidential D-code from the Postal Service for use with all U.S. Parcel Post deliveries.
The customer must also obtain an Alert Unit 5 of FIG. 1. It is the customer's responsibility to install the Alert Unit 5 within his residence and to make sure it remains operational when delivery of a parcel is expected.
In the preferred embodiment of the method of using the System, the seller of the goods wraps them for shipment, and may chose to enclose the tracking beacon of FIG. 4 within the parcel. The seller of the goods then hands the parcel over to the delivery agent along with the D-code associated with the parcel. The delivery agent then delivers the goods to the delivery site, affixes the Alarm Unit to the parcel, enters the D-code into the Alarm Unit through the keyboard 11 and arms the Alarm Unit by use of the ARM button 12 of FIG. 2.
Because of its ability to verify delivery to the designated address and receipt of the goods by an authorized recipient, the system and method of the present invention permits improvements in the process of billing for the goods and for their delivery.
For example, the seller of the goods could be billed by the delivery agent for delivery charges after a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal is received from the message sender 21. The amount of the charges could be based on whether the parcel was delivered by a promised time; this would allow the seller to confirm that he is properly paying for expedited delivery and to make an adjustment to the charges if such expedited delivery was not, in fact, accomplished.
In a similar manner, the intended recipient could be billed for the goods after the RECEIVED message has been received by the seller of the goods, verifying actual physical receipt of the parcel by the intended recipient.
An alternative embodiment of the method may be used when it is considered undesirable for the delivery agent to have access to the D-code. In this alternative embodiment, the seller of the goods wraps the goods for shipment and may include the tracking beacon of FIG. 4 within the parcel. Thereafter, the seller of the goods affixes the Alarm Unit to the parcel and uses the keypad 11 to enter the D-code into the Alarm Unit. However, the seller of the goods does not arm the Alarm Unit. The seller of the goods then hands the parcel over to the delivery agent who delivers it to the delivery site, where the delivery agent performs the arming operation by use of the ARM button 12. In this embodiment, the D-code is known only to the seller and the purchaser.
Hopefully, the delivery process is completed in the normal manner wherein the addressee enters the D-code into the keypad 11 and then disarms the Alarm Unit by pressing the RESET button 13. Once disarmed, the parcel may be moved without fear of setting off an alarm.
However, if the parcel is moved appreciably after it has been delivered and armed, the movement will be detected by the motion detector 15, which will set off the system of alarms described above in connection with FIG. 2, including a very loud audible alarm, activation of the tracking beacon 4 and dye dispenser 28, and transmission of messages to the intended recipient, the delivery agent, and possibly the police, announcing that the parcel has been stolen.
As described above, arming of the Alarm Unit results in a message being sent to the delivery agent verifying that delivery has been made and also results in a message being sent to the intended recipient notifying him that the parcel has been delivered, and also produces a display at the Alert Unit which also serves to notify the intended recipient that the parcel has been delivered.
In an alternative embodiment, Alert Unit 5 can send or store messages in a file that can be queried by the addressee or the shipper. Thus, rather than sending a DELIVERY CONFIRMATION signal or a RECEIVED signal to the delivery agent or the sender, either entity can periodically submit a query for any such signals. In this alternative embodiment, the file of messages functions as a log, and this log can be queried on a periodic basis for billing purposes, or if a particular delivery is called into question. It can also be queried by the addressee in the same manner that a person with an e-mail account can periodically check for mail, so that the addressee can check for home deliveries. If the file is linked with information provided by the shipper or the delivery agent, the addressee can also determine the nature of the contents of the parcel that has been delivered to the addressee. This could be particularly useful if an addressee is expecting delivery of multiple items, and is particularly concerned about delivery of a particular item, or grouping of items.
The foregoing detailed description is illustrative of several embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that additional embodiments thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The embodiments described herein together with those additional embodiments are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
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A filter medium for use in particulate filtering applications is disclosed. The filter medium is formed from a substrate capable of retaining the desired physical structure of the filter medium under the conditions of the filtering application, including temperature. A polyimide based stiffening agent adapted for treating the substrate is also provided.
1. A filter medium for use in a filtering application at an application temperature, the filter medium comprising:
a polymer substrate capable of retaining a physical structure at the application temperature; and
a stiffening agent consisting of a polyimide adapted for treating the polymer substrate and applied thereto, wherein the polymer substrate with applied stiffening agent is capable of withstanding at least 100,000 cleaning pulses at the application temperature.
2. The filter medium of
3. The filter medium of
4. The filter medium of
5. The filter medium of
6. The filter medium of
7. The filter medium of
8. A filter medium for use in a filtering application at an application temperature, the filter medium comprising:
a polymer substrate capable of retaining a pleated structure at the application temperature;
a plurality of pleats formed into the polymer substrate at a temperature that is higher than the application temperature; and
a stiffening agent consisting of a polyimide adapted for treating the polymer substrate.
9. The filter medium of
10. The filter medium of
11. The filter medium of
12. The filter medium of
13. The filter medium of
14. A filter medium for use in a filtering application at an application temperature, the filter medium comprising:
a polymer substrate capable of retaining a pleated structure at the application temperature;
a plurality of pleats formed into the polymer substrate at a temperature that is higher than the application temperature; and
a stiffening agent consisting of a polyamideimide adapted for treating the polymer substrate.
15. The filter medium of
16. The filter medium of
17. The filter medium of
The present invention relates to a high temperature polymer resin for use as a stiffening agent for a filtering medium. More specifically, a polyimide treated pleated filter medium for use in a high temperature industrial particulate filter apparatus is disclosed.
A technique for controlling pollutants and emissions from industrial plants is to remove undesirable particulate matter carried in a gas stream by fabric filtration. Such fabric filtration is accomplished in a particulate matter or dust collection apparatus known in the industry as a "baghouse". The fabric filter is preferably pleated to increase the effective filtering area while occupying the same or less space. The improved baghouse illustrated herein includes two large chambers, or plenums, that are divided by a tube sheet having a plurality of openings for receiving air filter cartridges.
The filter cartridges include a pleated filter medium that retains the unwanted particles as the air is forced through the cartridge. Traditional dust filtration materials are made from woven or needlepunch media. Newer filters, including higher surface area pleated media, are made from spunbond or other nonwoven media. The effectiveness of the filters diminishes as particles collect on the outer surfaces of the filters, thereby diminishing air flow. To remove accumulated particles on the filters without physically removing the filters from the baghouse, air may be pulsed through the baghouse cartridge filters from the opposite direction of air flow during particulate removal. The reverse pulses abruptly and temporarily expand the filter media to dislodge the particles, which fall to the bottom of the baghouse and are removed. The effectiveness of the baghouse is greatly increased without having to repeatedly remove and replace the cartridges
Unfortunately, there are limitations associated with the use of pleated filter media. First, the pleated structure is sensitive to temperature. Complications arise when these media are being processed and manufactured at temperatures similar to the temperatures used in the baghouse during filtering applications. The higher temperature causes the media to soften, allowing a level of pleat collapse or pleat pinch to occur. Pleat collapse can restrict air flow and cause increased pressure drop minimizing the advantages of the higher filter surface area of the pleats. For this reason, the use of polymer filter media for use at higher temperatures has been limited. (For purposes of this disclosure, high temperature is meant to include but is not limited to filtering applications ranging from about 300� to about 500� F., with surge temperatures typically reaching about 550� F.)
There are several primary fibers or polymers, processed into fabrics and used in the 300� to 550� F. range. Traditionally they are polyphenylene sulphide (PPS, with trade names such as Ryton�, Torcon� and Procon�) and aramid (Nomex�, Conex�) both of which operate up to but preferably below 400� F. Applications operating at temperatures greater than 400� F. and up to 550� F. typically utilize fibers of glass, polyimide (P84) or PTFE (Teflon�, Profilen�, Rastex�). For this reason the selection of the substrate fiber or resin is in part determined by the conditions under which the filter will be used.
Second, the abrupt expansions from reverse pulse cleaning procedure places additional stress on the filter media. The stress results in cracking of the resin or stiffening agent, discussed below, thereby shortening the effective filter life. As the tensile and tear strength of the stiffening agent are lessened, the media tend to crack, split and/or tear, leading to the escape of unfiltered emissions through the tears. Thus, the combination of stresses due to the inward filtering flow and outward cleaning pulses reduce the effective filter life typically to six months or less when operated twenty four hours/seven days a week at a temperature of 350� F. to 400� F.
Conventional polymer filtering materials, including PPS based filtering material, has heretofore been treated with stiffening agent resin systems applied in a secondary process. The stiffening resins impregnate the substrate to strengthen and stabilize the filter, as well as aiding in pleating and pleat retention. These known stiffening resins include emulsions and/or dispersions of bisphenol based epoxies, acrylic based resins, melamine and phenol formaldehyde resins. These resins are commonly used in the textile industry and are recommended for use with textile products exposed to high temperatures. They are applied to impart the necessary features to allow the media to pleat and retain its form and shape at the desired application temperatures. The resins are typically applied via an impregnation process, where the media is totally immersed in a bath of the specified resin solution and then nip squeezed to remove the excess solution prior to drying. After drying the media is rendered stiff. The media is measured to ensure the correct level of resin has been applied, typically 10% to 25% add on to the basis weight of the base or substrate medium.
These conventional resins are not fully cross-linked or cured when initially dried onto the fabric. This allows the media to re-soften during subsequent high temperature processes, specifically the pleating process, where the softening allows the fabric to conform to the pleating action. After subsequent cooling the resin helps maintain the pleat structure. Unfortunately, upon initial exposure to elevated temperatures during filtering applications the media softens, and does not fully cure and re-stiffen for up to several hours. Once fully cured, the fabric is better able to withstand the rigors of reverse air pulsing, at low temperatures, without losing shape and form. However, pleat collapse or pinching can occur while the material is soft prior to curing. These resins that cure in two stages are called "B" staged resins. The initial drying and partial curing is commonly known as "B-curing", followed by a complete or final curing.
While these stiffening agent resins render the treated filter fabric pleatable, conventional resins cannot withstand the mechanical wear and rigors of reverse air pulse cleaning, as these resins tend to crack. Commercially available filter media typically have a life expectancy, dependent on conditions, of about six months, due to the thermal and mechanical wear on the stiffening resin.
It is therefore desirable to provide a polymer stiffening agent capable of withstanding the temperature and cleaning pulses of high temperature industrial baghouses, and to provide a pleated filter medium utilizing the improved polymer stiffening agent
The present invention is directed to an improved polymer stiffening resin for use with a filtering medium. The stiffening resins of the present invention are polyimide (PI) based resins. Polyimides are a generic class of condensation polymers containing an 'imide' linkage as a linear or heterocyclic unit along the polymer backbone.
In a preferred embodiment the polyimide stiffening resins are applied to woven and non-woven polymer substrates to form pleated filter media. The non-woven substrates are calendered, and both types of substrates are immersion coated with the polyimide stiffening resin. The improved filter media of the present invention are especially well suited for use in applications at temperatures exceeding 300� F., such as industrial baghouse filtering applications.
The present invention is also directed to a method of making the filter medium of the present invention. A preferred method comprises calendering a substrate; treating the calendered substrate with a polyimide stiffening agent; and curing the treated substrate.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view, partly in section, of a baghouse shown with filter assemblies containing the improved pleated filter medium of the present invention installed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective, enlarged sectional view of the filter assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the filter assembly of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly of FIG. 3 taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an SEM (scanning electron microscope) photograph of a non-woven aramid polymer substrate treated with the preferred polyimide stiffening resin of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an SEM photograph of a non-woven PPS/polyimide polymer substrate treated with the preferred polyimide stiffening resin of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph entitled "Combined Average MD and XMD Retained Tensile Strength of PAI Resin Treated Aramid versus Epoxy Resin Treated Aramid"
FIG. 8 is a graph entitled 'Combined Average MD and XMD Retained Tear Strength of PAI Resin Treated Aramid versus Epoxy Resin Treated Aramid"
An improved polymer stiffening agent adapted for using the pleated filter media of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,591 B1 to J. T. Clements et al., incorporated herein by reference. This baghouse is for purposes of illustration only, and is not meant to limit the use of the present invention to this particular baghouse. The baghouse, generally designated 10, is defined by an enclosed housing 12 that is divided into a "dirty air" plenum 14 and a "clean air" plenum 16 by a tubesheet 18. A dirty air inlet port 20 is in fluid communication with the dirty air plenum 14 and a clean air outlet port 22 is in fluid communication with clean air plenum 16. The tubesheet 18 includes a plurality of openings 24 sized to accept and retain a plurality of filter assemblies generally designated 26, as shown.
A filter cartridge 26 adapted for use with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The filter cartridge 26 includes a fabric filter 28 that is generally tubular and includes a number of pleats 30. The pleats have in inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. In a preferred embodiment, pleats 30 abut an inner screen 36 defining a central passageway 38 formed within filter cartridge 26. The fabric filter 28 and screen 36 are aligned and held in place by an upper cap 40 and a lower cap 42. Upper cap 40 includes a projecting shoulder 44 that holds the cartridge in place against tubesheet 18 and prevents the cartridges from falling through openings 24. The assembly 26 is further strengthened by a fabric strap 46, described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,790 B1 incorporated herein by reference.
In operation, the dirty air enters dirty air plenum 14 through inlet port 20 and is filtered through the filter assemblies 26. As the air moves through the filter media 28 into the central passageway 38 particles are trapped against outer surface 34. The cleaned air then exits passageway 38 into the clean air plenum 16 and is removed from baghouse 10 through outlet port 22, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. As the filtered particles build up against the outer surface 34 of filter 28, the efficiency of baghouse 10 decreases. In order to remove the particles, air is pulsed in the reverse direction of airflow during the filtering application. Air is pulsed at a desired rate to maintain the desired airflow during filtering application. The reverse pulse "blows" the particles off the outer surface 34 of filter 28. The particles fall to the bottom of dirty air plenum 14 and can be removed.
While the illustrated baghouse, cartridge and strap are preferred, it is understood that any suitable baghouse, cartridge and/or strap design may be utilized with the present invention. Further, the filter medium described below can be used in other filtering configurations.
The filter media of the present invention is comprised of a substrate, for example a polymer needlefelt medium, that has been impregnated with a polyimide resin stiffening agent. The polyimide stiffening resin provides increased fiber strength and stabilization for pleat retention and structural integrity during filtering and pulse cleaning, especially when used in higher temperature applications.
The stiffening resins of the present invention are polyimide (PI) based resins Polyimides are a generic class of condensation polymers derived from bifunctional carboxylic acid anhydrides and primary diamines. They contain an 'imide' linkage, —CO—NR—CO—, as a linear or heterocyclic unit along the polymer backbone. The heterocyclic structure is usually present as a five or six membered ring condensed with benzene (phthalimides) or naphthalene (naphthalimides).
Polyimides include but are not limited to the generic classes of polyamideimides (PAI), polyetherimides (PEI) and polybismaleimides (PBMI). PAI's are high performance polymers containing both the 'imide' linkage and 'aminde' (—CO—NH—) linkages in the polymer backbone. PAI resins are produced by solution condensation of aromatic trichlorides with aromatic diamines. PEI's are condensation polymers produced from reactions of bisphenols and dinitrobisimides. PEI polymers contain both the 'imide' and 'ether' (—O—) linkages in the polymer backbone. The ether linkage improves ease of processing and flexibility. PBMI's are generally prepared from the two-step reaction of maleic anhydride and diamines in the presence of acetic anhydride and catalytic amounts of nickel acetates and triethylamine. Polyimides include both thermoset and thermoplastic polymers that can be 'engineered' to suit specific end-use performance requirements.
Compared with conventional resins they are significantly more expensive, but do offer the required increased thermal resistance properties necessary for withstanding temperatures ranging from 500� F. up to 700� F. Further, the glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of these resins/polymers are greater than the maximum operating temperature in an industrial baghouse which is typically 500� F. These resins are known to retain good structural integrity while operating at higher temperatures for extended periods of exposure while maintaining the required chemical resistance and tensile strength needed. In addition, these resins have excellent resistance to stretch or creep at elevated temperatures and are extremely flame retardant. Polyimides are available as both organic or water based solutions.
A class of polyimide, PAI is discussed for purposes of illustration but is in no means meant to be limiting. A preferred PAI resin is formulated by the following reaction pathway:
The preferred PAI shown above is a thermoplastic polymer with a Tg of 540� F. It is flame resistant, with an LOI (limiting oxygen index) of 45%, has low smoke generation and is primarily a water-base system. Although there is a small quantity of solvent found in this PAI formulation, it does not need special processing equipment. Traditional nonwoven wet chemical processing equipment to control ventilation and exhaust is adequate, and special solvent recovery systems are not necessary. This helps to hold down the cost of using these types of resins, allowing these resins to be processed by existing media vendors and afforded by the dust pollution control industry.
The polyimide stiffening agent of the present invention may be utilized in combination with any substrate capable of withstanding the conditions of the particular filtering application. In high temperature applications, acceptable polymer substrates include but are not limited to polyarylene sulfide, polyimides, aramids, polyamides, glass and mixtures or blends thereof. A substrate that is particularly well suited for high temperature applications is a blend of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which is a subclass polyarylene sulfides, with greater than 10% aramid, polyimido, acrylic, pre-oxidized acrylic or similar polymer, and mixtures thereof.
Another suitable substrate is an aramid fiber medium. Commercially available aramid based products are most often made from 100% aramid fiber needlefelts that are resin stiffened with conventional resins as is disclosed above. Aramid polymers and blends thereof are generally selected when a high temperature gas stream needs to be cleaned with temperatures in the range of 300� F. to 400� F.
A 2% to 20% weight pick up of the polyimide resin is preferred, with 6% to 10% more preferred. Most preferred is a 6% to 7% weight pick up of the preferred PAI on the polymer needlefelt media, which is sufficient to allow pleating and pleat retention. This improves over conventional stiffening agents, available as emulsions and dispersions, that require 10% to 25% weight pick up to achieve the same stiffness. The reduction in the weight pick up required by the polyimide resins provides a superior stiffening agent and renders the polyimide resins more economical.
The polyimide resins provide sufficient stiffness at lower weight pick ups primarily due the following: First, the polyimide resin is in solution, rather than an emulsion or dispersion. This allows a thinner, more uniform impregnation of the substrate with the polyimide resin.
Second, the polymer needlefelt is calendered under heat and pressure to attain the thickness and air permeability properties needed from the final filter media. In a preferred embodiment the media is calendered after singeing but prior to application of the stiffening resin to prevent cracking of the stiffening resin. Calendering the substrate prior to application of the stiffening agent contributes to the uniformity of stiffening resin at lower weights than are required with traditional stiffening resins.
The polyimide resin may be applied to the substrate by immersion coating. The substrate is fed into a coating tank and dip coated in the resin solution to impregnate both sides of the substrate. The media passes between two nip rolls to remove the excess and enters a drying oven where the polyimide resin is substantially cured.
A further advantage of the polyimide resin is the fact that it is available in a solution, rather than an emulsion or dispersion such as the prior art resin. In the prior art, the emulsion or dispersion that is removed by the nip rolls during the immersion coating processs is diluted, as the resin is trapped in the substrate. Since the polyimide resin is in solution, the solution maintains a constant concentration.
In the preferred embodiment the treated substrate is then pleated by any suitable method, including a blade or push bar pleater. Due to the higher Tg of polyimides, the temperature during pleated is raised to approximately 430� F. dependent on the particular polyimide used, as is well known in the art.
In an alternate embodiment, these types of media can be laminated with expanded microporous PTFE, as is known in the art, to impart an improved level of filtration performance to the woven or non-woven filter medium. This requires a level of further processing to allow the media to bond to the PTFE membrane. In another alternate embodiment the polymer substrate may be formed around a support scrim, such as PTFE. Both of these processes are well known in the art
A 10.0 oz unsupported aramid (Nomex) media, supplied by Southern Felt Co. of North Augusta, S.C. was produced by known methods. The fibers were processed into a felt and both sides were singed and calendered by conventional methods prior to resin application. The 2376 PAI resin solution was supplied by Whitford Inc., West Chester, Pa. at 11.0% solids, 10% NMP and 79% water and additional trace components including surfactants. The 2376 resin solution was diluted to 5.5% solids using water at a 1:1 ratio. The felt was immersed in the resin and the excess removed by nip rollers to produce a 6% to 7% pickup after the first pass. The treated media was dried at 425� F. and pleated by conventional means, although the temperature was increased to about 430� F. on the exit platens due to the high Tg of PAI.
A SEM photo of the aramid substrate treated with the preferred PAI is shown in FIG. 5. It is apparent that the PAI resin has coated the fibers individually and consistently, as the fiber structure is apparent. For purposes of comparison, an SEM photo of an aramid substrate treated with a conventional epoxy would be expected to illustrate that the epoxy had collected more heavily in the voids between the fibers. The concentrations of epoxy not associated with a fiber would be easily 'blown' off the filter medium resulting in an immediate drop in stiffness and pleat stability.
The PAI treated aramid filter was tested in a full scale test baghouse under industrial conditions. The test baghouse is fully automated and simulates industrial conditions at a constant temperature, 375� F., 1200 cfm (4:1 a/c), 60 psi with dust loading. The pressure drop was constant, ranging between 2.8 and 3.6 inches. The filters were removed at 30,000, 50,000 and 110,000 pulses. The results of these tests are shown in the Table 1. Most notably, the data shows that after 110,000 pulses the media with the preferred resin still had 90% of its original strength. The simulated baghouse testing indicates at 110,000 pulses there is more than 12 months simulated life on these filters. Further, the test data indicates the PAI resin is more stable and suitable at withstanding the forces and temperatures expected of the media and can be extrapolated to suggest it will also be in good condition after 200,000 pulses or the equivalent of two years life while operating on a twenty-four hour/seven day a week basis.
The combined average tensile strength and the combined average tear strength of the PAI resin treated aramid substrate as compared to an aramid substrate treated with a conventional epoxy resin is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. As is noted, the epoxy resin treated aramid substrate experienced a total filter failure prior to 110,000 pulses.
The improved resin treated aramid was flame tested and compared to conventional stiffening agents. Flammability Testing in accordance with FTMS 191A-Method 5903 is shown in Table 2. As is seen, the PAI treated aramid exhibits excellent flame retardation.
An 11.0 oz unsupported filter medium of 75% PPS and 25% polyimide, supplied by Southern Felt Co. of North Augusta, S.C., was produced by known methods. The fibers were processed into a felt and both sides were singed and calendered by conventional methods prior to resin application. The 2376 PAI resin was supplied by Whitford Inc., West Chester, Pa. at 11.0% solids, 10% NMP and 79% water. The 2376 resin solution was diluted to 5.5% solids using water at a 1:1 ratio. The felt was immersed in the resin and the excess removed by nip rollers to produce a 6% to 7% pickup after the first pass. The treated media was dried at 400� F. and pleated by conventional means, although the temperature was increased to about 430� F. on the exit platens due to the high Tg of PAI.
An SEM photo of the PPS/polyimide substrate treated with the preferred PAI is shown in FIG. 6. It is apparent that the PAI resin has coated the fibers individually and consistently, as the fiber structure is apparent.
The improved resin treated aramid was acid cycling testing, the results are shown in the graph of FIG. 7. Flammability Testing in accordance with FTMS 191A-Method 5903 is shown in Table 2 of FIG. 8.
All flammability testing was accomplished by Textile Technology Centre in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
The presently preferred embodiments have been described, however, many variations are possible. As noted above, the polyimide treated polymer substrate filter of the present invention may be advantageously used with the illustrated baghouse, however, the present invention may be used with any suitable baghouse or filtering apparatus. Moreover, although the stiffening resin of the present invention is particularly advantageous when used with a pleated filter medium, the invention is equally applicable to filter media of varying structures and applications, such as woven glass.
The stiffening resin of the present invention has been shown in combination with a non-woven polymer filtering substrate. However, any substrate, woven or non-woven, that satisfies the filtering requirements of the particular filtering application may be used.
While the filtering medium of the present invention overcomes the limitations of high temperature filtering applications, the present invention may also be used in lower temperature applications.
Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made of the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of the invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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DMM Outside Hathersage Store This WeekendFREE, added Oct/2009, see all DMM news & reviews
Product news by DMM
DMM Weekend At Outside Hathersage Store
Free Lecture
Ben Bransby and Nic Sellars will be giving illustrated lectures about everything from hard bouldering, sports climbing and trad climbing through to long cold routes in the Alps.
Where - Outside Cafe in Hathersage Store
When - 6.30pm Saturday 3rd October 2009
How - Admittance to the lectures is by ticket only and is free. Tickets can be collected from the Hathersage Store between 10am and 6pm on Saturday 3rd October. Drop by early to avoid disappointment.
Gear Testing
A DMM rep (David Noddings, every woman's dream boy) and a gear testing machine will be available for anyone to test (to destruction) any old climbing gear. If you're curious about how safe some of your old biners and slings are then take this opportunity to find out!
Where - Outside Rock Room in Hathersage Store
When - All Day Saturday 3rd October. Mid morning until mid afternoon on Sunday 4th October.
How - Just drop in and hand over your old climbing hard/software.
Gear Bargains
Throughout the whole weekend there will be great DMM Special Deals to be had.
For more information visit www.outside.co.uk
Gear News and Outdoor Industry News at UKC and UKH presents climbing, walking and mountaineering equipment and stories that will be of interest to UKClimbing.com's readers. They are not gear reviews and are provided by companies that advertise with UKClimbing Limited. Please feel free to comment about the stories and products on the associated thread.


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Wharton plows over Orange Grove
VICTORIA - VICTORIA — Not enough speed and too many turnovers were a bad combination for Orange Grove on Saturday night.
Wharton used its quickness to rush for 386 yards, and the Tigers' defense scored four touchdowns of their own in rolling to a 65-7 win over the Bulldogs in their Class 3A, Division II area playoff game at Memorial Stadium.
Wharton (6-6) advances to meet Devine (12-0) in next week's regional quarterfinals, while Orange Grove (8-4) had its season end.
Tigers quarterback Bartee Grissom rushed for touchdowns of 69, 4 and 1 yard and finished with 188 yards rushing in little more than three quarters of action.
The Bulldogs committed five turnovers, and the opportunistic Wharton defense ran four back for scores.
After Alfred Pinkney ran 47 yards for a touchdown on Wharton' first possession, Orange Grove's Adrian Soliz fumbled the ball at the end of a 17-yard run and Justin Matthews pounced on the ball at the Tigers' 33-yard line.
Three plays later, Grissom sprinted 69 yards for another score to widen Wharton's lead to 14-0 with only 4:43 elapsed in the first quarter.
Disaster struck the Bulldogs again on their next possession when quarterback Zach Arnold was sacked for a loss of 5 yards and barely avoided a safety as he managed to get the ball out of the end zone to the 1. But the Tigers wound up with two points one play later when punter Martin Quintana bobbled the snap and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a safety.
After Grissom scored on a 4-yard run a minute into the second quarter, Wharton's defense got in on the scoring. Andrew Cruz picked off an Arnold pass and raced 21 yards for a touchdown with 8:35 to go before halftime. Just 1:14 later, Jamal Gillis intercepted an Arnold pass and went 48 yards for a score to send the Tigers to a 37-0 lead.
Grissom added his 1-yard touchdown run with 7:18 gone in the third quarter and, only 55 seconds later, Demetrius Peacock scooped up a fumble and ran 19 yards for a score to build the Tigers' lead to make it 51-0.
The Bulldogs then drove 80 of their 202 total yards for the game on their next series. Julian Salas provided 50 of those yards on the ground and 24 on receptions, including an 11-yard catch from Arnold for a touchdown.
Wharton answered with a 69-yard TD march that was culimated by Peacock's 19-yard run. Then with just seven seconds left, the Bulldogs' night ended on a fitting note when the Tigers' Derek Jackson picked up a Bulldog fumble and ran untouched 22 yards for the game's final touchdown.
First Quarter
W — Alfred Pinkney 47 run (Brett Kocian kick), 9:08
W — Bartee Grissom 69 run (Kocian kick), 7:17
W — Safety, punt snap went out of end zone, 5:38
Second Quarter
W — Grissom 4 run (Kocian kick), 11:00
W — Andrew Cruz 21 interception return (Kocian kick), 8:35
W — Jamal Gillis 48 interception return (Kocian kick), 7:21
Third Quarter
W — Grissom 1 run (Kocian kick), 7:18
W — Demetrius Peacock 19 fumble return (Kocian kick), 6:23
OG — Julian Salas 11 pass from Zach Arnold (Ramiro Montalvo kick), 2:29
Fourth Quarter
W — Peacock 19 run (Kocian kick), 8:41
W — Derek Jackson 22 fumble return (Kocian kick), 0:07
First downs 22 13
Rushes-yards 44-386 31-125
Passing yards 42 77
Passes 3-6-1 7-24-2
Punts-avg 3-27 3-37.3
Fumbles-lost 1-0 7-3
Penalties-yards 7-50 3-21
Rushing — Wharton, Bartee Grissom 19-188, Alfred Pinkney 12-108, Demetrius Peacock 13-90. Orange Grove, Adrian Soliz 6-60, Julian Salas 8-59, D.J. Herrera 4-16, Ruben Lopez 2-(-4), Zach Arnold 11-(-6).
Passing — Wharton, Grissom 3-6-1, 42. Orange Grove, Arnold 7-24-2, 77.
Receiving — Wharton, Andrew Cruz 2-33, Nathan Williams 1-9. Orange Grove, Rayce Gatlin 4-39, Salas 3-38.
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Latest News:
Earlier today on Twitter and Facebook the Extra Credits team made our official statement on our views on the recent events around GamerGate.
In the interest of communicating openly with our fans, I am posting the statement in full on our website as well, and this statement can be read here.
All our shirts in the Extra Credits store are now 20% off!
We're clearing out what remains of our old stock, and these designs will not be coming back. If you want Dan's Tie, Game and Player, or any of our other past shirts, you can now get them for a reduced price.
Check the Extra Credits store for a list of the shirts.
At PAX Prime this year we finally debuted our new shirt design, featuring the show's charming little game mascot and lovingly designed and produced for us by the folks over at Fangamer.
They did a wonderful job with the shirt, it's a great design and is super comfortable to wear, and it's also now available to purchase for everyone via the internet.
Check out the store page here!
They're available in both unisex and womens cuts, in a range of sizes, and will be shipped by Fangamer.
We keep getting asked for recommendations on books/movies/music &c. that have nothing to do with games so I figured what the heck; I'm going to try to put up a weekly post of something I think is interesting/cool that's keeping me occupied each week.
If you're the sort of person who consumes media faster than you can find it hopefully it'll do some good.
There is no new episode this coming week, but to make up for that, today at 8pm PST there will be a live Q&A event happening with Dan and James.
You can watch the event live on EC's Twitch.tv channel, over here, where you can also join in the chat, ask your questions, and hopefully have them answered on air.


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Joseph Coleman puts his money where his mouth is.
Coleman, founder of the Blue Star Group, is a big supporter of the Pikes Peak Community College culinary arts program. Over the years, he has hired interns from the school to work in kitchens at his restaurants, including The Blue Star, Nosh and his new eateries in the Ivywild School. He sees the culinary school as a community asset and wants to support the program.


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Situated on one acre of secluded beachfront, overlooking the crystal clear waters of Geographe Bay, this special Dunsborough backpackers is the perfect place to rest after exploring the local wineries,
Find a Dunsborough, Australia hostel and save money on discount lodging. Hosteling in Dunsborough, Australia offers a different travel experience than staying at traditional accommodations. Youth hostels allow you to meet new people and learn from other international and worldly travelers. Most hostels are conveniently located in the center of the action close to public transportation, including buses and rails. Staying at a Dunsborough, Australia hostel is a great option whether you are backpacking or traveling on a budget . Browse our hostels and plan your Dunsborough, Australia vacation today!


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Jupiter, FL (Sports Network) - Kolten Wong singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Atlanta Braves, 5-4, in Grapefruit League play.
The Braves had tied it at 4-4 in the top of the ninth when Todd Cunningham drew a one-out walk and scored on a triple by Jordan Parraz.
Erik Komatsu scored the decisive run and added two RBI for St. Louis. Jaime Garcia started for the Cardinals and gave up a run on three hits and two walks in two innings.
Martin Prado had three hits and knocked in one of Atlanta's runs. Brandon Beachy lasted three frames for the Braves and allowed one run on two hits but walked five. He also recorded three strikeouts.


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Beer Blotter: Seattle Based. World Focused.
A Seattle beer blog with an eye on the world around it. A collection of beer news, stories, editorials, columns and reviews from beer nerds with social skills.
Monthly Archive for August, 2011
Elysian Brewing Co. BiFrost Relase
News on the Elysian front. Elysian Brewing Co.'s Bifrost hits shelves on September 15. I love summer, but not always the beers associated with the warmer months…so "cheers" to heavier, more flavorful beers with a lot of body and complexity. Below is an excerpt from Elysian's press release of the 2011 BiFrost: Bifrost replaced our original winter […] [Read More]
Hop Madness 2011 is Coming. Are You Ready?
I have a few questions for you. Are you ready? Are you a homebrewer? If so, are you aware of Hopmadness? No big deal, it's only the largest gathering of home brewers and home brewing clubs in the Pacific Northwest. Are you aware of fresh/wet hop beer? If so, are you aware that the Pacific […] [Read More]
Central City Brewing Sends Red Racer to Washington!
In May, I was visiting Novare Res Bier Cafe in Portland, Maine. I had heard good things, but the expectations were floored. It has become one of my favorite places in the US to drink a beer. Besides the incredible cellar-style taproom and the encapsulated and vine covered patio, Novare won me over […] [Read More]
I-1183 Is Here: Commencing The Conversation On Washington's Newest Liquor Initiative
We can all curse it – we can all love it. The fact of the matter is that another voter initiative is here and its hoping to break liquor from the controls of the state. Will this new one be bringing additional changes to the current alcohol regulation scheme? Yep. Last year, I-1100 […] [Read More]
A Brief Barrage of Beer Becomings
There's always a lot going on in the beer world and we can't cover all that we'd like to as extensively as we'd like to…so…here's a brief spotlight on some things that we think are worth noting. The Fish Tale Brew Pub Heads Northbound Olympia, WA's Fish Brewing Co. (Fish Tale Organic Ales, Leavenworth Biers, […] [Read More]
Show More


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Where was this journalism over the last several years? These are not newly aquired priveledges
Then they must coach in Portugese
I paid 98 for the Albany show and had general admission tix on the floor with 700 others. That was worth every bit. But 108 for 30000 people pushing to the front? I am a fan but I dont know about this show. Got some time to think on it Im sure.
I served under Presidents and or other officials I did not favor. But I kept the opinions to myself. When you enlist, you agree to withold making your personal opinions public. The day they hand you your 214, discharge papers, you can sing like a bird. I dont care if he is a Medal of Honor recipient, he broke the rule. He had even been previously warned.
Tim Green legally obtains an address in Bville so his son can play there. A year later, several good players legally obtain addresses in Skan so they can play there. Ethical? no way. Role model? no way. When his kids are done with the schools, he will walk away also. On the other hand....how is this story any different than basketball athletes at JD? Or atletes at CBA?
Advice to Dan....Get a real job, not a patronage job, work at it for 10-15 years, then come back and run. Right now, you are nothing more than an aspiring career politician. You are a young man and may be very well qualified to serve the public in the future. But right now, I think youre motives are very transparent.
Not looking to debate constitutionality of the current plan, nor states rights. My posts are merely pointing out the financial implications of not providing preventive medical care, in favor of the status quo in which the public pays for catastrophic care. I guess abstract thought was not part of your civics class.
Who pays for medicaid? we do. Who pays for the basic ER care you mention? we do, through higher bills to those who do have insurance. We already pay for everyones care. Problem is, we make the poor wait until they have very expensive illnesses before we treat them. We dont provide them basic care for inexpensive issues. As a result, they get sicker and cost us all more. I agree, the govt should not be in insurance. Insurance is a profit business. Govt should pay for healthcare through tax revenues at a break even point. There are bilions of dollars in healthcare now going to insurance companies bottom line. Why shoulp we profit a middleman in the process of keeping people healthy? No more "socialized" than public education or public safety.
The govt should be in the healthcare business. Not unlike the education business. An educated electorate benefits all. We pay for a minimal education in public schools for every child in the US. Doesn't it make sense that we make basic healthcare available to all also?
Who do you think is paying for the uninsured in the ER right now? YOU ARE! Your insurance premiums pay for the losses the hospitals incur caring for the uninsured. Your taxes pay the medicaid for the uninsured now! Do you want to pay to take care of a critically ill patient? or pay for wellness for them to avoid the ER? Either way...you pay! Take the profit of the middleman (insurance companies) out...and we all save money.
I dont think they should be cash compensated. The education is compensation enough. However, I do think the universities should commit to the athletes education long term. My idea is that an athlete plays football, basketball etc for 4 years, potentially earning the school significant money. They are owed their education, if not during their playing time, then after. That way, if one of the players cant make the grade...let them come back later and take their classes. Then we will not hear of the poor athlete who didnt learn anything in school because they were on the team travelling etc. Let them focus on athletics when it benefits both them and the school, but let them focus on academics when they will ultimately need it.
I have a torn meniscus in my knee. No one is operating on my knee without the MRI to show them exactly where the injury is. Diagnosing may not need the MRI, but surgery sure does
I would like to see another vote. I attended both public info meetings and there were significant changes in the plan between them. The info changed and the town did a poor job of disclosing facts. I think that the flyer was irresponsible because of the wrong info it portrayed, and that the person who wrote it did not even sign it or reference where their info came from. I have read all of the comments and agree that misinformation alone should not be grounds for revoting. It is everyone's responsibility to be educated on the facts before voting. But it is obvious that many are ignorant to the facts of the plan.
I think a second vote should be considered due to the allowance of multiple members of households to vote. I think 1 property should equal 1 vote. In this vote, properties with multiple deed holders were allowed to cast multiple votes. My wife and I are both on my deed, but why should we cast 2 votes when a single homeowner only gets 1? The properties should be treated equally. This fact alone should disqualify the vote, regardless of outcome.
Look at the big picture...I'm not going to filter anymore, nor UV disinfect. I'm not going pump anymore. and I may not need the softener anymore. I will eliminate those expenses. I'm also not going to replace my well pump($$) and or well($$$$) ever again. I'm not going to be subject to my neighbors malfunctioning septic polluting my well. I will be able to fill my pool without risking my well. I will potentially save my house in a fire instead of waiting for a pumper. I will be able to bathe and toilet when the power goes out! There will be no charge from the street to your home. You will have to connect internal plumbing. I highly doubt 800-1500 dollars quoted for cutting and reconnecting 1 feed line.
reread the article...the 265 for actual water useage was included in the 570. At the hearings, it was disclosed that the typical hookup from street would also be covered by the federal grant. The line would be run all the way into your house at no charge. I probably spend 300 per year now on filters,salt and electricity pumping water. Now amortize the well drilling costs and pump costs over the same time period and you will see the breakdown costs are very competitive.
Because it costs close to that to filter, soften, treat, pump and amortize well costs over the same time period. AND...a fire hydrant on my street might just save a life as well as my house.
As a family living in an upper middle class neighborhood in the burbs... I am not the Target Demographic of these initiatives.
There is little that a city center can do to attract me. Quite simply, the burbs offer most everything I desire. shopping, dining, entertainment. There are some fine places to occasionally go in the Armory district, and I do....The university obviously knows how to attract suburbanites with quality athletic events, and we also go there. I'm not afraid of anything in particular in the city...it just is not convenient for me. Parking is fine, and readily available.
I have a boat, but why would I want to use it on Onondaga lake? Harbor is nice and new, but offers no attractions. There are no boat related businesses on the lake. Compare to Oneida lake with numerous restaurants and parks accessible by water. And, I can get in the water!
I used to work downtown, and believe that downtown employment results in downtown prosperity. Without quality employment downtown, good money will get thrown after bad.
I am either very lucky, very naive, or both...I am scared of the possible changes still to come, but then i remind myself that I have been a responsible user of credit, I'm not in too deep, and my employer, for now is solid. I am frustrated to the point of anger at the media and the politicians who keep beating the "sky is falling drum". This is an economic downturn of our own making. We all want double digit 401K returns based on other business' profits...yet we cant squeeze any more profit from our own businesses. The bubble popped! It needs to reset...realistic expectations will result in realistic growth and realistic returns. I travel the country for work, and have seen the excesses everywhere else, but I feel strongly that the upstate NY economy, having been so insulated from the previous housing boom, has less to lose now. Maybe we are the tortoise! At least...this helps me rationalize it all
South Trenton Pub, Old Rt 12 trenton.


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Tafsir Ibn Kathir - Individual Volumes
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| Code: Q09x
Price: $21.95
By: Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri
Pages: ~650/book
Binding: Hardback
Size: 6x9" (15x22 cm)
Edition: 2nd (July 2003)
Publisher: Dar-us-Salam
Shipping Weight: 2.20 lbs
|Inventory: Available
Can't afford the all the 10 volumes at one time? Now you can purchase the volumes individually.
Translated and abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Sheikh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri.
Written and complied by Hafiz Ibn Kathir
The Qur'an is the revelation of Allah's Own Words for the guidance of His creatures. Since the Qur'an is the primary source of Islamic teachings, the correct understanding for the Qur'an is necessary for every Muslim. The Tafsir of Ibn Kathir is the most renowned and accepted explanation of the Qur'an in the entire world. In it one finds the best presentation of Ahadith, history, and scholarly commentary.
Dar-us-Salam is proud to present for the first time this abridged version of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, which is free from unauthentic Ahadith.
Volume 1: Parts 1 and 2(Surat Al-Fatihah to Verse 252 of Surat Al-Baqarah)
Volume 2: Parts 3, 4 & 5 (Surah Al-Baqarah, V. 253 to Surat An-Nisa, V. 147)
Volume 3: Parts 6, 7 & 8 (Surat An-Nisa, V. 148 to the end of Surat Al-An'am)
Volume 4: ~ Parts 8 to 11 (Surat Al-A'raf to the end of Surah Yunus)
Volume 5: ~Parts 11 to 15 (Surah Hud to Surat Al-Isra' Verse 38)
Volume 6: ~Parts 15 to 18 (Surat Al-Isra', Verse 39 to the end of Surat Al-Mu'minun)
Volume 7: ~Parts 18 to 22 (Surat An-Nur to Surat Al-Ahzab, Verse 50)
Volume 8: ~Parts 22 to 25 (Surat Al-Ahzab Verse 51 to Surat Ad-Dukhan)
Volume 9: ~Parts 25 to 28 (Surat Al-Jathiyah to Surat Al-Munafiqun)
Volume 10: ~Parts 28 to 30 (Surat At-Tagabun to end of the Quran)
* View Sample Pages from this item.
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Reviewer: on 01/22/2009
A brief but accurate translation of the Quran by the Mufassir Ibn Kathir. The only problem with this product is that it isn't the whole set!
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text: The supporters group has changed their name to the Blues Brothers. If you are interested in hanging with other passionate fans to support the only west coast USL Pro team feel free to join us, we'll be easy to find. All the Blues Sisters are welcomed in the group as well. When you hear the OC sing---The Blues, The Blues We're gonna win the USL--- The Blues, The Blues We'll get the ball, we'll score a goal, we'll win the league, we'll beat 'em all We are the Blues, and we're gonna win the League!!! Vamos Azules!!!


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One of the more intriguing mysteries in the media/technology world is why Google Google is building out broadband fiber data networks in a handful of American cities. Google says it's just another attempt to create a profitable new business, but nobody seems to be buying that, judging from a panel discussion I watched at the National Cable Television Association's Cable Show in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
The most compelling theory about what Google's really up to came from Jason Bazinet, an analyst who covers cable, satellite and entertainment at Citigroup Citigroup Global Markets. In Bazinet's view, Google Fiber is a regulatory play aimed at driving down the cost of a cable subscription.
Why would Google care how much consumers pay for cable? That part's pretty straightforward. Since it's in the business of selling internet services and internet-enabled mobile devices, it has an interest in encouraging consumers to use as much data as possible. Rising cable prices threaten that by pushing more households to opt for cheaper, slower internet connections and more limited data plans. The advent of usage-based pricing, now being explored by Comcast Comcast and Time Warner Cable, presents the same sort of challenge.
While Google could theoretically solve that problem by rolling out Fiber nationwide, it would be an enormous undertaking, and an unnecessary one, says Bazinet. All it has to do is introduce it to a few selected markets and then watch how the cable operators in those markets respond. If they drop their prices to compete with the ultrafast, ultracheap Fiber, they'll have to do the same in other markets or else face uncomfortable questions from regulators about why they charge more in cities where they face less competition.
Is that really Google's thinking? Who knows? For what it's worth, during a keynote Q&A Tuesday morning, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts was asked if he views Google Fiber as a threat. "Oh, I hope there's a demand for it," he responded. "The more customers crave speed, the more the kids in the garage and the geniuses around the world can invent applications that require speed, that's the best thing that can happen to our industry. We have to embrace that competition."
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Postcards Home from ....
Postcards Home is a special section where MySanAntonio.com readers chronicle their journeys away from home.
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Ann Arbor's Institution
For the ultimate in local flavor head to – no run over as fast as you can to Washtenaw Dairy. But beware – it's dangerously delicious. This old time ice cream and donut shop has been an Ann Arbor institution for 77 years. Washtenaw Dairy's history is rather colorful; during the Prohibition Stroh's Beer […] [Read More]


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Archive for the 'For Your Comfort' Category
Designing Your Multi-Purpose Home Office
When setting up an Out Of Office workspace we suggest choosing a dedicated space, preferably a separate room (with a door). We explain the reasons for doing so in the book.
However, not everyone has the luxury of a spare room they can re-purpose as a home office. Fortunately, Kerrie Kelly comes to the rescue with some clever alternatives to a single-purpose home office:
- Hide it in a closet
- Hide it in plain sight
- Shelve it
- Consider the kitchen
- Utilize the utility room
You can read Kerrie's home office suggestions in detail on the Workshifting blog.
Tell us about your Out Of Office workspace by leaving a comment below.
Working From Home – Is It The Future?
There's no question that working from home is growing in popularity, and obviously we're big fans of it. Here's an interesting infographic showing some statistics about how fast it's growing:
31 Simple Ways to Maximize Efficiency in Your Home Office
Working from home gives you great flexibility, but also forces you to create your own systems, processes, and discipline. This can be a challenge for some people, especially because everybody is different. So there's no one-size-fits-all system you can pull off a shelf and apply to your circumstances.
But this Lifehack checklist 31 Simple Ways to Maximize Efficiency in Your Home Office is a useful starting point. Look through this list and borrow what works for you when setting up your own system.
The Daily Routines of Out-Of-Office Geniuses
In this episode, we look at the daily working lives of great artists, writers, philosophers, and other geniuses – and apply them to Out of Office work.
Listen to the episode here:
Read the Harvard Business Review article, The Daily Routines of Geniuses, which we mention in this episode. That in turn is based on Mason Currey's book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work.
Our Productivity Platform
There are lots of productivity tools, and in this episode we share our personal favourites. Everybody is different, so you'll have to discover what works best for you. But we hope that by seeing what we use, you'll be able to adapt them for your own productivity needs.
Listen to the episode here:
Links and Resources
Time Management:
- Timer app on phone: Helps implement the Pomodoro Technique for doing work sprints.
- Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome: Better than IE and Safari because they have so many great extensions
- Gmail: Much easier to use than, say, Outlook, because it's in the Cloud.
Consuming Information:
- Kindle: Easy to download samples; available across all my devices (via the Kindle app)
- Pocket (formerly Read It Later): Allows you to bookmark interesting content for reading later
- Buffer: Automate/schedule the publication of your tweets, posts and status updates on various social media platforms
- Dropbox: Perfect for sharing files across all devices
- Evernote: Similar to Dropbox, but better for tag, sorting and searching; it can also handle "snippets" better (e.g. photos, infographics, handdrawn notes)
- Google Drive: Started life as Google Docs, a Cloud-based productivity suite (word processor, spreadsheet, slide deck, etc.); now a Cloud-based file storage system
- GoToMeeting and Google Hangouts: Use these for audio/video conferencing. Includes screen sharing, one-click recording, and other useful collaboration features
- Skype: Use SkypeOut to call anybody anywhere; easier and more convenient than a landline
- LastPass: Password manager that has a really useful feature to share passwords securely with others
- Google Calendar / Tasks / Contacts: Google's Cloud-based calendar, to do list and people list
Personal Effectiveness:
- Noom Coach: A fitness app on my phone, mainly related to healthy eating
- BeyondPod and Podcast Addict: Podcast apps with some productivity features, like speeding up playback
- iMindmap and Mindjet: Mind mapping software for recording in a more visual way
Take a Break
Taking short regular breaks helps you stay fresh and focussed when working Out of Office. GotoPC recently asked workers to vote on their favourite ways of taking a break. The results are summarised in the infographic below.
25 Tips in 25 Minutes
In this episode, we share 25 simple but effective tips for improving your Out of Office work style – in the areas of productivity, e-mail, reducing interruptions, flexibility, and online meetings.
Listen to the episode here:
Buy the book here (available at a reduced price for a limited time).
Summary of the 25 tips:
Set up your workspace with productivity in mind:
- Have a dedicated office
- Make it easy to switch between workspaces
- Create good ergonomics
- Make it a place where you like to work
Reduce interruptions:
- Turn off alerts for non-urgent communication
- Conversely, allow important and urgent messages to get through
- Educate people about your work day
- Schedule work for quiet times
Manage your time:
- Use the Pomodoro Technique or Work Sprints
- Set priorities for the day
- Track your time
- Focus on outcomes and results, and keep promises you make to others
Handle email efficiently:
- Don't use your inbox as your To Do list.
- Separate processing from responding
- Unsubscribe from irrelevant newsletters, notifications, and mailing lists
- Use sub-folders to organise incoming mail
Run better online meetings:
- Have a pre-meeting checklist
- Know what you want to get from the meeting
- "Arrive" early, and be ready to start on time
- Get comfortable with the technology
Be flexible, but in a smart way:
- Set aside dedicated time slots each week for certain things
- Establish a routine for the day
- Set weekly goals rather than daily goals
- Mix it up
- Try different things, and break all the rules!
How To Work From Home Like You Mean It
Fast Company magazine published an interesting article with advice for telecommuters. You can read the full article here, but in summary, here are the three things the author, Kevin Purdy, advises:
- Look the Part, Be the Part (dress up as if you're going to the office)
- Schedule offline social time, batch your online social time (schedule your breaks, just like you'd do in the office)
- Realize when the problem is motivation, not space (do stuff that motivates you)
I have no argument with the second point, and in fact we endorse that in the book "Out of Office" when talking about personal productivity. But the other two points are more controversial.
First, I don't believe it's necessary to "suit up" if you're working from home. Of course, I'm not suggesting you dress and act like a slob in your home office! But that's just an extreme, and dressing up for the office is the other extreme. For many Out of Office workers, one of the biggest benefits is that every day is Casual Friday, and it's good enough to dress comfortably. If you do find it helps to dress slightly better, then do so, but it's certainly not necessary.
The other point – about working on stuff that motivates you – makes sense, but the advice isn't always practical. We might all wish for more inspiring work, but that's true whether or not we work in an office. Purdy doesn't offer anything useful to improve the situation (other than a vague suggestion to "plan your next move"). Of course, if you can arrange to do something more meaningful and interesting, that helps. But sometimes you really do need to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done. In that latter situation, it's far better to focus on being more productive rather than wishing for something better.
Stress Busters for Desk Workers: 5 Anxiety-Relieving Tips for Cubicle City
When you're working Out of Office, you often don't get the natural distractions that come from working with others. Although some of these distractions can be annoying and harmful to your productivity, they also have some positive side effects. In particular, they prevent you from spending excessively long intervals working at your desk. This means you have to be disciplined enough to create your own management plan to prevent stress, poor posture, and overwork.
The Workshifting team has five suggestions to help:
- Take frequent breathers.
- Stretch.
- Walk at lunch.
- Play some of your favorite tunes.
- Don't be afraid to say No.
You are currently browsing the archives for the For Your Comfort category.


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SCRANTON — Police surrounded a home in Scranton after a shooting Sunday morning.
Officers told us a neighbor heard shouting in a home on Acker Avenue around 2 a.m., followed by several gunshots.
When police arrived on scene shortly after midnight, no one answered the door. So, officers surrounded the home and called in a SWAT team.
Everyone inside eventually came out peacefully.
Investigators say Marquis Brownlee, 19, was shot in the leg.He told police it happened inside the home, but he's not sure who shot him.
Brownlee was taken to the hospital, was treated and released.
There is no word if police have any suspects after the shooting in Scranton.


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Editorial: Positives are within departures
Henderson's losses are more feathers in its cap.
April will be the final month of a nine-year stop for Erris Dunston, the city's planning director. She's departing to become the assistant county manager in Halifax County.
May will be the final month of a 31-year tenure for Alan Gill, the director of the Henderson-Vance County Parks and Recreation Department. Gill is retiring.
Losing 40 years of experience in a matter of four weeks may sound negative on the surface. Others' gains are indeed our loss.
But Dunston and Gill show Henderson and Vance County are wonderful places to begin, mature or finish careers. We've got much to offer, and there are several avenues available for people to come and make an impact. The stage of career for anyone choosing to be with us as a community moving forward can be quite flexible.
We know Halifax County is getting an outstanding new employee. And for Gill, we offer advice of "Heads up!" He's well known, well-liked and very well may be a favorite for any number of volunteer efforts.
Congratulations to Erris and Alan.
• Church Watch continues to be a successful endeavor. Thursday's latest installment was on the topic of domestic violence.
The meetings began in August of 2008 and continued twice each year since. The gatherings have brought together pastors and lay people and included shared information on a variety of topics. In many cases, the addition of information to go with awareness pays dividends for the participants.
Our community is fortunate to have such a commitment and resource.
• Letters related to the election season are trickling in, and we're hoping for more so the voices of our community can be shared.
The primary is scheduled for May 6, with early voting starting April 21.
Election letters will be printed through Sunday, April 20. For a letter to be included by that Sunday, it should be in The Dispatch office or email (firstname.lastname@example.com) by Wednesday, April 16.
We will resume election-related letters after the Tuesday primary, most likely the following Sunday.
The letter policy is below the editorial each day. Letters of various other topics will continue each week.