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This stylish cruiser has a great mid-range wheel base for giant slalom-type carving and a penchant for weaving through outside bowls.
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Awesome skateboard, cruises nice and smooth
I think this skateboard is awesome because it cruises smooth and turns great like power steering in a car!
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The story of the nineball starts in our La Jolla backyard in 1993. At the time our house consisted of a bunch of good friends, a halfpipe, pool table, ping pong table and shaping room all just across the street from some nice smooth hills down to the reefs. Being that the house had all these fine features, it became quite the hangout spot. One of our friends from Hawaii who used to call people "nineballs" all the time in a friendly razzing sort of way, called up on the phone one day to see what was going on at the house. Of course we were all "studying" so he got the answering machine and said "Whats going on over there at Sector 9?" which to him and us meant a house full of nineballs. At the same time one of the house favorite hill cruisers, a snowboard-turned-skateboard, was stolen from Northbird in La Jolla and a couple replacement boards were almost finished and just needed the finishing touches of a logo. The message on the machine was heard and the name not only had a nice ring to it but seemed fitting as well so it stuck.
The interest had been apparent from everyone who saw us skate by so we started making skateboards in our backyard. Lots of learning and a couple evictions later we were forced to move into our first warehouse in what would become the Sector 9 skateboard factory.


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Bachelor of Science Degree
The bachelor of science degree in accounting at Hilbert combines specialized accounting courses, general business courses, and a strong liberal arts foundation. Both theory and application are incorporated into this major, including outstanding internship opportunities at various businesses and organizations throughout Western New York. Three distinctive tracks are available in the B.S. accounting degree program - commercial, economic crime investigation and Certified Public Accountant.
Specialized accounting courses include financial accounting, cost accounting, individual and corporate taxation, advanced intermediate accounting, advanced accounting and auditing.
The accounting degree can lead to careers in private or governmental accounting, as well as in banking, finance, other business specialties and law enforcement. As a bachelor-level student, you will be well prepared to continue your education in an approved 150-hour or graduate-level program to meet the education requirements to sit for the Uniform CPA exam and eventual licensure. The CPA exam, which is national in scope, prepares you for the practice of public accountancy. Note, however, that before becoming licensed, you must also meet certain employment experience requirements as required by New York State and most other states.
Associate in Applied Science Degree
With an associate in applied science degree in accounting, you will have the professional skills needed for an entry-level accountant position. You will receive a strong foundation in accounting and a broad background in various areas of business such as management information systems, business law and management.
You may enter the accounting field as a bookkeeper, accounting clerk or assistant. The associate degree also gives you the option to continue your accounting studies at the bachelor-level.
Upcoming Events
- First Year Student Orientation
- Aug 14, 2015
- Summer Session A2 Ends
- Aug 21, 2015
- First Year Student Orientation
- Aug 28, 2015

subset: commoncrawl


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A method for forming cathodes for use in field emission devices using nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is disclosed. The CNT layer comprises the electron emitting material on the surface of the cathode. Using the methods of the present invention, the density of the deposited CNTs may be modulated by forming emitter islands on the surface of the cathode. The size and distribution of the CNT emitter islands serve to optimize the field emission properties of the resulting CNT layer. In one embodiment, the CNT emitter islands are formed using a screen-printing deposition method. The present invention may be practiced without further process steps after deposition which activate or align the carbon nanotubes for field emission.
1. A method for forming a field emission cathode device comprising the step of depositing a surface layer of nanoparticles-material on a substrate such that said surface layer of nanoparticles-material forms a plurality of field emitting islands that are physically isolated from each other, wherein the nanoparticle-material is deposited using a 355-mesh screen having a mesh opening of about 25-30 microns wide.
2. The method of
are greater than about 10 nm wide;
have more than about 10 nm distance between each other; and
are greater than about 1 nm thick.
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/609,128.
The present invention relates in general to field emission, and in particular to field emission using carbon nanotube cathodes.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are excellent cold cathode materials for field emission applications such as flat panel displays, microwave sources, x-ray tubes, etc. for very stable and low voltage operation with long lifetime because of their high aspect ratio, electrical conductivity, and outstanding chemical inertness (Zvi Yaniv, "The status of the carbon electron emitting films for display and microelectronic applications," The International Display Manufacturing Conference, Jan. 29-31, 2002, Seoul, Korea). CNTs can be grown on catalyst-supported substrates by arc discharge, laser ablation and other techniques at high temperatures up to 1200-1300� C. Aligned CNTs, deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), may have good field emission properties because they have higher geometric field enhancement. But the CVD process is not necessarily suited for depositing CNTs over large areas because it is very difficult to achieve high uniformity of process conditions across large substrate areas as required for display applications. CVD growth of CNTs also requires a high process temperature (over 500� C.), eliminating the use of low-cost substrates such as soda-lime glass.
A simpler process is to collect the CNT powders and deposit them uniformly onto a selective area of the substrate. CNTs can be printed through a mesh screen if they are mixed with a binder, epoxy, etc. (D. S. Chung, W. B. Choi, J. H. Kang et al., "Field emission from 4.5 in. single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotube films," J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B18(2), 1054-1058 (2000)). They can be sprayed onto the substrates if mixed with a solvent such as IPA, acetone, or water (D. S. Mao, R. L. Fink, G. Monty et al., "New CNT composites for FEDs that do not require activation," Proceedings of the Ninth International Display Workshops, Hiroshima, Japan, p. 1415, Dec. 4-6, 2002). Special surface treatments, so called "activation" processes, are then often needed to achieve low electric field emission and high emission site density of the CNT cathodes. A taping process can enhance the field emission properties of the carbon nanotubes (Yu-Yang Chang, Jyh-Rong Sheu, Cheng-Chung Lee, "Method of improving field emission efficiency for fabricating carbon nanotube field emitters," U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,221). In this method, an adhesive tape is closely attached on the CNT cathode surface and then it is removed. As a result of taping, some carbon nanotubes will be vertically oriented, and the poorly bonded CNT portions will be removed. Possibly some adhesive residue will remain behind on the top of the carbon nanotube layer. The organic residue on the cathode surface after the taping activation process may emit residual, undesirable gases in the sealed glass display envelope during field emission operation. Also, uniformly activating the substrate over a large area remains difficult. For example, many display applications may require 40 inch-100 inch diagonal plates.
Although a portion of the CNTs may vertically align after the taping process, which has been considered a key factor in improving the field emission properties of the CNT cathodes, in fact some CNT material is removed by the adhesive layer of the tape. Researchers have found that the field emission properties of the CNTs are diminished if the CNTs are very dense (Jean-Marc Bonard, Nicolas Weiss, Hannes Kind et al., "Tuning the field emission properties of patterned carbon nanotube films," Advanced Materials 13, 184-188 (2001)). An electric field shielding effect occurs when the CNTs are very close to each other, preventing CNTs from emitting electrons. Enhanced field emission properties of CNTs mixed with particles have been obtained because the CNTs were separated with each other by the particles (Dongsheng Mao, Richard Lee Fink, Zvi Yaniv, "Enhanced field emission from carbon nanotubes mixed with particles," U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,127). In that patent, researchers obtained good field emission results without an activation process, such as taping, after the deposition of the CNT mixture. In earlier studies using carbon film as a cold cathode, a patterned carbon film was observed having much better field emission properties than a continuous carbon film (Zhidan Li Tolt, Zvi Yaniv, Richard Lee Fink, "Surface treatment process used in growing a carbon film," U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,023). Another activation process involves using an optimized soft rubber roller to remove the contaminants covering the CNTs (Yong C. Kim, K. H. Sohn, Y. Mo. Cho, and Eun H. Yoo, "Vertical alignment of printed carbon nanotubes by multiple field emission cycles," Appl. Phys. Lett 84, 5350-5352 (2004)). During that process, a portion of the CNT was also removed, and the field emission properties of the CNTs were improved. Alignment of CNTs after the rubbing process was not observed, but alignment was observed after an electric field was applied to the CNT coating. This indicates that the alignment of the CNTs on the cathode is not a required material property for improved field emission characteristics.
In view of these findings in the related art, there is a need for a low-temperature method to produce a CNT cathode layer such that the CNTs are not too densely deposited on the surface, thereby inhibiting electron emission. With an optimized spatial distribution of the CNT material, the post-deposition activation process may be eliminated, thereby saving significant cost and effort in the manufacture of the resulting field emission display apparatus.
The present invention addresses the foregoing need by providing a method that results in a CNT cathode with improved field emission characteristics without requiring an activation process step. The CNT material is deposited on the cathode electrode surface as a layer of distinct emitter islands which are physically separated from each other. Optimization of the electron field emission performance is realized by modulating the density of the field emitter islands. A method of the present invention requires neither mixing of the CNT material with other particles nor physical alignment of the CNTs to obtain enhanced field emission properties.
Merits of the present invention over the prior art for depositing CNT material for field emission cathodes include an optimization of the amount of CNTs required and an overall simpler process as compared to deposition with subsequent activation and material removal. Using a low-temperature deposition process, such as screen-printing, the present invention provides a method that is cost-effective for industrial scale operations.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as specific substrate materials to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.
The present invention provides substantially enhanced field emission properties by patterning CNT islands that are separated from each other. The method and devices of the present invention do not require an activation process to facilitate field emission of the CNT cathode material. The present invention thus incorporates a very easy and low cost process, which can be performed over a very large area with very good uniformity.
Unpurified (from Iljin Nanotech, Inc., Korea) and purified (from Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc., Houston, Tex.) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) used in one example of the present invention were 1-2 nm in diameter and 5-20 μm in length. Both purified and unpurified single-wall, double-wall or multi-wall carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers or other kinds of nanotubes and nanowires from other sources can also be used with similar results. The CNT material may also be comprised of chemically modified CNTs, functionalized CNTs, or CNTs derivatized by various methods. The CNT material may also comprise various other forms of nanoparticles, including buckytubes, carbon fibrils, metallic carbon nanotubes, semiconducting carbon nanotubes. In some cases, the nanoparticle material may comprise spherical particles, dish-shaped particles, lamellar particles, rod-like particles, metal particles, semiconductor particles, polymeric particles, ceramic particles, dielectric particles, clay particles, and fibers. In other example methods, various combinations in composition and form of aforementioned nanoparticles may also be used to practice the current invention.
In an illustrative example of the present invention, the CNT islands were formed using a screen-printing process. In one method, the paste containing CNTs was made by a grinding process. The CNT paste was made by mixing 1.3 g CNT powder with 8 g vehicle (organic solvent, made by Daejoo Fine Chemical Co., Korea), 0.7 g low melting point (430� C.) glass frit (binder, made by Daejoo Fine Chemical Co., Korea), and thinner (organic solvent, Dupont) to further adjust the viscosity of the paste. A 3 roll mill (Netzsch Inc.) was used to grind the paste at least 20 times to disperse the CNTs in the paste. In one mixture, the final viscosity of the paste was about 130,000 CP.
The CNT paste was then deposited by a screen-printing process. A 355-mesh screen was used to print the CNT paste with a controlled thickness onto the substrate.
A manual squeegee was used to print the CNT paste on the ITO/glass surface over an area of 3 cm�3 cm. The sample was then baked at 100� C. for 10 min. in an oven to harden the top surface of the CNT coating immediately after printing.
For comparison of the field emission properties, samples were printed 2, 3, and 5 times. With an increasing number of printed layers, the CNT islands became larger and more dense. Each time the samples were printed, they were baked at 100� C. for 10 min. before they were printed again.
To compare field emission properties, all the samples (printed once, twice, 3, and 5 times) were tested by mounting them with a phosphor screen in a diode configuration, as shown in
The sample printed twice exhibited the best field emission properties, i.e., emission at lowest electric field strength. A field emission image of the sample printed twice is shown in
For further comparison, a taping process was performed to activate the CNTs after the firing process (Yang Chang, Jyh-Rong Sheu, Cheng-Chung Lee, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, TW, "Method of Improving Field Emission Efficiency for Fabrication Carbon Nanotube Field Emitters," U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,221). Clear tape (#336, 3M) was used to active the CNTs. The sample printed twice was chosen for the experiment, since this was the sample which exhibited the best field emission behavior. The tape was laminated on the CNT coating using the same process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,221. Then, the tape was peeled away.
In another illustrative example of the present invention, CNT paste was printed on a larger area with a patterned structure, as opposed to the previous samples which were formed on a blanket layer of ITO deposited on a glass substrate. For a CNT cold cathode device, a triode structure may be used in order to lower the extraction voltage and substantially lower the cost. For this example, a purified SWNT form of CNTs (Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc.) was used. Referring to
The CNT paste was printed into the wells through a patterned 355-mesh screen (see
The insulating overcoat 107 was 30-40 microns higher than the CNT coating 103. The sample was then baked and fired according to the procedure presented in the preceding examples. The field emission properties were then tested as previously mentioned.
A representative hardware environment for practicing the present invention is depicted in
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Citations
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text:
Autocar pits the BMW X4 against the Porsche Macan. Can the new upstart really rival the Porsche Macan, which has been received as one of the best compact SUVs ever? Steve Sutcliffe finds out.
BMW X4: The baby X6
By Jens Meiners, BIMMERPOST Correspondent
May 22, 2014
While others, such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, are busy bringing their first generation of SUV-based coupes to market, BMW is launching the second round. Just a few months before the next generation of the X6 will be unveiled, the BMW X4 comes to market – as a sporty derivative of the X3.
Ever since the X4 concept was launched at the Shanghai auto show last year, it was clear what the Bavarians were up … CONTINUED


text:
In a market as saturated as the ecommerce platform market, it can be very difficult to figure out which platform best meets your needs. If you are considering starting your own store, then chances are you have already run into this struggle at some point. So far I have reviewed most popular platforms as individual offers, and created this comparison chart, then ranked all platforms after their SEO effectiveness, but now it is time to see how the different platforms compare to each other: Shopify, Bigcommerce, 3dcart, Volusion and BigCartel.
Ease of use
If you are a novice online storeowner, then there is really nothing as important as ease of use. It doesn't matter if the platform offers the most amazing features, if you don't understand how to use them, then they might as well not even be there.
One thing that all of the platforms have in common is the fact that their dashboards are all very easy to navigate. Furthermore, most of the platforms offer some sort of a setup wizard that will guide you through the creation of your first store.
While using the Volusion dashboard is relatively easy, unfortunately the same can't be said about using the editor, which put simply, is damn near impossible to use unless you are well versed in both HTML and CSS code.
Inventory management is pretty straightforward on most of the platforms, you can see the inventory screens for some of the platforms below:
For many people pricing is the most important factor, not only when deciding which ecommerce platform to use, but in general as they go through life. Personally, I feel if you are going to be investing a lot of your time and energy into creating your own online retail space, then there should be more important factors than saving $1 on the price of the platform.
As you can see in the table above, the cheapest plan offered on any of the platforms is without competition offered on BigCartel, this package doesn't cost a single dime. In general when looking at the pricing of BigCartel you can see that even their most expensive plan costs as much as the cheapest plan with Shopify or BigCommerce.
When you look at the cheapest pricing tier, if you ignore BigCartel, then you can see that Volusion offers the cheapest plan, while 3dcart comes in second, finally the two most popular platforms Shopify and Bigcommerce both charge around $30 for their services.
When you compare the middle pricing packages you can quickly see that there seems to be some sort of agreement that the price should be somewhere between $65 and $80.
For me what it really comes down is whether you are looking to sell just a few products or a large number of products, as well as which platforms offers the features you want for a reasonable price.
Let's be honest: design matters, everyone knows if the design doesn't appeal to the visitor then chances are they will take their shopping elsewhere. Remember what I said in one of the reviews, if the layout of your store looks horrible then even if your product is amazing, chances are people won't pay attention to your products.
If you are looking for a platform that offers some of the most professional looking themes, then you should really be looking into Shopify, the truth is there is no platform that offers better themes than Shopify.
Compared to Shopify and Bigcommerce, the collection of themes offered by 3dcart or Big Cartel shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence. While 3dcart does offer a lot of themes, when you look closer you realize most of these themes are duplicates. BigCartel on the other hand only offers a grand total of six themes.
While you might think that the number of themes offered by a platform isn't such a big deal. You need to remember that if your store lacks originality, such as having the same theme as 50 other stores, then customers are quick to attribute this to poor quality management from the storeowner. This is much more likely to make them leave your site without even giving you a fair shot.
Apps and Add-ons
If you are looking for a platform that offers a large selection of apps and add-ons then you should really go with Shopify or Bigcommerce, both companies offer more than 100 different apps and add-ons that can easily be integrated into your store. Another solution would be to sign up with 3cart who also offers access to apps and add-ons, however, they do not offer as many as Shopify or Bigcommerce.
If access to additional apps and add-ons are important then I don't recommend signing up with either Volusion or Big Cartel. The first company offers a grand total of one app, while the latter doesn't offer any apps at all.
Customer Support
Chances are you will need support at some point in your ecommerce career, it is therefore important to be familiar with the different support offers from the companies.
Shopify and 3dcart both offer 24/7 support through phone as well as chat and email. Bigcommerce offers 24/7 email and chat support, however, their phone support comes with time constraints.
The one company who doesn't seem to offer phone or chat support would be Big Cartel who only offers email support, and what's more they only offer it Monday – Friday from 9AM to 6PM EST.
So if you are looking for a company that offers great customer support any time of the day, then you really should give Shopify and 3dcart a try.
More head to head comparisons
Concluding remarks
It really doesn't matter how many comparison articles you read, there is only one person who knows which platform offers exactly what you need, and that person is you. What it all boils down to is which platform will allow you to sell the products you offer in the best manner for both you as a storeowner and for your clients.
With that being said however, I think there are a few factors you need to take into consideration before making your final decision. In order to make the decision a little easier I will break this conclusion down into quick paragraphs about each of the platforms.
Shopify (full review here)
There is a reason why Shopify is at the top of the comparison chart. Not only does the company offer some amazing features, but the themes they offer are also top notch. I wouldn't have a problem recommending this platform to anyone looking to get started in the ecommerce industry.
Bigcommerce (full review here)
The differences between Bigcommerce and Shopify are rather subtle, there are some features offered by this platform that Shopify doesn't offer and vice versa. If you don't mind a bit of a learning curve then perhaps this offer is the right platform for you.
Volusion (full review here)
When deciding whether to use Volusion or not, it really comes down to one very simple decision. Do you feel comfortable editing the HTML and CSS code in order to optimize your template, if this isn't a problem, then Volusion might be the right platform for you, otherwise I would really suggest looking at Shopify or Bigcommerce.
3dcart (full review here)
3dcart doesn't offer as many features as Shopify or Bigcommerce, however, their platform is very user-friendly. One problem I do have with this company however is the fact that they offer a limited number of original themes, as I mentioned earlier many of their themes are duplicates.
Big Cartel (full review here)
Big Cartel might not offer some of the features offered by their competitors, however, as I mentioned in the review, it feels as if they are catering towards a different set of customers. If you are looking to sell a few products to your clients and do not need all the features offered by competitors, then I would really consider giving Big Cartel a try.
If you are still uncertain about which platforms best fits your needs, then every company offers a free trial, and my suggestion is that you give these a shot before making your final decision. You can also read the individual reviews for each and for a more visual way of comparing them I suggest taking a look at my top 10 comparison chart.
12 Responses
Why would you not include Magento on this list? It's hard to take the comparison seriously without it including the leading e-commerce solution.
People who want to get their shop up and running fast don't have time to learn a technology and deal with it's headaches. I know Drupal but after fighting with it to build a decent store for months, I was able to very quickly build a shop in Shopify. How quickly? 4 days. Yes, including beautiful theme, products, variants, discount prices, inventory etc.
Second that, there is no excuse to dismiss the nr1 used eCommerce solution Magento Community to even Magento Enterprise. Even with the difficulty (which is not difficult at all to setup plus enterprise…), you cant just go past something like that in a blog called top6 ecommerce platforms on a ecommerce-platforms.com website. Unless there is a personal reason…
We have been trying for several days to import an excel spreadsheet into Shopify and with 5 different support members we are no further ahead. The gurus that provide 24/7 support are simply other shop-owners taking calls from home to uphold the 24/7 but most with limited or no knowledge. ( I knew more after 1 day of reading the material online than 4 of 5 gurus I connected with.. to give you an idea) So if you go with Shopify – be prepared to figure things out on your own…
I am also suggested Magento is the best platform for E commerce. Some reasons why magento?
Magento Does Not Penalize You For Growing Bigger
Easy To Integrate Third Party Apps
Freedom To Choose Hosting Service
Modular And Customizable
Fast. Really Fast.
Built For SEO
I think you misunderstood the idea of this post.
He was comparing platform ready to go, not custom solutions you need to build yourself to get it running.
To archieve what you described in Magento you have to hire some company to:
Install, to start using.
Upgrade, if you get bigger.
Pay: to migrate between hosting services
Get advanced knowledge to customize.
Backup, etc.
Bigcommerce has 24/7 phone support.★★★★☆
I think it is better to have something like shopify thats ready to go dealing with html and css is not easy and requires time so it is better to go with shopify and bigcommerce★★★★☆
I think bigcommerce is going much better than others.★★★★☆


text: Brand new new used, All PA stuff and beyond, welded front drum, reverse manual valve body, billet servo, 6 pinion planetary, Kevlar bands, Red altos, Hardened main shaft, custom dipstick, Deep billet pan, SFI JW bell, Lucas Bendall 4000 stall converter, SFI flexplate, 157 tooth, 28 oz, every part is new and top shelf, built to handle a boosted 347. Converter can be reflashed easily. I have 3200 in this setup, price is 2500 plus the ride or come pick it up, I'm in Sarasota FL. pictures: http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/SaleenClone/saleen/115-1587_IMG.jpg http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/SaleenClone/saleen/115-1588_IMG.jpg http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/SaleenClone/saleen/115-1589_IMG.jpg Send me a pm if interested, thanks for looking


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Language can be very revealing. So far, the Obama administration has given clear indicators as to who it identifies as the nation's real enemies.
First up, vague as the "War on Terror" was, it's now a taboo term. The administration replaced it with "overseas contingency operations" — a phrase so devoid of content that it is the Olestra of the English language.
Next, terrorist attacks themselves were redefined into "man-caused disasters." (Let's overlook, for the moment, the inherent sexism of that phrase, although Bernardine Dohrn would take offense.)
Finally, the Obama administration found an area where they could use the term "terrorist" and "terrorism" freely — and that was in the Department of Homeland Security's report on the threat of right-wing extremism. Now, they couldn't find very much evidence to back up their broad generalities and concerns (Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing makes a very lonely data point), but they did manage to cast aspersions on such devious, subversive elements as returning veterans.
Meanwhile, other prominent Democrats reacted to this week's Tea Parties with some very strong language — throwing around terms such as "despicable," "racist," "AstroTurfed," and the like.
Oddly enough, they didn't employ those terms to describe the protests at the recent G-20 gathering in London, the routine domestic terrorism of the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front, or even the recent silencing of former Representative Tom Tancredo at the University of North Carolina.
The conclusion seems pretty clear: the real terrorists, the real threat to American security, are not Islamist militants who have vowed to destroy America. No, the real terrorists are those who didn't vote for Democrats, who stubbornly assert their independence, who insist on placing a high value on their rights, who believe strongly in such heretical concepts as the 1st, 2nd, and 10th Amendments to the United States Constitution, and even those who have sought out training in weapons and tactics by enlisting in the U.S. military.
Thanks for clearing that up, folks.


text: Hey Guys, I have to much crap that I do not use. I really want to do local to Boston pickup only please. PM me for what I have, I need to get rid of this stuff as I am tight for cash right now :\ Letting it go for very reasonable prices. Waxes, Sealants, Glazes, Polishes. Thanks!


text:
Ben Flajnik
Ashley Hebert Plans to Marry J.P. Rosenbaum 'Within a Year'
Originally posted 03/14/2012 01:15PM
While it's been a road of ups and downs for Courtney Robertson and her Bachelor fiancé Ben Flanjik, former Bachelorette Ashley Hebert and her love
J.P. Rosenbaum have been on a more consistent path.
"We are starting [wedding] planning and hoping to get married within a year," Hebert told viewers when she and her fiancé appeared at the end of Monday's The Bachelor: After the Final Rose show. "I always thought it would be romantic to be pregnant and get married."
"We talk about it all the time," adds Rosenbaum. "We're getting more serious about it."
Ben Flajnik Writes Final Blog as The Bachelor
Originally posted 03/14/2012 09:45AM
My final blog as The Bachelor. Aside from having hair that looked like a water buffalo, the day I proposed was an exciting day. This damn hair. Maybe it is time for a cut.
Boy, it has been a long time coming, and I am so happy it's all over. It has been a rough road, full of ups and downs, scrutiny and negativity.
What I will say is that I have found the positives to focus on amidst all the speculation and hate. People don't know what it's like to go through an experience like this, and until they have been a contestant – or the person in the driver's seat – I say, "Take it easy, because you aren't speaking from personal experience."
We have all decided to put ourselves out there in hopes of love, and we all know love can be messy.
Ben Flajnik: Courtney and I 'Work Really Well Together'
Originally posted 03/13/2012 03:30PM
Ben Flajnik's decision to propose to controversial contestant Courtney Robertson on The Bachelor's season finale shocked and upset many of the franchise's millions of fans. But Ben isn't going to lose sleep over that.
After addressing the trouble in their relationship on the After The Final Rose special, Ben hopes "people will get a better understanding of who we are and why we're still together," he tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Ben admits he saw signs of Courtney's catty behavior – "like when she would skip back after getting a rose," he says – but when he talked to the other women about it, he didn't get a straight answer.
Lindzi Cox Wishes Bachelor Couple 'Nothing But the Best'
Originally posted 03/13/2012 09:20AM
She didn't get the final rose from Ben Flajnik on Monday night's The Bachelor, but Lindzi Cox has nothing bad to say about the man who told her he was "in love with someone else."
"I wish them nothing but the best," she said on Tuesday's Good Morning America, about Flajnik and the woman he proposed to, Ford model Courtney Robertson.
Although Cox, 27, says she doesn't know if they'll make it as a couple, during the reveal that Flajnik and Robertson were essentially broken up while the show aired, Cox says she's "in a good place" now.
Ben Flajnik & Courtney Robertson Are Back Together After Split
Originally posted 03/13/2012 09:00AM
After a romantic proposal amid the majestic mountaintops of Zermatt, Switzerland, Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson's secret romance crumbled, the couple revealed on The Bachelor's After the Final Rose special Monday night.
"It's been a rough ride," Ben told host Chris Harrison about everything that's happened since the finale was taped. What went wrong? As Ben began to watch his season of the show, he witnessed the catty behavior of his new fiancée. She later apologized.
"The woman that I saw on TV isn't the Courtney that I know," he said, adding, "Those are the moments and the instances that led to Courtney and I not talking for a time while the show aired. We were essentially broken up."
Ben Flajnik Proposes to Courtney Robertson on The Bachelor Finale
Originally posted 03/12/2012 10:05PM
It's been a turbulent season for Bachelor Ben Flajnik.
The Sonoma winemaker, 29, told PEOPLE in January that going into this season he had "one thing in mind – to stay open and honest with myself."
Little did Flajnik know that he, like The Bachelor's millions of viewers, would later watch on TV the catty, spiteful and downright mean behavior amongst the contestants – namely Ford model Courtney Robertson, 28. Robertson and effervescent, down-to-earth business development manager Lindzi Cox, 27, were Flajnik's final two potential mates out of 25 women.
"I'm not sure how this is going to end," an exasperated Flajnik said at the beginning of Monday's finale, which was filmed in Zermatt, Switzerland.
The Bachelor: Whom Will Ben Flajnik Pick?
Originally posted 03/12/2012 02:30PM
Blonde versus brunette. Good versus ... well, not so good.
That's how ABC is positioning Monday night's season finale of The Bachelor, as Ben Flajnik will decide between Lindzi Cox and Courtney Robertson.
The Women Tell All episode left no doubt about who the former contestants think Ben should pick. But of course, it's up to him – and his affection for Courtney is obvious, despite all the controversy surrounding her.
Host Chris Harrison tells PEOPLE that this season has been "more competitive, darker" but believes that Ben has picked a "final two he really connected with and cared about."
Chris Harrison: Ben Flajnik 'Suffered' on a 'Darker' Season of The Bachelor
Originally posted 03/12/2012 09:50AM
Chris Harrison believes every season of The Bachelor has "its own feel," and Ben Flajnik's – which concludes Monday on ABC – can best be summed up as "edgy, controversial and definitely not warm and fuzzy."
"It doesn't compare at all to other seasons. It's more competitive, darker and has raised a lot of debate and outrage from viewers," the host tells PEOPLE. "Ben was taken aback by the public outcry and the anger he's faced. The Courtney thing was not easy for him to endure."
Despite the drama, Harrison says this season has been a real chance for the winemaker to find his happy ending. "For him to go through so much trouble and pain, unless he's a masochist, definitely leads me to believe he wants to find love. ... A lesser guy – or a guy who didn't care – would have checked out a long time ago. But he fought like hell the entire time and ended up with a final two he really connected with and cared about."
The Bachelor Contestants React to Courtney Robertson's Apology
Originally posted 03/07/2012 07:30AM
The reunited contestants of The Bachelor had no reason to suspect that their nemesis Courtney Robertson would be joining them for a candid chat at the Women Tell All special, because the finalists don't usually attend. But after dissecting her actions, calling her names and generally hating on her for 45 minutes, host Chris Harrison surprised them by bringing Courtney out to face the women.
Reactions to the model's weepy apology that followed were varied. After the taping, PEOPLE spoke with Kacie B., Blakely, Casey S., Nicki and Bachelor Ben Flajnik about what Courtney said through tears:
Bachelorette's Ashley Hebert Weighs In on Courtney Robertson
Originally posted 03/06/2012 07:35PM
On the current season of The Bachelor Courtney Robertson has emerged as the finalist everyone loves to hate.
But at least one person (other than Bachelor Ben Flajnik himself) isn't completely writing her off. Former Bachelorette star Ashley Hebert sympathizes with Robertson – at least in part – due to her own experience on the show.
"I feel like when my season was airing I got a lot of [flack]," Hebert, 27, told PEOPLE at the KIIS-FM Purse Party in Santa Monica on Monday. "So I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
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Upgrade your geek with Dwight Silverman
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In praise of Microsoft's Surface Pro . . . as a notebook PC
At the end of my review of Microsoft's Surface RT tablet in November, I wrote this: As slick as the Surface is, I'd recommend waiting a bit. In a few months, Microsoft will release a version that runs Windows 8 Professional, which means it can run Metro as well as traditional Windows desktop software. There's […] [Read More]


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Clean Eating Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Hummus is very simple to make at home.
This recipe only takes about five minutes to whip up and you can really taste the difference between home made and store bought.
Now don't get me wrong, I buy the store bought hummus all the time and some of them are pretty darn good; but at the end of the day, nothing is ever as good as homemade!
If you wanted to enjoy your hummus without the roasted pepper flavor, just skip the peppers and you'll have the original hummus.
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a thick paste made from ground sesame seeds. Think peanut butter, but instead, swap the peanuts for sesame seeds.
To make tahini, sesame seeds are soaked in water for a day, then crushed to separate the bran from the kernels. The crushed seeds are put into salted water, where the bran sinks, but the kernels float and are then skimmed off the surface. They are toasted, then ground to produce their oily paste. There are two types of tahini, light and dark, and the light ivory version is considered to have both the best flavor and texture.
Clean Eating Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Yield: Serves 8 as an appetizer
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 15 oz. can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup of tahini
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 12 oz. jar of roasted red peppers
- 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
- A big fat pinch of salt
Place the garlic into a food processor and pulse until minced.
Add the garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, and oil. Pulse until smooth. Toss in the roasted peppers and salt and pulse until everything is incorporated.
*If you want to cut back on the calories and fat a bit, eliminate the olive oil and reduce the tahini to 1/4 cup. In order to make up for the lost liquid, add a couple of tbsp. of the liquid from your roasted pepper jar into the hummus.
Nutritional Analysis
Nutrients per serving: Calories: 127; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 0.8g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 96mg; Carbohydrate: 12.5g; Dietary Fiber: 2.6g; Sugars: 1g; Protein: 5.3g
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7 Responses to "Clean Eating Roasted Red Pepper Hummus"
This hummus was soooooooo good. I added a few green olives to it also, sooo yummy, great recipe!
Ashley – yum! The olive sound like a great addition!
yummy i love hommus
ok i am originally from damacus syria and we invented these recipes
and hummos is a great dip if you doing barbecue try roasting the red peppers on a barbeuse and then add them to the hommus
try puting a pinch of grounded cumin its lovely
thanks for doing this i love it
Mahmoud – Great tips… I Iove the idea of adding cumin:).
What can you substitute for tahini??? We have NONE in our little town and they look at you as if you're NUTS when you ask!!!
Laura – If you can't find any tahini then just skip it! You may need a splash more olive oil (or you can use a splash of broth if you want to cut back on extra calories) and it will be fine. I actually find that I prefer hummus without tahini, it makes for a lighter, cleaner taste.
You can also use a little peanut butter to get a similar flavor to the tahini. I would try about 1 Tablespoon of PB


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Cherry Clafouti
Cherry Clafouti
Gluten-Free Baking and More, August 2006.
Cherry Clafouti
I first learned to make clafouti while I was a student at the Culinary Institute of America. It is one of the last recipes I remember learning. I love this dessert because it celebrates the berries. The sweet egg batter just acts to hold the berries together. Make this for dessert one night when you need something a little extra, but don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen.
1 1/4 pounds sour cherries, pitted or 1 pound frozen sour cherries, thawed and patted dry
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoon kirsch
Powdered sugar for dusting.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish. (Don't use vegetable shortening or a cooking spray to grease the baking dish.)
Place cherries in the baking dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, and granulated sugar. Blend for 1 minute.
Add remaining ingredients and mix for 2 minutes.
Pour batter evenly over the cherries.
Bake until golden brown, about 40-45 minutes.
Remove dish from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. (Don't panic if the clafouti sinks. It probably will.)
Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve warm. (Ice cream is also wonderful with clafouti.)
Serves six
Created By:
Elizabeth Barbone
© 2006-2014 Gluten-Free Baking and More/Elizabeth Barbone All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.


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Those sharrows have been removed, leaving some dent in the road... The method they used to remove was lame... It was a new road which is now already damaged! oh boy
Updated: Fourth Avenue sharrows violate national guidelines, streetcar plans
Editor's note: I incorrectly wrote that City of Tucson crews installed the sharrows along Fourth Avenue. It was actually the contractor hired by the city to perform the streetcar construction that placed the sharrows.
The recently added sharrows along Fourth Avenue are between one and two feet too close to the curb, violating national guidelines and the city's own streetcar plans.
In most cases, the streetcar plans called for the center of the sharrow to be placed 12 feet from the curb, but measurements taken by Tucson Velo indicate the actual placement of the sharrows are between ten feet four inches and ten feet nine inches.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which provides guidance on the use of traffic devices from the federal department of transportation, indicates that sharrows should be placed no less than 11 feet away from the curb when on-street parking is present.
The current positioning would place cyclists in a dangerous location, which could increase the likelihood of a dooring.
Streetcar construction manager Joe Chase did not return a phone call about the sharrow placement, but Tucson's bicycle and pedestrian program manager Ann Chanecka said they were investigating the placement of the sharrows.
Plans indicate that parking along the north and south end of Fourth Avenue will be eliminated because the street is too narrow making the sharrow above more appropriate.
Man I love that sharrow leading right into the back of that car in front of Epic Cafe. To bad I have yet to see it. I have now counted 7 work commuting days in a row that I went by and a car was parked in that no parking space. Not sure when it was ever even free enough to paint the sharrow or snap the pic.
Is the measurement taken from the edge of the sharrows symbol? What if the sharrows stencil was made to a different scale?
IIRC, the distance from the head of the rail must be at least four feet. Literally , you're between a rock and a hard place. Twelve feet might put your bike in the path of the streetcar.
But even if the sharrows are moved to 12 feet from the curb, streetcars will still not have the mandatory 3 feet safe passing distance from bicyclists. The problem is the placement of the tracks, which are now permanently set in concrete.
Sorry for all my griping comments, I promise I to stop. I just wish that these issues could be resolved before they are permanently installed. It certainly does not bode well to convert two of the city's key connecting bike routes to potentially deadly obstacle courses.
Does anyone know why the tracks in the center of the road are not NEXT to each other? So much wasted space, and it looks so dangerous. What exactly is the strip of asphalt between the two tracks supposed to be used for?
There are public meetings coming up to follow up on the community design charrettes the Streetcar team held in January. I suggest we stop being so nice about our opposition (and complaining about it places that the streetcar team are unlikely to ever see). Please attend one of these meetings and speak out:
Dates and meeting places:
Meeting 1: West University & 4th Avenue Business District (central segment)—Monday, August 5 at 6:00 p.m. Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue, Lower Level Meeting Room
Meeting 2: Eastern Terminus & Main Gate—Monday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m. University of Arizona Student Union, 1303 E. University Blvd., 2nd Floor, Kiva Room
Meeting 3: Downtown Entertainment Districts & Downtown Cultural/Convention District—Monday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m. Public Works Building, 201 N. Stone Avenue, Basement Conference Room C
Meeting 4: Western Terminus—Monday, August 26 at 6:00 p.m. Public Works Building, 201 N. Stone Avenue, Basement Conference Room C
This is the first I have heard about eliminating parking spaces. How much of the north and south ends are going to lose parking spaces? Is the city going to do anything to replace those parking spaces? I am glad that this is happening. I ride 4th Avenue almost every day and the first day I saw where the streetcar was going to be and where the end of someone's car door was going to be when they were getting out of their cars, I knew something wasn't going to work.
So the city is responsible for lying to the the general public via faulty construction plans, or it is responsible for hiring inept contractors and not holding them accountable (ie, for putting lives in danger through improper sharrow placement). "Bike friendly city," my ass.
@JamesDonohue My measurement is taken from the center of the sharrow, which is what the MUTCD says to do. That is where most people will try to ride.
@Harrison Smith The streetcar planners said drivers will have to wait behind bikes if they can't be safely passed. In actuality, bikes will probably be moving faster than the streetcar.
@Harrison Smith They already have.
@DrTriKat I've been curious about this as well. It seems like this would have been the obvious first thing to eliminate, before street parking, and certainly before bike lanes. It strikes me as a bit odd that on a street like 4th Avenue, where we really need to calm traffic, we should appease those who are too impatient to occasionally slow down for a car stopped to turn..?
My assumption of this design is so that a left turn vehicle (in the two way left turn lane between the tracks) can stage/store in the lane while waiting to turn while also allowing the street cars to pass safely on either side (like cars do now, usually).
@Mtngoat Why would the streetcar 'team' not look in places where ideas and concerns are expressed about their very interest? It isn't like there are hundreds of them and it would be sooo time consuming. Bikes have been more than a minor concern in this project. They should be well aware of what has been written here. I don't consider Tucsonvelo to be an unofficial forum for bike community expression and communication. What else do we have? Don't say the BAC! I almost don't blame them when their eyes start to glass over during the course of those meetings.
@jeff About 100 feet on both ends. It'll be about when the tracks move back in after the turns.
@Harrison Smith @DrTriKat As much as I'd like to see traffic calmed on 4th Avenue and along University I think sublimated cars doing random things to get around stopped vehicles waiting to make turns is actually worse for cyclists not better. It's not the tracks that scare me or even the St Cars because, well they can't swerve and hit me. Nope it's the cars doing unpredictable things while they hunt for parking, drop passengers while double parked or u-turn to double back for a spot on the opposite side of the roadway. Why 4th Avenue is so perilous now is all about the unpredictability of the cars and the very increased possibility of being doored.
@Robert Lane That doesn't sound DANGEROUS at all (sarcasm). I am envisioning a Hummer standing there as two streetcars pass by on either side. Screeeeeech - Ouch.
@Robert LaneThere are two major streetcar designs in Europe, where they have been running for over 100 years. Either in the center of the street, next to each other, or separated at the very edge of the street, next to the sidewalk. Left turn lanes are "dead space" because they are not used 99% of the time. In Europe, left turn lanes ONLY exist at intersections, yet cars can turn left everywhere without a problem. Why are Americans obsessed about left turn lanes? They are fine as long as you have unlimited road width. Streetcars should ALWAYS have the right of way. It seems to me that in the effort to please many different modes of transport and have them coexist in a limited width of street, neither form of transport will work (well), and bicycles in particular are getting the short end of the stick. Its like a multitool: it can do many things poorly
Well, I guess you'll just have to make sure you don't go down there in your Hummer, if it's wider than 11-12 feet?
In my experience, streetcars are not wider than a full-size pick-up (not even dually wide) and therefore would stay within the lane they occupy (beside the fact that it is, of course, on rails). Therefore, the danger of a car in the TWLTL with two streetcars passing is only slightly higher because the streetcars can't move off the tracks if the vehicle occupying the TWLTL is not within the lines painted for them. Average vehicle width is between 5'-6" and 7'-6" with average lane width between 10'-6" and 12'.
If you put the tracks/streetcars in the middle of the roadway, you will need to eliminate left turns altogether or create new traffic laws regarding the right-of-way of streetcars vs cars.


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You may recognise a face in the crowd when the Beaumaris house where musician and singer Colin Hay grew up goes under the hammer early next month.
''He'll be at the auction, for sure,'' says Carol Hay, sister of the former Men At Work star, turned solo performer. He now lives in the US but is performing at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
More than a vegemite sandwich: The Hay's family home at 6 Powys Drive, Beaumaris is expected to fetch more than $860,000 when it goes under the hammer on April 5.
The 6 Powys Drive house has been the Hay family home since 1967, bought following their emigration from Scotland.
Carol, who is selling the property with brothers Colin and Derek, has plenty of good memories of life there. ''There was always lots of music in the house and lots of parties,'' she says.
The 50s cream brick home has three bedrooms, recently renovated bathroom, separate living and dining, and a rear sunroom opening to a courtyard. There's also a car port and garage.
Robin Parker, of Marshall White, expects the price to exceed $860,000 when the property is auctioned at 1.30pm on April 5.
Northern souls
Former City of Melbourne councillor Martin Brennan has seen considerable change in North Melbourne since moving in to the suburb then known for its light industry some 40 years ago.
Northern souls: This 99 Buncle Street home is selling for $700,000-$800,000.
''It was kind of a step of faith,'' he says. ''But it had location, location, location.''
Brennan, chief executive of an organisation working with local governments on sustainability issues, and his wife Dr Maggie McCormick, who teaches at RMIT, are downsizing. The house at 99 Buncle Street has three bedrooms - including one in a self-contained bungalow - separate family and living, and off-street parking.
Under the hammer on 11am on April 5. Malcolm Dingle, of Dingle Partners, is quoting $700,000-$800,000.
Victorian reinvention
Having completely transformed their block-fronted Victorian home in Hawthorn after moving in 17 years ago, architect John Sanderson and his wife Suzie, a former model, are now selling the property.
Victorian reinvention: John Sanderson's 8 Lawes Street labour of love is quoted at $2 million-plus.
Known as Lalla Rookh, the five-bedroom house at 8 Lawes Street has a long glass corridor at the rear connecting the living spaces and the main bedroom suite. It was designed to form a courtyard around the garden and in-ground swimming pool and to maximise the northern light. It has off-street parking.
Sam Wilkinson, of Kay & Burton, is quoting $2 million plus on the property which will be auctioned on March 29 at 2pm.
South Yarra designer label
Hugh Campbell, co-founder of new social media travel app Wise Guides, and interior designer Kimberley Wiedermann are moving on from their South Yarra abode.
Designer label: Hugh Campbell and Kimberley Wiedermann's 40 Tyrone Street pad in South Yarra is yours for $1 million-plus.
The extensively renovated property at 40 Tyrone Street features two bedrooms, open plan living, rear deck, courtyard and double carport.
James McCormack, of Marshall White, expects more than $1 million when it's auctioned on March 29 at 10.30am.
Paton takes her cue
Channel 10 reporter and summer newsreader Yasmin Paton is selling an investment property in Moonee Ponds. The ground floor apartment at 1/48 Scotia Street has two bedrooms, open plan living and two private courtyards as well as off-street parking.
Paton takes her cute: Newsreader Yasmin Paton's investment property at 1/48 Scotia Street, Moonee Ponds is priced at $400,000-plus.
For auction today at 11am. Aaron Spiteri, of Rendina Real Estate, expects $400,000-plus.
Start your engines
Metcash Automotive chief executive and V8 Supercar driver Paul Dumbrell is selling a Victorian home in Hawthorn East.
The 196 Rathmines Road property, which Dumbrell bought 15 years ago, has been used by a member of his family.
It has three bedrooms, open-plan living and dining and off-street parking. For auction on March 29 at 11am. Michael Hingston, of Jellis Craig, expects $1.3 million plus.
2 Parkside Street, Malvern.
The one to watch
Hollywood's finest might have trod its beautiful parquetry floor, but 2 Parkside Street in Malvern is a star in its own right.
Featured in the 2006 film Irresistible, starring Sam Neill and Susan Sarandon, the grand Victorian property Parkside in Malvern offers heritage beauty along with indoor-outdoor living suited to a contemporary lifestyle.
As well as sumptuous period rooms, the five-bedroom property at 2 Parkside Street boasts an expansive open-plan kitchen, family and meals area with parquetry floor and an atrium ceiling that opens via french doors to an outdoor entertaining area, saltwater swimming pool and gardens designed by Eugene Gilligan.
There's also attic storage, a detached double garage, 1100-bottle temperature-controlled cellar, and an outdoor shower and powder room.
Jellis Craig Bennison Mackinnon is expecting $3.25 million-plus when it goes under the hammer at 10am today. Check out the Domain section in tomorrow'sSunday Age to see how the auction went.
Something to cluck over
Not many properties can boast a church-like henhouse designed by the late Stuart Rattle. But as well as ''Cluckingham Palace'', the Macedon country retreat of Transfield Services chief executive Graeme Hunt, his wife Karen and their two children also features Paul Bangay-designed gardens.
19 Hammet Place.
The Toorak-based family bought Hammet in 2008 but Ms Hunt says they've since bought an adjoining property with more space for horses. Located on 1.6 hectares with mountain and country views, the 19 Hammet Place property has four bedrooms plus a study and several living areas including an al fresco dining space. There's also a tennis court, playground, olive grove, orchard and vegetable gardens.
Nicolette van Wijngaarden, of Unique Estates, is quoting $2.4 million. For auction on April 5 at 1pm.
Step to it for Ormond unit
Known for his work on productions including A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Shane Warne, The Musical and the Australian version of TV show So You Think You Can Dance, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth is selling his Ormond unit.
2/239 Grange Road, Ormond.
Now moving with partner Craig Lynch into the CBD, Hallsworth's recent credits include David Williamson's play Rupert for the Melbourne Theatre Company andDreamSong, soon to be seen at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. The renovated two-bedroom apartment at 2/239 Grange Road features a kitchen with stone benchtops adjoining open-plan living and dining, cafe-style doors opening to a north-facing deck and a single garage.
Aviv Samuel and Leor Samuel, of Gary Peer, are quoting $440,000-$490,000. The property will be auctioned on March 29 at 11.30am.
Brick beauty in Kew
When the Kew home of antique dealers Phil and Liz Capocchi goes to auction on April 5, it will be almost exactly 34 years since they bought the house.
Owners of fine furnishings and interior design businesses in High Street, Armadale, the couple have moved to Woodend and bought the old post office with a view of turning it into their "country store".
54 Normanby Road, Kew.
"There goes my semi-retirement," says Capocchi. As well as three bedrooms and a study, the solid brick home at 54 Normanby Road features a timber kitchen and open plan living areas leading out to a Rick Eckersley-designed garden. There's a four-car carport at the rear that can double as a covered entertaining area.
Tom Staughton of Kay & Burton expects in excess of $2 million, when it is auctioned on April 5 at noon.


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Ryan McCann Plus
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As student of VFS Vancouver Film School, Emily Carr University of Art and Design and SFU School of Contemporary Arts (and Business) Ryan left the IT Tech world at the turn of the century to persue projects in the creative and professional video and film arts field.
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A hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprises a housing and an array of solid state, light emitting junctions or dies for generating light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths (e.g. 400–500 nm). Preferably, a peak wavelength of 470 nm is generated. The device further comprises an optical fiber light pipe for capturing the light and transmitting a beam of the light to a work surface containing a light-curable compound. An optical lens or lenses may be used for focusing the light into the light pipe.
1. hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds curable in the mouth of a patient comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of solid state, light-emitting dies, each die including at least one generally bare semiconductor junction, mounted in a collective array in the housing, the array of dies operable for collectively emitting light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths and at a power to cure a dental compound;
a continuous clear lens layer having at least one curved surface and contacting the array to extend in a continuous fashion over all of the dies of the array of dies, the curved surface operable for protecting the bare semiconductor junctions and directing and focusing light generated by the array; and
a light transmitting device for capturing said light from the array of dies and continuous lens layer, and transmitting a beam of the light out of the housing to a work surface.
2. The hand held dental instrument of
3. The hand held dental instrument of
4. The hand held dental instrument of
5. The hand held dental instrument of
6. The hand held dental instrument of
7. The hand held dental instrument of
8. hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds curable in the mouth of a patient comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of solid state, light-emitting dies, each die including at least one generally bare semiconductor junction, mounted in a collective array in the housing, the array of dies operable for collectively emitting light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths and at a power to cure a dental compound;
a continuous clear lens layer having at least one curved surface and contacting the array to extend in a continuous fashion over all of the dies of the array of dies, the curved surface operable for protecting the bare semiconductor junction and directing and focusing light generated by the array; and
the housing including a distal end and the array of light-emitting dies and lens layer being positioned proximate the distal end for transmitting light directly from the array to a compound to be cured.
9. An instrument for curing dental compounds comprising:
a plurality of light-emitting elements formed from generally bare, light-generating semiconductor junctions mounted on a substrate, the light-emitting elements collectively emitting light in a narrow wavelength band suitable for curing a dental compound;
a continuous lens layer having at least one curved surface thereon, the layer contacting the substrate to extend in a continuous fashion over all of the light-emitting elements;
a light pipe having a receiving end proximate the light-emitting elements and lens layer to capture emitted light.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/632,260, filed on Aug. 4, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,251 and entitled "Apparatus and Method for Curing Materials with Light Radiation," which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/009,205, filed on Jan. 20, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,134, and issued Mar. 13, 2001, which application and patent are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This application is related to the curing of materials with radiation and, more specifically, to curing dental coating and filling compounds with light.
Curable adhesive compounds and bonding or filling compounds are widely used for structurally connecting object surfaces together or for filling gaps or other openings and cavities in an object surface. Such curable compounds are generally manipulated and positioned in a semi-solid state and are then hardened or cured in position to a more solid state. Such curing or hardening is a chemical process which is promoted and driven by one or more curing conditions or factors. For example, the curing process may be the result of exposure of the semi-solid compound and components thereof to air or from exposure of such a compound and its components to an energy source, such as a heat source.
Other curable adhesive and filling compounds are cured by exposure to radiated energy, such as visible light energy. Such compounds, referred to as light-curable compounds, are manipulated in a semi-solid form into or onto the work surface and radiation, preferably in the form of a visible light beam, is directed at a specific wavelength or band of wavelengths onto the compound. The compound includes light-sensitive chemical components therein which, when exposed to the light at the specific wavelength, promote the hardening of the compound in the desired position on the object surface to bond, fill, or coat the surface.
Specifically, light-curable compounds are widely used in dental procedures. Dentists use light-curable dental compounds for coating and sealing tooth surfaces, filling caries and other cavities in the tooth surface, and securing crowns and various other dental structures to a tooth surface. The dental compounds are generally cured by exposure to visible light in the blue range of the spectrum. Once cured, the dental compound reduces further tooth decay, bonds the dental structure, and/or provides additional structure to a tooth.
For curing light-curable dental compounds, visible blue light, and particularly a blue light beam from a hand-held curing light device, is directed onto a tooth surface containing the desired compound layer. The blue light penetrates into the compound layer on the tooth surface for complete curing. The duration of the exposure to blue light for proper curing of the compound layer depends upon the type and thickness of the compound layer, as well as the power and characteristics of the blue light from the curing light device. For example, a thin tooth surface coating or veneer will require less radiated light power, while thicker, deeper fillings for caries and other cavities will require a greater amount of radiated power.
Light-curable compounds have shown very beneficial results in the dental field. However, existing techniques and dental curing light devices utilized to deliver the blue light to the tooth surface have exhibited various drawbacks. For example, it is known that certain wavelengths of blue light are harmful to human tissue. While attempts are made to direct the light beam only on to the tooth surface, a certain amount of oral tissue exposure to the light is inevitable. Therefore, curing light devices for curing dental compounds must have their output radiation limited to within a suitable wavelength band for patient safety. Furthermore, the light-curable compounds are usually sensitive to light having a specific wavelength, such as a blue light wavelength. Therefore, a dental curing light device must be tuned to emit light at the proper wavelengths for patient safety and proper curing.
As a result, current dental curing light devices require special complicated filtering devices or filters which receive broad spectrum light from a lamp element, such as a halogen lamp bulb, and then filter the light to provide only the light at the desirable blue wavelengths. Because of the wide spectrum of radiation delivered by available lamp elements, including visible light, UV light, and infra-red light, prior art curing techniques and light devices have generally been very inefficient. That is, a large amount of the radiated light power is lost due to filtering. For example, the input power to a conventional halogen bulb may typically be around 80 Watts, whereas the output power of light from the dental light device at the desired blue wavelength, for example 400–500 nanometers, is typically less than one-half of a Watt.
Additionally, the efficiency of the prior art dental curing light devices is further degraded by the power loss due to the angle of incidence of the radiated light upon the filtering element. For example, many prior art curing light devices utilize reflective filters which reflect only the desirable blue light onto the tooth surface and dental compound, but transmit light at the undesirable wavelengths to a light absorbing component where it is dissipated. If the angle of incidence of the light from the halogen bulb varies significantly from the desired angle of incidence for the filtering element surface (e.g., 45�), then a reduced amount of the desirable blue light is reflected to the tooth surface. This further decreases the light power which is available for curing the dental compound. Conversely, a higher amount of the undesirable, non-blue light may be reflected onto the tooth surface, rather than being transmitted through the filtering element to be dissipated.
Another drawback with prior art devices is that they require complicated cooling systems to operate within the proper temperature range. The significant amount of light energy at undesirable wavelengths which is generated by the halogen bulb must be filtered or otherwise captured. The captured energy is then dissipated in the form of heat. Therefore, power absorbing and dissipating elements are required within conventional curing light devices. Thermal shields are often utilized in conjunction with reflective filters to absorb and dissipate the unreflected, unused light energy in the form of heat. The high power output required for the halogen bulb to produce the desired blue light power for curing, creates a significantly, high thermal load on the shields. The shields must then be cooled. Generally, fan elements are used in the dental light device to provide such cooling. The additional cooling elements increase the size of the light device and complicate its design. As will be appreciated, it is desirable to keep the light device as small and maneuverable as possible, since it is used in a patient's mouth.
Additionally, a thermal load is placed on the reflective filter element, and it must also be cooled, such as by heat sinks and fans. The absorption devices and heat dissipating systems not only complicate the operation of the light device, but also make it more expensive to produce, and more subject to operational failure.
Another drawback of prior art dental curing light devices is the limited operational life of the lamp element, such as a halogen bulb. The bulbs frequently burn out and must be replaced. Furthermore, the heat generated inside the light device shortens the effective operational lifespan of the bulb.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to address some of these drawbacks. For example, Japanese Patent Applications No. 6-30275, 6-285508, 7-163863, and 8-194786 disclose various devices using solid state semiconductor elements, such as LEDs, to provide a curing light source in the blue range. However, various of these devices require complicated internal designs for focusing of the curing light. Furthermore, as illustrated in the Figures of those applications, the solid state elements utilized would require a somewhat large housing for generating the intensity of light which is necessary for practical use.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a simple, durable curing light device for hardening or curing light-curable compounds. Particularly, it is an objective to provide such a curing light device for curing dental compounds used for dental fillings and coatings.
It is another objective to provide a curing light which has a compact and simple design which is capable of providing light intensity useful for practical curing applications.
It is still another objective of the present invention to cure compounds with curing light devices utilizing less power and with greater efficiency to reduce the amount of heat energy generated by the device and thus reduce the heat energy which must be dissipated.
It is another objective of the present invention to reduce the operational temperature of a curing light device, thus reducing the need for complicated cooling systems utilized in the prior art.
It is still another objective of the invention to eliminate the necessity of reflective filters and other filter elements within a light device for curing light-curable compounds.
It is still a further objective to provide a blue light device which operates within a small space and is easily manipulated within the mouth of a dental patient.
It is still another objective to increase the effective operational lifespan of the light generating components of a curing light device.
These objectives and various other objectives will become more readily apparent from the Description of the Invention below.
The present invention addresses the above objectives and provides a durable and efficient curing light device to cure light-curable compounds. The invention is particularly useful for curing dental adhesive and filling compounds with blue light. The device is more energy efficient and generates less heat than prior art devices. Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the device provides efficient delivery of blue curing light in a simple, durable design and creates new design possibilities for dental curing light devices.
More specifically, one embodiment of the curing light device of the present invention comprises an array of solid state, light-emitting diode dies, each in the form of a small, non-packaged semi-conductor junction mounted on a ceramic substrate or circuit board. The array of non-packaged LED dies collectively are operable for efficiently emitting narrow-band radiation in a small area. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the LED dies radiate blue light at predominantly a narrow band with a peak wavelength and, most preferably, at a peak blue light wavelength which is suitable for curing dental filling and coating compounds. One desirable blue light wavelength peak for dental applications is approximately 470 nanometers.
The LED dies of the invention are very small and do not have any external plastic packaging. Therefore, a very dense array of die elements is provided by the invention for providing a light beam of practical intensity in a very small space. The dies are surface mounted on a ceramic substrate or circuit board by soldering. The top side of each die is then coupled to the circuit by very thin wires in a microscopic procedure called wire-bonding.
Preferably, the small LED dies, for example 0.3 mm on a side, are arranged on the substrate in a matrix having a circular shape. Preferably, only 0.25 mm2 of substrate space is used for mounting each LED. Generally 200–500 LEDs are used for creating the necessary light power needed for curing available dental compounds. However, a lower number of LEDs may be suitable, and in one embodiment of the invention, 96 LED dies provided suitable power for curing a dental compound.
Since light is radiated generally only at the desired wavelength, the invention eliminates the need for special light filters and reflective elements. Therefore, the invention simplifies the design and operation of the curing light device. Furthermore, the inventive curing light device is more efficient than prior art devices because the power used by the device is predominantly for light at the specific usable blue wavelength rather than for broad spectrum light.
The blue light radiation from the LED array may be captured by a light transmitting device, such as an optical fiber light pipe, and is transmitted and directed through the light pipe and onto the working surface, such as a tooth surface. The light pipe would preferably be a conventional light pipe formed by fusing together a plurality of optical fibers. One embodiment of such a light pipe maintains a uniform diameter along its length. In another embodiment, a focusing light pipe might be utilized which gathers the light from the LED array at one end and transmits the radiation at a smaller or tapered end to further define and concentrate the curing light beam for use on a smaller work surface. The LED dies and light pipe are positioned within a suitably shaped housing which is manually manipulated so that the blue light beam may be directed onto the tooth surface for curing purposes. Alternatively, the array of small dies may be positioned on the tip of a curing device to directly irradiate the dental compound instead of using a light pipe.
A light focusing device, such as an optical lens, may be utilized between the array of LED dies and the light pipe for further focusing and directing the light into the light pipe for more efficient transmission onto the tooth surface. Preferably, the lens is a converging-type lens which focuses the light from the LED array into the small light pipe end. As an alternative to a single large lens, the array of dies may be coated or encapsulated in plastic so that individual micro lenses are formed around each of the dies for focusing the light therefrom.
A DC power supply provides power of up to 50 Watts for driving the LED die array. The array generates some heat, and therefore, is mounted on a simple heat sink, which may be utilized with or without a forced air device, such as a fan, to further dissipate the heat. While some heat is generated, the array of surface-mounted LEDs of the inventive curing light device generates substantially less heat than conventional dental curing lights. Furthermore, the elimination of reflective filtering elements and thermal shields further reduces the heat and thermal stresses which are generated by prior art devices.
In another embodiment of the invention, surface mounted LEDs are utilized. The surface mounted LEDs are larger than the LED dies discussed above, and thus will take up more space in an array. The surface-mounted LEDs are preferably arranged in a circular pattern, similar to the LED dies, for a circular light pattern. The array of LEDs is soldered to an appropriate mounting base, such as a printed circuit board. The surface-mounted LED array preferably utilizes a separate lens for focusing the irradiated light.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Barrel portion 16 supports a light transmitting device, such as a light pipe 22, which is appropriately formed and angled to direct the curing light onto a tooth surface or other work surface. It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the shape of housing 12 may vary. Barrel portion 16 is shown as solid; however, it might also be vented for heat dissipation purposes as discussed further hereinbelow. The light pipe 22 is preferably removably secured in the end of barrel portion 16 by any suitable method as is known in the art. For example, the light pipe 22 might be screwed into and out of the barrel portion 16. The housing body 12 is formed of a suitable light-weight plastic material such as polysulphone.
The DC power supply 20 of device 10 is coupled to a conventional base AC source 15, such as through a cord 13 as is conventional with dental curing light devices. The base AC source 15 is mounted within a base structure (not shown) for the device which includes conventional controls for the light device 10, such as a timer for timing the operational radiation cycle for the device when the trigger switch 18 is engaged.
The narrow wavelength band of radiation or light is generated by an array 30 of conventional light-emitting diodes 32. Preferably, a single wavelength of light is generated, but a narrow wavelength band comprising the single wavelength peak desired would also be suitable. The array 30 creates a field or beam of light 34, a portion of which is captured by a receiving end 35 of the light pipe 22. The light beam 34 is transmitted through light pipe 22 as a more narrow beam 36 and is emitted at a transmission end 37 of the light pipe 22 onto a work surface or tooth surface (not shown).
In one prototype tested during development of the invention, the inventors utilized nine high-intensity, blue light LEDs 32 which had integral lenses therein which produced a 15 degree radiation or viewing angle. Again, suitable LEDs are commercially available from Nichia or Panasonic under Model No. LNG997CKB. The LEDs are considered as blue light LEDs because they generate light at a wavelength of approximately 470 nm, which is blue within the visible light spectrum. Other blue light wavelengths might also be utilized, depending upon the particular curing characteristics of the light-curable compound.
The LEDs 32 of the embodiment in
In testing the prototype shown in
Currently, a number of LED manufacturers, including Panasonic, have made available blue light LEDs which include semiconductor junctions doped with Silicon Carbide to provide a generally narrow band wavelength light output. A plurality or array of such devices was utilized in the test prototype because they have a relatively low individual power rating, as compared to halogen lamp bulbs.
A fan element 42 was utilized in the test prototype shown in
The array 23 was tested and it was determined that a driving current of approximately 50 mA per LED 24 is optimal. At that current, the array produced an output power of approximately 40 mW. Measuring the output, it was found that the transmission percentage, or relative intensity, for the light array at around 470 nm increases as the drive current increases between 30 mA and 60 mA.
While the arrays as illustrated in
In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
The LED dies of the invention are made of light-generating semiconductor material which is not packaged or otherwise covered in plastic. That is, the LED dies of the invention are essentially unpackaged semiconductor junctions for generating the desired light. Therefore, the dies are very small and substantially smaller than conventional LEDs used in the test prototype of
Referring to
Metal tracks (not shown) are formed on the ceramic substrate and the dies 43 are appropriately soldered to the tracks on a bottom side. The top sides of the dies 43, shown in the view of
In the embodiments illustrated in
The dies 43 of the invention provide a very high density array which provides suitable curing power in a small area. As discussed, a very large number of individual dies 43 may be mounted in a small area. Suitable dies for the invention are available from CREE Research, Inc., of Durham, N.C., as Part No. C430-DH85.
Referring to
It should be appreciated that the spacing of the individual LEDs 43 in the array may be varied as necessary depending upon the size of substrate 44, the cooling requirements, and the cooling system available. Furthermore, the number of LEDs utilized and the electrical wiring scheme may also vary from that shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention.
An array of 96 surface-mounted blue LEDs arranged as shown in
To that end, it is anticipated that the number of elements in the array will be determined by the intensity of the individual dies. A number of dies in the range of 200–500 elements might be used. Elements having the shape and dimensions as discussed above would require approximately 1.25 cm2 for approximately 500 LEDs. Arranged in a circular shape, as illustrated in
The invention provides many advantages over the prior art dental compound curing technology. One particular advantage is that the dies 43 are solid state devices which have virtually an unlimited life. Furthermore, the radiation or light output from the dies is not degraded toward the end of the useful life of the devices, as generally occurs with the halogen lamp bulbs used in the prior art. Therefore, even up to ultimate failure of the dies, they will provide suitable radiation for curing purposes. The dies 43 further eliminate the need for specific filtering of the undesired wavelengths of broad-spectrum light which is required with prior art halogen lamp bulbs. The dies 43 preferably provide radiation at a desirable blue light wavelength, for example, 470 nm, or at a desirable blue light band of wavelengths.
Referring again to
Light pipes or light guides 22 may be commercially available and come in a variety of different sizes; for example in diameters of 8 mm, 11 mm and 13 mm. Generally, such light pipes are formed of a plurality of optical fibers (for example, approximately 5,000 fibers) which are fused together into a single light pipe structure. The light transmitted into the receiving end 35 is then transmitted through the light pipe and is directed out the transmission end 37 as a narrow beam of radiation 36. In the embodiment of
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
The use of an array of microlenses 73 will eliminate the need for a larger single lens 70 and thus will produce an even more compact design for the inventive light curing device. Referring to
Therefore, depending on the intensity of the individual dies, the number of dies in the array is minimized in accordance with the principles of the invention. In the embodiment illustrated in
Thus the present invention provides a small, compact and durable curing device for hardening or curing light-curable materials such dental filling and coating compounds. Because light is generated in a narrow wavelength band of the spectrum, and preferably as close to a single blue light wavelength as possible, reflective filters and other filtering elements are not required within the inventive device for filtering and removing unused radiation generated by the traditional lamp bulbs. Therefore, the inventive device significantly reduces the heat generated within the curing device and eliminates the need for complicated cooling systems. Furthermore, the power efficiency of the device is increased because most if not all of the radiation generated is usable for the purposes of curing. The small size of the radiating dies and surface-mounted LEDs, as well as the elimination of filters and complicated heat dissipation mechanisms provides a curing device which may be assembled in a housing substantially smaller than conventionally available. Accordingly, the device would be lighter and easier to manipulate for the operator, such as a dentist. Still further, the useful life of the device is increased because of the solid state nature of the dies and surface-mounted LEDs. Furthermore, there will be no degradation in the radiation output toward the end of the useful life of the elements as generally occurs with halogen lamps. As such, the invention provides a variety of new design possibilities for curing devices, and particularly for dental curing devices.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
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