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Do-it-yourself projects
Ed Lewis (aka Fungus Amungus) has posted a great do-it-yourself project that combines one of the art forms with another of art forms.
He took the hip, urban chic of vinyl toys and gave them the gift of music by fusing speakers into the faces of these Munnny vinyl toys from Kid Robot.
The end result is a design mash-up of sorts, but comes off as a unique way to share your love of very contemporary art and old school corporate pop, like E=MC2 by Mariah Carey.
Listening to it did remind me of the smell of burning hair, or maybe it was just the burning vinyl
Step 1 - Get a Pair of Munnys and Drivers
Step 2 - Trace the circle
Step 3 - Heat im up!
Step 4 - Cut the faces off
Step 5 - Wire it and fill it
Step 6 - Seal it up
Step 7 - Hook it up and enjoy the music!
Source: Do-it-yourself speaker by Ed Lewis Yanko Design
Pull Up a Pencil and Have a Seat
Office furniture used to be so boring and old-fashion, yet designers are incorporating a more modern touch to newer designs. This is a good thing; we all can create a better working environment for ourselves with these newer designs.
One such design created by Boex 3D Creative Solutions is the Pencil Bench. This bench was designed after having a conversation about designing a piece of furniture from a simple office object.
The bench is made from 1600 individual pencils which can also be easily extracted and used. The price for the bench is going for £1200 (2450 USD).
Designer: Boex Studio
Source: Pull Up a Pencil and Have a Seat Yanko Design
Wow great inventions :D.
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Catalogue number: WP1/3/29
Letter from Wallace to his mother about sending beetles to his agent Mr Stevens, future travel plans and his daily routine as a collector, dated May 1854.
Wallace describes his progress collecting in Singapore to his mother. He comments on the missionary with whom he stayed and the excellent opportunities for collecting. 'I am so busy with insects now that I have no time for anything else' he enthuses. Wallace planned to send Mr Stevens, his London agent, 'about a thousand beetles'. The money raised from selling part of this collection would be used to pay for his expeditions.
Wallace goes on to give an interesting taster of what it was like to be a collector in the tropics. A typical day was as follows:
'Get up at half past 5. Bath and coffee. Sit down to arrange and put away my insects of the day before...Breakfast at 8. Out to the jungle at 9.' A steep hill and hot climate meant he and his young assistant Charles would be 'dripping with perspiration'. They worked until two or three, 'generally returning with about 50-60 beetles, some very rare and beautiful. Bathe, change clothes and sit down to kill and pin insects...Dinner at 4. Then work again till six.' After more coffee, they might work until nine and then go to bed. What an exhausting day!
Wallace was not impressed with Charles. He admits to giving him wasps to pin as he did not trust him with his delicate beetles!
For enquiries about the Wallace Collection please email the library
View high resolution scans and transcripts of Alfred Russel Wallace's correspondence, including all surviving letters between him and Charles Darwin.

subset: commoncrawl


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[Video] Paparazzi Almost Gets Handled By Halle Berry's Fiancé Olivier Martinez
We knew the paparazzi was bad, but this is just ridiculous. Especially when a child is involved.
Last night, Halle Berry and her fiancé Olivier Martinez was swarmed by the paparazzi as they arrived at LAX from a vacation in Hawaii. There were literally 15-20 camera guys (maybe even more), that surrounded them as they stepped off the escalator coming out of the terminal and their child was blinded by all of the lights. The scene was intense.
After she realized she had had enough, Halle started hollering, "Get away there's a child, Jesus! What is wrong with you people, there's a child here idiot!" Once Olivier put Nahla in the car, he was ready to put his boxer hands on one of the photographers, but Halle quickly pushed him into the car.
Crazy life they are living!
Watch it all go down below:


text: Flavor HD Previews Their Thanksgiving Extravaganza! Posted 1:43 PM, November 27, 2013, by Stephanie Menendez EmailTwitterFacebookGoogleRedditPinterest × Flavor HD Previews Their Thanksgiving Extravaganza! FLAVOR HD with Hannah and Dane preview their Thanksgiving Extravaganza tomorrow on WGN Radio with guests including Guy Fieri, Melissa d'Arabian and Duff Goldman. http://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bw11272013_flavorhd.mp3 Hannah and Dane


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Dress to impress
Leslie Anne Frazier hits a fashion high note
CORPUS CHRISTI - The craziest fashion item I ever bought was ... a short, skin-tight gold sequin dress. It was drastically marked down. I wore it performing at the South Texas Opry.
I wouldn't be caught dead wearing ... Any University of Texas article of clothing. Seriously.
Three accessories women definitely need are... Cute sunglasses, a large shoulder bag and pearls.
My best fashion steal to date ... I own five BCBG formals, and I never paid more than $100 for a single one.
Most memorable shopping experience ... This summer I went to Greece on a tour with the Century Singers Chorus from Texas A&M. The fashion there is so top of the line. We were able to wander the streets lined with small boutiques.
My favorite piece of jewelry ... My grandmother's pearls that I received on my 18th birthday.
I have an impressive collection of ... Dresses. I have dresses from all over the world, including Greece, Japan, Hawaii, New York and Cozumel.
When I shop for clothes ... I follow my mother's advice, "Don't buy it unless you love it," and "Everything eventually goes on sale."
I can't live without my ... Giant purses.
My prized possession is ... My handmade kimono that was given to me by my host mother, Kato-san, when I was a Sister City Goodwill Ambassador to Yokosuka, Japan.
I can never own too many ... Dresses. I always purchase dresses because I wear them so much performing.
I love shopping with ... Mom and three little sisters! My poor father ...
For her own mental health, stay-at-home mom and freelancer Sarah Tindall keeps up with the fashion world. To nominate someone for Closet Snoop, contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com
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Justin Bieber is on vacation in Barbados. While not flexing his baby abs for the paparazzi, Bieber was taking careful notes for his upcoming science project on the phenomenon known as "shrinkage." He would like everyone gawking to know that "He was in the pool!"
Click through the gallery if you are under 18. Over 18s, stop being so creepy!
And if you don't know what shrinkage is, let's relive this passage from a classic Seinfeld (redundant):
Jerry: Do women know about shrinkage?
Elaine: What do you mean, like laundry?
Jerry: No, like when a man goes swimming… afterwards….
Elaine: It shrinks?
Jerry: Like a frightened turtle!
Elaine: Why does it shrink?
George: It just does.
Elaine: I don't know how you guys walk around with those things.
[Photos via Splash News Online]


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6U FPGA card with trio of Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGAs touts desirable processing density and I/O flexibility
Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions has announced its CHAMP-FX4 COTS 6U FPGA engine. This rugged, high-performance OpenVPX (VITA 65) board is said to be the industry's first COTS 6U FPGA engine to feature triple on-board Xilinx Virtex-7 devices in a single chassis slot. The CHAMP-FX4 is asserted to deliver 50 to 100 percent superior bandwidth compared to previous generations of 6U FPGA offerings. The board's processing throughput is rated at >100 GB/s for both memory bandwidth and backplane I/O bandwidth. The new board is designed to speed and simplify the integration of high performance FPGA processing for demanding applications such as radar processing, signal intelligence (SIGINT), ISR, image processing, network processing and electronic warfare (EW). It is appropriate for use in C4ISR platforms such as digital beam formers, digital receivers, and radar processors deployed in airborne, ground and base station military environments.
Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions, www.cwcdefense.com


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Employment: Hiring Officials & Supervisors
SPA Recruitment
(Please note: this is not the site to apply for jobs at UNCW)
Training Guides for SPA Recruitment:
Navigation Guide for PeopleAdmin 7: Learn about Inbox, Watch Lists, and features of PeopleAdmin 7.
Quick Steps - Position Management: Use this quick step guide to navigate through modifying, creating, and cloning position descriptions.
Quick Steps - Managing Applicants: Use this quick step guide to learn how to manage the application process.
EPA & Faculty Recruitment Guidelines
Check List & Quick Guide to EPA/Faculty Recruitment
For information on sponsoring a foreign national for a visa or permanent residency, visit the Office of International Program's Website. For information on taxation and payroll for foreign nationals, visit the Payroll Office's Website.
Related FormsHR 3.30 - Position Action Request
This form must be used to establish an EPA or SPA position or to request the reclassification review of an existing SPA position. It should also be used if any of the following position changes are being requested:
- Change funding of a position to facilitate a new hire
- Transfer of an existing position
- Status/FTE change
- Abolish a position
- In-range salary adjustment/retention salary adjustment
- Change from 9 month faculty position to 12 month EPA position
- Change from 12 month EPA position to 9 month faculty position
SRCI (Flex) Budget Revision
SRCI (Flex) budget revisions are required when general funds need to be moved between different purpose codes and/or if a salary or benefit line needs revision.
HR 3.35 - EPA Permanent Personnel Assignment
Performance Evaluations and Work Plans
For questions on the evaluation forms, please contact Olivia Cunningham at 962-2496 or go here.


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Martin to become a Tar Heel
Thomas Jefferson quarterback and 2012 Rutherford County Player of the Year McKinnon "Mac" Martin pulled a signing day surprise as he chose to accept preferred walk-on status and play wide receiver for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Martin had planned to accept an offer to play quarterback from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, but decided to take a chance in Chapel Hill instead. Martin declined Washington and Lee's offer late Monday but did not decide to play football at UNC until signing day.
"I was just going to go to Carolina and not play football," said Martin. "The chance to play was a surprise and I am very excited."
"Calling the W&L coach to tell him I wasn't coming was the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Martin continued. "He is such a great guy and I love that team, but I just couldn't pass on a chance to play for Carolina. Not many people get to live a dream and I had to take a chance. If I didn't, I would have always wondered if I could have played at that level."
Martin will enter Chapel Hill this summer as a "grey shirt", which means he will participate in workouts and practices, but cannot see game action until the 2014 season. He can, however, earn a scholarship beginning in the spring semester.
Martin is well aware that there are no guarantees in big time FBS football and that he would have received more playing time elsewhere.
"I could probably have seen a lot of playing time as a freshman if I had gone somewhere else, but this was more than just a football decision," he said. "In fact, I would say academics was a major factor because if football doesn't work out, I'll have a great education and that's the most important thing."
The chance to play football at UNC came about quickly as Martin was not even aware that he had athletic opportunities for the Tar Heels until last week.
"I did not have my official visit until a week ago and I fell in love with the campus," he said. "I met with the coaches and they explained this opportunity and were very honest with me. I was very grateful for that because I know it's going to take a lot of hard work and I'm ready for that challenge. If football doesn't work out, I have the advantage of coming from a school like Thomas Jefferson that stresses education, so I feel I can be successful no matter what happens."
Even so, Martin is hopeful he can find success on the gridiron and in the classroom.
"My goal is to eventually be a starter at either wide receiver or on special teams," he said. "I understand it won't be easy and that it will take a lot of work. I know there are a lot of people that are better players than I am, but I'm going to give it my best."
Martin is no stranger to playing wide receiver as he lined up at that position during his freshman and sophomore season for TJCA. During that span, Martin reeled in 21 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown. Ironically, it is Martin's experience on defense that gives him the most confidence.
"When you play safety, you are basically a wide receiver on defense anyway," he said. "You learn to read throws and patterns which I think will really help and I'm thankful for that experience."
Coach Jerry Cash also believes Martin can make the transition to receiver.
"Mac has great hands and great speed and that is exactly what you need to play wide receiver," said Cash. "He is going to have to work extremely hard at somewhere like Carolina, but I know he can find success."
Whether that success comes on the football field remains to be seen, but for now Martin is just thrilled to be a Tar Heel. "I just so happy right now about getting the chance to play football," he said. "Whether that turns into a four year career, I don't know, but I'm going to make the most of this opportunity."
In other signing day news, Martin's teammate Nathaniel Devon accepted a walk-on position at Mars Hill College.


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Detroit and Lafayette Coney Island has the best coney hot dogs in the world (so say Detroiters). The chili, mustard and onion topped super fast treat is a Detroit staple that simply can't be argued with. Whether occasional delights on the way to a Red Wings, Tigers', Lions' game or daily food, the experience is pure Detroit. The classic style of the small downton space recants the Motor City glory days, the customers joke with the Yemeni cooks and the waiters do magic tricks... Mind you it's hot!
Image & Editing: Nora Mandray, assisted by Kendall Waterman
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June 9, 2008
The Grand
Reviewer: Jeffrey M. Anderson
Rating (out of 5): **½
Mockumentaries must be fun to make, especially with an ensemble cast of capable comedians. You can practically set the actors loose and just film willy-nilly. But the trouble with most mockumentaries is that filmmakers tend to rely too heavily on plots, arcs, climaxes and resolutions. Consider the granddaddy of them all, This Is Spinal Tap (1984), which is just a series of events, one after the next, without much connecting them. It's the story of a rock tour, and it doesn't lead up to the big final show, or any other big final event. It's about everything that happens along the way, and the ending is almost insignificant.
The Grand, about a Las Vegas poker championship, starts promisingly by introducing us to its impressive and diverse cast, including Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), David Cross (Mr Show), Dennis Farina, Richard Kind, Chris Parnell and filmmaker Werner Herzog as the main card players; and Michael McKean (lending some Spinal Tap cred), Shannon Elizabeth, Mike Epps, Judy Greer, Hank Azaria, Gabe Kaplan, Ray Romano and many others appearing on the sidelines. Each character gets an instant personality, and each is ridiculous and endearing. Jack Faro (Harrelson) is trying to run his grandfather's casino, but keeps screwing it up due to drug and alcohol problems; he's been married some 70+ times and has even been thrown out of his own casino. The German (Herzog) likes to kill something -- often a small animal, but not always -- each and every day to make himself feel more alive. (He compares it to drinking coffee.) The mockumentary style works well, both ridiculing and copying the television spectacle that poker has become.
But when the big card game begins, and -- inevitably -- our seven big stars make it to the final round, the comedy stops and the competition begins. It becomes yet another Rocky-type standoff with strategy meeting adrenaline and victory as the ultimate goal. That's fine, if you're going to make that kind of movie, but writer/director Zak Penn (who also had Herzog in his previous mockumentary, Incident at Loch Ness) wastes a lot of comedy potential here. During his day job, Penn is the very successful screenwriter of mainly superhero movies, including one good one (X2: X-Men United) and several bad ones (Inspector Gadget, Behind Enemy Lines, Suspect Zero, Elektra, X-Men: The Last Stand). Obviously his routine kicked in halfway through filming The Grand and he decided that sticking to the formula was more important than letting something organic or crazy happen. Moreover, rather than informing an intelligent audience all about the rules and intricacies of "Texas Hold 'Em" (as did Curtis Hanson's unfairly reviled Lucky You), Penn merely holds our hands and guides us through each play, through the use of TV announcers, as if we were too dim to understand.
However, the film's first 20 minutes -- when the story is still wide open -- contain some wonderful, hilarious moments, which is perhaps enough to squeeze into a movie trailer. Maybe it's better to just watch that instead.
Anchor Bay released the DVD after a brief theatrical run. It's fairly well-packed, with commentaries, alternate endings, deleted scenes, player profiles and other goodies.
Posted by cphillips at June 9, 2008 2:23 PM


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A system for automatically detecting dust or other minute particles on a large-area, optically unpolished surface such as a face of a glass reticle plate used in the production of microelectronic circuits. The system irradiates the surface with a narrow, high intensity beam of monochromatic radiation at a grazing angle, typically 1/2 degree with respect to the surface. An oscillating mirror scans the beam across the moving surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of plate advance. A beam splitter provides separate inspecting beams for each surface of the plate. Optical systems characterized by a high numerical aperture are positioned on opposite sides of the plate to collect radiation which is scattered from the particles. The optical systems are oriented to accept scattered radiation, and typically have their optical axes at an angle in the range of 60° to 160° measured from the direction of advance. They each utilize a multiplet of cylindrical lenses characterized by excellent resolution and a large numerical aperture, preferably in the range of 0.15 to 0.20. A fiber optic concentrator transmits the scattered radiation from the image plane of the lenses to a detector which generates an electrical signal proportional to the size of the particle. In the preferred form, a comparator circuit with an adjustable threshold level generates a digital signal only when the size of the particle exceeds a predetermined value. Also, the oscillation of the scanning mirror and the advance of the plate provide a timing reference for the particle detection signal to locate the particle on the plate.
1. A system for detecting the presence of microscopic particulate matter on a generally flat, large area and optically unpolished surface with randomly oriented surface irregularities, said surface advancing in a first direction that is generally coplanar with the surface, comprising,
means for generating a narrow beam of high intensity monochromatic radiation,
means for directing the radiation onto said surface at a highly acute angle measured from said surface, said radiation being scattered by said particulate matter and said optically unpolished surface, said surface scattered radiation having a random orientation with respect to said radiation generating means and a frequency spectrum similar to the frequency spectrum generated by said radiation scattered by said particulate matter to thereby create a background noise,
optical means angularly oriented with respect to said surface to collect radiation from said beam that is scattered by said particulate matter and from said optically unpolished surface, said optical means having high resolution in the field of view on said surface and a large numerical aperture,
said particle scattered radiation received by said optical means being generally proportional to the size of said particulate matter,
electronic means operatively coupled to said optical means for converting said particulate matter scattered radiation into an analog electrical signal whose amplitude corresponds to the intensity of said collected radiation, and
electronic means for filtering out from said signal noise due to scattering of said radiation from said surface.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for scanning said beam laterally across said field of view in a direction generally transverse to said first direction.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said optical means includes a multiplet of cylindrical lenses with their longitudinal axes generally aligned with said scanning direction.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said eletronic means for inverting comprises a photomultiplier tube.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said optical means further includes a fiber optic light guide that transmits light from the image plane of said lenses to said photomultiplier tube.
6. The system of claim 2 further comprising means for coordinating said scanning means and said electronic means for converting to determine the location of said particulate matter on said surface.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said means for coordinating includes electronic means for interpreting an increased intensity of the scattered radiation from an edge of the surface in a single scan as the leading or trailing edge of the surface.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic means for filtering comprises means for converting said analog signal into a digital signal.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein said analog-to-digital converting means comprises a comparator.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical means can resolve particulate matter in said field of view having a diameter in the range of 1 to 5 micrometers and said optical means has a numerical aperture in the range of 0.15 to 0.20.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said said optical means is angled to collect radiation emanating in the directions of from 60° to 160° measured from said first direction.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein said highly acute angle is approximately 1/2 degree.
13. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for splitting said radiation beam into two separate scanning beams which are each directed at opposite sides of said surface at said highly acute angle.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said narrow beam of high intensity monochromatic radiation is polarized to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of said particle scattered radiation to said surface scattered radiation.
15. A system for automatically detecting very small particles of at least a predetermined size on either of two generally parallel faces of a reticle that is advancing in a first direction that is generally coplanar with the faces comprising:
a laser light source that generates a narrow beam of high intensity monochromatic light having a small angular divergence,
means for splitting said beam into two beams of generally equal intensity,
means for directing each of said split beams onto a scanning region of an associated one of said faces at a highly acute angle measured from said faces,
means for scanning each of said split beams laterally across said scanning region in a direction generally transverse to said first direction, and
optical means angularly oriented with respect to said faces to collect light from said split beams that is scattered from said particles lying in a field of view within said scanning regions, said optical means having high resolution for said fields of view and a large numerical aperture,
said particle scattered light received by said optical means being generally proportional to the size of said particulate matter.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the angular orientation of said optical means is in the range of 60° to 160° measured from said first direction.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein said numerical aperture is in the range of 0.15 to 0.20 and said optical means can resolve adjacent particles in said fields of view having a diameter in the range of 1 to 5 micrometers.
18. The system of claim 15 further comprising means operatively coupled to said optical means for converting said particulate matter scattered light into an electrical signal whose amplitude corresponds to the intensity of said collected light.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said converting means comprises a photomultiplier tube.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said optical means includes a multiplet of cylindrical lenses with their longitudinal axes generally aligned with said scanning direction.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein said optical means further includes a fiber optic light guide that transmits light from the image plane of said lenses to said photomultiplier.
22. The system of claim 18 further comprising electronic comparator means responsive to said electrical signal.
23. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for coordinating said scanning means and said converting means to locate said particulate matter on said surface.
24. The system of claim 15 wherein said light is polarized.
25. The system of claim 15 wherein said optical means includes means for detecting scattered radiation having a predetermined polarization.
26. The system of claim 15 wherein said optical means has a large field of view in said scanning direction.
27. The system of claim 15 wherein said narrow beam of high intensity monochromatic light is polarized to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of said particle scattered light to light scattered from said reticle.
This invention relates in general to electro-optical scanning systems. More specifically, it relates to a system which uses scattered laser radiation to detect, measure and locate minute dust particles on the surfaces of a reticle plate.
In the manufacture of microelectronic circuits by photolithography, the lay-out of a circuit is frequently first reduced to a physical form as a pattern of dark areas on a photolithographic mask, commonly termed a reticle. The reticle is placed on the stage of a radiation projector to produce an exposure, usually of reduced size, on a wafer which in turn produces a layer of the circuit. It is extremely important that the reticle be free of dust or other particulate matter on both of its surfaces since the dust will be projected as a dark area in the printing of the wafer. The presence of dust on the reticle will often result in an electrical connection or other circuit modification which causes the microelectronic circuit to malfunction. The error will normally not be detected until after a set of wafer chips have been produced. These circuits must be discarded. The economical production of high quality microelectronic circuits is therefore directly related to the ability to detect and eliminate minute dust particles which may be present on the reticle just before it is seated on the optical stage of the projector.
Previously reticles were inspected for dust prior to replacement in the projector by manual inspection in the open air. This procedure has numerous drawbacks. First, a relatively high level of experience and concentration is required of the person inspecting the reticle. Manual inspection is particularly difficult for extremely minute dust particles, for example those having a diameter of approximately 1 to 5 micrometers. Second, if the visual inspection does detect a dust particle, it is difficult to accurately determine its location to remove the particle. Third, because the inspection is performed in an uncontrolled, open-air environment, the reticle can acquire a dust particle after it has been inspected.
Most applications of radiation scattering to the detection or measurement of particles involve the use of forward scattered light from particles suspended in a fluid. However, in a few instances light scattering techniques have been used to examine solid surfaces. For example, J. F. Ready in Industrial Applications of Lasers at pp. 331-333 describes several systems for surface inspection using laser light and photodetectors. One system detects the presence of gold nodules on a ceramic surface using light scattered from the nodules. U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,306 describes another system where light is scattered from particles immersed in a thin liquid layer covering the surface. The inspection of a glass surface for the presence of extremely small particles such as dust, however, presents unique problems which are not addressed by these prior art systems. One significant difference is that the surface of the glass reticle is itself comparatively rough and therefore scatters light. This glass induced scattering presents a general background noise which can easily overwhelm the scattering induced by a small dust particle. Another distinction is that dust particles can be extremely small, for example 1 to 5 micrometers in diameter. No known inspection systems utilizing radiation scattering are able to detect particles of this size in a high noise environment.
Another problem unique to the inspection of reticles for dust particles is that it is highly desirable to have a system which is insensitive to particles with dimensions less than some predetermined value. No known system provides a measurement of the particle size, particularly one sensitive enough to distinguish between extremely small particles varying in size by only one or two micrometers. The detection of dust on a reticle is also complicated because the intensity of the scattered radiation varies as a function of both the scattering angle and the particle size so that there is no particular angle which is reliably associated with a maximum or minimum degree of scattering.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a system for automatically detecting minute particles such as dust on a large-area, flat, and optically unpolished surface, such as a glass reticle plate, with a high degree of reliability.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a system which can be adjusted to detect only particles of at least a predetermined size.
A further object of the invention is to provide a dust particle detection system with the foregoing advantages that also is capable of identifying the location of a detected dust particle on the plate.
Another object is to provide a system with the foregoing advantages that can simultaneously examine both faces of a plate.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dust particle detection system with the foregoing advantages which can perform an inspection of a reticle plate immediately before it is seated on the optical stage of a projector.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a system with the foregoing advantages that can be used in a controlled atmosphere to reduce the likelihood of contamination of the plate following the inspection.
An automatic system for detecting microscopic particles such as dust on a generally large-area, flat, optically unpolished surface such as a face of a reticle plate includes a laser and associated optical elements that direct a high intensity, narrow beam of radiation onto the surface under investigation at an extremely acute angle, preferably a grazing angle of approximately 1/2 degree, measured from the surface. The plate is advanced in a "longitudinal" direction coplanar with the plate surface under investigation. In the preferred form an oscillating mirror or an equivalent structure scans the irradiating beam across the plate in a direction generally transverse to the direction of advance. The optical elements directing the beam from the laser to the plate preferably include a beam splitter which divides the beam into two beams of substantially equal intensity that irradiate opposite faces of the plate.
An optical system collects scattered radiation from dust particles located on each face of the plate. In the preferred form, the optical system is a multiplet of cylindrical lenses with their optical axis disposed at an angular orientation in the range of 60° to 160° measured from the direction of advance. The lens system is characterized by a large numerical aperture, preferably in the range of 0.15 to 0.20, and a high degree of resolution at the face of the reticle, in order to minimize the surface scattering background signal associated with a large field of view. In other terms, the lens system accepts a cone of scattered radiation generated at a particle with a conical half angle of approximately 10° (for focused rays). The grazing angle of incidence of the beam together with this optical collecting system yield a good signal-to-noise ratio.
The longitudinally axes of the cylindrical lenses are aligned with a generally rectangular field of view on the plate. The cylindrical lenses focus the scattered radiation on a fiber optic concentrator formed by a bundle of optical fibers. The light receiving ends of the fibers are arranged in a generally rectangular "line" configuration at the image plane of the cylindrical lens system. The fibers are preferably randomly oriented. Their output ends are closely packed in a "spot" pattern that directs the collected radiation to a detector. The detector generates an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the radiation incident on it from the fiber optic concentrator. Enhanced scattering due to the presence of a dust particle on the plate surface results in an increase in the intensity of the scattered radiation, and hence an increase in the amplitude of the electrical signal produced by the detector. The signal is approximately proportional to the cross-sectional area of the dust particle inducing the scattering. Also in preferred form the system includes electronic sensing circuitry which responds only to electrical signals from the detector of at least a predetermined value thereby providing automatic discrimination in the size of the dust particles to which the system will respond. The circuitry can also correlate the advance of the plate and the beam scan with the output signal of the detector to locate a detected particle on the plate.
These and other features and objects of this invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which should be read in light of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a simplified view in side elevation of an automatic dust detection system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the detection system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the detection system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 including the associated electronic circuitry;
FIG. 4 is a detail view in side elevation of the cylindrical lens triplet shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and used to collect particle scattered light;
FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation of the first element of the triplet shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fiber optic light concentrator assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 7 is a view of the light concentrator shown in FIG. 6 taken along the line 7--7;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the drive circuit for the scanning mirror shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 9 is block diagram of the circuit that processes the signal from one of the photomultiplier tubes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a high voltage supply for the tube;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the circuit for comparing the output signal of one of the photomultiplier tubes to a predetermined signal values corresponding to a known particle sizes; and
FIG. 11 is a graph of the intensity of light scattered from a particle as a function of the scattering angle.
FIGS. 1-3 show a system 12 according to the present invention for automatically detecting minute particles such as dust resting on a relatively large-area, flat surface. The system is particularly useful in inspecting a glass photographic plate 14, commonly termed a reticle, used in the production of microelectronic circuits. The reticle carries a pattern of dark areas formed by a thin (e.g. 0.6 micrometer) layer of chrome deposited on one of its faces. Typical dimensions for a reticle are 127 mm×127 mm×2.29 mm. The projection image area of this reticle, which includes the chrome pattern, is approximately 105 mm square. An important feature of the reticle is that the glass face themselves as well as the dark chrome pattern will scatter light.
The detection system 12 includes an air plate 16 with a channel or track 18 formed in its upper surface. The track 18 guides the reticle 14 through the detection system and onto the optical stage of a step-and-repeat projector (not shown) where the reticle is used to expose a wafer. Air nozzles (not shown) mounted in the plate 16 provide both an air bearing and propulsion for the reticle as it moves through the channel 18. The velocity of the reticle advance is substantially constant. An arrow 20 indicates the direction of advance of the reticle from the track 18 onto the optical stage. A significant advantage of the present invention is that the reticle is inspected for the presence of dust particles at a point very near the center of the optical stage, a representative value being six inches.
Each face of the reticle is irradiated over a generally rectangular scanning region by a narrow, high intensity beam 24 of monochromatic radiation. This beam is preferably generated by a laser 22 and can have a wavelength of, for example, 630 nm (visible light). The beam is characterized by a small angular divergence, and preferably has a width at the scanning region 19 of approximately 0.5 mm or less measured between the half maxima of the beam intensity profile. The high intensity of the beam is important to provide a good signal to noise ratio when it is scattered from a dust particle located on an upper face 14a or lower face 14b of the reticle 14. A recommended value for the beam intensity is 0.1 W/mm2.
Optical elements which direct the beam 24 from the laser 22 to the reticle scanning region including a first folding mirror 26, a second folding mirror 28, an optical scanner 30 including an oscillating scanning mirror 30a, a beam splitter 32, a third folding mirror 34, and a double reflecting prism 36. The mirror 26 directs the beam from an upward direction as it exits the laser to a horizontal orientation toward the second mirror 28 which in turn reflects the beam horizontally onto the scanning mirror 30a of the optical scanner 30. The scanning mirror 30a is inclined at a 45° angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the beam path determined by the mirrors 26 and 28 to direct the beam upwardly to the beam splitter 32. The scanner mirror oscillates in a manner which scans the beam in a fan-like manner as is best seen in FIG. 2. The beam splitter 32 is preferably a conventional cubic splitter that divides the incident beam into an upper scanning beam 24a and a lower scanning beam 24b of substantially equal intensity. The beam 24 a proceeds upwardly through an aperture in the plate 16 to the third folding mirror 34 which directs the beam onto the upper face 14a of the reticle. The lower beam 24b, reflected by the beam splitter 32, proceeds along a substantially horizontal path to the prism 36 where it is internally reflected twice at faces 36a and 36b emerging from the prism 36 onto the lower face 14b of the reticle.
While these beam optics (denoted generally in FIG. 3 by reference numeral 25) can vary widely as to their constituent elements and the beam geometry, a principal feature of this invention is that the narrow, high intensity scanning beams 24a and 24b each strike the faces of the reticle at an extremely small angle measured from the surface under inspection. This inspection angle has been found to be extremely important in providing a good signal to noise ratio in the detection of small particles in a high noise background. More specifically, the system 12 is designed to detect dust particles having a diameter as small as 1 to 5 micrometers. In prior art scanning systems where the interrogating light is directed onto the surface at a much larger angle of incidence, the noise level generated by light scattered from the surface itself would overwhelm the signal generated by the light scattered from small dust particles resting on the surface.
The optical scanner 30, which can be the unit sold by General Scanning, Inc. under the trade designation Model No. G115, has a mirror 30a which oscillates at a frequency of approximately 50 Hz. The amplitude of the oscillation is sufficient to scan the beam laterally in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of advance 20 of the reticle over the projection image area which will be photolithographically reproduced. For a typical 127 mm square reticle, the beam therefore scans laterally over the reticle for a distance of approximately 105 mm. Because of the grazing angle of inspection of the beam, the beam irradiates a face area of the reticle extending longitudinally (in the direction 20) for approximately two inches with the precise length depending on the inspection angle and the beam width. This irradiated area is the scanning region of the faces 14a and 14b.
The beam splitter 32 is spaced from the lower face of the plate 16 so that the lower split beam 24b reflected from the beam splitter to the prism 36 avoids air bearing components (not shown) located under the plate. The prism 36 provides a "dog leg" in the beam path that elevates the beam 24b so that it is horizontal and directed onto the reticle face 14b at the aforementioned grazing angle. It should also be noted that because the beam is fanned by the scanner mirror before it enters the splitter 32, both the upper and lower split beams 24a and 24b are scanned laterally across the reticle.
A pair of electro-optical light collecting assemblies 38, 38 are arranged symmetrically about the scanning regions on opposite sides of the reticle 14. Each assembly 38 includes an optical light collecting and relay system, preferably a multiplet of cylindrical lenses 40, which have excellent resolution in the scanning regions and a large numerical aperture. In the preferred form shown, each multiplet 40 is a triplet as shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Preferably the lens system 40 is capable of resolving narrow fields of view 19, 19 lying in the scanning regions of the faces 14a and 14b. The fields of view 19, 19 each extend laterally over the projection image area on the reticle surface (typically 105 mm) and longitudinally for approximately 0.5 mm. This lens system collects and relays scattered light from a detecting region 19, 19 to a generally rectangular image plane. Fiber optic concentrator assemblies 42, 42 each transmit the collected light from the image plane to a photomultiplier tube 44.
Another significant feature of this invention is that the lens systems 40, 40 have their principal optical axes aligned with respect to the associated field of view 19 at an angle that enhances the signal-to-noise ratio. The systems 38, 38 preferably collect light scattered at an angle θ with respect to the forward direction of motion of the reticle having a value in the range of 60° to 160°. More specifically, it has been found that a collecting angle of about 120°, as shown, significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio for minute dust particles scattered from the glass reticle surface.
Another principal feature of the invention is that each cylindrical lens triplet 40 is characterized by a large numerical aperture, preferably one in the range of 0.15 to 0.20. Stated in other terms, the cylindrical lens systems 40, 40 when viewed from a particle in one field of view 19 subtend a conical half angle of approximately 10° for focused rays. This large numerical aperture is important to integrate the light collection over a fairly large annular domain in the object space. The importance of this large numerical aperture is best understood with reference to FIG. 11 which gives a typical graph of scattered light intensity from two small particles as a function of the scattering angle θ where 0° represents completely forward scattered light and 180° represents completely back scattered light. Graph 11a demonstrates a typically intensity pattern for a comparatively large particle. Graph 11b shows a comparable pattern for light scattered from a substantially smaller particle. In general, with smaller particles the variation of the intensity with the angle has a lower frequency and a smaller amplitude. But in either case, if a system collects light at only one scattering angle, the detection angle may coincide with a minimum of the intensity pattern and therefore the particle may avoid detection. However, if the scattered light is collected over a range of angles, then fluctuations in the intensity due to variations of the scattering angle are averaged out. It is also important that the lenses 40 collect light from an exceptionally large (105 mm wide) field of view, even though the "instantaneous" field of view illuminated by the narrow beam at any moment in time is significantly smaller. This large field of view is provided in part by the use of cylindrical lenses.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, each cylindrical lens triplet 40 includes a first lens element 40a, a second lens element 40b, and a third lens element 40c with an aperture stop 46 located between the first and second elements. Each of the lenses 40a, 40b, and 40c, is cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis which preferably extends at least the width of the field of view 19 and preferably extends beyond both the lateral ends of the associated field of view 19 a sufficient distance to subtend a conical half angle of 10° when viewed from a point at the edge of the reticle image area. By way of illustration but not of limitation, the lens elements 40a, 40b, and 40c are preferably formed of glass having an index of refraction of approximately 2.44. Each lens element has a length, measured along its longitudinal axis, of approximately 135 mm and a height of approximately 10 mm. The first lens 40a is a converging element with a planar first surface and a second surface with the radius of curvature of 8.91 mm. The lens 40b, also converging, is spaced from the element 40a by 1 mm. The lens 40b has a convexly curved first surface with a radius of curvature of approximately 8.91 mm and a planar second surface. The lens 40c is a diverging element having a concave first surface with a radius of curvature of 14.21 mm and a planar second surface. The perpheries of the second and third elements are in contact. The first surface of the lens 40a is disposed approximately 13 mm from the field of view 19. Each of the lenses 40a, 40b, and 40c have a maximum thickness measured along the principal optical axis of approximately 3.5 mm. The lens system 40 has an image plane located approximately 9.15 mm behond the second surface of the lens 40c.
Each fiber optic concentrator assembly 42 includes a generally fan shaped housing 48 which encloses a mass of fine optical fibers 50 each having a first end 50a (as best seen in FIG. 7) lying in the image plane of the cylindrical lens triplet 40 and adapted to receive the scattered light collected by the lens. Each of the fibers 50 are clad to efficiently transmit the light collected at its end 50a to an output end 50b. The fiber ends 50a are generally arrayed along a line extending the length of the cylindrical lens triplet and extending vertically for a sufficient distance to collect and transmit along the fibers 50 substantially all of the light incident upon the associated lens system 40. In the preferred form, the fibers have a diameter of approximately 0.05 mm and are stacked approximately 10 deep at their input ends 50a (see detail in FIG. 7). The fibers are preferably randomly oriented and grouped into four or five bundles before they are secured into a tightly packed, "spot" light emitting configuration which irradiates the cathode of the photomultiplier tube 44. Adjacent fibers ends 50a or 50b are generally parallel and square with respect to the axis of the fiber. The assembly 42 provides an efficient device for a "line to spot" transformation of the light output of the associated lens system 40.
Referring to FIG. 3, the detection system 12 also includes various electronic components such as a scanner drive circuit 51, an analog signal processing circuit 52, and signal comparator circuit 54. The circuit 51 generates an output signal which drives the scanner 30 at the desired frequency and amplitude of oscillation. The circuit 51 also generates a logic signal output 72. A microcomputer 98 uses this logic signal to yield the location of the scanner mirror, and hence the lateral position of the scanning beam, as a function of time. Each photomultiplier 44 converts the light incident upon it from the output ends 50b of the light concentrator assembly into an analog electrical signal which is substantially proportional to the intensity of the light. The analog signal processing circuit 52 converts this analog signal from the photomultiplier into a voltage signal suitable for evaluation by the signal comparator circuit 54.
The comparator circuit 54 has at least one and preferably four adjustable and predetermined voltage levels each of which corresponds to a given particle size. Depending on whether or not the signal exceeds a predetermined level, the signal comparator produces a digital signal output which indicates the presence or absence of a particle of that size. This digital signal can be applied to any of a variety of signalling devices, but preferably is applied to the minicomputer 98 which, in addition to controlling a suitable signalling device, also correlates the presence of a particle with the logic output of the circuit 51 to determine the lateral position of the particle on the reticle. Information concerning the longitudinal position of a detected particle is determined from signals generated by the leading and trailing edges of the reticle as it passes through the detection system. More specifically, these edges generate extremely large degrees of back scattered light which the system 12 interprets as an extremely large number of particles present in a single scan. This "many particles" situation is interpreted by the computer as one of the edges. Since the reticle is advancing at a constant speed, and the time its leading and trailing edges pass under the detection system are known, the longitudinal position of a particle is readily calculated.
FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of the electronic circuit 51 for the scanner drive. A Schmitt trigger circuit 56 generates a square wave output signal 58. A width adjustment circuit 60 allows adjustment of the duration of the pulse outputs of the Schmitt trigger 56. The output signal 58 is applied to an integrator 62 which produces an output signal 64 with a sawtooth waveform. This signal is then applied to a driver 66 which is essentially a power amplifier that increases the strength of the signal. The output of the driver is applied over line 68 to the scanner 30. The lateral sweep width is thus controlled by the width adjustment 60 and may be displaced by an offset adjustment 57. A disable signal circuit 70 provides an electronic on/off control for the driver 66. This allows a convenient method for stopping the scanner 30. This is desirable for example, when the reticle reaches the optical projection stage since vibrations generated by the scanner motor may interfere with the lithographic processes.
The logic signal output 72 turns "true" (0V) when the lateral sweep of the beam first enters the projection image area and turns "false" (+5 V) when the beam first leaves the image area. This logic signal is generated by passing the scanner signal 68 through a DC blocking stage 74 and a zero axis comparator 76. Whenever the scanner signal is greater than zero volts, the comparator 76 generates a "true" logic signal. The logic signal 72 transition from "false" to "true" is set to coincide with the lateral sweep of the beam first entering the image area by aligning an offset adjustment 78.
FIG. 9 shows in more detail the analog signal processing circuit 52 associated with one of the light collecting assemblies 38. The circuit 52 therefore has two independent circuits of the type shown in FIG. 9, each associated with one of the assemblies 38. The output signal of the photomultiplier tube 44 is applied to a charge-to-voltage converter and low pass filter network 80. The low pass filter eliminates very high frequency noise from the output voltage signal of the photomultiplier. The output signal of the network 80 is then applied to a band pass filter 82 which filters out all signals that do not fall within a predetermined range of signal pulse widths. The output of the band pass filter 82 is then applied to an amplifier 84 with a gain control 85. The signal processing electronics also includes a high voltage adjustment 86 and a voltage regulator 88 which controls the input voltage to the high voltage supply for the associated photomultiplier tube.
FIG. 10 shows in more detail one half of the signal comparator circuit 54 associated with one of the detector assemblies 38. The output signal of the amplifier 84 is applied to a DC blocking stage 90 and a low offset buffer 92 which prevents the output voltage from becoming sufficiently negative to adversely affect the performance of a following comparator circuit 94. The output of the buffer is preferably applied to four comparators each of which compares the analog output signal of the photomultiplier tube to a predetermined voltage level which corresponds to a predetermined particle size. A comparator adjustor 96 for each of the four comparators sets these four threshold or discrimination levels. Typical values for these thresholds correspond to particles having diameters of five, ten, twenty and forty micrometers. The existence of several comparators provides immediate information as to particle size as well as information as to whether or not a particle of sufficient size to trigger the lowest value comparator is present. The output of the four comparators is a digital signal which is applied to a bus for the minicomputer 98. The minicomputer can in turn provide a variety of control and processing functions such as initiating a signal to activate an alarm device or counter, or correlating the presence of a particle with the logic signal output of the scanner circuit to give an indication of the lateral position of a detected particle on the reticle. If, as discussed above, the minicomputer is also programmed to interpret a reading of a large number of particles in a single scan as a leading or trailing edge of the reticle, it can also calculate an approximate longitudinal position for the particle on the reticle. As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, the minicomputer can also perform more sophisticated functions such as a particle size distribution analysis.
There has been described a highly reliable system for detecting extremely small dust particles resting on a large area surface that is itself light scattering. The system is automatic and not only detects particles in excess of one or more predetermined sizes, but can also provide information as to the location of a detected particle on the surface. The system allows an inspection of a reticle at a point very close to the optical stage of a step and repeat projector. Also, the entire detection area and optical exposure area can be maintained in a controlled environment such as a vacuum or a clean atmosphere of a highly filtered gas.
While the invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the function of various components of this system can be achieved in a variety of ways well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the beam optics which control the transmission of the radiation beam from the laser to the reticle plate can be widely altered with, for example, two lasers each of which is associated with the inspection of one face of the plate or the inspecting beam of radiation oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of advance of the plate. With this latter arrangement, the detector assemblies 38, 38 can be scanned over the field of view rather than the beam. One conventional arrangement for scanning the field of view is a movable aperture placed before the lens system 40. Similarly those skilled in the art will readily be able to design a variety of electronic circuits for driving a scanning mirror or processing and evaluating the output signal of the photomultiplier tube.
Further, while the invention has been described with reference to an inspecting beam of radiation that is in unpolarized, in certain applications it may be possible to achieve a better signal-to-noise ratio by either using polarized incident radiation, by collecting only one polarization of scattered radiation (by means of a polarizer), or both. Also, each particle on the plate can be scanned several times, each time with a different polarization geometry, using conventional electro-optic polarization components.
These and other modifications and alterations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the impended claims.
Patent Citations
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Florida's nuisance lionfish makes a great dinner
These fish have mostly been used in the aquarium business and are about as amazing to look at as anything nature has to offer.
However, they have spread in waters from the Caribbean all the way to Maine in a 10-year period, are extremely aggressive and devour everything from tiny crustaceans to juvenile parrot fish, grouper and snapper. They even have been known to eat crabs, shrimp, starfish, jellyfish and sea urchins.
These fish must be controlled, or we will see a major decrease in native marine life.
They keep coming
For a fish that grows to only about 16 inches long and usually weighs about 2 pounds, they are becoming a problem. They live up to 15 years and produce two large egg balls at a time containing thousands of eggs each. They are reproducing at an extremely high rate — sometimes about 2.1 million eggs annually per female. The females are capable of reproducing every four days.
The lionfish has no known predators and has the potential of wiping out other marine species. Lionfish derbies are frequently held in the Keys to help control the population in that area.
Catching them
The most productive way to harvest the lionfish is by spearfishing around reefs and ledges. These fish occasionally will take a hook and line, but it is not very common, and you will need more than one or two to feed the family.
Use common sense and caution when fishing for and handling lionfish. They can cause extreme pain if you are hit by one of as many as 18 poisonous fins on their bodies. If you are struck, expect extreme pain followed by nausea and possible vomiting. The good news is they are not fatal to humans.
The best news, however, is they make absolutely fabulous table fare. They are usually compared to a cross between hog snapper and grouper in meat quality and are fairly easy to clean.
cleaning them
To clean, start by cutting behind the head and gills at an angle just like filleting any other fin fish. Next, cut the skin under the belly down to the tail, then down the backbone to the tail.
Basically, you have cut the skin loose from the edges of the fillet. Now, take the top corner of the skin with your fingertips and peel back (like preparing a mahi fillet), removing all of the skin.
Then, just cut the skinned fillet from the rib bone and you are finished. (Note for the cleaner: Some anglers recommend heavy-duty leather gloves to help keep those prickly poison fins at bay.)
Lionfish have a firm-fleshed white meat that can be prepared using just about any cooking method, and they freeze well. Pan-seared, grilled, roasted, deep fried, even in ceviche, they stand up tall on flavor, texture and aromatics.
Seth and Astrid Hayes run Snookin 'N Cookin, a Naples-based fishing charter company that also offers private dinners and parties. They can be reached at 239-994-1593 or 239-994-3253, via email at firstname.lastname@example.com or see their website at www.snookinncookin.com.
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text:
On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's advice, the Indian Railways has completed a reconnaissance survey of the ambitious 497-km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail link stretching from Himachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir. Strategic link
The link has been conceived as a measure to neutralise China's strategic advantage along the Sino-Indian border. China has completed its 3,900-km Beijing-Lhasa rail link and is pushing ahead with seven other railroad projects adjoining the Indian border.
China has announced plans to extend rail connectivity to its last outpost at Ruili, adjoining its border with Myanmar, news reports from Beijing said.
In next three years, China proposes to build 5,000 km of rail links, with emphasis on establishing connectivity in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The country has also proposed to build a rail network in Nepal.
The proposal of the Indian Railways, submitted last week, indicates a 10-year construction timeframe for the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh project at an estimated cost of Rs 22,500 crore (Rs 225 billion). Bilaspur and Manali are in Himachal Pradesh while Leh is the capital of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Railways have spent Rs 72 lakh (Rs 7.2 million) to conduct the five-month-long survey for the project. The exercise was carried out in March this year.
"Last February, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) sent us a reference for conducting the survey. The Railways will forward the survey findings to the PMO and will seek funding of the scheme as a national project," a senior railway ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
The army top brass has approved of the proposal. "The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail link can act as a vital alternative route for combat equipment transit on the eastern borders," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Shimla-based Army Training Command, Lt. Gen. A.S. Lamba told mediapersons on October 2.
Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor is also reported to have endorsed the scheme for an "all-weather rail link" to India's eastern frontier.
Trans-Himalayan Railway Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Delhi-based ICC Holdings, has pitched in with an alternative proposal to implement the scheme under the Public-Private Partnership mode at a cost of Rs 1.15 lakh crore (Rs 1.15 trillion) over eight years.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post2228691414041818922..comments2015-07-28T08:22:17.994-07:00Comments on Activist Post: On the Cusp of Ending Big Pharma firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-65927495228436050962013-01-03T12:01:25.610-08:002013-01-03T12:01:25.610-08:00rallying around "gene therapy" is a doub...rallying around "gene therapy" is a double-edged sword. If they gain confidence will they "move on" to doing bad firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-66163767661999738062012-12-30T13:38:40.265-08:002012-12-30T13:38:40.265-08:00To Anonymous of December 28, 2012 8:53 AM: I don&...To Anonymous of December 28, 2012 8:53 AM:

I don't doubt that gays were targeted for AIDS, that may well have been the case. There is, however, NO GAY GENE - never has been. I'm married to a biologist/geneticist and he's studied the whole AIDS thing; when it first came out, he worked for PA state as a microbiologist and got all the reports firsthand. He's also studied the whole gay thing from all angles. There has never been any "gay gene" discovered and he worked with a Nobel prize-winning geneticist. I think he'd know. Any other geneticist will also say the same firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-60245331697346930132012-12-30T02:37:32.420-08:002012-12-30T02:37:32.420-08:00The human Genome project found there were not enou...The human Genome project found there were not enough genetic sequences to map the supposed one gene defines one section of the human system. This one to one mapping was a basic assumption of genetic theory. There has been no correction genetic theory to take this into account. Therefore any any work based on this genetic theory is flawed.

Also epigenetics implies that environment effects the genome, so making assumptions that playing with the genome will fix a disease appears to be making rather large assumptions about how life works, rather than dealing with the whole situation.

Also the above assumes that genetic theory is the full understanding of how a human works. The quantumn biological level of a human being is only just starting to be understood. This may completely change how we view healing.

So from my point of view the above article is missing some rather fundamental scientific understanding. So go ahead if you believe this to be a set of miracle cures, but I for one will not be taking them, as I consider it to be flawed science and rather dangerous

Clive M

email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-91901762253022176642012-12-29T22:50:14.805-08:002012-12-29T22:50:14.805-08:00This is the problem with Capitalism, and the monet...This is the problem with Capitalism, and the monetary system in general. Everything relates to someone getting rich, at the expense of someone else. Money is a human invention; and is not a permanent thing.
Tony mentioned in this article that "Everyone deserves the absolute best health care possible - and that can only be done through technological innovation built upon a solid foundation of education within a well informed, productive and engaged society." This touches on what many have called 'the scientific world view'. That is, we find out what best improves human life and supports the environment that we live in. Then we DO IT.
The only way this can be achieved is if we abandon money. Money is a way to facilitate our need to 'own' things. We 'own' things only because they are perceived as being scarce. Technology can eliminate all scarcity. If you'd like to know more, research the term 'resource based economy'.

Brendan R email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-49817779352472792822012-12-29T22:21:23.162-08:002012-12-29T22:21:23.162-08:00Abinico - who said genes cause disease? Do you kno...Abinico - who said genes cause disease? Do you know what a gene even is? It is a blueprint your body uses to carry out functions. These blueprints can be wrong from birth, or mutated overtime by errors in replication or environmental factors.

Gene therapy simply corrects these mutations, bringing your genetic code back to an optimal state from which your body can carry on. You still need to exercise, you still need to eat well, you still need to take care of your health.

The article suggests you should get educated about genetics ... perhaps you should take that advice.

Don't condemn genetics because you don't understand it and don't have the time or capacity to study it. firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-5360699884850753022012-12-29T13:41:15.633-08:002012-12-29T13:41:15.633-08:00Cusp of ending big pharma - how stupid. And gene t...Cusp of ending big pharma - how stupid. And gene therapy - even more stupid. Gene therapy is based on the self serving notion that genes cause disease - and that is patently false. Gene therapy advocates would have us believe that while for all other creatures, genes adapt to their environment, for humans genes are a source of disease - obvious rubbish logic. The Free Radical Theory of Cancer explains a lot about genes and their role in disease - so much so and so logically that this theory is now pretty much ignored - its implications are just too horrendous, to the patent based medical industry that is. The truth has been known a very long time; about 2500 years ago Hippocrates – the father of medicine – stated, "Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food." It was true back then and is still true today.abinicohttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-31328821714178661562012-12-29T10:00:51.007-08:002012-12-29T10:00:51.007-08:00If its good, it will only be available for the El...If its good, it will only be available for the Elites and their wealthy friends. If its dangerous it will be available for us the masses. firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-19162594547662946282012-12-28T19:45:59.783-08:002012-12-28T19:45:59.783-08:00Although I see no other path, I can't help but...Although I see no other path, I can't help but think that, until we solve for sociopathy and psychopathy, there will continue to exist among us those who would use these technologies to attain power, at the expense of the good of mankind both individually and as a whole. Given such technologies, the next Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, Amin, Vlad, Nero, or Napoleon will have no compunction about using it against whomever they decide threatens their interests.

We see our world now in a state in which the Haves have decided there is a glut of Have Nots on the surface of the Earth, a surplus of unnecessary humanity (I believe one of them coined the phrase "useless eaters"). Unless we can identify, isolate, and contain these types, bio-warfare against humanity will increasingly be their weapon of choice against us. And they will use it, while claiming amongst themselves that they are doing this for the long term survival of the human race (meaning themselves and their kind).firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-79223976978964177212012-12-28T13:43:52.434-08:002012-12-28T13:43:52.434-08:00"Glybera - the first Western-approved gene th..."Glybera - the first Western-approved gene therapy may treat a rare genetic disorder affecting the pancreas for an entire lifetime with a single treatment. One doesn't need to stretch their imagination far to imagine the consequences this will have on big-pharma profiteering...."

Following the bouncing ball, trying to find out who or what owns Glybera, it looks like lots of new holding companies, shell companies and secret investors. Follow the money surely applies to all of this??????

The company providing the money is Forbion Capital Partners. They appear eager to get into bed with any big pharma company and do business with dozens of them.
Amsterdam Molecular Theraputics (AMT) the developer of glybera, was very secretive about its investors, and was bought by uniQure BV, backed by Forbion money.
Typical.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-39289633536186983962012-12-28T08:53:31.359-08:002012-12-28T08:53:31.359-08:00There is some evidence that targeting a "geno...There is some evidence that targeting a "genotype" was first used (genospecific weapons) on the Gays who expressed that particular gay gene. (As we now know, both nurture and nature are involved in being "Gay". One or the other or both.) This gene targeting killed those who expressed the gay gene by AID$. They were for all intent and purposes the experiments and the first martyrs killed. Or at least that's what I've been saying for the past 25 years. Now it's becoming a probable evidential theory. firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7811593327276272802.post-31276117250037067542012-12-28T08:09:10.325-08:002012-12-28T08:09:10.325-08:00Thank you Tony for offering a well balanced and po...Thank you Tony for offering a well balanced and positive breakdown of this delicate topic. I've always thought something was wrong with those who say that this type of experimentation is inherently wrong. As you have highlighted here, technology is neutral ... we just can't permit only the psychopaths to have it. It is in our very fabric to be creators and problem solvers. Time to create and get solving. firstname.lastname@example.com


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American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2006 A soldier assigned to Task Force 3rd Medical Command died yesterday in Baghdad from non-battle-related injuries, and the Defense Department has identified 10 earlier casualties.
The name of the 3rd Medical Command soldier, who was part of the medical task force that provides care throughout Iraq, is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Defense officials have released the identities of 10 servicemembers who died recently supporting the global war on terror:
-- Army Sgt. David J. Davis, 32, of Mount Airy, Md., died in Baghdad Sept. 17 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker armored vehicle in Sadr City, Iraq. Davis was assigned to the Army's 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
-- Army Sgt. Adam L. Knox, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 17 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when his patrol encountered enemy forces using small-arms fire. Knox was assigned to the Army Reserve's 346th Psychological Operations Company, Columbus, Ohio.
-- Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David S. Roddy, 32, of Aberdeen, Md., died Sept. 16 while his unit was conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Iraq's Anbar province. Roddy was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, in Norfolk, Va., and was serving with Multinational Corps Iraq.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Bernard L. Deghand, 42, of Mayetta, Kan., died Sept. 15 in Spira, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his unit encountered enemy forces using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Deghand was assigned to the Army National Guard's 35th Division Artillery, Hutchinson, Kan.
-- Army Sgt. Clint E. Williams, 24, of Kingston, Okla., died Sept. 14 of injuries suffered in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Williams was assigned to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Miller, 19, of Pearland, Texas, died Sept. 14 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
-- Army Sgt. David T. Weir, 23, of Cleveland, Tenn., died Sept. 14 in Baghdad of injuries suffered Sept. 13 when he encountered enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Weir was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
-- Army 2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez, 23, of Texas, died Sept. 12 of injuries suffered in Kifl, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee. Perez was assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
-- Army Spc. Harley D. Andrews, 22, of Weimar, Calif., died Sept. 11 in Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Andrews was assigned to 54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany.
-- Army Spc. David J. Ramsey, 27, of Tacoma, Wash., was medically evacuated from Iraq on Aug. 24 after a non-combat-related incident and died on Sept. 7 in Spanaway, Wash. Ramsey was assigned to the 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.
(From Multinational Corps Iraq and Defense Department news releases.)


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Hang tight!
Recipe by Chef John
"This succulent grilled skirt steak recipe would be perfect for your summer cookout."
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3 tablespoons
red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons
yellow miso paste
1 tablespoon
packed brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon
cayenne pepper
2 cloves
garlic, finely minced
1 (1 1/2-pound)
skirt steak, cut into 4 pieces
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Turn steak 90 degrees for marks...180 keeps the lines the same...someone didn't do well with highschool math!
I give this three stars for the flavor. I made this following the recipe exactly. While I loved the flavor, the steak itself was tough. I cooked it to exactly 140 degrees (rare). This is the first time I have cooked skirt steak, and unless I can figure out why it was so tough (I couldn't even eat half of my serving. I gave up trying to chew it because my jaw ached) I won't be fixing this again.
30 Ratings
KEEPER! I made this exactly according to the recipe and it was great. I had to go to the Asian store for the Miso Paste - it is in the refrigerated section. This is company worthy, for sure. I served it with grilled fresh pineapple & sugar snap peas with a simple green salad with Miso Sesame Dressing from this site. What a great meal!
Tried the recipe last night. Skirt steak is a cheap flavorful cut, perfect for marinades like this. I make a similar recipe, add mirin and maple syrup, on Sea Bass and broil in the oven. Yum! Next time I'll add maple syrup.
WOW!!! What's not to love about this!?!? This was of the best skirt steaks I have ever eaten, and I prepare it often using many different recipes. I made it exactly as written and it was perfect - no changes necessary - but I wouldn't expect any less from Chef John! Very tender and flavorful. I'm not sure why the other reviewer's steak was tough. Skirt steak needs to be cut against the grain. Miso paste can be obtained from any Asian market in the refrigerated section. Sure, it's not available in your everyday grocery store, but no reason to rate the recipe down for that! I'll definitely be making this for company and I know they'll be impressed!
I used on filet mignon and grilled it. It was very tasty and unique. My husband and teenage son loved it. I am going to try on salmon tonight. I would recommend to add two teaspoons of MIRIN, which Japanese use a lot for TERIYAKI or MIso based sauce. And for salmon, I would add a little bit of ginger to kill the fishy smell. Yummy!
Delicious!!! I don't know where you get your skirt steaks , jcoates, but it's definitely not cheap!!!
This was absolutely delicious!! Only reason for 4 stars is because of the difficulty of obtaining the yellow miso paste! Few ingredients, easy prep, love it and will do again!
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Miso-Glazed Skirt Steak
Serving Size: 1/4 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 184
Calories from Fat: 66
With our 2,700+ chicken breast recipes, you'll never serve the same old chicken again.
The firm, juicy texture of zucchini make them a perfect side to toss on the grill.
Delicious recipes, party ideas, and cooking tips! Get a year of Allrecipes magazine for $7.99!
See how to make a simple miso glaze for grilled steaks.
Cola and coffee create the perfect marinade for juicy skirt steak.
See how to make grilled skirt steaks marinated with slightly sweet Marsala wine.


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South Brooklyn Pizza to Go: A Fine Slice of Pizza from an Irish Bar
Wandering around Carroll Gardens with a posse of serious eaters we came across what could only be described as a pizza kiosk attached to the longstanding watering hole P. J. Hanley's. It turned out to be the slice annex of the adjoining South Brooklyn Pizza Company. Good-looking Di Fara–esque pies and slices were being made in a conventional pizza oven by a Mexican pizzaiolo, who would then hand the pizza to the P. J. Hanley's barkeep. The south-of-the-border pie man was putting three kinds of cheese—mozzarella, grana padano, and fontina—on his plain pies, along with fresh basil leaves, followed... More


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It's about time
Thursday, April 13, 2006
We're all busy people. Whether it's work or play, school or family, every day is filled with stuff that takes time. Keeping track of schedules isn't easy, and frankly we haven't been too happy with the tools available. So we invite you to try Google Calendar -- a tool that simplifies keeping track of events, special occasions, and appointments -- whether they're on your own agenda or on the calendars of contacts who opt to share their schedules with you.
First, we tried to make it fast and easy. You can add events just by clicking and entering one line of simple event information. No muss, no fuss, no cumbersome forms to fill out. And it's integrated with Gmail so you can add events mentioned in messages to your calendar with just one click.
Second, we wanted to make sure you could use it to see all the events in your world. It's drop-dead simple to see calendars from your friends and family, or calendars you find with the built-in calendar search tool, right next to your own calendar. You can choose to share as much or as little of your own calendar, too.
Third, we focused on helping events come alive. You can turn any event on your calendar into an invitation just by adding the email addresses of your guests. They can see and respond to your invitation, whether or not they use Google Calendar themselves. Event reminders by email and text message to your mobile phone help you remember what's on your agenda.
Finally, we kept it open. Google Calendar supports the iCal standard so it cooperates with many other calendar applications, enabling you to easily get event data in and out. Also, webmasters can add customized Google Calendar event reminder buttons to their pages, letting visitors quickly add copies of events to their calendars.
We thought it was about time to let you take a look.