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Get a VFD instead of a phase convertor. With that you can change speeds electronically. My VFD was only $150 for a 2hp motor. You can put a potentiometer on the machine to control the frequency/speed. Mine is hooked up through a computer for my CNC converted mill and it starts the motor, changes speeds, reverses and stops the motor.
Here are my new toys. I still need to get a good Bridgeport style mill for the projects where you need to have some sort of feel when machining.


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Mail scared the heck out of me
I'm setting up the OS X Mail application tonight on my new iMac. I had been using Eudora 7.1 on Windows Vista. After setting up the email accounts, I imported the Eudora mailboxes from the Windows machine via my home network into Mail. All that worked just fine.
Since I want my mailboxes to appear under "On My Mac" and not under "Import" I began moving the imported messages from the imported mailboxes to newly created mailboxes. I did this by selecting "All", then marking all "Read", then grabbing the entire highlighted list and moving it to the other mailbox. All went fine until about half-way through and all of a sudden right after I had highlighted and marked as read all the messages in a mailbox ...
the entire highlighted list started flashing at me very rapidly and insistently for about 10 seconds, kind of like....
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 BOOM!! .... then it stopped
What the heck was THAT all about!?!? :o
Was I being some kind of a bad boy? :Oops:
Sorry, I did search both Mac help and the forum.....nada.
The attributes of mail from Eudora Win may have 'upset' Mail Mac. Do any of the transferred mails open as they should?
Given that you used Eudora for Win, why don't you continue using it? ['Scuse me, but I happen to think Eudora is the best email client ever 'out there'.]
I only spot-checked a few of the transferred emails, and they looked fine, including the ones in the list that flashed at me.
No arguments against Eudora; I think it's an excellent email client as well. Mainly I just wanted to try using the Mac mail client for a while. The Win Eudora app is getting a little long in the tooth, though; I think the Mac Eudora app has gone even longer without an update, hasn't it? How does the Mac Eudora stack up against Eudora Win 7.1?
The flashing emails may have been a visual warning of slight overload, or simply letting you know that the process was happening. Good that those emails are viewable in Mail.
I can't really comment on Eudora Win vs Eudora Mac, but I'm still using Eudora 6.2.4, with both Panther and Tiger, and am satisfied with it. The main complaints about Eudora are to do with its inability to handle html and to render embedded graphics. It was never intended or designed for either, so people who want those features use a different email client. Eudora however does give the option of opening emails with objects, graphics etc in them, in a browser, something I do regularly, since connection to the internet usually involves both types of application.
Overloading the email client, not the Mac, I hope :o
That's quite a collection of Macs you've got there. I'll bet you've got a couple IIci's stashed in a closet, too. ;D Best computer Apple ever made, bar none. I pulled mine out of 10+ years of storage in the basement a year or so ago and fired it up. PRAM was gone, of course.....didn't know the date.....but otherwise it booted up and ran just fine.
Just fyi, overloading the Mac OS - it is possible - can result in Keys Out Of Order, a serious hard disk fault. I think it ceased at Tiger, but it was/is fixable only with Disk Warrior, as I learned to my cost!
The Mac collection - there was a G3 beige d/t there for a while too. I've managed until a couple of years ago to 'recycle' my Macs, but the advent of the G3 iMac and continual upgrades to processors and OS meant that old Macs were an encumbrance. I've kept the b/w tower simply because of its configuration and flexibility; and that I probably couldn't even give it away.
Amazing - or perhaps not - that your IIci still works flawlessly. A tribute to the quality of both the hardware and the OS. I had a IIsi for a while. My vote for the best Mac would probably go to the 9600, dual 604 "the most upgradeable Mac ever made" it was trumpeted, a veritable monster of its time. It became a question amongst owners of what you couldn't put inside it. ;D
hard disk fault -- mmmmm -- that's interesting because I'm having a problem with my LaCie external HD; Time Machine reports it can't back up because of errors while copying files. Disk Utility says the LaCie is fine. And I've done the whole gamut of everything I can do with Disk Utility. I need to look into that Disk Warrior program. Another thought....maybe it was the Time Machine executable and/or resources on the INTERNAL drive that got corrupted when all that flashing happened.
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Water, Immigration and Politics in the Southwest Are the Focus of Prof. Char Miller Latest Book
In his latest book, On the Edge: Water, Immigration and Politics in the Southwest, Char Miller investigates the challenges of living within the region's complex natural systems and the interplay of politics, the environment and the region's residents.
The book, published by Trinity University Press, grew out of Miller's experience living and traveling in the Southwest. When he moved back to Claremont from Texas in 2007 – a relatively straight shot of 1,321 miles along Interstate 10 – he began to realize just how many links bound the broader region.
"The railroad offered the first clue as we followed the sun's arc," says Miller. "Blasting along in the other direction was an endless stream of trains pulling mile-long couplings of boxcars and flatbed containers from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to more easterly markets. Lots of other signs were there too…. SoCal is part of the larger Southwest, bound to it by means of culture and borders [and] because of the politics of water and immigration that define much of its public space."
The book's 43 readable essays are divided into four sections: "Alamo City," "Rough Waters," "Borderline Anxieties" and "Southland." Throughout Miller brings his ability to summarize history and policy to illuminate a variety of issues and to frame ideas and questions about how people might live better, more conscientious lives more suited to their environment and its resources. His essays on Southern California, for example, cover fires, flooding and flood plains, urban sprawl, coastal erosion, water management and environmental policy.
"I explore how we live in this contested land," explains Miller, "how we make our place in the often-arid terrain, an ecosystem that burns easily, floods often and defies our efforts to nestle in its foothills, canyons and washes. If you add climate change to the mix, the issues most concerning to the Southwest will escalate across the century…. We have a really interesting set of challenges, but also an interesting set of opportunities for trying to live more carefully in a landscape of diminishing resources."
Miller, the W.M. Keck Professor of Environmental Science at Pomona College, is the author Gifford Pinchot as well as the Making of Modern Environmentalism, Deep in the Heart of San Antonio, and On the Border, and the editor of several others. His last book, Between Ruin and Restoration: An Environmental History of Israel, co-edited with Daniel Ornstein and Alon Tal (University of Pittsburgh, 2013) features essays by leading experts in policy, history, and activism addressing Israel's continuing environmental transformation from the biblical era through its future aspirations. Prior to joining Pomona's faculty, he was a professor of history at Trinity University.
Related Links and Stories
- The Pomona College Environmental Analysis Program
- Prof. Char Miller's webpage
- Prof. Char Miller's KCET.org column "Golden Green"
- "Living on the Edge," a review of On the Edge in the San Antonio Express-News
- "In Class with Char Miller: 'Nature, Culture and Society,'" from the Pomona College Magazine
- "New Book by Professor Char Miller Examines Controversies Surrounding Public Lands," May 7, 2012


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Although today's balmy weather hints that spring is around the corner, the dishes on our late winter catering menu are going strong. Our "Peak of the Season" menu selections are a perfect complement for work luncheons, a weekend get-together, or this Sunday's Oscar celebration…why not make your Oscar bets while enjoying some award-worthy nibbles from our catering menu? Top it off with a lively Monthuys Pere & Fils Champagne and the Creamery's decadent Chocolate Midnight Cupcakes, and your night will be red carpet worthy!
Our catering team's favorites on the menu include:
Focaccia Flatbread with Potatoes, Bacon, Fontina, Goat Cheese, Ricotta and Fresh Thyme
Crostini with New Orleans-style Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Spread with Parmesan, Peppers, Celery, Chives, Parsley and a touch of Tabasco
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Lentil Salad with Orange Zest
Chocolate Midnight Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream and Chocolate Glaze
If ordering for Oscar Sunday, please make sure that you have put in your order before 3 pm on Friday 2/24 (or 3 pm on Thursday 2/23 if your order includes any sweets from the Creamery).


text:
About AQ
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The Moose
02/28/13 – The opening day of competition is in the books at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
Brendan Molony opened the action for the Saints with a 14th place finish (15:18) in the 5000 meter. Molony narrowly missed qualifying for the finals and was just one second off his lifetime best. The men's 4x400 meter relay (Ray Bordeaux, Eric Reed, Jason Parnell and Caleb Teachout) placed 11th, missing the finals by less than a second. The foursome's time of 3:17.85 was the second fastest time in Aquinas history.
The women's 4x400 meter relay achieved a season best (3:59.04) to place 13th in the events preliminary round. Brooke Fuller, Courtney Klawieter, Fiana Comer and Kaitlyn Henniger recorded the fifth fastest time in school history .
Aquinas' night concluded with the men running the Distance Medley Relay. The quartet of Tom Willet, Andrew Vojtko, Nick Whise and Jacob Towne placed 20th with a time of 10:33.59.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 1 p.m.


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Posted at: 02/28/2013 6:03 PM
Updated at: 02/28/2013 6:15 PM
By: KOB.com staff
Citizens and trade unions continue their fight in court this week trying to get millions of dollars back for the University of New Mexico.
A trial in Santa Fe hinges around allegations that former UNM President David Schmidly's administration rigged bids on The Pit's recent renovation so that his favorite company could get the job.
The suit states the company defrauded taxpayers by up-charging the cost of the makeover by nearly $16 million.
A jury is expected to deliver a verdict early next week.


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2003 Istanbul bombings
|2003 Istanbul bombings
|Istanbul, Turkey
|November 15, 2003 and November 20, 2003
|two synagogues, HSBC Bank, British Consulate
Attack type
|truck bombing
|57 civilians
Non-fatal injuries
|over 700
The 2003 Istanbul bombings were four truck bomb attacks carried out on November 15, 2003 and November 20, 2003, in Istanbul, Turkey, leaving 57 people dead, and 700 wounded. Several men have been convicted for their involvement in the bombing.
First bombings[edit]
On November 15, 2003, two trucks carrying bombs slammed into the Bet Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey and exploded. The explosions devastated the synagogues and killed twenty-seven people, most of them Turkish citizens,[1] and injured more than 300 others. An Islamic militant group, IBDA-C, claimed responsibility for the blasts, but Turkish government officials dismissed these claims, pointing out that this minor group did not have enough resources to carry out such an intricately planned and expensive attack.
Second bombings[edit]
Five days later, on November 20, as US President George W. Bush was in the United Kingdom meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair, two more truck bombs exploded. Suicide bombers detonated the vehicles at the headquarters of HSBC Bank AS and the British Consulate, killing thirty people and wounding 400 others. The bombers appeared to have waited for the traffic lights in front of the HSBC headquarters on the Büyükdere Avenue in Levent to turn red to maximize the effects. Several Britons were killed in the two attacks, including the top British official in Istanbul, consul general Roger Short, while the rest of the victims were mostly Turkish citizens (such as actor and singer Kerem Yılmazer), as in the earlier synagogue blasts. Police say that the bombers may have timed the attacks to coincide with Bush's visit to the UK.
Turkey charged 74 people with involvement in the bombings, including Syrians Loai al-Saqa and Hamid Obysi, and a Turk, Harun Ilhan. Ilhan admitted that he and two other suspected ringleaders — Habib Akdaş and Gurcan Bac — were responsible; Ilhan referred to himself as 'an al-Qaeda warrior'. Akdas fled to Iraq, where he was reportedly involved in a kidnapping, and was later killed by coalition forces in Fallujah. Bac's location remains undetermined.[2] Other reporting indicates that Bac was suspected of preparing the bombs with Fevzi Yitiz, and that Akdas and Ibrahim Kus participated in a meeting with bin Laden in 2002.[3] Al-Saqa had already been tried in absentia in Jordan for his part, along with al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in the failed poison gas attack in 2002. On February 16, 2007, Al-Saqa and Ilhan were convicted and sentenced to 67 consecutive life sentences, one for every victim for the bombing plus additional terms for terrorism and conspiracy, as were five other Turkish men convicted of organizing the bombing: Fevzi Yitiz (for helping to build the truck bombs) and Yusuf Polat, Baki Yigit, Osman Eken and Adnan Ersoz.[4] Seyit Ertul was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for leading an al-Qaeda cell, and Obysi was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months for al-Qaeda membership, forgery and bomb-making.[5] Of the other individuals who were charged, 29 were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months for aiding and abetting al-Qaeda, 10 were sentenced to 3 years and 9 months membership in al-Qaeda, and 26 were acquitted.[5] A Turkish intelligence official who was part of the investigation said: "They planned and carried out the attack independently after receiving the blessing of bin Laden."[6]
|This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2013)
Turkey — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to defeat the terrorists. "The goal of these attacks is doomed to be destroyed in the face of the government's determination... and international solidarity in fighting terrorism," he said. Interior Minister Abdülkadir Aksu said suicide bombers caused the explosions. Of the injured, four were in critical condition and 15 others were undergoing surgery, Istanbul health officials said. Sky Turk reporter Mustafa Azizoglu told Fox News "this is not an ordinary attack," and said "this is the eleventh of September for Istanbul." The explosions were "trying to target Western financial institutions," he added. Turkish authorities said the same groups were behind Saturday's nearly simultaneous synagogue bombings in Istanbul, which killed 23 people and the two attackers. Turkish media reported the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, but the governor's office said only that attackers blew up explosive-laden pickup trucks.
United States — U.S. State Department knows of no Americans killed or hurt in the blast. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said three or four British employees from the consulate had not reported to roll call following the blasts.
Marc Ginsberg, a former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, told Fox News that two domestic Islamic militant groups - the Great Eastern Raiders' Front and Kurdish Hezbollah, or Party of God (not affiliated with Lebanese Hezbollah, but rather a group originally supported by the Turkish state as a rival to the Kurdish PKK, a secular Kurdish separatist movement) - were increasing activities in Turkey. "These are local affiliates, more or less, of the Al Qaeda network," Ginsberg said. "These organizations apparently have resurrected themselves in Turkey in recent months and these are the organizations that are doing the dirty work of Al Qaeda in Turkey."
As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, "Al Qaeda franchise organizations are trying to show their strength," he added. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Thursday's attacks "appear to be in the method of operation or the operational style of Al Qaeda or Al Qaeda operatives or affiliates." "We are deeply distressed over this assault on the liberty, live and security of individuals in Turkey," Ashcroft said. "It is quite clear that terrorism is very, very active at this moment and at this time, but it has been active since September 11(attacks) ...we should make no mistake that somehow terrorism is abating."
Israel — "One can hardly imagine a more tragic, violent and cruel attack than to simultaneously go after two places of worship on the Sabbath in order to kill a maximum amount of people who are busy praying and worshipping their God," said Daniel Shek, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom extended his condolences to Turkey and the Turkish people, the Jewish community in Turkey, and the families of the killed, and sent his wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in today's terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey.[7]
Syria — Syria strongly condemned the bomb attacks, calling them "terrorist". Syrian Information Minister, Ahmad al-Hassan, expressed his country's solidarity with Turkey, referring to the latter as "a neighbouring state and friend".[8] Syria also gave to the Turkish authorities 22 suspects in the bombing, who had reportedly fled Turkey after the attack.[9]
United Nations — The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1516 on November 20, 2003, condemning the attacks and expressing sympathy to the families of the victims and to the British and Turkish governments.[10]
See also[edit]
- ^ news.bbc.co.uk
- ^ Vick, Karl (2007-02-13). "Al-Qaeda's Hand In Istanbul Plot". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
- ^ "Turks Bust Alleged Qaeda Plotter". CBS news. 2003-12-19. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
- ^ "Seven jailed for Turkey bombings". BBC News. 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
- ^ a b "Al Qaeda associates jailed for Istanbul bombings". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (AFP). 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
- ^ "Bin Laden allegedly planned attack in Turkey". MSNBC. 2003-12-17. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ "www.israelnewsagency.com/turkey_jewish_terrorism.html
- ^ "Syria condemns Istanbul bomb attacks as 'hideous crimes'", AFP, November, 2003.
- ^ "Syria expels Turkey bomb suspects". BBC News. November 30, 2003.
- ^ "Security Council denounces attacks in Turkey, reaffirms fight against terror". Kuwait News Agency. November 21, 2003.
External links[edit]
- Mass murder in 2003
- 2003 crimes in Turkey
- Terrorist incidents in 2003
- Terrorist incidents in Istanbul
- Jewish Turkish history
- Antisemitism in Turkey
- 21st-century attacks on synagogues and Jewish communal organizations
- History of Istanbul
- Car and truck bombings in Turkey
- Attacks on places of worship
- Attacks on diplomatic missions in Turkey
- Attacks on diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom
- Turkey–United Kingdom relations
- Jews and Judaism in Istanbul
- 21st century in Istanbul


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Brattleboro Reformer editor Sabina Haskell is the new communications director of the Agency of Natural Resources. She replaces another former Vermont news person who jumped from the papers to politics, Darren Allen.
Everyone in news in Vermont knows Haskell. I worked with her a bit when she briefly joined the Herald back in 2004 and then competed against her team of reporters down in Windham County for the next two years after she left for the Reformer. And prior to all that, she spent some time over at the Bennington Banner.
Familiarity with the state's news media seems to be one of the things the Douglas people liked. Here's what Agency Secretary George Crombie had to say in the official press release today:
"Sabina's experience in the Vermont press corps and the information reporters need will help us better do our jobs."
I remember Haskell as a tough, but fair, editor at the Herald. She certainly pushed me a few times to dig deeper on stories, for which I was thankful for. I heard similar stories from her reporters in the years that followed at the Reformer. It will be interesting to see how that translates to the new job.
Congratulations, Sabina! Does this mean you're moving to Montpelier too?
-Dan Barlow


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Here is a magnificent Mill Loaf from Jeremy Shapiro of Stir the Pots. You can find the post on this beautiful Mill Loaf at: http://www.stirthepots.com/2011/09/grooving-bread-goodness.html
Jeremy Shapiro is a baker and chef extraordinaire. He always has something wonderful emerging from his kitchen. He is obviously passionate about his art as a chef and his creativity as a baker. Jeremy has an informative, interesting site at Stir the Pots, where you can find interviews with other culinary giants and all kinds of interesting posts on baking/food.
Here are a few of his other creations:


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Hang tight!
Recipe by LIOTAKI
"This is a classic and tasty Greek recipe for spinach. Easy and quick to cook, and it is certain to be consumed quick too! Serve with fresh lemon juice and the famous Greek feta cheese."
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1 cup
olive oil
onions, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package
frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 large
tomatoes, coarsely chopped
3 cups
1 clove
garlic, minced
1 tablespoon
tomato paste
1 cube
beef bouillon
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup
uncooked long-grain white rice
As I was making this recipe, I was pouring the olive oil into the measuring cup and as I got to a half cup I thought, "oy, that's a lot" - so I only used 1/2 cup of oil (which was still too much for me, I am gonna do 1/4 cup next time).
I followed the rest of the recipe and when I got to the rice it seemed like a little, so I used a cup (which seemed to make the perfect amount for me and my family).
When I first served it, we all looked at it like "ew...." I was not excited about the prospect of tasting it, however, after we all tasted it, we realized that it was actually pretty good!!
So for me, I think using 1/4 cup of oil (possibly even less) and 2 cups of rice is what will work for me. I think we will make this recipe again... I did have to modify it though, I think it's way too oily as is (them greeks and their olive oil!!)
Worth trying out!!! :) Oh and we got a laugh when my hubby (who hates tomatoes) said "I think it needs more tomatoes" heh!
I think I may be missing something here on the recipe. I like the ingredients- but 1 cup of olive oil seemed to be a bit much. It turned into an oily mess. The principle seemed great- and it sounds like it worked for all the other reviewers- but for me- it was a big thanksgiving miss- but at least full of laughs. I would try it again- but with a lot less oil.
92 Ratings
Terrific low-fat dish if you hold back on the olive oil--you only need 1/4 cup at the most. I followed the directions with the following exceptions: used fresh spinach and 1 large onion; I used 2 CUPS Minute Rice for step #3(let it simmer, covered, for 5-10 minutes and it was perfect); I also added some parmesean cheese, red pepper flakes, and seasoned salt to taste.
We love this as a main dish! I make a few changes to suit my taste. Only 2 T olive oil, extra garlic and fresh spinach. After reducing the liquid in step two I do not add any more water, just pour the rice right in. I put in a whole cup of rice instead of just half. This is wonderful with feta cheese. Next time will try with lemon too. Served with homemade pita chips and hummus. Delish!
This is a delicious recipe, typical of Greek cuisine. For those who are concerned about their olive oil intake, please note that 'oil' dishes, are they are called in Greece, are served on days when no meat is served, traditionally on Wednesdays and Fridays: this dish would be the main dish, sometimes served with feta cheese for those who are not lenting. For those who are using it as a side dish, by all means cut back on the amount of oil to suit your tastes.
Very good! I used chicken stock instead of water, and chicken bouillon instead of beef. I also added 1 tsp each of oregano, thyme and basil. A real hit at my dinner party!
This is amazingly, incredibly wonderful and inexpensive. The only changes I made were reducing the olive oil to 1/4 cup and using veggie bouillion instead of beef. Coupled with eggplant patties and tzatziki, you simply can't go wrong. Or make it a meal in itself. I honestly think I could eat this Greek Spinach recipe every day for the rest of my life and be happy. It is just that good.
Wouldn't you know, the very first time I don't read other reviews, I pay dearly and publicly! I made this for a dinner party and followed the recipe exactly. It was AWFUL--bland, too watery (even after cooking with the lid off for about 30 minutes), too oily. Thanks to some creativity by my boyfriend, it was salvageable and not too embarassing, but it took a LOT of tweaking. Here's our recommendations/rescue methods: 1) cut the oil WAY down, 2) we ended up adding another 1/3 cup of rice because it was too liquid, 3) we then added another tablespoon of tomato paste and a can of diced tomatoes (we were running out of time!), 4) While cooking the orignal version and being able to see it was going to be quite bland, I had already added fresh oregano and winter savory. In the rush-to-finish, we added about a tablespoon of dried oregano, a teaspoon of thyme, and lots and lots of salt and pepper, 5) Even after all that, we still had to dip it into the serving bowl with a slotted spoon, and when we got to the party, there was a layer of oil resting atop the mush. But, the guests loved it.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Classic Greek Spinach
Serving Size: 1/6 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
** Calories: 418
** Calories from Fat: 329
Hard to believe, but many kids will be back in school at the end of the month. Get ready.
You won't believe all the things you can do with cauliflower. It's a great low-carb option.
Delicious recipes, party ideas, and cooking tips! Get a year of Allrecipes magazine for $7.99!
Watch how to make this top-rated Greek spinach pie.
Watch how to make this top-rated Spanish recipe.
This delicious update of the Italian salad adds fresh spinach.


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Overtime: No Scoring Shootout: Daniel Alfredsson STOPPED Marian Gaborik STOPPED Jakob Silfverberg SCORES Ryan Callahan SCORES Kyle Turris STOPPED Derek Stepan STOPPED Mika Zibanejad STOPPED Brad Richards STOPPED Zack Smith STOPPED Carl Hagelin STOPPED Patrick Wiercioch STOPPED JT MILLER STOPPED (Beats Bishop but puts it wide) Kaspars Daugavins SCORES Chris Kreider STOPPED Adam's Thoughts: The [.
10:29PM: Craig Custance tweets "Todd Richards says Anisimov alert and stable. Will be kept in hospital overnightALL for observation." 9:03PM: http://twitter.com/ToddSharrock/status/304772890249801728 Sharrock is the VP of communications for the Blue Jack
Sam Rosen, on MSG, said that Darroll Powe is feeling better after suffering a concussion on Sunday night against the Capitals. Powe is not on the trip with the Rangers in Otta
In a 3-2 shootout loss to the Senators at Scotiabank Place, John Tortorella yet again was forced to demote veteran center Brad Richards in the third period, one week after he benched the struggling playmaker for all but one shift in the third period of a home loss to the Islanders.
Kaspars Daugavins slid the puck under Henrik Lundqvist in the seventh round of the shootout and the Ottawa Senators beat the Rangers, 3-2, Thursday night.
OTTAWA â The juggernaut of consistency, the depth of solid efforts, the foundation of discipline â it all seems to be seeping away from the Rangers early in this shortened season, as they flail and grasp at any stray point they can get their hands on.
Last night was an up-and-down performance…
OTTAWA â Defenseman Michael Del Zotto could be the latest Ranger to find his way onto the injury list.
With 9:27 remaining in the third period of Thursday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the Senators, Del Zotto took a hard hip-check from Marc Methot and went down in pain…


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As Christmas arrives, I am reminded of so many Christmases from the past. As a kid, I think the earliest memory I have of Christmas was the big celebration we always had when decorating the tree. The day we decorated the tree became a family party. We made snacks and played Christmas music. We sang Christmas carols, laughed, and munched. We always had a real tree in those days, because artificial trees didn't exist, as far as I know. That meant that the first part of the evening was spent with my dad cutting the trunk of the tree to remove any unneeded height. The fragrance of the spruce tree filled the air. It was an incredible scent, and one that I still love to this day. The real tree lives in the past for my family now, and I can't say that I'm totally sorry about that, because they are messy, and a fire hazard. I will take the trade off, and the fragrance of the spruce tree will have to live in my memory files.
Christmas eve was another family night, with singing, and of course, the one gift that we got to open that night…our new pajamas. I'm sure that was to add a nice fresh touch to the Christmas morning pictures, but it didn't matter, because we loved getting those pajamas…and the excitement if opening just one gift on Christmas Eve was what it was all about anyway. These days with my children grown up, I'm not the one to give pajamas, although, we did it when our girls were little. Now they always know that at Grandma's house, they will receive an ornament, so what is the mystery in that. Well, it is what kind of ornament, of course. I try very hard to be creative with those, and I think I did great this year. We had gone to Alaska on a cruise this past summer, and the kids all received an Alaskan ornament. I was so excited about those, that I had to get one of my own.
Christmas day always brought excitement and awe. It didn't matter what you got, it was just so exciting to open the long anticipated gifts to see what you got. It always seemed that at this time of year, people were listening carefully so they could hear what you wanted, and then they headed out to get it and surprise you with it. My favorite years were the ones where we got something extra special for my parents. It was amazing to surprise them with something they never expected that we could afford…like the toaster we got them when I was the only one with a job. The rest of the gifts were hand made. They were so shocked. Then there was the year that we were sending them on an Alaskan cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. We got them a video camera for the trip. They were so excited. Yep, I think the best Christmases are the ones where you give amazing gifts. It is about giving rather than receiving. I guess that was how God felt too. After all, He gave us the greatest gift of all…Jesus. And that is the greatest Throwback Christmas of them all. Merry Christmas everyone and may the greatest blessings God has to offer be yours this Christmas and all year long.
Today is my birthday. The last few days, I have been reflecting on my birthday, and my dad's birthday just two days before mine, and how much I miss him, and what my parents mean to me. Your parents give you so much, as a baby. They supply everything you need, like food clothing, warmth, love…eveything. But before that, there was something more they did. It was something even greater…the greatest gift. They gave you life. How do you thank them for that? Oh, I know, my parents had me and my sisters, because they wanted a family, but it was their desire for a family that gave me life. It was likely something they gave little thought to…that this was a gift to me, but that is exactly what if feels like to me. The greatest gift.
When I arrived I was nurtured by my mom and dad. When I came home, I met my sister Cheryl, who loved me very much. Like me, she had been given the greatest gift our parents could give us…the gift of life. Because we lived so far away from my mom's family then, my grandparents made the trip from Casper, Wyoming to Superior, Wisconsin to visit us, and share in the joy of our growing little family. Cheryl and I felt so blessed to have the happiest life there could possibly be. She and I played in our little world, mostly just the two of us, but also with our cousin, Pam, for the next three years in Superior, Wisconsin.
Our family moved back to Casper, where my sister, Caryl was added to our family, 3 years after I was born. Then two years later, Alena, and two years after that, Allyn. Each of us had been given the same greatest gift from our parents. And along with that greatest gift, they had also given us another second greatest gift…the gift of siblings. My parents and my sisters have always been so dear to me. Our family has always been very close, and as it continues to grow, more and more blessings are added. With each new family member, by birth or by marriage, the greatest gift, keeps on giving. So today, on the anniversary of my birth, I want to thank my parents for giving me life. Your gift was so precious and loving…the greatest gift…ever.
If there is one thing I can say about my niece, Liz, it is that she loves sports. In fact, there was a time she considered becoming a sportscaster. And she would have been a great one too, because I don't know of anyone who knows more about their teams than Liz. And, I'm pretty sure she she keeps up with all the other teams too. Liz was a big sports fan, when everyone thought girls didn't like sports…or was it just that girls were closet sports fans.
Liz is a fan of the Denver Broncos, which was something she was proud to share with her grandpa, my dad. Of course he wasn't the only one who shared her love of the Broncos, but he was the one who was the most important to Liz. They shared a love of the Denver Broncos and the New York Yankees. It created a special kind of bond between them that no one else had. When the subject came around to either team and they were both in the room, it was their conversation, and no one else's. That was never something any of us were jealous about. We all thought it was wonderful that Dad had someone who was so knowledgeable about sports to talk sports with. It was heartwarming to watch that, because as the dad of daughters and only 4 grandsons, there weren't a lot of sports minded people around him. Liz was one person who understood the games, and could talk intelligently about it with my dad, and that was a greater gift than Liz can possibly know.
I know that I certainly couldn't do that, because until the Broncos went to their first Super Bowl, I liked the Broncos, but only in passing. And while I watch the Super Bowl every year, and I'm still a Die Hard Broncos Fan, I don't watch much football on a weekly basis. Liz on the other hand watches the Denver Broncos, The Denver Nuggets, the New York Yankees, the Wyoming Cowboys, and of course, every game that Kelly Walsh plays…and those were just the ones I know of. There are many ways to describe Liz, but none so well as Grandpa's Favorite Sports Fan. Today is Liz's birthday. Happy birthday Liz!! Have a wonderful day!! We love you!!
My sister-in-law, Brenda has been a part of my life since she was 10 years old, and my sister-in-law since she was 11 years old. She has always been a sweet girl, who was kind and loving. Her loyalty to those she loves is unsurpassed. During the time that her parents have been ill, she has been someone we can count on to be there to help in any way she can. She is one of our village, and she is invaluable. She has dealt with some pretty tough things, and she knows how hard it is on a person.
Brenda is more than just a sister-in-law to me…she is a friend. She cares about me. Recently, when we had a birthday party for me, my daughter Corrie said that part of my gift was to go to lunch at Mongolian Grill. With the events lately concerning my in-laws, I was not really sure when we might be able to go to lunch. A little more than a week had passed, and I was too busy to think about the planned lunch date with my daughter. Brenda, however, didn't forget. She was going to take a couple of days vacation, and she planned the daily lunchtime duties into her vacation days, in order to allow me time to go with Corrie. It was such an incredible thing to do…and one I will not forget!! Sometimes my days are very full with caregiver duties, and it makes me feel very loved when someone steps up and does something so nice for me. Brenda is the kind of person who looks for ways to help out and make life easier.
In some families, the longer you are part of the family, the more distant people become. They move away, and come home once every 5 years, or they live in the same town and you hardly see them, but not so with Brenda. She has stuck with the village during some of the toughest times we have gone through. She can always be counted on to do whatever she is able to make our journey a success. We are up against health issues and of course, time. We know that at some point the journey will end. All we can do is try our very hardest to hold that day at bay for as long as possible. Team members like Brenda are extremely important to that goal.
Today is Brenda's birthday. I want to wish her the very best birthday she has ever had. She has been so good to me, and I can't tell her how much that means. Happy birthday Brenda!! We love you very much!! Have a wonderful day!!
Bob and I had always felt that our kids didn't really need a phone in their room, and for the early years, they didn't have one. But, when our girls reached the pre-teen years, we decided that since the phone was always for them, and having them talk, talk, talking in the living room made it really hard to watch television, maybe having a phone in their rooms wasn't such a horrible idea after all. The constant chatter and loud laughter was hard to ignore…not to mention having the girls constantly telling everyone not to listen!!
So, along about the time they were 11 or 12, we decided that Christmas would bring a rather unexpected gift for our girls. We were going to get them phones for their rooms. Of course, there would not be a separate line, but there would be some peace and quiet in the living room. For the most part it brought peace to our home…sort of. There were times when one or the other of the girls took too long in their turn on the phone, and then we would have a few fights. Still, the moments of fighting were a small sacrifice compared to the hours of peace that fell in between. I will never forget the look on my girls' faces that Christmas morning. They couldn't believe that they could talk in their bedrooms and not have everyone listening to every word they said.
Much has changed since those days. Pretty much every child has their own cell phone these days…and their own phone number…and it is more important than many people would like to think. A cell phone can be a life line if their car breaks down, or they missed their bus, etc. I know of many parents who don't think their child needs a cell phone, and that they are a distraction. In some ways, that is right…especially if they are using it during class, but a child walking home alone, who gets lost or is being followed…needs a phone…now!!
I am grateful that my girls have continued the tradition and that their children each have a cell phone. It's nice to be able to get a hold of my grandchildren whenever I want to. Of course, today things are different. Phones are used in a completely different way…texting. And if you want to keep up, you have to be able to text. I personally like texting, because it allows you to go on doing what you were doing while you are waiting to hear back. And cameras on the phone can be fun and functional too.
Yes, much has changed since my girls' first phones, but kids haven't changed. They still get excited about that new phone, and just the fact that it is theirs. They still want the latest and the greatest technology. And what is cool today, will be old news tomorrow. As excited as my girls were with their new phones that Christmas morning so many years ago, today they would wonder if I had lost my mind, because I would be giving them an antique that would be viewed as worthless.
I was thinking about something my Aunt Sandy said to me a while back about talking to my mom about the old stories before it is too late…before she forgets them, or before she were to go home to be with the Lord. Then I was listening to some tapes by Jesse Duplantis, while on a long drive to and from Denver for a class these past couple of days. Jesse Duplantis talks about a minister, or evangelist being a gift from God placed in your life to be a blessing…to get God's word out to you. That got me thinking abut the other gifts in our lives…our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
Early in our lives these people nurture us, teach us how to grow up, take care of our physical needs, and our emotional needs. They might babysit us, or later, let us spend the night. They are role models for us, to teach us right from wrong, and social etiquette. We learn our early sense of style from them…at least until we are old enough to want our own style. We get our early religious training from them, whether it is to go to church or not, it usually comes from the adults around us. There are so many characteristics, that can be traced back for our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
They do all these things for us and yet all too often we think of them as outdated, behind the times…especially in technological matters, annoying, interfering, and…well, anything but a gift. And yet, that is exactly what they are, and we get to have them for a very short time…too short. Just ask anyone who has lost their parent or parents, and see how they feel about them now. Do they regret that they didn't spend enough time with them? Yes, because no matter how much time you spent, it wasn't enough. If I could spend one more day with my Dad, would I do it? Absolutely, and I would treasure it…you have no idea how much I would treasure it, but I can't. That gift is no longer here, but sometimes in thinking about the gift I have lost, I forget to see the gifts that are still in front of me. Sometimes, I see them as more of a job than a gift. Most of you know that I am a caregiver for my mom and my mother and father-in-law. Sometimes, I let myself lose site of the purpose of that caregiving…which is to keep the gifts in my life, in my life for a little longer. Do yourself a favor, and see the gifts in your life…cherish them…and as my Aunt Sandy would tell you talk to them about all the stories of their past…your heritage, that only they can tell you, and once they are gone, the stories are gone too. Whatever you do in life…cherish the gifts you have been given.
For Mother's Day, my mom often asks us to do the projects she has planned on over the year. It is a great way to get things done that she would otherwise have to pay someone to do. So, we pick out a weekend, and get the plans made, and on the chosen weekend, we all descend on Mom's house.
This year's projects consisted of spring cleaning her bedroom, re-painting trim on the house, planting her flowers and cleaning the yard, and building a deck. Seventeen people showed up to help, a pretty good crew. We have been doing this for several years now, but it always amazes me that that so many people can have a general plan, but no true foreman, and yet the as the jobs are laid out everyone steps up and gets started.
At first, it looks like total chaos, then maybe organized chaos, but then suddenly, the different projects begin to come together, and before you know it something amazing has happened. Seventeen people who don't normally do this kind of work…who are everything from mechanics to teachers, students to insurance agents, in the medical field to police officers to those in the legal field…and yet today we were painters, gardeners, carpenters, housekeepers, and cooks, and that worked for us.
So, why do we do this and how is it that it works for us. Well, love can produce a multitude of talents that we didn't really know existed. My mom wanted nothing more than to have her children all together. It wasn't just about the projects, although those were important to her too, but she has always liked it when her children are together. The projects turned out great. And while we are not quite finished, we will be tomorrow, and for another year, we probably won't all work on a big project. But Mother's Day will roll around again, and new projects will be dreamed up. And once again, we will all become weekend warriors, ready to tackle the jobs she needs done. It's not a bad Mother's Day gift, after all. And in reality, to her, it is the best gift ever. Having her children all together showing their love for her.
One day after the birth of my first grandchild, my life was again blessed with my second, a little girl named Shai. She was born on Leap Day, so she really doesn't have a birthday this year…exactly. I tell her that in the nano-second between 11:59pm and 12:00am, between February 28th and March 1st, her birthday happens. My boss and hers, Jim, says she will need to "party fast" so she doesn't miss it. Yes, Shai is a Leap Day baby. She gets a birthday only once every four years. Her brother and cousins used to tease her that they were already older than she was. And she hated that until I told her that it was true that they are "older" than she is, but she will get to drive when she is 4 and they will have to wait until they are 16. Another really cool fact concerning being a Leap Day baby that I'm sure she hasn't considered yet, but every woman who thinks about it will appreciate…she won't really be 15 until she is 60, and seriously…what 60 year old woman wouldn't want to be 15.
When Amy told me that she was going to name her daughter Shai after a little girl she to take care of at the day care she was working at, I was…well less than excited about it. I worried that the name Shai, pronounced shy, would get her teased. So I suggested some "variations" on the name. They were quickly rejected, and Shai it would be. Now that I know her, the name just fits her so very well, even though she isn't one bit shy, and when you add the fact that the name Shai means "gift" in Hebrew, well I'm sold, because that is what she has been. Being the only granddaughter we have, she most certainly is a gift to us.
Shai is very much the grown up young lady and a girly girl. She loves to shop, get manicures/pedicures, and she is a boy magnet. Her love of shopping came early, when at around the age of 4, she wanted to go to Target. When her mom said that she didn't have enough money to go shopping that day, Shai simply said, "Well, charge it!!!" All kidding aside, I feel very blessed that she is also a very responsible girl and does an awesome job at work.
Her responsible ways came very early on, when at the age of 10, when my parents were both quite ill, and unable to care for themselves, she stepped up. Thankfully it was during the summer, because, my sister suggested that Shai come during the day and be with them. Like a little trooper, she stepped up and cared for them for more than a month, giving them their meds, getting them food and drinks, and every other job a nurse would do. We were very proud, and most grateful to her, and always will be. Happy Birthday Shai!! We love you very much!!
The waiting is over. My friend, Evelyn has gone home. For us here on earth, death seems like a thief that comes in and takes away those we love, but for those in Heaven, it is a joyous day. The day that humans were made for. The Bible says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalms 116:15. So today is a precious day to the Lord.
For Evelyn, today is the day that her existance exploded into the most amazing joy ever felt by humans. She is free from pain and earthly limitations. She is with our Lord Jesus and she has seen God's face, a privilege saved for those good and faithful servants who have been made the righteousness of God through the death of Jesus on the cross. She is among the justified, as are those of us who have chosen Jesus, but now she knows true joy. The kind of joy that can only come from being in the presence of God.
So, why is it that we have such a hard time feeling even the smallest hint of that joy when we, who are left behind, think of our loved one. Humans fight to stay alive. Fight to keep our loved ones alive. Fight to win the battle against illness. But for what? Our earthly travels are filled with troubles. And yet, our very existance is a gift from God. I guess it really is about the circle of life. Every life has its beginning, its middle, and its end, which is really a new beginning, with no middle and no end. Eternity with God is an amazing day that never ends, in which we never tire, and darkness doesn't exist. Is there anything better than that?


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The Professor of Hot Dogs shows Jeffrey what goes into a Chicago dog.
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Commentary: Did Rick Perry veto Father's Day?
Most people give their dads neckties, expensive bottles of brown liquor, or the simple pleasure of an uninterrupted nap on the couch. Rick Perry likes to veto popular bills. In fact, Perry might have imperiled his potential re-election bid by vetoing anti-corruption funding, an equal pay measure, and a bill to protect the University of Texas from political interference. Getting less attention—but guaranteeing more harm—is his veto of a bill to ease testing in elementary and middle schools. [Read More]


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you, me and the other – YOU
Accion!MAD, Off Limits, Madrid, 2011
please click on images to enlarge. Photo credit: Essi Kausalainen
As part of my costume I had put soil in my stockings under my feet, and a zipped "pocket" on my belly with teacups and plates inside. Around my neck I wore a chain with a teacup with a mirror inside.
As the performance started, I had placed myself in an awkward upside down position against the wall. I began to switch on small mechanical bugs with broken teacups attached on their backs, and sent them out into the space. I got up with my back to the audience, and stretched my arms backwards as far as could reach, attempting to grab what was behind me. I picked up a bicycle pump, and opened and closed it above my head as I blew in a whistle. I swung the pump around in my hands as I walked around the space, close to the audience. I went up to audience members, smiled, and lured them up of their seat. I touched the inside of the palm of their friend or partner with my finger. I took the hand of the one who was standing and led him or her to the other side of the space. This continued until quite a large group had been moved. I went to the middle of the space, alternately facing the each group, as I stretched out my arms as far forward as I could reach, trying to grab what was in front of me. Then I closed my fists, and with an aggressive movement hit the plates and cups on my belly. I repeated stretching out and hitting my belly, again and again, as the audience got up and moved slowly closer to me. When they were really close, I stopped, and started jumping up and down. The chain around my neck broke, and the teacup crashed to the floor. I picked up my pump, and blew away soil that had come out of my stockings, clearing a little area on the floor. I stood there, laid down my pump, and took off my face protection. Slowly I started opening the zipper on my belly, until the "pocket" with cups and plates fell to the floor and crashed. With a gaping hole on my belly I thanked my audience and left.
Performance duration: 10 mins
Materials: costume, face protection, teacups and plates, mirror, whistle, soil, bicycle pump, mechanical toy bugs, audience
Curator: Nieves Correa
Supported by Office of Contemporary Art Norway


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How Acoustic Echo Cancelling Really WorksIf you've ever been in an electronic meeting, class, or other activity involving multiple rooms, you've undoubtedly experienced acoustic echo ? you hear your own voice coming back to you through the 3/02/2006 5:26 AM Eastern
How Acoustic Echo Cancelling Really Works
If you've ever been in an electronic meeting, class, or other activity involving multiple rooms, you've undoubtedly experienced acoustic echo ? you hear your own voice coming back to you through the audio system, sometimes with significant delay. The problem can range from a simple annoyance to a full-fledged meeting killer. That's why controlling echo is such a major consideration in most conferencing applications.
If you've ever been in an electronic meeting, class, or other activity involving multiple rooms, you've undoubtedly experienced acoustic echo — you hear your own voice coming back to you through the audio system, sometimes with significant delay. The problem can range from a simple annoyance to a full-fledged meeting killer. That's why controlling echo is such a major consideration in most conferencing applications.
Fig. 1. Acoustic echo between two rooms.
Fortunately, electronic devices known as "acoustic echo cancellers," or AECs, are readily available. Because there's some extremely complex electronic signal processing behind these devices, including proprietary algorithms used to compute speech models, understanding their operation can seem quite complicated. Let's break down how echo cancelling really works to help clear up any confusion.Technical overview
There are many types of echo at play in AV systems, including in-room reverberation, telephone line echo, and acoustic echo.
"Reverberation" is caused by room acoustics and refers to sounds that bounce off hard surfaces in a room, creating multiple reflections of the original audio signal. The more audio reflections measured in a room, the more reverberant it is. Highly reverberant rooms can reduce intelligibility of speech in both the local room and the speech transmitted to the far-end sites — and have a direct effect on acoustic echo.
Sometimes confused with acoustic echo, "telephone line echo" refers to reflections of speech via transmission lines, such as telephone lines, and is usually caused by impedance mismatches in the transmission line. The most common example of line echo is the side tone you hear when you talk into a telephone handset. Your telephone intentionally adds some sidetone so you have some feedback that the telephone is working properly. The line echoes are removed with a line echo canceller, or LEC, which uses digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry similar to an AEC to remove the reflected speech on the line. LECs are relatively simple devices because the nature of the echo isn't very complex. You'll typically find LECs in telephone equipment, including telephone hybrids used in conferencing applications.
"Acoustic echo" heard in the remote room is defined as acoustic pickup of the remote audio in the local room and the re-transmission of that audio back to the remote room. Commonly found in situations involving open microphones and loudspeakers, such as full-duplex speakerphones, meeting rooms, or classrooms, it only occurs when two or more sites are communicating. In order for acoustic echo to occur, a microphone must pick up audio from a loudspeaker and then send that audio back to its originating site. This can be direct (straight path) acoustic pickup or pickup after one or more reflections off hard surfaces. Even if there are no hard surfaces (i.e. a "dead" room), acoustic echo can still occur via straight path pickup.
As shown in Fig. 1, audio received from the remote end (Room A) appears on loudspeakers in the local room (Room B). This audio is then picked up by microphones in the room, sometimes after bouncing around the room several times, and is then retransmitted back to the "far" end (Room A). It's important to note that acoustic echo heard by the far end is caused by conditions in the "near" or "local" room, but it only affects the participants in the far room — the ones hearing their own voices echoed back to them. In real-world applications, each room in a conferencing network will create acoustic echo that can affect all of the other rooms.
Figure 1: Acoustic echo between two rooms.
An AEC uses digital signal processing to identify audio entering the acoustic space of a local room via codec, phone line, or other connection. Before reaching the room's loudspeakers, this audio is used as a reference signal in the AEC. The device then uses this information to subtract out signals that match this "reference" signal from the audio signal picked up by the microphones. The resulting signal is then transmitted back to the remote site. The amount of attenuation is measured in dB and is referred to either as echo return loss enhancement (ERLE) or simply as AEC performance.
The higher the number in decibels, the more echo is removed from the outbound signal. While this sounds relatively simple, in reality it's much more challenging. The AEC must be able to do the following: adequately remove the echo without adversely impacting the local talker's audio that is to be transmitted to the remote site; identify and then remove multiple acoustic reflections of the reference signal; identify and then remove delayed versions of the reference signal; and quickly "adapt" to a room and then re-adapt when the room conditions invariably change as people move around or volume levels change.
As you can see in Fig. 2, by placing an AEC in the local room (Room B), audio received from the far room (Room A) isn't included in the signal being sent back to Room A from Room B.
Several companies, including Polycom, ClearOne, Tandberg, Sony, Biamp, and Symetrix, manufacture AECs for conferencing applications. Some are standalone devices; others are incorporated into audio- and videoconferencing systems. However, AEC performance and features vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and products should be carefully compared by the consultant or integrator to ensure the appropriate match to the end-user's requirements, which are determined by room size, number of microphones, and acoustic characteristics.
Most AECs operate by means of an adaptive least mean square (LMS) or digital filter. This is a "self-learning" filter that uses one or more DSPs to continuously adapt its output based on varying input. Fig. 3 shows a simplified block diagram of an AEC. Audio entering the system via the codec or other device along with local room "program sources" (such as a DVD player) is digitized and then sampled by the DSP. This sampled audio becomes the reference signal used by the LMS filter. Audio that is to be sent to the far-end location is also digitized and then compared to the reference signal. The filter analyzes the two signals, estimates the echo, and uses its estimate to filter out echoes of the reference signal, creating the final outbound signal. The filter continually repeats this process, improving the echo estimation with each repetition and eventually achieving the proper amount of ERLE for the room. However, because the reference signal — normally human speech — is always changing, the filter must continually change its echo estimation and "keep up" with the incoming audio.
Once audio leaves the loudspeaker(s), it can be directly picked up by the microphone(s) or bounced around the room several times via walls and other hard surfaces before being picked up. Because the speed of sound is so much slower than that of electronic signals, (which essentially travel at the speed of light) direct and bounced signals will arrive at the microphone(s) at different times. As a result, the reference (incoming) audio may enter the LMS filter many milliseconds before the filter "sees" the same audio coming back. Therefore, echo cancellers provide a specification of "tail time," which is the length of time the reference signal will be compared with the signal received via microphones and used for the echo estimation. If an AEC has a "tail time" shorter than the length of the longest echo, echoes will still be heard at the originating site.
A good formula for calculating the tail time needed by the AEC is:
T = (N + 1) x d / c
- T is the tail length of the echo canceller in milliseconds
- N is the number of reflections cancelled
- d is the longest distance between walls in meters or feet
- c is the speed of sound (343 meters per second or 1,125 feet per second at room temperature).
This equation assumes that both the microphone and the speaker are mounted on the same surface (which will give you the worst case in terms of the number of reflections that will need to be cancelled). In that case, N must be an odd integer because the even reflections travel away from the microphone.
For example, consider a 10- by 20- by 30-foot conference room with very reflective surfaces that requires five echoes to be cancelled. In such a room, a tail time of 6 x 30 / 1,125 = 160 ms would be needed. Fig. 4 shows how those reflections travel across the room.
In basic terms, the more reverberant the room, the more times the audio will bounce around before being picked up by a microphone. This directly affects tail time as the AEC must be able to identify these multiple reflections of the same signal.
Another major consideration in choosing an AEC is its "convergence rate," or the speed at which the AEC adapts to room conditions and effectively removes echo. When first powered on, an adaptive filter has no information on the echoes that will be occurring in the room. Each time the filter runs through its process of comparing the reference signal with the signal appearing at the microphones, it learns more about the echo and is able to subtract more of the echo from the signal. The AEC is fully converged when the error at estimating echo (also known as prediction error) falls below a certain threshold. Convergence rates are measured in decibels per second. A convergence rate of 40 dB/second means the AEC will attenuate echoes by at least 40 dB within one second of receiving a new reference signal.
AEC convergence rates can often be measured using test tones or noise signals. Because a test tone is a steady-state signal, the AEC is able to converge very quickly using this measurement method. However, some systems are able to detect these test tones and simply attenuate the test signals rather than adapting — showing an apparent faster convergence. A far more accurate convergence rate specification would be one determined under real-world conditions, i.e. human speech. The real-world convergence rate is usually half that of the convergence to a steady-state signal. In other words, an echo canceller that converges at 40 dB/second on a steady-state tone may only converge at 20 dB/second on speech.
When DSP-based AECs were first introduced in the late 1980s, they used a burst of noise — sometimes quite lengthy — to give the LMS filter a jump-start in modeling the room (also known as "training" the AEC). Because the noise was completely predictable, assessing the number of echoes and their various delays was relatively easy. This method of converging to the room had two problems. First, it was extremely annoying to anyone who happened to be in the room when this "training" was taking place, so people would stay out of the room until the noise went away. The second problem occurred when people entered the room — the acoustic characteristics suddenly changed with the introduction of the bodies to the room. The AEC was no longer trained for the room's conditions. Users would find it necessary to "re-train" the system periodically during a meeting.
As technology progressed, and DSP algorithms improved, the training noise was eliminated by most manufacturers. Today, most AECs ramp up the echo cancellation by adapting on the remote talkers' speech over a few seconds' time. AECs may also use some level of attenuation on signals (approaching half duplex operation) to keep echoes at a minimum until the echo canceller converges well. AECs maintain their filter information from the prior time they were used, so echo is scarcely noticeable at the start of a meeting unless room conditions change considerably.
Manufacturers have also had to address another real-world problem in keeping the AEC converged. Participants in a meeting just won't sit still! As people get up and move around the room, the echo paths change. Therefore, the AEC can't be content with converging just one time — it must continually converge to keep bursts of echo from interfering with the meeting.
The number of microphones in the room can also present a challenge to the AEC. Multiple microphones, normally used in conjunction with automatic microphone mixers, provide better pickup of talkers and help control the overall sound of the room via gating and other functions. However, they also pick up audio reflections at different times. If the room is large enough and reverberant enough, and if the mix of all of the microphones is being fed into a single AEC, those multiple audio reflections may not be recognized by the AEC as matching the reference signal. As a result, some residual echo will be heard at the remote location.
Two manufacturers, Polycom and ClearOne, have resolved this situation by providing automatic microphone mixers that incorporate discrete AEC circuits on each of multiple microphone channels (up to 64). Biamp has two-channel AEC modules that can be added to its mixing system, and Symetrix offers a module for its DSP system that allows the user to incorporate up to eight channels of AEC. Individual channel echo cancelling has been demonstrated to provide more consistent performance in acoustically harsh conditions. However, for systems using fewer than four microphones or systems placed in rooms that have excellent acoustical treatment, a single-channel AEC behind an automatic microphone mixer can often provide satisfactory performance.
Figure 2: Acoustic echo cancellation between rooms.
When selecting an AEC for an installation, it's helpful to know how it performs under doubletalk (two or more sites are talking at the same time) conditions, how it deals with background noise in the room, and how much acoustical gain the system will handle before it breaks into feedback.
Some AECs don't deal well with doubletalk. An AEC can be in one of four different states, depending on which party is talking:
Local party quiet, remote party quiet —> idle
Local party quiet, remote party talking —> receive
Local party talking, remote party quiet —> transmit
Local party talking, remote party talking —> doubletalk
The most challenging state for the AEC is the doubletalk state, where both the local and remote parties are talking and trying to be heard. If the AEC isn't converged, there's the possibility of echo being sent back to the remote talkers. If the AEC compensates for this residual echo by attenuating the local audio to eliminate the echo, then the local talkers may not be heard by the remote talkers. There's usually a tradeoff required by the amount of full-duplex desired and the amount of residual echo (perceived loudness and duration) that's acceptable.
Most echo cancellers only adapt while in receive mode — when just the remote talkers are talking, and the local talkers are quiet. This allows the AEC to adapt very quickly.
While the four states above accurately describe the state of the echo canceller, it's important that the DSP algorithms accurately determine which state they're in. Choosing the wrong state could cause the echo canceller to diverge (increasing the echo to the remote parties) or to attenuate audio that should be sent to the remote parties (degrading the performance of the system). For best performance, choose an AEC that doesn't drop into half-duplex mode during doubletalk.
Another factor that affects AEC performance is the level of background noise in the room. An AEC needs to have a reasonably high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to function correctly. In order for speech to be intelligible from site to site, signals must be at least 25 dB louder than noise. There are many sources of noise in a meeting room, but the most notorious are HVAC systems and computer fans. If a microphone is placed near either of these noise sources, the noise will overpower any other audio that might be picked up by the microphone.
Figure 3: A simplified block diagram of an AEC.
In order to improve the quality of audio being sent from room to room (and improve AEC performance), several AEC manufacturers are now incorporating noise reduction algorithms (also called noise cancellation) in their products. These algorithms identify and significantly reduce steady-state signals that are picked up by microphones. Because noise reduction techniques vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, it's important to make sure that the noise reduction algorithm operates cleanly. It must not remove or distort the desired signal (audio from the local room talkers). It must also remove noise during idle periods in speech as well as active speech with no audible transitions between those states. A noise reducer that works well can make a huge difference in audio quality. Unfortunately, because these algorithms remove noise picked up by the microphones in the room so the noisy signal isn't transmitted to the remote party, the noise reducer does nothing to help the people in the local room who are stuck with the noise sources.
In noisy rooms, or in rooms where participants may have difficulty hearing, it may be necessary to increase the volume of the sound system so that local participants will be able to hear far sites more easily. Higher gain in the sound system makes conditions much more likely for acoustic coupling of loudspeakers and microphones, and can also make it more difficult for the AEC to perform, especially if the received audio (echoes) are "louder" at the AEC than local speech. If the gain becomes too high, the AEC will be overpowered. The state machine may make poor decisions such as thinking the system is in transmit mode when it should be in receive mode, and the system will allow acoustic echo to be sent to the remote participants. Some AECs are designed with a high gain-before-feedback specification. A higher acoustic gain specification on the AEC will make system design easier (loudspeaker-microphone placement will not be as critical) and will make the system more robust in real-world conditions.
Figure 4: Longest reflection path from speaker to microphone for five reflections.
Elaine Jones is principal of Elaine Jones Associates, a marketing/PR firm based in Salt Lake City. She has more than 20 years of experience working with companies that manufacture acoustic echo cancellation products. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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The University of New Mexico swim team captured a second-place finish at the inaugural American Swimming Association Open Water Swimming Collegiate National Championships held in Lake Travis, Texas. Sophomore Bridget O'Hara led the Lobos in the 5-Kilometer race with a third-place finish and a final time of 59:50.7.
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