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Our dependable heating and cooling systems work smarter to make sure your home is as comfortable as you want it to be.
Air Conditioners
Learn about air conditioning units by American Standard that offer energy savings for your home. Our central AC units improve comfort in every room.
Air Handlers
Circulate air in your home effectively with an air handler unit from American Standard. Each of our air handlers helps get warm and cool air to even the hardest-to-reach places in your house, ensuring comfort all year round.
Learn more about HVAC coils and find the perfect indoor coil for your home at American Standard. An HVAC coil provides heat transfer for your outdoor central air conditioner unit, keeping your home comfortable.
Keep your home comfortable with reliable furnaces from American Standard. We have a variety of options available, from natural gas furnaces to oil furnaces, that all provide energy-efficient, cost-effective warmth to your home.
Heat Pumps
Install an electric heat pump in your home to provide complete control over your home's temperature with help from American Standard. You can browse our huge selection of heat pumps to meet all your needs.
Learn about ultra-efficient geothermal heating and cooling systems from American Standard for eco-friendly and money-saving home comfort options.
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Experience the convenience of a packaged heating or packaged air conditioner system from American Standard. Some of our packaged HVAC units even contain all of your home heating and cooling needs, and our packaged air conditioning units conveniently cool your home all season long.
Get reliable heating and cooling with a ductless air conditioner and ductless heat pump from American Standard. Our ductless systems can heat or cool a room to perfection - all with the touch of a remote control.

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Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend
Deep, untamed flavors ripple through. Earthy, herbal and complex with a lingering spice. The scent is like a stroll through the forest just after a rain. This is the essence of coffees from Indonesia, and no other beans bring these flavors. Our master coffee blenders have done something remarkable. Knitting together the best pieces of the region's coffees perfectly—allowing each taste to shine through clearly. It is an experience that would otherwise never exist. And is as extraordinary and wild as its namesake.
Full-Bodied & Bold
Recipe for great coffee
- Use cold, filtered water and a clean machine.
- Grind beans just before brewing:
- Coarse for coffee press
- Medium for automatic drip
- Measure 2 tbsp (10 g) ground coffee for every 6 fl oz (180 ml) water.
To help preserve that fresh flavor, keep this bag sealed tight in a cabinet (not in the refrigerator) and brew within a week of opening.
Each coffee requires slightly different amounts of time and temperature during the roasting process to create a cup at its peak of aroma, acidity, body and flavor. We classify our coffees in three roast profiles so you can easily find your desired flavor and intensity.
- Blonde: Blonde-roasted coffees have a shorter roast time, lighter body and mellow flavors.
- Medium: Medium-roasted coffees are balanced with smooth and rich flavors.
- Dark: Dark-roasted coffees feature a fuller body and robust, bold flavors.
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Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
The dragon coffee is one of the two best ways to wake up in the morning. It has a rich, luscious flavor.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
This is by far the best coffee I've ever tasted. I love the Sumatra but now I'm a Komodo fan. I wish Starbucks would make this Komodo in a K-Cup. Please make the Komodo in a K-Cup.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
It has a rich taste, not as strong as I thought. I would definitely get it again.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
Great flavor. I would appreciate the convenience of having the product offered in ground form, but since I have a coffee grinder....
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
More flavorful than either Caffe Verona and Italian Roast. Also more affordable than it was a few years back.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
I can't wait to get my first cup of Komodo Dragon coffee in the morning! I buy whole beans and freshly grind it every brewing. My guests love it after a good supper and a few are buying it regularly now, as a result of tasting it here. Some people do not like it since it is a full bodied coffee, and those people are not allowed to drink coffee with me anymore! It is very easy to sit at my desktop and order 6 bags at a time and get free shipping. Best coffee for the money if you like a robust taste to your morning brew
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
I always add cream & sugar to every cup of coffee I drink. This coffee was so wonderful that I wouldn't dare mess it up by putting cream in it. The flavors were so full but not strong. It is honestly the most perfect blend I've ever tasted! In love!!
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
My absolute favorite in my French Press for 13 yrs! It is dark and delicious.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
When I first started visiting Starbucks in 2003, it was summer in NYC, and I fell in love with Caramel Frappacinos. Even if I had three a day I didn't gain weight, as my job - tech support in a law firm - kept me running all day.
It took until 2013 before I first had Komodo Dragon and I fell in love all over again!
Dragon is the best strong coffee without any bitterness or bad after taste.
I sent a pound of whole beans to a coffee connoisseur who makes his with a cold press and he's a convert.
It's the best ever!
Thanks for an incredible coffee.
Comments about Starbucks® Komodo Dragon® Blend:
I tried this for the first time recently and it's good, except where's the caffeine? Am I crazy or is this decaf or something? It tastes good but there is no caffeine. Maybe I'm immune to caffeine in this blend? What's up here? I suppose it would be a good coffee for going to bed, meditating or playing a prank on your best friend to make him think he's getting a pick-me-up - "NOT"!
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LeBron James Recognize NBA Tribute Highlights by Johnnyboy Films in HD on Streetball.
LeBron James new HD basketball tribute by Johnnyboy Films is called, Recognize. Watch the Legendary video of King James from high school to the NBA, his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, The Decision and his redemption. LeBron James was named the NBA 2012 MVP, the NBA Finals MVP won his first NBA Championship Ring in 2012.
Views: 522
Great high definition basketball tribute to LeBron James. He EARNED THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP and was deserving of the 2012 NBA Finals MVP and NBA 2011-12 MVP awards. Congrats Bron.
LeBron James is having the best year of his NBA career this year. LeBron is unstoppable and is the consummate team player.


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Today's editorial cartoon was inspired by our news report on Northwood Arts and Science Academy, a grant recipient for several thousands of dollars in books.
We think it's easy to see why this Cougar can't contain its excitement.
Ryan Massengill's cartoons featuring commentary on North Okaloosa County issues appear in each Wednesday edition of the Crestview News Bulletin and on CNB Online's Opinion page.


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Results tagged "lightroom"
35 Reasons You Can't Live Without Today's Updates to the Photoshop and Lightroom Family of Products
Today we release 35 exciting updates to Photoshop CC, Lightroom mobile, Lightroom web, Photoshop Sketch and Photoshop Mix that will change how you work with images, PSDs and drawings across your desktop and mobile devices. We can't wait to hear what you think. PHOTOSHOP First, we are thrilled to announce a new update to Photoshop… READ MORE
The Lightroom Team Volunteers with Gilda's Club Twin Cities
One of the reasons I love working for Adobe is that it's a company with a heart. On a daily basis, I work to perfect a program that helps photographers all over the world create their own brand of magic, but once in awhile we get to help those in need directly through the power… READ MORE
Behind the Login
Some of you have noticed the photography shown while logging into Lightroom mobile on the iPad. The Lightroom team includes many passionate photographers and we've used some of their photos to welcome you to this new application. Below are the images, the name of the team member, and their role.
Photoshop Photography Program Extended to Dec. 31 (UPDATE)
UPDATE: The Photoshop Photography Program is back for a limited time. Take advantage of the offer here. — We are delighted to announce that we are extending the period that the Photoshop Photography Program is available without restrictions to December 31, 2013. The offer is available to everyone, regardless of whether you have purchased a previous Adobe product. Sign… READ MORE
Customer Engagement in Focus at Photoshop World 2013
We're wrapping up Day 3 of Photoshop World in Las Vegas, and it has been one of the most exciting shows to date! Here are some highlights: At the keynote on Day 1, we announced that our loyal customers who own a Photoshop CS3-CS6 license will be eligible to receive a Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5 bundle… READ MORE


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Sam quotes Ramana as saying "Reality is simply the loss of the ego".
To which Sam replies "In what sense can reality be 'simply the loss of the ego'? Does this reality include quasars and hantavirus?"
The basic principle of advaita (or non-duality) is that the only reality is undifferentiated changeless Being, which Ramana calls the Self.
That which is real does not change. That which changes is not real.
The entire manifested universe, including quasars and hantavirus, is always changing and thus has only a relative reality at best. Something may exist in the present moment, but there was a time when this thing did not exist and there will be a time when it no longer exists. Thus, according to advaita, it is not real.
Undifferentiated Being is permanent and changeless. Thus it is real. When we let go of our identification with the separate self then we rest in undifferentiated Being.
This is the sense in which reality is simply the loss of the ego.
"The mind is a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts arise because there is the thinker. The thinker is the ego. The ego, if sought, will automatically vanish."
To which Sam responds:
"Any attempt to make sense of such teachings in third-person, scientific terms quickly produces monstrosities. From the point of view of psychological science, for instance, the mind is not just a 'bundle of thoughts'".
Surely psychological science is just another bundle of thoughts. Whatever model we may have of the mind, all such models are simply bundles of thoughts.
Sam describes mindfulness as direct experience of whatever arises in the body or the mind. When we simply experience the mind, what do we experience? A thought, a space, another thought, a space, yet another thought, and so on. Some people have such active minds that the space between thoughts is minimal. For others, particularly those who can meditate, the space between thoughts may be quite prolonged. Our theories about the mind are not important - our actual experience of the mind is simply one thought at a time.
So Ramana Maharshi would seem to be correct. The mind is simply a bundle of thoughts. Let go of the thinker and the thoughts also disappear. Then there is silence.
He is also known for his politics and political thinking and writing. He has been an outspoken critic of US imperialism and notably has called the US the world's greatest terrorist state. Being so intelligent, so well read and able to form complex, well-structured arguments make his leftist-pacifist stance almost unassailable. He speaks very softly, in a manner that surely comes with supreme confidence, probably intended to demonstrate his own pacifist leadership style. Though, at this point he is getting downright elderly in physique, mentally he seems very sharp.
I haven't read much more than a few lines of Professor Chomsky's and I've listened to only short video clips. My son, whom I respect very much, introduced me to Prof Chomsky as a very compelling thinker. So, I was excited to try and learn something about him. I've come to understand how big a thinker Chomsky is.
A blog post I read chronicled an attempt by Sam Harris to enter into a dialogue with Prof Chomsky.
The attempt was a disaster. Though Dr. Harris was very polite, Prof Chomsky was plainly hostile in his attitude. Something was obviously wrong. By Prof Chomsky's verbal demeanor, clearly Dr. Harris had done or said something very wrong. Or, perhaps Prof Chomsky had some grudge-like feelings, perhaps due to Dr. Harris' very public stance on atheism. It was as if all was amiss because of some unforgivable transgression, made worse because Dr. Harris did not immediately acquiesce to Prof Chomsky's superior position or argument. Or, it could have been that Dr. Harris did not immediately apologize for some unstated offence. (I considered if the tactic of standing up to Prof Chomsky might have worked, like telling him to stuff it and to get off his high horse. It probably wouldn't have.) In his defense, Prof Chomsky re-iterated several times that Dr. Harris had failed to be honest. Sam is, after all, well known for being a scheisskopf liar.
The entire blog post was difficult to follow. Sam took a lot of abuse to attempt to engage in dialogue with the famous thinker. Prof Chomsky clearly acts intellectually and morally superior to Dr. Harris.
I get the impression that Prof Chomsky is really full of himself. He thinks he is too good to discuss his ideas with people who are merely smart enough to be engaging. He acts like he so good and smart that he doesn't have to be professional nor courteous to everyone. That is, he gets to pick and choose who to be civil with, and with whom he will patiently explain the faults and transgressions that have occurred. Prof Chomsky has obviously never been a physically big, dangerous guy. So, he doesn't have a clue how difficult it is to be the "big dangerous country" among all the little weak nations of the world.
So, he comes off as a puny, pissed off leftist - - even communist. He seems sorry that the Soviet Union imploded. With its demise he even seems willing to give Putin's Russia a chance. He seems to prefer anyone but those nasty Americans who just won't listen to him. Clearly he knows himself to be so much smarter than just about all of them. So, he's playing right into the hands of all the enemies of the US. Well, f' us. I'm amazed that he hasn't declared for the other side. I know ISIS would love to have him, probably for lunch.
He owes Sam an apology. But, I'm not sure such a thing is in his repartois.]]>
"You can't take credit for your talents, but it matters that you use them.
You can't really be blamed for your weaknesses, but it matters that you correct them…"
Hi there, I really find Sam Harris's explanation and concepts on free will fascinating. Most of what Harris says regarding the concept of free will makes sense to me.
However, now here my question:
If we do not really have free will, how does it matter that we use our talents?
It appears that Harris means using them actively, as in having a choice of using them versus not using them.
Wouldn't that be a form of (at least limited) free will then?
Same for weaknesses.
If we correct them actively, as in having a choice of correcting them, wouldn't that be a form of (at least limited) free will then?
Any response to help me understand is greatly appreciated!
If not, you may find http://www.wayoflight.net to be a good place to start. Have others found some other resources as well?]]>
I have found this book to be one of the most revelatory books about the human mind that I've ever read.
First of all, let me applaud Mr. Harris's succinct and clear writing style. I found some of his definitions and explanations to be brilliant:
"The feeling that we call 'I' is itself the product of thought. Having an ego is what it feels like to be thinking without knowing that you are thinking."
"One must be able to pay attention closely enough to glimpse what consciousness is like between thoughts—that is, prior to the arising of the next one. Consciousness does not feel like a self. Once one realizes this, the status of thoughts themselves, as transient expressions of consciousness, can be understood."
"The deeper purpose of meditation is to recognize that which is common to all states of experience, both pleasant and unpleasant. The goal is to realize those qualities that are intrinsic to consciousness in every present moment, no matter what arises to be noticed."
Waking Up is the culmination of over 20 years of meditative knowledge and experience by Mr. Harris. For those of us unable to spend a year in silent retreat, or even a week, this book gives us the experiences of someone who could. Harris has already done the spiritual footwork for us, and this is the fruit of his labors. Although he says that he is "not qualified to be anyone's guru," he is nonetheless acting the role of teacher and guide throughout most of this book.
At one point he reveals that "much of what I have written throughout this book represents my own effort to 'point out' the nature of awareness."
The term, to "point out," has a very specific meaning and relates to the highest practice of the Dzogchen school of Tibetan Buddhism.
And it is this "pointing out" which makes this book so extraordinary.
Between pages 134 and 149, Sam Harris takes us by the hand, and in a very orderly and skillful way, gives us a glimpse of our own consciousness. I believe Sam Harris is actually showing us the Dzogchen "pointing out instruction," but that he is using his own secular terminology and personal approach to do so. Since I have never had a Dzogchen master give me the pointing out instruction, I am only speculating about this. Nonetheless, by following the instructions Sam Harris gives us in the book, I believe that I did experience a few moments of what the Tibetan Buddhists call "rigpa," (Buddha-nature).
I recall reading the "Look for Your Head" instructions and suddenly finding myself in a clear, open, mind space. I looked around the room and felt great clarity and calm. I also had the odd experience of feeling the default center of awareness behind my eyes move forward and upward, as if my awareness was somehow outside my eyeballs and up around my forehead. I've wondered if this sensation is the origin of the so-called "third eye" or perhaps the reason why so many statues of the Buddha have a gem or pearl centered on his forehead?
I am currently reading Mindfullness by Michael Goldstein which discusses the Satipatthana Sutta teachings of the Buddha. In this passage, the Buddha instructs: "Here a bhikkhu, gone to the forest or to the root of a tree or to any empty hut, sits down; having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and establishes mindfulness in front of him, ever mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out…" I wonder if "establishing mindfulness in front" of oneself is the same experience I had while following Sam's exercise in "headlessness"?
I was in this rigpa mind state for only a few moments, when thoughts and feeling began to flood in. The first sensations were of recognition and a growing excitement. I believe I had experienced what the Buddha was pointing to all along. Consciousness was right there, out in the open, hiding in plain sight. I realized that all the endless lists in Buddhism were pointing to this simple state of awareness. Then, to my surprise, I began to get feelings of fear. I felt as if a door had been opened, and that I could step through it if I wanted to, but in doing so I would also be abandoning my old "self" of familiar thoughts and feelings. I felt hesitation. The rigpa state then disappeared.
However, it is not gone forever.
I've used the "headlessness" exercise many times and try to attempt it several times every day. Sometimes it's easy; other times I can't get out of my own way. When it does happen, it only lasts for a few moments, but those moments are moments of what I consider to be clear Mindfulness. The strong sense of my consciousness moving upward and outward has faded somewhat, however.
If anything, Waking Up has spotlighted what "Mindfulness" is all about. In a similar way to the way an artist trains himself to see negative space in a picture, meditation leads us to perceive the moments between thoughts. As with the artist, it is a subtle shift in perception.
I've also incorporated the "establishing mindfulness in front" into my daily meditation. I have found that my sense of spaciousness increases, and I've started using the term "headless" as a mental note to frame that experience when it occurs.
I have been practicing Vipassana Meditation for 8 years now. Reading Waking Up at this point in my practice has been very auspicious. It has clarified "the goal" of what meditation is leading towards. I still consider myself a practitioner of Mindfulness Meditation and not Dzogchen, but, in my own way, I am incorporating the two together. I am merging the experience Sam Harris showed me through his version of the pointing out exercise, with the Vipassana notion of Mindfulness. I believe that they are really the same experience.]]>
"I kept trying to chase that initial high."
"It was my escape, my solution."
"It's like a spiritual experience".
These statements are often heard in the rooms of recovery-and they do have merit. The physical component of addiction is by no means a small one-but physical addiction notwithstanding, there is the psychological element. That's not new, most are aware of this.
It is my experience, and my view of that experience, that the addict and/or alcoholic also unwittingly loses the 'self' when they are drunk and/or high. Most of us that have been addicted did not like the 'self' that we had created and been living with, hence the need to escape from that.
As Sam Harris has written and spoke about, the 'self' is the created image we have of ourSELVES made from past ideas, experiences, beliefs, conditioning, etc. As he describes, it is the thinker that lives behind our eyes. And that transcendence can occur when we become for a period of time unaware of that thinker-when we are in a state where there is no separation of mind and body and external and internal actions. Some achieve this via sports: the surfer whom is not thinking but is one with the waves and the sun and the wind. Via orgasm: in that moment there is no thinker. Via meditation: when one is in a state where the mind is not directing, reacting, expecting, etc. And some via drugs and alcohol.
Of course I felt good hen I drank-though ironically it was killing me. But at that time in my life, I felt I was crazier sober than I was drunk. It wreaked havoc, my alcoholism did. I almost died, I lost everything including family and dignity.
But it wasn't only to feel good, or get relief (that's part of it). It was not just the physical addiction.
I see now that it was…to escape the 'self'-not realizing that the 'self' that I created is an illusion. I thought…this is whom I am: I am the sum of all my experiences and all I have done and I am chained to that. And how awful!
When I was drunk, I did not feel apart from the world, I did not feel the past or future, I did not identify with self so much. There was no separation between the body and the mind (and quite frankly, everything else physically around me).
I was dying because of my physical addictions, and because of the base urge deep within to escape the created self.
Being sober now, for me, means more than just being dry and clean. It has meant understanding that the awareness of the illusion of self equals the complete dissolution of suffering and pain. (Not that I always am in this awareness perfectly!).
For instance, when I find myself feeling hurt, or slighted, or resentful-I of course feel badly. And because I drank to change the way that I feel-that's a problem. But when I remember that the self is an illusion, I can see how it is that very same self/illusion/created identity that is actually threatened and hurt. And that tells me to look at why that is so, to acknowledge that the perceived slight or injury really is only hurting and threatening a false sense of self. Often that simple awareness dissolves any detrimental feelings, making escape or relief or forgiveness unnecessary. And often I meditate to be in a state where I am not connected to the "I". The perceived need for drugs or alcohol is sublimated.
The seeking of something deeper, the seeking (even subconsciously) of something akin to some sort of spiritual experience, is really just a movement to escape one's created identity, to not be 'my' story, because I can't stand that story and identity.
But knowing and experiencing that state in which there is no story, there is no identity, has been more real and more fulfilling than any high or any drunk I have ever had.
I hope I do not give the impression that 'I' am so completely free of the 'I'....non non. I am perfectly imperfect. Yet there is some awareness now, which is growing.
I've done the 12 step route and stayed sober for three years before-but I was miserable. I could not believe in a god, and I could not abide the doctrine. And I still felt like the self that I had created-the bad person, the alcoholic, was the truth of me. And I drank again. After the last time, almost dying, I knew that something had to happen. And it had to be valid and real and not some created belief in a spiritual deity that would 'save' me.
I've been sober, happily so, for a year now and it has been due to seeing not just the truth of things-but the lie of things. The falsehoods I told myself, the ego/mind that creates and feeds itself, the ideas and beliefs all bound together with a created identity.
I meditate often, but that is not the only time I feel free of self. It can happen with simple awareness, in the midst of being simply present and interested in wholly the activity, task, or person at hand.
In the rooms of recovery we are often told that the problem is not drinking-that we are the problem. And that we have to change. I tried really hard to change, but didn't know it was the created self that was making that effort-so by dint of that, nothing inwardly really changed. I only created a new version of that self-" I AM the alcoholic". Which only served to create a whole new set of beliefs and ideas. And when I voiced concern about the fact that I didn't feel changed, I was told it was because I was not turning it over to a higher power.
How does that affect any change within? That only is the false self creating a new belief!
And beliefs are not certainties.
Experiencing the very real state in which I am no longer-for a period-my ego identity-has provided me with the very thing that keeps me sober, in fact it is not even a struggle to be so. It tells me that I do not have to be chained to the suffering of the ego, therefore I do not require the illusory and temporary escape via alcohol and drugs.
One might say that how do I know it is not just a more cunning version of self that has created this experience in which I can transcend for a time?
Can't prove it to you. But I do know that I am sober-and more importantly, contentedly sober. I do know that in those times I am free, and I carry that remembered awareness with me, and when I fall asleep to all that it is achievable to wake up again, and again.
I am not the alcoholic, I am the I created-and the alcoholism is a byproduct of that.]]>
I remain very skeptical about many of the particulars surrounding meditation. I can immedately appreciate the benefits of "mindfulness", but I can't grasp the more fantastic claims such as enlightenment and losing the experience of self. I simply have no experience of these.
I am curious about this and I am prepared to make an honest attempt to experience the "illusion" of self. However, I found that the book has hampered my confidence in this regard. It has succeeded in opening my eyes to the possibility of the self being an illusion, but I ended up feeling that the actual experience of this might not be realistic for the majority of people.
The reason I lack confidence having read the book is because of the many accounts Sam Harris makes of extended periods of dedicated medication under the supervision of people who have dedicated their entire lives to it. There is simply no possibility that I could ever match the experience of meditation that Sam Harris has had, and given the nature of the practice that he describes in the book I am left with doubts that a person who works a full time job, as well as a busy private life, can realistically achieve - even to some lesser extent - what he claims to have achieved.
So the question I have, having read Sam's book, is:
What can a normal person, subject to typical constraints of a busy western life, realistically achieve with the practice of meditation? Is it realistic to think that anybody can catch a glimpse of the illusion of self described in this book? Or is there a pre-requisite commitment to meditation that is only realistic for somebody who is able to spend significant time with one-to-one tutoring under the right person(s)?
You didn't happen to mention the calamitous Jewish nation-state law. I'd also like to know if ISIS is encouraging secularism in the Muslim world?
One thing your statistics don't seem to take into account is apathy. Should the apathetic be counted? It would be a better guess that 80% of all who say they don't believe or participate don't even care about such things in the first place. So many people are too busy these days with their smartphones and music, with their jobs and businesses, and with their sports teams.
Secularism should mean and imply those who are informed, concerned and responsible. Secularists who are successful in business, politics and the professions should be its leaders. That's what Sunday Assembly seems to be lacking.
What the world desperately needs is an Islamic reformation that is based on social and legal secularist principles. Such a reformation should apply to all, not limited to, but particularly including parents and teachers of children, clergy, business and political leaders and soldiers.
1. Muslims must be free to come and go from the Islamic faith as anyone should from any belief. Threats or coercion should be illegal. Apostasy must no longer be a crime. Retribution for apostasy should be treated the way hate crimes are.
2. It must be illegal to wage or encourage violent jihad or war in the name of Islam, or in the cause of any belief in the supernatural. Such crimes are the equivalent of organized crime. Clergy who commit such crimes should treated like mob bosses. Those advocating violence from either the pulpit or at Friday prayers should be imprisoned.
3. Public law cannot be rooted in religious law. Violence against those who break religious law will now be illegal. For example, severing of limbs for thievery, stoning for adultery or homosexuality must be illegal.
4. Islamic Law cannot be used to govern the non-Islamic anywhere on Earth. Therefore, in all areas where Islam dominates, secular laws must be available to fairly govern all others.
5. The rights and responsibilities of both men and women must be identical under the law. Law must affect men and women equally. In particular, women must have the right to equal education. No one must be allowed to or forced to wear clothing that goes against the common requirements for safety and security in public places. No one should be permitted to beat anyone else, not even a wife or child.
6. Because the care and upbringing of children are particularly affected by these new secular laws, children must be protected from any coercion or compulsion to Islam or to any other religion. They must be free to believe whomever and whatever their heart desires and understands. Therefore, all laws applicable to children must be fundamentally secular.


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We do our best to keep the DMV hours and days of operation up to date. These can change frequently, We suggest confirming with your local office before your visit.
Rochester Mobile DMV Highland Park of Rochester, New York
DMV Phone Number(585) 753-1604
Services Provided at this DMV
- Driver's License
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- Disabled Services:
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DMV Office Hours
- Wednesday
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- 10:00am -3:30pm
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Written tests 10:00 to 2:30.
No CDL tests, enforcement, or in transit permits.
DMV Holidays
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This office may also close for other holidays including Election Day and the days after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please call the office to verify hours of operation or open/closed status.
Language Services
Customers with disabilities, and those with limited English ability, are encouraged to bring an assistant, translator, or assistive device with them to help facilitate exams and other transactions with this office.
DMV Payment Options
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- Rochester Mobile DMV- City Place 1.7 miles
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- Monroe Co. DMV Office - Irondequoit 5.4 miles


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Posted at: 02/28/2013 9:14 AM
Updated at: 02/28/2013 3:23 PM
By: Leslie Dyste
Crews responded to a deadly crash on Highway 36 between Lake Elmo and Stillwater around 6:15 a.m. Thursday.
According to the State Patrol, 42-year-old John Larson of Marine on St. Croix died in the crash.
Larson was headed eastbound on Highway 36 with a green arrow to turn onto Manning Avenue. As he went through the intersection, he was hit by a vehicle driven by Kenneth Tougaw of Bayport.
Tougaw was headed westbound on Highway 36. It's unclear if he was injured in the crash.
The westbound lane of Highway 36 was closed following the crash and has since reopened.
At this point additional details have not been released.


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Hightower Elementary School
Public School | Grades PK-5 | Dekalb County
Doraville, GA 30360
(678) 676-7302
About This School
Hightower Elementary School is located in Doraville, GA and is one of 94 elementary schools in Dekalb County School District. It is a public school that serves 654 students in grades PK-5. See Hightower Elementary School's test results to learn more about school performance.
In 2011, Hightower Elementary School had 15 students for every full-time equivalent teacher. The Georgia average is 15 students per full-time equivalent teacher.
In 2011, Hightower Elementary School had 15 students for every full-time equivalent teacher. The Georgia average is 15 students per full-time equivalent teacher.
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Student Ethnicity (2011)
Students (2011)
Students Per Teacher (2011)
Female/Male (2011)
46% 54%
Subsidized Lunch (2011)
District Spending (2010)
$10,319per student
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Grade 1 English Language Arts Performance
CRCT Results
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By a Parent on
i would never send my kids back to this school next year there staff is not helpful. They are not willing to help out with the kids they are just awlful.
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PublicEngines Announces New Crime Prediction Tool: CommandCentral Predictive™
New Product Enhances the Ability of Agencies to Predict and Prevent Crime
- Combines sophisticated predictive analytics in an easy-to-deploy cloud-based solution
- Provides detailed predictions directly to officers
- Represents extensive work with agencies to field test accuracy and develop product features
- From the leader in cloud-based crime analytics
Salt Lake City, Aug. 1, 2013 - PublicEngines™, the leading provider of cloud-based solutions that facilitate crime analysis, supply actionable intelligence, and increase community engagement for law enforcement and governments announced CommandCentral Predictive™, a highly accurate crime prediction tool designed to deliver daily reports to law enforcement officers to aid in predicting and preventing crime.
CommandCentral Predictive solves a major hurdle in most agencies: pushing actionable information to officers in the street. Recent surveys have shown that one of an analyst's primary responsibilities is to work directly with patrol staff on their tactical patrol needs. Yet many analysts don't have the time to support every officer and every beat with detailed analysis and direction on a daily basis. CommandCentral Predictive is designed to close the analyst to officer gap by providing a tool that focuses officers on high-probability crime areas and allows analysts to focus on deeper analytical work. CommandCentral Predictive is also ideal for agencies without a crime analyst as it automatically delivers accurate, actionable prediction reports on a daily basis in a way that officers can use.
CommandCentral Predictive uses a highly accurate and proven prediction engine to provide agencies a tool to be more efficient and effective in predicting and preventing crime. Officers can use daily prediction reports to help create directed patrol plans to maximize agency resources.
CommandCentral Predictive Key Points
- Highly accurate and proven predictive analytics engine
- Daily targeted area predictions delivered directly to officers
- Deployed in an easy-to-use, easy-to-install cloud-based solution
- Key product features built based on direct agency feedback
- Available Q3 2013
- Built with the same focus on simplicity and usability as PublicEngines' other products
"Most other crime analytics tools assume crime analysts have excess time to use them and work directly with officers in the field. We built this tool for both analysts and officers to use, and built it in a way that is easy-to-deploy," said William Kilmer, CEO of PublicEngines. "As we have been working with crime analysts and command staff on CommandCentral Predictive, all of the feedback we received was that this product would deliver exactly what they were looking for."
Additional details on CommandCentral Predictive features will be announced soon. Requests for a demonstration of CommandCentral Predictive and its capabilities can be made at the PublicEngines Website at www.PublicEngines.com.
About PublicEngines
PublicEngines develops easy-to-use, cloud-based software that helps law enforcement, government, defense, and other organizations gather, analyze, and share intelligence to improve public safety. Used by more than 2,000 organizations worldwide, our market-leading solutions are accessible wherever you are, and are easy-to-deploy with minimal training and no additional IT burden or expense. For more information visit www.publicengines.com.
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Verdant Tea: Selling Tea from Farm to Cup
We don't talk about tea the way we get to talk about coffee, at least in the U.S. In coffee, the idea of terroir has become something of a given. We seek out fresh beans and fresher roasts. We've started to care about the farmers who grow our beans, how they're treated, and how they treat their crops. Tea, by comparison, gets stuck on the shelf: dried, stable, static. David Duckler and his small team at Verdant Tea are looking to change that conversation, selecting and selling quality tea the way chefs work with farmers at the market. More


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August 17, 2013
Family fun races are part of the annual festival, which continues today.
Stories this photo appears in:
Finding their hoppy place
The 33rd Annual Muddy Frogwater Festival in Milton-Freewater's Yantis Park happened Saturday and continues today.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


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William Safire, R.I.P.
Speechwriter, author and famous New York Times columnist William Safire has just died of pancreatic cancer.
I don't always agree with Safire's politics, but I've always found his writings to be intriguing and worth the read (not to mention rib-ticklin' when he got going with alliterations)
In memory of Safire, here's my favorite "Rules for Writers," from the man who came up with such gems as "nattering nabobs of negativism" and "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history":
- Remember to never split an infinitive.
- The passive voice should never be used.
- Do not put statements in the negative form.
- Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
- Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
- If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
- A writer must not shift your point of view.
- And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
- Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
- Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
- Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
- If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
- Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
- Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
- Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
- Always pick on the correct idiom.
- The adverb always follows the verb.
- Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.
William Safire, R.I.P.
Link: NY Times Obit
Newest 5 Comments
I understand that some of what Bill wrote and supported might have been evil; but please it would be nice if people like Rick remembered that Bill has a family. A family that has to grieve and deal with his death. You are disrespectful and juvenile.
I always thought his most famous contributions to speechwriting were pretty juvenile stuff, really.
Alliteration? I got over my affection for that before then end of fifth grade.
Hearing someone actually speak some of his phrases out loud as if they were serious has always reduced my opinion of the speaker.
Alliteration? I got over my affection for that before then end of fifth grade.
Hearing someone actually speak some of his phrases out loud as if they were serious has always reduced my opinion of the speaker.
good riddance, rick said it right
William Safire was a warmongering bloodthirsty psychopath who enjoyed watching bombs drop on women and children. If there is a God, guess where he is right now.
I see how all the rules breaks itself except for "Verbs have to agree with their subjects." In order for that rule to break itself, wouldn't it need to be something like "Every one of the verbs have to agree with their subjects."? It's driving me crazy.


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In Preparation for Thanksgiving November 19, 2011Posted by truthspew in Uncategorized.
So we did our annual Thanksgiving grocery run today.
Two of the dishes I'm making for this year are Butternut Marscarpone Gnocchi from Foodwishes. The other is a Maple Custard dessert.
The latter requires, or at least calls for Grade B Maple Syrup. Tried Wally World, nope, Trader Joe's, nope. So on a lark I thought, lets hit Whole Foods.
A quart of Grade B Maple Syrup is $17.99 but let me tell you, it's WELL worth it.
What we all know as Maple Syrup is mostly Grade A. It's less viscous and more mild than Grade B.
But Grade B – if you've ever had maple sugar candy, you know what Grade B tastes like. Good stuff! I cannot wait to make those custards.
- 1. Frank - November 20, 2011
I'm pretty sure Ocean State Job Lot has grade B syrup. Still too expensive for me. But I buy lots of different food items there. Butternut mascarpone gnocchi? My grandmother is presently turning in her grave. Bur seriously, sounds interesting…


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One of the main men involved in contemporary Formula One, Paul Hembery is the Motorsport Director of Pirelli. His tyres are one of the principle factors behind the competitive, tight and exciting racing we see every racing weekend. He joined Pirelli in 1992 and became the Motorsport Director in 2001. After being heavily involved with the World Rally Championship, he focused his efforts to Formula One. Pirelli were given 6 months to recreate the close racing witnessed during the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix thanks to fast degrading tyres and they delivered in 2011.
I'm very pleased and humbled to have had the opportunity to ask him a few questions regarding tyres, the current state of F1 and his interests and to bring this to you all, my readers.
Q: How much of a challenge is it to produce just 4 compounds of tyres for the vast variety of tracks we have during the season? I feel you often get unfairly criticised that the tyres are too soft at high degradation tracks like Malaysia and too hard on tracks like Monaco.
PH: "It is difficult, but that was the challenge we accepted at the start of the year and we knew how it was going to be. In the end, every element of Formula One engineering comes down to some form of compromise – tyres are no exception – but we think we have fulfilled the brief that we were given, and helped deliver some great racing at the same time."
Q: How much do you think the technical changes to this year, such as the loss of blown diffusers and the addition of a strict weight distribution clause, have had an impact on tyre performance?
PH: "We think that the rules have had a profound effect on the cars in general. If you look at how close the midfield in particular is this year, it's astonishing. The result is that nobody is managing to dominate. The intrinsic closeness of the cars means that every variable parameter is magnified and that's certainly the case for the tyres."
Q: At this moment, none of the teams appear to have a sound understand of this year's tyres. Can you help teams better understand the tyres and if so, how?
PH: "We have a close dialogue with all the teams and a constant exchange of information. The teams understand the tyres pretty well, but with the cars being as closely-matched as they are now, they are constantly looking for more data and ideas as to how they can take a bigger advantage from tyres and strategy – and we do our best to help them with that."
Q: Like all the teams, you are constantly working on and improving the tyres. How valuable is it to have your own testing car and test drivers for their input?
PH: "It's essential. The opportunities for in-season testing are so limited that we would never accumulate the depth of information we need unless we had our own programme. In Lucas di Grassi and Jaime Alguersuari we have two excellent test drivers, and they have already given us some interesting ideas and feedback."
Q: I've always wondered this, what happens to the lot of tyres, used and unused after a Grand Prix weekend?
PH: "All the used tyres are recycled at a specialised facility in the UK, along with the unused tyres that have been mounted on rims – as they cannot be used again once they are mounted. The unused tyres that have not been mounted on rims can be used again."
Q: How do you prepare for new tracks such as India last year and Austin this year?
PH: "As soon as possible we are sent asphalt samples and this helps us to have an idea of the likely abrasion levels of the circuit and construct a simulated model of the layout in order for our engineers to calculate likely levels of wear and degradation. With a new circuit, we would also normally send some of our engineers for a site visit a few months before the race in order to validate the findings and collect the most recent information."
Q: If possible, I'd love to know if you know what to Sebastian Vettel's tyre at Abu Dhabi last year? I watched the interview with you on TheFlyingLap with Peter Windsor but couldn't find onboard footage from Jenson's car as you suggested!
PH: "We carried out a full investigation together with Red Bull, and we're both satisfied that it wasn't a tyre failure, although it's hard to pinpoint the exact reason with 100% certainty."
Q: Lastly, what are some of your own hobbies and interests outside F1? From your Twitter account, I gather you do like your football!
PH: "I'm a big fan of Bristol City, my home team in England, but I'm not around to watch them as often as I would like in person!"
I'd like to thank Paul Hembery for giving me this opportunity. He has great interaction with the fans who love the sport which is a rarity for a man right at the deep end of Formula One. He answers all sorts of questions on his twitter account, which I'm sure I can say for all fans, is highly appreciated. On top of that, he's incredibly nice and I recommend you go follow him on Twitter.
Incoming search terms:
- paul hembery


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They have a variety of Kinkade calendars
By Deb
from Dallas, Ga.
About Me Quality Oriented
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Comments about Thomas Kinkade Scripture Calendar:
I use the Kinkade calendars for wall decor. I have a wood trimmed Kinkade calendar holder, that I put this calendar in. It has to be a specific size, and Walter Drake always has the right size in a variety of Kinkade designs. Walter Drake also has very competitive prices. I always buy my Kinkade calendars from Walter Drake.
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During a lunch break at the SES NY Nitin Mangtani, Senior Product Manager, Enterprise Search, Google is telling us about their new site search services. The idea is to improve search options on sites. According to a research done by Google around 90% of those that have search options on their sites are unhappy with the results it brings.
Monthly Archives: March 2010 - Page 2
Better website search powered by Google
Kristjan Mar and Anne Kennedy interviewed at WebProNews
Reykjavik Internet Marketing Conference 2010 a huge success
The Internet Marketing Conference in Iceland RIMC 2010 was a huge success (sold out) with speakers from Econsultancy, Ericsson, Bing, Anomaly, Nordic eMarketing, Hunterlodge, CCP Games, Icelandair and more. The conference was on the 12th of March and lasted the whole day. You can read more about the conference at the PR Week blog.
Read the PR Week posts on the 2010 Reykjavik Internet Marketing Conference here:
RIMC 2010: Fake plastic trees
RIMC 2010: Earned media vs bought media
RIMC 2010: e-commerce and vintage bath tubs
RIMC 2010: I am here
PR Weeks Matt Cartmell blogged from the Reykjavik Internet Marketing Conference, where speakers will be discussing the hot issues of the web – be it online PR, social media or mobile marketing.


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At the Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry, faculty, grad students and undergraduates investigate together the properties of materials ranging from molecular structures and nanoparticles to DNA and high performance carbon fiber composites. The department offers a major, minor and elective courses for undergraduates, an acclerated B.A./M.S. for qualified Clark undergraduates, and a Ph.D. program.
Upcoming Events
Chemistry Seminar
Masters Seminar
Khaled Shennara, Graduate Student, Clark University
"Synthesis and Studies of Some Metal Complexes of Biologically Relevant Polyphenols"
Where: Sackler Science Center, Room S122 When: March 17, 2015 Time: 12:15


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We recommend:
San Francisco Swing home
This Website is designed as a clear entryway to swing and lindy hop dance resources in the San Francisco Bay area. It is meant to simplify and help you find what you need. This site is for anyone from the person who has not yet started swing dancing to the experienced swing, lindy hop, or blues dancer.San Francisco Swing Recommends these Albums and DVDs:
Swing Kids: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Big Band Era: 18 Greatest Hits
Swing Session
Lindy Hop For The Total Beginner
Swing Dancing 101 (Shawn Trautman Dance Instruction)
An overview of the swing dance and lindy hop scene in the Bay Area: There are lessons and dances in the San Francisco, South Bay, the East Bay / Oakland, and Sacramento. The swing dance scene in the Bay Area is amazing, people are very friendly, and there are many terrific places to start dancing. Here is a schedule of weekly and monthly swing and lindy hop dances in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Visit our Swing Dance Blog to find upcoming local / national swing events, features, and more:
You can find weekly San Francisco Bay Area dance events and classes here.
You can find nationwide swing, lindy hop, blues, and jazz dance events and classes here.
You can find swing, lindy hop, blues, and jazz classes and events outside the US here.
These are dance resources we recommend.
Top Swing Dance Events in the US 2008 - 2009
Why Learn East
Coast Swing and Lindy Hop Dancing
Stepping Into Swing Dance - With the Right Pair of Shoes
Dressing the Part of a Swing Dancer
Swing Dance and the Silver Screen
10 Top 5 Swing
Dance Retro Resources Online
Most Famous Lindy Hop Teachers in the world
About Blues Dancing
Here are the
best swing dance videos from Amazon.com.
12 Cities in the World to go Swing Dancing
10 Most Popular Dances
in the World
Dancing Can Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
The History of Swing Dancing - Swing dancing has a rich history of innovation and this article discusses that history.
The Difference Between East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop - This article talks about the many differences between East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and the Lindy Hop.
SFSwing email list - great email list you
can join to get plugged in to the swing community
How to Plan a Wedding Dance and Start Dancing - This book is about how to plan a wedding dance, step by step.


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Computer users access and/or execute a selected restricted function on a computer using a graphical user interface (GUI) by entering an iconic password that is defined by selecting two or more visual icons, called code icons, in a sequence called an iconic password sequence. The entered sequence is compared to a target sequence that represents the restricted function. If the entered sequence matches the target sequence, the user is permitted to execute/access the restricted function. The number of possible combinations in the target sequence, and therefore system security, can be increased by inputting both a code icon and a target site for one or more of the components of the target sequence.
1. A computer system with a computer memory and a central processing system operating under an operating system with a graphical user interface having icons representing various functions to be performed, said computer system being characterized by having a security code access system comprising:
a) code selection means including:
i) a plurality of code icons appearing of the graphical user interface,
ii) a plurality of target sites and
iii) selection means for use in a security process which includes selecting two or more code icons among the plurality of code icons in a selection sequence and moving them to at least one target site of the plurality of target sites,
b) a security code access sequence, including at least one target site, stored in the computer memory;
c) comparison means for comparing the selection sequence to the access sequence; and
d) a restricted function capable of being executed on the central processing unit only when the comparison means indicates that the selection sequence matches the access sequence so that access to and use of the restricted function is limited to users who select the code icons in the security code access sequence.
2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said at least one target site is one of said code icons.
3. The computer system of claim 1 including an additional icon other than a code icon and said target site is said additional icon.
4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the additional icon is not representative of said restricted function.
5. The computer system of claim 3 wherein said additional icon is a receptor tree icon.
6. The computer system of claim 3 wherein said additional icon is representative of the restricted function.
7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said selection means is means for dragging and dropping the code icons on said at least one target site.
8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein said at least one target site is receptor tree icon in which there are more receptor locations than the number of code icons in the selection sequence to be placed in the receptor locations to match the security code sequence.
9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein said security code sequence includes placing each code icons in only a preselected one of said receptor locations.
10. The computer system of claim 7 wherein said security code access sequence includes a subsequence involving placing in sequence one or more code icons on a target site and said security code sequence includes said subsequence combined with at least one more target site or one more code icon.
11. In a computer system with a computer memory and a central processing system operating under an operating system with a graphical user interface having icons representing various functions to be performed, said computer system being characterized by method for a security code access procedure comprising:
a) providing a plurality of code icons and target sites on said graphical user interface and having selection means for use in a selection process involving choosing two or more of the code icons and moving them to at least one of the target sites among the plurality of code icons and target sites in a selection sequence;
b) storing a sequence constituting a security access code of two or more code icons and at least one target site in the computer memory;
c) comparing the icons and at least one target site selected and the order of their selection in the selection sequence with the sequence constituting the security access code;
d) allowing access to a restricted function only when the comparison indicates that the icons selected and the order of their selection in the selection sequence matches the access sequence to limit access to the restricted function to users selecting the code icons in the access code sequence.
12. The method of claim 11 including dragging and dropping the selected code icons on the at least one target site in the selection sequence.
13. The method of claim 12 including using a receptor tree icon which has more receptor locations than the number of code icons in the selection sequence to be placed in the receptor locations to match the security code sequence.
14. The method of claim 13 including the placement of each code icons in only a preselected one of said receptor locations.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the security access code sequence includes a subsequence involving placing one or more code icons on a target site, wherein the security access code sequence includes combining said subsequence with at least one more target site or one more code icon in the security code sequence.
This invention relates to computer graphical user interfaces. More specifically, the invention relates to graphical user interface (GUI) allowing users to enter passwords using icons displayed on a computer screen.
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) provide ways for users of computers and other devices to effectively communicate with the computer. In GUIs, available applications and data sets are often represented by icons consisting of small graphical representations which can be selected by a user and moved on the screen. The selection of icons often takes the place of typing in a command using a keyboard in order to initiate a program. In general, icons are tiny on-screen symbols that simplify functions like the access to a program, command, or data file. Icons are usually activated or selected by moving a mouse-controlled cursor onto the icon and pressing a mouse button.
GUIs include graphical images on computer monitors and often consist of both icons and windows. (GUIs may also reside on the screens of televisions, kiosks, and automatic teller machines (ATMs).) A computer window is a portion of the graphical image that appears on the monitor and is dedicated to some specific purpose. Windows allow the user to treat the graphical images on the computer monitor like a desktop where various files can remain open simultaneously. The user can control the size, shape, and position of the windows.
In a drag-and-drop GUI, icons are selected and moved to a target icon to achieve a desired effect. For example, an icon representing a computer file stored on disk may be dragged over an icon containing an image of a printer in order to print the file, or dragged over an icon of a trash can to delete the file. A typical user's screen contains many icons, some of which may require additional validation before they can be used. For example, some of the data accessible using an icon representing employee records may be accessed by an employee, but only a manager with appropriate authority can access all of the information.
The prior art has addressed the initiation of secured or restricted functions. For example, (McLean, Pickover, and Winarski (1995) Access/Control Icons (Icons Keys) IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, 38(4): 407-408) describes the use of an icon, shaped like a "house key" or polygon, which, when dragged onto a "lock" section of another icon, allows a user to gain access to functions provided by the lock icon. A major limitation of this approach arises from the fact that a visible "house key" can be used by anyone who has access to the GUI desktop on which the "house key" is displayed. Prior art also includes (Pickover (1993) Computers and the Imagination, St. Martin's Press: New York, Chapter 58) which describes the use of a static picture (like a photograph of a farm) for password entry. For example, a computer may point to different parts of the photo (cow, barn, hay) in a particular order. This ordered picking constitutes a logon password.
Most prior art does not use the desktop environment on a GUI to provide a high level of security to restricted functions being accessed and/or executed on the computer system. Some prior art providing a "visual" log on procedure has the limitation of not allowing a user to specify a particular target application in a set of applications.
An object of this invention is an improved system and method for providing a high level of security when accessing restricted functions using a computer system.
Another object of this invention is an improved system and method for visually accessing secured or restricted functions represented on a GUI.
Another object of this invention is an improved system and method for accessing secured or restricted functions represented on a GUI without the use of a keyboard.
This invention permits computer users, using a graphical user interface (GUI), to access and/or execute a restricted function selected from two or more restricted functions on a computer by entering an iconic password that is defined by selecting two or more visual icons, called code icons, in a sequence called an iconic password sequence. The entered sequence is compared to a target sequence that represents the restricted function. If the entered sequence matches the target sequence, the user is permitted to execute/access the selected restricted function. Code icons can be selected by pointing with a selection device, dragging and dropping to a target site, touch input, or by other means like speech identification. Target sites can be arbitrary locations (e.g. invisible locations) on the GUI, target icons that represent the restricted function, receptor positions on a "tree icon," and/or other code icons. The number of possible combinations in the target sequence can be increased by inputting both a code icon and a target site for one or more of the components of the target sequence. Restricted functions can be selected by selecting a target icon that represents the restricted function along with the iconic password or by matching an entered iconic password sequence to a target sequence corresponding to the selected restricted function where the matched target sequence is on a list of one or more target sequences.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one preferred system embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a drawing of a system with GUIs displaying code icons and target icons.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of one preferred method of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data structure that defines the passwords for each icon.
FIG. 5 is a drawing of a GUI used to enter a self-referential iconic password.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the steps performed for a preferred version of the self-referential iconic password entry.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one typical preferred data structure that may be used to contain alphanumerical names for each restricted function requiring a password.
FIG. 8 is block diagram showing code icons dragged to positions in or on a "receptor tree".
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the steps performed for a preferred version of the receptor tree iconic password.
This invention permits users to use a graphical or visual, e.g., an iconic, passwords to access and/or execute restricted functions. These restricted functions can be represented on the GUI by one or more GUI objects 161 that include: icons 161 with static or animated graphics, text, multimedia presentations, and windows displaying TV broadcasts. GUI objects could also include three dimensional images, for example, those used in virtual reality applications. In one preferred embodiment, the restricted function is represented by a GUI object or target icon. The user is required to enter an iconic password in a particular sequence (iconic password sequence) that is the same as a target sequence associated with the restricted function before the system will access and/or execute the restricted function.
The present invention is capable of running on any general purpose computer system or computer controlled GUI (e.g. a television), including GUIs that have the ability to present multimedia and virtual reality information. One preferred embodiment is schematically represented in a block diagram in FIG. 1. A computer system 100 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 110, memory storage device 120, one or more monitors or graphical interfaces 130, and selection device 140 such as a mouse or speech recognition system 178. In one embodiment, a IBM RISC SYSTEM/6000 100 comprises a control processing unit (CPU) 110, memory storage device 120, one or more monitors 130, and a mouse 140. The mouse 140 may be used to select GUI objects 161, like icons 161. (Note that icons 161 include target icons 262 and code icons 160 described below.) On an IBM RISC System/6000 multiple monitors 130 can be controlled by multiple monitor adaptor cards 115 such as the IBM RISC System/6000 Color Graphics Display Adaptor. The computer system 100 may also have audio input/output capability 170. An ActionMedia II Display Adapter 175 (described in the IBM ActionMedia II Technical Reference) can be used for audio-video playback 170.
This invention 175 may also be used to display TV broadcasts/signals 190, e.g. "picture-in-picture" of TV broadcasts, and other full motion video and sound audio/visual on the monitors 130.
In addition, speech synthesis or speech recognition 178 may be provided. Recognition may take place using a IBM VoiceType Dictation Adapter.
In an alternative embodiment, the CPU 110 can be connected 112 via a network adaptor 177 to connect the system 100 to the network 111. Network adaptors 177 are well known. Three examples 177 include token ring adaptors, ethernet adaptors, and modems. The system 100 can be connected to other target monitors 130 through a client/server network (or LAN 111).
Systems that can be used to display graphical images, like icons and windows, are well known.
GUIs can be used to control any apparatus having a monitor. In the field of television (TV), channel selection can be performed by selecting an icon consisting of the animated video broadcast on a given channel frequency.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system 200 showing a GUI with icons 161 (see FIG. 1) including target icons 262 (optional) and code icons 160. Each target icon 262, optionally displayed on the GUI, represents a restricted function 280. The user uses a selection device (mouse) 140 to select one or more of the code icons 160 in a sequence 250, e.g. selecting code icon A first, code icon B second, and code icon C third. If the sequence 250 matches a target sequence (480 described below) assigned to the restricted function 280, the user is permitted to access the restricted function 280 and/or the system 100 is permitted to execute or executes the restricted function 280. Code icons 160 that are selected by the selection device are called selected code icons 204.
The code icons 160 may or may not be different from other icons 161 on the screen. For example, code icons 160 may look like ordinary application icons in order to heighten the security (user access to the restricted functions 280) of the system 100. Alternatively, code icons 160 may be distinguished (e.g. highlighted, blinking, special shape, special text, number) from the other icons on the GUI to facilitate usage.
The sequence 250 is defined by selecting the selected code icons 204 in any number of ways. In one preferred embodiment, the sequence 250 is defined by selecting the selected code icons 204 with the selection device 140 and dragging 205 each selected code icon 204 to a code target site 260 on the GUI (230, 240). For example, the code target site 260 might be the location of a target icon 262 representing the restricted function 280. In this example, the sequence 250 is the sequence of drags 205 of the selected code icons 204 to the target icon 262.
A restricted function 280 is a program and/or data file that requires the user to provide a password (e.g. target sequence 480 in FIG. 4) before the user can access the restricted function 280 or before the system 100 can execute the restricted function 280. The restricted function 280 requires a password (target sequence 480) if, for example, the name of the restricted function 280 is stored in a data file 273 as described later in the description for FIG. 4.
A target icon 262 is an icon displayed on the GUI that represents a restricted function 280. In some preferred embodiments, target icons 262 are not used. However, in other preferred embodiments, target icons are selected by the selection device 140 to designate which of two or more restricted functions 280 are to be accessed/executed before or after the user enters the sequence 250 of selected code icons 204 that matches the target sequence 480 of the restricted function 280 represented by the target icon. The target icons 262 that are selected by the selection device 140 are called selected target icons 265. Target icons 262 and/or selected target icons 265 can be specially designated 263, e.g. by highlighting. In addition, some of the icons 264 (either code icons 160 or target icons 262) may reside on remote monitor 240 connected to the same computer (local) or connected over a computer network 111.
Once a code icon 160 is selected 204, it may be dragged 205 to a restricted function and/or application 262 represented by a target icon 262. (Note that dragging the code icon 160 to the target icon 262 selects the target icon 265.) After the code icons 160 are selected and dragged in the proper sequence 250 to the target icon 262, the restricted function/application becomes accessible; that is, the restricted function 280 is performed, e.g. accessing a database, initiating a program, or placing an order.
The act of selecting a code and/or target icon may not be done by dragging 205, e.g. actually visibly move code icons 160 to target icon 262, but rather the selection of the icons may be static, where only the mouse driven cursor moves from code icons 160 to target icon 262. Alternatively, the mouse can select a target icon, i.e. a restricted function, and then merely point to the selected code icons in the proper sequence 250. By doing this, it becomes more difficult for an unauthorized person to observe the (iconic) password being entered by the icon selection. In virtual reality application, the selection can be done by touching, looking at, and/or pointing to one or more virtual objects in the virtual space.
The sequence 250 of selections (drags) 205 of specific code icons 160 comprises an "iconic password." A graphical indication of the degree to which an icon password is complete may be given by a graphical indicator 266 such as a thermometer-like symbol in which the interior color rises with each correct iconic password entry. Other indicators may be used, including: graphical dials, sliders, and icons which change size, shape, or color, and audible sounds including speech synthesis 178. The indicator can be used to assist people unfamiliar with password entry, e.g. children. Alternatively, the indicator 266 can be omitted.
The correct passwords to be used by the restricted function (280, target icon 262) are defined by the application program 270 residing in memory 271. The application program 270 may be the application represented by the target icon 262, or it may be a separate master program 276 which contains one or more passwords to be checked against. All appropriate application programs 270 may communicate with the master program to determine whether a proper password is entered. Alternatively, an encrypted data file 273 on disk 274 may contain one or more encrypted passwords, much like the "/etc/password" file encrypted passwords which is standard on UNIX systems to be checked by the application program 270 (master program 276.)
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps 300 performed for a preferred version of the iconic password entry executed by system 100 or 200.
In step 305, a selected target icon 265 is selected. The selected target icon 265 is selected by any selection method: e.g., pointing and clicking, dragging one or more selected code icons on a code target site 260 (e.g. the selected target icon 265), or by the application program 270 matching an entered iconic password to a target sequence 480 of a restricted function 280 as described below.
In step 310, the application program 270 checks the file in FIG. 4 to determine if a password is required for the restricted function 280 represented by the selected target icon 265. If the restricted function 280 name is not in the file, it does not require a password.
Step 320 detects the selections of a code icon 204. The detection of a selected code (dragged) icon 204 by the application program 270 is well known. For example, selection by a drag-and-drop interface is encoded using standard OS/2 PM programming, (Technical Library: Programming Guide Volume II Chapter 33). OS/2 will issue the following messages to an application program 270 when a selected code icon 204 is dragged and dropped on a code target site 260: DM-- DRAGOVER, DM-- DRAGLEAVE, DM-- DROP, DM-- DROPHELP. Generally, when an icon is dropped on code target site 260, the Operating System invokes that application with the name of the dropped object as a parameter. The code icon name may be an alphanumeric designator. However, in this invention, before a restricted function 280 (as identified in table 273) is permitted to execute, the proper sequence 250 of selected code icons 204 must be used, i.e., the iconic password must be entered.
In step 320, the application program 270 determines if the correct selected code icon 204 in the sequence 250 has been selected (dropped) by comparing the selected code icon name with an alphanumeric value in a target sequence position of the target sequence 480 of the restricted function 280. This comparison is done 341 for each selected code icon 204 in the entered sequence 250. If a graphical indicator 266 of the degree to which a password is complete is used, then this graphical indicator is sent a signal to update its appearance (step 330) after the comparison 320 is made.
If the password is complete 340, i.e., if the entered password matches a target sequence associated with the restricted function, then the application program 270 permits the restricted function 280 to be enabled 350, e.g. accessed and/or executed. Otherwise 341 the application program 270 waits for the next selected code icon 204 to be selected.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one typical preferred data structure 273 that is used to contain alphanumerical name 475 for each restricted function 280 having a target sequence 480. In one preferred embodiment, target sequences 480 are encrypted to prevent unauthorized use of the target sequences 480 in the data structure 273. Encryption and description in passwords is known to those skilled in the art. In the UNIX operating system, the coding scheme is one-way. In other words, there is no way to decode the encoded target sequence 480 to determine the iconic password to be entered to execute the restricted function 280. Therefore in order to test the iconic password sequence (e.g. generated by dragging icons) against the passwords 480, the entered sequence 250 is encoded and then the two encodings are compared in step 320.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment for increasing the number of possible combinations in the iconic password while still using a relatively small number of code icons. In this embodiment, one or more of the components of the iconic password comprise both a selected code icon 204 and a target site 260 on which the selected code icon is placed. In this embodiment, there does not have to be a single target site 260, or even a specific target site that represents the restricted function 280. In fact, icons on the GUI can alternate in function between being a target site 260 and a code icon 160.
For example, the code icons 160 are dragged 205 on top of one another rather than being dragged to the target site 260 (target icon 262) in order to create an iconic password. This is called a "self-referential icon password" (SRIP). For the SRIP, the application program 270 or the master iconic password manager 276 may determine whether the proper password has been entered in a correct sequence 250 of steps using process 300. However, here the correct sequence 250 includes both the selected code icons 204 and the target site 260 on which the selected code icon 204 is placed. This process can be repeated for one or more selected code icons 204 (target sites 260) as the sequence 250 is entered. Further, as the sequence is entered, the icons used as selected code icons 204 and the target sites 260 can change.
In an preferred embodiment, the application program 270 monitors each of the selected code icons 204 and the target site on which it was placed, i.e. pairs of icons (selected code icon and target site) are used in the entered sequence 250. If the sequence of selections 250 is correct 340, then the application is enabled 350.
Using this embodiment greatly increases the number of possible iconic passwords by using a minimal number of GUI icons. For example, a 5-icon iconic password created simply by selecting from three code icons in any particular order (without the drag-and-drop SRIP), produces 35 or 243 different passwords. However, using 5 drags in the SRIP, these same three code icons can potentially produce 35 25 or 7776 different passwords because each icon can be dragged to either of two other icons. If there are 10 code icons to choose from, 5 selections produces 100,000 different iconic passwords in the non SRIP case while producing 0.5904900�1010 different passwords in the SRIP case.
FIG. 5 shows one embodiment where the act of dragging 205 icon 510 on top of 520 and then 530 on top of 510 creates an SRIP password for the restricted function represented by icon 262. Graphical objects 561 may be used instead of two-dimensional icons 160 in a three-dimensional virtual reality environment.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the steps 600 performed for a preferred version of the self-referential iconic password entry executed by system 100 or 200.
Each time an SRIP code icon 510 is dropped on another SRIP code icon 520, then the alphanumerical names for 510 and 520 are sent 610 to the restricted function icon 262. Waiting application program 270 compares 620 the names with a table 700 containing a list of names 710 for each restricted function. This list of names constitutes a password which is entered by the drag-and-drop SRIP. (Table 700 is described below in the description of FIG. 7) If the names are correct for a particular restricted function represented by icon 262, it is enabled 630.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one typical preferred data structure 700 that may be used to contain alphanumerical names 710 for each restricted function requiring a password. In the SRIP, icon1 is dragged to icon2 (as described for FIG. 6) and the names of icon1 and icon 2 (720 and 730, respectively) are broadcast to the restricted function represented by icon 262 which compares these names with icon1 and icon2 (720 and 730, respectively) in the table. Additional pairs of icon names (e.g. 740 and 750) are compared until a password is complete.
When implementing the iconic password, the application program 270 needs to distinguish that an iconic password is being entered as opposed to drag-and-drop request used for other actions. Therefore, selected code icons that initiate specific actions should be avoided for the iconic passwords described above. For example, dragging a file icon on top of a trash can icon (representing a delete function) would not normally be part of an iconic password sequence to enable the deletion of files. Instead, code icons 160 would be specific icons not normally received by the restricted function icon 263.
FIG. 8 is block diagram of another embodiment in which code icons 160 are dragged 205 to positions 810 in or on a "receptor tree" 620. A receptor tree 620 is any graphical image to which icons can be dragged. In a preferred embodiment, the drop positions 810 are visually distinguished, such as with a cutout 820 so that the plurality of possible receptor positions 810 is evident to the user. The act of dragging code icons 160 into the appropriate positions 810 on the receptor tree 860 constitutes a "receptor tree iconic password" 830. A receptor tree may be colored, 3-dimensional, and animated. Note that some or all of the receptor positions 810 may be filled. Further, a first receptor position 840 can be filled with a first icon and then later that icon can be moved to a second receptor position 850. This allows for complicated passwords to be entered with relatively few icons 160 and receptor positions 810. Even icons with specific actions, e.g. a trash can, can be used in this receptor tree 620 embodiment because the specific action will not be invoked when the icon representing the specific action is placed in one of the receptor positions 810.
In a virtual reality space, a "virtual tree" can be created as a virtual object. For example, virtual objects can be placed in drop positions 810 of the virtual tree, e.g., by setting a table (the virtual tree), decorating the virtual tree, etc. In these applications the virtual tree can be animated and/or change with time.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the steps 900 performed for a preferred version of the receptor tree iconic password executed by system 100 or 200. If an application 270 requires 910 a password, it waits for a code icon 160 to be dragged into receptor tree 860. In step 920, the tree determines if an icon has been dropped by methods described in the explanation for FIG. 3. The code icon's drop position 810 is determined in step 930 by known graphical methods, and if 940 it is in a "correct" position, a signal is sent to the percent complete graphical indicator 266 so that it is graphically updated 950 (optional). When the password is complete 960 then the restricted function represented by icon 262 is enabled 970. Otherwise 980 the application program waits for the next correct code icon 160 to be dropped into the tree (step 920.) It is possible to determine in step 940 whether the correct code icon 160 is in the appropriate receptor position 810 because each restricted function (denoted by icon 262) may contain a table in memory that lists valid receptor positions. These positions are made available to the receptor tree software using methods of interprocess communication known to those skilled in operating system programming. In addition to appropriate position 810, the receptor tree software determines if the correct icon 160 is in place by comparing the code icon name with an alphanumeric value in the restricted function's memory. Of course, such tables of values may also exist as encrypted value on disk and can be accessed accordingly.
The data file(s) 273 can be made portable and moved from machine to machine or otherwise used to customize a machine's GUI for a particular user, or to provide a common "base" data file for a company or organization. The data file (or shared memory file) can accessed across a LAN, WAN, or other network. For example, in the UNIX operating system, it is standard procedure to access remote file systems via NFS (network file system) protocols. In particular, remote files can be accessible via "loctl() function" calls.
There are many applications of the iconic password system. Consider a TV home shopping system where a parent may order certain items by dragging and dropping a sequence of icons on top of an iconic representation of a product or on top of an icon receptor tree with a pictorial representation of the product. Children would be unable to order the product because, although they may see the password icons on the screen, they will not know the sequence to use them in. The icons may be presented in a random arrangement on the screen each time they appear if desired. In this case the characteristic of the icon (e.g. color) determines the password, not the relative position in a sequence of icons.
Consider a TV movie distribution system. The parent drags and drops a sequence of icons on top of an iconic representation of a movie. The methods here would permit adults to order movies which children could not. In a similar way, access to the World Wide Web and/or other network available information (e.g. bulletin boards) can be controlled. For example, certain material available over the network would require an iconic password so that unauthorized users, e.g. children, would not have access.
This iconic password scheme is preferable to a keyboard password scheme in situations where the icons are readily accessible. If the icons are always presented in fixed locations on the screen, users may find that it is easier to remember a series of movements than a series of keystroke. It is also easier to grab a joystick or other graphical input device, in many cases, than to reach for a keyboard.
There are applications when a keyboard is inaccessible, or even totally removed from a system and the only way to enter the password is through the icons. There are several other situations where this idea may be useful. For example, in: medical operating theaters, the cockpit of an airplane, power-plants, cars, large scale manufacturing one may have access to the icons with no keyboard. In demonstration settings (e.g. museum exhibits) there may be no keyboard available. It is possible that the gross movements required in an iconic password are easier for people with certain manual dexterity deficits, since a keyboard password requires fine movements.
Since the drag-and-drop icons may be used at anytime (i.e. the system need not be prompting the user for a password if they are always on screen) the icons could permit a hidden request for a password to privileged users. In an application program, in the normal stream of events, several icons could be present. In the normal, user-friendly mode, the user would do as suggested: select an option, hit enter to continue, etc. At this point, if a user were to point to the proper icons in password order, then he could enter a totally different part of the application program. This is useful for system maintenance and debugging. This would also be a good way to differentiate classes of users without letting one class of users even know about other classes of users. In this capacity, this is a hidden password.
Icons with images on them may be more easily remembered then numerical passwords, and this could be `sold` as a user-friendly feature. It would be easier for the occasional user to remember a picture instead of random numbers/letters that we are so often presented with today. If an 8�8 grid of code icons were presented, choosing 10 icons in correct order would give P(64,10)=(64|/54|=5.5�10**17>258 ordered combinations. This number is vastly increased using the SRIP concept.
Given this disclosure alternative equivalent embodiments would become apparent to one skilled in the art. These embodiments are also within the contemplation of the inventors.
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To develop better lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for plug-in electric vehicles, researchers must integrate the advances made in exploratory battery materials and applied battery research into full battery systems for vehicles. The Vehicle Technologies Office's (VTO) Advanced Battery Development, System Analysis, and Testing activity focuses on developing battery cells and modules that result in significantly lower battery cost, longer life, and better performance to meet the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge's goal. VTO coordinates activities with the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a group run by the industry organization the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR). It also works directly with industry battery and material suppliers through competitive research and development awards. To understand how batteries work in general, see the Energy Basics page on Batteries. To learn how batteries are used in plug-in electric vehicles, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center's page on batteries.
Through the USABC, VTO supports a variety of research, testing, and benchmarking. The group helped develop a number of test procedure manuals, which are available from the USCAR Electrochemical Energy Storage Tech Team Website. Repeatable test procedures allow researchers to consistently evaluate batteries on key characteristics such as cycle life and abuse tolerance. Benchmark testing for batteries sets a base level to which companies can reliably compare their improvements on a constant basis.
VTO has also supported work to develop models that help researchers design and calculate potential costs of batteries. One major model is the bottom-up Battery Performance and Cost Model (BatPaC) at Argonne National Laboratory, which includes cost assumptions for materials chemistry, design, and manufacturing process. The free, public domain model is designed for policy makers and researchers to estimate costs once Li-ion batteries have reached a mature state of development and manufacturers are producing them at high volume. BatPaC has more accurate predictions than previous models and allows vehicle manufacturers to choose the best and smallest battery for the application. Based on expert recommendations of this model, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used BatPaC to develop its most recent round of fuel economy standards. In addition, work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) led to a multi-scale multi-dimensional framework for battery design that uses computer-aided engineering tools.
Other research supported by VTO has helped develop battery cells and modules that help reduce battery cost, increase battery life, and improve performance. Research focuses on reducing the cost of systems that manage the temperature of battery systems, increasing batteries' tolerance to abusive conditions, developing computer-aided engineering tools to design batteries, and improving sensors to monitor battery systems.
Through its work with industry, VTO has supported a number of breakthroughs in battery technology. Research VTO supported helped reduce production costs of automotive lithium-ion batteries by more than 50% since 2008, bringing the cost down from $600/kwh to less than $400/kwh. Battery cell specific capacity has also increased from 150 Wh/L in 2008 to more than 350 Wh/L while achieving more than 5,000 PHEV cycles and 1,000 EV cycles.
VTO's long-time commitment towards improving Li-ion batteries has already yielded significant results. Hybrid electric vehicles from BMW and Mercedes are using Li-ion technology developed under VTO-supported projects with Johnson Controls-Saft. VTO's past research in this area also helped develop the lithium-ion battery technology used in the Chevrolet Volt, the first commercially available PHEV. This technology is now being used in a variety of hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles coming on the market now and in the next few years, including the Ford Focus EV.


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McFarlane Toys' Announces First Sports Resin Statue
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