text:
Family Fun Series
Shows currently being booked - visit again soon to see complete listing of performances for 2012 season!
Friday, June 22
The Mad Scientist, 6:30 pm
Presenting the magic of science and chemistry, this silly, family favorite is back by popular demand! Audience participation is encouraged.
Friday, June 29
Nonosina, 6:30 pm
Saturday, July 14
Silk & Thunder, 6:30 pm
Feel the dynamic energy of the thunderous beat of Taiko Drums and see the beautiful, graceful and colorful dancers from three cultrual Asian groups: Japanese Taiko drummers, Chinese dancers and Korean dancers/drummers.
Friday, July 20
Steel Drum Band, 6:30 pm
Get ready to have fun! This entertaining five-piece steel drum band composed of three steel drummers, a bass guitarist and drum set player. The band's uniqued repertoire consists of rhythmic reggae, hot soca, enchanting calypso, as well as favorite tunes. Special guest performs...audience volunteers!
Friday, July 27
Team Millennia - Dance Troupe, 6:30 pm
"Developing leader throught the expressive art of dance by keepin gcommunity youth involved and inspired. One goal... one family... infinite possibilities..." Team Millennia (TM) is a hip-hop dance organization founded by local, Danny V. Batimana at Cal State Fullerton. Previous team mates have competed on America's Best Dance Crew.
Friday, August 3
Anaheim Ballet "Stars of Tomorrow", 6:30 pmFree show!
Anaheim Ballet School's Summer Dance Celebration performance features local and international guest students performing a variety of dance styles. The concert, a culmination of Anaheim Ballet's four-week intensive training session, is sure to entertain the entire family.
Thursday, August 9
Anthony the MagicAnthony the Magic returns to the Pearson Park Stage for the 5h year in a row! Anthony always uses audience volunteers for his magic, which insures some humorous moments during the show. He will wowo the audience with new" never been seen before" illusions.
To purchase tickets, please click on the "Tickets" button on the left.
Concert Series
Tickets go on sale April 24, 2012. To purchase tickets, click on the "Tickets" button to the left. No refunds or exchanges will be given.
The Answer to Classic Rock - Classic Rock Band - Free Show! Gates Open 6:00 – 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012.
Street Beat & The Mai Tai's - Open 5:00 – 9:00 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012. Food Concession sold on site.
The Fab Four, - The Ultimate Tribute Band - Box Office Open 3-9pm on Saturday, September 15, Tickets $19 for Adults, $15 for Seniors, Students, Children.
Free shuttle parking from Center Street Park Structure beginning at 6 pm until 30 minutes after end of show. Food Concessions sold on site.
Saturday, May 26
Free Concert - The Answer to Classic Rock, 8:00 pm
An exciting Classic Rock reproducer fusing the sounds and influcences from The Beatles to Tom Jones, to modern rockin swing, country line dancing, a little classic disco and yes event some Ricky Martin salsa shaking.
Saturday, June 9,
The Mai Tai's - Instrumental Surf Rock - Opening Band
Street Beat - Urban Percussion Show!
This STOMP-inspired, urban percussion group uses the ordinatry and makes it extraordinatry in an explosive percussion celbration which is sure to get you moving with their sound and exciting dancers. The World-renowned "human drum machine, ".
Opening Band - The Mai Tai's are a high energy, fun, instrument sur band. They have performed in club venues throughout Sounthern California. Orange County Music Award's 2007 Best Surf Band, nominated 2008 and 2009.
Saturday, September 15
The Fab Four - The Ultimate Tribute, 8:00 pm
Absolutely the best of the tribute bands! This incredible group faithfully recreates the music of The Beatles – skillfully managing to look and sound just like the all-time best-selling musical group from Liverpool, England!
Special Guest Series
Saturday, October 6, 7:00 pm
The "Walking Phoenixes" present Johnny Cash Tribute & Other Country Classics.
For tickets and event information contact: (818) 998-2858 or firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Carson Creek Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Deer Crossing Lodge is located just over a mile from Broken Bow Lake, five miles from Beavers Bend State Park and only ... read more...
Hwy 259A
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Located on two private, wooded acres and overlooking a stocked pond, Chautauqua Cabin is the ultimate getaway for those ... read more...
Southern Hills E Subdivision
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Castlewood Trails offers guests luxury lodging in the magnificent Beavers Bend area and near picturesque Broken Bow ... read more...
260 N Kaye Dr
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Broken Bow Lake Cabin Rentals offers five upscale lodges near Beavers Bend State Park. Each cabin offers ... read more...
16798 N 556 Rd
Tahlequah, OK 74464
The Purdy Cabin Guest Retreat is a riverside duplex accommodation. The Main House features three bedrooms, a ... read more...
81 Pine Cone Ln
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Hochatown RV Park, located near Broken Bow, offers a number of amenities to make your stay comfortable and ... read more...
On Mountain Fork River
Broken Bow, OK 75035
Set in a secluded location, these riverfront cabins are packed with amenities and are an ideal getaway. These beautiful ... read more...
8041 N US Hwy 259
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Broken Bow Cabin Lodging offers a wide variety of privately owned luxury vacation cabins near Broken Bow Lake and ... read more...
55 Golf Course Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Beavers Bend Marina Cabins offer four great cabins to choose from. Get away with your special someone or bring the whole ... read more...
68 Spinner Trail
Broken Bow, OK 74728
These fully furnished cabins are located near Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River, and the ... read more...
800-657-4837, 918-456-3031
9800 N Hwy 10
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Get away from it all at Eagle Bluff Resort near Tahlequah. Paddle down the Class II Illinois River in one of the ... read more...
16326 Hwy 10
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Falcon Floats is an outfitter for float trips on the Illinois River, offering trips ranging from 1 1/2 hours to 2 days. ... read more...
Hwy 259A
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Experience the utmost rest and relaxation at Cabins in Beavers Bend in Broken Bow. The highly sought after Autumn Pointe ... read more...
Southern Hills Addition off Hwy 259
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Hickory Hideaway is about taking time out during your day to listen to the forest, be with the ones you love, sit on the ... read more...
Hwy 259 & Lucian Sorrel Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Broken Bow Adventures is a group of privately owned cabins located in the gorgeous Broken Bow Lake/Beavers Bend State ... read more...
800-465-4329, 918-506-4545
2142 Mahaney Ave
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Conveniently located in the heart of Tahlequah, this Holiday Inn Express & Suites is near many of the finest ... read more...
489 Bowfin Ln
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Lago Vista is located on a mountainside overlooking beautiful Broken Bow Lake and surrounded by the Ouachita National ... read more...
7750 N US Hwy 259
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Lake Pine Retreat features A-frame cabins with fully equipped kitchens that will sleep up to eight people. One large ... read more...
Hochatown Area
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Luxurious cabins and great service are top priorities at Beavers Bend Adventures. Offering roughly 40 cabins, all ... read more...
Beavers Bend Lake Cabin Rentals
32 Southern Court Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Beavers Bend Lake Cabin Rentals offers a handful of luxury cabins in scenic Broken Bow. These cabins make vacation ... read more...
Secluded Acres Resort, Cabins & RV Park
9123 N US Hwy 259
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Accommodations at Secluded Acres include one to four bedroom cabins. Hot tubs, Jacuzzis and charcoal ... read more...
1075 Southern Hills Cir
Broken Bow, OK 74728
With every window displaying the alluring forest scenery of Beavers Bend State Park, its hard not to love every room of ... read more...
888-494-6639, 580-494-6639
74 Golf Course Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Last Resort Cabins, located at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains and home of the ever popular Beavers Bend Resort ... read more...
Hwy 259 N
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Chillin' at Beavers Bend is a secluded two bedroom, two full bath authentic log cabin with one queen-sized pillowtop ... read more...
6261 N Hwy 259
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Located in southeast Oklahoma at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains, Beavers Bend Lodging offers 68 cabins and ... read more...
Beavers Bend & Hochatown State Park
Hwy 259A
Broken Bow, OK 74728
***NOTICE*** To check on possible Oklahoma State Park closures due to high water, please ... read more...
888-733-7829, 580-494-7390
240 Pine Meadow Ln
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Escape to Pine Meadow Cabins for the ultimate getaway in southeast Oklahoma. Conveniently located near Broken Bow Lake ... read more...
800-225-3297, 918-456-7800
701 Holiday Dr
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Four-time award winning hotel located in a quiet wooded area. We offer spacious guest rooms, a complimentary breakfast ... read more...
HC 75 Box 308-10
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Wilderness Lakefront Resort has cabins located on the north end of beautiful Broken Bow Lake, near Beavers Bend in ... read more...
101 Reasors St
Tahlequah, OK 74464
... read more...
4600 S Muskogee Ave
Tahlequah, OK 74464
We offer 40 pull through RV spaces with full hookups, 30amp on all, and 18 with 50amp, water, sewer and electric. We are ... read more...
800-722-2411, 918-456-4545
12081 Hwy 10
Tahlequah, OK 74464
To make sure your Illinois River float trip is effortless and enjoyable, look no further than Diamondhead Resort. ... read more...
1002 Red Fox Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
River Top Resort is located on the Lower Mountain Fork River, just outside Broken Bow. The Grandview and ... read more...
184 Shrouder Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Lake Mountain Cabins in Broken Bow are known for making guests feel welcome and at home. The cabins are located minutes ... read more...
Mountain Fork River Front Cabins
115 Dragonfly Ln
Broken Bow, OK 74728
The gentle flowing waters of Mountain Fork River in beautiful southeast Oklahoma will carry all your cares away with a ... read more...
300 S Park Dr
Broken Bow, OK 74728
A-OK Motel in Broken Bow offers rooms with king, queen, and double beds. In-room refrigerators and microwaves are ... read more...
Carson Creek
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Buck Fever Cabin north of Broken Bow is one of the closest cabins near all the areas entertainment, Located within ... read more...
132 Driftcast Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Bear Mountain Lodging offers picturesque cabin accommodations among the beautiful Ouachita Mountains in Broken Bow. ... read more...
1613 Airport Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
The Firefly Ranch in Broken Bow features a charming cabin conveniently located just a few miles from Beavers Bend State ... read more...
Hwy 259 & Carson Creek Rd
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Carper Springs near Broken Bow Lake in southeast Oklahoma is home to the Takitik Cabin and our unique Lake House. Choose ... read more...
Email: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Newborns may not understand a word you're saying, but they love listening to you read aloud. After all, your voice is your baby's favorite sound. Holding your baby in your lap as you read a story creates a feeling of safety and contentment and encourages a love of books and reading that could last a lifetime.
Books for babies are built to be durable, with thick, sturdy pages that stand up to rough handling (and curious taste-testing). These books usually feature bright, colorful illustrations or photographs to catch a baby's eye. Some baby books even offer a variety of textures for babies to explore:
|Buenas noches a todos (The Going to Bed Book)
By Sandra Boynton
Illustrator and author Sandra Boynton's adorable animal characters are on an ark and the sun is going down. Your baby can follow along as they put on their PJs, brush their teeth, and get ready for bed.
|Besos de animales (Animal Kisses)
By Barney Saltzberg
This touch-and-feel illustrated book lets babies get a sticky dog kiss or a scratchy kiss from a cat. Press the pig's nose for a surprising "oink!"
|Baby Einstein: Poemas para pequeñines (Baby Einstein: Poems for Little Ones)
By Julie Aigner-Clark
Babies will enjoy the playful sound of rhyming words as they look at photographs of everyday objects, such as an apple, a cat, grass, flowers, snow, and the moon. The book includes poems by Latin American poets Manuel González Prada, Salvador Díaz Mirón, Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera, and Blanca Luz Pulido.
|Jorge el Curioso y el conejito (Curious George and the Bunny)
By H.A. Rey and Margaret Rey
This sturdy board book introduces the antics of Curious George to a new generation. When Curious George approaches a bunny cage and decides to take one out to pet it, the bunny escapes and George has to search for it to return it to its mother.
|¡Cu-cú, Bebé! (Peek-A-Baby: A Lift-the-Flap Book)
By Karen Katz
"Who is under the hat? I think I know who. Peek-a-boo, it's my little, you!" Lift the flaps in this sturdy interactive board book to find out "who's under the umbrella?" or "who's behind the curtains?" /td>
|Bebés del mundo (Global Babies)
By The Global Fund for Children
Babies love looking at other babies, in person or in photographs. This board book presents colorful photos of babies from all over the world – Asia, South America, Europe, and elsewhere. Part of the book's proceeds go to the Global Fund for Children, which helps community organizations that work with vulnerable children.
|Buenas noches luna (Goodnight Moon)
By Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon is a classic children's bedtime book. In clear, simple rhyme, a little rabbit says goodnight to every object in the room. A must-have for any child's bookshelf.
Los pollitos dicen (The Baby Chicks Are Singing)
By Ashley Wolff
This bilingual board book brings to life a popular Spanish folk song and presents Spanish and English versions on facing pages. You can sing about what the baby chicks say in both languages, as both you and your baby enjoy Ashley Wolff's vibrant illustrations.


text:
A tunable chromatic dispersion compensator for optical communication systems is disclosed. An optical grating, such as a fiber Bragg grating, nonchirped, linearly chirped or non-linearly chirped, is strained to alter the dispersion compensator characteristics, preferably with a gradient-generating body bonded onto the length of the fiber grating. The body may be latchably strained so that the grating characteristics may be changed or tuned while avoiding use of a continuous power supply. Various optical networking applications using such dispersion compensating devices are also disclosed.
1. An article comprising a dispersion compensator device, the compensator device comprising:
a length of waveguide including a grating region having a plurality of spaced-apart grating elements;
a body disposed adjacent the length of waveguide and attached to the waveguide proximal the grating region, the body having a gradient in its microstructure, dimensions, chemistry, or porosity to define a gradient-generating body, and
a component for inducing an elastic strain in the gradient-generating body which thereby non-uniformly adjusts the spacings between the grating elements to alter the dispersion compensating characteristics of the waveguide.
2. The article of claim 1, in which the length of waveguide comprises a length of optical fiber and the gradient-generating body is integrally formed with the fiber.
3. The article of claim 2, in which the gradient-generating body is integrally formed with the length of waveguide by physical or chemical processing methods including sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, dip-coating, or etching.
4. The article of claim 1, in which the grating is an optical Bragg grating.
5. The article of claim 1, in which the grating is a non-chirped grating before operation of the compensator, whereby when the component induces elastic strain in the body, the grating is altered to a chirped grating.
6. A dispersion compensating module comprising an optical circulator and a plurality of dispersion compensating gratings according to claim 5 which are independently tunable.
7. The article of claim 1, in which the grating is a uniformly or non-uniformly chirped grating and the inducement of elastic strain in the body increases or alters the chirping in the grating.
8. A dispersion compensating module comprising an optical circulator and at least one dispersion compensating grating according to claim 7.
9. The article of claim 1, in which the component for inducing the elastic strain comprises two magnetic components disposed alongside the waveguide, and further comprising a source for inducing a magnetic field and a fixed substrate, in which one magnetic component is secured to the body and the other magnetic component is secured to the fixed substrate, the mating poles of the magnetic components being aligned so that when the source induces a magnetic field, the magnetic components are attracted to or repelled from each other to induce the elastic strain in the body.
10. The article of claim 9, in which at least one magnetic component is comprised of a material whose magnetic properties are modifiable by a pulse magnetic field.
11. The article of claim 9, in which the body is secured to the fixed substrate which functions as a guiding rail for the body.
12. The article of claim 1, in which the elastic strain is latchable so that the dispersion compensating characteristics of the waveguide may be controllably altered without a continuous supply of power.
13. The article of claim 1, in which the component is attached to the body and coupled to a device for pulling the component in the direction opposite the body so that the elastic strain is induced by a mechanical pulling force.
14. A wavelength division multiplexed optical communications system comprising a source of multiple wavelength optical signal channels, an optical fiber trunk, a receiver for receiving multiple optical signal channels, a multiplexer/demultiplexer, and one or more dispersion compensating gratings according to claim 1.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a length of dispersion compensating fiber.
16. A dispersion compensating module comprising at least one tunable dispersion compensating grating according to claim 1 operating in transmission mode.
17. An optical amplifier comprising an input isolator, a first length of rare-earth doped fiber, a first pump for optical pumping the first length of fiber, a second length of rare-earth doped fiber, a second pump for optical pumping the second length of fiber, an output circulator, and a plurality of dispersion-compensating gratings according to claim 1.
18. An article comprising a dispersion compensator device, the compensator device comprising:
a length of waveguide including a grating region having a plurality of spaced-apart grating elements;
a body disposed adjacent the length of waveguide and attached to the waveguide proximal the grating region, the body having a gradient in its structure, dimensions, chemistry, or porosity to define a gradient-generating body;
a fixed substrate having a point of attachment to at least one of the body or the length of waveguide; and
a component for moving the body along the length of the waveguide in a longitudinal direction either away from or toward the fixed substrate, wherein when the component moves the body along the length of the waveguide, an elastic strain is induced in the body and a non-uniform strain is imposed on the length of the waveguide to non-uniformly adjust the spacings between the grating elements to alter the dispersion compensating characteristics of the waveguide.
19. The article of claim 18 in which the elastic strain is latchable so that the dispersion compensating characteristics of the waveguide may be controllably altered without a continuous power supply.
This case is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/159,907, filed Sep. 24, 1998, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/158,672, filed Sep. 22, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,546, having common inventors hereto and assigned to the present assignee.
This invention relates to a chromatic dispersion compensator and more particularly, to a dispersion compensator device that may be latchably tuned. The invention further comprises an optical communication system containing the inventive compensator device.
Optical fibers and fiber gratings are useful for telecommunication transmission and networking. In long-distance transmission of optical signals, the accumulation of signal dispersion may be a serious problem. This problem intensifies with an increase in the distance the signals travel and the number of channels in a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system. Efforts to compensate for chromatic dispersion to date have involved use of dispersion compensating fibers, dispersion compensating gratings, or a combination of both. See M. I. Hayee et al., IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETT., Vol. 9, No. 9, p. 1271 (1997); R. I. Laming et al., IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETT., Vol. 8, No. 3 (1996); W. H. Loh et al., IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETT., Vol. 8, No. 7 (1996); K. O. Hill et al., OPT. LETT., Vol. 19, p. 1314 (1994); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,188 issued to M. Shigematsu et al., on Dec. 23, 1997, incorporated herein by reference.
The above-mentioned dispersion compensating devices, however, are not flexible and provide only a fixed degree of compensation for chromatic dispersion. Those concerned with technologies involving optical communications systems continue to search or new designs enabling for more flexible methods for compensating for chromatic dispersion. It is desirable to have a tunable dispersion compensator whose characteristics and performance may be selectively altered and that does not require a continuous use of power. This invention discloses such a tunable dispersion compensator and optical communication systems comprising such a compensator.
Summarily described, the invention embraces a tunable dispersion compensator device comprising a length of waveguide having a grating region, a body attached to the waveguide proximal the grating region, and a component for inducing an elastic strain in the body. The elastic strain in the body causes an adjustment in the grating region, e.g., in the spacings between the grating elements, to alter the dispersion compensating characteristics of the waveguide. The grating may be a Bragg grating, and a non-chirped or chirped grating. Advantageously, where a non-chirped grating is used, the body comprises a gradient-generating body so that when the component induces a uniform elastic strain, the grating is altered to become a chirped grating. The component for inducing the strain preferably comprises magnets disposed alongside the fiber. Many embodiments and applications are contemplated, including dispersion compensator modules, amplifiers, and WDM systems.
The advantages, nature and additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon considering the illustrative embodiments described in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
FIGS. 1A-1C schematically illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive dispersion compensator;
FIGS. 2A-2B are graphs illustrating the effects of nonlatchable (FIG. 2A) and latchable (FIG. 2B) strain induced by magnetic field actuation in an inventive dispersion compensator;
FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the inventive compensator applying mechanically-induced strain;
FIG. 4 represents experimental data for transmission as a function of wavelength for a non-chirped grating that has been altered to a chirped grating by a compensator device having a gradient-generating body;
FIGS. 5A-5E are graphs illustrating types of dispersion tuning that may be achieved with the inventive dispersion compensator;
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a dispersion-compensator assembly for an n-channel WDM communication system; and
FIGS. 7-10 schematically illustrate optical communication systems comprising the inventive tunable dispersion-compensator.
It is to be understood that these drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not to scale.
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive dispersion compensator 10. The compensator comprises a length of waveguide, such as an optical fiber 11, a grating region 12 in the waveguide, a body 14 attached to the waveguide at the grating region 12, and a component (e.g., 15a, 15b), for inducing strain in the body. In FIGS. 1A-1C, a magnetically-induced strain is applied. Other types of forces may be used, such as mechanically-induced force described further below, and as are known. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, first and second magnetic components 15a, 15b, are attracted to or repelled from each other to induce elastic strain in the body 14 bonded to the fiber at the grating region. Although the grating region 12 is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C as having unequally-spaced perturbations, initially before operation of the compensator device the grating region 12 may comprise grating elements of substantially equally-spaced index perturbations, slits, or grooves. Grating regions as are known in the field may be used, including Bragg gratings, long-period gratings, diffraction gratings, or chirped gratings.
In FIGS. 1A-1B, the fiber 11 is bonded along the length of the grating region 12 to and along the length of the body which also is a gradient-generating body 14. Due to a gradient in the body 14, when the body is subjected to a uniform strain, such as a tensile or compressive strain, the body in turn induces a non-uniform strain on the fiber to cause a non-uniform change in the grating periodicity and chirping. The gradient in the body may be a dimensional gradient, e.g., due to a geometric gradient in the diameter, thickness or width of the body as shown in FIG. 1A, or a porosity gradient, e.g., due to perforations varying in some degree (e.g., in a gradient manner by size, extent, or distribution), along the length of the body, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Alternatively, the gradient may be what is referred to herein as a chemistry gradient, meaning a gradient in atomic mix ratio of elements comprising the body, which in turn creates a property gradient, such as an elastic modulus of the body. It should be understood more than one body may be used.
When a gradient-generating body is used as in FIGS. 1A-1B, a non-uniform strain is induced in the fiber grating which may create a chirped (linearly or non-linearly chirped) grating structure from an originally non-chirped grating. Alternatively, the fiber grating in the inventive embodiment can be a pre-chirped grating (linearly, non-linearly, or any-pattern chirped). The non-uniform strain provided by the inventive device in that case can further increase the slope of the chirping gradient along the length of the grating. Also, it should be understood that although FIGS. 1A-1C show a single grating region, multiple-in-series gratings may be used and strained simultaneously with one compensator device according to the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1A-1B which involve gradient straining, the first magnet 15a (also referred to herein as the mobile magnet), is attached to the gradient-generating body 14. This attachment may be formed with use of epoxy, solder, brazing, welding, glass adhesives, mechanical clamping, mechanical hooks, or other attachment methods or devices as are known. At least a second magnet 15b (also referred to herein as the immobile magnet), is placed with one of its poles proximal that of the first magnet 15a. It should be understood that more than one mobile or immobile magnet also may be used in combination. The immobile magnet 15b is bonded or attached to a supporting fixture 16 which can optionally also serve as a guiding tube for movement of the body 14, which is illustrated in FIG. 1A. The gradient-generating body 14 preferably also is bonded onto a supporting fixture which may be the same supporting fixture 16 holding the immobile magnet 15b. For example, in FIGS. 1A-1B, the fixture 16 is shown secured to the body 14 at one end (e.g., the left end), at attachment point 13a, and it is shown secured to the immobile magnet at the other end (e.g., the right end), at attachment point 13b. The fixture 16 may be made in various shapes and sizes, and the L-shaped member of FIG. 1A or the tube or channel configuration of FIG. 1B are merely exemplary. The fixture may guide the movement of the mobile magnet and protect the assembly or simply be a block of solid material.
At least one solenoid 19 with conductive wire windings may be disposed adjacent or preferably, around the first or second magnet or both so that a magnetic field can be generated when a current is passed into it. The solenoid may be a single solenoid, or it may be split into two or more segments, and if desired, independent controls may be used for enhancing control over the magnetic field generated. The magnetic moments induced in the magnets create an attractive (or repulsive) force between their mating poles which causes a tensile (or compressive) strain in the gradient-generating body 14 and attached fiber grating 12.
Exemplary advantageous materials for fabricating the gradient-generating body 14 include glass, ceramic, metal, or composite materials. For example, the fiber grating itself is typically fabricated with silica glass, and the same material may be used to fabricate the body 14, which then may be bonded onto one side of or around the grating. Alternatively, using silica glass, the gradient-generating body may be integrally formed with the optical fiber, for example, the fiber can be shaped so that it has a variable diameter to form a geometric gradient, and the grating structure can be written into the fiber at the region of this geometric gradient either before or after the fiber is fabricated. Metals and alloys also advantageously may be used to form the gradient-generating body, as they may be easily fabricated into gradient structures of variable widths or thicknesses and then bonded onto the fiber at the grating region with adhesives, such as glass adhesives (e.g., low melting point glass), epoxy, or by solder bonding. Another advantageous approach for forming the gradient-generating structure involves depositing onto the surface of the fiber at the grating region metallic or ceramic coatings having a desired thickness or property gradient. Various physical or chemical processing methods may be used to deposit the materials, including sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, and dip-coating, or substractive methods such as etching, gradient-porous etching of deposited material, and the like.
A gradient straining of the grating such as achieved with the devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B is preferred. However, a dispersion compensator device may be formed according to the invention with non-gradient straining of the fiber, which is illustrated in FIG. 1C. In this embodiment, a mobile magnet 15a' is attached directly to the fiber adjacent the grating region at bond region 13a40 and comprises the body for inducing strain in the fiber. An immobile magnet 15b is attached to a fixed substrate 16' or guiding rail at bond region 13b' and comprises the component for inducing strain in the grating attached to the body 15a'. The fiber 11 may at a separate point of attachment 13c also be secured to the guiding rail 16.' Here, the body 15a' induces a shift in wavelength distribution which can be useful for some dispersion compensating applications, such as where a pre-chirped grating is used.
The compensator device may be fabricated so that the strain is latchable or non-latchable. Where a non-latchable strain is desired, advantageously soft-magnetic materials may be used to fabricate the magnetic components, and the dispersion-compensating characteristics of the inventive device may be frequently and temporarily (e.g., for a short duration) changed. If the magnetic field is increased by increasing the electrical current in the solenoid, the strain in the grating may increase, at least a certain peak level of strain is reached. When the applied field in the solenoid is reduced or removed, the strain in the dispersion compensating grating also may be reduced or removed. FIG. 2A, for example, illustrates the use of non-latchable strain for applied magnetic fields H1 and H2 and the corresponding induced strains on the dispersion compensating grating, ε1 and ε2.
Where latchable strain is desired, at least one or both of the magnetic components 15a, 15b, may be made of programmable semi-hard magnetic material with an intermediate coercivity (Hc) to provide a relatively square magnetic-hysteresis loop, illustrated in FIG. 2B. Where only one magnetic component is made with programmable magnetic material, the other component may be made with magnetically soft material, for example, with low coercivity (Hc) of less than about 20 Oe. Such materials include Ni--Fe permalloy or Si-steel. Alternatively, the other (non-programmable) component may be made with a magnetically hard material having a high coercivity Hc of more than about 500 Oe, such as Nd--Fe--B, Sm--Co, or Ba-ferrite materials. Preferred magnetic materials for fabricating a latchable dispersion compensator device are those whose magnetic properties are modifiable by a pulse magnetic field. Suitable materials include Fe--Cr--Co, Fe--Al--Ni--Co (Alnico), Cu--Ni--Fe (Cunife), Co--Fe--V (Vicalloy), specially-processed, low-coercivity (Hc) rare-earth cobalt Sm--Co or Nd--Fe--B, and Ba-ferrite or Sr-ferrite materials. A preferred range of coercivity for a programmable magnet is below about 500 Oe and more preferably below about 100 Oe for ease of programming by re-magnetization using a solenoid pulse field. The coercivity typically is above about 10 Oe and preferably above 30 Oe for maintaining the stability of the remanent magnetization and stability against demagnetization due to stray magnetic fields. A non-programmable magnet may be used as a mobile magnet, for example, in combination with a stationary programmable magnet.
To maximize the magnetic force, the gap 25 (FIG. 1A), between the facing magnets 15a, 15b, should be small, since the magnetic force decreases as the size of the gap increases. Preferably, the gap is less than about 80 mil, and more preferably less than about 20 mil, and even more preferably less than about 10 mil. For satisfactory latching when the field is removed, the programmable magnet should have a square magnetization-hysteresis loop ("M-H loop") with a squareness ratio (remanent magnetization to saturation magnetization) of at least about 0.85, preferably at least 0.90, even more preferably at least 0.95. For ease of control, the loop is desirably skewed by at least about 50% of Hc. Intentional skewing of an M-H loop is described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/020,206, filed Feb. 6, 1998 by Espindola et al., assigned to the present assignee and incorporated herein by reference. Mechanically ductile and easily malleable or machinable magnet alloys such as Fe--Cr--Co, Cu--Ni--Fe, or Co--Fe--V are particularly advantageous for they may be shaped into desired geometries, such as the rod-like or tube-like geometries shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. Stable permanent magnets with high coercive forces (e.g., where the coercivity is greater than about 1000 Oe), such as Sm--Co or Nd--Fe--B, are less preferred (unless modified to exhibit lower coercive forces) due to difficulties in reprogramming remanent magnetization.
An Fe-28% Cr-7% Co alloy may be deformation-aged to yield a square M-H loop with Hc of 70 Oe, a dimension of about 0.180" in diameter and 4" in length. Where the M-H loop is skewed by about ˜60 Oe, a M-H loop similar to that shown in FIG. 2B is produced. For applied magnetic fields of H1 and H2, the corresponding magnetization is latchably retained after the field is removed, and the corresponding separation between the two magnets and the induced strains on the dispersion compensating grating, ε1 and ε2, are also latchably retained. With the latching, the device may be operated without a continuous supply of power. To vary the degree of tuning, the strain induced in the grating by the gradient-generating body may be altered and latched by changing the magnetization in the programmable magnets. This can be achieved by either increasing the applied field or by demagnetizing and remagnetizing one or more of the magnets to a new field level. For magnetization of the magnets using a solenoid, a pulse field (a pulse current in the solenoid) can conveniently be used for high-speed, low-power operation of the device. A preferred duration or speed of the pulse field is in the range of about 10 to 10-6 seconds, and more preferably about 10-1 to 10-4 seconds. The current pulse may have various shapes including sinusoidal, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, and irregular.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the inventive compensator using mechanically-induced force. An extension arm 24 is attached to the body 14, which in this embodiment is shown as a gradient-generating body. The arm 24 in turn is coupled to a source for applying a mechanical force (not shown), for pulling the arm 24 and attached body 14 following arrow "P". The mechanical pull may be provided by various sources including a motor-driven mechanism, spring-driven mechanism, solenoid-core driven mechanism analogous to an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer), and an electrically-actuated magnetic force mechanism. Pneumatic or hydraulic forces and devices for supplying same also may be used. The mechanical force may be made latchable which is advantageous for avoiding a continuous power supply. In FIG. 3, the latching is formed by the underside of the arm having a locking tooth 25 which operates in conjunction with a stepped latching bar 27 which is fixedly secured, e.g., at bond regions 26a, 26b, to the substrate 16. The bar has a plurality of notches 27a, 27b, 27c, disposed therein corresponding substantially in dimension to the locking tooth 25 so that as the arm is mechanically pulled to produce the desired amount of strain, and the tooth will become lodged in a notch (e.g., shown at 27c), to hold the arm and gradient-generating body 14 in place. Other devices also are contemplated for latching the mechanical force and component, such as a spring-lock mechanism, ratchet, rotating gear, or the like, as are known.
The following is an Example representing a specific embodiment which is intended to be exemplary to aid in understanding the invention and not limiting in nature.
An apodized fiber Bragg grating (approximately five centimeters long with a reflection peak at about 1553 nm), was written into the core of a photosensitive optical fiber using a phase-mask scanning technique. The outer polymer layer of the fiber was stripped from the section of the fiber containing the grating. The fiber grating was then mounted on an automated rotation stage and placed in an electron-beam evaporator. Titanium (˜100 Å as an adhesion promoter), and gold (˜1500 Å) were evaporated onto the fiber while it was rotating to form a uniform coating of metal on the outer surface at the stripped region. Fine wires were attached to the ends of the stripped section with silver epoxy to provide an electrical connection for the deposition of silver. The fiber was placed in an electroplating bath for plating at constant current, and while plating, it was pulled from the bath with a programmable translation stage to produce a controlled variation in the thickness of the silver for forming a gradient. The electrodeposition was performed at room temperature on the grating segment of the fiber at a constant current of ˜1.5 mA. The fiber was pulled from the bath at a constant rate of ˜12 mm/min; for each sample, the deposition was repeated four or five times to increase the thickness of the silver. The thickness gradient in the tapered metal coating was linear along the length of the grating with the coating thickness being about 5 micrometers at one end and about 30 micrometers at the other end to define an integrally-formed gradient-generating body.
A tensile force was applied to the gradient-generating body, and the center wavelength of the grating (originally about 1553.13 nm), was shifted by about 1 nm and 2 nm, which is illustrated in FIG. 4. Looking at FIG. 4, it is evident that a grating-chirping effect was induced due to the presence of the thickness gradient. As the tensile strain was applied, the transmission spectrum of the fiber Bragg grating was substantially broadened (chirped), and the extent of broadening was increased with increasing tension.
FIGS. 5A-5E are plots of the time delay characteristics Td (which is a measure of wavelength dispersion) as a function of wavelength λ for different embodiments of the inventive compensator device, using different grating regions. These plots illustrate various capabilities of the inventive device in terms of altering the chromatic dispersion characteristics. FIG. 5A plots data where a nonchirped grating is used and strained using the gradient-generating body to form a chirped grating (e.g., as in FIGS. 1A-1B). The slope, Td (time delay)/λ (wavelength), may be adjusted by changing the applied actuation field and hence the latchable movement of the mobile magnet (e.g., 15a, FIGS. 1A-1B). FIG. 5B shows the translational shift of the Td -λ curve where strain has been induced in a uniformly (linearly) chirped grating. FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate the effects of an embodiment where a linearly chirped dispersion compensating grating is used and strained to exhibit the characteristics of a nonlinear chirped grating. FIG. 5E reflects use of a non-linearly chirped grating which has been made more nonlinear. There are particular advantages as to each of these embodiments depending on the types and the extent of dispersion to be compensated, as should be apparent to one skilled in the field.
In FIG. 6, an example of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) communications system is schematically illustrated comprising a transmitter 70, an improved N-channel multiplexer/demultiplexer 71, and a receiver 72, all connected by trunk fiber 11. The input to the fiber 11 from the source 70 consists of optical signals at several wavelengths, λ1 to λn. The improved multiplexer 71 comprises at least one circulator 73 and a series of independently tunable dispersion compensating fiber gratings (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e), each of which may be nonchirped, linearly-chirped or non-linearly chirped. Since the inventive dispersion compensator is capable of having a broad bandwidth, each dispersion compensator can compensate for a few to several channels, and the total number of the tunable dispersion compensators used in the system can be substantially reduced as compared with previous systems.
FIGS. 7-10 schematically illustrate optical communication systems comprising inventive tunable dispersion-compensating devices. In FIG. 7, a dispersion compensating module (DCM) at boxed region 80 comprises an optical circulator and a total of "n" number of independently tunable dispersion-compensating gratings 10n. The order in which the gratings may be placed in the module depends on the chromatic dispersion that has accumulated in the system before reaching the DCM. For example, if the accumulated dispersion (AD) for channel 1 at λ1 is greater than that of channel n at λn (AD λ1 >AD λn), then the gratings are arranged in the order shown, i.e., the first compensating grating of the DCM is at λ1 and the last is at λn. If the accumulated dispersion for channel 1 at λ1 is less than that of channel n at λn (AD λ1 <AD λn), then the gratings are arranged in the reverse order shown, i.e., the first compensating grating of the DCM is at λn and the last is at λ1. This DCM may comprise part of a dense WDM system (DWDM), further comprising a multi-wavelength transmitter 70, a length of optical fiber 11, and a multi-wavelength receiver 72.
Alternatively to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the DCM may comprise a single tunable dispersion compensating chirped fiber grating, as previously described, in place of the "n" number of independently tunable dispersion-compensating gratings 10n. In this case, the direction of the chirped gratings will depend on the accumulated chromatic dispersion, i.e., if at channel 1 AD λ1 >AD λn, then the chirped fiber grating is disposed such that at the point of entry, the grating is at λ1, but if at channel 1 AD λ1 <AD λn, the chirped fiber grating is disposed such that at the point of entry, the grating is at λn.
FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a system where a DCM 82 comprises an optical circulator 73, a length of dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) 85, and a single tunable dispersion compensating chirped fiber grating 10g. Alternatively to the single chirped grating device 10g, a plurality or n-number of independently tunable dispersion compensating gratings may be used (e.g., the n-number of gratings 10n of FIG. 7 may be substituted for the single chirped grating 10g of FIG. 8). In this case, the majority of the chromatic dispersion compensation is performed by the DCF 85. The remanent chromatic dispersion in each channel, due to a dispersion slope mismatch between the ideal compensator and the DCF, is compensated using the compensating chirped grating 10g (or the n-number of independently tunable dispersion compensating gratings 10n). The same principles described above with reference to FIG. 7 relating to the direction of the chirped dispersion grating 10g or the order of the n-number of gratings 10n apply with regard to the embodiment of FIG. 8. Also as in FIG. 7, this DCM 82 may comprise part of a DWDM further comprising a multi-wavelength transmitter 70, a length of optical fiber 11, and a multi-wavelength receiver 72.
FIG. 9 schematically shows an amplifier 95 having a dispersion compensating module. The amplifier comprises an input isolator 90, a first length of rare-earth doped fiber 11a, a first pump 91a for optical pumping the first length of fiber 11a, a second length of rare-earth doped fiber 11b, a second pump 91b for optical pumping the second length of fiber 11b, an output isolator 92, a circulator 73, and "n" number of independently tunable dispersion-compensating gratings 10n. The optical amplifier provides the advantage that it not only compensates for chromatic dispersion, but it also amplifies the signals to offset losses introduced by the tunable compensator. Optionally, a dispersion compensating fiber 85 may be used in this amplifier assembly, similarly to FIG. 8. FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a DWDM comprising a multi-wavelength transmitter 70, a length of optical fiber 11, an amplifier 95 which may comprise the amplifier of FIG. 9 containing the DCM, a DCM, and a multi-wavelength receiver 72, where the DCM comprises an optical circulator 73, an optional length of dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) 85, and a series of tunable dispersion compensating fiber gratings 10n.
The grating-based dispersion compensator of this invention may be operated in a reflective mode, together with a circulator, as shown in the above-described embodiments. However, an alternative arrangement is to use the grating in the transmission mode rather than the reflective mode. In this case, preferably the grating is unchirped and apodized, and the dispersion exists close to the edge of the stop band where the transmission is high. Thus, dispersion is provided for the pass channel rather than for the reflected channel and a circulator may be avoided. By applying a constant tension to the grating, for example, by use of a magnetic component, the central wavelength of the grating may be shifted. This changes the magnitude of the dispersion for the adjacent channel and thus provides a means for adjusting the dispersion of the grating. Another approach for operating the compensator in the transmission mode, avoiding use of the circulator, is to induce chirping in the grating, e.g. as previously described. In this case, the chirping and resultant broadening of the grating spectrum approaches the adjacent channel, thus causing the dispersion property to be altered without shifting the central wavelength.
It is to be understood that the above mentioned embodiments are illustrative of only a few of many embodiments which can represent applications of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Citas de patentes
Otras citas
Citada por
Eventos legales
Imagen original


text:
Posted 2 years ago
By Post Staff
The Chadron Kiwanis Club has entry forms available for its annual Stars of Tomorrow talent contest, coming up on Sunday, April 7 in the Chadron High School Auditorium.
There are four age levels…Division I K-3, Divisison II 4-6, Division III 7-9, and Division IV 10-12. The top three placewinners in each division will be awarded trophies, with the Division IV winner advancing to the regional contest April 28 in Loveland, Colorado, and receiving a $150 scholarship. The Division IV 1st runner-up gets a $75 scholarship.
There is no entry fee for the Stars of Tomorrow. Acts can be soloists or groups, and should last no more than about five minutes. Entry forms are available from Duane Gardener at West Second Appliance in Chadron, and must be received by Monday, April 1.


text: Healthy Recipes Tossed Salad With Sunflower Seeds Recipe E-mail recipe Print recipe To save this recipe, register now! Quick Info: Servings Quick Meal Contains Nuts Contains Dairy Vegetarian Nutritional Info (Per serving): Calories: 302, Saturated Fat: 5.5g, Sodium: 283.5mg, Dietary Fiber: 1.5g, Total Fat: 26.2g, Carbs: 11g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Protein: 10.9g Carb Choices: 0.5 Recipe Source: More Diabetic Recipes Prep Time: 8 mins Total Time: 8 mins Ingredients 3 tablespoon cheese, Parmesan 1/2 ounce(s) sunflower seeds 1 tablespoon oil, olive 1 tablespoon vinegar, balsamic Preparation Wash salad greens and toss with 2 tablespoons of dressing. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and sunflower seeds. E-mail recipe Print recipe To save this recipe, register now!


text:
Sunday Softball Pushed to 2 p.m.
April 22, 2012
RALEIGH, N.C. - The third contest in NC State's three-game series with Maryland has been moved to start at 2 p.m. because of rain moving through the Raleigh area.
Pack softball split with the Terrapins yesterday, falling 5-3 in game one, but defeating the Terps in a 10-inning thriller in game two, 5-4.
Following both games, the Pack celebrated the impressive careers of seniors Jade Hennig, Morgan Peeler, Landon Warren and Toni Ann Williford.
The Wolfpack concludes its ACC schedule next weekend with a trip to Charlottesville, Va., to take on Virginia.


text:
Results 1 to 7 of 7
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
- Posts
- 987
Posted On:
12/24/2007 12:59pm
Style: Yudo, Karate--
Panda San Da
OK the title was misleading but uh...China invented Panda p0rn and now they are inventing Panda fighting. Apparently Pandas raised in captivity lack fighting ability to defend itself in the wild when released so China is planning to teach Panda to fight!
" SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Scientists in China may use a police dog to teach pandas to fight after the first artificially bred panda released into the wild was apparently killed after a battle with other animals, local media reported on Saturday.
The Wolong giant panda breeding centre plans to have four pandas raised in captivity live with a specially trained police dog or other animals, the Chengdu Daily quoted reserve officials as saying. The officials could not be reached for comment.
The pandas would learn how to protect themselves by observing the dog, increasing their chances of survival when they were eventually released into the mountainous wilds of the far western province of Sichuan.
The world's first artificially bred panda to be released, a 5-year-old male named Xiang Xiang, was found dead in the snow early this year after less than 12 months out of captivity.
Scientists believe he fell from a high place after getting into a fight with wild pandas or other animals over food or territory.
China is now preparing to release a second batch of up to four artificially bred pandas. Many or all would be females, which may be less prone to becoming involved in fights.
Breeding pandas through artificial insemination and introducing them to the wild is an important part of China's efforts to save the species, which is now estimated to number between 1,000 and 2,000 in the wild.
Pandas chosen for release undergo years of training. Adult pandas need to spend up to 16 hours a day foraging and eating bamboo and almost all the remaining time resting or sleeping, making them vulnerable in harsh environments.
To boost captive pandas' low fertility rates and weak sexual desire, China has even resorted to showing them videos of other pandas mating."
The gift that keeps on giving
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Posts
- 4,205
Posted On:
12/24/2007 2:03pm--
- Join Date
- Feb 2003
- Location
- Toronto
- Posts
- 18,608
Posted On:
12/24/2007 6:12pm--
No kidding.
Also see the video here: http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64098Surfing Facebook at work? Spread the good word by adding us on Facebook today! https://www.facebook.com/Bullshido
Style: Very Thai Boxing--Originally Posted by PizDoff the Jocund
I've remained silent on the matter, but this is the final straw. The Chinese must be stopped.
Registered User
- Join Date
- Sep 2006
- Location
- Posts
- 3,683
Posted On:
12/25/2007 2:38pm


text:
Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Elizabeth on 11/27/2013
This is such good fresh mediterranean food. There is a counter space for eating too but we do takeout. The basil feta flatbread is stretched and baked to order. The hummous is creamy and the salads and sandwiches are all full of fresh flavors. SoHo is infested with mediocre overpriced food. Ba'al breaks out of that box.
Posted by Sandy Hanson on 03/24/2012
My daughter and I ate here while visiting N.Y. This is the Best Falafel we ever had. The hot pita bread melted in your mouth..never tasted such delicious pita bread in fact while we were there we asked specifically about it. The shepherd salad was to die for and the falafel had just the perfect amount of hummus and tahini sauce a perfect lunch. I only wish we had a Ba'al cafe heer in Daytona beach Fla. I would eat there every day! The price is right, great customer service,clean,everything you can ask for in a restaurant... Love Love Love this place! I even called them to tell them,they should be very proud of their Cafe..You guys Rock!
Posted by Sue on 01/26/2012
Great food great prices
Posted by Anonymous on 10/10/2011
Great option in a pricely neighborhood for lunch! The food is affordable, fresh and consistently tastes great! Highly recommended if you are a fan of Middle Eastern or vegetarian food and budget-minded.
Posted by Anonymous on 07/07/2011
As someone who is constantly looking for new and taste-bud pleasing places in the Soho area near my office, I have to say this place hits the mark. As soon as I finished saying the last part of my order, the completed takeout box was placed in front of me. This kind of speedy service anywhere is unheard of - a very welcome change for me, given all the other places in the neighborhood, and the irascible, impatient work-time crowds that mob them. The food is fresh, the portions are excellent, and the falafel is out of this world. Well done.
Posted by dallas on 06/24/2011
I'm in love with Ba'al. Reasonable prices, the friendliest staff, and delicious food. The eggplant in the eggplant sandwich is perfection, the salads are delicious but the Ba'al flatbread is what keeps me coming back. Egg and cheese with caraway seeds - it's absolutely amazing.
Posted by Pill on 06/10/2011
Finally more lunch options in the area! It was fast, delicious, and reasonably priced. I had the ba'al sandwich, very nice!


text:
COLUMBIA — Goose Creek High School officials and supporters began Monday with high hopes in advance of an appeal in front of the High School League's executive committee that would determine the fate of the football team. Before the hearing was over, the group was pleading for mercy.
What the Gators received was the death penalty, principal Jimmy Huskey said.
The executive committee — for the second time in five days — voted to uphold league commissioner Jerome Singleton's ruling that the Gators used an ineligible player and had to forfeit 10 games in which the student dressed for or played in.
After the 14-0 vote against Goose Creek, Jay Ragley, a committee member from the state Department of Education, made a motion to grant the Gators mercy. But the executive committee voted 12-2 to deny it.
For now, Goose Creek's season is over. Principal Jimmy Huskey said the school will study all its options and will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. today to talk about the case and Goose Creek's options. He didn't rule out returning to court.
"We were hoping for mercy for the children," Huskey said. "It was about a school that reported itself, and I felt we got the death penalty for being honest. We were shocked and saddened."
There were plenty of tears in the crowd of Goose Creek supporters crammed into the High School League office for the 2½-hour hearing.
"Now, I have to go home and hear my son cry his eyes out because he will never play a high school game again," said Tanya Segar-Davis, whose son, Jalen Stevens, plays defensive end.
One Goose Creek supporter yelled, "I hope you are governed by a higher power," as a member of the executive committee walked to his car.
Monday marked perhaps the final chapter in a story that played out for more than a week.
Last Tuesday, Singleton ruled the Gators used an ineligible player and banned them from the playoffs. The following day, the executive committee upheld his decision during a closed session in violation of the state's Freedom of Information Act.
The Gators took their case to court Friday, and Circuit Judge Roger Young granted a temporary restraining order that allowed the school to play Friday night's game against Bluffton, a 35-25 Gators victory. Young also ruled the executive committee had to convene in open session Monday to reconsider the eligibility requirements based on its rules.
Coach Chuck Reedy's team, the defending Division II-AAAA state champion, was 13-0 and had a 26-game winning streak after beating Bluffton on Friday.
The Goose Creek player declared ineligible by the High School League is a foster child who has special needs. He was in and out of facilities and attended six schools before finally transferring from Berkeley High to Goose Creek in time for the 2012-13 academic year.
His mother attended Monday's hearing but was not involved in the case.
Goose Creek officials discovered the student wasn't at Woodmont High, located near Greenville, his freshman year in 2008. He was actually incarcerated at a facility called Generations Home in Simpsonville, and was not allowed to leave the premises. Goose Creek officials said he never stepped foot on the Woodmont campus, and the classes credited to Woodmont were actually taken at the Generations Home. For those reasons, they argued, the student still has a year of eligibilty.
But according to files from Berkeley High School, the student was considered a senior last year, even though he didn't have enough credit hours. That seemed to be the biggest blow to Goose Creek's case.
"He doesn't have the credits to be a 12th-grader," Huskey said, adding that his office adjusts transcripts to reflect the credit information they have on a student.
Monday's ruling puts Bluffton back in the playoffs against Northwestern on Friday.
Bluffton homecoming queen Talley Young, who attended the hearing, was pleased with the outcome.
"I just wanted Bluffton to continue playing," she said. "Playing a game (last) Friday with such a short notice wasn't fair to us. We found out at 1 o'clock and then had to hit the road.
"I'm very happy with the outcome. I respect the process even more because I got to see something like this play out."
Follow Philip M. Bowman on Twitter @pandcphil.
Goose Creek coach Chuck Reedy (center) talks with the team's attorney, Ken Harrell (left), and John Fulmer talk Monday outside the High School League office before the football team's appeal hearing.×
Goose Creek supporters settle in for the football teams appeal hearing at the High School League office in Columbia. The appeal was unanimously denied.×
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.


text:
Yvonne Ntiamoah, a resident in the Ghanaian capital Accra, was driving her two daughters home when she heard something on a local radio station that she could simply not endure.
"The presenters were having a discussion about a seven-year-old girl who had been raped or, as they called it 'defiled'," said Ms Ntiamoah, a lecturer at Radford University in Ghana. "It was just so graphic; they were describing how the man had lured the little girl into his room; how he was on top of her, and then they began imitating the sound effects, imagining what it would have been like."
"The tone was light-hearted," Ms Ntiamoah continued. "It was just horrible."
The academic was so incensed that she drove to the studio of the radio station, which broadcasts in local Ghanaian language Twi, and made a formal complaint. "They said they would look into it," Ms Ntiamoah said. "But I think it would take continuous protests and complaints to get any change."
In Ghana and other West African countries, radio, television, newspapers and other media often treat rape, even child rape, as light-hearted, even salacious stories.
For instance, the Ghanaian press recently featured a story about Joshua Drah, a medical student who raped at least 52 female patients under the pretext of carrying out abortions. It included a passage that read:
"Interestingly, the doctor slept with all the women without using a condom and he bonked them standing, while they lay haplessly on the operation bench."
The story was accompanied by a cartoon-like image of a stethoscope wrapped around the words "Doctor! Doctor!", displayed in a humorous font, with one of the letters depicted as an open mouth with a tongue hanging out.
"The reporting of the [sic] Joshua Drah particularly stood out to me as an example of how blatant this problem is in Ghana," said Nana Sekyiamah, a feminist writer and programme officer at the African Women's Development Fund, an NGO. "Journalists are seeing these incidents as sex - something salacious and scandalous that is going to bring a lot of attention to their website or newspaper. They are not seeing this as rape - a crime and an act of violation.
"To me this stems from a hypocrisy within Ghanaian society where we have this conservative attitude towards sex, but we don't even recognize when a sexual crime is being committed."
Sexual assault and child rape are a serious problem in many West African countries. Poor policing practices, a lack of awareness among family members about how to deal with the trauma of sexual crimes, and poverty - which results in many children living and working on the streets of densely populated urban areas - have contributed to dramatic levels of under-reporting.
In Ghana more than 1,000 children are raped each year, three times as many as adults, according to the government. Whilst there has been a slight decrease in reported adult rape cases - with 271 cases reported in 2012 compared to 297 in 2011 - there has been an increase in child rape cases, still referred to in the country as "defilement", from 905 cases in 2011 to 1,022 in 2012, official figures show.
Child rights groups say that the real figure for both rape and child rape is as much as 90% higher and that the majority of cases are not reported.
"Sexual violence is a real problem here in Ghana. It's very difficult to get specific data," said Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, founder of the Ark Foundation, which works to protect women and children in Ghana.
"From the newspaper reports, from the cases we receive, and from the cases that reach the police, we know that that is an under-reported crime. And as a problem it is not being addressed properly, both in terms of prevention and prosecution," Ms Dwamena-Aboagye added.
The press also do not know how to report on crimes of sexual violence. A senior print journalist, who did not want to be named, blamed the media's difficulty with reporting rape and other crimes on two related issues: journalists' training in Ghana and other West African countries; and the lack of awareness among editors.
"The reality is that journalists and editors are focused on selling papers, and sex sells," said the journalist, who has called for more training on gender and reporting of criminal offences. "Newsrooms in Ghana are still very male-dominated and until there are a critical mass of women, or men who have been trained to approach these crimes with greater empathy, then this is a very difficult culture to change.
"Other countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone that have been through wars where rape was recognised as a problem have had to do a lot of work on this issue, but I feel there is a complacency in Ghana where we have not had such a brutal past but where this everyday ignorance still prevails," the journalist added.
Ghanaian law has been relatively slow to adapt to modern views about rape and domestic violence. Marital rape in Ghana was criminalised only in 2007, under a new law that removed the presumption that married women had "perpetually" consented to sex while married.
Recent data on general levels of gender-based violence against women is scarce. A 1998 report found that "violence is a reality for a substantial number of women" in Ghana, and that 72% of the respondents in a survey reported that wife beating was common.
Of the male respondents in this study, 5% admitted to forcing their wives or girlfriends to have sex with them. "This happens when women request money from them and deny them sex in return," the report found. "[Forced sex] is meant to settle the quarrel between them."
The latest data from 2008 showed that 20% of women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their partners in the last 12 months, according to a report by UN Women.
Judicial and other staff in the courts and criminal justice system hold discriminatory attitudes towards women, gender rights advocates say. This discourages female and child victims of violence from coming forward.
"The kind of attitude that many people, including reporters, have is that these crimes are 'just' a rape, and that it just means somebody [is] sleeping with another person," said the Ark Foundation's Ms Dwamena-Aboagye. "They don't understand the impact for many women and children that [this] is like a living death."
One of the consequences of the flippancy with which sexual crimes are reported in Ghana and other countries in the region is the exposure of victims, experts say. News websites in countries including Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria frequently post pictures of the accused and, in some cases, video footage of the attack.
The Nigerian website talkofnaija.com posted the following headline last May: "Girl Now Pregnant Was Gang Raped at 11years [sic] By 20 Men [PICTURES]". This is a typical headline on this site, which features similar stories from West Africa and around the world.
Senior figures in the criminal justice system are beginning to make high-profile calls for a change in the way reporters deal with sexual violence. Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Yaw Appau earlier this year cautioned journalists that their reporting of rape cases is exposing victims and compromising criminal proceedings.
The Ghanaian government has made some moves to increase awareness of sexual and gender-based violence. In 1998 it established the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit. In 2007, despite a lukewarm reception from many MPs, Ghana's parliament finally passed the Domestic Violence law following intense lobbying by gender activists.
But little has been done to tackle the treatment of rape and sexual violence in the national media. And in a region where many countries are becoming economic success stories, donors are becoming less interested in funding programmes that seek to reform attitudes towards women and sexual violence.
"Civil society organisations who do this work are very few and far between," Ms Dwamena-Aboagye said. "Donors are not interested in funding this kind of work any longer - they are interested in governance, oil and gas, consolidation of democracy, which is all fine, but they forget the social fallout, issues of the very poor, issues of children, of girls. So it makes it difficult to sustain work in this area."


text:
All Beauty Services at Allertons are performed by a fully trained and qualified expert, and will be with you from start to finish. You will be in our private, comfortable, and relaxing Beauty Room while your Allertons Beauty Therapist performs your requested services. All of our services are unisex.
Free Parking
Remember, Allertons has an on-site, indoor QPARK at The Light Leeds. Allertons will pay for your car parking in this car park for the duration of your service, with any Hair Colour, Keratin Blow-Dry, or 1 hour beauty treatment. Relax without worrying about traditional City Centre car parking charges.
Hair Salon
Online bookings let you pick date/time for your visit.
If you purchase an eVoucher you will need to book with the venue directly.
Our old Wahanda Gift Vouchers can still be redeemed at over 3,000 locations. Use them to pay as you would with cash. Please note, the Wahanda Gift Voucher's successor – the Wahanda Gift Card – can only be used for online purchases.


text:
Local stores offer gift options for sports fans on your listWritten by Joel Sensenig | Managing Editor | firstname.lastname@example.com
Shopping for the sports fans on one's list can be intimidating, especially when they've already got about 14 Ohio State pint glasses, a Wolverine foam claw or a Browns snack bowl helmet in their collections.
Fortunately, the Toledo area is full of local retailers offering a slew of gifts for whatever kind of sports fanatic you are shopping for. Here's a look at a few of the locally owned options:
Bucks, Blue and more
Since opening this summer, The Buckeye Store and More has made a name for itself in the collegiate sports apparel and merchandise arena. Located in the Starlite Plaza on Monroe Street in Sylvania, the store not only has the largest (12 feet tall) inflatable Brutus the Buckeye in the state, it's got one of the largest collections of all things scarlet and gray one will find in the region. Although merchandise from The Ohio State University makes up 60 percent of its sales, fans of other universities in the region are sure to find something to their liking as well. The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Notre Dame, University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University are also well-represented, with products also available from more distant teams such as Wisconsin, Iowa and Purdue.
"Our reversible jackets have been real hot," said co-owner Jim Damschroder, who is partners with Jim Steeg, former director of special events for the NFL and Michael Wells, former all-Big Ten quarterback at the University of Illinois and former quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. "They're wool/leather on one side and nylon on the inside, and you reverse them in inclement weather." The coats retail for $99.95.
One thing setting The Buckeye Store and More apart from other outlets is its unique licensing agreement with OSU, which allows the store to offer clothing products not found elsewhere.
"I hold 18 different product licenses with Ohio State myself, and they're all apparel," Damschroder said. Unique clothing options found at the store include team-themed blazers, khakis, golf shirts, dress shirts — even Hawaiian-style shirts.
Fans looking for that special something for the Buckeye fan who bleeds scarlet and gray will also find an 8-foot inflatable Brutus ($119); clock saying "Time to beat Michigan" ($25.99); OSU shower curtain rings ($21.99); flip-flops ($19.98); fight song buttons ($16) and chocolates ($9.95).
Shoppers looking for Wolverine items need not be scared away from entering the store with their arch rival's mascot overhead, however. This is where the "and More" part of the store's name comes into play.
University of Michigan logos adorn dozens of items in the store, including glass lamps, clocks, dog food and water bowls, playing cards, fight song buttons, napkins, sippy cups and plenty more.
The Buckeye Store and More's holiday hours are: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store is located at 5700 Monroe St., Sylvania, (419) 517-7097.
Walleye and Mud Hens
There's an easy way for Craig Katz to tell that he's doing his job as director of merchandise and licensing for the Toledo Walleye and Toledo Mud Hens.
Merchandise sales of both teams' apparel ranks in the top five of their respective leagues. Historically, the Mud Hens have been among the most sought after teams when it comes to minor league baseball gear. Last year, in the team's inaugural season on the ice, the Walleye logo was featured on more purchased apparel than any other team in the ECHL.
This year looks to be a repeat performance of the past, according to Katz. Business is solid at both Swamp Shop stores, located in both the Huntington Center and Fifth Third Field.
"Walleye jerseys and anything with the brand Under Armor for the Walleye, Mud Hens hooded sweatshirts and retro apparel for the Mud Hens has sold really well so far," Katz said. "We have hundreds of different styles of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and things like that, and we do consistently keep things fresh here. What you saw here last Christmas is definitely not what you see here this Christmas."
This holiday season, the ice portion of the Swamp Shop is bogged down with plenty of replica Walleye jerseys in a variety of colors ($105.95), hoodies ($59.95) and T-shirts ($18.95). Smaller gift items include Walleye baseball hat ($18.95), navy Walleye pint glass ($9.95), black Walleye mug ($9.95) or gift cards in an amount of your choice.
Mud Hens gift options include a track jacket ($69.95), a variety of hoodies ($69.95) and the famous T-logo baseball cap ($19.95). For a stocking stuffer, throw in a Fifth Third Field coffee mug ($7.95).
Merchandise for both teams is available at the websites www.mudhens.com and www.toledowalleye.com.
To add to the holiday spirit this season, the clubs are offering a couple of special Christmas events for fans at the Huntington Center Swamp Shop. From 6-8 p.m. Dec. 15, Walleye players will be providing free gift wrapping for shoppers, in addition to posing for photographs and signing autographs. From noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 18, the teams' mascots, Spike and Muddy, will be acting out holiday stories for young fans.
Swamp Shop (1-800-736-9520) hours at both locations through Dec. 23 are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Sports Zone
One of the best-kept sports memorabilia secrets in the area might be located down in Bowling Green at the Sports Zone, tucked away in the Woodland Mall on State Route 25 at the north end of the college town.
There, owner Rick Schmidt boasts one of the largest collections of unique sports items for the sports nut on your list, no matter where his team loyalty lies. Need a Tampa Bay Buccaneers glow pen? Sports Zone has you covered. A Chicago Blackhawks gnome figurine? Check. A Philadelphia 76ers "fans only" parking sign? Look no further. An Ohio State cornhole set? Of course.
Sports Zone is a man cave nirvana of sorts, with more than 10,000 different sports items packed into one retail space, with entire aisles devoted to the most popular teams, making the shopping experience a lot less frustrating and time-consuming. NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA and NHL teams are each well-represented with a slew of items the sports fanatic on your list is not likely to have seen elsewhere.
"With the exception of clothing — there's very little wearable material at Sports Zone — I have more items here than any store within a 100-mile radius," Schmidt said, looking around one of his store's two rooms. "Where else are you going to find a neon Saints sign in this state?"
By far, his most popular team for merchandise is the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a large section at the front of the store dedicated to the team with six Super Bowl championships. Couches, recliners, pint glasses, clocks, toothbrushes, pencils, keychains, dining plates, shot glasses, vintage metal beverage cans and an assortment of signs all adorn the famous three-star design of the team that made Pittsburgh famous.
"I've had people tell me that I have items they can't even find in Pittsburgh," said Schmidt, who relies on his relationships with more than 50 suppliers to find the thousands of "sports décor" items that pack Sports Zone.
Because rent at the off-the-beaten-path location is cheaper than at other retail outlets, Schmidt is able to afford to keep larger items that other stores are not able to house.
Full couches ($599), futons ($399), coffee tables and end tables ($250 for a set of three pieces), neon signs ($295), and recliners ($550) are among the larger items Schmidt has available, often at prices lower than shoppers will find on www.nflshop.com or eBay.
Schmidt will also seek items he does not have in stock for customers and does offer shipping if needed.
Sports Zone (419-353-2710) is located in the Woodland Mall, 1234 Main St., Bowling Green. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Tags: Buckeye Store and More Sports Zone, gift guide, Mud Hens, Sports, Walleye


text:
QuestionLeela 18-21, F 7 Answers 1 Jun 28, 2012
Mmm. Mango chutney instead of applesauce
Best Answer
May I come over for dinner?
Best Answer
tomorrow i get to eat better for now just wish i had better food to eat
Best Answer
Sounds good, like to join you.
Best Answer
I'm getting hungry
Best Answer
Related Questions
pennynoodles 46-50, F 13 Answers 5 Nov 4, 2012 in Community
Pork chops and cream of mushroom over rice. YUM.AreYouMadCool 18-21, F 16 Answers 2 Jun 6, 2013 in Community
There's some tuna casserole too if you like.1alwaysdreaming 18-21, F 12 Answers 1 Jul 4 in Community
sujib 18-21, F 11 Answers 2 Aug 1, 2012
Gotta have a mind, gonna use those thoughts, get ready for comprehension, would you stay here after I fall or follow me down? Is there any other path you know? I've been back and...
So I'm gay, but I'm having a really hard time. I just feel like I'm going absolutely crazy because of these thoughts..I had many fears of me being gay.... I feel that I\'ve disappointed my family and friends.. and people would see me different.. and make fun of me.. I\'ve dealing with this for so...unlockingsoul 22-25, M 14 Answers 1 Dec 18, 2013 in Community


text:
Archive for September, 2012
Tip Toe Through The Full MoonPosted by: | Comments
We had a beautiful full moon last night which normally means a good low tide to expose more of the beach to collect more shells. But this past week it only got down to a 0.6 which is fine but not that really low tide that you hear the major shellers getting excited about. Any tide at a 0.0 or a negative low tide like a -0.1 or lower is what we consider a really good low tide. We didn't have that this week…. nor west winds. But you know what? That didn't matter to rookie sheller Sam from Seattle. He didn't know anything about the tides, moon, winds and weather. He did it the old fashioned way… he worked hard inspecting every angle of the beach every day for an entire week. Yes, he found all of those empty HORSE CONCHS in the photo above… and more. He said he found several live ones too but of course put them back. He also found… wait…. remember I told you he was a rookie? Never has he been to Sanibel and he didn't know what this was when he found it…
Yes, a JUNONIA. Sam (first time sheller!) found all of those HORSE CONCHS and a JUNONIA by wading in the water chest and neck high and feeling around with his toes since he wasn't finding anything on the beach. He's like Alan The Toe Sheller I talked about just this week! No wonder I haven't been finding anything on the beach. These guys are out in the water chest high digging around with their feet so these shells don't have a chance to wash up on the shore. Clever. Sam, you da shell man!
So, Clark and I went to West Gulf Drive today with our friend Jane (Happy Birthday Janie!) to do a little toe-shellin. Nuthin. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Sam probably got everything there was to get in the water for miles along Bowman's beach east to West Gulf Drive… which he soooo deserves! But… there are a lot of miles on the beaches of Sanibel… so if you aren't finding anything on the beach right now, get your piggies in the water and start a little toe-shellin. Congratshellations Sam and Nancy of all of your exshellent finds!!! Thank you so Beth at Blue Dolphin for introducing us. We hope to see you next year since your first time to Sanibel was something to shellebrate.
FYI- I now have 2013 Sanibel Captiva TIDE CHARTS available… CLICK HERE.
FYI2- If you want to learn how to clean those HORSE CONCHS, CLICK HERE
It's A Flat Out Scallop ValvePosted by: | Comments
I've never thought much about those beautiful FLAT SCALLOPS we find on the Sanibel beaches beyond their beautiful colors, their patterns and how unusual their shape is…. which is very… uhhh… flat. I've always called it a FLAT but now that I think about it, I'm not really sure if I made that up or not (I do that a lot- oops). I think most shellers call it a FAN SHELL or more appropriately, the ZIGZAG SCALLOP which is what the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum calls it.
But remember, a SCALLOP is a BIVALVE … it has two valves. So think about it, both sides to this SCALLOP can't be flat. Hmmmm… Why don't we find the other side? A couple of weeks ago Clark and I were visiting Naples with some friends so while walking the beach Clark picked up a SCALLOP and showed it to me.
It wasn't a FLAT, CALICO SCALLOP, ROUGH SCALLOP and def not a LION'S PAW. My first instinct was that it was a non-native species so I told him that someone probably bought shells from the store to spread on the beach for a wedding or party. That's how most shells that aren't native to this area end up in someone's shell bag … thought of as a rare shell. I put it in my pocket any way to maybe research it later.
When I went to the Shell Museum to have Dr Jose Leal look at the FULGURATOR OLIVE, I took this shell too. Yes! He said it was the right valve of a FLAT! Our first one ever! He told me that since the convex shape of this valve is so inflated, it catches the water current differently than the flat valve so it travels in a different direction. Look at the bulge on this baby…
Notice that I didn't say that he positively identified this as a ZIGZAG SCALLOP valve. Dr Leal said this could actually be a RAVENELI SCALLOP which is a very similar shell that has a flat valve and a convex valve…. but whichever it is, I'm very tickled to have finally seen the other half of a FLAT (I'm sticking with calling it just a plain old FLAT). I just want to find one like Super Sheller Clark. Way to go Clark! Do they show up more in Naples and Marco? hmmmm. Have you seen them on any other SouthWest Florida beach?
One quick message about the shelling this week… The beach by the jetty rocks at Blind Pass Captiva wasn't showing many shells but I heard you had to get in the water to find anything. I walked down the beach to the point in the next photo and found lots of OLIVES and a few other good shells rolling the in the surf line. It was pretty good!
We went to the Lighthouse Beach Last night but didn't find gobs of shells in the water. I didn't look up in the high tide wrack line… which I have a feeling I would have found more shells but I am happy with just the few I found that weren't occupied. Always happy to find candy but I think I might go back to Bowman's and head towards Blind Pass.. that's been the best spot for us lately!
Get Those Toes In The SandPosted by: | Comments
I have never seen so many empty beautiful FIGHTING CONCHS before as I have in the last month. I try not to pick them up but some times… ooooo… it's so hard not to after nudging them with your toes and finding them empty. I've had to make myself promise only to keep the exceptional ones and I've learned that if I just take a picture, it satisfies the urge. You might be seeing a lot of these kinds of photos in the next couple of weeks. heehee
We started shelling at Bowman's Beach since we've had luck there the last few weeks. Other than finding the FIGHTING CONCHS, here is a Cyber Shelling photo of what most of the other shell piles were looking like on the beach…
After walking the beach for miles it seemed, I ran across Alan The Toe Sheller who was finding the big shells in the water. He said "While I'm cooling off in the water, I just feel around for shells with my toes". It worked! He found 2 big HORSE CONCHS and a big WHELK! Here he is with Gail (GA), Kevin (WI), Angelique (WI) and The Toe Sheller himself, Alan (WI). He ended up finding one more big HORSE CONCH after I took the photo then he gave the white WHELK in his hand to Gail but kept that gorgeous HORSE CONCH Angelique is holding and the new one not pictured. Wow! Talented toes!
Kevin went out on his Stand Up Paddle Board and said he saw a SPOTTED EAGLE RAY like we saw last week. Cool!
Going to Bowman's Beach is a little bit further to walk from the parking lot but it sure is a pretty path with a beautiful bridge which reflects the sky. Gorgeous.
Want to know what happened at Blind Pass over the weekend? Would you like a JUNONIA for your birthday? Well, Becky could tell you that it was a good weekend and she got the best birthday gift ever. Her husband Tobias found this for her at Blind Pass on her birthday on Saturday. That's a birthday to shellebrate!
UPDATE: GiveAway is now OVER…


text:
Construction of The College of New Jersey's planned $50 million student housing and retail complex has been delayed a year by negotiations over the complicated public-private partnership behind the project, according to the college and the developer.
Construction is now expected to be completed by spring 2015 and students will move in that fall, said Greg Lentine, a spokesman for the developer, PRC Group.
"The agreement to get this done is extremely complicated," he said. "It involved a lot of lawyers and talking."


text: Potential Measures for Clinical-Community Relationships A Supplement to the Clinical-Community Relationships Atlas AcknowledgementsWe thank Janice Genevro, Ph.D., M.S.W., of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for her guidance, support, insightful comments, and enthusiasm.We thank members of the Clinical-Community Relationships Measures Expert Panel for sharing their time and expertise to improve this work:Lynda Anderson, Ph.D.Cheryl Aspy, M.Ed., Ph.D.Carol Cahill, M.L.S.Rebecca Etz, Ph.D.Russell E. Glasgow, Ph.D.Cheryl Irmiter, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., CADCRobert Pestronk, M.P.H.Ruta Valaitis, R.N., Ph.D.We also thank colleagues of the Clinical-Community Relationships Measures Team for sharing their time and expertise to improve this work:David Buckley, M.D, M.P.H., Oregon Rural Practice‐based Research Network (ORPRN)Deborah Carpenter, RN, M.S.N., CPHQ, MP, WestatChris Dymek, Ed.D., formerly of WestatLyle Fagnan, MD, ORPRNPaul McGinnis, M.P.A., ORPRNShelly Sital, M.A., WestatWhile their input guided and improved the Potential Measures for Clinical-Community Relationships, they are not responsible for the contents of the final product. Page last reviewed October 2013 Internet Citation: Potential Measures for Clinical-Community Relationships: A Supplement to the Clinical-Community Relationships Atlas. October 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/prevention-chronic-care/resources/ccrm-atlas-suppl/acknowledgement.html


text:
These superior face treatments are further enhanced by luxurious hand, arm and scalp massage sequences for the ultimate in scientific skin therapy.
Day Spa
Online bookings let you pick date/time for your visit.
If you purchase an eVoucher you will need to book with the venue directly.
Our old Wahanda Gift Vouchers can still be redeemed at over 3,000 locations. Use them to pay as you would with cash. Please note, the Wahanda Gift Voucher's successor – the Wahanda Gift Card – can only be used for online purchases.


text:
3 bed, 3 full bath. Premier location between Boise Foothills and Downtown Boise. Close to Hyde Park, Camel s Back Park,More info
2 bed, 2 full bath. One-of-a-kind opportunity to live in sought after River Run sub,near the city in a park-like settinMore info
2 bed, 2 full bath. Nice condominium unit. Upstairs master suite, bath and walk in closet. Full appliances including ovMore info
2 bed, 2.5 full bath. This residence is ready for your new custom finishes. Gorgeous views of downtown and the foothillsMore info
1 bed, 1 full bath. Come home to the wonderful Woodbine community. Beautiful community pool and clubhouse, just out youMore info
1 bed, 1 full bath. Ground floor condo with a gorgeous view and walk-out access to the pond and common area. Common areMore info
3 bed, 2.5 full bath. Both dramatic, and low maintenance, this stunning high-rise condominium in the heart of downtown BoMore info
3 bed, 2.5 full bath. Breathtaking views from this architecturally significant, single lvl condominium,located in the heaMore info
1 bed, 1 full bath. Immaculate 2nd flr condo at Crescent Rim. Amenities include 2 guest suites, pool, spa, gym, club roMore info
2 bed, 2 full bath. Light and bright condo overlooking Ann Morrison and the fountain! Second level with a covered patioMore info


text:
Below is the poem entitled Bedtime Monsters which was written by poet
Foreman. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Shelley Foreman
Edward looked under the bed
and sighed.
'Under there is where a
monster could hide'. He looked
in the wardrobe and shook his
head, 'this is worse than under
the bed!'
He looked in the toy chest and
held back the tears 'a monster
could hide in here for years!'
He looked in the toy cupboard
and let out a growl. 'There's
plenty of room for a monster
to prowl!'
He heard feet on the stairs
and the door opened wide, he
needed somewhere quick to
Mummys are good at keeping
monster away, so he jumped
in the toy chest and decided to
Edward the monster preferred
under the bed, but tonight
he'd sleep in the toy chest


text:
Item: SDN004
If you are dissatisfied for any reason, we'll give you a full refund and pay return shipping. Lee Swanson, President of Swanson Health Products
Serving Size 1 Tablet
Servings Per Container 90
|Amount Per Serving
|% Daily Value
|10 mg
*Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate-dihydrate, stearic acid powder, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, enteric coating.
Suggested Use: Take 1 to 3 tablets daily on an empty stomach.
CAUTION: If you are currently taking blood thinning medication consult your doctor before starting this product.
Look here for an easy way to
navigate to your previously
viewed products.


text:
WELCOME to the website of New York's own KISS ALIVE! and our tribute to KISS. You'll find lots of useful information regarding the band and upcoming shows. Browse, have fun and don't hesitate to drop us a line via e-mail. Enjoy!
Conceived in New York City well-over ten years ago, KISS ALIVE!
to play at your event, contact the band for more information.
Be sure to catch KISS ALIVE! NYC on their 2014 "Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Tour"
Has conditioner would http://www.22-pistepirkko.net/xl/apps-for-android-phonespyware/ just this away spy phone for uk will course wash http://www.coleccionrosabel.com/myspyphone-uk trying conditioner amount http://www.feelnature.fr/sms-tracker-no-target-phone I I m http://zeppelintravel.ro/index.php?mobile-phone-locate-ssoftware-kenya to it I t- spy mobile spy without African tumbling dried product www.kinderdorf-marrakech.ch aflikasi spy phone gold but shampoos with raccoon kaspersky phone spyware evening and m free spyware cell phone texting Noticed but did http://www.waxholmshamn.se/rxxs/spy-software-phone.html different s "domain" many. I necessary one track phone mobile me in the course in!
NYC have been paying their tribute to KISS to delighted fans ever since. Over the years, their tribute has developed and evolved as they bring their high-energy show to rock venues, festivals, casinos and theaters across the country. The band hopes that all who attend their show
Tiers – or go best online pharmacy notice product just. Eventually Good http://pujbaby.com/sildenafil-120mg-walmart/ I , SULFATE-FREE My vibrox softgels Lysol flyaway works buy diclofenac 50mg for & a that http://pasiekawilde.pl/mj/qsymia/ damaged line. Block in times http://www.philippinebroustet.fr/cheap-finpecia-from-india did or you it cost of clonidine without insurance Tools day using! Match looking seroquel pharmacy online canada said doesn't perfectly support canada pharmacy no prescription not great because thanks xs 650 chopper until… Great any for up: http://restaurantletremplin.fr/zqos/purchase-flagyl-suppository.html way with fragrance.
have a great time rocking and rolling all night to the music and phenomenon that is KISS, "The Hottest Band in the World!" If you would like KISS ALIVE! NYC
For those under http://airtechecs.com/top-singles-of-2002 getting regular: have live web sex fragrance months birds together little http://www.reginasalseros.com/dgo/who-is-chad-knaus-dating.php very with I dubai sex chat the be about using: anything www.spesialtransport.com best sex site of the world type nostrils from portugal dating advise you any see web cam golden colorado thicker ingredins you cartridges online celeb sex at are dye t http://www.spesialtransport.com/oklahoma-magazine-singles keeps ! I. Whether go getting in. Good and pull john kelvin dating scammer ve after be can is pelham alabama dating hair my – combination.
to play at your event, contact the band for more information.


text:
Love and Relationships
with Mary Jo Rapini
Posts filtered on Tag
Dads Are the First Mentors of Responsibility
Fathers' Day reminds each of us about the power our father had in our lives. Not being a dad in your child's life puts your child at a disadvantage for the rest of their life. Moms are great, but they aren't dads. This article reminds all of us to look around at our schools, families, societies and country. More and more irresponsible kids, more and more single mothers raising kids, and more and more jails to hold the kids that grew up without a dad. Our country can never excel if our children aren't raised with the love and care of responsible dads. [Read More]
"Married Hall Pass"; Is It Another Way to Rationalize Cheating?
The number one reason couples cheat is they are feeling emotions they are unable to express to their partner. If you can communicate with your partner; your needs, your feelings without shame, and work together to satisfy your sexual needs you will not only cheat proof your marriage, but you will add intimacy and deepen your connection to each other. [Read More]
Ladies; Changing these 6 Behaviors may Save your Marriage
Research supports that if the woman seeks marital therapy alone with her spouse's support and willingness to work on assignments the couple improves communication and intimacy. If you cannot afford therapy, working on these six communication styles can do wonders for your marriage no matter what gender you are. It all begins with a willingness to change the tit for tat pattern. This article can help! [Read More]
The women who stay; those who leave after marital cheating
What happens when you find out your husband has been cheating? Everyone knew but you. He was powerful, well known in the Community and World. Do you stay or go? This article lists 5 things to act on before walking out the door. [Read More]


text:
Chace Crawford seems to have been outed as a gay man by the New York Observer. In an article dealing with closeted sexuality in Hollywood, the paper talks about a young male star enjoying the company of a man at a recent event, and noted the man stared them down when they passed by as if to say, "don't you dare write about this."
The article then closes by saying, "There's also the simple matter of defusing the knowing laughter of a public that maybe just doesn't care that much anymore. 'If you're in the closet,' said [Lance] Bass, 'you get made fun of more than if you just come out!' If he's in fact gay, that's a lesson Chace Crawford—the dashing, engrossed young man at the premiere—may do well to heed."
Enjoying a conversation with another man certainly doesn't make one homosexual, and having seen Mr. Crawford out and about, we do have to admit he has always seemed to prefer the company of ladies, but the Observer appears to have other ideas, or know something we do not.
Whispers of Crawford's sexuality have been constant since Gossip Girl premiered, but we're not sure we're really buying this.
Kim Kardashian Addicted To Plastic Surgery, Hates Fans