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Slow Naples Bay recovery has some leaders wanting to cut Natural Resources staff
NAPLES - Making Naples the natural jewel of Southwest Florida is one of City Hall's top goals. The city's 2007 vision statement says so.
Almost five years later, discontent with the city's progress on Naples Bay restoration has the Naples City Council talking about whether the city should revamp its approach — including abolishing the city's Natural Resources Department.
During an at-times testy budget workshop last month, council members Gary Price and Sam Saad grilled Natural Resources Manager Mike Bauer about his track record.
Price and Saad say the city should look at whether the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, for example, could accomplish the same work, or more, with a city grant that would be less than what the city spends on the natural resources department.
"It's the department of happiness and feel good and hugs, but I'm a serious environmentalist and I want to see real things getting done with my tax dollars," Saad said last week.
Saad and Price say shutting down the natural resources department wouldn't mean shutting down the city's in-house environmental protection work, which extends to the city's streets and utilities departments.
"Maybe it's time to look for another way," Price said.
Naples Mayor-elect John Sorey, a staunch supporter of Bauer, said he is open to looking at outsourcing, but worries that Saad and Price would scale back the work Bauer's department undertakes now.
"I think we have a very different philosophy about the scope of work," Sorey said.
Tight budgets in tough economic times have the city taking a new look at all of its departments this year. A so-called zero-based budgeting exercise has city officials setting budgets from scratch rather than from the previous year's budget figure.
Saad says the natural resources department is spending too much of its budget on personnel costs rather than programs.
The department's 2011-12 budget totals $390,000, of which $305,000 goes to salaries and other payroll costs for the department's three employees.
The department's 2011-12 budget totals $390,000, of which $305,000 goes to salaries and other payroll costs for the department's three employees.
"I understand the budgetary constraints we're under at this time. I think it's a serious problem," Bauer said. "But I think (the) natural resources (department) provides a valuable service to this city."
Bauer has championed a law that limits fertilizer use in the city to stem algae blooms and requires landscapers to become certified.
He has organized projects to build a filter marsh at the city's Riverside Circle campus, create oyster reefs in Naples Bay and protect and monitor seagrass beds.
Florida is reviewing Bauer's proposal to use dredged muck from Port Royal canals to build low-lying islands on Naples Bay. The islands would create habitat and would save muck disposal costs, supporters say.
Bauer has formalized a more thorough water quality testing regime for Naples Bay. The results convinced the state to loosen a proposed nutrient pollution limit for the bay, potentially saving the city millions of dollars in cleanup costs, Bauer said.
He made some enemies, though, when he pushed for a ban on copper sulfate. Bauer contended the compound was responsible for Naples Bay not meeting state water quality standards for copper.
Lakefront residents who used copper sulfate to control algae in their lakes disputed that notion, saying the algaecide stays in lakes where it is applied. They blamed copper pollution on other sources, such as boat paint and vehicle part shavings that get washed off roads and parking lots. They called for more testing to pinpoint the source.
Amid an outcry over the ban — and behind-the-scene calls for Bauer to be fired for pushing it — the City Council reversed the ban in 2010, citing concerns that it ran counter to state law.
The episode still is rippling through city politics. Even recently, Price raised the copper sulfate debate as the City Council weighed a report on the filtering capacity of the city's lakes.
Price said his proposal to look at scrapping the natural resources department isn't a vendetta against Bauer over the copper sulfate ban.
"I don't have any bad blood," said Price, pointing out that he and Bauer have paired up twice to be the city's team in the annual Great Dock Canoe Race.
Price and Saad said their dissatisfaction with the natural resources department is simple: After five years, water quality in Naples Bay isn't getting any better, they contend.
Bauer reported to the City Council this summer that the bay is starting to show modest signs of a slow but spotty recovery, but Price interpreted the water quality trends as "generally flat at best."
Bauer's backers say critics' expectations for Naples Bay restoration are unrealistic.
"Changing 50 years of adverse impacts on Naples Bay and the Gulf is not easy to change overnight," Sorey said.
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Southeast gas prices have started to descend after a steady increase since November 15.
Local pump prices became inflated after maintenance issues disrupted Gulf Coast supplies.
The decrease may not last too long, as a number of factors placed upward pressure on oil prices last week.
Crude prices jumped after the national unemployment rate fell to 7 percent in November and consumer sentiment rose to a 5-month high.
The national average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.26, 1-cent less than last week.
Georgia's average of $3.23 fell 2 cent from last week.
In Elbert County, the low retail price for gasoline is down one cent from last week's price of $3.16 to $3.15.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wow, another article that misses the point big time.
I taught in Arizona for six years. Mesa is not considered one of the best districts in the metro area (easily supplanted by the Chandler and Gilbert public school districts). They also were "fortunate" to have a large chunk of its potential failure base forced out of the area due to the recession and significant loss of student population. Also, there are significant number of charter schools that cater to potential dropouts. These students that TRANSFER into these and are no longer counted as part of the main district populations. The transfer is encouraged versus the placement. Once the 100 days are over to count the students for funding, districts are more than happy to send these students packing. Also, Mesa's main at-risk population was a significant Hispanic population that had a good chunk of illegal aliens who left the state once jobs fell apart.
(http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2012/04/20/20120420declining-enrollment-likely-slow-mesa.html) (http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/10/14/20101014mesa-schools-enrollment-dropping1009.html)
All I can say is...wow! This is what goes as unbiased journalism today.
This feels more like a vendetta article rather than an attempt at unbiased journalism. Again, blame the system for the failure to succeed instead of holding individuals, especially high school students (some of whom engage in "adult" activities such as drinking and sex) accountable for their own actions. Yes, there are bad teachers, but quite frankly, there is little incentive for excellent teachers to be in the public schools with the constant blame game and "save them all" at any cost mentality.
Hammond appears to refuse to look at the critical element of education in the last ten years...if not the last 100. Without parent support, it is a running battle to keep children in high school. Mix the growing class sizes, increase in standards, with the failure of accountability and support from home and the chances of a student failing grow exponentially. Hammond could ask good students just how much of a trial it can be to deal with obnoxious and lazy behavior. However, students who are in AP/honors classes can avoid some of this chaos because they luckily track out. As a long time educator, I have seen an increasing amount of effort placed in trying to keep these kids in school but little reciprocation from students or parents. After a while, frustration sets in, and eventually the decision of sanity is made to let natural (gasp) consequences occur, or let burn out claim yet another educator. This is why public education will continue to lose good teachers. Salary is not everything, but this constant "blame the teacher game", on top of ridiculous approaches of test first, teach constructive information second will be what destroys public education. If we want rigorous standards, then be willing to accept the loss of students. If we want to accept compromise (which is what the American public school system has done too much of since the Nation at Risk report in 1983), keep trying to force kids who do not care to get an education. Failure is an option if one desires it.
I disagree. There are more than enough soccer fans who think Spencer has worn out his welcome. He is losing this team (some of my Timbers Army friends say he has not only lost this team but also has lost them). So, let the Timbers continue this tirade of bad play so that by late summer, getting a ticket to a match could very well be easy. Luckily soccer is not like the NFL or the NBA, because if it was, sports talk would have had a field day. Imagine the Ducks football team losing to Portland State...after having a recent loss to Colorado State and Northwestern. Coaching change would be part of the conversation. It should be here.
When Jamal Crawford goes up to the Phoenix Suns bench and basically yells "Get me outta here!" while his teammates look on...during a game, it is time for a major change. Crawford would rather take chances with Robert Sarver than with Paul Allen. Between this, a questionable training staff, and questionable decision making, there has to be someone with $450 million that would be glad to take this off Allen's hands. How did the Suns, who have much less talent than the Blazers, end up having a shot at the playoffs, while basketball season for all intent and purposes, is done with two weeks to go?
The other thing that bothers me is why some Blazer fans are not concerned about this or want to readily dismiss this concern? Come on now! I know there is a passion for this team, and this passion should extend to a theory that looks pretty darn creditable to the rest of the country. Injuries happen yes, but long-term injuries are not as common, but appear to be for the Blazers. Look at Dallas. Look at San Antonio. Look at LA. Have any of those teams had near the number of extensive injuries? No.
This is a legitimate question, not just because Canzano brought it up.
Look, all one has to do is look at the Phoenix Suns. The Blazers front office needs to suck up their pride, take a trip down to Phoenix, and try and find out what they are doing. Nash is 38 and still a prolific player. Grant Hill was doing well, had an injury, but is already about to come back. They managed to get a few more miles out of Amare. When Amare left and went to the Knicks, it appears he has started to break down again. This particular analogy may be a stretch, but he did get the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2010. Shaq slowed down the Suns and it was not a good trade, but he was at least playing, instead of sitting on the bench. If anything, the preventative aspect of training the Blazers has some flaws in it whether they want to hear it or not. If this is not addressed, the Blazers may have to deal with other teams simply dropping a line "well, you could go there, but hey, look at all the injuries they have had."
This is just realistic: Greg, take the money you have and retire. Right now, it sadly appears the knees are just not going to ever be strong enough to play basketball. Get strong enough to walk, maybe run a little with your kids, but as far as basketball is concerned, end this. Blazers, you have to let him go. There is no future around Oden. Although he may be young in age, the game is passing him by. He has not been able to play in what, three seasons now? Even if he can somehow rebuild, he would not be on the NBA floor until fall of 2013...four years. Too long to be out...and all it does is put him at risk for another injury.
If this system truly worked and assessment counted much more than it currently does in most schools, the failure rate among my students (and I am sure countless others) would more than double. This is in part because if I do not require some sort of grade for the base work, there is a darn good chance that all but a handful would do it.
Personally, I do not have a problem with this. However, the powers that be would blast teachers such as myself into oblivion because the standardized test scores have dropped, as would the graduation rate. However, with seniors in high school, I cut points for homework assignments WAY back: In order to get them ready for college, I put a majority of the points on the final product. However, for the most part, I can get away with that because most seniors want to graduate. Also, I can justify it more because allegedly these kids are supposed to be going to college.
I also sharply dislike the removal of a zero for an assignment. If I scale back homework and put more onus on the end result, then I should be allowed to give a student the almighty zero for not turning that assignment in. Uh, that's the real world, folks. How the Oregon Business Education Roundtable agreed to this is somewhat baffling, but quite frankly, why should they care? Most major businesses will be grabbing college grads who, of course, have had four or more years of having to turn in assignments on time, under pressure, and with significant academic consequence. Even for those institutions who have adjusted their definition of what a college education is, businesses can still look for people who have had internships and have an established work ethic that overrides any hypocrisy an educational system might try to impart in shadow fashion.
(Oh, and yes, although behaviorism is no longer a norm standard for constructing curriculum, plenty of studies still show that behaviors still influence success, and thus should count against a student. Just because a student can get an "A" on test does not mean that student has the work ethic to do "A" effort work under fire in a real life scenario).
As an African-American, I declare this a hate crime. Sorry, but how is that child not supposed to start engendering racial fear and/or hatred when this happens to his mother right in front of him? No, these crimes are NOT what Martin Luther King espoused. This is an embarrassment to his legacy as well as well-meaning and hard working blacks. I was not raised this way and would have been slapped for even considering such an attitude. Some how or another, we need to stop walking on egg shells and call this behavior just what it is, wrong. Stop trying to placate it because of race, but someone will in order to excuse inexcusable behavior. I for one will not and hope that there is some decent justice that happens here...
Oregon's schedule is a problem...they would have to go 13-0 to get past the BCS computers unless the Pac-12 has a much stronger season than this year. Thus, it will come down to USC and Oregon (with Utah having a shot at messing it up for either or both). The Pac-12 will probably look much better in 2013, but there is a chance Rodriguez and his Arizona team can make things interesting as well. I wish Oregon has at least one game from a real conference, even if that team was not necessarily that good. They will get little to no love for most of the season unless either Arizona or Washington State are above .500. In fact, it does not bode well if the USC game is Oregon's first real test. USC will have played Stanford, Cal and Utah by the time they play the Ducks.
Okay, I am officially adopting the Blazers as my second team. I have been here a year and a half and today's news about B-Roy and then Oden stunned me, and I then realized, dang it, I like the Blazers. This franchise needs something good to happen and soon. Why can't this stuff happen to the Lakers? Like...now.
Sorry, but I have to agree with chunks of this story. This game is embarrassing. USC's pasting of UCLA just makes next week's match up something Pac-12 officials have to be hating life over. Oregon deserves to be in this game, but it would have been better for the conference if at least an 8-4 team were in the mix. I would have loved to have seen an Oregon-Stanford rematch. No more 6-6 teams in the conference final. Please.
Oregon is in big trouble right now...where is Bennett?
I'm probably old enough and know more history about how many people are bamboozling America...and right now, Occupy Portland has joined the ranks. Yes, I was in my car because the Max has been blocked by these people and I have a family to raise. Getting people to switch to credit unions? Not a bad idea (I've been with one for fifteen years). Credit cards? Only one, for emergencies, so ha-ha, no money from me. Mortgage? Not until I can have at least 20 to 25 percent down so I am not at the mercy. I learned economic responsibility from two grandparents who survived the Depression as well as racism. My mother marched in Chicago, but she also knew when she was being effective and also when the line was pushed too far. Oh, when you can show me when in world history there has not been a dominate wealthy class, let me know. The only difference, we actually have a opportunity to express our displeasure. However, when that displeasure means that the marginal are more at immediate risk than from Chase Bank, then someone has lost sight on people. Nice try.
Hey Occupy Portland, what ever sympathy I might have had for you ended today. Taking an hour and a half to get home when it usually takes 30 to 40. Nope. Guess what? I have heard from a nice chunk of Democrat and Republicans today that are pissed and are sick of your antics. You are losing most of America. YOU are about to become the 1 percent. All you have done recently is made it DIRECTLY harder for the middle and lower class, not easier. Pack up your crap and get out of Portland. That's my free speech for you!
Tale of two teams: Boise State came to play Saturday. Oregon, well, was not sharp and midway through the 2nd half the feeling the Ducks were going to lose was pretty apparent. Oregon did not look like the same team that gave it a good run last year.
Here is the deal. Right now, Stanford and Arizona State can beat them. UA in Tucson, where it will still be in the mid to upper 90s in late September, could also be a dangerous foe for the Ducks.
Can this turn into a national trend?
Sam, stop wasting taxpayer money! Portland, stop letting him waste taxpayer money. Burnside is good enough as it is. Messing with it will only complicate traffic patterns downtown, not help them.
If the recent sunspot findings are correct, then instead of global warming, we may be headed to a rather intense cool to cold period. Luck of the draw. I'll take this rain over a few F-5's and massive fires.


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Splitting a file in two
I have a very large file that I need to get onto a disk - it's bigger than 8.5gb so it won't fit on a dual layer DVD. Now, I've downloaded files before that have been split up into separate .rar or .zip files. They are usually named like so:
When you un-rar or un-zip the first one, it automatically unzips the second, assuming they are both contained in the same folder. I'd like to know how to do this so I can carry this file around on a few DVDs if need be, and then just copy each to the computer's desktop when it needs using.
I'd prefer to use .zip over .rar since it avoids having to use programs other than the default OS X unarchiver.
I've answered my own question. I'm sure someone already knew it, I think in the back of my brain I did from years ago... Split and Concat - cuts files into specified sizes. Perfect.
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text: 3-4' tall covered with light yellow flowers. Edible leaves flowers and long tap roots, were eaten by Native Americans. Watch the flowers pop open as the sun sets. Heavenly smell. Native to much of the U.S. Will reseed its self and can be invasive. Flowers attract beneficial insects. Plant in full sun.


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As of June 30th, Jammin 24/7 will go strictly to a VIP status. We thank you for your support.
Glad to be a part of this family! I've been in radio for a long time, programming and on air in the state of New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina as well as playing in a lot of clubs. I enjoy most genres of music, but my favorite is R&B! So I'm proud to share what's been a big part of my life with you. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE www.exstreamradio.com


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This week, Twitter released Vine into the wild, and the Twitter-sized-video-clip-sharing feature is steadily winding its way through the digerati lattice. Available only to iOS users for now, videos are already starting to clog my Twitter feed. The app was created by a New York-based team that Twitter acq-hired in recent months. Most people are calling the six-second movie sharing feature an "Instagram for video." That's an appropriate comparison. Like Instagram and unlike other video services such as Viddy and SocialCam, Vine offers users the opportunities to actively edit their creation and through that transformation, create art.
See the funny "How to grow a beard" or the stop-action " Godzilla vs. Mr Hand" or the MOMA-worthy " Disappearing banana." (And if you prefer XXX films, you won't be disappointed. Within a day of its launch, there's already porn available, reports the Daily Dot.) As we share more and more of our lived experiences in the forms of tweets, status messages, videos, and photos, the bar is starting to rise in terms of what is worthy of sharing. Our feeds are cluttered. We're starting to expect our friends not just to share — anyone can do that — but to share in an entertaining way.
That means your messages have to be clever, your photos artsy, and your videos edited (and short). Apps such as as Instagram, Cinegram, and Vine that allow us to easily add aesthetic filters or animation or edited footage appeal because they turn us into artists rather than just people sharing the digital exhaust of our days.
Jack Dorsey, who as founder of Twitter is far from an impartial observer, tweeted upon Vine's release,"Vine is the most exciting thing I've seen in a while. Not just because of the team, because it brings an entirely new art form to the world."
Short, edited videos aren't a new art form, though it's unique and fun that they loop. What Vine does bring to the world is an art form made easy and easily consumed. It's Paint By Numbers for video editing. And it's fun. And as my colleague Anthony Wing Kosner points out, it's going to make Twitter much more attractive to advertisers.


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KINGSTON, R.I. -- August 28, 2001 -- Students who drive to the University of Rhode Islands Kingston Campus this fall will have access to 160 more parking spaces in the Fine Arts building parking lot.
University officials have decided to return the lot to its full capacity of 1,030 parking spaces by reopening a paved area that has in the past been used by the marching band to practice for its halftime shows at football games. The area was striped like a football field. The band will now practice in the athletics area.
"The students have been asking that we reopen that area for several years," said Kathleen Mallon, URI director of strategic planning and institutional research. Mallon is overseeing parking coordination on the Kingston Campus as part of the master planning process.
Mallon has been meeting with student leaders, campus facilities service, police and security personnel, and others on campus to develop a plan to ease the disruption on campus that will result from the various construction projects that will be occurring this fall.
As part of the plan, students will no longer have access to about 100 parking spaces off Briar Lane when school opens in September. Instead, all 440 spaces there will be for faculty and staff.
Despite the loss of those spaces, the students will gain a total of 60 spaces as the Fine Arts lot is returned to full capacity.
" Receiving a gain of 60 student parking spaces right before the start of school will hopefully ease some of the parking tension at the start of the fall semester," said Student Senate President Michael Jordan. "I feel that although we lose some of the convenience held in the parking spots behind the Information Center, the net gain of spots compensates for that loss. We need to continue to work together to try and find more creative compromises like this one to solve our parking problem here on campus."
These steps are being taken, as the parking lot behind Ranger Hall will be converted from a 41-space lot to a staging area for the renovation projects set for Ranger and Green halls. Faculty, staff and visitors have used those spaces. However, about half of the motorists who parked there worked in Green Hall for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Admissions has since been relocated to the renovated former fraternity building at 14 Upper College Road, which has its own 30 parking spaces.
Mallon said the remaining cars that would have parked behind Ranger will be able to park in the lot off Briar Lane, near the University Club or in the Watson House/Roosevelt Lots.
In addition:
o The University is completing work on a 32-space lot next to Independence Hall
for visitors.
o Fraternity Circle and Keaney Lot, with 95 spaces and 1,405 spaces respectively, have been freshly paved and repainted.
o A new campus shuttle route has been added. It will serve Fraternity Circle and the Quad area.
o Two bus shelters have been installed along Upper College Road in cooperation with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority that will serve passengers on both RIPTA business and the campus shuttle.
o Parking behind Roosevelt Hall, the University Library and near Watson House will be reopened in October, following completion of the new lot construction and paving.
"We have been working throughout the summer to make the parking, campus shuttle, and traffic circulation changes necessary to accommodate the construction on campus and to make the first few weeks of school as hassle-free as possible in terms of traffic and parking," Mallon said. "We still have some great challenges with parking and traffic here, and we appreciate everyones cooperation and patience."
For informationi: Kathleen Mallon 401-874-4461, Robert Drapeau 401-874-5477, Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116
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Hotels in 15339 - Hendersonville PA
Only hotels in 15339 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Hendersonville, PA for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 15339 hotels and motels so you can review the Hendersonville hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Washington county and area code 724 are also listed.
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Winter Park & Fraser Chamber Events Calendar
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James Walker (seated) discusses the relative atomic composition of solar cells with Professor Robert Collins, Adam Phillips and Randy Ellingsen in a photovoltaic analysis lab at UT.
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Beginner / Intermediate Market Basket Class
Learn how to weave a market basket. This class is designed for both the beginner to intermediate, and will be led by Marilyn Manthei of Shawano. Cost for the class is $40 per basket. Limited to the first 10 individuals,
Occurs once: Mar 10, 2012 (8:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Contact Name: Tim Ewing
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Contact Phone: 715-758-6999
Navarino Nature Center
Navarino Nature Center
W5646 Lindsten Rd, Shiocton, WI 54170


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Maltese composer Karl Fiorini has been carving out a busy career in Paris and gaining a fine reputation for chamber, instrumental and orchestral music; music which is varied and eclectic reflecting his insatiable curiosity about the world and inspired by dance, literature and art.
In these two Concertos Fiorini has created modern classics - his orchestral sound based on shifting timbres and virtuosic solo parts. These brilliant works receive superb performances in this premier recording.


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Fundraiser set Nov. 9 for Fisher House
By Scott Huddleston : October 26, 2012 : Updated: October 27, 2012 1:00am
Photo By COURTESY ILLUSTRATION
The new Fisher House across the street from Audie Murphy VA Hospital will have 16 guest rooms.
More Information
Latest Fisher House on the way
With next year's completion of a Fisher House near Audie Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio will have more "comfort homes" for military families than any community in the nation.
Fisher House Foundation president Dave Coker said that milestone reflects San Antonio's support for sick and wounded troops and veterans, and family members who stay in the houses for free while facing challenges many miles from home.
"It's a testament to San Antonio, how highly regarded the medical facilities are there," said Coker, who is from San Antonio and now works out of the foundation's offices in Rockville, Md.
Since San Antonio's first Fisher House opened 20 years ago at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the Fisher House Foundation has expanded to three houses at the base and four at Fort Sam Houston. An eighth house by Audie Murphy, which recently opened the nation's fifth Level 1 polytrauma rehabilitation center, will open in early 2013, Coker said.
To support the project, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, which raised nearly $500,000 for the new $6 million home with a gala event in 2010, is planning a Nov. 9 fundraiser for the 15,000-square-foot house.
The event, "A Salute to Fisher House," will feature Montel Williams as emcee, with entertainment by country music star Rodney Atkins, and is expected to raise between $450,000 and $500,000. More than 400 people, including wounded veterans and high-ranking military officials, are expected to attend.
Arthur Coulombe, the resort's general manager, said he's a firm believer in the mission and efficiency of the foundation.
"The Fisher Houses fill an enormous need that otherwise is not met for the veterans and their families. It's not just their fight; it's our fight as a country," said Coulombe, 2013 chairman-elect of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
Despite the end of the war in Iraq and planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2014, donations to the foundation for 2012 are more than 10 percent above last year's and projected to run about $30 million, Coker said.
The number of families served at 58 Fisher Houses worldwide has risen from 17,000 to about 18,000, he said.
Even though Wilford Hall has shifted services to ambulatory care, the Lackland Fisher Houses remain busy, serving families and patients with brief stays.
"A lot of doctors want to start surgery at 5 a.m. If you have to drive up from the Valley, you can check in the night before," Coker said.
And while Fort Sam has treated well over 5,000 wounded troops with amputations, burns and other war trauma, the new VA polytrauma center "does miracles in giving them back their lives," he said.
"By the time the families get there, they've already been through hell, having gone through one or two medical centers," Coker said.
Families will have long stays at the new 16-suite Fisher House, since the VA estimates the average patient receives care at the polytrauma centers for 36 to 63 days. Accommodations and furnishings at the Fisher House exceed what the government provides.
"We want to give them the best," Coker said.
A few tables, at $2,500, are available for the Nov. 9 event. For reservations, contact Mary Considine at 240-599-2470 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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During my 13 years at SYSPRO I have been involved in a range of software development projects, but have never tried my hand at implementation. Over the past few months I have been fortunate enough to work with the iPlan team on the SYSPRO implementation at the Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) in Kitwe, Zambia.
I was brought into the project about 4-5 months into the implementation, when the customer began to see the power of SYSPRO and started pushing it to and beyond its limits. They realized the value and potential of SYSPRO and wanted more and more out of the system. Everything that they needed has been achieved with the core product by utilizing the built-in customization features, power tailoring and workflow.


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A truly tantalizing, refreshing Southwest side salad.
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1. Rinse pasta and vegetable blend with cold water. Mix drained pasta and black beans.\
2. Mix together the lime juice, oil, sugar, pepper and jalapeño.
3. Drizzle the dressing over pasta blend. Stir in cilantro and chill.Tip: For a heartier meal and addtional flavor, add in cucumber, celery, tomatoes, avocado, cubed cheese or proteins like chicken, beef or seafood.
Nutrition Information: cal 170, fat 5g, sodium 130mg, carbs 27g, fiber 5g, protein 6g
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Louis Briscoe released by Mansfield Town
Posted: May 12, 2014|
WINGER Louis Briscoe has become the latest player to be released by Mansfield Town this morning.
The 26-year-old spent five-and-a-half years at the One Call Stadium but was told his contract would not be renewed for next season.
The Stags announced their retained list last week, with ten players shown the exit door, but Briscoe had to wait until today to be told his fate, having previously been out of the country.
Injuries restricted his impact in the campaign just gone, and he made only five appearances – the last in the 2-0 defeat to Scunthorpe United back in January.
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In total, he turned out for Mansfield 199 times, having joined the club on the same day as goalkeeper Alan Marriott in January 2009.
"We had a meeting with Louis this morning, and he's another one who will be leaving the football club," said assistant manager Adam Murray, who broke the news to Briscoe in boss Paul Cox's absence.
"He's been a great servant to the club while he's been here and we wish him all the best in his future."


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NFL Free Pick
NFL Free Pick
St. Louis vs. Detroit, 09/09/2012 13:00 EDT, Score: 23 - 27
Total: -107/+45½ Over
Sportsbook: 5Dimes
Result: Win
*3 Star NFL Free Pick* The Detroit Lions should have one of the best offenses in the league this year. Detroit has the best receiver in the league in Calvin Johnson, and Matt Stafford is really turning into a star at quarterback. St. Louis has quite a few holes on defense, and the secondary is pretty weak. The Rams should have an improved offense. Sam Bradford is better than he showed last year, and the team got him some extra weapons on the outside in the offseason. Look for a high scoring contest here. Take the over.
*I went 40-22 in the 2011-2012 NFL season (65% Winners)! Sunday's NFL Triple Play is your ticket to ALL THREE of my plays for a LOW price in week one!*
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Serve at:
308 Noonan Drive
Pacific, Missouri 63069
The Enforcement Section of the Missouri Securities Division ("Securities Division") alleges that Respondent Womble committed an unethical business act when he falsified a form used to transfer a client's account to another broker-dealer in violation of The Missouri Securities Act of 2003 ("The Act").
Respondent Womble and the Securities Division desire to settle the allegations and the matters raised by the Securities Division in relation to Womble's alleged violations of The Act.
Section 409.6-601(a), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006), provides that the Securities Act of 2003 shall be administered by the Commissioner of Securities (the "Commissioner").
Section 409.6-604(h), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006) provides that the Commissioner is authorized to issue administrative consent orders in the settlement of any proceeding in the public interest under the Act.
Respondent Womble and the Securities Division stipulate and agree that the Commissioner has jurisdiction over Respondent Womble and these matters.
Respondent Womble and the Securities Division stipulate and agree that the Commissioner has authority to enter this Order pursuant to Section 409.6-604(h), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006), which provides:
" The commissioner is authorized to issue administrative consent orders in the settlement of any proceeding in the public interest under this act."
Respondent Womble waives his right to a hearing with respect to this matter.
Respondent Womble waives any rights that he may have to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the terms and conditions of this Order.
Respondent Womble specifically forever releases and holds harmless the Missouri office of Secretary of State, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Securities and their respective representatives and agents from any and all liability and claims arising out of, pertaining to or relating to this matter.
Respondent Womble stipulates and agrees with the Securities Division that, should the Division determine that Respondent Womble misrepresented any of the facts contained herein the Missouri Securities Division reserves the right to pursue any and all legal or administrative remedies at its disposal.
Respondent Womble and the Securities Division stipulate and agree to the issuance of this Consent Order without further proceedings in this matter, agreeing to be fully bound by the terms and conditions specified herein.
Respondent Womble agrees not to take any action or to make or permit to be made any public statement creating the impression that this Order is without a factual basis.
Respondent Womble agrees that this settlement between the parties, negotiated and reached in good faith, does not confer upon him the position of "prevailing party" under Missouri law.
Charles D. Womble ("Womble") is a registered representative with Securities America Inc. ("SAI"), and has a business address of 308 Noonan Drive, Pacific, Missouri 63069. Womble is registered through the Central Registration Depository System ("CRD") with CRD #519446.
SAI is a Missouri registered broker-dealer with a business address of 308 Noonan Drive, Pacific, Missouri 63069. SAI is registered through the CRD with CRD #10205.
On or about November 16, 2005, Womble notified his clients that he was ending his association with Walnut Street Securities and the new broker-dealer was SAI.
"MR", who is a customer of Womble's and whose account had been managed in a broker-dealer capacity by Walnut Street Securities since approximately 2000, received documents from Womble requiring MR's signature to transition MR's account to SAI. MR returned the documents to Womble on two occasions but without one of the signatures required to complete the transfer of MR's account to SAI. Womble took MR's signature from one document and physically transferred it onto the Account Transfer Form to complete the transfer of MR's account.
On or about January 11, 2007, representatives of the Securities Division (the "Division") conducted a routine audit at the office of Nicklas Financial Companies ("Nicklas Financial"). Nicklas Financial offers business and professional advice on insurance, benefit plans, and investments. Securities America is the broker-dealer for Nicklas Financial.
During the Division's routine audit of Nicklas Financial, representatives of the Division reviewed certain files and discovered, among other things, that Womble was placed on heightened supervision for "reproducing a client signature," specifically for "cutting and pasting" a client signature onto a document. When interviewed by an investigator with the Securities Division, MR stated no authority was given to sign his name and he was not aware that Womble had falsified the form.
Section 409.1-102(1), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006), defines an "agent" as "an individual, other than a broker-dealer, who . . . represents an issuer in effecting or attempting to effect purchases or sales of the issuer's securities."
Section 409.4-412(c), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006), reads in part that, "If the commissioner finds that the order is in the public interest and subsection (d)(1) to (6), (8), (9), (10), or (12) and (13) authorizes the action, an order under this act may censure, impose a bar, or impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed a maximum of five thousand dollars for a single violation or fifty thousand dollars for several violations on a registrant . . . ."
Section 409.4-412(d)(13), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006), reads in part that,
"A person may be disciplined under subsections (a) to (c) if the person . . . .
Has engaged in dishonest or unethical practices in the securities, commodities, investment, franchise, banking, finance, or insurance business within the previous ten years;
The Missouri Code of State Regulations, 15 CSR 30-51.170(1)(T), provides that the grounds for the discipline or disqualification of broker-dealers or agents shall include, in addition to other grounds, "dishonest or unethical practices in the securities business" that include:
Effecting any transaction in, or inducing the purchase or sale of, any security by means of any manipulative, deceptive or fraudulent device, practice, plan, program, design or contrivance.
This order is in the public interest, is consistent with the purposes intended by the Missouri Securities Act of 2003, and is authorized by Section 409.6-604(h) RSMo., (Cum. Supp. 2006).
Respondent Womble committed an unethical business practice when he falsified the Account Transfer Form by submitting a non-original copy of MR's signature without authority to do so.
Respondent Womble's falsification of the form is a dishonest or unethical practice under MO 15 CSR 30-51.170(1)(T).
Respondent Womble's actions described above are a violation of Section 409.4-412(d)(13), and RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006).
WHEREAS, the Commissioner, after consideration of the stipulations set forth above and on the consent of Respondent Womble and the Division, finds the following Order to be in the public interest and necessary for the protection of public investors and consistent with the provisions of Chapter 409, RSMo, et seq.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered that:
Respondent Womble is CENSURED as a broker-dealer agent in the State of Missouri;
Respondent Womble is ordered to reimburse the Division for the costs of the investigation in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500). This amount shall be paid to the Missouri Secretary of State's Investor Education and Protection Fund. Respondent Womble shall deliver a check to the Securities Division upon the effective date of this Order made payable to the Missouri Secretary of State to be deposited into the Missouri Secretary of State's Investor Education and Protection Fund;
Respondent Womble is ordered to pay a civil penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) to the State of Missouri for violation of Section 409.4-412(d)(13), RSMo. (Cum. Supp. 2006). Respondent Womble shall deliver a check to the Securities Division upon the effective date of this Order made payable to the State of Missouri, and the Secretary of State shall forward these funds to the state treasury for the benefit of county and township school funds as provided in Article IX, Section 7 of the Constitution of Missouri; and
Respondent Womble shall pay his own costs and attorney fees with respect to this matter.
Consented to by:
Lori J. Neidel
Chief Enforcement Counsel
Missouri Securities Division
Charles Womble


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Various Acoustic Guitar Fake Book: 2 items found
Classical Fake Book - 2nd Edition
Guitar, Piano, Piano/Keyboard, Melody/Lyrics/Chords - Difficulty: easy-medium
Over 850 Classical Themes and Melodies in their Original Keys. Composed by Various. Hal Leonard Fake Books. Classical Period. Fakebook (spiral bound). Standard notation, chord names and vocal melody (on some songs). 648 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.240044).
Usually leaves our warehouse: Within 24 hours
The Easy Classical Fake Book
Guitar, Piano/Keyboard, C Instruments, Melody/Lyrics/Chords
Melody, Lyrics & Simplified Chords in the Key of C. Composed by Various. Easy Fake Book. Classical. Softcover. 200 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.240262).
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Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones Season 3: Awesome EW Cover Promotes "Best" Season Yet
Seven hells — what a gorgeous cover!
Game of Thrones Season 3 premieres Sunday, March 31 on HBO. Teasers are starting to pick up, and you can read details here on the premiere, "Valar Dohaeris."
GoT is on the new cover of Entertainment Weekly, and showrunners David Benioff talked up Season 3. "Like the book, it builds," Benioff said. "Once the season kicks into gear, we've already seen stuff that makes me think it will be the best one yet. And it ought to be."
One "Scene Which Shall Not Be Named" (Benioff's phrase) reportedly left everyone on set devastated. "I've never seen the crew so emotional," Benioff says. "If the scene has that effect on the people making it who know what's coming, if they're that overpowered, I think it's going to have an overwhelming effect on people watching it." We think we know which scene he means.
Episode titles have been revealed for most of the season, in case you want a little preview of what may be coming. Catch up on more GoT stories right here.
Source: Entertainment Weekly


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Leominster hotels and motels with swimming pools that are perfect for a family are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates at hotels with a pool in or near Leominster, MA for your upcoming individual or family vacation. We list the best pool equipped, kid friendly Leominster Massachusetts hotel and motel rooms for children. Review the list of Leominster hotels with indoor or outdoor pools below to find the perfect lodging for you and your kids.
Planning group travel? Get Leominster MA Group Hotel Rates
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The chocolate tour and tasting is a three-hour guided educational adventure where you will learn all about the cacao tree and see how chocolate is made from the cacao fruit (cacao pods). Learn about permaculture, sustainable farming and exotic fruits.
Durring the tour we sit down to an EXTENSIVE chocolate tasting to sample Hawaiian grown and made chocolates.
Chocolate tours and tasting are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They start at 9:30 AM and end at 12:30 PM. Call 808-634-6812 to reserve a space on the next tour. The tour and tasting is open rain or shine. The cost is $65 a person, kids (12 to 4) $29 and kids 3 and under are free. We are located on the North Shore of Kauai in Kilauea.
We keep the percentages of cacao high (85%) to ensure the health benefits. If you like dark chocolate, you will love this tour.
In the all you can eat chocolate tasting we sample over 20 types of chocolates including hot chocolate made in the traditional Latin American style with fresh ground chocolate liquor, fresh whole vanilla pods, fresh ground all spice, fresh coconut meat and coconut milk, and local honey. (no cane sugar)
Some of the samples available to stimulate your taste buds and satisfy your soul:
mole, coconut milk curry, chinese 5 spice, garam marsala, spicy pepper (chipotle and cayenne ), mint butter cream, allspice, sea salt , saindoux , almond butter, garlic , blueberry, orange with criollo nibs, dried cherries, hempseed, single varieties from Kauai and the Big Island, plain 85% with fresh roasted nibs, cajun spice , truffles of assorted flavors, durian truffles, expresso cream truffles, ginger, macadamia nut, shredded toasted coconut, tahitian lime and many many more……..
Taste the Aloha.
Advanced reservations are required.


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All-District Forward Trey Blanks Joins Blazers
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Head Coach Curtis Christopher is happy to announce the addition of Trey Blanks to the Ohio Christian University men's basketball program. Blanks joins OCU after a stellar prep career at Tree of Life Christian School in Columbus, Ohio where he played for head coach Joe Arndt.
Blanks helped lead the Trojans to a 16-5 record and 8-2 conference mark during the 2010-11 season and was a member of the 2009-10 team that won the District Championship en route to a 21-4 season. He was a force for his team during both seasons as he scored 9.9 points per game his junior year while shooting 57.9% from the field. During his senior season he tallied 7.9 rebounds per game while also swiping 2.4 steals to help the team defensively. For his effectiveness on the floor, Blanks was honored as a 1st Team All-MOCAL selection in 2011 in addition to being named a 3rd Team All-District selection.
"I chose OCU because I wanted to be a part of a succesful college program on the court and also have the opportunity to grow spiritually as well," said Blanks. "My goals are to become a better player and contribute to the betterment of the team anyway that I can."
Trey Blanks joins an ensemble of local incoming talent from Columbus, Ohio. He joins an OCU team that has made it to three straight NCCAA National Tournaments. The Trailblazers will look to make a run at their first ever national title during the 2011-12 season.


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The holidays are usually a time when families reunite to spend time together before eventually heading their separate ways. In a sense, that is what is happening for Jack Buck, and Rev Whiskey Richard... More >>
Jeremy Essig has hit the top of St. Louis. After a productive nine-year run in our city, the Zanesville, Ohio, native is taking his mixture of self-deprecation and acerbic wit to the comedy scene in N... More >>
Long-time St. Louis hip-hop heads may have noticed a familiar face manning the decks at Killer Mike and El-P's Run the Jewels show last night. DJ Trackstar, who spent his first ten years as a DJ in St... More >>
Killer Mike and El-P have a bond that goes beyond explanation. Sure, they both make loud, abrasive rap music that often features painful introspection as well as political and societal critiques. And ... More >>
Tongue-in-cheek boogie rockers Eagles of Death Metal announced that the band will be playing a concert in the shadow of the arch on May 18. The show is part of sponsor Jack Daniel's new Live at the La... More >>
From the perspective of a casual observer, it would be all too easy to label the members of Menomena as miserablists. The group's... More >>


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July 29, 2015
(AP) - Civil rights groups have sued in federal
court to block Alabama's new law cracking down on illegal
immigration, which supporters and opponents call the strictest
measure of its kind in the nation.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Huntsville, says the law is of
"unprecedented reach" and goes beyond laws passed in Arizona,
Utah, Indiana and Georgia. Federal judges already have blocked all
or parts of the laws in those states.
Alabama's law, which takes effect Sept. 1, allows police to
arrest anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant if the person
is stopped for some other reason. It also requires businesses to
check the legal status of new workers and requires schools to
report the immigration status of students.
The lawsuit asks a judge to declare the law unconstitutional.
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Durability that can't be matched! Resists cracking, fading, protects floors and equipment.
Made from solid cast iron with a hex design and encased in virgin rubber. Heads are securely fastened with a uniquely designed pin mechanism that means this equipment is about as low-maintenance as it gets. No spinning or loosening.
This item is usually shipped via . Handling time is 1-2 days business days, plus shipping time from Chicago. Please review our FedEx shipping terms below.


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An electromechanical conversion machine includes a 1-turn transformer primary winding comprising a rotating conductive member electrically connected to a stator conducting member. The rotating member moves within an alternating magnetic field. A nonrotating electromagnetic core is positioned in operative relationship with the primary winding. The core is surrounded by a multiturn secondary winding circuit to which output terminals are connected.
1. An electromechanical conversion machine which comprises, in combination:
an electrical conducting member of circular symmetry rotating in an alternating magnetic field;
a field coil with alternating electrical excitation for producing said field;
a stator conducting member electrically connected to the rotating member in such a manner as to form with said rotating member a continuous electrical conducting transformer primary circuit;
a nonrotating magnetic core of toroidal shape positioned within said continuous electrical circuit and magnetically coupled therewith;
a multiturn secondary circuit formed around, but insulated from, said magnetic core so as to be magnetically coupled to the alternating magnetic field produced therein; and
output terminals joined to said secondary circuit.
2. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotating member comprises at least one disc-shaped electrical conducting spool member rotating in the alternating magnetic field.
3. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 2, wherein the disc-shaped electrical conducting spool member is formed by at least two alternating segments of different classes of materials electrically insulated from one another, one class being highly permeable to magnetic flux lines but having small electrical conductivity and the other class having large electrical conductivity but being of small magnetic permeability.
4. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein the stator conducting member comprises at least two alternating segments of different classes of materials electrically insulated from one another, one class being highly permeable to magnetic flux lines but having small electrical conductivity and the other class having large electrical conductivity but being of small magnetic permeability.
5. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member includes an inner conducting cylinder positioned between an axle of the machine and an outer conducting cylinder which comprises said stator conducting member.
6. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 5, wherein the outer conducting cylinder is of varied radii as a function of the axial position, the cylinder radius being largest at the axial midpoint of the machine and being smallest at the two axial ends where electrical contact is made to the rotating member.
7. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein the field coil is formed to accommodate a liquid coolant having a temperature as low as cryogenic levels.
8. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein the nonrotating magnetic core is formed of magnetic materials exhibiting differing characteristics.
9. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 2, wherein at least two spool members, each having an associated secondary circuit, operate in association with a single rotating conducting member.
10. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotating member comprises at least one cylindrical-shaped electrical conducting member rotatable about the cylinder's axis and in alternating magnetic fields produced by at least one associated field coil having alternating electrical excitation to produce said alternating magnetic fields.
11. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 10 wherein the cylindrical-shaped electrical conducting member comprises at least two alternating segments of different classes of materials electrically insulated from one another, one class being highly permeable to magnetic flux lines, but having small electrical conductivity and the other class having large electrical conductivity but being of small magnetic permeability.
12. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, with auxiliary electrical components added to the field coil so as to reduce the net circuit reactance presented to an AC field excitation source with additional electronic means to maintain the field coil circuit approximately resistive independent of the frequency of the AC field excitation source.
13. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 12, wherein the electronic means for changing the added reactance are used to control the bidirectional transformation of mechanical and electrical powers.
14. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotating member comprises at least one cone-shaped electrical conducting member rotatable in alternating magnetic fields produced by at least one associated field coil having alternating electrical excitation to produce said alternative magnetic fields.
15. An electrical conversion machine according to claim 14, wherein the cone-shaped electrical conducting member comprises at least two alternating segments of different classes of materials electrically insulated from one another, one class being highly permeable to magnetic flux lines but having small electrical conductivity and the other class having large electrical conductivity but being of small magnetic permeability.
16. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, with electrical contact between the rotating and stator members being made with material that become liquid at the machine operating temperature.
17. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1,wherein the multiturn secondary conducting circuit is formed with conductors of varying cross-sectional areas and shapes thereby minimizing the secondary resistance and producing a nearly ideal magnetic coefficient of coupling between primary and secondary circuits.
18. An electromechanical conversion machine according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection between the stator conductng member and the rotating member is a capacitive connection.
In electromechanical systems there is a frequent need for a constant frequency electrical output from a variable speed mechanical input, or conversely, a need for a constant speed mechanical output from a variable frequency electrical input. Many methods for satisfying this need have been advanced. The present invention provides a solution using a homopolar (acyclic, Faraday) direct current (DC) machine, the field flux of which is varied continuously to produce an alternating current (AC) output. The frequency of the AC output is governed by the frequency of the field excitation and is independent of the shaft speed of the mechanical input.
A conventional separately-excited DC generator produces an AC electrical output if the separate field is excited with an AC current. However, if AC field excitation is used with a conventional DC generator with multi-turn armature and associated commutator, extensive sparking is present at the commutator. Significant power losses and excessive commutator wear are present and the resulting operation is not satisfactory. A homopolar (acyclic, Faraday) DC generator operates without commutation, so such a generator can readily be separately excited with AC current. Since the homopolar generator has only one armature turn, the AC electrical output is characterized by small voltage and large current.
The homopolar, or unipolar, DC machine was invented by Faraday in 1831. Regardless of its geometric form, the unipolar DC machine is characterized by a single turn rotor, so commutation is not required. Since it is a 1-turn DC machine, the rotor output voltage is small and the output current large.
There have been many inventions intended to circumvent the basic high-current problem of the unipolar DC machine. None of these inventions has proved commercially attractive, however, so the machine currently is used only for special low-voltage applications.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,516,254 which issued on Nov. 18, 1924 to George S. Towar, a unipolar machine is disclosed which utilizes variable field excitation to produce AC output. The low-voltage AC output is connected to a transformer to obtain a high-voltage output from the transformer secondary. However, since the transformer primary current is so large, the connection between the unipolar machine and the transformer primary is of critical importance. To minimize electrical losses, the transformer primary connection must be made as short as feasible.
A primary objective of this invention is to reduce the electrical length of the transformer primary circuit to an absolute minimum by forming the transformer as an integral part of the unipolar alternator. This primary objective is achieved by operating the unipolar alternator output as a short-circuited turn to form a 1-turn transformer primary. The resulting unipolar alternator is somewhat similar to the pulse-operated homopolar generator described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,474 granted to Paul-Henri Rebut, et al on June 30, 1970. However, Rebut et al are concerned with pulse operation. Consequently, a switch must be introduced into the high-current transformer primary circuit and a short-circuited primary is not feasible. In contrast, in the present invention involving continuous AC operation, a short-circuited transformer primary circuit is employed, with a resulting unique design having highly attractive operating properties. More particularly, the present invention provides for:
an electromechanical power converter that can produce a constant-frequency electrical output from a variable-speed shaft mechanical input, or alternatively, can produce a constant-speed shaft mechanical output from a variable-frequency electrical input;
an electromechanical power converter which is rugged, has a large kilowatt/kilogram performance factor, and has an attractive conversion efficiency;
an electromechanical power converter which has a large power control ratio;
an electromechanical power converter with an integral transformer so as to provide a high-voltage, low-current electrical output;
an electromechanical power converter in which the transformer is designed with a primary circuit which minimizes electrical losses and which provides a transformer coefficient of coupling that is very near the ideal value of 1;
an electromechanical power converter designed to optimize the compromise between the electrical and magnetic properties of its components; and
an electromechanical power converter which can be adapted readily to multiphase electrical operation.
Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention which now will be set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view in perspective of a homopolar alternator having a spool-type geometry;
FIG. 2 is an end view of a spool employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and having alternating copper and iron wedges;
FIG. 3 is an end view of a transformer outer cylinder forming a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and having alternating copper and iron cylindrical segments;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of an alternative rotor to that shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a spool-type unipolar alternator having a field structure and comprising an alternative embodiment to the alternator shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of a spool-type unipolar alternator having a magnetically sectioned transformer core and comprising a still further alternative embodiment to the alternator shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a dual spool-type unipolar alternator;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a dual cylinder-type unipolar alternator;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of a dual cone-type unipolar alternator;
FIG. 9a is a sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a unipolar alternator utilizing capacitive connections in the transformer primary circuit; and
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating triacs utilized to switch capacitances into the field excitation circuits of the various embodiments of the present invention;
The basic organization of the homopolymer alternator will be understood from the partial (field structure, rotor support, etc. omitted) cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1 which represents the essential features of a spool-type embodiment of the invention. A separate rotary mechanical power source drives a rotor assembly 101. This assembly comprises an axle member 102 and two spool members 103a and 103b. Field coils 104a and 104b are connected to an AC voltage source (not shown) to produce separately-excited field magnetic flux, diagrammatically represented by field flux lines 105a and 105b. The field flux lines cut axially through the rotor spools 103a and 103b but in opposing directions. With the rotation of the spools at So revolutions per second (rps), there are equal but oppositely poled peak voltages induced in each spool the magnitude (V1) of which is expressed by the formula:
V1 =So φ1
where φ1 =total peak flux (webers, Wb) that effectively penetrates through each spool face.
If the field coils produce a radially-averaged peak flux density of B1 (teslas, T), then:
φ1 =π(R3 2 -R9 2)×B1
where R3 =tip radius (meters, m) of the spool and R9 =minimum effective radius (m) of the spool. In the FIG. 1 geometry, R9 ˜axle radius. Thus, as an example, if R3 =0.1524 m (6 inches), R9 =0.01 m (0.3937 inches), B1 =1 T, and So =100 rps, then φ1 =0.07265 Wb and V1 =7.265 volts peak for each spool, or 14.53 volts peak for both spools.
The spools 103a and 103b, together with axle 102 and a stationary transformer outer cylinder 106, form a 1-turn short-circuited transformer primary circuit, with an electrical connection between the rotating rotor member 101 and stator member 106 being provided by two toroidally-shaped liquid metal contacts 107a and 107b. With the completion of the electrical connection through the liquid metal contacts, AC current passes through the short-circuited primary turn, with the current flowing radially through the two spools and the liquid metal contacts, axially through the axle member 102 and also axially through the outer cylinder 106. This primary AC current of I1 amperes (A) peak produces a circumferentially oriented peak flux of φc (Wb) shown diagrammatically as 108 through a stationary transformer core 109. A transformer secondary coil 110 of No turns is would toroidally around the transformer core to produce an open-circuited secondary voltage V2, the peak magnitude of which is expressed by the formula:
V2 =2πfφc No
It is assumed that φc (t) is sinusoidal with a frequency of f (hertz, Hz) identically the same as the frequency of the voltage source connected to the field coils. Thus, as an example, if f=60 Hz, φc =0.0385 Wb peak, and No =100 turns, then V2 =1451 volts peak. Typically, the transformer secondary open-circuited voltage has a small phase shift θ2 (radians) with respect to the spool-induced voltage V1.
If an electrical load corresponding to a resistance of 1 ohm is connected to the secondary, a secondary current of approximately 1451 A peak is produced with the load average power being about 1.053 megawatts. Under these circumstances, the transformer primary current would increase from about 300 A peak with no load to about 145,100 A peak with the 1-ohm load.
For a large power/mass performance factor, the elements of the unipolar alternator should be highly stressed both mechanically and electrically. Accordingly, the rotor speed So should be made as large as possible. For mechanical strength, the spool width at the root should be made somewhat larger than the spool width at the tip as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1.
A significant mechanical power loss arises from the viscous losses P1 (watts, W) associated with the liquid metal contacts 107a and 107b of FIG. 1. These viscous losses can be approximately formulated as:
P1 =0.0225×ρM ×(υ/Δr)1/4 ×(2π×R3 ×So)11/4 ×(4π×R3 ×Y3)
where ρM =density (kilograms/meter3) of the liquid metal, υ=kinematic viscosity (meter2 /second) of the liquid metal, Δr=radial width (meters) of the liquid metal, and Y3 =spool tip width (meters). Appropriate liquid metals are mercury (Hg), 78 percent potassium+22 percent sodium (NaK-78), and 76 percent indium+24 percent gallium (GaIn-76). To minimize P1, Y3 should be made as small as feasible. With NaK-78, an operating tip current density of 30.9 megaA/m2 is possible, so Y3 can be made quite small, as for instance, Y3 =5 mm for the values as previously given. P1 diminishes somewhat as Δr is increased, but it is generally necessary to keep Δr small, since otherwise magnetic forces acting upon the liquid metal force the liquid metal out of the annular gap. Viscous power losses can be decreased by using an inverted tip contact geometry such that the rotating member is outside of the stator member. Confinement of the liquid metal within the annular gap then becomes a more difficult problem. Under some operating conditions, to reduce viscous power losses and to promote heat transfer, it may be necessary to circulate the liquid metal by pumping as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,828,431, granted on Mar. 25, 1958 to Peter A. Klaudy.
Eddy currents magnetically induced in the spools 103 and in the transformer outer cylinder 106 are a source of electrical power losses. To reduce this power loss, the spools can be divided into N2 wedge-shaped segments, as illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein N2 =16. Similarly, eddy current power loss in the transformer outer cylinder can be reduced by dividing the cylinder into N3 axial cylindrical segments, as illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein N3 =24. Eddy current power losses will diminish approximately inversely to the square of the number of segments. If the radial width Δr of the liquid metal is significant, it may be necessary to divide the annular liquid metal ring into arc segments so as to reduce eddy currents within the liquid metal. Typical eddy current voltages are quite small, so the insulating slots for separating the individual segments of the spools, outer cylinder and liquid metal are very thin.
The spools 103 and cylinder 106 must provide both a good magnetic path (large permeability) and a good electrical path (large conductivity). Magnetic materials are not good electrical conductors and vice versa. Accordingly, a compromise between magnetic and electrical properties of the spools and cylinder is required. A compromise can be provided by using different thicknesses of magnetic and electrical materials or, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, by using alternating segments of different types, for example, iron (magnetic) and copper (electrical). The iron/copper ratio used depends upon design objectives. The adjacent segments in FIGS. 2 and 3 preferably are separated by a thin insulating slot, as discussed above. The 12 magnetic cylindrical segments in FIG. 3 extend axially, but need only extend over the axial length corresponding to the presence of significant magnetic flux. In order to optimize the magnetic and electrical properties of the cylinder 106, it may be advisable to form the alternating segments as approximately wedge-shaped segments in the axial direction.
The homopolar alternator shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 uses the axle as part of the transformer primary short-circuited turn. For several reasons, this mode of operation may not be desirable. Accordingly, a copper inner transformer cylinder insulated from the axle may be introduced to complete the primary circuit. This inner cylinder has minimal involvement with magnetic flux. Therefore, it is preferably of copper, and it need not be segmented, as is the case for the outer cylinder. The axle radius required for the mechanical power generally is not large enough to provide sufficient circumference for the No transformer secondary turns if the inner radius of the transformer core is minimally larger than the axle radius. With the minimum radius of the transformer core dictated by the circumference required for the No transformer turns, a toroidal void is present. This void causes the transformer coefficient of coupling to be somewhat less than could be obtained if the transformer inner cylinder (111 of FIG. 4) radius is maximally increased.
The magnetizing current flowing in the short-circuited transformer primary may be large enough to cause magnetic flux saturation in the core 109. Core saturation can be avoided by using a core magnetic material with a large saturation flux density, as for exmaple, Permendur (a cobalt-iron alloy marketed by the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation) with a saturation flux density of 2.45 T as compared to 2 T for silicon iron. Otherwise, core magnetic saturation can be avoided by increasing the core volume, as by increasing the axial separation X2 between spool centers (FIG. 4) or by increasing the outer radius of the core. The form of the transformer outer cylinder 106 to accommodate a larger outer core radius is shown in FIG. 4. This outer cylinder can be sectioned in a manner similar to the cross section shown in FIG. 3. A less desirable way of decreasing the magnetizing current is by forming the primary circuit as a 2 or more-turn short-circuited coil. Such a construction is more complex, and the transformer coefficient of coupling is reduced sufficiently as to compromise the unipolar alternator operating properties. In some applications, core magnetic saturation can be avoided by reducing the field excitation with an associated reduction of the spool induced voltage. Also, in some applications the transformer core may be air, ferrite or other magnetic materials which do not exhibit flux saturation.
FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view of a spool-type homopolar alternator with the field structure 112. To reduce magnetic power losses, the field structure 112 and the transformer core 109 are formed with thin tape laminations of silicon-iron or similar materials including, in some cases, ferrites. For an effective design, the field structure should be proportioned so the magnetic flux density is approximately uniform throughout. The appropriate proportions indicate that the following approximate relationships (FIG. 5) are appropriate: ##EQU1##
The corners of the field structure 112 are of small utility. Accordingly, to reduce the mass of the structure, portions thereof may be removed, one such removal being represented by the dashed line of FIG. 5.
Preferably, the magnetic flux density through the active faces of the spools 103a and 103b is uniform. Distribution of the magnetic flux over the active faces of the spools can be controlled to some extent by design of the air gaps 113 between the internal integral transformer structure and the spool faces, and between the field structure and the spool faces.
To obtain further reduction of the mass of field structure 112, it can be eliminated in its entirety. In this event, the field coils 104a and 104b of the FIG. 5 embodiment must be made superconductors by cryogenic refrigeration. Otherwise, ohmic power loss in the field coils would be so prohibitively large as to prevent significant magnetic excitation.
The magnetic flux present in the transformer core 109 of the FIG. 6 embodient has two orthogonal components: one, the axial and radial magnetic flux arising from the field coil excitation; and two, the circumferential magnetic flux arising from the primary circuit excitation. Except for effective design purposes, the two magnetic flux components need not share a common magnetic core. For some design purposes, end magnetic sections 114a and 114b can be introduced to optimally accommodate the first magnetic component. These end magnetic sections can be positioned either within the secondary coil as shown in FIG. 6 or positioned adjacent to the spools and not within the secondary coil, as shown in the further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.
In FIG. 6, two output terminals for the secondary coil are shown. Multiple terminals representing tap points off the secondary coil can be used if a number of different secondary voltages are required.
Multiple homopolar alternators can be field excited at the same frequency but with different phase angles to produce a multi-phase AC power source. As an example, two homopolar alternators can be field excited in quadrature to produce a 2-phase AC power source. The net mass of the system can be reduced by consolidating the two alternators into a single unit. The result is a geometry as shown in FIG. 7. Each alternator is formed by an "L" section consisting of one spool (103a, 103b). The outer circular cylinder 106 has a circular conducting element 115 at its midpoint to complete the primary electrical short circuit to the inner circular cylinder 111 via a liquid metal rotating contact 107c. Field coil 104a is excited with 0 degree phase A voltage, and field coil 104b is excited with 90-degree phase B voltage. Terminals 110a serve as the electrical output for phase A, and terminals 110b are the electrical output for phase B. This quadrature-phase excitation can be used to provide either a 2-phase output or a 3-phase output. A 3-phase output is obtained by using the well-known Scott connection. To implement a Scott-connected output, one of the outputs must have a center-tap output and have a net output voltage which is 2/√3 times the second output voltage. Other types of phase transformations can be implemented, as for instance, a LeBlanc 2-3 phase connection, by using different secondary coil configurations.
The two spools of FIG. 7 need not be rotating at the same speed if the axle 102 and the inner circular cylinder 111 are separated at the mid-plane by a rotatable joint. Separate mechanical drives to each spool system can then be used.
The preferred embodiment of the cylinder-type geometry of the unipolar alternator is shown in half axial section in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 a dual-output unit is shown similar to the dual-output unit of FIG. 7. Elements of similar function are numbered as in FIG. 7 for ease of understanding. The cylinder-type geometry has voltage induced in a rotating cylindrical member, whereas in the spool-type geometry, as in FIG. 1, the voltage is induced in a rotating disc.
In FIG. 8, the rotating cylindrical member is labelled 116. Preferably, this outer cylindrical member is segmented with alternating magnetic and conducting segments as shown and explained with respect to FIG. 3. With separate excitations of field coils 104a and 104b, and with excitation phases A and B, which may be the same or different, individual voltages are produced in two ends of the rotating outer cylindrical conducting member 116. The individual induced voltages are short-circuited to form individual transformer primaries by the rotating disc conducting member 117, by the two ends of the rotating inner cylindrical conducting member 111, by the pairs of liquid metal contacts 107a-107c and 107b-107d, and finally by the stationary conducting discs 118a and 118b. These discs preferably are divided into a number of wedge segments as shown and described with respect to FIG. 2. Secondary coils are wound toroidally around transformer cores 109a and 109b with phase A output terminals 110a and phase B output terminals 110b provided. These terminals can be interconnected to provide, as desired, single-phase, two-phase, or three-phase outputs, as previously explained. The transformer cores 109a and 109b in FIG. 8 are shown as being formed by tape winding of thin lamination magnetic material to reduce magnetic power losses. The field structure 112, 112a, and 112b can be similarly formed. Alternatively, as previously discussed, the magnetic material may be ferrite or air with associated superconducting field coils.
The preferred embodiment of a homopolar alternator with a cone-type geometry is shown in the half axial section comprising FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, a dual output unit is shown which is similar to the dual-output disc-type unit of FIG. 7. Elements of similar function are numbered as in FIG. 7 for ease of understanding. The cone-type geometry has operating properties that are intermediate the disc-type unit of FIG. 7 and the cylinder-type unit of FIG. 8. The cone-type geometry has voltages induced in rotating cone members 103a and 103b, as compared to voltages induced in the rotating disc members in FIG. 7. Preferably, these cone-shaped members 103a and 103b are formed with alternating magnetic and conducting wedge-shaped elements as shown in FIG. 2. The outer cylinder 106 need only be segmented with alternating magnetic and conducting segments (as shown in FIG. 3) at the two ends where there are magnetic flux lines present (shown diagrammatically as 104a and 104b). The center portion of outer cylinder 106 can be formed of fully conductive materials. The end magnetic sections 114a and 114b preferably are designed to have minimum magnetic power loss, as previously discussed, and have anisotropic magnetic properties with a large relative magnetic permeability for flux lines that are axially and radially directed, but with relative magnetic permeability as near unit as possible for flux lines that are circumferentially directed. The output terminals 110a and 110b may be interconnected to provide, as desired, single-phase, two-phase or three-phase outputs, as previously explained.
The homopolar alternators shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 use conductive contacts between the rotating member and the stationary member which are movable. Even though liquid is employed as the contact material, significant viscous losses are introduced, especially as rotational speed is increased. It is possible to eliminate mechanical losses of moving contacts, however, by replacing them with a capacitive connection, as shown in partial detail in FIG. 9a for a spool-type geometry. The rotor spools 103a and 103b each are formed from multiple discs. These rotor discs are interleaved in spaced relationship with similar fixed discs attached to the stationary transformer outer cylinder 106 so as to form capacitor electrodes, thereby providing capacitive connections to complete the transformer primary circuit during operation of the device. Capacitive connection become especially attractive for unipolar alternator operation at high frequencies of field excitation and for high rotor speeds. The capacitive reactance that is introduced by the capacitive connections can be designed so as to compensate for the transformer primary circuit leakage inductive reactance, improving the transformer's electrical performance.
While the use of capacitive connections has been described relative to a spool-type transformer geometry, it will be appreciated that such connections also can be employed with unipolar alternators having cylindrical-type geometry, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8.
In some applications of the homopolar alternator, the AC field excitation may be provided by an electronic oscillator circuit operating from a suitable DC source in a manner well known to the art. In this event, an automatic frequency control (AFC) feedback loop can be provided to maintain the frequency of the unipolar alternator at precisely the desired frequency or to follow a predetermined frequency variation. Furthermore, the unipolar alternator AC output may be rectified to furnish DC power required by the electronic oscillator and AFC feedback loop. Residual magnetization in the field structure of the unipolar alternator may, under some operating conditions, provide self-starting conditions. Otherwise, a small amount of permanent magnetization can be introduced, or a rechargeable battery added, to effect self-starting conditions. An automatic voltage control (AVC) feedback loop may be introduced to maintain the magnitude of the AC voltage of the unipolar alternator at precisely the desired value, or have the magnitude follow some prescribed voltage variation.
The field coils of the homopolar alternator represent a highly inductive load to the field excitation source. It usually is desirable to tune-out this inductive reactance with capacitive reactance so as to present an approximate purely resistive load to the field excitation source. This conveniently can be accomplished by connecting a suitable capacitor in series (or in parallel) with the field coil. If the unipolar alternator is to be operated over a significant frequency range, the value of the capacitor required to tune out the field coil inductive reactance must be suitably changed. If manual switching is too slow, switching of capacitors by means of triacs, thyristors, or similar electronic trigger-type solid-state devices can be used as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10. In this circuit, three triacs 119a, 119b, and 119c with associated capacitors 120a, 120b, and 120c are shown in series with the field coil 104 and the AC field coil excitation source. The triac gates 121a, 121b, and 121c are electronically triggered singly, in pairs, or all three simultaneously to provide seven different capacitance values to tune out the field coil reactance. Additional capacitor-triac combinations can be provided, if needed. Also, the capacitors can be switched into operation for different periods of time to provide an average capacitance value intermediate the seven different capacitance values.
Throughout this detailed description of the invention, the operation of the homopolar alternator has been described as an AC generator for conversion of mechanical rotary power into alternating current electrical power. However, it should be understood, as indicated in the above-identified U.S. Pat. No. 1,516,254, that the force interaction that occurs between the field excitation flux and the alternating current in the spools 103a and 103b of FIG. 1, or in the outer cylinder 116 of FIG. 8, can produce a motor action for conversion of transformer-input AC electrical power into mechanical rotary power of the shaft 101. To obtain motor action, the field coil current must be approximately in phase with the transformer primary current. Appropriate phase relationships can be obtained by means of capacitor tuning, as shown in FIG. 10. Accordingly, it also is a feature of this invention that bi-directional power conversion can be obtained by means of low-power electronic switching control using a circuit of the type shown in FIG. 10, or by manual means.
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Many startups are secretive but few are as mysterious as FreedomPop. In December, after announcing itself, its ambitious plan to offer free broadband to all Americans and its ties to Skype and Kazaa co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, the Los Angeles-based company essentially disappeared. FreedomPop's only web presence, a site so hastily thrown together it seems like a joke, yields no information about the startup's executives, the planned service or when and where it will launch.
It turns out the startup is willing to talk. An interview with Tony Miller, FreedomPop's head of marketing and communications, yielded quite a bit of information about the startup's plans, including the devices it will sell, the markets it is pursuing and just how free its mobile broadband will be.
FreedomPop's aim is to launch service this summer, around June at the earliest. Miller said service will be available nationwide, or close to it, at launch. Since its original network launch partner, LightSquared, is mired in regulatory delays, FreedomPop has been talking to other wholesalers and wireless carriers about renting network capacity. FreedomPop will announce a new partner in coming weeks, said Miller.
For FreedomPop, "free" means "free for most people." As Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported in December, the startup expects paying customers to subsidize the majority of FreedomPop users, who will be able to utilize the service's broadband on their phones, tablets and laptops for free. (Advertising will be a part of FreedomPop's service but Miller said ads won't generate most of the company's revenue.)
FreedomPop believes 10 to 15% of its users will opt for paid premium plans. Miller likened the model to Dropbox, the popular online file-storing service that provides a free, basic service and charges nominal amounts for more storage.
FreedomPop is also defining "Free" as "free after an equipment deposit". To connect to its 4G network, FreedomPop will sell three devices: a plug-in "dongle" for laptops, a MiFi-like mobile hotspot for connecting multiple devices and a third, mystery gadget that Miller would only describe as "innovative".
All three devices will require a deposit, similar to the way Internet Service Providers charge for modems or cable companies charge for set-top boxes. FreedomPop originally considered charging $49 as a deposit but Miller said the company wants to lower the price to $29, possibly through subsidies.
The policy is likely to be unpopular regardless of price but Miller contends that some type of deposit is necessary to counteract abuses like unauthorized re-selling of equipment.
FreedomPop believes consumers and small businesses will be most attracted to the service. The company had not intended to market to small businesses but Miller said FreedomPop altered its plans after small businesses contacted the startup expressing interest.
FreedomPop has amended its target audience in other ways. In its first public communications, the startup said it would focus on "underserved markets" that lacked access to affordable broadband. Miller said that is still true but that the startup has added "low-end home users" and "high-end pro-sumers" to the mix.
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Little children are very creative and they are always exploring new things to do. Parents buy toys for their children depending on their age. Technology has changed the way things are done in the world. Everything is designed to make it easy to use. When you buy your child tech toy, they will be captivated to them for just a moment. This is because they do not leave them room to exercise their imagination as they should. You can help your child be creative by replacing their toys with kids scrubs.
When a child is introduced to the clothes at an early age, it might help in deciding their careers. Parents are able to identify the talents and strengths in their children so that they can nurture them in the right career direction. When picking the costumes for your children, there are certain factors that should be considered before reaching the decision.
Companies dealing in manufacturing these items are many in the industry today. Costume and clothing firms design the items for use by children. Clothing firms that manufacture the attire for adults also do the same for children. They come in a wide variety and you have a lot of options to choose from. If you have no idea where to get them in a physical shop, buy them from trustworthy dealers online.
Scrubs are officially available in particular colors. The same are available in the case of scrubs for children. This makes them have the real feeling of being doctors or nurses. Additionally, you can have them done in any special print you may like to have. When you buy these items, you will have put your child on the way to being a responsible individual who is able to deal with different situations effectively.
It is very crucial for you as a parent to involve your child when buying the attire in order to understand what they would prefer. They are very particular on things and would not be happy if you buy them something they do not like. Ask the child what he/she would like and in so doing, you will be improving their communication skills between you two.
You can buy the clothes for your children through the internet. There are different kinds of clothing you can buy. Some can be used for a long time while others are disposed after use. Disposable options should be considered when the kids are involved in activities where they will soil their clothes.
Learn how to involve your children in some activities in the home. You will be amazed by the ideas they offer. Involving them in some of the tasks is another way of ensuring they become better individuals in future. The use of the brain is very important and it should be exercised frequently for it to be effective.
There are durable kids scrubs and those that are disposable. If your child likes to take part in messy project, buy the disposable one. In this way, you will not be forced to clean it later. Disposable attires enable children to participate in all kinds of messy projects.