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I remember always be the last kid to get picked up from school or sports practice. It was so embarrassing. Recently, my son was the last one to be picked up from daycare. Guess what? He survived, and so did I.
Read Whole Story
There are times when I am honestly overjoyed to be past the baby and toddler parenting phases -- especially when I am in the presence of a current parent with their screaming baby.
Two of the greatest things about getting older are caring less about what other people think about you and thinking more of the people you care about.
Sorry, folks, I'm here to deliver a little slice of harsh reality this Mother's Day: All your moms are scrambling for the runner-up trophy, because my mom has a strangle hold on the top prize.
Think about it. Imagine if your spouse put an old picture of you up and said, "I miss this skinny, blonde person." That is how teens see this "I miss my baby" nonsense.
I lied to you when you were little. They did have the light up, plaid, jeweled sneakers in your size (Emily) and I am the one who threw out the "Kids Beatles" CD you adored (Ben). Kids singing Beatles songs is not the Beatles. I could not take it anymore.
When you have small children, focusing on task completion is the ultimate fool's errand. Of course, accepting this reality did not transform me overnight into a paragon of Zen-like patience.
It finally happened last week. I finally had that moment of clarity and inspiration that wannabe writers dream about. That game-changing idea that no one has ever had before. I was so excited; this was it!
All my questions will be answered in due time. So, I'm writing not in search of answers for myself. I'm writing to help you remember.
I believe we as parents need to allow our kids to go at their own pace. To not be compared with others who are the same age, the same grade in school, the same size, the same anything.
I have learned to always, always, always have a snack with me. I have found that we can only love each other and talk in normal-pitched voices when we aren't starving, raving lunatics.
My habit is to parent to the youngest common denominator. While the youngest of their ages is an age that was once foreign to me, it is now where my experience lies, three times over. It is my comfort zone. Realizing this, I try to make a conscious effort to get myself unstuck.
It's taken 30+ years of life, marriage and two kids to really understand what my parents have done -- and are still doing -- for me. Here are a few of the decisions, actions and sacrifices they made that I only comprehended after becoming a parent myself.
No matter how lengthy or difficult the days are, it's nice to know we can get through them together, arms raised high, enjoying the ride.
From babyhood to graduation and beyond, we proudly present a selection of the many, many lessons we learned from HuffPost Parents bloggers in 2013.
It's called 'Freshman Orientation' but it's probably designed more for the parents than for the freshmen.
Last year I wasn't as smart or as old. This year, on the occasion of my birthday, I'm making notes. I want to remember what I've learned.
If you pay attention, kids will teach you how to laugh loudly, how to love deeply and how to live fully. They will also ruin all your stuff.
Children need challenges and increased expectations as they age, but change can be scary, and offering rewards -- coupled with choice and a sense of autonomy -- helps make their introduction smoother.
In one of those curveballs that life likes to throw, I've heard some of the things that have come out of my mouth lately. I've realized that I'm saying things I never even anticipated having to have to say to my children.
I imagine that it must be hard to watch a friend get swallowed whole by a completely foreign set of experiences. Since I'm the one getting swallowed, I can't know what that's like -- but I can offer a few (entirely unsolicited) dos and don'ts to those who have not, as yet, procreated.
The English are truly great at bringing up resilient, well-mannered, brave, and kind children. Too many parents -- in our own country and across the Western world -- have lost sight of what we've always done right.
I just got back from spending Thanksgiving in Paris with my eldest child, and it got me thinking about the point of parenthood.
We can create a habit for ourselves and our children: Pause and reflect. Even alone in the woods, with no technology in sight, recall the teaching of the Internet. What's the intention behind this next action of mine? Would the world reprove if this particular moment goes viral?
We can speak up when doctors betray our trust with their lack of professionalism. And we should seek out physicians who model healthy behaviors and promote wellbeing with competence and caring.
Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day. Newsletters may offer personalized content or advertisements. Learn more.


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On the treadmill next to me was a woman wearing headphones and singing as she ran. She may have been unaware that only she could hear the music. When a... More.
African Asylum-Seekers in Israel: Crying for Justice at the Passover Seder
April 2, 2015 | 4:38 pm
When the ancient Israelites left Egypt, they were attacked during their long trek to the Promised Land. This has been the story of the Jewish nation for... More.

subset: commoncrawl


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Portal 2 For PS3 Has 'Complete' Move Support, Includes Free PC Copy (Update: Valve Says False Alarm)
It's looking more and more like the PS3 version of Portal 2 will be the better of the two console versions. Valve told the German PlayStation Blog that Portal 2 PS3 will ship with "complete" Move support. Apparently they're still working on working out all the kinks, but it's part of Valve's effort to make up for the so-so PS3 version of The Orange Box… Read More
Valve Makes More Money Per Employee Than Google Or Apple
Here's an interesting figure: Valve makes more money per employee than Google or Apple. While we can easily figure out how much the publicly traded Google and Apple make per employee, estimating what Valve pulls in is trickier. Valve has done quite well selling video games – over 12 million copies of Half-Life 2 alone – but Valve is even better at selling everyone… Read More
Portal 2 Now Available For Pre-Order
Valve has released the details surrounding pre-ordering Portal 2. The game is available for pre-order right now on Steam (and other retailers), and if you pre-order the game they'll knock $5 off the price, bringing it down to $45. Read More
Portal 2 PS3 Edition To Have Cross-Platform Play, Other Steam Features
Nice, it looks like the PS3 version of Portal 2 won't stink on ice—something that can't be said about the Xbox 360 version of Team Fortress 2. (Though that's hardly Valve's fault, having to play by Microsoft's silly Xbox Live rules.) PS3 owners can look forward to cross-platform (PC/Mac vs. PS3) gameplay in multi-player mode, Steam Cloud-based storage of… Read More
Video: Here's A New Portal 2 Trailer For You
Presenting… a new trailer of Valve's Portal 2! You know you love it. Read More
Portal 2 Delayed In Shortest Delay In Valve History
Valve knows that they're notorious for not quite getting things out on time, and so it is with tongue firmly in cheek that they announced "the shortest delay in Valve's proud tradition of delays," which puts Portal 2 out in April instead of February. Read More
$$$: Team Fortress 2 Modders Make Nearly $50,000 Apiece
Time to brush up on your modding skills? Modders who created content for Team Fortress 2 have earned nearly $50,000 apiece. So, let's say you create a hat. A few months later you're driving around in a fancy car, not unlike the id Software guys from way back when. Read More
Once Again, Valve Proves Its Awesomeness With Latest Team Fortress 2 Update Press Release
OK, so a few minutes ago I got a press release from Valve talking about the latest Team Fortress 2 update. I read the subject line and was like, "Oh, I bet they added a bunch of stuff. Neat." But then I read the press release. Read More
Video: Peter Molyneux's Son Wants To Know Where Is Half-Life 3
This is Lucas Molyneux, famed game developer Peter Molyneux's son. In this exciting video we see Molyneux The Younger ask Valve Software: "Where's Half-Life 3?" Cheeky! Read More
Valve Thinks They Should Make The Half-Life Movie
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Valve's own Gabe Newell took some time to talk about the possibility of a Half-Life movie. Apparently after the smash success of the first game, they were inundated with crappy scripts, and directors who didn't get what the game was about. As a result, Valve started thinking about how they would make a movie. The result is the ever amusing… Read More
Immortality Via Valve's Team Fortress 2 Hat-Describing Contest
Probably should have mentioned this yesterday, but such is life. Valve is running a fun little content wherein you get to DESCRIBE HATS~! in Team Fortress 2. The name of the contest? "The First Ever Hat Describing Contest." Two thumbs up. Read More
CrunchDeals: Steam QuakeCon 2010 Pack
This week being QuakeCon and all, Steam has set up a special deal on all of the current Id and Bethesda games. If you bought these separately, the over all value on the software in the package would be over $300. In light of QuakeCon though, Valve is selling the whole package for $69.99. Just to hit a few highlights from the list, you get Wolfenstein 3D, Ultimate Doom, everything related… Read More
Counter-Strike: Source now available for Mac (!)
Just a heads-up to let you Mac users out there that Counter-Strike: Source, "the number one online action game in the world," is now available on Steam for Mac. Read More
Portal 2: bigger, better, and definitely more insane
I just got out of my Portal 2 meeting a little while ago, where Erik from Valve went through a few of the game's new features and themes. It's nothing particularly new if you read the Game Informer article, but seeing it in motion started my brain juices flowing again, just like the old days. And there are a few new details in here. Read More
Video: Portal 2's E3 2010 trailer
Do you want to see the same Portal 2 trailer that Matt and I saw a few moments ago during Sony's press conference? Of course you do! Also: the game's official site isn't live yet, but it'll be here when it is. Read More
Portal 2 to be released in 2011!
Portal 2 now has an official release date: 2011. So says a fancy e-mail we just got from Valve. That gives you around a year to play it before the world ends, according to people who misinterpret the Mayan calendar. Read More
Portal corporate training program a huge success
Following the announcement that Portal is free on Steam, at least for a little while, Valve Aperture Science has also released a video discussing the merits of using Portal's home training version for corporate advancement. There's also a hint that Portal 2 might have a co-op mode. It's definitely worth your time to take a look at the video though. [via Boing Boing] Read More
Steam offers Portal for free until the 24th: The first hit is free
Good news for Mac and PC gamers, Steam is making Portal free! Admittedly it's for a limited time, but it'll give you the chance to try one of the most popular titles that Valve has ever come out with. And this deal is not a lie. Read More
Steam for Mac launches tomorrow with Portal leading the line
Whoa, just got some more Steam for Mac details to share with y'all. It comes out tomorrow, as you well know, but did you know thatPortal will be the first game available for the Mac platform? Well now you do! Read More
Steam for Mac made official for May 12
Whoa whoa whoa. Valve has officially announced Steam for Mac's release date: May 12. So says an e-mail straight from Valve HQ. Feel free to freak out. Read More


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First online:
Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward
- Gillinder BediAffiliated withHuman Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago
- , K. Luan PhanAffiliated withDepartment of Psychiatry, University of MichiganMental Health Service, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
- , Mike AngstadtAffiliated withDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan
- , Harriet de WitAffiliated withHuman Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago Email author
Rent the article at a discountRent now
* Final gross prices may vary according to local VAT.Get Access
±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") reportedly produces unique subjective effects, including increased sociability, feelings of closeness with others, and reduced interpersonal defensiveness. Despite their apparent importance in recreational and potential psychotherapeutic use of MDMA, the defining characteristics and neurobiological mechanisms of these interpersonal effects are poorly understood.
Materials and methods
We investigated acute effects of MDMA on self-reported sociability and neuronal activation in response to socially threatening (angry and fearful faces) and socially rewarding (happy faces) stimuli. Assessment of social threat response focused on amygdala activation, whereas assessment of social reward focused on ventral striatum activation. Healthy volunteers (N = 9) reporting past ecstasy use completed three experimental sessions, receiving MDMA (0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg) and placebo (PBO) under double-blind conditions. During peak drug effects, participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while viewing standardized images depicting emotional facial expressions including angry, fearful, happy, and neutral expressions. They also completed standardized self-report measures of sociability.
MDMA (1.5 mg/kg) increased self-reported sociability compared to MDMA (0.75 mg/kg) and PBO. MDMA (1.5 mg/kg) attenuated left amygdala response to angry facial expressions compared to PBO, but MDMA did not affect amygdala reactivity to fearful expressions. MDMA (0.75 mg/kg) enhanced ventral striatum response to happy expressions relative to PBO.
These data present the first evidence that MDMA may increase sociability in humans both by diminishing responses to threatening stimuli and enhancing responses to rewarding social signals.
KeywordsMDMA Ecstasy Social reward Social threat Sociability
Reference tools
- Title
- Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward
- Journal
- Online Date
- August 2009
- 10.1007/s00213-009-1635-z
- Print ISSN
- 0033-3158
- Online ISSN
- 1432-2072
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Additional Links
- Topics
- Keywords
- Ecstasy
- Social reward
- Social threat
- Sociability
- Industry Sectors
- Authors
- Gillinder Bedi (1)
- K. Luan Phan (2) (3)
- Mike Angstadt (2)
- Harriet de Wit (1)
- Author Affiliations
- 1. Human Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- 3. Mental Health Service, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA


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It was as if Oliver Stone had written a Mitt Romney sound bite when this week the candidate was quoted as saying, "I like firing people." After all, Stone directed Michael Douglas, as Gordon Gekko, saying similar things in the 1987 movie classic Wall Street.
Men in their 40s and 50s still quote Gekko: "Lunch is for wimps"; "I create nothing. I own"; "What's worth doing is worth doing for money"; "If you're not inside, you're outside"; and of course, "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right; greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit."


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Header shows tagline and social icons AND social icons in logo area.
I have removed the tagline text to show nothing, but it still shows the black bar with the social icons doubling up in the logo area... how do I remove the black bar tagline? And the margin between the navigation bar and the slider , can I set that to ZERO? Advise is appreciated, cheers, Groggo
View the site: http://www.artandcraftconnection.com/ifeature/


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We are looking to add to our already strong core of players going into the fall season, All playing time is earned and no position is locked.We are looking for players that can make an immediate impact at any position.If you play for this team your daughter will be pushed to excel and will be coached to compete at the next level. If this is you or your daughter please contact Joe Gimondo at firstname.lastname@example.com or 951-295-3377
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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I need help! I'm trying very hard to fix my blog from this hacking nonsense.
My host has updated my WordPress version, but now I can't access my dashboard screen. Requested a new password from WordPress, got it, deleted my cookies and cleared my cache, still can't get in.
Went to my ftp file and tried to edit the offending script from the wp-header file, I get an error message saying the file can't be edited!
I am just sick - I'm not a computer expert by far and I've really tried to resolve this by reading everyone else's posts here and following the links, etc., but I can't even access my dashboard or edit the ftp file.
Please help, if you can. Thanks!


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Some nailed it while others weren't so lucky
By Liane Bonin Starr Sunday, Sep 22, 2013 10:47 PM
At first I thought someone should be nice enough to tell her to yank down her top, but then I realized that was the point. Lopsided should not be a fashion choice, I think.
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French Stocks: Audika, Credit Agricole, Lafarge, Peugeot Move
France's CAC 40 Index dropped 0.3 percent to 3,892.71 at the 5:30 p.m. close in Paris, ending a three-day winning streak. The SBF 120 Index also lost 0.3 percent.
The following shares declined or advanced on the French equity market today.
Audika SA (ADI FP) jumped 5.9 percent to 18.84 euros, its biggest increase in almost two years. The maker of hearing equipment forecast sales will rebound to between 115 million euros ($163.3 million) and 120 million euros in 2011, after reporting a decline to 106 million euros for 2010.
"This growth should enable recurring operating income to be improved," the company said in a statement released yesterday after markets closed.
Credit Agricole SA (ACA FP) rose 1.9 percent to 11.80 euros. Societe Generale SA (GLE FP) climbed 0.5 percent to 48.36 euros, its fourth straight advance. European finance ministers settled on how to enable a permanent rescue fund to lend 500 billion euros as of 2013, while remaining divided on how to get the current fund up to its full capacity of 440 billion euros.
Lafarge SA (LG FP), the world's biggest cement maker, declined 1.9 percent to 41.76 euros as a fire broke out in an Interior Ministry building in Cairo. The Egyptian army surrounded the Interior Ministry earlier today to prevent protesting policemen and civilian employees of the ministry asking for wage increases and other benefits from storming the complex. Egypt represented 4 percent of the French group's revenue in 2010.
Michelin & Cie. (ML FP) fell 2 percent to 58.60 euros, paring gains from the previous two days. Rubber futures in Tokyo jumped for a fourth day as investors speculated that demand will exceed declining supplies during the low-production period, and as a producer group moved to boost prices.
Neopost SA (NEO FP) lost 1.6 percent to 62.80 euros. Europe's biggest maker of mailroom equipment was cut to "sell" from "neutral" by analysts at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
PSA Peugeot Citroen (UG FP) slumped 2.7 percent to 26.55 euros. Europe's second-biggest carmaker said it will have to suspend some diesel-engine production due to a shortage of electronic components from Japan. Rival Renault SA (RNO FP) dropped 2.6 percent to 37.74 euros.


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The Arizona Game and Fish Department has released the 2011 spring hunting and drawing information for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear. Electronic copies of the application form and regulation booklet are available online at www.azgfd.gov/draw [2].
Many of the spring hunts have a limited number of tags and are issued through a draw/lottery process. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Oct. 12 by 7 p.m. (MST). Postmarks do not count, and there is no online application process.
Mailed applications should be addressed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. Applications may also be hand-delivered to any of the seven Game and Fish offices. For a listing of Game and Fish offices, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices [3]
Printed copies of the spring regulation booklet and applications are estimated to be at license dealers and Game and Fish offices by mid-September.
While there might seem like plenty of time to get your application submitted, with the start of early fall hunts for deer and antelope, and small game season just around the corner, now is the time to apply for the spring hunts before you get too busy.
There is also a benefit to applying early. If your application has a mistake and is received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 23, Game and Fish will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.
Applicants are reminded a 2011 license is required to enter the spring draw. Licenses may be purchased at any Game and Fish office, license dealer, or through the draw/application process. Online sales of 2011 licenses will not be available on the Game and Fish website until an undetermined time in September.
Some of the spring hunts are not limited and a non-permit tag may be purchased over-the-counter at any Game and Fish office or license dealer in the state. Non-permit tag hunts are area specific and include archery-only spring turkey, juniors-only shotgun spring turkey, archery-only spring javelina, general spring bear, and archery-only spring bear. A full listing of all the spring hunts are available in the 2011 Arizona Spring Turkey, Javelina, Buffalo and Bear Hunt Draw Information booklet, available at www.azgfd.gov/draw [2]
New to hunting?
Game and Fish is continuing to partner with sportsmen's organizations to host hunting camps for youth hunters, first-time hunters, and families interested in learning about traditional outdoor activities. These camps offer experienced instruction on topics such as hunting, camping, wildlife biology/ecology, care of game once harvested, and other life skills. If you would like to try turkey or javelina hunting, here are the camps that offer mentored assistance and how to get a hunting tag for the area of that camp.
Javelina hunting camps
Turkey hunting camps
For more contact information, to register for these camp, and for a listing of other beginners hunting camps, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside [4]
Young hunters 10-13 are reminded that hunter education is mandatory to hunt big game, which includes turkey and javelina. The minimum age to hunt big game is ten. The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers a variety of traditional classroom courses as well as an online self-paced course to accommodate the busy schedules of today's public. A hands-on field day is required regardless of the course type to become certified. Anyone successfully completing one of Arizona's hunter education courses will receive a permanent bonus point towards applying for future big game hunts. To learn more about Arizona's hunter education program, visit www.azgfd.gov/education [5]and select "hunter education."
[1] http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biggamehunt.net%2Fnews%2Farizona-gfd-releases-2011-spring-hunt-information-guide&linkname=Arizona%20GFD%20Releases%202011%20Spring%20Hunt%20Information%20Guide%20%7C%20Big%20Game%20Hunt
[2] http://www.azgfd.gov/draw
[3] http://www.azgfd.gov/offices
[4] http://www.azgfd.gov/getoutside
[5] http://www.azgfd.gov/education
[6] http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Arizona
[7] http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Bison
[8] http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Black_Bear
[9] http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Javelina
[10] http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Turkey


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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 158
FIFA 11 Roadmap - step by step
So, I know that there's a roadmap already but I wanted to make a more detailed one for myself and thought that sharing it can't hurt.
Please tell me if I've made any mistakes, I've obviously not unlocked all achievements yet. I've done everything but the goalkeeper stuff on professional, so it might be that some achievements might require at least Semi-pro.
The lists have been created by cG CannonFodder @ http://fodder007.blogspot.com/.
Step 1
Open http://www.ea.com/uk/football/fifa/creation-centre and queue a team for download, doesn't matter which one. However, keep in mind to use the EA account that you're using in FIFA 11 as well. Also create a Gameface if you didn't do so in recent EA Sports games.
Step 2
Download your Gameface and create a Virtual Pro – place him in the team you're going to play career mode with. After that, visit the FIFA 11 store once. Now go into the arena with your Pro and score 5 goals – thereafter switch to the goalkeeper and catch 10 shots. Choose any practice mode thereafter, for example team play. During all of this, upload a replay, save one to your HD and take a screenshot and upload it.
After you've done so, go into settings and import a custom tune using the chants option, rip anything from a music CD to your 360 HD beforehand. Then change the home stadium of any club to another one, you can immediately change it back to keep those settings in good state.
Anything in Particular? 5G
Back of the Net 5G
Warming the Gloves 10G
Training Time 5G
Pro Club Picture Perfect 5G
Eat My Goal 5G
One to Remember 5G
New Choons 10G
In the Game 5G
Home Maker 5G
Look at me! 25G
Step 3
First of all, enter the Creation Center and download the team that you've queued up in step 1. Load up an exhibition match (on Amateur, for your convenience) and ensure that players with the abilities POACHER, AERIAL THREAT, CROSSER, PLAYMAKER and DISTANCE SHOOTER are on the field. In the same game get a substitute to score, shouldn't be much of a problem. Just move Arjen Robben to FC Chelsea and keep on scoring, choose the team that you've just downloaded as opponent.
Poacher: Nicolas Anelka – FC Chelsea
Aerial Threat: Didier Drogba – FC Chelsea
Crosser: Arjen Robben – FC Bayern
Distance Shooter: Frank Lampard – FC Chelsea
Playmaker: Frank Lampard – FC Chelsea
Aerial Threat 10G
Distance Shooter 10G
Crosser 10G
Mastermind 10G
Playmaker 10G
Poacher 10G
Founding Member 25G
Step 4
Load up another exhibition match on Amateur, pick FC Chelsea and Galway United (Republic of Ireland) was opponent – disable all assistance options beforehand. Play as the GK, if you're good at it – this will unlock another achievement. Start a second one else, as the GK achievement doesn't need you to win but the other one does. Must be done in Semi-pro or above.
All My Own Work 10G - Normal Achievement (Win)
Safe Hands 10G - GK Achievement (Doesn't matter)
Step 5
Start yet another exhibition match and play as the GK, so pick the Be a Pro – Goalkeeper mode. Save every shot to unlock another achievement. Yet, I've only had to catch one cross and it said "Save rate N/A" at the end of the game and didn't unlock. So make sure that you're really catching something directly aimed at your goal at all. Must be done in Semi-pro or above.
Perfect Keeping 15G
Step 6
Start a new career mode and pick a rather good team, keep in mind to choose the "Player" career and lock yourself to the GK position, when it's asking whether you'd like to import your Pro. I've only played the first match and the last 2 matches and I've got both the achievements. Yet, I didn't get the option to switch to Manager mode, maybe not possible if you're locked to a specific player? I'm not sure if simulated games count towards the 500 games achievement, so I've simply picked a normal keeper. Might be necessary to keep on simulating games for that in order to get the option after a few seasons?
Established Keeper 50G
Record Holder 25G
It's in the Blood! 25G
Good week! 15G
Step 8
Invite a friend and create a friends league, play and win one game. Then start with head to head ranked matches, and win once in overtime with a weaker team than your friend, then just win 4 more matches and pick a different team each time.
Against the Odds 10G
Good Form 20G
In for the Win 10G
First Time Out 10G
Experimental 15G
What's left to do?
Around the World 25G
Play a match with a team from every league
Australia - A-League
Austria - Austrian Bundesliga
Belgium - Belgium Pro League
Brazil - Liga Do Brasil
Czech Republic - Ceska Liga
Denmark - Superliga
England - Premierleague, Championship, League 1, League 2
France - Ligue 1, Ligue 2
Germany - Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga
International - (not a league but required for the achievement)
Ireland Republic - Irish League
Italy - Serie A, Serie B
Korea Republic - Sonata K-League
Mexico - Primera Division Mex
Netherlands - Eredivisie
Norway - Tippeligaen
Poland - Ekstraklasa
Portugal - Liga Portuguesa
Rest Of World - (not a league but required for the achievement)
Russia - Russian League
Scotland - SPL
Spain - Liga BBVA, Liga Adelante
Sweden - Allsvenskan
Switzerland - Axpo Super League
Turkey - Super Lig
United States - Major League Soccer
Home & Away 50G
Play & win in every Stadium.
List @ http://bit.ly/9A3qsg
è Combine both the aforementioned achievements in order to save some time.
Rising Talent 25G
Complete 100 Accomplishments with your Virtual Pro.
List @ http://bit.ly/aPut58
Woodwork & In! 10G
Score off the post or cross bar in a match.
You'd be very unlucky if you didn't unlock it by chance.
Always Friendly 10G
Cross for a Friend to score.
Should be possible to boost with a second controller or simply online during a club match.
And, of course, all the Pro Club achievements – good luck.
Club Glory 25G
Win the Cup as part of an online Pro Club.
One Club Man 50G
Play 50 matches for the same online.
Team Training 10G
Play a Practice Match with your online Pro.
Virtual Debut 25G
Play an online Pro Club or Pro Ranked match with your Virtual Pro.
Virtual Football 25G
Play a Pro Clubs match as a team of 10 or more.
Hundred and Counting 100G
Play 100 head to head games.
Once in a lifetime 10G Score as the Goalkeeper in any match.
And after you've done that as well, the last achievement should've been unlocked anyway!
FIFA For Life 100g
Spend 50 hours on the pitch.
Last edited by Morgutak; 10-01-2010 at 11:44 AM.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,452
Gamertag: Phil Bardsley
Although I appreciate the work you put into this doesnt it all just sound a little lame?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 1,329
Gamertag: tremberz
Its a good guide, although I suggest changing fonts and add colours for achievement names and titles. Other than that its pretty solid.
I do tend to disagree with FIFA roadmaps. There isn't really a specific way to gain all achievements on FIFA, especially with this one. The main thing to do is just play in career mode with your virtual pro, doing that will unlock most achievements.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: malvern UK
Posts: 354
Gamertag: Icerain81
cool list think the most time consuming ones be career mode i read on another guide you can pick player/manager an get them that way but looking at the actual achievement text it says to start as a player then move to be a manager or player/manager so dont know which is right.
UPDATE: choosing player career and your own VP doesnt allow you to sim matches im into my 2nd game doesnt give me any options for simming but ill keep you updated anyway if something changes.
Last edited by mptuk; 10-01-2010 at 01:45 PM.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 460
Good guide will follow some of it but its very messy
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if you picked player career and have your vp set to goalie because its a player mode you cant sim until i think you become a manager or player/manager not quite sure how many seasons it will take for you to change to this just keep winning games an it might change for you or it could depend on how well your player is doing.
in your " my career " along the top he starts out as a reserve player so if he`s playing well then i think he would move up the ranks.
UPDATE: ok ive played about 5 matches now just after playing my 1st league game i got an email from assistant coach saying how impressed he was but im not quite ready to be picked for a match but keep playing well and ill get a reward.
being GK gotta be the hardest way to start i wasnt picked for my next match it lets me sim those games that my VP arent playing in.
Last edited by mptuk; 10-01-2010 at 02:38 PM.
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Dotty never knew she had Alzheimer's. In the beginning when I was trying to explain this to her one of three things happened -- she became angry and said mean things to me, she started crying, or she went into the bedroom and wouldn't come out.
How to Convince an Alzheimer's Patient They Need Help?
The search string above caught my attention.
The person searching for an answer to their question was clearly determined and sophisticated because h/she searched across several pages on the Alzheimer's Reading Room until they landed on
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
I asked myself --
Can you actually convince someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease that they need help? Is it possible to do?
I am assuming in this case that the person suffering from dementia refuses to believe they need help.
I then thought to myself, what would be easier to do?
To try and convince someone that was suffering from Alzheimer's and didn't believe it that they needed help; or, to bang my head against a concrete wall one hundred times?
Related Articles
- What is the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Tests)
- Why Do Alzheimer's Caregivers Torture Themselves?
- Frightened, Bewildered, Apprehensive, Anxious, Angry
- Why I Invented Alzheimer's World and the Power of Positive Reinforcement
- Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease
Dotty never knew she had Alzheimer's.
In the beginning when I was trying to explain this to her one of three things happened -- she got angry and start hurling mean verbal barbs at me, she started crying, or she went into the bedroom and wouldn't come out.
I ended up feeling sad, frustrated, and with a sick stomach. It isn't easy being purple.
Obviously, I was able to get her to the doctor and after many months received the diagnosis. However, I know from previous emails that someone with a strong will can refuse to go to the doctor. It takes some technique to get them there.
Perhaps some of you have insight, advice, or first hand experience on what a person "might do" or "might try" when they find themselves looking for an answer to the question above.
Remember, be kind and helpful.
You never know -- your advice might make a big difference in the life of a soon to be Alzheimer's caregiver.
My guess is that many thousands of Alzheimer's caregivers have asked this question.
You are reading original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Nov 23, 1993
|Filing date
|Nov 2, 1992
|Priority date
|Sep 28, 1990
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Carlile R. Stevens
|Original Assignee
|Motorola Lighting, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (82), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/589,472 filed Sep. 28, 1990 and now abandoned.
The present invention relates to a power line communication system and, in particular, to a system for controlling ballasts for gas discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lamps.
In virtually all commercial installations, lamps are turned on as soon as they are needed for illumination and turned off when the last person leaves, including maintenance workers. A large number of these installations also receive natural light.
Recently it has become economically feasible to provide control means for turning off the lamps when daylight is adequate. Devices are now on the market for reducing artificial light in proportion to the amount of daylight received.
Typically, such control means utilize low voltage control wiring which must be added to the lighting system to supply the signal for controlling the luminosity of the lamps in the system. The installation cost of the additional wiring often renders the system ineffective in terms of cost savings.
Since the lamps are already connected to the power distribution system, installation costs could be reduced significantly if the control signal were transmitted over the power lines. Most power distribution systems in the world operate at fifty to sixty hertz. By superimposing a much higher frequency carrier signal for the control commands, the power distribution system is used instead of the additional, low voltage control wiring.
Power line communication systems have three basic drawbacks: noise, isolation, and complexity. The power distribution system normally contains a great deal of electrical noise, both natural and man-made. This noise interferes with the readability of the carrier signal superimposed on the system and requires multiple transmissions of the same data to assure that the receiving device responds correctly to the transmitted signal. Once the signal is placed on the line, it appears everywhere on the distribution system. To prevent this, isolation devices must be inserted in series with the power distribution system and carry the full current thereof. Such devices are expensive, both initially and to maintain. In some cases, there is crosstalk between buildings on the same power distribution system. Because of the complexity needed to assure reliable performance, these communication systems are expensive, which reduces the number of applications in which they can be used.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for sending data over a power line to a predetermined group of devices without crosstalk.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrier-free power line communication system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide both a transmitter and a receiver that are small and economical enough to provide a viable alternative to hard-wired systems.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to structure the data such that each device downstream from the transmitter can be controlled independently.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide receiver means adapted to detect notches at other than zero crossings of the AC power line.
In accordance with the present invention, data is transmitted as a momentary interruption of the power. Since the interruption occurs at or near the zero crossing of the current, little actual power is lost. Power loss is further minimized in that the interruption is preferably on the order of one or two milliseconds, a small fraction of the period (seventeen to twenty milliseconds) of the frequency of the power line. The data is transmitted only to those devices located downstream from the transmitter or transmitter. This eliminates the problem of isolation. The receiver detects the interruptions in the current and interprets a certain pattern as a logic "ones" and "zeroes." If the pattern fits a programmed pattern, the receiver responds as directed. Because of the simplicity of the present invention, inexpensive components can be used to implement the invention.
A more complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a transmitter in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates waveforms showing the operation of the transmitter.
FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a receiver in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates waveforms showing the operation of the system with reactive loads.
FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a microcontroller used as a receiver in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a microcontroller used as a transmitter in accordance with the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment of a communication system in accordance with the present invention, transmitter 13 is connected across power lines 11 and 12, which may be referred to herein as "supply" and "common," respectively. The output of transmitter 13 sends information over the power lines to a receiver, such as receiver 14, by momentarily interrupting the power through the lines. Receiver 14 detects the interruptions in current or voltage and produces a control signal on line 16. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this control signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal proportional to the desired brightness of a lamp. Load 17 can comprises any suitable device, such as an electronic ballast responsive to the control signal to vary the brightness of the lamp(s) connected thereto. In the simplest embodiment of the present invention, load 17 can comprise an incandescent lamp, or a fluorescent lamp with a conventional ballast, connected between lines 12 and 16.
A preferred embodiment of transmitter 13 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Supply line 11 and load line 15 are interconnected by bi-directional switch 40, illustrated as a triac. Triac 40 is normally conducting, coupling full power to the devices connected downstream therefrom. The circuitry of FIG. 2, connected to the gate of triac 40, provides a series of pulses of predetermined time and line, to form a series of interruptions or notches at approximately the zero crossings to provide a data word for a receiver. These are illustrated in FIG. 3 as notches 301-303.
The notch is preferably approximately 1.2 milliseconds in duration and occurs on both the positive and negative half cycles of line current. In implementing the present invention, the occurrence of a notch in the positive half cycle followed by a notch in the negative half cycle is defined as a "one" data bit. The absence of notches is defined as a "zero" data bit. Any other pattern is ignored, illustrated in FIG. 3 as an "x" indicating a mismatch or "don't care". It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that this definition is arbitrary and any other consistent definition is suitable. The data word sent by the transmitter represents the power level to be applied to a load.
Timing for the pulses is provided by a zero crossing detector comprising comparator 41 and the circuitry associated with the input thereof, and by cascaded inverters 42 and 43 which act as a square wave clock generator synchronized with the AC waveform applied to the input thereof. Specifically, comparator 41 has resistors 44-47 connected as shown to the inputs thereof. Diodes 201 and 202 steer the positive and negative half cycles of the AC line to the appropriate input of comparator 41. Diodes 203 and 204 provide suitable clamping. Resistors 44 and 47 are preferably of the same value and of a value greater than resistors 45 and 46 respectively. Because of the relative values of the resistors, comparator 41 produces a pulse at each zero crossing of the AC line current when the voltage thereof is within the narrow range defined by resistors 44-47. Comparator 41 produces a series of pulses at a frequency of 120 Hz.
Timing is also provided by cascaded inverters 42 and 43. The input of inverter 42 is connected by capacitor 51 and resistor 52 to the "common" terminal (line 12). The values of these components are chosen to provide approximately a 30 degree phase shift, or delay, of the signal applied to the input of inverter 42. Inverters 42 and 43 form a Schmitt trigger, as well known per se in the art, with the hysteresis supplied by the coupling of the output of inverter 43 to the input of inverter 42 by resistor 205, producing a 60 Hz. square wave.
The output of inverter 43 is coupled to the clock inputs of D-flip flop 53 and shift register 54. Shift register 54 has four data inputs D0 -D3 and preferably has a parallel load, serial output capability. The D0 input is tied high, that is, it is coupled to the positive supply voltage. The D1 data input is tied low, that is, it is coupled to ground. When read out serially, this one-then-zero sequence defines a fixed prefix identifying subsequent zero crossings as data. The D2 and D3 data inputs are connected to switch 60 which selectively connects these inputs to high or low voltages to form the binary codes for decimal 0-3.
The Q output of D-flip flop 53 is coupled to the parallel load input of shift register 54. The data presented at inputs D0 -D3 is stored in shift register 54 upon a positive going pulse from inverter 43, if the Q output of D-flip flop 53 is high. The Q3 output (most significant bit) of shift register 54 is coupled to the serial input for reloading data when shift register 54 is operating in the serial mode. In the case where switch 60 is in the upper-most (off) position, diode 61 clamps the inverting input of comparator 62 high through resistor 63 and 64. This drives the output of comparator 62 low which, in turn, drives the output of comparator 65 high, which turns off triac 40 so that no power flows to the load.
When switch 60 is moved to the next position, a pulse is produced through transistor 70 and inverter 71 to the S input of flip flop 53. This causes the Q output of flip flop 53 to go high, which causes a parallel loading of the data into shift register 54 on the next clock cycle. The Q output is low while waiting for the next clock pulse. This clamps the outputs of comparators 41 and 75 low through diode 49, preventing any notches until proper data is loaded into shift register 54. In this data, input D0 always equals a logic 1 because that input is tied high. Input D1 is always 0 because that input is tied low. Input D2 remains zero since it is coupled to ground through resistor 77. Input D3, however, is now a logic 1 since the input resistor is now coupled through resistors 63 and 64 to the supply voltage. Thus, upon completion of the parallel load, the binary data 1001 is contained in shift register 54. In addition, diode 61 is no longer clamping the inverting input of comparator 62 to the supply voltage.
The change in switch position causes a pulse to appear at the S input of flip flop 53 as previously described. In addition, this pulse causes the output of inverter 72 to go low, discharging capacitor 73 through diode 74. The low voltage at the input of comparator 75 causes the output to go high. Actually it is more correct to say that the output of comparator 75 becomes open, since the comparators preferably have what are known as an open collector outputs.
Since the output of comparator 75 has become open, zero crossing pulses from comparator 41 are applied to the inverted input of comparator 62. In addition, the output from shift register 54 is applied to the input of comparator 62. The combination of these two signals produces a pair of notches at the zero crossings of a single cycle of the AC line voltage by momentarily disabling triac 40. The duration of the individual notches is determined by the time constant of RC network 78, 79. The data in shift register 54 is read out serially in this manner and transmitted to the load devices connected downstream from triac 40. During this time, capacitor 73 is recharging and eventually reaches a potential which causes the output of comparator 75 to go low, terminating the generation of notches. Thus, capacitor 73 and comparator 75 comprise a burst timer which determines the duration of the data burst. In a data burst, the data is sent two or three times, for example, for reliability.
The remaining two switch positions operate similarly, except that the particular data sent is different. Specifically, in the next position, the data sent is 0101. In the next and lower most position, the data sent is 1101, indicative of full power.
The first and second bits, reading from the right, must always be one and zero, respectively, for the data to be recognized as valid by a receiver. While this four bit word provides three power levels (and off) or "on" and "off" data for two locations, it is apparent that a larger word can be used to provide more levels and/or greater address capability. For example, an eight bit word enables one to obtain sixteen levels of power and four zones of control. The word comprises eight bits representing the following data.
______________________________________bit 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0data y y x x x x 0 1______________________________________
Wherein "y" represents the address of one or more receivers responding to one of the four possible codes and "x" represents one of sixteen levels of power.
In order to assure reliability in the system as described, data is sent upon start-up and upon any transient which could upset the operation of the receiver. This function is performed by capacitor 173 and resistor 174. Upon start-up, capacitor 173 begins to charge and has a low voltage drop across it. This forces the input of inverter 72 high, which resets the previously described burst timer and sets flip-flop 53, which causes data to be set into shift register 54 via the Q output, as previously described. A voltage transient on the power line has the same effect as start-up since the transient is coupled through capacitor 173 to do the same thing as just described.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the notches are transmitted downstream from transmitter 13 to load device 17. The transmission of pulses represents a reduction of a few percent in the available power to load 17 only during the burst of data. In accordance with the present invention, a receiver is connected downstream from transmitter 13 for detecting the notches in the current or voltage on the supply lines and producing a control signal on line 16. FIG. 4 illustrates a suitable receiver.
In FIG. 4, some portions of the receiver circuit are structurally similar to portions of the transmitter circuit but actually provide a slightly different function. For example, the zero crossing detector circuitry, while producing pulses at 120 Hz, produces pulses of different durations depending upon whether or not a notch is present on the line. Similarly the clock circuitry for generating a 60 Hz clock signal is similar to the transmitter clock.
Specifically, cascaded inverters 81 and 82 are connected to the "common" line by capacitor 83 and resistor 84 which provide approximately a thirty degree phase shift in the signal applied to inverter 81. The output of inverter 82 is coupled to the input of inverter 81 to provide positive feedback for hysteresis. The output of inverter 82 provides a 60 Hz clock signal which is coupled, via the AND gate comprising diodes 85, 86, 87 and resistor 206, to the clock inputs of flip flops 91 and 92. The inverted clock signal is applied to the clock input of shift register 93.
Diodes 85-89 provide both a clamping and a logical AND function for coupling the clock signal to the inputs of flip flops 91 and 92. Specifically, the diodes are arranged so that the first data bit from shift register 93, which is operating in a serial output mode, must be a logic "1". The second data bit is inverted by inverter 94 and therefore must be a logic "0". The remaining bits can be either a 1 or a 0 as indicated by isolation resistor 95. Because of the timing of the clock signal into shift register 93 versus the occurrence of pulses at the shift input, only a positive going zero crossing notch followed by a negative going zero crossing notch will occur at the right time to be shifted through register 93. If the first two bits are 1 and 0, respectively, and either of the other bits is a logic 1, then a pulse is applied to the clock input of flip flops 91 and 92.
Flip flops 91 and 92 act as a storage register for storing the third and fourth bits from shift register 93. If either of these bits is a logic 1, the inverted (Q) output of the corresponding flip flop causes the output of comparator 95 to go low, which causes triac 100 to conduct. The duration of the output pulse from comparator 95 is also determined by the other input labeled "A" in FIG. 4, as discussed below. Resistors 210 and 211 act as a summation network at the non-inverting input of comparator 95. Their values are adjusted to control the output duty cycle depending on which output is high or low. For example, resistor 210 has a resistance of 100 kΩ and resistor 211 has a resistance of 150 kΩ. This combination produces a three level output to comparator 95 and three different duty cycles. Data 00 (OFF) is not actually transmitted, as described above. If it were, it would result in zero duty cycle, i.e. off.
Comparator 101 functions as previously described, in conjunction with the diode-resistor network connected to the input therein, for sensing the zero crossing of the input waveform. Depending upon the values chosen for the resistor, the duration of the pulse produced by comparator 101 is approximately the same as the pulse produced by inverter 41 in FIG. 2, assuming that no notch exists in the voltage. If a notch exists, the duration of that pulse is increased (since the voltage remains zero for a slightly longer time), although the frequency remains the same (120 Hz). The output from comparator 101 is inverted by inverter 102 and applied to the clock inputs of flip flops 103 and 104.
Comparator 105 operates as a pulse width detector for sensing the duration of the pulse from comparator 101 and, hence, the present or absence of a notch. Specifically, upon a zero crossing, the output of comparator 101 goes high and stays high for a period depending upon whether or not there is a notch. During the time in which the output from comparator 101 is high, capacitor 106 charges, increasing the voltage thereon. If the output from comparator 101 stays high long enough, it will exceed the comparison voltage determined by resistors 107 and 108. When this voltage is exceeded, the output from comparator 105 goes high and this signal is coupled to the data inputs of flip flops 103 and 104.
Resistor 116 and capacitor 118 provide a propagation delay to assure that the data inputs to flip flops 103 and 104 will not go low before the clock signal goes high. Depending upon components chosen this network could be eliminated.
The Q output from flip flop 103 is connected via diode 109 to the data input to flip flop 104. Diode 109 and resistor 117 at the input to flip flop 104 provides an AND logic function. The Q output of flip flop 103 must be high for the next pulse from comparator 105 to pass. Thus, flip flops 103 and 104 acts as a two bit register for detecting consecutive pairs of notches. The output from flip flop 104 is coupled to the serial input of shift register 93.
The output from comparator 101 is also coupled by way of capacitor 111 to the input of inverter 112. Capacitor 111, resistor 113, and comparator 95 form a timer to determine the portion of each half cycle in which triac 100 is conducting. The output of inverter 112 is coupled to the inverting input of comparator 95, labeled "A". The time it takes to charge capacitor 115, and the quantity stored in flip flops 91 and 92 determine the duration of the pulse applied to triac 100.
For example, using the resistance values described above, if a logic 1 is stored in both of registers 91 and 92, the duration of the pulse applied to triac 100 is continuous. If only one of flip flops 91 and 92 contain a logic 1, the duration of the pulse applied to triac 100 is shorter. Specifically, considering flip flops 91 and 92 as a storage register, if the binary equivalent of a decimal "2" is stored, then the output to triac 100 is approximately two-thirds the duration of the 60 Hz line voltage. If the contents of the storage register is the binary equivalent of a decimal "1", then the duration of the signal applied to triac 100 is approximately one-third the period of 60 Hz. The data is read continuously until new data is received. Thus, the load is powered by a pulse width modulated signal.
Returning to FIG. 1, if load 17 is not nearly a pure resistance, then opening a switch within transmitter 13 may not terminate the flow of current within circuitry located downstream from the transmitter. Current will be supplied by the energy stored in the reactive components of the load(s). The net effect, as seen by the receiver(s) is that the notch moves up along the waveform, away from the zero crossing. Also, since the current in a circuit is a net current, i.e. currents from individual components are summed, notches 401-403 no longer go to zero, as illustrated in FIG. 5. One then must recognize a notch at other than zero crossing. There are basically two ways to do this. One is by pattern recognition of some sort and the other is by Fourier analysis. Considering the latter first, since a pure sine wave has zero high order coefficients under Fourier analysis, one performs a fast Fourier transform of the waveform and looks for selected high order coefficients to detect a notch.
FIG. 6 illustrates the first alternative wherein the amplitude of a sine wave at various times is stored in the memory of a microcontroller. To detect a notch, the amplitude of the waveform is sampled and compared to the stored data. A difference greater than a predetermined amount is interpreted as a notch.
Specifically, microcontroller 501 is connected between power supply rails 502 and 503, which are coupled to lines 15 and 20 through voltage dropping resistors. A negative supply voltage is developed from line 12 to provide negative voltage turn-on for triac 100. This avoids what is known as "fourth quadrant operation" of the triac (where the gate is positive and the anode is negative).
Switches 505 and 506 are each coupled to an input of microcontroller 501 and to pull-up resistors 507 and 508, respectively. These switches define the address of the particular receiver for zone control purposes. The third input to microcontroller 501 is connected to the "common" line, the voltage on which varies relative to the positive supply voltage on line 15/502. Resistors 509 and 510 act as a voltage divider to center this voltage between rails 502 and 503.
Capacitor 520, initially discharged, is a timing capacitor connected to a reset input of microcontroller 501. When power is first applied, or after a power outage, capacitor 520 charges. The initial low voltage resets the microcontroller. Thereafter, the reset input goes high and the microcontroller functions normally. The clock for controller 501 is conventional, comprising the crystal, or resonator, and capacitors illustrated. Microcontroller 501, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, comprised an ST6010 microcontroller as sold by SGS/Thomson. This controller has programmable inputs which can provide analog input to an internal analog-to-digital converter. After initial synchronization, the line voltage is sampled and compared to a predetermined set of data to determine whether a complete or an incomplete sine wave is present. Appendix I, which forms a part of this disclosure, is the source code used for implementing the receiver with an ST6010. The "#A/D" routine works with any input port programmed as an analog input.
FIG. 7 illustrates the corresponding transmitter using a microcontroller. As is apparent from a comparison with FIG. 6, the structure of the transmitter is essentially the same as that of the receiver, with the following additional inputs used. Analog input 601 provides an interconnection to an external energy management system. A signal on this line controls the power to the load. Alternatively, or additionally, the input switches are used for either power level or zone selection. If used for power level selection, the two switches provide three discrete levels of power (and OFF). Alternatively, a continuous analog input is provided by potentiometer 603.
Another analog input is connected to the junction of photodiode 605 and resistor 606. This input provides feedback for control of the power level, depending on the placement of photodiode 605. When photodiode 605 is exposed to ambient light, the circuit acts to control the power to lamps to supplement the ambient light and maintain a preset illumination level. When photodiode 605 is exposed to direct light from the lamp, the circuit maintains the luminosity of the lamp at a predetermined level.
Appendix II, which forms a part of this disclosure, is the source code used for implementing a transmitter with an ST6010.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been implemented using the following components, it is understood by those of skill in the art that various equivalent components can be substituted to obtain the same function.
The present invention thus provides a power line communication system which does not use a carrier to send information. It removes power to transmit intelligence. The transmitter acts like a chopper working in bursts to encode data on the power line. The receiver acts like a variable duty cycle chopper to convey information on the control line. Cross-talk with other systems is avoided. In addition, devices downstream from the transmitter can be controlled independently. Noise in the notch is essentially eliminated since the receiver and load are disconnected from the power lines, the chief source of noise, during the notch. Data integrity is enhanced by requiring a predetermined sequence of zero crossings such that n bits of data are preferably transmitted by no more than n consecutive zero crossings.
Having thus described the present invention it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while described in the context of operating with a "right shift" (least significant bit first), the direction of shift is immaterial as long as the system is consistent, e.g. D2 and D3 become the prefix bits for left shift. While it is possible to use a suffix to denote valid data, such is not preferred. While described in terms of a combination of discrete components and integrated circuits, it is understood by those of skill in the art that the transmitter and receiver are readily implemented as integrated circuits. While the preferred embodiment uses notches on consecutive half cycles of the alternating current, one could use consecutive cycles, e.g. four consecutive notches or two notches on consecutive, positive (or negative) going zero crossings; etc. Obviously, the transmission time is doubled if two cycles are used, tripled if three cycles are used, and so on.
______________________________________Appendix I - Receiver______________________________________ $152 JRZ:IZZLDIRR #STRT INCY% DDR JP:$255 IZCALL: CALL: #IZZLDR A/DRETI $4WAT #WAT $4JP: $4WAT $4SET@7 #INT $4% TSCR $4LDIRR $4$129 $4$137 $4 #IRCALL #IA $4A/D $4LDAY LDAY #IWCPIA CPIA$140 $140JRZ:IZ JRZ:IZZZINCY DECYJP: JP:IA IZZCALL: #IZ CALL: #IZZZA/D A/DLDA(Y) LDA(Y)SUBAR COMA$132 SUBARCALL: $132DECT CALL:CALL: DECTBITA CALL:LDAY BITBCPIA LDAYCPIA RET$152 LDIRR #DNCJRZ:IOUT $159INCY $0JP: LDIRRIZZZ $158CALL: #IOUT $0OUT $4RETI $4JRR@7 #DECT $4% ACCU $4DA RETCOMA $4 #BITAINCR $4% ACCU $4$4 #DA $4$4 $4CPIA LDAR$32 $159JRC:DC CPIAJP: $64ONC JRNC:BNCCPIA #DC SET@0$56 $133JRNC:DNCC RET #BNCLDIA $4 #BITB$56 $4ADDAR #DNCC $4$159 $4LDRA $4$159 LDARJRNC:DX $159INCR CPIA$158 $64$4 #DX JRNC:BBNC$4 SET@1$133 $4RET BBNC LDIRRJRR@0 #OUT $141$133 $4OA LDIRRJRR@1 $142$133 $4OA LDIRRSET@0 $143$134 $4LDAR LDIRR$134 $144ANDDIA $4$99 LDIRRCPIA $145$65 $4JRNZ:0A LDIRRLDAR $146$134 $4ANDDIA LDIRR$28 $147LDRA $4% DR LDIRRLDAR #OA $148$134 $4ADDAR LDIRR$134 $149LDRA $4$134 LDIRRLDIRR $150$133 $4$0 LDIRRRET $151 $4LDIRR #LDR LDIRR$140 $152$4 DDR $4LDIRR DR $0$153 ADDR $12$4 ADSCR $13LDIRR TCR $8$154 TSCR $9$4 ACCU $255LDIRR$155$4 READYLDIRR$156$4RETJRR@7 #A/D% TSCRA/DLDAR% ADDRLDRA$132LDIRR% ADSCR$61LDIRR% TSCR$56LDIRR% TCR$75RETJP:INTJP:STRT______________________________________
______________________________________Appendix II - Transmitter______________________________________ $24 JRR@0 #WLDIRR #STRT % DR% DDR W$254 JRS@0 #WWRES@7 #R % DR% DR WWLDIRR DECR$158 $157$128 JRNZ:WLDIRR JP:$157 R$8 JRR@3 #A/DLDAR % ADSCR$158 A/DADDAR #NZ LDAR% ACCU % ADDRJRNC:NC LDRACALL: $132NOTC LDIRRDECR % ADSCR$157 $61JRNZ:NZ RETJRR@0 #NC LDIRR #TMR% DR % TSCRNC $60JRS@0 #V LDIRR% DR % TCRV $48DECR JRR@7 #TB$157 % TSCRJRZ:OUT TBJP: RETNZ JRS@0 #NOTCLDIRR #OUT % DR$157 NOTCLDIRR$156 JP:$32 STRTDECR #NX DDR $4$156 DR $0JRNZ:NX ADDR $12SET@7 ADSCR $13JRR@0 #NA TCR $8% DR TSCR $9NA ACCU $255CALL:TMRRES@7% DRLDIERR$159$32DECR #NDD$159JRNZ:NDDSET@7% DRJRS@0 #NBB% DRNBBCALL:TMRRES@7% DRLDIRR$159$32DECR #NEE$159JRNZ:NEERET______________________________________
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 25, 1976
|Jun 27, 1978
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|U.S. Classification
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|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Mar 11, 1997
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Mar 1, 2000
Owner name: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC., MASSACHUSETTS
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Effective date: 20000229
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In This Section
Journal Forum
A Meta-Analysis of High Resolution Audio Perceptual Evaluation - June 2016
2 comments
Synthetic Reverberator - January 1960
3 comments
Sound Board: High-Resolution Audio - October 2015
4 comments
AES E-Library
Design Consideration of Digital Cross-Fade in Multi-Channel Recorders
Conventional analog editing is normally accomplished by cutting and splicing. This angled splice provides the desirable characteristic of a smooth transition between the old and new signal. With the coming of age of multichannel digital tape recorders, editing must be accomplished via a dubbing process. Such recorders provide this smooth transition totally in the digital domain by synchronously re-recording and fading out the old signal while the new signal is faded in. Implementation of the cross-fade utilizes a write-after-read head, digital multipliers, adders, and control electronics.
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One World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial and Museum Progress
September in New York City means lots of different things to lots of different people: back to school, back to work, the pennant races, Fashion Night Out, a reprieve from the heat of summer, lots of new restaurant openings, and the kick-off of the busiest, most exciting cultural season of year. But to all New Yorkers, now and forever, the coming of September also means memories, and the anniversary of the worst moment in our city's history. In 2011, of course, we'll be commemorating the round-numbered 10th anniversary, and so it seems appropriate to take a look at the progress being made at the site, both on the magnificent One World Trade Center (aka the Freedom Tower), as well as the remarkably ambitious, remarkably on-schedule, 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
The 9/11 Memorial is looking like it could be a spectacular public space, for the neighborhood, for the city, for visitor's from around the world, functioning both as a place for specific reflection and respect as well as a lovely area to stroll and relax. Earlier this month our friends at Curbed served up a terrific set of pictures from their on-site visit. To get a sense of the scale of the project, remember that the Memorial Plaza itself covers eight full acres of land, and will eventually be home to a veritable forest of 400 trees (215 of which will be in place by the opening), providing shade and color and life to the space below One World Trade Center.
The trees, Swamp White Oaks, will eventually grow to be 60 to 80 feet tall. And as the A/N Blog ("Quick Hits and Big Thoughts From the Architect's Newspaper") pointed out in their post last week on the engineering of the space, because the Memorial Plaza is only six feet deep because of all the infrastructure (subway tunnels, mechanical systems), as well as much of the 9/11 Memorial Museum, that is set below, the trees' roots will spread laterally.
A couple more amazing facts about the 9/11 Memorial and Museum: in addition to all of the greenery, the space will be home to "49,900 cubic yards of concrete, enough to pave more than 200 miles of NYC sidewalks"; the waterfalls in the South Pool, built at "a scale that is unmatched" according to designers Michael Arad and Peter Walker Partners, will move 24,000 gallons of water per minute, cascading over 30-foot walls of granite, then flowing down and disappearing into a center pool, only to be pumped back up to start the process over again; the entire 9/11 Memorial Plaza is built to function as a rainwater collection tray, supplying much of the water needed for the fountains in the footprints.
About a third of the 9/11 Memorial Plaza will not open in September, while crews complete the spectacular Santiago Calatrava PATH train station. One other note: it looks like this will be the final year for the Tribute in Light, the haunting twin towers of light that have shown each of the past nine years. A public art project created by the Municipal Art Society and Creative Time, Tribute in Light costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce each year, and the funding will run out after the 10th anniversary this September. A fundraiser is being started to continue the tribute past 2011, but nothing is certain at this point.
As far as One World Trade Center is concerned, the pace of construction has been almost blistering of late, and earlier this month the tower reached 78 stories, making it the tallest building in all of lower Manhattan. When One World Trade Center is completed in 2012, it will be the tallest building in the United States, and the tallest all-office-space structure in the world. DNAinfo posted a dramatic set of aerial photos recently showing all of the progress being made at the site, which you can view here.
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text:
by Michael DeLuca
Ask any Eagles fan who the most impressive Philadelphia player has been this year and undoubtedly the name returned will be DeSean Jackson. Yet, Jackson may watch as several of his teammates are named to this year's Pro Bowl at 7:00 p.m. eastern tonight on NFL Network (the naming of the team, not the game itself) and he is left out in the cold.
Asante Samuel is a no-brainer, he's made the last two Pro Bowls and is having arguably his best season as a professional with nine interceptions and fewer big plays allowed than years past. Samuel's counterpart, Sheldon Brown, is also in the mix but with Samuel and Green Bay's Charles Woodson, who's making a push for defensive player of the year, locked in, there's only one spot left and I've got a sneaking suspicion it goes to Arizona's Dominique Rodgers Cromartie. Andy Reid apparently realizes how close this one may be as well, as he has begun to lobby for Brown, saying "I'd love to see him in it, I think he deserves to go. Sheldon has had a heck of a year." Read the rest of this entry »


text:
Skip to comments.Obama's bus tour an effort to connect with everyday Americans (been "trapped in Washington")
Posted on 08/14/2011 2:28:45 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
President Barack Obama leaves the White House on Monday for a three-day bus trip, talking job creation at small towns across the Midwest in hopes of distancing himself from the "partisan brinksmanship" he says has poisoned the economy.
The trip isn't likely to be without bumps. Polls find that the partisan feud over raising the debt ceiling, the stock market gyrations and a stubborn unemployment rate have left Americans more pessimistic about the economy and their future than at any time this year. Republicans already have accused Obama of mixing policy with politics by barnstorming in the battleground region - at taxpayer expense.
But White House advisers said it was a chance for the president - who spent most of last month trapped in Washington with lawmakers blaming each other for the debt impasse - to hit the reset button and connect with ordinary Americans in a bus that could roll into small towns, rather than Air Force One.
"Democrats, independents and Republicans expect to see their president of the United States outside of Washington, D.C., out from behind the podium, spending time talking to the American people in their communities," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
Obama appears to be trying out a campaign theme by blaming Congress - without a direction mention of Republicans - for the bitterness that led to an eleventh-hour debt limit agreement, and Earnest said the president was expecting to hear more anger on the road.
"The president does anticipate that he'll detect a little frustration about the dysfunction in Congress, and the strident position of some in Congress to put their partisan affiliation ahead of the country," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Who will Obama call if the bus breaks down, now that the AAA rating wasn't renewed? — joke told at RedState.
The issue is being framed by the 2012 election. Administration officials, frustrated by the intransigence of House Republicans, have increasingly concluded that the best thing Mr. Obama can do for the economy may be winning a second term, with a mandate to advance his ideas on deficit reduction, entitlement changes, housing policy and other issues."........
If he wants to connect with me he can send a postcard from Kenya!
Obamas already started to blame the economy on the republican controlled House.
The BEST argument to bring to the American people is to remind them that until january or this year, Obama and the democrats had a super majority and did nothing with it.
Another reminder: Since 2006 they controlled Congress until they lost the House and republicans took over THIS year.
This needs to be one of our mantras
he has made an arse out of himself. too many people want him to just go away. he is boring and a drain on society.
Been trapped on the golf course sounds more accurate.
NO kidding!!
If you think his handlers are going to let the general population any where near the marxist punk U B crazy..
His appeanances will B stacked with unionists and moonbat followers.
Turn out on the road with NASTY signs welconing him.
I can't wait for this marxist asshat to start his blame the country tour. Oops, coffee is ready and its 72 outside. I need to go wake up the ctitters outside.
I wonder how much that thing weighs with all the armour upgrades.Probably exceeds the weight limits of most brides on secondary roads.Good.That will keep him out of my small town here in Ohio.
Quite frankly if Sarah Palin were to walk on her hands for an extended length of time both Bachman and Zero would be doing the same. They both are incredibly jealous of Palin and copy her every move.
Yeah right after pushing every "you gotta pass it to find out whats in it" crap bill they have through Congress now the want to work with us. Well work "this" commies.
I don't think we have to worry here--we're far from the interstate, and the SS would go nuts trying to clear an area large enough to ensure security because of the huge line-of-sight distances.
That said, who needs that entourage mucking up traffic and creating general mayhem, anyway? Chances are they'll confine their photo-ops to places where there isn't much going on.
Not that Obama and minions would know an 'everyday American' if they saw them.
I think you meant "bridges", but considering his, I had to chuckle.
Too early in the morning,even spell check didn't help me on that one.....
Can you think of ANYONE less qualified?
Uuuuhhh, seems like I remember very early in his Reign, Dear Leader proclaimed: "I won....the rest of you get to the back of the bus..." or something to that effect...now it's someone else's fault...that is a bunch of stable hockey!
Yeah, CHANGE, like pennies to pay for your "peas" while I stuff down argula, ice cream, etc....
"...weight limits on most brides..." LOL!
He'll have a lot of crickets in his audience....
Poor babynobama. Just absolutely chained to his desk in DC while those nasty Republicans take pot shots and the vicious Tea Party Terrorists run wild.
Shame on you for putting Bachmann on a par with Obama.
Can we stop bashing each other, please? We should be above that.
He's connecting with ordinary Americans in a bus?
And it rolled into Air Force One?
It should be called the 'highway to hell' tour. There's a campaign song already written.
Seems to me he spent one heck of a lot of time out of Washington playing golf and on vacation. He could have used some of this time to 'connect' with us rubes...
The RATs oppose every bit of that, always have and will continue to do so.
if the Republican House continues its my way or the highway approach, he will make sure the public knows who is standing in the way and why.
Nice implied threat there. It appears "the public" already knows who to blame.
some of those people he my pass on his road trip are the very ones he complained still cling to their guns and their religion. The headwind I would love to hear he had to confront would be that of IMPEACHMENT for his several breaches of the Constitutional powers granted the Executive. Keep the change Barry -y'all out of gas.
I wish he would stay on the golf course!
Hey, thanks. Just thought of a great use for that in a graphic.
Like Nancy Pelosi, Obama will parachute past, pole vault over and go through the gate to where his lamebrain supporters and "vote your money into my pocket" supporters await the One.
I agree. How about a golfing across America tour?
A zero sponsored "Libyan freedomfighter".
Mad Max.
That's the way he should be getting around....on a bus. Prefer that it be a public bus. Standing.
Well done! Pretty much says it all...what a terrible impression that photo delivers....yuck!
There needs to be a broom and shovel brigade formed where ever he stops and lining the highways - To Sweep Up The BS He Will Be Spewing.
It's going to be a hellava' rough three days days for the people he has thrown under the bus.
It's yours to use. Or anyone for that matter.
Remember when Kerry and Edwards went to a Wendy's to share a meal with the little people while running? Then went in their Prevost and had catered meals?
Ya think obammy will take along several chefs' or eat at In & Out Burger?
And will the mooch be along or will she cost us millions going off to the Riviera?
Expect to see plenty of bussed-in union members and the like praising Obama's performance and blaming Bush / Congress for the recesssion.
Come to think of it, that's a good point.
Are we in a recession, so we can blame Bush and the Tea Party and Congress?
Or are we in recovery summer so we can praise Obama and Geithner?
Quick! Where's the latest memo?
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text:
Ellington Has 70-yard Touchdown Catch, 49ers Beat ChargersColin Kaepernick donned a red cap and sneakers, offered a quick side hug to third-string quarterback Dylan Thompson, then took his spot on the sideline for the San Francisco 49ers' 14-12 win against San Diego on Thursday night.
Grant Napear Show-November 5, 2014-Seg. 5
49ers and Cardinals Feature Two Teams Headed In Opposite DirectionsThe NFC West showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, at least on paper, is a complete mismatch. The 49ers are the division leader, preparing for the playoffs, while the Cardinals sit in last place and are getting ready for next year.


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When visiting a castle, you can always look forward to a special experience. There are a number of accommodating spirits making sure you get a restful night's sleep at Schloss Eckberg. We don't want you to just stay the night – at Schloss Eckberg, we want to make your dreams come true.
Whether you are staying in our elegant four-star Superior Rooms in the castle or in the comfortable three-star Superior Rooms in the Kavaliershaus – the special atmosphere of a relaxing night in the surroundings of this unique parkland will stay in your mind for a long time to come.
We are a Non smoking hotel. If you wish to smoke, please ask for a room with a balcony.


text: Friday Movie Night - CNBC's China & India It's Friday Night! Party Time! Time to relax, put your feet up on the couch, lay back, and watch some detailed videos on economic policy! Tonight's videos are two documentaries by CNBC, Made in China: The People's Republic of Profit and India Rising: The New Empire. Read more about Friday Movie Night - CNBC's China & India4064 reads


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forking by pixel-atedWatch
©2005-2016 pixel-ated
lightbox, canon a85, +16 macro
lightbox, canon a85, +16 macro
what the fork is this nice concept
Awesome lighting. I love the focus and the depth. Very nice little series, nice differing set ups
Love the way you've used the warm glow off the lightbox to such effect - that and the extreme DOF from the macro extender makes for a really interesting feel.
Excellent job.
Excellent job.
friggin' cool!