text:
The Dark Room
The two large men led me down a long hallway in a part of the building I had never been to before. Though, that wasn't very surprising. It was a big building and I hadn't ever taken time to explore it. I wasn't nosy or adventurous. Nope. Not me.
The man walked to an elevator door and pushed a key card against a small metal plate. It dinged and opened.
He turned to me with a look of contempt.
"You chose the wrong day to be patriotic, Mr. Leuger." He growled motioning me into the elevator.
"I do love my country, sir." I said carefully, "Though, what I've done today hasn't been especially American persay. Other than the pursuit."
"The pursuit?" The second man asked.
"You know. The pursuit of The Dream. Capital T, capital D." I said with a shrug. Though, my dream at the moment was for this to all just go away. I felt Epic coming for me, and I didn't know how I was going to avoid it.
"Well your pursuit has just put our nation in some hot water." The first one growled leaving me even more confused.
The elevator ride passed in awkward silence as I tried to wrap my mind around what could possibly be going on. After a carefully crafted life of monotony, it was hard understand how this could possibly make sense. My head just could not comprehend the bizarre.
When the elevator opened with a small woosh they lead me to another door and opened it. Behind the door was an interrogation room. I mean, I haven't ever been in an interrogation room, but I had seen them on TV enough to know it. It was all concrete floors and grey walls and a two-way mirror with a metal table and metal chairs.
I briefly wondered what a regular old corporation would be doing with an interrogation room, but it wasn't my place to question things like this. These were the big questions for the top dogs. The CEO's and the CFO's and the UFOs or whatever other initialism out there that meant power. I had none of that.
I was Mike with the three bedroom apartment and a stable job in data entry. I stepped into the concrete room and sat down. The two men closed the door behind me and I was alone again. The cold of the room was dense, but the tweed jacket did a fine job of keeping me warm.
I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing; how would an average person react in this situation?
'Average people don't end up in this situation.' A dark voice in the back of my head whispered, but I shook it off.
Anyone could have a ninja commit suicide right in front of them for no reason. Nothing about my situation was remarkable. Nope.
The door opened and a man walked in pushing a TV on a cart.
He didn't make eye contact with me while he set it up and turned it on. He left and all that was left was a grainy image of black and white. It was Adam. Stabbing himself and blood spraying onto me. The loop started with him climbing out of the ceiling and recorded every moment up to when I walked out shouting about barbecue sauce, though there was no sound.
I felt my stomach sink. Watching it out of context; without sound looked pretty amazing...
'But it wasn't!' I told myself for the thousandth time.
The loop played continuously for about half an hour before the door opened again. A man with black hair and glasses walked in. He looked at the TV and made a surprised face as if he was appalled by the image on the screen.
"You've mucked everything up. Mr. Leuger." He said as he sat down across from me.
I didn't know how to respond. I opened my mouth to say something, thought better of it, and closed it again.
"I mean if that even is your real name." He shrugged. He set a briefcase on the table and clicked it open. He pulled out two files and set them on the table.
I felt a twinge of excitement. Files are bland and boring. I loved files.
He opened the first one and my heart skipped. The first page was an 8x10 photo of Adam.
"Do you know this man, Mr. Leuger?"
"Uh, we've...uh...met." I said carefully.
"You and Adam Olsen met, eh?" He said.
'Holy Crap! His name actually was Adam!' I thought.
"Well, you might know him as something else." He said, "I mean, Adam Olsen is just the name he gave us. It's probably something like Lee Wong for all we know."
I shot him a dark look and mumbled. "That's racist."
"We actually knew quite a bit about Mr. Olsen to be frank." He said with a frown. "Quite a bit indeed. Agent Layne had him wrapped around her finger and she was milking him for more information than he ever could've gotten from her. Or us."
Well, seeing as the more this man talked, the more confused I became, I felt the need to cut in. "I don't know anything about milk or lanes or Adam Olsen or Lee Chin or anyone. I work in data entry."
He smiled. "So you say."
"So it is!" I insisted.
He opened the second file which had a picture of me on it. While there was a thick stack of papers stuffed inside Adam's file, mine was nearly empty. I saw the word 'Harmless' scrawled across one of the pages in my file.
"You are a confusing man, Mr Leuger." He said, "I have so many questions and no time for answers."
"I bet I have more." I said dejectedly. "But I have enough courtesy not to pry. I mean, you haven't even told me your name."
"Special Agent Westerly." He said matter-of-factly. "My turn. How did you get Olsen to kill himself? What did you say to him?"
"I asked him about the weather." I said leaning forward. "I didn't think he would go off the handle about stuff. But man....he must hate the rain or something. Is it raining? I forget."
Westerly ran his fingers through his hair and pinched his lips shut. "So we're playing this game?"
"I don't much like games." I said with a shrug.
"What do you like, Mike?" he asked.
"Tweed." I replied.
He raised an eyebrow. "Tweed?"
"Yes, tweed. Like this jacket. Those darn hipsters are saying tweed if fashionable if you where it sarcastically, but I like it. Durable, warm, and bland. Just like me. Great word too. Tweed. Tweedle Dee. Tweedle Dum."
He closed his eyes. "Is this what you did to Mr. Olsen? Did you bore him to death about tweed?"
"Nope." I said. "I don't think we ever mentioned tweed. Though, we had an interesting conversation about katanas."
"Oh, really? What about?"
"Well, he told me he was a ninja. And I told him that if he was a ninja, he would have a katana. Lo' and behold. Katana. Right there." I said with a self-satisfied air. I pointed at the TV where it conveniently was playing the part where Adam drew the katana from the ceiling.
"Who do you work for you piece of garbage!" He suddenly shouted and lunged across the table grabbing the lapels of my jacket. He started shaking me vigorously and I didn't know what to do.
"See?" I managed as my head bobbled around like a ragdoll. "A normal jacket would've ripped or something...Tweed."
He threw me back into my chair with disgust as a small knock from the mirror drew our attention. Westerly straightened his tie and shot me a look.
"One moment." He said and was gone.


text:
FREE CONCERT, Sun. July 22, 7PM in Pasadena @ Levitt Pavilion, Memorial Park…
Myself on piano, Peter Erskine, drums; Darek Oles, bass; Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet and Greg Johnson, saxophone. Hope you all can make it! http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/
here is a link to my article in KEYBOARD MAGAZINE on intervalic improvisation….
check it out: http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/improvise-with-intervals/148288
I'll be performing with Darek Oles, Peter Erskine and Chuck Manning this Saturday night….
at the Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. Please come and be with us…For more info on the address and time of the concert, please go to my blog page or click on the "READ MORE" button to go there….. click here for more info.
This Thursday-Saturday @ Indiana University….myself, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine and Bob Hurst……..
to celebrate David Baker's 80th Birthday!! We are all alumni, and studied under David at I.U. It's going to be a GROOVE…..
in case you missed it…Peter Erskine, Gene Perla and myself….
playing my arrangement of Con Alma. Enjoy the music! AP
new article in KEYBOARD MAGAZINE…
Check out the APRIL issue of KEYBOARD MAGAZINE…. "IMPROVISE WITH INTERVALS", my tutorial on the intervalic approach to improvising.
Alan Pasqua, Gene Perla and Peter Erskine Trio this coming Saturday night at Alva's Showroom, San Pedro, 8PM
Our good friend and bassist extraordinaire Gene Perla will be in town this week. Peter and I are lucky to grab him for an evening of trio music, some old, some new. I hope you can join us for what will be a very special …
the Alan Pasqua Songbook is finally here!
Presenting Concepts for Improvisation, Volume 3! I have included 13 of my compositions transcribed as I played them on various recordings. Includes "Highway 14", "Barcelona", "My New Old Friend", "To Love Again", "Vienna", "San Michele", and "Surrender" among others. You may order it …
I LOVE this record…this is why I LOVE music….
from Joe Cocker "Stingray" with the very best band EVER,,,,"Stuff". That would be Richard Tee, Eric Gale, Gordon Edwards and Steve Gadd. Listen to how this track builds…it is pure genius.
Lars Danielsson…this man is a genius. Listen…..
Swedish Bassist Lars Danielsson here at the Jazz Baltica 2010. This man's music is special. So beautiful, so visual, so much space here to interact with the music. The band is wonderful. I had the great pleasure of playing with drummer Magnus Öström last year …

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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NC – Unstoppable Wasp #1 Signings
January 3, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, North Carolina, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Writer Jeremy Whitley (Princeless, My Little Pony) will be doing a signing tour of all three Ultimate Comics locations on Saturday
January 7th January 14th for the debut of THE UNSTOPPABLE WASP #1 from Marvel!
Durham 10:30 – 11:30am
Cary 12:00 – 2:00pm
Raleigh 3:00 – 5:00pm
Ultimate Comics
6320 Capital Blvd #109, Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 377-8778
1301 Buck Jones Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 377-8778
6120-A Farrington Road, Durham, NC 27517
CA – Art of Gabriel Rodriguez Exhibition
December 13, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Art Show, California, Comic Books, Horror, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television, Video Games
The San Diego Comic Art Gallery is proud to host Gabriel Rodriguez, artist and co-creator of IDW Publishing's Locke & Key, with a brand new exhibit showcasing celebrating nearly 15 years of making comics with IDW. Multiple examples of his work will be on display including Locke & Key and Little Nemo: Return To Slumberland. Gabe himself will be here in the Gallery in a RARE appearance on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 6:30 PM to sign all of your favorite comics!
Joining Gabe will be several IDW creators including Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Sara Richard (My Little Pony), Tony Fleecs (MLP), Agnes Garbowska (MLP), Jay Fotos (Locke & Key), Chris Ryall (Onyx, Zombies vs. Robots), Kahlil Schweitzer (Godzilla), Chris Mowry (Godzilla), Tom Waltz (TMNT) and more!
San Diego Comic Art Gallery – Barracks 3 First Floor
2765 Truxtun Road, San Diego, CA 92106
(858) 270-1315
Hasbro Announces HasCon 2017
October 21, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Collectibles, Comic Books, Convention News, Gaming, Other, Rhode Island, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Top Stories, Video Games
Press Release:
HASBRO announced it is creating the first-ever HASCON fan and family convention in September 2017. The massive event, which will be held in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin Donuts Center from September 8-10, 2017, will treat attendees to three unforgettable days featuring a celebration of Hasbro's powerful characters and stories, including live interactive experiences, exclusive products, talent appearances, panels and much more.
From bringing the first action figure to life with G.I. JOE, to creating a world where robots are truly 'more than meets the eye' with TRANSFORMERS, Hasbro's brands have always overflowed with rich stories and dynamic, multi-faceted characters, providing an incredible platform to capture the imaginations of fans of all ages. The premiere HASCON event will bring the magic of decades of storytelling under one roof for the ultimate, immersive Hasbro fan and family experience. Hasbro's top properties, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, MAGIC THE GATHERING, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE and many others will be reimagined through dynamic stage performances and unique opportunities for fans to engage with their favorite characters. In addition to interactive experiences designed to offer attendees a glimpse into Hasbro's imaginative storytelling in action, visitors will have the chance to see first-look previews of Hasbro's biggest television and movie series, attend panels and meet-and-greets with celebrities and creative talent associated with Hasbro brands, take part in Hasbro Gaming competitions and purchase special limited-edition Hasbro products.
"Hasbro is home to many of the world's most recognizable brands, each of them with their own group of passionate and engaged fans," said John Frascotti, President of Hasbro Brands. "HASCON will deliver an extraordinary peek behind the curtain of our brands, storytelling, and iconic characters while giving us the opportunity to invite fans and families to our hometown for the most memorable, unified Hasbro experience ever."
For all of the latest information on HASCON 2017, please visit hascon.hasbro.com
Sketch Fighter Returns to Boston Comic Con 2016
August 9, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Massachusetts
Press Release:
The quick-draw game that pairs professional artists with stand-up comedians returns to the BOSTON COMIC CON and the 2016 bracket has been released.
Semi final 1 will feature: artist SARA RICHARD and comedian KEVIN HARRINGTON vs. artist CHRISTOPHER UMINGA and comedian KEN REID.
Semi Final 2 pits artist FRED HEMBECK and comedian DAN BOULGER vs. artist TIM SEELEY and comedian PHOEBE ANGLE.
Semi finals will be followed by bronze and gold medal matches! The action starts at 3:00 PM in the Seaport Center's Amphitheater Saturday August 13th! Last year over a hundred people had to be turned away so get there early! Hosted by TOM FRANCK and JOHN PAUL RIVERA.
NC – Princeless Signing
July 19, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, North Carolina, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Writer Jeremy Whitley (My Little Pony, GlobWorld) appears at Barnes & Noble on Friday July 29, 2016 at 7:00 PM to sign his newest graphic novel: Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 2: Free Women. Go, Girl Power! Who needs a prince? Not this princess!
Barnes & Noble
5400 New Hope Commons, Durham, NC 27707
IDW/Top Shelf Announces SDCC 2016 Signings & Panels
July 14, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, California, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Comic-Con International, Convention News, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Webcomics
Press Release:
With just a week left until San Diego Comic-Con, IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions are officially unveiling their schedule for the weekend; including incredible signings, and must-see panels. Take note, because you won't want to miss any of the fun at the booth, or your first look at exciting new projects on the panels!
Come meet a bevy of incredible creators at booth #2743 throughout the weekend, and be one of the first to get your hands on Berkeley Breathed's new book, Bloom County: Episode XI A New Hope and the exciting prelude chapter to IDW's huge September event, REVOLUTION!
Signing Schedule
Wednesday July 20th Preview Night
6:00 – 8:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Freddie E. Williams II, Mateus Santolouco, Bobby Curnow (*Check out the show exclusives!)
6:00 – 8:00 Bloom County Launch Party! – Berkeley Breathed (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
8:00 – 9:00 Revolution – John Barber, Cullen Bunn, Fico Ossio (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
8:00 – 9:00 The Electric Sublime Sneak Preview – W. Maxwell Prince (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
Thursday July 21st
10:00 – 11:00 Bloom County – Berkeley Breathed (*Check out the show exclusives!)
10:00 – 11:00 Strawberry Shortcake – Amy Mebberson (*Check out the show exclusives!)
11:00 – 12:00 Jem and the Holograms – Samantha Newark (original Jem voice talent!), Sara Richard, M. Victoria Robado (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
11:00 – 1:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Freddie E. Williams II, Mateus Santolouco, Bobby Curnow (*Check out the show exclusives!)
12:00 – 1:00 Dirk Gently – Arvind Ethan David
1:00 – 2:00 The Fun Family – Benjamin Frisch
1:00 – 2:00 The Amazing Screw-On Head Artist's Edition – Mike Mignola (*Check out the show exclusive!)
1:00 – 2:00 Godzilla – Chris Mowry, Priscilla Tramontano
2:00 – 2:30 The X-Files – Joe Harris, Sam "Mister Sam" Shearon
2:00 – 3:00 Bloom County – Berkeley Breathed
3:00 – 4:00 3A Presents – Ashley Wood, William Wray, Phil Hale
3:00 – 4:00 My Little Pony – Agnes Garbowska, Tony Fleecs, Thom Zahler (*Check out the show exclusive!)
4:00 – 5:00 ROM – Christos Gage, David Messina, Chris Ryall (*Check out the show exclusive!)
4:00 – 5:00 Revolution – John Barber, Fico Ossio, Brandon Easton, Mairghread Scott, Aubrey Sitterson (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
4:00 – 5:00 Love Addict – Koren Shadmi
4:00 – 5:00 The Electric Sublime– W. Maxwell Prince (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
5:00 – 6:00 Locke & Key, Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, Onyx – Gabriel Rodriguez, Chris Ryall, Eric Shanower (*Check out the show exclusives!)
5:00 – 6:30 Archangel – William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Michael Benedetto (*Check out the show exclusives!)
6:00 – 7:00 Back to the Future – John Barber, Erik Burnham
6:00 – 7:00 Samurai Jack, Mickey Mouse Shorts – Andy Suriano
Friday July 22nd
10:00 – 11:00 Orphan Black – John Fawcett, Graeme Manson
10:00 – 11:00 The Electric Sublime – W. Maxwell Prince (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
10:00 – 11:00 Insufferable – Peter Krause
11:00 – 12:00 ROM – Christos Gage, David Messina, Chris Ryall (*Check out the show exclusive!)
11:00 – 12:00 Revolution – John Barber, Fico Ossio (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
11:00 – 12:00 Dirk Gently – Arvind Ethan David
12:00 – 1:00 Archangel – William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Michael Benedetto (*Check out the show exclusives!)
12:00 – 1:00 Judge Dredd – Ulises Fariñas, Erick Freitas, Ryan Hill
12:00 – 1:00 Little Nemo, Onyx, Locke & Key – Gabriel Rodriguez, Chris Ryall, Eric Shanower, Jay Fotos (*Check out the show exclusives!)
1:00 – 2:00 Jem and the Holograms – Samantha Newark (original Jem voice talent!), Sara Richard, M. Victoria Robado (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
1:00 – 2:00 Street Fighter X G.I. Joe – Aubrey Sitterson
1:00 – 2:00 Yellow Heat: Artist's Edition Portfolio – Russ Heath
1:00 – 2:00 Strawberry Shortcake – Greg Ham (*Check out the show exclusive!)
2:00 – 3:00 Wynonna Earp – Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, Katherine Barrell, Beau Smith (*Check out the show exclusives!)
2:00 – 3:00 Apocrypha Now – Mark Russell, Shannon Wheeler
3:00 – 4:00 March Book Three Debut Signing! – Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
3:00 – 4:30 Bloom County – Berkeley Breathed (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
4:00 – 6:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Bobby Curnow, Mateus Santolouco (*Check out the show exclusives!)
5:00 – 6:00 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Troy Little (*Check out the show exclusive!)
5:00 – 6:00 Disney Comics – Derek Charm, Andy Suriano (*Check out the show exclusive!)
6:00 – 7:00 Transformers – John Barber, Brendan Cahill, Marcelo Matere, Livio Ramondelli, Mairghread Scott, Priscilla Tramontano, Dheeraj Verma, (*Check out the show exclusives!)
6:00 – 7:00 The Jekyll Island Chronicles – Steve Nedvidek, Ed Crowell, Jack Lowe, Moses Nester, S.J. Miller,
Saturday July 23rd
10:00 – 12:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz,
Freddie E. Williams II, Mateus Santolouco (*Check out the show exclusives!)
10:00 – 11:00 X-Files Prose, V-Wars – Jonathan Maberry, Jay Fotos, Sam "Mister Sam" Shearon
10:00 – 11:00 Godzilla – Joshua Fialkov, Chris Mowry, Priscilla Tramontano
11:15 – 12:30 March– Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
12:00 – 1:30 Bloom County – Berkeley Breathed (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
1:00 – 2:00 ROM – Christos Gage, David Messina, Chris Ryall (*Check out the show exclusive!)
1:30 – 3:00 Archangel – William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Michael Benedetto (*Check out the show exclusives!)
2:00 – 3:00 Powerpuff Girls – Haley Mancini, Jake Goldman, Derek Charm, (*Check out the show exclusives!)
3:00 – 4:00 March – Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
3:00 – 4:00 Locke & Key, Onyx, Tales From The Darkside – Gabriel Rodriguez, Chris Ryall, Jay Fotos (*Check out the show exclusives!)
4:00 – 5:00 Wynonna Earp – Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, Katherine Barrell, Beau Smith (*Check out the show exclusives!)
4:00 – 5:00 Bacchus – Eddie Campbell (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
4:00 – 5:00 Street Fighter X G.I. Joe – Aubrey Sitterson
5:00 – 6:00 Star Trek – Mike Johnson, Ryan Parrott, Derek Charm, David Tipton, Scott Tipton, J.K. Woodward
5:00 – 6:00 The Story of My Tits – Jennifer Hayden
6:00 – 7:00 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Troy Little (*Check out the show exclusive!)
6:00 – 7:00 Ghostbusters – Erik Burnham
Sunday July 24th
10:00 – 11:00 The Rocketeer at War! – Marc Guggenheim
10:00 – 11:00 Amazing Forest – Ulises Fariñas, Erick Frietas, Melody Often
11:00 – 12:00 ROM – Chris Ryall, David Messina (*Check out the show exclusive!)
11:00 – 12:00 Archangel – William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Michael Benedetto (*Check out the show exclusives!)
12:00 – 2:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Bobby Curnow, Mateus Santolouco (*Check out the show exclusives!)
12:00 – 1:00 Bacchus – Eddie Campbell(*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)
12:00 – 1:00 V-Wars – Jonathan Maberry
1:00 – 2:00 Bloom County – Berkeley Breathed
2:00 – 3:00 Revolution – John Barber, Fico Ossio (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
2:00 – 3:00 My Little Pony – Christina Rice, Sara Richard, Thom Zahler (*Check out the show exclusive!)
3:00 – 4:00 Tales From The Darkside – Gabriel Rodriguez, Michael Benedetto (*Check out the show exclusives!)
3:00 – 4:00 The Electric Sublime – W. Maxwell Prince (*Get a free preview of the upcoming release!)
The Top Shelf section of the booth will be filled all weekend with more great creators, too!
Panel Schedule
IDW Publishing, IDW Entertainment, and Top Shelf will be busy all week long with exciting panels that you simply can't afford to miss! Before it all kicks off though, don't miss the cast of Wynonna Earp (Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon,Dominique Provost-Chalkely) at the San Diego Comic Art Gallery in Liberty Station from 7 – 9 PM.
The Dynamic World of Disney Comics
Thursday, 7/21/16, 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m., Room: 28DE
Disney Publishing Worldwide has long been turning Disney's popular films and TV series into comic books, including notable series' Uncle Scrooge, Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, and Donald Duck. Join Disney comics experts as they discuss the highly anticipated release of several new comic books series based on a variety of hit Disney movies and animated TV shows, including Finding Dory,Zootopia, Star Wars, Frozen, Mickey Mouse, and Disney XD's Star vs the Forces of Evil. This panel will focus on the creative process behind taking Disney's beloved stories and characters from the film and TV screen to the printed page, as well as Disney Publishing Worldwide's history of creating comics that resonate with fans of all ages and demographics, setting Disney apart as a comics publisher.
Top Shelf Productions: Live!
Thursday, 7/21/16, 11:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., Room: 28DE
Now an imprint of IDW Publishing, the tastemakers at Top Shelf are busier than ever bringing you their trademark blend of gorgeous art, storytelling charm, and literary sophistication. Join marketing director Leigh Walton and design director Chris Ross for a tour of Top Shelf's latest and greatest. Benjamin Frisch makes a head-spinning debut with The Fun Family, the Lost Mountain Mechanicals blend history with dieselpunk action-adventure in The Jekyll Island Chronicles, Koren Shadmi explores the dark side of digital dating in Love Addict, and much more! Plus: the latest on March, and great news for Alan Moore fans and Korgi lovers…
IDW & The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Present Crossover: Where Comics & Science Meet
Thursday, 7/21/16, 12:00p.m. – 1:00p.m., Room: 9
Diehard fans know comics aren't just picture books for children and geeky adults. Comics have a long history of addressing complex issues, from science lab accidents to ethics, moral issues and social justice. This panel will look at the art, science and technology featured in some of our favorite comics and answer questions like: How do writers develop the stories? Are they communicating realistic scientific concepts? Could comic writers be predicting in the future of science and technology? Join a distinguished panel of scientists, entrepreneurs and artists and writers from IDW Publishing to discuss the true science behind comics and science fiction.
IDW & Hasbro: The Revolution is Now!
Thursday, 7/21/16, 2:00p.m. – 3:00p.m., Room: 9
This fall, the Transformers, G.I. JOE, ROM, Micronauts and M.A.S.K. are drawn together and nothing at IDW will ever be the same again! Take a stand with universe-builders Cullen Bunn, Christos Gage, Mairghread Scott, Brandon Easton, Chris Ryall, John Barber, Aubrey Sitterson, David Hedgecock, and Hasbro's Michael Kelly—and get a free REVOLUTION preview comic, just for showing up!
What Was Old is New — Again: IDW's New Formats for Classic Comics
Thursday, 7/21/16, 3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m., Room: 4
Join President of IDW Publishing Greg Goldstein as he brings together the stalwarts (or culprits) of the boom in archival publishing for details and announcements about the latest classic comic book collections! Joining Greg will be renowned comic book historian and editor Craig Yoe, IDW Senior Books Editor Justin Eisinger and IDW Artist Edition Editor Scott Dunbier and one or two amazing surprise guests. IDW is home to some of the most beloved (and award-winning) collections in comics history — with more on the way — so if you love the classics, this a must see. Free book for every attendee — PLUS other giveaways and prizes.
God is Disappointed in You 2: Apocrypha Now
Friday, 7/22/16, 12:00p.m. – 1:00p.m., Room: 32AB
It's the second coming! Their first book, God Is Disappointed in You, was an irreverent-yet-faithful adaptation of the Bible that got everyone talking. Now, Mark Russell (Prez, The Flintstones) & Shannon Wheeler (The New Yorker, Too Much Coffee Man) are back with a follow-up book, Apocrypha Now, about the stories that DIDN'T make it into the Bible. Some of these stories were forgotten, some suppressed, others were just too freaking weird for the Bible (and that's saying something). Join these two holy heathens for a funny and fascinating tour of what the Bible DIDN'T tell you.
Pop Culture Shark Tank
Friday, 7/22/16, 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m., Room: 32AB
Do you have what it takes to be the next pop culture startup success? Pitch your best 90-second business plan and you might spark the interest you need from investors, media and fans to take your idea to the next level – or come to watch aspiring entrepreneurs learn from the best. Judges Ted Adams (founder/CEO & Publisher, IDW Entertainment), Suzy Ryoo (Venture Partner/VP Technology, Atom Factory), David Steinberger (co-founder, comiXology) and Maureen Fan (founder/CEO, Baobob Studios VR) will offer feedback, coaching and special prizes. Rob Salkowitz (Forbes) moderates.
*All participants who pitch at this event will receive a free copy of the Raphael TMNT Sketchbook signed by Kevin Eastman!
Star Trek: Five Decades of Comics
Friday, 7/22/16, 1:30p.m. – 2:30p.m., Room: 8
A celebration of all the 4-color Star Trek worlds, featuring a look at all past iterations and a chat with many who've chronicled the Enterprise crews' comic-book adventures, including Len Wein, Scott Tipton, Mike Johnson, John Van Citters, and JK Woodward. Moderated by Star Trek editor/supreme commander Sarah Gaydos!
Spotlight on Berkeley Breathed: Bloom County & Beyond
Friday, 7/22/16, 1:30p.m. – 2:30p.m., Room: 5AB
In 2015, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed began (without warning!) producing ALL-NEW Bloom County strips—for the first time in more than 25 years! Now, join Berkeley for one of his infamous presentations, focusing on what it's like to be the last strip cartoonist standing! Presentation followed by Q & A!
IDW Publishing: The Main Event
Friday, 7/22/16, 4:00p.m. – 5:00p.m., Room: 4
Come experience the latest from IDW! Join artists Gabriel Rodriguez and David Messina, writers Christos Gage, Arvind Ethan David, and Paul Cornell, editor Sarah Gaydos and other surprise guests as they detail current plans, awesome futuristic plans, and much more. Co-moderated by the two-headed monster that is Dirk Wood & Chris Ryall! Prizes, announcements, and Q & A!
MARCH with Congressman John Lewis
Saturday, 7/23/16, 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m., Room: 23ABC
At last… the final chapter is here. Meet the man they call "a real-life superhero" and witness history in the making, as the legendary civil rights icon, US congressman, and #1 bestselling graphic novel author John Lewis returns! Together with award-winning collaborators Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, Congressman Lewis has brought his incredible story to new life with the graphic novel trilogy March. Now, join all three creators to celebrate the completion of the saga in March: Book Three — a must-read account of the Mississippi Freedom Summer and the Selma-Montgomery March, and so much more — available exclusively here at Comic-Con for a limited time. Learn how March is transforming our understanding of the civil rights movement, and the powerfully urgent lessons that it brings to new generations today… and get ready to move your feet!
Spotlight on William Gibson
Saturday, 7/23/16, 11:30a.m. – 12:30p.m., Room: 24ABC
William Gibson is the novelist and screenwriter credited with pioneering cyberpunk science fiction. His Blue Ant trilogy, Patterson Recognition, Spook Country and Zero History, were New York Times bestsellers, as was his most recent, The Peripheral. Archangel, co-written with his friend, Michael St. John Smith, is now being published by IDW. Please join Gibson, Smith, and some of their IDW collaborators for a discussion in Archangel!
The Ultimate TMNT Panel: Shell Games with the IDW Team!
Saturday, 7/23/16, 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m., Room: 25ABC
As we blaze toward the longest-running TMNT comic ever, come chat with the creators about the ongoing comic, the new Universe ongoing, the first-ever TMNT boardgame, past and future(?) crossovers and more! Featuring the ongoing TMNT braintrust of Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Mateus Santoluoco, plus Freddie Williams III, Nick Pitarra and more!
IDW & SyFy Present: Wynonna Earp
Saturday, 7/23/16, 2:30p.m. – 3:30p.m., Room: 24ABC
By now, the word is out, Wynonna Earp was the TV hit of the Spring! Now, get an exclusive look at the action packed series with the cast and crew! Who is Wynonna Earp? A smoking hot, bad ass demon killer, that's who. Join stars Melanie Scrofano (Supernatural, Haven), Tim Rozon (Lost Girl, Being Human), Shamier Anderson(Constantine, Defiance), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (The Avengers: Age of Ultron), Katherine Barrell (Saving Hope) and Wynonna Earp comic creator Beau Smith as they share exclusive footage, behind the scenes peeks, and participate in a Q&A!
Spotlight on Jennifer Hayden
Saturday, 7/23/16, 3:00p.m. – 4:00p.m., Room: 9
From Underwire to the webcomics S'Crapbook and Rushes to her Eisner-nominated masterwork The Story of My Tits, Jennifer Hayden has embraced a comics narrative that goes beyond the personal to the visceral. An artist, a musician, a wife and mother, a goddess: Hayden synthesizes many roles into a single, distinctive style. Join her in a discussion of how these roles transmute into art. Moderated by Karen Green.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Panel
Saturday, 7/23/16, 4:00p.m. – 5:00p.m., Room: 6BCF
Join stars Elijah Wood (Wilfred), Samuel Barnett (Penny Dreadful), Hannah Marks (The Amazing Spider-Man), Jade Eshete (Dead Beat), lead writer and executive producer Max Landis (Chronicle, American Ultra) and showrunner Robert Cooper (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe) for a first look at BBC AMERICA's Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, a new original series from the producers of The Walking Dead, premiering October 22. An adaptation from famed author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams – Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric detective Dirk Gently (Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Wood), as they wend their way through an insane mystery; crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth. @DirkGently #DirkGently
Weird Love: Vintage Romance Comics Come Alive!
Saturday, 7/23/16, 4:30p.m. – 5:30p.m., Room: 26AB
Join Weird Comics Live! Set a date with the Golden Age's romance genre, how it reflected the strange morals of its time and its relationship to today's comics creators and audiences. Craig Yoe (editor of Weird Love comics) leads a juicy discussion with Ben Dickow (guest lecturer, Otis College of Art), Adriana Yugovich (LA Zine Fest) and Kristen Simon (former editor at Image Comics) looking at the role of women in these stories while LA performance group Captured Aural Phantasy Theater dramatically reads from prime examples of this crazy genre.
IDW: KIDS Rule!
Sunday, 7/24/16, 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m., Room: 4
From My Little Pony to Strawberry Shortcake, Skylanders to TMNT Animated and X-Files: Origins to Disney, IDW loves kids' comics and loves even more the kids who read them! Come hear from the writers and editors of our all-ages fare and then stay for the best Q&A at SDCC, since every question is only open to non-adults! Hosted by Editors Supreme Sarah Gaydos and Bobby Curnow, with Derek Charm,Jake Goldman, and Haley Mancini (Powerpuff Girls), Jodie Houser (X-Files: Origins), Caleb Goellner (TMNT: Animated), Sara Richard (MLP), Tony Fleece (MLP)! Plus prizes for all kids in attendance, too!
Plus, don't miss the CBLDF auction, benefitting the non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics medium on Saturday night at the Hilton Bayfront, Sapphire Room AB at 8PM. Featuring a Keynote speech from William Gibson, and live-sketching from Locke & Key artist Gabriel Rodriguez!
MI – Betty & Veronica #1 Signings
July 12, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Michigan, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Variant cover artist Jay Fosgitt (artist of Rocket Racoon and Groot, My Little Pony, and creator of Bodie Troll and Dead Duck) appears on Wednesday July 20, 2016 to sign the first issue of Archie Comics' new BETTY & VERONICA series at Comic City's Trenton location from noon till 2:00 PM and then in Canton from 4:00 till 6:00 PM!
Comic City
West-Grange Shopping Center, 3410 West Road, Trenton MI 48183
Canton Corners Shopping Center, 42727 Ford Road, Canton MI 48187
GA – Betty & Veronica #1 Signing
June 30, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Georgia, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Top Stories
Writer/Artist Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman, Dr. Manhattan) and variant cover artist Andy Price (My Little Pony) appear at My Parents' Basement on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM to sign BETTY & VERONICA #1 from Archie Comics!
The first hour Adam will be signing copies of Betty and Veronica (and if you have any other books, but we are limiting them to no more than five with one being purchased in shop day of) and during the second hour, you can grab a blank sketch cover for Adam or Andy to do a quick personalized sketch. The sketches will be $40.
My Parents' Basement
22 N Avondale Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
(404) 292-4607
My Little Pony Creators Hoof It to Baltimore Comic Con 2016
June 22, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Maryland, Other, Webcomics
Press Release:
The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to Baltimore's Inner Harbor on September 2-4, 2016 at the Baltimore Convention Center. This year, the show welcomes numerous guests who have worked on My Little Pony, including Katie Cook, Andy Price, Nei Ruffino, Chad Thomas, and Thom Zahler. Tickets to the show are now on sale!
Katie Cook is a comic artist and writer that hails from the mitten state (as in Michigan, not that she is in the state of being a mitten). She currently puts an inordinate amount of time in on her creator-owned book, Gronk: A Monster's Story (www.gronkcomic.com, printed through Action Lab Entertainment), as well as writing and drawing for IDW's smash-hit My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. She has also worked as a writer and/or illustrator on Adventure Time Comics from BOOM! Studios, Haunted Mansion for Marvel, Munchkin for BOOM! Studios, Fraggle Rock for Archaia and Star Wars for Scholastic Books. Her mother thinks she is funny.
Andy Price, a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, is the main artist on IDW's incredibly popular My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series. When he's not drawing ponies, Andy also contributes to Littlest Pet Shop (IDW), Wordgirl (BOOM! Studios), Adventure Time: Candy Capers (BOOM! Studios), Samurai Jack (IDW), Quantum Leap (Innovation), Haunted Mansion (Marvel), and Betty and Veronica (Archie).
Nei Ruffino, who has done a variant cover for IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, is the creator of her self-published fantasy comic The Secret Life of Crows. In addition to writing, drawing, and inking a number of titles in her career, she is renowned as a colorist, working on projects such as Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel), Green Lantern (DC), Batman (DC), Superman (DC), Tales of Wonderland (Zenescope Entertainment), Grimm Fairy Tales (Zenescope Entertainment), and too many more to mention! She is also partner to the Rothic brands, working on titles like REM 8 and Southern Nightgown.
Joining us in the Kids Love Comics Pavilion in 2016, Chad Thomas is a freelance cartoonist working out of the greater Dallas area. Chad began drawing at the early age of 3 by obsessively watching old Disney cartoons. He attended the Savannah College of Art and Design from 1999-2003, earning his degree in Sequential Art, and began his career shortly after. Chad has provided art for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (IDW), My Little Pony: Friends Forever (IDW), Adventure Time with Fiona and Cake (BOOM! Studios), The Middleman (Viper Comics), Mega Man (Archie), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Archie), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures (IDW), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles New Animated Adventures (IDW),
Thom Zahler is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. His early professional credits included lettering gigs for Marvel's Crimson Dynamo, Claypool's Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and DC Comics' Looney Tunes. His self-published comic, Love and Capes, was later released through IDW, Also for IDW, you can find his more recent work writing and penciling IDW's Long Distance, My Little Pony, My Little Pony: Friends Forever, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series. "We're hyping these guests as My Little Pony creators, but in fact they are so much more than that," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "These folks are a multi-talented bunch of individuals, with a wide range of noteworthy title credits and publishers on their resumes. Whether you're coming for the sake of Ponies or for their many other works, we know you're going to love these guests!"
General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!
While they are available, be sure to take advantage of discount rate arrangements we have made with hotels near the Baltimore Convention Center. For all the details, see: baltimorecomiccon.com/about/hotels
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 17th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
CA – My Little Pony Signing
April 22, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under California, Comic Books, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Writers Barbara Randall Kesel and Christina Rice plus artists Agnes Garbowska, Sara Richard, and Tony Fleecs appear at Big Red Comics on Saturday April 23rd from 2:00 – 6:00 PM!
Big Red Comics
162 N Glassell Street, Orange, CA 92866
(714) 650-0813


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Insect Screening
Phifer's broad line of insect screening is available in a variety of widths, lengths, and materials and used in window, door and porch applications as well as larger openings, such as pool and patio enclosures. Screening is woven from metal wire (aluminum or bronze), and fiberglass or polyester yarns. All Phifer screening products are made in the U.S.A.
Q: If I am replacing my insect screens with new screening products, what spline size should I use?
If you do not have a sample of your old spline to match the size, then the product that is being installed and the screen frame's spline groove determine spline size. Measure across the spline channel or groove of the screen frame and use one size smaller spline for fabrication.
Q: Which products are best for a coastal/high humidity climate?
All fiberglass screens, sun control screens, TuffScreen and PetScreen.
Q: Which products provide the best insect protection?
Fiberglass 20x20 "no-see-um screen" provides the maximum protection. BetterVue provides 10% more insect protection vs. standard fiberglass or aluminum screen.
Q: Which products are the longest lasting?
All Phifer products are made to provide years of enjoyment and protection.
Q: Which products provide extra strength?
In traditional screen applications, 18x14 .013 fiberglass is 50% stronger than standard fiberglass insect screen. The most durable screen is PetScreen and TuffScreen.
Q: Which products allow the best airflow?
UltraVue provides the maximum ventilation. Airflow is improved 25% vs. standard fiberglass or aluminum screen. Both BetterVue and SeeVue yield a 20% improvement in airflow vs. standard fiberglass or aluminum screen.
Q: Which products have the best outward visibility/view?
UltraVue and SeeVue provide the maximum clarity/best viewing experience. BetterVue offers a better view than standard fiberglass or aluminum screen.
Q: Which products block solar heat and glare?
SunTex 80 and SunTex 90, Solar Insect Screen, and SunScreen
Q: Which products will provide daytime privacy?
SunTex 80 and SunTex 90, Solar Insect Screen, and SunScreen are excellent choices for daytime privacy screening.
Q: Will Bronze screen turn green?
No, this product weathers to a beautiful dark bronze finish that enhances outward visibility.
Q: How do you clean insect screening?
Rinse metal products with water only. Clean vinyl products with a mild soapy solution, avoiding hard scrubbing.
Q: What is Less Visible Screen?
It's the latest innovation in insect screen. The product's design uses finer yarns in a tighter mesh. The design creates more holes per square inch improving ventilation and optical clarity. The result is better performing insect screen. Aperture openings are smaller improving insect protection.
Q: Why use Less Visible Screen?
If you like clear unobstructed views then you need one of Phifer's iVis solutions. Traditional screens are easily seen from inside or outside the home. BetterVue and UltraVue are almost invisible. They improve viewing clarity, brighten windows using Low-e glass, and improve airflow and ventilation. Exterior screens are harder to detect from the curb. Phifer's BetterVue and UltraVue are GREENGUARD certified and have Microban antimicrobial product protection to stay cleaner longer.
Q: What is the difference between iVis-Improved visibility screen and eVis-Excellent visibility screen?
The primary difference is openness resulting from yarn size. Smaller yarns typically provide better clarity. Improved visibility insect screen was developed as an affordable solution so all consumers could enjoy less visible screen. Excellent visibility insect screen offers homeowners the highest clarity. It is more delicate and typically used in low traffic areas like windows. The cost is considerable higher but its worth the view.
Q: Are Less Visible Screens as durable as standard screen?
To improve clarity we must use finer yarns. Basically you sacrifice some strength for improved clarity. Durability is a result of product design. Less visible screens typically weave more yarns per square inch to offset the loss of strength from finer yarns. Compared to the industry's standard screen, BetterVue is similar in durability. UltraVue is less durable but offers a premium view.


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Guest reviews
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The Map Hostel offers private and dormitory rooms in Bucharest, 2,953 feet from the Unirii Square. Free WiFi access is available. The rooms are simply furnished and some have a balcony. Both the shared and the private bathrooms feature free toiletries. At The Map Hostel you will find a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen for self-catering and a lounge with games. Grilling is possible in the garden. The closest restaurant is set 165 feet away. The hostel is a 10-minute walk from the old town of Bucharest and also from the Unirea Shopping Centre. The Henri Coandă Airport is located 10.6 miles away.


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The sun beamed brightly down on the camp, warming my skin as I sat and polished the tip of my spear. The guardians and occasional Appointed bustling to and fro seemed extra peppy, and I longed to join in their conversations. Normally I'd jump right in and crack a few jokes, but I was anxious to know about the expedition sent out to fight ogres earlier that day. My close childhood friend was sent along and while that would normally be fine (he was an excellent fighter) I was almost certain that a few days before he had sprained his ankle while we were sparring. I had begged him to go stop by the hospital for a quick check, but he brushed off and tried to convince me he was fine even though it was painfully obvious he had to slightly limp home. Ugh. Men and their pride.
Reaching down, I ran my hand through the thick, chocolate brown fur of my companion Levi. He turned his wolf-like muzzle toward me, already sensing my anxiety. We shared a strong telepathic bond that had matured through the years; I'd worked with Levi since my first year of being a guardian, and here we are nearly four years later and still together. It was a rare bond -- It was already uncommon for people to have the ability of telepathy (I'll admit, I'm proud to be granted with such an unusual power), and even less common to see people who don't just use a creature until the job is done and move onto the next one. Perhaps the only reason I held onto the bond between Levi and I so tightly was because I had been gifted with a below average telepathic ability. I could only really communicate to creatures weaker than myself, and controlling them was out of the question unless they were, say, a squirrel. Needless to say, I usually didn't tell people that; I'd let them be impressed with Levi's appearance and left it at that.
A voice came from down the hill I was sitting atop, yelling my name. I snapped my head up, instantly coming out of my daydreaming. Squinting, I could make out the form of a fellow guardian running toward me.
"Aeris! Aeris! The troops from the ogre hunt are back!" I sucked in a breath, feeling my nervousness return. Slinging my spear back into its sheath, I ran down to headquarters, where the guardians and Appointed usually hung around for a bit to report the results of their expeditions. My friend, Ivan, was nowhere to be found. The hospital, Levi thought to me. He could've been carrying back the wounded. I nodded and turned to jog there, pushing back the images of Ivan, dead, that began to surface in my mind. I asked the nurse sitting at the front desk which room the latest injured were placed in and hurried down the corridor. The door to the room swung open, and two Appointed bumped into me after I assume taking records of who was hurt. Both were extremely intimidating (not to mention tall) and seemed to glare down at me.
"Sorry, sorry sorry sorrysorrysorry," I said, flustered but trying to peer around them into the hospital room.
"Watch it next time," the male said before walking off. I could feel my face heat up with embarrassment but rushed into the room and decided not to think much of it.
"Ivan!" I exclaimed, spotting him immediately in a bed near the edge of the room. He looked over at me sheepishly. "Oh gosh, what happened?" I asked, gesturing to the new cast wrapped around his arm.
"Well, you were right when you thought my ankle was sprained. I might have, you know, tripped as soon as the ogres started attacking us. That could have possibly broken my arm. But if you're in the mood for some BS, I was fighting valiantly when one of those scummy beasts attacked me from behind!" He waved his good arm around dramatically and I rolled my eyes. Playfully, I punched him in the shoulder.
"You should've listened to me, idiot."
"Oh, before I forget, could you give this to someone down at HQ?" he asked, handing me an envelope. "I wrote up my own mini report because quite frankly, I'm worried about what happened in the cave today. There seemed to be more of the beasts than usual, and they were full of blood lust. Makes me wonder what they're up to. An attack maybe?"
"Let's hope not. I'll get this to someone as soon as possible," I say, turning to leave.


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Akvnffe, Hmm?Mature
Advrsivn adiunvd xi vfisofu cv aodiunvkf fvddkhha aoiuvnjd sisuodioaf oaisud oiuadsn oaiusd She crept out of her hiding place and kdnbfvnknvkmadoimdcnhcn sfvjgfsc looked around. The world was still spinning. Everyone was still going about their own business. But something seemed...different. She kjnhvxnzkc,vcnjbvcmxklzcvcxklsc x./z. bhjda vgiuyn ajecnd,d didn't know what it was.
Venturing out from the cliff in which she'd been hiding for nearly a week now, she shaded her eyes against the bright sun. svibndklcvnmcx,.lckj hcm,c osucjxmvnb io shftoei ohh! i know what to say! The sun was far brighter than usual...and the sky was far darker than usual.
Hmm. Ominous.
fndxnklcvkcncmx,cm noidscoia ud h,fm pauiu asdyi adyi ghaiusy aiusdiu ie adiyiuy eadsaiuy And then, she looked at her skin. It was devoid of any pigment.
Pure, silky white. She vnkcjdhhkcxjxchu hfnsuyuifjdk jsoiaf stifled a scream of surprise. Behind her, j hgl kipf 183 f hzkc vb hfud a ui a io uou 7 aid oa there was a burst of evil laughter. Had she been under any other circumstance, she would've thought the evil laughter was cliched. But now, the last thing on her mind was cliche. The first thing on her mind was a simple yet complicated concept:
hfdsvni ho hum de du,m iysdfuu fioauouoriuaou oruoeuioauoi ue SURVIVE.
Thitu rf ieuy rgosinu o ngoaiud oThe laughter grew louder and more menacing until it stopped. And when it stopped, a rainbow shot across the sky. But it wasn't just any rainbow. It was black and white.
Suddenly, all the colors of the world leaped into the rainbow. The rainbow swelled with color as all the color on the earth skipped and twirled and waltzed into the rainbow. The red rocks turned white as the red joined the rainbow. The green shrubs turned black as the green whirled away to the rainbow. The blue sky even turned silver as all its blue was lost inside the rainbow, which was no longer black and white...but vibrant from all the colors it had gained.
She heard chanting, and the rainbow disappeared...leaving behind a world without color.
Haha! There it is! It was quite an interesting challenge(:


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Malevolent kings of British metal. Masters of the darkest arts and crafts. Cradle Of Filth have been firmly ensconced at the forefront of the extreme music scene for the last two decades.
Music and Merchandise in our SHOP, info, videos, news and downloads of DEVILMENT at Nuclear Blast – the biggest metal shop and label worldwide.
LOCK UP - Metal from Great Britain! Find everything concerning the band HERE: Biography, Shop-Links, everything concerning LOCK UP
2016-08-23 - CRADLE OF FILTH the UK's most visionary and hellish outfit are very pleased to announce that they are currently writing new material. Details
2015-07-01 - CRADLE OF FILTH are pleased to announce their European tour in celebration of latest endeavour and opus nocturne entitled »Hammer Of The Witches«. Details
2015-04-30 - Barbarous hellhounds CRADLE OF FILTH only recently announced the completion, release and cover artwork for their 11th studio album entitled »Hammer Of The Witches«. Details
CRADLE OF FILTH album, Darkly, Darkly Venus Aversa. The infamous extreme metal group entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #99, selling nearly 6,000 copies in its first week
CRADLE OF FILTH, KMFDM) in Hamburg, Germany, THERION was putting on tape the songs that would forever change the band's career and the future budget situation. To celebrate what
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Saturday MorningMature
A young Jewish student in London suddenly finds herself not in the synagogue on Saturday morning.
'Baruch atah, adonay...'
Baruch atah indeed, thought Rose. Here I am, in a synagogue in London, on Shabbat morning. Who'd have known?
Rose, Rosa, or Reizele, was sitting on the second floor of the synagogue with the other women, looking down at the cantor who was just finishing his prayer. She murmured 'Amen' together with the other visitors this morning and started to look around at her fellows in worship. The women were all neat, some of them (the married ones) wearing little hats or wigs, all of them dressed in exceptionally smart, modest clothing - flat shoes, stockings, long skirts, blouses buttoned up all the way. Rose stuck out like a sore thumb in her boho dark blue maxi skirt, the small white blouse which she wore in the restaurant where she worked, and wide light blue scarf which covered her collarbone in a way her blouse failed to do. Instead of the comfortable black leather shoes that adorned most of the other ladies' little feet, she was wearing Chuck Taylors. It wasn't surprising that the other women looked around at her with curiosity and some scorn in their eyes, and she looked back at them rebelliously. Still, Reizele was 100% Jewish on both sides of her family, and she had come to worship God, just like they had. Well, actually, she hadn't come to worship God. He didn't exist. She came for the tradition, so she tried to focus on that, rather than the other visitors.
The rabbi started to speak. He had written a sermon himself concerning how they, as Jews, should correctly practice our faith, without secluding themselves entirely from the rest of the world, and how theycould adapt to the changes in society. Changes in society? Society doesn't change, it's just the same lie told differently every day, Rose thought to herself. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to visualize the figurative green fields the rabbi was predicting. Out of nowhere, a strange, futuristic car-like vehicle zoomed across her inner vision. Silly car, get out of my imagination, Rose told the car, and it disappeared.
Rose was satisfied with the poppies and daisies sprouting out of the ground for a minute. But her satisfaction wouldn't last. The poppies and daisies started to form unfamiliar patterns, which finally assumed a general likeness to buildings, and the rabbi's voice faded away, until Rose, finding herself unable to stop imagining, opened her eyes, and found that reality had become the way her imagination had just pictured it, and she turned to face a tall young man, who asked, in a voice which now wholly excluded the last sounds from the synagogue:
'May I see your public air permit, ma'am?'


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One of the most well-known restaurants in Vienna, Plachutta is a gourmet's paradise. A dish that is an absolute must for connoisseurs here is the "Tafelspitz", a tender cut of beef that will literally melt in your mouth. Proverbially cozy surroundings add to the enjoyment. / Copyright: Plachutta Wollzeile
Find the latest on food in Vienna


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The Internet Can Reduce Fatalistic View Of Cancer
Chul-joo Lee, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jeff Niederdeppe, Cornell University, and Derek Freres, University of Pennsylvania, published in the Journal of Communication their findings from a nationally representative survey of adults between the ages of 40 and 70. Conducted longitudinally over the course of a year, the survey collected 2,489 cases and were weighted for age, gender, ethnicity, education and census region. Previous studies have shown that local TV viewing can increase cancer fatalism overtime. This study is the first to examine internet use, and the results were promising.
The findings suggested that people who use the Internet frequently to acquire health or medical information are less likely than those who do not use the Internet for such purposes to hold cancer fatalism over time. More importantly, the research showed that Internet use reduced cancer fatalism among less educated and less health-knowledgeable people to a greater extent than among more educated and more knowledgeable people.
"Reducing cancer fatalism, especially among people with low socioeconomic status, is arguably one of the most important public health goals in the nation," Lee said. "Studying the effect of Internet use on cancer fatalism is important, considering that the Internet has become a new, very crucial source of health information for the American public these days. These findings have important implications since we showed that the Internet may be a very effective channel of health communication especially for people with low socioeconomic status."
Socioeconomic Disparities in Fatalistic Beliefs About Cancer Prevention, By Chul-joo Lee, Jeff Niederdeppe and Derek Freres; Journal of Communication DOI 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01683.x http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01683.x/abstract
International Communication Association
Source: EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society
Visit our Cancer / Oncology category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Cancer / Oncology.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Association, International Communication. "The Internet Can Reduce Fatalistic View Of Cancer." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 12 Dec. 2012. Web.
22 May. 2017. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253856.php>
Association, I. (2012, December 12). "The Internet Can Reduce Fatalistic View Of Cancer." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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text:
TASTING NOTES from Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2011
Fruity and generously flavored, this Cabernet blend displays fragrant aromas of red/dark plum, game and dried herbs. The palate is rounded and smooth with nicely pitched supple tannins providing a pleasant dry finish.
The 2010 season has been very cool and wet. Late flowering and cool temperatures brought us a bad fruitset and low yields.To produce a high quality red wine a lot of intensive manual vineyard work is necessary. The fruits for this wine were hand picked beginning of May, in the winery the berries were selected again on a sorting table to ensure that only the sane berries are manufactured to wine. The fermentation on the skins took two weeks to extract the colour and supple tannins. After fermentation the wine was aged for 12 months in new (30%) used (70%) oak. We bottled the wine unfiltered in December 2011.
pork, beef, lamb, game or enjoy as an "chimney-wine"


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 16, 2003
|Filing date
|Dec 26, 2001
|Priority date
|Dec 26, 2001
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Landon Duval, Ronald Louis Williams
|Original Assignee
|Landon Duval, Ronald Louis Williams
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (30), Classifications (8), Legal Events (9)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for determination of alcohol consumption in machinery operation, and in particular to a comparison technique for determination of the status of a machine operator with respect to a chemical.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Heim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,078 describes a method for determining the alcohol content in the exhaling respiratory air using an alcohol measuring instrument and measuring the alcohol content when the exhaling air transmits the determined value of the alcohol concentration. This determined value of alcohol concentration occurs when the time variation related to the height of the alcohol signal is below a predetermined threshold value and the velocity of flow of the exhaling air is above a given value and is maintained without interruption for a given time. The apparatus includes an infrared measuring instrument which is connected into the respiratory air current and measures the alcohol concentration of the exhaling air. This value is applied to an indicator through a linear gate when an AND-gate is triggered by threshold comparators and a timing element activated by a threshold comparator.
Leichnitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,251 describes a method of determining the alcohol content of air exhaled by a person using a flow through testing tube having an alcohol indicating material therein and a sampling tube to which the air is directed which has a material therein for retaining the alcohol of the breathing air and also using a suction pump comprises cooling the sampling tube, passing the exhaled air through the cooled sampling tube, measuring a volume of the air passing through the cooled sampling tube, heating the sampling tube and connecting the suction pump to the sampling tube to suck flushing air through the heated tube and then through the testing tube. The sampling tube advantageously contains a silica gel to retain the alcohol therein. The volume measuring device may be a measuring bag.
Hutson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,635 describes a method and apparatus for discriminating between alcohol and acetone in a breath sample and accurately measuring the alcohol level when acetone is present in the sample. The breath sample is measured with two different types of detectors and their outputs compared. One detector uses the principles of infrared (IR) absorption, the other detector is a semiconductor, commonly called a Taguci cell, or its equivalent. Automatic correction is provided for variation in sensitivity of the semiconductor.
Talbot, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,027 describes a battery-operated portable breath tester. The breath tester includes a housing which defines a sleeve for receiving a wand. The wand defines an internal sample chamber, with a lamp at one end for providing infrared energy and a detector at an opposite end for receiving the infrared energy after it has passed through the sample to be tested. The wand defines opening extending from the internal sample chamber to the outside of the wand. The wand has an external shape providing a snug fit within the sleeve. As the wand is moved within the sleeve, gas is purged from the wand. The wand is connected to the housing by means of an electrical coil. The housing encloses a digital voltmeter including a digital display for providing a test readout. The digital voltmeter includes an oscillator which is coupled through a frequency divider and a transistor switch to the lamp. The lamp is switched on and off in accordance with the frequency output of the frequency divider to modulate the infrared energy emitted from the lamp at a selected frequency. A voltage regulator is connected to the lamp, and the lamp and voltage regulator are located in heat-exchange relationship with the sample chamber. This aids in raising the temperature of the sample chamber during testing in order to alleviate condensation.
Lopez, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,553 describes a breath alcohol detector measuring and compensating for distance between the mouth of the individual exhaling breath into the ambient air and the detector, the atmospheric pressure, and the temperature. Blood alcohol content information is calculated using these compensation factors and a signal obtained from an electrochemical fuel cell which is indicative of the amount of alcohol or other gas contained in the sample. The detector also includes a reciprocally acting electromagnetically energized motor which drives a diaphragm pump to draw the sample into the electrochemical fuel cell.
Fukui, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,180 describes an alcohol selective gas sensor including a detecting electrode and a semiconductor detecting element in contact with the detecting electrode, the semiconductor detecting element comprising tin oxide (SnO2) and a metal oxide of at least one of alkaline earth metals (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) carried by the tin oxide, the metal oxide being contained in an amount of about 0.5 mol % or above.
O'Donnell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,498 describes a gaseous detection system for detecting the existence of a certain gas and further the detection of a certain level or percentage of that certain gas within a certain environment. An example is use of the gas detection system in a motor vehicle to aid in determining when a driver of the motor vehicle may be driving under the influence of alcohol, and for providing an appropriate warning signal that may be viewed from the exterior of the motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor unit for sensing ethanol in the atmospheric contents of the motor vehicle's interior, for example, a unit for providing an actuation signal in response to the sensing unit, and a signal unit that generates a signal which can be utilized for many purposes, for example, causing at least some of the exterior lights on the motor vehicle to alternately flash on and off in a substantially non-standard pattern. The sensing unit may also be coupled with a digital readout device or the like to indicate the amount of blood alcohol content of a person for evidentiary or like purposes.
Martin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,268 describes an air-borne chemical sensor system including a motor and impeller to draw an air sample into a housing containing a sensor which will provide a signal for display related to the amount of a particular air-borne chemical in a given air sample. The system is controllable by different duration activation of a single activating switch which can further control a secondary function, such as a flashlight.
Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,919 describes a gaseous detection system for detecting the existence of a certain gas and further the detection of a certain level or percentage of that certain gas within a certain environment. An example is use of the gas detection system in a motor vehicle to aid in determining when a driver of the motor vehicle may be driving under the influence of alcohol, and for providing an appropriate warning signal that may be viewed from the exterior of the motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor unit for sensing ethanol in the atmospheric contents of the motor vehicle's interior, for example, a unit for providing an actuation signal in response to the sensing unit, and a signal unit that generates a signal which can be utilized for many purposes, for example, causing at least some of the exterior lights on the motor vehicle to alternately flash on and off in a substantially non-standard pattern. The sensing unit may also be coupled with a digital read-out device or the like to indicate the amount of blood alcohol content of a person for evidentiary or like purposes.
Forrester et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,555 describes a method and infrared sensing device for determining the concentration of alveolar alcohol in a breath sample exhaled by a subject into an infrared sensing device. The presence of alcohol from the upper respiratory tract of the subject is detected by continuously monitoring alcohol and carbon dioxide, normalizing alcohol values with respect to carbon dioxide, calculating a difference between normalized alcohol concentration and carbon dioxide concentration over time, integrating (summing) the difference, and comparing the integrated difference with a threshold. This technique accurately and consistently detects the presence of mouth alcohol in the sample before the presence of carbon dioxide which originates in deep lung breath.
Steinberg, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,349 describes a vehicle ignition interlock system including a non-invasive reader of a person's blood-alcohol concentration in combination with ignition interlock circuitry that prevents operation of a vehicle by an intoxicated person. The non-invasive blood-alcohol concentration reader, termed alcoh-meter, utilizes optical spectroscopic electromagnetic radiation technology to determine the alcohol levels in the blood. The alcoh-meter is preferably a dash mounted sensor for receiving a person's finger and absorbing incident light from a multiple wavelength light source and causing a light absorption reading to be generated based on the person's blood alcohol concentration in the finger tissue. After registering a reading, the results are compared electronically against a table of impaired/non-impaired levels of blood alcohol concentration. The impaired/non-impaired results are communicated to interlock circuitry that either enables, or disables startup of the vehicle. If an impaired status is determined, the results are displayed instructing the operator to wait, or find a non-impaired operator.
Soheege et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,444 describes an arrangement for blocking the operation by an intoxicated operator of a machine or a motor vehicle. The arrangement has a measuring apparatus which determines the blood alcohol content of the operator and an evaluation unit connected to the machine or motor vehicle. The evaluation unit receives measurement data supplied by the measurement apparatus and enables the machine or motor vehicle when the measurement data satisfies at least one predetermined condition. The arrangement is improved in that the sobriety of the operator is recognized before the starting operation of the machine or motor vehicle without it being necessary to supply a breath sample. The measuring apparatus includes a gas sensor which is a sensor for measuring the blood alcohol content via permeation through the skin of the operator. The measuring apparatus is configured so that it can be worn by the operator preferably on the leg or arm.
Kaplan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,480 describes a vehicle interlock system which utilizes non-invasive, optically based methods for detecting and measuring levels of certain target chemical substances in the blood or tissues of a user in preventing operation of the vehicle by persons exhibiting higher (or lower) than prescribed levels of such chemicals. The system of the present invention is not limited to simply measuring blood alcohol levels as are presently available breathalizer-based interlock systems, but lends itself to use in detecting unacceptable systemic levels of virtually any chemical for which the system if programmed to measure. In addition, the present system includes components for positively identifying, and during the course of vehicle operation, re-identifying the intended user and alcohol or drug user testee.
Kuennecke; U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,418 describes the process for detection and for quantitative determination of substances emitted or perspired through the skin is derived from flow diffusion analysis. The measuring system conceived for this purpose uses a diffusion half cell through which an acceptor medium flows and which is closed by a membrane. For the duration of the measurement, the membrane is brought into contact with the skin or a closed gas volume formed over the skin. With the process and the related measuring system, the blood alcohol level can be determined with a good degree of precision indirectly via the quantity of (gaseous) ethanol emitted through the skin.
The prior art teaches the use of alcohol and other substance sensing devices used for determining the condition of a machine operator, but fails to teach a device and comparison method and the use of the steering wheel for collection of samples. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
An apparatus and method for determining machine operator status comprises a first sensor positioned proximally to the machine operator and adapted for measuring a vapor concentration proximal thereto, a second sensor positioned distally from the machine operator and adapted for measuring the vapor concentration distally from the operator, a device for comparing the proximal and distal vapor concentrations, and an automated remediating device responsive to the comparing device when the ratio of the first and the second vapor concentrations are within a specified range.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of alerting a machine operator and those near the machine that the operator is potentially influenced by a chemical such as alcohol.
A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of shutting down the machine when a chemical level differential is detected.
A still further objective is to provide such an invention easily mounted onto the steering wheel of a vehicle.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the invention showing signal paths;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a steering wheel sample collection device thereof; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof showing the interior of a machine cab and placement of the elements of the invention.
The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for assuring that a machine operator 10 is not under the influence of a chemical such as alcohol. A first sensor or detector 20 is positioned proximal to the machine operator 10 and is adapted for measuring a first concentration level of the chemical. A second sensor 30 is positioned distal to the machine operator 10 and is adapted for measuring a second concentration level of the chemical. A means for comparing 40 of the proximal and distal vapor concentration levels provides a signal to an automated remediation means 50 responsive to the comparing means for enabling a remedial action. In FIG. 1, the remediation means 50 may be any or all of the three items identified by reference numerals 52, 54, and 56. Such remedial means may comprise solenoid or other types of actuators and servomechanisms of various types well known in the art for automatically enabling or disenabling machine functions. Preferably, the first and the second sensors 20, 30 are adapted for measuring a concentration of alcohol vapor in air by an infrared spectroscopy method. This type of sensor is well described in the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,078, U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,635 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,027 which are hereby incorporated into this application by reference to teach the use of the infrared spectral techniques adapted for identification of one or more specific spectral lines as an indicator of the presence of a substance in a gas or vapor stream. In the preferred embodiment, the first and the second sensors 20, 30, the comparing means 40 and the remediation means 50 are adapted for mounting within a machine 60 such as an automobile or truck.
Preferably, the first of the sensors 20 is positioned on or inside the structure of a steering wheel 62 of the machine 60 and the second of the sensors 30 is positioned distally therefrom, typically in a lateral direction from the first sensor 20 as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the steering wheel 62, or preferably, a steering wheel cover 63, provides a collection space 64, preferably a tube or series of tubes, and a means for admittance 66 of the alcohol vapor into the collection space 64 in proximity to the first of the sensors 20. Thus vapors may be collected and spectrally analyzed for, for instance, the spectral lines specific to the substance ethanol, which is found in quantity in most alcoholic beverages. The first sensor 20 may alternately provide a means for sensing alcohol at, or on, the skin of the operator. The contact sensor 63′, which may be made a part of the exterior surface of the cover 63, and its method of use is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,444 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,919 which are hereby incorporated into this application by reference. Sensor 20 preferably provides a suction device to draw a mixture of vapor and air from the cabin of the vehicle into the sensor 20 for analysis. Small arrows are shown in FIG. 2 to depict the drawing in of air in the vicinity of the steering wheel 62 through small apertures 65 and the path of such air leading to the sensor 20.
The comparing means 40 is preferably an operational amplifier circuit or AND or OR gates may be used. This is well known in the art.
The remediation means 50 is enabled for, at least one of: disabling the machine, visually signaling, audibly signaling and event recording. For instance, in an automobile application, where it is desired to prevent a driver with alcohol in his/her system from starting or from operating the vehicle, the remediation action may be to disable the vehicle's starter.or ignition system. Alternately, the remediation action may be to set the vehicle's horn or lights into action to alert the driver and others. In some instances, the remediation action may be to simply record the incident for supervisory notification. Elements 52, 54 and 56 shown in FIG. 1, are the mechanisms and devices that may be used to effect the respective portions of the corresponding automotive systems. In FIG. 1, power conductors are shown at the left side of the diagram, while control signals are shown at the right side. It should be noticed that the first sensor 20 may be enable for infrared (IR) signaling to comparing means 40 so that no hard wiring is required between the steering wheel 62 and the comparing means 40 and the remediation means 50 which are not typically mounted on the steering column. In FIG. 3, the elements 40 and 50 are shown incorporated into a single package.
The method of operating the system reflects the above physical description. It includes positioning the first sensor proximal to a machine operator, such as the driver of an automobile, and adapting the first sensor for measuring a first level of a chemical concentration that may be included in the ambient environment within the vehicle. Of course this, adaptation includes the calibration of the sensor to the specific substance of interests. Further, the method includes positioning the second sensor distal to the machine operator and adapting the second sensor, in a similar manner, for measuring a second level of the chemical concentration. The second sensor may be located as shown in FIG. 3, or elsewhere within the vehicle. Both sensors may operate under the same principle, or they may operate under different principles. Signals are generated by the sensors (detectors) and are conducted to the comparing means so as to compare the proximal and distal vapor concentration levels. This comparison is used to determine if a remedial action is necessary. For instance, if the first sensor signal is significantly stronger than the second sensor signal, the comparator initiates an action signal capable of shutting-down the starter of the vehicle or implementing other actions such as activation of the vehicle's horn or emergency lamps, etc. Alternately, the action may be to only record the occurrence. Clearly, other actions may be taken and all such actions are easily implemented by those of skill in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,349 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,498 are hereby incorporated into this application by reference so as to teach sensor mounting and use methods and a few of the methods of the actions that may be taken when necessary, i.e., disabling the starter of a vehicle.
The method, as described or inferred above, includes some or all of the steps of: adapting the first and the second sensors for measuring a concentration of alcohol vapor in air, enabling the sensors for an infrared spectroscopy method, for example, establishing a comparing means and a remediation means adapted for mounting within a machine, such as a vehicle, positioning the first of the sensors on a steering wheel of the machine and the second of the sensors distally therefrom, providing a collection space and a means for admittance of the alcohol vapor into the collection space in proximity to the first of the sensors, enabling the first sensor for sensing alcohol at the skin of the operator in a contact measurement, and any one or more of the steps of disabling the machine, visually signaling, audibly signaling and event recording upon receipt of a command.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
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|May 16, 1978
|Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
|Method and arrangement for determining alcohol content in the breath
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|Drager Sicherheitstechnik Gmbh
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|Oct 20, 2009
|Tokyo Electron Limited
|Film formation apparatus and method of using the same
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|Feb 23, 2010
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|Mar 2, 2010
|Stephanie Sofer
|Car alcohol monitoring system
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|Sep 4, 2012
|Sober Steering Sensors, Llc
|System and method for detecting and measuring ethyl alcohol in the blood of a motorized vehicle driver transdermally and non-invasively in the presence of interferents
|Mar 4, 2011
|May 6, 2014
|Marwan Hannon
|Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence and controlling the operation of mobile devices within a vehicle
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|Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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|Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence of an intoxicated driver and controlling the operation of a vehicle
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|Mar 29, 2016
|Transbiotec, Inc.
|Alcohol detection system for vehicle driver testing with integral temperature compensation
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|Jun 14, 2016
|Driving Management Systems, Inc.
|Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence and controlling the operation of mobile devices within a vehicle
|Mar 3, 2014
|Jun 28, 2016
|Driving Management Systems, Inc.
|Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence and controlling the operation of mobile devices within a vehicle
|Apr 30, 2012
|Nov 1, 2016
|Bi Incorporated
|Systems and methods for alcohol consumption monitoring
|Oct 30, 2002
|May 6, 2004
|Gotfried Bradley L.
|System for preventing access
|May 31, 2005
|Dec 15, 2005
|Ching-Sung Wang
|Human-carrying vehicle and auxiliary device thereof
|Apr 6, 2005
|Jan 26, 2006
|Landon Duval
|Engagement of a sensor system with a vehicle operating device
|Jul 26, 2004
|Jan 26, 2006
|Landon Duval
|Steering wheel vapor collection and sensing system using suction
|Aug 12, 2004
|Feb 16, 2006
|Landon Duval
|Steering wheel vapor collection and sensing system using a chemical element
|Aug 24, 2005
|Mar 2, 2006
|Kazuhide Hasebe
|Film formation apparatus and method of using the same
|Aug 28, 2004
|Mar 2, 2006
|Landon Duval
|Substance detection and alarm using a spectrometer built into a steering wheel assembly
|Feb 17, 2005
|Aug 17, 2006
|Schlitt Lawrence J
|System for preventing driving while intoxicated
|Feb 13, 2006
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|Stephanie Sofer
|Car alcohol monitoring system
|Mar 11, 2010
|Sep 16, 2010
|Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
|Image processing apparatus
|Apr 23, 2010
|Oct 28, 2010
|John Carroll
|System and method for detecting and measuring ethyl alcohol in the blood of a motorized vehicle driver transdermally and non-invasively in the presence of interferents
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|U.S. Classification
|600/532, 73/23.3, 422/84, 340/573.1
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Feb 25, 2007
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Apr 25, 2011
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|May 23, 2011
|Surcharge for late payment
Year of fee payment: 7
|May 23, 2011
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Dec 28, 2011
Owner name: TRANSBIOTEC, INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DUVAL, LANDON;WILLIAMS, RONALD LOUIS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060706 TO 20110617;REEL/FRAME:027452/0914
|Apr 24, 2015
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Sep 16, 2015
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Nov 3, 2015
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20150916
|Nov 18, 2016
Owner name: TRANSBIOTEC, INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WILLIAMS, NOLANN GEORGE;WILLIAMS, RONALD LOUIS;REEL/FRAME:040367/0267
Effective date: 20161114


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DISABLED AND PROUD is the radio show that brings you insights into, ideas about and discussions of disability culture. Disabled and Proud is hosted each week by Sam.
If you wish to be added to the email list, email email@example.com. No email addresses are shared.
Rex Pace, Technical Assistance Coordinator, and Earlene Sesker, Training Coordinator, both from the U.S. Access Board will be talking about the new standards for medical diagnostic equipment.
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Reviewed By Eric O (Carlsbad, CA) Reviewed for a 2016 Subaru Outback —4/6/2016 11:07 AM
Exceeded my expectations. Especially with regards to the ease of use and performance.
Reviewed By Doreen G (JANESVILLE, WI) Reviewed for a 2013 Honda CR-V —5/14/2017 7:42 PM
I transported my SUP for 300 miles of interstate driving, 70 mph and I needed to re-position it just once as it had slid back a little after 200 miles. For short 20 miles trips the SUP doesn't budge. Pleased with my Thule SUP Taxi for sure and look forward to using it worry free all summer.