text:
Kardashians family is Hollywood and America's much famed family that lands on the bigger headlines all the time – on the tabloids and newspapers. The whole family is all the time in celebrations mood, which is why they often go out and party. The unity is the bigger plus point of this family. But what happened now that Kim Kardashian was not present at the birthday bash of Lamar Odom?
Well, the birthday bash of Lamar, who is the husband of Khloe Kardashian, took place sans the appearance of the sex goddess of the entertainment trade, Kim Kardashian. The grapevine has it that Lamar Odom's birthday bash happened on Monday night in Los Angeles at El Floridita cuban restaurant. Lamar turned 32.
Rob Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian along with the birthday guy Lamar Odom, Kris Jenner and Bruce Jenner,Scott Disick and Kourtney's son Mason, Rob's partner at DWTS Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas and some other friends were present there.
Rob danced to let the guests enjoy and all and sundry extracted the joys from his gig. Kim was there with Kris Humphries (as per reports, they are heading for reconciliation) and just returned to L.A. Thus the party happened without her appearance.
The dinner was scrumptious getting laced with champagne, tasty food and superb dancing acts.
Khole and Lamar are real lovebirds married couple. Khole was much happy at hubby's birthday bash.
A observer out there appointed out that they all were enjoying real fun. Khole and Lamar were getting romantic at the event, this showed their true love. Khole has many a time told that she really loves her hubby and finds herself utterly lucky to have a caring and supporting man in her life. Both now seek to have a baby. Khole would love to get pregnant and the couple has been making efforts and Khole is certain to be pregnant soon.


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|Topic Review (Newest First)
Winterpark Lift Ticket Deals
Pretty rare that you can buy discount lift tickets for the big Colorado resorts.
The only problem with this that I see is you have to know your days. They aren't just selling a ticket you can use any day of the season, unlike Loveland four packs. So that is pretty lame.
Still, if you know when you are going to be at Winterpark, this could work for you.
Here is the link: Winter Park Resort
You have until January 30th 8am Mountain to buy at these rates.
Have at it.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Newcastle center-back Mike Williamson has had an excellent season on Tyneside, and that;s after it looked last August that his carer at the club could have been over, but he came into the side at half time at Everton, when we were 3-0 down, and he hasn't looked back and Mike has been one of Newcastle's most consistent players this season.
Mike Williamson – done very well this season
Maybe Mike would be edged out by Mathieu Debuchy or even Loic Remy, but there's no doubt he's had an excellent season on Tyneside.
Mike joined Newcastle just over four years ago from Portsmouth, and he's one of those lower league players who have proved they can hold their own in the Premier League, and to think he cost only £1M – another good deal for the club.
Mike is hoping Newcastle can make amends for what happened at St. Mary's last Saturday and get a home win against Manchester United on Saturday:
"It's our next game. When any team comes to St James' Park we feel as though if we play how we can do to our potential then we can get three points."
"Man United are still a quality team with quality players and it will be difficult but it's down to us that we go about our jobs probably and do it right."
"We're almost neck-and-neck with Southampton, pushing for a higher finish." "It's going to be difficult, as they are a fantastic team with good individual players."
"We've got to brush ourselves down and go again."
Mike has now played 29 times for Newcastle this season, and 130 times in total, but in his time at Newcastle he has never managed to score a goal – yet.
He scored 3 goals in 23 appearances for Watford and 11 goals in 167 appearances at Wycombe Wanderers, so he has been known to score some goals in his career.
With nobody else finding goals easy to come by these days at Newcastle, maybe he could break his duck on Saturday?
Hope so, and Mike is one of those players who what you see is what you get, and he always gives 100% for the side.
Comments welcome.


text:
Super Piano = Contain Ten Musical Instruments In One App + 72 piano keys in one screen + Teach Mode(teach you play simple piano songs) + Support multi-touch + Adjust timbre of musical instruments + Five kinds of background
★10 Musical Instruments :
Grand Piano
Chorus Piano
Electric Guitar
★72 keys in one screen
★It support multi-touch
★Teach Mode , teach you play simple songs
★Can adjust timbre of musical instruments
★Five perfect kinds of background
★More musical instruments and features are coming soon
Banner AD has been removed to give you a better experience and save your data traffic, only one ad will show when open the app ,if you don't like it ,you could simply close it ,no ad will display during play piano.
[About Permission]
All permissions required by this app are used for implement app function or required by ad ,my apps won't do anything hurt users.
[Thanks the Russian translator]
Roman Rublevskiy
Thank you very much for your help:)
[Tested Devices]
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
HTC Desire S,
Moto ME860/Atrix 4G,
Moto ME525/defy,
Samsung Nexus S
Please do not hesitate to give suggestion or report bug, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
Icon Artist website:
Thanks for their excellent works.
|باز کردن سوکت های شبکه
|دسترسی به اطلاعات مربوط به شبکه ها را می دهد.


text:
Nov 15, 2012 - By Alejandra Silva, Staff WriterThe engineers and contractors working to build a 2 million gallon water storage tank near Airport Road met Tuesday with the Riverton City Council to explain the initial construction and progress.
The project was put together by Burns and McDonnell, the engineering company that designed the hydraulic model, and DN Tanks, the general contractors and tank contractors who represented the construction and also the design of the tank.
Company representatives said the new tank was designed based on the amount of "fire flow" needed and future expansion projections.
Fire flow is the water needed to fight fires in a given area.
"We did it so that the city can have a lot of flexibility in using this tank and pump station," Burns & McDonnell associate Andy Hundley said. "It looks complicated, but it's relatively simple."
The new water tank will get water from the pump station and well already in place at Riverview Road and Mountain View Drive. Hundley said separate phases were designed to allow for the creation of pipe systems that would help water run from the existing water treatment tank into the new one.
During phase one, pipe systems would be created to serve the city's various pressure zones, many of which require more storage capacity and increased water pressure.
Phase two consisted of a different set of pipes that would be installed directly into the new water tank. Phase three is the pumping facility phase.
Concrete, steel tank
Riverton already has several steel water tanks, but DN Tanks regional manager David Bain said the new tank they have chosen is called a pre-stress tank made from both concrete and steel. Bain said steel tanks are very water tight, but they tend to crack and are more vulnerable to corrosion. He also said steel tanks require repainting over time, which can get expensive.
Bain said concrete tanks do not require repainting, and they can be buried or tucked under a hill --which is how the new tank will end up, according to the photos Bain provided.
"Concrete itself is relatively stable," Bain said. "We've been building tanks since the 1930s, and we can tell you that we expect that you won't be putting money into this for the next 75 years."
Hundley said that the decision to choose this type of tank will save the city more than $215,000. Hundley said they used local materials, labor and equipment throughout the tank project.
Construction of the tank has been put on hold for the winter. Bain said the colder temperatures actually are good for certain parts of the tank. He said the wall and dome panels are currently covered with large "thermo blankets." The surface has been covered with water to allow the concrete to cure slowly over time.
Construction is expected to resume in March. By then, phase three will begin, with the tank's wall lifted into place through a process that will take several days. Hundley said the project should be completed in September 2013.
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Apple's flagship Apple Store, Regent Street is the most profitable for it's size in London according to industry research, taking £60 million a year or £2,000 per square foot.
"To make £60 million a year from a shop of Apple's size is absolutely phenomenal. We've known for a while that Apple is far more than just a computing brand, and the latest findings prove it," Neil Saunders, a spokesman for retail analysis agency Verdict told The Evening Standard.
"Apple's Regent Street store has extremely strong footfall, since it has become a tourist attraction in its own right, and as it stocks its own products, it controls the price, helping it to boost profit. Shoppers pay a premium for the Apple brand, and there is never discounting, so customers don't waver over buying elsewhere."
If the figures are correct, and it's not clear if this is turnover or profit, the Apple Store could be more profitable than many well known London stores. According to The Evening Standard, analysts estimate that Harrods is making £751 per square foot, while Topshop in Oxford Circus takes about £1,000 per square foot. Rival electrical retailers average about £722 per square foot the newspaper claims.
The Apple Store, Regent Street offers computers, iPods, iPhones, accessories and for many free Internet accesses and gadget fiddling, across 28,000 square feet over two floors.
Check out our new Macworld Mobile site.


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 28, 2010
|Filing date
|Apr 23, 2009
|Priority date
|Dec 5, 2005
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Jehuda Hartman, Eyal Brill, Yuri Kokotov
|Original Assignee
|Insyst Ltd.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (5), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (3), Classifications (15), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/633,455, filed on Dec. 5, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/741,894, filed on Dec. 5, 2005, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.
The present invention relates to analyzing a process for the purpose of controlling and reducing the occurrence of faults, and, more particularly, to controlling process faults by performing a statistical analysis of collected process parameter values.
Many manufacturing processes suffer from parameter-related faults. A process parameter is a measurable and/or controllable aspect of the process (such as equipment temperature, pressure, material compositions, etc. . . . ) A parameter-related fault is a failure of the process which is linked to the values of the process parameters during a time period prior to the occurrence of a fault, but not necessarily in a deterministic or direct manner. In many manufacturing processes this time period is quite lengthy, on the order of minutes to hours, so that conventional feedback control methods are ineffective. In order to prevent or delay such a fault, it is necessary to identify problematic constellations of parameter values well before there is any evidence that a fault is likely to occur in the near future.
For example, the paper manufacturing process suffers from paper break faults, which are one of the most disruptive and costly problems in the paper manufacturing industry. Paper breaks result in many hours of lost production, process upsets, reduced reliability and significant loss of revenue potential. There is a considerable value and high demand for methods to reduce the number of breaks.
Early detection of an impeding paper break would allow operators to take corrective actions before the break occurs. Prediction models for paper breaks are difficult to build due to the complexity of the production process and the many variables involved in the process. Most paper mills have sensors and measurements on the production line that generate and store manufacturing data. However the collected data must be analyzed and evaluated in order to form predictions of the future process status.
One main goal of on-line process assessment is to determine the current probability that a process fault will occur within a certain upcoming time interval. In other words, what is the expected frequency of a particular failure under the given process conditions?
For illustration, consider a case in which a vehicle tire is not yet punctured, but factors including the tire's wear-and-tear record, the in-tire pressure and the road conditions make the puncture highly probable within the nearest N kilometers. We want to determine the probability for tire puncture within the next N kilometers under the current conditions. That is, what is the probability of tire puncture for a specific tire, under a known pressure, and driving with specific road conditions? Under different conditions, for example on a different road, the probability may be different.
An effective fault control system will, in addition to assessing the probability of an upcoming fault, issue prompts to the process operator suggesting how the probability may be reduced (e.g. change temperatures, materials, etc). Even though the failure is eventually inevitable, the system helps decrease the probability (i.e. reduce the frequency) of this type of failure, thus reducing the consequent losses.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a process analysis apparatus and method devoid of the above limitations.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for the analysis of a process having parameter-based faults. The apparatus includes: a parameter value inputter configured for inputting values of at least one process parameter, a fault detector configured for detecting the occurrence of a fault, a learning file creator, associated with the parameter value inputter and the fault detector, and configured for separating the input values into a first learning file and a second learning file, and a learning file analyzer associated with the learning file creator, configured for performing a separate statistical analysis of the first and second learning files. The first learning file includes input values from a collection period preceding each of the detected faults, and the second learning file includes input values input outside the collection periods. The analysis servers for assessing a process status.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the analysis of a process having parameter-based faults. The method includes the steps of: inputting the values of at least one process parameter over time, detecting occurrences of process faults, separating the input values into a first learning file and a second learning file, where the first learning file includes input values from a collection period preceding each of the detected faults, and the second learning file comprising input values input outside the collection periods, and performing a separate statistical analysis of the first and second learning files, thereby to assess a process status for a specified set of parameter values.
The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing an apparatus and method which analyzes parameter data collected during process operation, and performs separate statistical analyses of normal and pre-fault parameter data. The dimensions of the calculations may be reduced by clustering interrelated parameters.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, several selected steps could be implemented by hardware or by software on any operating system of any firmware or a combination thereof. For example, as hardware, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In any case, selected steps of the method and system of the invention could be described as being performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
The present embodiments are of an apparatus and method for the analysis of a process having parameter-based faults, which monitor a complex process, and provide indicators when the process is moving into conditions which increase the likelihood of a fault. Specifically, the present embodiments may be used both to alert operators to problematic operating conditions and to identify parameter values which may reduce the frequency of fault occurrences.
The present embodiments deal with processes where stoppages and/or failures are known to be inevitable (e.g., paper break during paper manufacturing, tire puncture, etc.). These failures often happen at certain average rate, which depends on the process conditions. In many cases, especially in complicated production lines, resuming the process after such failures usually takes considerable time, and the economic loss is high. The present embodiments use collected parameter value data to create patterns of normal process behavior and to identify on-line deviations from the normal behavior.
The preferred embodiments discussed below:
The principles and operation of an apparatus and method for analysis of a process according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The following embodiments are directed at a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of paper making process. The process fault to be considered for the purposes of this example is a Paper Tear (PT). The problem of paper breaks (tears) during paper manufacturing is used for the purposes of illustration only. The introduced analysis and control system applies to any manufacturing or parameter-based process in which faults occur at least partially from identifiable parameters of the process.
Parameter-based processes may be characterized as having three types of parameters:
1) Controllable parameters {C} which may be changed by the process operator (e.g. pipe feeding clearance, vacuum power, etc.)
2) Measurable (uncontrollable) parameters {M} which may be measured or known, but are not directly controlled by the operator (e.g. period of time since the last maintenance check; outside air humidity etc.)
3) Outputs {O} (e.g. formation, tray water, steam etc.)
The following embodiments present an analysis methodology which is based on the statistical analysis of collected parameter values (i.e. data). As discussed below, in certain cases there is a correlation or relationship between several parameters. In these cases it is often beneficial to examine the impact of the interrelated parameters as a cluster.
To cope with the complexity due to the multitude of variables involved in a parameter-based process, a process model is developed. For a better understanding of a process under analysis, particularly one in which the number of parameter values and their sub values is too large for easy distribution into areas and sub-areas, the parameters may be organized into a Knowledge Tree (KT) with multiple cells and multiple layers. The KT model represents a breakdown of a process into intermediate process stages. The outputs of the lower intermediate stages become the inputs, or parameter values, of the stage above it in the hierarchy of the KT. In practice, such cells and layers are created using expert advice in order to break down the process into appropriate stages according to its physical and/or logical aspects, each stage being represented by a cell or a layer. Experts determine which of the parameters are relevant in a particular process or stage of a process. Models are then created for these cells that describe the relationship between the inputs and the outputs of the individual cells. As the process proceeds, newly measured data may validate the real influence that each parameter has on the process.
It is assumed that there is a causal relationship between the process conditions (i.e. the values of the process parameters) and the occurrence of a fault. In other words, it is expected that a fault is more likely to occur under certain process conditions. Identifying and avoiding such process conditions may reduce the occurrence of fault.
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Learning file creator 320 separates the buffered input values into two learning files. The first learning file (denoted the Fault LF) contains input process parameter values from a collection period preceding each of the detected faults. The second learning file (denoted the Normal LF) includes data collected outside the collection periods, which is expected to represent "normal" process conditions over a time interval that is longer than T. In the following, parameter values/functions related to the pre-fault zone are marked by (+), and those related to the normal zone are marked by (−).
Learning file analyzer 340 performs a separate statistical analysis of Fault and Normal LFs. These statistical analyses may be used to assess the process status, as described below. In the preferred embodiment the process status assessment includes an estimated. Pre-fault time or/and estimated probability of the occurrence of a fault within a given time interval, based on a specified (or current) set of parameter values. In other words, the statistical analyses are used to identify parameter values, or constellations of values, which indicate a high probability of an imminent fault. Preferably, the statistical analysis consists of calculating a joint probability density function for the process parameters.
In the preferred embodiment process analyzer 300 evaluates a process risk level on the basis of the separate statistical analyses performed by learning file analyzer 340. The risk evaluation process is described in detail below. In brief, learning file analyzer 340 converts the Fault LF into a first probability density of occurrence and the Normal LF into a second probability density of occurrence, for pairs (or larger clusters) of parameters. Learning file analyzer 340 then superimposes the two probability densities of occurrence onto a single graph (see
In the preferred embodiment, process analyzer 300 further includes process modeler 350, which provides a model of the process. Process modeler 350 preferably models the process as a knowledge tree mapping of relationships between the process parameters and process outputs. The Knowledge Tree (KT) for system is built in cooperation with the experts and/or operators, and identifies connections between process outputs with the corresponding measurable and controllable process parameters.
In the preferred embodiment, process analyzer 300 further includes clusterer 355, which clusters interrelated process parameters. Clusterer 355 preferably forms the clusters in coordination with process modeler 350. The clusters jointly provide information about the likelihood of an imminent process fault. In order to obtain effective results, clusterer 355 determines which combinations of parameter are interrelated and should be taken into account, and which are useless in terms of predictions of probabilities and assessing the process situation.
Performing a joint statistical analysis for several different parameters is a computationally complex and time-consuming process. In the preferred embodiment the process parameters are grouped into clusters, preferably into pairs, and a statistical analysis of Pre-fault and Normal operation is performed for each cluster independently. Thus, a process having ten parameters may be analyzed by determining the probability density function (PDF) of several pairs of variables that were determined to be representative of the process, which requires only moderate computing resources. Note that a single variable may appear in more than one pair
The statistical analysis performed by learning file analyzer 340 may result in a discontinuous distribution. Preferably, learning file analyzer 340 performs a smoothing operation to obtain a smoothly varying PDF, as shown in
Reference is now made to
In the preferred embodiment, a single risk score is assigned to clustered parameter values, based on the Fault and Normal statistical analyses.
Preferred embodiments for statistical analysis and risk evaluation (scoring) are now presented.
As discussed above, a user initially sets the duration of the pre-fault period T based on the user's expertise and knowledge of the process, and the collection period is set to a time interval that is shorter than T. The T value may be set by the user to be the same for all the process parameters, or to be specific for a particular parameter group (cluster) (T=Ti). A criterion is introduced below that enables the determination of an optimal value of (T=Ti) in order to increase the system's resolution.
In the preferred embodiment, file analyzer 340 performs a separate statistical analysis for each two-parameter cluster (x,y). Two PDFs are built, respectively ρ+(x,y) and ρ−(x,y), on the basis of the Fault and Normal Learning Files.
The unconditional probability of the process being in the Pre-fault status is calculated as:
Using the Bayes formula, we obtain:
p +|x,y =p +(x,y)p +/(ρ+(x,y)p ++ρ−(x,y)(1−p +)),
where p+|x,y is a conditional probability of the process being in the Pre-fault status given the values of x and y.
On the basis of the formula, two functions are introduced:
1. Ratio Function ψ—
ψ=p +|x,y /p +=ρ+(x,y)/(ρ+(x,y)p ++ρ−(x,y)(1−p +)),
defines the relation between the conditional and the unconditional probabilities of the process being in Pre-fault, i.e. prediction of the probability of a fault within time interval T.
2. Sample Size Function φ
assesses to what extent the ratio function prediction is well grounded.
The following example illustrates the necessity of the two functions. When estimating the probability of high company revenue, we may receive a high value of ψ. However, if this figure is obtained over insufficient statistic sample, the φ will be low, signaling that the prediction may be not reliable.
In the present case, the smaller the ψ value, the better the process status is in relation to fault conditions, i.e. the probability of a fault appears small. However, if the φ value is small, the current parameters occur rarely and the process status may be poor. We do not know what exactly the problem is, but we know that our optimistic prediction is not reliable enough.
Preferably, instead of the two ψ and φ functions, a single combined formula may be used which provides a more efficient combined estimation of the p+|x,y/p+ relationship:
where ε is an optional (preferably small-valued) parameter defined for a specific process model.
A cluster-specific function, Φi, is also introduced. Φi expresses the conditional probabilities of the process being in Pre-fault status from the point of view of a given cluster. The function Φi may be used to rate the efficacy of the process operator decisions from the point of view of a particular cluster.
A Φ chart which graphically represents the value of Φ of as a function of the parameters (x,y) may be generated and provided to the process operator. The Φ chart may prove useful to the process operator by showing preferable combinations of the process parameters (x,y) in order to avoid the fault.
The function Φi(xi,yi) may be used to estimate the average time before fault from the point of view of specific parameter values of a particular cluster i:
Tav i =T i/(2p +iΦi(x i ,y i))
If the probability of a fault is low for a certain cluster, the cluster-related Tav value will be high. Likewise, a low value of Tav indicates a high probability of a fault.
The function Φi estimates the steadiness of the current process situation in relation to fault occurrence, the efficiency of the Process Operator decisions etc, from the point of view of a particular cluster. A criterion is now described which enables informative cluster selection.
A cluster (xi,yi) is informative for only if its role in the process influences the fault probability of occurrence. That is:
A preferred embodiment of a cluster selection criterion that meets the above-formulated requirements is based on:
C=the value of (Φi(x,y)−1)2 averaged over the Fault LF and the Normal LF 2.
The user sets the range of C values for cluster selection (e.g., the first five clusters with C above a given value).
Until now we have selected a number of relevant clusters and collected their particular 'assessment' of the risk level for a given cluster. A final decision may then be formulated on the overall process status, based on a generalization of the individual cluster risk levels.
In the preferred embodiment, process analyzer 300 further includes risk evaluator 360, which evaluates a fault risk level for a process operating at a specified set of process parameter values. In the preferred embodiment the fault risk level is evaluated as an estimated time until fault and/or an estimated probability of a fault within a specified time interval. The fault risk level may be determined as described below.
Suppose that there are K clusters with C values C1, . . . , CK that are within the range of relevance. These clusters have Φ functions Φ1(x1,y1), . . . , Φk(xk,yk). The corresponding average Pre-fault times are:
Tav 1 =T 1/(2p +,1Φ1(x 1 ,y 1)), . . . , Tav k =T k/(2p +,kΦk(x k ,y k))
A model is built for predicting the time until fault (i.e. the predicted Pre-fault time) as based on the per-cluster average Pre-fault times Tav1:
τ=F(Tav 1 , . . . , Tav k)
τ is the predicted Pre-fault time and Tavi is the estimated Pre-fault time for a particular cluster. The model may be based on expert judgment, averaging, simple regression, and other factors.
The probability of a fault within time interval T under given conditions may be estimated from τ as follows:
p + CONDITIONAL =T/2τ
This probability may be more valuable for the client than the estimated average Pre-fault time.
Thus the risk level for parameter values {(x1,y1), . . . , Φk(xk,yk)}, may be given as one or a combination of τ and p+ CONDITONAL.
Preferably, process analyzer 300 serves to monitor an ongoing process, in which case the risk evaluator operates on the current parameter values. When process analyzer 300 identifies that the process is operating with parameter values which indicate a high probability for the occurrence a fault (i.e. a high risk level), the operator may be alerted and provided with information to assist the operator to avoid the upcoming process fault.
Preferably, when the predicted Pre-fault time, τ, is smaller than the present average value, Tav, the process operator is provided with:
On the basis of the information provided by the system, the process operator may choose to change the process parameters or materials ("recipe"). For an on-line process, the operator may be provided with feedback showing the impact of his latest decision on the process behavior. The feedback information preferably includes:
In the preferred embodiment, process analyzer 300 further includes control unit 390 which determines preferred values for one or more of the controllable parameters, so as to reduce a probability of a fault.
The defined function F expresses the dependence of the predicted Pre-fault time on the basis of the inputs. Control unit 390 preferably finds the values of controllable parameters that maximize F value, and then proposes these values to the process operator as the recommended optimum recipe.
A difficulty arises when F depends not only on process inputs but also on certain outputs {O} that in turn depend on controllable values {C}, and which will therefore be changed when {C} values change. In such situations, in order to be able to perform optimization (i.e. to maximize F values) it is necessary to build predictive models using a KT and possibly a design of experiments (DOE). The DOE approach conducts and analyzes controlled tests to evaluate the factors that control the value of a parameter or group of parameters, and provides a causal predictive model showing the importance of all parameters and their interactions.
The optimization task may be formulated as:
F({Φ({M},{C},{O predicted({M},{C}}})→max by {C}
Control unit 390 performs the above optimization, and provides real-time recommendations for controllable parameter values (recipes) that are expected to reduce the likelihood of a fault. The recommendation may be based on the past data records of a unit, such as a production machine, that has controllable and uncontrollable (measurable) process variables as well as fault event records.
Control unit 390 preferably performs 'dynamic targeting' on the production process, whereby intermediate targets like mixing risk may be modified due to failures in outcomes of previous recipes. For example, in the paper-making process of
In the preferred embodiment, process analyzer 300 includes a discretizer which divides a range parameter values into discrete sub-ranges. Preferably, the discretizer selects split values for the sub-ranges which maximize an average time between faults while retaining a statistically significant sample within a range, as shown in
A preferred embodiment for selecting split values for a selected controllable process parameter is performed as follows.
1) Divide the measurable (uncontrollable) parameter values into sub-ranges. Any combination of measurable parameter values may thus be classified as a discrete vector.
2) Based on collected parameter value data, generate a record subset of all past records with the common uncontrollable vector.
3) For each controllable parameter, generate a histogram of the length of time that the process was at various controllable parameter values.
4) Find a value Xn of the controllable parameter such that the average time between faults Tn is as large as possible (on one side) while keeping the number of observations N statistically significant. Xn is a controllable parameter split value that yields a 'good' split between a high fault risk and a low fault risk with statistical significance.
The above-described embodiments perform statistical analyses of collected process parameter value data. The evaluation of a process risk level from these statistical analyses is a computationally complex task, even when parameters are clustered together, so that process risk evaluations may be performed on a per-cluster basis. In the preferred embodiment discussed below, historical process parameter data is analyzed to compile a multi-dimensional array of discretized process parameter values. The array then serves as a lookup table, for estimating the risk level for a current (or otherwise specified) constellation of parameter values.
In the preferred embodiment, risk evaluator 360 includes parameter array generator 370 which maintains a risk level array for the process. Each dimension of the array is associated with a respective process parameter, which is subdivided into sub-ranges (see below). A risk level is determined for each element of the array, based at least in part on the Normal and Fault PDFs. The risk level is preferably determined from a historical distribution of the risk level for each element of the array, as determined over time by risk evaluator 360.
In a further preferred embodiment, the risk level is derived from Pre-fault time τ or/and estimated probability of fault within a given time interval p+ CONDITIONAL.
The risk level array serves as a lookup table for risk evaluator 360. As a current set of parameter values is read in by parameter value inputter 310, the corresponding risk level is obtained from the risk level array. An ongoing process may thus be monitored with a minimal investment of computational resources, even when the process involves a large number of parameters.
In the preferred embodiment the risk level is a binary indicator, which indicates high-risk and low-risk process conditions. An alert may be provided to the process operator whenever a high-risk indicator occurs, when a high-risk indicator occurs with a certain frequency, or according to specified alert rules.
As discussed above, errors may occur when the statistical sample upon which an analysis is based is inadequate. Combining the double-PDF analysis described above with the risk level array enables determining the current process status with a greater level of confidence.
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
In step 1220, process fault occurrences are detected. Based on the detected process faults, two learning files are created in step 1230. The learning files consist of a Fault LF which includes parameter values from a collection period preceding each of said detected faults, and a Normal LF which includes parameter values from normal periods (i.e. does not include data Pre-fault periods).
In step 1230, a separate statistical analysis of the two learning files is performed as described above. The statistical analyses may serve to assess the process status for a specified set of parameter values. Preferably the statistical analyses are performed separately for defined clusters of parameters. Preferably, the statistical analysis provides a dual-PDF statistical analysis of the parameter data.
Preferably, the method includes the further steps of evaluating process risk and/or monitoring an ongoing process and/or providing user alerts and information (indicated jointly as step 1250). Evaluating process risk preferably includes correlating a dual-PDF statistical analysis with a risk level array, as described for
In the preferred embodiment a process risk level is determined by converting the first and second learning files into separate probability densities of occurrence, for at pairs (or larger clusters) of parameters. The probability densities are then superimposed onto a single graph, and a fault risk level is determined over the graph with respect to the superimposed probability densities.
Preferably, the method includes the further step of interpolating fault risk levels determined over a plurality of graphs to obtain an overall risk.
In summary, a knowledge tree maps the process stages (such as the mixing, wet and dry stages of the paper making process). The dual-PDF (Normal/Fault) methodology provides a unique estimation of the process fault risk. The risk level array methodology delivers recommendations based on past history, which are correlated with the results of the dual-PDF analysis. Key variables, the associated risk and the recommendations may be visualized in a simple graphical user interface (GUI).
The above-described embodiments present a highly effective apparatus and method for analyzing parameter-based faults in a process, for monitoring an ongoing process, and for reducing the frequency of such faults. In paper manufacturing, and in many other manufacturing processes, even a small decrease of faults may reduce production costs significantly.
It is expected that during the life of this patent many relevant parameter-based processes, manufacturing and industrial processes, and statistical analysis methods will be developed and the scope of the corresponding terms is intended to include all such new technologies a priori.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.
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|Tsai et al. "An Effective and Efficient Hierarchical Fuzzy Rule Based Classifier", International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics, Nov. 2-5, 2003, 4: 2173-2178, Nov. 2003. Abstract. vol. 4: Digital Object Identifier.
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Sep 12, 2008
|Apr 16, 2013
|The University Of Tokyo
|Correspondence learning apparatus and method and correspondence learning program, annotation apparatus and method and annotation program, and retrieval apparatus and method and retrieval program
|Sep 12, 2008
|Jan 13, 2011
|The University Of Tokyo
|Correspondence learning apparatus and method and correspondence learning program, annotation apparatus and method and annotation program, and retrieval apparatus and method and retrieval program
|Oct 30, 2005
|Jul 21, 2011
|Insyst Ltd.
|system for the detection of rare data situations in processes
|U.S. Classification
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|May 5, 2014
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|May 5, 2014
|Surcharge for late payment
|May 7, 2014
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Events for November 2, 2012
Korbel Lecture Series: Hector Avalos, "Religion as a Scarce Resource"
November 2, 2012 12:30pm-1:30pm
Description: The Korbel Lecture Series presents Hector Avalos, "Religion as a Scarce Resource," as a part of the fall program series designed to engage, foster critical thought and teach listening and dialogue techniques.
Hector Avalos is a professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and the author of several books about religion. Edward P. Antonio, associate dean of Diversities, Iliff School of Theology, will join Avalos in this discussion.
Free and open to the public; Iliff is a proud presenting sponsor of the 2012-2013 Korbel Lecture Series. The series will feature timely discussions on a host of topics related to religion.
Date: Friday, Nov. 2, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, 2201 S. Gaylord St., Denver (80210)
Ministry Praxis: Developing Taize Worship
November 2, 2012 1:00pm-November 3, 2012 at 4:30pm
Description: Join us for a weekend Ministry Praxis: Developing Taize Worship led by Rev. Brad Berglund. The praxis will explore the development of the Taize style of worship in your sacred community. The course is open to weekend learners. Registration and fees apply.
Date: Nov. 2, 1-4:30 p.m. and Nov. 3, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Iliff School of Theology, Great Hall, 2201 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80210


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Yeah. It is a considerable improvement.
This is a discussion on Really like the trigger in the new M&Ps within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; I recently picked up a new M&P 40c. I really like what they have done with the trigger. I have an older M&P 9c and ...
I recently picked up a new M&P 40c. I really like what they have done with the trigger. I have an older M&P 9c and my one and only complaint with the gun is that I never liked the trigger. The new triggers on the M&Ps have a much smoother pull and you can definitely feel the trigger reset. I've taken it to the range twice and each trip I put 200 rounds through it. With the short and easy to feel reset my follow up shots are much quicker and more accurate. Now all I need to do is put night sights on it and run a few boxes of defense ammo through it and I'm sure it will become one of my carry guns. Awesome job Smith & Wesson!
Yeah. It is a considerable improvement.
Can they be retro-fitted, do you know?
I never disliked the older trigger, but the new one is indeed better for carry in my opinon. My 2012 9c has the older trigger, which is very short and light, but with a very long reset. My 2013 9c has the new trigger, which is long with a weightless takeup, but heavy break and probably the shortest reset I've ever experienced. You literally can't short-stroke the new trigger.
Got a friend who recently purchased a M&P 40c and the trigger on it feels much better than the trigger on my M&P VTAC. A definite improvement!
Glad S&W fixed the trigger,it only took 4+ years
Is there a way to tell if it has the new trigger without physically checking? For example serial number or manufacture date? I ask because I'm looking at a private sale m&p 9 and this would be nice to know.
If you see the third slide stop, it's current production and has all of the changes that have been implemented; 1:10 barrel, new sear, new trigger assembly, reinforced slide stop. If you see the second slide stop, that one has the loud reset, but it may or may not have the new trigger/sear, and the slide stop may break easily (hence the new reinforced weld patch on the current production slide stops).
If you see the first slide stop, that is a Gen 1 and doesn't have any of the changes implemented.
Thanks synx! The photo comparison is excellent! I'll be using it to inspect the gun before I purchase. Much appreciated!


text:
"This is a very valuable reference work, the non-existence of which has long been deplored by Civil War historians. The research, which is impressive, has turned up a considerable amount of detail not generally known, even among Civil War specialists." -- Bell I. Wiley
This vital addition to Civil War scholarship is an attempt to rescue members of the Confederate Congress from "postbellum obscurity." Modeled after Ezra J. Warner's two earlier books, Generals in Gray and Generals in Blue, the register contains an introduction describing the makeup of the Confederate Congress, biographical sketches of the congressmen, and a substantial bibliography.
The biographical sketches include the place and date of birth, family background, education, means of libelihood, politics, public-service record, and degree of financial and political success of each congressman.
The authors describe each congressman's participation in (or opposition to) secession and detail the circumstances of his election to the Confederate Congress. A prominent section of each sketch is devoted to the congressman's activities in the Congress: his position on major issues; his chief interest and the measures he sponsored; and the reason he left Congress. Then, the authors attempt to pick up the lives of the congressmen after the Civil War. The sketches include the place and date of death of each man, as well as the place of burial.
Anyone interested in Civil War history will find Biographical Register of the Confederate Congress an indipensable aid.
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|Celestial fire and blacksmithing
Svarog's Square or Star of Rus'
|Personal Information
|Roman equivalent
Svarog (Old Church Slavonic: Сваро́гъ, Russian: Сварог, Serbian: Сварог, Polish: Swaróg, Ukrainian: Сварог, Slovak: Svarog) is a Slavic deity known primarily from the Hypatian Codex, a Slavic translation of the Chronicle of John Malalas. Svarog is there identified with Hephaestus, the god of the blacksmith in ancient Greek religion, and as the father of Dažbog, a Slavic solar deity. On the basis of this text, some researchers conclude that Svarog is the Slavic god of celestial fire and of blacksmithing.
The only mention of Svarog comes from the Hypatian Codex, a 15th-century compilation of several much older documents from the Ipatiev Monastery in Russia. It contains a Slavic translation of an original Greek manuscript of John Malalas from the 6th century. The complete passage, reconstructed from several manuscripts, translates as follows:
(Then) began his reign Feosta (Hephaestus), whom the Egyptians called Svarog … during his rule, from the heavens fell the smith's prongs and weapons were forged for the first time; before that, (people) fought with clubs and stones. Feosta also commanded the women that they should have only a single husband… and that is why Egyptians called him Svarog… After him ruled his son, his name was the Sun, and they called him Dažbog… Sun tzar, son of Svarog, this is Dažbog.
In the Greek text, the names of gods are Hephaestus and Helios. Apparently, the unknown Russian translator tried to re-tell the entire story (set in Egypt) by replacing the names of classical deities with those that were better known to his readers.[1] It is uncertain to what extent the Greeks gods were thought to resemble their Slavic counterparts.
Furthermore, this passage has raised quite a few theories about family relations between Slavic gods. If one assumes that Svarog was believed to be Dažbog's father, the question arises of his relation with Svarožič, another deity who is mentioned as a god of fire and war in several other medieval documents describing the beliefs of pagan Slavs.[citation needed] Vyacheslav Ivanov and Vladimir Toporov proposed a reconstruction of this mythical genealogy, claiming that Svarog, a deity of fire and the forge similar to the Greek Hephaestus, had two sons: Dažbog, who represented the fire in sky (i.e., the Sun), and Svarožič, who symbolised the flame on earth, in the forge.[1] Henryk Łowmiański, however, theorised that Svarog was a Slavic sky god and personification of daylight sky itself, possibly a continuation of Proto-Indo-European *Dyēus Ph2ter, while Svarožič and solar Dažbog were one and the same deity, although he concluded that two other aspects of Svarožič also existed: fiery Svarožič, as in the Sun (mentioned in Russian medieval manuscripts), and lunar Svarožič, associated with the Moon.[2] Franjo Ledić, on the other hand, simply assumed that Svarog and Dažbog are one and the same god.[3]
Eastern Slavic sources also mention Svarožič as a deity, there associated with fire. According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Svarožič (Latinized Zuarasici) was worshipped by a tribe of Ratars in the city of Ridegost (Rethra).[4]
The word Svarog is cognate with the Indo-Aryan Sanskrit word Svarga which literally means Heaven or Sky.
Modern culture[edit]
- In Neopagan religions, Svarog is often the supreme god-creator and the central part of the (holy) trinity Triglav. He completed the creation of the world by giving it Prav.
See also[edit]
- Slavic neopaganism
- Kolovrat, Sun wheel which is a symbol of Svarog.
- Belaj, Vitomir (1998). Hod kroz godinu, mitska pozadina hrvatskih narodnih vjerovanja i običaja. Zagreb.
- Ledić, Franjo (1970). Mitologija Slavena. I. Zagreb.
- Lovmjanjski, Henrik (1996). Religija Slovena. Beograd.
- Thietmar of Merseburg. Kronika Słowian., pp. 336–337 (Latin and Polish)
Further reading[edit]
- Graves (intro.), Robert (1987) [1959]. New Larousse Encyclopedia Of Mythology (Hardcover ed.). Crescent Books.
- Ryan, W. F. (September 1998). The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia. Magic in History Series (Paperback ed.). Pennsylvania State University Press.
- Yoffe, Mark; Krafczik, Joseph (April 2003). Perun: The God of Thunder. Studies in the Humanities. 43 (Hardcover ed.). New York, N.Y.: Peter Lang Publishing.
- Znayenko, Myroslava T. (1980). The gods of the ancient Slavs: Tatishchev and the beginnings of Slavic mythology (Paperback ed.). Slavica.


text:
Afghan children play with a kite on the outskirts of Jalalabad. Photo Noorullah Shirzada/AFP
© The Financial Times Ltd 2016 FT and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Ltd.
A man sells kites at Lake Malecon in Managua, Nicaragua
An Afghan refugee child, plays with a kite on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday
Afghan youths fly kites at sunset in Kabul, on Wednesday. During Taliban rule the activity was banned as un-Islamic on the grounds that it was a waste of time and money.
Afghan boys play with their kite on a hill overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan. Kite flying was banned during the Taliban regime, but it is now once again the main recreational escape for Afghan boys.


text:
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text:
Alec Baldwin
Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 . "March to the Scaffold". Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Paavo Järvi. Telarc 80578.
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 6 . Excerpt from Movement 1. London Philharmonic Orchestra. Klaus Tennstedt. EMI Classics 5 72941 2.
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 4 . Excerpt from Movement 4. The Cleveland Orchestra. George Szell. Judith Raskin, Soprano. Sony Classical 46535.
C.Coleman/C.Leigh "Firefly". Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall [Live] June 9, 1962. Columbia C2K 64609.
Frédéric Chopin Impromptu for Piano No. 4, Op. 66 "Fantaisie-Impromptu" . Murray Perahia, Piano. CBS Masterworks 42448.
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 9 . Excerpts from Movements 3 & 4. Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Sir Georg Solti. London 430 804-2.
Aaron Copland Rodeo . "Hoe-Down". St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Leonard Slatkin. EMI Classics 73653.
Kaplan Award-winning actor and music lover, Alec Baldwin on today's edition of "Mad About Music."
[Theme Music]
From his earliest roles in daytime television, to acclaimed portrayals in movies and on the stage, certainly in voicing his views about political matters, even in the ten times he's hosted "Saturday Night Live", there is always a display of unbridled passion. Today we explore a largely unknown focus of that passion, a deep love of music. Alec Baldwin, welcome to "Mad About Music."
Baldwin Thank you for having me.
Kaplan Now, I think it's fair to say that every aspect of your career, your political activities, your personal life, is covered, uncovered, recovered, in the media, yet I have never encountered a single reference to your passionate interest in music.
Baldwin Sometimes I feel like what I do for a living is the result of the fact that I can't sing or play music. I mean, deep down inside I wish I were Michael Feinstein, or Eric Clapton or someonemusic I love, but I never was raised with any musical training. You know, my real passion musically now is probably confined or limited to classical music.
Kaplan But how is it that nobody knows about this?
Baldwin I don't know where it's applicable in anything I've done lately. I know that when we're, you know, one thing that when I work with people in films, where that passion rears its head, is when I'm doing a film and I'm constantly suggesting to them source music for the score for the film. I'm handing them tapes and sayingyou know, this music would go really well with this scene and so forth. And when I've produced and directed films myself, I've had a good time trying to lay in source music for the film.
Kaplan But as a child, did you have any contact with music? Did you study an instrument?
Baldwin Well, in school, in the public school on Long Island when I grew up in the 60s, of course they had you play in the sinfoniette. And then I played the trumpet briefly, until the trumpet I was renting from some music house, they used to have those all over Long Island for the public school music classes, you could rent instruments. The trumpet I was renting and playing broke, and my father said to me, thus ends your musical career. My musical career ended right then and there.
Kaplan What a pity. So how did you become hooked on classical music? Was there a defining moment for you?
Baldwin I was doing a television show, this soap opera, oddly enough, and I guess some of the more musically literate people who were producing the show were playing this classical score on the radio in my home as I was about to be murdered off the show. And they were playing this music, and I turned to the casting director, Roger Sturtevant, who was a very well educated guy, and I said, "What is this music, this very harrowing music?" And he kind of looked at me scornfullyhe couldn't believe I didn't know what it wasand he said, "Well, that's," he said, "Come, come, I mean, that's Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique , the "March to the Scaffold". And I said, "God", and I was actually frustrated that I didn't know that. You know, I had no real education in classical music and I began then. And then it ramped up quite a bit when I moved to Los Angeles and I was driving in a car all the time and had the radio onI began this exploration of that kind of music.
Kaplan "March to the Scaffold" from Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique , the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by Paavo Järvi, the first selection of my guest on today's edition of "Mad About Music", award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. Now, you were talking about catching classical music through Symphonie fantastique and then, in Los Angeles, it began to accelerate. How did that happen?
Baldwin When I moved to Los Angeles, suddenly you're in a car and you're driving everywhere, as opposed to New York, where somebody else is always doing the driving. And that was at a time, I guess in the early 80s, when just about everything that was on popular radio was unappealing to me. I didn't really care about rap, and just all the music that was playing then had lost its luster for me. So I was putting on classical stations in L.A. and just got pulled in on this incredible level where I was pulling my car up to auditions and the classical piece had not finished, so I'd sit in the car and wait for the piece to finish and then write down the name of the composer, and the disc label, and the disc number and so forth, and the conductor, and the symphony, and I'd write all the pertinent details down. Then my agent was yelling at me, saying I was late for my auditions, so I put the program director of the radio station, his number, on speed dial on my car phone, back when we all had these car phones. And I would call them when I got out of the audition. I'd say, "Now what was that piece, that symphonic piece you had that was playing between 11:00 and 11:30?" And they would tell me the name, and I was writing these copious notes about things, and I started collecting classical discs and recordings.
Kaplan So your first recordings would come from hearing pieces on the radio and responding...
Baldwin On the radio, I was, you know, just so drawn to symphonic music in particular. I was not a big opera fan. There were some operas I've enjoyed. Opera is such theater; you need to see opera live really to appreciate it, I think, more. But recorded classical music, I started collecting it pretty rabidly.
Kaplan You know, in looking over your selections today, I sometimes think there's a connection between the music my guests pick, and their personality. For example, we had on the show the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, who was talking about Brahms' music and she said, someone characterized it as being "passionate without being sentimental". And I thought that was a very good description of her, actually. And so we discussed that.
Now, in your case, your director in the movie "The Cooler", the performance for which you were nominated for an Academy Awardcongratulationssaid you're a person with a real edge, a charismatic, but brooding, personality. Now, I think that's a pretty good description of the composer you've selected most today, Gustav Mahler. What is it about Mahler's music that speaks to you so personally?
Baldwin I like pieces that are very something, if it's going to be, vivacissimo, and it's going to be very upbeat, and so forth. I like Copland, and I like things that are very strong in a certain direction, and in terms if you are looking for something that's a little more brooding, and a little more sonorous, I can't think of anybody that affects me more than Mahler. And the Mahler pieces that I was first pulled toward were the Ninth, with Solti directing the Chicago, and the recording of Solti with the Chicago of the Ninth is one of my favorite pieces and it was just so strong. If I'm not mistaken, that was the piece in which, I don't know how much he was influenced by this; but in the liner notes of that disc, I have that they talked how he was told he was going to die, and he wrote this piece, knowing he was going to die. And did indeed die, after that piece was, soon after that was finished. He had not completed the Tenth .
Kaplan He never completed the Tenth , and he never heard the Ninth . Now, today, I see you want to startyour first selection, though, is the Sixth , and the Sixth , of course, is characterized by those driving marches, and I gather those appeal to you?
Baldwin Well, there's a film that I saw that's a kind of a cult film, called "The Honeymoon Killers", and oddly enough the stars of it are Tony Lo Bianco, the film actor, and a woman named Shirley Stoler, who was an opera singer herself in her early career. And went on to have kind of a kitschy movie career. She plays a murderess in this movie. And in this very low budget, almost kind of silly movie, the way it is, but it's a wonderful movie, she and Lo Bianco play true-life characters who murder these women for their money. They play the Mahler Sixth , this piece from the Mahler Sixththat was the first time I heard it, in the score of the film. And so I wound up calling again, in this way that I have to do this detective work: I had to find the distributor of the movie, to put me in touch with the producer of the movie, who was long since out of the business, to find out for me what was that piece? So I went out then and I bought that disc.
Kaplan An excerpt from the opening movement of Mahler's Sixth Symphony , performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Klaus Tennstedt.
A selection of my guest on "Mad About Music" today, award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. You can learn more about Alec Baldwin, or listen to any of our prior shows by logging onto WNYC.org, and then just click on "Mad About Music". When we return, we'll hear more of Alec Baldwin's choices, more Mahler, as well as his "Wildcard."
[Station Break]
Kaplan This is Gilbert Kaplan and my guest on "Mad About Music" today, actor Alec Baldwin. Let's talk about the role of music in your life today. How often do you find time to attend concerts?
Baldwin Well, I find that when I go out and want to do something cultural that way, I wind up going to the theater more than anything else. Oddly enough, I wind up going to see the Los Angeles Philharmonic more than I do in New York, because in New York I go to the theatre. When I'm in L.A., I don't go to the theater as much.
Kaplan Are you a fan of the new Disney Hall?
Baldwin Oh, it's incredible. I think they did a fabulous job, it's beautiful, and it's said the sound is exquisite. And I like Salonen; I like what he's done with the Los Angeles over the past several years.
Kaplan Now, in a typical month, how many new CDs might enter your collection?
Baldwin I would say probably just a couple, because I collected them so ferociously early on. I'll meet someone, for example, who will introduce me to some piece, like Górecki was a composer that I wasn't that familiar with his work, and worked with a director on a film, and then I'll go on some Górecki tear for a while. Or I find that I'm in the mood for something, to explore someone again that I haven't listened to all of their catalogue of their work, Dvorak, or so forth, and I'll go back. Or there will be a release of someone's work like Bernsteinthe Bernstein collection that came out on CBSand I want to go and give that a listen, and I'll buy a handful of those. It goes in spurts like that.
Kaplan Now what about your listening equipment? Are you an audiophile? Do you have fancy speakers and high-powered equipment?
Baldwin I'm going to get some new stuff. At my home, on Long Island where I live, I have a big elaborate system there for audio-visual; and in my apartment, I don't. I mean, I have a good systemyou know, as is the case, you wind up getting involved in that whole neurosis about, do I have the latest and the greatest equipment?
Kaplan What about the iPod? Has that entered your life?
Baldwin No, I'm not an iPod person. No, because I don't like putting those little prongs in my ears. I like headphones and I like quality sound speakers, I don'tthose little pieces that they put in for iPod don't really do it for me.
Kaplan Let's talk a little bit about music as it connects with people. Now, gossip columns are always speculating about your love life, but I have a more serious question in that category.
Baldwin Thank you.
Kaplan How important to you is it that someone shares your love of music?
Baldwin Well, I find that as long as they have a passion for some kind of music, I findI talked to someone once who I worked with, an actor, and he said something that was so arresting to me because I felt the same way. He said, sometimes I don't listen to music at all for weeks and months, he said because I don't have time, my head is just so filled with my thoughts and some project he's working on or whatever, he said, and then one day I turn around, and my life is filled with music. I'm making time for music. I'm sitting and I'm allowing that to wash over me and affect me in the way that it does.
And I find that if I'm with people in my life who are my friends on whatever level, who I'm intimate with on whatever level, as long as they have some passion for some kind of music. I don't care if it's big band music or hip-hop music, as long as it's something. But those people for whom music is just not even a factor, I think I would find that odd. That's a good question.
Kaplan Now you have a seven-year-old daughter. Have you introduced her to classical music?
Baldwin I've tried. I've tried. My daughter isshe writhes a bit when we're in the car and I'm playing my music. And she does excoriate me about what the music I listen to tells the world about me as a person. You know, that I'm an old man now, and listen to this kind of music. But I think she's going to come around.
Kaplan Let's hope so because "children" is really a very good transition to your next selection. It's again Mahler, and this time, his Fourth Symphony . Because here I see you've chosen his last movement, which is a song, a song Mahler said depicts a child's view of heaven. How did you discover this music?
Baldwin This is actually a piece that I heard on the radio, and this is one of those moments where I was driving in a car and it was on NYC. And this piece was playing, and this is alsoit plays into this idea of the first time you hear a piece, at least in my case, I become obsessed with that recording. So that subsequent recordings I've gotten of other conductors conducting other symphonies, and other featured soloists singing this pieceJudith Raskin sings with Szell and the Cleveland on thisthey never really were as satisfying to me as the first time. I would say that Szell and Raskin singing this piece is probably my favorite piece of classical music.
Kaplan The concluding moments of Mahler's Fourth Symphony , the song "Das himmlische Leben" ("The Heavenly Life"), a child's view of heaven. The Cleveland Orchestra led by George Szell, with soprano Judith Raskin, a selection of my guest on "Mad About Music" today, the actor Alec Baldwin. Now one of the recurring themes in Mahler's music is how important it is to maintain our childlike wonderment about life. Does this philosophy resonate with you?
Baldwin Well, I think it's hard not to have some of that come into play when you have a child. Once I had my daughter, I found thata friend of mine once put it best: he said, when you have a child, sometimes in a busy life, it's the only thing that can give you energy. You know, when you see the world alongside your child.
Kaplan Now in your search for discoveries in music, do you connect with contemporary classical music at all, which is often characterized by atonal sounds and dissonance?
Baldwin No.
Kaplan You don't.
Baldwin No, I don't.
Kaplan Have you tried?
Baldwin I have. I went to some pieces that were done. I'll never forget, I guess it waswas it Boulez who was conducting the L.A.? Boulez, I think, was guest conducting. He played a lot of contemporary in this one program. He played a contemporary piece, an atonal piece. I don't hate it, I don't want to denigrate it, but I don't really care for it.
Kaplan Now, are there any mainstream composers you don't connect to?
Baldwin Well, it's funny, and this is going to sound blasphemous in a way, I would imagine some people are going to cringe, but I think the person who I listen to the least is Mozart. For some reason, I just don't respond as much to Mozart's music. Again, I don't hate it, but I would much rather have a dark, brooding piece from Mahler or Beethoven than the gaiety of some of Mozart's music and the kind of, the vanities of some of Mozart's music. It's clever to me, it's well laid out. But I find I play Mozart the least of anyone.
Kaplan Now earlier, you mentioned that opera doesn't have a particular appeal to you, which, in a way, is surprising. Because after all, you are a person who said you prefer to be on the stage than in movies. Isn't opera really acting with singing?
Baldwin Well, I mean, the operas that I've seen, which are modestI've only seen a handful of operasI responded to them. I mean, to me opera will be better for me once I understand that period of history better. Oddly enough, when I was very young I went and saw the one opera that made the greatest impression on me, which was Fanciulla del West . And I didn't need to know much history there because it was the American West. It was a bunch of cowboys sitting around a fire singing at one point, and so that was easy for me to comprehend. But I was a young viewer and a young member of the audience, so I think that for me that's the next thing for me. Right now, symphonic music and concert going and ballet, I love, because I have a boundless appreciation for people that have that kind of physical discipline. But I think the next thing for me will probably be more of an appreciation of live opera.
Kaplan All right. Well, we now come to that part of our show which, as our listeners know, we call the "Wildcard", where our guests have a chance to pick music from outside the classical or opera genre. It can be anything, rock, jazz; we've had wonderful selections here. So what "Wildcard" did you bring us today?
Baldwin Well, I have a selection from, I think the album is "Tony Bennett Live At Carnegie Hall," which was done I think, in 1964, with Ralph Sharon, who was his conductor and music director. And, you know, Bennett is someone to me who not only by virtue of the fact that he's outlived a lot of his contemporaries, and that's an important element too, is that he had the chance to reinvent himself in the last ten or fifteen years and have a whole other career, and sang every kind of music that was right for his canon. Him doing the "MTV Unplugged" album, which I think is just absolutely a priceless album, which he sang with K.D. Lang. They sang "Moonglow" together which is a beautiful cut. And the album that he did with Elvis Costello, they did the Bacharach music together, which is absolutely beautiful. It's interesting to me that a guy who is that great a musical talent, whose pipes are still in pretty good shape, and who had the will and the desire to press on for a whole other decade of making beautiful albums. I think that Bennett is probably one of my three favorite male vocalists of all time. And this piece which is entitled "Firefly" is one of my favorite cuts off that album.
Kaplan Tony Bennett singing "Firefly" from a live performance at Carnegie Hall. The "Wildcard" selection of my guest on "Mad About Music" today, award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. Now, unlike many of my guests, you have views not only about music, but about specific performers. So we've heard already that you like Georg Solti. Who are some of your other favorite conductors?
Baldwin I like a lot of the work that Dutoit did with the Montreal that Slatkin did with the St. Louis. I collect a lot of what Ormandy did with the Philadelphia, once upon a time, a bit back. Bernstein with the New York. Solti and Szell, again, I like very much. And Salonen, I like Salonen's recordings with the Los Angeles quite a bit. I'm a big fan of Salonen.
Kaplan What about pianists? And is piano music important to you? I see you have one on your list.
Baldwin I chose this because I find that there's some music that I can listen toI don't know any other way to put itto relax me. But not necessarily put me to sleep. You know, there's music I want to listen to in the car, but I don't want to go to sleep while I'm driving. And then there's music I want to relax me on the deepest level, you know, and piano music always seems to do that trick for me. Piano music to me is much more of a meditative thing than anything. And I think the Perahia, who is the pianist on this Chopin "Fantaisie-Impromptu", I believe that we have, is one. And Gould, I collect a lot of Gould. I mean, there are so many pianists that I really, really like. But this is one of my favorites, Perahia performing this Chopin.
Kaplan Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu", played by pianist Murray Perahia, a selection of my guest on "Mad About Music" today, actor Alec Baldwin. When we return, we'll hear his final selections, one more Mahler, and then a leap into American music.
[Station break]
Kaplan This is Gilbert Kaplan with my guest, actor Alec Baldwin. As we return to your interest in Mahler, we come to probably his most profound symphony, the Ninth . You know he never heard it. He died before it could ever be played. Bruno Walter did the premiere, but it is very profound music, and continuing with my attempt to connect your musical selections with your personality, this symphony combines in an almost surreal way, two opposing personalities. The third movement, which Mahler called the "Rondo-burlesque", is really a demonic whirlwind charging ahead, almost out of control. Then, it turns into perhaps the most reflective, probing, sensuous music Mahler ever composed. Do you see anything of yourself in that description?
Baldwin You missed your calling! You should be a forensic psychiatrist with the police department. Well, I'm going to cop out here and say, these analyses of yours might apply maybe more to the characters I play than to me myself. I mean, I might have an appreciation of....
Kaplan You're a mild-mannered reporter of The Daily Planet .
Baldwin ... of a quaint metropolitan newspaper, who fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.
Kaplan Well, tell me about your feelings about this Ninth .
Baldwin Well, the Ninth was probably, I would say, like many people, when you first hear this piece, it's just so searing, and so powerful. This was the first Mahler piece I think I heard when I was in Los Angeles, during that time I was listening to classical music on the radio incessantly, and it just had this incredible effect on me. And it's one of the few symphonies, actually, where the whole piece, I could sit and listen to the whole piece in one run. Sometimes I'll take some certain symphonies and listen to movements, I don't really feel the need to listen to the whole piece in one meal. And this is one where you just almost have to play this whole thing, and Solti and the Chicago was the first again, back to that idea of the first, inaugural listening for me has always made the biggest impression.
Kaplan Well, I wish we could play it end to end, but of course in this show, it would take the whole show, so let's hear then that clash of personalities I talked about before as that whirlwind "Rondo-burlesque" dissolves into the dreamy opening of the finale.
Kaplan An excerpt from Mahler's Ninth Symphony , the conclusion of the riveting "Rondo-burlesque" followed by the opening of the lush finale. Sir Georg Solti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A selection of my guest on "Mad About Music" today, actor Alec Baldwin, whose unbridled passion for music seems to have been a well-kept secret until today. Now, how much of an aberration are you in Hollywood? Do you find any fellow actors and actresses who are classical music lovers?
Baldwin I think there are. You know, many, many people I find in California, they vacillate between, or alternate rather, between political talk radio, books on tape and classical music or jazz. They have, those are their three passions, books on tape being a big one now for people who are stuck in their cars on the freeways out there for some interminable amount of time. But, yes, I have a lot of friends of mine who are big fans of classical music.
Kaplan Can you mention a few well-known actors who you might go to a concert with, or you might see at a concert?
Baldwin I would be hard-pressed to think about that, about naming somebody that I saw at a concert. You know, most of the people that I know, we would discuss the music privately. I'm at a movie with Tony Hopkins, and he's a great music lover, an incredible music lover, but I can't say that I've ever seen Tony at the symphony.
Kaplan Now, I understand before acting, you were contemplating being a lawyer. And in light of the power that music exerts in your life, do you ever wish you could have been a singer? You sort of alluded to that before a bit.
Baldwin Well, sometimes I do think that people in my profession, you know, acting, is something that they do because a greater artistic yearning they had, eluded them. If I could singwhat I wouldn't give to have that ability! I would just do that for a living, and sing all the time, if I could sing.
Kaplan Well, then, it's a real pity, because I read recently in the Herald-Tribune about your voice. The Tribune said, that you have a "rolling, mellifluous baritone that, like your Roger Gallett cologne, has the whiff of masculine authority"– which to me sounds like you'd be a perfect Don Giovanni!
Baldwin Well, maybe one day, maybe my next life!
Kaplan Well, after tormenting you to describe your personality within terms of your musical selections, let's turn to your final choice, for which there is no psychological overtone at all, just buoyant dance music from Aaron Copland.
Baldwin Copland's Rodeo is a favorite of mine, when I want to listen to something that's more spirited and upbeat. In my collection, I have quite a bit of Slatkin conducting the St. Louis, and I think that Slatkin really has recorded probably the best Copland. I collect Slatkin's recordings of Copland because I think that he just served up Copland better than anybody.
Kaplan "Hoe-Down" from Aaron Copland's Rodeo , the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with conductor Leonard Slatkin, the final selection of my guest on "Mad About Music", the actor Alec Baldwin. Well, it's been fascinating to explore the pivotal role music plays in your life, a passion that has largely been hidden from public view. Alec Baldwin, thank you for appearing. This is Gilbert Kaplan, for today's edition of "Mad About Music."
[Credits]About Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin last appeared on stage in the Bay Street Theatre (Sag Harbor, Long Island) production of Ira Lewis' Gross Points in the fall of 2001. His other stage appearances include – BROADWAY: A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Gregory Mosher (Tony Nomination). Joe Orton's LOOT, directed by John Tillinger (Theatre World Award). Caryl Churchill's Serious Money. OFF-BROADWAY: Macbeth in the 1998 New York Shakespeare Festival production, directed by George C. Wolf. Prelude to a Kiss at Circle Rep, directed by Norman Rene (Obie Award). David Mamet's Life in the Theatre at the Hartman, directed by A.J. Antoon.
On film Baldwin has appeared in Pearl Harbor, State and Main, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Outside Providence, The Edge with Anthony Hopkins, Mercury Rising, Ghosts of Mississippi, The Juror, Heaven's Prisoners, The Shadow, Malice, Glengarry Glen Ross, Prelude to a Kiss, The Hunt for Red October, Great Balls of Fire, Alice, Miami Blues, Working Girl, Talk Radio, Married to the Mob, Beetlejuice, She's Having a Baby , among others.
Baldwin began his career in daytime television on the NBC series "The Doctors." He went on to numerous television roles including "Knot's Landing" on CBS and "Dress Gray," an NBC mini-series. Baldwin produced and starred in the film The Confession (winner of the Writer's Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay) that was released by Cinemax Television. He co-produced and starred in the TNT television mini-series "Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial." Baldwin has been nominated for an Emmy for his role as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in "Path to War", an HBO Films production on the Johnson administration's Vietnam policy from 1964 to 1968, directed by the late John Frankenheimer.
Baldwin recently completed shooting the feature film The Last Shot with Matthew Broderick, written and directed by Jeff Nathanson. Also completed recently, The Cooler with William H. Macy for Ed Pressman's Content Films, the TNT cable movie "Second Nature", starring Baldwin and Powers Boothe ("Second Nature" was co-produced by Baldwin's production company El Dorado Pictures), and an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic children's book The Cat in the Hat which stars Mike Myers and is directed by Bo Welch.
Baldwin is also involved in several causes related to public policy. He is a board member of People for the American Way. He also serves on the board of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, sponsored by Stonybrook University in honor of his mother. Baldwin is a member of the NYU Tisch School of The Arts Dean's Council and serves on Bay Street Theatre's Board. He is a board member of the New York Shakespeare Festival, and a dedicated supporter of various animal rights groups.
Alec Baldwin is a native of Massapequa, Long Island. He is a graduate of the New York University Tisch School of The Arts (BFA). Baldwin studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute under Elaine Aiken. He also studied with Mira Rostova. He has a daughter, Ireland Eliesse Baldwin.


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North Village apartment named 'Emma's Place'
This address newly dedicated, now carries the name Sisco Hall "Emma's Place," following the Sisco's generous commitment and their wish to honor the memory of their daughter, Emma Knox Sisco, who died in 1995 before the age of 2.
Alumnus Dennis Sisco and wife Alex Lesko with daughters (from left) Maddie and Shelby pose in front of newly named Sisco Hall, Emma's Place in North Village.
Dennis graduated from the College in 1968 and credits his professors for preparing him well to realize his boyhood dream of becoming an entrepreneur.
In a Hill magazine article published in 2001, Sisco said:
"Jim Lightner taught me to overcome fear and loathing of advanced math…
"Ira Zepp taught me that spirituality has a role in all things…
"Ralph Price and Al Law, taught me how to think and how to articulate and defend my ideas."
It comes as no surprise that Sisco graduated with honors and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the College's ROTC program. His first job was at IBM. That job positioned him well to ensure Army service in Germany with a computer systems command, far from the danger zone in Saigon, although Sisco upheld his responsibility to serve his country.
While in the Army, Sisco worked on the precursor to the modern portable computer. After completing his military duty, he returned to the States where he joined his first IT startup, wrote deep-level operating system code on weekends, and sold the systems during weekdays. He beat that daily grindstone through negotiating the sale of that IT startup to a national firm that was subsequently bought by Dun & Bradstreet.
That heady experience ensured that Sisco's itch for higher-level financial engineering would take him into the high-rise Manhattan boardrooms to help promising companies expand and exploit opportunities to improve their bottom lines. And he's given back to this College in multiple ways, serving as chair of the Annual Fund, as a trustee, and establishing a scholarship fund.
His wife, Alexine Lesko, is a graduate of Wellesley College where she majored in South Asia studies and mastered Hindi while studying abroad at the University of Varanasi in India. After moving to Philadelphia to study Sanskrit at Penn, Lesko took an entry-level job at a computer firm where she not only met and fell in love with Sisco, but mastered computer languages that led to her 18-year career as a project manager for IT business solutions.
Lesko and Sisco are proud parents who despite the sorrow of Emma's short life, remember her as a "wonderful, and beautifully happy child."
Since retiring from Behrman Capital where he was a partner for seven years, Sisco has joined his wife and daughters, Shelby and Maddie, in holding high the ribbons earned by their trained horses and as riders in equestrian hunting and jumping competitions including at the world-class Winter Equestrian festival in Wellington, Fla.


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'GQ' names Pharrell Williams 2013's 'Hitmaker of the Year'
Listen to Pharrell on iHeartRadio
"GQ" is declaring Pharrell Williams this year's "Hitmaker of the Year."
Apart from chart topping hits such as Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," the magazine also cites his work on albums by Jay Z, Pusha T and Miley Cyrus as reasons why the producer is 2013's hitmaker.
This year Pharrell also hooked up with Nelly, Mac Miller, The Weeknd, 2 Chainz and many others.
[Photos: Produced by Pharrell]
"GQ" also points out that in 2013 Pharrell cemented his "legacy as one of the most stylish men on the planet." Can't argue with that!
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Street level commercial space(2800 sq ft) currently leased with 6 years remaining plus options. Apartment ((1500 sq ft)currently leased. Unit has an eat-in kitchen, two large bedrooms, two baths, one bath with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower, enormous living room with laminate flooring, master bedroom leading to large outside deck. Two Full Baths on first floor.
Listing Courtesy of C21/ Action Plus Realty


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11th December 2002, 01:13 AM
I can do one right now....which is the better bang for the buck?
Thanks, Al
Thanks, Al
: 9-3 Viggen intercooler or sport exhaust first??
11th December 2002, 01:13 AM
I can do one right now....which is the better bang for the buck?
Thanks, Al
11th December 2002, 11:09 AM
I would go with the Viggen Intercooler the performance gains are a little greater, 10-12 hp over the 7-8 hp of the exhaust. What other mods have you done? Have you performed any of the low cost mods I list on my website?
11th December 2002, 04:22 PM
Why on Earth would you upgrade an intercooler before an exhaust? You might get more power out of the intercooler now but in the long run no...that new intercooler is going to make you want to crank up the boost which the stock exhaust will not be able to handle. If you do the exhaust now you can bump up the boost a little a be okay, you don't super heat the turbo or any of that business.
12th December 2002, 03:51 AM
I would say go for the Intercooler as well as it will increase mid-range power and give improved pickup.
Jeremy R.
12th December 2002, 01:28 PM
I'll second (or third) doing the intercooler first. It made much more of an improvement than the exhaust did, which I changed out several months later. My car's ECU and turbocharger are both stock, and I love the improvement. If you haven't ground off the lip from the throttle body transition casting, do that before anything else. I was amazed at the effect that had.
13th December 2002, 06:40 PM
I fourth the intercooler first! :cheesy:
It makes your Saab run a bit cooler ! :wink:
13th December 2002, 09:09 PM
Went ahead and ordered the intercooler yeaterday from Taliaferro. Should be here Monday....can't wait to get it on. Also ordered an MBC, so this thing should hopefully get on with it a bit quicker by next week. Thanks for all of the advice!