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Archive for the 'Bio Jet Fuel' Category
In keeping with President Barack Obama, the American Government is seeking alternative fuels not only to safeguard the environment, but additionally to "protect America's national security." The Navy is starting a major plan to decrease its dependency on oil. In a decade, it wants to power all its planes, vehicles and ships using a 50 percent green fuel blend.
The Navy actually celebrated Earth Day April 22, 2010 by showcasing a flight test of the "Green Hornet," an F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighter powered utilizing a biofuel blend. The Navy isn't on it's own, the Army too is creating combat vehicles made to run on renewable fuels like biodiesel and ethanol. The Defense Department has devoted $2.7 billion this year alone to improve energy efficiency, reported President Barack Obama. "Here in our country, as politicians in Washington discuss endlessly whether to act to reduce our oil dependency, our very own government has decided that we cannot afford not to," he said. In short, over the next few years, global oil dynamics may alter the planet once and for all. And This Country is not exempt.
This Nation imports a whopping 56% of its day-to-day petroleum oil needs—over 10.9 million barrels on a daily basis. That's greater than the entire regular production of Saudi Arabia. But even this number underestimates America's vulnerability to oil shock. The reason is America imports nearly one fifth of the world's accessible oil.
• The US Military uses between 60 and 75 million barrels of petroleum a year.
• The US Military spends greater than $60 billion a year for jet fuel.
Department of Defense, DARPA, Department of the Navy and also the Air Force are also looking for a replacement for JP-8 grade jet fuel NOW!
And this addiction to foreign oil supplies is set to become even worse. Algae Biofuel is rapidly advancing, Penn State University has tested a new dry algae based fuel and confirmed it does work in combustion engines which have been in the current service of the military, Dry Processed Algae Jet Fuel is the new algae biofuel.
Algae is more than simply pond scum. It's actually a power source for energy independence. The green mess that forms in deteriorated swimming pools, lakes, ponds and streams has been investigated for attributes beyond the "ugh" factor.
Biofuels are by description any fuel that, by being burned, are easily converted to energy, and that's produced from a biological origin. Considering a organic source can also be a renewable one, biofuels are reproducible. One type of fuel already being created from biological sources is bio-diesel.
The biofuels that people are very informed about today are the ones that are manufactured from food crops, such as corn. The biggest debate regarding this, among those going green, is too much food is currently being devoted to fuel, when it needs to be allocated for its original purpose, which is to feed humans or animals. While eating is one of the few things we must do to live, having fuel is also very important. Algae biomass also has potential to grow into a mainstream fuel feedstock.
Algae are not a food crops, they grow rapidly and algae remove massive amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the air.
Therefore , voice your individual support for your hometown, regional and national governments for ongoing investment in algae biofuels research and investment to protect America's National Security, our country & military are dependent upon it.
Algae Aviation Fuel from CCA is Proud to Announce Initial Sale of Powdered Algae Jet Fuel to the United States Air Force Research Laboratory. An undisclosed amount of powdered algae fuel will be evaluated as a solid fuel propellant for rocket use.
Compact Contractors for America (CCA), a Southern Utah-based company has developed a dry process biofuel from algae, camelina seed, and other non-fossil fuel sources. Dry process biofuels are essentially powders that can be fluidized and combusted in jet turbine engines. Dry process fuels have been around for a long time, at least since the first pulverized coal power plants. Running engines on burnable powders as opposed to liquid fuel is nothing new. What CCA has done is identify the most effective feedstock's, process methodology and fuel delivery processes to make dry process biofuels scalable to military operations. Commercial application requires further research and testing.
The use of solid fuels in compact combustion power systems
A sample of Turbine Bio Fuel was provided by Robert Fulton of CCA, LLC. The producer of this algae derived solid fuel intends to explore its use as a fuel in aircraft engines or aero-derivative gas turbine power systems. As an expert in alternative fuel combustion power systems and the fuel feed systems required to support pressurized combustion of bulk solids fuels, I evaluated the powder for feasibility of use in ARL/Penn State's powder fuel feed system.
The vast majority of compact combustion power systems developed for mobile systems rely on liquid and gaseous fuels as the source of chemical energy. Under certain circumstances, however, solid fuels might offer particular advantages due to their unique thermodynamic properties or economic attributes. In order to exploit these advantages, at least two obstacles must be overcome. The first is to deliver the fuel in a steady manner to the combustor which is typically well above atmospheric pressure. While delivering gases and liquids to a pressurized combustor with pumps and compressors is routine, doing the same with solids can require specialized equipment and carefully controlled fuel properties. The second large challenge associated with the use of solid fuels in compact combustion power systems is the rapid ignition and complete combustion within the combustor. Gases and liquid naturally disperse in air streams in ways that increase reaction rates so that reasonably small combustor sizes can be maintained. Solids generally tend not to disperse particularly well and solid combustion can often involves relatively slow phase changes.
Solids materials can generally be delivered to pressurized compact combustors and dispersed for rapid, intense combustion if the solids can be fluidized homogeneously. Homogeneous fluidization, in this context, indicates that the mass of solids in flight through the fuel pipeline has a density that is only slightly less (5-10%) than the powder density at rest and that the cloud of particles flowing through the pipeline and into the combustor is generally of uniform density. Such fluidizable solids behave very much like liquid fuels and can be considered for use in systems designed for liquid fuels.
The characteristics of fluidizable powders have been studied for some time by a number of researchers. The Hausner Ratio is a simple but revealing parameter that is indicative of homogenous fluidization behavior. It is simply the ratio of the tapped or vibrated powder density to the poured density. For the sample provided, I measured a value of 1.31 indicating a slight degree of cohesion which is generally considered beneficial for stabilizing expanded/aerated masses of powders. Direct experience indicates that powders with Hausner Ratios of below 1.35 can exhibit homogeneous fluidization. A Hausner Ratio of 1.25 is generally considered ideal for homogeneous fluidization. In order to reduce powder cohesion and facilitate further handling experiments, the sample powder was mixed with a very fine, food-additive-grade silica powder. This step will almost certainly not be necessary to produce homogeneous fluidization if a slight larger particle size distribution can be produced. Scanning electron microspore images of the sample powder indicate a powder with a relatively high sphericity and a low incidence of irregular particles. These observations also indicate a good probability that the powder will be able to be handled in the pressurized fuel feed system.
SOURCE: Dr.Tom Cawley
Title: RES ASSOC
Administrative Area: RESEARCH-DEFENSE REL
Department: APPLIED RESEARCH LAB
The Pennsylvania State University
Applied Research Laboratory
State College, PA 16801
The Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Energy Support Center and Air Transport Association of America, Inc., signed a strategic alliance agreement today in Washington, D.C., recognizing a partnership for the development and deployment of alternative aviation fuels.
The agreement highlights the shared goals of the Department of Defense and the principal U.S. airlines to advance the development and deployment of commercially viable, environmentally friendly, alternative aviation fuels.
"This is a significant step forward in the alternative fuels arena, and further shows commitment by the Department of Defense and the commercial aviation industry in our mutual goal of promoting energy security and safeguarding the health of our environment," DESC Commander Rear Adm. Kurt Kunkel said.
The intent of the strategic alliance is to establish a collaborative forum focused on spurring aviation alternative fuels market growth.
"By collaborating, we reinforce our commitment to fostering the widespread commercialization of alternative jet fuel," said James C. May, president and CEO of ATA. "In the evolving landscape of alternative energy, it is in our collective interest to see aviation at the forefront.
"The airline industry and DoD collectively require more than 1.5 million barrels of jet fuel per day," added May. "By combining our talents and experience, we are better positioned to explore cooperative market engagement for fuel, improve the financial prospects for alternative fuels infrastructure, accelerate fuel certification efforts and refine our methodology for determining environmental impacts."
Kunkel noted that energy security impacts all DoD readiness, operations and business decisions. The DESC, along with the Federal Government and the rest of DoD, is transforming with regard to alternative fuel and renewable energy.
"Doing what is right for our armed forces is an ingrained piece of our mission at the Defense Logistics Agency and DESC. It drives us forward. Doing what is right also means doing what is efficient and in the best interest of our environment, while continuing to move forward with technology and energy advancements," Kunkel said. "The strategic alliance represents this commitment."
The alliance directs the formation of three collaborative teams composed of ATA and DESC representatives, with each team focused on specific developmental and marketing models of the alternative fuels goals.
May said that the Environment Team will identify common methodologies for life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for alternative aviation fuels. The Deployment and Logistics team will identify locations or regions suitable for alternative fuels production and deployment, as well as means of distribution to and from those locations. The Contracting and Finance team will jointly publicize supply opportunities, explore opportunities for complementary fuel-supply agreements and develop compatible pricing and finance mechanisms.
Already, the alliance teams are scheduled to participate in a special aviation session at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, Apr. 27-29 in Washington, D.C. They will also hold an industry forum at the 2010 DESC Worldwide Energy Conference where they will meet jointly with alternative fuel suppliers to discuss an array of projects across the country to deploy alternative aviation fuels. The Worldwide Conference is scheduled for May 10-12 in National Harbor, Md.
Working together in the area of alternative fuels is not new between DESC and ATA.
May added, "today's announcement is a key step forward in a long-standing relationship of collaboration between our nation's airlines and the military, and this alliance will generate tangible, long-lasting benefits for the entire country."
Through the combined efforts of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiatives, a working group composed of ATA and DESC, fuels produced using the Fischer-Tropsch process were approved for use in commercial aviation in September. Additionally, approval of a new class of fuels – hydrotreated renewable jet – is expected in the second half of 2010.
"Development of alternative fuels as an energy solution to our customers and the commercial aviation industry is still in the initial stages, but actions such as this alliance will make those potential solutions a reality as we work together and leverage our capabilities," said Kunkel. "We have outstanding, committed goals for alternative fuel and renewable energy in the future, but reaching our goals is a team and collaborative effort – no one can do it alone. This strategic alliance is creating one of those teams and we are happy to be part of it."
The DESC, a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency, is responsible for the end-to-end supply chain management of petroleum products for the Department of Defense's customer base. The center's mission is to provide energy solutions worldwide in the most effective and economical manner possible.
ATA is the premier trade association for the principal U.S. airlines. The association serves the airline industry and its customers in providing the world's safest system of transportation, communicating technical expertise and operational knowledge to improve safety, service and efficiency; advocating fair airline taxation and regulation worldwide to foster a healthy, competitive industry; and by developing and coordinating industry actions that are environmentally beneficial, economically reasonable and technologically feasible.
Origin Post on http://advancedbiofuelsusa.info
Recent tests showed warplanes can fly on bio-fuels
WASHINGTON, May 10 (Reuters) – The Pentagon is working hard to promote development of biomass fuels that could power future fighter jets and other warplanes, but defense officials say it could take years to get a full-fledged industry on its feet.
Top U.S. defense officials and executives from the petroleum, alternative fuels and renewable energy sectors are meeting outside Washington this week to address new technology developments and initiatives such as the Pentagon's work on developing biofuels to power military aircraft.
The long-term goal is to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign crude oil, said Air Force Colonel Francis Rechner, director of operations of the Defense Energy Support Center, run by the Pentagon's main logistics agency.
Rechner cited the March flight of an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane, powered by a mix of biomass and jet fuel, and the flight of the Navy's "Green Hornet," a Boeing Co (BA.N) F/A-18 fighter jet powered a blend of jet fuel and a biofuel made of camelina, a hardy U.S. plant.
Both aircraft performed well using the new bio-based fuels, he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Mark Iden, Rechner's deputy, said his agency signed an agreement in March with the Air Transport Association, the main industry group for U.S. commercial airlines, to help promote widespread commercialization of environmentally friendly aviation fuels and become less reliant on petroleum.
Together the airline industry and the U.S. military use more than 1.5 million barrels of jet fuel a day.
The challenge now was to promote construction of facilities that could produce large quantities of biofuels using algae, camelina and other plants, Iden said.
He said there was a lot of research and development under way, but it could take years to create a full-fledged industry. "We are literally developing it from scratch," Iden said, adding he expected the Pentagon to issue an initial solicitation for bids from industry within a year or two.
Iden said the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had spurred interest in the Pentagon's work on alternative fuels and underscored the importance of alternative fuels.
But the military would rely on petroleum for a long time, he said. "You're never going to eliminate petroleum."
Rechner said the Obama administration supported the Pentagon's efforts, and President Barack Obama in December nominated Sharon Burke, vice president of the Center for a New American Security think tank, to become the Pentagon's new director of operational energy plans and programs.
That post was aimed at coordinating various energy efficiency and alternative energy programs across the various military services, a good step in the right direction, but Burke's nomination was being held up by lawmakers, he said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
Air New Zealand and Boeing are secretly working to create the world's first green aviation fuel, made of wild algae. The fuel is essentially derived from bacterial pond scum created through the photosynthesis of sunlight and carbon dioxide on nutrient-rich water sources such as sewage ponds. The company providing the biofuel is Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation. If the project pans out the small and relatively new New Zealand company could lead the world in environmentally sustainable aviation fuel.
Compact Contractors of America have developed a Dry Process Algae Bio Jet Fuel for ground power turbine or air frames. They are currently seeking governmental entry to either direct testing or further development to meet the AirForce and Naval flight demands.
Air New Zealand may be the first to test these new algae fuels on their engine while normal aviation fuel would drive the other engine. Fuel is held in cells on the aircraft that can be directed to a specific engine.
None of the parties involved will talk about the joint venture development because of confidentiality agreements but whispers about the project were circulating at the roll-out of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Seattle in the US last week. However CCA is open and ready to accept new testing platforms.
Local Marlborough media reported a visit by Boeing to Aquaflow earlier this year and Boeing has stated publicly since then that it believes algae is the airline fuel of the future.
Richard Branson's Virgin Fuels announced in April it was working with Boeing to demonstrate biofuel in a 747-400. The focus is on testing algae-derived jet fuel, especially its freezing point.
CCA states their fuel actually works better the colder it is. The differences in algae fuel will help the aviation industry in dry or liquid forms.
Boeing's Dave Daggett was reported this year as saying algae ponds with a total of 34,000 square kilometers could produce enough fuel to reduce the net CO2 footprint for all of aviation to zero.
Until now the relatively new Blenheim company's focus has been on biodiesel for cars, trucks, buses and boats. CCA has aimed it sights squarely on military drone applications and ground power for in theater production and utilization.
English Environment Minister David Parker drew public attention to the company in December when he test drove a Land Rover around that was powered by Aquaflow's blend of algae biofuel and diesel (5% algae fuel and 95% conventional fuel) just a year after it was developed. CCA has to date has live fired tested it's fuel in non military jet engines but is planning a test with military grade turbine jet engines in the near future.
Robert Fulton, the 19th century engineer of steamboat fame, didn't invent the technology. He just improved it to make steamboats faster and commercially viable. Some day soon, distant descendent Robert Fulton III of Cedar City, UT hopes to make the same claim for making alternative fuels more effective and profitable.
Fulton works for Compact Contractors for America (CCA), a Southern Utah-based company that is developing dry process biofuels from algae, camelina seed, and other non-fossil fuel sources. Dry process biofuels are essentially powders that can be injected and combusted in jet turbines and other engines. April 29th, CCA will exhibit and demonstrate the fuel at the Milford Renewable Energy Fair hosted by the Southwest Utah Renewable Energy Center.
"Dry process fuels have been around for a long time, at least since the first pulverized coal power plants," Fulton said. "Running engines on burnable powders as opposed to liquid fuel is nothing new. What we're trying to do is to identify the most effective feedstocks, rendering and fuel-injection processes to make dry process biofuels scalable to commercial and military operations."
The advantage dry process biofuels may have over liquid biofuels is a more streamlined and potentially less expensive preparation process, Fulton said. Dewatering the feedstock takes less energy, and no catalytic "cracking" is needed to create a liquid fuel. According to Fulton, CCA is focused initially on the aviation market, and in particular on providing dry process fuels for unmanned military vehicles.
"The military is very open to finding new alternative sources of fuel that promote our country's energy independence," Fulton said. "We're trying to capitalize on that interest."
USTAR recently funded a $39,000 Technology Commercialization Grant at Southern Utah University (SUU) to assist CCA in testing different algae strains and camelina feedstock. Initial tests have been promising, according the SUU chemistry professor Renwu Zhang. In general, the processed strains provided ample combustion heat with only minor residue.
Out-of-state experts have also tested CCA's processed strains. Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Lab faculty member Thomas Cawley recently tested samples for injection system delivery. The CCA material showed promise for high-pressure combustion use and appeared to have little moisture sensitivity, meaning the end product is less likely to clump or jam in commercial use.
In a related effort, Montana State University has provided camelina meal samples to Southern Utah University for testing on CCA's behalf. Combustion testing results yielded great potential for a camelina-based dry fuel.
The most recent milestone CCA has achieved is the signing April 24th of a research agreement with SOLIX Biofuels, Inc. of Colorado. SOLIX will provide algae samples for larger-scale, production tests. "SOLIX is well known nationally," Fulton said. "Working with such an established commercial player is pretty exciting for us."
From connections to university experts to market assessment and branding, Fulton speaks well of his interaction with USTAR. "The grant funding has been critical in allowing us to move forward, and having state support for SUU's testing project has positioned us well with outside companies such as SOLIX."
"USTAR has also provided some invaluable feedback on our business plan, and has helped us target the military aviation market. That advice alone has helped focus our efforts more effectively," he said.
CCA's exhibit at the Milford Renewable Energy Fair will be at Milford High School from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Thursday, April 29th. For more information on the fair, visit www.swatc.edu/renewableenergyfair.shtml. For more information on CCA, contact firstname.lastname@example.com or visit his site at http://algaeaviationfuel.com/. Originally Published by USTAR 4/29/2010 http://newmedia.innovationutah.com/2010/04/29/powdered-algae-biofuel-on-display-at-milford-renewable-energy-fair/
According to president Obama, the Pentagon isn't seeking "homegrown" alternative fuels just to protect the environment, but to "protect America's national security." The Navy is embarking on a radical plan to reduce its dependency on oil. In 10 years, it wants to be able to power all its planes, vehicles and ships using a 50 percent alternative fuel.
The Navy isn't alone. The Army too is developing combat vehicles designed to run on fuels like biodiesel and ethanol. The Defense Department has invested $2.7 billion this year alone to improve energy efficiency, reported President Obama. "Here at home, as politicians in Washington debate endlessly whether to act to reduce our oil dependency, our own military has determined that we can't afford not to," he said.
In short, over the next several years, global oil dynamics may change the planet forever. And America will not be immune.
The United States imports a whopping 56 percent of its daily oil needs—over 10.9 million barrels per day. That is more than the total daily production of Saudi Arabia. But even this number underestimates America's vulnerability to oil shock. That is because America imports close to one fifth of the world's available oil.
And this dependence on foreign oil supplies is set to get worse. America's oil fields are rapidly going dry. Algae fuel is rapidly advancing now, it is no longer a future fuel, it is the right now fuel. Utah based Compact Contractors for America, LLC has developed a fuel based on algal biomass, not oil. Penn State has tested the new algae based fuel and confirmed it does work in combustion engines the military currently uses to protect our country and way of life. Dry Processed Algae Jet Fuel is the now fuel.
Have you ever gone fishing only to discover that your favorite fishing hole was over grown with algae? Well now that same green algae can power jet turbine engine or diesel engine trucks. That's right the algae grown in ponds can be converted to oil and the oil refined into Biofuels for jet aircraft and automobiles.
Algae have the potential to evolve into a mainstream fuel feedstock. Algae are not a food crops, they grow fast and algae remove massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air.
Algae are not a food crops and there has been a huge debate and more focus on the food vs. fuel question. Some critics say agricultural based crops are not sustainable as a fuel source. Corn and Soybeans are being used currently as Biofuel which some say are the blame for higher food prices. For example; some waste collections companies have seen the cost of WVO (Waste vegetable oil) or yellow grease increase to an all time high worth as much as $3.50 cents per gallon. Hey!! Correct me if my math is a little off, but isn't that almost the same price as a gallon of diesel fuel? Algae farms can produce 100 times more oil per acre than traditional oil crops (such as soy oil), which can be converted to Biodiesel.
Algae grow fast. Algae can be grown especially well in desert states that have plenty of sunshine and access to water unusable for drinking. Because of the high salt content in algae, saltwater can be used more economically than fresh water for optimal growth. Meaning our sunny southern states with saline aquifers will make fast and efficient locations to grow algae on commercial farms.
Algae remove massive amounts of CO2 (Carbon dioxide) from the air. Algae farms are glutton eaters of CO2 gas providing a means for recycling waste carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion. It is possible to sequester as much as one billion tons of CO2 per year from algae farms. The United States has one energy plant that produces 25.3 millions tons of CO2 by itself. This new technology has attracted companies that need inexpensive CO2 sequestration solutions. Algae was responsible for creating the Earth's oxygen atmosphere three billion years ago and it took around two billion years to form the modern atmosphere with 20 percent oxygen. Without algae we would not be here.
Algae Biofuel will play a very important part in meeting the worlds growing energy need, Algae has a place in not only our past, but in our future as well.


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The Gleacher CenterRoom 100450 North Cityfront DriveChicago, Illinois
There are more than 20 Chapter Authors and Contributors to The Valuation Handbook. BRIEF insights from some of these other Chapter Authors will present what they think has Changed "After the Election".
Tom Copeland a Chapter Author and a known name in Valuation comments:
After 2010 Election Insights on Valuation:
- Expect 5 to 6 years before Dow returns to previous highs in real (inflation adjusted)terms
- Better valuation models will use real options more frequently
- Expect over-regulation to interfere with market's ability to recover quickly
The Book:
The Valuation Handbook:
Valuation Techniques from Today's Top Practitioners
The Valuation Handbook differs significantly from other related books on this topic because the contributors are practitioners, academics, and investment firms that explain how they value companies and other assets. It concentrates on specific and innovative valuation techniques, rather than the theoretical approaches more generally accepted and discussed. Given the extreme volatility of the stock market, valuation is a critical issue for analysts, investors, and businesses. Here, various professional contributors explain how their firms approach the valuation process, while academic contributors share their valuation consulting and research experience.
Examines how to value assets in today's dynamic market setting
Offers a broad spectrum of ideas from some of the top practitioners and academics in this field
Highlights state-of-the-art approaches to company valuation
Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, The Valuation Handbook puts this difficult discipline in perspective.
Price is $10.00
Register Online
Deadline: 12/15/2010
6:00 PM-6:30 PM: Registration, Hors D'oeuvres and Cocktails
6:30 PM-8:30 PM: Panel Presentation and Q&A
8:30 PM-9:00 PM: Discussion and Networking
Rawley Thomas (Panelist)President, LifeCycle Returns, Inc. (LCRT)
Rawley Thomas is President of LifeCycle Returns, Inc. (LCRT). He served as Assistant Treasurer of SuperValu Stores, joined Callard, Madden in 1981, co-founded HOLT Planning in 1985, and directed Value Management research for The Boston Consulting Group for eleven years. Thomas is VP Practitioner Services for the Financial Management Association International (FMA) and is Chairman of the FMA Practitioner Research Committee. Currently, he serves on the Northern Illinois Accountancy Board and chairs the FMA Practitioner Demand Driven Academic Research Initiative. The objective of PDDARI is to facilitate the development of cutting edge research useful to practitioners, their firms, and the profession. Through this research initiative the FMA hopes to encourage academic research that addresses practitioner needs and to encourage interaction between the practitioner and academic communities. Thomas is the co-editor and contributing author of Wiley's The Valuation Handbook:. email@example.com. LifeCycle Returns supports investment funds, consulting firms and investment banks with process consulting and licensed platforms to create world-class capabilities in their use of value management principles.
William Hass (Moderator)CEO, Teamwork Technologies, Inchttp:// www.TopValueBuilders.com
William J. Hass, CTP is CEO of Teamwork Technologies, Inc.; a value based consulting practice. Bill specializes in strategy, dramatic performance improvement, and turnarounds, as well as board governance, effectiveness and communication for boards and senior management teams. He is a co-author of Building Value through Strategy, Risk Assessment and Renewal, (2006) and The Private Equity Edge: How Private Equity Players and the World's Top Companies Create Value and Wealth, (McGraw-Hill, 2009). Bill is the community leader for the Center for Financial Leadership (CCFL) serving over 20,000 CPAs and is a Certified Turnaround Consultant and former chairman of the Turnaround Management Association. Bill was a partner at Ernst & Young where he led the Midwest Strategy Practice. Bill received his MBA in finance from the University Chicago GSB (1971) and has an undergraduate degree in engineering with highest honors from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Shepherd G. Pryor IV (Panelist)Managing Director, Board Resources, a Division of TeamWork Technologies, Inc.http://www.board-resources.com
Shepherd G. Pryor IV is a managing director of Board Resources, a Division of TeamWork Technologies, Inc. He focuses on board governance, finance, and director training. He serves on the board of Taylor Capital Group, a bank holding company (NASD), as a Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, Lead Director, and Member of the Audit Committee. In the past he has served on the boards of HCI Direct, Petrolane, Inc. (NASD),, and Archibald Candy Corporation. He is a co-author of Building Value through Strategy, Risk Assessment and Renewal (2006), and The Private Equity Edge: How Private Equity Players and the World's Top Companies Create Value and Wealth, (McGraw-Hill, 2009). Shep is a member of the senior faculty at Keller Graduate School of Management. In addition, he serves as an expert witness, consultant, and member of non-profit boards. He was formerly Deputy Group Head for Corporate Banking at Wells Fargo Bank. Shep received his MBA in finance from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and his A.B. (cum laude) in Economics from Princeton University.
Dennis Aust (Panelist)Founder and Managing Director, CharterMast Partners, LLChttp://www.chartermast.com
DENNIS N. AUST is Founder and Managing Director of CharterMast Partners, LLC, a consulting firm that helps senior executives and boards maximize the sustainable value of their firms. He has more than 25 years of experience helping companies maximize value through strategic insight and financial performance. Prior to founding CharterMast Partners, Mr. Aust consulted within the strategy and technology practices at Computer Sciences Corporation. His career includes general management, consulting, at FMC Corporation, Purdue University, and Callard, Madden & Associates, Inc. His roster of consulting engagements includes Northrop Grumman, Eaton, TRW, Heller Financial, FMC, Bell Atlantic (Verizon), Varity (Massey Ferguson), Campbell Soup, Amcena, TBG, BAE Systems, IVAX Corporation, and Continental Corp. Mr. Aust has published several articles covering topics in strategic analysis, consulting, financial management, innovation, and marketing. He holds an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA in management science from the University of Chicago.
Mary Kupjack, '79 Chairman, Business Book Roundtable773.935.7221
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business |
University of Chicago |
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'Tis the spring selling season, or, more precisely, the season to get your home ready to sell. Especially if you hope to move on before the kids have to head back to school.
No matter how grand or modest your fix-up plans, cleaning should be the top priority, the pros say. What needs to be done will depend on the home's condition, and the cost will fluctuate accordingly.


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All You Need to Know About Copper in Three Charts
All you need to know about copper is in the three charts posted above and in the two articles below.
Global Copper Production Under Stress
Copper Shenanigans from Beijing
Copper should be on all our radar screens, it's certainly on mine, is it on yours?
If not, maybe it should be.
*Post courtesy of Richard (Rick) Mills at Ahead of the Herd.+11
More like this...China's Copper Shenanigans
China's copper inventories have "scared the hell out of investors"...
Is Copper the New Red Gold?
I have some hedge fund friends who have discretely stashed thousands of copper bars in warehouses around the country...
In the Year of the Snake, Where Will Copper Head?
With an improving global economy and China's new leadership ramping up projects, will base metals, such as copper, head higher?


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My new album The Road To The Rainbow's End is now available! You can listen to samples and purchase the CD, just go to the Albums Page for The Road To The Rainbow's End. Alternatively, preview and order tracks or the whole album as a download from iTunes.
New single available on my song page When You're A Refugee and as a download from iTunes
Or get in touch, leave a message on the Contact page.
© 2017 Chris Flegg All rights reserved. Edit


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FictionPress.com https://www.fictionpress.com FictionPress.com: Community: Live, Breath, and Smell Comedy! Admin: Eric-san. Newest 50 entries shown. 2017-11-24T20:14:27-08:00 tag:fictionpress.com,2017-11-24:/atom/c2/1164/3/ Eric-san https://www.fictionpress.com/u/550758/Eric-san 2007-07-28T06:50:31-08:00 2007-07-28T06:50:31-08:00 Random Funny Quotes! Everyone loves 'em! tag:fictionpress.com,2007-07-24:story.2394468 Author: Eric-san
Humor
English, Rated: T
Humor/Humor
Chapters: 5, Words: 1,960, Reviews: 23, Rated: T, In-Progress
Quotes. Really FUNNY Quotes. You'll die laughing, I'm serious, people die because they forget to breath between quotes and laugh until they run out of breath! Read, Review, and DON'T forget to breathe! IT'S THE NUMBER 2 CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S. ALONE!


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|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Date de publication
|24 avr. 2012
|Date de dépôt
|24 mai 2007
|Date de priorité
|24 mai 2007
|État de paiement des frais
|Autre référence de publication
|Numéro de publication
|Jun Zheng
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Applied Optoelectronics
|Exporter la citation
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|Citations de brevets (53), Citations hors brevets (9), Référencé par (4), Classifications (9), Événements juridiques (4)
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This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/753,162 entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING CLIPPING IN MULTICHANNEL MODULATED OPTICAL SYSTEMS, which is filed concurrently herewith and fully incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to modulated optical systems and more particularly, to a system and method for reducing or correcting clipping in multichannel modulated optical systems.
A laser may be used as an optical transmitter that transmits light at a given wavelength. The power (i.e., amplitude) of the laser light may be modulated by corresponding modulation of the power used to drive the laser. In a directly-modulated electrically pumped semiconductor laser such as a laser diode, the electrical current that drives or pumps the laser is modulated. The relationship between the light output and the input current for such a laser may be represented using a transfer curve or L-I (light-current) curve. The set point of the L-I curve may be selected so as to maximize the linearity of the laser output in response to the modulation, within the expected range of operation of the output produced by the laser. Although the laser output may be generally linear along a significant portion of the L-I curve, the light output may attain a zero-power level when the input current falls below a threshold current level, which results in an effect known as clipping.
In a communications system where multiple channels are transmitted, such as a CATV system, multiple analog signals corresponding to the multiple channels may be combined into a wide-band multichannel RF signal, which drives a laser to produce a multichannel modulated optical signal. The multiple analog signals may include multiple modulated analog carriers that may be combined, for example, using frequency division multiplexing techniques. One or more digital signals modulated using digital modulation, such as quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM), may also be combined with the modulated analog carrier signals, for example, using subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) techniques. In some systems, for example, as many as 110 channels may be transmitted over a frequency range of about 50 MHz to 750 MHz.
Because the modulation may carry several channels of information at different frequencies, there may be a very large swing of the input drive current in either direction. When many signals are summed and are randomly distributed in both frequency and phase, the ratio of peak-to-average voltage rarely exceeds 14 dB (though with occasional higher peaks). In a CATV system, however, the downstream spectrum is not random. Peak voltage conditions may occur, for example, when a large number of carriers are harmonics of a common root frequency and the carrier phases are aligned. In that case, the time domain waveform can resemble a string of impulses spaced by a time interval equal to the period of the common root frequency. As a result of this occasionally occurring peak voltage (and thus peak drive current) condition, the laser may be driven into hard limiting, causing clipping, when a sufficient number of carriers are in phase alignment. This is particularly true in the case of directly modulated laser diodes, as described above, where a sharp knee occurs in the transfer function below which the light output reaches a zero-power level.
In other words, there will be clipping when the instantaneous sum of various signals causes the drive current to swing too far in the "downward" direction and below the threshold current that turns on the laser. When such clipping occurs, intermodulation products (i.e., clipping-induced distortion) and noise may be generated, which may result in bit errors in the optical output of the laser. Systems including a digital signal (e.g., a QAM signal) added to the analog channels are even more sensitive to noise arising from clipping.
Each channel in a multichannel optical communications system may be driven or modulated up to a certain maximum optical modulation index (OMI). In general, a higher OMI per channel increases the channel-to-noise ratio (CNR). Driving the individual channels too much, however, may cause clipping when the channels line up, as described above. In some systems, each channel cannot be driven more than about 2 to 3% OMI because, if the channels were to line up, the total modulation of the laser would substantially exceed 100%. If clipping could be reduced or eliminated, increasing the OMI per channel would be possible to improve CNR.
Some systems for reducing or preventing clipping have used peak detection circuits to identify amplitude spikes that may result in clipping. When such peaks are detected, the RF drive signal is delayed and the laser bias is temporarily increased until the clipping event has passed. In such systems, however, the long RF delay between the peak detector circuit and the laser transmitter may be difficult to implement.
Other systems for reducing or preventing clipping have used peak detectors to detect peaks, to predict the subsequent peaks and to increase the bias current to reduce or prevent clipping in the subsequent peaks. One problem with this approach includes the difficulty of precisely setting the adjustment window so that it coincides exactly with the subsequent clipping events.
Other systems for reducing or preventing clipping have upconverted the RF signal, detected the envelope of the upconverted signal and used the detected envelope to adjust the laser bias. In such systems, however, an upconverter is required and the envelope detector is specifically designed for detecting an envelope of the upconverted RF signal.
These and other features and advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
Referring to
The system 100 generally includes a clipping correction circuit 110 that receives the multichannel RF signal 106 from the RF source 102 and responsive to the RF signal 106, prevents one or more of the negative peaks in the RF signal 106 from causing clipping. As will be described in greater detail below, the clipping correction circuit 110 may either detect an envelope of the RF signal 106 and/or may detect one or more peaks in the RF signal 106. One or more peaks may be prevented from causing clipping by adjusting the bias current 108 and/or by modifying the RF signal 106 with one or more clipping correction pulses coinciding with one or more negative spikes following a detected peak.
The multichannel RF signal 106 may include multiple superimposed modulated analog carriers at different frequencies. The multiple modulated analog carriers may be modulated using modulation techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as amplitude modulation, and may be combined using multiplexing techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as frequency division multiplexing. The multichannel RF signal 106 may also include one or more digital signals modulated using digital modulation, such as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The resulting multichannel RF signal 106 occupies a bandwidth across the range of frequencies of the multiple modulated carriers. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modulation and multiplexing techniques may be used to generate the multichannel RF signal.
In one embodiment, the multichannel RF source 102 may include headend equipment in a CATV system and the multichannel RF signal 106 may be a downstream CATV signal. Examples of downstream multichannel CATV signals include 77 channels transmitted over a frequency range of about 50 MHz to 550 MHz and 110 channels transmitted over a frequency range of about 50 MHz to 750 MHz. Each channel in a downstream multichannel CATV signal may include a video carrier, a color subcarrier and an audio carrier. Other types of signals and frequency ranges may also be transmitted.
In the exemplary embodiment, the multichannel RF signal 106, which occupies a bandwidth across the range of frequencies of the multiple modulated carriers, directly modulates the laser 104. Each channel in the multichannel RF signal 106 may be driven or modulated up to a certain optical modulation index (OMI) depending upon a desired channel-to-noise ratio (CNR). In one embodiment, the OMI of at least some of the channels may be at least about 4% and more specifically about 5%. When multiple modulated carriers of the multichannel RF signal 106 align in phase, the sum of the voltage of the aligned carriers may result in a peak voltage condition. When the optical modulation index (OMI) of each channel exceeds a certain level (e.g., exceeding about 3% OMI per channel), the peak voltage condition may result in a higher occurrence of negative voltage spikes or peaks that cause the laser input current to fall below a threshold current of the laser 104, resulting in clipping.
Referring to
The laser 104 may include a semiconductor laser, such as a laser diode, having an L-I curve with a sharp knee or point at which the light output reaches a zero level when the input current falls below the threshold current (Ith). Referring to
Referring to
The multichannel RF signal 406 received by the envelope follower 410 includes multiple superimposed modulated carriers and occupies a bandwidth across a range of frequencies of the multiple modulated carriers, as described above. The envelope follower 410 may include envelope detection circuitry that has a response time fast enough to detect an envelope of a multichannel RF signal, such as the RF signal 200 shown in
Because of the time required to detect the detected envelope 510 a, a delay (Td) exists between the detected envelope 510 a and the actual envelope 510 of the RF signal 500. As a result of the delay, the change in bias current 520 may lag behind the RF signal 500 and may not prevent clipping caused by one or more initial peaks. For example, when the actual envelope 510 of the RF signal 500 falls below the threshold current (Ith) at point 512, the bias current 520 would not be at the threshold bias current (Ib) needed to prevent clipping at that point. To account for the delay, a DC offset (IDC) may be applied to the bias current 520 to produce an offset bias current 522 that compensates for the delay (Td). The DC offset corresponds to the delay (Td) such that the offset bias current 522 is at the bias current (Ib) when the actual envelope 510 falls below the threshold current (Ith) at point 512. The DC offset may be about 3% to account for a delay of about 10 μs.
Although the illustrated embodiment detects the lower envelope of the RF signal, a system for reducing clipping may also detect the upper envelope and adjust the bias current in proportion to the detected upper envelope because the waveform of the RF signal is generally symmetric. A DC offset may similarly be applied to the bias current provided in response to the detected upper envelope to account for any delay between the detected upper envelope and the actual RF signal.
Referring to
The envelope detector 610 may also include a decay circuit 620 to provide a decay such that output of the comparison circuit 612 decays after the reaching a peak. The decay circuit 620 may include, for example, a capacitor 622 and resistor 624 coupled between the output 618 and the second input 616 of the comparison circuit 612. The output 618 of the comparison circuit 612 may then be provided to a smoothing circuit 630 including, for example, a low pass filter, which smoothes the output to produce the detected envelope.
As shown in
The detected envelope may then be used to adjust or vary the bias current produced by the bias control circuit 650 to prevent one or more peaks from causing clipping in the laser 604, as described above. The bias control circuit 650 may adjust the bias current in addition to other bias control functions such as bias control in response to a monitored power output of the laser 604. As shown in the embodiment of
Referring to
Referring to
The systems 900, 900′ may also include a delay 922 for delaying the clipping correction pulses such that the clipping correction pulses coincide with one or more subsequent negative peaks that follow the detected peak. The delay 922 may be provided before triggering the pulse generator, for example, by using a delay line in the peak detector path between the peak detector 910 and the pulse generator 920. The delay 922 may also be integrated into the pulse generator 920, for example, as a digital timer/pulse generator that generates a specified pulse at a certain time after the peak detector 910 triggers the pulse generator 920. The delay 922 may provide a delay based on a typical interval (e.g., about 4 μs) between peaks that cause clipping. The interval may be determined, for example, from the period of a common root frequency of the carriers used to generated the multichannel RF signal. The delay 922 may also be adjustable for different systems in which clipping peaks occur at different period intervals.
The peak detector 910 may include peak detection circuits (e.g., analog or digital) known to those skilled in the art for detecting peaks in a multichannel RF signal (e.g., peaks that occur in a multichannel CATV signal). The peak detector 910 detects peaks that fall below or exceed some peak detection threshold. The peak detection threshold may correspond to the threshold current that causes clipping or may correspond to some percentage of the threshold current.
The pulse generator 920 may include pulse generator circuitry known to those skilled in the art for generating a pulse wide enough (e.g., 0.1 μs) to avoid having high frequencies that might cause clipping or interfere with the RF signal. In contrast to adjusting the bias current, a clipping correction pulse provides a narrower, tailored increase in current added to the RF signal, instead of an increase in current that is spread out over a long period of time. The pulse generator 920 may generate a series of clipping correction pulses at a predefined interval once the pulse generator 920 is triggered by an initial detected peak. The interval of the pulses may correspond to the interval between the clipping peaks (e.g., about 4 μs). The pulse generator 920 may also generate a single clipping correction pulse in response to each detected peak.
As illustrated in
Referring to
According to one embodiment, the peak detector 910 may detect an initial negative peak 1010 that would cause clipping and the pulse generator 920 may generate one or more clipping correction pulses 1050 in response to the detected negative peak 1010. The delay 922 delays the pulse(s) 1050 to coincide with the subsequent one or more negative peaks 1020. The clipping correction pulse 1050 thus increases the amplitude of the RF signal 1000 at the time of the next negative peak 1020 to prevent that peak 1020 from causing clipping.
According to another embodiment, the peak detector 910 may detect an initial negative peak 1014 that falls below a peak detection threshold other than the threshold current. The initial negative peak 1014 detected by the peak detector 910, for example, may have a magnitude that is some percentage (e.g., 80%) of a peak that would cause clipping. The pulse generator 920 may thus be triggered by this negative peak 1014 that occurs before the initial negative peak 1010 causing clipping, allowing a series of clipping correction pulses 1050 a, 1050 b to prevent clipping caused by the initial negative clipping peak 1010 as well as the subsequent negative clipping peaks 1020.
According to a further embodiment, one or more positive peaks 1012, 1022 on the positive side of the RF signal 1000 may also be detected by the peak detector 910 and used to trigger the pulse generator 920 instead of or in addition to detecting the negative peaks 1010, 1014, 1020. Because of the symmetry of the RF signal 1000, as shown in
The peak detector 910 and pulse generator 920 may be used as the sole clipping correction circuit, for example, as shown in the system 900 in
Accordingly, systems and methods may reduce clipping by either varying the bias current in response to a detected envelope of a multichannel RF signal and/or by combining one or more clipping correction pulses with the RF signal. The systems and methods for reducing clipping may be implemented, for example, without requiring a long delay in the RF signal path and without requiring upconversion of the RF signal.
Consistent with one embodiment, a system is provided for reducing clipping in a modulated optical system. The system includes a laser including an RF input configured to receive a multichannel RF signal, a bias input configured to receive a bias current, and an optical output to provide a modulated optical signal in response to the multichannel RF signal and the bias current. The multichannel RF signal includes a superposition of multiple modulated carriers and occupies a bandwidth across a range of frequencies of the multiple modulated carriers. The system also includes enveloper follower circuitry configured to receive the multichannel RF signal and to detect an envelope of the multichannel RF signal. The system further includes bias control circuitry coupled to the envelope follower circuitry and to the bias input of the laser. The bias control circuitry is configured to vary the bias current provided to the laser diode in response to a level of the detected envelope of the multichannel RF signal such that at least one negative voltage spike in the RF signal is prevented from causing clipping in the laser.
Consistent with another embodiment, a method is provided for reducing clipping in a modulated optical system. The method comprises providing a multichannel RF signal to a laser, the multichannel RF signal including a superposition of multiple modulated carriers and occupying a bandwidth across a range of frequencies of the multiple modulated carriers; detecting an envelope of the multichannel RF signal; varying a bias current provided to the laser diode in response to a level of the detected envelope of the multichannel RF signal input such that at least one negative voltage spike in the RF signal is prevented from causing clipping in the laser; and providing a modulated optical signal from the laser.
While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.
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|Classification aux États-Unis
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|24 mai 2007
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|9 oct. 2015
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text:
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Building a Trader Joe's in the empty lot on College and Oleander wouldn't cause much more congestion, reports the StarNews.
Citing a traffic impact study done for the City of Wilmington, local intersections get level-of-service grades from A to F. The grades evaluate the level of controlled delay, with F being the longest delay.
College & Oleander gets an E right now. If Trader Joe's builds its 13,000-square-foot store as proposed on the northeast corner, the intersection would still operate at an E.
Contractors project Trader Joe's will open in 2014 if it gets city approval.


text:
Romance and Work?
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The popularity of new television shows such as ABC's The Deep End, includes interpersonal and romantic relationships. One couple is married and experiencing significant marital problems that are spilling over into their work days and another couple is just beginning to explore a new relationship that, of course, is spilling over into their work days as well. While this is all fine and good, it's important to realize first, that it's a television show and secondly, office romances aren't neatly tidied up once a week and within a forty two minute time frame. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of LegalAuthority.com says it's natural for some lawyers to find themselves treading those romantic waters. Partly because of the long hours sometimes required when preparing for a case; it's human nature for a relationship – even a professional one – to progress into those murky waters. It might be human nature, but it can also be dangerous, Barnes points out.
Office romances have a powerful presence in some law firms. They can be distracting to co-workers who are devoting at least a portion of their work days to investigating whether or not there are fireworks going off between two people and if so, how hot are they burning. People begin to watch closely for any tell-tale signs that will not only give the two love birds away, but that might also be indicative of trouble in paradise. A. Harrison Barnes also points out there can be legal ramifications in those seriously flawed office romances. Sexual harassment cases are sometimes filed by vengeful exes, and if there are any adulterous behaviors involved, spouses can be lash out in any number of ways – including barreling into important client meetings. While no one would downplay the devastation of realizing a spouse is cheating, it can be disastrous for a law firm that employs two people involved in anything other than a professional relationship.
So what do you do when you find yourself attracted to a co-worker? Among other things, approach with caution. While we won't definitely discourage it, you may want to check your own employer's policies. It may be relationships such as these are not allowed. If you disregard the policy, you then run the risk of being outed and the very real possibility of jeopardizing your career with the law firm. While there are few, if any, reliable numbers, it's not uncommon for one half of a potential love affair to change jobs.
Thinking it might be the best avenue for you to pursue, too? Consider LegalAuthority.com and the many career opportunities it presents from law firms across the country. Here, you can update your resume, change specialties and get a new start. This way, if the romance does blossom, you're not in violation of company policy, says Barnes. The problem comes in when someone believes they shouldn't have to sacrifice anything, despite company policies. This line of reasoning, of course, is exactly why so many legal firms discourage or prohibit romantic relationships at all.
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text:
The Boy Scouts of America's new policy that allows gay boys to be vocal about their sexual orientation was a victory for some. Others, however, were fond of the "Don't ask, don't tell" rule and feel the change is worth leaving over.
Scott Scarborough, a former Boy Scouts volunteer and committee member under the South Plains Council, resigned his position with the organization on Sept. 1 and is bringing an emerging faith-based alternative to West Texas.
Trail Life USA was started in July by former Boy Scouts officials and adult volunteers who left Scouting over the homosexuality dispute. More than 1,200 people representing 44 states met in Nashville, Tenn., for the national organization's first convention earlier this month.
Trail Life will use the outdoors to teach young men and boys the importance of character, leadership and adventure — much like Boy Scouts.
But unlike Boy Scouts, Trail Life will require its leaders to sign a statement of faith in one God and will operate under churches, Christian schools and nonprofit religious organizations only, Scarborough said.
Trail Life will also avoid the issue of sexuality — something Scarborough said was working for Scouts and the organization should have continued to do.
"BSA made this Y in the road," he said in an interview last week. "What they did is they forced each and every family to decide where they're at. The position had been, 'We are asexual.' We're boys and young men, and Scouts is not the place to discuss sex."
Scarborough feels separate boy and girl dorms or tents during coed campouts with Girl Scouts will no longer be adequate to prevent temptation.
"If the pressure is normal heterosexual pressure, it's really easy to separate that. When you get this other, now you're blind to it. You're not as equipped to foresee and protect kids," he said.
A professing Christian, Scarborough said he personally believes no one should have sex before marriage.
Trail Life will discourage its young participants from being sexually active — whether straight or gay.
Practicing homosexuals will not be allowed into the program.
Trail Life takes its slogan, "Walk Worthy," from the book of Colossians in the Bible and includes a pledge to serve God, as well as country. However, members of any background are welcome, Scarborough said.
"I want them all," he said. "I'm not there to turn your kid into a Christian. What we want to be is we want to be God-centered. We want to be Bible-based, but not churchy. I don't want to be breathing that down these kids."
Steven Warren, a retired senior district executive for the South Plains Council, said he thinks Boy Scouts will see a significant change in membership, sponsorship and charter organizations long term because of the policy change to allow gays, but he's not too concerned about the organization's troops on the South Plains feeling the effects immediately.
But as with any business, the competition of emerging organizations like Trial Life will be good for Boy Scouts, Warren said.
"Competition is a good thing," he said. "You get better. He (Scarborough) is joining this other organization which sounds like they're going to do really good things for kids."
Boys in Trail Life who start in kindergarten will begin their journey as Woodlands Trails. In sixth grade, they will move up to become Navigators and in ninth, Adventurers. The organization will also have a program for 18- to 25-year-old males called "Guidon."
The highest achievement in Trail Life will be the Freedom Award, and the requirements — with the exception of a ministry obligation — will be similar to those of the Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, Scarborough said.
"I think in three years, we will start being known. In five years, we'll be a presence or a force," Scarborough said.
He held the first local information meeting about Trail Life on Thursday at Lubbock Christian School, which has already expressed interest in becoming a charter organization.
Scarborough hopes to have four to six troops fully functioning by January.
"We're well on target," he said.
• 766-2194
Follow Natalie on Twitter


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Cloud Engines has launched an updated, Wi-Fi-enabled version of its Pogoplug device. The Pogoplug Pro stores and shares files over a home network but can also be used to access and stream files from a remote location. The Pogoplug setup can be controlled via an iPhone app or from another Mac or PC. Pogoplug users are also able to securely share their content with friends, family and colleagues.
The Pogoplug Pro builds on the features of its processor by offering built-in Wi-Fi and the ability to add multiple users. Guest users can store files without the need for their own Pogoplug device. You can even create custom email addresses so friends and family can email files straight to folders on the Pogoplug.
The device also comes with a web view that allows other people to preview but not to download your files via the web. The Pogoplug interface is customisable so you can change the colour, logo, domain name and background image to suit you.
The Pogoplug Pro will be onsale in the UK this month and costs $99.
See also: Pogoplug review


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This weekend in riding (2/4 &2/5) Flats and a climb
SART 02/04/12 ...flat 42
Wow, where to begin? So many friends out there today, some we hadn't seen in a while. First ran into Louie promoting his upcoming Sikad ride to a couple of riders, Ray and Ron. One dude on the trail shouted my name but I'm not sure who he is, I'm thinking a forum member I have not yet met.
Thinking this would be a windless ride compared to last week, I was wrong. Wind pretty strong once again, strong enough to move that huge flag across the river(video)near Kramer. Getting close to the coast Brian and his new bike ride up on us so sure, we need to talk a bit about the new wheels. Once at the coast, we run into Alex2 (missed his pic), Mark & Gail, Herb & Alyce on a 50 mile loop) Doctor Sarah, Mr. Nice Guy Pete, Kevin who we hadn't seen for a long time, Ron & Dixie, Marcello and George doing another Looong ride (also missed the pic).
Well we had planned to head back early but with all the familiar riders we, as always took a bit longer. Thought we'd ride with Marcello and George but the riders kept coming in so we missed the chance, sorry Marcello.
We did head back with a few riders including Dr. Sarah, Herb and Alyce on their tandem but were soon joined by Rona and Dixie flying on their tandem. Ha, too much for us, they were rollin' and when they hit the short downhill, they were G-O-N-E! I had planned to get a pic of them on the tandem, in action but their action blew us away before I could snap a shot ha ha!
Sunday GMR Climb 02/05/12 ..11 mile climb 3,000 ft. Gina hit a max of 35 mph. Getting better.
Nice day on GMR. Leave to Alyce to choose a GMR ride. Just when you think you're going to do a slacker ride she suggest GMR ha ha!. Well always a nice ride and a good tasty chicken & ribs lunch special after the ride.
Herb & Alyce did a 46 mile loop on Saturday so I figured they'd have a tough time today. Hm, might have been a slow start but once they warmed up, it wasn't all that bad. Heck, once we got to the shack we saw a plane doing tricks somewhere along GRR. So Alyce suggested we go look for it. I'm game but once we got there, the plane vanished. We at around a bit then it returned for one final trick (in the video).We sat around for a bit thinking ti might come back. But it didn't, Dude, wassup!
There plenty of riders and crotch rockets on the road. So on our way back from GRR I slowed at the fork to make sure it was clear when the gals came though. That's when heard a voice from the side of the road shout,"can I get a picture for bike forums?".
Ha ha! Turns out to be Chefxian from the SoCal section. We chat for a bit about rides but then I must leave to catch the others. Pretty cool guy! Funny how the forum personalities are usually pretty different in person. Nice to meet the guy, gives me some faith that there are still some good friendly members out there that I haven't met yet ha ha!
I also ran into JasonA of the forum. Well should I say he blew past us like an F-16. I swear I have never ever seen anybody moving that fast up GMR. Well I guess that explains why he placed so well on the Everest Challenge!
Too many pics to post (check out the blog if you like pics)
Always a great read, and lovely pics. Will watch the movie later at home =)
Thanks for sharing
Ok, need to get up GMR again. Thanks for sharing, always a motivator for me.
Great as always:thumb:
Thanks guys!:thumb:
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:57 AM.


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Occupy Wall Street's "Leader-full" Movement
Though all movements have their rough patches, the Occupy movement has proven resilient in its first two months. Now, on Thursday, the movement plans to celebrate and motivate with a series of actions across the country.
Unions and Occupy Wall Street protesters will be joining forces next week for a "day of action" to pressure lawmakers on jobs.
The AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union and the Laborers' International Union of North America will partner with Occupy Wall Street for "We are the 99 percent" rallies on Thursday. Liberal groups like MoveOn.org and the American Dream Movement plan to participate.
Many of the events, union officials said, will be focused on urging lawmakers to pass more federal funding for infrastructure.
Actually, it doesn't sound to me like the OWS movements will have anything to do with infrastructure. They plan to confront Wall Street and then occupy subway cars before marching in Lower Manhattan.
What's interesting about this is that the Rebuild the Dream coalition announced these actions way back in October at the Take Back the American Dream Conference. But they've essentially been folded into the Occupy Wall Street activities, and under that brand. This is what resonates with Americans, and so they have to get under the umbrella.
That's become an interesting outgrowth of OWS; they have no pretensions to leadership, and let in a leaderless world they have consolidated that leadership on the left to some extent. This mirrors the "leaderless" movements of the Arab uprising, many of which nevertheless were able to achieve their goals. In this networked age, it's easier to go into metaphorical combat with wave upon wave of activists and organizers rather than one totemic figure who will ultimately become a target. Some of the problems that Occupy Wall Street is having right now have to do with anger over a leaderless movement becoming too suffused with leadership.
As Micah Sifry explains, the notion of "leaderless"-ness does not connote a disorganized, unformed mass, however:
No, political movements can't be leaderless. The Occupy Wall Street movement is, in fact, leader-full. That is, the insistent avoidance of traditional top-down leadership and the reliance on face-to-face and peer-to-peer networks and working groups creates space for lots of leaders to emerge, but only ones that work as network weavers rather than charismatic bosses. Ilyse Hogue, a progressive activist who was on the staff of MoveOn for many years, recently put it this way, in one of the first uses of the term "leaderfull" that I have seen:
"We should all strive not for leaderless movements, but for leaderFULL movements. The former trends towards autocratic loudest voices dominating. In their best manifestation, the latter creates equitable space to raise up all voices, create mechanisms for group decision making and accountability, and to catalyze self-responsibility and empowerment."
Instead of top-down hierarchies, the Occupy movements are building networked masses. There are going to be growing pains with such a formation, which goes against traditional instincts of how societies get constructed. But it has the potential to be incredibly powerful. The way that this new progressive movement, as Jeffrey Sachs calls it, can get agency is through individual initiative, though every member of the community taking part, rather than taking marching orders.
The conditions certainly exist for a breakthrough in America. Youth unemployment is at almost the same rates here as it was in Tunisia and Egypt when their revolutions started. There's a chance for real change coming out of this movement, even if we don't know what it will look like. But it has to become leader-full, not leaderless.


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A water main break closed one of Balboa Park's main thoroughfares during the busy Labor Day weekend.
The Cabrillo Bridge was closed for about 12 hours as crews repaired an air valve in El Prado, according the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department. The corroded air valve broke around 5 a.m. Sunday, flooding the iconic bridge with water.
"A 36-inch line is a very big pipeline, and it's a lot of pressure. That's why there was so much water that came out," said Arian Collins, Supervising Public Information Officer with the utilities department.
At this point, officials don't know how many gallons of water were lost. Nowhere in the park lost water, but some areas experienced low water pressure, Collins said.
The Cabrillo Bridge sidewalks remained open for pedestrians. Dogs and kids were spotted playing in the water.
The road reopened around 6 p.m. Sunday.


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I'd tap the Maiden in Black.
Now that I think about it, Dark Souls doesn't have a "high scores" room like Demon's Souls did.
I'd tap the Maiden in Black.
Now that I think about it, Dark Souls doesn't have a "high scores" room like Demon's Souls did.
And so, Knight Solaire became a Dark Wraith, invading all on Xbox live whom began to become overconfident.
I had thoughts about making another PS3 account with a name relating to Dark Souls and doing some co-op or something...
So I finally made a character that is viable in pvp. I spent 3 hours last night in the forest getting summoned to defend it, aside from BS lag stabs the fights were really fun and I stood a chance for once.
My PSN name is Matrokill, and yes I do want fuckin part of this coop session idea thingy
My PSN is Elysion70
I think we should also get Skype names so we can actually communicate with each other if we're playing on the PS3.
We could also set up an idea on how we want to play before we actually start.
I'm up for coop now that I got my connection problems sorted.
PSN is Spyder-638
No microphone if you are planning Skype though.
How do you dodge the Hydras water shots? They all kinda lock on to you and they have a huge AOE and might as well instakill you.
Off the top of my head, you might try zig-zagging back and forth while running. Once you get close enough to them, they'll stop shooting water at you. But don't get too close, because you'll fall of an edge in the water and die.
I underestimated NG+ and got killed over and over by the knights at the church
Be sure to also have a bow, the last head might be tempermental to get close to you to hit it with your weapon.
psn is chram6000
if we are going to do this coop thingy i think i'm going to create a character based on Reah, start as a priest and put everything into faith and some in attunment, then heal like crazy
Can i get in on this Coop stuff even if i haven't got past Lordran yet?
I'm just going to make a character similar to my main character.
Also, we would all be starting new characters.
Is there a Steam Group we can all go in to chat about this?
new characters facepunch coop sillyness
I'm in if it's on PSN
I could also make a steam group
join it
If anyone bought this on Xbox they're a silly a person, that and it really only feels right to get it on the console it started off on. (Even if i don't actually own the first one)
Yeah make a Steam Group then post the name on here.
Got Dark Souls today.
Dat Taurus boss. I have no idea how to get that guy.
A Steam group might be fine.
It would probably be a more efficient and fast way of contacting us about playing.
Once you go through the fog gate, turn right and go up the ladder to kill the two archers. After that, just walk across the wall until the Taurus Demon jumps down. Immediately turn around and run straight to the ladder and go up it.
When the Taurus Demon is positioned in front of the tower, just jump off and give him a good poke to the head with your sword.
After that you just have to get really close to him and start pounding on him.
Also, use a good shield.
Just when i think i'm doing good i kill the Taurus Boss and then i got to cross the fucking bridge and i get instant kill by a dragon, fuck this shit.
Welp, my first char is going to be a pyromancer. Shit yeah
Dafuq, how do you aim this fireball shit? I'm getting my ass handed to me by this giant skeleton thing.
If you're seeing giant skeletons, you're probably going the wrong way, too.
Undead Burg is awesome way to get started.
And pyromancy can be aimed without lock on as well. It's just a complete bugger to do so because their trajectory is limp.
i just got to Blighttown.....any tips/hints on how to walk around this piece of shit of a maze?
Also make sure you bring lots of moss. You can farm it from the ents in Darkroot. You'll also want to find the Shadow Set, which is located pretty early on in Blighttown. And you'll really want the Rusted Iron Ring, which you get by going back to the Undead Asylum.
As said kill those fucking dart shooters first. Getting and equipping the shadow armour would be your safest bet, heavy armour isn't very useful in Blighttown. Also an easy way to kill the dung golems is to just backstage them.
So can anyone help me with the 4 Kings? I'm a SL 63 PS3 player. Just post in here if you can help because I'm trying to get into the Darkwraiths but they are insanely hard for me for some reason.
How is the weapon balance in this game compared to Demon's Souls?
Also I have an idea for an Ornstein-esque build, it'd go something like focusing on;
Faith (>50 for the Great lightning spear)
Strength and Dexterity at minimum requirements for one handing the Dragonslayer spear.
Armour: Mix between Ornstein set and some other items. I take Giants helmet, and Havel's gauntlets.
Weapons/hands: Dragonslayer spear and talisman (Great lightning spear and Emit force)
Would it work
Where is the famous box art armour set found?
This one:
Darkroot gardens, in the giant area with the Stone giants.
Didn't notice the pun
I find it annoying how i died on that Bridge in Undead Burg and there was a ladder to kick for the Bonfire below the bridge, I'd seen ghosts/spirits of other players climbing up a wall, i never knew there was a ladder.
I'm assuming i shouldn't go anywhere near the Dragon at that the end of the Bridge?
You can get the drake sword by shooting arrows at it's tale which should help a little on the weapon side of things for a bit, and that's about all you'll want to do with the Dragon. You can make it jump down onto the bridge, at which point you can run past it into the tower place it's guarding, where there's a bonfire. After that just ignore it or kick its ass.
Yeah you pretty much want to cut off its tail and run past it once as there is a bonfire and a shortcut behind it. Best done when you aren't carrying souls & humanity as you will probably end up dying at least once.
As an added bonus if you cut off the tail it makes the dragon randomly not appear at the bridge. You can always kill him off for good later.
Don't worry too much about the dragon though. I only took care of it after I was level 70 with +10 equipment.
Also worth noting is that there's a great fire resistant shield in the Valley of Drakes which you can access early if you have the master key. Just head down from firelink shrine and there's a door you can open.


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Shelley and Bubba took a group of listeners to the Harmony Inn in Harmony Pa. A place that is crazy haunted. Many paranormal investigators have gone through the house and as Chris the owner said, none have walked out without have some kind of experience.
That held true for us and our listeners.
Tables moving, people getting chased, people getting touched, voices being heard.
One of the coolest things is when we come back in the morning and listen back to the audio. We hear so much more then we hear when we are there. There was a TON of ghostly voices that we found. Below are some of the better ones.
Thanks to Shamrock Limousine for providing us with amazing transportation for everyone.
Here is one of the times when a table lifted up and floated and dropped. Listen carefully to the "growling" at the begining. We did NOT hear this in the room.
Here is the voice of a ghost saying "No" when asked a question. Once again, we DID NOT hear this when we were in the room.
The first audio is the raw audio, the second audio is with the volume turned up on the ghost.
This is audio when a ghost says "I didn't" . First one normal, second one increased volume.
Here is a ghost saying "You can't, No one can". First one normal, second one increased volume.


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PBS NewsHour full episode Feb. 10, 2016
Wednesday on the NewsHour, presidential candidates move on to South Carolina after Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders claim New Hampshire victories. Also: Analyzing the next phase of the White House race, checking in on Egyptian leaders of the Arab Spring, assessing the top global threats, the Supreme Court halts Obama's climate change plan and a new play examines the decline of the Rust Belt.
Aired: 02/10/16
Expired: 03/11/16Video has closed captioning.


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Tim Flinn (Letters, 16 February) is right when he questions whether the independence referendum is about the right issue.
Above all, it is also about the "status quo", or rather, any one of five options ranging from the current original devolution arrangement (ie, more of the same), to the discredited Calman proposals, and the further three options the unionist parties will, according to Better Together tsar Alistair Darling, present in their 2016 manifestos – too late for consideration alongside independence in 2014, and in direct contradiction to their hitherto support for Calman.
The bullying tactics of the unionists meant deletion of devo-plus, the preferred option expressed in opinion polls.
So, if there is a constitutional mess, it is the fault of the unionists, who never seem to know what they think until they hear what First Minister Alex Salmond has to say.
Douglas R Mayer
Thomson Crescent


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Arrival and Welcome Week at Penn State
Congratulations on your decision to attend Penn State University! We are anxiously awaiting your arrival to campus to introduce you and your family to Penn State through our Welcome Week program!
Be sure to visit the University arrival site below for important information about arriving on campus, what to bring, directions to you residence hall, your parking pass for arrival, and lots of other important information.
New University Park students will receive a copy of Preface before you arrive on campus. Preface will introduce you to Penn State and answer some of your questions before arrival day. Inside Preface, you will find the Welcome Week schedule to see what activities you want to be a part of and see what is available to them when you begin their career at Penn State.
Our goal is to help you make a smooth transition to college and to give you the best opportunity to learn about the many resources and opportunities available to you on campus. Residence Life's Welcome Week efforts are designed to help you get to know the people who are here to help you reach your goals, learn about being a member of the Penn State community, and of course, meet other students!
Transfer and change- of- campus students are encouraged to attend all Welcome Week programs at University Park. Welcome Week programs are designed to help all new students with useful information about our campus and the services offered. You won't want to miss Transfer Student Orientation or our Change-of-Campus Welcome, two programs designed specifically for new, upper-class students. You will receive information about the orientation program designed for you via email during the summer.
For our returning students, Welcome Week and arrival are a chance for you to help our new students' transition to Penn State and ensure a successful first few days of college and discover new opportunities at Penn State. The PSU Welcome Crew is a volunteer program where upper class students help new students and their families move in to their residence hall rooms and start getting acquainted with the campus. For more information, please visit the PSU Welcome Crew web page.