text:
Perhaps it's hard to imagine a novel centering on an 80-year-old woman where not much happens to be compelling and even fascinating. But in the hands of Stewart O'Nan, this story is just that and more.
In EMILY, ALONE, O'Nan revisits Emily Maxwell, who was introduced in his earlier book, WISH YOU WERE HERE, and follows her through one gray Pittsburgh winter and into the spring. The pace, like Emily's own, is slow and rhythmic with an attention to detail, feeling, and the subtle changes in self and season that we so often allow to pass us by without notice or comment. With the aging but independent Emily as a guide, the life of an elderly woman is portrayed with lovely observation, thoughtful insight, and a gracefulness of language that makes this novel transcend particulars and move toward the universal.
Emily still lives in the house she shared with her husband, Henry, and where she raised her two children, Margaret and Kenneth. Now her only housemate is an aging dog named Rufus. But she spends many days with her friend and sister-in-law, Arlene, at their favorite restaurant, at church, at their country club, or at the funerals of friends and neighbors. When Arlene, who was always the driver on their excursions, has an episode that lands her in the hospital, Emily must drive for the first time in a long time. The sense of freedom and accomplishment is powerful and uplifting.
As she still pines for her family, frets over her own funeral arrangements, deeply misses her husband, keeps busy with mundane tasks, longs for the springtime, and worries about Rufus, Emily takes a chance and buys a new car. She surprises herself with her daring, yet remains acutely aware of the passage of time and its effect on her and those around her throughout the novel. O'Nan wonderfully captures both the inertia and momentum of aging. Emily's tale is never dull, even when it painstakingly recounts the smallest details of her daily life.
Emily's family, who lives far away, remains distant --- physically and emotionally --- for most of the novel. With so many friends and relations dead, the book is really Emily's alone. The supporting characters are all interesting and well-written, but the story is almost a solo act; yet reading over 250 pages about Emily is never dull. Even as she moves from room to room changing out boxes of tissues, O'Nan writes Emily with a compassion and humanity that draws readers in.
Despite its focus on the small and everyday, EMILY, ALONE is not without tension. But the tension here is mainly emotional, the conflict interior. Readers are lucky enough to be privy to Emily's thinking, which is sometimes funny, often bittersweet, and always quite honest. It is an elegant examination of aging, family and identity with a fine balance of the surprising and the expected. It is at once optimistic and totally realistic, and every page is a joy to read.
As a sequel or stand-alone title, EMILY, ALONE is an understated yet powerful character study from one of America's outstanding storytellers.
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman on March 28, 2011
Emily, Alone


text:
These days you can pick up a generic card reader for virtually nothing, that's if you haven't got one already built-into your PC. Even I only purchased a Sandisk model rather than a cheap unbranded one because I managed to pick up the Sandisk cheap on an auction site.
Since then, however, I've personally encountered 3 generic card readers suddenly fail, while my Sandisk Imagemate reader has kept on working perfectly. So it seems paying a little extra for a decent brand may not be such a bad idea after all.
Before I continue, I should point out that imagemate reader I'm reviewing is indeed the "5-in-1" version that reads SD, MMC, xD and SD cards. It appears that Sandisk also makes very similar versions that read only a single card type, so watch out when you buy!
The reader itself comes with a USB cable and software disk. The software is only required if you want to use the "download" button on top of the reader. This apparently allows you to set up the reader to save your photos to your chosen photo folder every time you press the button. I have never tried this feature though, and without the software, the reader works fine in Windows just as any other mass storage device.
The detachable USB cable is about 1.5m long and a nice feature if you manage to break the included one or find it isn't long enough. It's not really unique though. And for some reason Sandisk decided to use the "A"-type connector found usually on printers, rather than the more common "mini-B" connector used by cameras, phones, MP3 players and incidentally, many cheaper card readers.
The reader appears to copy files faster than any others I have used, which is nice now that 4GB and even 8GB cards are commonplace.
It has only a single specially-shaped slot at the front which will accept all of the mentioned cards. This seems like a good idea, but in practice it can sometimes mean cards are reluctant to slot completely in. Some of my memory stick cards take a few tries at inserting before they are detected.
A very nice feature is the fact that most versions of the reader support newer SDHC cards. Mine wouldn't accept them initially, but I was surprised to find that the Sandisk website had new firmware available that updates the reader with SDHC support! The fact that Sandisk put in the effort to make older versions of their product user-updateable really has improved my opinion of them as a company and saved me the cost of having to buy another card reader.
My only real negative is the fact that it doesn't support CompactFlash cards. This is unlikely to affect most people as CF is such an old standard, and I knew this when I bought the reader, so I can't really complain.
So overall, it's a great card reader. Is it good value though? You'll have to decide that for yourself. The reliability and SDHC upgrade would have certainly made it worth the extra for me, hence the overall 5-star rating.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BLIND football is being given a boost by a Hawkwell football club as they hold a taster session.
The event is designed so anyone with a registered visual impairment, male or female, can go along and have a go.
Sighted friends or family members can attend and experience what blind and visually impaired football is all about.
Blind football uses a ball with a metal bearing inside that makes a noise when it moves so players can track its sound, goalkeepers though are fully sighted.
Partially sighted football Matt Levington said: "Kicking a ball around in a competitive game is something I feared I might never be able to do again. "Not only am I now able to play a sport I have always loved but doing it has kept me in touch with reality and gives me the same buzz it always used to do."
Hawkwell Athletic Football Club, in association with the Essex Football Association, will host the session on April 26 from 10am to 12pm at King Edmund School, Vaughan Close, Rochford.
The event is free and registration is open now at www.hawkwellfc.com/bf


text:
Small businesses still face a number of challenges, the National Federation of Independent Business' latest survey shows. But hiring at the nation's small firms may be improving – good news for young people looking for a change in their employment situation.
According to the NFIB, a net negative 3 percent of small business owners indicated that they had plans to hire in September, meaning that small-company payrolls were shrinking. In October, though, a net 1 percent of small companies said they plan to hire new employees in the next three months.
And small companies appear to be gaining pricing power: More are raising prices and fewer are lowering them, the NFIB says. If small businesses can charge more for their products, their financial health could be improved significantly.
With economic conditions moderating, business owners are, in general, getting more optimistic. The NFIB's sentiment index rose 2.7 points to 91.7 in October.
Small firms are responsible for a large chunk of the country's jobs growth. According to the Small Business Administration, they created 65 percent of net new jobs during a recent 15-year period. And, with the picture brightening for small firms, they may soon be more willing to hire.


text:
Together we can solve state mess
So, now the people of California have rejected Sacramento's "solution" to our economic mess. And now, it seems, the next move is to close our state parks and, more importantly, put the budget deficit onto the backs of those who are least able to defend themselves, our children and our disadvantaged.
What does this say about our society? Our "culture?" If there was ever a time for our "leaders" to step forward, that time is now.
Self-serving efforts should be saved for the "good times." Our challenges require us to come together as a community and put peripheral ideologies aside. Get outside the box. Our challenges are identifiable. Relatively simple. The solutions are complicated but are they beyond the imagination of this community? Together, we can achieve. Divided, we are in the wind.
This is a representative democracy! It is our responsibility and in our best interest to explain, to our elected representatives, our hopes and feelings about whatever. In turn, our representatives should serve as our agents. We hire them and should trust them at least as much as our doctors and lawyers and veterinarians to earn their pay and act in our best interests.
I encourage all voters to make their feelings known to their representatives at every level. And, I would encourage all of our representatives to make themselves available by e-mail, phone or in person. This sort of communication will have immediate results.
Rather than being paranoid of suggestions and opinions, our leaders should embrace our diverse heritage and seriously consider contributions when they make decisions that will affect us all.
Kurt Gripenstraw
Smith River


text:
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text:
So you've RETIRED – what's next?: A Practical Guide
Today's Free Kindle eBook: So you've RETIRED – what's next?: A Practical Guide For Your Happy Retirement
Recently retired? Retiring soon?Approaching retirement is a milestone event in anyone's life. For most of our lives retirement feels like it's on the distant horizon, something to think about tomorrow rather than today. When the day finally does arrive, for many it can feel a little daunting and overwhelming – how should one spend all this new found free time?Olivia Greenwell offers friendly advice on how to navigate your way through the questions you may have and new opportunities that could present themselves in retirement. Covering topics such as getting one's house in order, supplementing pensions with additional income, discovering new hobbies, going on those trips you always wanted to take, staying fit and agile, and of course seeking a sense of meaning to life. As you pursue the peace and contentment of retirement, this book aims to help you discover what makes YOU happy, and how to enjoy your life to the fullest.
To get the freebie please click on this link:
So you've RETIRED - what's next?: A Practical Guide
The linked site is not operated or owned by FreebieSelect!


text:
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Creator's Description
The final stage of the transition to the next year is called Yom Kippur . Jewish day of atonement, forgiveness, understanding, prayer and meditation. In light shows day was called "The Book of Life." Decision is whether you have the right to enter in the "Book of Life" for the next year. This year, the "Judgment Day" and Yom Kippur September 26th. May all worthy of the day transition


text:
>I don't know about the other languages, but I'm pretty sure Navajo attaches
>an ogonek (hook bends to the right), rather than a cedilla, to vowels (to
>indicate nasal quality).
That's right: the ogonek can be attached to a, e, i, and o in Navajo.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jul 10 2001 - 17:20:46 EDT


text:
|Governing Boards
The governance of ACBSP is spelled out in detail in the bylaws of the organization. The ACBSP Bylaws are available to download as a PDF.
The association is a member driven organization that elects its Board of Directors (seven elected from the membership at large, four serving to represent the two accrediting boards, and one appointed by the Board to represent the public at large).
An institution located in the United States must be a member of a regional accrediting body to be eligible to apply for membership in ACBSP. Institutions awarding degrees outside of the United States must present, with the application for ACBSP membership, a certified translation of an official document from an appropriate government organization in their respective countries stating recognition, accreditation and/or their right to grant degrees.
While services and benefits are delivered to a variety of individuals on the campus such as the college president, chief academic officer, head of the business unit and a number of faculty, the membership is institutional with one vote per institution. Each institution has a designated primary representative and alternate representatives who are the individuals authorized to vote for the institution in all matters of governance.
ACBSP membership is further divided into two categories. Each institution is a member of ACBSP and in addition is a member of Associate Degree Commission or the Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Commission. This is done for the purposes of administering the accreditation program.
There are two Boards of Commissioners -- one for associate degree programs and one for baccalaureate/graduate degree programs. A Board of Commissioners is elected by its respective commission. Each commission serves as an autonomous body that determines whether institutions that apply for accreditation of their business schools and programs meet the accreditation standards that are promulgated by that Board of Commissioners. Each Board of Commissioners is composed of ten members, nine of which are elected from the membership in each commission and one appointed by each Board to represent the public at large.
The staff of ACBSP reports to the Board of Directors and serves the needs of each Board of Commissioners and the membership at large.
Board Membership Rosters


text:
Alleged architect of USS Cole bombing arraigned
Attack in Yemen in 2000 killed 17 US sailors
By Peter Finn Washington Post / November 10, 2011
Text size – +
After more than nine years in U.S. custody, four of them at a secret CIA prisons, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 USS Cole bombing finally appeared in public yesterday when he was arraigned in the first death penalty military commission under President Obama. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi of Yemeni descent, was one of three detainees waterboarded by the CIA. He entered the courtroom in Guantanamo Bay with a shoulder-rolling swagger, leaned back in his chair, and gave a thumbs-up to his lawyers.
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text:
True love is often scandalous…
As her brother and sister prepare to make their Society debut, Kat Thistlewait vows to sit on the sidelines like a proper young lady. Fate has other plans, though, and when Kat tries to save her mischievous twin she lands herself in a compromising position with battle-scarred and world-weary French nobleman Jules Devereaux. Knowing that no lady of quality would ever overlook his imperfections, Jules agrees to marry Kat in order to save what little reputation she has left. A marriage of convenience isn't what either desires, but love can grow from the most unlikely of sources.
©1990 Elaine Sima and Sherrill Bodine (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
"A talented author with a real gift for linking the modern reader to the glamorous past." (RT Book Reviews )
"Short, sweet, exciting!"
A very well designed tale delivered expertly!! Without erotic sex scenes but with heated longing this book was a joy to listen to. Incredibly narrated and written it's exactly what a HEA story in this Era is supposed to be.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text: Last year I bought the GenRight Swing Down Tire Carrier and love it. I run 40" tires and lifting a spare onto a normal tire rack is almost impossible to do by yourself. With this, you roll your tire on to it, secure it and swing it up. It is really sturdy, doesn't rattle or ever come loose. It is a great product and worth the money. The only downfall to this is the visibility, you really can not see out the back at all because the tire blocks your view. This may be a problem if you are street driving your jeep. When off road, you don't have to worry as much because you can just bump up against whatever is behind you and it doesn't really affect the tire or the carrier. Overall i would recommend this to the serious wheeler with 37'' plus tires.


text:
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Learn about our Zappers
From My Home To Yours Shop now
The CTBusters Basic Zapper has a new look! The old black boxes were a bit scuffed-up from being shipped improperly. The new purple boxes are shipped to us individually wrapped and they arrived in perfect condition. If you are a prior CTBusters customer you know we like purple! Finally the Basic Zapper has a clean, distinctive look.
Buy one or two or twenty today!
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text:
If you could write a letter to your 15 year old self....
What would it say??
Add your quick reply below:
You must be a member to reply to this post.
Replies (1-10):
by LMAO on Sep. 6, 2013 at 9:52 PM
2 moms liked this
To chill out, have more fun and be confident.
1 mom liked this
Do not have sex!! I had my first baby @ 17. Love him to pieces but wish I would've waited.
Posted via mobile.cafemom.com
1 mom liked this
Don't get with "him" enoy your youth and make new friends!
by Anonymous 3 on Sep. 6, 2013 at 9:54 PM
2 moms liked this
To tell myself that I was doing it right, instead of always second guessing myself and missing out on what other kids were doing. Tell myself that things turn out really well, and that those I used to envy for being so free willed are all sad and lonely cases as adults.
3 moms liked this
Stop being a whore.
Posted via mobile.cafemom.com
by Bronze Member on Sep. 6, 2013 at 9:55 PM
1 mom liked this
Mine would be: Dont be so shy! Be more active in school functions!
by Anonymous 5 on Sep. 6, 2013 at 9:55 PM
3 moms liked this
Your mom might be obnoxious, but she really does have your best interest in mind. Don't go to VA!! Moving in with a guy you've known for two weeks is a seriously horrible idea. You're worth way more than you can imagine, make sure you demand that you be treated that way.
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You must be a member to reply to this post.


text:
TTL Spring 2014, Week 8.rev1
By davechristensen on May 5, 2014 in
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- Lake Pleasant Fall Race Results November 21, 2017
- December's Meeting: Twisted Gift Exchange November 21, 2017
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text:
On September 4, SL Jones dropped his second mixtape release of the year, "Way Of Life No Hobby," which follows the release of his Trapper's Delight EP. The artwork of his latest project is based on an old hobby—Jones used to casually sketch—but the self-proclaimed "street patriot" says his chosen trade of rapping is far from just a pastime.
"It's not just something I just pick up and put down," Jones said during an exclusive conversation with HipHopDX. "It's not a like, 'Oh, okay it's all fun.' The stuff I'm talking about, and what I put into it, is just [a reflection of] how my mind works. It's like any other grind, and that's how I approach it…with that same mind frame."
While the words "trap" and "grind" may have less than glamorous definitions for some listeners, Jones has his own unique definition of what the verb trap means.
"It's an acronym for Taking Risks And Profiting," Jones said. "When I say a risk is a risk, most people think especially in the street. When we say taking risks, that means you're doing something that will get you locked up; that's the truth. But anybody can relate to that, because, Steve Jobs dropped out of school to start Apple. He took a risk. His parents probably wasn't down with that."
While drawing parallels between his own ascent with the late co-founder and Chairman and CEO of Apple, Jones added that he also took inspiration from someone closer to Hip Hop.
"[I like] Andre 3000 because of his ability to not be placed in a box," Jones said. "It's like he could do whatever he want to do. He wore a wedding dress to the Grammy's and nobody called him gay. He could just do whatever he want to do. He was probably the first person you seen wearing a kilt in a video. He could just do anything he want do, and he ain't scared. He not scared to be criticized, like coming out with a record like "Hey Ya," after being arguably one of the best lyricists, that's my number one lyricist.
SL Jones' "Way Of Life No Hobby" is available as a free download via Livemixtapes.com and it can be streamed below. The mixtape features Kevin Gates and Killer Mike among others.
The Little Rock, Arkansas product made his debut in 2007 with the mixtape "C.O.L.O.R.S.," and he has since worked with Don Cannon and Metro Boomin' while making an appearance on Killer Mike's I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind, Underground Atlanta.


text:
This premium T-Shirt shows a Tribesman of the Bretons, inhabitants of the province High Rock which is setting of The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. High quality, 100% pre-shrunk cotton for a long lasting fit, even after being washed several times.
All Artworks are original designs and printed in a very durable silk screen procedure. Each T-Shirt is packaged in an eye-catching blister packaging for easy presentation on blister walls or shelves. The packaging is also available in different heights and can hold a DVD case as well, making it a good choice for bundles.
- Original artwork: tribesman of the bretons
- Made with 100% pre-shrunk cotton
- Printed in a durable silk screen procedure
- Blister packaging
- Colour: light grey
- Size: extra extra large


text:
Roilynn brown
Roilynn brown Poems
- Father Talk I wanted to talk to my 'Father' today, so I ...
- The 3 'R's' As I deal with life's state of fact's, I seek ...
- The Difference Of Same - The S...
- The Color Of Life As I burst into Life, to a rainbow of ...
- Nine Angel's When I think I am alone, there are nine ...
- This Day Seconds, minutes, hours, this moment, this ...
- The Trip Journey or destination, that is the question. Does ...
Click here to add this poet to your My Favorite Poets.
Comments about Roilynn brownmore comments »
p.a. noushad
dear Roilynn brown, i like your verses very much.
p.a. noushad
dear Roilynn brown, i like your verses.
Father Talk
I wanted to talk to my 'Father' today,
so I called his son's name 'Jesus', my brother,
to get a direct line to Him.
Living and abiding in Heaven,
all petitions go through my brother.
There's no call waiting, I am not put on hold,
and no leave a message after the beep.
It is my mouth to his ear, my brain to his mind,
my emotions to his heart, and my nature to his spirit.
I began to tell him all my earthly troubles,
my doubts, my fears and my weaknesses.
Calling his Heavenly name 'Jehovah',
I went into his Heavenly Kingdom that is come, ...
PoemHunter.com Updates
Check out
Classic Poets
Footsteps of Angels
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A Song About Myself
John Keats
A Very Short Song
Dorothy Parker


text:
This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
Mets Fan New York Times Team History Book
The perfect gift for any New York Mets fan. A book filled with Mets highlights from inception to present, including the 1969 & 1986 World Series, opening of Shea Stadium & more. Personalize the cover for a special keepsake.


text:
Back to Turf for Tranquility Lake?
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's Tranquility Lake may head back to the turf for a repeat attempt in Saturday's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's Tranquility Lake may head back to the turf for a repeat attempt in Saturday's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar.
Red Baron's Barn LLC's Janet utilized a ground-saving trip under jockey David Flores to earn a half-length win over 3-5 favorite Tranquility Lake in Saturday's $400,000 Ramona Handicap (gr. IT) at Del Mar.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux will return from a 10-week stint in Japan to ride at Hollywood Park on Sunday. Included in Desormeaux's four mounts on the card is Astra, the Santa Barbara Handicap winner who will carry 121 pounds in the Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IT).
Favored Tranquility Lake received no respite from a pair of Bobby Frankel trainees in Saturday's $221,350 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park. After Frankel-trained High Walden took the front-running Tranquility Lake out of her game early on, stablemate Happyanunoit rallied in the stretch to win by a head. The win marks the fifth time a Frankel-conditioned horse has won the Gamely Handicap.
Janis R. Whitham's homebred Beautiful Noise earned her first stakes victory Sunday at Santa Anita, winning the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap (gr. II) by a head over High Walden. Under jockey Chris McCarron, the 14-5 favorite completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.27 on a firm turf course.
Running Flame, a mare bred in India and that country's Horse of the Year in 1999 is among the 12 older fillies and mares entered in Sunday's grade II Santa Ana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles over Santa Anita's Camino Real Turf Course.
Her name conjures up images of grace and wealth, elegance blended with strength. That glistening chestnut coat gets oohs and ahhs every time she leaves the comforts of the Jenine Sahadi stable. Her snow-white blaze puts an exclamation point on every stride, the power of which hits you like a Mack truck. Such is the wonder of Golden Ballet. But don't let her image deceive you. She's no monster. She just runs like one. She's no tank, either. She's only built like one.
Sunday's grade II La Cañada Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is shaping up to be a battle of titans. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Spain won the series opening La Brea Stakes Dec. 30 and if the Bob Baffert- trained El Encino winner Chilukki makes the lineup, then the La Cañada becomes a true rubber match of the three-race La Cañada series for 4-year-old fillies.
The connections of Gaviola have accepted an invitation to enter the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland on Oct. 8 and the filly is now considered a likely starter in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.


text:
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- Digital
Telit Introduces Two Qualcomm Technologies Based Modules
by PD&D Staff
Telit Wireless Solutions (Raleigh, NC) has announced the introduction of the UE910 V2 HSDPA and HE910 V2 HSPA+ modules based on Qualcomm Technologies chipsets, each to be banded for European and North American markets. The new products are fully compatible with Telit's xE910 family and can be easily dropped into existing or planned designs for xE910 modules requiring no additional rework. Features include:
- Dual-band 3G and GSM/GPRS/EDGE support.
- A top 3.6 Mbps downlink data rate for the 3G UE910 V2, and up to 14.4Mbps downlink and 5.76Mbps uplink data rates for the HE910 V2.
- Availability in local band-group variants as required for all major carriers and partner networks in North America and Europe.
- Availability in North America with 850/1900MHz and in Europe with 900/2100MHz dual-band combinations.
For more information visit www.telit.com.


text: The good ole' U.S. of A ... happy birthday! July 4, 1776 was the birth date of our beautiful country. That makes us 237 years young as a nation - so let's celebrate! The 4th of July means something different to each of us. Like BBQ parties by the beach or ice cold refreshers by the lake. Whatever it is that makes us smile, we send our love in saying happy 4th of July fellow Ruchettes! Enjoy the wonderful decadence in celebrating a country worth celebrating.


text:
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery (30 November 1874 – 24 Nisan 1942 / New London)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
One Of The Shepherds
We were out on the hills that night
To watch our sheep;
Drowsily by the fire we lay
Where the waning flame did flicker and leap,
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
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text:
Controller makes power supply redundancy easy
Post a comment
Traditional methods for connecting redundant power supplies usually involve placing a diode in series with each power supply output and tying either the cathodes or anodes, depending on whether the power supply is positive or negative, together at the load.
This is commonly referred to as diode OR-ing and, although simple, is far from an ideal solution. Flaws include power losses, uncontrolled inrush current, and no overcurrent control. Some of those weaknesses can be effectively addressed by the addition of a hotswap controller, but a complete solution is possible using the TPS2350 and no OR-ing diodes.
The alternative is a power supply with programmable features such as undervoltage (UV) and overvoltage (OV) limts, current limit, current slew rate, circuit breaking and a fault timer to prevent nuisance trips, all with only a fraction of the power loss typical to OR-ing diode solutions. The article illustrates how the TPS2350 integrates these functions with an intelligent selector, which draws current from the power supply with the greatest voltage magnitude. The total solution uses less than ten external components, minimizing footprint and cost.
Redundant Power Supplies - The Diode OR-ing Method
Figure 1 shows the traditional implementation of a redundant -48V telecom power supply system. The supplies might be batteries, rectified and bucked line voltage, or the output of a DC-DC converter.
The design's major functions ensure that load has at least one backup power source and that neither supply appears as a load to the other. This design performs both functions but does nothing to protect against voltages and currents which "go out of bounds". The diodes can easily supply the voltage and/or current necessary to destroy downstream electronics.
The diode losses in a diode OR-ing scheme are calculated by multiplying load current by one diode drop. Other than using Schottky diodes with a low forward voltage drop there is little the designer can do to reduce the losses.
Ploss in diode OR-ing solution
Ploss= ILOAD x VF diode
If the diodes are replaced with FETS and a controller, the losses are the square of the load current multiplied by the FET resistance ( RDSON).
Ploss in FET OR-ing solution
Ploss= I 2 LOAD x RDSON
Now we compare the losses of a 10 Amp supply using Schottky diodes with VF = 350 mV to a FET OR-ing solution using FETs with RDSON = 8 mΩ.
Ploss in diode OR-ing solution
Ploss= ILOAD x VF diode = 10 x .35 = 3.5 W
Ploss in FET OR-ing solution
Ploss = I 2 LOAD x RDSON = 102 x .008 = 0.8 W
The reduction in power loss is significant. The FET solution has less than a quarter the loss of the diode solution with no reduction in performance.
Redundant Power Supplies - The Low Loss, No Diode Method
The TPS2350 operates with supply voltages from -12 to -80 Volts and, in addition to selecting the appropriate power source, provides complete hot swap protection regardless of the channel selected.
During normal operation the TPS2350 will maintain two of three external FETS in a fully enhanced state to provide power to the load, in this case Q1 and Q2, or Q1 and Q3, depending on whether VINA or VINB is the selected power source (See Figure 2). Regardless of which supply is selected, Q1 performs current ramping and circuit breaker functions when power is turned on or when an overload condition occurs.
Q2 and Q3 are used solely to select the power source and are never on at the same time. They perform the diode's function in the diode OR-ing scheme. Figure 2 shows a typical TPS2350 configuration with the necessary Rs and Cs to program all protection functions.
PLoss of TPS2350 Supply Selection Circuit
The losses in a TPS2350 controlled redundant supply are a function of the load current, RSENSE, and RDSON of the external FET. The losses are shown below for a TPS2350 controlled 10 Amp supply with 8 mΩ control FETs and Rsense equal to 10 mΩ
Ploss= I2LOAD x ( RDSONQ1 + RDSONQ2+ RSENSE) = 102 x .026 Ω = 2.6 W
If this system were to use Schottky OR-ing diodes with VF =350 mV instead of FETs for supply selection the power loss would be calculated as shown below.
Ploss= ( ILOAD x VF diode ) + (I2 LOAD x (RSENSE + RDSON)) = 3.5 + 1.8 = 5.2 W
The example diode OR solution loses 5.2 watts, which is twice the losses of the TPS2350 solution. It is critical to properly size the FETS to the load in order to control I2R losses. An undersized FET can actually have higher losses than a diode at high currents. Fortunately, the selection of low RDSON FETs is getting better each day and the designer has the flexibility to select whatever FET best meets the need. If the design calls for even lower RDSON, a second, third or fourth FET maybe put in parallel. Table 1 lists a small sample of FETS available today.
Selection of Q1 isn't as simple as selection of Q2 and Q3 because Q1 is in the saturation region with high voltage and high current during turn-on. Consequently, Q1 will have a high power dissipation surge and must be rated for such.
Supply Selection " or "How Does the 2350 Know Which Supply to Draw From ?"
The supply select comparator will drive GATA or GATB depending on which supply is more negative, as sensed at pins VINA and VINB (See Figure 3). 400 mV of hysteresis is built into the supply select comparator. 400mV is small enough to prevent forward biasing of the body diode in whichever FET is turned off, yet large enough in most cases to prevent "toggling" between supplies when IR drops in the supply lines cause the "just turned on" supply voltage to droop. If system requirements dictate, components can be added to set hysteresis at a higher level.
Undervoltage Lockout ( UVLO )and Overvoltage Lockout ( OVLO )
UVLO and OVLO are set using R1, R2 and R3 in a standard three-resistor ladder network. This circuit defines the input voltage window, which enables the output. In order to extract as much power as possible from a battery system, the accuracy of the UV comparator has been set to a very tight 0.93 percent from 0 to 70 degrees. This precision not only allows for longer operation on a back-up battery, but reduces the need for expensive precision resistors in the power supply design.
Controlled Current Turn-On and Current Limiting
A significant advantage of the TPS2350 over existing solutions is the controlled current turn-on which delivers smooth load voltage ramping, regardless of load characteristics. This allows the use of less expensive FETs and provides the capability to drive virtually any load with minimal risk of excessive current.
Setting the current ramp controls maximum di/dt as the FET's are turning on. Using CRAMP to set di/dt to a maximum value helps prevent disruptive, or possibly destructive, EMI from propagating through the system far more effectively than the common approach of limiting dV/dT. This familiar problem is caused by the large bulk capacitance lurking downstream, which appears as a short when the module is first plugged in.
To set the turn on current slew rate, an external capacitor is connected between RAMP and SOURCE. During turn-on, the TPS2350 charges this capacitor to establish the reference input to the LCA at 1 percent of the voltage from RAMP to SOURCE. The closed-loop control of the LCA and the pass FET maintain the current-sense voltage from SENSE to SOURCE at the reference potential, so the load current slew rate is directly set by the voltage ramp rate at the RAMP pin. When fully charged, RAMP can exceed SOURCE by 6V, but the reference is internally clamped to 40mV, limiting load current to 40mV/RSENSE. When the output is disabled via OV, UV, or due to a load fault, the RAMP capacitor is discharged and held low to initialize for the next turn-on.
Controlling maximum current to the load by setting RSENSE is another important feature which prevents harmful current surges from propagating and can allow the use of smaller FETs. This also functions as a circuit breaker and will shut off power load if load current exceeds the threshold as set by RSENSE.
Fault Timing and Output
The FLT# output is an open drain active-low indication that the 2350 has shut down due to a faulted load. If the load current stays limited for more than the fault time as set with the FLTTIM capacitor, or if the load current produces more than 100mV on the current sense resistor for more than 3μs, a fault has occurred. Whenever the fault latch is set, timer expired, GAT and FLT# are pulled low. FLT# is cleared when both supplies drop below the UV-comparator threshold or one supply exceeds the OV-comparator threshold. The FLT# output is pulled to the lower of "VINA and "VINB. Fault time is set using an external capacitor between FLTIM and SOURCE. The larger the capacitor, the longer a fault condition must occur to be declared a fault. This timeout protects against indefinite current sourcing into a faulted load while providing a filter against nuisance trips from momentary current spikes or surges.
The TPS2350 provides TSSOP and SOIC solutions to power supply selection in a redundant power system while providing a full array of programmable hot swap functions. The TPS2350 is flexible and simple to use without the weaknesses associated with the traditional diode OR-ing solution.
As telecom signal processing voltages continue to drop, the currents continue to rise. Active, intelligent hot swap and circuit breaking capability are becoming more important requirements in redundant systems for reliability and safety.
About the author
Jim Bird is with Systems Engineering for the Power Interface Products Group of Texas Instrument's High Performance Analog Division in Manchester, NH.


text:
The DFL candidates running for governor have been pretty vocal about raising income taxes for wealthy Minnesotans as a way to solve the state's fiscal problems.
They've said less about the possibility of expanding the state sales tax -- a move that would hit all income levels. But some Democrats say an income tax increase alone won't solve the state's ongoing budget problems, and they say they would consider a broader sales tax -- even on clothing -- as another part of the solution.
Minnesota's sales tax rate of 6.875 percent is among the highest in the country. But Minnesota's sales tax base is among the narrowest because it doesn't include clothing, food and a long list of business services. An expansion of the sales tax could provide a significant boost in state revenues, and that's why Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said the idea is worth discussing.
"I have talked often about expanding the sales tax for example to services. We now have a service-dominated economy and a tax system that's based on an outdated goods-dominated economy," Gaertner said. "So we at least have to be talking about it. Specifically, I think we need to talk about raising the sales tax on clothing as well. We're one of the very few states that doesn't do it. It doesn't make sense any more in this economy."
"Half of our problem today has been that Tim Pawlenty took too many options off the table."State Sen. Steve Kelly
Other DFL candidates say they're also open to expanding the sales tax. State Rep. Paul Thissen said he'd consider a tax on clothing as part of a broader overhaul of the entire tax system. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said he'd also look at a broader sales tax as long as it's linked to lower property taxes.
"I'll walk into office and look at all of those issues together, and I don't think it's smart to lay out a full tax plan in a campaign," Rybak said. "You need to have the whole power of the government behind you, the whole knowledge of that. And you can't isolate a sales tax from everything else."
Former state Sen. Steve Kelly doesn't want to get pinned down either. Kelley, who's been advocating the creation of a tax on energy consumption, said he wants a broad range of tax options on the table.
"Half of our problem today has been that Tim Pawlenty took too many options off the table," Kelley said. "And if a governor goes in with a new set of restrictions, our state is going to be in the same difficult time again."
Most DFL candidates regularly proclaim that the state's poor take a disproportionate hit when it comes to income taxes and property taxes, and they're concerned a sales tax expansion would only add to that regressive burden. State Rep. Tom Rukavina of Virginia, said he is firmly against a sales tax on clothing.
"Clothing is a necessity. Go stand in Embarrass, Minnesota, when it's 40 below zero and tell me it's not a necessity," Rukavina said. "You'll freeze to death."
Rukavina said he might consider expanding the sales tax to some goods or services that are primarily purchased by wealthy Minnesotans, but didn't offer specifics.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, another opponent of a sales tax on clothing, is also not ready to list the personal services she might be willing to tax.
"It would include a package of services," Kelliher said. "I mean I would be interested in recommendations from people who look at what the impacts are on the economy as well."
Kelliher said any expansion of the sales tax would have to reduce the 6.875 percent tax rate.
DFL State Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook has looked at several sales tax options as the chairman of the Senate tax committee. As a candidate for governor, Bakk said a lower rate is the only way to get public support for an expansion.
"It can't be revenue neutral, because the state needs some additional revenue," Bakk said. "So there's going to have to be some gap of new revenue in there. But I do think to get the public to buy in, you're going to have to lower the overall rate. And the question of how much you can lower it or how much you bring in really depends on how many things you extend it to."
Expansion of the sales tax is largely a nonstarter for the rest of the DFL candidates. Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, former state Rep. Matt Entenza and State Senator John Marty say their priorities are making changes in other areas of the tax code.
Republican candidates for governor are nearly uniform in their opposition to tax increases. But when it comes to the sales tax, former state auditor Pat Anderson said she supports expanding the sales tax to clothing and services as part of a restructuring plan that would also cut corporate taxes.
Editor's note An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that the sales tax rate is 6.5 percent. The passage of a constitutional amendment last year raised the rate to 6.875 percent, and this report has been corrected to reflect that.


text:
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text:
Typical cost: $22,279
Compared to: Toyota Camry LE 4-cylinder
Hybrid cost premium: $2,303 (Based on Edmunds.com "True Market Value." No tax credits are available on Toyota vehicles.)
Overall mpg vs. non-hybrid: 46 vs. 29.9
Annual fuel savings: $543 (175 gallons)
The comparison to a 4-cylinder Camry makes sense because the Prius offers almost the same amount of interior space. Since the Prius was designed from the wheels up as a hybrid vehicle, its hatchback body style offers ample storage space.
The Prius' hybrid-only design also allowed engineers to maximize its fuel economy. For instance, the Prius gains fuel economy through its unique aerodynamic shape as well as through its hybrid drivetrain.
AOL Autos: Vehicle details


text:
This university forum/colloquium was definitely not a very friendly one:
This university forum/colloquium was definitely not a very friendly one:
...Not everyone is a member of the linked website... You may wish to repost the article in question.
I'm not a member, and I can see the article ..?Originally Posted by lightatdawn
M.Eng Computer Engineering CandidateB.Sc Computer Science
Robotics and graphics enthusiast.
So can I, with Internet Explorer 6 and Iceweasel 18.104.22.168 (that's Windows and Linux).
Seek and ye shall find. quaere et invenies.
"Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it." -- Alan Perlis
"Testing can only prove the presence of bugs, not their absence." -- Edsger Dijkstra
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." -- John Powell
Other boards: DaniWeb, TPS
Unofficial Wiki FAQ: cpwiki.sf.net
My website: http://dwks.theprogrammingsite.com/
Projects: codeform, xuni, atlantis, nort, etc.
Weird. I couldn't see it earlier, but now I can... Of course, I just wiped my HD, installed XP 64-Bit and a new version of Opera so I'm sure I'll never know the reason.
A very interesting article. Sounds like it would have been even more interesting to be there.
I highly doubt Mahmoud (sp?) was expecting a receptive audience. He's of little consequence anyways, nothing more than a mouthpiece for the radical clerics back in Iran. I don't consider Iran a threat either, no more than Iraq was portrayed by Bush n' Co. before the launch of this g'damn war. I still get into arguments with what I consider to be gullible idiots at the legion who believe that Hussein had a hand in 9/11. Sure, he (Saddam) was a no good, murderous <edited> who realistically got what he deserved, but on the other hand he also knew how to keep his population under control and served as a potential threat to Iran. He's gone, Iran's grown balls and Bin Laden is laughin' his a s s off. On the upside, I no longer need to worry about cobblin' enough money together for my world trip, we americans aren't welcome anywhere.
It's been a splendid six years...
Edited by mod. The filters aren't there to get around.
Last edited by CornedBee; 09-26-2007 at 05:02 PM.
I kind of think that the remarks of the President of Columbia were rude and uncalled for, even if they are true. I would think that one would show more respect to a guest speaker, even if that guest speaker is pretty much an enemy of the USA.
Summary: UofC president/dean is an idiot. Among the highly educated and hopefully critical minds of the masses that participated in that discussion (Mahmoud may or may not being of that category) there was absolutely no need to start off the proceedings with a series of sore-ass remarks either geared to take cheap shots at the president, or to profess his innocency and lack of support of the presiden'ts agenda, despite the invitation. In the former case, he only imparts sympathy for Ahmenijad (whatever), and in the latter case, I'm sure we (and his student body) is intelligent enough to figure that, despite the extended invitation, his motives were solely based in the exercise of free speech; he does not need to go into a 20 minute lecture/insult fest to prove it to us, thats just insulting to their (and my) intelligence. I really expected more than that from the president of one of the leading universities in the US... sadly though, I could not say the same for the president of Iran. He, on the other hand exactly met my expectations: dodgey. Though I must say he seemed smart enough to avoid political castration of his arguments by avoiding his once hardline claim that the holocaust never happened. In aswer of these questions, once again, UofC embarrassing the entirety of the US and Western world, gave Ahmadinejad the perfect opportunity to shine again by outwitting them, making them appear foolish in their claim that "facts are facts and do not require any more research", when clearly on-going research is always an invitation for higher learning. Of course, I have no doubt that by "continued research" he meant discovery of facts that would lead to a half decent argument that the holocaust did not exist, but to the unbiased viewer, it appeared that he was truly interested in further knowledge of the events of WWII, whereas the US simply wanted to "close the books".
Of course I can claim to know better of Ahmadinejad's real motives given his previous, lets say, quite unsubtle reveals of his agenda, but truthfully and honestly, from an unbiased and completely neutral standpoint in the context of this discussion alone, I would have to conclude that Ahmadinejad actually came out looking much better than what the American public would have had of him; in turn making the UofC organizers/presenters look like complete, utter idiots, content to uncourtiously insult a man present on their own invitation and still have the audacity to go on about excersing the "morals of free speech", going on to ask questions and expecting answers "as they want to hear them".
Despite my utter dispise of the man, I would have to say I agree with him on many of the decernable points he made (with one of the laughable exceptions being the "there are no homos in Iran" statement... that brought me to a laugh, especially since I've seen the hidden cam documentaries of that subculture in Tehran) simply because of the fact that he twisted and rephrased the questions into answers that no logical person could disagree with (for example, the statement that continued research in ANY area, including the holocaust is always undeniably a good thing, as well as the fact that he was riddled about executions and aptly countered with the example of American captical punishment. Fortunately, one of the very few moments of mental clarity was present enough in the dean to realize he dodged the specific quesiton of not execution, but execution/persecution of children/women/otherwise innocent citizens).
But make no mistake though, this man is dangerous. Not because of his ability to manipulate underground terror cells, no, because of America's blinding zeal to persecute him so much so that they would make him a public martyr, even in the eyes of their own citizens, such that, if given a week more in the public eye of the American Media, I'm sure they themselves with the help of American Public institutions such as UC, would turn him into a saint.
p.s. Don't blame Bush for any of this. Blame the american public. The surge was shown to have been working, so what does Bush do? he reduces troop levels, why? to appease the american public because they have grown (always were) fickle, content to tie their own hands hands behind their back. Such is democratic politics everywhere though, it works well in civil matters, but such shakyness will never see success in wars such as these. When you try to represent everyone at once you end up representing no one.
I wouldn't know where to begin to mention that the last time I visited this forum was September 14, 2002. But it was. But all those posts have likely been pruned by now and noone here will likely remember me, since my last affairs were pm'ing Sean Mackory and he's gone now and I will have to wait another year.
But anyway, on topic. I just want to know what changed the President's mind from not allowing him to speak last year, to allowing him to speak at Columbia University this year.
Is he that much less of an evil dictator?
BMSprint.com - Waste your time reading my drivel about politics and life.
Please, sometimes there's just nothing else better to do.
Oh yeah, and pretty soon I am going to host a TV Show on BMSprint.com too. Another time waster.
I think this political stunt worked as Ahmadinejad planned, namely he expected to be treated in a hostile manner, which bolsters political support for him back home. It's especially rude to mistreat a guest in everyday Middle Eastern culture.
I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.


text:
The Nevada Supreme Court has vacated the death sentence and ordered a new penalty hearing for a Las Vegas man convicted of fatally shooting a cabdriver during a 1990 robbery.
In an unanimous ruling, justices said "aggravators" used by a three-judge panel to impose the death penalty against Frederick Paine were invalid.
"Therefore, Paine is not eligible for the death penalty and his sentence of death must be vacated," Chief Justice James Hardesty wrote for the court in the opinion issued late Tuesday.
The case was remanded to Clark County District Court, where Paine, now 39, likely will be sentenced to life in prison.
Paine was 19 when he robbed Kenneth Marcum of $45 and shot him in the head.
He was originally sentenced to die by a three-judge panel, but that sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court because one panel judge apparently fell asleep during the proceedings.
A second panel imposed the death penalty again, and the sentence was twice upheld by the Supreme Court.
Justices in Tuesday's opinion said the court has since overruled previous legal findings it relied on to affirm the sentence in its earlier rulings.
In separate rulings, the Supreme Court upheld the death penalties of two other inmates, James Chappell and William Witter, both of Las Vegas.
William Witter, 46, was sentenced to die for the 1993 killing of James Cox, who was stabbed in a hotel parking garage when he arrived to pick up his wife from work and interrupted Witter trying to sexually assault her.
Chappell was sentenced to death for beating, raping and stabbing to death his ex-girlfriend and mother of his three children in Las Vegas after he was mistakenly released from jail in 1995.
A first death sentenced was overturned in 2000, but Chappell, 39, was again sentenced to death after a second penalty hearing.


text:
The Story of Patrik Strömblad
Written by, Linnea Andersson of Helsingborg, Sweden
Patrik, age
Catharina Kullenberg
Patrik, age
For me it all started when I found a photo of a young man in an old box at my aunt's place. On the back of the photo one of Patrik's nieces had written: "Mother's brother, left for America and wasn't heard from. The last time was when he wrote to our father and asked him to send the last money he had left in Sweden". The photo and some letters, which I found in the same box, aroused my curiosity and I decided to find out what happened to Patrik. Some older relatives knew that he went to America to dig for gold but they had no idea what happened to him. So I had to start from the very beginning.
Patrik and his twin brother Oscar were born in Jonstorp, Sweden June 3 1869. Their mother, Catharina Kullenberg, had been widowed by a sailor, and she also had a little daughter named Hilda from her first marriage. After her husband's death she married another sailor named Christian Strömblad and the twins were the couple's first children. Later, they also had three daughters: Betty, Ida and Hanna and one more son, Nils. Little Ida died from scarlet fever at the age of four.
The father was out on the sea for long periods, working to earn a living for the growing family. Catharina got a lot of help to take care of their children from her mother Bolla who lived near the family and was a dear and important person to her grandchildren.
Patrik's twelfth Christmas became a horrible event. His father, who had suffered from pneumonia for some time, passed away on Christmas Eve. Some years later, in March 1887, his mother died from consumption and left six children, between 11 and 22 years old, without any parents.
Patrik was 17 years old and now had to make his own living. His brother Oscar decided to follow in the footprints of their father and became a sailor. But that didn't tempt Patrik. He had heard about the gold in America and decided to try his fortune. A month after his mother's death Patrik left his home district for good. April 7, 1887 he got on a Danish ship and left for Portland, Oregon.
The first of the preserved letters, which I found in the box, written in Astoria, August 1887, was sent to Patrik's sister Hilda. Patrik says that he likes America and believes that he can get a good life there. But he also writes that there are a lot of temptations to give way to and that he doesn't like the rainy Astoria. He would rather like to go to Portland and work for an American because then he would learn English. But he changed his mind and instead he stayed in Astoria for some months and then left for Douglas City, Alaska in the winter 1888-1889. There he worked in a goldmine, first by cleaning the steam engine and then as a stoker. Patrik finds the job okay but he is a bit frightened by the Indians and thinks that he has come to a real wilderness. In August 1889 there is a strike in the mine and Patrik writes that if it continues much longer he will leave and try to find a job somewhere else.
It seems like the strike didn't continue much longer because Patrik stays in Alaska until December 1890. Then he travelled around the country for four months before he settled down in De Lamar, Idaho. He enjoys living in a more civilized place with a nicer climate and now works in a silver mine. Hilda wants to know if he will ever come to Sweden again and he writes that it could be nice to see the place where he was born again but everything has changed and he doesn't think that he could be satisfied living in Sweden anymore. He also tells her that he has given up his civil rights in Sweden and instead taken the oath of alliance to America.
In all of his letters Patrik writes about the family and people in Jonstorp and he always sends his special greetings to his old grandmother. He writes that he would really like to meet her one more time but that never happened because she died late 1891 at the age of 83. Two years later his 18-year-old brother Nils, who was a sailor, died from typhoid in Savannah, Georgia.
In one of the letters, when Hilda has told Patrik about several deaths in their home neighbourhood, he writes "Well, we will all come to that point. There is no help from that, but we are seldom prepared for it, it always happens when we least expect it".
When he wrote those lines he had no idea that his own death would come very suddenly. He lived and worked in a mine in Lundy, Mono County, California. In the winter of 1911 there fell very much snow which at midnight, March 7, came down from the mountain. The big avalanche caught the concrete house in which Patrik and some of his companions slept and the house slid about 300 yards before it finally stopped.
It took almost three days for the first rescue workers to go from Bodie to Lundy in these bad conditions. When they got there Patrik and the other men were dead. Their bodies were taken to a farm nearby, where they lay for a couple of weeks until the road was opened so it was possible to transport the coffins from Bodie. The people who had tried to rescue the avalanche victims and later worked hard to open the road between Lundy and Bodie also gave Patrik and the other victims a dignified funeral ceremony and gravestones with their names on them. Patrik Strömblad died as a bachelor at the age of 41.
After a long time of wondering, the mystery about Patrik's disappearance was finally solved. I found the Mono County GenWeb and decided to e-mail the web mistress Denise S. Flynn and ask her if she could help me to find out what happened to Patrik and it didn't take long before she gave me the answer.
Patrik was the brother of my grandfather's grandmother.
"The Fine Print"
The CAGW Administrative Team:
State Coordinator: Martha A Crosley Graham
Assistant State Coordinators: Claire Martin & Joy Fisher & Jeanette Harris
Online Continuously since 1996. All materials, images, sounds
and data contained herein are not to be copied or downloaded for purposes of
duplication, distribution, or publishing without the express written permission
of The CAGenWeb Administrative Team. Any and all future data which is
contributed to this project will be returned to the donor upon request.
This web page is maintained on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project and is paid for by supporters. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you have corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly, please contact the site coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.
Site Coordinator: Dianna G. Curtis
Site Updated: 16 April 2016Back to Mono County GenWeb Main


text:
I have a connection at a local wholesale fitness dealer who sells body solid equipment and I can get a discount on their equipment. Unfortunately, they do not have either on display so I am asking those of you with experience with the PPR200X Powerline and the GPR378 Bodysolid rack for buying advice.
The GPR378 is about $200 more than the PPR200X and I understand it is more sturdy (thicker steel). Are there other features that make the GPR378 worth the extra money (hole spacing, ease of spotter bar/j-hook movement, etc..)?
FYI I have been lifting seriously for about six months and am squatting in the low 300s and benching in the mid 200s at 225# body weight. I want to stay at the same weight and really push myself so this rack should see squats in the 400-500# range and possibly more.
Thanks for your help!
I but and sell alot of gym equipment, understand that neither are commercial quality. I would go with the GPR because its just made better.
I have been training for over 5 years on a TDS/NewYorkBarbells power rack that is very similar to the powerline one. It has handled multiple 500+lb squats with no issues, to include suspending the weights via chains and tow straps. It is small and sways, but still keeps up with me.
Thats pretty damn tough for home line equipment!
Popeye:I understand they are not commercial quality, I need one that is shorter than 8' to fit in my basement though anyway and don't want to spend more than $600.
T3:Thats what I figured would be the case. As I get stronger I figured the cheaper one would rock and sway more but not break.
So the question is really are you getting anything extra for the $200 besides sturdiness?
Get the rogue S-2 squat/press stand and cut to desired height with a zipcut or the S-1 if you don't care for the pull-up bar.
The lowest safety pin at the ppr is at over bench height. gpr however features the pins as low as close to ankle height, which can become quite helpful for several special exercises.
Thanks spongechris. I could also seeing that come in handy if my wife ever lifts since she won't be able to deadlift 135 right away.
Spend the extra money and get this:
I've had mine for 4 years and have beat the living shit out of it. Good as new minus all the smash marks, blood, and fear sweat that splashed up on it once... once.
Before you go with any of those options reach out to this guy www.blackwidowtg.com
He can match anyone's specs and build it to fit you space exactly.
I almost always agree with Storm but not this time. Nothing wrong with his suggestion if you aren't on a budget but you don't need to spend anywhere near this kind of money to get what you are looking for. I have a virtually identical rack except it is 2" by 2" instead of 3 by 3. I have had much more weight on it than what you are talking about using and I have never had any issues at all. Got it at a garage sale for $50 almost four years ago. Not sure where you are located but if you are anywhere close to a major city you should be able to find a decent used rack on craigslist that will fit your needs for under $300 and if you get lucky maybe for $200.
Just checked my local craigslists listings for the heck of it. Flip through the pics in this listing, there is an old commerical gym aquat rack which I guarantee will hold more than anyone could ever squat listed for $100, I know you are talking about a power rack , I'm just putting this up to show you what is available for very little money without doing much work. http://columbus.craigslist.org/spo/3395509309.html
I have the BodySolid GPR378, and it's a great piece of equipment. I can't speak for the Powerline racks. The GPR378 also has the option of the lat attachment/pulley, which I also have and use very often. It's built very solid, and assembly is also easy with just yourself.
My only regret is that I also bought the heavy duty BodySolid adjustable bench. It's not a bad benhch at all, but after doing some more research after I made my purchase, I found the Ironmaster Superbench, which looks to me like the best home bench out there.
What about this rack?
It's $400 shipped.
I know the reviews say that the base support in the front of the rack makes it hard to walk out a squat, but I'd probably just put the j-hooks in the front.
I live near Minneapolis/St. Paul MN and have been monitoring CL for a few months. The problems I have run into are:1. I have found 8' commercial racks for cheap but I can't get a welded frame that large into my basement due to a tight stairwell.2. I have found used residential racks with weights/bars/benches included and I already have that other stuff plus none of them were that great of a deal.
I have actually seen that rack in Dick's Sporting Goods. The pull up bars are nice, but the listed capacity is 500 lbs and I would rather spend the extra $$ to get the sturdier Body Solid rack.
Thanks for the advice. I have a cheap bench right now and when I go to up grade I will probably get a used commercial bench because I have seen a number of those on CL. I am leaning towards the GPR378 right because I am thinking spending an extra $200 might be worth the piece of mind knowing you will never need to upgrade.
For another $100 you can get this:
Rogue makes some awesome equipment. I have tons of Rogue equipment in my home gym. Good prices, American made!
Im in MPLS also, randomly there is one or two good squat racks a month but they get bought instantly it always seems.
There is an older Body Solid cage in between 200 and 378, which was much sturdier than the 200 but not much more expensive. I would hunt for a used one. (Yes I bought it)


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Changes expected at MLB Well-being of college athletes secondary Cartoon: Hoops scrutiny Brooks NBA's chief innovation officer MAC at home in non-Saturday slots Rich Eisen's Top 5 Labor and Agents: Player's NFL lawsuit Lefton: Kaepernick's tough task Legends selling PSLs for Chargers Nomadic's Super Bowl party
Top Stories
Second Thoughts
The upside of MLB Advanced Media's relationship with online ticket reseller StubHub is a large check it receives each year. StubHub sends more than half of the fees and commissions it collects on its baseball sales back to MLBAM, which then kicks some back to the teams. The downside is that the partnership has changed the ticket market in ways that most teams are only beginning to understand, and that some fear could compromise their business at its foundation if they don't make changes soon. Increasingly, buyers are bypassing the teams and heading directly to StubHub. Some teams say the wide selection of good seats to all games has cost them season-ticket holders.
Lazarus gives Litner key role at NBC Sports
In his biggest management moves since taking over as chairman of NBC Sports, Mark Lazarus has named longtime Comcast executive Jon Litner group president overseeing several businesses and decided to move most of NBC Sports' operations to Connecticut.
NBA job losses near 400 since end of season
The NBA has lost about 400 jobs as part of the collateral damage inflicted on the league and its teams during the four-month-old lockout. The job losses are estimated to number roughly 200 at the NBA's headquarters and its international offices and about 200 across its 30 teams since last season and over the course of the lockout, said a source familiar with the league's business dealings.
Network for SEC back in play
Three years ago, ESPN agreed to pay the Southeastern Conference what was thought to be a premium rights fee, in part, to prevent the league from starting its own network. Now, with the conference adding new schools, the concept of a conference channel is back on the table. Several industry sources say the SEC and ESPN are expected to explore such a channel over the next year or two as they modify their media rights deal to account for the addition of Texas A&M and, potentially, Missouri.
NCAA keeps AT&T as corporate champion
AT&T, the NCAA's longest-standing partner, has extended its corporate champion sponsorship. The three-year agreement keeps AT&T on board as the NCAA's official wireless service provider and a heavily integrated sponsor of CBS's basketball broadcasts, including "At the Half."


text: Does any one have experience with GS/GD mixes? What they tend to look like, their size or temperment? I have one of both and I am debating on ot breed them or just get them fixed. They are both awesome, well tempered, beautiful pure breds. Any pros or cons that anyone can let me in on? Any pictures also would be AWESOME. Thanks


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Poler x Girl Skateboards 20th Anniversary Adventure
Peep an amazing photo series of Rick McCrank and friends going into the wild to explore uncharted skate territory.
Sticking true to its pro-outdoor sensibilities, Portland camping label, Poler, merged one of their latest photo series adventures with professional skateboard frontiersman Rick McCrank. Together, the two helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of Girl Skateboards and a special collaborative tent and cruiser deck. The Northwestern excursion, photographed by Benji Wagner, features the rider trooping out into green territory, setting up camp grounds, and even grabbing air at some colossal makeshift banks/ditches. Nothing like nature and skateboarding to inspire the imagination and senses. Riding isn't all about parks and competitions, there's exploration and nomadic tendencies too.


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Armstrong and the UCI omerta
That the names of George Hincapie, Dave Zabriskie, Levi Leipheimer, Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde have been revealed/leaked as witnesses who testified in US FDA special agent Jeff Novitzky's Lance Armstrong-US Postal investigation isn't a huge surprise, but it is to be welcomed. They are among the 10 team mates and team workers said to have provided damning evidence of Armstrong's doping activtities.
The irony is that their statements, given under oath with the threat of a perjury charge hanging over them, will almost certainly corroborate the version of events offered by poor Floyd Landis, a man whose reputation and credibility were trashed by Lance Armstrong's team and online fanbase. It's hard to see how the credibility of these new witnesses will be as easy for 'Team Armstrong' to undermine.
But perhaps the saddest aspect of this gruesome affair concerns those other riders, minor players and peripheral figures who, in the past 15 years, have seen their careers snuffed and reputations systematically ruined. And it's not just outspoken Christophe Bassons or Fillipo Simeoni, the Italian who Armstrong chased down and humiliated during the 2004 Tour de France (above pic). There are other minor actors in this ongoing drama. There was Kelme's Jesus Manzano (2004), or Jorg Jaschke (2007), both revealed detailed doping scenarios, both dismissed by the UCI as fantasy which, inevitably, turned out to be closer to documentary.
But the UCI has been rubbishing (potential) whistle-blowers for decades. We might also spare a thought for Christophe Dupouey, the 1998 World mountain bike champion who committed suicide after being involved in a doping ring. Not forgetting Jerome Chiotti, former Festina rider and 1996 World cross-country mountain bike champion who voltunatarily confessed to EPO use and handed his rainbow jersey over to second-placed Thomas Frisknecht. Alarm bells should have been ringing long ago, way before we learned the name Jeff Novitzky.
These names – mountain bikers and pro road riders – are all connected by EPO, hormone cocktails and the gutless attitude of the UCI. When the sport's governing body was confronted with contrite and desperate athletes it simply punished them and brazenly moved on, burying the underlying issues with breathtaking disdain and rapidity.
When an insider tried to speak out about what he knew, each time some light was shone on the doping catastrophe that was metastasizing in the heart of the peloton, the UCI's response was to discredit the doper. The UCI inevitably described the 'witness' as a rogue who was exaggerating the problem who was motivated by bitterness or cash. In the 1990s, as Nike, Coca-Cola, Nestle and other multinationals started to invest in cycling, as Lance Armstrong's cancer comeback story helped raise the profile of the Tour de France in America, the last thing the UCI wanted to was scare away the new money or massive new North American television audiences.
Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why the UCI failed to show any imagination in dealing with the issue? Why didn't the UCI take a bold step and offer immunity for information? Why didn't the UCI arrange meetings with teams, coaches, sports physiologists and team doctors when contrite riders were prepared to reveal what they knew? Why didn't the UCI declare an amnesty when it was clear that a massive doping problem was spreading? EPO and its derivatives weren't hit and miss steroids or easy to detect stimulants – the manipulation of blood chemistry worked and had a significant, measurable impact on riders' performances.
Instead of treating riders who were ready to talk (Chiotti, Bassons, Erwan Mentheour, Gilles Bouvard, Emmanuel Magnien to name a few) as useful witnesses, the penitents were damned, branded as twisted losers and cast into a firy pit. Is it any wonder that the omerta was so strong in professional cycling, given the reactions of its governing body? Recall too that every significant doping revelation has come about through the involvement of police authorities – from Festina to Puerto via the Telekom and Padova investigations – not from investigations launched by the UCI.
So the UCI carried on punishing and discrediting and could come up with no better strategy than to carry on with a clearly ineffectual testing programme. A testing procedure so weak that it has enabled every significant cheat to claim that he "never tested positive." If cycling's omerta exerted such a powerful influence, the UCI is partly to blame, given its hopeless treatment of potential witnesses. While riders were dying (Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Dupouey), the UCI was banning Cinelli's Spinaci bars, introducing 50% haematocrit limits, extending a global race calendar and prescribing minimum bike weights…
And so it has come to this – that the evidence gathered by a US Federal investigation and passed on the USADA will lead to the biggest doping scandal the sport has ever had to endure. The biggest doping revelation concerning the biggest name in cycling. And, yet again, it is thanks to the work of 'the Feds,' rather than anything instigated by the sport's governing body. If it took great courage for the witnesses to confess, then that's partly the fault of the UCI whose attitude to potential witnesses has been so pitiful for so long. Inevitably, cycling is going to make the wrong headlines, but the UCI must shoulder some responsibility for its abject failure of management and vision. In the 1990s the UCI had a chance to perform radical surgery on cycling's cancer – instead it chose homeopathy. The result? Shelves of useless cycling history books, results disfigured by asterisks and footnotes of disqualifications and dubious winners.
July 10, 2012.
*And is this statement from USADA, released on July 10, 2012, the beginning of the end? You'd like to hope so. http://www.usada.org/media/sanction-usps7102012


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In Wake of Police Shootings, Obama Speaks More Bluntly About RaceSat Jan 3, 2015
- In reply to:MoreJustice #173.1 They tried that, it was called BUSING. It was an abject failure. You can't put crap students, who don't appreciate school or learning, in with students who do. All you do is bring down the good students to the level of the bad. Therefor ruining it for all. Let the scu …
Darren Wilson, Ferguson Officer Who Shot Michael Brown, ResignsSat Nov 29, 2014
Senators Call for 'Robust' Humanitarian Strategy in SyriaThu Mar 13, 2014
Spike Lee's Childhood Home Vandalized After RantFri Feb 28, 2014
Smart, but Sexy? Designers Play With Wearable GadgetsFri Feb 28, 2014
In California, Thousands Exposed to MeaslesThu Feb 13, 2014
Conservatives Are Putting Boehner in the Hot Seat on ImmigrationWed Feb 5, 2014
Pinched: Salt Shortage Leads to Dangerously Slippery StreetsWed Feb 5, 2014
Obama clashes with Fox News's O'Reilly over recordSun Feb 2, 2014
Philip Seymour Hoffman found dead from apparent overdoseSun Feb 2, 2014


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Getting Started with Essential Oils
We have essential oil diffusers here, there and everywhere between our home and offices. They are such a safer alternative to burning candles. Essential oils can have multiple benefits for your mood and your health. So I say, "Why not!?!" Starting a collection of oils […]Read more ›


text: A couple of co-workers took one for the team this week and tried Jingo which is a new Chinese food restaurant on Broadway and based on their review when they came back, I think I will wait before giving them a try. I don't think it was the actual food so much as they apparently need more time to get their act together. I guess it was complete chaos. Extremely long wait times before being served, confusion over the items ordered, food which should have been served hot was cold when it reached the table, trouble getting the ticket to pay the check, wrong items on the check and so on. I asked them if the meal was any good and my friends were so overwhelmed by the opening week problems that I couldn't get a good answer from them. So, I think I will give Jingo a couple of months to get the kinks worked out before I wander in!


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Moulding Rice Krispies treats into shapes requires creating a gooey mixture by adding butter. Moulding the Rice Krispies treats with biscuit cutters before they fully harden provides a more flexible consistency to work and manipulate. You can choose between using chocolate or vanilla Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal for recipes; you can also can add ingredients such as chocolate chips or M&Ms. Rice Krispies treats take about 5 minutes to prepare.
Turn your hob burner to low. Heat and melt 3 tbsp of butter in a saucepan. Add 1 to 2 tsp of butter for extra gooey Rice Krispie treats.
Add one 284 g (10 oz) package of large marshmallows or 440 g (4 cups) of miniature marshmallows. Stir the marshmallows and butter until they melt.
Remove your saucepan from the heat. Pour 220 g (2 cups) of Rice Krispies into the saucepan. Coat your spatula with butter to prevent sticking when stirring the mixture. Fold the ingredients with your spatula.
Spray a non-stick cooking spray to the bottom and sides of your 37.5 x 25c x 2.5 cm (15 x 10 x 1 inch) pan. Pour your Rice Krispie treat mixture into the pan. Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for 2 to 3 minutes.
Spray your cutter with non-stick cooking spray. Place it on top of the Rice Krispie treat mixture. Push down and apply pressure until the cutter touches the bottom of the pan. Remove the shape and place it on a platter.
Continue cutting until you use all the mixture. Place your Rice Krispie treats in a sealed container or cover them in cling film to keep them moist.
Things you need
- 3 tbsp butter
- Saucepan
- 284 g (10 oz) package marshmallows
- Spoon
- 220 g (2 cups) Rice Krispies
- Cooking spray
- Spatula
- 37.5 x 25 cm (15 x 10 inch) baking pan
- Biscuit cutters
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How to Watch Mesa New Years Eve NYE 2016 Fireworks Online Streaming information has been provided here. Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, in the State of Arizona and is a suburb located about 20 miles (32 km) east of Phoenix. Mesa is the central city of the East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by Tempe on the west, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on the north, Chandler and Gilbert on the south, and Apache Junction on the east. As of the 2010 Census Mesa became Arizona's center of population.
You should book your hotels little earlier in order to avoid any unexpected hindrance. As the city offers you a plenty of reputed hotels you will get variety of options in phoenix. They provide brilliant services as well as good foods. Most importantly they organize great programs for New Year's Eve especially for their visitors.
How to Watch Mesa New Years Eve NYE 2016 Fireworks Online Streaming?
The top New Years Eve parties in Mesa based on how tickets are selling so you won't miss out on the most popular events. Check out all the Mesa New Years Eve parties, get tickets now and make New Years Eve 2016 the best party of the year.
Ring in the New Year with a laugh and a sip of bubbly at National Comedy Theatre's New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza! At its New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza, guests of all ages are welcome to participate in 90 minutes of improve and mingle with the cast. Guests will also receive party favors, a countdown to midnight with complimentary champagne or cider toast, and delicious deserts.
We hope that How to Watch Mesa New Years Eve NYE 2016 Fireworks Online Streaming will be useful to all.
Related Tags: Pubs, Hotels, Bars, Concerts, Midnight, Music, Video, 31 December 2015, Packages, Clubs, Parties, Fireworks, Vimeo, Events, Celebration, App., Live Streaming, Ohio, Restaurants, Photographs, Webcams, YouTube.


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QB FA 5 years ago9 Comments
Titans coach Mike Munchak announced Monday that Matt Hasselbeck will start at quarterback in Week 7 against the Bills.
Munchak insisted Jake Locker remains the Titans' starter when healthy, but he'll get one more week to rest his twice-dislocated shoulder. The Titans believe Locker is on track to start in Week 8 against Indianapolis. 37-year-old Hasselbeck is a crafty veteran capable of getting the football to Kenny Britt, which is pretty much all fantasy owners can ask for. Hasselbeck just isn't much of a standalone fantasy QB, even against a bad Buffalo defense. On the season, he has a 4:4 TD-to-INT ratio, 60.2-percent completion rate, and 5.9 YPA in four appearances (two starts).
Sumo_Zombies 5 years ago
I think Hasselbeck can throw 3 TD's this week! Or maybe more. A couple to Britt and one to Jared Cook.
The worry is that Hasselbeck will throw 2-3 interceptions.
He's my bye-week replacement that just got picked up off waivers to cover Matt Ryan.
WhyYaCryin 5 years ago
Same. Ryan has been awesome this year except last week. I've been stashing Britt who had the "worst game of his career" last week and still caught a td. Now that hasselbecks got his best receiver back, he will play well.
Fletchisawesome 5 years ago
who cares so shut up
IsaiahLee 5 years ago
Hasselbeck against BUF or Cutler againt DET???
G-R-I-M 5 years ago
If you have to choose I'd go Cutler - It's tough to put your line-up on the line with becks - his arm strength just isn't there anymore - he does have a nice match up though and 220 w/2 tds is not out of the question
Yoshi 5 years ago
Im starting him over Stafford. I just don't think stafford would survive against the bears.


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Unfortunately, Brittney Griner knows all too well what its like to be bullied.
I went through it basically my whole life, Griner said during a brief moment of down time on her WNBA media tour in New York. It was a daily, constant thing for a while. People would make fun of my voice, how big my hands were, how tall I was you name it.
I definitely cant repeat most of the stuff they said to me.
Bullying is, without question, a horrific and ugly experience to go through. And it remains a very real and rampant problem in todays society.
Brittney Griner is determined to attack it head on with the Phoenix Mercurys help.
If youre being bullied, you have to tell someone, Griner said. You cant keep all that bottled inside you. I think people really do want to help, but sometimes you have to take that first step and let someone know whats going on.
After getting to know Griner and seeing how compassionate and kind she is, its absurd to imagine why anyone would want to treat her negatively. Then again, the concept of bullying at its core is utterly ridiculous and illogical.
Bullying of any kind to anyone should never, ever be acceptable.
When Griner was growing up, she relied on support from her family and close circle of friends to help her during some of the more trying times. To her immense credit, when she looks back on the worst of the worst, she doesnt do so filled with anger.
In fact, she said its freeing not to let resentment consume her; shes a jovial, happy and benevolent person at heart. Holding onto that anger would prevent her from being the Brittney so many people know and love.
Instead, Griner has developed a sense of inner peace knowing that the affronts people sordidly hurled (and sometimes still do) said more about them than it does her. Griner said this is the exact feeling of self-assurance she wants to motivate in others who are being bullied.
Still, that certainly doesnt mean attaining that level of comfort was remotely easy.
Trust me, I know its hard, Griner said, beginning to speak to anyone who might currently be dealing with a bully. It does hurt. But I think if you just stay committed to rising above the hate, it will get better. Actually, I know it will.
I lived it.
Its not hard to conclude that at some level, Griner is grateful to have gone through and overcome what she did so she can help others do the same. That concept might be difficult for most of us to fathom; how could anyone be thankful for going through something like that?
But were not Brittney Griner.
It starts with being absolutely comfortable with you are, Griner said confidently. If youre that, nothing they say can really get to you. I admit that I wasnt always at peace with that, but Ive learned over the past few years to be totally fine with who I am.
Griner has already started planning initiatives on how to combat bullying. She has aligned herself with the It Gets Better" project and has already used her growing platform from being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft to encourage and inspire confidence in others.
Its really not about me, said a humble Griner. But if I can help anyone, even just one person, it will be worth it. I feel like I am in a great position to give back and encourage those who are down, and its very important for me to get started and follow through.
For all of her accomplishments on the basketball floor, perhaps her greatest achievement has been the example of love, grace and resilience shes demonstrated while rallying against hate.
Im living proof that no matter where youre at or how hard it is, you can come out of it, said Griner with assurance. The key is you just cant give up. Keep believing in yourself.
It will get better.


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I am currently a Post-doctoral Researcher at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, and an associate in Electrical Engineering at Harvard's John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. I will join Harvard as a faculty in the Fall of 2017. I received my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at MIT in the Summer of 2015. My main research interests are information theory, inference and statistics, with applications to security, privacy, machine learning and content distribution.
My CV can be found here (current as of August 2015).
Currently, my research focuses on understanding the complementary relationship between estimation and security/privacy. On the one hand, I investigate the fundamental limits of what can be learned from noisy data, and design practical estimation algorithms that approach these limits. On the other hand, I use the insight gained by characterizing these limits to create and analyze communication schemes that are secure against very powerful adversaries (e.g. eavesdroppers with access to unlimited computational resources and time).
I consider myself a scientist who is an engineer at heart, so I enjoy doing fundamental research that serves as a design driver for practical applications. I have a broad set of interests which include information theory, statistics, communications and optimization. You can find more details on specific research projects below.
What can and cannot be estimated from noisy data? Can we prove that, given a noisy observation of a hidden variable, certain functions of the hidden variable cannot be estimated reliably?
We study these fundamental problems using tools from statistics and information theory. In particular, we derive converse (impossibility) results for estimation based on simple statistics of a hidden and an observed variable, namely maximal correlation and the principal inertia components.
Sample Publications:
Main Collaborators: Mayank Varia, Mark Christiansen, Ken Duffy, Yury Polyanskiy, Yihong Wu.
We live in a time where the availability of computing power and storage is ever increasing, and the amount of data collected is unprecedented. The use and analysis of this data will have a fundamental impact on our society, potentially changing, for example, the way we do healthcare and how we educate our children.
However, with Big Data also comes big responsibility. The increased collection and storage of user data creates new privacy and security risks for the average citizen. The massive and widespread collection of data also demands new security and privacy practices.
In our work, we investigate the tradeoff that exists between privacy, security and utility, and devise privacy-preserving mechanisms that can operate at different points of this tradeoff curve. We also analyze security schemes through the information-theoretic lens in order to characterize their fundamental security properties. This, in turn, allows the design of security mechanisms (such as symmetric-key encryption and key management systems) that provide security guarantees against very strong adversaries.
We also have some exciting work on information-theoretic metrics for security that go beyond perfect-secrecy such as symbol secrecy and guesswork.
Sample Publications:
Main Collaborators: Mayank Varia, Mark Christiansen, Ken Duffy, Nadia Fawaz, Salman Salamatian.
Random linear network coding is a powerful technique that can dramatically improve efficiency in data centers and significantly increase throughput in wireless networks. We investigate and quantify the benefits of network coding in different applications, including distributed content caching, wireless multicast and multi-path TCP.
Main Collaborators: Weifei Zeng, Arman Rezaee, Jason Cloud.
Wireless communications are inherently limited by noise and interference. In light of this, what is the maximum transmission rate that can be achieved in through wireless network? Is it possible to abstract the noise and find an equivalent, noiseless network model where the same rates can be achieved?
We investigate these questions using the theory of network equivalence. In particular, we derive a set of tools that can be used to find a noiseless network (i.e. a network where all the links have a fixed transmission rate) that achieves the same set of rates as a given noisy wireless network. This "equivalent" noiseless network can then be used to analyze the capacity of the original network. The procedure is similar to the one in circuit theory: Different components of the network (e.g. a MAC or a broadcast channel) are substituted by a bounding, noiseless model. The resulting noiseless network can then be analyzed using standard combinatorial techniques.
During my Master's at Unicamp, I worked at the physical layer and studied statistical properties of the wireless channel. In particular, I characterized the outage probability in the presence of multiple interferers and fading, and studied the statistical properties of different diversity combining schemes.
Main Collaborators: Michel Yacoub, Michelle Effros.
At MIT, I worked as a Teaching Assistant for Principles of Digital Communications (6.450), where I received a 6.6/7 rating by an anonymous student survey. I also worked as a grader for Discrete Stochastic Processes (6.262).
In the Spring of 2014, I was a part of the MIT teaching certificate program for graduate students, a semester long course taught by the MIT Teaching and Learning Laboratory for developing and improving teaching skills.
Jan. 2015
Email: flavio (at) seas (dot) harvard (dot) edu
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Office 07-154B
1101 Kitchawan Road, Route 134
PO Box 218
Yorktown Heights, NY


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We've all heard it before: Babies grow up so fast. Cherish every moment while you can!
It's a favorite comment from veteran moms, of little old ladies in grocery store aisles. I've heard it more times than I can count, and it's usually said with a nostalgic sigh. In their eyes I can almost see it: the recollection of their own days raising babies into toddlers into big boys and girls.
The problem is that when the comment is made, it's usually the last thing I want to hear. I usually have to bite my tongue before saying, Yes, but my laundry pile is 10 feet high, or Cherish this? The 8 poopy diapers I've changed already today?
Once I passed a woman in our local park who regarded my children and made a similar well-meaning comment. It goes so fast. Before you know it they'll be grown ups like mine.
My daughter was a newborn and I was still in a postpartum haze. What the woman couldn't have known was the effort it took to get the four of us out of the house that morning, the pressure I was putting on myself to simply go on that walk. The shoes I'd tied. The trips to the potty. The sunscreen I'd applied and the pacifier I'd spent 20 minutes searching for under the furniture.
It didn't go so fast this morning! I'd wanted to say. I've been awake since 5 a.m.!
Now that I'm officially out of the baby stage, though, I'm finding myself guilty of making those kinds of comments to the mothers I see pushing babies in strollers or nursing at the playground. I'm able to see now what I couldn't see then, in the thick of baby parenting: The newborn period really is over in the blink of an eye.
It only lasts a matter of weeks, really. When you're sleep deprived and stressed, though, it can be difficult to see through to the end.
It's hard to imagine a time when they'll sleep through the night or not need to be carried. When you're not so tired that your whole body aches, and when you won't swear that your baby wakes on cue the minute you sit down to relax.
The rhythm of life with a newborn is a slow march. The path you walk in a day is likely a triangle from the sofa to the kitchen sink to the rocking chair and back again. Your pace may be slow and you might not cover much ground, but it's sacred work you're doing.
It's work you'll reflect on for the rest of your life. It's hard to imagine just how precious those memories will become in later years, but for me, at least, I long for them now.
Parenting a newborn is hard work, and in my experience, its rewards often come later in life. The next time a well-meaning stranger tells you to cherish this time, give her more credit. She might just know what she's talking about.