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Watch: Animated 'Little Prince' Trailer Feels Like Pixar Meets Laika
by Ethan Anderton
December 10, 2014
If for some reason The Adventures of Tintin just didn't tickle your fancy, perhaps another animated, European adaptation will do the trick. The Little Prince comes from France, and it's an animated fantasy that meshes the computer animated style of Pixar with the world of stop-motion animation. The story, based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famed novella, is framed by an old man telling a little girl the story of "le petit prince," and that's where traditional computer animation comes into play. But then, the actual story of the prince is told in stop-motion, taking cues from the gorgeous illustrations of the book. Watch below!
Here's the French trailer for Mark Osborne's The Little Prince from YouTube:
In case you need translation, the folks at Vulture translated the small dialogue bits:
Old man: Oh, oh! I'm here! Up here! [He waves.] Good evening!
Little girl: [Reading] Once upon a time, a little prince who needed a friend?
Old man: I've flown almost everywhere in the world, until something miraculous happened.
Little Prince: Please, draw me a sheep.
Old man: I've always wanted to find someone to share my story with, but I think this world has become too grown-up … It's only the beginning of the story!
The Little Prince is directed by Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda) and written by Irena Brignull (The Boxtrolls). Based on the novella of the most famous work of the French aristocrat, writer, poet and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the story unfolds as a pilot stranded in the desert awakens one morning to see, standing before him, a most extraordinary little fellow, who teaches him the secret of what is really important in life. The English version of the film will feature the voices of James Franco, Rachel McAdams and Jeff Bridges and arrives sometime in 2015, but we hope the French version gets released too.
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I hammer on a lot about storytelling in games. About how I am dissatisfied with the current way most games immerse the player into their tales. And how I believe we are heading towards a proverbial renaissance. One in which video games will one day be considered "on the level" along side other great pieces of literature in film, TV and prose writing.
As much as current interactive narratives annoy me, there are a few stand-outs that I have come across over the last few years that give me hope that we are headed in the right direction.
Because I don't want to be a negative Nancy and be that guy who points out what the industry gets wrong, I thought it would be cool to look at two games that I reckon get stuff right in regards to narrative and why.
The two games I want to look at here are Dark Souls III and Bloodborne.
Okay, so right off the bat, I'm kind of cheating. Both of these games are developed by From Software and both are incredibly similar in certain ways. They do, however, have a very interesting style and are worth our consideration in regards to narrative theory.
Dark Souls III starts you off as an undead warrior, raised to hunt down some seriously badass dudes, called the Lords of Cinder, and convince/force them to return to their thrones for a kind of ritual sacrifice that will save the universe from Armageddon.
Bloodborne, on the other hand, follows the exploits of an unknown foreigner who awakens in the city of Yarnham with no memory and only one instruction - to seek out the pale blood. Upon exploring Yarnham, you discover it has been overrun by vicious monsters, as well as a bloodthirsty organization of "hunters" intent on clearing them from the streets before sunrise.
Both of these games are incredibly hard. They punish you for being bad or lazy, and pit the odds insurmountably against you. On the other side of the coin, both games reward you for perseverance and exploration by giving you new weapons and snippets of story.
Minimalist Storytelling and Storyworlds
That last bit is why these two games are a hit. They both have incredibly rich mythologies and both of them give you their mythologies in a very interesting way.
The storytelling in these games is often described as minimalistic. It is entirely possible to play through them to the end without having a clue of what is going on. However, for those willing to engage and truly lose themselves in the worlds by paying attention to their surroundings and reading fragments of paper and item descriptions, there are a plethora of interesting stories to be told. This is due to a technique we call Storyworld Building. In the context of transmedia, this technique essentially means to create a kind of fictional encyclopedia. You can then mine for hundreds of stories. In the writing stage, it includes everything from geography, culture and religion, to family histories, literature, scientific journals and news articles.
Now, I'm not saying that the creators of Bloodborne and Dark Souls intentionally accommodated this technique for their games - to the best of my knowledge, neither are currently part of transmedia franchises. However, they stumbled upon the concept of having a full-fledged story world is irrelevant. What is relevant is how this technique effects the plot of each game and the way it is delivered to the player.
Show, Don't Tell
In the writing industry, we have one golden rule: Show, don't tell. Showing your story is always far better than exposition heavy dialogue or prose.
In fiction writing, it is often done by removing any kind of "feeling" word (felt, thought, loved, hated, desired, etc). Instead, the writer is forced to unpack how a character feels about something in longer form through body actions, expressions, and dialogue.
In film, since it is a much more visual medium, directors and writers need to rely on their actors to show what is going on through facial expressions and mannerisms. Film also has the advantage of things like music and environment to do this. It is film that we need to pay close attention to, as they are most similar to video games. However, most games aren't quite up to par with complex facial expressions, yet, as ways to show story instead of telling it, and that, unfortunately, is where a lot of it fails.
Why It Works
In Bloodborne and Dark Souls, an incredible amount of work has gone into fashioning the story worlds which players will reside in for hours upon hours. Instead of having huge chunks of dialogue where we are told all about this and that, From Software essentially creates a capsule for us to step inside. On the inside of this capsule, we find a full-fledged universe. History and plot are divulged to us in a subtle, more natural way. Yes, at times it is told through dialogue or item description, but it is always fragmented and ambiguous. Often times the story is given to us via seeing for example a toppled over statue, or the rotting remains of soldiers marked with a particular crest. Knowing what we know about particular parts of the fictional world, we discover creature design corresponding with and unpacking more information.
Much of Bloodborne and Dark Souls is left open for the audience to connect dots and create their own understanding of the plot and of the complex histories that weave these worlds together. It allows players to truly enjoy gameplay and story without being stopped every two minutes for a lengthy cutscene.
There are definitely other games out there that incorporate other fantastic storytelling techniques, but we will save them for another day. Both Dark Souls and Bloodborne are important because they incorporate a peculiar style of storytelling. They don't drip feed us the plot. Instead they focus on seducing and enticing us to discover it for ourselves, and, in my humble opinion, this is a direction worth learning from.
Remember, it is always important to hold story and play in tangent with one another. If one gets too big than the other, the game will suffer, and that's not at all what we are about is it?
As I said at the beginning of this article, we are headed towards a storytelling renaissance. If we pay attention closely to those games making new ground, and give those who know story and the craft of writing a chance, you'll be amazed at what will be accomplished.

subset: commoncrawl


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Velo Inn Basislager Bad Berka
£ 25
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* Activities : Ping-Pong, Hiking, Cycling, Bicycle Rental, Playground * Internet : Free! WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. * Parking : Free! Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed). * Services : Vending Machine (drinks), FaxPhotocopying * General : Non-smoking Rooms, Family Rooms, Heating, Hypoallergenic room available, All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)


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If the brand new Apple smartwatch will be jailbroken, several best Apple Watch tweaks are wished to be developed by hackers.
Officially launched just last week, there many talks about jailbreaking Apple Watch, the new wearable device. Watch OS 1.0 won't let users do things like use custom watch faces, or run native apps. Many users would like to add some other features they think are required for easier Watch usage. Jailbreaking eventually let users open all that possibilities.
Custom watch faces is one of best Apple Watch wished tweaks. Currently Apple only allows wearable owners to choose from and customize its stock watch faces. Jailbreak will bring huge variety of watch faces to refresh the Watch look. Huge variety of Watch faces will be great, but what about full-fledged custom themes that will allow you to change the look of the entire interface, icons and all.
Of course it will be also better to run apps natively on the Apple Watch instead of beaming information between it and an iPhone. The major reason is speed. Due to reports from Watch owners that speed is, at times, hard to come by. Running apps natively would fix the speed issue. Just analyze the example. You can't do that without a paired iPhone near, as you can't store audio files on the wearable outside of a synced Music app playlist. The jailbreak will change that.
As with all new iOS updates there are problems with battery life on iPhones, with Apple Watch there is the similar issue. Complaints that we've heard in early reviews has to do with the Watch timeout settings. To save battery life, the Apple Watch can be overzealous when it comes to timing out the screen. Jailbreak will let users customize the time out settings to a finer degree.
It would be great to develop tweaks that will allow execute Activator actions via smartwatch. Just imagine how it would be great to use Activator handy tool on wearable for quick shortcuts to apps and toggles. It's thousands of jailbreak tweaks for good reason, and it allow you to perform impressive iOS automation on its own.
Due to several reviews the Apple Watch's haptic feedback abilities are a bit lacking. The running theme is that it's at times hard to feel when the Taptic Engine is trying to get your attention. With a jailbreak, the potential is there to up the intensity of the Taptic Engine, and increase the feedback rate. Jailbreaking also opens up the possibility of assigning custom haptic feedback patterns to specific notifications.
The other one of the best Apple Watch tweaks should play audio directly from the Apple Watch speaker. While it's true that you can listen to phone calls from the Apple Watch speaker. But unfortunately you can't listen to music or podcasts via the device's built in speaker and for many users it is really cute disappointment.
If you have already get your new Apple Watch you may notice that there is no web browser like Safari on its Home screen. Safari is on all iOS devices, but not on wearable devise. The reason is clear: the screen is too small, it's too battery demanding, and no one wants to hold their wrist up for long time while to navigating web pages. But the rebuttal to that argument is just as obvious: we want it just because we can. And with jailbreaking the situation would probably change.


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Chunky and I went to his Sunday AA meeting where they had their "celebrations" edition of the meeting (fourth Sunday of the month).
I remember when Dr. Mad Scientist (raised a Mormon--now strayed from that flock) went to his first Catholic wedding that tacked on a mass. He said the chanting and ritual of it all really through him for a loop.
Now I have to laugh at this after attending his AA meeting having been half raised a Catholic and now having strayed from that flock. It's full of chanting and ritual! He'd fit right in with the Catholics.
Well except for that whole communion wine. That might pose a problem.
I still hold on to my guarded optimism because I think this time we're both "getting" it.
He's "working his program" and although I'm not affiliating myself with any 12 step group, I'm understanding it better than last time when we went through this shit in Michigan.
I understand the me part of it more and have learned to let go of any expectations or demands I have of him.
It ain't easy, that's for damn sure. But hey, who does enjoy getting out of their comfort zone?
But I'm feeling better equipped for the shit that life throws our way. Hopefully the next 90 days will be smooth, but if they're not, we'll deal.
Sometimes I hate the freaking drama of it all. But then I wonder about how boring "normal" marriages must be (if such a thing even exists! Ha ha!)
Labels: Rehab


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Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of One Lake Place
If I could rate these condos zero stars I would. After living here for a year, the management is making all tenants to pay for parking.$45.00 a month on top of rent. I can not wait until we are able to get out of here. I hate it so much. HORRIBLE PLACE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. There is no open parking. Crazy people live here as well. Do not move here. you will regret it like I did. :(
One Lake Place is located at 5264 NE 121st Ave, Vancouver, WA. This business specializes in Accounting & Bookkeeping and Accountant Brokers and has 1 review(s) with a star rating of 1.0.


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Dec 15, 1992
|Filing date
|Jun 10, 1991
|Priority date
|Mar 30, 1990
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Jesse R. Brinkerhoff
|Original Assignee
|The Softube Corporation
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (28), Classifications (8), Legal Events (3)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/501,538, filed Mar. 30, 1990.
The function of a fluorescent lamp ballast is to connect the lamp bulbs to the power line in a way that will provide just enough current to the bulbs to operate them at the desired brightness level. Since the bulbs have a negative resistance characteristic which is dependent on beam current, temperature, bulb type and age, and is very different during starting than during operation once started, this is not a simple task. Standard magnetic ballasts perform the current control function by inserting a relatively large iron core inductor between the bulbs and the source of power. This achieves the control function with adequate stability but to change the brightness level requires changing the inductance, which cannot be done in a simple manner based on a control knob position or control D.C. voltage. Electronic ballasts simulate the action of the inductor with switchmode regulator circuits using feedback techniques to control the voltage across the bulbs based on measured current through them. Over a wide brightness range the impedance of the bulbs changes so much that instability usually results, and the bulbs flicker, turn off, or get into an inefficient operating state where the special coating on the filaments quickly burns off, making the bulbs unusable.
Some current electronic ballasts deal with this problem by operating the bulbs at a relatively high frequency (above the normal audio range) and use inductors and capacitors to form a resonant circuit around the bulbs, with a resonant frequency at or near the frequency at which the bulbs are driven. Thus, as the bulb impedance changes, the "Q" of the resonant circuit changes with it, since the bulb is part of the resonant circuit, and more or less drive voltage is immediately available as required, even though the feedback control circuit might not be able to respond quickly enough if the resonant circuit were not there. This technique works well over a limited range of brightness, but to apply this technique over a wide brightness range, substantial changes in the inductance and capacitance forming the resonant circuit would be required, and there is no practical way to accomplish this.
The present invention uses a resonant circuit around each bulb or bulb set in a similar fashion, but instead of using a resonant frequency at or near the drive frequency, a resonant frequency much higher than the drive frequency is used, i.e. 130 KHz., and the drive frequency is selected to be an exact submultiple of the resonant frequency of the inductive and capacitive resonant circuit components around the bulb. Different submultiple frequencies are selected under different operating conditions, achieving many benefits which would be obtained by changing the inductance and capacitance values of the resonant circuit around the bulb if such changes were practical, which they are not.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to operate fluorescent lamps over a wide range of brightness while maintaining stable and efficient performance.
It is another object of the invention to allow cooler operation of the fluorescent lamps by not requiring current flow through the lamp filaments.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide around each fluorescent bulb set a resonant circuit, but instead of using a resonant frequency at or near the drive frequency, a resonant frequency much higher than the drive frequency is used.
It is yet still another object of the invention to provide means for selecting the drive frequency to be an exact submultiple of the resonant frequency of the inductive and capacitive resonant circuit components provided in circuit around each fluorescent bulb or bulb set.
It is still yet another object of the invention to provide for the automatic selection of different submultiple frequencies under different operating conditions, thereby achieving many benefits which would be obtained by changing the inductance and capacitance values of the resonant circuit connected around each bulb or bulb set if such changes were practical, which they are not.
It is another object of the invention to provide an energy efficient wide range dimmable fluorescent lamp ballast system which automatically switches between a first (original) lamp drive frequency and a selected submultiple frequency, or between two submultiple frequencies, or between three or more different submultiple frequencies, or even to operate at a single submultiple frequency, and maintain stable and efficient lamp operation and performance.
Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the inventive system operation and its methods of operation.
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrative of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an alternate lamp/ballast connection scheme for a very low brightness application.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the frequency control circuit of Block 4 broadly shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the switch element drive circuits of Block 3 broadly shown in FIG. 1.
With reference to FIG. 1, block 1 is an EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) filter, using standard technology to prevent interference from the switching regulator circuits 2 from feeding onto the power line.
Block 2 illustratively represents a combination of standard switch mode regulator circuits to rectify energy from the power line, temporarily store the energy in capacitors and inductors, and output power to capacitors C21 and C22 and the switching elements SW1 and SW2 in response to the difference between the brightness control input BC and a feedback signal from transformer T4, diodes D1 through D4, and resistor R1, such feedback signal being provided to Block 2 via the feedback circuit FBC. The brightness control input BC may be derived from a potentiometer, not shown, or from an external input.
Block 3 illustratively represents the circuits for driving the lamp ballast drive signal switching elements SW1 and SW2, which are arranged so that SW1 is conducting and SW2 is nonconducting for one half cycle, and then SW1 becomes nonconducting and SW2 conducting for the next half cycle. This procedure is repeated cycle after cycle at a lamp ballast drive signal frequency determined by Block 4. A square wave power signal is thus produced at the junction of SW1 and SW2, with respect to the common point at the junction of C21 and C22. This lamp ballast drive power signal is supplied to bulbs B1 through B6, through the resonant circuits respectively consisting of inductors L1 through L3 and capacitors C1 through C6, along with the small additional capacitance represented by the dotted line connected to ground at the right hand edge of FIG. 1. Note that capacitor C23 provides a low impedance path at high frequencies between the common point, referenced above, and ground.
B1 through B6 are fluorescent bulbs (lamps), each bulb having a filament, connected to two pins P, on each end. Ordinary ballasts, including most electronic ballasts, require separate connections to each filament pin to enable heating current to flow through each filament, in addition to the beam current which flows through the filaments on its way to the plasma path through the gases inside the bulb. With this inventive ballast configuration, only the beam current flows through the filaments, so that the two pins on each end of the bulb can be connected through a single wire S.
One advantage of the invention is to allow operation of a number of bulbs with only one set of switching elements (shown as SW1, SW2). To accomplish this, the lighting ballast circuit is configured into channels. Three channels are shown: the first consists of bulbs B1 and B2, along with L1, C1, C4, T1, C7, Q1, R2, and C10. The second channel consists of bulbs B3 and B4, with L2, C2, C5, T2, C8, Q2, R3, and C11. The third channel consists of bulbs B5 and B6, with L3, C3, C6, T3, C9, Q3, R4, and C12. More than three channels may be used, connected in similar fashion, or only one or two channels may be used.
Each of the channels described above includes a resonant circuit whose frequency is determined by the inductor L1, L2, or L3, and a respective capacitance consisting of C1, C2, or C3, along with the relatively small capacitance of the respective bulbs to the common point set forth above through C4, C5, or C6 and C23. Capacitors C4, C5, and C6 have relatively large capacitance and act as nearly zero impedance connections to the bulbs at the frequencies of operation. Their purpose is to solve a potential problem well known in the technology of fluorescent lamp ballasts which is that the bulbs have a tendency to conduct beam current more readily in one direction than the other, and combined with their negative resistance characteristic, this can easily result in conduction in one direction only. However, with capacitors C4, C5, and C6 in the lighting circuit channels, such a tendency to favor conduction in one direction over the other is quickly compensated by a buildup of D.C. voltage across the capacitors which is just sufficient to equalize the current flow in the two directions.
The before-mentioned inductive and capacitive components in the resonant circuit of each channel are manufactured to be essentially identical to each other, so that the resonant frequency of each channel will be essentially identical. The resonant frequencies will change with conditions such as temperature or aging, and possibly other environmental effects, but each should change in the same fashion and in about the same amount.
Transformers T1, T2, and T3, and similar additional transformers (if used), perform the function of forcing beam current to be shared approximately equally between the channels, even though bulb impedances may not match exactly. A separate transformer for each channel may be used, as shown, or the windings shown may all be wound on a common core, so that a single transformer can perform the sharing function for all channels. If only a single channel is used, no sharing transformer is required. In that case, the connection from the bottom of the last bulb in the single channel would go through a single winding on T4 and then directly to the common point connecting to the junction of capacitors C21 and C22.
In the case of a single channel, L1, C1, C4, T4, C7, Q1, R2, C10, C21, C22, and C23 would remain connected as shown, but the other components listed in the above description would not be required.
It is to be noted in FIG. 1 that two bulbs are shown connected in series into each channel. Actually, more than two bulbs or as many bulbs as desired, may be connected in series into each channel, provided that sufficient voltage is available to operate them and the breakdown voltage ratings of the switching elements and other components will not be exceeded. Alternatively, only a single bulb in each channel is also acceptable. Another alternative lamp (bulb) connection configuration for very low brightness is shown in FIG. 2, which is simply exemplary since other configurations could be utilized.
Transformer T4 acts as a current transformer to monitor the average current through all the lamps. Each channel connects through a single turn primary winding W of T4, inducing a current in the secondary winding equal to the sum of the currents in each channel divided by the turns ratio. This current is rectified by diodes D1 through D4, and flows through R1, producing a D.C. voltage proportional to the average bulb current. This D.C. voltage is compared to the brightness control input by the regulator circuitry of Block 2. This regulator controls the D.C. output voltage provided across capacitors C21 and C22 to produce an average lamp (bulb) current proportional to the desired brightness. A more detailed description of the Block 2 circuitry will be presented below.
The heart of the operation of the invention is accomplished in Block 5, in conjunction with that of block 4. The amplitude and phase measurement circuitry of Block 5 has two separate, but related, functions. It receives its inputs from the junctions of L1 and C1, L2 and C2, and L3 and C3 via lines 7, 8, and 9, and C7, C8 and C9 respectively. These three input points allow the voltages driving the three lamp channels to be monitored with respect to the common point connected from the junction of C21 and C22 via line 10 to Block 5. With a square wave lamp drive signal being applied to each resonant circuit, as set forth above, and having a frequency which is a submultiple of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits, some amplitude of signal at the resonant frequency will be harmonically excited by the square wave drive signal and will be present at the input monitor points at the junctions of L1-C1, etc. If the bulb impedance is low, the "Q" at the resonant frequency will be low, and the resonant frequency signal at the monitoring point will be low. Conversely, if the bulb impedance is high, then the "Q" and the resonant frequency signal at the monitoring point will be high. If the components making up the resonant circuits are properly selected, and the square wave lamp drive frequency is selected at the proper submultiple of the resonant frequency, then over a very wide range of beam current, representing an equally wide range of lamp brightness, the resonant frequency signal at the monitoring point will fall into one of two categories:
(1) If the lamp bulb(s), which is (are) part of the resonant circuit being monitored, is (are) turned on and operating efficiently, the monitored signal will be at a relatively low level, over the entire beam current range.
(2) If the lamp bulb(s), which is (are) part of the resonant circuit being monitored, is (are) not conducting or is (are) in an inefficient and partially conducting state, then the monitored signal will be at a relatively high level.
If, at a particular moment, the state of conduction of the bulb(s) causes the monitored signal level to be at an intermediate value between these two conditions, then the very nature of the resonant circuits, driven at the proper submultiple of their resonant frequency, will rapidly cause the bulb to become more or less conductive until it reverts to one or the other of the two categories just described above.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention depicted in the FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits is set at 130 KHz, the normal square wave lamp drive frequency is set at 26 KHz and a start frequency of 43.33 KHz is utilized. The 26 KHz normal operation lamp drive frequency signal is the 5th submultiple of the 130 KHz resonant frequency, and the start frequency is the 3rd submultiple of 130 KHz. If the bulb condition is in category (1) the output frequency of Block 4 will switch to a higher submultiple number such as the 7th, 9th, 11th, etc. for increased efficiency once the lamp has started. If the bulb condition is in category (2), the output frequency of Block 4 will switch to a lower submultiple number such as 1 or 3 to allow for more power delivery to the bulb. The present invention has been designed to automatically select the odd submultiples of the resonant frequency, but the present invention should not be limited to this design since the invention system can be modified within its scope to select even submultiples of the resonant frequency. Also, for example, the lamps could be driven: at a start frequency of 130 KHz (the 1st submultiple) for a dim condition; at an operating submultiple of 3 for medium brightness; or at an operating submultiple of 5 for maximum brightness.
As shown in FIG. 1 the monitored signal referenced above is applied to either Q1, Q2, or Q3, through a voltage divider consisting of either C7, R2, and C10; C8, R3, and C11; or C9, R4, and C12; and the combination of C13, R5, D5, and D6. R6, R7 and C14 form a bias network controlling the sensitivity of the transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 and minimizing dependence on temperature.
If the bulb condition is in category (1), operating efficiently, the corresponding transistor, either Q1, Q2, or Q3, will be off. If the bulb condition is in category (2), off or operating inefficiently, the corresponding transistor will turn on. These three transistors are connected in an "open collector" logic mode, so that if any one of them turns on, a low level logic signal will be sent to Block 4's RANGE SELECTION input via line RS. If or when such low level logic signal is sent to the frequency control circuit 4, the output frequency of Block 4 will switch to a lower submultiple (higher frequency) of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits. This will result in a great increase in power delivery to any bulb which is in the category (2) state, and unless the bulb(s) is (are) defective or not connected into the circuit properly, will cause the bulb(s) to quickly switch to and operate within the category (1) state. Assuming the bulb(s) successfully switch(es) to the category (1) state, the monitored signal(s) will then drop in amplitude below the threshold required for turning on the transistor (Q1, Q2, or Q3), and Block 4's output frequency will return to the original (normal operation) submultiple frequency.
As will be explained more fully later, the frequency control circuit means 4 may include a timer circuit so that if it stays in the higher frequency (lower submultiple) condition for more than a short time, an assumption is made that a bulb is either defective or not connected properly, and in either of these cases the drive power to all the lamps is shut off for a substantial period of time, to be restarted later, and if the defect has been cleared, normal operation will resume. If the defect remains, power shutoff will recur.
One may now wonder whether it may be better to always operate in the lower submultiple (higher frequency) mode, rather than to automatically select a higher or lower submultiple dependent upon lamp conditions. The answer to that question is that operating in the lower submultiple mode does put much more power into a bulb which is off or in an inefficient partially conducting state, but it cannot put nearly as much power into a bulb, once it has fully turned on, as operating in the higher submultiple mode. And, whatever power level is being put out, operation is more efficient at the higher submultiple mode once the lamp is started and conducting properly.
The remainder of the circuitry shown in FIG. 1 for Block 5 acts as an automatic fine tuning phase and frequency control circuit means. The actual resonant frequency of the various inductors and capacitors around the bulbs may vary as explained above. If block 4 alone produced a nominal frequency equal to the proper submultiple of the expected resonant frequency, it would not necessarily be accurate. And besides the potential variations in the actual resonant frequency, the circuitry of block 4 may not produce the exact frequency desired, because of the tolerances of its components or other effects. Therefore, the present invention includes provisions for verifying and correcting the match between the submultiple frequency, produced by Block 4, and the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits around the bulbs. Actually, such resonant frequency is the approximate average of the individual resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits in the one or more channels implemented. This is accomplished as follows: The signal at the drain terminal of FET transistor Q4 is a composite signal representing such average, for the various channels, of the resonant frequency signals at the monitored points referred to hereinabove. It has been noted earlier that C13, R5, D5 and D6 form part of a voltage divider, which scales the monitored signals at the resonant frequency to the proper amplitude for operating transistors Q1, Q2, and Q3. C13 and R5, in conjunction with the remainder of that voltage divider, are chosen to provide an impedance which represents the correct phase of the resonant frequency signal for comparison with the square wave drive signal to verify the frequency match or to indicate the amount and direction of mismatch. D5 and D6 limit the maximum amplitude of the signal at the drain terminal of Q4 so that the automatic frequency correction signal being produced by Block 5 will be limited in range to be able to correct for small variations in frequency, but will not be able to pull the frequency out of the nominal range.
Transistors Q4 and Q5 and their associated components form a sample and hold circuit. Block 4 provides a square wave signal at the drive frequency currently being used, which is differentiated by C20 and R10 via circuit line into short negative and positive going pulses. R11 and C16 filter out any noise spikes that are present. The negative going pulses charge C15 through D8 to provide a negative bias voltage through R9, keeping Q4 and Q5 off most of the time. However, each positive going pulse momentarily turns Q4 and Q5 on through D7, charging C17 to whatever the current voltage is at Q4's drain terminal. C17 remains at that voltage until the next positive going pulse, when it is updated by the same process. Thus, the voltage across C17 is a D.C. voltage proportional to the instantaneous voltage at the resonant frequency at the time a positive going edge of the square wave drive signal occurs, and represents the phase of the resonant frequency signal. If the drive frequency is lower than the exact submultiple frequency of the actual instantaneous resonant frequency, the voltage across C17 will be negative, whereas if the drive frequency is too high, the voltage across C17 will be positive. If the drive frequency is exactly right, the voltage across C17 will be zero. This voltage is filtered by R12 and C18 and buffered by Q6, with C19 filtering out any residual noise spikes, and then applied to the FINE TUNING input of block 4 via circuit line 12. This fine tuning signal acts as a feedback control signal to cause Block 4 to adjust its frequency output to compensate for changes or inaccuracies in either the resonant circuit components around the bulbs or in the circuitry of block 4 itself to insure a correct submultiple drive frequency.
An alternative circuit configuration for D7 is an ordinary diode component reversed in polarity with respect to the polarity connection of D7 in FIG. 1.
In the present embodiment of the invention, the frequency control circuit shown in Block 4 of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3 is implemented using an industry standard TL493 pulse width modulated control integrated circuit U1. The FINE TUNING input referred to above is used as a voltage source for the frequency determining resistor R14. This FINE TUNING input, because of D5 and D6, as mentioned above, has a limited amplitude and can only effect the frequency over a limited range.
The RANGE SELECTION input RS to Block 4 from Block 5 is used to connect an additional frequency determining resistor R15 in parallel with the one going to the FINE TUNING input, to change the frequency range up to a higher frequency (lower submultiple). While this range selection resistor R15 is active, the automatic frequency control means discussed above continues to operate in the same manner to correct the frequency to its new higher value, and when the range selection resistor R15 is inactive, the Block 4 circuit automatically reverts to its original submultiple or frequency mode of operation. A detailed description of the circuitry of Block 4 will now be presented with reference to FIG. 3.
Integrated Circuit U1 is an industry standard TL493 or equivalent pulse width modulation control circuit. Most of its functions are part of the regulation circuitry of Block 2, where it is used in accordance with normal industry practice. The remainder of the functions of U1 are utilized for Block 4. U1's clock rate is controlled by external components connected to the "CT" and "RT" terminals. These components are shown in FIG. 3 and their functions are explained hereinbelow.
Capacitor C24 is connected between the "CT" terminal and common, and its value is selected to provide the desired frequencies in conjunction with the values of R14 and R15 as described below. The signal at the "CT" terminal of U1 is also supplied as a frequency output to Block 3 to control the switching frequency of the lamp drive circuitry.
The FINE TUNING input from block 5 via line FT is more or less positive with respect to common, depending on the direction and amount of frequency correction needed. Resistor R14 supplies the correct amount of current into the "RT" terminal to control the frequency to the desired value.
The RANGE SELECTION input from block 5 via line RS goes through resistor R17 to the non-inverting (+) input of Integrated Circuit U2, a comparator. Capacitor C25 filters any noise present which may cause unintended operation of the frequency range selection. The inverting (-) input of U2 connects to a bias voltage set between the two levels of the RANGE SELECTION input. This bias voltage may be derived from a resistive voltage divider (not shown) connected between the B+ supply and common. For example, such voltage divider could include two resistors, the junction of which connects to the inverting (-) input of U2, the non-junction end of one resistor connecting to B+, and the non-junction end of the other resistor connecting to common.
Resistor R16 provides positive feedback to insure that the output of U2 will always be either fully on (negative) or fully off (positive). When U2 is off, diode D9 is non-conducting, so that the operation of U1 is not affected by the RANGE SELECTION input. But, when the RANGE SELECTION input becomes active (low), U2's output goes low, and diode D9 supplies additional current through Resistor R15 to raise the frequency generated by U1 to the desired submultiple value.
Resistor R18 connects from the output of U2 to the input of Integrated Circuit U3, a non-inverting buffer.
Capacitor C26 provides a delay allowing U2's output to go negative for a short time without effecting the output of U3. However, if U2's output stays negative for a longer time, as it will if a lamp is defective or not properly connected, then U3's output will switch low, latching U3's input until C26 has discharged, after which normal operation will resume.
While U3's output is low, U4, an inverting buffer, supplies a high level shutoff output to block 3 via line 14, to shut off power for the lamps until U3 switches back high again. A detailed description of the circuitry of Block 3 will now be presented with reference to FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, Integrated circuit U5 is a CMOS D type flip flop, type 4013 or equivalent. The frequency input from Block 4 via line 13 is a ramp signal which goes positive at a relatively slow rate and then goes negative very rapidly. Resistor R19 keeps transistor Q7 turned on (with its collector low) most of the time. However, when the frequency input signal goes low, capacitor C28 supplies enough negative current to overcome the normal positive bias current through R19 and momentarily turn Q7 off, allowing resistor R20 to pull the clock input of U5 up and clock the flip flop.
So long as the shutoff input via line 14 from block 4 is low, its normal state, each clock pulse changes the state of the flip flop outputs. The Q and Q bar outputs will switch, one being high while the other is low, and then vice versa. The connection from the Q bar output to the D input causes this state change with each clock pulse. If the shutoff input goes high, both the set and reset inputs to U5 go active, causing both the Q and Q bar outputs to go high and stay high as long as the shutoff input remains high. As shown in FIG. 4, the Q output is also connected to C20 of Block 5 of FIG. 1 via circuit line 11.
Q8 and Q9 are P Channel FET transistors, with their source terminals connected to the B+ supply, their gate terminals connected to U5's Q bar and Q outputs, respectively, and their drain terminals connected to the center tapped primary of transformer T5, whose center tap connects to common. During normal operation, transistors Q8 and Q9 are alternately turned on and off, one being on while the other is off and vice versa. This produces square wave drive signals across each of the two secondary windings of T5, which alternately turn the two before-mentioned switching elements SW1 and SW2 of FIGS. 1 and 4 on and off. These switch elements are shown as N channel FET transistors, but could be implemented as other types of switching elements. The secondary windings of T5 are isolated and can be equipped with the proper number of turns to drive whatever kind of switching elements are required.
When the shutoff input mentioned above causes U5's Q and Q bar outputs to both go high, transistors Q8 and Q9 are both turned off, and no drive is applied to transformer T5, causing both switching elements SW1 and SW2 to remain off, thereby removing the normal square wave drive to the output section of the circuitry and shutting off the current to the fluorescent bulbs B1-B6.
With additional reference to alternative lamp (bulb) configurations for very low brightness, as shown by example in FIG. 2, at very low brightness levels, the beam current of the lamp(s) becomes so low that efficient current transfer from the filaments to and from the plasma path through the lamp cannot take place without extra heating of the filaments. The invention includes a provision for providing extra current through the filaments at very low beam current levels if operation down to very low brightness levels is required. FIG. 2 shows an example of this option for one channel, wherein the filament pins on each end of each bulb connect to an auxiliary transformer T5, as shown, rather than being tied together and connecting directly to the ballast. The primary winding of T5 has a large number of turns compared with each of the secondary windings, and connects through capacitor C23, whose value is selected to be resonant with the primary inductance of T5 at approximately the same frequency as the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits referred to earlier. Thus, at very low beam current levels, when the impedance of the bulb or lamp is high, there is a high level of signal at the resonant frequency, which produces substantial current flow through T5 and each filament winding. At higher brightness levels, the bulb impedance is lower and there is less signal at the resonant frequency, so there will be less filament current. At high brightness levels, where efficiency is most important, filament current will be almost zero, so that negligible power will be wasted. Each channel is intended to use a separate transformer connected in the same manner as T5, if plural channels are used.
With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, one pair of switch elements SW1 and SW2 are shown as a "half-bridge" type. The present invention applies equally well to other switch circuit arrangements, such as a full bridge type with four switching elements in an "H bridge" arrangement, where the load would be connected between the halves of the "H bridge".
The present invention is intended to cover any fluorescent lamp ballast system where the lamps are associated with resonant circuits and the drive for the lamps is supplied at a frequency at or near one or more submultiple frequencies of the resonant frequency. One of the submultiple frequencies may be the resonant frequency itself i.e. 1st submultiple.
As set forth above the invention provides a system and methods for switching back and forth between at least two submultiple frequencies, but the invention is intended to cover the options of always operating at a single submultiple or of operating at three or more different submultiples.
With the present invention system and methods fluorescent lamps can be operated at much higher brightness levels than known to be available in the field of this invention. For example ordinary 40 watt fluorescent lamps can be operated at power levels of 80 watts or more.
While the invention system has been described in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Jul 20, 1979
|Mar 31, 1981
|Kohler Thomas P
|Electronic ballast-inverter for multiple fluorescent lamps
|May 8, 1978
|Jul 7, 1981
|Stevens Luminoptics
|Power supply for a high intensity discharge or fluorescent lamp
|Mar 22, 1984
|Oct 1, 1985
|Ken Hashimoto
|Power supply apparatus for fluorescent lamp
|Jan 27, 1984
|Sep 2, 1986
|Intent Patents A.G.
|Current driven gain controlled electronic ballast system
|Dec 28, 1981
|Oct 13, 1987
|North American Philips Corporation
|Variable high frequency ballast circuit
|May 8, 1987
|Oct 4, 1988
|Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen Gmbh
|Power network fluorescent lamp operating circuit
|Dec 15, 1988
|Aug 14, 1990
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|Circuit for supplying constant power to a gas discharge lamp
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Apr 30, 1992
|Mar 22, 1994
|Rockwell International Corporation
|Dual filament lamp and drive apparatus for dimmable avionics displays
|Oct 3, 1994
|Jan 21, 1997
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Compact dimmable fluorescent lamps with central dimming ring
|Sep 2, 1994
|Mar 4, 1997
|Valmont Industries, Inc.
|Cost effective high performance circuit for driving a gas discharge lamp load
|Sep 13, 1995
|Mar 18, 1997
|C-P-M Lighting, Inc.
|Electronic dimming ballast current sensing scheme
|Sep 23, 1996
|Sep 16, 1997
|Negawatt Technologies Inc.
|Energy management control system for fluorescent lighting
|Aug 8, 1996
|Nov 11, 1997
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Ballast circuit for compact fluorescent lamp
|Sep 30, 1996
|Nov 25, 1997
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Ballast circuit for fluorescent lamp
|Apr 19, 1995
|Dec 2, 1997
|Systems And Services International, Inc.
|Discharge lamp lighting system for avoiding high in-rush current
|May 3, 1994
|Apr 28, 1998
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Fluorescent lamp apparatus with integral dimming control
|Dec 18, 1996
|Aug 25, 1998
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Magnetic feedback ballast circuit for fluorescent lamp
|Jun 6, 1995
|Oct 13, 1998
|Pacific Scientific
|Ballast circuit for fluorescent lamps
|Nov 14, 1996
|Feb 2, 1999
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Three-way dimming ballast circuit with passive power factor correction
|May 9, 1996
|Jul 20, 1999
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Method and apparatus for controlling power delivered to a fluorescent lamp
|Aug 1, 1997
|Sep 21, 1999
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Ballast circuit for fluorescent lamp
|Sep 16, 1997
|Oct 5, 1999
|Negawatt Technologies Inc.
|Energy management control system
|Jun 11, 1997
|Nov 9, 1999
|Pacific Scientific Company
|Fluorescent lamp ballast having a resonant output stage using a split resonating inductor
|Jul 25, 1997
|Mar 14, 2000
|Pacific Scientific
|Dimmable ballast apparatus and method for controlling power delivered to a fluorescent lamp
|Mar 26, 1999
|Feb 20, 2001
|Korry Electronics Co
|Fluorescent lamp with integral conductive traces for extending low-end luminance and heating the lamp tube
|Jul 27, 1999
|Mar 20, 2001
|Ps Production Services Ltd.
|Low-temperature theatrical lighting system
|Jan 24, 2001
|Apr 2, 2002
|Tridonic Bauelemente Gmbh
|Electronic ballast for at least one low-pressure discharge lamp
|Jan 29, 2004
|Nov 29, 2005
|Axis Technologies, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for dimming control of electronic ballasts
|Feb 12, 2008
|May 25, 2010
|Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
|Inverter circuit with single sampling unit and liquid crystal display with same
|Jan 29, 2004
|Aug 4, 2005
|Axis Technologies, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for dimming control of electronic ballasts
|Feb 12, 2008
|Sep 4, 2008
|Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
|Inverter circuit with single sampling unit and liquid crystal display with same
|Aug 27, 2005
|Mar 22, 2006
|Masakazu Ushijima
|Module for parallel lighting and balancer coil for discharge lamp
|May 28, 1993
|Dec 9, 1993
|David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.
|Active matrix electroluminescent display and method of operation
|May 30, 1996
|Dec 5, 1996
|Philips Electronics N.V.
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|Oct 11, 2004
|May 19, 2005
|The University Of Hong Kong
|Dimmable ballast with resistive input and low electromagnetic interference
|U.S. Classification
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jul 23, 1996
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Dec 15, 1996
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Feb 25, 1997
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 19961218


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|AMD's "Vega" GPU to Power LiquidSky Platform for Enthusiast-Level Gameplay Anywhere
"LiquidSky's game streaming service delivers the very best visuals, detail, and pure performance, regardless of the device you're using," said
"Vega truly democratizes access to enthusiast class game experiences, whether gamers are tapping into this power on a home PC or through a cloud-based game streaming service," said
The new Vega graphics architecture will be built on a 14nm manufacturing process and drive the next generation family of enthusiast-class Radeon™ graphics cards. Vega-based GPUs will have unique features like Radeon Virtualized Encode that bring cloud-based streaming services to new levels of quality, reliability, and security.
GPU products based on the Vega architecture are expected to ship in the second quarter of 2017.
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About | Welcome from the Chief | History of APD | APD Leadership | Living in Anchorage
Welcome, and thank you for visiting the Anchorage Police Department's recruitment site. We are glad you are exploring a career in law enforcement and you will find that the APD is among one of the best in the nation. We serve an outstanding community and live in one of the most scenic, beautiful places you will find.
This is an exciting time to join the department as we expand our force and diversify our team. We are looking for those that have a heart of public service, who want an exciting career and enjoy making a difference every day. Our department provides excellent training, pay, and benefits, and you will work with some of the best people you will ever meet. The career opportunities at the APD are endless, from joining specialty units to promoting to leadership positions. We hope you consider our department and make the choice to serve with us – we look forward to meeting you and having you join our excellent force. Take care and be safe!
Chief Christopher Tolley
Anchorage Police Department


text:
001. on NBC Connecticut's "Prescription Rights for NDs in Connecticut" (2015-02-27) [vsc 2015-02-28], ND Skowron states [my comments are in unquoted bold]:
"[the host] help Dr. Skowron out and we'll see what we can do here in Connecticut [...]";
this is BLATANT advocacy. Journalism: extinct?
"[host] what is a naturopathic physician? [...]";
oh, how going to NCNM in part 002. will show how OPAQUE this ND is!!! It seems we don't deserve to know, so we can then decide.
"[the ND] well a naturopathic physician is a physician who is educated in how to use natural medicine [...] integrative medicine [...] the best of conventional medicine and the best of natural medicine [...] it's all about combining both [...]";
so there's that BLENDING. But is it a good idea to blend WINE and MUD? Such does not sound improved.
"you want to see a naturopath for naturopathic medicine because they have the best education [...] the people who use this best are the people with the best education [...]";
so there's that BEST twice.
"[the ND] anyone who wants better health uses natural medicine [...] natural medicine is wonderful in more mild cases [...]";
what a WONDERFUL admission: naturopathy prescreens its patients, stacking the deck.
"[host] what are some of the things you brought in? [...the ND] what I love about natural medicine [is that] you can use so many different things [...] nutrition [...] herbs [...] nutritional supplements [...] homeopathy [and we're shown Boiron homeopathic tubes...] hydrotherapy [...] there's so many different tools in the tool box [...]";
well, a tool actually HAS TO WORK and homeopathy, we know scientifically speaking, doesn't. So, there's the mud, amongst other mud.
"[host] in other states [....] naturopathic physicians can write prescriptions [...] not the case in Connecticut [...the ND] the [naturopathic] law [...] needs to be updated for the 21st century [...] so currently there's a bill in the State House to give naturopathic physicians that right [...see] cnpaonline.org [...]";
the seeking of the wine! Ah, CNPA, 'CT ND opacity central', which doesn't even mention the basic premise of naturopathy, "vital force." So much for being modernized. Paternalism rules instead. And, if updating the CT ND law is modernizing, then so would naturopathy abiding by legitimate scientific methodology and boundaries. Instead, we're in the medieval times, epistemically speaking, wherein: homeopathy is equal to prescriptive medicines in terms of overall merit.
002. at the ND's alma mater, NCNM, we're told, and this is supposedly "best", in "Learn About Naturopathic Medicine":
"the practice of naturopathic medicine emerges from six principles of healing. These principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease and are examined continually in light of scientific analysis. These principles stand as the distinguishing marks of the profession: [#1] the healing power of nature, vis medicatrix naturae: the body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force [...] the process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, expressions of the life force attempting to heal itself [...]";
ah, ye old science-ejected life force falsely claimed as able to survive scientific scrutiny. Falsely claimed as in-fact. NOT BEST at all.
"homeopathic medicine is [...] powerful [...]";
so powerful it is, scientifically speaking, considered WORTHLESS. Again, NOT BEST.
I think it's a bad idea. Homeopathy as useful is a reversal of modern pharmacological values. Medications only increase naturopathy's POTENTIAL FOR HARM. And how would they know they've harmed, when in their world, homeopathy is powerful, and epistemic nonsense is BEST?


text:
The VWC is sponsoring a program at the 2013 Virginia Festival of the Book (third week in March; specific date/time/venue not yet assigned) on the topic of regional anthologies and how to get published in them. The panelists will be an anthology publisher and several regional anthology selection editors.
What questions/topics would you like to see addressed in this panel discussion? Do you have information on regional anthologies that you would be willing to be included in a handout at this program?
Respond here or e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Thanks--and we'll be looking forward to seeing you at this program.


text:
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| Okay, you know how this story starts?
In the beginning, there wasn't s--t, literally but void and darkness.
That's how The Darkness liked it.
It wasn't until God decreed "turn on the lights", that things got nasty.
Start up small, a planet here, a sun there.
You - you know? Next thing, you know? The humans and cows.
And then stuff running all over the place. It's to say,
The Darkness was pissed!
|~ Johnny Powell explains The Darkness.
Known only as The Darkness, this shadowy and twisted preternatural beast serves as the eponymous force of Top Cow Production's The Darkness series and the namesake living symbol of darkness. He is an ancient demon spirit who bonded with the protagonist Jackie Estacado and operates as a driving force in his own personal war with all life and his light-based opponent and feminine counterpart, The Angelus. The Darkness is arguably the primary antagonist of The Darkness series, both in comic book series and videogame adaptation of the same name.
BackgroundAccording to the series' lore, The Darkness was part of the void that existed before God's light led to Creation. During that time, Earth was formless and void and darkness was over the surface of existence. Then God said, "Let there be light.". And there was light, and God saw that the light was good and so separated the light from the Darkness. The Darkness resented this and so bitterness and spite were born before time itself. Disgusted with the new lives that formed since then, he decided to infect various male human hosts throughout the ages. At the age of 21, The Darkness would take control of his host. He eventually comes across the Estacado line when it bonds with Anthony Estacado during World War I.
In comic books of the same name which is the game series based upon, aside with Heaven, The Darkness also had conflict with the Vatican, who have plotted against and sent the Magdalena to assassinate him on many occasions since the death of Jesus Christ. In spite of disgusted with the new life that created by God and Angelus, The Darkness and Angelus decided to made a truce to stop fighting as their constant battle have destroyed much landmarks of the world, including Krakatoa mountain. Both opposing entities then sealed the truce with The Darkness impregnated Angelus, leading to the birth of hybrid being called Witchblade.
Even with the truce already held to prevent further damages from their eternal conflict, hatred and spite within The Darkness still burns, and upon seeing mankind, God's favourite creation, as perfect vessel and conduit to cause another destruction and carnage. From there, The Darkness has made his way through history well over the span of 10,000 years using Human males as hosts and is passed on via sexual intercourse with Human women, leaving his old host as he takes his newly concieved vessel and remaining dormant within the new living vessel until awakening on the eve of his 21st birthday. Hosts that The Darkness prefer came from the worst and depraved men who led their lives as mafia, murderer, rapist, etc. and steer their lives into ruin. This tactic proved to be fighting fire with fire, as Angelus herself uses human females as her host of choice though she didn't pass her essence via sexual intercourse, but rather choose her host randomly.
It should be noted that in comic series, The Darkness would had his old hosts died (presumably once his host's wife has giving birth a son that would became a new vessel). However, in video game adaptation, the host of the Darkness remained alive when the demon left his body in favor of his son's without ill-effects.
Videogame History
The Darkness (2007)
The Darkness attaches himself to Jackie Estacado's body on his twenty-first birthday after Jackie escapes Paulie's betrayal and attempt on his life. Speaking to him through a dark voice, The Darkness manifests as twin shadowy serpents that also provide him with weaponry and offenses. True to his form, The Darkness is harmed by lights, which prompts Jackie to destroy virtually every light source they encounter in order to keep The Darkness strong. He feeds on the hearts of Jackie's slain enemies and can summon little beings called Darklings that serve as his minions.
Throughout the game, The Darkness drives Jackie to kill and taunts him with the knowledge that he is trying to make Jackie his puppet. This is particularly noted in his Moral Event Horizon-crossing action when he prevents Jackie from saving his girlfriend Jenny from being shot dead by Paulie in revenge. Following this, he periodically taunts Jackie about Jenny's death while further stating that Jackie is his slave.
In some portions of the game, Jackie is killed and sent through a hellish otherworld themed after World War I. There, he meets Anthony who provides information on the Dark Weapons that may be used to keep The Darkness in control. The Darkness threatens and pleads with Jackie to avoid these weapons, but Jackie finds them and activates them regardless. The Darkness splits into a form like Jackie and attacks him. Jackie however, defeats The Darkness and assumes control over him.
Towards the game's conclusion, The Darkness slowly manages to regain control over Jackie with each life he takes. Desiring to take revenge on Paulie for Jenny's murder, Jackie makes himself susceptible to the Darkness as he is overpowered by the shadow of a solar eclipse. When Jackie slays Paulie, the Darkness assumes total control of him.
The Darkness II
2 years following the first game's events, The Darkness is once again put under Jackie's control as he rules over the mafia in Paulie's place. However, he is forced out when Jackie is attacked, with The Darkness tempting Jackie to unleash his power once again. During a weakened state, The Darkness assumes total control of Jackie's body and slays the henchmen of a mysterious enemy that sent to kill him. He also entraps Jackie in an otherworld modeled after an asylum, so as to prevent him from ending his life so he may be reunited with Jenny.
Things are further complicated by The Brotherhood and its leader Victor Valente who knows of The Darkness. The organization desires to take the power of The Darkness for themselves. Eventually, Jackie finds that Valente is in possession of The Siphon of the Angelus, the weapon that will destroy The Darkness. Jackie kills Valente and uses the Siphon to commit suicide. The Darkness responds by entrapping Jackie in the asylum as he reconstructs Jackie's body.
In the game's conclusion, Jackie dives into Hell itself in order to save Jenny's soul held by The Darkness. However, Jenny has been taken as a host by The Angelus (something that turned out to be the a freudian excuse why it goes so far to had Jenny died in the first place), who states that Jackie will be imprisoned along with The Darkness for the suffering he has caused. Jackie and The Darkness then become sealed inside a hellish prison.
The Darkness is unquestionably malevolent force to be reckoned with. He shows a disdain of what he refers to as "common people". In the subway sections of the game, The Darkness constantly mentions his disgust with the good people. With Jenny in particular, he mentions she "reeks of innocence". Nevertheless, he takes delight in human suffering and sees them as only a means to cause or be forced into suffering, particularly since he was forced to bestowed first members of mankind their souls. He also only concerned with itself and merely sees his host as expendable conduit and puppet, and not hestitate to discard his old host to new one.
The malevolence that The Darkness had was as result of God's action in separating light and darkness in the world as well as having him bestowed first humans their souls. Embittered and consumed by wrath, The Darkness sought spill Chaos over the world of light. Even with the truce made with his light opposite and equal Angelus, his wrath and hatred only intensifies as time passed until he chooses God's most favored creation, mankind, as his host. Not surprisingly, humans whom he choose as conduit to spreading chaos usually sinful and depraved from the ranks of murderers, thieves, rapists and warlords, steering them to ruin in the process. His selfishness also what caused many of his host unable to gain full potential over his powers up until Jackie become his host.
Powers and AbilitiesAs demonstrated in both comic books and its videogame adaptations, The Darkness demonstrates an array of powers and abilities in his disposal for his host, limited only by strong light and their imagination. Hosts of The Darkness can also gain access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the countless legions of Darklings and other otherworldly beings who dwell there.
- Darklings Conjuration: A host of the Darkness can conjure Darklings to their side. Darklings are impish, deviant, base and foul-mouthed servants of the Darkness and his host. Created from necroplasmic materials and animated by the spirit of the Darkness, the Darklings are the foot-soldiers of the Darkness host; serving and obeying his every whim, protecting him from harm, and tending to his needs. The hosts communicate with the Darklings through telepathy, able to give them commands and receive messages from across long distances as well as see and hear through their eyes. Darklings are more powerful and effective in many ways than men, as they superhumanly strong, agile, resilient and fast, regardless of size. They are able to evolve to become stronger, bigger and more viscous. They can scale sheer surfaces and jump several feet into the air. Their teeth and claws can rend steel and many possess prehensile tails and large bat-like wings for flight. Many also have corrosive saliva or fiery breath as well as other powers, depending on the will of the wielder.
- Dark Swarm: Aside Darklings, hosts of The Darkness can conjure a swarm of green bloodthirsty flies made of pure darkness that will swarm and attack his foes, for simply distract them to slowly and painfully killing them.
- Darkness Armor: The signature ability of the Darkness is the creation of an invulnerable mystical armor about the host. This armor significantly augments the host's strength, speed and endurance, making him a powerhouse and a challenge to even the most physically powerful of super-humans. The appearance and design of the armor is a reflection of the host's character. Following abilities that bestowed by Darkness Armor are:
- Invulnerability: The Darkness armor is impervious to even the most destructive of conventional weapons. Even if the armor can be damaged, the armor can regenerate itself.
- Superhuman Strength: The armor dramatically increases the host's strength to the point of reaching levels on par with the most physically potent of superpowered beings. Batman, a man in peak physical condition with a bench-press capacity of 1,000 lbs, described the strength of the Darkness armor as "infinitely stronger" than himself. While wearing the armor, Darkness hosts become almost unstoppable; no man can stand against them and even most superpowered beings must consider their strength when facing an armored Darkness host. Even Superman himself whom invulnerable with most conventional weapons and anything that can kill humans can be harmed with powers bestowed by The Darkness himself. The armored host can lift cars with ease, bend steel, break chains, crush stone, send grown men flying across a room or through a wall with the slightest touch, and uproot trees.
- Superhuman Speed: The host can run in excess of a hundred miles per hour while in the armor. Their reflexes are similarly accelerated, allowing them to deflect bullets with their wrists. In close distances, hosts can seem to appear and disappear from sight.
- Shape-shifting: The host can alter the appearance of the armor to perfectly mimic the appearance and voice of another. On an advanced level, they can take on the forms of dragon-like creatures.
- Wings: The host can manifest either bat-like or feathered wings to allow high speed flight.
- Claws: Can grow razor-sharp talons at the ends of their fingernails sufficient to pierce human skulls easily. These claws also aid in adhering sheer surfaces.
- Blades: The armor can form blades and spikes to slay opponents.
- Superhuman Stamina: The armor energizes the host and allows him to remain active indefinitely without tire.
- Respiration Protection: The armor supplies oxygen and protects the host from low-oxygen environment such as outer space, underwater, or in a gas-filled room.
- Superhuman Agility: The hosts possess unnatural agility and coordination; able to perform parkour feats effortlessly and jump several yards in a single bound.
- Healing Factor/Rapid Cellular Regeneration: The Darkness endows his hosts with versatile regenerative abilities; able to heal grievous wounds and massive loss of tissue in mere seconds. These healing abilities are advanced enough to regrow damaged or lost internal organs. When Jackie Estacado was raised from Hell by Tom Judge, the Darkness re-assembled a new body for Jackie using only raw material from his jawbone and the burnt corpses scattered around the scene.
- Healing: These healing powers work both ways; both on the host and - if the host chooses - others.
- Immunity: These restorative abilities also render the host immune to diseases and other forms of biological affliction, including those of a supernatural nature. The host's immunity also extends into resistance to magical attacks to the body or mind.
- Construct Creation: The Darkness is, by definition, the literal chaos that brings about creation. This primordial and chaotic power is held by each host, allowing him to create solid constructs from pure darkness-born materials. The Darkness is able to create anything he desires, ranging from physical constructs to sentient beings.
- Tentacles: Hosts can summon tentacles of various shapes and sizes to do their will. These can range from piercing spears to clawed talons to fanged mouths. These tentacles are strong enough to lift cars and dismantle buildings, as well as eviscerate other creatures at the host's command. Like the Darklings, the hosts controls them telepathically.
- Serpent Heads: Depend on the host's will, the summoned tentacles can transformed into more chaotic and sentient Serpent Heads that can brutalize foes and victims in more violent and effective manner. One serpent head can also be sent to creeping about for opening locked doors, ambush foes, and vandalizing light sources. In video game, The Darkness' Dark Essence can be powered by having the serpent heads consuming of human hearts.
- Chemical Engineering: With the right understanding of physics and biochemistry, hosts can create such base chemicals as water, organic materials, fire, bodily fluids, drugs, or potent corrosives from the Darkness by changing the molecular structure of raw Darkness-born material to the appropriate sequence.
- Weapon Constructs: With the right knowledge and mechanical engineering, the host can fashion weapons such as swords and guns from the Darkness.
- Tentacles: Hosts can summon tentacles of various shapes and sizes to do their will. These can range from piercing spears to clawed talons to fanged mouths. These tentacles are strong enough to lift cars and dismantle buildings, as well as eviscerate other creatures at the host's command. Like the Darklings, the hosts controls them telepathically.
- Extrasensory Perception :The hosts can occasionally perceive a person as they really are, beyond the glamour of humanity.
- Dark Magic: The Darkness allows the host other, more arcane abilities that defy the laws of physics.
- Empathy: The host can interpret a person's emotions and thoughts.
- Precognition: The host can see a person as they will be when they die and can instinctively know when, where and how that person will die.
- Reanimation: The Darkness can reanimate the dead as zombies.
- Soul Absorption: The Darkness can hold vast quantities of souls within his body as well as expell them at will.
- Witchcraft Negation: In certain instances, the Darkness has shown strong enough to overpower a witch's immortality by flooding her mind with his memories and emotions. The experience is so overwhelming to the witch that it depletes her life force completely. The host does not seem to be in full control of this power and only works if a witch casts a memory-drain spell on him.
- Black Hole Conjuration: In video game series, host of The Darkness can conjure black holes that brutalize anyone within their vicinity.
- Teleportation: The host can travel anywhere in the shadows.
- Immortality: Hosts of the Darkness have the potential to live eternally as time and death have no full dominion over them.
- Heightened Senses: Certain senses are heightened; such as the ability to literally feel a person's footsteps from several yards away, even while underground.
Notable Host(s)
Aram, also known as the Foreigner, was a Witch-King who lived in ancient Africa. He was a wielder of the Darkness who used his powers to slay entire armies of his opponents and to conquer nations. At some point, he used his natural magic to drive the Darkness out of his body without killing himself in the process. In retaliation, the Darkness cursed Aram with eternal life and condemned him to wander the Earth for all time. Aram spent the next 10,000 years as a simple witch. At some point he met the Sovereign and defeated him and also slew the Djinn that was created to kill wielders of the Darkness.
Jackie EstacadoJackie is the current host of The Darkness present on Earth and is among the greatest and most powerful hosts ever known. He is a former hitman for The Franchetti Mafia after he was adopted and recruited by Frankie Franchetti under Sonatine's instructions at age 6. He is the twin brother of Capris Castiglione and the son of Danny Estacado and an unknown prostitute and was born somewhere in New York City, New York.
Capris Castiglione
Capris is only known female host of The Darkness and Jackie's twin sister whom separated when they were babies. She was raised in an orphanage by Father Brendan, who treated her as if she was his own daughter. When Father Brendan was dying, he revealed Capris's past and her twin brother to her. She met a Native American by the name of Robert Bearclaw who taught her how to use the limited Darkness powers that she inherited from her father. Five years later, Capris sought out and killed the men responsible for a friend's death. When she met her brother, Jackie, for the first time, she told him where the Angelus was holding Frankie, and then disappeared.
Capris ultimately become fully seduced by the euphoric power of the Darkness and had been training and perfecting her powers. The Darkness chose her to be his new host and used her to try to kill Jackie. She attacked and overpowered him with her superior powers and would have killed him if not for Aram using his last bit of magic to shut down the Darkness. Jackie killed Capris using a magical crystal glove given to him by Aram. She is last seen as a damned soul in a strange afterlife for Darkness-wielders.
Danny Estacado
Danny Estacado (named Carlo Estacado in game series) is the son of Adrienne Estacado and Roberto Estacado and the father of Jackie Estacado and Capris Castiglione. He was a sadistic criminal hitman who worked for various mafias. He impregnated an unknown prostitute with Jackie and Capris and died at the moment of their births.
Strangely, his game counterpart Carlo still alive after The Darkness left his body in favor of his son's. It was because in the game series, when the host of The Darkness conceived a child, he won't die once when The Darkness exits from their body in favor of their child's. But due to it, Carlo had the chance to tell his son Jackie about his destiny to bear The Darkness within him.


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Here is another excerpt from Dragon Knights: Resurrection
A jade colored dragon, Tatsu. flew over the city of Sychar. Satan had brought him here from his home planet of Ramajadin. From what he could see the people here seemed even more backward than the people and races from his home. He shook his head and roared as he reminded himself that Ramajadin was no longer his home. Instead this backwards planet was the place he would call home. From the looks of things and what he had been able to ascertain in his short time here this people would be much easier to bring to Satan and ultimately enslave for his own evil purposed. He roared again as he flew in front of the sun. He watched the little people look to the sky and then run in fear into their little houses. It would be so easy to burn those flimsy buildings and kill the people, but that's not what he was supposed to do. Instead he saw a stable and a lone cow. His stomach rumbled. It had been days since he had last eaten. One more roar, a blast of white hot flame and the stable was gone and the cow cooked to perfection. It was not enough but it was a beginning. He would need to find some more of these cows. His and Dryas's eggs would be hatching soon and they would be hungry.
He swooped down and gobbled the cow in one large bite. Then flew off toward the caves in the mountains above Galilee.
Naftili walked back to the house. As he walked through the outskirts of town he felt someone grab him and pull him behind the house.
"What are you doing Naftili? Why are you chasing that Jew? Did your father not tell you to stay away from him?" It was old Jacob.
"Yes, Rabbi." But you have heard him speak. Have you listened to him?"
The Rabbi released him. "Yes, yes I have. And I know how you feel. I want to hear more I want to be with Jesus all the time, but the Torah forbids us spending time with Jews. You should obey your father until we can figure out a way to do this thing."
"Yes Rabbi Jacob, I know you are right, but the pull is so strong."
"I know my boy. You go home tonight. Tomorrow come back and then we will find a way to see this Jesus."
"All right I will do as you say. Until tomorrow and then we will find a way."
Tell your father that the Rabbi wants to see you. He is a good man your father and you should not disobey him.
Good night Rabbi Jacob.
Good night Naftili.
He slowly walked the few blocks back to the house. It had been a strange evening and he was not sure what to think.
When he arrived he washed up again and went in the house and right to his bed. Abba must have been in the barn, because he did not see him in the house as he snuck through. His mother brought him some food. As he ate he thought about Jesus and Andrew and the other apostles. He thought about all the things Jesus said and about being introduced to Jesus by Andrew. How could these simple men be as bad as the townspeople said they were? They did not seem any different than his family. If only he could understand adults, but then again if he did understand them then he might never have gone to listen to Jesus.
He woke early the next morning before his father and rushed out to the barn to tend his chores and make up for missing work from yesterday. He thought about Imma and Abba and the townspeople and how tough things had been since Abba had been ill and Gavrielle had been taken. He felt bad for disobeying his father, but even in the cold light of dawn he still felt a strong pull to be near Jesus, to hear what he had to say.
When he finished his chores he cleaned up and went into the house. His mother was up and making their small breakfast and father must have been out doing some chores. He was not sure how he had not seen him, but figured he must have gone out while his back was turned. He sat down and table the bread and pheasant eggs that Imma had prepared.
"Imma, Rabbi Jacob had asked me to meet him this morning. He has something he wants to show me."
"All right you may go if you have finished your chores."
"Yes, Imma. Where is Abba? I did not see him when I was outside doing my chores."
"He went to the caves. One of the sheep was giving birth and in trouble. Go on ahead and meet Rabbi Jacob."
"Be back in time for dinner."
"Yes Imma."
Naftili scurried off to meet Rabbi Jacob. He was excited and hoped the Rabbi had a plan so they could listen to Jesus speak again. When he arrived at the temple the rabbi was nowhere to be found. His excitement quickly deflated like a balloon. He asked the baker if he had seen the rabbi. He responded that he had not seen the old busybody all morning, but if he did he would let Naftili know. Naftili walked away kicking at the stones on the hard packed earth of the road. He was not at all sure what to do now. He would go and find father and see if he could be any help with the sheep. as he walked up the hill to the cave he saw the crowd gathering again by the lake. He knew father was near and he dare not follow the crowd.
He continued to the cave. He saw his father coming out of the cave and ran to him. "Abba is everything all right. How are the sheep and the new lamb?"
"Yes they are fine. That Jewish man you are so enamored with and some of his followers came in early this morning with their herds and when he saw our distress they offered to he help us. He saved the lambs."
"There was more than one."
"Yes the ewe had triplets. Usually if there is more than two one will die. Yet this man, this Jew managed to save the third one and even convince the mother to care for all three."
"But why would he help you? You are not a Jew."
"I do not know Naftili. All I do know is that when I needed help he was there and he helped. Now we can go home to you mother and celebrate."


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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Ottawa Senators - 12/20/15 NHL Pick, Odds, and Prediction
Ottawa Senators (17-11-5) at Tampa Bay Lightning (16-14-3)
NHL Hockey: Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 5:00 pm (Amalie Arena)
The Line: Tampa Bay Lightning / Ottawa Senators --- Over/Under: See the Latest Odds
The Tampa Bay Lightning have their eyes on a win when the Ottawa Senators come to town.
It's never a bad thing to get an early lead and make your opponent play catch up the entire game and that's exactly what the Ottawa Senators did in a 4-2 win versus the San Jose Sharks at the Canadian Tire Centre on Friday night. The Senators lit the lamp three times in the opening period and the Sharks never recovered. Chris Wideman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Erik Karlsson led the scoring charge with Bobby Ryan adding a second period tally to support Craig Anderson and his 31 saves hat raised the Sens to 17-11-5. The Sharks saw their two game winning streak end with goals from Brent Burns and Joe Thornton with Alex Stalock allowing four goals on 35 shots as San Jose fell to 16-15-1.
USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals proved a hockey game is 60 minutes long in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Verizon Center. The Lightning took a 3-0 lead in the second before the Capitals exploded for five goals including a four goal burst in the third. Andrej Sustr, Alex Killorn and Stamkos gave the Lightning a 3-0 lead with Ben Bishop recording 31 saves as Tampa Bay dropped to 16-14-3. The Capitals received a pair of goals each from TJ Oshie and Alex Ovechkin while both added two assists as well. Marcus Johansson also lit the lamp but Braden Holtby gave up all three goals on 12 shots and was pulled in favor of Philipp Grubauer who stopped all seven shots he saw to help the Caps improve to 23-6-2.
The under is 5-0 in Senators last 5 Sunday games and is 4-0 in Senators last 4 games following a win while the Senators are 0-6 in their last 6 Sunday games. The under is 8-1-3 in Lightning last 12 home games and is 5-1 in Lightning last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game while going is 9-2-2 in Lightning last 13 games playing on 1 days rest. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings and the Senators are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in Tampa Bay while the under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Tampa Bay. I have to see injuries for Tampa Bay and goalies but perhaps the under…


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Who will be the next Albert Einstein?
By Shavkat
@Shavkat (44845)
July 21, 2012 5:52am CST
Albert Einstein contributed a famous equation E=mc2. If we are going to invent something new, what kind of product you are going to develop?
4 responses
• India
21 Jul 12
Now that is to direct question to ask. There are many more things which need strict developments and sincere effort but it more often than not does not strike our mine. The reason behind is the luxury we are provided with. Today we have every sort of light to view every sort of thing. Edison was deprived of same and he invented bulb. I feel some topics of Physics like theory of light and its detailed investigation os a field which needs working. Also medical field and precisely human body is an area we have so much to discover with concrete evidences. All this will help humanity. But first thing we need in ourselves is urge to stand and deliver
• India
21 Jul 12
God help me!!! Where did that come from? Are we discussing over who was the greatest ever. I found a question in your post regarding what I would invent if at all I will some day in future, I brought Edison for a reference. I tried to relate your post to your subject and posted whatever I found meaningful. There was no intention of fighting over who has been or will be greatest.
• India
21 Jul 12
I respect your opinion and I never told I have any affection towards Edison either. I got what you wanted to say. I was just sharing my astonishment over where the discussion started turning. That was all.
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
21 Jul 12
Einstein never "invented" anything. he simply discovered a way to define what was already there I would discover the cure for cancer
@dawnald (84126)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Jul 12
Something that works for me while I am off traveling?
@garavegeta (963)
• Kochi, India
21 Jul 12
Hello,I think there were lot of scientist who made even greater contributions to science,like Thomas Alva Edison.But their contributions were not so glorified compared to Albert's.I know why is that so...but I will't say it because people won't like it. Personally I like the scientist who has invented 1000s of utilities which are still being used by us common people.At least I am not dependent on nuclear power to run my home,I don't know about other people.


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Tigard holding festival geared toward Spanish-speaking residents next Wednesday
Tigard's Latino Information Festival next Wednesday has "a little bit of everything," according to an organizer.
Betsy Rodriguez Ruef, Tigard's community engagement assistant, described the festival as both a way to connect the Latino community in Tigard with local resources and provide them with information and a fun, family-friendly event with free food and activities.
"All the city departments will be there representing themselves," she said. "They all will have a booth."
Ruef and other organizers are mindful of a national political situation that has many Latino residents and immigrants, particularly those who do not have legal documentation to live in the United States, on edge. To that end, Ruef said, the Tigard Police Department will receive particular emphasis among city departments at the event; the agency released a statement earlier this year affirming that it does not enforce federal immigration law and saying it is committed to equal treatment of citizens.
"They want to clarify and address fears and concerns," Ruef said.
The Mexican Consulate in Portland has also been invited to have representation at the festival, Ruef said, and an immigration attorney is expected to attend as well.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is also participating.
The City of Tigard has been promoting the event in both Spanish and English, as well as in media of both languages.
"Since I'm bilingual, I'm able to translate a lot of our pamphlets and information," Ruef said.
The event itself will be presented in both Spanish and English, and Ruef said people who do not speak Spanish are welcome.
The event takes place in the community room at the Tigard Public Library, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the time and location of the event.
By Mark Miller
Assistant Editor, The Times


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Mineral Monday: Cadmium
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The subject of today's Mineral Monday is used to protect critical components of oil rigs and aeroplanes, and is a vital part of many batteries. But what is it? Cadmium!
A controversial, yet widely used element, Cadmium was discovered simultaneously in 1817 by Friedrich Stromeyer and Karl Samuel Leberecht Herman, both in Germany, as an impurity in zinc carbonate.
However, it was not to be until the 1930's that industrial production of Cadmium would be attempted. Its value as a coating of steel and iron to prevent corrosion spurred its production though.
Besides coating Cadmium also found use as red, orange and yellow pigments.
The world of energy generation also makes ample use of Cadmium as it plays a key role in the control rods of nuclear reactors, acting as a 'neutron poison' to control neutron flux in nuclear fission. And looking at energy on a smaller scale, Cadmium plays an important role in many batteries. In 2009, 86% of Cadmium was used in batteries, predominantly in rechargeable nickel-cadmium models.
Despite this wide array of uses and applications Cadmium also attracts much criticism and controversy due to its potential to cause poisoning and other harms to humans and other life forms. Cadmium is one of six substances banned by the European Union's Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, which bans certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment but allows for certain exemptions and exclusions. In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified Cadmium and Cadmium compounds as carcinogenic to humans.
Where is it produced / mined?
As of 2001, China was the leading producer of Cadmium, producing nearly one-sixth of the world share, with South Korea being the second largest producer. Other significant producers include Japan, Kazakhstan, Canada, Mexico and Russia.
Did you know?
• There are eight isotopes of Cadmium, two of which are radioactive.
• Cadmium electroplating is especially common for aircraft.
• In bulk, Cadmium is non-flammable, but will burn and release poisonous fumes when in powdered form.
• It has been known to take as much as a one ton sample of zinc to produce a mere 6.5 pounds of Cadmium.
• Cadmium is named for the Greek god Cadmus, who led an adventurous life around 2000 BCE.
• Cadmium is a soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white metal, which is easily cut with a knife. It is an excellent electrical conductor and shows good resistance to corrosion and attack by chemicals.
• Cadmium tarnishes in air and is soluble in acids but not in alkalis.
• The Earth's crust contains about 0.1 parts per million of Cadmium.
So there you have it! Cadmium, an element that plays a key part in many essential modern industrial processes and applications.
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I enjoyed watching the kids make their way through the corn maze on this unseasonably HOT autumn day.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Simple things - Corn maze
Posted by Kimberly Vensel at 3:32 PM
2 comments:
- Rachel said...
So fun! Love walking through corn mazes. Isn't Simple Things Sunday fun?
- October 28, 2012 at 5:52 PM
- rebecca said...
great shot Kimberly, love the perspective! Thanks for linking up with the simple things this week. :)
- October 29, 2012 at 12:48 AM
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