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This week, can I own up to being bored and slightly at a loose end. It is quite true that the less you do, the less you want to do. Are you allowed to feel like this at this time of the year?
A welcome distraction was my usual trip to the cafe on Tuesday. Good company. Perhaps that's my problem I'm lonely.
I was going to bake a Christmas cake today, but decided I would buy one instead. I'm going to do my cards.
But the one bright star on this cold morning, was the charity shop, which opened officially today. Such a transformation. Dare I admit it to be very much more welcoming, as all the stock displayed looked lovely. Room to move around, and a wonderful display of Christmas goodies, from decorations to stockings, and lovely glasses just the job for drinking that Prosecco.
Customers visiting were clearly impressed with all the changes. People have been very generous with their donations I'm glad to say, and what a good cause.
Shepherds Down School is situated in Compton, Winchester. Their core role is to meet the needs of primary aged pupils who have a range of complex learning needs. I have met a young boy who attends this school. He is thriving and loves his school, he can't wait to go on the yellow bus.
These are photos of the two owners who are recognisable as they ran the old charity shop in its former guise, before they took over the lease.
Good luck.


text:
Vin is lucky to be part of a crew instead of in one of the whore houses–even if her crew mates are abusive at times. Her whole life is changed when Kelsier walks through the door. Kelsier is Mistborn and claims that Vin is too. The Mistborn have a special ability to burn metals which give them special powers. Vin immediately takes to these powers, which are called Allomancy, and Kelsier asks her to join his crew on a very special job–to overthrow the Lord Ruler along with his Obligators and Inquisitors. Vin doesn't believe this can be done, but she's eager to learn more about Allomancy and wants to see how Kelsier's plan will play out.
This book has been on my radar for a while now, but it took a book club to get me to actually read it. The size itself is pretty daunting (the book is 600+ pages) and as I started reading the book I felt a distinct lack of enthusiasm. I liked the story fine, but I just felt like a fish out of water–I don't really read much heavy fantasy, I try to stick to YA. I felt overwhelmed at first by this new world and the magic and keeping the metals straight and all of the different characters. That being said, 600 pages later I still have trouble remembering what each of the metals do, but I have the characters down and feel like I have a better understanding of the world and Allomancy in general. I do want to read the next two books…but it might be a little while. These books are LONG and take some commitment.
Getting into the plot itself, I thought the pacing could have been a little quicker, but it wasn't bad. I appreciated that the entire "job" is supposed to be completed over the course of a year. A lot of times I feel like authors rush the timeline, but I thought Sanderson did a really great job of having a reasonable timeline while keeping the story moving. The world was interesting, but I admit to not really getting it. The world itself doesn't play that big of a role in this book, but I feel like it'll play a bigger role in the next two. Allomancy is a really interesting concept to me and I really liked the scenes where we see how it's used from Vin or Kelsier's eyes. However, I don't really understand the "burning" of metals in one's stomach–that just seems so weird to me. I also don't get why it's an "either you can burn one metal or you can burn them all" kind of thing. That part just seems a little forced to match what the author wants to do with the story. Lastly, I wasn't very happy when Sanderson introduced a second type of magic into the story. Yeah, I understand why it was necessary for the overall plotline, but I still don't like it. Let's just have ONE type of magic in a world at a time, okay?
The characters themselves were interesting. I really liked the cast of secondary characters and I wish that we had gotten to know them a bit deeper–maybe in the next books. Kelsier's motives were a little hard to understand at times, but in the end I really liked him. Vin, on the other hand, was harder for me to like. I just felt like she kept making these dumb, stubborn decisions. I understand that she's been raised to expect betrayal and to not trust anyone, but still… I guess her actions may have been consistent with the character that Sanderson was trying to develop, but I had a hard time connecting with her as a reader.
Overall, I thought this book was really intriguing and I'm glad that I read it. Like I said earlier, I plan to get to the other two books…but maybe not right away.
Overall Rating: 4
Language: Mild
Violence: Extreme
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate

subset: commoncrawl


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Why Nikon's 500mm prime is a telephoto lens like no other
Field Test
Nikon Z 6 field tested in Japan
Geoff Harris spends some quality time with AP's Product of the Year, the full-frame mirrorless Nikon Z 6, during two trips to Japan
Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport Field Test
Michael Topham field tests Sigma's latest telephoto zoom with a maximum reach of 600mm
Panasonic Lumix G9 field test
When packing for a trip to a remote subantarctic island, Dan Milner needed a camera capable of withstanding anything the climate might throw at it. Would the Panasonic G9 be…
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Field Test
Michael Topham tests Nikon's first telephoto lens with an in-built teleconverter
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV field test
Can the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV keep up with the competition? Matty Graham puts this full-frame DSLR to the test on a trip to Norway, shooting landscapes by day…
Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Field Test in Kenya
Is Nikon's AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens good enough for a once-in-a-lifetime photo safari, or did Phil Hall wish he'd packed something more exotic?…
Nikon D5500 Field Test in South-East Asia
A recent trip through South East Asia gave Matt Golowczynski the perfect opportunity to see what the Nikon D5500 was made of.
Nikon D5 Field Test – Steve Davey
Steve Davey sees how the mighty Nikon D5 copes with low light and more on two demanding trips
Sony A7R II Field Test: Nick Dungan
My fascination with motorsport predates my love of photography. In fact, it was my desire to get closer to car racing that inspired me to buy my first DSLR. I…
Why I love my Leica Noctilux f/0.95/50
On the 50th anniversary of Leica's legendary Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens, multi award-winning photojournalist Edmond Terakopian shares his love of it
Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM Field Test
Professional photojournalist Andy Blackmore tests the Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM
Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sport Field Test
Michael Topham tests Sigma's new flagship telephoto lens on a wildlife assignment
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II field test
Pro motorsport photographer Nick Dungan puts Canon's flagship EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR through its paces at the first round of the 2016 World Endurance Championship in this field test
Nikkor AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review
With a long zoom range at a tempting price, Nikon's AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens could be outstanding. Phil Hall tries it out on a wildlife photography trip…
Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R field test
After six months of using the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R to shoot a variety of subjects, from product photography and wildlife to a wedding, Callum McInerney-Riley reveals how…
Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS review
Michael Topham tests the eagerly awaited telephoto zoom for X-system cameras
Nikon D5 Review
Pro Wedding Photographer Ed Godden tests the Nikon D5 to find out how good it really is
Leica X-U Review: Field Test
Michael Topham reports on his experience of testing the Leica X-U with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Field Test
Michael Topham finds out if this is one of the best Nikon telephoto lenses ever made


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Sunset Point Trek
'Matheran' is the famous Sunset Point for the nature lover and trekkers. The way to reach at that point are from Neral village and Panvel Dodhani waterfall. To reach at the top point of Matheran you need to trek for 4 to 5 hours from the base. during walk the route consist of small rock patchs so it would be little difficult u need to climb up and cross. best way to visit with good atmosphere is in mid june and mid october. This is because you will get to watch a good greener view and small water caplets. During Trek it consists of full of forest and long far we can see Karjat village and many small villages. As is consist of forest there is lot of different birds and small animals at the top point of Matheran Sunset Point you will able to see the great Kalvantindurg and Prabalagad mountain. At the final you will feel positive vibes as this place is silent and cool with naturel real beauty.
Date: 20th Jan 2019
Height: 2200 ft.
Grade: Medium
Location: Matheran
Cost : 950/- Per Person
Train Schedule
Board the CST - Panvel Local (Time table given below)
06:18 AM - Vadala Rd
06:29 AM - Kurla
06:34 AM - Chembur
06:40 AM - Mankhurd
06:49 AM - Vashi
06:58 AM - Nerul
07:05 AM - Belapur CBD
07:09 AM - Kharghar
07:20 AM - Panvel
08.00 AM: Meeting point will be Panvel Bus Depot
08.15 AM: Breakfast
08.45 AM: Move towards to Dodhani Village by ST Bus/Tumtum
09:45 AM: Reach Dodhani Village
10:00 AM: Start the ascend
12.00 PM: Reach Sunset Point and Explore
01.00 PM: Lunch
01.30 PM: Post Lunch our trek start towards Dasturi Naka
02.15 PM: Reach Dasturi and get Jeep to Neral Station
03.00 PM: Reach Neral Station
Travelling from Panvel to Dodhani Village By ST Bus/Tumtum
Dasturi Naka to Neral Station Jeep
Wandering Birds Expertise Charges.
Meals during travel
Personal expenses
Insurance of any kind
Medical hospitalization, evacuation and related expenses
Any item not covered under inclusions
Cancellation Policy:
7+ days prior to event - 50% amount will be Non Refundable.
3+ days prior to event - 70% amount will be Non Refundable.
2 days prior No Refund
Terms &Conditions
Camping places and Event timings (depends on weather conditions) are subject to change.
Seat Availability needs to be confirmed before payment of event.
Please avoid wearing Jewelries.
Smoking and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
For confirmation of the seat, full amount needs to be deposited prior to the event.
Never miss a great event & get weekly updates of great events.


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It has been no secret for more than 2 decades, David Beckham does alright financially. From his time as a pro at Manchester United, through to his fashion empire that keeps on growing and growing today, Mr Beckham is astute when it comes to money.
So astute is the man, that he just managed to surpass his best ever year financially, and it comes just one year after retirement from football. Beckham posted his highest earnings of $75 million for 2014, a considerable increase on his previous $51 million from 2012. He is second only to Michael Jordan in the Forbes richest retired athletes.
Financial gain is NOT the measure of a man, however it must feel pretty good to see a six figure sum at the end of your yearly pay- check.
Congrats to brand Beckham and co.
Forbes, (2015). David Beckham Banks His Biggest Year Ever With Earnings Of $75 Million. Retrieved 16th March, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/03/11/david-beckham-banks-his-bigger-year-ever-with-earnings-of-75-million/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=social&utm_channel=Business&linkId=12827178


text: "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." That is Revelation 13:18. Over the millennia it's been variously thought to refer to Rome, its emperors, Popes, Napoleon, Stalin, Hitler. Even Barack Obama. Some see it as a mystical prophecy foretelling the coming of the demonic son of Satan,some as mumbo jumbo…yadda yadda – you get the picture. Personally, I see it as just meaning that to understand the nature of a thing you need a bit of wisdom – much as we say thesedays: 'it's the nature of the beast,' or 'I've got your number!' Maybe St John did have a specific meaning. We can never know, I suppose. But what we can know is something about the mindset of the people who choose to interpret it, based on the interpretations they choose. If someone genuinely thinks it is a reference to Barack Obama, that tells me something about that person. Likewise if they think it is mumbo-jumbo, or a reference to the Catholic Church. It tells me a little something about what kind of person they are. And it also tells us that often, people interpret things not in a way that follows any logical uncovering of meaning, but in a way that simply confirms and conforms to pre-existing biases. Ideas that are open to interpretation can easily be made to conform to pre-extant agendas, providing just the conclusion we want. So with the Chinese martial art concept of 'internal/external'. Maybe our Western view is too centred on having one specific meaning for things. Maybe not. But it is true that where the meaning of an idea has become obscure, there is room for more than one interpretation. In fact, each interpretation of internal/external 'works' in some way for the person who holds it. It confirms something to them. And it tells everyone else – at least, those who have enough wisdom to understand the nature of this beast – something about them. My interpretation of Revelation 13:18 tells you something about me. It tells you that I look for interpretations of things that are practically useful. I especially look for interpretations that grow in usefulness the more you understand them. The idea that Barrack Obama is the Anti-Christ has zero value outside of some specific, fixed fantasy. As an idea, it stops dead at that point. It has no further depth to explore. However, the idea that wisdom and insight is required to understand certain aspects of the world never stops being wise. My interpretation may not be true, but it's far more useful as a conceptual tool than most of the other interpretations. And it continues to reveal itself as ever more useful, ever more true, the more I understand its implications. Because the more you understand what makes people tick, the more you understand why they choose to interpret things in certain ways. And the more you understand that, the more you understand why certain interpretations of things achieve popular acceptance, despite being cobblers. Most interpretations of 'internal martial arts' are dead ends. By all means, follow them, keep to them – hold them and promote them – but they are dead ends that lead nowhere useful in the end. On a general level, they simply promote some dead ideological idea. But on a personal level, if you really want truth, you have to ask why you choose to believe the things you do. It's not a coincidence – and it never was – that you chose certain interpretations over others. Dare to ask yourself why you chose them. There are only two destination in Quan – one, to find the true heart: the essence of Quan; and two, to build a self image that serves the self and only the self, and leads to no insight in to Quan. I do believe everyone starts out on the latter path. And only some people take the very simple, yet astoundingly difficult step on to the former. Those (so called 'internal' Chinese martial artists) who feel weak and powerless in daily life are the ones most likely to interpret what they do – i.e their hobby of 'internal martial art' - as being something powerful; something that grants them power. They are the ones most likely to speak of things like 'spine wave power' or 'massive internal energy power' etc. Even when, in reality, they know full well that they don't have massive power levels. They are also those most likely to issue threats; to claim that they will teach others a lesson for daring to question their power. Their interpretation of 'internal' is simply like boasting of owning a weapon. Nothing more. And it's a weapon that they don't even own because believing in fantasy power diverts you from real training for real power. Those who feel a lack of self worth are the ones most likely to see 'internal' as some kind of crowning achievement of their training. These are the people who talk of taiji, bagua and Xing Yi as 'the three crowns of Chinese martial arts' etc., and see what they do as not necessarily 'better' than other martial arts, just far more difficult to master. It grants them worth. For them, 'internal' means high accomplishment - even when they know full well they have not really accomplished much. Those who suffer with feeling a little inferior to others are the most likely to see 'internal' martial arts as better than other types. It is superior, and by osmosis, grants them superiority. They are the ones who see what they call 'external' stylists as in some way lesser to themselves, and can not help but make snide remarks, such as 'oh, that's too external' – because they have to let people know that they are superior. And they are one of he types who therefore constantly seek to put themselves in conflict with people of genuine accomplishment, and so always fulfil their own cycle. Why seek it? Because they have to. They have to put others down if they can't raise themselves up. The fearful see 'internal martial arts' as a 'get out of serious training free' card. Imagine how difficult it is for those who feel afraid, who want to train to look after themselves but are afraid of the sparring and contact necessary for real training. And imagine what a relief it must be to be told that they can simply do some meditation, slow forms and a bit of push hands, and that will make them in to martial artists. But in truth, they never get past the barrier of fear – they are always hiding from it, and the more senior they become in their 'art', the more they are both in line to face a fight, and unable to cope with it. Result – fear. As with all these standpoints, they are all self fulfilling – the more you run away from the 'issue', the more you end up building a world where you feel it even more acutely. And there are those who want to be alone. They are the lonely Internal Boxers; wandering Xia warriors, following the noble and righteous path of Tao through internal martial arts. Often, true seekers. But it's still simply 'something to be.' You'll notice that so far I haven't given any definition of 'internal and external'. Well, you've heard them. You've heard them all, over and over. And if you haven't, you will. Now think about where those definitions have gotten people. Where have they led to? Here is wisdom; real, true, undeniable, self proving wisdom: there are only two kinds of philosophical ideas – ideas that have the power to get you somewhere, then only to keep you there; and ideas that continue to unfold in to deeper and deeper implication, offering ever more profound insight. Which kind of ideas are you looking for? Here's an idea. Maybe in the West we're a little two influenced by the binary nature of our language. We want meanings to be fixed – and we want to search and find meanings, and know them – own them, even. 'Own the meaning now! Only twenty dollar!' Well maybe you can't own this meaning. Maybe it doesn't have a fixed point that you can latch on to and hold down. Maybe 'internal/external' is a different type of idea – what I call a 'true principle' – that never has any fixed meaning; it's meaning is fluid, and dependent on the wisdom and insight of the person holding it. And the wiser they are, the deeper the implication they see in it. So often I'm told 'you're saying nothing new!' Well, I know – I know it! It's not hearing the idea that counts, it's how deeply you understand its implication! I think there are only a handful of true principles in Quan. Maybe five or six at the most. It's not, and never was, about hundreds of techniques or forms – it's about a core, handful of true principles whose implications are profound, maybe even never ending – the wiser we are, the more implications they reveal. Not only that, the more the true principle simplifies in its form and expression, the more profound, and wider, the implications become. Meaning, the real lies and red herrings are the big, complex theories of meridians and qi and times of day. The more complex the principle, the less implications it has; in fact, you have to buy in to the whole ideology to believe it. As ever, it has to be believed to be seen. True principles don't. They are self evidently true – even for the ignorant, because ignorance also gives its own level of insight. There is a saying in taiji – 'invest in loss'. I think it may be one of the true principles of Quan. It has a fluid, ever deepening meaning – ever revealing more and more implications, the more you ponder it. Sadly, most people only ever see it in the most superficial sense. Internal as qi based, soft movement martial art with meridians and arm waving doesn't do that – it gets you to a certain point – of exploring certain ways of movement, but then it dies, and it takes people no further. That's why so few people can actually use the 'internal' martial arts to any degree. The idea that got them there kept them there. They didn't invest in loss – in this case, reaping a wonderful reward for letting go of old interpretations of old ideas, and going deeper, to circle them again – like an eagle going round and round, lower and lower to its prey. You have to keep circling – invest in loss; allow old ideas to give way to new awareness. Actively seek insight. Why do I say that? Well, because I'm tired of arguing with people's ideologies. Where are the wise ones, who actively seek further insight, not further ideology? Who actively seek more useful, more powerful expression of Quan, not word games and threats to keep the lid on their empty pot? Where are you, my kith and kin? Now, there are those who don't want deeper insight. Of course there are – there always are, in any system. And usually they're right at the top, because ignorance is like cream – it rises right to the very top of the bottle. There are those who actively seek to reinforce their particular view. And there are a lot of reasons for that. But mostly, those reasons are base and shallow. Some people even just want to provide a fuller curriculum, so they make sure that they teach both 'internal' and 'external' martial arts – just for the sake of it. And it looks good – like the more styles they know, the better they are. Actually, it's depth of understanding of the implications of the handful of true, core principles that makes a person an expert in Quan – not how many styles they know. Xing yi, bagua, taji…. How many styles can one person master? And yet, those who understand the true principles understand all of Quan. Which is which, and who is who? I know who is who. I know. There are those who shift to 'internal' martial arts because they've been pushed out of the real fighting market by real fighting styles. Teaching taiji or 'internal' styles is a way to still make money, and happily catch up all the people who aren't interested in fighting, and at the same time never have to get involved with the people who are and might embarrass them. But then there's another category. There are lots of people who really have invested a great deal in their training and in teaching and helping others progress. They're often innovators themselves. Fixed interpretations of ideas have got them to a certain point. But don't ever feel that you have to maintain the same views as others – every teacher worth their salt wants their students to progress to higher levels than themselves. Everyone understands that we each have our own potential – maybe we've reached ours, but we don't want that to limit our students. It's in the nature of this thing, this wonderful, profound art of Quan, that only certain combinations of mindset and will to train are going to achieve serious level understanding. We all have to work together to support those individuals. We are the platform for the next generation, just as the last generation was the platform for us. What I'm saying is don't feel owned by the past. The real, profound meaning of core principles isn't first of all any fixed meanings, but rather, to understand the types of ideas that they are – fluid, powerful, meaningful – and multi-faceted. They have unfathomable depths. They can't be pinned down to one simple interpretation. And they grow more simple. Their expression becomes more simple, even going past the point where you can put them in to words, because even that over complicates them. But their implications – I think their implications cover everything, if only we understand them. And that in itself – to understand that – IS one of the core principles itself. Now, how to unlock that, and what will it do? Well, I'll tell you where I am at with 'internal and external.' I am at the point where I see 'internal' as meaning intuitive progression; finding the natural, human martial art principles through experimentation and capturing natural insight. I see 'external' as meaning the copying of other people – the learning of drills, best practices, even forms. And I see those two as harmonious essentials that work together – and Quan, therefore, as a natural ability that is honed through learned methods. Quan itself is fluid, profound idea that can not fully be put in to words. So I hope you get my meaning, somehow via intuitive understanding. But – I also see internal/external as referring to the mind – to learning; to ideas. And not only to ideas, but to emotional information. We have to explore the ideology of what we believe about martial arts – including training methods. And we also have to explore the emotional side. And that last one – that's the hurdle; the real, true barrier point that every true seeker, I think, comes to. Notice I say every true seeker. A lot of people never get there – not ever. They never have to face this. They never, ever, want to consciously articulate or explore what it is that they ruthlessly exploited Quan for. They never want to face that they use it in some way to stop them feeling worthless, or inferior, or lonely. It's too much to ask of them. But those that do have the balls and stomach for that – that's the golden point: the crossroads where you stop, and you're forced to think about your direction – about why you train. Why you truly train, and what you really, really want Quan for. It's modern sports psychology, but it's profound, Taoist philosophy too – understanding why and how you made you. How you chose your enemies just to be the yin to your yang. How you took on board ideas to form and hide aspects of yourself. Check it out, as they say on the legendary 'street' – you made you, every step of the way. You designed yourself. And that, in itself, is the true internal method of Chinese martial arts – the intuitive exploration of knowledge; physical, ideological, emotional knowledge, to come to deeper understanding. I can't fix it any more than that for you. You have to explore which way of punching is best, and you have to explore why you invest belief in the things you do. You have to explore why you choose certain enemies and opponents. But it's the exploration that matters. Invest in loss – old landscape is left behind; explore new territory. I can't tell you exactly why the internal method works, or why it leads to better martial arts. You still have to practice an enormous amount - but somehow, practice itself becomes more efficient the moment – the very moment you understand, truly, why you wanted Quan – it's an insight in to you, and who you are that changes everything - including direction and ambition, and away from using martial arts- or indeed other people - for yourself, and towards truly understanding it, or them. Beware though. You may find that once you realise the true heart of your ambitions and motivations, that you no longer want to even train. Give it time – a big lull is a part of the process. In short – temei nosce. And – good luck!


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The Arduino Leonardo is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega32u4 (datasheet). It has 20 digital input/output pins (of which 7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.
The Leonardo differs from all preceding boards in that the ATmega32u4 has built-in USB communication, eliminating the need for a secondary processor. This allows the Leonardo to appear to a connected computer as a mouse and keyboard, in addition to a virtual (CDC) serial / COM port.
This is an Arduino Compatible board. It is NOT an original Arduino board, but is similar. None of the Arduino Leonardo boards sold on the internet at this price are original, they are all copies. This is perfectly legal, seeing that the whole arduino ecosystem is open source! Please note this board is not manufactred by Modtronix! We do not have control of the brand and quality of components used! We have however carefully selected suppliers that consistently supply quality products. For boards using durable, brand name components, also have a look at our own "Manufactured by Modtronix" range of SBC and accessory boards.
We stock a wide variety of Arduino compatible sensors, modules, shields and other accessories. Seeing that this is a 5V board, all accessories must be 5v compatible! Browse our menu at the top of this page (or use search box) for our full range of accessories. Following are some lists (created by search terms) of compatible accessories.
To pay via PayPal Express Checkout, go to Cart! Paying via this method is very fast, no sign in or registration is required. Your address information at PayPal is used.


text:
Galápagos Family Voyage
Group Travel | 10 Days
- A family-friendly cruise, with activity and meal options for all ages
- Meet giant tortoises, frisky sea lions, marine iguanas, and more
- Hike volcanic craters, snorkel and kayak coves, and stroll idyllic beaches
- Stellar naturalist guides, attuned to youngsters
- Go with experts: GeoEx scouts the Galápagos each year for the best options
With so much to see and do in the Galápagos, these islands thrill and astonish people of all ages. On our Galápagos Family Voyage we cruise from island to island aboard a comfortable small or mid-size ship, meeting the archipelago's bewitching residents. Highly trained naturalists, zeroed-in on the customs and interests of young visitors, are there to facilitate and guide us in just the right level of land and water exploration. And though much is to be learned, about ecology and evolution and all that, this Galápagos cruise is above all great fun.
Trip Overview
The trip was outstanding, [our ship] totally wonderful. We had been to Ecuador before, but seeing it through the eyes of our grandchildren was magical. It was the best... Everything moved flawlessly where GeoEx was involved. This is why we seek you out for all of our exotic travel. You do such a great job!– Emily K.
1 – 2
Overnight in Guayaquil, then fly to the Galápagos and embark on cruise We spot blue-footed boobies on North Seymour Island Adults sip cocktails while kids try a cooking class.
3 – 4
Tales of pirates, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants welcome us to Isabela and Fernandina Islands Naturalists explain behaviors of Sally Lightfoot crabs and penguins Youngsters enjoy evening crafts.
5 – 6
Guides introduce birds of all kinds, including flamingos, pelicans, and finches Explore lava tunnels, sea lion colonies, and the Charles Darwin Research Center on Rábida and Santa Cruz Islands.
7 – 8
Snorkel, kayak, hike, and ride a glass-bottom boat for more incredible wildlife encounters on Floreana, Santa Fe, and the Plaza Islands Painting, dancing, and a photo contest entertain the younger set.
9 – 10
Bid your ship crew goodbye on San Cristóbal Island and fly to Guayaquil, where the evening is at leisure Depart for home or more South America exploring.
A small portion of your trip cost contributes to the Galápagos Traveler Conservation Fund, just one of the many organizations that GeoEx supports through our Giving Back program.
Ecuador & Peru Extensions
Consider tying together not just the Galápagos and Machu Picchu, but also the Amazon, Ecuadorian highlands (with volcanoes, haciendas, textile markets, and rain-forest lodges), Lake Titicaca, and more. We're happy to make the arrangements.
Dates & Prices
Weekly departures; family-specific departures take place from June to August, and in late December, March, and April.
From $7995 per adult and $6875 per child (under 12) Savings for Groups: Book this trip with a group of 8 or more and save up to $400 per person. Ask our Galápagos experts for details.
- Expertise of GeoEx's travel specialists
- Services of GeoEx's in-house air reservations team
- All accommodations
- All ground transportation and airport transfers
- Sightseeing, events, visits, and entrance fees
- Shore landings, presentations, and activities per the vessel's daily program
- Most meals
- Bottled water at included meals and while sightseeing
- Services of an expedition leader, lecturers/naturalists, and support staff during voyage
- Some gratuities
- Emergency evacuation services and secondary medical expense insurance
A Journey Built Just For You
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text:
Price: $45.00
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Fine
Very nice, clean book with pristine page and page edges. No names or writing. Foreword by Garry Trudeau. Has not been price-clipped and is NOT a remainder. Nicely illustrated with photographs in both black and white and color. Primarily centers on the work of Dr. Edward I. Trudeau and his Trudeau Sanitarium located in Saranac Lake, New York. Book measures 9"x11-1/2" and has 162 pages. Will arrive in brand new mylar cover.
Title: Portrait of Healing: Curing in the Woods
Categories: American History, Medical: General,
Publisher: U.S.A., North Country Books: 2002
ISBN Number: 0925168831
ISBN Number 13: 9780925168832
Binding: Hard Cover
Book Condition: Fine
Jacket Condition: Near Fine
Size: Oblong
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: 27224TB
Keywords: Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis Santiariums. Healing TB


text:
In the last weekend of November in Ādaži took place two tournaments for the young tennis players.
November 25 took place "TC Ādaži Minhauzena kauss" for U8 and U9. Liepaja Tennis Sport school was represented by Olivers Arons, Orests Ronis, Timo Bertrams Tikums and Karolīna Lāce.In U8 Olivers Arons took 8th place overall. But in U9Orests Ronis finished 11th, meanwhile Timo Bertrams Tikums – 18th. In U9 for girls Karolīna Lāce finished 15th.
November 26 took place "TC Ādaži Wilson kauss" for U10. Liepaja Tennis Sport school was represented by Bogdans Kozlovs, Laura Kristiāna Sprūde and Anastasija Lomovska.
In boys competition Bogdans Kozlovs won all opponents in Subdivision, but in the overall Final he lost, so Bogdans Kozlovs finished 2nd overall.
In girls competition Laura Kristiāna Sprūde finished 9th, while Anastasija Lomosova finished 13th.


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The men's Tweed Jacket is inspired by the sharp tailoring and exquisite cut of the Original Darzi gilet, featuring similar lines and the same signature design details. We have sourced the finest mid-weight Shetland Tweed and lined it with top quality British fleece, for a men's jacket that is both smart and practical. No piece of Darzi tailoring would be complete without our trademark Nehru collar, bound with a Somerset cowhide trim, which will help it keep its shape over time. The ocean blue colour of the tweed is enhanced with the smart addition of contrasting pebble grey pocket details.
The luxurious tweed is soft to the touch, whilst the quality British fleece lining provides great temperature control, giving warmth in the colder months, and helping you to keep cool on those long summer days. The superior cut is both contemporary and comfortable making it the ideal choice for all-day wear, no matter the season or the occasion.
The rich blue tweed is flecked with a lighter hue, which gives the jacket some depth as well as tying in the pocket details. The marbled brown buttons of the 4-button closure add an authentic country clothing feel, which wouldn't be out of place in the city either. This men's jacket is sure to become a design classic and one of the hardest working members of your wardrobe. Wear with jeans and a t-shirt for those more casual outings, or with a well-tailored shirt and chinos for those times when a smarter ensemble is required.


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PSC Statement on Passage of the José Peralta NYS DREAM Act [1]
The Legislature has achieved an historic victory for higher education students this session, one that has been a longstanding priority for the PSC. As college faculty and staff, PSC members have been proud to teach and mentor—and learn from—the thousands of Dreamers at CUNY. We have seen their courage, their passion for education, their determination to open doors for the next generation that were closed to them. Thank you to the Senate and Assembly majorities for never giving up, for enabling thousands of courageous students, brought to the United States as infants or children, to have a meaningful opportunity for a college education.
Passage of the José Peralta NYS DREAM Act, at the same moment when the administration in Washington is doing its utmost to criminalize young immigrants and violate international law on asylum, sends a strong message about how New York values immigrants and public higher education. We call on New York State to send an equally strong message on New York's commitment to public higher education through this year's budget.


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I felt it standing in the shadow of Ayers Rock and underneath star filled skies in Australia's outback. It echoed near a legendary stone circle surrounded by green meadow in Scotland.
Unexplainable and indefinable.
I was mindful of it's ethereal quality on Vancouver Island's East Sooke Trail among old growth cedar overlooking the Pacific. It infused me on Kenosee's forested shores and the Yukon's crimson arctic tundra corralled by stoic granite mountains.
It's essence filled in silence by snow-covered pine overlooking Skagway Alaska, and waterways in Ontario's northern boreal forest.
Yet, there is a creekside forest trail leading to wild grass hilltop overlooking a salt water lake I most feel its strength of power.
Wind currents swirl and dip in the valley below with an energy that is difficult to ignore. Being immersed in the vista never fails to fill me with awe, in every season, any time of day. Locals and tourists alike attest they feel something magical, 'something sacred' a visitor said.
Certain animals have superior hearing, intuition, sight capabilities and energy sensitivity than humans. What do you think lies beyond what our senses tell us, to what we may intuitively feel?
Your paintings bring 'immortality to the landscape', a client said, 'you are a conservationist' of land and human engagement.
An artist seeks what may be swirling in morning mist and vibrant skies overhead. Ancient recognition in the quiet spaces of the day and places held dear. Your refuge, wilderness sanctuary to reflect, restore and find renewal. It's having awareness in the earth beneath your feet, air that surrounds & fills, basking in shadows and shafts of light.
Art communicates by emotionally reaching beyond blurred edges and human eye. Motion and energy, abundant life in full colour.
A photo can capture existence of a place, a painter captures the experience. Not only to what is, but what could be, what may be. Art poses possibilities of the indefinable.~
NEW work
Cloudy Sky 18×24 oil on canvas $1,210.oo
Wild Grass at Sunset 20×24 oil on canvas $1,400.oo
Sunrise Above the Valley 18×24 oil on canvas $1,210.oo
All photos above Manitou, Sask. To see a movie of the location check out my instagram @dawnartworks – December video, link here https://www.instagram.com/p/Br6mI6fHb8X/


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A University of Auckland academic has been sacked after trying to shake a female Muslim student's hand and then accusing her of sexual discrimination when she refused.
"A harsh punishment for a bruised ego I thought, until this morning.," says journalist Mahvash Ali in an opinion piece published in Stuff.
"I am a Muslim woman, a pretty friendly one actually.
And I really don't want to offend you – friendly blokes of the world – but out of respect for the other gender, I don't shake hands.
And it works both ways, so Muslim men may also avoid shaking hands with women.".
Ali says people's choices need to be respected. To refuse to shake hands does is not necessarily a sign that the person dislikes you.
A newsletter from vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon to all university staff said the unnamed, male staff member intentionally set out to force the young student to shake his hand.
The employee acted knowing it was culturally and religiously inappropriate for Muslim women to have physical contact with a man who was not a close relative or husband, McCutcheon said.
But, "What if this wasn't a Muslim woman?" Ali asks.
"She is a female who did not want to physically interact with a man and he forced her to do it.
– It is a choice, the single most modern and liberal thing about our society.
Now please tell me you have struck 'sexual discrimination' off your list and replaced it with "I am a mature man and I don't mind because it's her choice".
News category: New Zealand.


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Why is the bathroom the most important room in the house?
Not only is it where you start and finish the day, but the average person spends one and a half years of their lifetime in the bathroom.
It's so easy to forget how important a role the bathroom plays in our life.
Showering, washing your hair, relaxing in a bath are wonderful habits that provide such a positive impact on our mood when we start the day and are great for winding us down at the end of the day.
We can enhance the quality of our life by enjoying small daily indulgences, such as taking an extra five minutes to care for yourself by focusing on your skincare regime.
The sanctuary of a bathroom can provide a well-deserved rest for the mind as well as the body.
The bathroom is the one room where you can switch off from the outside world and be alone with your thoughts.
A warm, oil infused bath is a wonderful place to reflect on the day's trials and tribulations and plan for the day ahead, to cleanse, relax and indulge.
When traveling, there is always a high expectation when you arrive at a hotel you have never stayed at before, to open the bathroom door of your room, rush in and immediately take-in how all
the bathroom amenities are displayed. Typically, with such high-quality amenities laid out in an irresistible way for your convenience and temptation.
At Sprekenhus we hope to be a part of your daily indulgence, to help your wellbeing, to start and finish every-day in a positive and revitalising way. Bringing balance, with relaxing botanical fragrances and formulations that can turn your bathroom into an oasis for the mind and the body.
And don't forget when you invest in your bathroom you are also investing in the value of your property.


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Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency.[2] In mid-2017, a group of developers wanting to increase bitcoin's block size limit prepared a code change. The change, called a hard fork, took effect on 1 August 2017. As a result, the bitcoin ledger called the blockchain and the cryptocurrency split in two.[3] At the time of the fork anyone owning bitcoin was also in possession of the same number of Bitcoin Cash units.[3] The technical difference between Bitcoin Cash and bitcoin is that Bitcoin Cash allows larger blocks in its blockchain than bitcoin, which in theory allows it to process more transactions per second.[4]
On 15 November 2018 Bitcoin Cash split into two cryptocurrencies.[5]
- 1 Classification
- 2 History
- 3 Controversy
- 4 Trading
- 5 Payment service providers
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 External links
Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency[6] and a payment network.[7] In relation to bitcoin it is characterized variously as a spin-off,[6] a strand,[8] a product of a hard fork,[9] an offshoot,[10] a clone,[11] a second version[12] or an altcoin.[13]
The naming of Bitcoin Cash is contentious; it is sometimes referred to as Bcash.[14]
Rising fees on the bitcoin network contributed to a push by some in the community to create a hard fork to increase the blocksize.[15] This push came to a head in July 2017 when some members of the Bitcoin community including Roger Ver felt that adopting BIP 91 without increasing the block-size limit favored people who wanted to treat Bitcoin as a digital investment rather than as a transactional currency.[16][17] This push by some to increase the block size met a resistance. Since its inception up to July 2017, bitcoin users had maintained a common set of rules for the cryptocurrency.[16] Eventually, a group of bitcoin activists,[12] investors, entrepreneurs, developers[16] and largely China based miners were unhappy with bitcoin's proposed SegWit improvement plans meant to increase capacity and pushed forward alternative plans for a split which created Bitcoin Cash.[11] The proposed split included a plan to increase the number of transactions its ledger can process by increasing the block size limit to eight megabytes.[16][17]
The would-be hard fork with an expanded block size limit was described by hardware manufacturer Bitmain in June 2017 as a "contingency plan" should the Bitcoin community decide to fork; the first implementation of the software was proposed under the name Bitcoin ABC at a conference that month. In July 2017, the Bitcoin Cash name was proposed by mining pool ViaBTC.
On 1 August 2017 Bitcoin Cash began trading at about $240, while Bitcoin traded at about $2,700.[3]
In 2018 Bitcoin Core developer Cory Fields found a bug in the Bitcoin ABC software that would have allowed an attacker to create a block causing a chain split. Fields notified the development team about it and the bug was fixed.[18]
November 2018 split
In November 2018, a hard-fork chain split of Bitcoin Cash occurred between two rival factions called Bitcoin ABC and Bitcoin SV.[19] On 15 November 2018 Bitcoin Cash ABC traded at about $289 and Bitcoin SV traded at about $96.50, down from $425.01 on 14 November for the un-split Bitcoin Cash.[5]
The split originated from what was described as a "civil war" in two competing bitcoin cash camps.[20][21] The first camp, led by entrepreneur Roger Ver and Jihan Wu of Bitmain, promoted the software entitled Bitcoin ABC (short for Adjustable Blocksize Cap) which would maintain the block size at 32MB.[21] The second camp led by Craig Steven Wright and billionaire Calvin Ayre put forth a competing software version Bitcoin SV, short for "Bitcoin Satoshi's Vision," that would increase the blocksize to 128MB.[19][21]
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"The arguments have devolved over three or four years of bitter debate, the principles are real and they are important to preserve, but a lot of the drama has nothing to do with principles anymore. A lot of this debate is now more about hurt feelings. It's about bruised egos. It's about things that were said that can't be unsaid, insults that were exchanged, and personalities and ego."
Andreas Antonopoulos, "The Verge"
There are two factions of bitcoin supporters, that support large blocks or small blocks.[4] The Bitcoin Cash faction favors the use of its currency as a medium of exchange for commerce while the bitcoin supporting faction view Bitcoin's primary use as that of a store of value.[4] Some bitcoin supporters like to call Bitcoin Cash "Bcash," "Btrash," or simply, a scam, while Bitcoin Cash advocates insist that their implementation is the pure form of Bitcoin.[4]
Bitcoin Cash trades on digital currency exchanges including Bitstamp,[22] Coinbase,[23] Gemini,[24] Kraken,[25] and ShapeShift using the Bitcoin Cash name and the BCH ticker symbol for the cryptocurrency. A few other exchanges use the BCC ticker symbol, though BCC is commonly used for Bitconnect. On 26 March 2018, OKEx removed all Bitcoin Cash trading pairs except for BCH/BTC, BCH/ETH and BCH/USDT due to "inadequate liquidity".[6] As of May 2018[update], daily transaction numbers for Bitcoin Cash are about one-tenth of those of bitcoin.[6]
By November 2017 the value of Bitcoin Cash, which had been as high as $900, had fallen to around $300, much of that due to people who had originally held Bitcoin selling off the Bitcoin Cash they received at the hard fork.[15] On 20 December 2017 it reached an intraday high of $4,355.62 and then fell 88% to $519.12 on 23 August 2018.[26]
Payment service providers
As of August 2018, Bitcoin Cash payments are supported by payment service providers such as BitPay, Coinify and GoCoin.[27] The research firm Chainanalysis noted that in May 2018, 17 largest payment processing services such as BitPay, Coinify, and GoCoin processed Bitcoin Cash payments worth of US$3.7 million, down from US$10.5 million processed in March.[27]
See also
- Shen, Lucinda (8 August 2017). "Bitcoin Just Surged to Yet Another All-Time High". Fortune Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Ambler, Pamela (9 August 2017). "The Rapid Rise And Fall Of Bitcoin Cash". Forbes. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Graham, Luke (31 July 2017). "A new digital currency is about to be created as the bitcoin blockchain is forced to split in two". CNBC. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Staff Writer (4 May 2018). "BRIEF-Riot Blockchain Produced About 100 Bitcoins And 61 Bcash For April". Reuters. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Varshney, Neer (20 April 2018). "Alexa disses Bitcoin Cash: 'Everyone knows Bitcoin is the real Bitcoin'". The Next Web. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Miller, Ben (4 May 2018). "What's Riot Blockchain up to now? Mining more bitcoin, apparently". BizJournals. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- Dulis, Ezra (21 December 2017). "The Bitcoin Community Is Furious With Coinbase's Surprise Launch Of 'BCash'". MadridJournals. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- "PC Magazine Encyclopedia Definition of BCash". PC Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- Vendituoli, Monica (17 May 2018). "Denver among top cities for blockchain jobs". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- Kelly, Brian (14 July 2018). "VIDEO:Coinbase just announced they could add five new coins to their platform". CNBC. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- Jeffries, Adrianne (12 April 2018). "THE ONE TRUE BITCOIN – Inside the struggle between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash". Verge. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- Evans, John (10 August 2018). "Cryptocurrency insecurity: IOTA, BCash and too many more". Techcrunch. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
External links
- Binance
- Bitcoin Center NYC
- Bitfinex
- bitFlyer
- Bithumb
- BitMEX
- Bitstamp
- Bittrex
- BTC Markets
- Coinbase
- Coincheck
- Coinfloor
- Coinrail
- Coins.ph
- Cryptopia
- Gemini
- Huobi
- Kraken
- LocalBitcoins
- OKEx
- ShapeShift
- Upbit
Proof-of-stake currencies
ERC-20 tokens
Other currencies
Related topics
- Airdrop
- BitLicense
- Blockchain game
- Complementary currency
- Crypto-anarchism
- Cryptocurrency bubble (2018 cryptocurrency crash)
- Digital currency
- Double-spending
- Initial coin offering
- Initiative Q
- List of cryptocurrencies
- Stablecoin
- Token money
- Virtual currency
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin_Cash


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John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow
- Recruiter
- Location
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Posted
- 12 Feb 2019
- End of advertisement period
- 01 Jul 2020
- Ref
- 02-30953
- Academic Discipline
- Arts & Humanities, Art, Performing Arts & Design
- Job Type
- Research Related, Research Associate
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
School/Center Overview
The School of Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. We teach students across all 12 Penn schools, and our academic departments span the reach from anthropology and biology to sociology and South Asian studies. http://www.sas.upenn.edu/
The John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow serves the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society (PRRUCS) in the School of Arts and Sciences.
In 2018, the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society (PRRUCS) and the University of Pennsylvania library obtained the papers of G.E.M./Elizabeth Anscombe (Anscombe Archives). The papers in the Anscombe Archives have only recently been made available for researchers affording the John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow a unique opportunity to conduct research on one of the leading philosophers of the twentieth century. The John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow will conduct original research and write at least two scholarly articles using the Anscombe Archives as their principal source documents.
PRRUCS will co-sponsor events, workshops, and conferences related to research associated with the Anscombe Archives and related to the work of its Perry Family Scholars for Science, Spirituality, and Service. The John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow will lead all phases of the planning and implementation of the Anscombe events; and assist in the planning and implementation of the Perry Family Scholars for Science Spirituality, and Service Events.
Other duties as assigned
The John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow is a one-year term appointment.
The John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow direct reports to the Perry Executive Director of PRRUCS.
A doctoral degree in Philosophy or a cognate field is required. Candidates must have a demonstrated interest and experience in conducting research and writing about the works of G.E.M. Anscombe.
Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.


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Daily Photo: How to Take a Really Good Nap
Smokie thinks his fur sister has been getting a little too much attention lately, and decided to take control of the situation. First, the totally relaxed nap, above, which any living human would find irresistible. I did, anyway, judging by the number of photos I took of him. He quietly took it all in stride, knowing he's a star, as well as the cutest kitten on earth. He may get that idea from what I've been telling him since he came here, but I also think it's a cat thing.
Then, just as I thought the cuteness couldn't get any more intense, he rolled over on his back to show me…his gray bits. Yes, this is why his name is Smokie! It's a little difficult to see on a daily basis because his coat isn't nearly filled out yet, but he has irresistible silvery gray fuzzy areas around his neck, in his armpits and on his lower belly that will develop into distinct feathers when he's an adult. Who could resist? He is going to be one handsome mancat, and I think he's been learning form Giuseppe the art of the kitty centerfold photo. You can also see he's not a frightened unadoptable kitten anymore.
. . . . . . .
Wordless Wednesday: Fore and Aft, the Secret Meeting
. . . . . . .
Once Upon a Time on a Rocker, My Have We Grown
This is the mess in my office, with cats. This is where and how I store my merchandise right now, and it serves the kitties just fine—always something new! Boxes to smell and climb on and rub on and scratch, and most important, nap on.
Here I'd shuffled things around so the seat of the rocker was exposed, and I got down to the level with the cloud bed they'd grown tired of. Cloud bed went on the rocker seat, really just temporary, but they found it immediately and have exposed me to two full days or rigorous torture as they arrange and rearrange their sweet selves all over the bed in twos and threes and, finally, in fours. This is behind me; each time I turned around it was another case of sweetness.
In fact, I took photos of them and began this post, then stopped to take more when Mimi joined them, then more when all four finally found a way to share the rocker. They are still there, as you see them at the top of this post.
Below is what they looked like in November 2007 at four months, a slightly different rocker and the throw that's always on it underneath, and below that, a photo of the four today in their first attempt to curl up together until the ones on the end kept falling off.
Below is a slideshow of the whole event…and later on, a sketch.
. . . . . . .
What's Cookin'?, 2012
Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine are always hopeful, but it's not looking too promising with the parsley, though it was good when they tasted it.
On the other hand, sitting on the cookbook, basically just stacks of paper when it's open, is such a cat thing, the boys could stay there all day. In fact, they did, even when I wasn't there. On a cool day that turned rainy, a simmering pot of soup kept the kitchen warm and comfortable. I enjoyed the company.
And don't tell the boys the cookbook was just being used as a feline containment and management device so they wouldn't get mixed up in my chopping of vegetables and such…
. . . . . . .
Can You Turn Down These Lights? 2011
"I'm trying to take a nap here," Giuseppe says.
"I'm trying to work here," I respond.
"But it's so nice and toasty warm here," he replies.
"It won't be if I turn off the lights," I tell him.
"I need my beauty rest. Mlle. Daisy may contact me at any moment and I need to look perfect," he insists.
"Mlle. Daisy can't see you," I inform him.
"But I can see her! Of course she can see me!" he seems upset. I let it go. "Mlle. Daisy loves you no matter what you do, she tells you that all the time," I say.
"But I can never be too sure, I did hear there is at least one other black cat who visits her door, I need to be very careful," Giuseppe says.
"If you like to eat, you might consider moving to a more comfortable spot to get your beauty rest than lazing all over my desk so that I might get some work done," I remark.
"But I have to he right here if Mlle. sends a message, and I have to be perfect!" he protests.
"Giuseppe, the two of you don't have Skype or anything, she can't see you when she sends you a message," I tell him again.
"She can't?" he asks.
"No, baby, she can't see you. Can you see her when you send a message?" I ask.
"Not when I send a message, but I just always thought she could see me," Giuseppe says, confused.
"It's just words right now, Big Guy, you don't need to comb your ear hair and shine your whiskers," I tell him.
"I'm so disappointed…" he trails off.
"Perhaps you could go and sleep on the bed with your brothers," I suggest, trying not to be too obvious. "They will help you feel better."
"Can we send Mlle. a message right now?" he asks.
"Sure we can," I reply. "What would you like me to type?"
"Mlle. Daisy, mon cherie, I love you with all my heart and every piece of fur on my body!" he says. I type this.
"And, and…I have a gift for you! It will be a surprise," he continues.
"That's very sweet, Giuseppe. Anything else?" I ask.
"Love and kisses, nuzzles and purrs, your love, Giuseppe," he finishes.
Some things never change.
Click here for the full list of stories and correspondence of the past year's affaire between the two feline lovers.
. . . . . . .
Two Torties on One Lap, 2010
One for each leg! And they are touching each other! I am sitting with my legs crossed on my desk chair to accommodate them.
Cookie and Kelly have always more than tolerated each other, unlike the typical tortie story, but even these two don't curl up together with anyone but me. However, if both of them want my lap badly enough they have no problem actually touching each other. It's a little awkward to get work done with a lap literally full of cat and not being able to roll in under my keyboard shelf. I actually tried working by balancing the keyboard on top of the two of them, to no avail. I just reached a little farther during their nap time.
Seems like yesterday.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens—browse here or visit PittsburghCAT!
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop to see if I have it available already. If you don't find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
© 2014 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist's Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!


text:
Japan Airlines (JAL) said on Monday it has agreed with Gogo, a company that provides in-flight broadband Internet service for aircrafts, to use in-flight internet provided by the company on the JAL's domestic fleet of 77 aircraft.
The in-flight Internet provider, based in Itasca, Illinois, said the JAL service would use Gogo's satellite technology and begin operating by mid-2014. The agreement made with JAL is the first important international contract Gogo is signing, said the company's chief executive.
JAL's deal also makes that airline the first Japanese carrier to offer domestic in-flight internet, the airline said, according to the international press.
JAL will be among the first airlines to employ Gogo's satellite system operating in the so-called Ku-band frequencies, Gogo Chief Executive Michael Small said.
Without satellite systems, airline passengers had limited or no internet access over oceans. But that situation might soon be history, as more airlines sign up for satellites.
Another company using the Ku-band service is Delta Air Lines, who has also contracted to use the Ku-band service on all 170 of its planes that fly international routes, Small said, noting that either Delta or JAL would be the first to offer the service to customers.


text:
Biometric reader
P2 Bio: biometric access control which meets CNIL standards
Horoquartz's fingerprint reader is consistent with the latest CNIL privacy requirements (published June 2016). The ideal solution to reinforce security at your access points, installing a biometric reader can also reduce your day-to-day operating costs. The biometric data of your employees is encrypted and stored in a secure facility. Your guarantee of optimal security for all access points.
Main objectives of the biometric reader
- To reinforce security of access to a specific zone, making it accessible only to authorised personnel whose fingerprints are registered in your database.
- To simplify access right management, doing away with the time-consuming parts of managing access badges (lost, broken, stolen or forgotten badges).
- To do away with the risk posed by stolen or counterfeited access badges, thanks to a biometric access control which is impossible to cheat.
- Full traceability of access, with recording and tracking of all readings.
Advantages of the Horoquartz biometric reader
The Horoquartz biometric reader uses Morpho technology (the world's no.1). It guarantees exceptional reliability (false acceptance rate of approx. 1 in 100 million). The solution is also capable of detecting artificial fingerprints and raising the alarm if a finger appears to be pressed on the reader involuntarily.
The solution can function in several modes: biometric only, biometric + badge, biometric + pin code, badge only. Fingerprint-only reading, with no badge, complies with the new CNIL standards on personal data protection.
Fingerprint details are encrypted in your database, as are all communications (as per CNIL guidelines).
Horoquartz can help you with your declarations to the CNIL (AU053 and the simplified declaration) and all other relevant administrative authorities (e.g. préfectures).
This biometric fingerprint reader is part of the comprehensive range of access control solutions developed and manufactured by Horoquartz. Like all of our products, the biometric reader can be easily integrated with your existing infrastructure.


text:
Whether you're going for cute, funny, sexy, or spooky, who doesn't love playing dress up come Halloween?! As I feverishly figure out what costume to wear while handing out candy to my new neighborhood kiddos, it has me thinking: What are my dogs going to be? After three consecutive years as Batman and Batgirl, I think it's time to retire their costumes and get some new holiday gear! If you're also looking for some dog Halloween costume inspiration, check out these great ideas!
Dog Halloween Costumes
1. UPS Pet Pal
With all the packages that have been delivered to my door since my recent move, this UPS Driver costume definitely caught my eye.
Sizes: XS-L
2. Cowboy Rider
Does it get any cuter than this? Ride em' Fido!
Sizes: S-L
3. Cowboy
I'm totally in love with this cowboy costume too. Can you just picture your pooch strutting down the street with this getup on? So cute!
Sizes: XS-L
4. Business Suit
Get down to business this Halloween with this conservative yet spiffy doggy business suit.
Size: XS-L
5. Vampire
Even though Fido won't be sucking any blood this Halloween – this Vampire costume will be pawsitively haunting!
Sizes: XS
6. Witch
What would Halloween be without a FeFe witch? Dress your little girl to impress on Halloween night.
Sizes: S-L
7. Wonder Woman
Or dress your pooch up to be the superhero you know her to be!
Sizes: M-XL
8. Lion
This lion's mane is a definite favorite of mine. I love how something so simple can transform into such an impressive costume. Pop the mane on Fido's head and have a roaring great Halloween.
Sizes: For M-L dogs
9. Shark
Lookout jaws, here comes Fido. This is one of the cutest costumes out there.
Sizes: S-XXXL
10. Pink Dinosaur
Very much like the shark above, this dino suit makes the most adorable pawty costume for FeFe.
Sizes: XS-M
11. Panda
Gotta love this. This adorable costume was seen on Shark Tank and comes in your choice of 4 animals. You can order it as a Panda, Bunny, Lion, or Teddy Bear. Awesome!
Sizes: XS-L
12. Skeleton
Simple yet adorable! Dress your pooch in this skeleton onesie for a fun and festive Halloween.
Sizes: S-XL
13. Pumpkin
Nothing says Halloween and the entire Fall season quite like a pumpkin. Put a big smile on your face as you dress your fur kid in this adorable jack-o-lantern costume!
Sizes: XS-XL
14. Bumble Bee
This has always been a favorite bark-worthy Halloween costume. I love it more every year. I actually have the human version of this costume for myself. Dress your little one up for a buzzing good time.
Sizes: S-L
15. Sushi
What more can I say? lol
Sizes: S-L


text:
The use of absorption systems represents an option for the substitution of organic refrigerants with natural substances and a reduction in electricity consumption. This fact, as well as the possibility of using solar energy as the input power, has led to an increased interest in the introduction of absorption systems in air conditioning and refrigeration applications.
The improvement of heat and mass transfer processes is a key factor in the reduction of the exchange area and size of the absorber that in turn, allows for the reduction of weight, volume and cost of the absorption equipment. The basis for the development of adiabatic absorption runs along the same line: if the concentrated solution is sub-cooled, i.e. its temperature is reduced below the equilibrium temperature at the current concentration, and then distributed on the refrigerant vapour into an adiabatic chamber, the refrigerant vapour is then absorbed by the solution. Once the absorption process begins, the solution is diluted and its temperature increased because of the transformation of vapour into liquid. The processes of heat and mass transfer are then separated into two different pieces of equipment. The process of cooling the solution is moved out of the absorber into small dimension heat exchangers thus reducing the heat transfer area. When this absorption method is used, part of the solution that leaves the absorber has to be sub-cooled and re-circulated to the absorber, with the purpose of reaching the final concentration required for the diluted solution. The other part is then pumped to the generator to be concentrated again.
In general, a separate design of sub-cooler and absorber allows for a better optimization of each component, helping to improve the overall efficiency. This is why adiabatic absorption is being researched as one method for improving absorption processes by separating and individually optimizing absorption and heat rejection and is also the base for the development of the equipment here presented.
One field of interest in absorption systems is the prediction and control of their performance. This is done through the development of models or calculation methods that analyze the performance of an absorption cycle (Hellmann et al., 1998; Joudi and Lafta, 2001; Florides et al., 2003). In this sense, artificial neural networks (ANN) are a very attractive application due to increasing interest in their use in load forecasting, refrigeration, and modeling of heat pump systems (Arcaklioglu, 2004; Mohanraj et al., 2009; Hosoz and Ertunc, 2006; Laidi and Hanin, 2013). State of the art studies, both theoretical and experimental concerning the use of ANN were well resumed by Mohanraj et al. (2012). It is particularly interesting if applied to absorption cycles, given the fact that performance parameters are affected by a number of variables, like temperatures and flow rates, varying simultaneously during the operation.
For the particular case of absorption system modelling using ANN, some works can be summarized: various papers have been devoted to the modelling of the thermodynamic properties of the most commonly used fluids in absorption systems (Sözen et al., 2004b; Şencan, 2007; Şencan et al., 2006; Şencan and Kalogirou, 2005; Sözen and Akçayol, 2004a; Sözen et al., 2003). They also show results regarding the system performance using the ANN results. The modelling of a steam fired double effect absorption chiller in a cooling process, used in the pharmaceutical industry, is presented by Manohar et al. (2006). This study also uses an ANN based on external cooling and chilled water temperatures, with good predicting results. Chow et al. (2002) combine a neural network and genetic algorithms for the controlled optimization of a direct-fired absorption system. The system-based controlled approach optimizes the use of fuel and electricity for the economical operation of a commercial absorption unit, concluding that considerable savings can be achieved. Yung (2007) reported the optimal chiller sequencing in a semiconductor industry by applying ANN to the power consumption data. The results showed that the electricity consumption could be reduced varying the chillers start-up sequencing. More recent papers include: the work performed by Rosiek and Batlles (2010) on the use of ANN to model a solar-assisted air-conditioning system. This system is based on a commercial single-effect LiBr-H2O absorption chiller fed by water coming from solar collectors. Using real data, they obtained a model to predict the efficiency of both chiller and the global system, giving a list of key variables. Labus et al. (2010) compared different methods for modeling the performance of a small capacity absorption chiller, concluding that an ANN was slightly better than other models analyzed. Hernández et al. (2012) used an inverse ANN in order to estimate the performance of a solar intermittent refrigeration system for ice production under different experimental conditions, showing optimization in performance and a sensitivity analysis. Labus et al. (2012) proposed a controlled strategy for a commercial absorption cooling system by taking the temperature and flow rates of external circuits. They used an inverse ANN in order to achieve the desired controlled strategy with good results. Hernández (2009a) developed a estimation for predicting operating conditions of variables, depending on a desired response variable based on a neural network inverse. The mathematical development describes the use of Nelder-Mead-Simplex method to solve the formulation and obtain the optimum operating conditions on heat and mass transfer during foodstuffs drying. Álvarez et al. (2016) developed an ANN for the modelling of the performance of a horizontal falling film absorber with aqueous (lithium, potassium, sodium) nitrate solution. The authors reported that the ANN model was an effective tool for predicting the efficiency parameters of the absorber. Kumar et al. (2016) reported the use of ANN integrated with genetic algorithm to predict the performance of direct expansion solar assisted heat pump. The results showed that the use of ANN integrated with GA gives better optimized values compared to the value obtained from ANN. Afram et al. (2017) carried out a comprehensive review of the ANN based model predictive control for systems design. Tugcu and Arslan (2017) developed a model to optimize an absorption refrigeration system using NH3-H2O driven with geothermal energy. The optimum designs were determined using the obtained weights and biases of the best ANN topology, yielding a coefficient of performance and exergy efficiency of 0.57 and 0.62, respectively.
The use of inverse ANN has been successfully applied to predict the optimal operation conditions for a single-stage heat transformer (Colorado et al., 2011), the optimum coefficient of performance of a heat transformer (Morales et al., 2015) and polygeneration systems (Hernández et al., 2013) among others.
From the above summary, it can be concluded that the application of inverse ANN on an adiabatic absorption system under transient conditions, using original experimental data, has not yet been explored. The transient model focuses on the importance of accounting for the time-varying operation conditions. This study presents the prediction of the performance variables of a particular test facility, based on the concept of adiabatic absorption and its optimization using an inverse ANN. The experimental data available was used to create a model with predicting purposes. Three ANN models for the prediction of evaporator and generator powers, as well as COP were developed, all with good accuracy and short computation time.
System description
Figure 1 shows a diagram of the single effect absorption test equipment. It consists of four loops: the hot loop, the solution loop, the cold loop, and the chilled water loop. Main components include: two evaporators, absorber, generator, condenser, sub-cooler and solution heat exchanger. The last four components are plate heat exchangers while the evaporators are fan-coiled tubes and the absorber is an adiabatic chamber. A computerized data acquisition system is used to register the measured data.
Aqueous LiBr solution inside the absorption chamber flows into two separate streams: a strong solution (solution poor in water or concentrated solution) coming from the generator, and a re-circulated solution. The strong solution is separated from the water vapor, which goes to the condenser, and directed to the absorber. A re-circulated solution is extracted from the bottom of the absorption chamber and pumped into the sub-cooler, where most of the absorption heat is rejected and then the sub-cooled solution is returned to the absorber. Two fan coils receive the external fluid circulating through each evaporator. The objective of placing two evaporators is to have a larger heat exchange area available and to guarantee the symmetry in the supply of vapor to the absorption vessel. Distribution problems in the refrigerant flow were detected; which will be discussed in following sections.
The experimental setup configuration and the experimental uncertainty analysis were described in detail in other publications (Gutiérrez et al., 2006; Gutiérrez et al., 2011). Figure 2 illustrates the experimental test facility.
Experimental test run
The data acquisition system is composed of two data-loggers, manufactured by Yokogawa, with 50 input ports available altogether, and a 24 V power supply. The oil flowmeter and the pressure transducers use the power supply to output an electric current of 4 to 20 mA. The input ports were read in intervals of 0.5 seconds.
The experimental procedure consists of periods of start-up, normal operation, and shut down of the machine. Start-up begins with the heating of the thermal oil from ambient temperature to the temperature set point t set while the oil is pumped to the generator. The solution pump is switched on and the weak solution flow rate to the generator is fixed at the desired value changing the frequency of the pump and adjusting the valves. The re-circulated solution flow rate varies according to the aperture of the valves and the driving frequency of the pump engine. Cooling tower flows are also switched on at this moment. Table 1 shows the operating ranges of the controlled parameters and of the variables considered in the study.
|Working Range
|Inlet oil temperature (tset)
|78.8 - 99 ºC
|Weak solution mass flow rate ()
|169.6-363.5 kg/h
|Recirculated solution mass flow rate ()
|261.8-1051.3 kg/h
|Cooling water temperature, condenser
|18.9-30.8 ºC
|Cooling water temperature, subcooler
|18.5-30.1 ºC
|Chilled water temperature, evaporator 1
|6.5-19.1 ºC
|Chilled water temperature, evaporator 2
|9.7-19.8 ºC
|Refrigerant outlet temperature, condenser
|17-28 ºC
|Refrigerant inlet temperature, evaporator 1
|18.3-23.6 ºC
|Refrigerant inlet temperature, evaporator 2
|15.4-21.3 ºC
|Refrigerant outlet pressure, condenser
|2.8-5.9 kPa
|Low pressure
|0.7-1.9 kPa
Figure 3 indicates the time period until stability is achieved (time elapsed until equilibrium). Some variables are plotted against time in order to show their evolution during a typical experiment. These variables are: inlet oil temperature, outlet solution temperature at generator, T G,o , outlet chilled water temperatures at evaporators 1 and 2, Tchw1,o and Tchw2,o , mass flow rates and salt concentration of weak and strong solutions , , Xweak and Xstrong. The fluids in the machine are initially at ambient temperature. The start up of the machine is represented by an increasing tendency of the variables, until the set value of generation temperature (in red, Toil,I) is reached. Then, indicated with a circle, the stability is reached.
The stability of the working conditions is assured by selecting, from registered data, a period of time (20 min at least) in which temperatures, pressure and both and show a constant behaviour. With these ranges for reference, the stability of the remaining variables is checked.
After this procedure, the recorded data corresponding to all sensors connected to the data loggers is averaged. Table 2 presents sensors used in the experimental test facility.
|5 - 110 ºC
|±(0.2ºC - 0.6ºC)
|Solution flow and density meter
|150-400 kg/h
|± 0.5%
|Oil flowmeter
|1000-3600 l/h
|± 3.1%
|Cooling water flowmeters
|1200-1500 kg/h
|± 1.1%
|Recirculated solution flowmeters
|200-1000 kg/h
|± 1.3%
|Fan coil flowmeters
|400-600 kg/h
|± 0.7%
|Pressure sensors
|7-130 mbar
|±(1.8 - 3)%
Experimental uncertainty analysis
A calibration process was carried out for all instruments described in Figure 1. Using the calibration functions for every sensor, systematic errors were reduced as much as possible. The remaining random uncertainty U for an experimental result R, which is a function of n independent parameters xi, is estimated, according to the Gauss algorithm, as:
The uncertainty of instruments is given in Table 2.
Relevant parameters
The performance parameters corresponding to each one of the operating conditions are obtained according the procedure explained in the previous section.
From measured values of inlet (i) and outlet (o) water temperatures t of both evaporators, cooling power is obtained from Eq. (2):
The heating power supplied to the generator was calculated as:
C corresponds specific heat capacity of a liquid and is the mass flow rate. The subscript "chw" corresponds to chilled water.
The experimental COP was calculated as the quotient of (2) and (3).
In this work, the selection of variables involved in the obtaining of an ANN model is based on the proved dependency of the facility performance with external water circuit temperatures and the "overflow" of refrigerant in the evaporators (Gutiérrez et al., 2012). The overflow depends on the internal fluid temperatures of the liquid refrigerant at the condenser exit and the evaporators entries Tl,C, Tl,E1, Tl,E2, as well as the low pressure Plow and condenser exit pressure PC,o. Therefore, the input layer consists of 8 temperatures: The external fluid circuit temperatures in the generator, sub-cooler, condenser, and evaporators TG,set, Tcw,C, Tchw,E1 , Tchw,E2, respectively, and the above mentioned Tl,C, Tl,E1, Tl,E2. In addition, 2 mass flow rates, corresponding to weak and re-circulated solutions, and , which are controlled variables. Finally, Plow and PC,o are also included. In sum 12 input operation variables will be considered in the artificial neural model.
Another model was developed based on the principle of the accessibility of data in practical applications, with the intention that such model could be used as a black box. The variables selected for this scenario are the mean value of external fluid circuit temperatures: TG,set, Tcw,C, Tchw,E1 , Tchw,E2. Time is also included in this study in order to compare the simulated and experimental data in a transient experiment.
The output layer contains only one of the three variables: the generation power , the cooling power , or the COP.
Artificial neural networks model
Neurons are grouped into distinct layers (input, hidden and output layer) as well as interconnected according to a given architecture. The network function is determined largely by the connections between neurons. Normally, each connection between two neurons has a weight and bias coefficients attached to it. The standard network structure for an approximation function is the multiple-layer feed forward which has one or more hidden layers of sigmoid neurons followed by an output layer of linear neurons.
The linear output layer lets the network produce values outside the -1 to +1 range. The linear output layer function is used for forecasting the performance of the adiabatic absorption cycle (Hernandez et al. 2009b).
Learning algorithm
The learning algorithm is defined as a procedure that involves adjusting of the weights and biases, by minimizing an error function (usually a quadratic one) between the network output, for a given set of inputs, and the correct target. If smooth non-linearity is applied, the gradient of the error function can be computed by the classical back-propagation procedure (Natrick et al., 1998). In this work, the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm optimization procedure -in the Matlab Neural Network Toolbox was used. This algorithm is an approximation of Newton's method which was designed to approach second order training speed without having to compute the Hessian matrix (Martin et al., 1994). The root mean square error (RMSE) is calculated with the theoretical values and network predictions.
Database preparation
Steady states and transitory data were considered for the absorption system modelling by means of artificial neural networks. In order to characterize the system, 219 experimental points were obtained at different operating conditions (Table 1). These data was used to train and test the steady state and transient ANN models. For transient data base 1445 values were considered for a period of time.
In order to test the robustness and then the prediction ability of the models, the experimental database was split into the learning and testing database. Both transient and steady state experimental database were split into learning (80% of the data) and testing (20% of the data) with the objective of obtaining the best correlation between output target and output simulation and a good representation of the operating performance. With the learning database the optimal weights and biases are obtained and with the testing database the model is validated (Rumelhart et al., 1986). The model adequacy is obtained after testing the increment of neurons in the hidden layer. In this model, we avoided over-fitting by considering the comparison between the root mean square error (RMSE) obtained for both the learning database and the testing database (Hernández et al., 2009b).
The input layer consists of variables that the operator can control and/or that influence the equipment performance. In response to this, variables selected correspond to those listed in section 4. Input and output parameters were normalized for calculation from 0 to 1 (Khataee and Mirzajani, 2010).
Inverse artificial neural network
According to Hernández (2009); Labus et al. (2012); Hernández et al. (2012); Laidi and Hanin, (2013); Hernández (2013); Morales et al. (2015); the artificial neural network can be inverted to calculated a desired input parameter. In order to apply this inverse artificial neural network (ANNi), first it is necessary to have the ANN model. In this case, the multi-layer feed-forward (MLFF) is applied. If the hyperbolic tangent sigmoid transfer function is used in the hidden layer and the linear function is considered in the output layer then the output layer is:
In(k) = the inputs parameters
Wi = the weight between input and hidden layer
Wo = the weight between hidden and output layer
b1 = the bias in the hidden layer and
b2 = the bias in the output
S = the neurons number in the hidden layer
k = the parameters number in the input layer
Consequently, if the Equation 5 has more of one neuron in the hidden layer (S>1), then the inverse artificial neural network can be as following (Hernández, 2009a):
Where In(x) is the input parameter value to be calculated. Consequently, the Equation (6) can be solved using a method of optimization to obtain the desired input parameter. In this case, the Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm was applied.
In the case that the Equation 5 had only one neuron in the hidden layer then it can have an analytical solution (Hernández, 2009b).
Results and discussion
In this work, three neural network models were obtained from different configuration applied. First, steady state database was worked to obtain and prediction. The architecture of a neuronal network model is the following: 12 input neurons with 2 neurons in the hidden layer (involving 29 coefficients: 26 weight and 3 biases). This structure was found to be efficient in predicting . The same operation variables in the input layer were used to predict . For this model, 3 neurons in the hidden layer were found to be satisfactory. The neural network model developed (Figure 4) involved three and two neurons to determine and , respectively, for a steady state condition.
The input layers for these neural network models are also illustrated in this Figure 4. Table 3 shows the main characteristics of how neural network models work.
|N° of neurons in the
input layer
|N° neurons in the
hidden layer
|Model 1 (steady state)
|Model 2 (steady state)
|Model 3 (dynamic state)
|Model 4 (dynamic state)
The comparison of experimental and against simulated results using ANN models, for steady state data are illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b. Satisfactory results (R>0.98) were obtained in both cases. Experimental and simulated data of values were compared through a linear regression model in Figure 6a (; n = 219; R = 0.9867; confidence level >99%) (Bevington and Robinson, 2003; Verma, 2005). The intercept a (-0.0331 < a < 0.0443) includes zero, and the slope b (0.9646 < b < 1.0223) includes 1. For the case of , results are illustrated in Figure 5 (; n = 219; R= 0.9879). The intercept a (-0.0229 < a < 0.1881) includes zero, and the slope b (0.9553 < b < 1.0098) includes 1. Both models indicate statistically significant correlation between the experimental and simulated heat flux values without any bias (Verma, 2005). Consequently, neural network was validated with the actual steady state database. The proposed artificial neural network matches very well the whole database, thus simplifying the energy analysis.
Regarding the results for transient data, the architecture of neural networks keeps the same input layer in this work using 12 operation variables. Experimental and simulated data of COP values were compared through a linear regression model in Figure 6. Again, satisfactory results were obtained with R>0.98 (; n = 1562; R = 0.9911, confidence level >99%) (Bevington and Robinson, 2003; Verma, 2005).
The intercept a (-0.0011 < a < 0.0057) includes zero, and the slope b (0.9837 < b < 1.0010) includes 1. Consequently, the statistical significant correlation between experimental and simulated values at transient conditions was found.
The results corresponding to the additional model developed for transient data, which includes only the temperatures of external fluid circuits, are depicted in Figure 7a. In order to predict the coefficient performance 32 neurons in a hidden layer were necessary. The hyperbolic tangent sigmoid transfer function () and a linear function were used to obtain the resulting model. The variation of COP with time corresponds to the behavior of experimental data shown in Figure 3, due to the on-off control. Figure 7b shows the relative error obtained, which is less than 10% for most data. These are satisfactory results and demonstrate that the ANN approach is appropriate for the performance prediction of absorption systems using available data. Other objectives such as absorption machine control as well as optimization can also be met.
Even though the dynamic behavior of a thermal device is complicated, the results obtained using an ANN analysis in a transient model were good. This tool allows us to determine a real-time coefficient of performance in order to make the necessary adjustments to optimize the operation of an absorption facility.
Optimum operating conditions using inverse neural network
According to the artificial neural network section presented in this work, it is possible to propose an online estimation strategy of the COP. The following steps were developed: First, it is possible to predict the coefficient of performance considering only external variables in the system. The temperatures at generator, condenser and temperatures corresponding to evaporator 1 and 2 were selected in this section. Second, training and validation of ANN model to predict the COP in transient state. The training procedure was carried out following the steps enlisted previously in the artificial neural network section. The ANN trained had 32 neurons in the hidden layer and , and time as the neurons in the input layer to predict COP.
Experimental and simulated data of COP values were compared through a linear regression model in Figure 8 as: , R = 0.9696 and n = 385. Therefore, the capacity of such model to predict the COP in transient state has been verified.
Finally, the artificial neural network inverse as optimization strategy. In addition to this, a strategy for optimizing the COP for the system has been developed. The selected strategy is the inverse neural network. With the aim of developing the artificial neural network to the experimental facility presented in this work, a test is carried out.
The direct neural network model is used to estimate the COP, based on the following operating conditions: TC = 21.93 °C, TS = 21.34 °C, TE1 = 15.77 °C, TE2 = 16.18 °C. The generator temperature is estimated as a function of time according to the following relationship:
Equation (7) is used to reproduce the generator temperature TG versus time (t), keeping fixed operating conditions. Figure 9 shows the COP against time as the result of simulation of the direct neural network.
The inverse neural network is developed based on the following expression (Hernández, 2009b):
Where s is the number of hidden neurons and y i estimated as:
Weights and bias are obtained from direct neural network model.
It is possible to obtain the time when the system reaches the experimental point COP=0.3115. The numerical result obtained is t=503.8750 using the inverse neural network inverse methodology. The relative absolute percentage error calculated is 0.775% compared to time experimentally determined. The error is calculated as follows:
The computation time to solve the inverse neural network was 4.04 s.
However, the process could be reaching to a new stable state, or at least that indicates the simulation. In order to estimate the optimum COP, the inverse neural network strategy was applied for a second time. Assuming an optimal COP = 0.3485 (see Figure 8), keeping the operating conditions described above, the time in which the system reaches the optimum value is calculated. The calculated time with the artificial neural network is t = 476.5 s. The percentage error calculated was 3.59% compared to the time estimated using the direct neural network.
The application of artificial neural networks for modeling the performance of a particular adiabatic absorption facility has been developed in this work. Experimental results are included in steady and transient operations. Three models were obtained corresponding to cooling and generation capacities and coefficient of performance of the experimental system. These models were trained and validated with both steady and transient state experimental database. With the purpose of using a black-box model, an additional model was obtained using external circuit temperatures, with satisfactory results when compared in a transient experiment. Results demonstrated a good agreement between experimental and simulated values for all cases. The models obtained could be used to predict cycle performance or on-line estimation. Optimization of COP was carried out using an inverse neural network with satisfactory results. This method, applied to transient data, demonstrate to be a useful tool for control purposes.