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From Aggravation to Lights-Out Production
Automated machining has transformed this South Carolina shop. However, achieving unattended production involved far more than just shutting off the lights.
Dan Hogge says the key to implementing lights-out machining can be expressed in one simple word:
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You have to see that misery all the way through, he says. If a shop does not have the determination to keep advancing through a period of transition, not knowing when that period will end, then the shop will never fully shift from an operator-dependent process to one that achieves consistent, considerable and bankable lights-out production.
His shop got there. Your shop can get there, too. However, his experience suggests that making this change is liable to be more difficult than you expect.
"Be prepared to be aggravated," he says.
Mr. Hogge (pronounced "hog") is plant operations manager at Hogge Precision Parts in Hartsville, South Carolina. Founded as a screw machine shop by his father, Dan Hogge Sr., the contract machining business transitioned to CNC long ago and now specializes in bar-fed production on multitasking CNC turning centers. Most of its recent machine purchases have been CNC Swiss-types.
The move to unattended production began with the crash of 2007-2008, he says. Hogge Precision Parts was hit hard because its biggest customer was hit hard. The shop's staff of 70 was cut to 29, and those remaining 29 often saw work weeks as brief as 24 hours.
When business began to return in 2009, capacity in the shop's sole remaining shift filled quickly. That was when a customer came to the shop with an urgent order involving a CNC Swiss-type part. The shop had just purchased its first CNC Swiss-type machine, and while this machine was booked through the day, it went unused at night.
"We thought, why not just let the part run when no one is here?" Mr. Hogge says. Given that the material was brass, there seemed little risk of harm or significant loss if anything went wrong.
And nothing went wrong. The unattended process ran smoothly. The staff arrived the next morning to find 500 finished pieces at the machine. This was the customer's entire order.
The accomplishment caught Mr. Hogge's attention. The success seemed to directly address what might have been his most pressing question at the time: how to accommodate rapidly increasing demand without rapidly increasing staffing. Letting go of more than half of the company's employees had affected the company, and it had affected him. While business activity was high, neither that activity nor the economy itself seemed stable enough to justify expanding the staff. That increase might just be followed by letting a wave of people go all over again. Unattended production seemed to offer a promising alternative.
In retrospect, though, that first attempt at unattended machining might have gone too well, he says. He didn't know what he was getting into. He committed the shop to realizing lights-out production on various other machines, and that is when the misery began.
He says the obstacle to implementing effective unattended machining is essentially this: Shops do not realize how much they rely on operators. He didn't realize this about his own shop.
On any given machining process, a variety of infrequent and unpredictable glitches might stop production. Most of these problems are rare. Most are easy to address. In fact, if an operator is present, addressing the glitch might be so easy that hardly anyone even notices a problem arose. But if an operator is not present, then that little problem can cause hours of production to be lost—hours the shop was counting on to fulfill its promises to customers. Thus, the commitment to unattended production proved to be the start of a journey of eliminating glitches.
That is, it was a journey of fixing previously tiny problems that became large, and previously invisible problems that became visible, once the machines started to run with no operators present. The way through this journey was often infuriating, Mr. Hogge says, because successfully resolving a problem that halted production one night could simply reveal another problem that would halt the same process on a later night. Any process on any CNC machine might be susceptible to eight to 10 infrequent production-stopping problems, all of which had to be discovered and resolved before the process could be trusted to run with no employee present.
Again, these were not big problems. A bar feeder loading material into a lathe might fail to trip a switch properly only on rare occasions. By day, the problem went unseen, because an operator noticing that the lathe was not cycling could clear the error and resume production within a minute or two. Something similar might be true of a chip wedging into a strange spot to affect the subspindle chuck, or a cutting tool breaking instead of gradually wearing. While such problems are uncommon, knowledgeable operators spot them and address them easily enough that shops might underestimate how frequently they occur.
Yet even infrequent problems add up. Consider this: If eight potential glitches each stop a particular process only 1 time in 20, the result is a process that will successfully run unattended only two-thirds of the time.
So the shop fixed problems one after another as they presented themselves. What made this time trying was that the way forward was so unpredictable. Success always seemed to have been won until the next problem reared up. When the shop finally did achieve reliable unattended production, the employees didn't know it. They couldn't know until they were able to look back on several weeks without a new hang-up having revealed itself. Now, they can report that the journey to realizing effective lights-out machining took them about six months to complete.
During that time, here are just some of the ways the shop's equipment and processes changed:
1. Switches and sensors were common points of pain. The unreliable handoff from bar feeder to turning center was a real and recurring problem. This was not the fault of the equipment, Mr. Hogge says. Rather, he accepts the blame himself. During the period following the crash, the shop grew lax about maintenance, particularly when imperfections in the equipment seemed so easy to manage. Today, because consistent operation is critical, the company has dramatically changed the way it thinks about maintenance. If the performance of any machine component declines, the shop flags the problem so it can be fixed before it impedes unattended production.
2. Coolant quality must remain consistent as well. When this begins to degrade, tool life and part quality suffer. Various machines have now been given individual coolant separators from CoolantGuy.com.
3. Part unloading is at least as important as how the part goes into the machine. When large production quantities run without an operator to retrieve parts by hand, workpieces falling onto workpieces can cause damage. A workhandling device that prevents this, a device the shop embraced as part of its journey into unattended machining, is the Rota-Rack unloading carousel from Royal Products (see sidebar).
4. What level of thermal stability does any given machine provide? Mr. Hogge says the answer might surprise you. His most thermally stable machines have proven to be some of the older ones in the shop. Knowing which machines hold their positioning is valuable for running lights-out, because temperatures change considerably during the course of an unattended shift. As a result of studying this problem, he says the shop now knows more about the thermal temperament of its machine tools than ever before. It knows which machines are stable enough to run the finest-tolerance jobs through the night.
These are just a few areas in which the shop adapted its technology and thinking for unattended production. It also implemented quick-change Capto tooling from Sandvik Coromant at tool turret positions subject to frequent change to speed setup of new jobs at the end of the day shift. Certain other changes are proprietary, because staff members overcame some glitches in imaginative ways that they hope competing shops won't figure out soon. The creativity of Hogge Precision Parts' employees was among the enabling factors that made the move to unattended production possible.
In fact, the commitment of these employees was vital. The staff itself had to change. Various senior employees date from when the company was a screw machine shop. Their mechanical experience came fully into play, because the imperfections that had to be addressed to bring the CNC machines into unattended production generally were mechanical problems. But at the same time, the mindset this staff brings to production had to shift to embrace going lights-out. Gone, now, is the expectation that human eyes or human hands will be involved with any job as it runs.
"The question for us is no longer, 'Can I run this job unattended?'" Mr. Hogge says. "The question now is, 'How long can this job run unattended?'"
Mr. Hogge remotely checks in on after-hours production via cameras mounted throughout the shop. "I am looking for green lights," he says. Today, he almost always sees them.
That hasn't always been the case. Even after it had begun to succeed with lights-out machining, the shop aimed for 65 hours per week of this production. Getting that much unattended machining was an achievement.
Today, he says it's a disappointment to get less than 80 hours per week on most of the shop's machines. Newer machines with control functions such as worn tool management can extend that to 100 hours. By comparison, the shop's one fully staffed shift still accounts for no more than 45 hours per week.
Adding staff has become even more difficult in the time since the shop went to unattended production. Large manufacturing companies in the area have been adding staff themselves, bidding up compensation rates. This rural part of South Carolina has now become a high-wage region.
Even so, the shop has increased its payroll, including adding some employees who come in at night. Certain unattended processes reach capacity limits before the night is done, meaning attention at just the right moments can keep these processes running. On some jobs, for example, the Rota-Rack carousel is full after four hours. When an employee stops in to empty the unit, this brief intervention unlocks another four hours of production.
This kind of strategic use of labor increases the value of each staff member's efforts. This is the measurable payback of the shop's investment in achieving a reliable automated process. In fact, now at 45 employees, the shop may have found its new optimal staffing level. By servicing processes that run mostly unattended, Mr. Hogge says this number of employees can keep up with a sales volume that has now surpassed what the shop had achieved before the crash.


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There were wins for both Madrid teams on Sunday, but Atletico's was marred by an injury worry for star striker Radamel Falcao.
Real Madrid grabbed the spotlight with a 5-0 win over Valencia, but they remain seven points adrift of neighbours Atletico who beat Levante 2-0 earlier in the day.
Adrian Lopez opened the scoring for Atletico in the 32nd minute by firing into an empty net after an excellent run and cross by teenager Javier Manquillo, who was making his league debut in place of the injured Juanfran.
Koke then ended the game as a contest with a stunning strike from outside the box on the hour mark, but the hosts' joy was tempered by the sight of Falcao limping off with what looked like a hamstring injury that could keep him out for a number of weeks.
The win moves them to within eight points of Barcelona, who suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Real Sociedad on Saturday night.
Madrid took out their frustrations on Valencia with a stunning first-half display powering them to a 5-0 win at the Mestalla.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring early on and then Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria helped themselves to braces during a devastating 11-minute spell just before half-time as Madrid, who beat the same opponents in the Copa del Rey in midweek, ran amok.
Valencia battled back after the break and had a number of chances to pull a goal back but Madrid's defence, with Iker Casillas selected ahead of Antonio Adan in goal, held firm to complete a great night for Jose Mourinho's men, who moved back to within 15 points of Barca.
Goals from Javi Guerra and Oscar Gonzalez either side of the break saw Valladolid defeat Real Zaragoza 2-0 in a game marred by both injuries and heavy rain.
Three players limped from the field in a scrappy game in which both sides struggled to create chances in difficult conditions.
For Valladolid it was a second consecutive home win that moves them into 10th place in the Primera Division table with a haul of 28 points, while Zaragoza remain in 13th place and only four points clear of the relegation zone.
Osasuna lifted themselves off the bottom of the league table on Sunday with a crucial 2-1 win over relegation rivals Deportivo La Coruna, who replaced them as the lowest-ranked side.
Kike Sola put the hosts ahead on 28 minutes and Nino doubled the lead 15 minutes into the second half, leaving an impotent Deportivo with too much to do in the remaining half an hour.
The Galicians were second best for most of the game but came into life in the final 20 minutes, and a goal by Javier Camunas in the first minute of stoppage time made for a tense finish. However, Jose Luis Mendilibar's side held on for the three points.
On Saturday, Real Sociedad hit back from two goals down to end Barcelona's unbeaten Primera Division record in stunning fashion with a 3-2 win at the Anoeta.
All looked to be going to plan for Tito Vilanova's visitors when Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez put them two goals up within 25 minutes.
But Gonzalo Castro's brilliant strike gave Sociedad hope before half-time and then, after Barca had lost centre-back Gerard Pique to a red card, Castro's curling effort was deflected into his own net by Barca substitute Javier Mascherano.
That sent the home fans wild, but it got even better in stoppage time when Imanol Agirretxe poked Carlos Martinez's cross from the right past Victor Valdes.
Sevilla failed to get Unai Emery's league reign off to the perfect start as an error from goalkeeper Andres Palop gifted Getafe a 1-1 draw at the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.
Jose Antonio Reyes put Sevilla in front with a neat finish shortly before half-time, but the lead lasted only three minutes as Palop got caught under Adrian Colunga's inswinging cross and allowed the ball to float over his head and into the net.
Sevilla continued to have the better of the play after the break but Alvaro Negredo blasted over with their best chance.
The late game also finished 1-1, with Malaga missing the chance to climb to fourth place as lowly Celta Vigo battled hard for a deserved point at La Rosaleda.
Martin Demichelis bundled the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble to give the hosts the lead seven minutes before the interval, but Celta grew as the match wore on and levelled 14 minutes from time through Augusto Fernandez.
Granada secured only their second home win of the season as a Jordi Amat own goal and a late strike on his full debut from Recio handed them a much-needed 2-0 victory over an under-strength Rayo Vallecano.
The visitors came into the game on the back of four consecutive wins that had propelled them into the European places, but without the injured Leo Baptistao and suspended Alejandro Dominguez they lacked the same cutting edge and were made to pay for some defensive errors.
Amat unintentionally gave the hosts the lead on 24 minutes when he turned Allan Nyom's cross into his own goal and, after Lass Bangoura had passed up a great chance to bring Rayo level after the break, Recio sealed the win for the home side with a low drive from the edge of the area.
Victory moved Granada out of the bottom three as Rayo remained in sixth.
Raul Baena scored the decisive goal as Espanyol edged out 10-man Real Mallorca 3-2 in Friday night's tussle between two Primera Division strugglers.
Simao Sabrosa gave the home side the lead but strikes from Giovani Dos Santos and Javi Marquez put Mallorca in the driving seat at half-time.
Joan Verdu then levelled things up again with a penalty and, after the visitors saw Antonio Luna sent off, Baena ensured the points would stay at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat with his late effort.

subset: commoncrawl


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The IFA is the world's largest trade group representing the franchising sector, whose members span 75 different industries and have operations in more than 100 countries. Franchising plays a vital role in the nation's economy, according to a study conducted for the IFA Educational Foundation by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The "Economic Impact of Franchised Businesses" study found that that there are more than 760,000 franchised small businesses in the U.S., generating more than 18 million jobs.
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franchise expo shows. Produced and Managed by MFV Expositions 208 Harristown Road, Suite 102, Glen Rock NJ 07452. Tel: (201) 226-1130


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Artificial Traditional Ivy Variegated Trailing Bush 70cm
Artificial Traditional Ivy Variegated Trailing Bush 70cm
Total Length: 70cm
Length of Stem: 10cm
Length of Foliage: 60cm
Length of Leaf: 3 - 6cm
Width of Leaf: 3 - 6cm
Hedera helix also known as common ivy, English ivy, European ivy, or just ivy is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to most of Europe and western Asia. Widely used as an ornamental plant in arrangments and wedding bouquets. With five lobed two tone leaves and an assortment of sizes make this product is one of the most popular in our collection. Small enough to add a splash of green to any home.
Care and Maintenance
We recommend this product FOR INDOOR USE ONLY. This is due to the delicate nature of the product. We cannot be liable for any damage including loss of leaves or fading if the product is used outdoors or in an exposed area.
To keep your plants and flowers looking their best and in vibrant condition we suggest keeping them out of direct sunlight where fading may occur. Monthly cleaning of your flowers will keep them in good condition reducing build up from day to day life. We suggest cleaning each individual leaf / petal with a clean soft bristled paintbrush, brushing from the centre outwards.
Branches are attached to our artificial trees via a gluing & stapling process which produces the very realistic look of our trees. Therefore please take care when unpacking and relocating the tree.
Mainland UK Delivery - DELIVERIES RUNNING AS NORMAL
(Over 1 Metre Length) 2 Working Days* £9.99 + vat
(Furniture, Large/Heavy Items) 3 - 5 Working Days £59.99 + vat
Any items that fall within the oversized or pallet delivery options will state this in the product description.
*Orders placed by 12 noon Monday-Friday are generally despatched on a 2 working day delivery service (unless otherwise stated in product description). During busy periods this may increase to a 3-5 day service.
To check the current status of delivery timings before placing an order, please call our office team on 0151 334 0818.
For additional delivery locations/options click here
We understand that sometimes products need to be returned. If your item is faulty, damaged, or simply no longer required, our office team will help you out.
We accept returns within fourteen working days from receipt in an unused and resalable condition*
*For full return instructions and guidance please click here


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The Best Lobster I've Ever Had – Sandy Island, Anguilla
We're going where? Oh no, that's not going to work for me.
This was the prevailing sentiment from several of my traveling companions when we caught our first glimpse of Sandy Island while touring the incredible Sea Villa along Anguilla's north coast. From there, the island is barely discernible – just a thin line of sand skirting atop the sea with a scant few puny palm trees. We were heading there for a midday beach BBQ, though the apparent lack of shade had some in the group feeling like we were the ones about to get cooked.
In the end, no one backed out, which turned out to be a very wise decision… especially for those of us who love lobster!
Located a quick five-minute boat ride from Sandy Ground, Sandy Island bears every resemblance to every deserted tropical island you've ever seen in movies or comic strips… at least from a distance. As you get closer, the island's small collection of structures comes into view…
But, it's really not until you get ashore that you get a real sense for the facilities and just how comfy and accommodating this little beach bar islet really is.
Sandy Island (the island) is owned by the Government of Anguilla, while the beach bar/BBQ there is leased to a private operator. The whole place runs on wind and solar power, with everything that needs to be cooked prepared on a good-sized outdoor grill right next to the sea.
"The place has been around for umpteen years," according to Dion, the local bartender whom I met at Sandy Island about a month ago. (Read the full history of the island here). He'd been working there for two years, arriving every day at 9:30am and leaving with the last patrons of the day, usually around sunset after plying them with an assortment of beers and cocktails featuring the likes of Cruzan Rum, Appleton, Mount Gay, Barbancourt and even Rhum Bologne from Guadeloupe.
On Sandy Island, though, no drinks are required to mellow out. The peaceful quiet and tranquility here are more than enough to melt any stress away.
The roots reggae classics being played under the pavilion weren't really required either. As it says right on the restrooms:
Live natural music daily by the seagulls, wind and waves band.
All the relaxing and rustic private island wonder at Sandy Island is to be expected. What I didn't expect, though, was this…
This is the Grilled Lobster-Sandy Island Style platter that you can order daily from the Sandy Island menu. Fresh-caught, grilled and drizzled with garlic and lemon cream sauce, it's the best lobster I've ever had in my life.
It's a bold statement, sure; one no doubt influenced by my sublime surroundings, that excellent rum selection and the wonderful company with whom I happened to be dining. I'm sticking by it, though. I mean, I literally said as much immediately upon my first bite. And it wasn't one of those doubtful, questioning statements, either, like: "I think this might be the best lobster I've ever had…"
No, my mouth was resolute with the words well before my brain even knew what was going on. It was almost as if my taste buds were doing all the talking while the luscious lobster lulled the rest of me into a blissful culinary coma from which I'd never want to awake.
A post-lunch nap is actually a very good idea at Sandy Island, and thankfully there are a few lounge chairs and plenty of powder-soft white sand to accommodate you…
They say there's great snorkeling all around Sandy Island. They say they serve various other culinary delights as well, including ribs, steaks, BBQ chicken, crayfish, snapper and more. I was so enraptured by my lobster and the beach, though, that I didn't get a sense of any of those other charms.
All good reasons to make a return visit soon… as if I needed the extra motivation.
Sandy Island is open daily between November 1 and July 31. Make a reservation anytime between August 1 and October 31, though, and they'll be happy to open up special just for you. If you want to have a private party there at night, you can book that as well.
To get there, catch the Sandy Island sea shuttle, aptly named Bliss, from the small pier in front of Johnno's Beach Bar at Sandy Ground. The ferry costs just US$10 round-trip, a small price to pay to reach such a priceless destination.
For more, visit Sandy Island online.


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N9918A FieldFox Handheld Microwave Analyzer, 26.5 GHz
|Sold By:
US$ 24,645 Typical Price*
- 26.5 GHz max frequency
- Carry the world's most integrated handheld analyzer: standard model includes cable and antenna analyzer
- Expand capabilities with optional VNA, spectrum analyzer, built-in power meter, vector voltmeter, and more
- Save time by measuring DTF and TDR in the same sweep
- Simultaneously measure all four S-parameters
- Make accurate spectrum analyzer measurements (± 0.5 dB) without needing warm-up
- Calibrate simply with QuickCal
- Lightest all-in-one analyzer at only 6.6 lb. (3.0 kg)
Industry-leading 3 year warranty
Every spec verified, adjustments included
- AC/DC adapter
- Localized power cord
- Battery –rechargeable Li Ion
- LAN cable
- Soft carrying case with backpack and shoulder strap
- Quick Reference Guide
This product is sold primarily through Keysight's Authorized Sales Partners.
Industry's first handheld RF and microwave analyzers with RTSA up to 50 GHz
Learn about FieldFox Handheld Analyzers
FieldFox VSA Link
Cable & antenna test
Vector network analysis
Spectrum analysis
Interference analysis
Distance to Fault and Time Domain Reflectometry with FieldFox
Software for this Product
N9918A FieldFox Handheld Software
- Measurement capabilities to handle routine maintenance and in-depth troubleshooting
- Maximize performance with VNA, spectrum analyzer, built-in power meter, vector voltmeter, and more
- Order with new instrument or upgrade an existing instrument
PathWave Vector Signal Analysis (89600 VSA)
- Comprehensive demodulation & vector signal analysis
- Decode & verify MAC, RLC & RRC-layer messages across multiple radio frames
- Cellular, wireless connectivity, aerospace, defense, general-purpose
Instrument Control Software
- Easily connect and control Instruments with no programming.
- Acquire screen images and trace data in a few clicks.
- Rapidly build custom automated test sequences in minutes.
- APIs for controlling your instrument from your PC.
Frequently Bought Together
N9910X RF & MW Handheld Analyzer Accessories
- Equip your FieldFox handheld analyzer with quality accessories
- Cables, adapters, calibration kits, antennas, RF and microwave accessories and other general purpose FieldFox accessories
Mechanical and Electronic Calibration Kits
- Connector-specific calibration standards that measure the known devices of the system
- Simple one-connection operation
- Excellent accuracy without sacrificing time to calibrate
N9911X Economical Waveguide Calibration Components
- WR-137, WR-90, WR-62, and WR-42 waveguide components
- Waveguide to coax adapters
- Termination (load), short, and 1/4 wavelength offset parts
Metric and imperial flange sizes available
Industry Awards
Best in Test 2014
* Prices for: United States. Prices are subject to change without notice. Prices shown are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP). Prices shown are exclusive of taxes.


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Since Oxford will apparently add anything to the dictionary, Penabler shares a strong desire to get some other new words in:
Can they go ahead and add all the words I spell incorrectly into the dictionary? Please make "definately" and "restraraunt" real words. Thank you in advance.
I definately agree.
Submit nominations to the Comment of the Day tag page. Click on the comment's time stamp, and post the comment's URL to the forum. (Replying to a comment with "#cotd" does not work; you need to go to the forum.) For meetups, use the meetup forum!


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SCAG welcomes your interest, involvement and participation in the activities and programs aimed at resolving the issues facing the six-county Southern California region. The public plays a key role in every aspect of SCAG's regional planning efforts. SCAG provides information, timely public notice and access to key decisions to support early and continuing public involvement in developing its regional plans.
Share your thoughts or ask us a question.
The Public Participation Plan is a document that guides SCAG's public involvement process by outlining objectives, goals and intended outcomes.
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) shall not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services or activities.
SCAG seeks to ensure that no person is excluded from participating in any of the agency's programs or public meetings. In addition to complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, SCAG also translates key materials and provides translator services to ensure that the region's diverse populations are involved in the planning process.
If you have a specific issue or concern, you may want to contact a member of SCAG's governing board. Local elected officials throughout Southern California serve on SCAG's Regional Council and represent one or more communities within the region.


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There aren't any teas on Zizu's Wishlist yet.
My mother, a hippie and wanna-be apothecary, had me addicted to tea at a young age. I took a break from it, but started drinking tea again hardcore when I went to college. I get grumpy without. I love tea, and I love food. I love pairing tea with food!


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The use of an electronic medical record (EMR) for reviewing portal images dramatically improves compliance with timeliness and record keeping, according to a study in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Portal images are used to verify the positioning of patients during daily radiation treatments to improve the accuracy of the radiation field placement, to reduce exposure to normal tissue and to deliver accurate dose to tumor volumes.
"The benefits of the implementation and utilization of an EMR have been well documented. Other studies have shown that the use of EMR's improves the quality of care, saves time and decreases cost," said Andre Konski, MD, MBA, MA, co-author of the article. Konski is chief of radiation therapy at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center; and professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at theWayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.
The use of an EMR to review portal images was initiated at the investigators' institution in March 2010. Before this, portal images were reviewed on either radiographic film or printouts from machines equipped with electronic portal imaging. Patients who were treated by attending physicians present before and after the switch to the EMR were randomly selected for review of their portal images from 2009 for radiographic film and March to June 2010 for portal images in the EMR. The images were reviewed for their compliance with proper verification per departmental policy.
A total of 411 portal images were reviewed. Results showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in compliance with portal image review policy with the advent of using the EMR to review portal images.
"The use of an EMR for reviewing portal images dramatically improves compliance with timeliness and record keeping. More timely review of portal images is critical because it allows for higher quality care in the treatment of patients with radiation," said Konski.
"Given this study's findings, in accordance with a nationwide push for transitioning the EMR's, reviewing portal images via an EMR should be standard of care," he said.
|Contact: Heather Curry
American College of Radiology


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I have a basic website that I built in Dreamweaver ( Don't laugh ) but after playing with Flash for a while now and doing alot of the tutorials and stuff I decided I want to make my site in Flash now. I need some rather basic questions answered that seem to be skipped over in most tutorials.
Is it best to just make my layout in Photoshop, slice it up and import it into Flash as separate pieces/pictures (i.e. header, navbar, etc) or just make the layout and import it as one big picture? If its better to just create the site from scratch in Flash, then skip question #2, and if you could provide a link to how this is done because it seems the tools are little more basic in Flash compared to Photoshop to get the cool results on a lot of the Flash sites that I see.
If I do make my layout in Photoshop, should I make it a detailed design and then bring it over to Flash or just a basic design and then detail it in Flash? What I mean is, do I put the text on the header, any special clickable areas detailed (image maps?).
After I bring my template into Flash then do I publish it as my site from Flash or do I export/import it into Dreamweaver and publish it from there?
I followed the tutorial here at Kirupa.com on how to make a flash website and it shows me the structure of the site and how its put together once you have the parts but I guess my problem is getting the parts together in the first place.
Thanks in advance for any help, and if you don't want to answer any of the questions then if you could please provide a link to where I might find some of these answers. I've searched Google and come up with all kinds of stuff on how to make the site but they all assume you have the graphics at your fingertips and ready to go.


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With football season in full swing, can concussions be far behind? Once thought of as nothing more than a benign "bellringer," neuroscientists now know these blows to the head can cause serious cognitive and physical problems, both in the short and long term.
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But you don't have to be a pro athlete to be in danger. A report out today from the Centers for Disease Control shows a rise in emergency room visits for TBIs in youngsters -- up to 250,000 in 2009. Still, most cases go undetected. An estimated 4 million sports-related concussions occur in the U.S. every year.
In their book, "The Concussion Crisis: Anatomy of a Silent Epidemic," health journalist and msnbc.com contributor Linda Carroll and sports writer David Rosner reveal the stories of people whose lives have been irrevocably changed by concussions. But they also offer hope. As the public health message about the seriousness of concussions reaches more people, future generations of athletes will not only be safer, but can look forward to a brighter future -- once the game is over.
Both of you have an interest in brain science. Why did you choose to write about concussions, which many people still view as benign?
Rosner: Back in the dark ages of the 1980s when I started covering sports, concussions were barely on the radar. It wasn't until recently that there was a realization that concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are all on the same spectrum. That's an important realization and a major change in how concussions are looked at. We felt that this was something all athletes needed to know.
Carroll: I've been a health writer for 20 years and I didn't know anything about the long-term impact of concussions. Then I did a couple of stories about people with TBIs, and I was astounded to discover the people I interviewed seemed just like you and me, until they had to perform some task. That's when some subtle and not-so-subtle deficits came out. I figured if I didn't know about this, probably most people didn't. I wanted to let everyone know how dangerous concussions can be.
Report: ER visits for kids' concussions on the rise
Read an excerpt of 'The Concussion Crisis'
So how is a concussion diagnosed?
Carroll: The injury often doesn't show up on CAT or MRI scans because the damage from a concussion is to individual cells that can be scattered throughout the brain. The only way a doctor can see a concussion on a scan is if all the damaged cells are next to one another. So, doctors are left to diagnose a concussion based on symptoms like confusion or blurred vision. The treatment is rest, but in some severe cases medications can be used to target specific symptoms like sleep loss or migraines. Some people wind up needing rehab, too.
Professional sports teams have made a concerted effort to educate players and coaches about the dangers. What about parents and coaches of student athletes?
Carroll: I think things are changing, but it's a very slow change. One study showed that more than 40 percent of high school athletes were playing again before their brains had time to recover.
How do coaches know when it's time to get back in the game?
Carroll: Only a concussion expert can make that decision. Some schools are using a technology called ImPact (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), which was developed at the University of Pittsburgh. Student athletes are given a baseline test at the beginning of a season. If they get a head injury, they are given another test to see how they score. If the new score is below baseline, they sit out. And they stay out until the score returns to normal and all their symptoms have cleared up.
Wouldn't prevention be the answer to concussions?
Rosner: Some changes can be made to make each sport safer. But the truth is you can't prevent all concussions in sports any more than you can prevent them in fender benders. It's part of the game, whether that's football, hockey, soccer – or even cheerleading. We hope that the realization that repeated concussions can lead to long lingering symptoms, as well as recent reports linking repeated concussion to dementia, will show the importance of proper concussion management. And that means rest until all symptoms disappear.
Don't helmets help?
Carroll: Not really. The helmet protects your skull, not your brain. One clinician said to us if you could encase the brain in cement, then maybe the brain wouldn't get hurt when the head was jolted. The brain floats in fluid inside the skull. The best analogy I can think of is this: If you crash your car and don't have a seat belt on, you're going to slam into the windshield. Similarly, your brain, which has nothing holding it in place, slams forward when you stop suddenly, like you would if you collided with another player. So, no matter how much you protect the skull, the brain is still going to get hurt.
Knowing what you know now, do you look at sports differently?
Rosner: Yes. I was 14 years old when I was lucky enough to attend the first Ali-Frazier fight in Madison Square Garden. It's still this magical memory. But after analyzing what boxing does to the brain for the book, I now feel this pang of guilt about being a boxing fan.
Carroll: I have a daughter who is 7 and plays soccer. Now, if I'm there and I see my child getting slammed in the head, I'm going to get in the coach's face and tell him to get my kid out of a game. As she gets older I'm not going to be able to be there for every game and every practice. I'm hoping that with public education I'll be able to trust her coaches and trainers to do the right thing.
© 2013 msnbc.com. Reprints


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Greater Boston
Convention & visitors Bureau
Boston by Foot will be temporarily closed for tours due to ongoing public health and safety concerns.
Boston By Foot offers a wide range of in depth historical and architectural walking tours on special topics and neighborhoods throughout the city. Our tours are offered regularly April through November, and can be arranged as a private tour at any time of the year. You can select from a variety of topics or let our knowledgeable and experienced guides offer a completely custom tour for your group's interests or itinerary. For more information, please call Boston By Foot at 617-367-2345 or visit www.bostonybyfoot.org. We'd be happy to help make your event in Boston a special one!


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This article is from the archive of our partner .
The spectacle of right-wingers like Michele Bachmann throwing around accusations that State Department deputy chief Huma Abedin is a secret agent of the Muslim Brotherhood has been remarkably information-free. So we decided to trace the most ardent supporter's case for radical Islamic infiltration of the U.S. government. The results are a tangled, convoluted mess.
Bachmann's request that the State Department investigate Abedin, who has been a longtime aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for "potential Muslim Brotherhood infiltration," has been roundly rejected by other Republicans as "potentially dangerous" (that would be House Speaker John Boehner) and as "specious and degrading attacks" (that would be Sen. John McCain). But now Newt Gingrich has come back with an editorial in Politico this morning in which he praises Bachmann and four other Tea Party Republicans for asking brave questions about national security. "Whose advice we rely on becomes central to national security," he writes. "Asking who the advisers are, what their prejudices are and what advice they give is a legitimate — indeed, essential — part of any serious national security system." Gingrich is appalled that Bachmann and what he's dubbed the National Security Five have been silenced, comparing the threat of high-level governmental infiltration, by one has to assume Abedin, to Nazis and the KGB. "It's as though our leaders have forgotten every lesson of the 1930s about fascism, Nazism and communism and every lesson from 1945 to 1991 about communism." We say you have to assume he means Abedin because Gingrich doesn't name her.
Which has sort of been par for the course for this bizarre episode. While the rectitude of labeling a high-level government official as a foreign agent has been hotly debated, few — on either side — have bothered to delve into the basis of the allegations. Well, Mr. Gingrich, not everybody has ignored the extensive threads that allegedly tie Abedin to extreme Islamic forces. We looked. We picked through a 37-page paper by controversial writer and supposed former Jihadist Walid Shoebat that claims to have all the evidence Bachmann needed to write that letter in confidence. Several conservative sites have quoted Shoebat in their anger at Abedin defenders. (One calls him a "terrorism expert.") So guys: This is what the Abedin-questioners believe.
Shockingly, the connections are indeed a little nuts. From person to person, you kind of have to do a somersault to get from Huma Abedin to the Muslim Brotherhood. That is, if you believe the connections at all. Some of the ties to extreme Islamism and terrorism could not be verified by anything on the web other than ultra-conservative sites or Arabic Wikipedia. Most have to do with Huma's mother Saleha, who Shoebat claims was very intimate with Muslim Brotherhood leaders like Yusuf al-Qaradawi. And some evidence Shoebat picked up before it was conveniently erased. It gets so crazy that Shoebat manages to connect Huma Abedin to Osama bin Laden.
But take a look for yourself! Below, the visual, interactive representation of the alleged connection between Huma Abedin and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Photos: AP, Reuters
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Silent SeaBook - 2010
From the critics
Community Activity
CommentAdd a Comment
This was a very enjoyable addition to the "Oregon files" series. The sleuthing and the backstories really help the story along. Also the description of the gunfights in a winter storm were great!
Excellent book! Great story and a fantastic ending.
The Silent Sea --- by Clive Cussler. Those of you who have read any of Cussler's novel know that his books are very addictive. None the less is true for this novel. Chock full of action; a setting that ties the torrid jungles of South America to the icy wastes of Antarctica; a conflict that propels the good guys against the villainy of the Argentineans and the Chinese. Lots of things get blown up: oil rigs, big ships, and major outposts (the bad guys'). Once again, Cussler has crafted a novel that couldn't possibly be put down.
SummaryAdd a Summary
On December 7, 1941, five brothers exploring a shaft on a small island off the coast of Washington state make an exciting discovery, only to be interrupted by news of Pearl Harbor. In the present, Cabrillo, chasing the remnants of a crashed satellite in the Argentine jungle, makes a shocking discovery of his own. His search to untangle the mystery leads him first to that small island and its secret, and then much further back, to an ancient Chinese expedition, and a curse that seems to have survived for over five hundred years. If Cabrillo's team is successful in its quest, the reward could be incalculable. If not . . . the only reward is death.
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Shrubs of Wisconsin
discolor Muhl.
pussy willow
Family: Salicaceae
Salix discolor is generally assigned the common name of "pussy willow", but people have been eager to apply that name to any willow that flowers early in the spring in their neighborhood. The distinctive aments or "catkins" are a welcome sign of spring.
Willows are dioecious, which means that each flower has only male or female parts ( not both) and that each individual plant has only flowers of one sex. Therefore each individual plant can be said to be either male or female. There are many species of willow in Wisconsin (24) and their identification is often difficult. There is a good key to the willows of Wisconsin by George Argus (citation below) and the key to willows by E.G. Voss in Michigan Flora, Vol 2 is also very good, and is more easily accessible.
The leaves of Salix discolor are simple and alternate and the margins are either entire or coarsely and irregularly toothed, as in the photo above. The underside of each leaf is strongly whitened.
Argus George. W. 1965. Preliminary Reports on the Flora of Wisconsin. No. 51. Salicaceae. The Genus Salix--the Willows. Trans. Wisconsin Acad. 53: 217-272.
Voss, Edward G.1985. Michigan Flora. Cranbrook Institute
of Science. Part II. Dicots (Saururaceae - Cornaceae). Bulletin 59.


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Four Bank of America-Merrill Lynch (BAC) teams switched to the independent-advisor model, Dynasty Financial Partners and HighTower Advisors said early Tuesday.
Chicago-based HighTower said that two Merrill teams that joined its network, owned by its now 75 advisors, came on board in Las Vegas: Anderson & Delutri and the MNA Group. They are the ninth and 10th teams in 2012 to join HighTower, which includes some 35 teams with about $20 billion in assets.
"These are two of the best advisor teams in this region, who both came to the same conclusion that HighTower is the future of the financial services industry, and they would be able to serve their clients as true fiduciaries by joining our partnership," said Mike Papedis (left), executive vice president of business development at HighTower, in a press release. "Teams such as these are the linchpin of our continued growth as HighTower expands into new markets."
The principals of Anderson & Delutri—Hugh Anderson and Sheila Delutri—each spent more than 30 years at Merrill Lynch. They manage combined assets of $450 million.
"We hold our commitment to serve as the chief financial officer of every family we work with in the absolute highest regard," said Anderson, in a statement. "HighTower has not only restored the fiduciary relationship between advisors and clients, but they have leveraged the competitive power of Wall Street to ensure that it benefits our clients."
The principals of MNA Group—Mike PeQueen, CFA, CFP; Ned Evans, CRPC; and Adam Thurgood, CFA—have a combined 60 years of experience in the financial services industry. They joined Merrill Lynch in 2002 after working for Prudential Securities and manage about $340 million in assets for clients with $2 million and more in investable assets.
"After experiencing the strength and talent of HighTower's people and the dynamic culture where advisors are truly partners in the success of the firm and its clients, it became abundantly clear that HighTower provided the independence and enterprise support that would not be possible on our own," said PeQueen in a statement.
Dynasty's New Group
New York-based Dynasty Financial said True Private Wealth Advisors has become the most recent independent investment advisory firm to join its growing network of advisor teams, bringing the total to 15 teams and about $13 billion in assets under management.
True Private Wealth Advisors came on board Dynasty in Salem, Ore., with four advisors and more than $300 million in assets. It comprises two teams from the Merrill Lynch Private Client Group, including branch manager Steve Altman. (The Davis/Altman Group and the Gescher/Herber Group will remain as two separate groups under the True Private Wealth Advisors banner.)
True Private Wealth Advisors is the 15th independent advisory firm to join Dynasty's wealth management platform and brings expertise in both commercial banking and private families to the Dynasty network of advisors. "What is unique about the launch of True Private Wealth Advisors is that we have two successful teams coming together to form one firm with greater scale and broader expertise than each team would have on their own. What they have in common is an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to build a client-focused advisory business in the Pacific Northwest," said Tim Bello, partner and director of strategic implementation at Dynasty, in a press release.
"We think this multiadvisor partnership model is the next wave in the breakaway advisor movement," Bello said. "We are getting calls from groups of advisors and branch managers who want to start their own firms while keeping their individual team structures inside the new central brand."
The members of True Private Wealth Advisors plan to access Dynasty's investment platform, which integrates proprietary research of Callan Associates. Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services will provide custody services, and Envestnet will provide portfolio-trading tools and reporting.


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since China doesn't have one...
Score one for Tony Blair:
The Commonwealth has admitted Rwanda as its 54th member.The benefits of Commonwealth membership for Rwanda are obvious: increased legitimacy, possible economic opportunities, and one more way to tell France to go suck an egg.
The African country was admitted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, a statement from the group said.
(Although interestingly, what was the first thing Rwanda did after finding out the Commonwealth wanted them? They restored diplomatic ties with France. Mmm-hmm.)
What I can't figure out is how this benefits the Commonwealth. What do they gain by admitting yet another country that does not allow its citizens basic political freedoms? There's an argument that Commonwealth membership might better position its members to pressure Rwanda over things like, oh, say, allowing opposition presidential candidates into the country to campaign for next year's elections, establishing free speech and press freedom, stopping the theft of Congolese mineral wealth, or ceasing the funding of armed groups that wreak chaos in the Kivus. (Or to explain to the RPF in very clear terms that no one still believes that opposition to the RPF equates to support for the genocidaires.)
But that argument rings hollow when we consider how ineffective other Commonwealth efforts to pressure member states into behaving have been. (Zimbabwe, anyone?) Somehow I don't think much of anything will change with Rwanda's entry into the Commonwealth.


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Difference between revisions of "The Downward Spiral (halo)"
From nine inch nails wiki
Revision as of 03:35, 23 November 2015
The Downward Spiral (also known as Halo 8) is Nine Inch Nails' second studio album, though it is largely considered the third major release after the Broken EP, which consisted of entirely new material. It was released on March 8, 1994. It is likely the most acclaimed and well-known of the band's discography, and is said to have brought "industrial" music to the mainstream. A collection featuring remixes from The Downward Spiral was released as Further Down The Spiral on June 1, 1995.
Track List
Disc 2 (SACD Rerelease Only)
The original Japanese release includes "Dead Souls" between "Big Man With A Gun" and "A Warm Place."
The double vinyl release splits sides between "March Of The Pigs" and "Closer," "The Becoming" and "I Do Not Want This," and "Eraser" and "Reptile." Rather than completely separating the songs, the transitions are retained: "The Becoming" still contains the fade-in of the "I Do Not Want This" beginning, but fades out; the introduction of "Reptile" is tagged onto the end of "Eraser."
The unmastered instrumental versions of almost all the songs on The Downward Spiral ("Ruiner" and "Big Man With A Gun" were not included) have been made available on remix.nin.com for streaming and free download. They can be found under the "general playlists" section in the lower right hand corner of the page, in the "featured" subsection.
Trent Reznor has stated in various interviews some of the ideas and inspiration behind the album:
"The idea behind the album is of someone who sheds everything around them to a potential nothingness, but through career, religion, relationship, belief and so on. It's less muscle-flexing, though when I started it I didn't know what I wanted it to sound like. I knew I didn't want to be a full metal album, so I tried to address the issue of restraint. It was a long process."[1]
"Thematically I wanted to explore the idea of somebody who systematically throws or uncovers every layer of what he's surrounded with, comfort-wise, from personal relationships to religion to questioning the whole situation. Someone dissecting his own ability to relate to other people or to have anything to believe in...With 'The Downward Spiral' I tried to make a record that had full range, rather than a real guitar-based record or a real synth-based record. I tried to make it something that opened the palate for NIN, so we don't get pigeon-holed. It was a conscious effort to focus more on texture and space, rather than bludgeoning you over the head for an hour with a guitar."[2]
"I was really into electronic music at the time. David Bowie's 'Low' was probably the single greatest influence on 'The Downward Spiral' for me. I got into Bowie in the 'Scary Monsters' era, then I picked up 'Low' and instantly fell for it. I related to it on a song-writing level, a mood level, and on a song-structure level...I like working within the framework of accessibility, and songs of course, but I also like things that are more experimental and instrumental, maybe."[3]
Reznor set out to make an album that was a departure from the Broken EP ("when I went into the studio, I knew that I didn't want to make Broken again"), which he described as "a real hard-sounding record that was just one big blast of anger." Instead, Reznor wanted to create an album "that went in 10 different directions, but that was all united somehow." Reznor brought in a number of guest performers to record, including Stephen Perkins and Adrian Belew. Perkins played a number of drum parts that were recorded live in the studio; these tracks were then turned into sample loops. Reznor took a similar approach to recording guitar parts. Reznor would record 20 to 25-minute long sessions of himself playing guitar on a hard disc recorder with a Studio Vision sequencer, then would cut out parts of the recording he found interesting for later use. Reznor said, "99 percent of the stuff we do–even vocals–is recorded into the computer [hard disk] first. We get an arrangement together and then dump it to tape." For "Mr. Self Destruct", Reznor ran the entire mix through the mic pre-amps of several modules plundered from an old Neve board.
Like other NIN releases, some songs never made it to the final album. In this case, some songs were "The Beauty Of The Drug", which was a general out take, and "Just Do It", which was a track prompting the album's protagonist to kill himself. The latter was axed at the request of Flood, who refused to have anything to do with it.
An article from Sound On Sound contains a list of some of the equipment used on the album:
"The studio was equipped with a 56-input Amek Mozart console with Rupert Neve modules, two Studer A800 Mk3 multitrack machines, Mac-based Pro Tools and a host of outboard gear, in addition to Akai S1100 and Kurzweil K2000 samplers; Prophet VS, Digidesign Turbosynth, ARP Odyssey, Oberheim Expander, Oberheim OBMx, Roland MKS80 and Minimoog synthesizers; Doepfer and Oberheim sequencers; a Mellotron MKIV polyphonic tape replay keyboard; a Roland R70 drum machine; and assorted Jackson and Gibson guitars."[4]
Concept and Interpretations
There are numerous layers of metaphors that are present throughout the album, which leaves it open to wide interpretation. As a whole, The Downward Spiral is defined by Nietzschean concepts and a prominent theme of existentialism. It is a concept album in which the overarching plot follows the protagonist moving through his own "Downward Spiral", dealing with religion, dehumanization, violence, disease, society, drugs, sex, and finally suicide. Reznor has stated that the character is a representation of himself:
"...it was during that tour (Self Destruct) that problems started to arise. Prior to that I would have considered myself pretty normal. With the Downward Spiral, I can remember where I was in my head, what I was thinking, and I can remember writing that record, and the mindset. This record that was about an extension of me, became the truth fulfilling itself.
Most fans seem to agree that "Closer" (noted for its "I want to fuck you like an animal" lyric) has meaning deeper than its surface lyrics (note the desperate dependency expressed by the final line, "you are the reason I stay alive"). The narrator was not exactly modeled after Reznor's previous life, though he would later go through his own sort of "downward spiral" during the Fragility tour, battling issues such as drug abuse.
"A dissertation on The Downward Spiral"
This is a lengthy interpretation of the album's story written by two men back around 1998. Read it at:
Recurring themes and styles
10th Anniversary
To mark the album's tenth anniversary, The Downward Spiral was re-released on November 23, 2004 in two new formats:
The nin.com subsite tds.nin.com was set up to promote the re-release.
Back To Black Vinyl
Universal chose, without consulting Trent Reznor, to re-release the vinyl edition of The Downward Spiral as a part of their "Back To Black" collection celebrating the 60th anniversary of vinyl. Trent's opinion on this was posted on nin.com:
You may have heard there's a new re-release of The Downward Spiral on vinyl. I heard that, too. I have no idea what it is or what's on it because the band has had no involvement in it.
The vinyl was released on September 23, 2008, and has the same artwork and track listing as the original 1994 release.
For more information, see Self Destruct Touring Cycle
The album was supported by a major tour that lasted nearly two years. It circled North America a few times and also visited Europe and Australia. The shows were very intense and included well-programmed lighting and very aggressive performances, with many instruments being mangled in the process. A co-headlining leg with David Bowie, referred to as the Dissonance tour, took place in 1995. The tour culminated with a few club dates showcasing artists that were on Nothing Records. Portions of the tour were documented and released as part one of the Closure double VHS in 1997.
All of these songs have been played live. Obviously, they were featured during the Self-Destruct Tour, though "Heresy" was played only once in 1994 and disappeared from live shows until 2007.
On the Performance 2007 tour, The Downward Spiral era songs received more frequent play time. A particularly extreme example is the 2007/02/15 show in Madrid, Spain, when ten tracks from the The Downward Spiral were performed, the first seven of which were performed in their exact order on the album.
During the band's Webster Hall performance on August 23, 2009, the band opened the show by performing the album in its entirety which included the live debut of "A Warm Place" and the first performance of "Big Man With a Gun" in over 15 years. The same thing happened at the Hollywood Palladium show.
On his website[8], Russell Mills explained the ideas and materials used for the paintings that became the album cover and the inner cover/j-card insert.
About "Wound" (used for the album cover):
"I had been thinking about making works that dealt with layers, physically, materially and conceptually. I wanted to produce works that were about both exposure and revealing and at the same dealt with closure and covering. Given the nature of the lyrics and the power of the music I was working with, I felt justified in attempting to make works that alluded to the apparently contradictory imagery of pain and healing. I wanted to make beautiful surfaces that partially revealed the visceral rawness of open wounds beneath. The mixed media work Wound was the first piece I tackled in this vein (no pun intended) and it became the cover of the album. It is made of plaster, acrylics, oils, rusted metals, insects, moths, blood (mine), wax, varnishes, and surgical bandaging on a wooden panel."
About "Future Echoes" (used for the inner cover):
"At the time of this commission I had also been reading and researching into ideas about transformation, transmutation and regeneration. I was interested in how a line of willow poles used as fence posts could come back to life to start growing as trees again (Rupert Sheldrake). Similarly Seamus Heaney's poem 'Requiem for the Croppies' which relates to a true event in Irish history filled me with tears and wonder. In it Heaney describes how during the early part of the 20th century a group of farmers to the North of Dublin gathered in a field to march on Dublin to protest at yet more draconian taxes being imposed by the occupying English powers. The English had been tipped off and were in place hiding around the field where the farmers met. The farmers were ambushed, shot down and buried in a mass grave. The farmers had in their pockets barley seeds to chew on during the proposed march. The following year a crop of barley sprang up out of the grave where they had fell. At the back of my mind were also thoughts of the rebuilding of Europe after the 2nd World War, physically and politically. I remembered seeing film footage of women in Berlin, scavenging for bricks in the ruins, creating a daisy chain, passing bricks from one to the other in order to rebuild new houses out of the debris.
Album Credits
Deluxe Edition Credits
External links


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From the suffix -ism ("belief"), particularly (in the 19th century) in the sense of "social movement". Compare phobia, from -phobia, sophy, from -sophy, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.
ism (plural isms)
- An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. XV, Practical — Devotional
- […] his religion, his worship was like his daily bread to him; — which he did not take the trouble to talk much about; which he merely ate at stated intervals, and lived and did his work upon! This is Abbot Samson's Catholicism of the Twelfth Century; — something like the Ism of all true men in all true centuries, I fancy! Alas, compared with any of the Isms current in these poor days, what a thing!
- 1965, Bertram David Wolfe, Marxism, One Hundred Years in the Life of a Doctrine, p. 357,
- An ism does not have to possess the fearful implements of state power to cut off a a deviant or heretical member.
- 1969, Walter E. Minchinton, Mercantilism; System Or Expediency?, p. xi,
- In his exposition, he has failed to achieve the identification of situation, theory, and policy necessary to create an ism.
- 1986, Matthew Broderick (as Ferris Bueller), Ferris Bueller's Day Off:
- Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism – he should believe in himself.
- 1994, Kenneth Kaye, Workplace Wars and How to End Them, p. 70,
- It is important to distinguish between an ism and a mere generalization about group differences. Generalizations that have statistical validity are not isms. An ism assumes that the generalization applies to an individual.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. XV, Practical — Devotional
- Specifically, a form of discrimination, such as racism or sexism.
ideology, system of thought or practice
a form of discrimination
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- "isms" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 173.
- root (of a plant)
Cypriot Arabic[edit]
From Arabic اِسْم (ism), from Proto-Semitic *šim-.
From Persian اسم (esm), from Arabic اِسْم (ism).
ism (plural ismlar)
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Abinomn lemmas
- Abinomn nouns
- Cypriot Arabic terms inherited from Arabic
- Cypriot Arabic terms derived from Arabic
- Cypriot Arabic terms inherited from Proto-Semitic
- Cypriot Arabic terms derived from Proto-Semitic
- Cypriot Arabic lemmas
- Cypriot Arabic nouns
- Uzbek terms borrowed from Persian
- Uzbek terms derived from Persian
- Uzbek terms derived from Arabic
- Uzbek lemmas
- Uzbek nouns
- uz:Grammar


text:
- Fonds
- 1926-2004
Personal records of Anatol Rapoport, multi-lingual musician, mathematician, and psychologist, a pioneer and lead-figure of the systems sciences, studies in conflict and co-operation, and peace research, author of approximately 500 publications, and professor emeritus of psychology and mathematics at the University of Toronto. The files consist of correspondence, manuscripts, reports, minutes of meetings, university teaching and administrative files, and photographs that document his life and career, principally at the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of Toronto and the Institut für höhere Studien in Vienna.
Rapoport, Anatol


text:
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With the help of our partnerships with industry-leading carriers, your freight moves door-to-door in refrigerated trailers or containers.
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|Take an innovative approach to your food transportation and add BNSF temperature-controlled shipping to the mix.
|Temperature-ControlledTemperature Controlled;tempcontrolled;bnsf.com


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American Homes 4 Rent
1491 Autumn Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130
This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home has 1,230 square feet of living space. Leases signed in this state may be subject to a 9.99 utility fee, local taxes and processing fees. Please contact an American Homes 4 Rent Leasing Consultant for more information. For other quality homes for rent, visit www.americanhomes4rent.com. Equal Housing Opportunity.


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Soul Food restaurant Check daily menu here: http://www.bevellecafe.com/
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KATs Delivery is your number #1 ally for on demand delivery, catering delivery, and restaurant delivery in Alabama.
Our On Demand Service is for residential and commercial clients in ;-
Central Alabama :
(Jefferson and Shelby Counties) - Metro Birmingham, Alabaster, Calera, Chelsea, Columbiana, Helena, Hoover, Maylene, Montevallo, Pelham & Riverchase.
(Chilton County ) - Clanton , Jemison , Marbury, Thorsby, Maplesville, and Verbena
East Alabama : Lincoln and Talladega College, and Talladega.
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Our Catering Service is for residential and commercial clients in Metro Birmingham, AL , Clanton, AL Talladega, AL and Troy, AL
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text:
Halloween is just a month away, which means it's that time of year again for haunted houses!
But how does one proceed to spice up such an age-old tradition? By asking all the participants to take their clothes off, natch.
This year, Pennsylvania's "premier haunted scream park" Shocktoberfest debuted "The Naked and Scared Challenge," inspired by Discovery Channel's hit show Naked and Afraid. In the challenge, guests are invited to run through a dark haunted house completely naked with fellow naked strangers and "to test your fears and phobias on a whole new level. For the first time ever you can now experience the Unknown Haunted House totally naked! See if you have Gymnophobia- the fear of being nude," a description on the official website reads.
However, the attraction elicited so much media coverage that Shocktoberfest was forced to downplay the nudity aspect of the challenge. "Although the Naked and Scared Challenge is legal, due to this worldwide attention, it has been requested by our township officials not of offer the 'nude' option. Not wanting to engage in a battle with our municipalities we have decided to concede," according to a recent post on the official website.
Thankfully — or not, depending on how prude you are — participants are still allowed to strip ... to their underwear to complete the challenge. "We still feel confident this experience will be very intense. In discussing this with Spring township officials, we may be able to offer the 'nude' option next year," the company behind Shocktoberfest wrote.
Take a peek at the Naked and Scared Challenge [Warning: The following is not for the faint of heart or overly modest]:
Would you do "The (Semi) Naked and Scared Challenge"?


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l have been very blessed to have an amazing family...l have produced thousands of illustrations for every company you can think of...but at the end of the day l am most proud to be a father to my little girls. in my pro life l have worked for them all, Lucasfilm, lucas arts, Hasbro, Mattel, Dc comics, Marvel comics, Fox sports..etc..l have done a ton ....and l still got some juice..watch out....Emmy nominated( wow that sounds crazy..) l am currently drawing comics at Marvel , as well as developing my IP with Transgaming Entertainment, as well as tons of design for Mattel , Hasbro and others on some top secret stuff.
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text: clay-man 262 Posted September 18, 2013 List some people you know who use or have used a Variax in their career that are notable or are a musician people would know. Dustin Kensrue of Thrice used a Variax for about 2007-2012 until Thrice went on hiatus. He sold his Warmoth Variax transplant to someone on ebay. He used it for the drastic tuning differences in the Thrice catalog as well as having different guitars on their records. Here's a picture of him using it: Ed O'Brien of Radiohead has been listed to have used a Variax 700 though I can't find too much info on that. Ironically enough, if you look in your Variax manual, he is stated in the description of the Rickenbacker 360: "Though overshadowed by the success of the 12 string, the 6 string versions of Rickenbacker's stylish models continue to be popular with players looking for something a bit out of the ordinary, like Ed O'Brien of Radiohead." Do any of you know any big musicians that utilized the Variax? Can by any Variax; first gen, JTV, acoustic, bass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Founded in 1910, Rosco Laboratories is a multi-national producer of equipment, software and products for the theatrical, film, and television industries and architectural environment. As with every aging flat roofing system, water leakage was becoming a recurring problem at Rosco's Stamford, Conn., facility. The severity of the leakage was further exacerbated by the lack of roof drainage (only two roof drains serviced the entire building) and poor deck slope conditions (less than 1/16 inch per foot).
Rosco representatives employed traditional methods to control and/or collect the moisture within the building by use of several water diverters. This technique was effective but Rosco representatives soon recognized this was not a viable long term solution as the physical integrity of the roof structure (deck) became a principal concern to the safety of the building occupants.
The Fisher Group LLC, an Oxford, Conn.-based building envelope consulting firm was retained by Rosco in March 2009 to survey the existing site conditions and determine the need for roofing replacement. The existing roofing construction, which consisted of a conventional two-ply, smooth-surfaced BUR with aluminized coating, exhibited numerous deficiencies (most notably severe alligatoring) and was deemed unserviceable. Construction documents, including drawings and specifications and a project phasing plan were developed by Fisher Group to address the planned roof replacement.
Bid proposals were solicited from prequalified contractors in June 2010, and F.J. Dahill Co. Inc., New Haven, Conn., was awarded the contract on the basis of lowest bid.
Existing Conditions
The building basically consists of a 1-story steel-framed structure constructed in the 1970s. It is a simple "box"-style configuration, which is conducive to manufacturing.
In conjunction with design services, destructive test cuts were made by Fisher Group in several roof sections as necessary to verify the existing roofing composition, insulation substrate, moisture entrapment, and substrate/deck construction. A total of four distinct "layers" of roofing were encountered at each test cut. The existing roofing construction consisted of alternating layers of smooth- and gravel-surfaced, multi-ply felt and bitumen built-up roofing. The bitumen contained throughout the construction was fortunately asphalt-based. Succeeding layers of roofing were spot mopped or fully mopped to the preceding layer (system). The combined weight of the roofing construction was estimated to be upwards of 20 to 22 pounds per square foot when considering the moisture content. This is excessive weight.
It is interesting to note that a minimal amount of roof insulation was present in the existing construction. Insulation was limited to a single layer of 1/2-inch-thick fiberboard. Additional insulation would need to be provided as part of the replacement roofing construction to increase the roof's thermal performance and comply with the prescriptive requirements of the Connecticut State Energy Conservation Construction Code.
The structural substrate, or decking, is conventional in nature, comprised of poured gypsum roof decking. The roof decking incorporates 1/2-inch gypsum formboard loose laid between steel bulb-tee supports spaced about 32 inches on-center. The poured gypsum roof decking in this instance was utilized as the structural substrate and for insulating purposes. Poured gypsum roof decking has a minimal insulating value of perhaps R-2 to R-3, which is obviously considered to be minimal by present standards.
A representative number of bulk material samples were obtained by Fisher Group from the existing roofing construction as necessary to determine the material composition. The sampling included field membrane roofing plies, coatings and cements, and associated roof penetration and perimeter flashings. Laboratory analysis revealed that the second, third and, in some instances, fourth roofing "layers" (field membrane plies) contained varying amounts—5 to 10 percent—of asbestos (chrysotile) which would necessitate full abatement of the roofing construction.
PHOTOS: The Fisher Group LLC


text:
Payments for school dinners, trips, music lessons, breakfast club etc. can now be made online via ParentPay or by using PayPoint (click here to find your nearest PayPoint outlet). You can pay online through ParentPay's secure website using your debit/credit card, or in cash at PayPoint.
To set up this service, you will need an activation letter to access your account. If you haven't received an activation letter, please contact the school office. Once you have activated your account, you will be able to make payments securely online at any time, as well as monitor the history of your payments and view the balance on your child's account.
If you are unable to use the online account, you can still pay for things in cash at a local PayPoint outlet. The school office can give you a bar coded letter which can be used to make payment to school. A new letter is needed for each trip or event, which can be taken to a shop displaying the PayPoint symbol, where a cash payment can be made. (Each letter will contain a unique barcode which ensures payment reaches your account correctly). If you require a bar coded letter to make a payment, please contact the school office who will be happy to provide this.
If you require any assistance or advice with ParentPay, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.


text:
Networking giant and server wannabe Cisco Systems says it will be working with third-party blade server makers to create a version of its Nexus family of switches that tuck inside non-Cisco blades.
The details are a bit sketchy (intentionally so on the part of Cisco). But today, during a Webcast discussing its unified server-storage fabric efforts, Ed Chapman, vice president of product management at Cisco's Server Access and Virtualization Group, said that the company would be soon rolling out a variant of the Nexus 5000 top-of-rack converged switch that would fit inside of a third-party blade chassis. Chapman called this the Nexus 4000, and he didn't say much else about the device. So forget about getting feeds and speeds.
The basic idea must be to shrink the Nexus 5000 so it can handle the 10, 14, or 16 blades in a chassis offered by the likes of Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Dell, and others. The Nexus 5000 switch, of course, is the switch that handles server and storage traffic (using the Fibre Channel over Ethernet, or FCoE, protocol) all on the same device. A variant of this Nexus 5000, called the Nexus UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect, adds the Cisco UCS Manager for the "California" Unified Computing System, which manages blade servers and switching between servers and the outside world and their access to storage.
By shrinking the Nexus 5000 10 Gigabit Ethernet switches, Cisco is able to stay in the game with the tier one server makers it has alienated a bit with the California boxes, and it will presumably allow the blade server makers to interface with the Cisco switches but maintain control of the management of the blades and switches inside the chassis - which is what the server makers really want.
What Cisco and its partners will be touting the ability of the Nexus 4000 to do plain-old high bandwidth, low-latency computing. Chapman said that the unified switch ASIC used in the Nexus 4000 would be able to deliver around a latency of around 1.6 microseconds, which is fast enough for high performance computing and other latency sensitive jobs. (But by no means the lowest latency switches available today running at 10 GE speeds, mind you.)
The Nexus 4000 have 10 GE ports for both uplinks and downlinks and will use the same Nexus OS operating system used in the MDS 9000 Fibre Channel switches and the Nexus 7000 end of row, Nexus 5000 top of rack, and Nexus 6100 California switches. It is also expected to have fault tolerant features and work seamless with the Nexus 1000V virtual switch that Cisco has created in conjunction with VMware to run inside of an ESX Server 4.0 virtual machine.
According to a Cisco spokesperson, Cisco will be working with the blade server makers to cook up Nexus 4000 switches that are paired with their specific blade servers and chassis, and server makers are expected to make their own announcements about their plans in the coming weeks.
On the Webcast, which was mostly a cheerleading session for unified fabrics and unified computing, Rajiv Ramaswami, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Data Center Switching Technology Group, reminded everyone that Cisco did not think for a second that Fibre Channel connectivity itself was dead. Ramaswami pointed out that IBM introduced ESCON channels for mainframes back in 1988, and many mainframes still use it. Cisco expects some customers to need (or at least want) unconverged Fibre Channel switches for years to come.
To that end, Ramaswami said that Cisco is working on 16 Gb/sec Fibre Channel links for its MDS 9000 family of switches. The Nexus 5000 will soon be upgraded from 4 Gb/sec Fibre Channel links out to storage arrays to 8 Gb/sec modules. The exact timing of the faster ports was not revealed. Ramaswami added that Cisco was cooking up Fibre Channel over Ethernet modules for the MDS 9000 and Nexus 7000 switches, allowing for end-to-end use of the FCoE protocol for companies that want to do that, and would be cooking up legacy support for 100 Mbit and 1 Mbit links in the fabric extenders for the Nexus 5000 switches so they could link to older server kit that does not have Gigabit Ethernet ports. The Nexus 5000 switch will also get a 10 GE FCoE fabric extender, and the Nexus 7000 is slated for some kind of fabric extender support as well (but the speeds were not revealed).
Finally, Ramaswami said that VMware and Cisco were working on the development and testing of long-distance VMotion for the ESX Server 4.0 hypervisor and its related vSphere 4.0 tools. ®


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An incredible true love story of a couple spanning 25 years, told through the lens of their teenage sassy, sardonic, spunky and also dead daughter. A fact she nonchalantly mentions at the outset - "Get over it. It`s quite cool actually. You`ll see when you get here (which you do know you will right?!)"