text:
Modular lamp power supply system
A modular lamp power supply is adapted to provide lamp power supply signals to a plurality of different lamps, each lamp having different power requirements. The power supply can be reconfigured to supply power to a new group of lamps simply by replacing the power circuit modules within the supply chassis.
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This is sufficient cabling for conventional, fixed-focus luminaires having no motorized sub-systems. For automated luminaires, however, which have motorized mechanisms for adjusting multiple parameters such as the color, focus, pan, tilt, etc., of the beam, a separate constant-voltage power circuit must be provided to supply the motors and control electronics, and control signal wiring must also be provided to connect the control electronics to some kind of manual or automated control facility. Systems of this kind are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,392,187 and 4,980,806. Luminaires used in these systems usually contain a lamp power supply housed within a chassis along with the control electronics and DC power supplies used for the lamp's motors and electronic circuits. The power input cable provides a single AC power circuit for the luminaire and also provides one or two data transmission circuits for control signals and, in some cases, status reporting signals.
The means for varying the intensity of a luminaire depends upon the type of luminaire. For instance, incandescent luminaires require a dimmable power supply (often housed within the luminaire itself), while arc-lamp luminaires must be dimmed by means of a mechanical dimmer, because arc lamps require constant power.
Recently, a new configuration of automated luminaire has appeared, characterized by features that substantially reduce both the size and weight of individual luminaires. Utilizing an incandescent lamp, the luminaire connects to an external dimmer providing controlled-voltage AC electrical energy to the lamp. Thus, no lamp power supply need be enclosed within the luminaire chassis, and no mechanical dimmer need be provided, thereby reducing both the size and weight of the luminaire. Further, the DC power supply for the control electronics is housed in a companion break-out box, and serves up to six of these new luminaires. The external dimmers can be located in a rack on the floor, as described above, with cables running up into the lighting rig to the break-out boxes. The power input cable, in accordance with this new configuration, provides separate lines for lamp power, DC power for the motors and electronics, and data transmission to and from the luminaire.
The choice of luminaire type depends upon the application. Incandescent-lamp luminaires are particularly useful as flood lights for providing general area illumination, while arc-lamp luminaires are particularly useful as spot lights for illuminating a particular object or performer within that area.
In addition, some applications benefit from the higher color temperature and greater brightness of an arc lamp used in cooperation with adjustable dichroic-filter color changers. The characteristics of arc-lamp operation, however, prohibit the use of conventional (controlled voltage) dimmers to control luminaire intensity. Thus, separate lamp power supplies are required to provide controlled-power AC electrical energy to the arc lamps. For automated luminaires, the arc-lamp power supplies are frequently custom-designed to fit within an electronics housing (the chassis) of the luminaire itself.
An automated luminaire according to the new configuration, having an arc-lamp as its light source, utilizes an external lamp power supply providing controlled-power AC electrical energy to the lamp. The electrical energy applied to an arc lamp must be supplied at a constant power level, so that for whatever voltage is maintained across the electrodes of the lamp, the current supplied is modulated to regulate the power applied at a constant level. An arc-lamp power supply, therefore, provides controlled-power AC electrical energy to the lamp.
For incandescent lamps, the intensity of the light produced is proportional to the voltage applied to the lamp. A conventional dimmer, therefore, supplies controlled-voltage AC electrical energy to the lamp.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention provides a modular lamp power supply system comprising a rack-mountable chassis accepting lamp power supply modules which may be either controlled-voltage power supplies (dimmers) for incandescent lamps or, alternatively, controlled-power lamp power supplies for arc lamps. Each rack-mountable chassis includes an output connector which provides a plurality of lamp power circuits, each consisting of at least two conductors for lamp power and at least one conductor for a ground connection; each of the conductors may be doubled or tripled to provide adequate current carrying capability while utilizing a smaller and more flexible gauge of wire. One multiple circuit trunk cable connects the chassis to a break-out box in the lighting rig, which box serves a plurality of luminaires. The lamp power modules are loaded into the chassis depending upon the configuration and arrangement of incandescent wash luminaires or arc-lamp spot luminaires connected to the corresponding break-out box. If, for example, arc-lamp luminaires are connected to outputs numbered 1, 3, and 5 of the break-out box and incandescent-lamp luminaires are connected to outputs numbered 2, 4, and 6 of the break-out box, then controlled-power lamp power supply modules are loaded into chassis slots 1, 3, and 5 while controlled-voltage lamp power supply (dimmer) modules are loaded into chassis slots 2, 4, and 6. The arrangement of lamp power supply modules in the rack-mountable chassis is customized to correspond to the desired arrangement of luminaires connected to the corresponding break-out box.
Large components which are common to either controlled-voltage supplies or controlled-power supplies are housed within the chassis, while circuit configurations unique to each type of lamp power supply are contained in the removable modules. Both types of modules utilize large inductors (chokes) which are housed within the chassis; a dimmer module uses a choke to smooth current variations in the output, while an arc-lamp supply uses a choke to maintain steady current flow in a recirculating diode power supply section prior to the output. It is desirable to be able to operate the lamp power supply system on a wide range of supply voltages, from 100 VAC (for applications in Japan) to 250 VAC (for applications in Australia), including 115 VAC or 208 VAC (in the United States) and 220 to 240 VAC (for applications in Europe). Voltage selecting circuits are housed within the chassis and cooperate with the various lamp power supply modules of either type. Cooling fans, control circuits, and status sensing or indicating circuits are also housed within the chassis.
Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a lamp power supply module as described above which can be utilized as a controlled-voltage (dimmer) lamp supply module or as a controlled-power arc supply module.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a modular lamp power supply chassis according to the present invention, showing the arrangement of internal features;
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a modular lamp power supply chassis according to the present invention, showing rear-panel features;
FIG. 1C is a plan view of a modular lamp power supply chassis according to the present invention, showing the arrangement of internal features;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a lamp power supply module with cover removed;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a lamp power supply module;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a lighting system using a modular lamp power supply system;
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a modular lamp power supply chassis according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a rack cabinet system housing plural modular lamp power supply chassis units;
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a control input module used in the rack cabinet system;
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a lamp power supply module;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an AC-to-DC converter.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C, a chassis 10 comprising two side panels 12 and 14, a bottom panel 16, a rear panel 18, an open front panel 20, and a removable top panel (not shown), includes an interior bulkhead 24 which supports a plurality of electrical connectors 26. A plurality of channeled components or card guides 28 are fastened to the chassis bottom panel 16 forward of interior bulkhead 24, and serve to align individual lamp power supply modules with electrical connectors 26, supported by the interior bulkhead 24. The modules are inserted into the chassis through the open front panel and, when properly aligned by the card guides, mate with the electrical connectors 26 which are supported by the interior bulkhead 24. Each lamp power supply module, shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and discussed in further detail hereinafter, includes an appropriate electrical connector 32 for mating with the connectors on the bulkhead. Components common to the modules are mounted behind the interior bulkhead, and are connected to the modules by wiring (not shown) through the connectors 26 on the bulkhead 24.
The rear portion of the chassis encloses a cooling fan 34, a power filter module 36, a plurality of toroidal inductors 38, an electronic DC power supply 40, and a voltage selector circuit 42. Electrical input terminals 44 mounted on the rear panel 18 provide a facility to connect the chassis to a source of electrical energy. A delta-wye switch 45 provides a convenient way to configure chassis input wiring for five wire sources including three phases, neutral and ground (wye configuration), or to configure chassis input wiring for four wire sources having no neutral (delta configuration). An input connector 46 mounted on the rear panel 18 provides a facility to connect the chassis to a source of electronic control signals to be described later. An output connector 48 mounted on the rear panel 18 provides a facility to connect the chassis to electrical load devices, particularly lighting instruments. The power filter module 36 is connected between input terminals 44 and the delta-wye switch 45, and prevents conduction of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) generated by the lamp power supply into the source of electrical energy.
The voltage selector circuit 42 senses the voltage of the source of electrical energy, and provides a control signal to each lamp power supply module 30. The control signal indicates whether the source voltage is in a low, 110-volt range (typically 85 to 135 volts) or a high, 220-volt range (typically 200 to 240 volts). Switching circuits in the lamp power supply modules configure those modules for operation in the appropriate voltage range depending upon the state of the control signal from the voltage select circuit.
The DC power supply 40 provides low voltage electrical energy to the lamp power supply modules 30 for operation of the modules control circuits. The power filter module 36 provides "clean" electrical energy to the lamp power supply modules 30 which modulate that energy for proper operation of electric lamps. Torroidal inductors 38 are connected to the lamp power supply modules 30 via connectors 26 supported on the internal bulkhead 24. A fan 34 is mounted on the rear panel 18 to provide forced air cooling for the lamp power supply modules 30 and other electronic components.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, each power supply module 30 includes a printed circuit board assembly 33 mounted on an aluminum heat sink 31. An electrical connector 32 is mounted on the circuit board to mate with electrical connectors 26 on chassis bulkhead 24. A module front panel 35 includes a handle 37 for inserting the module into the chassis and removing the module from the chassis, and further includes fasteners 39 for securing the module to the chassis. A circuit breaker 62 is mounted to the module front panel and provides a convenient way to de-energize an individual module (a POWER ON/OFF switch). A power-on indicator lamp 61 and several other status indicator lamps 117, 119, 121, are also provided on the module front panel. High power electrical components, such as output transistors 71, are electrically coupled to the circuit board and are thermally coupled to the heat sink.
Power inputs from the delta-wye switch 45 and the electronic DC power supply 40, and control signal inputs from the control input connector 46 are applied to each power supply module through module connector 32. Connections to torroidal inductors 38 are also made through module connector 32. Lamp power outputs are coupled from module connector 32 to output connector 48 via wiring (not shown).
Output connector 48 provides six lamp power circuits, each consisting of at least two conductors for lamp power and at least one conductor for safety ground. Each of the conductors may be doubled or tripled to provide adequate current carrying capability while utilizing a smaller and more flexible gauge of wire than would be required if only a single conductor were used. A standardized wiring scheme is utilized so that the output of a first lamp power supply module is present on a first lamp power output circuit, while the output of a second module appears on a second circuit, and so on, such that the output of a sixth module appears on a sixth circuit.
As shown in FIG. 3, one multiple circuit trunk cable 50 coupled to output connector 48 conducts the six lamp power circuits to a break-out box 52 in a lighting rig, which box connects to six luminaires 56A-56F via six individual lamp cables 54A-54F. Lamp power modules 30A-30F are loaded into the chassis 10 depending upon the configuration and arrangement of incandescent wash luminaires (56B, 56D, 56F) or arc-lamp spot luminaires (56A, 56C, 56E) connected to the corresponding break-out box 52. In the present example, arc-lamp luminaires are connected to first, third and fifth outputs of the break-out box via lamp cables 54A, 54C, and 54E while incandescent-lamp luminaires are connected to second, fourth and sixth outputs of the break-out box via lamp cables 54B, 54D, and 54F. Accordingly, controlled-power lamp power supply modules are loaded into first, third and fifth chassis slots 30A, 30C, and 30E while controlled-voltage lamp power supply (dimmer) modules are loaded into second, fourth and sixth chassis slots 30B, 30D, and 30F. The arrangement of lamp power supply modules in the rack-mountable chassis 10 is thereby customized to correspond to the desired arrangement of luminaires 56A-56F connected to the corresponding break-out box 52.
If lamp power supply modules 30 are installed into chassis unit 10 in the wrong order and are not properly matched to the types of luminaries 56 attached to breakout box 52, no catastrophic failures will occur. An arc lamp driven by a conventional SCR-type intensity dimmer module will not start, the output voltage not being high enough to drive the arc lamp ignitor circuit included in the corresponding spot luminaire. A typical arc lamp ignitor circuit takes a 300-volt alternating current waveform, steps it up to 1000 volts or more through a cascade voltage multiplier formed of diodes and capacitors until a spark gap conducts the electrical energy into an auto-transformer that increases the voltage up to 20 or 30 kilo volts, which is required to ignite a typical arc lamp. When the arc lamp ignites, current drawn from the power supply module discharges an internal power supply until the output voltage stabilizes at about 65 volts. An SCR-type dimmer module provides only about 110 Vac in America or 220 Vac in Europe, neither voltage being great enough to fire the spark gap and generate a start pulse. An incandescent lamp driven from a controlled-power, arc lamp power supply module will glow at about half power, the output voltage (about 65 volts) being too low to run the incandescent lamp in the corresponding wash luminaire at full power.
As shown in FIG. 4, the chassis internal wiring provides connection between each lamp power supply module 30A-30F and a set of common electrical components which are shared by the modules, and a set of individual electrical components, each of which are utilized by only one such module. Input terminals 44 provide connections to a source of power via suitable cable (not shown). Internal wiring conducts three phase ac electrical energy plus a neutral line (where available) through three phase ac line filter 36 to a delta-wye configuration selecting switch 45. There is a chassis ground. Single phase ac electrical energy is conducted to each of the lamp power supply modules 30A thru 30F via ac lines 101 thru 106, each of said ac lines consisting of two conductors for phase-to-neutral (wye) or phase-to-phase (delta) power and a third conductor for ground. Two modules 30A and 30B are powered from the X phase, being X-to-Neutral (wye) or X-to-Y (delta); two modules 30C and 30D are powered from the Y phase, being Y-to-Neutral or Y-to-Z; two modules 30E and 30F are powered from the Z phase, being Z-to-Neutral or Z-to-X. Each module connects to a separate inductor 38A-38F; module 30A connects to inductor 38A, module 30B connects to inductor 38B, and so on to include module 30F which connects to inductor 38F.
Voltage select board ("VSB 1") 42 senses the ac voltage on the X-phase and produces an output signal which is shared by all lamp power supply modules 30 and used by the modules to configure the modules for operation within a low, 110-volt range or a high, 220-volt range. Power supply ("PS1") 40 accepts ac electrical energy from the X-phase and provides plus and minus 15-volt dc power which is shared by all lamp power supply modules 30 and used by the modules to operate electronic control circuits therein.
Control signals present at input connector 46 are routed to each of the modules 30 via individual wires 121 thru 126; wire 121 conducts a first control signal to module 30A, wire 122 conducts a second control signal to module 30B, and so on to include wire 126 which conducts a sixth control signal to module 30F. Lamp power output from each module 30 is conducted to output connector 48 via six individual lamp power circuits 111 thru 116; circuit 111 conducts lamp power from module 30A to certain discrete contacts in connector 48, circuit 112 conducts lamp power from module 30B to other discrete contacts in connector 48, and so on to include circuit 116 which conducts lamp power from module 30F to discrete contacts in connector 48.
The above described chassis arrangement provides a convenient way to customize the configuration of a lamp power supply unit having multiple discrete outputs available within a single output connector. Size and weight of individual circuit modules is minimized by incorporating common electrical resources such as electronic power and sensing circuits into a chassis housing, and by incorporating interchangeable individual electrical resources such as large toroidal inductors, and circuit input and output connections within the chassis housing.
As shown in FIG. 5, plural lamp power supply chassis units 10 can be mounted in a single rack cabinet 200 for convenience. An electrical power input module 202 provides connections to a high current ac electrical energy source providing up to 200 amperes of alternating current energy, typically at 208 to 220 Vac. The power input module 202 provides connections to each of the input terminals 44 on each chassis unit 10. If each lamp power supply module 30 requires 5 amperes of current, or 30 amperes per chassis unit 10, a 200-ampere input module can provide electrical energy to six chassis units for a total of 180 amperes for 36 lamp power supply modules.
A control interface module 204 can also be mounted in the rack cabinet 200 with the lamp power chassis units 10 and power input module 202. The control interface module 204 includes at least one multiple circuit input connector 206 suitable for connecting to a source of 0-to-10 volt control signals. Internal wiring distributes the control signals to a plurality of multiple circuit output connectors 208 suitable for connecting to control input connectors 46 on lamp power supply chassis units 10. One or more control "snake" cables can connect to the rack cabinet at the control interface module connector 206 and/or 207, and the signals will be distributed to the appropriate lamp power supply modules 30. The configuration of the rack cabinet 200 and of the lamp power supply chassis units 10 can be easily altered to accommodate the varying requirements of different shows, or musical or theatrical productions.
The control interface module 204, shown in FIG. 6, includes a microprocessor-based electronic control circuit having a central processing unit (CPU) 220, local memory device 222, an interface circuit (IFC) 224, and a direct memory access (DMA) circuit 218 interconnected by a parallel bus network 226. A digital data communications circuit (COM) 216 connects to data link connectors 210, 212, and 214, and to DMA circuit 218. The CPU 220 executes programs stored in local memory 222 and controls operation of lamp power supply modules 30 housed in chassis units 10. The stored programs may provide two or more modes of operation for receiving digital data from a lighting controller and providing control signals suitable for use with lamp power supply modules 30. In one such mode, industry standard dimmer control signals such as DMX-512 signals are applied at connector 212, received and demodulated by communications circuit 216, and stored in memory 222 by DMA circuit 218. A "DMX THRU" connector 214 is provided to enable connection of multiple DMX-512 receivers in a "daisy-chain" fashion.
Under CPU control, the interface circuit 224 converts dimmer control signals received via the DMX-512 data link into 0-to-10 volt (or some other range of) analog control voltages. In another possible mode, proprietary digital control signals such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,806 can be received and converted into appropriate control signals. The microprocessor-based electronic control circuit can be provided on a replaceable circuit card module so that the module can be disconnected and/or removed if not required for a particular production. The analog control voltage outputs of the interface circuit 224 are connected through protection diodes (not shown) to multiple circuit input connectors 206 and 207 and thereafter distributed via control signal output connectors 208, through suitable cabling to the lamp power supply chassis units 10 as described above.
Control signals present at output connector 208 are coupled to input connectors 46 on chassis units 10, and can be used for one of a plurality of purposes depending upon the design of each lamp power supply module 30. In one mode, control signals can be used to control intensity dimming by a standard SCR-type dimmer module. In another mode, control signals can be used to control the power output of an arc lamp power supply module, putting the supply module into a "standby" mode of operation in which power output is reduced to about one-half of the normal power output, or limiting the power output by 10 or 20 per cent to dim the lamp and/or prolong the life of the lamp.
Operating in a computer-controlled lighting system with distributed processing, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,806, control interface module 204 can recognize a "soft patch" of control channel assignments, which pairs a lamp power supply module 30 with a multiple-function luminaire 56 to obtain coordinated functionality of the lamp power supply module and associated luminaire. The control interface module receives and interprets commands addressed to the corresponding luminaire and executes certain functions depending upon the configuration of the luminaire and associated lamp power supply module. When, for example, a mechanical dimming mechanism, such as a motor-driven iris diaphragm, is closed to reduce the light output of an arc-lamp spot luminaire to zero intensity, the control interface module reduces the power output of the corresponding arc lamp power supply module to about 50 per cent in a "standby" mode, which tends to prolong the life of the arc lamp.
When it is desired to utilize analog control voltages from another source, the microprocessor-based control interface module 204 receives no digital data signals and remains inactive. Analog control voltages can be applied at connector 206. Protection diodes (not shown) prevent externally generated control signals appearing at connectors 206 and/or 207 from damaging output drivers on the control interface module. Alternatively, the control interface module can be disconnected and removed or stored in an empty card slot within its own chassis.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each lamp power supply chassis unit 10 includes individual lamp power circuit output connectors each having three contacts: two contacts for lamp power and one contact for safety ground. Each individual lamp power output is wired in parallel with the corresponding lamp power circuit in multiple circuit output connector 48. This provides a convenient way to distribute lamp power output circuits from a single chassis unit 10 among two or more multiple circuit trunk cables 50.
A typical lamp power supply module 30, shown in schematic block diagram in FIG. 7, connects to an ac line at input terminals 60 in module connector 32 (FIG. 2A). Circuit breaker 62 mounted on the module front panel provides protection for the module and also provides a convenient way to turn the module off, thereby dousing the lamp in the corresponding luminaire. Power-on indicator 61 is a neon lamp mounted on the front panel of module 30 and lights up when power is applied and the circuit breaker is on. As shown in FIG. 8, an AC-to-DC converter 64 includes a full wave bridge rectifier 71 and an array of capacitor filters 69. The filters can be center tapped by a normally open relay 67 which is actuated by the 110 mode control signal produced by voltage selector board 42 and connected to the module 30 at input terminal 65 in module connector 32. With the relay contacts open in 220 Mode, two capacitors in series charge to a peak voltage of about 300 volts, with half the voltage appearing across each capacitor. With the relay contacts closed in 110 Mode, one capacitor charges to a peak voltage of about 150 volts during one half cycle of the AC input voltage, while the other capacitor charges to a peak voltage of about 150 volts during the other half cycle. Each capacitor, therefore, charges to about 150 volts regardless of whether the AC input voltage is in the 110-volt range or the 220-volt range, so that AC-to-DC converter produces 300 Vdc in either mode. Converter 64 produces approximately 300 Vdc floating with respect to chassis ground, and provides that voltage to switching circuit 66.
Switching circuit 66 is driven by pulse width modulator 72 via pulse isolation transformer 74 to modulate the power level of the electrical energy provided at lamp power output terminals 99 in module connector 32. The switching circuit utilizes chassis mounted inductor 38 to maintain a smooth flow of current through power output driver circuit 70. Voltage and current sensing circuits 68 provide suitable buffering and electrical isolation between the high voltage, high current lamp power circuit and the low power control feedback circuit to be described later.
One output of pulse width modulator 72 is connected to a frequency divider circuit 76. Switching circuit 66 and cooperating inductor 38 are driven at a relatively high frequency, about 20 kilohertz, so as to minimize the size of inductor 38. Preferably, the modulator 72 operates at a frequency above the audible range of 20 to 20,000 Hertz to minimize interference with audio amplifier systems. Although some arc lamps are driven by a direct-current (DC) waveform, arc lamps driven by alternating-current (AC) waveforms exhibit less electrode erosion, which is due to metal transfer from cathode to anode in DC arc lamps. AC arc lamps are not subject to polarization as are DC arc lamps, which prolongs the life of AC arc lamps. The comparatively small volume of an arc lamp envelope tends to resonate at a specific frequency in the 20-30 kHz range, the resonance causing the light output of the lamp to vary noticeably, or flicker. The frequency at which modulator 72 operates is chosen to minimize flicker. Frequency divider circuit 76 provides a low frequency signal to differential driver circuit 78, which drives power inverter circuit 70. The low frequency is chosen to minimize losses in power inverter circuit 70. Power inverter 70 is an H-bridge circuit producing 250 volts RMS at about 156 Hz into an open circuit. Output transistors in power inverter circuit 70 are driven at a low frequency to minimize switching losses. The open circuit voltage is stepped up by a lamp ignitor circuit (not shown) in the luminaire to produce the very high voltage start pulse required to ignite the arc lamp. Once the lamp is burning, the output voltage of the power inverter 70 is controlled by the characteristics of the individual arc lamp and usually falls to about 65 volts. Current supplied to the lamp discharges the filter capacitors in AC-to-DC converter circuit 64 until the correct operating voltage is obtained. This lower voltage is too low to generate start pulses in the ignitor circuit, so the start pulse is no longer generated.
The power level at the arc lamp is maintained by a feedback control system composed of sensing circuit 68, multiplier circuit 80, and feedback selector switch 88. A feedback signal is returned via feedback line 90 to one control input of pulse width modulator 72. The feedback signal is compared with a control input signal via line 92 to modulate the on-time of switching circuit 66. Modulator circuit 72 increases the on-time to increase the current to the lamp, and decreases the on-time to decrease the current to the lamp.
The power level is set by one of two trimmer potentiometers 102 or 100. Trimmer 102 sets the power level within a comparatively high power band, while trimmer 100 sets the power level within a comparatively low power band. Control input selector switch 104 selects one of three control input signals: high power trimmer 102, low power trimmer 100, or an external control signal such as a 0-to-10 volt analog control signal applied at input terminal 94 in module connector 32. The external input signal is applied to isolation buffer amplifier 96 and thereafter through trimmer 98 to the control input selector switch 104. Switch 104 may be composed of a row of two pin headers and a programming jumper to connect the chosen control signal to the appropriate input of modulator circuit 72. Preferably, switch 104 is an electronic switching circuit actuated by a signal applied to selector terminal 106. The actuating signal applied at terminal 106 may be generated by a manually operated switch mounted on the front panel of each module 30, or may be some other electronic signal.
Multiplier circuit 80 combines a voltage sensing signal and a current sensing signal to develop a power sensing signal PLIM. To control the power level for arc lamps, a buffered current sensing signal ILIM and power sensing signal PLIM are both selected by feedback switch 88 to form feedback signal 90. The PLIM signal normally controls the power level through modulator 72 and associated circuit 74 and 66. If the current supplied to the lamp reaches the limit of which module 30 is capable of supplying, the current sense signal ILIM combines with the PLIM signal to limit the output of the module.
A significant feature of this lamp power supply module is its ability to provide controlled-power electrical energy to an arc lamp or to provide controlled-voltage electrical energy to a low-voltage incandescent lamp. A low-voltage incandescent lamp typically has a smaller filament made of a thicker, more durable wire than lamps made to run off of the standard 110 Vac line voltage. The smaller filament makes a smaller source of light, which is then easier to collect and project, and makes for a more efficient optical system of reflector, lenses and associated components. To reconfigure the module for incandescent lamp operation, control input selector switch connects the externally applied control signal at trimmer 98 to the appropriate input of modulator circuit 72, and the feedback selector switch 88 connects the buffered voltage sensing signal VLIM to the feedback input of modulator 72. In this configuration, the voltage applied to the lamp is set by the variable 0-to-10 volt analog control signal applied at terminal 94, while the output of the module is controlled by the voltage sensing signal VLIM applied through feedback selector 88 to modulator 72.
Feedback selector circuit 88 may also be composed of two, two pin headers and a programming jumper. Preferably, feedback selector 88 is an electronic switching circuit actuated by a signal applied to selector terminal 107 connected in parallel with switching control input 106. Selector circuits 104 and 88 are configured so that selection of trimmers 100 or 102 as the source of control signal 92 is accompanied by selection of PLIM and ILIM as the source of feedback signal on line 90; and selection of the external control signal via trimmer 98 is accompanied by the selection of VLIM as the source of feedback signal on line 90.
Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed, description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.
1. A modular lamp power supply, comprising:
- a chassis;
- means for receiving a controlled voltage lamp power supply module and a controlled power lamp mower supply module in said chassis, each of said modules supplying power to a different lamp;
- output means associated with each module for delivering controlled voltage power supply outputs from said controlled voltage module, and for delivering controlled-power power supply outputs from said controlled power module; and
- said receiving means having means for receiving both types of modules.
2. A modular lamp power supply system, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of connectors in said chassis each including means for receiving lamp power supply modules having one of a plurality of characteristics;
- a plurality of electrical components in said chassis accessible to each of said modules;
- a plurality of electrical components accessible only by individual ones of said modules;
- an AC power supply connector coupled to said chassis for receiving AC power from an external source and supplying AC power to each of said modules;
- a DC power supply coupled to said AC power supply connector for providing DC power to each of said modules; and
- a voltage sensing circuit coupled to said AC power supply connector for sensing the voltage level supplied by said external source and generating an output signal for each of said modules indicative of said level.
3. A modular lamp unit power supply, comprising:
- a chassis;
- and input-power connector for coupling said power supply to an external source;
- a controlled-voltage power supply module housed within said chassis and electrically coupled to said input-power supply connection;
- a controlled-power power supply module housed within said chassis and electrically coupled to said input-power connection; and
- an output-power connector connected to receive power supply outputs from each of said controlled-voltage and controlled-power power supply modules and including means for delivering each of said power outputs to a different power conductor.
4. The power supply of claim 3, further comprising:
- a voltage sensor common to each of said modules, said voltage sensor being coupled to said input-power connector and including means for generating an output signal indicative of the voltage level at said input-power connector.
5. The power supply of claim 3, wherein each of said modules is coupled to a separate inductor external of said modules and housed within said chassis.
6. The power supply of claim 3, further comprising a single DC power supply coupled to a plurality of said modules, said DC power supply supplying power for operation of electronic circuitry of each of said modules.
7. The power supply of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of dedicated input lines, each of said lines being dedicated to a different one of said modules, said lines providing electronic control signals to said modules from an external control device.
8. A modular power supply adaptable to provide power to a plurality of different lamps having differing power requirements, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of connectors in said chassis adapted to receive power supply modules of a plurality of different configurations;
- a plurality of power supply modules each connected to a different one of said connectors, said modules having one of a plurality of different power generating characteristics;
- a plurality of common electrical components within said chassis arranged to be shared by said plurality of power supply modules;
- a plurality of individual electrical components within said chassis each arranged to be used by a different one of said power supply modules.
9. The modular power supply of claim 8, wherein said plurality of common components includes a DC power supply for supplying power.
10. The modular power supply of claim 8, wherein said plurality of common components includes a voltage sensor coupled to an input power connector, said voltage sensor generating an output signal indicative of the voltage level at said input power connector, said output signal being coupled to each of said plurality of power supply modules.
11. A power supply of claim 2, wherein at least one of said modules is a dimmer module for providing power to at least one incandescent lamp.
12. A power supply of claim 2, wherein at least one of said modules is a controlled-power lamp power supply module for providing power to at least one arc lamp.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 5, 1993
Date of Patent: Jun 17, 1997
Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc. (Dallas, TX)
Inventors: James Martin Bornhorst (De Soto, TX), John Henry Covington (Carrollton, TX), Randall Dean Garrett (Dallas, TX)
Primary Examiner: William M. Shoop, Jr.
Assistant Examiner: Albert W. Paladini
Law Firm: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.
Application Number: 8/147,284
International Classification: H02J 902;


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Don't Delay, Start Your Taxes Today
Have you heard the expression, "the early bird catches the worm"? When it comes to filing your annual tax return, that's no exception. Sure, a lot of people wait until April to file, but there are a lot of advantages getting started early and finishing long before the deadline.
This year, you can file your income tax return as of February 20th, and it's never too early to get organized. Here are a few benefits to filing your taxes early.
8 Great Reasons to Start your 2016 Taxes Today
1. You'll get your money back faster
If you're eligible to receive a refund on your 2016 tax return, you'll most definitely want to file early. The quicker you file, the faster you'll get your money! And who doesn't look forward to money in their pocket? You might use the money to pay off some debt, or maybe even take a vacation. Wouldn't that be nice?
As an extra strategic perk, if you complete your taxes and you receive a refund, you can do some planning and use the money as an investment to put toward your RRSPs to offset your 2017 taxes. Filing early and receiving a refund can help change your mindset about tax season from feeling like a burden to something you can look forward to.
2. Filing early gives you the opportunity to create a payment plan
If you do owe money on your 2016 tax return–sorry!–by filing early you'll still have lots of time before April 30th to create a payment plan. This can reduce interest and penalties on the balance you have to pay. On the other hand, if you wait until the last minute to complete your tax return, you might be left scrambling to submit your payment on time.
3. You'll have plenty of time to review new tax rules & updates
Every year, there are changes made to the tax rules. When you get started on your taxes early, you'll have the chance to familiarize yourself with how these changes might impact your bottom line. You can learn more about the 2016 tax filing changes and updates in this article.
4. You can be proactive about your financial planning
At TAXplan we encourage a tax planning lifestyle, so that you can be proactive about your financial future. Managing your income taxes plays an important role in your overall financial planning. By knowing your 2016 tax information earlier in the year, you can use that knowledge to make important decisions related to investments and RRSPs. Being proactive with your 2016 taxes will make your 2017 financial plan easier to execute.
Also, if you have more than one job or employer, filing early will help to ensure that the appropriate amount of taxes are being withheld based on your entire income level, not just the pay you receive from one individual employer. This will reduce the risk having a large balance owing on your 2017 income tax return–and nobody likes that kind of surprise!
5. You'll have lots of time to communicate with your TAXpro
The professionals at TAXplan are here to help you, both during tax season and throughout the year. We're available to answer your questions and make suggestions about how you can optimize your tax situation.
When you start thinking about your taxes early, you'll have plenty of time to ask questions, get our response, and follow up with additional questions. That kind of thought process and correspondence definitely benefits from extra time. When you feel rushed with the looming pressure of the tax deadline creeping up, it's hard to get focused on your thoughts and questions. Give yourself lots of time so that you have chance to get answers, mull over the information, and then follow up with additional questions as needed.
Don't get stuck waiting in line at the 11th hour with questions you haven't had a chance to ask. Connect with us early to guarantee that you have the information you need.
6. Get Set Up Online with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
The CRA My Account online services have many different features that are useful when filing your tax return yourself. If you're already set up with a user ID and password, that's great; one less thing to do! However, if you haven't used this service before, there's a bit of a wait time to receive access to your online My Account. By getting started early on your income taxes, these small delays won't affect you filing before the deadline.
On the other hand, we recommend the TAXplan app which gives you the benefits of working with a TAXpro, better accuracy and optimization than doing it yourself, and all at a fraction of the price of hiring an accountant.
7. Filing early helps to prevent identity theft
Not to be too paranoid, but there really are weird cases of identity theft out there. When you file early, you reduce the risk of a thief filing using your social insurance number since your return is already marked as complete. It may seem like a strange type of problem to encounter, but it's becoming increasingly common. Unfortunately, identity theft is not the only fraud that can occur. Learn more about how to protect yourself with these great tips from the CRA.
8. Filing your taxes early gives you peace of mind
It really is as simple as that. Completing your taxes well before the deadline gives you one less thing to think about. The unknown can be very stressful. Not knowing how much you owe or how big of a refund you'll be receiving leaves you in the dark. Avoid worry by starting your taxes today!
"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." ― Benjamin Franklin
When you delay filing your taxes, you put yourself at risk of facing interest and penalties on any amounts owing and you might miss out on receiving important monthly payments that require your annual taxes to be complete. So with so many great reasons to file early, why put it off? Start today and reap the many benefits of filing early.
Do you have all of your documents in order? Try TAXplan's convenient and stress-free tax preparation app. Correspond with a TAXpro using the convenience of the app to file your taxes. You'll be able to check off one big item on your to-do list, and hopefully receive one big deposit in your bank account!

subset: commoncrawl


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Donations to the charity supported by Kris Cook, the 36-year-old who died after taking part in the Prudential RideLondon 100, rose sharply following the announcement of his death today.
Cook, a civil servant from Woking, went into cardiac arrest tackling the Newlands Corner climb halfway through the mass-participation ride on Sunday.
>> Subscribe to Cycling Weekly this Autumn and save 35%. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<
He died at the Royal Surrey County hospital in Guildford shortly after, with event organisers confirming his passing at 11.25 this morning.
Together with his girlfriend and a group of friends, Cook was raising money for the Woking Hospice.
Donations had increased to £10,756 at 4.15pm on Monday, 2151 per cent greater than his initial target of £500.
UPDATE: Donations hit £30,000 on Tuesday at 1.45pm, 6000 per cent above the initial target.
Cook's girlfriend Nicola Tait told Get Surrey: "People have got to sponsor him, I really want him to raise as much money as he possibly can. It is going to help the family and the whole situation.
"I really want everyone to know, he was just the most wonderful person, he was so beautiful, he looked after me and everyone."
The organisers of the 100 expressed their condolences to Cook's family and friends.
* To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Kris-Cook


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The teenage years are challenging for teens and their parents. Teens face many new pressures and may not always react in the healthiest ways to the problems they encounter. In some cases, teens may need counseling to help them cope with their problems. Some of the struggles teens face are a normal part of growing up, like dealing with peer groups, experimenting with new ideas, and going through changes in mood, identity, and interests. Support groups help teens through some of these issues by providing a safe and non-judgmental setting to express themselves, and creating an environment that is structured and supportive.
Problems that teens may address in a group setting include:
- Changes in family life, like moving, divorce, or a death or serious illness of a friend or family member
- Relationships
- Developing an illness or disability
- Any kind of substance abuse or addiction
- Bullying or abuse
- Teen pregnancy
- Tragic events in the community or the world
- Social skills deficits as a secondary symptom of attention deficit, anxiety, or depression
Teen support groups help teens to :
- Understand why their behaviors are negative, and how to cope better
- Recognize and change negative thoughts that may cause or trigger their behaviors
- Find better ways to solve problems
- Learn better social skills


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This article is produced and published by Devex Impact, a global initiative of Devex and USAID, that focuses on the intersection of business and global development and connects companies, organizations and professionals to the practical information they need to make an impact.
In the darkest days of the 2008 global financial crisis, Rasika Sridhar Sethi was working 60-plus-hour weeks for financial giant Citi, in a 38th-floor cubicle in Manhattan. Her days—and many nights—were spent as part of the chief financial officer's strategy and planning team, identifying "toxic assets" and assisting in the structuring and execution of the U.S. government's Trouble Assets Relief Program, or TARP.
Sethi's weekends, however, were filled with a very different kind of work: evaluating innovative Indian development projects to determine whether they were candidates for "seed capital" from a nonprofit.
Sethi's volunteer experience ultimately propelled her to leave behind her "Wall Street dream" and return to her native India to work for an international development nonprofit focused on children. Her journey from corporate world to NGO is recounted here, part of a five-part Devex Impact series on career-changers. (Read our introductory article: (From private sector to nonprofit: 4 real-life stories).
Part of her 'DNA'
Growing up in Bangalore, Sethi learned the importance of education from her mother and grandmother, who served as leaders of a school system for disadvantaged children. As a freshman at Ohio Wesleyan University, Sethi took part in a Global Young Leaders conference in New York City; exposed for the first time to the world of global finance, she dreamed of working on Wall Street. She gave up summers up at home in India to take internships at Morgan Stanley, Deloitte and Citi.
After graduating in 2007, Sethi joined Citi full-time and worked as a strategy and planning analyst. Living and working through the financial crisis, however, had a professional silver lining for her.
"You learn the most when things are not all hunky dory, and in hindsight, it was the best exposure I could have asked for," she wrote in an email to Devex Impact, explaining that her role required her to communicate across seven business teams, work directly with directors and managing directors and prepare presentations for C-level executives — experiences out of reach for most entry-level analysts.
Sethi credited Citi's focus on professional growth with her own success. "I had managers who were committed to my growth and development," she said. "Their [support] was instrumental in building my confidence to deliver on high-stake projects at a very young age."
Blessed with an understanding boss, Sethi was also able to spend several hours a week volunteering with Tomorrow's Business Leaders, a non-profit in New York City, through which she not only developed and tested a business curriculum for disadvantaged high schools, but also coordinated on-boarding for 70 fellow volunteers.
Weekends she spent with ASHA for Education, a U.S.-based nonprofit founded by Indians living abroad. Working side-by-side with "like-minded volunteers," Sethi conducted due diligence on projects that might receive funding and worked with grant recipients on streamlining their operations.
The experience with ASHA, she said, was "immensely satisfying" and gave her valuable insights as a donor into how local nonprofits handle finances. She also began to realize how much she, as someone with financial experience, had to offer.
"Many organizations look for ongoing funding, but donors want to see an overarching strategy for the organization to become self-sustaining," said Sethi. "What's missing today is the expertise and foresight to build self-sustaining models."
Through this volunteer work, Sethi said she began to feel an "idealistic pull." The crystallizing moment happened when she heard a speaker quote from Steve Jobs's 2005 Stanford University commencement address, when the former Apple co-founder and CEO said: "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
Sethi said she realized that she had been "chasing the wrong dream" and that her path lay in the "DNA" instilled by her mother and grandmother's educational work.
"My work at Citi showed me I possessed the required skills to succeed at my job, but I was not enjoying the journey," she said. "It was the fresh energy and perspective from my volunteering experiences that reminded me of my passion for children and education."
Making the move
Motivated to make the shift, Sethi began looking for opportunities that would leverage her existing skill set and narrowed her search to roles in strategic planning at international nonprofits.
While searching online, Sethi discovered a job in South Africa posted by Absolute Return for Kids, a U.K.-based charity focused on children worldwide. She applied for the job, even though the deadline has expired. But Sethi had made the right connection. When ARKplanned to open a new project in India, they offered her a position to develop new programs. "I wasn't intending to go back to India, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up," she said.
Working out of a converted house in New Delhi – a far cry from her Tribeca cubicle – she managed a research team, executed partnerships and supported the country director's strategic planning work.
Reflecting on a transition
What surprised Sethi most about the new role was the "intellectual vitality" of the work. "It was a combination of analysis, research, relationship management, outreach and advocacy," she said, with the result that she and her colleagues "pushed themselves to acquire new skills."
More broadly, Sethi said she was excited by the "wave of innovation" happening in the development arena. "It's extremely heartening to see the number of low-cost, efficient delivery models that exist in education for the bottom-of-the-pyramid clientele," she said.
What was less exciting, she said, was discovering the lack of coordination among development actors in India. "Everyone seems to be working towards the same goal but in silos or in isolation."
Another downer was working with government agencies. "There's hardly any accountability or transparency in the way they function," she said. "Lack of political will and frequent turnover makes it extremely tough for a nonprofit to leverage government partnerships at scale."
Satisfaction came in bringing her data-focused skills to the nonprofit context, where she believes it's sorely needed. "I was always amazed at how robust performance-measurement systems were in big investment banks," she said. "It's imperative to have those type of systems in this sector, especially in a low-resource environment."
Word from the wise
For others looking to make the transition from the corporate to the nonprofit world, Sethi said she sees plenty of opportunity. But she also urged caution. "One needs to be wise in navigating the maze of opportunities and finding the right fit, both professionally and personally," she said.
Sethi advised others to use a tactic that was successful for her: volunteering. This experience may help professionals thinking about change career in a realistic way. "Choose a cause you are passionate about and partner with a local organization as a volunteer before taking the plunge."She also advised potential career changers to network within the nonprofit world and request informational interviews with organizations that interest them.
Sethi warned that because career trajectories are not as clearly defined in nonprofits, career changers should clarify their short and long-term goals, to make sure they are aligned with the career change.
For nonprofits themselves, Sethi also sees lessons. "There needs to be more business discipline in the way programs are designed and sustained over time," she said.
To move beyond a "slightly myopic view" of funding sources, nonprofits in development "need to invest more in identifying, grooming and retaining good talent."
After more than three years at ARK, Sethi is now off on her next adventure. Recently married, she is in Jakarta, serving as a work/study volunteer with the International Humanity Foundation.
Join the 500,000-strong Devex community to network with peers, discover talent and forge new partnerships – it's free! Then sign up for the Devex Impact newsletter to receive cutting-edge news and analysis every month on the intersection of business and development.


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BRU BRUEXECLOG Environment Variable Vulnerability
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not ware of any vendor supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Removal of the setuid bit from the bru binary will cause it to complain about needing to be setuid root, when run by normal users. So long as the bru utility is only run as root, its operation will be unaffected.
Privacy Statement


text: Plates and Play View Calendar 05/09/2019 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM https://www.facebook.com/events/393844044736949/?event_time_id=393844048070282 Best Beginnings Community Council Website: http://flatheadbestbeginnings.org Gateway Community Center Address: 1203 US-2, Kalispell, MT 59901, USA [{"latlong":["48.2013915"," -114.33416069999998"],"location":"1203 US-2, Kalispell, MT 59901, USA","zoom":16,"infow":"1203 US-2, Kalispell, MT 59901, USA<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t <\/label>\n\t\t 05\/09\/2019 <\/span> 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM<\/span> <\/span>\n\t <\/div>","google_map_url":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1203+US-2%2C+Kalispell%2C+MT+59901%2C+USA\/@48.2013915,%20-114.33416069999998"}] The second Thursday of each month for dining and play - created especially for families with children under the age of 8. "Bite" into a new play theme and meet other families with young children in our community. This event will focus on D-ICE: Fun with Math. Click here to see the flyer plates and play poster.final Located at the Gateway Community Center in the Gathering Room. Free family event Community Events Related Post navigation Plates and Play → ← What Makes a Garden Grow


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Manufactum Camelhair Socks
General Information
Knitted for the German Winter.
The thick, soft, extra-warm socks and stockings we show here have been made of the finest natural materials, Cashmere for example: the fluffy undercoat of the animal (Capra hircus laniger) is ideal for winter socks, as is wool, particularly the fine merino wools that we use. Also camelhair: we've paid tribute in another part of the catalogue to the amazing insulating properties of camelhair, making it of course ideal for winter wear. We've had our camelhair socks made with a 20% cotton mix to help preserve the shape.
Finally, silk: this is a light yet tough material with an extremely pleasant 'feel'!
Product Information
Article Number 85416
Contact Us
For advice, spare parts or special requests – our customer centre will take care of your questions and concerns, personally and competently.
You can reach us from Monday to Friday at 0800 0960937 or anytime at email@example.com
Gift Certificates
It's good for everything: With our PDF gift certificates you can choose from the entire Manufactum selection. Pick a motif which you can send by email or print out and present personally, immediately after submitting your order.Order Now


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Epilepsy Association of Utah Announces New Executive Officers and Board Members
SALT LAKE CITY, Friday, July 1, 2016
The Epilepsy Association of Utah is proud to announce four new Executive Officers and four new board members effective July 1, 2016.
The EAU welcomes Tyson Dewsnup as Chairman of the Board, a new position added this year. Tyson has served the EAU as AVP of Programs since February 2015. Tyson and his wife Ariana live in Eagle Mountain, Utah with their daughter Alexandra. Tyson is an IT Business Systems Analyst at Intermountain Healthcare. He has a Bachelor's degree in HR Management and a MBA in Information Technology Management. He is currently working on his MHA and hoping to go to law school and earn his JD in Employment Law.
The EAU welcomes Candi Huff as President. Candi has served as AVP of Marketing for the EAU since July 2014. Candi and her husband Jason live in Draper, Utah with their daughter Madison and son Austin. Candi is a 23 year veteran of the mortgage lending industry and works as a Mortgage Loan Underwriter for Bay Equity, LLC from her home based office. Candi's professional experience also includes outside sales, marketing, training and she is a
The EAU welcomes Doug Rice as Vice-President. Doug has been a member of the EAU board for close to one year, assisting the EAU's Political Advocacy Committee in successful lobbying efforts to pass SB232, Rescue Medication in School. Doug and his wife, Julie, live in West Jordan with their daughter Ashley. Doug retires this week as Fire
The EAU welcomes Josh Hamilton as Secretary. Josh is a new face to the EAU board and we look forward to getting to know him. Josh and his wife Mylie live in South Jordan. Josh is an Operations Supervisor at Security Service Federal Credit union and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board.
"Our new board structure and Executive Team brings to Utah powerful leadership designed to take the EAU to the next level. After four plus years of incredible growth under the leadership of Past President Annette Maughan, the Epilepsy Association of Utah is a powerful force nationally in the epilepsy community and special needs circles. We intend to ride that momentum to further our goals of Education, Outreach and Awareness!" said Candi Huff, new
Four new board members round out the new structure at the EAU and include Rita Branch-Davis, Brooke Diamond, Dawn Voss and Paul Hill. The Epilepsy Association of Utah is thrilled with the new additions to our team and looks forward to a successful term for all.
Founded in 1973, The Epilepsy Association of Utah is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals living with Epilepsy and seizure disorders. 1 in 26 people will develop Epilepsy at some time in their lives leading to over 100,000 people in Utah alone. Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder in the US after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer's. The Epilepsy Association of Utah offers a public education program, statewide support groups, personal and professional advocacy, college scholarships, art exhibits, educational conferences, summer camp and more. Visit http://epilepsyut.org for additional information.
Press Contact: Candi Huff
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.epilepsyut.org


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On Sunday, Americans heard President's Trump thoughts on women, feminism, and his support for "everyone," as documented by Fox News.
Answers from President Trump
During an ITV interview with Piers Morgan, the President of the United States faced questions about his stance on feminism and women. President Trump's hereinafter response explains his position:
"I think that would be maybe going too far. I'm for women, I'm for men, I'm for everyone. I think people have to go out … and they have to win. And women are doing great and I'm happy about that."
Morgan also asked the President about his feelings regarding women who support him. The Commander-in-Chief then opined that the aforementioned women understand who he is, noting the support he received from women during the 2016 Presidential election:
"Well, I am for them and I think a lot of them understand that. I won many categories of women and the women vote in the election and people were shocked to see it. Women have the best unemployment number that they've had in 17 years and they're doing tremendously in business. They're doing tremendously in so many ways and people are starting to see that."
President Trump, Women, and Criticism Regarding Feminism
Throughout the 2016 Presidential election and beyond, President Trump's critics have blasted him as sexist. The aforesaid critics often cite the President's prior harsh remarks and allegations of sexual misconduct as supporting evidence.
However, the President, his family, and his supporters affirm that his expressions of disapproval do not specifically target women. President Trump criticizes both men and women alike when he sees fit, according to them. Moreover, Americans have yet to see concrete proof to support the allegations against President Trump. He has repeatedly denied them and has furthermore never been found guilty of sexual misconduct in a court of law.
Like President Trump, feminism has also faced criticism, although for very different reasons. Many conservatives have slammed feminism as a hypocritical movement which frequently displays selective outrage. For instance, countless feminists have marched against President Trump, however, there have yet to be any marches against female genital mutilation which is an international plight. Are the President's harsh words truly worse than young girls having their genitals sliced and cut off, question critics of feminism.
Moreover, Republican and conservative voters have opined that feminists tend to treat right-wing women very poorly. If feminists are truly for the empowerment and advancement of women, should that advocacy not apply to all women instead of exclusively left-leaning, liberal women, ask conservative critics. Right-wingers frequently express these concerns on social media:
My narrative, if I have one, is that the left only proclaims feminism for women of the left. That brand of feminism has no place for strong conservative women. It resents them and attacks them, constantly. https://t.co/ST0wvmMtj3
— 7uzidoesit (@7uzidoesit) January 28, 2018
I respect the feminist advocacy for equal treatment under the law and society, yet unfortunately, the alt-left (leftists who hate free speech) have corrupted much of modern Western feminism. They call Trump a child molester while praising Lena Dunham, who molested her own sister.
— The Secular Conservative (@SOrtKaek) January 29, 2018
The Women's March was purely political and changed course to make it about Trump hate. It automatically excludes conservative women and their values by going that route. That doesn't sound like equality for all, so I have to question what feminism means in today's climate.
— Julesie (@justjules99) January 28, 2018
Americans of all political ideologies have also taken to social media to vocalize their opinions on President Trump's affirmation of being "for everyone."


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Listing Type
Wineries & Breweries
Add this location
to my itinerary
Diamond Estates - The Winery
Just outside of Niagara-on-the-Lake lies a 12-hectare vineyard and production facility which is home to Diamond Estates - The Winery. Diamond Estates produces such well known brands as 20 Bees, Dan Aykroyd Wines, FRESH Wines, Lakeview Cellars and Sundance Wines. The wine boutique offers wine sampling along with a wide array of wine accessories and unique gifts ideas.
About 20 Bees
The original winery on the Diamond Estates Winery property was 20 Bees Winery. 20 Bees is now a part of the Diamond Estates wine and spirit family.
In 2004, a group of the region's finest grape growers gathered to make plans for their own winery under the brand Niagara Vintners Inc. They wanted to ensure a market for their grapes and to benefit directly from wine sales. Between them, the Bees and their families had over three centuries of experience in the winemaking business. Their vines and grapes are recognized as being among the finest in the region.
They launched their 20 Bees Wine in August 2006. In February 2008 the ambitious plans came to a hault for the local growers when they went into receivership. In retrospect they feel that they became too large too quickly, and were not able to deal with the high costs of the startup.
Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd., the award-winning wine and spirits distribution and marketing agency company, acquired 20 Bees Winery in July 2008.
From Toronto: Take the QEW towards Niagara. Exit at 38B (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Hwy. 55 exit). Follow off ramp onto Glendale Avenue and continue over QEW to York Road. Turn left onto York Road. At the next stoplight, turn right onto Airport Road. At the second stop sign, turn right onto Niagara Stone Road. 20 Bees Wine is located approximately 3.25 km (2 miles) down on the right.
Directions from USA: Take the I-190 N to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. Once in Canada, follow the Niagara River Parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake. Turn left onto East-West Line (Kurtz Orchards will be on the corner.) Turn left onto Niagara Stone Road. 20 Bees Wine is located approximately 6 km along Niagar Stone Road on the left.
Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits
Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits - 20 Bees http://www.diamondestates.ca/wineries#20Bees


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Irish Retailer Launches Irish Residence Purchasing Channel TISTV
News Keep knowledgeable concerning the newest enterprise technology news and product updates. TORONTO – The Shopping Channel, Canada's model of QVC, has set its digital makeover in movement. I still haven't managed to identify Sara on the channel so if your Mum is aware of what time she's on?!! International programming consists of Chinese language, Filipino, Italian, South Asian, Spanish, and Vietnamese channels.
But perceive that you're up not only against all the opposite products and fellow entrepreneurs, you might be also up towards just a few heavy hitters specializing in helping companies get on dwelling buying channels. Like established channels equivalent to QVC and Home Shopping Network, Gun TV will feature personable experts explaining and demonstrating the channel's wares.
On-line purchasing in Canada has been rising in strength for the final couple of years. Aside from the Wii Store Channel and Nintendo DSi Store, a person can choose to …Read More


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Sony and Codian, both leading manufacturers of videoconferencing products for IP and ISDN connectivity, has joined a partnership to deliver an end-to-end high definition (HD) solution, that provides the ultimate in visual clarity and supports existing installations to offer simultaneous HD and SD (standard definition) videoconferencing.
Together, Sony and Codian aim to address the growing demand from business, education and government organisations, for the vastly superior visual quality achieved by HD solutions.
HD reduces meeting fatigue and with continuous presence, delivers greater interaction, user satisfaction and participation.
Another key advantage of this end-to-end solution is its interoperability and seamless integration with existing installations of SD products, ensuring a single videoconferencing event.
Users are offered an ideal infrastructure that exploits current investments in SD, while enabling a cost-effective transition to an HD future.
There is no need to replace an existing videoconferencing network; as this end-to-end solution has the advantage of mixing SD with HD, from multiple locations, during the same videoconference session across both IP and ISDN.
Unveiling the new solution at CeBIT 2007, the package couples Sony's PCS-HG90 HD codec with an award-winning Codian MCU4500 Series videoconferencing bridge to deliver a fully interoperable HD/SD conferencing solution.
According to Sony, the PCS-HG90 delivers true high definition videoconferencing, which will give exceptional visual communications advantages to its users.
The joint solution is interoperable with SD videoconferencing technologies, enabling customers to make the most of their existing
videoconferencing investments.
Now professionals in Australia are able to benefit from world leading products that are proven to advance communications and aid decision making processes.
According to Codian, it understands the need to offer choice and flexibility, addressing both current and future videoconferencing investments.
By teaming with Sony, Codian continues to show users the full power of the next generation of high definition voice and videoconferencing products.
At CeBIT it will demonstrate this complete end-to-end solution, allowing visitors to see for themselves exactly how together it address their videoconferencing needs.
The Sony PCS-HG90 is an HD codec suitable for applications that require real-time, low delay, two-way communication from remote locations.
The PCS-HG90 is perfect for live coverage, interviews and remote reporting in HD video with high quality audio. MPEG4-AVC coding makes efficient use of the bandwidth and offers a low-delay connection between different sites.
The Codian MCU 4500 series family of conferencing bridges incorporates a radical new generation of videoconferencing technology.
For the first time, users can enjoy crystal clear, full-motion, HD continuous presence conferencing with a mix of SD and HD endpoints.
The unrivalled power of the Codian MCU 4500 Series delivers full feature HD conferencing without limitations or restrictions.
With more than ten times the performance of other systems the MCU 4500 series is ideal for organisations that require an HD and quality telepresence experience such as business meetings, telemedicine, distance learning and corporate training.
The joint videoconferencing solution will be on display at CeBIT2007. CeBIT runs from 1-3 May at Sydney's Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour at Hall 5 stand W40.


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Daryl A. George, director of the Virgin Islands Fire Service (VIFS), has announced the soft opening of the Coral Bay Fire Station on St. John, which occurred Thursday, May 17.
The reopening of the station comes more than a year since it closed due to damages sustained from hurricanes Irma and Maria. During the closure, personnel assigned to the station, who respond to medical emergencies as well as fires and other hazards in the Coral Bay area, had worked from the Calabash Boom Community Center.
With the assistance of the Love for Love City Foundation and federal disaster recovery funding, the VIFS has completed temporary repairs at the station, and personnel will once again respond to emergency calls from the facility.
Director George is looking forward to the firefighters' return to the Coral Bay Fire Station and is grateful to the public and private partners that made it possible, "On behalf of the Virgin Islands Fire Service, I extend sincere thanks to the Love for Love City Foundation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and Witt O'Brien's for their assistance. This would not have been possible without them."
He also expressed gratitude to Royal American Management, owners of the Calabash Boom Community, saying, "I would be remiss if I did not also thank Royal American Management for allowing the Virgin Islands Fire Service to use the Calabash Boom Community Center as a temporary location for the Coral Bay Fire Station."


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Aggressive Treatment of Hypertension Promotes Healthy Brains and Hearts
Aggressive lowering of systolic blood pressure (BP) reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and combined MCI and dementia. In the SPRINT trial (NCT01206062), 2 strategies for managing high BP were compared in adults over age 50. The first was an intensive strategy with a goal of subjects achieving systolic BP of <120 mmHg, and the second a standard care strategy with a goal of achieving systolic BP of <140 mmHg. As reported previously, this demonstrated that the more aggressive goal of achieving <120 mmHg systolic BP reduces risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (N Engl J Med. 2015;373:2103-2116). In the SPRINT MIND portion of the trial, the cognitive scores of subjects were examined as a secondary measure to determine if the lower blood pressure target correlated with cognitive scores and the present of MCI or dementia or both. Total volume of white matter lesions in the brain as shown by MRI was also measured.
Subjects included 9,361 adults with high BP who had a mean age of 67.9 and increased cardiovascular risk, based on the Framingham risk score, but had not been diagnosed with diabetes, dementia or prior stroke. Cognitive assessments were performed in 92.1% (8,626) of subjects assessing for incident probable dementia. Subjects were also assessed for mild cognitive impairment and a composite outcome of MCI and/or probable dementia. Assessments were adjudicated by a blinded expert panel.
After 1 year of treatment, the mean systolic BP in the intensive treatment group was 121.4 mmHg and 136.2 mmHg in the standard treatment group. Cognitive assessments were performed over a 4-year period. Subjects in the intensive treatment group had a 19% lower rate of new case of MCI (P= .01) compared with those in the standard treatment group. The combined outcome of MCI plus probable all-cause dementia was 15% lower (P = .02) in the intensive versus standard treatment group.
There was no significant difference in the rate of overall adverse events between the 2 treatment groups (P = .25), although hypotension, syncope, electrolyte abnormalities, and acute kidney injury or acute renal failure, but not injurious falls or bradycardia, occurred more frequently in the intensive-treatment group than in the standard-treatment group. Orthostatic hypotension was significantly less common in the intensive-treatment group.
Lead investigator Jeff Williamson, MD, MHS stated, "These results support the need to maintain well-controlled blood pressure, especially for persons over the age of 50. This is something doctors and the majority of their community-dwelling patients with elevated blood pressure should be doing now to keep their hearts— and brains—healthier. These new results for maintaining cognitive health provide another strong rationale for starting and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes in mid-life," Williamson added.


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Pat. Kyrill Celebrates Consecration of Armenian Monophysite Cathedral
Sept. 18, 2013 (Source: Moscpat)
On 17 September 2013, a solemn ceremony of the consecration of the church complex belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church took place in Moscow, in Trifonovskaya Street.
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians officiated at the consecration. Attending the celebration was His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
At the main gate of the church complex, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was met by Bishop Ezras (Nersisyan), head of the New Nakhichevan and Russia diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.


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|Stefan Monnier
|Re: font-lock-extend-region
|Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:32:10 -0500
|Gnus/5.11 (Gnus v5.11) Emacs/22.0.50 (gnu/linux)
>> The region is not automatically marked with font-lock-multiline, so you >> can't really fault font-lock-multiline for it: it's your code that marks it >> that is at fault. >> [ Now don't get me wrong: the font-lock-multiline property is not perfect. ] > Hang on a moment! The CC Mode code _doesn't_ currently mark text with > font-lock-multiline. I understood your suggestion was that it should do > this. My response was to your complaint about font-lock-multiline because of what would happen if the C mode placed a font-lock-multiline on the whole 20K of yanked text. I understand that C mode doesn't do that right now. >>> What I think we need is a function called from f-l-default-f-region which >>> will get a safe starting position at or before L1034. >> Agreed. And I suggested we name it font-lock-extend-region-function. > font-lock-extend-region-function is already in use for purpose (i), > determining the region to be fontified. Yes, I understand that, but I'm trying to understand why you need it and whether font-lock-extend-region-function is then the right answer. > I'm saying we also need a distinct function for purpose (ii), determining > a safe place to start fontifying a chunk which could easily be in the > middle of the region returned by (i). I think I need to start over. IIUC you're trying to handle the "\\\n" line-continuation feature, right? For that, you need to always font-lock the whole multiline-line at a time, right? So my natural answer (given the hammer I have in my hand) is to tell you to put a font-lock-multiline property on the whole multiline-line. My naive understanding says that it should be sufficient: no need for font-lock-extend-region anywhere. >> Or is there some other reason to extend the region from >> after-change-functions, other than atomic elements at the boundaries? > The region sometimes has to be extended to the end of what was an atomic > element before the change, but is no longer so. If this previously-atomic element had a font-lock-multiline property, then it will be refontified atomically (at which point it will be discovered that it's not atomic anymore so the font-lock-multiline property won't be preserved). >> I believe the one in jit-lock-fontify-now could be removed (but this >> function is also sadly called from external packages, so there may be some >> minor compatibility issues). > I think any text region handled by jit-l-f-now cannot avoid being > processed by f-l-fontify-region. Indeed, as I said, I think it can be removed, although of course we'll then have to update glasses-mode first (which registers itself with jit-lock). I think glasses-mode and font-lock-mode are the only two to use jit-lock. > I don't see this, yet. If 'fontified is cleared only on the new open > paren at position 1055, the display engine calls successively > (jit-lock-function 1055), > (jit-lock-fontify-now 1055 1555), > and (assuming j-l-f-now DOESN'T extend to whole lines) > (run-hook jit-lock-functions 1055 1555), > (font-lock-fontify-region 1055 1555), > (funcall font-lock-fontify-region-function 1055 1555), > (font-lock-default-fontify-region 1055 1555). > Here, in f-l-default-f-r, 1055 is set back to 1044 (BOL), and this whole > line, 1044 - 1056, gets its face properties rearranged. You're right until here. > These then get redisplayed. But this is what doesn't happen. > What am I missing here? When the redisplay engine calls jit-lock-function with arg 1055, it has already redisplayed all the text until 1054 and changes in the buffer that affect text before 1055 will not cause redisplay to restart when it finishes. Stefan
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Zimbabwe opposition figure Roy Bennett dies in US helicopter crash
- Published
Prominent Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett has been killed with his wife in a helicopter crash in North America.
The couple died along with three others when the aircraft crashed on Wednesday in a mountainous area in the US state of New Mexico. One person survived.
Mr Bennett, 60, was a former white farmer who became a stalwart of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
His MDC party colleagues have been expressing their shock on social media.
After the deaths of Mr Bennett and his wife Heather were confirmed on Thursday, prominent Zimbabwean opposition politician David Coltart tweeted his sympathy to the couple's loved ones.
I have just confirmed from three separate reliable sources that Roy and Heather Bennett have been tragically killed in a helicopter accident in North America. I am devastated- they were two of Zimbabwe's greatest patriots. My condolences are extended to their family & friends.— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) January 18, 2018
A spokesman for the MDC party, Obert Gutu, later said in a statement that Mr Bennett was a charismatic and extremely popular grassroots politician and a successful commercial farmer.
"Roy was a resolute and committed fighter for democratic change in Zimbabwe," Mr Gutu said.
The private helicopter crashed in north-eastern New Mexico at about 18:00 local time on Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday) but the deaths were confirmed by authorities on Thursday.
It is not yet clear what caused the accident.
Thorn in Mugabe's side
Mr Bennett, a controversial figure, entered politics in 2000, winning a parliamentary seat for the newly formed MDC.
A former coffee farmer, he was fluent in the local Shona language and quickly rose within the party.
Mr Bennett earned the nickname Pachedu ("between us"), which is a colloquial reference to childhood secrets.
His popularity as an MP led to President Robert Mugabe's governing Zanu-PF party holding him in particular disdain.
In 2004, he famously lost his temper in a parliament brawl with Zanu-PF Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Mr Bennett pushed Mr Chinamasa to the ground in a row over a land redistribution programme that saw most of the country's 4,000 white farmers lose their land.
As a result, Mr Bennett was imprisoned for several months - an experience he described as a living hell.
In 2009, as he was due to take up his post in a new power-sharing government, he was accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow Mr Mugabe. He was cleared of treason charges the following year.
Mr Bennett left Zimbabwe for exile in South Africa, where he continued to oppose Mr Mugabe.
His death comes as Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa is promising a break with the past.


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Bollywood Lovers: looking for a cheap way to celebrate IIFA in Toronto? Here's our guide to all the free and fabulous events taking place this weekend.
Delhi 2 Dublin + Deesha
Celtic Bhangra Electronica – need we say more? It's not secret, we LOVE Delhi 2 Dublin, and a free concert with this band puts a smile on our faces. Delhi 2 Dublin are joined by soulful pop princess, Deesha, who'll be crooning her mix of R&B and Pop this evening.
Bollywood Mashup with Vikas Kohli
Catch fifty singers, dancers and musicians at this outdoor party produced by FatLabs. International composer and music producer Vikas Kohli will fuse punk, hip-hop and Bollywood tunes, while the Toronto Symphony Orchestra violinist James Wallenberg and a full rock band play a starring role in Kohli's production. Bollywood singer Monali Thakur will sing racy songs like "Zara Zara Touch Me," while dancers and dholis back up this ensemble musical cast.
Samsara: Feel the Flow
This family friendly arts festival takes place around Rogers Centre, just prior to the IIFA Green Carpet and Awards. Experience classical and contemporary South Asian music, dance and fashion, all themed around Earth, Fire, Air and Water. Lookout for Indo-Brazilian processional drummers weaving in and out of crowds at the IIFA grounds.


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Metallic Pigments Make Every Floor Unique
It's easy, thoroughly mix up to 340g (12oz jar) of Enviro Metallic Pigment with Part A of Enviro Poxy EP100 Clear, then add Part B and follow the regular instructions. For best results, start with a base coat of solid-colour EP100 that's close to the metallic pigment colour used. Pigments can be blended to achieve virtually any colour. Ask your local distributor about Enviro Metallic Pigments today!