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The Fincen Whistleblowers
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To survive, Bitcoin businesses will have to do more than "de-anonymize" their operations. They will also have to cope with the loss of the digital currencys most fundamental characteristic: irrevocability.June 5
"Digital currencies are exciting because of the innovation," but "being a financial institution comes with certain responsibilities," says Fincen Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery in a Q&A.May 30
Why do we never hear about whistleblowers coming from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury? Where are they?
Regarding surveillance, the world may never have a Fincen whistleblower in the same way that we have an NSA or CIA whistleblower. This is because the Fincen bureau conducts all of its surveillance activity out in the open and in plain sight, probably for its effect as a deterrent. Fincen even recruits banks and other agent financial institutions to participate in the direct surveillance that make serious and consequential judgment calls along the way.
Blatant and stated upfront, the unimpeded surveillance of Americans financial activity is Fincen's core mission. So, nothing much to blow the whistle on there.
Since the establishment of Fincen in 1990 to act as the designated administrator of the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, two generations of educated Americans, including some smart attorneys, have been conditioned to think of money laundering as a real and legitimate category of crime. Eradication of privacy is the goal and manipulation of the semantic crime debate is the tool.
In typical crime-speak fashion, it is therefore possible to have telephone crime and email crime, because persons committing illegal acts can use telephone and email channels to execute their deeds. Perhaps this is why the U.S. administration and the NSA don't see much wrong with PRISM. In their minds, violating the privacy rights of the 99.99% is justified if it ultimately results in the identification of the evil 0.01%.
In true Machiavellian spirit that glorifies instrumentality in statebuilding, "the ends justify the means," especially when it comes to using our money as an identity tracking device. In order to rule successfully, deceit and violence may be necessary for the stabilization of power, to eliminate political rivals, to coerce resistant populations, and to purge the community of other individuals with strong character.
The larger debate around privacy is not just a matter of perception. Nor is it about striking the proper balance, as many have implied. The debate is about zero privacy or zero surveillance as the default and who defines the variations from the default.
Since the available cryptography and technical tools of today permit near absolutes on each side of the privacy-surveillance spectrum, each advancement from one side elicits an equally strong reaction from the other side. More pervasive and aggressive surveillance techniques at the governmental level encourage greater general use of advanced cryptography tools among average citizens. Last weeks headlines only served to spread public awareness of these privacy tools.
It shouldn't have to be this way. We shouldn't always have to deploy the strongest available encryption techniques against the surveilling class. The surveilling class should simply stop watching us.
As shameful as the existence of PRISM is, and it is monumentally shameful for a free society, it doesn't even compare to the unprecedented level of financial surveillance the world is on the verge of witnessing. With FATCA nearing its debut, the IRS goes global, and with FATF, the OECD develops policies to assist in standardizing worldwide enforcement of financial surveillance, ensuring there is nowhere left to hide. These are the agents of our "financial" PRISM.
As banks and credit card companies become more complicit in the surveillance, digital currencies with proper mixing services such as bitcoin become a viable option for preserving some transactional privacy, even if identification is required for its initial acquisition from licensed money transmitters.
At a conference last week, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children trotted out Bitcoin and the anonymized web browser Tor as whipping boys in a gross and misguided attempt to paint certain technologies as indirectly enabling immoral behavior. The theme of the conference was brainstorming possible ways to reconcile the opportunities of innovative financial technologies with the needs and concerns of law enforcement.
Some type of back door, or exception, for law enforcement must certainly be possible to protect the children, you know. Although virtual currency exchange endpoints can be regulated, two representatives of the Bitcoin Foundation clearly stated the obvious limitations in altering the Bitcoin transaction protocol itself. Also, for the life of me, I cannot imagine how the Tor Project could compromise itself in an acceptable way. It would be like asking a toaster not to toast.
In her opening remarks at the conference, Fincen Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery cited the two wildly different lenses through which observers see the virtual currency issue. Generally, it's thwarting financial innovation versus establishing a clear and safe regulatory environment. She happens to be correct about this framework.
However, upon leaving the director's U.S.-centric bias, two other lenses emerge U.S. interests versus rest-of-the-world interests. And, this is where we find our elusive whistleblower.
The Fincen whistleblower is other sovereign nations and they are starting to speak.
In April, the Dutch Minister of Finance and president of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, answered questions from his countrys parliament regarding bitcoin. (His remarks were later translated by a Dutch member of the Bitcoin community.)
When asked if "the activities as performed by Bitcoin fall under the Financial Supervision Act or is this a private activity," Minister Dijsselbloem responded, "Anyone is free to develop and/or use alternative (digital) products, as long as it does not conflict with the Dutch law, such as the law on gambling."
He continued: "The current understanding is that Bitcoin is not electronic money as meant in the Financial Supervision Act, partly because Bitcoins are not issued in exchange for received money and they do not represent a claim on the issuer. Because of this, Bitcoin does not meet at least two of the four requirements set out in the law. Also, Bitcoin is not in any other way a financial product as meant by the law. (Mediation in) the purchase or sale of Bitcoins is not a financial service either, so the Financial Supervision Act does not apply."
Many educated and developed countries don't immediately see every product as something to track and don't necessarily view financial privacy as a negative. Indeed, prior to immense and unparalleled pressure from the U.S., bank secrecy and client confidentiality had been a proud heritage in countries such as Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
But will the world listen to the up and coming Fincen whistleblowers? They should. Either willingly or begrudgingly, the world has embarked on a path of greater and greater transparency in a bargained exchange for the warm embrace of security. But, the ends do not justify the means in that grand tradeoff. A world where privacy isn't sacrificed and all human transactions aren't tracked is not only possible, but imperative. The alternative will be far worse than you can imagine.
Jon Matonis is an e-money researcher and crypto economist focused on expanding the circulation of nonpolitical digital currencies. His career has included senior posts at Sumitomo Bank, Visa, VeriSign and Hushmail. Currently, he serves on the board of the Bitcoin Foundation. Follow him on Twitter @jonmatonis.


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In home private training sessions are avaliable if you or your dog are not comfortable in a group class.
Yosemite Bark offers private training lessons in either your home or at Fresno Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center. Private lessons are tailored to your training goals and your dog's specific needs. Besides teaching basic behaviors (come, down, stay, etc..) we can help with your dog's unruly behaviors like
Door Bolting
Leash Pulling
Puppy Nipping
We also offer behavior modification consultations for both dogs and cats. Behavior consultations are appropriate for pets with pronounced problems such as
Leash Reactivity
Separation Anxiety
Resource Guarding
Chronic Housebreaking or Litter Box Problems
The consultation process involves the owner completing a detailed history questionnaire from which the consultant will begin to devise a corrective program. We then meet with you and your pet either at Fresno Vet Specialty and Emergency Center or your home.
Puppy Socialization in Fresno, CA
What is it?
Socialization is the developmental process whereby puppies and adolescent dogs familiarize themselves with their constantly changing surroundings. It is how they work out what is safe and good as opposed to what is dangerous and not-so-good.
Anything you want your puppy to cheerfully accept as an adult—people of all kinds, animals, things, and situations—you must introduce her to often and in a positive manner in the first 6 months of her life. Then you have to make sure she stays comfortable with all these new things.
Proper socialization combined with positive reinforcement-based training in the context of a group puppy class helps puppies grow into well-adjusted pets.
But puppies love everything already!
Sure they do. Until the early stage of their development draws to a close at approximately 16 weeks of age. At that point, they become wary of other dogs if they have met too few. And down the road, puppies can become shy or growly around children or strangers, too, unless they have met and enjoyed meeting a bunch of them.
Under-socialized dogs are at much greater risk of developing all sorts of behavioral problems stemming from fear—aggression, agoraphobia, and reactivity towards certain people and animals, for example.
Teach your puppy that the world is safe and prevent behavior problems in the future.
How to socialize your puppy.
Step 1. If your puppy seems even a bit nervous, move a little distance away, give her treats, and then walk away—anything she is unsure about should be encountered in short bursts.
Step 2. As soon as your puppy seems more relaxed, try again. As she sees or hears the thing that scared her before, start your cheerful praise and break out the treats.
Step 3. If your puppy did not seem nervous with the new thing or acts curious about it after she has been treated, go back and let her investigate a little more. Again, praise and treat.
I am so proud to be a part of the Veteran's Service Dog Training Program at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Last Friday I attended the graduation ceremony where the first batch of service dog candidates crossed the stage in a heart filled celebration. From here they will continue on to the public access training phase and then will be matched with veterans.
It's More Than Lip Service
Today is the day we pay our respects the selflessness and sacrifice of those who have served our country, but it takes more than acknowledgement to improve the lives of our veterans and their families. It takes commitment and sacrifice of our own. That's why Doc's Dogs for Vets has teamed up with Yosemite Bark Training Services and Valley State Prison in Chowchilla to initiate a non-profit volunteer program to train rescue dogs to become service dogs for veterans.
Our First Class
On October 24th 4 dogs joined 11 inmate trainers at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California and began the journey to become service dogs for Veterans. They were greeted with big smiles, opens arms and handfuls of treats. Clark, Samson, Sierra and Wallace were specially selected from Fresno Humane Animal Services using specific temperament evaluations to determine their capability as service dogs.
Health Checks Provided by Pet Medical Center and Spa
The dogs then completed medical evaluations donated by Pet Medical Center in Spa in Fresno, California to determine their health status. The medical evaluations screen candidates for structural imbalances, genetic illnesses and hearing or vision problems. Once the dogs successfully completed the medical evaluations, they were vaccinated and altered.
Training Directed by Yosemite Bark
All training is using force free, science based methods. No prong, choke or shock collars, no yelling, hitting or harsh leash corrections are allowed. The program uses a positive reinforcement philosophy that focuses on rewarding appropriate dog behavior which makes behavior more likely to occur in the future. Using these methods serves a dual purpose to teach inmates they can influence one's behavior, canine or human, without the use of pain, force or intimidation.
The dogs will live with their inmate trainers at Valley State Prison for 6 months to complete an extensive foundation training program which consists of learning over 50 commands.
Once the dogs complete their foundation training they will then start their socialization process which will condition the dogs to be relaxed and confident while performing their newly acquired skills around hundreds of sights, sounds and smells.
And Finally to the Veterans
After the general training is completed, the dogs will be matched with a Veteran. Once matched, the dogs will start the task training portion which is specifically designed to their veteran's needs. Assistance Dogs International (ADI) requires that each dog is specifically trained to perform 3 or more tasks to mitigate a person's disability. The dogs will need to successfully perform these tasks in a multitude of environments before they are placed with the veteran and they complete the public service access test and are certified as a team.
Doc's Dogs for Vets
Doc's Dogs for Vets (a 501 c 3), located in Raymond, CA was formed by the Pleitez family in honor of their son, Spc. Benjamin Pleitez, an army medic who died in 2012 while serving his country in Afghanistan.
The dogs will go at no cost to Veterans. Doc's Dogs for Vets is committed to pursuing their Assistance Dogs International accreditation which has been designed for non-profit organizations.
The purpose of ADI is to:
The journey to become a service dog is a long one indeed, and yet it seems but a tiny gesture compared to the price veterans have paid. Today we gather together across America to pay tribute, remember, and honor those who have served our great country, but making their lives better is an on-going commitment. The dedicated volunteers in the Service Dogs for Vets program are up to the challenge.
Ali Imel
May 2020

subset: commoncrawl


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Vohora LLP - CPAs and Business Advisors is a full service chartered professional accounting firm. We have been providing assurance, tax, accounting and business advisory services for over 40 years.
Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce 100-515 3rd Ave Prince Rupert, BC, V8J 1L9 T 250-624-2296 email@example.com


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Definitions for "Strain"
Keywords: overstretch, tendon, overuse, torn, stretch
To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument.
To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously.
To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to convict an accused person.
Keywords: deformed, stress, elongation, tensile, shear
To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it.
A change of form or dimensions of a solid or liquid mass, produced by a stress.
In mechanical engineering, strain is a measure of the deformation resulting from stress (that is, force per unit area); the displacement of one point with respect to another, divided by their equilibrium separation in the absence of stress. In chemistry, a molecular fragment generally has some equilibrium geometry (bond lengths, interbond angles, etc.) when the rest of the molecular structure does not impose special constraints (e.g., bending bonds to form a small ring). Deviations from this equilibrium geometry are described as strain, and increase the energy of the molecule. Strain in the mechanical engineering sense causes strain in the chemical sense.
To press, or cause to pass, through a strainer, as through a screen, a cloth, or some porous substance; to purify, or separate from extraneous or solid matter, by filtration; to filter; as, to strain milk through cloth.
To percolate; to be filtered; as, water straining through a sandy soil.
Pour a mixture or liquid through a fine sieve or strainer to remove larger particles.
An isolate of a particular organism, thought to be different from other known organisms of that species.
An organism that is different from other organisms of the same species due to genetic differences. Strain is commonly used in two ways: (i) organisms of the same species that when initially isolated are found to have certain different properties (due to unknown mutations) are called different strains; (ii) derivatives of an organism that have distinct genotypes due to known mutations are called different strains.
Different organism within same species.
Keywords: bred, bloodline, offspring, propagated, jedran
a group of organisms. They come from a particular source which shares a set of distinguishing characteristics.
In Arabian horses, it has the old Bedouin meaning, in which the strain, or family, traces back in time to a certain mare. It may descend from a mare of a famous breeder, or a mare with an unusual trait or characteristic—such as the "old, well-trained mare of Jedran" or whoever, or a dark mare, or even a filly which had been nursed by a donkey. Only if the family is very strong, and bred to stallions of the same bloodlines, would a strain continually retain a certain type. In other words, the strain remains the same through all generations—if the original mare was Maneghi, so would all her descendants be of that strain, regardless of the many strains represented in the rest of the pedigree, or their differences in type.
a mutation of a certain cultivar selected for an improved characteristic and vegetatively propagated by grafting
a specific genetic variant of an organism.
infraspecific morphological variant.
A variant characterised by a specific genotype.
a lineage or race of people
a selection of plants, similar in breeding, grouped together, with may resemble one another, but are not identical
A collective group of animals that are the descendants of a common ancestor, ancestry or lineage.
Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, oration, book, etc.; theme; motive; manner; style; also, a course of action or conduct; as, he spoke in a noble strain; there was a strain of woe in his story; a strain of trickery appears in his career.
pervading note of an utterance; "I could follow the general tenor of his argument"
the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates"
To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain.
make tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious;
Keywords: notrump, denomination, suit, bid, numerical
See Denomination.
one of the four suits or notrump; the non-numerical element of a bid; denomination.
Either a suit or notrump.
Keywords: ikegami, okamura, ryoichi, yoshiyuki, shogakukan
Strain is manga written by Yoshiyuki Okamura, and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. This is the same art team (writer and illustrator) who created the popular manga Sanctuary (manga). It was serialized in Big Comic Superior from 1996 to 1998, then released into 5 volumes by Shogakukan between 1997 and 1998.
Keywords: breed, racial, rabbits, reproducing, family
a family within a breed
A race or stock of rabbits in any standard breed of the same family blood, having the quality of reproducing marked racial characteristics.
(n) A breed or type
Keywords: psychosomatic, burnout, stressors, suspiciousness, gastric
the outcome of an inability to deal effectively with stressors. Strain is therefore evident in a range of physical and psychological signs and symptoms. The physical evidence of strain is thought to include hypertension, gastric disorders, coronary heart disease, skin disorders, and a range of psychosomatic illnesses. Psychologically strain can result in depression, sleep loss, suspiciousness, and 'burnout'.
Keywords: disposition, tendency, inborn, hereditary, equilibrium
Hereditary character, quality, or disposition.
Turn; tendency; inborn disposition. Cf. 1st Strain.
a tendency to dis-equilibrium in the input-output balance between two or more units of the system
Keywords: viruses, flu, hepatitis, virus, population
Group of closely related viruses.
smaller group of very similar viruses within the larger population of a particular virus (such as the A, B, and C strains of the hepatitis virus)
Flu Viruses are defined by their surface proteins e.g. H5N1 but variations within a type are called strains.
Keywords: isolated, heterogeneous, hiv, lab, hepatitis
A specific version of an organism. Many diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, have multiple strains.
One type of HIV. HIV is very heterogeneous, with no two isolates exactly the same. When HIV is isolated from an individual and studied in the lab, it is given its own unique identifier, or strain name (i.e., MN, LAI).
A group or stock of microorganisms made up of descendents of a single isolation in a pure culture.
Keywords: importunity, urge, squeeze, petition, press
To squeeze; to press closely.
To urge with importunity; to press; as, to strain a petition or invitation.
Keywords: pinpoints, workout, aerobic, greatest, heartbeats
Represents the number of heartbeats per minute that pinpoints the level of intensity needed in an exercise to bring about the greatest training benefits from an aerobic workout. Target heart rates can be calculated by the formula: 220 - your age x by 60-85%, depending on your fitness objectives and physical condition.
Keywords: subvariety, cultural, differentiated
Keywords: beethoven, humming, succession, distinctive, sequence
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven"
Keywords: unfavorable, chemistry, relax, suitable, conformation
In chemistry a molecule experiences strain when in a chemical conformation there exist unfavorable bond angles or bond distances. Strain energy is released when the molecule can relax to a conformation with less strain or when the molecule interacts in a suitable chemical reaction.
Keywords: blender, rub, puree, baby, vegetables
rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby"
A skin defect generally found in the flank of the skin wherein the grain layer of the skin opens and splits away from the secondary layer of skin.
Keywords: descent, race, family, stock, generation
Keywords: subdivision, sentence, bar, double, musical
A portion of music divided off by a double bar; a complete musical period or sentence; a movement, or any rounded subdivision of a movement.
Keywords: identical, appearance, plants, group, properties
a group of plants with similar (but not identical) appearance and/or properties
Keywords: act


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I am using Chilkat to receive forwarded emails from an SMTP server. Basically, I am using the socket classes to act as an SMTP server and then doing something other than emailing with the received messages. I was wondering if you have any example code for the TLS/SSL handshake from a server-side. I am trying to handle the STARTTLS command but I am not sure how to do so. It appears that I can do this with the CkSocket class (C++). Could you provide any guidance?
Implementing the SSL handshake would be a huge endeavor and it's not something you would do directly. You would let the CkSocket class do it for you by calling ConvertToSsl after receiving the STARTTLS command. You must make sure to call CkSocket::InitSslServer to provide the server-side certificate beforehand.


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As the lifestyle fashion is altering working day by working day, peoples are interested in travelling and want to see the new locations always. So, this is not a large say that peoples are crazy to reside in Delhi and want to appear each places. At this stage the initial thing which clicks in everyone's mind is a place to live. In this case the resorts in Delhi are the best place for a tourist. The speciality of the hotels are; they offer fooding, lodging, and also organize the transportation facilities for the peoples who want to see the different places in Delhi. We all know that Delhi is a popular place for the foreigners because they have an opportunity to see the history of India. Delhi is a finest location and different hotels are always ready to welcome their guests all the time.
The cost is the very best way to find> hotels europe in Las Vegas, as he is and find the costs of various resorts and off the strip, you should be in a position to see the lowest prices for the rooms, vol. If they are not a busy as always traveling, you might inquire a resort for the price of Another game, this can help to get into a better resort for the same cost as a smaller hotel.
Al Areen Wild life Park:- This park is ideal for families and animal enthusiasts to explore at leisure and appreciate the opportunity of viewing animals in the wild. It is divided into two components, 1 of which is open up to public. The viewing will be through their bus from the entrance, where we can see selection of Arabian mammals, some roaming free and other people in pens. It includes Arabian Oryx, the Persian Gazelle, the impala and the springbok. There are also some African animals which remain from the preliminary establishment of the park. The park is opened daily from 8-eleven a.m and 1- four.30 p.m.
They have brand name new exhibitions on here all the time, so you by no means fairly know what to expect when you go to. There is also the IMAX cinema if you want to take them to see a movie. The highlight is definitely the Science Mall, which has three whole floors of issues to see and do. Children from six to 60 and past will love the fingers on technique that has been used to create the mall.
In addition, usually these holiday homes are truly comfortable and cozy. You immediately feel at house. There is no plasticity of the hotel rooms, but warmth of welcome. These are perfect to enjoy with family, your partner or even your time on your own.
Under the Royal Mile is a various world, where homes and streets have been preserved in St Marys Close because medieval times in the metropolis. Its an extremely various encounter and even a small frightening at times.
In the context of staying for a few times, booking a resort room is the ultimate necessity. If the higher space rates stop you from remaining there then with out losing time you should look for the Cheap Hotels In New York Metropolis. Such hotels can be affordable with ease because they are spending budget pleasant. The facilities that provide by the Budget Resorts In New York City are adequate to spend a couple of days in a splendid way. The lodging that are secure and thoroughly clean alongside nicely outfitted contemporary facilities are the attributes that include in Low cost Resorts In New York Metropolis. In this link, it will be wise enough if you enquire about the place of the resort and the critiques and feed back of the clients of such hotels prior to you finally determine to guide a space more than there.


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Winjet variPrint CP2280
Roll-to-Roll Color Label PressWinjet variPrint CP2280 Brochure (English) Winjet variPrint CP2280 Brochure (Traditional Chinese)
- Color laser printer
- Speed: max. 30 ft/min
- Media width: max. 12.6"
Winjet variPrint CP2280 - the Color Laser Label Press
The Forms and the Speed
variPrint CP2280 printer can print on 12.6"-wide media (max.) at a speed up to 30 ft/min. Roll-to-roll
Tractor Feeder & Auto Burster
Pin-feed is a simple approach for accurate printing. Especially it is an ideal solution to fill in pre-printed forms. The auto bursting feature finishes the printing jobs right on the perforation line accurately. Also, the WINJET feeder/burster system loads and stacks the media during multiple jobs without operator involvement.
Product Specifications
*All specifications are subject to change without notice.
|Heat roller system
|Printing Speed
|32 ppm (page length: 8.5")
|Printable Width
|Max. 11"
|600 x 600 DPI
|Fanfold continuous paper
|80 to 150 g/m2
|7 to 12 inches
|7 to 12 inches
|Power Requirements
|110 – 127 VAC / 220 – 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
|1350 mm (L) x 700 mm (W) x 640 mm (H)
|75 kg


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The Indian solar market is heating up as the world's second-most populous country works to modernize its energy infrastructure. Now Amonix, Inc. has partnered with Thermax Limited to bring its concentrated photovoltaics (CPVs) to the Indian solar market. As such, they may be the first companies to install a CPV array in the country.
Companies like Amonix and Canadian Solar are looking into the Indian market to help meet the needs of the Indian National Solar Mission. Under the first phase, the government plans to commission 1,000 megawatts of grid-connected solar projects by 2013, according to Amonix.
"India is a fast-developing solar energy market with multi-level policy support from state and federal governments. We applaud the Indian government's National Solar Mission promoting sustainable growth with federal targets of 20 gigawatts of solar installations in the country by 2022," said Carla Pihowich, vice president of marketing and regulatory for Amonix. "Also, since land cost is high in India, CPV is the ideal solar choice since it utilizes land better and has the highest energy density, producing more energy per acre than any other solar technology."
The company is first of the starting block in the CPV industry to enter the Indian market, according to Pihowich.
"Amonix is the first CPV company to announce an exclusive partnership with a leading, established engineering, procurement and construction firm. This partnership will allow Amonix CPV solar power systems to be deployed throughout high-DNI [i.e., direct normal insolation] regions of India," she said.
CPVs are intended for high DNI regions to get the most out of sunny areas and the high-efficiency, high-cost photovoltaics. In India, these DNI regions include areas like Gujarat, Rajasthan and other areas with a high level of sunshine, according to Pihowich.
Under the partnership, Amonix will offer its CPV systems and Thermax will serve as its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) in India. Amonix also said it will manufacture systems in India close to future deployments. At this point, however, it has not completed any projects in India, and it doesn't announce projects until they're commissioned, Pihowich said.
Image courtesy of Amonix.


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America has really never been a caste-free society. The rich get richer and the poor get the picture. In this film we get a direct camera lens view into what it is like for the poor in a resort town of Florida. More specifically, it's focused on a mother and daughter trying to survive while living in a daily rate motel.
The Florida Project (2017)
R | 1h 51min | Drama | 10 November 2017 (UK)
Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Disney World.
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Stars: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe
I've been a student of the culture of poverty every since I started teaching in an inner city environment. There are all sorts of observed rules you wouldn't thin of unless you lived in it. For example, the kids in poverty know when the churches and bakeries put out the day old bread and they are there ready to pick it up. There's nothing shameful about this, it's survival. In this film we see various ways the poor survive in this environment. It's often touching, sometimes maddening, and yes entertaining. This is a valuable relic because as it entertains it educates about an unseen part of our society. I can't get enough reminders of why some people do the things they do to survive in the culture of poverty.


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Review: Warcolours Paints
Hey guys, a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a new range of paints from a Cyprus based company called Warcolours and I was impressed.
I am always a easy pushover when it comes to trying out new brands, especially when I see colours that I do not already have in my collection.Warcolours paints come in 15ml bottles,which is slightly less in volume than Vallejo which is 17ml and cost around 1.70 Euros which is about £1.30 in the UK. The price is very good as I am currently paying about £1.70 for a Vallejo bottle. From what I have noticed all the bottles have a small ball inside them similar to Comm Art paints, which makes mixing the paint easy when shaking the bottles. I really like this feature.
The Warcolour paint range totals in at 92 separate colours, ranging from neutrals (see above – all available in handy groups of five corresponding hues), flurorescents and some very unique metallic shades:
Here are some quick tries on a sheet of paper:
My initial thoughts on using them is that I really like them. The colours can be thinned down for both brush work or airbrush. I was particularly impressed with how strong certain colours like the flurorescents and metallics are, as I needed only one coat to cover an area, without a second coat.
All in all I am really impressed with the Warcolours paints that I have and will be purchasing more. The only negative I can give is the bottles themselves are awful. They are hard and trying to get the paint out is difficult, even if you have strong hands. If they changed the bottles too a less stiff plastic I would be happy. Other than that I also look forward to trying them out more on some future projects. Highly recommended. Check out their shop here.
Do you like our tutorials and reviews? Here is what you can do to support us: Check out the websites of our sponsors, place your next orders at Wayland Games by clicking here or on the banner on the right. Thank you very much, we appreciate any help to keep us going!


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|From right to left: Mr. Abdelbagi Jibril (DRDC), Mr. Dismas Nkunda (IRRI), Hon. Salih Mahmoud Osman, H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Mr. Amir Osman (SDC) and Mr. Arnold Tsunga (Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights)
|-- --
CS Forum - First Session
|Abdelbagi Jibril, DRDC Executive Director
flanked by Ms. Niemat Ahmadi, President,
Darfur Women Action Group, Hon. Dr.
Usman Bugaje (Nigeria), Mr. Mustafa
Abdelkarim, Member of DRDC Board and
Prof Kwame Karikari, Executive Director,
Media Foundation for West Africa.
CS Forum - Second Session
|Group Picture of some of the Forum's participants
The African Union High-Level Implementation Panel : Four Years of Existence !
|Click Here
|>>> Report of the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur, 29 Oct 2009
>>> Report of the Elders' Mission to Sudan: Bringing Hope, Forging Peace, Nov 2007
>>> Report of the High Level Mission on the Situation of Human Rights in Darfur, March 2007
>>> Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, Jan 2005, (English)
>>> Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, Jan 2005, (Arabic)
We have 6 guests online
|Darfuri students sit for their annual exam,
12 March 2012


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Report: Broncos' Trevor Siemian has AC joint sprain in non-throwing shoulder
Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian was carted off the field during Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. He has been diagnosed with an AC joint sprain, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
Siemian was sacked by defensive tackle Clinton McDonald late in the second quarter, and appeared to be in some discomfort afterward. He was replaced under center by rookie Paxton Lynch.
Denver announced shortly after that he was available to re-enter, but likely wouldn't play the rest of the game.
The 24-year-old had completed five of seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown before exiting.
– Kenny Ducey


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Inventory control and remote monitoring apparatus and method for coin-operable vending machines
There is provided an apparatus and method for monitoring inventory in a plurality of coin-operated vending machines. A bar code scanner is used to log inventory into a memory within each vending machine. As merchandise is dispensed, transaction records including the date and time of sale are generated and stored within each vending machine. Denominations of currency tendered by a buyer for each transaction are also stored. At a predetermined time under the control of a processor in cooperation with a real-time calendar-clock within each vending machine, stored information about each vending transaction is transmitted via a cellular telephone interface and modem to a central computer where a statistical analysis of sales for a single vending machine or for predetermined groups of vending machines may be performed. Calls are times such that no two vending machines are attempting to communicate with the central computer at the same time. Consequently, a single cellular telephone number may be used by all vending machines. Inventory status and change remaining in a vending machine may also be communicated to the central computer.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of coin-operable product vending machines, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for inventory management and remote monitoring of product sales and vending machine status information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "vending machine" was first used in the early 1900s to refer to a coin-operated merchandise dispensing machine. A wide variety of products ranging from foodstuffs such as snacks, hot or cold beverages, and frozen confections to non-edible merchandise like newspapers, magazines, toiletries, cigarettes or stamps may now be found in vending machines. The basic concept is that a vending machine contains an inventory of a particular product or products available to potential buyers on a twenty-four hour per day basis without the need for the presence of a human sales person. Individual units of merchandise are dispensed in response to a purchaser's order and the deposition of the required purchase price in the form of coins, bills, or debit/credit cards. Vending machines may be located in remote areas where the sales volume would not justify a normal attended sales outlet.
In a typical vending machine business, a number of machines are owned or operated by a single person or entity. Machines are grouped into "routes" and a periodically visited by an attendant who replenishes the merchandise in the machine, replenishes coin and/or bill supplies used for making change, removes any out-of-date merchandise no longer fit for sale, checks and adjusts the machine as required and may also remove the collected monies.
Because each individual machine experiences different traffic patterns and the buying preferences of the customers at each machine site may vary, it has been difficult in the past for machine owners and/or route attendants to efficiently service the machines. If a sold-out condition occurs, sales may be lost and customer good will may be jeopardized. If excessive quantities of products having expiration dates must be discarded because of low sales volume, profits from the machines are diminished.
Some of the problems of vending machine inventory management have previously been addressed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,442 for Code Controlled Microcomputer Readout From Coin Operated Machine; issued to Robert L. Werth, et al. on Jan. 18, 1983, teaches a system of counters within a vending machine. A portable collection unit (PCU) may be attached to a vending machine by a machine attendant. The PCU interrogates the machine's internal counters and receives various sales and machine status information. The PCU may also serve as a programming unit to input new information such as price changes, etc. into the vending machine. This system suffers in that a route attendant has no forewarning about remaining product inventory in any particular machine and therefor, may be unable to restock adequate quantities of a product which has been selling rapidly. On the other hand, a route attendant may find himself overstocked with other items. This is inefficient and in the case of perishable products, may cause waste and consequent erosion of profits. Because of these uncertainties, attendants may be forced to visit machines frequently to insure an uninterrupted supply products to potential buyers. By contrast, the present invention provides route attendants with accurate inventory information for a machine prior to visiting the machine thus allowing an optimized machine visitation schedule and minimizing both sold out and out-of-date product situations.
Another system for monitoring vending machines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,292, System For The Remote Monitoring of Vending Machines; issued to Jason K. Sedam, et al. on Oct. 25, 1983. Total sales count and sales dollar volumes are accumulated for each product. A scheduling feature allows a each of a plurality of machines to communicate with a central computer in an orderly fashion via dedicated telephone lines. Abnormal conditions may be called to the central computer in "real time", i.e. as the condition is detected. In contradistinction, the inventory management system of the present invention differs significantly in that total inventory information, i.e. product quantities currently in the machine, not just sold item counts, are kept locally in the vending machine. Sales transactions are individually logged and log information includes the date and time of sale. In the inventive system, each vending machines "knows" immediately about product added or removed by the route attendant. Consequently, at any given moment, accurate up-to-date inventory information, is available. Conversely, in the SEDAM, et al. system, only the central computer contains the inventory status information, and then only after the status is manually entered, possibly many hours after the machine had been serviced, e.g. at the end of a shift. Reconciling physical inventory to the inventory that the central computer assumes is in a particular machine may therefor be difficult.
Another vending machine inventory management system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,713 for Inventory, Cash, Security, And Maintenance Control Apparatus And Method For a Plurality of Remote Vending Machines issued to Arthur H. Horne, et al. Feb. 25, 1992. Horne, et al. disclose a system for the remote monitoring of a vending machine. Various environmental parameters are monitored and alarm conditions are established when abnormal machine performance is sensed. The vending machine initiates a call over a standard, dedicated telephone line to a central computer informing the computer of the machine status or of the fact that an individual item has been sold. This system has several disadvantages overcome in the instant invention. First, a dedicated telephone line is required for each machine on the route. This in and of itself is expensive. Second, numerous calls are made by the machine through any given period of time. In remote areas, this may require a toll call. Consequently, the ongoing operational expense may be high. Third, the central computer must be available to monitor calls on a continuous basis and there must be a sufficient number of dial-up ports available on the computer to insure that there is not excessive contention by multiple vending machines attempting to dial into the computer at once. All inventory status information must be maintained at the central computer. By contrast, the inventory control system of the present invention differs significantly in that all inventory information is maintained at the vending machine itself where it may easily be reconciled to physical inventory. In addition, only periodic contacts with the central computer need be made, and such contacts are made via cellular telephone technology eliminating the need for the installation and maintenance of multiple, dedicated telephone lines. The central computer need only be available during certain, predetermined time periods to accept calls from the vending machines.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,253 for Automated Statistical Inventory Reconciliation System for Convenience Stores and Auto/truck Service Stations; issued to Paul M. O'Connor on Mar. 21, 1995 teaches an automated system that constantly collects data from a tank monitoring system, a fuel system and point-of-sale systems for the purpose of fuel inventory reconciliation. Statistical data analysis is performed locally and the results of the analysis are periodically communicated to a central computer using ordinary telephone lines. System problems identified by the monitoring equipment are also communicated to the central computer. In contrast, the inventive system differs from the O'Connor systems in several significant ways. First, a vending machine usually dispenses discreet units of merchandise unlike a fuel dispensing system. In addition, in the environment of liquid fuel dispensing, a significant safety hazard exists. Consequently, the O'Connor system heavily orientated towards safety issues. The O'Connor system reconciles inventory to detect losses dues to miscalibration of the fuel dispensers and/or tank leakage. In contrast, the inventory management system of the present invention is oriented to providing uninterrupted supplies of good-selling products and minimizing spoilage losses for slow selling products through an analysis of customer preferences and buying trends.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,384 for Inventory Monitoring Apparatus Employing Counter for Adding and Subtracting Objects Being Monitored; issued to Eric R. Colburn, et al. on Apr. 4, 1995 teaches an apparatus suitable for mounting on a wall in a stock room or the like. Items to be monitored are counted by means of a switch actuation as they are added to or removed from a support peg. A microprocessor-based system counts the items as they are added and removed, thereby providing an accurate inventory of the monitored items. In contrast, the system of the present invention logs inventory with price data into the vending machine by scanning bar codes. Items of merchandise removed from inventory through the vending process are automatically counted by the controlling processor. Spoiled merchandise, removed from the vending machine, is also counted using a bar code scanner.
It is, therefor, an object of the present invention to provide an inventory tracking systems resident within a coin-operated vending machine for ease of inventory reconciliation by route restock/service personnel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an inventory monitoring system with capability for communicating sales transaction, inventory and change supply information periodically to a remote computer.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide communication with a central computer without the need for dedicated telephone lines by using cellular telephone technology.
It is another object of the invention to provide route refill/service employees with an accurate analysis of the sales from individual vending machines so that an optimized mix of products may be made available for refilling the machine.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an inventory management system which tracks the placement of individual items in individual positions or slots within racks so as to allow the placement of mixed inventory in individual racks within a vending machine.
Yet another object of the invention is to track the date and time of sales to allow analyzing purchase patterns and/or trends.
A still further object of the invention is to track the denominations of coins and bills tendered for the purchase of merchandise so as to allow optimizing a change supply for a vending machine.
Another object of the invention is to allow use of a debit card for purchases from a vending machine equipped with the inventory control system of the present invention.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventory management system of the present invention provides a system for monitoring the placement of individual items of merchandise in individual position within the racks of a coin-operated vending machine. Bar codes or similar identifiers affixed to rack and slots within racks are scanned into a memory resident within the vending machine. UPC bar codes from merchandise to be dispensed are also stored. The vending machine is equipped to monitor and record the denomination of all coins and bills or debit card tendered and to time-stamp each sale and store a record of the transaction within the vending machine. At a preprogrammed time, the vending machine initiates a telephone call using a cellular communication interface and transmits via modem the records of sales to a central computer for analysis. The system uses a single cellular number to service a plurality of vending machines and individual machines are programmed to transmit only during a time slot assigned to them. Records of sales may be analyzed and route refill/service employees provided detailed analysis of the preferences and buying patterns of the patrons of each individual machine. Inventory outage and spoilage can be minimized and profitability thereby maximized.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunction with the detailed description thereof and in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a typical vending machine incorporating the inventory management system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an ancillary, portable system used by route restock/service personnel for communicating with the inventory management system; and
FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a plurality of vending machines communicating with a central computer via a cellular telephone link.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at reference number 10, a schematic block diagram of a typical vending machine incorporating the inventory management system of the present invention. A product selection panel 12 contains a plurality of product selection buttons 14. Buttons 14 are used by a buyer (not shown) to select from a variety of products 18 displayed in dispensing unit 16. Products 18 are disposed in uniquely identified racks 22. A machine-readable identification code such as a bar code (not shown) is affixed to each rack 22. Each rack 22 comprises a number of positions (not shown), each position being capable of retaining a single unit of product 18 to be dispensed. Each position within each rack 22 may also be uniquely identified with a machine-readable code such as a bar code (not shown). A label 20, proximate each product 18, displays both a selection code (i.e. button identification) and selling price. Optionally, the label function may be implemented using LED, LCD or similar display technology so that selling price may be dynamically changed. Optional labels 20' are shown connected to display controller 44 which receives input from controller 26 described in detail hereinbelow.
Decoder 24 receives button-press information from selection unit 12 and produces a unique signal representative of the rack 22 containing the desired product 18. A coin/currency and/or debit card acceptance unit 28 is provided to receive the requisite number of bills and/or coins from the buyer to purchase the desired product 18. Acceptance unit 28 tallies the money tendered including an exact count of each coin and bill denomination or debit card amount. Acceptance unit 28 generally incorporates a change-providing mechanism supplied with change from change supply 32. Some vending machines may also accept credit or debit cards using technology well know in the art but which does not form a part of the instant invention. Currency collected by acceptance unit 28 is securely stored in currency collection box 30 and held until removed by a machine refill/service employee. In some vending machines 10, coins from acceptance unit 28 may be recirculated as required into change supply 32. A variety of acceptance mechanisms for performing these functions are well known in the art, typical units suitable for use in practicing the instant invention are models USLZ001 or MKA-2141 manufactured by CONLUX USA.
A controller 26 is provided to manage the inventory control functions of the instant invention. Controller 26 may be constructed from standard components well know in the art, or may be a commercially available controller such as the CMD11A8 manufactured by AXIOM Manufacturing. Non-volatile memory 34 connected to controller 26 is provided for storing data such as product price, available change, and/or detailed transaction records. Memory 34 may be implemented in any of many ways well known in the art, typically in DRAM chips or modules. The CMD11A8 controller typically is provided with at least 8 kB of on-board memory. The size of memory 34 may be varied to suit a particular operating environment, the required amount being proportional to the number of sales transactions to be stored between memory dumps to central computer 60 (FIG. 3). Controller 26 must be programmed with the instructions necessary for performing the desired functions of the present invention using a high-level computer language such as BASIC, C++ or FORTH. In alternate embodiments, controller 26 could receive necessary instructions from a PROM, PAL or other similar programmable memory device. Such a memory devices would be "burned" with the necessary instructions using techniques well known in the art.
Real-time clock 36 provides date and time information to controller 26. Such a real-time clock is included as part of the CMD11A8 controller 26. In other embodiments, any clock chip or card well know in the art and located external to controller 26 could be employed. A suitable real time clock is model WNTR1000P manufactured by Industrial Computer Source, Inc.
Modem 38 receives commands and output data from controller 26. These commands are used to initialize modem 38 so that the output data may be transmitted to a remote, central computer 60 (FIG. 3). A typical modem is Model XJ4288 manufactured by Megahertz. The speed of the modem may be chosen to fit the operating circumstances. Typically a 1200 baud or higher transmission rate would be employed. Modem 38 is connected, in turn, to a cellular communication interface 40. A typical cellular communication interface is Model TROEM-1 manufactured by Nokia. In the preferred embodiment, the cellular interface 40 in each of a plurality of vending machines 10 utilizes a single cellular number which is time-shared under the control of controller 26 and real-time clock 36. Each vending machine in the system may be pre-programmed with an assigned time slot during which it may use the cellular communication link without interference from other machines. Time assignments will depend on the number of machines in the system, the time required to transmit the required data and the transmission speed of modem 38. It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that any number of cellular numbers could be employed if the call volume from the vending machines were higher than could be supported using a single number.
An input/output port 42 is provided to controller 26 for use by machine refill/service personnel in updating inventory and/or available change status in memory 34 of vending machine 10. Typically, a hand-help bar code scanner 52 (FIG. 2) such as Model V14-1006 from Zebra Technologies may be connected to input/output port 42. Other input/output devices such as keyboards or keypads could additionally or alternately be connected as individual operating circumstances dictated.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown generally at reference number 50 a schematic block diagram of the portable system carried by refill/service attendants. Hand-held bar code scanner 52 is shown connected a controller 54. An optional keyboard or keypad 56 is also shown connected to controller 54. The output of controller 54 is provided with a plug 58 matching the connector on input/output port 42 (FIG. 1). In other embodiments, the functions of controller 54 could easily be included within controller 26 (FIG. 1) and bar code reader 52 and/or keyboard 54 could be plugged directly into input/output port 42 of controller 26.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram of the overall system of the present invention. A plurality of vending machines 10 are disposed within the communication confines of a cellular communications network represented schematically at reference number 68. Central computer 60 is equipped with a modem 62 connected to a normal telephone line 64. Statistical analysis and communication software (not shown and well known in the art) running within computer 60 receives data from remotely-located vending machines 10 by means of the cellular communication network consisting of cellular communication interface 40 (FIG. 1) within each of the plurality of vending machines 10; air-borne telephone signals 70; and cellular receiving station 72 connected to the telephone landline network. A printer 66 may optionally be attached to computer 60 for providing hard copies of the statistical analysis performed by computer 60. In addition to statistical analysis, specific software running also on computer 60 may be employed to automatically order products based upon projected need within plurality of vending machines 10.
In typical use, a buyer (not shown) inserts bills and/or coins into acceptance unit 28 in an amount greater than or equal to the purchase price shown on tag 20 associated with a desired product 18. Next, the buyer press buttons 14 on selection unit 12 and enters the code located on tag 20 associated with desired product 18. Decoder 24 provides a signal representing the rack 22 holding desired product 18 to processor 26. Acceptance unit 28 provides controller 26 with the amount of money tendered by the buyer. If adequate money has been tendered, controller 26 sends an appropriate dispense command to dispensing unit 16 and the desired product 18 is delivered to the buyer. If change is due, acceptance unit 28 returns the correct change to the buyer. Processor 26 queries real-time clock 36 and then writes a transaction record to memory 30. Information included in the transaction could include the date and time of the transaction, the code of the product dispensed, and the exact count of bills/coin denominations tended by the buyer.
At a predetermined time, controller 36 activates modem 38 and subsequently cellular telephone interface 40 which initiates a telephone call to a central computer 60 (FIG. 3). Transaction records, status of inventory amount of change remaining and other such information is then uploaded from vending machine 10. Transaction records in memory 34 may then be erased or tagged as transmitted and later erased. The transaction records from each machine, selected groups of machine, and ultimately all machines may be statistically analyzed by computer 60 and summaries distributed to management and/or route service personnel.
Prior to a visit to a vending machine 10, the route service person may have been provided a complete analysis of the machine's performance. He could, therefore, have with him adequate supplies of items which were good sellers and, if required, stock multiple racks 22 (FIG. 1) with an identical product 18 (FIG. 1). The service person would update the inventory in the machine using hand-held bar code scanner. First, the bar code of a particular rack 22 would be scanned. Next, the UPC bar code of each item of merchandise and the bar code of the position with rack 22 would also be scanned. In this manner, memory 34 (FIG. 1) would contain a complete record of each item of merchandise including its location within dispensing unit 16 (FIG. 1). Selling price information could be entered using predefined bar codes or could be key-entered using optional keyboard 56 (FIG. 2). In this manner, individual racks 22 could be stocked with more than one product type and vending machine 10 would automatically charge the correct price. This strategy assumes that labels 20 (FIG. 1) are implemented using an electronic display technology and selling price information may be dynamically changed by controller 26. In a like manner, the route attendant may input the exact amount of change placed in the machine into memory. Finally, the route attendant may manually delete information from memory 34 (FIG. 1) as required.
Since other combinations, modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the chosen preferred embodiments for purposes of disclosure, but covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.
1. A system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines, comprising:
- at least one vending machine adapted to selectively dispense from a known preloaded product inventory, at least one product, said at least one product having a unique product identification code and a predetermined selling price, to a buyer upon payment of said predetermined selling price, said payment comprising currency, said vending machine comprising:
- timing means capable of generating data representative of the time and date of least one of said acts of dispensing;
- means operatively connected to said timing means for generating data responsive to at least one of said acts of dispensing, said data comprising said identification code, said predetermined selling price, the denominations of said currency, and said date and said time;
- storage means operatively connected to said timing means and to said generating means for accumulating said generated data, and for holding data representative of said known inventory;
- processing means operatively connected to said storage means and to said generating means for accepting said generated data and updating said data representative of said known inventory;
- communication means for transmitting information comprising said accumulated data and said known inventory in response to said timing means; and
- data input means operatively connected to said processing means whereby an operator may update said known product inventory;
- remote processing means adapted to receive said transmitted data and said known inventory data from each of said at least one vending machines, and selectively combining said received data and generating an output representative said dispensing activities of individual or predetermined groups of said at least one vending machine.
2. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 1, said at least one vending machine further comprising: at least one uniquely identifiable rack, said at least one uniquely identifiable rack having uniquely identifiable positions associated therewith, each of said uniquely identifiable positions being adapted to hold one unit of said uniquely identified preloaded product.
3. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 2, wherein said uniquely identifiable rack and said uniquely identifiable positions are each identified by means of bar codes affixed proximate said uniquely identifiable rack and said uniquely identifiable positions thereof, respectively.
4. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 3, said vending machine further comprising means for storing within said storage means a predetermined selling price associated with each of said uniquely identifiable positions of said uniquely identifiable racks such that preloaded products having different predetermined selling prices may be mixed within said uniquely identifiable positions of said uniquely identified rack, said processing means being adapted to dispense a preloaded product at the predetermined selling price associated with said uniquely identifiable position holding said product.
5. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 4, wherein said communication means comprises a cellular telephone interface and a modem.
6. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of machines as recited in claim 5, wherein said cellular telephone interface in each of said at least one vending machines utilizes the same cellular telephone number.
7. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 5, said at least one vending machine further comprising a supply of change and said processing means further being adapted to compute an amount of change to be returned to a buyer from said supply of change when said payment exceeds said predetermined selling price.
8. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 5 wherein said data input means comprises a bar code scanner.
9. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 5 wherein said data input means for comprises a keyboard.
10. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 5, wherein said prossing means and said storage means and said timing means comprises a micro-controller.
11. The system for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said at least one vending machines initiates telephone communication at a time determined by said processing means in cooperation with said real-time clock, said predetermined times being arranged such that only one of said at least one vending machines utilizes said cellular communication at any time.
12. A method for monitoring inventory in a plurality of vending machines, the steps comprising:
- providing at least one vending machine capable of vending preloaded a product having a unique identification from a known inventory of said product, said product having a predetermined selling price, in response to a request from a buyer and upon tendering currency equal to or greater than said predetermined selling price, said vending machine having the capability to identify the denominations of all said tendered currency and for creating data representative thereof, further said vending machine having the capability to create data representative of said unique product identification, the date, and the time of any vending event, said vending machine having the capability to accumulate all such data and, at a predetermined time, to transmit said data to a remote computer via a cellular telephone communication link;
- initiating a vending event by a buyer, said buyer tendering currency equal to or greater than said predetermined selling price;
- returning change to said buyer when said tendered currency exceeds said predetermined selling price; updating said known inventory in response to said vending event;
- creating a data record of said vending event, said data record comprising said unique product identification code, said denominations of said tendered currency,
- said date and said time of said vending event;
- storing a plurality of said data records;
- transmitting said plurality of data records to a central computer via a cellular telephone communication link;
- processing said plurality of data records at said central computer to produce an output representative of the vending history of said at least one vending machine;
- restocking said at least one vending machine with said products responsive to said output representing said vending history so as to minimize the possibility of an out-of-stock condition; and updating said known inventory in said vending machine to reflect said restocking.
|January 18, 1983
|Werth et al.
|October 25, 1983
|Sedam et al.
|January 7, 1986
|Gerpheide et al.
|November 28, 1989
|March 6, 1990
|February 25, 1992
|Horne et al.
|October 27, 1992
|Newell et al.
|May 4, 1993
|April 19, 1994
|Axler et al.
|May 31, 1994
|Barnes et al.
|March 21, 1995
|April 4, 1995
|Colburn et al.
|February 13, 1996
|Marceau et al.
|June 11, 1996
|Roach, Jr. et al.
|April 8, 1997
|June 24, 1997
|Smith et al.
|November 11, 1997
|Picioccio et al.
|December 9, 1997
|Muehlberger et al.
|June 23, 1998
|August 11, 1998
|Comer et al.
|June 1992
- "Imp Introduces First Programmable Ic To Monitor Analog Signals", pp. 1-4; Dialog: File 16, May 20, 1996. "Application Include Remote Monitoring of Utility Meters and vending Machines", BellSouth, Jan. 4, 1996, Dialog: File 16.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 20, 1996
Date of Patent: Jul 27, 1999
Inventor: Dennis Stephen Stapp (Madison, AL)
Primary Examiner: Allen R. MacDonald
Assistant Examiner: Romain Jeanty
Attorney: Terrance L. Siemens
Application Number: 8/770,482
International Classification: G06F15300;


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Microsoft has just announced that Windows 8 will be available on October 26th. The announcement came from Steven Sinofsky at Microsoft's annual sales meeting.
Now that there is a firm date, users can now start planning their Windows 8 deployment. We hope that businesses will start planning their upgrade to Windows 8 and that they won't stick onto Windows 7. This also pinpoints a date for the Surface RT tablet as Microsoft has stated when Windows 8 launches will be when the Surface RT tablet launches.
Source: Windows Team Blog
Jessica is the founder and editor-in-chief of TrustedNerd.com. Covering major tech shows such as CES, Jessica is always there for the latest tech news. Want your gadget to be reviewed or have a release you'd like to be considered for publishing? Send Jessica an email, jessica [at] trustednerd.com


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« National Board: Sequestration Hinders Research Funding | Main | Education Department Invests in Education Business Research »
New Research Center Focuses on College Remediation
By Sarah D. Sparks
One in five incoming college students has to take at least one remedial class, and the time and money spent in these often-noncredit courses can put higher education out of reach for the students in them.
That's why the Institute of Education Sciences is launching a new $10 million national research and development center to find better ways to identify and teach students in college developmental education.
"The common assessment tool that most colleges and universities use to determine whether most students need developmental /remedial coursework are not very good at predicting which students will in fact benefit from taking those courses," said Tom Brock, the commissioner for the National Center for Education Research, at a meeting of IES' advisory board in Washington yesterday. "There are some innovations out there of ways to improve assessment practices, but so far none of them have been evaluated with any rigor. The Center's job is to do just that."
IES has opened competition for the first five-year, $10 million contract for the center, which will have five core goals:
• Describe the current landscape of placement tests and teaching practices which colleges and other higher education institutions use for developmental education.
• Gather researchers, educators, and policymakers interested in improving remedial education.
• Identify promising new instructional methods, assessments, and other practices.
• Evaluate both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of practices already being used for large numbers of students and those with the potential for expansion.
• Support efforts by states and universities to scale up effective practices.


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"Once again Wembley has earned its high position in the 2018 AHDB Recommended List 4-year trials results, proving that the variety is living up to its reputation for consistency in gross output over seasons," comments Theo Labuda, Managing Director of LS Plant Breeding Ltd (LSPB).
"Wembley is a restored hybrid giving good autumn vigour and spring vigour. Added to that it has good agronomic characteristics with high stem stiffness, high resistance to lodging, good resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker - and an early flowering time.?
"Crome is our clubroot resistant candidate variety, and it has also had an excellent year with high yield and the highest oil content in 2018 trials results.
"LSPB's variety Mentor has long been established as the only clubroot resistant variety on the Recommended List. Now Crome looks set to give growers a further choice with the promise of a 7% increase in gross output over Mentor based on this year's trials results," adds Mr Labuda.


text: What You Oughta Know About the AP Psychology Exam References: REA AP Psychology Crash Course | Kaplan AP Psychology | College Board website AP Psychology Exam The Basics Date: Monday, May 7, 2012 Time: 12:00-2:30pm (the exam is 2 hours, plus time for instructions, distributing materials, and a break between sections I and II) Location: TBD - probably the Library & room 327… AP Psychology Exam What to Bring Several sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers for all responses on your multiplechoice answer sheet (no mechanical pencils) Pens with black or dark blue ink for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions A watch (optional – there will be clocks in testing rooms) AP Psychology Exam What Not to Bring Electronics: cell phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), BlackBerry smartphones, Bluetoothenabled devices, MP3 players, email/messaging devices, or any other electronic or communication devices. Books, compasses, mechanical pencils, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, notes or colored pencils. Scratch paper; notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets. Watches that beep or have an alarm. Portable listening devices or portable recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment. Computers. Clothing with subject-related information. Food or drink. AP Psychology Exam Structure of the Test Section 100 multiple choice questions 70 minutes 2/3 of your overall score (100 points) There is no guessing penalty, so answer every question! Section I II 2 free response questions 50 minutes 1/3 of your overall score (50 points) Focused on methodology across areas and relating a point to several different approaches in psychology AP Psychology Exam What Will Be On The Exam? (This chart is in your APP Syllabus) Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9 Unit 10 Unit 11 Unit 12 Unit 13 Unit 14 History and Approaches Methods and Approaches Biological Bases of Behavior Sensation and Perception States of Consciousness Learning Cognition Motivation and Emotion Developmental Psychology Personality Testing and Individual Differences Abnormal Psychology Treatment of Psychological Disorders Social Psychology 2-4% 6-8% 8-10% 7-9% 2-4% 7-9% 8-10% 7-9% 7-9% 6-8% 5-7% 7-9% 5-7% 7-9% AP Psychology Exam AP Exam Scores 5 = extremely well qualified 4 = well qualified 3 = qualified 2 = possibly qualified 1 = no recommendation approx. approx. approx. approx. approx. 75% 62% 51% 43% 0-42% Most colleges accept an AP score of 3 or higher to award college credit Percentages based on the 2007 Released Exam, AP Psychology Crash Course AP Psychology Exam Review Resources - print Average price: $18-35 Available at Barnes and Noble and…? AP Psychology Exam Review resources - online http://www.bremertonschools.org/Page/681 AP Psychology Exam Power Points: Units 1 -14 Edmodo.com Tag: Power Points www.edmodo.com (links to videos watched throughout the year are also posted on Edmodo) Ms. Justice's Website – APP Page http://bremertonschools.org/Page/682 AP Psychology Exam Key Terms, Key Psychologists, and Key Theories Approximately 2/3 of the multiple choice questions test your knowledge of key terms – identify a definition or best example The remaining questions focus on key psychologists and their theories A list of 62 psychologists can be found in the AP Psychology Course Description on the College Board's AP Psych webpage http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_psych.html AP Psychology Exam MC: Stand alone questions The majority of the MC questions are stand alone questions The words in the stem provide the info you need to answer the questions Covers a distinct topic Easy, medium, and hard (no order) Example A graphical representation of correlational data is called a: (a) Bell curve (b) Chi square (c) Scatterplot (d) Bimodal distribution (e) Skewed distribution AP Psychology Exam MC: Stand alone questions Test-taking strategy Answer the stand alone MC questions you find to be easy first, skip the ones you're not sure about Then go back and tackle the tougher ones Don't leave any answers blank If you must guess, try to eliminate some obvious incorrect answer choices AP Psychology Exam MC: Grouped questions Given a stimulus (sentences or a graph) that help you answer a set of questions Make sure you understand the stem and then attack the easy questions first Example stem: A researcher is interested in determining if the amount of caffeine students consume influences the number of hours they study. To do this, he varies the amount of caffeine among three groups of students: group 1 drinks 0 servings of caffeine a day; group 2 drinks 3 servings; group 3 drinks 8 servings. Students keep a log tracking how long they study each dy. After the study is over, the researcher collects the logs and obtains an average number of hours studied per group. AP Psychology Exam MC: Grouped questions Example questions: In this experiment, _________ is the independent variable. (a) Group 1 (b) Group 3 (c) Number of hours studied (d) Amount of caffeine consumed (e) Number of students per group AP Psychology Exam MC: Grouped questions Example questions: In this experiment, _________ is the dependent variable. (a) Group 1 (b) Group 3 (c) Number of hours studied (d) Amount of caffeine consumed (e) Number of students per group AP Psychology Exam MC: Test-taking strategy Trust your instincts (go with your gut) -- You don't have time to ponder every tough question Even your educated guesses may not be correct but remember, You're not shooting for a perfect score You're shooting for a good score AP Psychology Exam Free Response Questions Take the time you need and make your answers as precise and detailed as possible Most FRQs are stuffed with smaller questions – an initial set-up followed by sub-questions labeled (a), (b), (c), and so on Expect to spend about 1/2 page writing about each sub-question Each sub-question has key ideas worth a certain number of points AP Psychology Exam Example FRQ Briefly describe each of the disorders listed below. For each disorder, include a general description of the disorder, a review of the symptomatology, the mode of treatment currently viewed as most effective, and the rationale for use of this treatment. (a) Anxiety disorder (b) Bipolar disorder (c) Schizophrenia AP Psychology Exam Free Response Questions Use the format of the question to write your response – follow the structure presented on the exam Write out the information in a clear, organized way Utilize the bullet points or (a), (b), (c) groupings State the term/concept for clarity – but do not use a variation on the term to explain the concept AP Psychology Exam General AP Exam Strategies Pace Be aware of the time and the number of questions you have remaining Use yourself the process of elimination for MC The correct answer is there. Eliminating incorrect answers increases your chances of choosing the correct answer – especially if you need to guess! AP Psychology Exam General AP Exam Strategies Be aware of patterns and trends The percentages for content units doesn't change much from year to year Familiarize yourself with previous test administrations as much as possible Have the right approach Have the right mindset – positive, proactive, and confident!


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Why pole? I'm often asked that when people find out what I do for fitness. I'd always tell them that it's because I'd tried many other things but couldn't stick to them and that pole felt different because you didn't go to class and focus on a muscle group to work or follow a choreographed routine blindly. You focused on nailing a move or a combo and the achievement you felt when you were able to do it unaided well outweighed the muscle pain felt a day or two later. However, stepping away from the physical fitness aspect, I'm also not afraid to admit that pole has saved me mentally too. From giving me a space where I have to focus on nothing else but the task at hand, because let's face it, some moves aren't very safe if you're distracted, to giving me a massive support network of women, and men, who gave me the strength to trust in myself when I needed it.
Not all, but many women I've met through pole seem to have some sort of underlying 'issue'…from physical manifestations such as epilepsy or PCOS to less visible ailments such as eating disorders, anxiety and depression, OCD or low self-esteem. What brings so many of us into this aerial world? I personally have found pole to be like therapy for myself, and I know many others describe it that way too. When I learned of my husband's affair I was ashamed. I felt worthless and that somehow it must have been my fault because I wasn't 'enough'. Enough of a wife, of a friend, of a lover, of a woman. This feeling of shame forced me to keep quiet for four years. Four years of muddling along, driving myself mad with internal misery. I never told a soul and the only place I felt free was at pole or lyra class. When I was there I had to be strong, confident in myself, in tune with my sensuality…all the things that crumbled away from the studio. At class I believed in everything I did, at home I felt like a shell of my former self. Eventually I found my way to counselling sessions and even there my counsellor commented on how when I spoke about pole my eyes would light up and that we had to find a way to bring 'pole Kelle' back into the real world. These sessions gave me the confidence to finally break my silence about the whole situation and the first people I confided in were my pole family. I knew they would be the most supportive and understanding people I could speak to and they gave me the backing I needed in myself to finally leave and start afresh on my own. Some donated time to help me move, some donated furniture to kit out my house since I was essentially starting from scratch, some donated their ears when I needed a rant or a shoulder to cry on. All of them were there for me and that's when I really realised, pole is more than just fitness.
For most of us, pole or aerial are more than just a class we go to weekly to keep fit. They become our community. Our classes are our escape, our little oasis of 'me time' in a hectic world. Our friends become our family, who we trust with our secrets, our fears and our achievements. We become a part of each other's lives outside of the studio. We go to gigs, festivals, days out together. This environment breeds self-love and confidence amongst women like nothing I've ever experienced before. We build each other up in the face of a world that's constantly telling us we aren't enough through the lies of the media. The classes I've attended certainly are inclusive of every age, shape, size, colour and variety of human being going. There is room for everybody to attend and we are taught to love our bodies for what they can do rather than what they look like. We learn to bare our love handles or our scars, despite our initial hesitation because we feel safe and we know that in order to progress we must embrace our bodies and show our skin to allow for stronger moves. We are encouraged to stop saying 'I can't' and instead to keep trying, keep pushing until we CAN and when we do, we are met with so much support and motivation from our instructors and our friends that it spurs us on to reach even further, to things we never dreamed our bodies could do. This enriching environment then spreads that bloom of confidence and self-appreciation into other aspects of our daily life, be that our careers, our friendships or our relationships.
So now when people ask me 'why pole?', I tell them it's not just about physical fitness, its about mental fitness too.


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For the past few years, one of the fastest growing trends in smoking has been to use a vaporizer as opposed to cigarettes, pipes, and other traditional smoking devices. Those that are thinking about purchasing a vaporizer should consider getting a portable vaporizer, which comes with a number of different advantages that can help to enhance your smoking experience.
One advantage of portable vaporizers is that they are a healthier option for people that want to smoke tobacco. Smoking cigarettes or out of a pipe can be incredibly unhealthy as it will lead to people inhaling toxins and carcinogens. Over time, this could lead to someone developing lung cancer or heart disease. A vaporizer works differently from a cigarette in that it super heats the tobacco, but does not actually burn it. Then, when the smoke comes out of the vaporizer, it will be clean of all the toxins and carcinogens that are found in cigarettes.
Another advantage of using a vaporizer when smoking is that they are much safer to use. Beyond being dangerous to your health, cigarettes can pose a significant risk of fire if they are not treated properly. Many homes and buildings have been damaged or destroyed due to people throwing a lit cigarette out, which then catches on fire. With a vaporizer, there will be no open flame or use of fire. Instead, the vaporizer uses a battery which heats the tobacco. All of the portable vaporizers will come with a built in sensor, which will acknowledge the heat of the vaporizer and automatically turn off when it has gotten too hot in order to prevent a fire.
The third advantage of portable vaporizers is that they are very convenient to use. Most vaporizers are a bit too large to carry around on a regular basis. This means that they can only be used when at home. However, when using a portable vaporizer, you will have access to it whenever you have the urge to smoke. A portable vaporizer is quite small and could easily fit in any jacket pocket or purse. They are also convenient when compared to cigarettes, which require you to carry lighters and other accessories around with you at all times. Furthermore, one of the most annoying parts of smoking a cigarette is not being able to light the cigarette if it is windy outside. With a battery-operated vaporizer, you will never have an issue smoking, regardless of the weather.
Customer Service
Another benefit of portable vaporizers is that you will have access to customer service if you have an issue with your vaporizer. The manufacturers have a dedicated staff that is available to answer your calls regarding how to use the vaporizer, how to fix simple problems, and how to maintain it going forward. If it turns out that something was wrong with the vaporizer, you will be able to send it to the manufacturer through the mail, who will then either repair it or provide you with a new one.
Glen Campbell is a gadget blogger with an interest in cigars and tobacco accessories. His new found fascination with the growing vaporizer market can be seen in many of his newer posts.


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So you're already an authorized user on your parents' credit card, but you're looking to strike out on your own in the wide world of plastic. What are your options? We'll break down the rules around applying for your own line of credit and help you decide which card is best for you.
First off, the age restrictions
You might have heard that you have to be 21 to get a credit card without an adult cosigner. That's actually not quite true. The law imposing an age limit – the Credit CARD Act of 2009 – says that applicants under the age of 21 have to meet a minimum income requirement, but that requirement holds for everyone, no matter how old they are.
Now, the income requirements
If you want apply for a credit card on your own, you'll have to prove to the bank that you're capable of paying your bills. Only the person (or people) whose name is on the loan will be responsible for paying off the balance, so the bank has to make sure it's not lending money to someone with no money coming in. The requirements vary by bank.
That said, if you don't meet the income requirement but are over 18, you have another option: secured credit cards. Secured credit cards are backed by an upfront deposit (often the amount of your credit limit) that's returned to you when you close the account. Since the bank isn't taking a risk by lending to you, it won't require a minimum income. A great option for a no annual fee secured credit card is the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card. Anyone can join DCU by making a one-time, $10 donation to the nonprofit Reach Out for Schools.
You might be wondering what good a secured card does you if you have to make an upfront deposit. The benefit of using one is that it helps to build your credit, and if you want to get your own account, this is a good first step.
» MORE: Credit cards that help authorized users build credit
I'm over 18 and have the money. Now what?
If you're ready to pull the trigger on your own credit card, here are a couple good options to consider.
The Chase Freedom® has a $0 annual fee and 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories up to $1,500 spent per quarter. Those categories have included gas, movies, Amazon.com and more. It's a solid card that you'll be using for years.
The Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students is an excellent option for college students who enjoy eating out (or getting takeout) and going to concerts, sports and the like. It has an annual fee of $0, and earns 2 ThankYou Points per $1 on dining and entertainment and 1 point per $1 elsewhere. You can usually redeem ThankYou Points for gift cards at 1 cent per point.
Image via iStock.