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Our Story, Worth Reading
Ecomcraft is a full scale IT Development, digital media & marketing brand of Prasoon Media Pvt. Ltd which comply with ANSI ISO 9001 2015 quality norms and amongst a few in its industry .
Though the Entrepreneurial Tree of founding directors & company dates back in year 1965 where they have been pioneers in Print media including one of the top five daily Hindi newspapers for Northern India however Ecomcraft is a new age organization which has a digital solution for everyone.
Our team consists of best of the engineers and digital markers from across the globe, each one of them more than 4800 hours of work experience while our business teams comes from Top B-Schools & Engineering having experience of working with global brands like Alibaba, Ebay, Justdial etc.
We teams are located at Chicago, USA, India – Jaipur, Indore, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Delhi-NCR along with 20 upcoming locations by 2018 in National and International geographies.
We aim to make things right at first time.
Our Brands
Indianwalkietalkie :
www.Indianwalkietalkie.com , IWT is our wireless communication division where have been providing services and equipments to both private and government enterprises to help them earning more efficiency in communications. We have exclusive rights of some of the Worlds leading wireless equipment manufacturing brands.
Bhratiyanews.com :
www.bhartiyanews.com is will be coming up as countries first news portal serving news from the deepest pockets of geography, readers can get AV News from even around their 2-3 Kms of area.
HamariZindagi :
HamariZindagi is a political news magazine and newspaper been published from Jaipur & Udaipur that will shortly been launched in several cities of MP, UP & Punjab serving quality news


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Once again this year we are thrilled to bring you more of our Combined Xmas Dinner, show and dances.
If you are a small group or company looking for a fun staff Christmas party, why not book a table at one of our combined functions where you share with other companies.
This is an affordable option as you don't have to hire out a venue, hire a show and DJ and organize catering - WE DO IT ALL FOR YOU.
It gives you the feeling of being at a fantastic corporate function but at a fraction of the cost. The atmosphere is fun, entertaining and exciting and you may even make some new friends!
In total we get around 200 to each night so it is always lots of fun and a lovely mix of professional people.
Tables seat up to 10 and if you have more than one table we arrange them beside each other so your group isn't split up.
If you have any questions or would like us to send you the Menu and Beverage lists just send us an email and we will send them to you.
Venue: Alexandra Park Raceway.
Cost: $105+gst per person
Time: 7pm - 11.45pm
*If the event has to be cancelled due to COVID alert level changes deposits will be refuned in FULL so you can rest easy that it is a risk free booking.
You'll begin your evening with some greetings and a bit of frisking from the Fettuccini family, they like to welcome their guests in their own special way! They spend the cocktail hour meeting all the guests and giving them their new Mob names to help everyone settle in to an evening of comedy and laughter. This generous Italian family will host your evening from drinks to dessert.
This is an auspicious occasion with all the families gathered but there's always the temptation to want to settle old scores. To ensure this doesn't occur the guests take the e No Whacking oath and the evening begins. We announce the engagement of Maria to someone from the audience. We ensure that the new fiancé has a great time. In the past Maria's fiancé seems to have had an "accident" but we're sure this one's a keeper!
Dress: Italian mob attire, or if you want to go more low-key, then we suggest your guests dress in black and white or your best party gear. Costumes are optional but lots of fun!
"Thank you so much for a wonderful night. From the moment we arrived we knew we were in for a great night! We were greeted by the actors who were hilarious and really helped break the ice. The evening flowed beautifully from beginning to end. The room was set beautifully, the buffet dinner was plentiful and yummy, the show was hilarious and the DJ played a great selection of music. The bar prices were also really reasonable so it didn't hurt settling our bar tab at the end of the evening. Best Christmas party our team has had to date, I give this event a 10 out of 10." Debs, Connect Solutions
"I'd just like to thank you and your team for a fabulous time on Saturday night. We loved the entertainment, the stage show it was hilarious and your actors did a great job at breaking the ice at the start of the evening which can sometime be an awkward time. Everyone is raving about how much fun they had. I also thought your singer was wonderfully talented, she had such a great voice.
To top it all off the food was delicious (especially the Chicken curry) and the service was excellent. Please pass our thanks onto your team.' Karen Wicks, Transworks"Thanks for organizing and putting on such a great night. The food was beautiful and plentiful, show was funny and entertaining but not too in your face and the DJ played a good selection of music to suit all age groups. What more could we have asked for? Thanks again." Dee, Vodafone
"The chatter in the lunch room this morning was all about what a great night everyone had on Saturday night. The actors were a blast and had us in stitches on the night. Also, great reviews on the buffet. There was plenty of food and it was refilled constantly so even though we were one of the last tables to go up we felt we got exactly what the first table got – very important to a bunch of hungry males! Thanks for organizing a great night." Mike, VTNZ
"A very fun entertaining night from the minute we arrived. Thanks for taking the stress out of organizing the Xmas party…all we had to do was turn up on the night. Overall great value for money." June, NZ Radiology.

subset: commoncrawl


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Blog Archives
The Big Picture of God's Story
Here are the notes from Sunday, April 27th, 2014. You can listen to the podcast here.
"Over the last 200 years we have relied in our culture on social progress and enlightenment to bring about the new world in which we would like. So that we have forgotten that the new world that we would like is God's gift to us already in the crucified and risen Jesus." – N.T. Wright
The whole story of God needs to stay in our thinking, worship and prayer culture. This shapes our mission. It energizes our mission. When we remain in the context of the whole story of redemption, we remain in the correct size and role in the story. We remain small. God remains in charge and the story remains anchored around God.
Here are significant parts in God's story:


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- India's first smart card based PDS (Public Distribution System) solution
- Resonates with 'Aadhar' (UID project) issuing Smart cards
- Biometric, demographic and personal information details to be gathered
- Use of technology for systematic distribution of food rationing
HCL Infosystems India's premier hardware, services and ICT system Integration company today announced that it bagged an order to implement India's first smart card based solutions for Public Distribution System in the union territory of Chandigarh. The project will see distribution of smart card based ration cards to the families living below poverty line in the region.
These smart cards will capture all biometric, tax, demographic and personal information details, enabling authorities to ensure proper distribution of food rationing and other benefits. This first of its kind deployment resonates well with the Government's national initiative 'Aadhar' (UID project) and reinforces the company's expertise in the space. This selection comes after extensive scrutiny, solution demonstration and evaluation by various committees and also a nodal agency HARTRON (Haryana Electronics Development Cooperation) which found HCL Infosystems with its expertise best suited to deploy this unique solution.
Commenting on the project Mr. J.V. Ramamurthy, President & COO, HCL Infosystems Ltd said, "It gives me immense pleasure to see HCL Infosystems leading the way with India's first deployment for a technology led PDS solution. Technology today is changing the way local authorities across the globe reach out to their citizens. As Public Distribution System is vital for sustained living of the people living below the poverty line, this project is a step in right direction to make the Public Distribution System more robust and effective by deploying path-breaking technology. The project will ensure that the benefits of the public distribution system will reach the grass root levels and we at HCL Infosystems are proud to be a part of such nation building project."
This project also highlights the constant endeavor of HCL Infosystems to introduce various IT services, products and new practice areas such as innovative services and system Integration applications to strengthen and consolidate its offerings. With its focus on new product development HCL Infosystems has successfully worked upon IP creation for over 30 products.
HCL Infosystems is uniquely poised today in the India market making it the only company with a India as its primary focus, offering state of the art technology solutions to empower a host of social sectors and government schemes for rural empowerment. HCL Infosystems earlier this year bagged a host of projects some of them are listed below across sectors like Banking, Public Distribution System, e-governance, education, NREGA, Telecom etc. –
|HCL Infosystems implementing Citizen centric project for Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra
|HCL Infosystems Partnered with Motorola to Roll-out India's First Government Radio Network for Commonwealth Games
|Gujarat Government collaborates with HCL Infosystems to deploy technology solution to empower tribal schools for inclusive States Tribal Development in Gujarat
|HCL Infosystems takes on India's First RAPDRP deployment
|HCL Infosystems collaborates with State Bank of India
|HCL Infosystems to secure the 'Kumbh' in Haridwar – one of the largets religious gathering
|HCL to Offer Technology Support to Uttar Pradesh Govt. for the Prestigious NREGA Project in Sitapur District
|HCL Infosystems Bags Large BSNL IT Deal
Public Distribution System (PDS) is the distribution network of essential commodities to a large number of people through a chain of Fair Price Shops. PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. The Central Government takes care of the procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of foodgrains, etc, whereas State Governments look after the distribution of the same to the consumers through the network of Fair Price Shops.
About HCL Infosystems
HCL Infosystems Ltd. with revenue (LTM) of US $ 2.5 billion (Rs. 12,057 crores) is one of India's premier hardware, services and ICT system Integration companies offering a wide spectrum of ICT products that includes Computing, Storage, Networking, Security, Telecom, Imaging and Retail. HCL Infosystems Ltd. aims to be a one-stop-shop for all the ICT requirements of an organization. One of India's leading System Integration and Infrastructure management services organizations, HCL Infosystems Ltd. has specialized expertise across verticals including Telecom, BFSI, E-Governance and Power. HCL Infosystems Ltd has one of India's largest distribution and retail networks for ICT products, taking to market a range of Digital Lifestyle products in partnership with leading global ICT brands, including Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, Kingston, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Microsoft, Nokia and Toshiba. HCL Infosystems Ltd. today has one of India's largest vertically integrated computer manufacturing facilities; with over three decades of electronic manufacturing experience, and HCL desktops are among the largest selling brands in the business enterprise space. With one of India's largest ICT services networks that reaches most regions in India, HCL's award winning support services make it a preferred choice of enterprise and consumers alike. For more information please visit us at www.hclinfosystems.in


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Leases usually require smaller initial deposits and allow taxes to be paid monthly. The funds normally used for the purchase of equipment can be re-invested in other areas of your business.
Lease payments are normally a fixed amount monthly, which allows for easier budgeting.
As your equipment becomes obsolete, it is possible to trade up to current technology at any time during your lease, often with a minimal change to your current monthly payments.
Lakes Leasing Corp (LLC) is a division of the Chisolm Group of Companies (CGI) and has been active in the commercial equipment leasing field for over 20 years. What makes us so unique is our ability to provide our customers with the ultimate financing package, whether they operate as a single owner-operator or a large corporation.


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Category: Rant & Rave / 4 Comments on RANT AND RAVE /
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Chuck, Shaq and Ernie. Oh and you too Kenny. This is going to be the best team ever (Dream Team). I can see the awards coming in already. Much love Jet, I have to dig at you every now and then cause I know you can beat the press. That's what point guards do. Right? Man, I certainly hope the NBA get it together real soon. I am looking forward to watching and listening to you guys. NBA time is my favorite time of the year. Much love to all of you and continued success.
I love the addition of Shaq, but i can barely understand what shaq says. I wish someday Steve Nash joins the crew!
Now this is going to be something to see!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!! lol
Saw you Charles leavin ATL on plane took pic sorry my phone acted up had to do twiice ! The team is fine as it is ! Pro Comedy : Barkley , Stats Opinion : Kenny , Straight Guy : Ernie
Charles , run for that Office seat we need strong pictures for these young A.A. males to see and hear from no matter if it feels like we're losing them to drugs , gangs , violence , RUN brother !
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Consumed on 14 July 2012
Location - McDonald's Chinatown Point, Singapore
Price - $2.70SGD = ~$2.15USD
Calories - ~390kcal (This specific item is not broken down on their website)
Rating - After the Review
|McDonald's Singapore Receipt
A week or two before arriving in Singapore I checked their website and saw that they were offering a 'Banana Nut Crunch McFlurry' as a promotional item, and the day I went in to try the Crinkle Cut Fries, I was planning on getting that McFlurry as well, but decided to leave it until the following day, but sadly when I returned the next day they said it had finished! Whereas in Korea and seemingly the rest of the world, the promotional items change over at the beginning or end of a week (and usually at the end of the month), in Singapore, they finished on a Tuesday (4 July). A couple days later their website began promoting the Horlicks Crunch and because I had only seen the Banana Nut one promoted for about 2 weeks, I made sure to try before it disappeared.
I tried the Horlicks Crunch McFlurry after a 6 hour walk in the Singapore heat. If anyone reading has been to SG before they know of the oppressive heat and humidity that one experiences. After walking (and sweating) for so long, I wanted some air conditioning and I wanted something cold to eat, it was a perfect time to try the McFlurry. The Chinatown branch was small and didn't have much seating, and the limited seating area was full of mostly tourists with the same idea as me, air conditioning and ice cream. Strangely, this branch didn't have a dedicated ice cream kiosk that many other Singapore McDs have and I was stuck behind an Indian man asking what different kinds of tea they served. The response was Tea and Milk Tea, that man wanted Masala Tea, and though the man taking the order assured him they didn't serve Masala Tea he insisted, and a manager had to get involved. Due to the limited seating, there weren't any available seats for me, so I walked next door to a little shopping centre where I ate my McFlurry. You can tell how in the photo how hot it was by much the ice cream has melted in that 90 second walk and the condensation through the plastic cup was passed along to the receipt.
Though my initial thought of Horlicks on a McFlurry didn't sound very appealing, it worked well enough. American readers might understand a little better once they read the Wikipedia description of what Horlicks actually is - " In the initial stage of manufacturing, milled malted barley and wheat flour are mashed together in hot water where the starch is converted into sugars. To this sugar solution dairy powders are added. The water content is then evaporated off to form a syrup which is dried in vacuum band driers to form a cake. This cake is milled into the finished powder. This is then fortified with vitamins and minerals." It wasn't overly sweet as I usually find when its been made into a drink. I've only had Horlicks as a drink in Hong Kong, and I'm pretty sure they make it with condensed milk. They were pretty generous with the Horlicks powder, so the flavour was mixed well throughout the entire McFlurry. On all their promotional displays they use the "It's Back' slogan, and a quick Google search does show that this McFlurry was in Singapore back late 2011, but it is also a perennial item in Malaysia and seems to be very popular just across the causeway.
A surprising combination which worked out rather well. I think this would go over very well in Hong Kong, I'm surprised it hasn't made its way over there yet.
Rating - 4/5


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Jan 19, 2019 - National Geographic Islander
National Geographic Islander visited one of the most interesting islands in the world today—Genovesa, home of more than one million birds. In the morning, our guests enjoyed a great nature walk at Darwin Bay inside of the caldera of the island, getting quite close to several nesting sites of different seabirds. In the afternoon, we took the Prince Phillips Steps to start an amazing walk that led us to an spectacular location where we were able to see red-footed boobies and short-eared owls.
Join us for updates, insider reports & special offers.


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Dear Parents/ Caregivers,
I am writing to inform you that one of our students has recently been diagnosed with a tic disorder.
As a staff we have had a the opportunity to meet with a psychologist to learn a little about what a tic disorder is and to consider along with the student and his mother how we can prepare to help him return to school.
We are likewise preparing ourselves and our students to make his return to school a successful one.
Each teacher is going to tell her or his students what a tic is so they have an age appropriate explanation of tics and are given some suggestions on how to respond to a person with a verbal and/or a motor tic.
We have created resource page on our website about Tic Disorder for your information which includes YouTube videos which I suggest you watch so as to gain some insight into the lives of children who have a tic disorder along with the families who are helping them to cope with their tics. ( See Handout Tab)
Should you have any queries about this matter I would welcome you contacting me and I will do my best to answer your questions; however we are all on a steep learning curve here and we ourselves have much to learn about tic disorders and how we as a school and a community can respond in a way that is understanding, compassionate and supportive of all.
Paul Petersen
35 Paparata Road, Bombay 2675
P 09 236 1012 | F 09 236 0458 | E email@example.com
P 09 236 1012 | F 09 236 0458 | E firstname.lastname@example.com


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In this post I register a criticism of the Sony A55 camera. I say:
That problem is in the middle of the sweep the camera decided to change the exposure and that exposure shows up as the line visible in the tree. The line is even more obvious in the full photo
This elicited a response from a Facebook (on facebook too, this would have been a great comment on the article!) friend:
I've read your article "Sony A55 – One Defect. [sic] Was the camera on Manual mode that time or at Aperture mode?
Ron raises a good question and here is the answer.
The Envelope Please
The answer is the sweep mode setting is mutually exclusive of the exposure modes. Simply said, the sweep mode is a setting on the same dial setting you use to put the camera into manual, program, aperture priority, or shutter priority. So, the camera essentially goes into full program mode as far as setting the exposure in sweep mode.
The Cost of Choice
Of course, fixing the exposure over a wide panorama will mean YOU must choose the exposure and that forces YOU to pick which part of that panorama to feature. It is easily conceivable a given panorama will present a range of exposure needs and in my example if the camera had continued with the initial exposure things may have been overexposed in the left side; and it is the left side's exposure I prefer.
Thinking about this and it occurs to me it is possible this is what I am seeing: that the exposure is fixed, but the lighting is what changes. However, if that were the case, I don't believe we would see the sudden transition in exposure. The camera is unable to seamlessly blend two adjacent photographs and something is different and there it is NOT the lighting. In any event I think this is a problem Sony engineers need to revisit if they are not already working on it.


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Oxmoor House
This is a favorite first course for holiday dinner parties. We often substitute Gorgonzola for goat cheese and top the oranges with sliced fresh strawberries.
How to Make It
Peel oranges, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange watercress on a serving platter; top with orange slices. Whisk together canola oil and next 5 ingredients; drizzle over salad. Sprinkle with goat cheese and pecans.


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When I was web cruising at Sephora, I saw this wonderful product that I thought would nurture the lash obsession that I have. Since discovering the eyelash curler and mascara, my life has changed dramatically and for once, people started noticing my eyes. Mascaras have that power to open up your peepers and make you look wide awake. However, the journey for the perfect mascara involves kissing a lot of frogs as well as spending a lot of money. Sephora, being the awesome genius that they are, decided to group the best-selling mascaras and sell them in travel (mini) size for you to try. And they call it "The Lash Stash", how awesome is that?
In this edition, you get to try 10 mini size mascaras for $35 USD. That's the cost of one or two full-size, high end mascaras. Come to think of it, I may go ahead and buy this collection from Sephora because:
- that's $3.50 USD a mascara! I can't even get a decent one at drugstore at that price.
- when was the last time I finish a tube of mascara? Never! So it's more economical to buy the smaller version and use.
- that's enough mascara for a year (or more.) If I get it, I can forget about mascara shopping for the whole year.
- 0.12 oz Smashbox Bionic Mascara;
- 0.10 oz Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara;
- 0.11 oz Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara;
- 0.10 Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara;
- 0.13 oz Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point Mascara;
- 0.10oz Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara;
- 0.32 oz Urban decay Big Fatty Mascara;
- 0.13 oz DuWop Lash Venom Mascara;
- 0.13 oz Korres Deep Colour Mascara;
- 0.17 oz Cargo Texas Lash Mascara
Take care my beauties and see you soon,
Your Makeup Blogger
P.S: If you like my blog, please subscribe to my feed. Thanks a lot!


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Outdoor Event, 7pm
Our evening vigil starts with a talk about badgers and we will examine badger paths, prints, etc before viewing the sett, and with luck badgers. You will need to be prepared to sit reasonably still outdoors for 2 hours or more and to cope with wind, rain, cold, biting insects and muddy paths!
Free but booking is required as places are limited to 5 people per watch. Please contact the Society Office to book.


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I have a customer that upgraded to 2012 Premium this spring. We are syncing his Outlook Calendar to ACT! for appointments. It is set to leave the items on the Outlook calendar once the activity is cleared in ACT! When he came in to the office yesterday, all of his appointments were gone from his ACT and Outlook Calendars. Everything was deleted. He is not syncing Outlook to a phone or anything else. He was the last person in the office, and everything was there - and the first person in, with everything deleted.
Has anyone else seen this problem and do you have any idea how to stop it from happening again?
Christina Theobald
Certified ACT! Consultant


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Hotline Miami Is Nuts, FTL Is Gambling
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Hotline Miami Is Nuts, FTL Is Gambling
Yahtzee likes a game that handles madness well.
I can't tell if he likes it or not. I feel stupid.
You were surprised by people picking up on your FTL allusion in the review? You mean the part where you prominently displayed the FTL icon for about 2 seconds?
Well, it wouldn't really be fun if we had nothing to discuss, rage, and argue about here, would it?
OT: I bought Hotline Miami after mister Yahtzee did the review, and I can confirm that it is a completely mental game. Brilliant. But mental. And you need to be able to handle violence if you want too play it, though I believe he said as much in last weeks ZP.
..Still can't beat the final boss either, damn ninja stripper. >.<
He's dead-on, FTL is gambling. I must be some kind of moron, because I've been playing for 3 weeks straight and can't get past Sector 5, no matter how awesome my ship and crew are. Yet I can't stop playing, thinking "this will be the day". I've been referring to it as FML to my girlfriend.
Well there was a lot of cocaine back in the eighties.
I actually had to go back and check that again "Trying to keep up with the indies" Oh yeah I did see that the first time.
Ugh, I hate randomness in video games. That was one of the biggest problems I had with Fallout 2, you could get random encounters with huge bands of raiders right off the bat when all you were armed with was a fucking spear.
When it comes to portraying insanity in a game, I think Far Cry 3 had a nice take. There are the obvious hallucinations, but there are also subtle clues that something's not quite right the rest of the time either.
What makes it different is that the game never comes out and tells you "oh hey, this part was real and that part was just a dream": it leaves you to try and figure out for yourself just how much of it is "really" happening.
Weeeeell FTL isn't ALWAYS about gambling. You can ignore a lot of events that can royally screw you over, such as the Alien Spider event or the Planet Drifting through Nebula event. Blue event options for example, almost always remove the 'gamble' element from quite a lot of events.
"But you have to rely on luck to even get the prereqs for blue events in the first place!"
I think calling the entire game a gamble is a cop-out. Looking back on my many, many failures in that game, it's safe to say that a great deal of them were the result of bad decisions on my part. Not because the game randomly decided to put me in an unwinnable state. Although I'm sure the latter has happened once or twice.
Although I will say that unlocking the crystal ship is a complete crap-shoot.
He said he wanted to avoid doing a Zero Punctuation on two games he liked, but instead ended up doing an Extra Punctuation on two games he liked....
Well, the subject of insanity is hard to deal with in games because it typically requires a fairly functional protaganist to be insane. The thing is that insanity is usually pretty consistant and well reasoned within itself and rarely involves just doing stuff "for the heck of it" or is as simple as "this guy believes something that simply isn't true" if that was the case it would be rather easy to deal with. What's more sanity or insanity can oddly be a matter
As someone who has brain damage and has been on both sides of the sanity coin (as odd as this sounds) including having had hallucinations a few times, I will say they Hollywood and Video Game writers just don't really "get it". Some people writing novels do, and typically strike me as having either suffered problems themselves, or been close enough to confer with people who have.
The thing is that storylines in games and movies usually have very specific needs, and "insanity" is used as a crutch to explain behavior that just doesn't make sense for anyone to do. Or as a way of getting around political, or moral issues that might make people uncomfortable. It's easier to say have someone engaging in mass murder because of some vaguely defined "insanity", maybe having a hallucination show up once in a while to reinforce it, than to actually build up a logical series of events and reasoning that would cause someone to get to that point, which might disturb people more if they find themselves wondering if maybe the supposed bad guy, and his methods, are actually right. Very few stories explore that, and those that do are quite powerful, but are generally too much for the average person and the current climate of political correctness.
I'll also go so far as to say that I do not think many of the so called "psycho killers" that have become famous were insane, in many cases they simply chose to do wrong for their own reasons. People aren't comfortable with that so it's easier to label them as being "insane", which I believe has also destroyed the system by making the insanity plea a "get out of death free" card for anyone who does anything really bad due to the catch-22 arguement that no "sane" person who understood right and wrong could possibly do what they did. Something that has been heavily exploited, after all someone who just flat out decided to be evil for their own gratification can claim they heard voices from the neighbor's dog that drove them to it, and nobody can prove otherwise.
The point being that I don't give Hotline Miami much in the way of credit for it's gripping and accurate portrayal of what it's like to be a crazy on a frantic murder rampage. No doubt it's a fun game, but doesn't deserve credit for any kind of depth (I've played it a bit, but wasn't impressed enough to get my own copy, maybe if it shows up in an Indie bundle or something).
Some people might not get it, or why I make this point, but the bottom line is that I think the differance between crazy and just plain evil needs to be understood.
I can actually agree with the FTL-gambling issue, because as fun and addictive as FTL is (it was a narrow 2nd-place contender for my Game of the Year 2012) it's painfully luck-driven.
Now, luck is just part of the Roguelike experience. Nethack provides you with a bevvy of different opening strategies in the form of Classes, and some of those are definitively harder than others. But everything after the opening class tends to lean further and further away from that class's innate powers, and more towards a general strategy*.
(*usually. The Wizard class would be the major exception since they can actually use all magic, which gives them tremendous flexibility as the game goes on. Every other class is positively crippled in their magic selection in comparison, including the other spellcasting classes!)
But the point in Nethack's favor, is that if you know what you're doing, you can win with each class, each strategy, 100% of the time (sounds improbable. I've done a Nethack tourney, and there are players who have Ascended several dozen times in a row without Savescumming or cheating).
And what's also different about Nethack, is that for 95% of the game, you aren't on a timer. Nethack rewards planning, stopping to identify random loot and making caches of resources. FTL rewards some planning, but without reasonable luck, you cannot reach a point where you can get ahead to win using most of the cruisers.
If you were able to stop and hit every node and acquire every piece of scrap imaginable, FTL would be a much easier game to beat. But it's not. Because the game deliberately limits your OPPORTUNITIES from the get-go (incidentally, this also makes unlocking certain cruisers an unholy task).
FTL's "Easy Mode" can still be soul-crushing in its difficulty. Normal Mode is fucking absurd.
If you cannot acquire 100 scrap by the end of Sector 1, you are usually in deep shit. If you get locked into a Nebula or Mantis sector for 2 & 3, you can usually kiss your ass goodbye.
Man, I had several people I know, including my brother, who suggested FTL to me, so I put it on my Steam wishlist. My brother bought it for me for Christmas.
Steam tells me I've put 30 hours into this game. 0_0
I still have not beat the final boss' second form. On easy. O_O
Speaking of crazyness in games, I always had this idea for a game where you play as a serial killer and it keeps tracks of statistics and shit behind the curtain to make a profile out of you as you rack up more victims. Like the first person you decide to kill in blonde, so the game subtly makes future potential victims more appealing to be selected if they're blonde, and it starts making certain types of weapons to kill with more appealing or other types less appealing until you're flat out not allowed to use anything but kitchen knives or something. I imagine it'd use a system like Mirrors Edge where it'd highlight those certain elements more and more while greying out everything else. It would be meant to build up a deteriorating mental state of a killer like that until you finally get tracked down by the cops and end up playing as the other end of the awesome climax of Condemned. Possibly against another player online who is the cop, cuz you can chose to either be the cop or the killer at the beginning and it would randomly assign you the aftermath of one of the players playing the killers crime scene to investigate. Ect.
The B version of the secret ship turns it from gambling into completely curbstomping everything. It has a brief period of vulnerability at the start of the game because it starts without weapons but even the smallest pea shooter allows it to deal with supershielded and drone enemies. It specializes in boarding and cloaking and starts with the best boarding crew in the game. As strong as that final boss is its inside is still filled with squishy little humans and boarding lets you break subsystems at will. No shields, no drones and only one gun make even the final boss just target practice, never mind all the tons of loot you get on your journey for beating most enemies in boarding combat (which gives FAR more rewards, both scrap and random item drops, than shooting the ship into bits).
You have some decent points there, but keep in mind that the definition of "insanity" varies from person to person. The most popular definition to quote (used by 12-steppers) doesn't fit either your use of it OR Yahtzee's. The broadest, most agreeable definition of insanity would be mentally unstable or not "right" in the head. This could manifest itself as either simple hallucinations, or it could manifest itself as full-fledged sociopathy/psycopathy, which usually leads to the whole "evil/murder" thing. It's hard to argue that Captain Jack Sparrow, for instance, is not insane, but it is a different type of insanity from, say, the guy in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Both are quite insane, but the two are nothing alike, and from the sounds of it you aren't a whole lot like either of them. So keep in mind that "insanity" is a broad, sweeping definition in most cases, and most people associate it with, say, Psychos from Borderlands. That kind of insanity.
Back on the topic here, yeah, I hate randomness to a point, but it usually keeps things interesting enough, especially in games like FTL. I promise you, FTL would not be HALF as fun as it is if it weren't for the randomness of it, it would get quite stale after a while. I view it as playing poker. You usually start with a bad hand, and no matter how you try to fix it, you usually have a bad hand. The fun is in making the bad hand work by your personal skill. You'll lose a lot, but the times you win are so worth it, you wanna keep playing.
Now I will sound like I'm a plant from the makers of FTL but....
If you want to pick up the game, go buy it directly from the FTL site, you get DRM free downloadable versions (Win/Mac/Linux), plus the Steam version to boot!
Appart from that, and back on topic.... Shields on a stealth cruiser?]* How dare you, good sir!
* Picture on the article.
Well, unless you enjoy getting torn apart by beam weapons, drones and asteroids, Shields are rather useful even on a ship with a maxed cloak.
You mean like Star Trek and Warhammer 40K? And Gundam SEED and Skyrim?
Now I want him to do The Binding of Isaac. It combines the randomness of FTL with the insanity of Hotline Miami and throws in child abuse and religion for good measure.
The randomness of FTL never really annoyed me much because I feel that part of the skill involved in playing is the ability to take your luck, bad or no, and turn it to your advantage.
Personally, the strategy that works for me (on the Kestrel, both types, and Osprey Type A, other ships yet untested) is to get as many laser weapons as possible as early as possible. Nothing wrecks the flagship's shit more than 9+ lasers all directed at a single target, with a teleporter for taking out its triple-missile launcher. It has yet to fail me, so I must be doing something right, aside from the occasional spat of luck.
Two of his colums covered BoI:
Seriously, though, the original quote is what I think when I hear the phrase "definition of insanity."
I got that same impression from the GekkoState crew on Eureka 7. Even though Renton's a whiney little pud who's in love with a possibly alien (I think; they didn't do a properly establish the setting, like what year it is or what planet theyre on) girl who gets sick for long periods of time, he's well within his rights to turn on the gang of misanthropes with dubious agendas who yell at him all the time and treat him like crap. Really, the government they're rebelling against doesn't seem so bad, and what are the Gekkos going to replace it with?
I'd denounce luck altogether if it weren't for Fire Emblem using it so well.
Well, once you realize that you got to stay in every system as long as possible to "grind" for scrap, weapons etc. the game's difficulty level drops slightly. Although some ships are better than other, at that point you should be able to clear it at any level. The one thing I dislike about the game is the existence of an "optimal build path". You want to:
1. rush shields +enough power to get 3 shield bars to minimize hull damage and maximize net gain of scrap
Oxygen, medbay, auto pilot are all waste.
Of course this is slightly different depending on ships, which is a good positive since they really do make you tackle the game in a new way.
I still don't agree that FTL games are mostly, or even largely, dictated by chance. Chance is a factor, yes, but every scenario, every shitty situation, has an out, or a counter- you just have to make decisions based on the ship you have.
I wouldn't say that playing FTL is a gamble- I'd say using any of the special ships, such as those that don't start off with any direct weapons, is a gamble the game lets you make. As long as you visit every shop, and you've stuck around in each sector long enough to make decent scrap, you'll find something useful- maybe not weapons, this run, but ooh! A teleporter!
When I first started playing, I barely was able to make it out of sector 2- now I never fail to make it to the last sector. This isn't me being some sort of gaming legend, it's just a lot of practice. FTL is a game that you can practice at, and get much better at, and so I disagree that it is mostly about chance.
Pshah, Shields are for sisses! Real space captains go at it bare!
... not really, but trying to do a playthrough without shields is an interesting challenge, which, once you can reliably smack the boss around, is another motivation to replay the thing.
I agree and disagree with Yathzee, though. I agree that randomness-based games are essentially gambling and you skills as a player have little bearing on the result; I disagree in FTL being so random. The events themselves are mostly random chance, but it's the triggering of these effects by exploring the galaxy what the player has control over. You take a risk with every move, specially when moving into troubling sectors (nebulae for example), so there is a lot of control there.
I think a lot of people haven't figured out the game yet, it's real core is not the combat, but rather the exploration. Good management of the exploration to maximize the risk/reward ratio is what allows you to bitchslap the mothership in the end.
First thing people should learn about FTL, giant alien spiders are no joke and will kill your guys the first chance they get. Conversely the crazy old hermit CAN kill people but in my experience never does.
I have removed my words from this site.
I find that (on Easy) the Mothership is not that big of a problem if you have the following:
Step 1: Kill the mothership's multi-missile launcher and operator (it is repaired and re-crewed for each phase)
We can all agree FTL has a large random element to its design, but the one thing we're assuming incorrectly is that it's somehow a bad thing. Strip chance out of FTL entirely - it becomes a linear management game where all objectives and encounters are set by the developer on launch and stay there, no matter how many times you play through the game. FTL then takes on the shades of a puzzle game, where there's a handful of functional ways to progress, a fixed path to completion, and little-to-no replay value. Would this improve the game? I doubt it.
The thing is about games that randomly generate content: It's not about the game randomly screwing you over, it's about how well (or poorly) you respond to those situations, it's about how well you can adapt. A ship twice your power attacks you and you have no chance to win? Then you died because you didn't jump the frack out of there; your bad decision killed you, not the game.
The same can be said for games with an even greater degree of randomness, like Ancient Domains of Mystery for instance. The game will occasionally throw you in situations you can't possibly deal with at your skill, but almost always you have some way out of there had you taken the right decisions. And yes, as with AdoM, sometimes you can get into an impossible situation where a bad dice roll decided your entire game - I'd rather have that than a run-of-the-mill linear scripted game.
I've played through 2 runs on XCOM, both normal, one ironman (I'll get to classic later) and I must say I haven't had as much problem with the randomness. The only bastard-thing I remember is that I had to shoot down a special UFO for the mission. It appeared all right, but I hadn't researched, much less built, the Firestorm interceptor yet, because the first time I played it I didn't know my old interceptors would suddenly become useless. So for a month or so I had to research and build, while that UFO kept flying over all my nations, and the council was bitching about all the dozens of UFO's I failed to intercept, even though it was the same UFO the entire time.
You need to play it more, and less with the starting ship. This is precisely how I felt about the game until I had a couple of wins under my belt.
Most encounters have three options. The first is somewhat of a roulette wheel. The second is the trusty fight option that engages combat. The third is the blue option which is almost universally a good outcome but has a prerequisite. Basically things only turn to luck when you encounter a choice without a "blue option item" (BOI) onboard and unprepared to take the fight option. That blue option "item" can be anything from a Level 2 Medbay (a very cheap one to get that almost guarentees a free crewmember in the first sector or two) to a Rock man on board; not necessarily an actual item.
For most ships, this makes it a bit of a breadcrumb trail. You take the fight option where you can until you stumble upon a blue option provided by your ship's starting BOI. Then, as a reward you get another BOI or enough scrap to buy another BOI. And the cycle continues, with your frugality and combat efficiency determining whether you get enough BOI related scrap by the final sector to actually take down the boss.
The key problem with FTL is that this gameflow is apparent in every last ship except the bloody one you start with. The Kestral is very random-luck heavy, this is a solid fact, as you start without a single BOI and are basically forced into taking the non-fight random luck option in each encounter in hopes of a BOI, or otherwise dying. In other words, you're pushed to start scum. The other ships simply don't feel this way. You initial combat items, and BOIs will suffice through to at least the beginning of sector three, and your primary goal is just to pass sectors one and two whilst
The thing with the Kestral however, that you'll truly appreciate after playing with the other ships, is that it starts with decent combat efficiency. Its one of the few ships where a crew teleporter typically doesn't become a prerequisite to winning in combat later on. Upgrade your shields one level and you're pretty sweet. Its a suprisingly easy ship, but unlike the other ships, it forces the player into adapting. The gameflow basically involves always taking the combat option until you stumble upon some sweet loot or a BOI. Then, you pretty much have to build a strategy around that first groundbreaking item you require. Other ships will see you begin with a strategy and sell lots of pickups for scrap to support said strategy. If combat in the Kestral is too difficult for you, then you're going to have to pause and micromanage more. That includes everything from juggling teleported enemies around the ship to strategically cutting the oxygen to charge high power consumption weapons (and flicking it back on for a sec at the start of cooldowns to preserve your crew). A high combat efficiency lets you run a leaner ship, which in turn lets you focus your hard earned scrap on BOIs rather than combat-related items and upgrades, which in turn increases your scrap production from non-combat encounters.
I'd also seriously jump up to Normal difficulty. Playing Normal mode forces you to think outside the box in combat and build reliable strategies or you'll be beaten to the ground in the first sector or two whereas Easy does not due to the higher scrap letting you bulk up your ship and get away with a less frantic playstyle. The catch is that the final boss has a frantic pace irrespective of which mode you chose. If you've played on Easy, I could imagine this being quite jarring. On Normal, its not. In fact, if you've managed to even make it to the final sector (whilst still visiting as many nodes as possible per sector) you'll probably find it a cakewalk.
Strategy, strategy, strategy. And pausing. Lots of pausing.
The fact that it can take 5-10 hours to start unlocking other ships and seeing how the game works is however, a very valid criticism. If it weren't such a damn engaging game (and hilarious, watching your crew suffocate to death due to a meteor slipping through a momentary gap in your shields is just plain hilarious) it'd have failed to hold my attention before it finally took its kit off and blew my mind.
I went and almost beat the game on normal on my first try. Of course, "almost" meaning I made it to the last boss and got to see the glorious hail of missiles that would engulf my ship in flames, leaving my pilot and his female gunner waiting for their death in the middle room of the ship. I like to think that they hugged each other as they burned and suffocated.
That's when I knew this was a good game.
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Aylesbury Depot
Unit 7B, March Place Aylesbury
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High Wycombe Depot
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A large variety of drilling machines are available with varying capabilities to help professionals accomplish various tasks. But no matter what kind of drilling machine you are looking for, you will have to choose between owning and hiring drilling equipment.
When it comes to owning or hiring, there are number of factors to consider since one solution does not fit all requirements. To make a smart choice, here are some factors that you need to consider:
How long do you need the drilling equipment?
First and foremost, you need to determine the time period and frequency for which you need drilling equipment. If you are a specialised drilling contractor, then buying a drilling machine is more feasible than renting one. But if you are a professional who needs a drilling machine once in a while, renting can be a better option. Renting a drilling machine is a cost effective solution and helps you avoid the hassles of storage and maintenance.
Inspection and Maintenance
In order to ensure maximum efficiency and highest performance of drilling machines, you need to hire skilled engineers who are able to inspect and maintain the drilling machines thoroughly. This means, you will have to hire specialised people; so you must determine it would be possible for you to bear the additional hiring extra people.
Equipment rental providers have in-house teams who look after the machines to ensure they are in good working condition, so if you consider hiring drilling equipment you can just use the machine and leave the rest on the rental company.
Response Time
If you are a professional looking for drilling equipment, it is necessary that you consider the response time to your clients. If you own the drilling equipment, you can get started immediately; however if you consider renting equipment then you must make sure that you have access to the machines quickly. To ensure this, you need to work with a reliable and reputed tools and equipment hire company that can ensure a fast turn-around time.
Whether you are an individual or a professional looking for drilling equipment, you must evaluate all the options well before deciding whether to rent or buy equipment. If you choose to hire equipment, then you must choose a tool and equipment hire company that offers top quality drilling machines. This will ensure safety and quick accomplishment of tasks.
When choosing a tools and equipment rental company, you must look for the below things:
No doubt there are a number of tools and equipment companies, but choosing the right one is the key to success. Do your homework well and work with the right company to get the best value of your money. Get rid of all your stress and make the most of your drilling machine rental.


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Our machines can be operated without a PC, however marking software in a Windows environment is available for specific needs:
- Operates with workbench, integrable and portable machines
- Secures, automates and simplifies the user's work as much as possible.
Our machines can be operated without a PC, however marking software in a Windows environment is available for specific needs:
With all the traceability features (counters, dates, shifts, codes, etc) accessible in just a click, this marking software optimises your preparation and adjustment time.
Simplify the operator's work by preparing the files on the PC:
- An intuitive interface for fast management: saves time when creating the marking files
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- Marking log: generation of log files in CSV or ASCII format.


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Registration is now open for two online courses offered by the Horticulture Section in Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science:
Organic Gardening is designed to help new gardeners get started and help experienced gardeners broaden their understanding of organic techniques for all kinds of gardens.
Starting with a strong foundation in soil health and its impact on plant health, the course then explores tried-and-true and cutting-edge techniques for all different kinds of garden plants including food plants, trees and shrubs and lawn.
Participants read assigned essays and book excerpts, participate in online group discussions with other students, complete reflective writing/design work and take part in some hands-on activities. Most students spend about 5 hours each week with the content, though there are always ample resources and opportunity to do more.
View more information and full course syllabus for Organic Gardening.
Introduction to Garden Design will help you apply basic garden design techniques to your own garden. We teach an approach to gardening that is based on the principle of right plant, right place. In other words, we will consider the needs of the plant in addition to the needs of the gardener.
You'll learn garden site analysis and apply the concepts to your personal space, gain proficiency in garden design principles and lay out a rough site plan overview of your garden design.
You will write and reflect on the process as you learn with the instructor taking an active role in this creative endeavor by providing feedback on your assignments and journal entries.
View more information and full course syllabus for Introduction to Garden Design.
Questions about either course? View FAQ or contact, Fiona Doherty: email@example.com.


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Russia Reforms Fishing Industry
The Russian government plans to approve the "Fish industry Development Concept for 2012"
I told in my previous posts that I regularly learned about news telling of measures developing to improve Russian fishing industry. So, the latest program of which I've recently learned, is aimed to significantly change the present operation system, reduce state supervision, and allocate additional funding to Russia's fishing companies, fish processing plants and hatcheries.
In particular, it proposes to limit the unprocessed fish products export in order to stimulate development of domestic processing plants. To do that the Russia's Fishery Department advised the government to cancel the VAT refund for fish exports as well as smaller fee for the use of aquatic resources for those companies that export unprocessed fish.
Another major innovation will be a creation of fish exchanges that should allow the state control of fishery products prices. Besides, it's a well-known fact that the largest share of fish products imported in Russia is those with high added value, while Russian companies export mainly unprocessed fresh or chilled fish, thus missing the opportunity to earn more money by selling deeply processed fish products. In the government's opinion, fish exchanges should reverse this situation and help promoting domestic fish processing industry.
Another important point is support the fisheries in coastal regions of the Russian Federation. The first such program has been introduced in the Sakhalin region where companies received $ 330 million from the state budget. Similar programs will soon be adopted in all regions of Russia.
In my opinion, these measure can open wider doors for investors, both domestic and internationals, interested in starting a promising business in Russia.


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Join our community! You'll find our newsletters informative and fun, and we enjoy hearing back from you too!


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Ryan Boatright had to sit through two rounds of the draft at the Barclays Center on Thursday night without hearing his name, but he may get the chance to prove all those teams wrong in that very same building. Boatright, the former UConn guard, has hooked on with the Nets and will begin his latest fight in their summer league. He said via Twitter Saturday that he wants to thank "the Brooklyn Nets for giving me an opportunity. That's all I wanted and all I needed. You will not regret it." In a deep draft, Boatright was not the only college standout who went undrafted. The Nets, who also signed Kansas forward Cliff Alexander, will have teams in both the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues. Winning a spot in the NBA will be hard, but I wouldn't bet against Boatright. Would you?
A tough break for Giancarlo Stanton and for baseball. The Marlins slugger was having a special season, with 27 home runs, but he had a broken bone in his wrist and will miss the next four to six weeks. ... Depressed because the Mets can't seem to hit a lick? Take heart. There's more young pitching on the way, with lefty Steve Matz to make his long-awaited debut against the Reds on Sunday. Matz-Mets? A back page waiting to happen. Now, if only Bartolo Colon could DH. ... The Red Sox summoned UConn's Matt Barnes back to the big leagues. Once the Cubs activate Mike Olt from the DL, which could come any day, there will be five former Huskies in the big leagues at the same time.
When you have this job, you have to be ready for anything. Word out at the TPC River Highlands was that a deer tried to crash its way into the media room Saturday, apparently foraging for press notes. There were no injuries, and the deer left without commenting, though sources close to the animal indicated she wants the name of this column changed to "Deer Abby." Not happening, Bambi, go munch on some shrubs.
The Islanders made NHL history, drafting the first player born in China — Andong Song in the sixth round. Song, who began playing in Beijing and has been playing prep hockey at Lawrence School in New Jersey, could be playing in Bridgeport sometime soon. ... The Rangers dealt Cam Talbot, who came up big for them in the playoffs, and Carl Hagelin to Edmonton on day two of the draft. The Rangers got three picks, Nos. 57, 79 and 148 for Talbot, which seems a light price for the Oilers to pay for a potential No.1 goalie. They got Emersen Etem from Anaheim in a cap-friendly move.
Jasmine Lister, a graduate assistant coach at UConn, played 31 minutes for the LA Sparks on Friday. She'll be playing next at New York, against Kiah Stokes and the Liberty on Sunday. Awkward? We think not.
On this day, June 28 in 1907, Branch Rickey, catching for the Highlanders, now known as the Yankees, allowed 13 stolen bases in one game against the Senators. Rickey, in his later career as a baseball executive, rarely, if ever, got his pocket picked.


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Parents with young children have so many decisions to make and so many pieces of "equipment" to get. One of the bigger decisions is choosing a stroller that fits both your baby and your family's lifestyle. There are many different options out there and it can get overwhelming. Here are some things to keep in mind to help keep your child(ren) safe while you are on the go.
Get a model that fits your child. Strollers are not one-size fits all. Most have age and weight limits.
- Make sure to get one that is the right size for your child and follow all manufacturer's guidelines for use.
- If you will be using the stroller with a newborn, make sure to get one that reclines or that can be used with an infant-only car seat.
- Since jogging strollers are not designed to recline, wait to use those until babies are at least 6 months old.
Always buckle up. Make sure your child is seated and buckled in at all times. It can be really tempting for them to try to wiggle out or to try to stand up if they are not buckled in.
Keep handles clear. Hanging heavy items like purses and bags on the handle of strollers can cause them to tip over. Store these items under the stroller or on your shoulder. If getting a new stroller, look for one with a wide wheel base that will be harder to tip over.
Lock it. Lock stroller wheels when you "park" to prevent it from rolling away unexpectedly. Make it a rule to lock the wheels whenever you take your hands off the handles – this includes when you are putting your child in the stroller or taking him out.
Adults only. Make sure kids know that only adults are allowed to push strollers. Tip-overs can happen when excited older siblings try to "help" and fingers can get pinched if your little ones try to help fold up the strollers.
Check for recalls. There have been many strollers recalls in recent years. Check www.recalls.gov to see if the model you plan to use has been recalled.
- In 2015, new safety guidelines went into effect for all new strollers. Any strollers sold after that time are required to meet these new safety standards.
Learn more about stroller safety, here.


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More than three quarters of a million parents receive parent training through child welfare services in the US each year. The good news is that there are a handful of well-tested programmes for parents of young children. The bad news is that, given low budgets and a tradition of home-grown programmes, it's not always practical for child welfare agencies to use them.
A new review suggests a way forward. Successful parent training programmes, the authors find, share several common components. Agencies that want to base their programmes on scientific evidence can incorporate these characteristics, even if they don't have the funding or the infrastructure to adopt a manualised intervention.
Parenting programmes for child welfare aim to reduce child abuse and neglect, and decrease children's disruptive behaviour, by changing parenting practices.
Well-tested parent training programmes have several components in common. These include a high level of professional qualification in the provider, live or video-based feedback to parents, homework between sessions, home-based or group options, and a duration of roughly 14 to 20 weeks.
The programmes also share a social learning approach. Therapists encourage parents to focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, and to anticipate and address triggers for problem behaviour. The training involves modeling and role-play of effective parenting techniques.
Generic parent-training programmes based on these characteristics would, the authors argue, be a practical way for agencies to "increase the proportion of their clients who receive evidence-informed parent training programmes."
The researchers used the California Evidence-based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC4CW) to identify well-tested parent training programmes for children from birth to eight years old.
The review was limited to the programmes rated well-supported or supported by CEBC4CW. A well-supported intervention must have undergone two randomised control trials that found positive effects after one year. A supported programme was subject to at least one randomised control trial where positive effects were found at least six months afterward.
Seven parenting programmes were identified: SelfCare, Child Parent Psychotherapy, Triple P Positive Parenting- Level 4, 1-2-3 Magic, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, The Incredible Years and the Parent Management Training Oregon Model.
The evidence base was weaker for younger children than for older ones. For children aged 0 to 3, there were no parent training models that had a rating of well-supported, although Triple P was rated as well-supported for children between birth and 12 years. SelfCare and Child-Parent Psychotherapy were identified as being supported by research evidence.
By contrast, there has been more research on parenting programmes for children aged 4 to 8. The Incredible Years, Parent-child Interaction Therapy, and Parent Management Training Oregon Model (PMT-O) were rated well-supported. 1-2-3 Magic was rated as supported.
Two raters coded each programme. They examined the components considered essential by each programme developer. A "common component" was one that occurred in at least two-thirds of the programmes.
All seven programmes required a bachelor's degree or higher, generally with specific training in a relevant subject area. Most of the programmes incorporated feedback for parents on their progress, either live or by video. All but one required homework. Several had home-based, center-based, and group options. The large majority were 5 to 20 weeks long; about half were 14 to 20 weeks long, and met weekly.
Finally, they were almost all based on social learning theory, so shared similarities in their curricula.
Urged on by scientists and advocates, policy makers are increasingly using lists of evidence-based practices in their funding decisions. Should programmes that draw on well-proven scientific principles be included on these lists – even if the programmes themselves have not been tested in randomised trials?
Yes, the authors argue. While randomised trials continue to be valuable, practitioners can't wait for each new test. "Waiting for additional clinical trials [for] generic parent training programmes… is the scientifically conservative course but not, in our view, the best for children and families."
Rather, including generic, home-grown social learning-based parent training programmes among science-based practices is, they say, "well warranted."
Barth, P.R., & Liggett-Creel, K. (2014). Common components of parenting programmemes for children birth to eight years of age involved with child welfare services. Children and Youth Services Review, 40, 6-12.Return to Features


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Chapter 2 - Methods of Machine Safeguarding
Methods of Machine Safeguarding There are many ways to safeguard machines. The type of operation, the size or shape of stock, the method of handling, the physical layout of the work area, the type of material, and production requirements or limitations will help to determine the appropriate safeguarding method for the individual machine. As a general rule, power transmission apparatus is best protected by fixed guards that enclose the danger areas. For hazards at the point of operation, where moving parts actually perform work on stock, several kinds of safeguarding may be possible. One must always choose the most effective and practical means available. We can group safeguards under five general classifications.
- Guards
- Fixed
- Interlocked
- Adjustable
- Self-adjusting
- Devices
- Presence Sensing
- Photoelectrical (optical)
- Radiofrequency (capacitance)
- Electromechanical
- Pullback
- Restraint
- Safety Controls
- Safety trip control
- Pressure-sensitive body bar
- Safety tripod
- Safety tripwire cable
- Two-hand control
- Two-hand trip
- Gates
- Interlocked
- Other
- Location/Distance
- Potential Feeding and Ejection Methods to Improve Safety for the Operator
- Automatic feed
- Semi-automatic feed
- Automatic ejection
- Semi-automatic ejection
- Robot
- Miscellaneous Aids
- Awareness barriers
- Miscellaneous protective shields
- Hand-feeding tools and holding fixtures
Guards are barriers which prevent access to danger areas. There are four general types of guards:
Fixed: As its name implies, a fixed guard is a permanent part of the machine. It is not dependent upon moving parts to perform its intended function. It may be constructed of sheet metal, screen, wire cloth, bars, plastic, or any other material that is substantial enough to withstand whatever impact it may receive and to endure prolonged use. This guard is usually preferable to all other types because of its relative simplicity and permanence.
Examples of fixed guards...
In Figure 11, a fixed guard on a power press completely encloses the point of operation. The stock is fed through the side of the guard into the die area, with the scrap stock exiting on the opposite side.
Figure 11. Fixed guard on power press.
Figure 12 shows a fixed guard that protects the operator from a mechanism that folds cartons. This guard would not normally be removed except to perform maintenance on the machine. Figure 13 shows a fixed enclosure guard shielding the belt and pulley of a power transmission unit. An inspection panel is provided on top in order to minimize the need for removing the guard. To remain effective, the inspection panel cannot be removed while the mechanism is in operation. In Figure 14, fixed enclosure guards are shown on a bandsaw. These guards protect the operator from the turning wheels and moving saw blade. Normally, the only time for the guards to be opened or removed would be for a blade change or maintenance. It is very important that they be securely fastened while the saw is in use.
Figure 12. Fixed guard on egg carton folding machine.
Figure 13. Fixed guard enclosing belt and pulleys.
Figure 14. Fixed guards on a band saw.
A fixed guard is shown on a veneer clipper in Figure 15. This guard acts as a barrier, protecting fingers from exposure to the blade. Note the side view of the curved portion of the guard.
Figure 15. Fixed guards on veneer clipper.
Figure 16 shows both a fixed blade guard and a throat and gap guard on a power squaring shear. These guards should be removed only for maintenance or blade changes.
Figure 16. Fixed guard on a power squaring shear.
In Figure 17, a transparent, fixed barrier guard is being used on a press brake to protect the operator from the unused portions of the die. This guard is easy to install or remove.
Figure 17. Fixed guard providing protection from unused portion of die on a press brake.
Interlocked: When this type of guard is opened or removed, the tripping mechanism and/or power automatically shuts off or disengages, and the machine cannot cycle or be started until the guard is back in place.
An interlocked guard may use electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic power or any combination of these. Interlocks should not prevent "inching" by remote control if required. Replacing the guard should not automatically restart the machine. To be effective, all movable guards should be interlocked to prevent occupational hazards. (See also Figure 13.)
Figure 18 shows an interlocked barrier guard mounted on an automatic bread bagging machine. When the guard is removed, the machine will not function.
Figure 18. Interlocked guard on automatic bread bagging machine
In Figure 19, the beater mechanism of a picker machine (used in the textile industry) is covered by an interlocked barrier guard. This guard cannot be raised while the machine is running, nor can the machine be restarted with the guard in the raised position.
Figure 19. Interlocked guard on picker machine
In Figure 20, an interlocked guard covers the rotating cylinder of the dividing head of a roll make-up machine used for making hamburger and hot-dog rolls.
Figure 20. Interlocked guard on roll make-up machine
Adjustable: Adjustable guards are useful because they allow flexibility in accommodating various sizes of stock.
Figure 21 shows a bandsaw with an adjustable guard to protect the operator from the unused portion of the blade. This guard can be adjusted according to the size of stock.
Figure 21. Adjustable guard on horizontal bandsaw.
In Figure 22, the bars adjust to accommodate the size and shape of the stock. Figures 23 and 24 show guards that can be adjusted according to the thickness of the stock.
Figure 22. Adjustable guard on power press.
Figure 23. Adjustable guard on router.
Figure 24. Adjustable guard on shaper.
In Figure 25, the guard adjusts to provide a barrier between the operator and the blade.
Figure 25. Adjustable guard on table saw.
Figure 26 shows an adjustable enclosure guard on a bandsaw.
Figure 26. Adjustable guard on bandsaw.
Self-Adjusting: The openings of these barriers are determined by the movement of the stock. As the operator moves the stock into the danger area, the guard is pushed away, providing an opening which is only large enough to admit the stock. After the stock is removed, the guard returns to the rest position. This guard protects the operator by placing a barrier between the danger area and the operator. The guards may be constructed of plastic, metal, or other substantial material. Self-adjusting guards offer different degrees of protection.
Examples of self-adjusting guards...
Figure 27 shows a radial arm saw with a self-adjusting guard. As the blade is pulled across the stock, the guard moves up, staying in contact with the stock.
Figure 27. Self-adjusting guard on radial arm saw.
Figure 28 shows a twin-action, transparent, self-adjusting guard. The first guard rises as the stock enters, then returns to its rest position as the stock moves ahead to raise the second guard.
Figure 28. Self-adjusting guard on table saw.
A self-adjusting guard is shown in Figure 29. As the blade moves through the stock, the guard rises up to the stock surface.
Figure 29. Self-adjusting guard on circular saw.
Figure 30 shows a self-adjusting enclosure guard mounted on a jointer. This guard is moved from the cutting head by the stock. After the stock is removed, the guard will return, under spring tension, to the rest position.
Figure 30. Self-adjusting guard on a jointer
Another type of self-adjusting guard mounted on a jointer is illustrated in Figure 31. The guard moves two ways. An edging operation causes the guard to move horizontally. If the stock is wide enough during a surfacing operation, the stock may be fed under the guard, causing it to move vertically.
Figure 31. Self-adjusting guard on a jointer
|Safeguarding Action
|May interfere
|Provides a barrier
|Can be constructed to suit many specific applications
In-plant construction is often possible
Can provide maximum protection
Usually requires minimum maintenance
Can be suitable to high production, repetitive operations
|May interfere with visibility
Can be limited to specific operations
Machine adjustment and repair often require its removal, thereby necessitating other means of protection for maintenance personnel
|Shuts off or disengages power and prevents starting of machine when guard is open; should require the machine to be stopped before the worker can reach into the danger area
|Can provide maximum protection
Allows access to machine for removing jams without time consuming removal of fixed guards
|Requires careful adjustment and maintenance
May be easy to disengage jams
|Provides a barrier that may be adjusted to facilitate a variety of production operations
|Can be constructed to suit many specific applications
Can be adjusted to admit varying sizes of stock
|Hands may enter danger area -- protection may not be complete at all times
May require frequent maintenance and/or adjustment
The guard may be made ineffective by the operator
May interfere with visibility
|Provides a barrier that moves according to the size of the stock entering the danger area
|Off-the-shelf guards are often commercially available
|Does not always provide maximum protection
May interfere with visibility
May require frequent maintenance and adjustment
A safety device may perform one of several functions. It may stop the machine if a hand or any part of the body is inadvertently placed in the danger area; restrain or withdraw the operator's hands from the danger area during operation; require the operator to use both hands on machine controls, thus keeping both hands and body out of danger; or provide a barrier which is synchronized with the operating cycle of the machine in order to prevent entry to the danger area during the hazardous part of the cycle.
The photoelectric (optical) presence-sensing device uses a system of light sources and controls which can interrupt the machine's operating cycle. If the light field is broken, the machine stops and will not cycle. This device must be used only on machines which can be stopped before the worker can reach the danger area. The design and placement of the guard depends upon the time it takes to stop the mechanism and the speed at which the employee's hand can reach across the distance from the guard to the danger zone.
Figure 32 shows a photoelectric presence-sending device on a part-revolution power press. When the light beam is broken, either the ram will not start to cycle, or, if the cycle has begun, the stopping mechanism will be activated so that the press stops before the operator's hand can enter the danger zone.
Figure 32. Photoelectric presence-sensing device on power press.
A photoelectric presence-sending device used with a press brake is illustrated in Figure 33. The device may be swung up or down to accommodate different production requirements.
Figure 33. Photoelectric presence-sensing device on press brake
The radiofrequency (capacitance) presence-sending device uses a radio beam that is part of the machine control circuit. When the capacitance field is broken, the machine will stop or will not activate. Like the photoelectric device, this device shall only be used on machines which can be stopped before the worker can reach the danger area. This requires the machine to have a friction clutch or other reliable means for stopping.
Figure 34 shows a radiofrequency presence-sensing device mounted on a part-revolution power press.
Figure 34. Radiofrequency presence-sensing device on a power press
The electromechanical sensing device has a probe or contact bar which descends to a predetermined distance when the operator initiates the machine cycle. If there is an obstruction preventing it from descending its full predetermined distance, the control circuit does not actuate the machine cycle.
Figure 35 shows an electromechanical sensing device on an eyeletter. The sensing probe in contact with the operator's finger is also shown.
Figure 35. Electromechanical sensing device on an eyeletter.
Pullback devices utilize a series of cables attached to the operator's hands, wrists, and/or arms. This type of device is primarily used on machines with stroking action. When the slide/ram is up between cycles, the operator is allowed access to the point of operation. When the slide/ram begins to cycle by starting its descent, a mechanical linkage automatically assures withdrawal of the hands from the point of operation.
Figure 36 shows a pullback device on a straight-side power press. When the slide/ram is in the "up" position, the operator can feed material by hand into the point of operation. When the press cycle is actuated, the operator's hands and arms are automatically withdrawn. Figure 37 shows a pullback device on a smaller press.
Figure 36. Pullback device on a power press.
Figure 37. Pullback device on a power press.
A pullback device on a press brake is illustrated in Figure 38.
Figure 38. Pullback device on press brake
The restraint (holdout) device in Figure 39 utilizes cables or straps that are attached to the operator's hands at a fixed point. The cables or straps must be adjusted to let the operator's hands travel within a predetermined safe area. There is no extending or retracting action involved. Consequently, hand-feeding tools are often necessary if the operation involves placing material into the danger area.
Figure 39. Restraint device on power press
Page 2 of Chapter 2


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This might sound somewhat overdone, but comparing IGBT modules using datasheets is not as easy at is might appear. A rough comparison can, of course, be made using the component blocking voltage (VCES, e.g. 1200V) and the nominal current (ICnom = 100A, 200A…). On closer inspection, however, the user might be confused by the different measurement conditions, as well as different definitions and designations.
Dr. Arendt Wintrich, Application Manager, Semikron
This article is intended to explain the component parameters in more detail, point out possible differences in how the different parameters are determined and help users analyse data.
Conducting current
Normally, comparisons are done on the basis of the nominal IGBT current. What must be borne in mind here, however, is that different current data exist, which, if incorrectly interpreted, may lead to misunderstandings. The "nominal current" ICnom is the nominal current of the chip area used and is calculated from the current density per mm² defined by the manufacturer for the chip technology. None of the properties relating to the module design are factored into this calculation. The forward voltages and switching losses are given for this current. The IC specified in the "maximum ratings", in contrast, refers to the direct current which can be continuously conducted by the IGBT at a certain case temperature. This value of current is determined for a component with maximum forward voltage and using the maximum junction temperature. This specification includes both the electrical and the thermal properties (Rth) of the module. As a result of additional switching losses and a safety margin in junction temperature, this value can seldom be achieved in practice. For some modules, the maximum current is limited by the terminals rather than the chips; in such cases, the maximum terminal current (It (RMS)) must be specified.
The data specified for the forward voltages VCE(sat) for the IGBT and VF for the freewheeling diode should actually relate to the main terminals of the modules, i.e. they should be specified at terminal level. This includes voltage drops across the terminals. Owing to higher power densities and improved semiconductor properties, the terminal losses are no longer negligible as compared with semiconductor losses. For thermal dimensioning, it therefore makes sense to specify the voltage drop across the chips (i.e. at chip level) and across the terminals (rCC'-EE') separately. The voltage across the terminals is as follows:
The separate specification offers the user the advantage that he can calculate chip losses and terminal losses separately. For instances, a 300A current causes in a module with rCC'-EE' = 1mΩ terminal losses of 90W. In comparison: the four semiconductors in this half bridge module (2 x IGBTs + 2 x diodes) cause, for this current, around 700…800W losses. Only the losses in the chip are relevant for chip heating.
Figure 1. Different forward characteristics of a 400A SEMITRANS module at chip level and terminal level, including the equivalent straight line resulting from VCE0 and rCE
The data specified for VCE0 and rCE come from a straight line approximation of the forward characteristic, generated through the points at 25% and 100% of the ICnom, as shown in the example in figure 1. These are auxiliary values that are obtained by calculation and are intended to help users calculate power losses. A comparison of forward voltages is to be performed for the same, high chip temperature, the measuring point (chip or terminal) and measuring current (ICnom). Not all manufacturers include the measuring point is the datasheet. A tip for chip-level measurements is that here the values for VCE(sat) for all IGBT modules of one chip technology are largely the same. For terminal-level measurements, the data specifications depend on ICnom.
Switching energy (Eon, Eoff, Err) and switching times (td(on), tr, td(off), tf, trr) are not only dependent on the semiconductor itself, but also on the surroundings. Stray inductance, driver output or motor cable and filter capacities affect the switching behaviour. The datasheet values are therefore to be regarded as typical values only. When comparing different datasheets, or even when looking at lab measurements in comparison to practical results, a number of essential factors must be taken into account. The majority of manufacturers, including SEMIKRON, refer to switching behaviour under inductive load, since this is closest to actual usage in drive applications. A few manufacturers specify data for ohmic load, resulting in far lower switching losses and switching times. A further reason why differences occur lies in the different limits of integration, between which the switching energy is determined from the switching losses as a function of time. These limits should start and finish at 1…2% of the increasing or decreasing value, respectively. The use of 10% limits, as is the case when defining switching times, results in too low a result for switching losses. Data relating to load conditions and integration limits can be found in manufacturers' technical explanations or application notes.
Comparisons of switching energies are often done for identical gate resistance RG, because the switching speed is related to RG. This is, however, not always possible, even for the same chip technology, since both positive and negative feedback effects in the control circuit determine the switching speed. A better approach would be to perform a comparison for identical diC/dt and dvCE/dt, since here the interference levels are comparable. When looking at the power losses, a change in gate resistances has to be taken into account in accordance with the curve Esw= f(RG). This curve begins at a value that is not specified directly as the minimum gate resistance, but at which the IGBT can still be safely switched. Smaller RG values are not ruled out, but ought to be verified with the manufacturer first.
Stray inductance in the commutation circuit means a reduction in turn-on load and, especially in the case of low DC link voltages (e.g. 300V), ensures very low turn-on losses. This is largely offset by a turn-off overvoltage, which is why in hard switching applications the sum of the turn-on and turn-off losses has to be considered. Switching losses normally specified only depend on the current. Other parameter that are important for switching energy comparisons are the voltage applied and the junction temperature. The following formulae can be used to apply the point of reference "ref" to other conditions, resulting in an acceptable approximation:
Gate charge QG may be specified in the datasheet for different turnoff voltages (negative driver voltage -15V/-8V/0V). If a curve is given for positive voltages only, the curve can be extended into the negative area from voltage rise above the voltage plateau. QG is only slightly dependent on the DC link voltage, since this voltage is needed to charge the Miller capacitance. For high voltages, the capacitance is very low, which is why the influence on the gate charge is minimum, too. Temperature dependency is negligible.
Layers of an IGBT module on a heat sink:
Figure 2. Possible reference points for temperature measurement in IGBT module and the resultant different shares in the calculated thermal resistances
Heat dissipation
The ability to dissipate heat is specified by the value Rth. In power semiconductor modules, the assumption is made that the total heat losses are dissipated via the assembly (module) surface. The thermal resistances are calculated from the temperature difference between two measuring points (T1, T2) and the power dissipation (Pv).
Different choices of measuring points can lead to variations in the shares in the thermal resistances (see Ts1 and Ts2 in figure 2). For the specification of Rth for chip (junction) to base plate (case) Rth(j-c), this is still relatively uniform. Here, the measuring point for base plate temperature is directly beneath the chip. For the specification of Rth between base plate and heat sink (Rth(c-s)), however, there are a variety of definitions. The temperature of the heat sink surface is higher underneath the module than beside it. SEMIKRON specifies the Rth(c-s) for a measuring point Ts1 beside the module. The relatively high temperature difference at this point leads to a high value for Rth. Other manufacturers' specifications for this value are based on the measuring point Ts2. The low temperature difference from the base plate to this hot spot results in a low value for Rth. This is why the Rth values specified for identical-sized, standard module cases are often very different.
Rth(c-s) can continue to be specified per module or per semiconductor. One-dimensional modelling using thermal resistances always leads to an error with regard to the thermal coupling between the individual components in a module. For specification of Rth(c-s) per semiconductor, thermal coupling between the semiconductors is, despite good conducting copper base plate, completely neglected. If Rth(c-s) is given for the entire module, this means full coupling between the semiconductors of one module. In addition, Rth(c-s) is, of course, also dependent on the module assembly, for example the screw tightening torque, the heat sink quality or the thickness and heat conductivity of the thermal paste, which is why this value can be given as a typical value only.
For modules with no base plate, the "base plate temperature" point is not accessible for measurements, which is why in this case Rth(j-s) is specified directly from chip to heat sink underneath the chip. As a result, the total Rth(j-s) to heat sink is to be used when comparing modules with and without base plate.
A comparison of the static IGBT parameters of different manufacturers and modules may well be done if a number of steps are followed. With a number of restrictions, the same applies to thermal resistances, provided the relevant measuring points are known and the entire
path from chip to cooling medium is factored in. The most difficult comparison is that of the switching properties. Here, it is vital that the di/dt or dv/dt is taken into account. The ideal situation would be to perform a direct comparison in actual application, factoring in temperature, losses and interference radiation measurements.
Manufacturers of IGBT modules offer users support in the form of tools which can be used to calculate power losses and temperature [http://semisel.semikron.com/] under application-like conditions. Such calculations provide more meaningful results as regards the suitability of a module than pure datasheet-based considerations.
For more information, please read:
Criteria for Successful Selection of IGBT and MOSFET Modules
Criteria for Successful Selection of Diodes and Thyristors
Teaching Tool for IGBTs and Thyristors


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by Alabama Extension
Herbicides will work best when a plant is actively growing, vigorously growing plants. Herbicide labels caution against spraying when plants are stressed or under extreme environmental conditions. However, unfortunately, weeds continue to grow in droughty conditions, while our crops continue to suffer. How are herbicides affected in these hot, dry conditions? How does it affect the activity of the herbicides? To learn more please download this article.
Filed under: news | Tagged: drought, herbicide resistance, herbicides, herbicides and drought, weed control | Leave a comment »


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On-Call Hello Friday! And hello, therefore, to On-Call, The Register's regular column in which readers explain how they were sent out into user-land to do odd things and returned triumphant, frustrated or smugly satisfied.
This week, meet "Ben" who wrote to tell us that he once ran support for "a small mainframe manufacturer." Among his jobs was tending the company's data centre and its own fleet of three machines.
"One summer," Ben told us, "I got a series of support tickets about spontaneous reboots in the computer room."
"Anyone who ran mainframes hates this type of problem. No log data, no record of power glitches on the UPS, in fact nothing except unhappy admins and irate users."
Ben tried to sort things out, but couldn't. Meanwhile the frequency of outages "rocketed." So he decided the only thing to do was to "sit in the corner of the computer room" and just see what was going on.
After half an hour of nothing at all happening Ben noticed a female colleague walking past in a loose dress, and mere seconds later the mainframe rebooted.
Ben conducted further investigation and learned that his colleague's dress was made of polyester. He quickly hypothesised that the combination of a whole lot of polyester, nylon carpet, plus dry, dry California air on a 105°F day might have been too much for a mainframe's anti-static protection.
"My electrostatic discharge engineer more or less called me a raving nutcase for suggesting this" Ben says, so he had to set up his own test. "Sure enough, even a low voltage spark crashed the system, but only in the area where the bus and tag cables entered."
The fix was simple: a set of ferrite cores kept the stray jolts under control and Ben says he also arranged a payment so his colleague could "buy a wardrobe of cotton dresses (and underwear)" on the grounds that this was "better safe than sorry!"
Have you identified an odder fault than Ben's polyester problem? If so, write to share your story and it might be you appearing in this august space next week! ®


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|Sat 29 Apr 2017, 8:00pm–11:00pm
Additional fees may apply
Out on the tar sealed and gravelly roads this April and May, legendary Dunedin pop group The Chills have announced their embarkation on a vigorous and far-reaching New Zealand tour.
Stopping in major musical centres Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as key outreaches such as Whanganui, Paekakariki, Queenstown, Napier, Raglan, Mount Maunganui, and a performance in Invercargill as part of the Southland Festival Of The Arts.
Fronted by the rare talent of Martin Phillipps, The Chills were originally formed in 1980 and had a revolving cast of band members with Phillipps remaining the only constant. His knack for writing fantastic pop songs led to chart hits back home and a cult following around the world.
With early releases via the legendary NZ label Flying Nun, The Chills produced a number of critically acclaimed recordings such as the single "Pink Frost" (their first hit) from the compilation album Kaleidoscope World and "Wet Blanket" from the LP Brave Words.
The energy of their live performances is the central reason why The Chills are remembered fondly in all thirty-nine of the countries that they have thus far visited. It's the combination of this and the consistent quality of their songs which have established The Chills as one of the most well-known New Zealand groups to date - particularly in the US, UK and Europe.
They are joined by fellow Dunedin alumni and SIlver Scroll/Taite Prize finalist Anthonie Tonnon, who's current live show combines a performance art-inspired approach to stagecraft, home-soldered technology, and dance moves.
Catch the band at a venue near you this April/ May:
Banished Music, Radio Hauraki and Undertheradar.co.nz present
The Chills Vigorous and Far-reaching New Zealand tour
With support from Anthonie Tonnon*
- April 26th - San Fran, Wellington
- April 27th - St. Peter's Hall, Paekakariki
- April 28th - The Cabana, Napier
- April 29th - The Royal Wanganui Opera House, Whanganui**
- May 4th - Blue Smoke, Christchurch
- May 5th - The Scottish Hall, Invercargill***
- May 6th - The Sherwood, Queenstown
- May 11th - Totara St, Mount Maunganui
- May 12th - The Raglan Club, Raglan
- May 13th - The King's Arms, Auckland
*Anthonie Tonnon plays all shows except Queenstown
** Tickets from www.royaloperahouse.co.nz
*** Tickets from http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/
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