CZ 452

The CZ 452 is a series of magazine-fed bolt-action rimfire repeating rifles manufactured by the Czech firearms manufacturer Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod (abbreviated "CZ-UB", English: "Czech Weapons Factory — Uherský Brod") and imported into the United States by CZ-USA. Most versions of the 452 rifle series were discontinued in 2011 and replaced by the CZ 455, although CZ continues to offer the CZ 452 American in a left-hand model, with the bolt handle and ejection port located on the left side of the rifle.
During its production life, the CZ 452 was produced in several versions with various barrels, stocks and sights for a variety of rimfire cartridges such as .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HM2, and .17 HMR.
History.
First introduced in 1954 as the BRNO Model 2 (ZKM 452), the Model 452 is a refinement of the CZ Model 1 (ZKM-451) .22 calibre rimfire bolt-action training rifle that first appeared in 1947. ZKM is an acronym for Zbrojovka-Koucký-Malorážka, the rifle's manufacturer ([Česká] Zbrojovka), designer (Josef Koucký) and Malorážka - for small calibre). The Model 1 or ZKM-451 was developed on the request of the occupying German authority in 1943-44, when a very few rifles were built as fully stocked Mauser 98k type trainers. The receivers of these early .22 training rifles were marked "tgf" ("Tschechische Gewehr Fabrik" - German for Czech Rifle Factory) by the German Heereswaffenamt. Because of wartime requirements for combat weapons, assembly and production was halted on all .22 training rifles, leaving a large stockpile of parts and receivers at war's end. After the war, these parts (some of which still have the "tgf" code) were used along with new barrels and stocks to make the Model 1.
Common Features.
The CZ 452 features a carbon steel barrel that is threaded into the receiver frame, except for rifles chambered for .17 HM2 which have the barrel pinned to the receiver.
Rifles of recent manufacture feature hammer forged and lapped barrels.
The receiver has a dovetail rail for mounting a telescopic sight. The dovetail is either 11 mm or 3/8" depending on the version and cartridge.
The trigger mechanism is adjustable for weight of pull.
A detachable box magazine is used for feeding. Magazines are available in 5- and 10-round capacities for all cartridges, both in steel and plastic. A single-shot adapter and 25-round magazine are also available for use with .22 LR and .17 HM2.
Versions.
American and Special.
The American is equipped with a 22.5" (572 mm) sporter weight barrel. The barrel and receiver have a polished and blued finish. They sit in an American-style, straight-comb, Turkish walnut stock with checkered grip and fore-end, and is trimmed with sling studs and a hard plastic butt plate. It was offered in limited quantities with beech, maple, and fancy walnut stocks. There is no provision for iron sights, as it is designed for use with a telescopic sight. The American was chambered for .17 HM2, .17 HMR, .22 LR, and .22 WMR in right-handed rifles, and for .17 HMR and .22 LR in left-handed rifles. Currently, the left-handed version is still in production.
Versions were offered with either a 16.2" or 22.5" inch barrel with the muzzle threaded (1/2" x 20 threads per inch (TPI)) to accept a sound suppressor. Adapters to allow attachment of U.S. standard (1/2" x 28 TPI) suppressors are available from several manufacturers.
The Special is identical to the American except it is provided with a matte blued finish on the receiver and a beechwood stock that is otherwise identical.
Varmint.
The Varmint is equipped with a 20.5" (521 mm) straight tapered varmint/target barrel. The barrel is polished whereas the receiver has a matte finish; both are blued. The barreled action sits in a varmint-style, straight-comb, walnut stock having a checkered grip with a modest palm swell and a flat-bottomed fore-end, and is trimmed with sling studs and a rubber butt pad. There is no provision for iron sights, as it is designed for use with a telescopic sight. The Varmint was chambered for .17 HM2, .17 HMR, .22 LR, and .22 WMR.
Lux, Trainer, and Standard.
The Lux is equipped with a 24.8" (630 mm) barrel that is provisioned with tangent sights. The barrel is polished whereas the receiver has a matte finish; both are blued. The barreled action sits in a walnut stock in the European-style with checkered grip, schnabel fore-end, and arched (curved) comb sometimes referred to as a Bavarian or "hogback" stock, and is trimmed with European sling swivels and a hard plastic butt plate. The lower drop at the heel and arched comb of the stock are designed to aid shooting with iron sights. The rear tangent sight is graduated in 25 meter increments with calibrated markings from 25 to 200 meters, while the sight leaf is adjustable for windage. The hooded front sight blade is adjustable for elevation. The Lux was chambered for .22 LR and .22 WMR. A left-handed version was chambered for .22 LR.
The Trainer, also known as the Special or Special Military Training Rifle, is a cadet rifle identical to the Lux except it is provided with a beechwood stock that is otherwise identical. The Trainer was chambered for .22 LR and .17 HMR.
The Standard is identical to the Trainer except the grip of the beechwood stock is not checkered. This and the Trainer is in use with many cadet organisations, a few being the Australian Air Force Cadets, Australian Navy Cadets and Australian Army Cadets.
Ultra Lux and Super BRNO.
The Ultra Lux is equipped with a 28.6" (727 mm) barrel that is provisioned with tangent sights. The extra length of the barrel is intended to improve sight radius and thus accuracy when using open sights. The barrel is polished whereas the receiver has a matte finish; both are blued. The top of the barrel is marked "SUPER EXCLUSIVE" and the trigger is gold plated. The barreled action sits in a European beechwood stock with a checkered grip, a Bavarian-style comb that also features a cheek piece, and is trimmed with European sling swivels and a rubber butt pad. Early in production, 110 rifles were made with a walnut stock. Unlike the Lux and Trainer, the tangent sight is calibrated from 25 to 100 meters in 25 meter increments, and then extends to 300 meters in 50 meter increments. The rear sight leaf is adjustable for windage, while the hooded front sight blade is adjustable for elevation. The Ultra Lux was provided with a 10-round magazine, and chambered for .22 LR.
The Super BRNO preceded the Ultra Lux. It is essentially the same; however, the finish of it's beechwood stock has an orange hue, the top of the barrel is marked "SUPER BRNO SAA 2500," the trigger is silver in color, and it was provided with a 5-round magazine. These are reported to have originally been produced as training rifles for Egypt, who refused, at which point CZ made them available to the public. Production was only 2,500 rifles.
Scout.
The Scout is a compact rifle intended for young shooters, with reduced stock dimensions, reduced weight, and a single-round loading device. The reduced stock dimensions and weight also make it suitable for smaller adults. The single-round loading device helps teach ammunition conservation and marksmanship. It has a shortened beechwood stock with a straight, slightly dropped comb, and a blued metal finish. It also uses notch and post sights.
Silhouette and Style.
The Silhouette was designed for small-bore metallic silhouette shooting competitions, and to meet the requirements of the IMSSA. It is essentially a CZ American action and barrel in a synthetic stock with a raised comb and cheek piece. Blued metal finish.
A version was offered with a 16.2" inch barrel with the muzzle threaded (1/2" x 20 threads per inch (TPI)) to accept a sound suppressor.
The Style is identical to the Silhouette except that it features a matte nickel electroplate finish on all metal surfaces except for the bolt and trigger assemblies.
FS (Full Stock).
The FS, short for Full Stock, features a carbine length (20.7") barrel and a Mannlicher–Schönauer-style full-length Turkish walnut stock with checkering on the pistol grip and forearm. The FS features the same tangent sights as the Lux and Trainer. The dovetail rail on the receiver accepts either 11 mm (for 22 LR versions) or 3/8" (for 17 HMR and 22 WMR versions) scope rings.
Grand Finale.
Released in 2017, the Grand Finale is a limited run of 1,000 rifles to commemorate the CZ 452 line. It follows the pattern of the CZ 452 American, but features an oil-finished walnut stock with ebony fore-end tip and grip cap, is hand engraved with a high polish blued finish, has a gold plated trigger, and features a custom metal magazine floor plate. It is provided with matching engraved and high polish blued scope rings.
Variants.
CZ 453.
The CZ 453 is essentially the same as the CZ 452; however, it is equipped with a fully adjustable single-set trigger. Some components, such as a different trigger housing and unique action screws, differ from the CZ 452 to accommodate the single set trigger, and thus the CZ 453 trigger cannot be retrofit into a CZ 452. Three versions were produced: American, Varmint, and Lux. The American and Varmint are essentially the same as the respective CZ 452 version. The Lux is akin to the CZ 452 version, but features the modern stock of the CZ 527 Lux, which features panel checkering on the grip and fore-end, a cheek piece, and a rubber butt pad. The Lux was only offered in 22 LR.
CZ 513.
The CZ 513 Basic (or "Farmer" as it is known outside the USA) is an economy version of the CZ 452, and with a 20.9-inch barrel and an uncheckered beechwood stock. The trigger is not adjustable, and the rear sight is a simple notch and post type.


Residence organ

A residence organ (also known variously as a house, box, cabinet, choir, continuo, home, practice, trunk, or chamber organ) is a musical organ installed in a personal home. Strictly speaking, the names "residence" and "house" organ are the most correct, the others being types of organs that can physically be used as residence organs, but that are not restricted to use solely in that context, and can also be used in, say, small churches, theatres, and so forth. A portative organ or a positive organ (which are also, but imprecisely, known as "box", "trunk", and "cabinet" organs) can be used in a residential setting, but the notion of a residence organ strictly embodies a permanence of place that is belied by the notion of portability embodied by the portatives and positives. Similarly, a chamber organ (also known imprecisely as a "cabinet", "desk", or "bureau" organ) is in general a small organ for a room, but not necessarily for a room of someone's home.
Use, construction, and evolution.
The overlap of definitions parallels an overlap of uses. Residence organs can be used as "practice" organs, for practice at home by a professional organist, or as home instruments for amateur organists. Their use can be traced as far back as the 16th century where Henry VIII of England owned more than a dozen residence organs, as did many members of his nobility.
In construction, they are generally less elaborate than church organs, being constricted by the relative paucity of space for the mechanisms in a residence as opposed to a church, theatre, or other larger building. They commonly have no pedals, a few stops, and a single manual. They are also generally less ornate than other kinds of organs, having plainer façades as the major effort in their construction goes towards miniaturization of the mechanism and achieving a church organ sound with domestic acoustics.
Various construction techniques are employed in pursuit of the latter goal. The lengthy pipework of the low registers in a church organ simply doesn't fit into a home, and so devices such as a quint, a Haskell bass, and a stopped pipe are employed to achieve the same sound but with more compact mechanisms.
The action is also engineered for compactness. In early designs, the action was very simple and comprised a sprung arrangement where air was compressed in the lower chest of the organ, and depressing a key would open a pallet that would release the air up to the pipe ranks. Later designs, as technology progressed, started to encompass more of what could be found in church and other organs and more complex mechanisms, including rollerboards, pedalboards, reed organs (rather than pipes), and eventually electric rather than mechanical actions.
Such residence organs were the province of professional house organ makers (who continue to exist even today) in the main, with a notable exception of Toggenburg where (at that time) residence organs were often constructed by amateurs and enthusiasts themselves. Several such purpose-built residence organs survive from centuries past, including Claudio Merulo's organ in the Conservatory of Music in Parma, and the residence organ of Marie Antoinette that is preserved at Versailles. For comparison, out of the 761 residence organs built by Aeolian between 1894 and 1932, only 65 survived to the end of the 20th century. (One such was the one at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.)
Residence organs rose to greater popularity in the 17th century, and by the 18th century much larger ones were being built, in England, Holland, and France. It was the end of the 19th century and the turn of the 20th that saw the advent of large and complex purpose-built residence organs in the private homes of those wealthy enough to afford such things, usually not played by the owners themselves but by professional organists whose services they would hire, for private concerts and the like. A four-manual organ was built in Blenheim Palace in 1891 by the Willis company, for example, and such things were symbols of ostentation and opulence on the parts of their owners.
But things changed in the 20th century with the advent of new technologies. Right at the start of the century the paper-roll playing mechanisms of the pianola were incorporated into residence organs, which had the side-effect of eliminating the profession of residence organist, requiring the operator to do no more than operate the organ stops and expression pedals (which, in its turn, was eliminated within a decade, that too being encoded onto the paper roll itself). Residence organs in the 1930s grew to encompass an even wider range of instruments with the advent of the electronic organ and (later) the analogue synthesizer as home organs. There has been a "purist" backlash against these; and even today one can find companies that will build "real" (i.e. not electronic) residential organs, customized for individual homes. But by the turn of the 21st century, with a few occasional exceptions, it was the electronic organ and the synthesizer to which professionals and amateurs now turned to for practice and informal use at home.
References.
Works cited


Lakeside Park Carousel

The Lakeside Park Carousel is a historic carousel located in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada, a community in the city of St. Catharines.
History.
The Lakeside Park Carousel was carved by Charles I.D. Looff between 1898 and 1905 in Brooklyn, New York. The animals were carved by Looff's factory workers, including Marcus Illions, who worked for Looff at the time. The carousel's rounding boards and scenery panels were built by George William Kremer, and are similar in appearance to those found on the Knoebels Grand Carousel, which is the only other Kremer carousel still in operation. In 1921, the carousel was moved from its original location in Scarborough, Ontario to its current location in Port Dalhousie. At the time, Lakeside Park had 58 attractions. The Lakeside Park Carousel is the only remaining attraction at Lakeside Park, and is now owned by the city of St. Catharines.
Description.
The carousel has 68 hand-carved wooden animals, including horses, lions, camels, goats and giraffes. The carousel also has four chariots. The animals on the carousel still have real horsehair tails.
Friends of the Lakeside Park Carousel.
The Friends of the Lakeside Park Carousel are a group of dedicated volunteers who have carefully and fully restored the carousel, and continue to care for and maintain the carousel to keep it in perfect working order.
Frati & Co. Band Organ.
The Lakeside Park Carousel is home to a late 19th century band organ built by Frati & Co. of Berlin, and is located in the centre of the carousel. The organ was originally played by a pinned barrel, but was converted by Wurlitzer at some point between 1927 and the 1940s to their Wurlitzer 150 scale. The organ is equipped with automatic stops, percussion instruments (also known as "traps") and a duplex roll-frame, which allows for continuous music. When one roll is finished playing, the next one starts playing while the first one rewinds to begin again. Employees from the municipal government change the music rolls every two days.
On very hot and humid days, carousel employees usually opt to play recorded carousel music, due to the fact that the high temperature and humidity de-tune the organ.
The band organ was restored in 1985, and again in 2005, and is continuously maintained by the city of St. Catharines.


E-mount

E-mount or E mount may refer to:


Endpin

The endpin is the component of a cello or double bass that makes contact with the floor to support the instrument's weight. It is made of metal, carbon fiber, or, occasionally, wood, and is typically extensible from the bottom of the instrument, secured there with a thumbscrew or other tightening mechanism. Most bass clarinets and contrabassoons also have a similar fixture.
Types of endpins.
Endpins are usually tipped with a point to stick into the floor, which is sometimes capped with black rubber to preserve the floor's surface and provide friction. Generally, endpins are parallel to the long axis of the instrument, but some cellists and bassists fit their instruments with a Tortelier-style endpin, which angles more towards the floor, improving mobility at the expense of stability. Also, some endpins have a secondary extension for tall musicians. The endpin also may have notches cut in it, allowing it to have extra holding strength at these points. This design is particularly common on string basses and beginning-level cellos. The former often require these because of their greater weight.
Endpin anchors.
Left-hand pressure on a cello fingerboard, acting against the fulcrum of the player's chest and/or knees, may cause the endpin to slip forward on the floor. To prevent this slippage, objects known as "endpin stoppers", "pinstops", "donuts", "black holes", "endpin anchors", "endpin holders", "spike holders" or "rock stops" are sometimes used.
One type of endpin stopper is placed between the endpin and the floor to add surface area and enhance friction, and stands alone. With this sort, the base must be made out of a non-slippery material like rubber. One very common type consists of a pliable disc surrounding a circular cup to hold the endpin's tip, such as the "Sure-Stop".
A different sort of endpin stopper uses the musician's chair as an anchor. T-shaped wooden stoppers are anchored by placing the top of the T behind the chair legs. Straight plank stoppers use one or two straps with loops at the end which are anchored around the chair legs. Since in this case the distance from the stopper to the chair is usually fixed, such stoppers typically have a line of dents running down the plank, allowing the instrument's angle to be adjusted by placing the endpin in a different dent.
Basses do not always require stoppers, being heavier and usually played in a more vertical orientation than a cello. However, bassists often use rockstops when sitting on a stool or when playing on high-glossed floors or uneven surfaces.
Endpins and flooring.
Pointed endpins can cause extensive damage, especially to tile and wooden flooring. Many music rooms bear evidence of this in a myriad of small holes or chips. Here, rubber tips and/or stoppers are beneficial. On carpet, the damage is less extensive. The bare tip is thus most effective in outdoor conditions, carpeted areas, and old flooring where the damage will not be as serious. However, the sharper the endpin, the more likely it is to go through the standard rubber tip.


OTs-33 Pernach

The OTs-33 Pernach ("ОЦ-33 Пернач", Russian for "pernach") is a Russian 9x18 Makarov machine pistol, derived from the 5.45 mm OTs-23 Drotik machine pistol. The Pernach is an automatic pistol designed to replace the Stechkin APS in various special OMON units within the Russian police, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and other paramilitary units. The OTs-33 was developed in 1995 by Igor Stechkin at the TsKIB SOO design bureau, and it went into limited production at the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It is also known as the SBZ-2 (Russian: СБЗ-2), derived from the names of the KBP team responsible for the pistol, namely Stechkin, Baltser (Бальцер) and Zinchenko (Зинченко).
The designers were tasked with resolving the difficulty of controlling recoil in full-auto mode present in the Stechkin APS pistol and simplifying it for combat deployment. The new pistol has a "square" shape, which is simpler (and less expensive) to manufacture and has a novel operating principle that increases controllability and reduces recoil.
Design details.
The OTs-33 is a selective fire blowback-operated weapon firing the 9×18mm Makarov pistol cartridge; it can use both types of 9x18mm ammunition, the standard 57-N-181S and the more powerful 57-N-181SM round. The blowback operation incorporates a feature that separates the slide and barrel as they move to the rear during recoil; there is no positive lock between the slide and barrel as in other conventional designs. As the slide and barrel separate, the spent case is ejected and the slide is then forced back to the barrel by a spring action, chambering a fresh cartridge in the process. The barrel and slide continue to the rear together in recoil for another before returning to the forward position. This feature improves the automatic fire accuracy, reduces felt recoil, and is responsible for slowing down the cyclic rate of fire, without using a sophisticated rate reducer mechanism such as the one employed in the APS pistol. This method of operation also allows the use of standard and higher power 9x18mm ammunition without using a locked breech action. To further reduce felt recoil and compensate for muzzle rise during firing, some propellant gases are diverted into a ported slide cavity that acts as a muzzle brake and compensator, deflecting the gases upward to stabilize the barrel.
The OTs-33 has a double-action trigger mechanism and is hammer fired, with an exposed hammer. The safety/fire selection catch is provided on each side of the pistol at the rear of the slide and has three positions: "safe" (top setting with a single white dot), semi-automatic fire (intermediate position marked with a single red dot) and fully automatic fire (lower setting with three red dots). When switched to "safe" mode, the selector mechanism safely depresses the hammer before returning to the safe position. An ambidextrous lever, which also serves in disassembly/stripping of the weapon, is provided inside of the trigger guard and just in front of the trigger. The Pernach also features a loaded chamber indicator.
The weapon is aimed using iron sights that consist of an adjustable rear notch and fixed forward blade. The sights have aiming inserts for improved visibility and target acquisition.
A folding metal shoulder stock can be screwed onto a point at the base of the grip in order to alleviate problems aiming the weapon while firing in fully automatic mode.
The OTs-33 is fed using double-column magazines with a capacity of 18 (standard) or 27 (optional) rounds. The OTs-33 frame has an integral accessory rail under the barrel for tactical lights or laser pointers. The pistol can be equipped with a sound suppressor. The OTs-33 is issued with leather holster that features two separate magazine pouches and a shoulder rig.


Out and back roller coaster

Out and back refers to the layout of a roller coaster. An out and back coaster is one that climbs a lift hill soon after leaving the station, races out to the far end of the track after the initial drop, performs a 180 degree turn and then returns to the station. Some out and back coasters perform more complicated turns at the far end of the track.
This particular design is very popular and is easy to design and construct. With an out and back design the hills on the way "out" usually are quite large and gradually decrease in size. The hills on the way "back" are usually "bunny hops", or small hills created to maximize air-time.
Design variants.
The simplest out-and-back layout resembles a flattened oval when viewed from above. In profile, the train leaves the station (point A) and ascends the lift hill; after gaining kinetic energy from the initial drop, the train ascends a second hill to slow the train before it enters the first turn-back at the far end of the track (point B). Exiting the turn-back, the train descends the second hill to gain speed again before entering a third hill (or a braking area) to slow for a second turn-back at the near end of the track (point C) and the return to the station.
Double out-and-back.
A variation on the theme has the track traveling from the station (point A) out to the far end (point B), then returning past the station before traveling out to the far end again, and finally returning to the station. From above, the simplest double out-and-back would appear as a flattened oval spiral with a crossover for the final return to the station.
Examples of this type of ride include the venerable Comet, which was moved from Crystal Beach Park in Ontario to Great Escape at Queensbury, New York, the Phoenix at Knoebels' Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, and GhostRider at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
Triple out-and-back.
These coasters travel back and forth between A and B thrice; the resulting appearance is often hard to discern from true twisters, which are usually free-form in design. An example of this type of ride is the Coney Island Cyclone.
Quadruple out-and-back and higher.
While no roller coasters of this type are known, they would travel between A and B more than three times. Like triple out-and-backs, they are hard to discern from twisters, and sometimes wild mice.


Dialog box

The dialog box (also called dialogue box (non-U.S. English) or just dialog) is a graphical control element in the form of a small window that communicates information to the user and prompts them for a response.
Dialog boxes are classified as "modal" or "modeless", depending on whether they block interaction with the software that initiated the dialog. The type of dialog box displayed is dependent upon the desired user interaction.
The simplest type of dialog box is the alert, which displays a message and may require an acknowledgment that the message has been read, usually by clicking "OK", or a decision as to whether or not an action should proceed, by clicking "OK" or "Cancel". Alerts are also used to display a "termination notice"—sometimes requesting confirmation that the notice has been read—in the event of either an intentional closing or unintentional closing ("crash") of an application or the operating system. (E.g., "Gedit has encountered an error and must close.") Although this is a frequent interaction pattern for modal dialogs, it is also criticized by usability experts as being ineffective for its intended use, which is to protect against errors caused by destructive actions, and for which better alternatives exist.
An example of a dialog box is the about box found in many software programs, which usually displays the name of the program, its version number, and may also include copyright information.
Modeless.
"Non-modal" or "modeless" dialog boxes are used when the requested information is not essential to continue, and so the window can be left open while work continues elsewhere. A type of modeless dialog box is a toolbar which is either separate from the main application, or may be detached from the main application, and items in the toolbar can be used to select certain features or functions of the application.
In general, good software design calls for dialogs to be of this type where possible, since they do not force the user into a particular mode of operation. An example might be a dialog of settings for the current document, e.g. the background and text colors. The user can continue adding text to the main window whatever color it is, but can change it at any time using the dialog. (This isn't meant to be an example of the "best" possible interface for this; often the same functionality may be accomplished by toolbar buttons on the application's main window.)
System modal.
System modal dialog boxes prevent interaction with any other window onscreen and prevent users from switching to another application or performing any other action until the issue presented in the dialog box is addressed. System modal dialogs were more commonly used in the past on single tasking systems where only one application could be running at any time. One current example is the shutdown screen of current Windows versions.
Application modal.
Modal dialog boxes temporarily halt the program: the user cannot continue without closing the dialog; the program may require some additional information before it can continue, or may simply wish to confirm that the user wants to proceed with a potentially dangerous course of action (confirmation dialog box). Usability practitioners generally regard modal dialogs as bad design-solutions, since they are prone to produce mode errors. Dangerous actions should be undoable wherever possible; a modal alert dialog that appears unexpectedly or which is dismissed automatically (because the user has developed a habit) will not protect from the dangerous action.
A modal dialog interrupts the main workflow. This effect has either been sought by the developer because it focuses on the completion of the task at hand or rejected because it prevents the user from changing to a different task when needed.
Document modal.
The concept of a "document modal" dialog has recently been used, most notably in macOS and Opera Browser. In the first case, they are shown as "sheets" attached to a parent window. These dialogs block only that window until the user dismisses the dialog, permitting work in other windows to continue, even within the same application.
In macOS, dialogs appear to emanate from a slot in their parent window, and are shown with a reinforcing animation. This helps to let the user understand that the dialog is attached to the parent window, not just shown in front of it. No work can be done in the underlying document itself while the dialog is displayed, but the parent window can still be moved, re-sized, and minimized, and other windows can be brought in front so the user can work with them:
The same type of dialog box can be compared with the "standard" modal dialog boxes used in Windows and other operating systems.
Similarities include:
The differences are that
Both mechanisms have shortcomings:


Auto-configuration

Auto-configuration is the automatic configuration of devices without manual intervention, without any need for software configuration programs or jumpers. Ideally, auto-configuring devices should just "plug and play". Auto-configuration has been made common because of the low cost of microprocessors and other embedded controller devices.
Configurations may be stored in NVRAM, loaded by a host processor, or negotiated at system initialization time. In some cases, hot pluggable devices may be able to renegotiate their configuration.
Example of auto-configuring devices:
Example of auto-configuring devices and protocols:


The ScareHouse

ScareHouse is a haunted attraction now located within The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In 2013 CBS News called ScareHouse "One of America's Scariest Haunted Houses". ScareHouse received additional recognition from Guillermo del Toro who stated "It really is beautiful. With the sound design and the atmospherics, it is beautiful. I could live here!" and Michael Dougherty who stated: "I left so happy and inspired. You guys nailed it!" In 2010 the ScareHouse was rated as one of "The 10 Wickedest Haunted Houses In America" by Forbes Magazine, and in 2012 was rated #5 in the US in Top Haunt Magazine's Top 13 Haunts. The ScareHouse offers heavily themed attractions or "haunts" which are significantly revised on a yearly basis along with an interactive, immersive, 18 and over attraction titled "The Basement".
ScareHouse History.
The first production of ScareHouse was presented in 1999. It is owned by Scott and Wayne Simmons. Creative Director Scott Simmons has been in the haunt industry for more than twenty years, having started with local non-profit haunts and various fundraisers. In 1985 he volunteered at a YMCA haunted house while in high school. During the 1980s and 1990s Scott worked within a few non-profit events and his father Wayne created and constructed the more elaborate sets and projects. ScareHouse occupied two different spaces, one in 1999 off of McKnight Road north of Pittsburgh, and one in Etna, in 2003 before moving to the former Elk's lodge in 2007 on Locust Street in Etna
History of the Previous Location.
ScareHouse was previously located at 118 Locust Street in Etna, Pennsylvania. ScareHouse has integrated the historical foundations and fabrics of this building into the haunt design through utilizing existing structures (walls and the original stage) in the haunt layout. The building once provided an employee recreational facility for the Spang and Chalfont Company before being bought by the Etna Elks No. 932. Etna Lodge No. 932 spent over 75 years at 118 Locust Street. There are still many reminders of the Elks Lodge No. 932 throughout the building, such as antique chairs and tables.
Partnership with Legendary Entertainment.
ScareHouse and Legendary Entertainment began collaborating in 2013, making ScareHouse one of the few independent haunted attractions outside of an amusement park to incorporate Intellectual property. Thomas Tull, the chief executive officer of Legendary Pictures has reportedly been a fan of ScareHouse for a number of years, and began working with ScareHouse after a return visit with Guillermo del Toro and Michael Dougherty in 2013. The following year the character "Sam" from the movie Trick 'r Treat was incorporated into the ScareHouse attraction "The Summoning" followed by two attractions in 2015 based on the Legendary films Trick 'r Treat and Krampus
named "Trick 'r Treat: Hallowed Grounds" and "Krampus: Come all ye fearfull"
Previous Themes.
The Sunset Lodge 2017 -2018.
A group of savage serial killers took over the run down Sunset Lodge. The scenes are various tacky hotel rooms, including a honeymoon suite with heart shaped bed.
Nocturnia 2016 -2018.
Nocturnia is a terrifying tale of wild creatures, twisted illusions, and a final circus of shadows. This haunt was updated to a 3-D haunt in 2017. It is filled with circus performers, clowns, and other creatures.
Infernal 2016 -2018.
A collection of cursed artifacts from the darkest corners of the world released a legion of demons from the deepest depths of Hell.
The Basement 2013-2019.
The Basement is not a traditional linear walk through haunted attraction, rather it is an interactive and immersive R-rated experience that involves the actors speaking to and challenging guests. The Basement is designed to provide boundary pushing, intense, thrilling, and emotional experiences in a safe environment. The event is restricted to only one or two guests entering at a time. It is a more intense and thrilling experience with adult content and explicit language. The Basement has also presented additional productions during Christmas, Valentine's Day, and the summer. The Basement is marketed and geared towards those who seek a more extreme experience. Everyone must be 18 years old and sign a waiver before entry. Elijah Wood attended the attraction in 2014 and "raved" about ScareHouse and the Basement on the Seth Meyers show on November 5.
The Basement has received national attention due to the boundary pushing nature of the experience and utilization of social and psychological principles. In 2014 and 2015 the Basement attraction was a site for data collection through the University of Pittsburgh. Researchers collected psychophysiological data from guests who volunteered to participate in the research study designed to gather data during intense, "real world" emotional experiences. The research protocol was a result of investigations into the science of fear by sociologist Margee Kerr, a former ScareHouse consultant
Retired Haunts.
Hall of Nightmares 2007–2009.
The Hall of Nightmares was an assortment of highly detailed scenes and characters that was primarily influenced by EC comics such as Tales From The Crypt, Italian horror movies such as Suspiria, the Haunted mansion at Disney and traditional haunted house situations and scenarios. The designers utilized vibrant colors and stylized scenic design to create a series of thinly connected and surreal scenes involving creatures, clowns, and cloaked figures.
Screamatorium 2007–2008.
Screamatorium opened in 2007 and was much darker, realistic, and intense than Hall of Nightmares. This attraction was set inside an abandoned research facility dating back to the early 1900s, which was filled with mutated creatures and their helpless victims. The design team took heavy influence from films such as "Silent Hill" to create a series of medically themed labs, offices, and holding cells lit by flickering incandescent bulbs.
Delirium 3-D 2008–2011.
Delirium 3-D first opened in 2008. Guests were given 3-D glasses at the entrance of the haunt to experience the many 3-D effects of the sets. Delirium 3-D took guests into the deranged and demented world of the main character "Delirium", which was filled with fluorescent colors, loud music, puppets, and twisted creatures. The general theme was inspired by a mix of psyho/punk/pop/rave culture. The characters in this haunt were known for their random, confusing, though entertaining sayings and antics.
In 2012 the ScareHouse hosted musical artist Delirium Dog, who heavily inspired and took inspiration from the Delirium haunt. Delirium Dog performed live in the haunt during the 2011 season.
Rampage! 2009–2010.
Rampage! was heavily influenced by steampunk, a subgenre of fantasy and science-fiction that attracted a growing fan base of alternative artists. The term denotes works set in an alternative Victorian era of culture and technology where steam power is still the predominant form of energy. The ScareHouse designers studied reference photos and technical drawings to find inspiration for new costumes, sets, and other production elements.
Rampage! took customers into a world divided by war; on the one side were the 'rebels' who were fighting against the evil 'Die-Rector' and 'Daphnie'. These two characters were featured heavily in ScareHouse ads and promotions. The Die-Rector gained further recognition in 2010 when he was invited to participate in 'Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh .'
The Forsaken 2009–2014.
The Forsaken opened in 2009 to replace 'Hall of NightMares.' The Forsaken is set in a mythical town of citizens that have lost their souls and are condemned to stalk and haunt the town. Sets include a broken down and haunted Carnival, complete with demented clowns, roustabouts, and fairway barkers. Other notable sets include a highly detailed and realistic 'game' room and 'butcher' shop complete with stuffed prey and animal carcasses.
The Forsaken introduced the character of 'Creepo,' a murderous clown that became known for taunting and interacting with customers. This character proved so popular that the ScareHouse developed a new haunt, Creepo's Christmas in 3-D, around him as a clown turned Santa Claus.
Pittsburgh Zombies 2011–2014.
Pittsburgh Zombies opened as the third haunt within The ScareHouse in 2011. The Pittsburgh Zombies attraction features elaborate and Hollywood-quality recreations of iconic Pittsburgh landmarks, while actors portray legions of the walking dead. An experienced team of set designers and scenic artists worked to create a real-life version of the zombie apocalypse that has been so memorably and frighteningly portrayed by the series of Night of the Living Dead films shot in and around the Pittsburgh area over the last forty years. Notable Pittsburgh Zombies sets include a crashed incline cable car, a recreation of Primanti's Brothers restaurant, and a lab where the outbreak started named 'UPEC'.
Creepo's Christmas in 3D 2012-2014.
Creepo's Christmas debuts in 2012 as the newest 3-D haunt. This haunt is built around the character of Creepo, the demented clown from The Forsaken. This experience places guests in a 'creepy' and twisted Christmas town where Creepo, wearing a Santa cap, seethes over early Christmas decorations. According to Scott Simmons, owner and creative director of The ScareHouse, part of the inspiration for this genre came from the ever earlier appearance of Christmas wares in retail stores. Simmons states: "Once the retail stores started displaying Christmas decorations in October, Creepo the Clown decided it was time to take a stand for Halloween."
Pittsburgh Zombies: Black Out! 2014.
ScareHouse’s expanded tribute to Pittsburgh’s Living Dead Legacy surrounds guests with hordes of the hungry dead. The lights are going out and the zombies are getting in.
Trick 'r Treat: Hallowed Grounds 2015-2015.
The Trick 'r Treat attraction is inspired by the Trick 'r Treat film and "Season's Greetings" both by writer and director Michael Dougherty. The attraction is built as a life-size pop up book entirely in black and white. Guests walk through series of rooms themed around rules of halloween including: 1) always wear a costume 2) pass out treats 3) never blow out a jack-o-lantern and 4) always check your candy. This highly artistic attraction utilizes visible luminescent paints which are black light reactive, further creating a realistic feeling pop-up book.
Krampus 2015 - 2015.
The Krampus attraction is based on the film by Michael Dougherty which was released in 2015. ScareHouse's team of scenic and special effects artists collaborated with Michael Dougherty and Legendary Entertainment to bring many of Krampus' characters to life inside the attraction. The attraction contains recreations of the evil snowmen, gingerbread cookies, Jack-in-the Box, and the Krampus monster. To further promote the film in advance of release, and to give guests a behind the scene look into the characters, Legendary commissioned a small gallery inside the attraction which featured the actual props, costumes, and practical creatures from the special effects company Weta Workshop
The attraction also served as the location for film promotion interviews between Michael Dougherty, Krampus actor David Koechner, a variety of press outlets.
The Summoning 2013-2016.
The Summoning attraction was introduced in 2013. The attraction is set in the 1930s and based on a secret society called "the Arcana" which is an inspired reimagining of the Elk's fraternal order that occupied the building for 70 years. Further building from the history of the Elk's, many of the scenes are recreation of rooms which existed during their residence; including a game room, large theater, bar, parlor, and lounge. The rooms are all fully themed with time-period appropriate sets and a full cast of actors portraying "sinister" characters.
Community Involvement.
While The ScareHouse is a for-profit, commercial venture it is still heavily involved in the Pittsburgh community. The ScareHouse contributes to multiple charitable organizations, and frequently collaborates with socially active bloggers, businesses, and causes. The Crazy Scary event, held in both 2010 and 2011, contributed more than $12,000 local kids in need. The Crazy Scary fundraiser benefits two local fundraising drives, Make Room for Kids and Christmas Crazy for Kids.
Make Room for Kids is a social media-driven fundraising effort originated by local blogger Virginia Montanez from That's Church (also known as "PittGirl" ) designed to bring gaming and laptops to sick children at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, in association with The Mario Lemieux Foundation.
Christmas Crazy for Kids was created by local blogger Michelle Hammons of the blog Burgh Baby. Donated funds are used to purchase and deliver toys to Toys for Tots and HOPE center
ScareHouse additionally partners with the local restaurant Burgatory to sell the "ScareHouse Shake" with a portion of the proceeds going to the Make Room For Kids foundation. As of 2017, 32,000 shakes have been sold. The ScareHouse has also partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Etna Economic Development Corporation, Haitian Families First, and the Delta Foundation.
In 2013 ScareHouse was a sponsor of the Great American Water Balloon Fight which is dedicated to fighting global poverty.
ScareHouse PodCast.
The ScareHouse podcast started broadcasting on iTunes in May 2011. While many of the podcasts are related to haunted houses and the haunted industry, they also cover topics like social media and marketing, dating in Pittsburgh, Anthrocon, sound and design, and paranormal activity. The podcasts are heavily focused on personal narrative and investigating the intersections of the haunted industry and society at large.
ScareHouse and The Ghost Hunters.
The ScareHouse has brought the members of the Ghost Hunters team Amy Bruni, Steve Gonsalves, Kris Williams, Dave Tango, and Adam Berry to Pittsburgh five times, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, 2011. Amy Bruni returned to ScareHouse in 2014 to hold a private paranormal investigation, and The ScareHouse Podcast from March 27, 2012 features an in-depth interview with the former Ghost Hunter.


Coefficients of potential

In electrostatics, the coefficients of potential determine the relationship between the charge and electrostatic potential (electrical potential), which is purely geometric:
where is the surface charge on conductor . The coefficients of potential are the coefficients . should be correctly read as the potential on the -th conductor, and hence "formula_2" is the due to charge 1 on conductor 2.
Note that:
The physical content of the symmetry is as follows:
In general, the coefficients is used when describing system of conductors, such as in the capacitor.
Theory.
<br>System of conductors. The electrostatic potential at point is formula_4.
Given the electrical potential on a conductor surface (the equipotential surface or the point chosen on surface ) contained in a system of conductors :
where , i.e. the distance from the area-element to a particular point on conductor . is not, in general, uniformly distributed across the surface. Let us introduce the factor that describes how the actual charge density differs from the average and itself on a position on the surface of the -th conductor:
or
Then,
It can be shown that formula_9 is independent of the distribution formula_10. Hence, with
we have
Example.
In this example, we employ the method of coefficients of potential to determine the capacitance on a two-conductor system.
For a two-conductor system, the system of linear equations is
On a capacitor, the charge on the two conductors is equal and opposite: . Therefore,
and
Hence,
Related coefficients.
Note that the array of linear equations
can be inverted to
where the with are called the coefficients of capacity and the with are called the coefficients of electrostatic induction.
For a system of two spherical conductors held at the same potential,
formula_20
If the two conductors carry equal and opposite charges,
formula_22
The system of conductors can be shown to have similar symmetry .


Loop gain

In electronics and control system theory, loop gain is the sum of the gain, expressed as a ratio or in decibels, around a feedback loop. Feedback loops are widely used in electronics in amplifiers and oscillators, and more generally in both electronic and nonelectronic industrial control systems to control industrial plant and equipment. The concept is also used in biology. In a feedback loop, the output of a device, process or plant is sampled and applied to alter the input, to better control the output. The loop gain, along with the related concept of loop phase shift, determines the behavior of the device, and particularly whether the output is stable, or unstable, which can result in oscillation. The importance of loop gain as a parameter for characterizing electronic feedback amplifiers was first recognized by Heinrich Barkhausen in 1921, and was developed further by Hendrik Wade Bode and Harry Nyquist at Bell Labs in the 1930s.
A block diagram of an electronic amplifier with negative feedback is shown at right. The input signal is applied to the amplifier with open-loop gain "A" and amplified. The output of the amplifier is applied to a feedback network with gain "β", and subtracted from the input to the amplifier. The loop gain is calculated by imagining the feedback loop is broken at some point, and calculating the net gain if a signal is applied. In the diagram shown, the loop gain is the product of the gains of the amplifier and the feedback network, "−Aβ". The minus sign is because the feedback signal is subtracted from the input.
The gains "A" and "β", and therefore the loop gain, generally vary with the frequency of the input signal, and so are usually expressed as functions of the angular frequency "ω" in radians per second. It is often displayed as a graph with the horizontal axis frequency "ω" and the vertical axis gain. In amplifiers, the loop gain is the difference between the open-loop gain curve and the closed-loop gain curve (actually, the 1/β curve) on a dB scale.


Robert A. Gross (physicist)

Robert A. Gross (October 31, 1927 – February 8, 2018) was an American physicist.
He attended the University of Pennsylvania, and earned a doctorate in applied physics from Harvard University. In 1960, Gross joined the Columbia University faculty, where he later became the Percy K. and Vida L. W. Hudson Professor of Applied Physics. He was named founding chair of Columbia's department of applied physics and nuclear engineering. Gross then led the department of mechanical engineering, and from 1982 to 1990, served as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He retired in 1995, having received several awards and honors throughout his career, including the Fulbright Scholarship and a Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as fellowship to both the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Gross died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on February 8, 2018, aged 90.
Personal.
Robert Gross was the father of David A. Gross and John-Henry Gross.


Berkut rifle

The Berkut (, "golden eagle") is a family of semi-automatic, gas-operated hunting carbines designed and manufactured by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula. The Berkut family of rifles is available in .308 Winchester, 7.62×54mmR, and, for larger game, 9×53mmR. The wooden stock is detachable for easy storage and is available in several different styles such as semi-pistol and thumb-hole.


IOF .22 revolver

The IOF .22 revolver is a .22 caliber revolver made by the Indian Ordnance Factory in 2002. The revolver's cylinder can hold 8 cartridges and has a single-action and double-action trigger.


SS Cedarville

SS "Cedarville" was a bulk carrier that carried limestone on the Great Lakes in the mid-20th century until it sank after a collision with another ship, .
Service history.
"Cedarville" was built in 1927 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan. The ship was launched as SS "A.F. Harvey", and entered service for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company division of US Steel. In 1956, the ship was transferred to the Bradley Transportation Company, still owned by US Steel. As part of the transfer, the ship was converted to be a self-unloading vessel and was renamed "Cedarville". She was a fleet mate of the .
Sinking.
On May 7, 1965, "Cedarville" was travelling between Rogers City, Michigan and Gary, Indiana with a load of of limestone. east of the Mackinac Bridge, in heavy fog, "Cedarville" collided with the Norwegian ship MV "Topdalsfjord". The collision occurred as a result of miscommunication between the two ships, which both changed their course a mile away from each other, with "Topdalsfjord"s captain steering his ship on a course that would lead to the two vessels passing each other on their starboard sides. The captain of "Cedarville", however, intended for his vessel to cross the bow of "Topdalsfjord", but his message stating such was not received by "Topdalsfjord", which continued on a course that led to it colliding with "Cedarville"s port side.
While the collision caused only superficial damage above the waterline, consisting mainly of broken railings and deck plates, the bow of "Topdalsfjord" had created a large hole in "Cedarville"s hull below the waterline, and within minutes of the collision a slight list to the port had developed. The captain of "Cedarville" ordered water to be pumped into the starboard ballast tanks to counteract the list, and intended to try to run the ship aground to prevent it from sinking. As the ship moved towards land, however, the weight of the water within the hull forced the bow down, and the ship began listing to starboard, eventually rolling over before sinking. Most survivors of the collision, in which ten out of the 35 aboard died, were picked up by the German freighter MV "Weissenburg", and subsequently transferred to the US Coast Guard cutter "Mackinaw".
Inquiry into sinking.
A U.S. Coast Guard inquiry into the incident found that the captain of "Cedarville" was at fault for the sinking and was charged with four counts of faulty seamanship. He initially pleaded innocent, but in August 1965 changed his plea to guilty. His license was suspended for a year as a result of the inquiry.
Wreck site.
The wreck of "Cedarville" lies in the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve in water around deep, although the highest point of the hull is around below the surface and the cabins of the ship are around underwater. Expert divers are able to enter the ship, as most parts remain fairly undamaged.
"Cedarville" is the fourth largest ship lost on the Great Lakes after , and fleet mate "Carl D. Bradley".


Palm Pistol

The Palm Pistol is a pocket pistol invented by Matthew Carmel and manufactured by his company Constitution Arms in Maplewood, New Jersey. The firearm is specifically intended for use by seniors, disabled and others with limited hand strength or manual dexterity.
Overview.
The gun is intended to be a single-shot weapon held in the palm of the hand with the barrel extending between the fingers. The trigger would be at the top, squeezed by the user's thumb. Carmel stated, "I was sitting in my workshop one day, playing around with a T-handled screwdriver. And I was thinking about the recurring problem I have with the seniors I teach, loading cartridges, locking slides and hand weakness… I was thinking minimalist. If I start with just a cartridge, what is the minimal thing I have to put around it in order to ignite the primer and send this projectile downrange?" The T-handled screwdriver made Carmel realize that all he needed was a barrel, a breech, and a short butt or handle.
Classification.
In 2008, while the gun was still in development, it was classified as a medical device by the FDA, which would have allowed reimbursements from Medicare if doctors had prescribed the pistol to eligible patients. The classification was overturned on December 8, 2008.


Redbox

Redbox Automated Retail LLC (stylized as redbox.) is an American video rental company specializing in DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD rentals, and formerly video games via automated retail kiosks. Redbox kiosks feature the company's signature red color and are located at convenience stores, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, mass retailers, and pharmacies.
As of the end of November 2012, Redbox had over 42,000 kiosks at more than 34,000 locations. As of September 2016, Redbox had 51.8% market share of the physical rental market.
History.
Redbox Automated Retail LLC was initially started by McDonald's Corporation business development team. Originally the kiosks sold convenience store products under the name Ticktok Easy Shop, however in late 2003 McDonald's ended its use of the kiosks for these products. Instead, Gregg Kaplan decided to use the kiosks for DVD rentals which was tested in Denver in 2004. The company also employed a ‘return anywhere’ policy, different from competitors, which allowed consumers to return their rental to any Redbox kiosk, not just the one from which they originally rented the unit. Kiosks rented both films and video games.
In 2005, Coinstar bought 47% of the company for $32 million, after unsuccessful attempts to sell half the company to Blockbuster and Netflix. In early 2008, Coinstar exercised an option to increase its share from 47% to 51%. In February 2009, Coinstar paid McDonald's between $169 and $176 million for the remainder of the company. While traditional brick and mortar rental stores were closing at a high rate, Redbox moved into existing retail locations such as supermarkets, and placed kiosks within them or outside of them in order to gain that consumer base.
The company surpassed Blockbuster in 2007 in number of U.S. locations, passed 100 million rentals in February 2008, and passed 1 billion rentals in September 2010. Current and former competitors include Netflix, Blockbuster, Movie Gallery and its subsidiary Hollywood Video, West Coast Video and Family Video along with other DVD by mail rental services. In Q2 2011, kiosks accounted for 36% of the disc rental market, with 38% of that attributable to rent-by-mail services and 25% to traditional stores, according to the NPD Group. As of Q2 2011, 68% of the U.S. population lived within a five-minute drive of a Redbox kiosk. The numbers for Q2 2013 shows that the Redbox rentals had surpassed 50% of the total disc rentals in the country.
Mitch Lowe joined Redbox in 2003 after spending five years as an executive at Netflix. At Redbox, he started first as a consultant and then as VP of Purchasing & Operations. In 2005, he became the Chief Operating Officer of Redbox. Lowe owned and operated a video rental company named Video Droid from 1982 through 1997. Video Droid attempted a VHS rental vending machine concept, though the idea was quickly deemed impractical. Lowe was named President of Redbox in April 2009.
With growing concern in 2009 that DVD kiosks might jeopardize movie studio income from DVD sales and rentals, three major movie studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Universal Studios, separately refused to sell DVDs to Redbox until at least 28 days after their arrival in stores. Fox and Warner Bros. represented 62% of home video rental revenue in 2008–09. Redbox responded by filing lawsuits, first, against Universal in October 2008, then against 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. in August 2009. In August 2009, the federal judge hearing the Universal case allowed an antitrust claim to continue. In October 2009, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. filed motions to dismiss Redbox's lawsuits against them. During this time, Redbox continued to rent films from these companies, purchasing them retail from places like Walmart instead of receiving them from the movie studios, which in some cases saved Redbox in costs due to the discounted prices offered by retailers. Other major studios — Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Lionsgate — signed distribution deals with Redbox. The Walt Disney Company permits third-party distributors to sell to Redbox, but has not entered into a direct relationship with the company. Both sides of the studio lawsuits pointed to these revenue-sharing deals to shore up their argument, with Redbox president Mitch Lowe saying, "our growth can lead to theirs [the studios' growth]. For example, Redbox currently estimates we will pay more than a combined $1 billion over the next five years to Sony, Lionsgate and Paramount to purchase and then rent new-release DVDs to consumers," while Warner Bros. says the deals are proof that far from being shut out by Hollywood, "Redbox’s business has thrived since its suit against Universal, underscored by lucrative distribution deals with Paramount Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate." Redbox entered into an agreement with Warner on February 16, 2010, followed by Universal and Fox on April 22, 2010. In the agreements, which settle Redbox's lawsuits, Redbox agreed to not make available for rental films from these studios until 28 days after their initial home-video releases. Redbox continued to sign additional and new distribution deals with these and other movie studios; by 2017, titles from Fox and Warner became available on Redbox seven days after their initial home-video release.
In July 2010, Redbox announced that they were beginning to rent Blu-ray movies at 13,000 kiosks nationwide, and Blu-ray Discs were available across the Redbox network by the fall of 2010. In October 2010, the company began testing video game rentals in Reno, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Austin, Texas; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Corvallis, Oregon. In June 2011, Redbox launched video game rentals nationwide. Games for all major platforms are offered, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch at select locations. In 2019 Redbox confirmed video game rentals would be discontinued.
In February 2012, Redbox announced the purchase of former competitor Blockbuster Express from NCR for $100 million. The acquisition included over 10,000 DVD kiosks, certain retailer contracts, and DVD inventory. As part of the agreement, Redbox entered a supplier arrangement of purchasing product and services from NCR. On June 27, 2012, Redbox completed the purchase of Blockbuster Express on June 23. The company sold some Blockbuster Express kiosks in less competitive markets to third party providers in June 2013.
The company announced in February 2012 the deployment of kiosks in Canada to test the market in that country, but in early 2015 shut down their Canadian operation, citing low demand.
The company partnered with New Era Tickets and Sparkart to launch Redbox Tickets in October 2012 as a test on existing kiosks in the greater Philadelphia area followed by an early 2013 expansion in Los Angeles. Redbox also rolled out its Rubi coffee kiosk featuring Seattle's Best Coffee in 2012 at up to 500 locations. Outerwall, formerly Coinstar, decided to close its Rubi business in December 2013 then sold that business in 2014 to Feniks, a Seattle start up food tech company.
In August 2012, Redbox's founder, Gregg Kaplan, exited Coinstar as president and COO of Redbox. Anne Saunders became the new president of Redbox. In July 2013, Redbox announced its 3 billionth rental of a disc, counting both movies and games.
The number of items rented from kiosks annually peaked in 2013, with 772.87 million rentals. There were then 717.13 million units rented, and in 2015 the number was 587.55 million, a decline due to the increasing consumer shift from physical media to streaming and other online services. That year the company also moved its 1,400 kiosks in Canada to other locations in the United States. Still, as of 2014, Redbox represented half of the physical media rental market. As of July 2016, Redbox offered Xbox One and PlayStation 4 games.
Apollo subsidiary.
Throughout most of 2016, parent company Outerwall was seeking a buyer based on shareholder input. In early September, Outerwall was sold to Apollo Global Management and its three units (Coinstar, ecoATM and Redbox) were split into separate operating companies. In late September 2016, Outerwall CFO Galen Smith was announced as the new CEO of Redbox. The company had approximately 40,000 kiosks in the United States as of January 2017. The kiosks are shifting around the country to different geographic locations in order to track consumer trends and in reaction to under performing neighborhoods. Most locations only have one kiosk, however in some cases there will be more than one to deal with high traffic locales.
In 2017, Disney sued Redbox, accusing them for violating copyrights by selling codes to download Disney movies such as "" and "Beauty and the Beast".
On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new video streaming service called Redbox On Demand. The percentage of consumers renting or purchasing movies from Redbox rose in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the third quarter, according to a TiVo survey.
Redbox acquired "Benjamin" indie movie for a 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service on April 23, 2019 as a Redbox Original. In October 2019 Redbox formed its film and TV series production division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.
Redbox announced on December 9, 2019 that it would no longer be renting video games, and will continuing selling used video game copies through the end of the year. Redbox Free Live TV was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18.
On May 17, 2021, Redbox announced that it reached a definitive agreement to merge with Seaport Global Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company.
Services.
Redbox Free Live TV.
Redbox Free Live TV is an ad supported channel based video on demand service. The service was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18. Nearly 30 channels were offered then - three self-branded channels: Redbox Rush (action and adventure), Redbox Comedy and Redbox Spotlight, featured and recommended titles. The service's launch content partner was Lionsgate. Other content suppliers include Cinedigm (Dove Now, Docurama and ConTV), Comedy Dynamics, Fremantle (“Family Feud”), FilmRise (“Unsolved Mysteries,” “Forensic Files” and a collection of movies), Gravitas, Group Nine (NowThis), Jukin Media (FailArmy and Pet Collective), Kabillion, Maverick Movies, People Are Awesome, TMZ, Vin Di Bona Production's “AFV and USA Today.
Redbox Instant.
Redbox began internally testing a video streaming service, dubbed Redbox Instant, in July 2012. The service was a joint effort between Redbox and Verizon. On March 14, 2013 Redbox Instant by Verizon officially went public, offering customers a free 1-month trial of an $8/month unlimited streaming service that includes 4 disc rentals from kiosks ($1 more for Blu-ray). The service launched with 4,600 titles from movie companies such as EPIX, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Relativity, and Sony Pictures. According to early reports, Redbox Instant also planned to allow users to download content to mobile devices for offline viewing; titles could be either rented or purchased, in SD or HD quality, with rental customers having 30 days to begin viewing their title and 48 hours of unlimited views thereafter.
In June 2013, Sony made the official announcement at E3 that Redbox Instant would be available on the PlayStation 4 console, and it was released in late 2013. Android and iOS apps also enabled streaming content on mobile devices.
Redbox Instant disabled sign-ups for new users in mid 2014 owing to a growing number of people using the website to verify stolen credit cards. In Q2 2014 earning call, Outerwall, Redbox's parent company, stated that they were "not pleased" with Redbox Instant subscription numbers. Finally on October 4, 2014, it was announced that Redbox Instant would be shutting down on October 7, only 19 months after its initial launch.
Redbox On Demand.
On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new service called Redbox On Demand. Like Redbox Instant, it is a streaming service, but based on a different model. It does not require any membership, and the list will contain new releases as well as several titles that it is claimed will never be available on services like Netflix. The service launched with 6,000 titles for on demand rental or electronic sell-through in line with its kiosk operations. The titles come the Major film studio's libraries except for Disney plus Lionsgate.
Redbox+.
In late December, Redbox began offering a yearly subscription service allowing a subscriber to rent 12 or 24 discs in total, depending on their plan of choice. Only eligible movies can be rented on these plans. It also extends the user return window up until midnight, giving an additional 3 hours to return a movie to a kiosk.
Kiosk design and operation.
Redbox began in 2004, using re-branded kiosks manufactured and operated by Silicon Valley-based DVDPlay, at 140 McDonald's restaurants in Denver and other test markets. In April 2005, Redbox phased out the DVDPlay-manufactured machines and contracted the Solectron facility in Creedmoor, NC — later purchased by Flextronics International, in October 2007 (Flextronics is also known as the manufacturer of the Zune, Xbox and Xbox 360) — to create and manufacture a custom kiosk design. The new kiosk was designed by Flextronics' Creedmoor design team, which included engineers Steven Hancock and John Rupert as key contributors under the direction of Franz Kuehnrich at GetAMovie Inc. (which was bought by RedBox). Other key contributors from Flextronics included Flextronics Global Account Manager Dave Stadelmaier and Global Supply Chain Manager Ben Wheeler (The KioskGuy). Redbox was innovative in that its carousel design not only decreased the number of robotic movements necessary to dispense and restock inventory, it also dramatically increased the number of discs (from 100 to 700+) that could be stored within a kiosk. In addition, the software, designed and developed by Enterprise Logic Systems, was also innovative in that it allowed RedBox to remotely monitor and manage inventory at all kiosks throughout the country.
The company's typical self-service vending kiosk combines an interactive touch screen and sign. It uses a robotic disc array system containing a stacked carousel of DVDs and web-linked electronic communications. Kiosks can be located indoors or out and can hold more than 600 DVDs with 70–200 titles, updated weekly. The kiosks are built as modules, and in areas with higher sales figures, a second machine can be connected to the first one in order to offer a wider selection. The customer pays with a credit card or debit card. DVDs can be returned the next day to any of the company's kiosks; charges accrue up to 25 days, after which the customer then owns the DVD (without the original case) and rental charges cease. Customers can also reserve DVDs online, made possible by real-time inventory updates on the company's website. While customers can buy used DVDs from the kiosks (with unsold used DVDs returned to suppliers), Redbox estimates only 3% of the company's revenue comes from used-disc sales.
A Redbox kiosk rents its average DVD 15 times at an average of $2 per transaction plus any applicable taxes.
Redbox Entertainment.
Redbox Entertainment is a content acquisition and production division of Redbox.
On April 23, 2019, Redbox acquired the indie film "Benjamin" for an exclusive 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service as a Redbox Original. In October 2019, Redbox formed its film and TV series acquisition division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.


Microelectronics

Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture (or microfabrication) of very small electronic designs and components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller. These devices are typically made from semiconductor materials. Many components of normal electronic design are available in a microelectronic equivalent. These include transistors, capacitors, inductors, resistors, diodes and (naturally) insulators and conductors can all be found in microelectronic devices. Unique wiring techniques such as wire bonding are also often used in microelectronics because of the unusually small size of the components, leads and pads. This technique requires specialized equipment and is expensive.
Digital integrated circuits (ICs) consist of billions of transistors, resistors, diodes, and capacitors. Analog circuits commonly contain resistors and capacitors as well. Inductors are used in some high frequency analog circuits, but tend to occupy larger chip area due to their lower reactance at low frequencies. Gyrators can replace them in many applications.
As techniques have improved, the scale of microelectronic components has continued to decrease. At smaller scales, the relative impact of intrinsic circuit properties such as interconnections may become more significant. These are called parasitic effects, and the goal of the microelectronics design engineer is to find ways to compensate for or to minimize these effects, while delivering smaller, faster, and cheaper devices.
Today, microelectronics design is largely aided by Electronic Design Automation software.


Cirque Corporation

Cirque Corporation is an American company which developed and commercialized the first successful capacitive touchpad, now widely used in notebook computers. Cirque develops and sells a variety of touch input products, both in OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and end-user retail form. Cirque was founded in 1991 by George E. Gerpheide, PhD, and James L. O'Callaghan, to commercialize the GlidePoint technology invented in the 1980s by Dr. Gerpheide.
History.
For many years, Gerpheide and O'Callaghan traveled in an attempt to convince makers of notebook computer to agree to use GlidePoint. Dr. Gerpheide recalls "We would often drive to the COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas and stay in a seedy hotel. There wasn't money for a booth at the show, so we carried our GlidePoint prototypes around the convention center making demonstrations to whoever was willing to watch. The early prototypes had a suitcase full of electronic circuits. I knew they could be shrunk into an integrated circuit, but we didn't have money for that either. So we were seeking a large leap of faith for a manufacturer to agree to use the technology. It was even worse because at that time most notebook computers were running DOS, which did not need a pointing device!"
In April 1994, Cirque adapted GlidePoint into an integrated circuit and began selling a retail GlidePoint touchpad. The first notebook computer containing GlidePoint appeared soon thereafter. GlidePoint technology was licensed to Alps Electric Corporation LTD, and ALPS launched touchpad products into the market.
In 2003, Cirque was acquired by Alps Electric as a wholly owned subsidiary. Cirque continues to function as an independent research and technology development facility.
Technology.
GlidePoint

GlidePoint was the first touchpad technology to be adopted in notebook computers as a system pointing device, that is, performing the same function as a mouse. Before that, system pointing was performed mostly using a small trackball embedded in the notebook computer case, and other mechanical devices. After GlidePoint's commercial introduction in April 1994, its popularity in notebook computers steadily increased and Synaptics and Logitech also introduced capacitive touchpad technologies. Presently, in 2009, both Synaptics and GlidePoint touchpads are used widely, with approximately 90% of notebook computers using touchpads.
GlidePoint was not the first touch input technology. For example, it was pre-dated by resistive membrane input pads such as used in the Model 3155 Keyboard from Keytronic, Inc. Transparent resistive membrane technology is used in PDAs such as the Palm Pilot, point-of-sale terminals, video poker machines, and information kiosks and other touch screens. There are also prior capacitive touch input pads in the patent literature. One, "The UnMouse" was invented by James Logan and marketed by his company Microtouch Systems, Inc. as a retail plug-in mouse alternative product in the 1980s, but discontinued after a few years.
GlidePoint technology senses the presence and absolute position of a finger on the pad's surface using capacitive techniques. Because of the capacitive technique, it does not require electrical contact with the finger, nor does it require the finger to exert pressure on the pad. It measures very small capacitance changes, due to a finger's proximity, among electrodes in a grid buried beneath the insulating surface of the pad. From these measurements, it can determine if a finger is touching the pad, and if so, the finger's absolute position horizontally and vertically on the surface. Subtraction of a preceding absolute position from the present absolute position yields the relative motion of the finger during that time. This relative motion is the same as a mouse for controlling position of a computer screen cursor.
GlideSensor

Cirque GlideSensor solutions are an extension of GlidePoint capacitive touch technology. They are configured to allow the rapid design of non-conventional touch input products. GlideSensor touch arrays may now be designed to take the form of thin films, flexible surfaces and irregular shapes.
GlideSensor’s mixed-mode ASIC controller was designed to blend the performance of GlidePoint with a low-voltage, low-power EEPROM programmable processor. The result is a touch controller capable of being rapidly configured to solve the most unusual input application.
Key GlideSensor technology features at a glance include:
Products.
Circle Trackpads have recently been featured in gaming controllers, but could also be used in remotes, automotive, industrial, and medical devices. Cirque's Circle Trackpad Development Kit is Arduino based and uses open sourced code on Github so it's easy to setup and use for developing projects. There are also step by step videos on YouTube for assembly and startup.
VR Grip™ is a new technology platform that was featured at CES 2018. VR Grip™ combines touch technology with proximity sensing to give a more immersive experience in virtual reality and augmented reality. You can find the VR Grip™ Dev Kit online with an instructional video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/CirqueCorp.


Linear sweep voltammetry

Linear sweep voltammetry is a voltammetric method where the current at a working electrode is measured while the potential between the working electrode and a reference electrode is swept linearly in time. Oxidation or reduction of species is registered as a peak or trough in the current signal at the potential at which the species begins to be oxidized or reduced.
Experimental method.
The experimental setup for linear sweep voltammetry utilizes a potentiostat and a three-electrode setup to deliver a potential to a solution and monitor its change in current. The three-electrode setup consists of a working electrode, an auxiliary electrode, and a reference electrode. The potentiostat delivers the potentials through the three-electrode setup. A potential, E, is delivered through the working electrode. The slope of the potential vs. time graph is called the scan rate and can range from mV/s to 1,000,000 V/s.
The working electrode is one of the electrodes at which the oxidation/reduction reactions occur—the processes that occur at this electrode are the ones being monitored. The auxiliary electrode (or counter electrode) is the one at which a process opposite from the one taking place at the working electrode occurs. The processes at this electrode are not monitored. The equation below gives an example of a reduction occurring at the surface of the working electrode. Es is the reduction potential of A (if the electrolyte and the electrode are in their standard conditions, then this potential is a standard reduction potential). As E approaches Es the current on the surface increases and when E=Es then the concentration of [A] = [A−] at the surface. As the molecules on the surface of the working electrode are oxidized/reduced they move away from the surface and new molecules come into contact with the surface of the working electrode. The flow of electrons into or out of the electrode causes the current. The current is a direct measure of the rate at which electrons are being exchanged through the electrode-electrolyte interface. When this rate becomes higher than the rate at which the oxidizing or reducing species can diffuse from the bulk of the electrolyte to the surface of the electrode, the current reaches a plateau or exhibits a peak.
Reduction of molecule A at the surface of the working electrode.
The auxiliary and reference electrode work in unison to balance out the charge added or removed by the working electrode. The auxiliary electrode balances the working electrode, but in order to know how much potential it has to add or remove it relies on the reference electrode. The reference electrode has a known reduction potential. The auxiliary electrode tries to keep the reference electrode at a certain reduction potential and to do this it has to balance the working electrode.
Characterization.
Linear sweep voltammetry can identify unknown species and determine the concentration of solutions. E1/2 can be used to identify the unknown species while the height of the limiting current can determine the concentration. The sensitivity of current changes vs. voltage can be increased by increasing the scan rate. Higher potentials per second result in more oxidation/reduction of a species at the surface of the working electrode.
Variations.
For reversible reactions cyclic voltammetry can be used to find information about the forward reaction and the reverse reaction. Like linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry applies a linear potential over time and at a certain potential the potentiostat will reverse the potential applied and sweep back to the beginning point. Cyclic voltammetry provides information about the oxidation and reduction reactions.
Applications.
While cyclic voltammetry is applicable to most cases where linear sweep voltammetry is used, there are some instances where linear sweep voltammetry is more useful. In cases where the reaction is irreversible cyclic voltammetry will not give any additional data that linear sweep voltammetry would give us.
In one example, linear voltammetry was used to examine direct methane production via a biocathode. Since the production of methane from CO2 is an irreversible reaction, cyclic voltammetry did not present any distinct advantage over linear sweep voltammetry. This group found that the biocathode produced higher current densities than a plain carbon cathode and that methane can be produced from a direct electric current without the need of hydrogen gas.


Programmable magnet

Programmed magnets, or polymagnets are magnetic structures that incorporate correlated patterns of magnets with alternating polarity, designed to achieve a desired behavior and deliver stronger local force. By varying the magnetic fields and strengths, different mechanical behaviors can be controlled.
Correlated magnet pairs can be programmed to attract or repel with a prescribed force and engagement distance, or, to attract or repel at a certain spatial orientation. Correlated magnets can be programmed to interact only with other magnetic structures that have been coded to respond. Correlated magnets can even be programmed to attract and repel at the same time. Compared to conventional magnets, the correlated magnet provides much stronger holding force to the target and stronger shear resistance. The programmable behavior is achieved by creating multipole structures comprising multiple magnetic elements maxels of varying size, location, orientation, and saturation. The sizes of maxels range from 1 mm to 4 mm. By overlapping these maxels, a very intricate magnetic field can be produced. There are four main functions that correlated magnets can achieve: align, attach, latch, and spring.
Programmed magnets can be programmed, or coded, by varying the polarity and/or field strengths of each source of the arrays of magnetic sources that make up each structure. The resulting magnetic structures can be one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and even four-dimensional if produced using an electromagnetic array.
Correlated magnetic structures can be developed from ferrites, rare-earth materials (e.g. Neodymium magnet, Samarium–cobalt magnet), ceramics, and electromagnets alike, and the correlation effects are scalable from very large permanent magnets to nanometer-scale devices. Multipole magnetic devices may be constructed from discrete permanent magnets, or by exposing heated magnetizable material to a coded magnetic field.
The science of correlated magnetics was created in 2008 by Larry W. Fullerton in his laboratory at Cedar Ridge in North Alabama. Correlated Magnetics Research (CMR) was formed to pursue research and development of the Coded Magnets technology and to license the technology to business entities across industry. More than 65 patents have been filed for the technology in the U.S. and around the world. CMR uses the term "polymagnets" for this technology. The coding theory used to design radio frequency signals in communication and radar is applied to form the magnetic regions of correlated magnets. The discovery was announced during a press conference in October, 2009, in Huntsville, Alabama. The world first's 3D magnetizing printer is developed by CMR, which is called MagPrinter. This printer consists of a magnetizing coil in a cabinet with a motion-control system. A polymagnet can be easily made from reprogramming a conventional magnetic material in a few minutes.
Applications.
Correlated magnetics is an enabling technology that can produce very strong yet safe industrial magnets. For the small size applications, correlated magnets can be used in positioning devices, consumer electronics, magnetic couplings, and vehicle attachment. Potential applications include attach and release work-holding mechanisms, magnetic separators, fluid seals and valves, motor and motion control, factory automation, prosthetics, security devices, and power generation. Correlated magnets is a relatively new technology in history. More applications and research opportunities will be explored.


Envelope tracking

Envelope tracking (ET) describes an approach to radio frequency (RF) amplifier design in which the power supply voltage applied to the RF power amplifier is continuously adjusted to ensure that the amplifier is operating at peak efficiency for power required at each instant of transmission.
A conventional RF amplifier designed with a fixed supply voltage operates most efficiently only when operating in compression.
Amplifiers operating with a constant supply voltage become less efficient as the crest factor of the signal increases, because the amplifier spends more time operating below peak power and, therefore, spends more time operating below its maximum efficiency.
Background.
The need for greater efficiency arises particularly as modulation schemes become more complicated and their peak to average power ratio increases. Older modulation schemes based on phase or frequency modulation with no amplitude information carried on the signal can use amplifiers that are driven into compression and offer high levels of efficiency. As of 2014 mobile communications basestations consumed ~1% of global electricity.
In contrast, many new communications systems from WiMAX to LTE "do" use amplitude information. The amplifier cannot be run into compression, because the amplitude information becomes distorted. These amplifiers can only achieve their peak efficiency on the peaks of the amplitude. The remainder of the time power is being dissipated unnecessarily.
Thus signals with a high peak to average power ratio mean that low efficiency levels are achieved, with the excess energy being wasted, ultimately as heat.
Variable voltage.
Envelope tracking adjusts the voltage applied to an RF power amplifier to deliver the power needed at that instant. Envelope information is derived from the IQ modem and is passed to an envelope tracking power supply to provide the required voltage.
In 2013, Qualcomm became the first company to ship a chip with such technology, which it claimed to be the industry’s first for 3G and 4G LTE mobile devices. R2 Semiconductor became the industry's first ET company to ship a phone with ET in the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini.
As of September 2014, at least 16 phones employ ET, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5 Mini, Nexus 5, and iPhone 6. Other component makers evaluating the technology include R2 Semiconductor, Mediatek, RF Micro Devices, Skyworks, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Nujira and Eta Devices.
Eta Devices, an MIT spinoff based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is preparing a base station module and a chip that it claims decreases battery drain and work well in high-bandwidth applications. The company says the chip helps lower electricity consumption by 20 percent and helps reduce heat generation by up to 30 percent. Eta's approach increases efficiency at the cost of greater signal noise. The company uses advanced digital signal processing to handle the problem. The Eta basestation is a little smaller than a shoebox, is the first 4G LTE transmitter to achieve average efficiency greater than 70 percent, up from the typical 45 to 55 percent.


Forth Division (Electrical Engineers)


Cigarette machine

A cigarette machine is a vending machine that takes cash in payment for packs of cigarettes.
Bans and restrictions.
In order to aid the restriction of sale of tobacco to minors, cigarette machines are regulated in many countries.
Japan.
Since July 2008, companies may face prosecution if found selling tobacco to anyone under the legal age, 20 years old. To avoid this, Japan has introduced a government registered electronic smart card, called "Taspo", that allows the user to purchase from the machines. To get a Taspo card, the purchaser must present their passport or ID to any government-authorized business offering the service.
As an automated way of determining age, the Fujitaka company is developing a technology that allows the vending machine to determine, using a digital camera and based on the facial wrinkles and sags of the potential buyer, whether the buyer is old enough to purchase cigarettes. The system compares facial characteristics including bone structure, sags, and crow's feet against a record of more than 100,000 people. However, if the user fails they can still use the machine with a Taspo card.


Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat

The Admiral Joe Fowler was a riverboat named after Park Construction Administrator Joe Fowler, a former US Navy rear admiral who was in charge of the construction of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
History.
The riverboat was built by Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Company in Tampa, Florida, the same place where the Walt Disney World Railroad's (WDWRR) four steam locomotives were refurbished.
The "Admiral Joe Fowler" riverboat hadn't entered service yet until a day later, after the Magic Kingdom park opened on October 1, 1971. On May 20, 1973, a second riverboat named the "Richard F. Irvine", which would later be renamed as the "Liberty Belle" in 1996, have entered service.
But in late 1980, the riverboat was accidentally dropped from a crane, attempting to lift it into the dry dock area for a routine overhaul, and its hull was completely destroyed beyond repair. The damaged riverboat was taken to a boneyard for awhile before being broken up for scrap, after determining that the Magic Kingdom no longer needed two riverboats on the Rivers of America, and the "Admiral Joe Fowler" suffered some mechanical problems. The riverboat's steam engine machinery was being shipped to Tokyo Disneyland as part of the "Mark Twain" riverboat's.
In 1997, the "Magic Kingdom II" ferry, which crosses the Seven Seas Lagoon, taking guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom park, was renamed to "Admiral Joe Fowler" along with the "Magic Kingdom I" ferry renamed as "Richard F. Irvine".


Canon AC Mount

The Canon AC lens-mount was a proprietary lens mount for the Canon T80. The lens mount was a variation of the then-standard Canon FD for auto-focus.


Teststrecke

Teststrecke, meaning Test Track in German, is a portable steel roller coaster owned by the German showman partnership Meyer & Rosenzweig. It was imported from Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in 2008 and generally tours in Germany, with occasional visits to the Netherlands. It was designed by renowned ride engineer Anton Schwarzkopf. The ride was previously named Laser and Colossus.
The trains on "Teststrecke" are themed to resemble racing cars and designed by Sunkid GmbH. Each train has a single lap bars to secure riders in their seats. It can operate all three at peak times, but it runs with one when there are no queues. The coaster is portable in that it is not attached to the ground, but is anchored by pools of water.
During normal operations at Dorney Park, there was no bag storage on the ride platform, so guests had to take everything with them. Guests were also not allowed to choose their own seats, as ride operators often assigned seats.
It is currently operating in The Riyadh Season Festival at Winter Wonderland Zone
The ride.
The ride starts with a slow 93-foot chain lift hill, leading to a right hand near-vertical curved first drop, followed by two consecutive vertical loops. The ride then turns into a left-hand helix, up and through the center of the second loop. Another left turn helix leads down and straight upward diagonally between the vertical loops, followed by a 360-degree helix, starting from the right, leading into a brake run that leads into two right turns and back into the station.


6586th Test Squadron


He Guowei

He Guowei (; born March 1963) is a Chinese physicist and chairman of the Academic Committee in the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. He is an associated editor for "Acta Mechanica Sinica" and the deputy editor-in-chief for "Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters".
Biography.
He was born in Shanghai in March 1963, while his ancestral home is in Shashi District of Jingzhou, Hubei. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanics, master's degree in computational mathematics, and doctor's degree in theoretical and applied mechanics from Northwestern Polytechnical University in 1983, 1988, and 1991, respectively.
After graduation, he did post-doctoral research at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), where he was promoted to assistant research fellow in 1993 and to researcher in 1999.
In January 1995 he became a postdoc at the Center for Theoretical Physics of French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at Marseille and Center for Astrophysics of CEA at Saclay in France, he remained there until April 1997, when he moved to Los Alamos National Laboratory as a visiting scholar. In July 2000 he joined the Langley Research Center as a senior staff scientist.
In 2009 he became an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). In 2015 he became a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). He served as the Director of State Key Laboratory for Nonlinear Mechanics in Beijing from 2005 to 2015. In November 2017 he was elected an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Award.
He was honored as a Distinguished Young Scholar by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars () in 2003.