text:
Język kataloński (kat.  [],  []) – język romański z grupy zachodniej, mający status języka urzędowego w Andorze i hiszpańskich wspólnotach autonomicznych: Katalonii, Balearach i Walencji. Jest zrozumiały dla 9 milionów ludzi, z których większość zamieszkuje wymienione regiony Hiszpanii.

Klasyfikacja i języki pokrewne
Według Ethnologue kataloński jest językiem wschodnioiberyjskim. Dzieli wiele cech z hiszpańskim, włoskim i francuskim.

Najbliższym krewnym katalońskiego jest język oksytański. Z powodu tego podobieństwa oraz opierając się na pewnych teoriach historycznych dotyczących pochodzenia Katalończyków, niektórzy językoznawcy zaliczają kataloński nie do grupy iberoromańskiej, lecz galoromańskiej. Jeszcze inni wyróżniają dla tych dwóch języków osobną grupę oksytańską. Jak wszystkie języki romańskie, kataloński wywodzi się z łaciny.

Zasięg geograficzny

 Andora
 Katalonia
 tzw. Pas Zachodni w Aragonii
 Baleary
 Walencja
 Katalonia Północna
 miasto Alghero (katal. Alguer) na Sardynii
 region Carche (katal. Carxe) w Murcji

W pierwszych czterech co najmniej 75% ludności potrafi mówić po katalońsku, 90% rozumie go, a około 50% używa go na co dzień. Znajomość i popularność katalońskiego w pozostałych jest nieco mniejsza.

Status oficjalny
Język kataloński jest jedynym językiem urzędowym Andory, a także, obok hiszpańskiego, hiszpańskich wspólnot autonomicznych Katalonii, Walencji i Balearów. Mimo dość licznej grupy mówiących, nie ma podobnego statusu w Aragonii, chociaż jest chroniony przez aragońskie prawo od 1990 r.

Ze względu na francuskie prawo i brak ratyfikacji Europejskiej Karty Języków Regionalnych lub Mniejszościowych, kataloński nie może uzyskać statusu urzędowego w Katalonii Północnej. Natomiast zgodnie z Kartą na rzecz języka katalońskiego uchwaloną przez radę generalną departamentu Pyrénées-Orientales, kataloński został uznany za część dziedzictwa kulturowego podlegającą ochronie i korzystającą ze wsparcia samorządu departamentalnego. Rada zobowiązała się do dwujęzycznej polityki informacyjnej, promocji obecności katalońskiego w sferze publicznej oraz wsparcia dla szkół dwujęzycznych (obecnie kataloński nauczany jest głównie jako nieobowiązkowy język obcy).

Domena internetowa

W 2005 r. ICANN zdecydowała o utworzeniu nowej domeny internetowej .cat dla stron katalońskojęzycznych, jak również szerzej – jakkolwiek związanych z językiem i kulturą katalońską. Jako domena funkcjonalna, nie terytorialna, może być używana przez osoby i organizacje z całego świata.

Odmiany języka

Dialekty terytorialne

Językoznawcy katalońscy wyróżniają pięć dialektów głównych współczesnej katalońszczyzny, łącząc je jednocześnie w dwie grupy:
 wschodnią:
 dialekt północny (septentrional, rossellonès) – Francja i północna część wspólnoty autonomicznej Katalonii,
 dialekt środkowy (central) – wschodnia Katalonia,
 dialekt balearski (balear) – Baleary;
 zachodnią:
 dialekt północno-zachodni (nord-occidental) – zachodnia Katalonia, wschodnia Aragonia i Andora,
 dialekt walencki (valencià) – wschodnia Walencja.

Ponadto wyróżnia się dwa dialekty przejściowe:
 walencki lub tortoski (valencià de transició, tortosí) w grupie zachodniej – południowa Katalonia, północna Walencja i przyległy fragment Aragonii,
 północnokataloński (català septentrional de transició) w grupie wschodniej – nadmorska część Pirenejów.

Archaiczny dialekt Algueru zalicza się do grupy wschodniej.

Dialekt walencki dzieli się niekiedy na kilka poddialektów. Przez niektórych uważany jest on za osobny język (zob. język walencki), jednak opinia ta nie jest popierana przez większość naukowców, zaś prawo hiszpańskie, nie rozróżniając dialektów, uznaje walencki i kataloński za dwie nazwy tego samego języka.

Katalońszczyzna standardowa
Regulacją normatywną języka katalońskiego zajmują się:
 Instytut Studiów Katalońskich (Institut d'Estudis Catalans) w Barcelonie, którego postanowienia stosowane są w Katalonii, Aragonii, Katalonii Północnej i na Balearach – ustala normy katalońszczyzny standardowej (català estàndard), której podstawę stanowi dialekt środkowy;
 Walencka Akademia Języka (Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua) w Walencji, której postanowienia stosowane są we Wspólnocie Walenckiej – ustala normy standardu walenckiego.

Normy ortograficzne ustanawiane przez IEC są obecnie przyjęte również w Walencji.

Historia
Język kataloński wykształcił się w IX wieku z łaciny ludowej po obu stronach wschodniej części Pirenejów. Dzieli wiele cech zarówno z językami iberoromańskimi (Półwyspu Iberyjskiego), jak i z językami galoromańskimi (dzisiejszej Francji). Według niektórych, na najwcześniejszym etapie rozwoju był jedynie dialektem języka okcytańskiego, a znaczące różnice pojawiły się podczas ekspansji języka w czasach rekonkwisty na południe: do Barcelony, Tarragony, Lleidy, Tortosy, Walencji, na Baleary, Sycylię i Sardynię.

Na Baleary kataloński przynieśli najeźdźcy z Katalonii. W tym czasie muzułmańską część populacji wygnano i zastąpiono ją rodzinami przybyszy. W Królestwie Walencji muzułmanie pozostali natomiast w obszarach wiejskich i skatalanizowali się.

W trzech końcowych wiekach średniowiecza kataloński był ważnym językiem basenu Morza Śródziemnego. Barcelona stała się najważniejszym portem i faktyczną stolicą Królestwa Aragonii, obejmującego Aragonię właściwą, dzisiejszą Katalonię, późniejszą francuską prowincję Roussillon (Katalonię Północną), Walencję, Baleary, Sycylię, Sardynię i Neapol. Pisarze tego okresu określali swój język jako kataloński. Poeci natomiast, nawiązując do tradycji trubadurów, używali swego rodzaju języka sztucznego, pośredniego między katalońskim i oksytańskim.

W XV i XVI wieku, ośrodkiem władzy w Aragonii stała się Walencja. Wtedy też pierwszy raz pojawia się określenie język walencki. W roku 1478 ukończono druk pierwszej Biblii w języku katalońskim – była to Biblia Valenciana.

W XIX w. rozpoczęło się katalońskie odrodzenie narodowe, z którym związany był wzrost zainteresowania językiem katalońskim. Niemałe znaczenie dla popularyzacji katalońskiego w tym okresie miał duży udział Katalończyków w ówczesnym sukcesie gospodarczym prowincji. Dzięki temu kataloński stał się atrakcyjny dla mieszczan i wyższych warstw społeczeństwa. Kataloński był oficjalnym językiem autonomicznej Katalonii, istniejącej w Hiszpanii za czasów republiki. Za dyktatury gen. Franco odrębność katalońska była prześladowana, język oficjalnie uważano za dialekt hiszpańskiego i jego użycie w miejscach publicznych było zabronione.

Współczesność
Po upadku dyktatury, dzięki uzyskaniu statusu języka urzędowego, szerokiej autonomii oraz odpowiedniej legislacji i dużym nakładom finansowym rządu katalońskiego (w tym szczególnie na media elektroniczne), kataloński stał się na powrót pierwszym językiem Katalonii, a jego użycie w tej wspólnocie autonomicznej stale rośnie. Najmniejszy odsetek mówiących po katalońsku występuje w stolicy – Barcelonie, co związane jest z dużą liczbą imigrantów zarobkowych z innych regionów Hiszpanii i z zagranicy. Również rząd Wspólnoty Walenckiej przedsięwziął pewne kroki dla zachowania katalońskiego (np. obowiązkowa nauka w szkołach) we wschodniej części wspólnoty, która jeszcze w XIX wieku była katalońskojęzyczna, natomiast obecnie użytkownicy katalońskiego są w mniejszości.

Dodatkowo język kataloński jest nauczany na uniwersytetach, również w składzie programu iberystyki. Istnieją również aplikacje mobilne do nauki samodzielnej.

Pisownia i wymowa głosek

Zróżnicowanie dialektalne
Główne różnice w wymowie przebiegają między grupą wschodnią a zachodnią, chociaż istnieją cechy wspólne dla dialektów północno-zachodniego i centralnego, a różniące je od walenckiego. Główne różnice związane są z:
 wymową samogłosek nieakcentowanych – w grupie wschodniej a i e oraz o i u wymawiane są tak samo jako [] i [], w grupie zachodniej są rozróżnialne,
 wymową łacińskich tonicznych ĭ (krótkie i) i ē (długie e) – w grupie zachodniej [], w grupie wschodniej [],
 wymową x – na wschodzie zawsze [], na zachodzie w niektórych pozycjach [].
 wymową g i j – na wschodzie [], na zachodzie (szczególnie w Walencji) [],
 wymową końcowych r i t – na północy mają tendencję do zanikania,
 wymową v i b – na wschodzie zlewają się w [].

Akcent
Pod względem akcentu kataloński jest bardzo zbliżony do oksytańskiego. W obu tych językach akcent jest swobodny, jednocześnie jednak duża liczba słów stosuje się do następującej reguły:
 wyrazy zakończone na spółgłoskę posiadają akcent oksytoniczny (na ostatnią sylabę) – kat. mots aguts (oxítons);
 wyrazy zakończone na samogłoskę posiadają akcent paroksytoniczny (na przedostatnią sylabę) – kat. mots plans (paroxítons);
 akcent paroksytoniczny posiadają również wyrazy zakończone na:
 samogłoskę + s (zwykle liczba mnoga rzeczowników zakończonych na samogłoskę),
 -en lub -in (zwykle formy 3. osoby liczby mnogiej czasowników).
Z tego powodu w pisowni przyjęto ogólną zasadę, że akcentów stosujących się do powyższej reguły nie oznacza się graficznie. Regułę tę odnosi się do formy pisanej wyrazu, stąd np. bezokoliczniki zakończone na niewymawiane -r mają akcent na ostatnią sylabę i nie jest on oznaczany graficznie (chociaż w wymowie wyraz kończy się na samogłoskę); z kolei akcent oznacza się w wyrazach, w których w pisowni wypadło końcowe -n (akcentowana jest ostatnia sylaba, tak jakby n istniało, ale ponieważ nie ma go już w pisowni, akcent należy oznaczyć graficznie). Wyjątkami są sytuacje, w których konieczne jest zaznaczenie otwartości/zamkniętości samogłoski (patrz niżej).

Spora liczba wyrazów posiada akcent proparoksytoniczny – kat. mots esdrúixols (proparoxítons). Zgodnie z powyższą regułą musi on być zawsze oznaczony graficznie.

Samogłoski
Znaczącą rolę w wymowie samogłosek (podobnie jak w języku oksytańskim) odgrywa akcent. Akcent kataloński posiada charakter toniczny, tzn. zmienia barwę samogłoski. Ogólnie samogłoski mogą posiadać trojaką wymowę:
 toniczną (tj. w sylabie akcentowanej) otwartą,
 toniczną zamkniętą,
 atoniczną (tj. w sylabie nieakcentowanej).

Uznaje się, że standardowy kataloński posiada 7 samogłosek tonicznych (vocals tòniques): otwarte (obertes) [], [], [] oraz zamknięte (tancades) [], [], [], []. Dialekt balearski posiada dodatkowo toniczne [], natomiast dialekt północny posiada wyłącznie [] i [] bez odpowiedników otwartych.

Jeśli z zasad przedstawionych wyżej wynika, że akcent należy oznaczyć na piśmie, stosuje się znak ` (accent greu, accent obert) nad samogłoskami otwartymi, zaś znak ´ (accent agut, accent tancat) nad samogłoskami zamkniętymi. W odróżnieniu od ortografii francuskiej (która dopuszcza opuszczanie znaków diakrytycznych nad wersalikami), akcenty zapisuje się również nad wielkimi literami.

Zasób samogłosek atonicznych (vocals àtones) jest bardzo różny dla różnych dialektów. Oprócz wyżej wymienionych może tu występować samogłoska [].

Poniższa tabela przedstawia wymowę samogłosek katalońskich.

Przykłady:
 pensar 'myśleć' – akcent nie jest oznaczony graficznie, więc toniczna jest ostatnia sylaba, gdyż wyraz kończy się na spółgłoskę; stąd wymowa standardowa []
 penso 'myślę' – akcent nie jest oznaczony graficznie, więc toniczna jest przedostatnia sylaba, gdyż wyraz kończy się na samogłoskę; stąd wymowa standardowa []
 sortir 'wychodzić' – akcent nie jest oznaczony graficznie, więc toniczna jest ostatnia sylaba, gdyż wyraz kończy się na spółgłoskę; stąd wymowa standardowa []
 sorten 'wychodzą' – akcent nie jest oznaczony graficznie, więc toniczna jest przedostatnia sylaba, gdyż wyraz kończy się na -en; stąd wymowa standardowa []

W przeciwieństwie do języka hiszpańskiego, w katalońskim występuje zjawisko elizji. Eliminacji mogą ulegać wyłącznie samogłoski atoniczne. Elizja jest oznaczana na piśmie apostrofem, jak w języku francuskim, w przypadkach: przyimka de (d'), rodzajników (l') i zaimków (l', m', t' itd. ale również jako następniki 'l, 'm, 'ns itd.) W innych przypadkach elizja występuje wyłącznie w mowie, np. ara és [].

Barwa samogłosek e i o
W przypadku wyrazów, w których sylaba toniczna nie musi być oznaczona graficznie, ustalenie, czy samogłoska e/o jest otwarta czy zamknięta, ogólnie nie jest możliwe na podstawie formy pisanej. Jedynie gdy istnieje para wyrazów identycznie pisanych, a inaczej wymawianych (jeden z samogłoską otwartą, drugi z zamkniętą), w jednym z nich zapisuje się akcent graficzny – najczęściej w wyrazie z samogłoską zamkniętą. Np.:
 sec 'suchy' [] – séc 'plisa' [];
 pèl 'włos' [] – pel 'dla' [].
W innych wypadkach, chociaż wymowę większości słów da się wytłumaczyć historycznie przez łacinę ludową, nie istnieją proste reguły na ustalenie barwy samogłoski. W wielu wypadkach wyrazy o takiej samej konstrukcji są wymawiane odmiennie, np.:
 cec 'ślepy' [] – sec 'suchy' [];
 pobre 'biedny' [] – sobre 'na' [].
Dodatkowo sytuację komplikuje fakt różnej wymowy tych samych wyrazów w różnych dialektach, przez różnych użytkowników tego samego dialektu, a nawet przez tę samą osobę. Ogólnie można więc uznać, że opozycja []/[] i []/[] traci funkcję dystynktywną. Niemniej wydawnictwa poprawnościowe, dopuszczając różną wymowę w różnych dialektach, zabraniają dowolnego mieszania lub zlewania tych głosek w jedną.

Ogólne reguły dotyczące barwy tonicznych e i o (istnieją liczne wyjątki):
 [] występuje:
 w tzw. mots cultes ("wyrazach kultury wysokiej" – zwykle pochodzących z łaciny klasycznej), szczególnie proparoksytonicznych oraz posiadających i lub u w następnej sylabie;
 przed l, ŀl, rr, r + spółgłoską (ale nie p, b, v, n, m), ndr;
 kiedy należy do dyftongu eu oprócz przypadków, gdy u wymienia się na v.
 [] występuje:
 w mots cultes, szczególnie proparoksytonicznych oraz posiadających i lub u w następnej sylabie;
 w dyftongach zstępujących;
 w wyrazach jednosylabowych zakończonych na -o (oprócz no) i -os oraz rzadziej w innych wyrazach jednosylabowych i z akcentem na pierwszej sylabie;
 przed rt, lt, ldr, ndr;
 w wyrazach dwusylabowych zakończonych na -osa oraz w wyrazach zakończonych na -oc(a), -ofa, -oig/-oja, -ol(a), -ossa, -ost(a), -ot(a).
Powyższe reguły odpowiadają standardowemu katalońskiemu. Największe różnice dialektalne dotyczą wymowy e – duża grupa wyrazów ze standardowym [] posiada [] w dialekcie walenckim (z czego wynika nawet inna pisownia w standardzie walenckim) i [] w balearskim.

Dyftongi i tryftongi
Język kataloński posiada dużą liczbę dyftongów. Są to:
 dyftongi zstępujące: au, eu, iu, ou, uu, ai, ei, oi, ui – w tym przypadku druga litera oznacza odpowiednio półsamogłoskę []/[] lub []/[];
 dyftongi wstępujące: ua, ue, uo, ia, ie, io – w tym przypadku pierwsza litera oznacza odpowiednio półsamogłoskę []/[] lub []/[]; wyróżnia się tu:
 dyftongi z u występujące po g i q (gua, güe itd.); przed e i i pisze się ü zgodnie z regułą ortograficzną (patrz niżej), w przeciwnym razie u należałoby nie czytać;
 dyftongi występujące na początku wyrazu oraz po samogłosce;
 jednak w wyrazach, w których dyftong tworzyłby jedyną sylabę, połączenia tego typu nie są uznawane za dyftongi – jest to tzw. rozziew (kat. hiat);
 połączenia ua, ue itd. występujące po spółgłoskach nie są uznawane za dyftongi lecz rozziewy, chociaż faktycznie mogą być dyftongami z fonetycznego punktu widzenia (patrz niżej na temat akcentowania).

Uważa się, że historycznie język kataloński nie posiadał dyftongów wstępujących; stąd niektóre opracowania nie uznają ich do tej pory.

Należy zauważyć, że uu i ui są jednoznacznie dyftongami zstępującymi, stąd duus [] (nie []), vuit [] (nie []).

Obecność dyftongów powoduje pewne komplikacje w stosowaniu zasad akcentowania:
 Dyftongi zstępujące stosują się do reguł akcentowania tak, jakby stanowiły jedną głoskę, a ewentualny akcent pada na pierwszą samogłoskę, np. caure [] (nie []) – akcent na przedostatnią sylabę, którą tworzy dyftong au (nie samo u).
 Wyrazy zakończone na dyftong zstępujący akcentuje się tak, jakby były zakończone na spółgłoskę – czyli na ostatnią sylabę, np. podeu [] (nie []).
 Analogicznie zachowują się dyftongi wstępujące pierwszej i drugiej podgrupy, np. aigua [] (nie []), cauen [] (nie []), iuca [] (nie []).
 Połączenia z trzeciej podgrupy pod względem akcentowania nie stanowią dyftongu, np. ió [] wymaga akcentu graficznego, by nie przeczytać [].
 Tak samo połączenia z czwartej podgrupy teoretycznie tworzą 2 sylaby i historycznie były wymawiane jako dwie osobne samogłoski. Jednak współczesny standard językowy dopuszcza wymowę pierwszej z samogłosek (o ile nie jest toniczna) jako półsamogłoski i taka wymowa jest najpowszechniejsza. Np.:
 cerveseria [] nie wymaga akcentu graficznego, gdyż uznaje się, że nie ma tu dyftongu, tylko rozziew, wyraz kończy się na samogłoskę, akcent domyślnie pada na przedostatnią samogłoskę, którą jest i;
 natomiast w qüestió [] (historyczna wymowa []) konieczny jest akcent graficzny, by nie przeczytać [], jednak faktycznie i nie tworzy sylaby – nie ma więc rozziewu tylko dyftong.

Jeżeli litera oznaczająca domyślnie (zgodnie z powyższymi regułami) półsamogłoskę powinna być odczytana jako pełna samogłoska, stawia się nad nią dierezę lub akcent graficzny (jeżeli jego obecność w tym miejscu wynika z reguł zapisu akcentów), np.: països [] (nie []), país [] (nie []). Nie stawia się dierezy, jeżeli mamy do czynienia z połączeniem przedrostka z rdzeniem wyrazu, np. reintegració.

Większość połączeń 3 samogłosek uznaje się za połączenia dyftongu i samogłoski. Niekiedy jednak dwie z nich wymawiane są jako półsamogłoski i wówczas połączenie takie stanowi tryftong. Najczęściej spotykane tryftongi to: ieu, uau, ueu.

Spółgłoski
W poniższej tabeli zebrano litery alfabetu katalońskiego oznaczające spółgłoski i podano ich wymowę (jako pierwsze podano formy właściwe dla dialektu środkowego i rekomendowane przez IEC, w nawiasach – spotykane w innych dialektach lub nieobowiązkowe).

Dla oznaczenia dodatkowych dźwięków lub gdy wyraz wymawia się niezgodnie z powyższymi regułami, stosuje się dwu- i trójznaki zebrane w poniższej tabeli.

W języku katalońskim zachodzą następujące upodobnienia:
 spółgłoski dźwięczne ubezdźwięczniają się w wygłosie i przed spółgłoskami bezdźwięcznymi (może to być lub nie być odzwierciedlone w ortografii);
 spółgłoski bezdźwięczne udźwięczniają się przed dźwięcznymi, przed n, m i r oraz na końcu wyrazu gdy następny wyraz zaczyna się samogłoską lub h;
 n przechodzi w [] przed [], [], [], zaś m przechodzi w [] przed [], [] (zjawisko naturalne dla Polaków, gdyż występuje również w języku polskim: bank, kęs, amfora);
 n przechodzi w [] przed [], [] oraz w [] przed [], [] np. canvi [] lub [] zależnie od dialektu
 n i l ulegają zmiękczeniu do [] i [] przed [], [] oraz nieco mniejszemu przed [], [], [], [];
 s ulega mniej lub bardziej wyraźnemu zmiękczeniu do [] (lub dźwięcznego []) przed [], [], [], [].

W standardowym katalońskim nie czyta się końcowego -r (oprócz dialektu walenckiego) ani końcowej spółgłoski w końcówkach: -lt, -ld, -nt, -nd, -mp, -mb, -nc, -ng, np. anar [], tub []. Wyjątkiem jest sytuacja, gdy następny wyraz zaczyna się samogłoską lub h, np. cent anys [].

Zobacz też

 kataloński język migowy
 Wikipedia katalońskojęzyczna

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Linki zewnętrzne
 Institut d'Estudis Catalans
 Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua
 Diccionari de la llengua catalana – słownik języka katalońskiego Institut d'Estudis Catalans
 L'Enciclopèdia – elektroniczna wersja Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana i słownika języka katalońskiego
 Diccionari de la llengua catalana multilingüe – słownik katalońsko-hiszpańsko-francusko-angielsko-niemiecki
 Són bojos, aquests catalans!? (kat. Czy ci Katalończycy oszaleli?) film na YouTube (70 minut), napisy do wyboru (także polskie) - film przedstawia problemy, jakie mają Katalończycy, posługujący się swoim językiem

Języki Hiszpanii
Języki Francji
Języki Andory
Języki Włoch

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Mystery MY650 Intelligent Balance Charger w Power of 50W5A& Fan. Intelligent Balance Charger Microprocessor controlled highperformance rapid charger for NiCdNiMHLiIoLiPoPb batteries. cheap Mystery MY650 Intelligent Balance Charger 50W 5A with Aluminum Box (MY0010) Only 58.
00, buy RC Airplane, RC Helicopter, RC Car, RC Boat at Lowest Prices and Get Tips and Reviews. Aug 16, 2008 Here's a little review about this product. May 15, 2017 Alphard, Edge, Swat, Ural. ? cheap Mystery MY650 Intelligent Balance Charger 50W 5A w Fan (MY0009) Only 59. 35, buy RC Airplane, RC Helicopter, RC Car, RC Boat at Lowest Prices and Get Tips and Reviews.
3 LOGITECH HARMONY 650 USER MANUAL Whats on the Harmony 650s screen Activities When you press an Activity button Watch TV, Watch a Movie, or Listen to Music the Activity starts, and the commands for that Activity appear on the screen. China Mystery MY650 Lithium Polymer Lipo Battery Balancer Charger, Lipo Charger, Rc Charger (New Product), Find details about China battery charger, lipo battery charger from Mystery MY650 Lithium Polymer Lipo Battery Balancer Charger, Lipo Charger, Rc Charger (New Product) Shenzhen Industrial Product Exhibition Center Sudan Model Department Download: 2) ATV Installation manual Altivar Process ATV600, Products.
View the new All Products menu. View the new All Products menu. Looking for product documents or software? Go to our Download Center. Residential and Small Business. Electrical Car The Mystery B6 I got this charger because the little unit that was included with my RC plane just did not inspire a lot of confidence.
It did charge, just took hours, and gave no hints about why.


text:
 human toxome project/chemicals/Heptachlorinated naphthalene
chemical Class
Heptachlorinated naphthalene
Chemicals in the class:
PCN-73, PCN-74
Found in these people:
Baby #1, Baby #4, Baby #5, Anonymous Adult 1, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 19
Found in these locations:
There are 75 possible chemical variations of PCNs. They have been used as cable insulation, wood preservatives, engine oil additives, electroplating masking compounds, capacitors, and in dye production (EPA 1983). Products are generally mixtures of several different PCNs. The largest source of PCNs believed to be waste incineration and disposal of items containing PCNs, although other potential sources of PCNs to the environment include sewage discharge from municipal and industrial sites, leaching from hazardous waste sites. PCNs are also unwanted byproducts formed after the chlorination of drinking water (Kuehl et al. 1984b, Vogelgesang 1986, Furlong et al. 1988, Lin et al. 1984, Shiraishi et al. 1985). They have not been used commercially in significant quantities since the 1980s. PCNs are toxic and persistent. They bioaccumulate in people and are stored in fatty tissues. PCNs have not been tested for their ability to induce cancer. The toxic effects of many PCNs are thought to be similar to dioxin. In humans, severe skin reactions (chloracne) and liver disease have both been reported after occupational exposure to PCNs. Other symptoms found in workers include cirrhosis of the liver, irritation of the eyes, fatigue, headache, anaemia, haematuria, impotentia, anorexia, and nausea. At least 10 deaths were reported from liver toxicity. Workers exposed to PCNs also have a slightly higher risk of all cancers combined. (WHO 2001).
Heptachlorinated naphthalene has been found in 6 of the 23 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.
Top health concerns for Heptachlorinated naphthalene (References)
health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Gastrointestinal (including liver) unknown
Toxicity Classifications (References)
classification governing entity/references
Gastrointestinal system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed Ward, E. M., Ruder, A.M., Suruda, A. (1994). Cancer mortality patterns among female and male workers employed in a cable manufacturing plant during World War II. J Occup Med 36: 7.
The Human Toxome Project is a collaboration of Environmental Working Group and Commonweal.
MAIN | PARTICIPANTS | CHEMICALS | HEALTH EFFECTS | ABOUT

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. Their accreditation program is a comprehensive system which measures the quality of early childhood education programs. Only 8% of early childhood programs in the United States have obtained NAEYC accreditation.
For more information about NAEYC standards and their importance in early childhood education, click on the link below.


The last of the exceedingly alliterative October events with BREC Outdoor Adventure was Thursday, and the Pumpkin Paddle Parade was exceptional as always.
After last weekend's epic rainfall totals, there was going to be no problem with the water being too low this time. Earlier in the week, the lake reached clear across the boat launch and well into the parking lot. By Thursday evening, it had receded right to the top of the bank, leaving near perfect conditions for launching and recovering at Wampold Park. By five, people were arriving and decorating their boats.
Image courtesy of BREC. Click for more early photos.
We all headed off for the paddle parade part a few minutes after six. The creativity on display on the various paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes was even better than last year. Also, the winds were virtually calm, which made me happy. Towing the Great Pumpkin has never been so relaxing. It was an easy paddle up the lake and back.
Image courtesy of BREC. Click for the complete, fantastic photo album.
If you haven't come out for a Pumpkin Paddle Parade, you should definitely try to make next year's. It's getting bigger every year. (This year there was a distinct increase in the number of spectators on land at the park, too.) We'll be there next year, of course, and we'll have to do even more upgrades to PaddleBR's Great Pumpkin — got to try to keep the awards streak alive, after all. Last year was the first showing of the Great Pumpkin. This year built an "electronic candle" to improve the lighting (very brief video clip below). Who knows what next year will bring?
← Pumpkin Paddle Parade this Thursday!


Here is a crate of apples. Nice, aren't they? Don't they all look smooth and shiny! What if I told you that the average apple in this crate was only picked a week ago? So fresh, too!
How is network neutrality like pigeons playing chess?
Where are the "structural engineers" for broadband?


text:
Patent Case Summaries November 7, 2014
Federal Circuit Patent Case Summaries for the Week Ending November 7, 2014
Wesley C. Achey
The following is a summary of the precedential patent-related opinions issued by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the week ending November 7, 2014. Pat Kartes, Tearra Vaughn and Wes Achey prepared this edition.
Please click here to view previous patent case summaries.
The Patent Application: Claims: Indefiniteness
Claim Interpretation: Means-Plus-Function
Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC, et al., No. 13-1130 (Fed. Cir. (C.D. Cal.) Nov. 5, 2014). Opinion by Linn, joined by Moore. Dissenting opinion by Reyna.
The Federal Circuit vacated the district court's judgment of noninfringement and invalidity and remanded the case back to the district court. In doing so, the Federal Circuit determined that the district court erred in construing two limitations of the claims, erroneously requiring an additional feature in one claim limitation and erroneously determining that the term "distributed learning control module" constituted a means-plus-function limitation.
Richard Williamson ("Williamson"), the trustee for the At Home Corporation Bondholder's Liquidating Trust, brought patent infringement suits against the appellees in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, asserting that all of the claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,155,840 ("the '840 patent") were infringed. The '840 patent is directed to methods and systems for "distributed learning" that provides a "virtual classroom" environment that connects one or more presenters with geographically remote audience members.
The district court issued a claim construction order concluding that various graphical display limitations ("graphical display representative of a classroom" and a "first graphical display comprising . . . a classroom region") each require "a pictorial map illustrating an at least partially virtual space in which participants can interact, and that identifies the presenter(s) and the audience member(s) by their locations on the map." Additionally, the district court construed the term a "distributed learning control module" to be a means-plus-function term under 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. Then, having determined that the specification failed to disclose the algorithms for performing the claimed functions of the "distributed learning control module," the district court found that the claims containing that limitation were invalid for being indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 2. After conceding that, under the district court's claim constructions, the accused products did not infringe any of the claims that were not invalidated, Williamson appealed to the Federal Circuit.
Reviewing the issues de novo, the Federal Circuit disagreed with the district court's construction of the graphical display limitations as requiring a "pictorial map" and determined that there is no suggestion in the record that a pictorial map is required, pointing to all of the described embodiments of the pictorial map as merely "preferred." Further, the Federal Circuit held that the appellees did not overcome the strong presumption that the term "distributed learning control module" is not subject to 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In doing so, the Federal Circuit determined that the district court erred in failing to appreciate structural connotations of the term "module," placing undue emphasis on the word "module" separate from the remaining claim language, and failing to give proper weight to the surrounding context of the rest of the claim language and supporting text.
http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/13-1130.Opinion.11-3-2014.1.PDF
Claim Interpretation: Ordinary Meaning
Litigation Practice and Procedure: Jurisdiction: Standing
Azure Networks, LLC, et al. v. CSR PLC, et al., No. 13-1459 (Fed. Cir. (E.D. Tex.) Nov. 6, 2014). Opinion by Chen, joined by Reyna. Opinion dissenting in part by Mayer.
The Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part, vacated-in-part, and remanded the case back to the district court. In doing so, the Federal Circuit held that the district court improperly construed the claim term "MAC address" beyond its ordinary meaning at the time of the invention. The Federal Circuit did, however, affirm the dismissal of Tri-County Excelsior Foundation ("Tri-County"), concluding that an agreement between Tri-County and Azure Networks, LLC ("Azure") constituted an effective assignment of all substantial rights from Tri-County to Azure for purposes of standing.
Azure and Tri-County brought suit against the appellees in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,756,129 ("the '129 patent"). The '129 patent is directed to a network for wireless communications between a central hub device and a number of surrounding peripheral devices.
The appellees sought to dismiss Tri-County as a co-plaintiff for lack of standing, arguing that all substantial rights to bring the action transferred to Azure under an agreement that constituted an assignment, leaving Tri-County without rights to sue. The district court found that Azure had acquired significant rights in the '129 patent, including the right to enforce, license, control litigation, and practice exclusively. The district court also found that Tri-County's economic interests in receiving 33% royalties, limited termination rights, and unfixed revisionary interest with a limited time remaining on the patent did not demonstrate that it retained ownership sufficient for standing.
Additionally, the district court construed the claim term "MAC address" to be limited to only hub-generated addresses and not to include universally generated addresses. In construing the claim term, the district court found that the patentee acted as its own lexicographer and therefore departed from the plain and ordinary meaning generally attributed to the concept of a MAC address because the patentee used the term "Media Access (MAC) address" instead of the more common "Media Access Control (MAC) address." Based on the claim interpretation adopted by the district court, Azure stipulated to a judgment of noninfringement. Azure and Tri-County then appealed to the Federal Circuit.
On appeal, the Federal Circuit agreed with the district court's dismissal of Tri-County as a co-plaintiff, concluding that Tri-County had transferred all substantial rights in the '129 patent to Azure through the aforementioned agreement. On the issue of claim construction, the Federal Circuit disagreed with the district court's limited construction of "MAC address." The Federal Circuit determined that the evidence relied on by the district court was insufficient to overcome the presumption that a claim term carries its ordinary meaning at the time of the invention. Instead, the Federal Circuit determined that scholars at the time of the invention often removed the term "Control" when spelling out "MAC address" and held that the specification did not clearly set forth a definition of the term. As such, the Federal Circuit vacated the district court's claim construction of "MAC address" and remanded to the district court.
Additional Notices
Alston & Bird's Federal Circuit Patent Case Summaries are intended to be informational and do not constitute legal advice or opinions regarding any specific situation. The material may also be considered advertising under certain rules of professional conduct or other law. This publication may be reprinted without the express permission of Alston & Bird as long as it is reprinted in its entirety including the copyright notice, ©2015.
Email: wes.achey@alston.com
Ross R. Barton
Email: ross.barton@alston.com
Kirk T. Bradley
Email: kirk.bradley@alston.com
Michael (Mike) S. Connor
Other Phone: 202.239.3378
Email: mike.connor@alston.com
Christopher TL Douglas
Email: christopher.douglas@alston.com
Michele M. Glessner
Email: michele.glessner@alston.com
Nicholas Clarke
Email: nick.clarke@alston.com
Related Services and Industries:
Patent Prosecution, Counseling & Review
Biotechnology, Chemical & Pharmaceutical
Mechanical Patents
Electrical, Software & Computer Science Patents
Inter Partes & Covered Business Method Review
©2020 ALSTON & BIRD LLP
中文(繁體
中文(简体
This website uses cookies to improve functionality and performance. For more information, see our Privacy Statement. Additional details for California consumers can be found here.


Most people avoid seeking medical treatment unless they are ill or have suffered from an injury. While it is important to receive medical care when you are injured or ill to help speed up your recovery. You can greatly benefit from seeing a primary care doctor in Freeport, NY on a regular basis. A primary physician is your first defense in maintaining a healthy life. They provide the general care that people require to help ensure they avoid serious illnesses. A physician performs the routine testing and examinations required to spot potential health problems before they develop into a disease that is hard to combat.
One of the most important services that a primary care doctor in Freeport, NY can provide is preventative care. A complete examination, routine tests, and your family health history provide valuable information for a physician. From this information, they can provide you with preventative care that helps you avoid various diseases and health conditions. When you take these preventative steps, you can reduce your chance of developing a health problem that can result in expensive medical bills. Plus, they can detect a health issue early and recommend a specialist to help avoid the medical condition from developing into a more serious problem.
Delmont Medical Care works with each patient to find the right medical treatment for their health needs. They consist of primary physicians and specialist that work together to deliver the comprehensive answer you require to ensure you remain healthy. A facility that offers medical treatment in Spanish and extended office hours, is devoted to ensuring the people in their community obtain the medical care that they require. When you team with them, you gain access to highly-trained professionals that are devoted to helping you meet your health goals.


Template:Unreferenced MEFO Company was the more common name for Metallurgische Forschungsgesellschaft, m.b.H. (MEFO), a dummy company set up by the Nazi German government during 1934 to finance the German re-armament effort before World War II.
This dummy company had a nominal capital of one million Reichsmark. It was one of the key components of the Nazi Germany re-armament program, and was invented by Hjalmar Schacht, who then was head of the Ministry of Economics, and Plenipotentiary for the War Economy.
After assuming power in 1933, during 1935 the Nazis realised that re-arming Germany would require funds that were not likely to be generated from taxes or public loans. In addition, the need to keep the rearmament effort secret led to the creation of this dummy company.
The bills were received by all German banks for possible re-discounting with the Reichsbank.
The bills were guaranteed by the Reich for five years after issue.
This system continued to be used until April 1938, when almost 12 billion Reichsmark of bills were outstanding. At that time the first of these bills, which were guaranteed for five years, would come due in 1939 when the holders would likely present them to the Reichsbank for payment.
This method of financing enabled the Nazi government to obtain large loans from the Reichsbank which was prohibited under then existing statutes. Direct lending to the Government by the Reichsbank had been limited by statute to 100 million Reichsmark.
The large nature of these outstandings led eventually to a confrontation between the Reichsbank and the German Finance Ministry in 1939, leading to the resignation of Hjalmar Schacht, the author of the whole strategy on 20 January 1939.
Our armaments are also financed partly with the credits of our political opponents. - Hjalmar Schacht in a memorandum to Adolf Hitler dated 3 May 1935.


text:
The best way to succeed a Jackpot in Port Device Online games?
Slot machines are probably the most popular online games in internet casinos all over the world. Annually, a huge number of participants globally sign up for and also over 70% of profit online casinos generate is just through the video slots. History of slot machine games is of sufficient length. The initial ancestor of recent movie port was conceived in 1891 in Brooklyn, New York City. Slot machines are created on the basis of poker, and have 50 credit cards fixed in the 5 reels t shirts down. Levels to the charges used coin and move the lever, causing the rotation in the reels. But since then there seemed to be the thought of the payments process, the champion was provided a free consume or perhaps a cigar, or something that is different. This relied on the institution that has been put in a port unit. Towards the gamer it had been challenging to acquire for the reason that game would be to be repaid, and not destroy the institution, frequently together with the drums eliminated twenty peaks and jack of hearts and minds it was hard to collect Noble Flush.
In 1899 Charles Fey made his slot machine games in San Francisco, daftar slot online. His slot machines had been not so difficult, and they also known as the Liberty Bell. His machine possessed 3 turning drum with five characters on each: diamonds, heart, horseshoe, and spades, as well as the bell of flexibility – hence the name. A succeeding mixture on slots these kinds of it absolutely were easier to identify and receive, so Charles Fey designed the 1st method of repayments. Variety of the 3 bells of flexibility considering the participant the very best reward – 10 kilos for several cents. After a while, there were other types of slot machine games, through which instead of money awards had been chewing gum with the flavor of your fruits, which drops on the reels port equipment.
The first electromechanical port model was developed in 1954. Quickly there were other variations of slot machines that require a cent level, as a result, the telephone number wishing to engage in within the a single-armed bandit is growing. Ever since then, both gambling establishment operators have begun to use more slot machine games introduced up, acknowledge assessments, passes, tokens, papers, for most of us from the game Slots grow to be high-priced. But after some time thanks to a on line casino to draw in new athletes have appeared a cent slot machine games. As new types of slot machines capable to be placed on series monthly payments much more coins, and a lot of gamers could not manage to make this sort of large bets, it had been decided that the minimal value of coins in slot machine games was up one particular cent.


Have you tried exclusion targeting?
In Power Editor, you can exclude folks you DON'T want to hit. For Google PPC veterans, this is the equivalent of negative keywords. For example, if you ran a personals site, you'd bid on "dating", but have "carbon" as a negative to not match on "carbon dating".
With Facebook, we can choose targets and exclude audiences within them. For example, maybe we want to target the entire US minus San Diego.
Or maybe you're a mortgage company licensed to operate in 47 states– you could list out all 47 states as a target or just just select United States and negative out the three states you don't serve.
Let's say that you've got your marketing automation running smoothly. You have content for those new to your brand and then content bucketed out mid-funnel as well as conversion.
You can exclude folks who are already fans, so they don't see top of funnel messages.
Same for those you already have emails for– exclude them if they're on your list already.
The pros by now are nodding their heads vigorously, as using the right combos of positive and negative audiences is critical to not wasting traffic. Even if you bid CPC or optimized CPM, not targeting as precisely as possible will cause your CPC to be higher. Remember that Facebook is maximizing their eCPM (effective CPM), so they will charge you more when you waste inventory to make up for who didn't click.
Negative feedback will hurt your organic rankings, as well as damage your brand value. Don't want to be known for irritating users, right?
Many folks have asked for boolean logic– the ability to specify ANDs and ORs wherever they like.
With precise targets, we can determine the audience size of those who like A or B as well as A and B. However, we are, as of this writing, unable to target those who like A and B– despite being able to extrapolate the counts via some Venn Diagram magic.
In broad category targeting, you actually can get this.
You can specify ANY (which is OR) as well as ALL (which is AND). So if you add in a bunch of broad category targets with AND, you'll keep cutting down your audience size the more you AND along.
Likewise, if you choose ANY, then you're expanding the audience, since you're saying you're looking to reach folks who like one or more of these topics, as opposed to ALL of them.
Put too many in the ALL bucket and you end up slicing your audience down to zero. If the estimator says "20 or fewer", that means zero.
But we have just 1,260 when we try to do ALL of these broad interests. I had to remove one of them, since it was too many for Facebook's tool to estimate.
One day we'll be able to specify ANDs and ORs (boolean logic) between target groups and within target groups. But until then, you'll just have to make a lot of ad combos and clever custom audiences.
In our next segment, let's talk about how to determine the right audience size for your targeting and budget.


Red Cliff Lodge is a property of unsurpassed elegance, spectacularly located on top of the cliffs, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Originally built in 1840 by the local landlord, Thomas Moroney, the house has been beautifully thatched and lavishly furnished. The opulent Reception and Drawing Rooms invite you to relax and view the setting sun by a roaring fire while sipping a glass of wine or brandy from our specially chosen wine list. A cluster of six stylish suites, some of which are also thatched, are arranged in a courtyard style. Unique in their design, these suites offer guests the opportunity to enjoy luxury, privacy and tranquility in a beautiful setting. Whether you are touring the wonderful sights of Clare, playing golf on one of Clare's fabulous golf courses or just seeking a special place to stay – Red Cliff Lodge is your natural choice.
Red Cliff Lodge offers a selection of rooms – four junior suites and two executive suites. Each suite has been purposely designed to give our guests personalised luxury and a feeling of complete seclusion and privacy. All have breathtaking views of the sea.
Relaxation comes naturally with warm and inviting fires, beds of regal proportions, exquisite furnishings, crisp white linens and soft fluffy towels.
Serving locally sourced ingredients to bring you mouthwatering dishes created by our head chef Christopher King. Taking his inspiration for these dishes from our beautiful surroundings and adding a hint of global flavors. Pairing with specially selected wines you are sure to enjoy your evening at the Red Cliff Lodge and Suites.
Spanish Point has a variety of activities to offer, whether it is a stroll on a beach, surfing, fishing or a game of golf. Red Cliff Lodge is perfectly situated only minutes from the sea with miles of beach and adjacent to the Spanish Point Links Golf Course.
County Clare is packed with great beaches. Red Cliff Lodge is perfectly situated in the midst of them.
Red Cliff Lodge is the ideal base for golfers. Spanish Point Links Golf Course is adjacent to the Lodge.
There is nothing more relaxing than a fishing trip. Red Cliff Lodge is an ideal base for all of those fishing.
Spanish Point has become a surfer's paradise. Surfing lessons are available on the beach and wetsuits.


The Peddler Show makes it's debut The Heart of Central Texas August 24th-26th for a one-of-a-kind His & Hers Weekend. We're partnering for the 2nd year in a row with the Hill Country Hunting Expo for ONE MEGA EVENT! Admission is good for BOTH events, so couples can shop together and actually enjoy it!
While all the "His" guys are exploring outdoor, hunting, fishing and power gear, roam the aisles of The Peddler Show to find talented designers, artisans, creators and craftsmen from all over the country! You can find anything and everything you need for your fall shopping list; you can even find gifts that can be customized and personalized onsite! It's THE Texas Shopping Tradition… The Peddler Show – making its debut in Llano!


The holidays are over and we are back into routine here in my Naturopath clinic at Mermaid Beach. It seems to go so quickly. We all have a complaint or two about our life styles, but you just have to listen to a news segment to start to appreciate how lucky we are to have the freedom that we have. We should give daily thanks in whatever way we believe.
Being aware of our neighbours and friends, and their needs. Doing small tasks to make life easier for somebody else is a wonderful feel- good recipe. New Year resolution: try to do one good deed a day to bring happiness however small, to another person – friend or foe. The rewards will ricochet back to you in a boost of self confidence. That you are in a position to help another tells you your life is not too bad, and helps you appreciate what you have and not despair on what you do not.
There appears to be a trend towards eating and appreciating our natural foods. More and more are growing tomatoes and herbs in small pots even on balconies and in courtyards. I believe that we are cooking a greater percentage of our meals where a few years ago it was mostly take-away for a large number of families. This is so good as so many of our herbs are both food and medicine. We should listen to the old people and learn how these foods were used to assist with good health. Not scientifically proven but learned at Grandparents knees with antidotes that have like the Dreamtime stories being carried down through the generations. Make a small journey into your pantry and see what you can find.
That the soldiers in world war one and two cut up onions and put them into their shoes to stop infections when there were no medicines. Their breath may have smelt and their feet turn yellow, but its healing powers worked.
Fresh mint leaves chewed daily is a great antiseptic. The Chlorophyll combined with other antiseptic chemicals in the mint strengthens gums and helps prevent tooth decay. Gargling fresh mint with salt cures hoarseness. It is great for singers and speakers.
The common lettuce is rich in cellulose; it increases the bulk of the intestinal contents and encourages peristalsis thereby helping chronic constipation.
The Mango is a favourite fruit in Queensland and has been widely used by the ancestors to assist with heat exhaustion. Prepare a drink by cooking unripe mango in hot ashes and mixing the pith with sugar and water it is an old remedy used for heat stroke. Eating raw mango with salt quenches thirst and prevents an excessive loss of minerals due to excessive sweating.
Lime is valuable in relieving swollen gums, a glass of diluted fresh lime juice mixed with a pinch of rock salt is valuable for this condition You can rub the squeezed lime rind over the gums.
Realise that people have been sick and then healed over the centuries, long before laboratories even came into existence. It is a boon to our health and our pockets to learn the lessons of the past.


text:
Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – 2/19/20
Uncategorized, ZONING BOARD 02/23/2020 Leave a comment
Present: Board Members: Chair Jan Galloway Leclerc, Vice-Chair Myra Mansouri, Clerk Judy Trow, Tom Murray, Pauline Barnes. Alternates: Ernie Vose. Absent: Bob Anderson, Don Sellarole.
Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the regular March 2020 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.
Roll Call: Ms. Leclerc called the meeting to order a couple of minutes before 7 pm. A full Board was present so an alternate was not needed to fill in.
Minutes: There was one correction: remove the words "come to," page 2, paragraph 5. Ms. Trow made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion. The Board approved the motion.
Signage: Edward Jones, 8 Westminster Street. Postponed until next month.
Public Hearing:
Variance: Marcus Lovell Smith, Boggy Meadow Farms, 13 Boggy Meadow Lane, Tax Map 7, Lot 1, rural/ag district wants to put a mobile home in the barnyard area of the farm. He is hoping to start milking cows again (he has 250 new heifers) and the mobile home is for two employees to be near the cows 24 hours a day. Article VIII, Section B.
Mr. Smith explained his proposal. He said he wanted permission to place a mobile home into the main part of the barnyard at Boggy Meadow Farm so there would be 24-hour-a-day supervision for the cows, which is needed to resume a dairy operation. Currently the milking parlor needs refitting and the hope is that once that is done, the dairy operation will be up and running, he said. The accommodations that we used before don't have a direct line of sight to the dairy barn. The mobile home will be "invisible" or hidden from the road and any neighbors. Without the mobile home, there would be no dairy operation, he said. It is absolutely crucial to have the mobile home to accommodate 24-hour-labor.
Mr. Smith read the answers to the five conditions for a variance and after he was finished reading all five conditions, the Board discussed each one and then voted on the variance.
Mr. Smith wrote "the variance is requested to erect a temporary mobile home to accommodate farm workers, and will be removed if there are no active dairy operations."
1. The proposed use would not diminish surrounding property values because:
Site is not visible from surrounding properties.
2. Granting the variance would be of benefit to the public interest.
On-site accommodation is necessary for a dairy operation.
3. Denial of the variance would result in unnecessary hardship to the owner because of the following special circumstances of the property that distinguish it from other properties similarly zoned because:
Accommodation necessary to house farm workers.
4. Granting the variance would do substantial justice because:
It would enable the dairy operation. Without it, we wouldn't be able to operate a dairy farm.
5. The proposed use would not be contrary to the spirit of the ordinance because:
As set out in the ordinance, "the purpose for establishing a rural/agricultural district is to provide ample areas for pursuit of agriculture including but not limited to dairy farming, poultry raising and timber harvest", and this accommodation will enable the dairy operation. Furthermore, the use would fall into the category "usual and ordinary farming activities."
Ms. Mansouri asked what his statement that "you may or may not start a dairy operation" meant. Mr. Smith said there are a bunch of conditions. One is 24-hour supervision, but also the milking parlor has to be restored, which is costly. If these condition don't work out, there would be no need for a mobile home. She then asked about the two farmhouses on the property and where the septic would be? Mr. Smith said he doesn't know yet if he can hook to an existing septic system or has to put in a new one. He's waiting to see if a new system is needed and if it were, he would put in a new one. Ms. Leclerc said septic systems are part of the building permit process and must satisfy State requirements. A copy of State approved design must accompany the building application.
Mr. Vose asked if the dairy operation ceased, would the mobile home be removed? Mr. Smith said yes. Me. Vose then said that the ordinance requires that a mobile home be placed on a permanent foundation. Discussion followed on this topic. Ms. Leclerc said the requirement could be waived. What would constitute a temporary foundation? Suggestions were: a slab, a cement block foundation, cement blocks where needed as a foundation, but not the wheels of the mobile home. All would need some kind of skirt or covering to go around the bottom of the mobile home.
Comments from the Board to Mr. Smith's answers to the variance conditions:
1. Ms. Trow said the mobile home is surrounded by farmland and only visible when you're on the property.
2. Ms. Barnes said the state of New Hampshire takes a very positive view of farming and Walpole has been known for its dairy farms, so I suggest that would be in the public interest. RSA 617:1 says agricultural activities are a beneficial feature of the New Hampshire landscape and should not be unreasonably limited by a municipal zoning power.
3. Ms. Barnes said denial would make the need for employees for a 24-hour watch over the cows makes it different from other properties.
4. Ms. Trow said the variance allows dairy farming to come back into operation.
5. Ms. Leclerc said the property is zoned rural/ag and permits the land to be used for dairy farming.
Ms. Trow made a motion to grant a variance for Section VIII Section C, Tax Map 7, Lot 1, 13 Boggy Meadow Lane, to allow a mobile home to be placed on a permanent foundation as indicated on the map while it operates as a dairy operation.
Ms. Leclerc asked if she meant permanent foundation or a temporary foundation. Mr. Smith said he didn't think a permanent foundation was needed and would prefer that the motion say something about a temporary one. He knows of another dairy farm that uses cement blocks for its mobile home and he hasn't any idea of how much an additional cost would be for a permanent one. The Board discussed temporary foundations and then decided to replace the word permanent in the motion with the word adequate. The motion was amended to substitute the word adequate for permanent. Mr. Murray seconded the motion and the Board approved the motion.
Catherine Harris: Signage – 6 Ames Plaza. Sign is 18 inches by 47.5 inches. Closest neighbor, Power Sports, has a sandwich-board type of sign that gets moved every day.
Mark Smith represented Ms. Harris. He produced a copy of the sign. It says CHS in large blue letters. The S has a picture of the globe in the bottom of the S. Wealth Management & CPAs are in much smaller black letters below that. On the right side of the sign are the services listed: investments, taxation, consulting, estates/trusts, then a telephone number (866-247-6800) and a web address. The two-sided sign will be placed on the lawn in front of the office parking lot on Ames way. It is in the permitted 65-foot distance from the center of Upper Walpole Road. A light will shine up at the sign. There will also be two lights at the bottom of the parking lot, one at each end.
There was a concern about the light shining up at the sign that would not be in keeping with dark sky lighting. Mr. Smith said the light would be on a timer and shut off at 9 pm. Another concern of the Board regarded the brightness of the lights, including the ones by the parking lot. Since lighting is under the purview of the Planning Board, the ZBA can't rule on that matter.
Ms. Trow made a motion to approve the sign as it complied with the ordinance. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and the Board approved it.
Chad Thurston: Variance or Expansion of a Non-conforming Use for 65-foot setback from the road for a porch at 73 Main Street, former American Legion building. He also needs to go before the PB for a site plan.
Mr. Thurston explained he planned to build a simple 6-foot-by-26-foot open farm-style porch across the front of the building. The porch would provide entry to the building for tenants who live in the two upstairs apartments as well as for customers for the proposed real estate office on the first floor. He said that a porch had been approved before when Costume Ladies was in the building, but that was in 2014 and the approval status is no longer valid.
The Board decided that since the building didn't conform to current zoning ordinances an Expansion of a Non-conforming Use application was more appropriate than a variance. A motion was made, seconded and passed to hold a Public Hearing for the addition of a porch in March.
Ryan Harrison and his wife purchased a house at 113 Prospect Hill, Tax Map 17, Residential A.
Mr. Harrison had a map and plans of the house and the addition to the house for an ADA compliant apartment for his in-laws and an attached garage. The house itself is about 45 feet from center of road and the addition is a few feet further back. They cannot push the addition towards the back of the lot because of the lot topography and a pool in the back.
Mr. Murray asked if there would be a new driveway. Mr. Harrison said he had been in contact with Road Agent Michael Rau who said it would depend on when the house was built. If it were built before 1971, he could put in a driveway directly to the new garage. If it were built after that, he would have to figure out something else. Mr. Rau is checking on that matter.
Since the house is non-conforming, the Board decided Mr. Harrison also needed an Expansion of a Non-conforming Use application. Ms. Trow made a motion to hold a Public Hearing next month for an Expansion of a Non-conforming Use. Mr. Murray seconded the motion and the Board approved the motion.
Allen and Tiffany Parker, owners of 47 River Road North, Tax Map 18, Lot 12-1, came in to discuss the letter they received from the Selectboard about three apartments at that location. Having three apartments in a Residential B district is not permitted. Therefore, they needed to get a Special from the Zoning Board of Adjustment to keep the third apartment and that also required a site plan from the Planning Board
Mr. Parker said that there were not three apartments at that location, there were actually only two apartments in that building. When he and his wife bought the building, Mr. Parker said there were four apartments. They were simply making renovations to the house.
He was advised that he should check with Town Offices if indeed he had been paying taxes for a three-apartment house. The Board apologized for the mistake and the stress the couple had gone through.
Signage: Jack Franks took down the sign on Red Barn Lane. He apologized for being late in taking down the sign.
Short-term rentals such as Airbnbs: Ms Leclerc had gone to the Select Board to discuss contacting the town attorney about adding short term rentals, such as provided by companies like airbnbs, being added to the B&B ordinance. The secretary had contacted the NH Municipal Association about this matter and after reading the town ordinance to one of the lawyers at the Association, he confirmed that that ordinance would also include covering short term rentals. However, the Select Board wanted something in writing from the Association so Chair Leclerc called and asked for that confirmation in writing, which she got.
It was decided that a small change could be made to the ordinance. It would now read. "Bed and Breakfast and Short-term Rental establishments (ex. Airbnbs) for the accommodation of paying, overnight guests, may be maintained in all zoning districts provided that the number of rooms for rent in any one establishment shall not number more than four and further provided that breakfast shall be the only meal provided and that to bona fide overnight guests. The conversion of a single-family residence or other building to a bed and breakfast or short-term rental shall require Site Plan approval by the Planning Board. Off-street parking for one car per rented room plus space for owner parking shall be provided."
Copies of ordinances from Alstead, Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Winchester regarding Bnb ordinances and districts where Bnbs were permitted were distributed to the Board. New legislation before the NH Legislature was also provided.
Ms. Mansouri made as motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Trow seconded the motion and the Board approved the motion.
Marilou Blaine
ZBA Secretary
← Withdrawal Informational Meeting – 2/13/20
March 2020 Issue of The Clarion Now On-line →


text:
Shoppers 'put off by ice'
Published: 10:37 AM February 25, 2009 Updated: 5:30 PM December 11, 2020
A HONITON pensioner says pavements in the town centre were too dangerous to use, in places, following the recent severe snow event.
A HONITON pensioner says pavements in the town centre were too dangerous to use, in places, following the recent severe snow event.Jim Kendall, 87, a former employee of Honiton Borough Council, believes shopkeepers should have been made responsible for clearing ice from pavements outside their premises."It used to be a general policy that all shopkeepers were responsible for clearing any debris from their frontages," he said."They were allowed to sweep debris into the highway. It was then cleared by council workmen. I was approached by quite a few people in Honiton who enquired when that understanding was rescinded."Two shopkeepers in New Street did clear the pavement outside their shops - the fish monger and The Paper Shop."Mr Kendall said many pensioners were too frightened to venture out in the conditions.Some of those who did walked in the road.He said: "I have seen so many things change in Honiton for the worse.


Built in 1991, Valencia Towers Condo is a 96 unit condominium located in the Miami Lakes W/Hialeah(N of W 60th St) submarket in Miami, Florida. This community has 1 condo unit for sale starting at $169,000. For more information on Valencia Towers Condo, explore the other tabs at the top of this page. If you are interested in buying or renting a unit, click the "Condos for Sale and Rent" tab to see what is currently available, or click here to contact an approved realtor.
I would like more information on units at Valencia Towers Condo.


The legislation the government will likely introduce will be different from anything previously in place. This is suggested by the consultation process undertaken in 2016. In that process, the government proposed a variety of different options, including tiered fee structures and automatic pardons for non-violent, minor offences.
The potential complexity of the bill may be one thing that is causing the matter to be delayed. Currently, Canada's Record Suspension program only distinguishes between two different types of offences: summary and indictable. One of the criticisms has been that the designation between the two can sometimes be based on arbitrary factors. For most offences, it's the Crown prosecutor who decides. This is because most offences in Canada are "hybrid", which means they can either be tried as summary or indictable.
The decision made by the Crown has profound effects on the ability of a person to get a Record Suspension. A person with a summary offence must wait five years before they can apply for a Record Suspension and a person with an indictable offence must wait 10 years.
Under the new bill, the government may rely on other factors to make a decision. Some jurisdictions that offer pardons have simpler processes for offences that are non-violent, one-time DUIs or minor possession of narcotics offences. Sometimes they base their policies for expungement on the length of the sentence.
Some would also like to see the government allow for the erasing of minor records after a certain period of time rather than simply allowing "suspensions". In Canada, records are sealed and can be unsealed if a person reoffends.
Another issue is that the government has been preoccupied with the legalization of recreational marijuana. During this process, the government has been pressured to consider expunging criminal records related to simple possession (under 30 grams) of marijuana.
The government could be waiting for recreational marijuana to be legalized. They could include a process for expunging possession charges in the overall pardon bill that they eventually release.
Will the government have time to change the law?
The major amendments to the Criminal Records Act were only made six years ago by the previous Conservative government. They are likely to oppose any changes proposed by the Liberal government. However, the changes made in 2012 have also been criticized as not being evidence-based and not providing any real benefit in terms of public safety. How hard the opposition will fight any changes proposed is difficult to foresee.
If new legislation does make it through the Parliamentary process quickly, it could slow down in the Senate. Lately, independent senators have been taking a more proactive role in studying and amending bills, while the Conservative senators have been employing their own delaying techniques.
For example, the government's marijuana bill is experiencing delays and calls for more study and consultation in the Senate.
It's not known when the government will introduce legislation and how long it will take to pass. This uncertainty has caused frustration for many people with criminal records who just want to go on with their lives through work, volunteering and other opportunities.
If you think the government should act faster to bring in a fair and affordable pardon system, please consider signing our petition.


Private Investigator Greater Manchester can easily assist you to resolve the missing person situation within University. Your research within Greater Manchester may become more productive with the aid of expert investigations carried out through Private Investigator Greater Manchester with all of their own sources, experience and abilities.
It can be difficult to locate a decent personal professional organization to help you together with your needs within University. At what ever stage a person gets in touch with Private Investigator Greater Manchester on 0161 977 0013 you'll be welcomed by a member of our group who'll provide you with a totally free consultation.
Many of our customers within University need to know how quickly they are able to obtain the outcomes of their own investigation from their case managers. We all know that instances from Private Investigator Greater Manchester tend to be distinctive therefore placing a time period limit on the situation is rough so we are only able to provide a rough time frame to the customers.
You've been getting phone calls as well as text messages which are related to your business within the last couple weeks within Wythenshawe but you're being accused of infidelity due to these. Private Investigator Greater Manchester will help you collect the evidence that proves you are not cheating on your partner, you just have to contact them.
Because of because you happen to be caring for your personal within Woodhouse Park offers lead to individuals suspicious of that you're the actual crook. You will get Private Investigator Greater Manchester, to exhibit that you are harmless through finding as well as showing the required proof.
You think your lover might have experienced a few background with others within West Gorton as well as Withington associated with University. You'll need surveillance through Private Investigator Greater Manchester that will help you discover the solutions since you believe he's returning together.
I wish to understand the location my personal former mate spouse would go to within the week-ends along with the kids upon Whalley Range. You are able to completely depend on Private Investigator Greater Manchester with regard to they've the opportunity to supply correct proof for you.
On your separation and divorce, your own spouse within Withington is attempting to hide a few assets to ensure that they're with regard to himself. Private Investigator Greater Manchester can transport the investigation within Withington along with other areas of the united kingdom to discover these types of assets.
You might be concerned about the actual security of your house within University following a severe associated with break-ins in the region. Private Investigator Greater Manchester may set up Closed-circuit television methods along with digital cameras within and out to safeguard your own Withington house.
Somebody just said that the divided partner has become residing in University with another person, what is actually lacking may be the appropriate deal with. Private Investigator Greater Manchester may allow you to immediate surveillance to determine in which the wife will go following his/her work hours.
My personal Withington company has experienced cash wander off and that I would like to get this away from whomever required this. Private Investigator Greater Manchester includes a track record of to be the best from discovering lacking assets.


Get more information on these and ALL other SW Montana real estate listings now.
October 24 - 30, 2010 - Bozeman Montana Real Estate Listings: For any information on luxury homes and luxury condo listings in all of southwest Montana, please call 406.579.9683. Find winter homes & mountain property, ski condos & townhomes, winter recreation realty. I'll help you find the right Montana real estate!


Rationalist Judaism: Behold the Cave Bear!
Last week, the Biblical Museum of Natural History received an astounding donation from Avraham and Rebecca Silverstein of Netanya - an extraordinary collection of taxidermy and other zoological artifacts. It filled some holes in our collection of Biblical animals - we finally have a leopard! And there are also some animals which, while not Biblical, help illustrate other Torah concepts, such as shofars and kashrus.
Aside from the leopard, another important Biblical animal that was missing from our collection was a bear. Bears are mentioned on several occasions in Scripture, and lived wild in Israel until exactly one hundred years ago. But it's proven difficult to acquire a taxidermied bear for the museum. Last year we were offered a bear by one of our taxidermy suppliers, but he wanted 40,000 NIS for a specimen that was only four feet tall. I wasn't going to spend forty thousand shekels on Paddington Bear! But the Silverstein collection included a bear - sort of.
The unquestionable highlight of the collection is the complete skeleton of an extinct cave bear! According to the information on this specimen, it was found over a hundred years ago in a limestone cave near Trieste, Italy. This skeleton, standing over seven feet tall, represents a unique specimen in that all of the bones belong to a single adult individual. Most fossil cave bear mounts on exhibit in European museums are composite skeletons from cave deposits which have preserved the remains of hundreds of bears over long periods of time; sorting for accurate anatomic assembly is virtually impossible. The cave where this specimen was found yielded only one specimen. Thus, the present specimen is a faithful anatomical example of this once great extinct species. Possessing the distinction as the first fossil cave bear skeleton to be mounted in an upright position, the specimen is virtually complete and very well preserved.
The paleontological record indicates that this species of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) existed almost exclusively in Europe, from approximately 300,000 to 10,000 years ago. Depictions on cave walls by Ice Age humans, and examination of its skeletal structure, indicate that the species resembled a brown bear or grizzly bear at first glance. But Ursus spelaeus was much larger on average and displayed a more domed head and a higher forehead profile. The body had a relatively long neck on a barrel-shaped torso, with limbs rather short but very powerful as compared to those of the living brown bear.
So, it's a spectacular and historically important specimen. And it fills an important Biblical niche in the museum. But the problem is that, as I have taken pains to make clear, the Biblical Museum of Natural History is intended for audiences across the religious spectrum. We don't display anything that would offend the sensitivities of the charedi community. No dinosaurs, no talk about evolution, no talk about the world being millions of years old. So what do we do with a bear that is approximately a hundred thousand years old?
The answer is simple. As I instructed the guides, the only thing that they need to say about the cave bear is that it is extinct (like the re'em). If necessary, they can add that it died before the mabul. There's no need to say exactly how long ago it died!
Ironically, as much as I have tried to keep prehistoric dinosaurs out of the museum, it's some of our most charedi visitors who have brought them up. I recall one of our Israeli chassidic visitors asking me why we don't display dinosaur skeletons. And last week, in a tour group of 60 chassidic children, when I asked them to identify a certain skull, one of them excitedly shouted out, "a dinosaur!" (it was actually a lion.) "Ho ho ho," I chortled, "A dinosaur?! We don't have any dinosaurs here!"
So, this spectacular cave bear is just being presented as a Very Old Bear. As I tell our visitors who ask about dinosaurs, I try to stay away from controversial topics!
To repeat a question I asked during my own tour of your museum, will you be doing anything to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Death of the Last Israeli Bear?
Amazing! Can't wait to see it!
Regarding dinosaurs, I would recommend to all the amazing dinosaur exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. They were recently redone based on the best modern science thanks to a $35 million donation from David H. Koch. Larger or smaller donations to the Biblical Museum of Natural History are always accepted. The magnitude of Mr. Koch's gift gives you an idea of the costs involved in maintaining an world class museum and I urge all here to contribute to the Biblical Museum of Natural History whether you have $36 or $36 million.
i would have assumed that the reason you don't display dinosaurs is because they have nothing to do with BIBLICAL natural history (not just because they are controversial), or am I mistaken?
Yes, that's also a reason!
Aren't dinosaurs mentioned in Bereishit (hatenininm hagedolim)?
Isn't it controversial to claim that a species went extinct?
It certainly goes against the views of the Rishonim, but nobody today knows that.
Interesting. I saw some article in Mishpacha last week, and a photo was about some educator talking to little kids about what got dinosaurs angry, or something similar. The point, I suppose, is that you can't cover your eyes, block your ears and shout "I don't hear you, I don't hear you" forever. Sooner or later, you have to come out of your cave and deal with facts.
No dinosaurs, no talk about evolution, no talk about the world being millions of years old. [...] Ironically, as much as I have tried to keep prehistoric dinosaurs out of the museum, it's some of our most charedi visitors who have brought them up. I recall one of our Israeli chassidic visitors asking me why we don't display dinosaur skeletons.
Aderabba, if you are a Charedi, then dinosaurs obviously were created during Sheishes Yemei Bereishis and existed alongside Adam HaRishon. Only a Kofer like Slifkin who believes in the word accursed scientists over the word of Hashem would avoid showing us dinosaurs because *he* believes that it contradicts the P'shat of Maaseh Bereishis.
Not true. It's only the Christian creationists who embrace dinosaurs living alongside Adam. Charedim prefer not to discuss them. That's why even R. Meiselman's 800 page tome on Torah and Science doesn't even mention them.
I'll have to take your word for it because I don't have personal knowledge. Still, the more intellectual Charedim must have some position on it.
My sixth cheder Rebbe explained that the magical waters of the mabul caused bones to grow. Therefore, what scientists risibly term "dinosaurs" were, in fact, salamanders!
It seems the only dinosaur he knew was what was then called a brontosaurus.
Is there a place on this blog where you explain the reasoning behind limiting the information about your exhibits in order to ensure accessibility across the religious spectrum? I'm naturally biased, especially as an educator of children, but I would be interested to hear the ethics behind it.
Were Chazal Able To Extract Science From Torah?


Dicom Transportation Group is a premier North American provider of transportation and logistics services including expedited, national parcel transportation, less-than-truckload (LTL), full truckload (FTL), freight management and cross-border capabilities. They partnered with DDC FPO, North America's leading expert in freight business processes, to implement a new business process management (BPM) model.
Montreal-based carrier selects DDC FPO to revamp business process management through unique, tech-enabled back office programs.
Dicom needed to streamline its billing and parcel invoicing services so that they could provide a better customer service experience. They chose to partner with DDC FPO to complete these functions.
DDC FPO are the best at what they do; they are the only true experts of transportation business processes available today.
By creating customized bills of lading and parcel invoice processes specific to the needs of Dicom and its freight customers, DDC FPO leveraged its freight expertise and global IT network to rollout an enhanced, tech-enabled business process management model that streamlined Dicom's business process management services.
DDC's customized BPM model equips Dicom with robust business intelligence, new integration capabilities and ultimately, significantly enhanced time efficiency and service quality for its customers.


Made this card for my daughters friend.
The scan isn't very good.
Thanks for visiting this afternoon, please come back again soon.
Very nice card Judie--I'm sure your daughters friend will love it.
Oh this is really pretty....I am sure it will be admired by everyone.
Is the cake a sticker or did you cut it out with a Cricut or Cuttlebug? I just love it! Love how you've added the birds and ribbon, such a pretty card someone is going to love getting it!


Another summer is here, and we find ourselves pairing beloved tunics from past seasons with new looks -or vice versa. Versatile and easy, whether we're transporting ourselves to a destination across time zones, or enjoying a seasonal day at home, we find chic comfort in tunic dressing. What's the difference between a tunic and a kaftan? Fit. Kaftans tend to be a bit diaphanous and full length. Tunics have a streamlined silhouette and can reach anywhere between thigh grazing to ankle.
Tunic comes from the Latin tunica, the basic garment worn by Ancient Romans, which in turn was inspired by the Greeks. The Romans wore the tunic as a shirt and skirt- before trousers were used to denote masculinity. An ancient concept, the tunic has been reinvented over the years by cultures around the world, bringing new meaning to a matured garment.
The Shalwar Kameez is worn in South and Central Asia. Shalwar are loose pajama-like trousers, while the kameez is a long shirt. The kameez has side seams- known as the chaak- left open below the waistline for freer movement. The djellabah is a Berber staple- a loose-fitting unisex outer robe with full sleeves. The gandoura is a light tunic associated with the Middle East and North Africa. Folk tunics, worn in Mexico, the Ukraine, and India are often hand embroidered in colorful patterns.
The ubiquitous garb is a favorite of contemporary style icons. Marisa Berenson circles the globe for Vogue in decades worth of embellished, jeweled tunics. Kate Moss loves tunics so much, she had her favorites recreated for a collaboration with Topshop . Daria Werbowy's Ukrainian roots are embodied in a traditional tunic with red and black needlework. Tilda Swinton stays avant-garde in a black tunic dress while strolling New York City. Catherine Deneuve's Yves St Laurent tunic merges Parisian glamour with a passion for Morocco .
How – and where- to wear your tunic this summer? Couple a minimalist sheath with sleek black trousers and platform sandals for a book party. Pair a floral tunic with striped pants and a patent loafer for a museum visit. Channel chic bohemia in a silk tunic with beaded details, perfect for staying cool while treasure hunting the local bazaar. A pullover tunic in organic cotton is ideal for lounging by the pool. Match an oversized tunic with beaded moccasins for a road trip. Try a belted tunic in linen with black oxfords for evening. Tuck a tunic into a pencil skirt a la Altuzarra for sunset cocktails.


A huge thank you to everyone who came to our opening day! It was lovely to meet many of our mail order customers in the flesh and also to see so many old and new faces. By 2pm our shelves were definitely looking a bit gappy, especially the dairy and fruit and veg. Luckily we had just enough energy to restock in the evening.
The morning was very busy, with queues right around the shop but by the afternoon things had settled down a little and we had more time to have a chat with our customers.


TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE � The transition from the older, converted F-4 Phantom drones to the newer F-16 supersonic jet fighter drones has begun, Tyndall officials announced Monday.
The QF-16, formerly F-16s, is a �reusable, full-scale aerial target drone� that will replace the QF-4 currently being used as practice targets for the F-22 Raptors, according to the Air Force. The QF-16 is 49 feet long, weighs 19,890 lbs., can reach speeds of 1,500 mph and has a wingspan of about 33 feet.
Tyndall announced its first launch of the QF-16 was completed Thursday, but did not report how the launch happened until Monday. According to Tyndall Public Affairs, a pilot performed the preflight checks before climbing out to the QF-16, locking the canopy from the outside.
Control was then turned over to Thomas Mudge, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron (ATRS) pilot controller, who launched the jet for its one-hour mission and conducted a series of maneuvers before returning to base.
�The flight itself went very well,� Mudge said in a released statement.
The QF-16 can be flown either by a pilot or via remote control, the Air Force wrote. The Air Force added that eventually a bomb would be placed aboard the plane so it could be destroyed if needed.
Late Monday, Air Force Col. Ryan Inman, 82nd ATRS commander, addressed why it was time to replace the QF-4 with the QF-16.
In all, up to 126 retired F-16s could be converted to drones, according to the Air Force. They will be equipped to fly and land multiple times in manned and unmanned configurations before their final missions against live weapons on a controlled range, according to the Pentagon.
Tyndall has had two incidents this year where QF-4s either had to be ditched or crashed at the runway.
On July 11, a QF-4 drone had to be destroyed, causing it to plunge into the Gulf of Mexico near St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, the Gulf County Sheriff�s Office said. Tyndall officials initially said the drone went �haywire� but later said they were forced to destroy the drone when it became apparent they could not bring the plane in for a safe landing.
A week later, another QF-4 drone crashed at the foot of a Tyndall runway.
The incident prompted Air Force officials to close U.S. 98 forcing a lengthy delay for traffic traveling between Parker and Mexico Beach.


How can Engineers change the world?
As conscientious human beings, we have all often wondered (at least at some point of time) in our lives, does what we really do day-in and day-out make a difference to the world? I was recently gripped with a reflection on similar lines, when this question came to my mind. How can engineers change the world? or have they already changed the world as-know-it?
With technology to its aid, Engineering has literally shaped and molded our present world to what it is. If we step aside from the narrow-small understanding of Engineering as defined by mere degrees, there is really a great big world of awesome engineering marvels waiting to greet us. The platform on which am writing these words, stands testimony to it, since not long ago @Ankita Katdare had quoted these very lines of welcome to me- 'We here believe in the engineering spirit and have the motto that engineering is about the attitude, not the degree'.
I think, Innovation and the spirit of Engineering go hand-in-hand and at the intersection of the two 'change' happens. To take a leaf out of the achievements of the past, the pacemakers, scans, ultrasounds and other hi-tech gadgetry of medical field would not have existed had the engineers not been there. The likes of LIGO setup would not have been possible and humanity would have only 'dreamt' of leaving its footprints on distant celestial bodies, had it not been for engineering. The ubiquitous computers, smartphones, artificial intelligence, industrialisation even, have all been brought to life by engineering. So if all of this is any indication, the question of 'Can' gets negated automatically and only that of 'how engineering changes the world' remains.
I think,some of the future advances that would revolutionize the world would come from the fields of Automotive, Computer and Biotechnology engineering. The Nanoscale devices (carbon nanotube transistors), advancements in Prosthetics, Quantum Computing and Electrochemical Energy Technology are just some of the examples of engineering changing the face of the world.
A change where it effectively meets the need would, I think, truly herald a new future for all of the humanity. And we sure have a winner here in Engineering.
Some of this is semantics.
Faraday was not. Nor Newton, Einstein or scores of others. The Neanderthal man, who invented controlled fire wasn't either. Weapons and wheel were not invented by engineers.
I am proud to call myself an engineer. Yet it is just the evolved (and still evolving) human mind that seems to be the engine of change.
The question should be 'how do engineers change the world'. If you are reading this on a computer or a mobile and not amazed, then you do not appreciate the role of engineering. Just look around you and you will find everything a miracle of engineering. Engineering is essentially the practical application of science for the use of betterment of our lives. Engineering teaches you to make tradeoffs to arrive at results according to the available resources.
Technology of today is no less than a miracle. Did you know that the TV DTH dish on our roofs receive only 10^-10 W signal power from a satellite that is 36000 kms above Earth and we still get a crystal clear picture on our televisions. Don't you think it is a miracle? You send a whatsapp message to a friend in another part of the world and it reaches instantly without any errors.
It is unfortunate that we do not appreciate the technology. Let me tell you that it is no childs play. This level of accuracy and reliability is the result of years and years of research and development. Unfortunately, India is producing sub quality engineering graduates each year.
Engineers can change the world for better, as they have been doing so for years. Every engineer does this, you do not have to be in the top to make a difference you can make a difference at the lowest level. When a fresh engineering graduate starts off as a developer in even a small firm, he/she is committed in bringing a change to the society through his/her work. When he/she writes a piece of code, he/she always keeps in mind how the code will work and how efficient the code can be written so as to do the task faster and easier. Same goes for every other engineer from every other branch. He/she can make a difference no matter what the task it at hand.


Chevron Corporation is one of the world's largest multinational oil and gas industry companies, with operations in about 200 countries.
Chevron was in search of a front facing Asset Management System that could integrate with their inventory platform, when they were referred to icon1 by our Exhibit House partner.
Their search for an Asset Management System was propelled by the need to consolidate their scattered assets. With no current process or oversight in place, Chevron's assets were disorganized and at times unaccounted for.
The build of Event Express for Chevron has entered its tenth year and over the course of the last decade, has proven to be an invaluable tool in the management of their assets.
In collaboration with Chevron's IT division, management team and their exhibit house reps, icon1 worked with them to map out all the integration points and workflows required to develop and deploy Event Express.
There were two segments of the deployment of Event Express, the first was to collect, house and manage all of Chevron's assets. The second was to create custom API's to integrate Event Express to their Inventory Management System, allowing both systems to seamlessly "talk" to one another.
With multi-tier permission based log-ins, Event Express is the front facing User Interface where reps can sign in, select and place their procurement of company-approved assets.
With the deployment of Chevron's Event Express Asset Management System, icon1 provided online training and user guides on how to use Event Express.
The build of Event Express for Chevron has entered its tenth year and over the course of the last decade has proven to be an invaluable tool in the management of their assets.
Where once Chevron's assets were scattered, disorganized, with little to no management, limited oversight and no compiled key metric data. Today every company-approved asset is accounted for, tracked and housed in one place. Data collected from asset usage is used for future decision making and clarity on ROI.
We are proud to say that at this point in time, Event Express is essentially paying back Chevron. This is the ideal scenario of employing a well-executed, tailored software to fit unique requirements and solutions.