text:
HomeInternational Affairs
Australian lawyer, Bernard Collaery during a December 2013 appearance on ABC's Lateline program.
Spies, Lies And Timor Gas: Prepare to Be Rocked By Canberra Lawyer's Book
By Alex Mitchell on February 9, 2018 International Affairs
The Turnbull Government will be watching with interest and angst for a soon-to-be-released book which sheds light on an extraordinary chapter of Australian-East Timor history, writes Alex Mitchell.
Canberra lawyer Bernard Collaery has written an explosive account of his legal battle to secure the rights of East Timor over offshore gas fields.
His untitled book is held under lock and key in London where Collaery works on the final chapter.
The extraordinary secrecy surrounding the production of his book reads like a John Le Carré spy novel. But there are good reasons for the elaborate precautions that he is taking.
In December 2013, Collaery's law practice in Canberra was raided by agents from the Australian Security and Intelligence Agency (ASIO) acting on a warrant issued by then Attorney-General George Brandis, the recently appointed Australian High Commissioner in London.
Brandis confirmed that his raiding party seized documents "on the grounds that they contained intelligence related to security matters".
Former Attorney-General George Brandis.
In fact, Brandis was complicit in a cack-handed attempt to intimidate a witness who was about to testify that he had bugged East Timorese Cabinet ministers and officials over their legal action to gain fair and adequate royalties for natural gas from fields within the country's territorial waters.
According to independent sources, the Australian government stood to receive $40 billion in oil and gas revenue from the project in the "Greater Sunrise" basin while the poverty-stricken East Timorese would have received "crumbs".
The ASIO raid was regarded as a strong-arm tactic to put maximum pressure on the former ASIS agent, known as "Witness K", who was due to give evidence about the original bugging of the Timorese government's Cabinet office.
His evidence threatened to sink the Australian government's defence because the witness was irreproachable: he had been a member of the ASIS team which installed the electronic bugging equipment.
Collaery, who has a history of taking up legal cudgels on behalf of Indigenous clients, refugees and citizens victimised by bureaucratic incompetence, said at the time of the ASIO raid: "These tactics are designed to intimidate the witness and others coming forward. It's designed to cover up an illegal operation in 2004 by ASIS."
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
At the time then Prime Minister Tony Abbott quickly defended the ASIO raid saying: "We don't interfere in cases, but we always act to ensure that our national security is being properly upheld. That's what we're doing."
When the raid took place, former Perth journalist David Irvine was the head of ASIS (2003-2009) and he was ASIO's director-general (2009-2014) when Collaery launched legal action in The Hague.
Australia's foreign minister during most of this critical time was Alexander Downer, until recently Australian High Commissioner in London. Downer was a prime witness in the Australian Wheat Board's UN sanctions-busting scandal involving President Saddam Hussein of Iraq and then he became a principal partner in the negotiations for LNG rights for the fledging government of Timor-Leste.
In the past few weeks it has been revealed that Downer received information about Russian links with Donald Trump's Republican campaign for the US presidential election and the dossier was subsequently leaked to the FBI in Washington DC. By this stage, Downer's career was starting to look more like the Pink Panther's rather than George Smiley's.
Collaery and other observers of the Timor-Leste deal with global mining giant Woodside Petroleum were uncomfortable with Downer's decision to accept a position as a highly-paid lobbyist for Woodside after he left politics in 2008.
Collaery, a former member of the ACT Assembly (1989-1992), deputy Chief Minister and the ACT's second Attorney-General, is hoping his book will throw the spotlight on the Australian government's bullying behaviour towards smaller neighbouring countries.
In a guarded Lowy Institute address two years ago Collaery spoke publicly about some of the issues in his forthcoming book. "I can reveal that Witness K is no ordinary intelligence officer," he said. "He is a patriotic, loyal, very long-serving senior Australian who stood up for our national security.
"The other thing I want to reveal is, after we drafted a letter to Julia Gillard, saying we wanted confidential arbitration in relation to the espionage, it was the Labor government that authorised clandestine monitoring and other devices to be installed in my chambers, offices and Witness K's home."
But perhaps the politically damaging revelation will impact on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Shortly after he defeated Tony Abbott in September 2015 to become Australia's 29th prime minister, the Timor-Leste government requested formal talks to settle the legal impasse. Turnbull rejected the approach out of hand.
Collaery's book may prove that this arrogance was fatally short-sighted.
Tags: alex mitchellalexander downerbernard collaeryeast timorgeorge brandisgreater sunrise basinmalcolm turnbulltony abbott
Alex Mitchell is former State Political Editor of Sydney's Sun-Herald. His book, Come The Revolution: A Memoir, NewSouth Books was published in 2011.
We Watched Kanye West's Interview With Alex Jones So You Didn't Have To
Trump 2.0: Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Florida Fire
Second Alex Jones Sandy Hook Hoax Trial Gets Underway In The US


text:
Home > europe > germany > berlin > charlottenburg-palace
Welcome to Charlottenburg Palace
Schloss Charlottenburg is the largest and oldest palace in Berlin, an 18th-century Baroque structure that was originally constructed as the summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Elector Frederick III who became the first Prussian king. The splendid interiors are festooned with art masterpieces, while the surrounding gardens contain a mausoleum, pavilion and the Belvedere, which houses the porcelain museum. Like many attractions in Berlin, the Charlottenburg Palace was badly damaged in World War II but has since been reconstructed.
Spandauer Damm 10-22
Old palace: EUR12; new wing: EUR6 including audio guide. Photo permission is EUR3.
German is the official language. English is also widely spoken and understood.
The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. ATMs and exchange bureaux are widely available. The major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash. Travellers cheques are best cashed at exchange bureaux, as banks often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that are ubiquitous features on all German streets. Banks are closed on weekends, but exchange bureaux at airports and main railway stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.
10am-6pm (April to October) and 10am-5pm (November to March); closed Mondays.
GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Kyle Brandt
Starred on NBC's "Days of Our Lives"
Starred on MTV's "The Real World: Chicago"
Fee Range: Call for Fee
Topics: Reality TV, Actor,
Actor, Reality TV
Reality TV Speaker Kyle Brandt was a cast member of MTV's 11th season of The Real World in Chicago. He is a graduated at Princeton University where he played football and was an English major. After his debut on The Real World, Kyle played the character of Philip Kriakis in NBC's soap opera, Days of Our Lives. He is now an executive producer of The Jim Rome Show and a regular fill-in host.
After graduating from Princeton University, we would have chosen a successful football career but instead became more interested in theater arts with an ambition to become an actor. Kyle Brandt has appeared in Street Smarts, Anything to Win, and Miss Team USA. Kyle Brandt is available for hosting, autograph signings, and endorsements.
APPEARANCES: The Real World, Days of Our Lives, Street Smarts, Anything to Win, and Miss Team USA, Bravo, NBC
TO WORK WITH KYLE BRANDT: Reality TV Speaker Kyle Brandt can be hired for endorsements and events in roles such as public speaker, autograph signings, SMT'S, and public relation campaigns.
Former NFL Star
Rohan Oza
Marketing Guru
Alexis Jones
Pro Wrestler
Rorke Denver
Retired Navy SEAL
"Jane the Virgin" Star
Eco-Friendly Actor
Actor/Activist
U.S. Army Veteran


text:
Michelin co-develops tires for electric Harley
Tire Business Staff
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Harley-Davidson USA L.L.C. has launched its first all-electric motorcycle, the LiveWire, with the help of Group Michelin, which worked with the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker to develop tires specifically for the new model.
The LiveWire — which goes on sale this fall — is the first of a portfolio of electric two-wheelers that Harley-Davidson is planning, according to Michelin, which is supplying the custom-designed Scorcher Sport tires for the new model.
Michelin said the Scorcher Sport tires are designed to enhance the distinct ride and handling performance of the electric bike.
The LiveWire features a magnetic-electric motor rated at 105 hp matched with a high-voltage battery 146 miles of city range or 95 miles of combined stop-and-go and highway range, Harley-Davidson said. The bike can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds.
The Scorcher Sport tires — sizes 120/70ZR17 (58W) and 180/55ZR17 (73W) for the front and rear, respectively — incorporate Michelin's proprietary Dual Compound Technology (2CT and 2CT+), which the company said provides "outstanding" levels of wet and dry grip while also providing wear resistance in the center of the tread.
The tire's radial casing was tuned specifically to extract the maximum performance from the LiveWire, Michelin said. A distinctive tread pattern and velvet sidewall design — which includes Harley-Davidson co-branding along the Michelin name — complement the styling of this innovative motorcycle.
Michelin said its engineers worked directly with Harley-Davidson for two years to co-design the Scorcher Sport tires for the LiveWire.


text:
Midlothian locals fume as vulnerable residents left without water for 16 hours
A number of areas south of Edinburgh woke up to no running water on Saturday, January 8, and have complained that they have been waiting all day for an accurate update from Scottish Water.
Sian TraynorTrainee Digital Reporter
Areas such as Lasswade were left without running water
A vast proportion of Midlothian has been left without water for over 16 hours after waking up to empty pipes on Saturday (January 8.)
Residents in areas such as Lasswade and Rosewell have vented their frustrations after being without any running water for the majority of the day, with delays from Scottish Water leaving them still waiting well into the evening.
According to Scottish Water, a burst main in the EH24 area had caused a ripple effect into the EH18 and EH19 post codes, with an initial statement saying the issue would be fixed in two hours causing confusion.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, one local resident said the "canned responses" on the website had been frustrating, with each update promising the main would be fixed "in another two hours."
READ MORE - 'Much-loved' East Lothian house forced to fork out thousands after reckless vandalism
They said: "We got up on Saturday morning and tried to use the shower and that was when we noticed that the water was off. We had been on twitter though and a lot of people were saying there hadn't been anything since around 4am.
"Luckily we had some water in the garage and were okay, we're not elderly or disabled but a lot of people we've heard from know people who are and have struggled with the not knowing when it will come back on.
"The issue we've had is that all of the updates from Scottish Water have said the water will be back on in two hours, and then it isn't and they say another two hours.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
"My partner had been at the shop and asked if they should get any more bottles and I said no as it was supposed to come back on but it still hasn't."
Speaking shortly after 6pm on Saturday evening, Scottish Water apologised to a number of residents on social media, and stated:
"Please accept our sincere apologies for the ongoing delay. The repair has been complete. Following the repairs, there will be a short period whereby the water network requires time to recharge."
A statement added: "We are currently repairing a burst water pipe which is causing the interruption to the water supply for customers in post code areas EH18, EH19 and EH24.
"The water supply will gradually return to normal for customers once the repair has been completed. We expect it will take up to one hour for all customers to have normal water supply restored.
"While we carry out the repair please be aware that you may experience no water supply, low / intermittent pressure or discoloured water.
"At present we expect to complete the repair in a timeframe which means we do not plan to provide bottled at distribution locations."
If you require additional support, please use this link to sign up as a Priority Services Customer.
Edinburgh magnet fishers discover Victorian 'toilet bell' in union canal
'Heartbroken' man desperate to find teenage sweetheart he met on holiday a decade ago


A piece of comic book history, this limited edition, from original art by Rafa Sandoval, depicts an action-packed scene featuring Spider-Man. Rafa Sandoval has done work for such Marvel franchises as Spider-Man and the Avengers. "Ultimate Mystery #1" is an extremely limited giclee on canvas by Rafa Sandoval presented by Marvel Comics, hand signed by the Great Stan Lee (1922-2018) and numbered out of only 4! This piece comes custom framed and ready to hang. Includes Certificate of Authenticity! Measures approx. 36" x 29" (with frame), 29" x 22" (image).


The steel frame is almost complete at the Schrodinger Building at Oxford Science Park, designed by Bogle Architects. Cladding installation is due to start in the coming weeks. The park, four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, was established in 1991 as a joint venture to deliver commercial offices and laboratories for science and technology companies. It is currently home to more than 65 companies employing more than 2,400 people.


text:
Home / All / Electra Op 79 Study Score
Electra Op 79 Study Score
Malcolm Arnold 's ballet in one act Electra is presented here as a full study score. Based on a reduced version of Sophocles' play, Arnold 's ballet was commissioned by the Royal Ballet, and first performed at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on the 26th of March 1963. Electra lasts around 15 minutes, and was given its first concert performance by the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London, conducted by Barry Wordsworth on the 5th of November 2004. For this full score, Arnold adopted the normal anglicised spelling of Electra, however the first performance had it billed in the original spelling of Elektra, as in the more famous opera by Richard Strauss. The ballet is exciting, dynamic and dark, making for a wonderful performance that's as compelling as it is enjoyable. The power of the music married with the intense percussion in Electra are fitting for such a classically tragic tale.


Henrietta Szold's letter to Cyrus Adler, July 15, 1909, thanking him for $500 gift from the Jewish Publication Society that will enable her to visit Palestine.
Jewish Women's Archive. "Henrietta Szold's Letter to Cyrus Adler, July 15, 1909." (Viewed on April 22, 2019) <https://jwa.org/media/henrietta-szolds-letter-to-cyrus-adler-july-15-1909>.


Photo: Global Look Press via ZUMA Press the Party leader Batkivshchyna, the candidate for president Yulia Tymoshenko declared plans to return Donbass and the Crimea to Ukraine. Her words are cited by the press service of party. "We should begin immediately negotiations in the Budapest format to return the world, the Crimea and Donbass" — Tymoshenko said. According to her, people who live in these regions are Ukrainians. "If we want return of Donbass and the Crimea, we need to embrace, feel these Ukrainians as a part of our general family and nation" — Tymoshenko added. On December 5, 1994 Russia, the USA, Great Britain and Ukraine signed the Budapest memorandum then Kiev was disarmed nuclear and became the participant of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation. The memorandum contains regulations on granting to Ukraine garantiq its safety and sovereignty. The Crimea became the territory of Russia again after in 2014 there took place the referendum by results of which the vast majority of inhabitants of the peninsula supported its entry into structure of the Russian Federation.


At Gamma Hydra IV, a landing party consisting of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Chekov and Lieutenant Galway find that most of the colonists (all of whom should have been in their 20s) have died of old age; the two survivors appear to be in their 70s. Upon returning to the Enterprise, five members of the landing party begin aging rapidly. Lieutenant Galway (obviously the "bit player of the week") dies, and it seems the same fate will befall Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty soon. Their only hope is in Lt. Chekov, who is mysteriously showing no effects of aging.


I'm not a salad girl. Sure, I enjoy a good salad every once in a while, but they are not something I crave or get super excited about. Until now.
This BLT Sandwich Salad is featured in the latest issue of Food Network Magazine. I was kind of obsessed with this magazine when it first came out and was an inaugural subscriber but I have been disappointed the last year or so. So much so that I tried to cancel my subscription but apparently that's not allowed since I'm still receiving the magazines and the bill. But I'm kind of glad because this recipe alone is worth the cost of the subscription.
Love this salad! Love. But seriously, it has candied bacon. How can a person not love it?
A salad version of a BLT, it's really pretty simple. Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, croutons, and a mayo based dressing are the deconstructed elements. The chopped romaine was one of my favorite parts of the salad. The price of romaine hearts stopped my heart, so I improvised with a bag of chopped romaine that I chopped even finer.
I also loved the croutons. I took a sub roll that I had in the pantry, chopped it up, tossed in some butter, and then put in the oven under broil to toast up. Slightly crunchy, yet still soft, the croutons added so much texture. And the bacon, oh the bacon. I hadn't made candied bacon in a while and forgot how insanely good it is. Crunchy, crispy, sweet yet a tiny bit smokey from the paprika. Then there is the dressing, a combination of mayo and whole grain mustard, it was the perfect topping to this salad and would be a great sandwich spread too.
This really was like eating a BLT in a salad form. I even ate the tomatoes in it! A definite keeper!
Make the dressing: Whisk the mayonnaise, syrup, mustard and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Add the dressing to the salad and toss. (This is enough dressing for the whole salad, but you can use less if you want a less wet salad.) Sprinkle the croutons on top and eat.
That candied bacon sounds amazing. Yum!
Hello Candy, I love this classic salad!


Goodwin Procter will host Acceleprise's New York "Investor Day". This event is a change from the traditional Demo Day format and will involve a series of one-on-one meetings between investors and emerging companies. Acceleprise is an accelerator focused on enterprise technology, and offers portfolio companies access to funding, an alumni network, a mentorship team, and a network of early adopters. Goodwin Procter was instrumental in getting Acceleprise started and remains an advisor to their accelerator companies.


text:
package org.apache.camel.component.undertow;

import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

import org.apache.camel.builder.RouteBuilder;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;

public class UndertowProducerLeakTest extends BaseUndertowTest {

    @Test
    public void testLeak() throws Exception {
        getMockEndpoint("mock:result").expectedMinimumMessageCount(50);

        assertMockEndpointsSatisfied(2, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
    }

    @Override
    protected RouteBuilder createRouteBuilder() {
        return new RouteBuilder() {
            @Override
            public void configure() {
                from("undertow:http://localhost:{{port}}/test").to("log:undertow?showAll=true").to("mock:result");

                from("timer:foo?period=100").transform(constant("hello world"))
                        .to("undertow:http://localhost:{{port}}/test");
            }
        };
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination
Ieng Wai Un, Yonatan Sivan
Unit of Photonics and Electro-Optics Engineering
Over the last few decades, extensive previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal nanoparticles (NPs) report a wide variation of nonlinear coefficients, thus, revealing a highly confused picture of the underlying physics. This naturally prevents rational design of these systems for practical devices. Here we provide a systematic study of the nonlinear response of metal spheres under continuous wave (CW) illumination within a purely thermal model, i.e., whereby the illumination only acts to modify the optical and thermal parameters via their dependence on the temperature. We characterize the strong dependence of the temperature rise and overall thermo-optic nonlinear response on the particle size and permittivity, on the optical and thermal host properties, as well as on the thermo-derivatives of these properties. This dependence on the nonintrinsic parameters explains why it is inappropriate to extract an intrinsic nonlinear coefficient from a specific system; equivalently, it explains the large differences in reported values for such systems, as well as for more complicated metal-dielectric systems and even pulsed illumination schemes. Despite the revealed complex multiparameter dependence, we managed to uncover a rather simple behavior of the nonlinear response. In particular, we show that the nonlinearity coefficients exhibit a dependence on the illumination intensity which mimics the dependence of the temperature itself on the illumination intensity, namely, it grows for small NP sizes, reaches a maximum and then decreases monotonically for larger NPs. The improved modeling allows us to demonstrate an overall nonlinear response which is about a 1000 times higher than in other strongly nonlinear systems (e.g., ϵ-near-zero systems); it also provides an excellent match to experimental measurements of the scattering from a single metal NP, thus, confirming the dominance of the thermal nonlinear mechanism. Our work lays the foundations for an overall evaluation of previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal-dielectric system under general conditions.
Physical Review Materials
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
Dive into the research topics of 'Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Metal nanoparticles Engineering & Materials Science 100%
Optics Engineering & Materials Science 61%
Metal Nanoparticle Chemical Compounds 59%
continuous radiation Physics & Astronomy 54%
Illumination Chemical Compounds 52%
Lighting Engineering & Materials Science 47%
nonlinearity Physics & Astronomy 45%
Un, I. W., & Sivan, Y. (2020). Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination. Physical Review Materials, 4(10), [105201]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
Un, Ieng Wai ; Sivan, Yonatan. / Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination. In: Physical Review Materials. 2020 ; Vol. 4, No. 10.
@article{bde62c871a564004bb5da4c25d2e2d3c,
title = "Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination",
abstract = "Over the last few decades, extensive previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal nanoparticles (NPs) report a wide variation of nonlinear coefficients, thus, revealing a highly confused picture of the underlying physics. This naturally prevents rational design of these systems for practical devices. Here we provide a systematic study of the nonlinear response of metal spheres under continuous wave (CW) illumination within a purely thermal model, i.e., whereby the illumination only acts to modify the optical and thermal parameters via their dependence on the temperature. We characterize the strong dependence of the temperature rise and overall thermo-optic nonlinear response on the particle size and permittivity, on the optical and thermal host properties, as well as on the thermo-derivatives of these properties. This dependence on the nonintrinsic parameters explains why it is inappropriate to extract an intrinsic nonlinear coefficient from a specific system; equivalently, it explains the large differences in reported values for such systems, as well as for more complicated metal-dielectric systems and even pulsed illumination schemes. Despite the revealed complex multiparameter dependence, we managed to uncover a rather simple behavior of the nonlinear response. In particular, we show that the nonlinearity coefficients exhibit a dependence on the illumination intensity which mimics the dependence of the temperature itself on the illumination intensity, namely, it grows for small NP sizes, reaches a maximum and then decreases monotonically for larger NPs. The improved modeling allows us to demonstrate an overall nonlinear response which is about a 1000 times higher than in other strongly nonlinear systems (e.g., ϵ-near-zero systems); it also provides an excellent match to experimental measurements of the scattering from a single metal NP, thus, confirming the dominance of the thermal nonlinear mechanism. Our work lays the foundations for an overall evaluation of previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal-dielectric system under general conditions.",
author = "Un, {Ieng Wai} and Yonatan Sivan",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 American Physical Society.",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201",
journal = "Physical Review Materials",
Un, IW & Sivan, Y 2020, 'Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination', Physical Review Materials, vol. 4, no. 10, 105201. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination. / Un, Ieng Wai; Sivan, Yonatan.
In: Physical Review Materials, Vol. 4, No. 10, 105201, 20.10.2020.
T1 - Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination
AU - Un, Ieng Wai
AU - Sivan, Yonatan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 American Physical Society.
N2 - Over the last few decades, extensive previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal nanoparticles (NPs) report a wide variation of nonlinear coefficients, thus, revealing a highly confused picture of the underlying physics. This naturally prevents rational design of these systems for practical devices. Here we provide a systematic study of the nonlinear response of metal spheres under continuous wave (CW) illumination within a purely thermal model, i.e., whereby the illumination only acts to modify the optical and thermal parameters via their dependence on the temperature. We characterize the strong dependence of the temperature rise and overall thermo-optic nonlinear response on the particle size and permittivity, on the optical and thermal host properties, as well as on the thermo-derivatives of these properties. This dependence on the nonintrinsic parameters explains why it is inappropriate to extract an intrinsic nonlinear coefficient from a specific system; equivalently, it explains the large differences in reported values for such systems, as well as for more complicated metal-dielectric systems and even pulsed illumination schemes. Despite the revealed complex multiparameter dependence, we managed to uncover a rather simple behavior of the nonlinear response. In particular, we show that the nonlinearity coefficients exhibit a dependence on the illumination intensity which mimics the dependence of the temperature itself on the illumination intensity, namely, it grows for small NP sizes, reaches a maximum and then decreases monotonically for larger NPs. The improved modeling allows us to demonstrate an overall nonlinear response which is about a 1000 times higher than in other strongly nonlinear systems (e.g., ϵ-near-zero systems); it also provides an excellent match to experimental measurements of the scattering from a single metal NP, thus, confirming the dominance of the thermal nonlinear mechanism. Our work lays the foundations for an overall evaluation of previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal-dielectric system under general conditions.
AB - Over the last few decades, extensive previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal nanoparticles (NPs) report a wide variation of nonlinear coefficients, thus, revealing a highly confused picture of the underlying physics. This naturally prevents rational design of these systems for practical devices. Here we provide a systematic study of the nonlinear response of metal spheres under continuous wave (CW) illumination within a purely thermal model, i.e., whereby the illumination only acts to modify the optical and thermal parameters via their dependence on the temperature. We characterize the strong dependence of the temperature rise and overall thermo-optic nonlinear response on the particle size and permittivity, on the optical and thermal host properties, as well as on the thermo-derivatives of these properties. This dependence on the nonintrinsic parameters explains why it is inappropriate to extract an intrinsic nonlinear coefficient from a specific system; equivalently, it explains the large differences in reported values for such systems, as well as for more complicated metal-dielectric systems and even pulsed illumination schemes. Despite the revealed complex multiparameter dependence, we managed to uncover a rather simple behavior of the nonlinear response. In particular, we show that the nonlinearity coefficients exhibit a dependence on the illumination intensity which mimics the dependence of the temperature itself on the illumination intensity, namely, it grows for small NP sizes, reaches a maximum and then decreases monotonically for larger NPs. The improved modeling allows us to demonstrate an overall nonlinear response which is about a 1000 times higher than in other strongly nonlinear systems (e.g., ϵ-near-zero systems); it also provides an excellent match to experimental measurements of the scattering from a single metal NP, thus, confirming the dominance of the thermal nonlinear mechanism. Our work lays the foundations for an overall evaluation of previous studies of the nonlinear response of metal-dielectric system under general conditions.
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201
JO - Physical Review Materials
JF - Physical Review Materials
Un IW, Sivan Y. Thermo-optic nonlinearity of single metal nanoparticles under intense continuous wave illumination. Physical Review Materials. 2020 Oct 20;4(10). 105201. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.105201


Mid-Town Tire and Automotive serves the automotive repair and new tire needs of customers in Pottstown, PA, Boyertown, PA, Douglassville, PA, and surrounding areas.
Mid-Town Tire and Automotive performs quality auto repairs and stocks a competitively priced selection of tires. Since our humble beginnings, we have grown to acquire a loyal base of returning customers. We have done this through quality workmanship and friendly service. We look forward to building equally rewarding relationships with new customers.
Owned by Gene and Jeff Hatfield, Mid-Town Tire and Automotive is the most friendly, honest auto repair team in the area. Come see why no shop is as quick, qualified, or convenient as we are. Our mechanics are highly skilled and have years of experience. Whether you just need your brake pads replaced or a complete engine overhaul, we're an excellent fit for your repair needs.
Quality repair services including brake repairs, wheel alignments, electrical system repairs, diagnostics, transmission repairs, and steering and suspension system repairs from a NAPA AutoCare Center, performed by ASE-certified technicians.
Machine accurate results via state-of-the-art Hunter Alignment Systems and Automotive Equipment.
Other services including preventive maintenance, state inspections, and TPMS adjustments.
Competitive prices on tire brands like Nexen, Hankook, and Goodyear.
With professional mechanics and quality car repairs, you can consider Mid-Town Tire and Automotive your one-stop automotive and tire service center. Contact us online or visit us today for service you can count on.


text:
Published Oct 3, 2014 by Peachpit Press. Part of the Learn by Video series.
FileVault 2 is increasingly becoming the default encryption solution for enterprises that support Macs running OS X. There is not much documentation on this solution, however, and most of what is available focuses on the consumer market. Here to guide the enterprise professional, popular presenter Richard Trouton gives a detailed, one-hour guide to FileVault 2. By the end of the video, you'll know how to set up FileVault 2 for your own use, build and deploy an institutional recovery key, and use the most commonly-used functions of Apple's fdesetup command line management tool.
[This is an online video (streaming only) product and is not available to download.]
The video is wrapped in a unique interface that allows you to jump to any topic and also bookmark individual sections for later review. The unique Watch & Work mode shrinks the video into a small window to allow you to work alongside in FileVault 2 as you view the video. Slides containing code snippets are included with the video as a reference. At the end of every lesson, you can test your knowledge by taking interactive quizzes
User Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Closed-Captioning in English
Mac OS X 10.6.3 or greater; Safari 5.1.9+, Firefox 21+, or Chrome 29+
Windows XP or greater; Firefox 21+, Chrome 21+, or IE 8
The course uses pop-ups; please enable them in your browser. For more information on how to enable Pop-ups please see our Learn By Video FAQ page at http://www.peachpit.com/LBVFAQ


text:
Quick-freeze deep-etch rotary-shadowed replica of an early endosome with two clathrin-coated evaginations. Presumably these coated pits contain receptors for cargo that will be pinched off from the early endosomes and passed on through carrier vesicles to the late endosomal compartments. Early endosomes lie at the level of the intraciliary lattice and proximal ends of basal bodies, but internal to the striated bands. TEM taken on 6/4/91 by R. Allen with Zeiss 10A operating at 80kV. Neg. 19,800X. Bar = 0.25µm. Adapted with permission from J. Cell Sci. The raw film was scanned with an Epson Perfection V750 Pro. This image is best used for quantitative analysis. Additional information available at (http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/allen/).A print of the negative was scanned and processed in Photoshop. This image is best used for qualitative analysis. A high resolution image (CIL:12638) is available for quantitative analysis. Additional information available at (http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/allen/).
Paramecium multimicronucleatum
J. Cell Sci. 101:449-461, 1992
electron density


3 minutes drive from Pazhou Convention and Exhibition Center of China Import and Export Fair, 15 minutes drive from Guangzhou Railway Station, 30 minutes drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and 10 minutes drive from downtown Guangzhou. - Guangzhou Kai Rong Du Hotel, located in bustling Chigang business center at Jianghai Avenue No.3, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, it designed according to the national five-star hotel standard, is a high-end business hotel integrating accommodation, catering, sports, leisure, entertainment and conference together. It is 25-storey high and has 253 deluxe rooms and 2 presidential suits of exquisite style and comfort.Its interior decoration is elegant, graceful and unique, blending Chinese style with Western style.
To Guangzhou East Railway Station: 4km and 10mins by driving; To Guangzhou Railway Station: 15km and 30mins by driving; To Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: 38km and 30mins by driving; To Pazhou Exhibition Center: 15km and 15mins by driving. - Yanling hotel is a four-star and modern multi-functional hotel which is famous for its services of dining, living, touring, shopping and entertaining. The hotel is located at NO.29 Yanling Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. It has a sound traffic which takes about 10 minutes to Guangzhou East Railway Station, and 15 minutes to Guangzhou Railway Station, 30 minutes to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and 15 minutes to Pazhou International Exhibition Center by car. It is next to Guangzhou-Shenzhen Express Way, Huanan Express way; Loopline and the entrance to North Ring Express Way. There are more than 20 bus lines to all directions of city. The No.3 Subway is right at the corner of the hotel, it leads to the International Airport directly and is connected to the No, 6 Subway by the Yantang Stop. The traffic is very convenient.
To downtown: 13 km To the Railway Station: 15 km To Huadu Airport: 48 km Surroundings: World grand sight, the Wonder of Spaces, Guangdong Olympic Center, Pazhou New Convention & Exhibition Center. - Olympic Hotel Guangdong is located in Guangdong Olympic Center which is one of the famous new eight sights of Yang City, East Garden, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. It is the designated reception unit of the Ninth National Games of China. It needs only 10 minutes from the hotel to Pazhou New Convention & Exhibition Center by car, and about 30 minutes to Liuhua Road old Convention & Exhibition Center by car. The hotel is near by GuangShen speedway and North-ring speedway.
-5-minute-driving from East railway station; -30-minute-driving from Baiyun airport; -20-minute-driving from Pazhou Complex - This 258 room hotels is situated next to the Teemall business district of Guangzhou and offers great value accommodation for such a downtown location.
It's 2 minutes' drive from the Pazhou Exhibition Center and 3 minutes' drive from Tianhe Districts' commercial, financial, and traffic hubs, such as CITIC Plaza, Tianhe Sports Center, Teemall Shopping centre, Grand View Plaza, and Guangzhou East Railway Station. - Nanguo Hotel Located at Nanguo Garden, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, which is well within Guangzhou's core Tianhe Financial and Business Circle (Tianhe CBD Nanguo Garden), the Nanguo Hotel is easily accessible via Pazhou exihibition,Baiyun airport Hightway, Guangyuan Highway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, and Huanan Expressway.
Distance from city center: 3km, distance from railway station: 2km, distance from airport: 27km. to pazhou exhibition center about 17km - Jinzhou business hotel is locate in JieFang Bei Road, in the front is Yuexiu Park, back is Liuhua Lake, beside the China Hotel, DongFang Hotel, Guangzhou Export Commodity Fair, JinHan Conference Center and the famous Southern of China Costume Wholesale Market. The Exit of metro is under the hotel, be apart from Guangzhou Railway Station, Passenger Station of Province only have several hundreds meters.
To Baiyun New Airport about 45KM To Guangzhou Station about 10KM	To Guangzhou east Station about 2KM To Pazhou Exhibition about 8KM - Yuwa hotel is Three star hotel in Guangzhou. It is a special place where we offer much more than a comfortable bed. At Yuwa you can experience a totally different style-quality accommodation with fashion and revitalization. It will give you a home feeling that can refresh you from a fatigue travel.
-35 km(40-min-driving) from the airport; -5 km(15-min-driving) from railway station; -15 km (25-min-driving) from Convention and Exhibition Center; -5 km(15-min-driving) from bus station; -0.2 km from subway station. - Yucheng Hotel is located 7th floor of Hualin International Hall C. All rooms are equipped with well facilities.
14.98 km from Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street; 0.5km from Greenbelt Dongpu Square; 15.64km from Guangzhou Railway Station; 34.74km from Guangzhou New Baiyun International Airport. - The Guangzhou Yingfeng Hotel is located in the East Tianhe business center, close to the Guangzhou Olympic Stadium and Pazhou Exhibition Centre. The hotel property includes restaurants serving chinese and western food, sauna and massage services.
900 meters from Guangzhou Railway Station; 9.5km from Guangzhou East Railway Station; 34km from Guangzhou South Station; 30.6km from Guangzhou New Baiyun Airport; 26.5km from Guangzhou Long-distance Bus Terminal. 1.2km from Yuexiu Park; 200meters from Liuhua Lake. - The Boke Business Hotel (Boke Shangwu Jiudian) is located on Zhanqianheng Road in the Liwan District of Guangzhou, close to Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Liuhua Exhibition Hall), Railway Station, Liuhua Lake Park and Yuexiu Park. It is 31 kilometers from Baiyun International Airport.


text:
import { expect, assert } from 'chai';

import * as im from 'immutable';

import * as ast from '../../../compiler/lexical-analysis/ast';
import * as local from '../../../server/local';
import * as lexical from '../../../compiler/lexical-analysis/lexical';
import * as lexer from '../../../compiler/lexical-analysis/lexer';
import * as parser from '../../../compiler/lexical-analysis/parser';
import * as _static from '../../../compiler/static';
import * as testWorkspace from '../test_workspace';

class SuccessfulParseCompletionTest {
  private readonly completionSet: im.Set<string>;
  constructor(
    public readonly name: string,
    public readonly source: string,
    public readonly loc: lexical.Location,
    readonly completions: string[],
  ) {
    this.completionSet = im.Set<string>(completions);
  }

  public runTest = async () => {
    const documents =
      new testWorkspace.FsDocumentManager(new local.VsPathResolver())
    const compiler = new local.VsCompilerService();
    const analyzer = new _static.Analyzer(documents, compiler)

    const tokens = lexer.Lex("test name", this.source);
    if (lexical.isStaticError(tokens)) {
      throw new Error(`Failed to lex test source`);
    }

    const root = parser.Parse(tokens);
    if (lexical.isStaticError(root)) {
      throw new Error(`Failed to parse test source`);
    }

    const parse = new _static.ParsedDocument(
      this.source, tokens, root, 0);

    const cis = await analyzer.completionsFromParse("", parse, this.loc, false);
    const completionSet = cis.reduce(
      (acc, ci): im.Set<string> => {
        return acc.add(ci.label);
      },
      im.Set<string>());

    assert.isTrue(completionSet.equals(this.completionSet));
  }
}

//
// Autocomplete tests for successful parses.
//

const parsedCompletionTests = [
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Simple object completion",
    `local foo = "3"; {bar: f}`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 25),
    ["foo"]),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Simple local completion",
    `local foo = "3"; local bar = f; {}`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 31),
    ["foo", "bar"]),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Simple end-of-document completion",
    `local foo = "3"; f`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 19),
    ["foo"]),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Suggest nothing when identifier resolves",
    `local foo = "3"; local bar = 4; foo`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 36),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Suggest both variables in environment",
    `local foo = "3"; local bar = 4; f`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 36),
    ["foo", "bar"]),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest from inside the `local` keyword",
    `local foo = "3"; {}`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 3),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest from inside a string literal",
    `local foo = "3"; {bar: "f"}`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 26),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest from inside a number literal",
    `local foo = "3"; {bar: 32}`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 25),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest from inside a comment",
    `{} // This is a comment`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 14),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Suggest nothing if index ID resolves to object field",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo.bar`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 46),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Suggest only name of index ID if it resolves to object field",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo.ba`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 45),
    ["bar", "baz"]),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Suggest name if ID resolves to object",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 42),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest completions for members that aren't completable",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo.bar.b`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 48),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Don't suggest completions when target is index with invalid id",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo.bat.b`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 48),
    []),
  new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
    "Follow mixins for suggestions",
    `local foo = {bar: "bar"} + {baz: "baz"}; foo.ba`,
    new lexical.Location(1, 48),
    ["bar", "baz"]),

  // Tests that will work as `onComplete` becomes more feature-ful.
  // new CompletionTest(
  //   "Don't get hung up when references form an infinite loop",
  //   `local foo = foo; foo`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 25),
  //   []),
  // new CompletionTest(
  //   "Simple suggestion through `self`",
  //   `{bar: 42, foo: self.b}`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 22),
  //   ["bar", "foo"]),
  // new CompletionTest(
  //   "Simple suggestion through `self`",
  //   `{bar: 42} + {foo: super.b}`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 22),
  //   ["bar", "foo"]),
  // new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
  //   "Failed to complete from field name",
  //   `local foo = "3"; {f: 4}`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 20),
  //   []),

  // May or may not make sense.
  // new CompletionTest(
  //   "Suggest only the name in an apply",
  //   `local foo() = 3; local bar = 4; foo()`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 21),
  //   ["foo"]),
  // new SuccessfulParseCompletionTest(
  //   "Don't suggest completions from within index",
  //   `local foo = {bar: "bar", baz: "baz"}; foo.bar.b`,
  //   new error.Location(1, 45),
  //   []),
];

//
// Setup.
//

const documents =
  new testWorkspace.FsDocumentManager(new local.VsPathResolver());
const compiler = new local.VsCompilerService();
const analyzer = new _static.Analyzer(documents, compiler);

//
// Tests
//

describe("Suggestions for successful parses", () => {
  parsedCompletionTests.forEach(range => {
    it(range.name, async () => {
      await range.runTest();
    });
  })
});


You have to be blind to have not seen the gazillion photos of the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary on May 27, 2012. The GGB is a special structure for many of the local San Francisco photographers and although I don't get up here as much as I'd like, I always admire the beauty of not only the bridge. Knowing that parking would be limited and photographers would be out for this special celebration I arrived early (9 hours early or so) with Zack and Wilson and hiked to the top of Slacker Hill. Shortly after Jave, Alan, Carl, Toby, and Jared showed up and a number of photographers followed.
During the time we waited we hung out, got to know each other, grilled some sausages, and eventually started debating if there was a better spot for the fireworks. Alan disappeared and when he came back he swore that there was a better spot. So off Jared, Alan, and I go, down a steep hill and over to a bunker that was lower, further west, and hopefully had a better view. While "better" may be relative, we all decided to stay and shoot from this location instead of the normal Slacker Hill composition.
We had some time to kill before the fireworks and as the sun set and blue hour began I could hear photographers all around me firing away. The color in the sky was behind us but blue hour is always pretty sweet when you're looking at the Golden Gate Bridge and I noticed a lot of boats had gotten into position waiting for the fireworks to start. I thought they might pose an interesting subject for a photo so I dialed the ISO down, set the aperture to f/13 for some decent light-stars, and clicked away. It took 90 seconds to get the exposure right and in that time the boats moved all around, creating an interesting abstract effect of color, movement, and an almost semi-firework in the water. I have another photo with much sharper boats (at a higher ISO and faster shutter) but I thought this was much more interesting.
No filters used because I was too lazy. I under-exposed slightly to keep the sky from blowing out and then pulled the rest of the photo up.


Over the past 10 years at Center for Facial Rejuvenation, I have had the pleasure of working with clients like you to help them achieve their beauty goals. It has been a wonderful experience and I want to express my deepest appreciation for your commitment and continued support of me during my time at CFR so far.
I am excited to announce that I have taken on a new multi-faceted role within our practice. I will continue to provide Aesthetic/Laser services, but will also be spearheading all planning and implementation of a wide range of events for CFR. It is my ultimate goal to offer a variety of educational luncheons, product workshops and quarterly savings events that everyone is welcome to attend! To keep up to date on new and upcoming events, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or check out our promotions page on our website: www.chattanoogaface.com!
While I'm looking forward to spending more time in this new role at CFR, unfortunately, due to an ongoing physical limitation, I have made the decision to retire from Permanent Cosmetics. As you can imagine, this has not been an easy decision as this has been a great passion of mine for almost 17 years. I'm very proud of the work I've done thus far and am looking forward to providing clients with aesthetic and laser services in a new capacity.
Thank you again for all of your continued support. I am excited to move forward with this new opportunity, where I will continue to pursue my passion for medical aesthetics in my new role!
The first event I'll be working on is a milestone for CFR and is right around the corner on April 25, 2019. Our practice is celebrating our 10 year anniversary and we're inviting our clients and their friends to join us for food, drinks, demos, and a chance to participate in our Gift Card Savings Program. I hope to see you there!
Jennifer Fraser, licensed aesthetician and laser specialist from Center for Facial Rejuvenation, is currently celebrating her 9th year in the aesthetics and dermatology industry. She received a degree from The Beauty Institute in Memphis, TN back in 2008. Throughout her long and illustrious career, Jennifer has surgically assisted board-certified surgeons, expanded a medical practice in Mississippi and Tennessee, and mastered a diverse range of aesthetic procedures. Fraser has extensive training and expertise when it comes to CO2 laser treatments, Ultherapy, CoolSculpting, IPL Lasers, full body waxing, facials, chemical peels, and skin care products. Jennifer is currently using her wide expertise to helping patients at the Center for Facial Rejuvenation fight aging achieve youthful, beautiful skin. She loves to teach her patients on the importance of proper skin care.
Jennifer is a native of Memphis, TN, and is married to Tyler, her high school sweetheart.


Using the largest dated evolutionary tree of flowering plants ever assembled, a new study suggests how plants developed traits to withstand low temperatures, with implications that human-induced climate change may pose a bigger threat than initially thought to plants and global agriculture.
The study appearing Sunday (Dec. 22) in the journal Nature and co-authored by Florida Museum/University of Florida scientists shows many angiosperms, or flowering plants, evolved mechanisms to cope with freezing temperatures as they radiated into nearly every climate during pre-historic times. Researchers found the plants likely acquired many of these adaptive traits prior to their movement into colder regions. The study also suggests some modern angiosperms, including most flowering plants, trees and agricultural crops, may not have the traits needed to rapidly respond to human-induced climate change, said study co-author Pam Soltis, a distinguished professor and curator of molecular systematics and evolutionary genetics at the Florida Museum on the UF campus.
Early flowering plants are thought to have been woody — meaning they maintain a prominent stem above ground across years and changing weather conditions, such as a maple tree — and restricted to warm, wet, tropical environments. But they have since put down roots in colder climates, dominating large swaths of the globe where freezing occurs. How they managed this expansion has long vexed researchers searching for plants' equivalent to the winter parka.
Identifying evolutionary adaptations to these problems and likely paths to them required the team to build two sets of data. Researchers first created a database of 49,064 species, recording whether each maintains a stem aboveground over time, loses or keeps its leaves, has been exposed to freezing, and the width of its water-carrying pathways. Researchers combined the information with a dated evolutionary tree of 32,223 plant species and modeled the evolution of species' traits and climate over time, which identified the order of evolutionary events.
"We can determine the relative order of events without a dated tree, but the dated tree allows us to say exactly when something happened, so that we can correlate the events with geological events, like big changes in Earth's temperature," Soltis said.
Using this "timetree," researchers identified three repeated evolutionary shifts they believe flowering plants made to fight the cold. Plants either dropped their leaves seasonally, shutting down the pathways that would normally carry water between roots and leaves; developed thinner water-conducting pathways, allowing them to keep their leaves while reducing the risk of air bubbles developing during freezing and thawing; or avoided the cold seasons altogether as herbs, losing aboveground stems and leaves and retreating as seeds, or storing organs underground, such as tulips or potatoes.
Researchers found that woody plants most often became herbs or developed thinner pathways before moving into freezing climates, while plants that dropped their leaves usually did so after moving into freezing climates. But the changes did not occur rapidly, Pam Soltis said.
The researchers plan to use the findings to explore other aspects of plants' evolutionary history, including examining how they respond to environmental changes other than freezing temperatures.
• Learn more about the Soltis Lab at the Florida Museum.


text:
Brasa believes that understanding environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance (ESG) is essential to building a resilient portfolio and achieving long-term performance. Brasa will make ESG integration an ongoing endeavor and will continue to foster transparency in all aspects of the firm's activities, including ESG performance.
Brasa believes that it can increase environmental efficiency and profitability by implementing measurable operational interventions to monitor and improve asset performance. From an asset level perspective, Brasa is focused on energy reduction, limiting the firms carbon footprint, and reducing waste. Brasa commits to implementing energy efficiency measures across its portfolio while maintaining awareness of each asset's community and environmental impact.
Brasa is committed to delivering a diverse and inclusive work environment for its employees and the communities in which Brasa lives and works. Brasa pledges to continue to invest in underserved areas throughout the Western US and Texas. The firm seeks to comply with applicable national, state, and local labor laws in the countries in which Brasa invests; support the payment of competitive wages and benefits to employees; and provide a safe and healthy workplace in conformance with national and local law.
Brasa pledges to uphold itself to the highest ethical standards and business practices throughout all facets of the business. Transparency through the due diligence process is a key priority for the firm in delivering sustainable, long-term growth for investors. The firm also enforces strict policies that prohibit bribery and other improper payments to public officials, consistent with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
Brasa is a certified Minority- and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) firm and is committed to establishing a diverse and inclusive workforce, as well as provide opportunity for underrepresented groups. Brasa will continue to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through its internship and hiring process, and strive to nurture the next generation of industry talent by partnering with nonprofits that provide career advancement and increased opportunity to women and people of color.
Philanthropic Partners


text:
The Power is in the People's!
The real question of Power (Inner Will in our Soul) is not about shouting, nor violence, nor have rage in our Heart.
Power is about having the Divine Knowledge which has never been taught to Us, by anyone since Our birth on this Planet.
True Power is acquired through knowledge; it is a tools to understand how - in our Divinity - We are much greater than all those FICTIONS (SIC), CORPORATIONS (SIC), EVIL MECHANISMS (SIC) created to numb (Us - the People - have not really paid attention to the mass manipulations that have been gradually put in place for centuries. This indoctrination, which takes away the Divine Power from our inner (little) Child and the connection from the source where We really come from has completely disappeared….
In order to remember, We will educate You with empowering tools - missing in Your life - and do so without any VIOLENCE OR LACK OF RESPECT. Educate You with Divine Power never seen before in ManKind History, Gandhi style!
For this, we must bring All People back to the source of knowledge, by becoming aware of our fundamental values. The values that unite each and everyone of Us deeply. If we stay on the Plan and we follow the Divine Plan, it will give Us all access to a new level of power that will propel Us way beyond the FICTITIOUS CREATIONS (SIC), and CORPORATIONS (SIC) in place...
After all, it is the Will of All People who created all these FICTIONS (SIC) to NOW PREPARE OURSELVES for the Big D-Day; the moment where We will reverse the power of creation back with one and only Question that concern Us, by using a single Unique Setback of our hands.
We will return Creation back to its source, and come back to the essence of who We are, adjusted to the power of our Will as it was in the very beginning!


The Fiscal and Management Control Board (the Board) and MBTA management have worked hard over the last sixty days, meeting frequently and digging into the many challenges facing the MBTA. We appreciate the Board's dedication and focus and are glad to have a succinct, readable report detailing the key issues the Board will take action on over the coming years. The Board has already begun to tackle many important issues such as procurement, customer service, transparency, winter resiliency, and employee absenteeism.
Writing in the Boston Globe, Transportation for Massachusetts director Kristina Egan applauds reform at the MBTA, but makes clear that it is not enough - and that critical maintenance is not enough to prepare the region for tomorrow's economy. Click here for the published letter.
We are pleased to welcome our 58th member, the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation. The QVCDC serves fifteen central Massachusetts communities with programs to support economic development, environmental issues, social needs, technical assistance and much more to improve the well being of residents across the region. Through their partnership with the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corporation, they also support business development and best practices. The QVCDC is a member-focused non-profit.
Writing in Commonwealth, Jim Aloisi considers the bad news about Green Line Extension costs, presented at the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting on August 24. Under the Construction Manager/General Contractor Procurement Method, costs have increased substantially from earlier estimates.
Massachusetts is taking a big step forward with a system that will score proposed projects. In an article recently published in Commonwealth, our coalition members Rafael Mares of the Conservation Law Foundation and Maddie Ribble of the Massachusetts Public Health Association review the big changes coming in how we will prioritize transportation investments in years to come.
An amendment to steer more federal transportation funds to local communities is in play as the Senate considers a new three year transportation bill, which may be voted for the end of the week. The TIGER grant program is at risk. While there is bipartisan support for legislation, transit, cycling and pedestrian advocates are hard at work to persuade the Senate to pass the best bill possible.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law 25 years ago this week. This milestone civil rights legislation has set the standard for a more inclusive nation that welcomes access and participation by everyone.
The ADA is about all of us. Everyone benefits from accessibility. A just society removes barriers and allows every individual to achieve his or her full potential. With 1 in 5 Americans living with a disability, virtually everyone has a friend, family member or coworker who can more broadly participate in daily life, thanks to this landmark law.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has unanimously passed the highway portion of a six-year transportation bill. The Commerce Committee has done its work on the rail and safety portion. The Finance Committee has the hardest job, the one that's flummoxed Capitol Hill for six years now, but it's held a hearing on transportation funding and Committee Chair Orrin Hatch says he's confident they'll get it done. But it's the Banking Committee, with jurisdiction over transit, that's the least far along with its work to complete a transportation bill.
Transportation for Massachusetts commends Governor Baker for his swift action in appointing and swearing in the members of the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board, just moments after the FMCB was established through his signing of the FY2016 state budget.


There's a huge epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the world, with about one out of two people born in the US today predicted to get diabetes in their lifetime. And yet, despite this huge problem, it's still hard to predict who will get type 2 diabetes in the future.
Currently, we're mostly using blood sugar tests to predict this. But there may be a better way, that can predict risk of type 2 diabetes much sooner. This can allow people more time to change their lifestyle, possibly avoiding getting diabetes completely.


Julianna aka Kayla is a wizard. He wields a 14" Cherry, Hippogriff Talon wand, and is a member of the unsorted masses of Hogwarts students just off the train eagerly crowding around the Sorting Hat. His favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and his .


It is only through their dedication that the organization has been able to contribute so much to our community, our region, the Commonwealth, Maryland and the District of Columbia. We thank our many past board members for their many years of loyality. Over the last five years the number of dedicated volunteers and advisory board members has grown and we could not manage without them. Our growth is directly related to the support we get from community residents, elected officials, local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority and city staff. Our mission has expanded and our partnerships with Virginia Tech has deepened and helped make our programs, projects and events successful.


Listed below you will find some coupons, discounts and promotion codes for Children . To use a coupon simply click the coupon code then enter the code during the store's checkout process.
Nest Learning : Buy One Get One 50% Off!
Evan-Moor : Summer Sale! Use Code to Get 10% Off Sitewide at Evan-Moor.com!
PatPat : 10% Off for New Customers - Must Register to redeem and no duplicate accounts can be made.
Study Island : Summer is in the air! Get 25% Off the first year of all annual subscriptions of Study Island for Home. Offer expires 5/31/18, so do not miss out!
Discount School Supply : Mothers Day Crafts Sale! Get Up To $100 Off Plus Free Shipping On Orders Over $99! Spend $500 Get $100, Spend $250 Get $50, Spend $100 Get $20! Through 5/13/18!
French Toast : 11/29-12/3 25% Off sitewide at French Toast with code.
Achievement Products : Save 15% On Classroom Seating & Furniture Products & Get Free Shipping On Stock Orders Over $79 At Achievement-Products.com!
Promo : Great Savings on Billabong for Girls and much more! Up to 60% Off plus Free Shipping on Orders over $50.


J. D. Robb is the pseudonym for a #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 190 novels, including the futuristic suspenseful In Death series. There are more than 400 million copies of her books in print.
By the time a series has reached 47 volumes, its loyal readers have fallen into two camps.
"J. D. Robb continues to do a fine job balancing Eve the woman against Eve the career homicide detective. . . .
"All superb storytelling aspects combine to make Concealed in Death another intellectually engaging and emotionally satisfying novel.
There are so many "In Death" novels now—this is number 37—that it's starting to feel like one of those long running TV cop shows with edgy dramas and a terrific ensemble cast.
The prolific Nora Roberts under her pen name J. D. Robb offers adventure #36 in her In Death series of futuristic police procedural/romance hybrids.
Very little makes a J. D. Robb fan happier than the release of a new Eve and Roarke story. Indulgence In Death will make those fans downright giddy.


text:
Q: Replace attributes values in a XML with php I have the next XML
<Addenda>
<PSV:Factura xmlns:PSV="http://www.vwnovedades.com/volkswagen/kanseilab/shcp/2009/Addenda/PSV" version="1.0" tipoDocumentoFiscal="FA" tipoDocumentoVWM="PSV"
             division="VW">
    <PSV:Moneda tipoMoneda="TEXTOMONEDA" codigoImpuesto="CODIGOIMPUESTO"/>
    <PSV:Proveedor codigo="CODPPROVEEDOR" nombre="EMISORNOMBRE" correoContacto="EMISORCORREO"/>
    <PSV:Solicitante nombre="NOMBRERECEP" correo="CORREORECEP"/>
    <PSV:Partes>
        <INILISTAPROD>
            <PSV:Parte posicion="NUMPARTIDANUMPARTIDA" descripcionMaterial="DESCRIPCION"
                       cantidadMaterial="CANTIDADMATERIAL" unidadMedida="UNIDMED" precioUnitario="PRECUNIT"
                       montoLinea="TOTAL" codigoImpuesto="CODIMP">
                <PSV:Referencias ordenCompra="ORDCOMPRA"/>
                <PSV:Nota>NOTA</PSV:Nota>
            </PSV:Parte>
        </INILISTAPROD>
    </PSV:Partes>
</PSV:Factura>
</Addenda>

And I need to replace all attribute values with uppercase letters by values with the following JSON
{
"CODIGOIMPUESTO": "1A",
"TEXTOMONEDA": "MXP",
"EMISORCORREO": "test@prodigy.net.mx",
"EMISORNOMBRE": "IVAN SANDER SANDER",
"CODPPROVEEDOR": "6001005599",
"CORREORECEP": "test@test.com",
"NOMBRERECEP": "omar json",
"Details": [
    {
        "DESCRIPCION": "AGUA CIEL DE 1.5 C/12 PZ",
        "CANTIDADMATERIAL": "19",
        "PRECUNIT": "127.5",
        "TOTAL": "2422.5",
        "NUMPARTIDA": "1",
        "UNIDMED": "PZA",
        "CODIMP": "12312312",
        "NOTA": "test",
        "ORDCOMPRA": "12312312"
    },
    {
        "DESCRIPCION": "AGUA CIEL DE 1 LT C/12 PZ",
        "CANTIDADMATERIAL": "15",
        "PRECUNIT": "127.5",
        "TOTAL": "1912.5",
        "NUMPARTIDA": "2",
        "UNIDMED": "PZA",
        "CODIMP": "asdasdas",
        "NOTA": "test",
        "ORDCOMPRA": "1231231"
    },
    {
        "DESCRIPCION": "TE FUZE TEA 6/600 ML",
        "CANTIDADMATERIAL": "4",
        "PRECUNIT": "96",
        "TOTAL": "384",
        "NUMPARTIDA": "3",
        "UNIDMED": "PZA",
        "CODIMP": "asdasdasd",
        "NOTA": "test",
        "ORDCOMPRA": "21312312a"
    },
    {
        "DESCRIPCION": "YAKULT C/30 PZ",
        "CANTIDADMATERIAL": "2",
        "PRECUNIT": "171.05",
        "TOTAL": "342.1",
        "NUMPARTIDA": "4",
        "UNIDMED": "PZA",
        "CODIMP": "asdasd1231",
        "NOTA": "test",
        "ORDCOMPRA": "asdasd22"
    }
]
}

but one of my problems is that between the nodes INILISTAPROD and /INILISTAPROD i need to loop the info that is in the json key Details.
The result should look like this.
<Addenda>
<PSV:Factura xmlns:PSV="http://www.vwnovedades.com/volkswagen/kanseilab/shcp/2009/Addenda/PSV" version="1.0" tipoDocumentoFiscal="FA" tipoDocumentoVWM="PSV"
             division="VW">
    <PSV:Moneda tipoMoneda="MXP" codigoImpuesto="1A"/>
    <PSV:Proveedor codigo="6001005599" nombre="VAN SANDER SANDER" correoContacto="test@prodigy.net.mx"/>
    <PSV:Solicitante nombre="omar json" correo="test@test.com"/>
    <PSV:Partes>
            <PSV:Parte posicion="1" descripcionMaterial="AGUA CIEL DE 1.5 C/12 PZ"
                       cantidadMaterial="19" unidadMedida="PZA" precioUnitario="127.5"
                       montoLinea="2422.5" codigoImpuesto="12312312">
                <PSV:Referencias ordenCompra="12312312"/>
                <PSV:Nota>test</PSV:Nota>
            </PSV:Parte>
        <PSV:Parte posicion="2" descripcionMaterial="AGUA CIEL DE 1 LT C/12 PZ"
                   cantidadMaterial="15" unidadMedida="PZA" precioUnitario="127.5"
                   montoLinea="1912.5" codigoImpuesto="asdasdas">
            <PSV:Referencias ordenCompra="1231231"/>
            <PSV:Nota>test</PSV:Nota>
        </PSV:Parte>
        <PSV:Parte posicion="3" descripcionMaterial="TE FUZE TEA 6/600 ML"
                   cantidadMaterial="4" unidadMedida="PZA" precioUnitario="96"
                   montoLinea="384" codigoImpuesto="asdasdasd">
            <PSV:Referencias ordenCompra="21312312a"/>
            <PSV:Nota>test</PSV:Nota>
        </PSV:Parte>
        <PSV:Parte posicion="4" descripcionMaterial="YAKULT C/30 PZ"
                   cantidadMaterial="2" unidadMedida="PZA" precioUnitario="171.05"
                   montoLinea="342.1" codigoImpuesto="asdasd1231">
            <PSV:Referencias ordenCompra="asdasd22"/>
            <PSV:Nota>test</PSV:Nota>
        </PSV:Parte>
    </PSV:Partes>
</PSV:Factura>
</Addenda>

I try to use simple xml to load the file but the file is no loaded.
And I dont know if I should use simple xml o some kind of regular expresion.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Hello everybody, I'm a 54yr old living down the sth coast NSW. I have an AU XR8 series 2 with 213,000 on the clock. I have in my shed a ZD with a baby V8 Windsor & 3sp on the tree. A XC Coupe 351Clevo. My son has an XY Falcon 500 GT mock up with a matching number 250ci with cross flow head.


Do you have a better photo of Eboniece?
Lost to gun violence on November 2, 2014 in Richmond, Virginia.
71 candles have been lit for Eboniece.
Light a candle for Eboniece.
Ask your friends to light a candle or come back tomorrow to light another candle for Eboniece.


Essentially the role of the digital twin is to bridge the gap between the physical and digital world and by crossing that bridge, more companies are harnessing these digital doppelgangers to achieve the twin effect of boosting productivity and cutting waste. Traditionally the only way to monitor production equipment was through physical monitoring of mechanical results. This was of course vastly labour-intensive and resulted in a significant drain on time. However, its main drawback was the fact that it gave designers few chances to change their prototype. With opportunities for changes during the process limited, the finished product could often not be fit for purpose, resulting in massive expense and time wasted.
Today micro-sensors and software have combined to create a system of micro-management for manufacturing production lines which has reaped substantial efficiency dividends. These savings and advances are achieved through a joint operation, where these twin forces measure every tiny aspect of a physical device and use this intelligence to recreate it in digital form, somewhere in the cloud. This virtual representation of each physical device is known as its digital twin.
Having digitally twinned a device, manufacturers are afforded the luxury of being able to test it and amend it through the entirety of the production process. The virtual modelling means that once a prototype is ready for manufacture, it will be much closer to perfection than under the old system. The fine tuning does not stop there, as intelligence can be fed back from the product throughout its lifetime.
This means that manufacturers are then able to not only reduce development time and costs, but to also move into the area of being able to predict failure scenarios and potential downtime – an insight that provides a significant and valuable step forward.
The entire production system can benefit from the efficiencies of digital twinning and when one vendor has complete dominance of a vertical market the digital twin approach is relatively easy. However, if these benefits could be extended to the entire supply chain, the gains could be enjoyed by the wider economy. But this doesn't come without its challenges; in fact, the involvement of multiple vendors and new manufacturing techniques makes for a far more challenging environment.
It is the need for machine-to-machine harmony that has inspired vendors such as TIBCO to make strides in integrating devices made for the IoT. The digital twin is very much a child of Industry 4.0, the rise in big data and IoT. Indeed, the impact of the digital twin has been massively boosted by recent breakthroughs in industrial connectivity and machine intelligence and will continue to be the technology of choice for digitalising the physical world.


text:
module LessonPlanHelper
  # Returns a hash of the human-readable type, to the CSS class of the type of entry
  def get_lesson_plan_entry_types
    result = LessonPlanEntry::ENTRY_TYPES.map { |type|
      type[0]
    }
    virtual_entry_types = @course.lesson_plan_virtual_entries.reduce([]) { |rest, e|
      if rest.include?(e.entry_real_type) then
        rest
      else
        rest << e.entry_real_type
      end
    }

    result + virtual_entry_types
  end

  def get_lesson_plan_entry_css_class(type)
    "lesson-plan-type-" + type
  end
end


text:
Alabama Incensed Over 'Horrific' Smell of New York Poo
And the Big Apple backs down
By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff
Posted Mar 11, 2018 12:30 PM CDT
The glorious sight of industrial waste and sewage. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
(Newser) – New York's poo problem has become Alabama's poo problem, and that stinks for both of them. New York City, which produces about 1,200 tons of sewage daily, has been shipping some of it down to landfills around Birmingham that are producing a bit of a smell, the Guardian reports. "On a hot day, the odor and flies are horrific," says Charles Nix, the mayor of a nearby town that's close to a landfill with Yankee waste. "It's better in winter time but if the wind blows in the wrong direction you get the smell. It's like dead, rotting animals." A dispute over zoning rules shifted the operation to another town, but they didn't want it, so during the squabble trains full of treated sewage have backed up near Birmingham.
New York waste became a problem when the Environmental Protection Agency declared in 1998 that it shouldn't be pumped into the ocean—then, last year, Alabama became a solution. "I guess we are not even as good as the fish, down here in Alabama," says Nix. An inspection by Alabama environmental officials found "no odor leaks," but amid outcry around Birmingham, New York broke off with the company handling Alabama disposal. "As a precaution and to better understand local concern, we have discontinued utilizing this facility," says a city official. Meanwhile the city still spills billions of gallons of sewage into New York harbor annually, WXXI reports. (Read more New York City stories.)


Hearing loss affects more than 36-million seniors across America. Losing your hearing is a part of life that you can't avoid – it's a natural part of aging. Age-related hearing loss is a treatable condition – however, many seniors don't realize they have a hearing problem, and it takes someone close to them to mention their disability before they notice it themselves.
Seniors who refuse treatment due to the embarrassment of admitting their hearing is failing, run the risk of developing severe mental health issues that affect their psychological state. Here are the top mental health issues associated with age-related hearing loss, and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.
Hearing loss takes its toll on your relationships. While you may have no issue with listening to the television at maximum volume, your partner may not enjoy it, seeking the comfort of quiet in another room. People with advanced hearing loss may not hear the doorbell or phone when it rings, and they may not understand their partner calling them for dinner, or to help with a task.
Hearing loss will eventually result in a breakdown of communication. This disruption affects your spouse, as well as your social circle. Seniors who are suffering from hearing loss may frequently ask people to repeat themselves because they couldn't hear them. As a result, the affected individual may start to avoid conversation, resulting in a withdrawal from their social standing.
As a result of removing themselves from their social circle, the affected senior may start to experience solitude. Human beings are social creatures, and when we are left to fend for ourselves with no emotional support, we begin to focus our thoughts inward, resulting in a host of mental health issues related to loneliness.
This solitude is especially hard on seniors that live by themselves, without a partner or assisted caregiver. Their hearing loss makes them less likely to experience any joy in life. Instead, they spend their days wallowing in self-pity. This downward spiral of negativity begins to degrade their emotional state further, resulting in the onset of depression.
When loneliness starts to penetrate the human psyche, it can lead to negative thinking. Affected individuals may begin to think that no-one cares about them. As a result, they withdraw completely from any contact with others and deal with thoughts of suicide.
Depression is a severe emotional disruption, and feeling negative emotions all day, every day – is no way to live your life. Unfortunately, seniors who experience depression often have no-one to pull them out of their mental state, resulting in the onset of further complications with their mental health.
Anxiety and depression work hand-in-hand to destroy the mental health of seniors affected by hearing loss. The loneliness of social isolation, combined with depression may leave the affected individual experiencing panic attacks as their mind tries to come to terms with their situation.
Panic attacks can be a severe health problem for seniors – especially those with cardiovascular issues.
Anxiety issues also affect the mind and the circadian rhythm, those seniors with anxiety issues related to a loss of hearing may think they are experiencing a heart attack. While this is not the case, the condition can cause cardiovascular complications.
Insomniais the experience of not being asleep and not being awake. The affected individual spends their nights tossing and turning, unable to fall into REM sleep. As a result, insomnia intensifies feelings of anxiety and depression, reducing cognitive capabilities and furthering emotional distress.
When the brain has less stimulus due to hearing loss, as well as high levels of emotional distress from conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and depression, it may trigger the advancement of neurological, cognitive diseases, such as dementia.
Dementia is a severe mental health disorder that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Affected individuals find that they have issues with memory recall, as well as thinking clearly. If left unmanaged, the person may become so ravaged by dementia that they become a shell of their former self.
This condition occurs when the mind does not understand what is wrong with the body. Malaise is a feeling of dread and uncertainty, and it's a terrible condition for any senior to experience. Malaise only lifts when the affected individual receives a diagnosis of the situation. As soon as the brain realizes that the problem is treatable, and they have a chance at recovery – the malaise lifts.
Hearing aids are a practical solution to providing relief from hearing loss. Most hearing aids are lightweight, have a comfortable fit, and provide excellent user functionality and features. Many seniors who try a hearing aid are embarrassed to do so at first.
However, after a few months with the device – they wonder how they ever managed without it in the first place. Hearing devices allow seniors to remain socially active, relieving the pressure of social isolation and psychological distress.
With so many hearing aids available, how do you know which one to buy? Do you need to spend a significant amount of money on your device?
If you can't decide on the best hearing aids for your condition, turn to your audiologist for advice. Bring your top choices to your specialist and ask them for their opinion on which hearing devices you should purchase.
Many seniors work with a budget determined by their pension. They don't have the money to splurge thousands of dollars on the latest tech and may feel that they need the most expensive model. However, there are plenty of cheap hearing aids available at your online retailer. Hearing aids cost a bundle if you try to use your insurance to purchase the device.
However, there are plenty of affordable hearing aids from quality manufacturers available online. Check out hearing aid reviews for pricing on hearing aid devices, as well as user feedback on the device you're interested in purchasing. Hearing aid price should never be the determining factor for buying your device.


Winnipeg's ONLY Warranty Approved Carpet Cleaning Company!
In Manitoba there are no government regulations for carpet cleaners.
Anyone can claim to be an expert. You can rely on our expertise at Ultra-Clean because we are certified by the Clean Trust, I.I.C.R.C. an international association providing training to the highest industry standards.
Ultra-Clean has the Carpet & Rug Institute Seal of Approval and a Master Cleaner on staff. With over 80 years combined experience, we are Winnipeg's most qualified cleaners.
5 Reasons to Choose Us as Winnipeg's Best Carpet Cleaners. Over 40 Years Experience!
Cleaning green is more than switching a few products or equipment. It's about effective cleaning to create healthier buildings and at the same time reduce environmental impact.
Carpet Cleaning features the latest environmentally friendly cleaning systems in the Canadian Marketplace. Many traditional cleaning systems leave behind harmful toxins that can injure families and pets. Our goal is to make your home & your planet a cleaner, safer, healthier place to live.
The cameras are always rolling when we're on the job! Our video page will show you the advantages & benefits of calling us for your next carpet and upholstery cleaning.
Take a minute and watch the videos explaining how we clean, why we green clean & learn more about how we keep our planet & your home or business safer for everyone at affordable prices.
Get your free carpet or upholstery cleaning quote now!
Why Use Green Seal Products?
Does Fabric and Carpet Protector Work?


I've talked about acoustic treatment a lot here on Home Studio Corner. Why? Because it's one of the most important components of your home studio (if not the most important).
Everything you do in a studio is centered around audio waves, right? We're in the business of capturing, manipulating, and reproducing audio waves.
While we audio cowboys are in the process of wrangling in these unruly audio waves, they're bouncing all around our room. The more reflective surfaces your studio has, the more unwieldy the audio becomes.
Acoustic treatment is like Ritalin™ for your studio. Audio waves have ADD. They bounce around the room like crazy until they finally run out of energy…then they do it again.
Regardless of your involvement in audio, whether your a casual hobbyist or a full-time professional, your music has a slim chance of sounding decent if you don't have acoustic treatment.
As these waves bounce around the room, certain frequencies are boosted. Others are cut. If your studio is untreated, the room itself acts like a graphic EQ gone crazy. 100 Hz might be cut by 19 dB while 250 Hz might be boosted by 6 dB.
Every room is different. No room is perfect. You can never have a perfectly flat frequency response, but you can "flatten" it out with acoustic treatment and tremendously improve the sound of your room.
Another big reason to treat your room is to improve the sound of your recordings.
The microphone will pick up the direct sound of the vocal, but it will also pick up all of the early reflections as the sound waves bounce off the walls and ceiling and race back to the microphone. By treating your room, you can cut down on these reflections and capture a nice, up-front vocal without building a vocal booth.
I've been a big fan of Auralex for quite some time. I was planning to purchase a set of their LENRD bass traps and extra foam sometime this year, so when they approached me about reviewing some of their products on HSC, I jumped at the opportunity.
They sent me a few things to review, but today we'll focus on the Roominators Project 2 Kit.
I think I was most excited about these. I already owned some Auralex Studiofoam panels, so I had a fair amount of absorption in my room, but I didn't really have adequate bass trapping. Bass frequencies are the hardest to tame in a studio, because they're such large waves. Bass traps like the LENRDs go in the corners (where bass likes to build up) and helps absorb them.
Like I said above, I had some acoustic foam in my room, but not nearly enough. With these 2-foot by 2-foot panels (each 2 inches thick), I was able to liberally treat my entire studio, rather than cutting corners like I had done before.
Directly behind my monitors – To prevent sound from reflecting off of the rear wall and interfering with the direct sound of the monitors.
Directly above my monitors – Sound waves bounce off ceilings, too!!
Dispersed evenly throughout the room – After thoroughly treating all the areas above, I still had a bunch of panels left, so I applied them evenly throughout the room.
See it in action. You can see exactly how I applied the treatment around my studio by checking out my latest Home Studio Tour video.
There is an IMMEDIATELY noticeable difference in the sound of the room. It feels much more…"tame." When I talk or clap my hands, I don't hear the sound bouncing all around the room anymore. It does a little bouncing, but it quickly dies out.
One thing to keep in mind when applying acoustic treatment – don't try to cover every square inch of your room. If you do, the room will be TOO absorptive and it'll feel dead. It's okay to have some reflections, just not an overwhelming amount.
From a mixing standpoint, my speakers sound much more clear. I can hear details in my studio monitors that I could only hear with headphones prior to the acoustic treatment. Also, thanks to the bass traps, my studio has a much better low end. It's not perfect, there's still some resonance around 200 Hz or so, but the bass is much more pronounced.
From a recording standpoint, I've noticed that my recordings sound much cleaner and "tighter." I don't hear quite as much room in my lead vocal tracks. The room just seems quieter, which is always nice.
The bedroom right across the hall from my studio is almost the exact same size as my studio. There's a bed in there, but nothing on the walls.
I set up a mic in the guest bedroom and recorded a vocal. Then I set up the same mic (with the exact same settings) in my studio and recorded the vocal again. The audio files are 320 kbps mp3's, and there's no EQ or compression on either file.
Each was recorded through a M-Audio Luna microphone into a Presonus Eureka preamp into Pro Tools. I was standing 12 inches from the microphone each time.
What do you think? Pretty big difference, right? And it totally makes a difference in the mix as well. Once you add compression to that first vocal, the sound of the room gets even louder, and you'll hear it in the mix. The second vocal? Sits in the mix just fine.
The Auralex Roominator Project 2 Kit currently sells for $799 over at Sweetwater. That's how much you'd pay for a nice preamp or microphone, which are both great, but neither one will help you make better recordings and better mixes. A properly treated room will make your current gear sound much better.
So…what are your thoughts? Let me know by leaving a comment.
You'll get the exact training you need to confidently tackle the acoustical issues in your room. Grab your copy here.