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Issue 19,
pp. 20518-20528
•https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.020518
Composite superprism photonic crystal demultiplexer: analysis and design
Amin Khorshidahmad and Andrew G. Kirk
Amin Khorshidahmad* and Andrew G. Kirk
Photonic Systems Group, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering McGill University, 3480 University St., Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada
*Corresponding author: amin.khorshidahmad@mail.mcgill.ca
A Khorshidahmad
A Kirk
Amin Khorshidahmad and Andrew G. Kirk, "Composite superprism photonic crystal demultiplexer: analysis and design," Opt. Express 18, 20518-20528 (2010)
Preconditioned superprism-based photonic crystal demultiplexers: analysis and design
Babak Momeni, et al.
1-D slab photonic crystal k-vector superprism demultiplexer: analysis, and design
Aref Bakhtazad, et al.
Opt. Express 13(14) 5472-5482 (2005)
Compact, low cross-talk CWDM demultiplexer using photonic crystal superprism
Damien Bernier, et al.
Opt. Express 16(22) 17209-17214 (2008)
Photonic Crystals and Devices
Dense wavelength division multiplexing
Phase matching
Phase shift
Phase velocity
Photonic crystals
Integrated optics devices (130.3120)
Photonic crystals (230.5298)
Original Manuscript: August 6, 2010
Revised Manuscript: September 3, 2010
Manuscript Accepted: September 3, 2010
2. Composite superprism
Equations (10)
We present the analysis and design of a superprism-based demultiplexer that employs both group and phase velocity dispersion of the photonic crystal (PhC). Simultaneous diffraction compensation and spatio-angular wavelength channel separation is realized in a slab region that divides the PhC. This avoids the excessive broadening of the beams inside the PhC and enhances the achievable angular dispersion of the conventional superprism topology. As a result, a compact demultiplexer with a relaxed requirement for low divergence input beams is attained. The dynamics of the beams envelops are considered based on the curvature of the band structure. Analysis shows at least 36-fold reduction of the PhC area and much smaller propagation length in slab compared to the preconditioned superprism, based on the same design model. PhC area scales as Δω-2.5 with Δω being the channel spacing.
©2010 Optical Society of America
The dispersive properties of photonic crystals (PhCs) outside the forbidden band-gap [1,2] have been extensively investigated for demultiplexing applications [3]. This was inspired by the original observation of the large beam steering inside the PhC with a slight change of the incident angle or the wavelength (termed the superprism effect [4]). The s-vector superprism uses the group velocity dispersion (GVD) or the wavelength dependence of the propagation direction of the Bloch modes to spatially separate the channels inside the PhC. However, diffraction induced broadening of the beams and the loss of angular dispersion outside the PhC limit the achievable resolution and integration of the conventional superprism in practice [5].
A number of studies have been undertaken to find an optimum compromise between dispersion and diffraction so as to minimize the PhC area required in the conventional s-vector topology, mainly by optimizing the PhC and incident beam parameters [6–8] or the PhC lattice type [9]. One of the most promising designs, to the best of our knowledge, is based on diffraction compensation [10,11] where the incident beam is first expanded by propagation in a slab region preceding the PhC (preconditioned superprism) [12]. The spatial phase shift arising from diffraction in the slab compensates for the dominant (second order) diffractive phase term of the PhC when the dispersion bands have an opposite curvature compared to the uniform medium. While a two order of magnitude reduction in the PhC area compared to the conventional superprism was demonstrated [13], the mm-scale of PhC section when scaled for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications and even the much larger required propagation in slab reduces the benefits of integration [12].
Another approach is to use the phase velocity dispersion of the PhC to induce GVD in the slab and separate the channels outside the PhC (k-vector superprism) [14,15]. This scheme is challenging to implement and has not received much interest in practice. The propagation direction of the beams and hence the orientation of the waveguides at the output are directly determined by the wave-vector of the PhC Bloch modes and consequently highly fabrication sensitive. Beam-shaping and focusing optics, to collimate the incident beam and project the output to the far field respectively, are also often required in a typical k-vector demultiplexer [16].
The aforementioned superprism designs are based on only one of the available dispersive properties of the PhC. The wave-vector dispersion is neglected in the s-vector, whereas the group velocity dispersion degrades the cross-talk at the output of the k-vector demultiplexer and has to be minimized [16].
We present a superprism-based demultiplexer that exploits both available dispersion sources of the PhC and combines the simplicity of the s-vector with the potentially compact PhC structure of the k-vector superprism for DWDM applications. Adding angular separation to the diffraction compensation function of the slab in the preconditioned scheme, realized by placing the slab between two PhC sections, boosts the effective angular dispersion. This leads to considerably shorter propagation lengths in the PhC and slab compared to the preconditioned superprism. The enhanced dispersion also permits narrower input beams. The all-parallel and collimated beams at the output obviate the peripheral optics commonly required in a k-vector superprism. The demultiplexer is designed by modeling the path and evolution of the beam envelope within the structure based on the gradient and curvature of the equi-frequency contour (EFC) of the dispersion bands of the PhC at each wavelength channel. Based on our analysis, the required PhC area scales with the channel spacing (Δω) as Δω-2.5.
The proposed demultiplexer, showing the path of two adjacent wavelength channels and the variation of the beam envelope of a single channel are schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 . The structure consists of two prism-shaped sections of an identical PhC placed with parallel bases and separated by a slab region. The PhC and the incident angle are appropriately designed for negative effective index of diffraction [17], i.e. exciting the portion of EFC of the band structure with opposite curvature compared to the slab, over the bandwidth of interest.
Fig. 1 Schematic of the composite demultiplexer, i.e. properly scaled unit block defined in section 2.2, with the trajectory of two adjacent wavelength channels (not to scale). The actual beam envelope of a single channel and the corresponding profile considering only the higher order diffraction terms in the PhC are shown by light red and dark blue traces respectively; for perfect second order diffraction compensation, both profiles should match at the output. δ3 represents the equivalent divergence angle of the beam due to the dominant higher order (3rd order) diffraction inside the PhC.
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Within the first PhC, the multiplexed diffraction-limited input beam is expanded by acquiring negative spatial phase while different wavelengths are partially separated by the GVD. Non-parallel input/output interfaces of the PhC results in wavelength dependant propagation direction in the slab. As in a k-vector superprism, phase velocity dispersion of the PhC magnifies the angular dispersion in slab. In the slab region, spatial separation of adjacent channels continues in the uniform medium with ordinary diffraction and hence after an appropriate propagation length all the beams are focused back to their original width. We also consider an additional slab length beyond the focus plane that precompensates the beams for the subsequent propagation in the second PhC section. The relatively spatially separated beams at the input of the second PhC are coupled to the same Bloch modes as in the first PhC section given the parallel PhC-slab interfaces. While propagating in the PhC, beams continue to separate and refocus with negative diffraction that cancels out the excess spectral phase gained in the slab and finally refract into separate, diffraction-limited beams propagating parallel to the incident beam at the output of the demultiplexer.
For a given PhC, orientation of the interfaces and the incident angle, the governing parameters of the path and envelope of a Gaussian input beam throughout the structure based on the generalized effective index model [12,17], namely the effective diffractive indices and the propagation direction within each medium are readily extracted from the curvature and gradient of the corresponding EFC of the dispersion bands at the operating point irrespective of the length scale. The excited Eigen mode in each medium is determined from the wave-front matching requirement, i.e. the continuity of the tangential component of the wave-vector along the interfaces, for each wavelength as depicted in Fig. 2 . This approximate model, in analogy with the temporal broadening of a pulse when propagating in a dispersive medium, models the spatial broadening of a beam in an arbitrary medium with a phase transfer function acting on the spatial spectrum of the beam envelope function. The end result is the same as propagation in a uniform medium having second and higher order effective indices corresponding to the curvature and higher order directional derivatives of the dispersion bands of the periodic medium. Modeling the envelope profile of the beam using this model has been verified against direct numerical simulation [17] and been used in designing the preconditioned superprism which is also experimentally demonstrated [13].
Fig. 2 Path of two adjacent channels within the composite demultiplexer, determined by applying the continuity of the tangential wave-vector components along each interface using EFC representation of the band structure in 2D wave-vector plane. For an arbitrary point (Q) on the EFC, η (ζ) represents the direction parallel (perpendicular) to the beam propagation (i.e. the group velocity (Vg) direction).
We define a unit building block of unit slab length (LS in Fig. 3 ) which is then scaled to resolve all the input channels with the required cross talk. Compensating for the second order diffraction in the PhC (diffraction compensation) sets the total PhC propagation length (i.e. LPhC = LPhC1 + LPhC2 in Fig. 3) of an arbitrary channel based on the corresponding second order effective diffractive index (n e2) and the beam waist (2w) in the two media as in Eq. (1).
(1)LScos(θS)×1 ne2,SwS2=LPhC|ne2,PhC|wPhC2
Where ne2=(k0d2kη/dkζ2)−1and k0=2π/λare the second-order effective diffractive index and the wave-number in vacuum respectively. kη(kζ)is the component of the wave-vector parallel (perpendicular) to the propagation direction defined in Fig. 2. Throughout the paper, θ represents the propagation (group velocity) direction with respect to the interface normal in each medium as depicted in Fig. 3; S and PhC subscripts are used for the slab and PhC respectively. Beam waist in the PhC and slab are related to the incident waist (2w 0) by simple geometric relations given in Eq. (2).
Fig. 3 The path of two neighboring channels and the design parameters of the composite superprism. Solid trace represents the actual beam trajectory in the unit block whereas the light broken trace shows the equivalent virtual PhC model constructed for λ1 wavelength.
(2)wPhC=w0cosθPhC/cosθ0wS=wPhCcosθS/cosθPhC*
In constructing the unit block, knowing the propagation directions and considering the actual trajectory of the beams, the two PhC sections are appropriately scaled to minimize the residual uncompensated diffraction due to the variation of the propagation lengths and the non-uniformity of effective indices over the considered bandwidth.
The beam profile of a single channel at the output of the unit block, shown in Fig. 1, is identical to that of a preconditioned superprism with the same PhC length; an almost diffraction-limited beam except for the effect of the uncompensated higher order diffractive phase terms presented only along the PhC portion of the path. Consequently, the design procedure of the preconditioned superprism is applicable to the composite demultiplexer by using an effective angular dispersion (Δeff) that captures the additional spatial separation gained in slab region. The effective dispersion is defined as:
(3)Δeff=(∂θPhC∂λ)ΔXΔX1+|ΔX22−ΔX21|
Equation (3) is simply the actual angular separation of the PhC (ΔPhC=∂θPhC∂λ) scaled by the ratio of the total spatial separation between the adjacent channels at the output of the unit block (ΔX in Fig. 3) to the total contribution from propagation in both PhC sections (i.e. ΔX1+|ΔX22−ΔX21|). As a result, a virtual PhC having the diffractive indices and Bloch modes (both wave-vector and the direction of the group velocity) of the actual PhC but with the effective angular dispersion reproduces the envelope and spatial separation of the beams at the output of the composite demultiplexer.
In this section, based on the previously defined virtual PhC model, we formulate the wavelength separation and diffraction compensation conditions in terms of the physical design parameters and analyze the scaling of the composite demultiplexer with the channel spacing.
For each channel, the unit block is pre-scaled by the ratio of the propagation length in the virtual PhC to the corresponding total PhC path length in the unit block to ensure the diffraction compensation condition. The largest scaling factor over all the channels gives the final structure. Hence in this model, demultiplexer design reduces to that of setting the required propagation length in the virtual PhC to achieve spatial separation of the adjacent channels with the required crosstalk considering the effective angular dispersion and divergence of the beams. The equivalent virtual PhC representation of the unit block (corresponding to the scaling factor of one) is depicted in Fig. 3 for a single channel.
In the following we assume the third-order spatial phase term to be the dominant uncompensated diffractive effect in the PhC. This conditioned is easily verified in each case by comparing the beam broadening from the fourth-order diffraction. The analysis follows the same steps irrespective of the dominant spectral phase term by substituting the corresponding effective index. In analogy with a conventional s-vector superprism [6,12], the required PhC propagation length for an arbitrary channel is consequently determined from Eq. (4).
(4)LPhC=z3Kη3−H
Wherez3=12k0|ne3,PhC|wPhC2is the Rayleigh range for the third-order diffraction and η3=Δeff(min)/δ3the ratio of the minimum effective angular separation of each channel with its adjacent wavelengths (Δeff(min)) and the divergence angle of the beam corresponding to the third-order diffraction in the PhC (represented byδ3in Fig. 1). The latter is related to the Rayleigh range asδ3=2wPhCz3. K and H are constants determined based on the crosstalk level and are tabulated in [6]. The third-order effective index (ne3,PhC) is extracted from the directional derivative of the EFC of band structure at the operating point (see Fig. 2) as given in Eq. (5).
(5)ne3,PhC=23wPhC(k0d3kηdkζ3)−1
Substituting these definitions and the above relation into Eq. (4) yields:
(6)LPhC=2KwPhC3Δeff(min)wPhC2−23H|d3kη/dkζ3|
The PhC has to be large enough to accommodate the actual beam sizes within the entire path, dominated by the second-order diffraction. An estimate of the PhC area required per wavelength channel in the composite design, noting the expansion of the beams in the first PhC section and the subsequent refocus within the second PhC region and assuming approximately equal propagation length per PhC section (i.e. half the LPhC in Eq. (6)), is obtained from Eq. (7).
(7)APhC/Ch=12(wPhCz2LPhC)LPhC=4K2wPhC5|d2kη/dkζ2|(Δeff(min)wPhC2−23H|d3kη/dkζ3|)2
From this relation, the optimum input beam waist or the corresponding spot radius inside the PhC (see Eq. (2)) that minimizes the PhC area is readily determined from Eq. (8).
(8)wPhCOpt=103HΔeff(min)|d3kη/dkζ3|
Which consequently results in the optimum PhC propagation length and the corresponding minimum area given by Eq. (9) and (10) respectively.
(9)LPhCOpt=K12532Δ3eff(min)H|d3kη/dkζ3|
(10)APhC/ChOpt=25K24k0ne2,PhC103Δ5eff(min)H|d3kη/dkζ3|
Compared to the preconditioned superprism, the double expansion/refocusing scheme yields a two-fold reduction in the PhC area. In addition the required input beam width, propagation length and the PhC area are exponentially reduced by Δα with an α factor of −0.5, −1.5 and −2.5 respectively, whereΔ=ΔeffΔPhCis the enhancement of the angular separation gained in the composite demultiplexer. Given the proportionality of the effective angular channel separation to the angular dispersion of the PhC (see Eq. (3)) the PhC area in Eq. (10) scales with the channel spacing (Δω) as Δω−2.5. This is the same as the preconditioned superprism compared to the Δω−4 scaling of the conventional s-vector superprism.
Design procedure of the composite superprism developed in the previous sections is applied for demultiplexers with 100GHz channel spacing on the standard ITU C-band wavelength grid. A typical silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform with 250nm top silicon layer and the square lattice PhC in the lowest photonic band with TM-like polarization (E-field perpendicular to the slab) is considered.
We first determine a set of PhC candidates with potentially high dispersion in the first photonic band around 1550nm wavelength. The design space is limited to the square lattice with potentially higher bandwidth [12] with the lattice period in the typical range of 285-360nm. This is achieved by setting the hole radius for a given period so as to have a small normalized band edge (i.e. κy=0.2k0at the X symmetry point where a.κx=π for κ being the Bloch vector, k0 the vacuum wave-number and a the lattice period) at the longest wavelength.
Band structure of the PhC is calculated using 3D plane-wave expansion method with the artificial periodicity in the out-of-plane direction [18]. Slab dispersion is also considered by using the effective index of the fundamental slab TM mode at each channel wavelength for the application of the phase matching and diffraction compensation criteria in order to define the unit block. Limiting the PhC-slab interfaces to the symmetry axes of the lattice, sets the apex angle of the PhC sections (ρ in Fig. 3) to 45° with the input interface in either ΓX or ΓΜ orientation. Finally the diffraction compensation constraint (negative second order effective diffractive index for all the channels) that sets the range of incident angles for each candidate PhC completely defines the design platform.
The optimization process aims at finding the demultiplexer with the smallest chip footprint or approximately minimum total device length within the specified platform capable of resolving the multiplexed input beams with the required crosstalk. This is achieved by finding the optimum PhC candidate, incident angle and input beam width combination that minimizes the largest aggregate propagation lengths in PhC and slab among all the channels.
In a systematic optimization, for each PhC candidate, orientation of the input interface and incident angle we construct the unit block based on the effective indices and the trajectories of all the channels numerically extracted from band structure. The two PhC sections are scaled to minimize the residual uncompensated diffraction due to the variation of the path length and effective indices over the input bandwidth.
The effective angular dispersion of the unit blocks, as defined in section 2.2, at the center wavelength is shown in Fig. 4 and compared with that of the conventional superprism topologies of the same PhC. In case of the preconditioned (s-vector) and the k-vector superprism designs, the angular dispersion is simply the group velocity dispersion of the PhC Bloch modes and the induced group velocity dispersion in the slab as a result of the wave-vector dispersion inside the PhC, respectively. For a fixed wavelength, a well-defined operating point (incident angle) of a certain PhC exhibits the maximum dispersion. The effective dispersion of the composite structure (see Eq. (3)) however, combines the angular dispersion of the PhC with the spatial channel separation within the slab that separates the PhC sections. The required propagation length in the slab is directly determined by the diffraction compensation condition. As a result of that interplay, the effective dispersion of the composite superprism exhibits a noticeably different behavior. An order of magnitude enhancement of the moderate angular dispersion of the preconditioned (s-vector) or k-vector designs within the first band is achievable using the proposed superprism. The dispersion peaks correspond to the points with strong curvature on the band structure (strong diffraction inside the PhC). As a result, the excessively long slab propagation offsets the reduction in the PhC area. Indeed the composite designs with minimum chip footprint (see Table 1 ) have moderate effective dispersion.
Fig. 4 Effective angular dispersion for (a) composite, (b) s-vector or preconditioned and (c) k-vector superprism configurations in °/nm at the center wavelength for candidates with negative effective diffractive index; lowest TM band of square lattice PhC in a 250nm slab with the input interface along ΓX axis is considered. For composite and k-vector superprisms the other PhC-slab interface is along the ΓM axis.
Table 1. Optimum designs for 100GHZ channel spacing
Next, we find the optimum incident beam width for a given unit block by considering the corresponding virtual PhC. To this end, we calculate the required propagation length in the virtual PhC and the corresponding scale factor of the unit block that resolves each pair of adjacent channels with the specified crosstalk using Eq. (5). We iterate over a range of beam widths above the minimum required waist size set by the singular point of Eq. (5). The optimum beam size minimizes the corresponding maximum scale factor found over all the channels.
The results of the optimization process for 4 and 8 channel demultiplexers with adjacent channel crosstalk of less than 20 dB are summarized in Table 1. The input PhC/slab interface is assumed along the ΓX axis which results in minimum non-uniformity of the effective indices. Compared with the preconditioned counterparts, also given in the table, up to 6-fold reduction in the PhC length (4-channel) with at least 36 times reduced PhC area (8-channel), smaller incident beam waist and much shorter required slab propagation are achievable using the composite superprism.
The effective index model used in this study does not provide any measure of the insertion losses, particularly due to the reflection at the PhC/slab interfaces. The composite scheme, while resulting in a smaller device footprint for a given wavelength resolution, incorporates an additional pair of PhC/slab interfaces. Hence a higher insertion loss compared to a conventional superprism with comparable dimensions is expected. Recently an s-vector demultiplexer with PhC insertion loss of less than 2 to 7 dB over 100nm bandwidth for about 100μm propagation inside the PhC and working in the first photonic band was demonstrated [9]. The experimental insertion loss of the preconditioned superprism with comparable dimensions was estimated at about 7dB [13]. Both insertion losses were obtained with no interface treatment measures to enhance the PhC slab coupling efficiency. We estimate an insertion loss of about 10dB for a 4 channel composite demultiplexer. Considering the first band operation, already demonstrated efficient reflection reduction schemes [19–21] and improvement in fabrication process, further reduction of the insertion losses of the superprism demultiplexers is foreseeable.
We have presented the design procedure and scaling properties of the proposed superprism-based demultiplexer topology where a slab region divides the PhC. Simultaneous spatio-angular separation and diffraction compensation in slab enhances the effective angular dispersion, reducing the on-chip footprint and relaxing the input beam size requirements without peripheral optics. The PhC area is at least 36 times smaller than that required for an equivalent preconditioned superprism. This may lead to practical superprism devices with DWDM channel spacing.
This work was in part supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
1. E. Yablonovitch, "Photonic band-gap structures," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 10(2), 283–295 (1993). [CrossRef]
2. S. John, "Strong localization of photons in certain disordered dielectric superlattices," Phys. Rev. Lett. 58(23), 2486–2489 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. L. Wu, M. Mazilu, T. Karle, and T. F. Krauss, "Superprism phenomena in planar photonic crystals," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38(7), 915–918 (2002). [CrossRef]
4. H. Kosaka, T. Kawashima, A. Tomita, M. Notomi, T. Tamamura, T. Sato, and S. Kawakami, "Superprism phenomena in photonic crystals," Phys. Rev. B 58(16), R10096–R10099 (1998). [CrossRef]
5. T. Baba and T. Matsumoto, "Resolution of photonic crystal superprism," Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(13), 2325–2327 (2002). [CrossRef]
6. B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Systematic design of superprism-based photonic crystal demultiplexers," IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun. 23(7), 1355–1364 (2005). [CrossRef]
7. A. Bakhtazad and A. G. Kirk, "First-band S-vector photonic-crystal superprism demultiplexer design and optimization," J. Lightwave Technol. 25(5), 1322–1333 (2007). [CrossRef]
8. B. Momeni, M. Chamanzar, E. S. Hosseini, M. Askari, M. Soltani, and A. Adibi, "Implementation of high resolution planar wavelength demultiplexers using strong dispersion in photonic crystals," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper CMY3.
9. D. Bernier, X. Le Roux, A. Lupu, D. Marris-Morini, L. Vivien, and E. Cassan, "Compact, low cross-talk CWDM demultiplexer using photonic crystal superprism," Opt. Express 16(22), 17209–17214 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. T. Matsumoto, S. Fujita, and T. Baba, "Wavelength demultiplexer consisting of Photonic crystal superprism and superlens," Opt. Express 13(26), 10768–10776 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. J. Witzens, T. Baehr-Jones, and A. Scherer, "Hybrid superprism with low insertion losses and suppressed cross-talk," Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlin. Soft Matter Phys. 71(2), 026604 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Preconditioned superprism-based photonic crystal demultiplexers: analysis and design," Appl. Opt. 45(33), 8466–8476 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. B. Momeni, J. Huang, M. Soltani, M. Askari, S. Mohammadi, M. Rakhshandehroo, and A. Adibi, "Compact wavelength demultiplexing using focusing negative index photonic crystal superprisms," Opt. Express 14(6), 2413–2422 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. T. Matsumoto and T. Baba, "Photonic crystal κ-vector superprism," J. Lightwave Technol. 22(3), 917–922 (2004). [CrossRef]
15. C. Luo, M. Soljacić, and J. D. Joannopoulos, "Superprism effect based on phase velocities," Opt. Lett. 29(7), 745–747 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. A. Bakhtazad and A. G. Kirk, "1-D slab photonic crystal k-vector superprism demultiplexer: analysis, and design," Opt. Express 13(14), 5472–5482 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
17. B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "An approximate effective index model for efficient analysis and control of beam propagation effects in photonic crystals," J. Lightwave Technol. 23(3), 1522–1532 (2005). [CrossRef]
18. S. Johnson and J. Joannopoulos, "Block-iterative frequency-domain methods for Maxwell's equations in a planewave basis," Opt. Express 8(3), 173–190 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Adiabatic matching stage for coupling of light to extended Bloch modes of photonic crystals," Appl. Phys. Lett. 87(17), 171104 (2005). [CrossRef]
20. J. Witzens, M. Hochberg, T. Baehr-Jones, and A. Scherer, "Mode matching interface for efficient coupling of light into planar photonic crystals," Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlin. Soft Matter Phys. 69(4), 046609 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. T. Baba and D. Ohsaki, "Interfaces of photonic crystals for high efficiency light transmission," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 40(Part 1, No. 10), 5920–5924 (2001). [CrossRef]
Article Order
E. Yablonovitch, "Photonic band-gap structures," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 10(2), 283–295 (1993).
[Crossref]
S. John, "Strong localization of photons in certain disordered dielectric superlattices," Phys. Rev. Lett. 58(23), 2486–2489 (1987).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
L. Wu, M. Mazilu, T. Karle, and T. F. Krauss, "Superprism phenomena in planar photonic crystals," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38(7), 915–918 (2002).
H. Kosaka, T. Kawashima, A. Tomita, M. Notomi, T. Tamamura, T. Sato, and S. Kawakami, "Superprism phenomena in photonic crystals," Phys. Rev. B 58(16), R10096–R10099 (1998).
T. Baba and T. Matsumoto, "Resolution of photonic crystal superprism," Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(13), 2325–2327 (2002).
B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Systematic design of superprism-based photonic crystal demultiplexers," IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun. 23(7), 1355–1364 (2005).
A. Bakhtazad and A. G. Kirk, "First-band S-vector photonic-crystal superprism demultiplexer design and optimization," J. Lightwave Technol. 25(5), 1322–1333 (2007).
B. Momeni, M. Chamanzar, E. S. Hosseini, M. Askari, M. Soltani, and A. Adibi, "Implementation of high resolution planar wavelength demultiplexers using strong dispersion in photonic crystals," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper CMY3.
D. Bernier, X. Le Roux, A. Lupu, D. Marris-Morini, L. Vivien, and E. Cassan, "Compact, low cross-talk CWDM demultiplexer using photonic crystal superprism," Opt. Express 16(22), 17209–17214 (2008).
T. Matsumoto, S. Fujita, and T. Baba, "Wavelength demultiplexer consisting of Photonic crystal superprism and superlens," Opt. Express 13(26), 10768–10776 (2005).
J. Witzens, T. Baehr-Jones, and A. Scherer, "Hybrid superprism with low insertion losses and suppressed cross-talk," Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlin. Soft Matter Phys. 71(2), 026604 (2005).
B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Preconditioned superprism-based photonic crystal demultiplexers: analysis and design," Appl. Opt. 45(33), 8466–8476 (2006).
B. Momeni, J. Huang, M. Soltani, M. Askari, S. Mohammadi, M. Rakhshandehroo, and A. Adibi, "Compact wavelength demultiplexing using focusing negative index photonic crystal superprisms," Opt. Express 14(6), 2413–2422 (2006).
T. Matsumoto and T. Baba, "Photonic crystal κ-vector superprism," J. Lightwave Technol. 22(3), 917–922 (2004).
C. Luo, M. Soljacić, and J. D. Joannopoulos, "Superprism effect based on phase velocities," Opt. Lett. 29(7), 745–747 (2004).
A. Bakhtazad and A. G. Kirk, "1-D slab photonic crystal k-vector superprism demultiplexer: analysis, and design," Opt. Express 13(14), 5472–5482 (2005).
B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "An approximate effective index model for efficient analysis and control of beam propagation effects in photonic crystals," J. Lightwave Technol. 23(3), 1522–1532 (2005).
S. Johnson and J. Joannopoulos, "Block-iterative frequency-domain methods for Maxwell's equations in a planewave basis," Opt. Express 8(3), 173–190 (2001).
B. Momeni and A. Adibi, "Adiabatic matching stage for coupling of light to extended Bloch modes of photonic crystals," Appl. Phys. Lett. 87(17), 171104 (2005).
J. Witzens, M. Hochberg, T. Baehr-Jones, and A. Scherer, "Mode matching interface for efficient coupling of light into planar photonic crystals," Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlin. Soft Matter Phys. 69(4), 046609 (2004).
T. Baba and D. Ohsaki, "Interfaces of photonic crystals for high efficiency light transmission," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 40(Part 1, No. 10), 5920–5924 (2001).
Adibi, A.
Askari, M.
Baba, T.
Baehr-Jones, T.
Bakhtazad, A.
Bernier, D.
Cassan, E.
Fujita, S.
Hochberg, M.
Huang, J.
Joannopoulos, J.
Joannopoulos, J. D.
John, S.
Johnson, S.
Karle, T.
Kawakami, S.
Kawashima, T.
Kirk, A. G.
Kosaka, H.
Krauss, T. F.
Le Roux, X.
Luo, C.
Lupu, A.
Marris-Morini, D.
Matsumoto, T.
Mazilu, M.
Mohammadi, S.
Momeni, B.
Notomi, M.
Ohsaki, D.
Rakhshandehroo, M.
Sato, T.
Scherer, A.
Soljacic, M.
Soltani, M.
Tamamura, T.
Tomita, A.
Vivien, L.
Witzens, J.
Wu, L.
Yablonovitch, E.
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Table 1 Optimum designs for 100GHZ channel spacing
Equations on this page are rendered with MathJax. Learn more.
(1) L S cos ( θ   S ) × 1  n e 2 , S w S 2 = L P h C | n e 2 , P h C | w P h C 2
(2) w P h C = w 0 cos θ P h C / cos θ 0 w S = w P h C cos θ S / cos θ P h C *
(3) Δ e f f = ( ∂ θ P h C ∂ λ ) Δ X Δ X 1 + | Δ X 22 − Δ X 21 |
(4) L P h C = z 3 K η 3 − H
(5) n e 3 , P h C = 2 3 w P h C ( k 0 d 3 k η d k ζ 3 ) − 1
(6) L P h C = 2 K w P h C 3 Δ e f f ( min ) w P h C 2 − 2 3 H | d 3 k η / d k ζ 3 |
(7) A P h C / C h = 1 2 ( w P h C z 2 L P h C ) L P h C = 4 K 2 w P h C 5 | d 2 k η / d k ζ 2 | ( Δ e f f ( min ) w P h C 2 − 2 3 H | d 3 k η / d k ζ 3 | ) 2
(8) w P h C O p t = 10 3 H Δ e f f ( min ) | d 3 k η / d k ζ 3 |
(9) L P h C O p t = K 125 3 2 Δ 3 e f f ( min ) H | d 3 k η / d k ζ 3 |
(10) A P h C / C h O p t = 25 K 2 4 k 0 n e 2 , P h C 10 3 Δ 5 e f f ( min ) H | d 3 k η / d k ζ 3 |
James Leger, Editor-in-Chief
Optimum designs for 100GHZ channel spacing
Superprism Design
No. of Ch
PhC Length (μm)
Slab Length (mm)
Beam Waist (μm)
PhC Period (nm)
Incident Angle (°)
Compositea 4 220 1.01 8 320 13.5
Compositea 8 760 5.05 11.5 335 15
Preconditioned 4 1400 NAb 17 390 10


Breakups aren't easy whether it be with a girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, or friend. Having someone you trust to chat with to get over the split is tough, let alone a trained professional that has the experience to wade through the situation. Even harder, is coping and finding a resolution to the often distraught feelings that come with a the end of a relationship. At Relationship Hero, our expert breakup coaches in Appleton are here to give you the breakup advice you need.
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None of us can deny the fact that owning a skip today is no longer a luxury. It is a must-have. So, why would you buy or hire a skip? You would do so if you are concerned about how the vicinity around you looks and feels devoid of rubbish. Not only your vicinity but your own house too. In the end, charity begins at home, right. So, if you are one who falls in the above-mentioned category, the best thing to do to get in touch with skip hire Amersham who would give you the perfect reason to get rid of your waste either from your home or anywhere else with utmost simplicity and class.
When you get in touch with skip hire Amersham, the one thing you can be certain is about their unparalleled service. When you order a skip, you will get it delivered right at your doorstep in almost no time. If you are at the office or anywhere else, simply let them know of when you are available and they will deliver the skip promptly at that time. If you need help regarding where you wish to put the skip, they would be more than glad to assist you with that too. Not only this, if you want to pick it up yourself, just let them know of it. All you would need to do is drive to their office and pick it up yourself. Does it not really make life come conveniently for you? We bet it does.
If you go to a certain waste disposal spot and stand in a serpentine queue to dispose of your waste, you are being foolish and wasting your time. This is when you would need to either buy or hire a skip immediately. These skips are large enough to take care of bulky wastes and no longer would you have to use your car to carry trash. When there is a skip at your ready disposal, there is a lot that is taken off your shoulders. You can easily use the skip and not stand in a queue and wait for your turn to come. It is easy, convenient and affordable. So, without waiting any further, get in touch with them along with a quote.
With skip hire Amersham at your service, it is best that you leave all the worries you were dealing with all these years. If you are to speak of benefits, you save time and lots of money. In the end, you sleep with a peace of mind not having to wake up every morning and thinking of how traumatic standing in that queue was!


text:
Forbes India Blogs
From the bookshelves of Forbes India
The Stories Behind Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman's New Book, 'What it Takes'
Schwarzman's autobiography has lessons for entrepreneurs and investors, including how to deal with extreme rejection, written from first-hand experience
By Pooja Sarkar
Updated: Mar 4, 2020 06:20:24 PM UTC
Capital Ideas transcript: Inside the rejig at Avendus, with Ranu Vohra
No incentive for quality in generic drugs world: Katherine Eban
'To be a leader, master a skill': Carlyle's David Rubenstein
'Million dollar question is, what will happen with offices?': Stephen A Schwarzman
Why 'agile' does not mean laying people off, and other myths
Image: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Author: Stephen A Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone
Book: What It Takes
"I want to be a telephone switchboard," says Stephen Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of private equity giant Blackstone Group, in his autobiography, What It Takes. Millennials in this era might wonder what telephone switchboards are. Back in the day, they were designed to take in huge amount of data and re-route information in an organised way (think old movies on wars where women would plug wires into different switches, relaying messages).
Schwarzman tells Forbes India, "I like to think that my mind has worked in a similar fashion. I had the ability to see patterns and connect the dots. This was my idea of how I would build a career at 21, and I am still doing this 50 years later," Scharwzman says.
At 72, Schwarzman still sits through the weekly Monday meetings at 8.30 am IST, when all Blackstone offices across geographies spend an hour discussing private equity, real estate and credit.
The reason for writing an autobiography was simple, Schwarzman tells me. A few years ago, he had to go in for a five-minute courtesy meeting, which turned into a 2.5 hour-conversation. The person on the other end began to ask Schwarzman questions about how he should think about his job, how to make his pool of capital do better and how Blackstone goes about doing things. He wanted to know how to look at investing in different areas because he wanted to achieve 'Blackstone type of results'.
So, Schwarzman decided he could write a book and share the knowledge he had with everyone. "Then I don't have to spend 2.5 hours talking to each of them," he laughs. "This would be more efficient."
The book details his life story—from growing up in Philadelphia, to going to Harvard Business School and almost deciding to quit; then insisting to be paid $10,500 dollars at his first job at DLJ, after he left business school. He also discusses his mother's influence in his life, his philanthropic endeavors and his love for music.
What it Takes also touches upon the 80s era of leveraged buyouts, Schwarzman's first investment banking deal, and successfully closing his $488 million deal at age 30, sealing a promotion to partner at Lehman Brothers. The financial crisis of 2008 is detailed too, and how his wife insisted he should call Hank Paulson before coming home.
Schwarzman went on to become one of the most sought-after investment bankers in the US, while working for the erstwhile Lehman Brothers. He finally decided to set up his own shop with his partner Pete Peterson, with whom he had worked before. Peterson had run Lehman Brothers, one of the largest investment banking firms in the world in those days.
On the first day, they sent out some 400 emails to friends and old clients announcing their firm; while the phones kept ringing to offer congratulatory messages, no one was deploying capital. This is not what Schwarzman was hoping for.
"As investors, we did not have any direct experience, so it was very difficult. No one wanted to see us. In fact, we had commitments from only two firms, and those were contingent of us raising $500 million; the money we had from those two was in total $75 million. With nothing else, it was almost equivalent to raising nothing," Schwarzman recalls.
The 18th firm they met turned out to be the lucky charm: Prudential, one of the largest insurance firms in the 1980s, was also one of the largest deployers of capital in private equity. Over a tuna sandwich-lunch at Prudential's New Jersey office, the fund manager wrote them a cheque of $100 million. That's when Schwarzman knew there won't be any looking back.
"In 1986, $100 million was a huge number. When they backed us, other people came in—it was their credibility rather than ours that helped us raise $850 million, the largest first-time fund in history, and the third biggest in the world. Without Prudential's support, that never would have happened," Schwarzman says.
The book has lessons for those starting afresh too.
"Every normal person doubts themselves at some point, but you just have to get over it and pick yourself up. During the fund raise, we got just one investor for every 17 we approached, so you can imagine the rejection we felt," he says. "In many cases, this was by people we knew and knew well—it was very defeating, but you just have to keep going. We got through it, of course, but there's a psychological pain you sustain when you start something. When you think the world is ready for you but it isn't—this journey is part of what it takes to be successful."
🔊 Listen to the detailed conversation here
The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.
Stephen A Schwarzman
Trucking through India: Stories of sex, drugs and the highway economy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Loading a class by its name MyClass.class - is this possible? It is possible to load a class given a String and its name? ie "MyClass.class"
Further, is it possible to pass parameters to the constructor using this method?

A: Have a look at Construct Object using class name.
Key methods being forName() and newInstance().

A: Yes, look up the Reflection API.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Why can't an energy level exist containing 0.9 electron wave wavelengths? Why must it be a whole number? So, I was reading Atom: Journey Across The Subatomic Cosmos by Isaac Asimov in order to better understand quantum mechanics when I came across this sentence:

The electron couldn't spiral into the proton because it couldn't take up an orbit with a length less than a single wave.

I was wondering why that is? Why can't an electron not have non-whole number wavelengths in atomic energy levels?

A: That idea came from the Bohr theory of the atom. It's good enough for the main hydrogen spectral lines. But in general and to be accurate (except for relativistic effects) you have to solve the Schrodinger equation.
For the Bohr model, Bohr hypothesized a way to get quantized orbits. He postulated a quantized angular momentum as integer multiples of h/2, which led to the quantized values of energy and the discrete orbital shells.
This was later reinterpreted by deBroglie as electrons being matter waves; the idea was relatively simple but revolutionary. Assume the electrons are wavelike, and only if they create standing waves as they orbit can they be stable. Otherwise the wave in one cycle will interfere negatively with the next cycle and so on. That gives you the idea that the orbits have to be integer multiples of the wavelength. From that you get everything else in the Bohr atom. See the Bohr model, with also the deBroglie interpretation, of the atom explained more at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohr_model
Those started the idea of atomic orbits being quantized. It started with Bohr in 1913 simply hypothesizing that angular momentum came in half integer multiples of h. For deBroglie around 1924 it was that n times the wavelength is $2\pi r$, in deBroglie's model that led to the momentum (which equals h/$\lambda$) being quantized. From either one the energy levels are also quantized.
It takes the Schrodinger equation to solve for the wave functions and energy levels of stationary orbits. Other solutions are not stationary. The ones that are are so called eigenstates of the energy, which is conserved.


2018 Toyota 86 GT. As you may understand, Scion F-S was initially introduced for the 2012 design year in Canada and the United States. Because of the cooperation between Toyota and Subaru, it has also been launched worldwide as Subaru has emerged. A bit of information that may be unknown is that in Asia, South Africa, South America and Australia, Scion F-S was actually launched as a Toyota 86. Now that Scion disappears, the 2017 Scion F-S will be taken in Toyota and the Toyota 86.
The 2018 Toyota 86 GT will feature a very compact and modern exterior. The body will ride low to the ground that aims to improve the kug and then handle it. Most of the changes will be centered on the front and back fascias. The front will feature a redesigned bumper that looks more aggressive. The bottom of the bumper is combined with large air vents. The front also features redesigned fog lights. Both headlamps and tail lights will also feature LED lighting.
The rear bumper has also been redesigned. The publisher will also be edited. According to our spy shots, the publisher who sits on top of the trunk lid looks a little wider. There are also larger double exhaust pipes. The interior of the 2018 Toyota 86 GT will be similar to that of the North American twin-ferr. As of this writing, the details are still meager.
However, from spy shots in our possession and information from reliable sources, we understand that the cabin will remain reliable similar to the outgoing model. The cabin will accommodate four passengers in 2 + 2 style. While the driver and front passenger will enjoy enough head and leg, the space at the back is fairly restricted. The sports car also provides a small trunk that can accommodate only 6. 9 cubic feet of cargo but can be expanded by splitting the rear seats.
Other features include an adjustable driver seat, steering wheel tilt and telescopic covered skin, a 7-inch entertainment information system (a pocketbook system that integrates Bluetooth connectivity, navigation system and smart phone applications are offered as an option). The coupe will also feature a rearview camera, speed control, voice recognition, automatic headlights, radio HD, USB port, auxiliary jack and full power accessories and others.
We do not expect Toyota to make any changes under the hood of the 2018 Toyota 86 GT. The car will still feature a 2.0-liter, 4-turbo that delivers 197 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. There are some sources claiming that the engine will be tweaked to produce more than 200 horses.
It will be combined with a 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed automatic transmission. The current engine accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds with manual transmission and a slow 8.2 seconds when combined with an automatic system. The car has a top speed of up to 140 miles per hour.
Trader galleries are expected to arrive in mid-2017. As for the price, the Japanese car industry is still tight. However, according to speculation, the 2018 Toyota 86 GT with manual will cost about $27,000 with models with automatic transmission about $1000 more.
Signing up with the Toyota 86 on the floor of the program will be the Toyota C-HER concept, which debuted its debut in Canada at the world-class beauty salon de Car in Quebec. More information on technical requirements for C-HR will be readily available when debut in North American production variations later this year. The car goes on sale in spring 2017 as the 2018 design.


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On entry, be impressed with the clever design that separates the dining and living areas yet still creates the feeling of space and open design. The sizeable dining room which can easily fit a 7-piece setting is adjoined by the functional kitchen including ample storage, bench space and dishwasher. For those still wanting outdoor space, the good size paved court yard will be great for entertaining or summer BBQ's. Still with room for the avid gardener to add raised garden beds or their own floral masterpiece.
On the entry level, the main bedroom is well sized with four mirrored door built in robes and additional potential to create a reading corner or study nook. The second bedroom situated upstairs is also generous in size with great built in robes and access to amble roof storage. The large bathroom which contains a free-standing bath, shower and toilet is also home to the laundry and offers plenty of cupboard space. As you will see, one of the greatest features to this property was the thought given and applied to storage.
With a new hot water system, garden shed, NBN ready, commercial grade carpet and parking for two cars, all at a convenient location, this property will be sure to please.
This is a rare find so please contact Warwick for more information.
"We have obtained all information in this document from sources we believe to be reliable; however, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Prospective purchasers are advised to carry out their own investigations".
Warwick commenced in Real Estate in 2009 when as a golf professional, was approached by a golf club member with an offer to join his Real Estate sales team. Amassing 40 sales in his first year enlightened him to the challenges and demands that sellers are confronted with in order to sell a property and achieve a maximum price. Combine this with a commitment and knowledge of customer service enables him to deliver a personal service guarantee.
Since that first year in Real Estate Warwick progressed in Marketing and Sales, working for some of Australia's largest companies, including Sensis, KPMG and more relevant Realstate.com.au and Domain.com.au. It is within these roles that Warwick has worked with over 400 Real Estate agencies and more than 1000 agents advising them on the best ways to invest every advertising dollar to reach maximum sale prices for their clients. This has given him unrivalled experience insight into how the best agents around the country operate and is now looking forward to offering you the benefit of this extensive experience.
On a lighter side Warwick also runs a busy house with his wife Catherine (Cat) and three kids under 6, Indi, Angus and Hugo. Passionate about sport especially golf and Football don't be surprised if Warwick has his Essendon jersey underneath a suit at the odd Saturday open home.


text:
Amnesty International UK / Blogs
Countdown for China
[CHRB] Chinese Court Set to Put Anti-Corruption Activists on Trial (7/5-11, 2013)
Posted 11 Jul 2013, 9:36am By Shao Jiang
China Human Rights Briefing
Arbitrary Detention
First Trial Set To Open for Anti-Corruption Activists; One More Criminally Detained
Advocate for Demolition Victims Arrested in Hunan Province
Tibetans Attacked, Injured While Celebrating Dalai Lama's Birthday, Government "Policy Shift" on Religious Leader Open to Question
The trial of three activists from Jiangxi Province is scheduled to open on July 18, the first cases to be heard of those detained in the crackdown on anti-corruption campaigners.The activists—Liu Ping (刘萍), Li Sihua (李思华), and Wei Zhongping (魏忠平)—were formally arrested on June 4 on charges of "illegal assembly." They were initially detained for "inciting subversion of state power" in late April. Seven other Xinyu activists taken into custody around the same time were later released. Liu and Wei are being held at Xinyu City Detention Center, and Li is detained at Fenyi County Detention Center.
Including activists in Beijing and Hubei Province, the three in Jiangxi are among 15 activists who have been arrested in the past two months after calling for disclosure of top Chinese officials' assets. At least three more individuals have been criminal detained, including most recently Zhang Xiangzhong (张向忠) of Shandong Province, who was seized on July 2 in Beijing. National security officers took Zhang and two others into custody that day after they had left money for arrested anti-corruption activists at Beijing No. 3 Detention Center. Zhang fell out of contact after being questioned. On July 8, family members who went to look for him learned that Zhang had been criminally detained. He is being held at the Beijing No. 3 Detention Center. Police have said that his case has been "secretly handled," and Zhang's family has not received any notification of his detention, and the charge he faces is unconfirmed.Like the activists whom he tried to assist, Zhang had joined in the drive for transparency over officials' wealth.i
Huan Tiejun (浣铁军) of Hunan Province was arrested on July 9 on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order" and "extortion" in likely reprisal for advocating for the rights of victims of forced demolitions. From Changsha, Huan was taken into custody on June 1, and initially faced only an "extortion" charge. Lawyer Zhu Xiaoding (朱孝顶), who has met with Huan at Changsha City No. 1 Detention Center, said that the "evidence" of alleged extortion against Huan consists of a text message he sent to the Party secretary of Yuelu District, asking when he would be compensated for the demolition of his home while also alluding to a rumor that the official owns a luxury vehicle. The other criminal charge apparently stems from a gathering that demolition victims held on the traditional Lantern Festival in February. From that instance, authorities accused Zhu of organizing a class to spread knowledge about law. In the past, Huan was detained for nine days as punishment for presenting a banner with the mocking words "Vanguard Unit in Intercepting Petitioners" to Changsha officials.ii
Armed police in Sichuan Province seriously injured several Tibetans who had gathered on July 6 to celebrate the 78th birthday of the Dalai Lama, with at least nine Tibetans sustaining gunshot wounds in the attack, according to TCHRD. Tibetans in Tawu County in Ganzi (Tibetan: Kardze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were burning incense, hanging prayer flags, and making offerings in front of the Dalai Lama's portrait when armed police arrived and surrounded the group. The crowd reportedly tried to negotiate with the police to avert a violent confrontation. Police eventually opened fire on the crowd, and also tossed teargas shells to disperse the celebrants and beat some of the Tibetans, injuring many monks, nuns, and lay people.
The violence raises questions about the Chinese government's supposed policy change regarding the Dalai Lama, which has received a great deal of media attention. According to verbal orders issued by authorities in Sichuan and Qinghai, monks and nuns in some monasteries are now said to be allowed to display the Dalai Lama's portrait and worship him as a religious figure. But such a change has not been distributed in written form, and on June 28, China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, which regulates recognized religions in the country, denied any reversal of its longstanding policy on the Dalai Lama.
In September 2012, a public notice issued in Huangnan (Malho) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province called for a strict ban on the sale of Dalai Lama's photos. And since December 2012, the Chinese government has implemented a regulation in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and all other Tibetan areas that gives Communist Party organs and authorities the power to appoint Buddhist religious instructors. The instructor candidates should meet credentials that would only continue to oppress Tibetans, such as supporting the leadership of the Party, "safeguarding national unity," and "upholding religious and social harmony." According to TCHRD, this policy will ultimately decrease the number of qualified Buddhist teachers and further diminish the transmission of Tibetan Buddhist culture and language.iii
i"Zhang Xianghong Criminally Detained After Bringing Money to Arrested Activists" (为良心犯存钱的民主人士张向忠已被刑事拘留), July 8, 2013, WQW; "Several Activists Suppressed" (多名维权人士遭打压), July 8, 2013, RFA; "Activist Liu Ping Trial to Open on July 18 on Charge of 'Illegal Assembly'" (特别关注:维权人士刘萍"非法集会罪"一案将于本月18日开庭), July 5, 2013, WQW
ii"Huan Tiejun Arrested, Had Sent "Vanguard Unit in Intercepting Petitioners' Banner to Government" (为政府送"截访先进单位"锦旗的浣铁军被逮捕), July 11, 2013, WQW
iii"Tibetans in critical condition after Chinese armed police shoot into crowd celebrating Dalai Lama's birthday," July 9, 2013, TCHRD; "China implements measures to appoint political monks in guise of spiritual teachers," July 5, 2013, TCHRD
About Amnesty UK Blogs
Our blogs are written by Amnesty International staff, volunteers and other interested individuals, to encourage debate around human rights issues. They do not necessarily represent the views of Amnesty International.
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Posted 11 Jul 2013, 9:36am
By Shao Jiang


text:
David L. Tulloch is an associate professor of Landscape Architecture at Rutgers University. He is known for his research and involvement with PPGIS and Institutional GIS.  Dr. Tulloch maintains the high-profile blog, Places and Spaces  He is not related to Bitsie Tulloch.

Notes

University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
American landscape architects
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The girls' section has always been stuffed full of "Love" shirts, and we think that is awesome, because what is better than love? But why don't the boys ever get any love-themed onesies or shirts? We decided to put a little twist on it and send a message that love can be powerful and masculine - maybe even a superpower. Because it really is, isn't it? Designed with boys in mind, this onesie has been a big hit with girls as well, and we love it on all kids.


text:
package com.litle.sdk;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;

import org.junit.BeforeClass;
import org.junit.Test;

import com.litle.sdk.generate.UpdateCardValidationNumOnToken;
import com.litle.sdk.generate.UpdateCardValidationNumOnTokenResponse;

public class TestUpdateCardValidationNumOnToken {

	private static LitleOnline litle;

	@BeforeClass
	public static void beforeClass() throws Exception {
		litle = new LitleOnline();
	}

	@Test
	public void simple() throws Exception {
		UpdateCardValidationNumOnToken update = new UpdateCardValidationNumOnToken();
		update.setLitleToken("1111222233334444");
		update.setCardValidationNum("123");

		UpdateCardValidationNumOnTokenResponse response = litle.updateCardValidationNumOnToken(update);
		assertEquals(response.getMessage(), "805",response.getResponse());
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
require 'rails_helper'

describe Admin::PageViewsController, type: :request do
  let(:admin) { create :admin }
  let(:member) { create :member }

  describe 'GET admin_page_views_path' do
    context 'as guest' do
      before { get admin_page_views_path }

      specify { expect(response).to redirect_to new_account_session_path }
    end

    context 'as member' do
      before do
        login_as member
        get admin_page_views_path
      end

      specify { expect(response).to redirect_to root_path }
    end

    context 'as admin' do
      before do
        login_as admin
        get admin_page_views_path
      end

      specify { expect(response).to be_successful }
    end
  end
end


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Since a non-stick surface requires no oil, one benefit is the lesser fat in food. When fat is cut down or reduced, hundreds calories will likely be saved meaning better health. Although we need fat or oil within our body, the tendency of employing more oil than necessary to ensure food doesn't stick to traditional cookware can lead to which is not these calories which affect your body inside a negative way. Even with lower calorie foods, cooking them in extra fat takes away from the healthy qualities of food. So to deliver low-fat cooking, a non-stick pan is good.
Power – Of course, if you want a fast cooking countertop microwave, you need to get unit that's more powerful. Want faster cooking times? You may want to look at a microwave that runs on 1300 watts. The standard is really 800 watts that are the types which might be used in the majority of the recipes that you see in books and magazines. You have to be careful thought as if you happen to be conscious about the amount power you're using, you simply must buy one with less wattage. This is in order to conserve more energy and assistance with the power crisis how the world appears to be experiencing nowadays.
This and of course the money motive are already the driving forces inside the healthier menu movement on a lot more free soul food recipe websites. More recipe publishers are beginning to realize they will have to adjust to this movement or perhaps left out. The primary changes happening might be healthier ingredients. Healthier seasonings which are holistic. For example, herbs like rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, fresh garlic, basil and more.
I Don't Want To Spend This Much Time On Do Microwaves Cook From The Inside Out. How About You?


The bluetooth class represents the Bluetooth sub-system integrated into the imp004m module. Attempting to access bluetooth instances and methods on any other imp module will throw an error.
Unlike other imp API entities, bluetooth is a class rather than an automatically instantiated object, so you will work with instances returned by the open() method. The class is accessed as a property of the hardware object.
The imp004m's Bluetooth sub-system supports Bluetooth 4.1. The standard's Core Specifications can be downloaded from the Bluetooth SIG here.
When a device's Squirrel VM is suspended, no new callbacks (for Bluetooth or for any other reason) can be executed until the VM is resumed. When this happens, the whole Bluetooth stack is paused so that it does not cause new events requiring Squirrel execution. This can mean that any in-progress operations will be paused, and may cause large latency spikes in Bluetooth operations — even ones which don't require Squirrel execution.
In addition, GATT read and write callbacks are called in a context where suspending is not possible. Therefore, if any operation that suspends the VM occurs within these callbacks, a Squirrel error will be raised.
With these two factors in mind, it is strongly recommended that the RETURN_ON_ERROR send timeout policy is selected as the first line in Squirrel that uses Bluetooth features.
For information on setting up the imp004m Breakout Board for Bluetooth LE operation, please see this developer guide.
The required Bluetooth LE firmware is available as a Squirrel file stub here.


text:
Manfred Alonso Ugalde Arce (Barva, Heredia, Costa Rica, 25 de mayo de 2002) es un futbolista costarricense que juega como delantero en el Football Club Twente de la Eredivisie.

Trayectoria

Inicios
Proveniente de Barva de Heredia, Manfred estudió en el Colegio Rodrigo Hernández donde tuvo como profesor de educación física al exfutbolista Juan Carlos Arguedas, formando parte de la selección de la institución que quedó campeón en la provincia, esto por los Juegos Estudiantiles. Después de la final disputada en el Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Saprissa contra el Liceo de Belén, los visores del cuadro morado se interesaron en él para formarlo. Ugalde, de catorce años, pertenecía en ese momento a la categoría de prospectos del Herediano, pero el club posteriormente se desprendió de su ficha. El jugador fue reclutado en Saprissa por el exfutbolista Carlos Santana y destacó entre sus compañeros por sus movimientos y características hasta ser promovido al plantel principal.

Deportivo Saprissa
Jugó su primer partido oficial con el equipo absoluto del Deportivo Saprissa el 13 de enero de 2019, en el que enfrentó como local a Limón. Ugalde recibió la confianza del entrenador Vladimir Quesada y realizó su ingreso al minuto 79' por Randy Chirino. En su debut a los dieciséis años con siete meses, pudo marcar un gol de cabeza en el epílogo del tiempo que salvó el empate de su club por 2-2. De esta manera se convirtió en el segundo jugador más joven en anotar con Saprissa, por detrás de Jorge Hernán Monge quien hizo su primer tanto con dieciséis años y catorce días en 1954. Durante el Torneo de Clausura, alcanzó siete apariciones y el 15 de mayo se conformó con el subcampeonato tras perder la final por goles fuera de casa contra San Carlos, donde su equipo fue dirigido por Walter Centeno.

Su segunda competencia, el Torneo de Apertura 2019, la empieza perdiendo por la mínima 1-0 contra San Carlos, partido que fue titular en la totalidad de los minutos. El 24 de julio convierte sus primeros dos goles de la temporada sobre Pérez Zeledón, en la victoria por 3-0. El 31 de julio debuta en certamen continental de la Liga Concacaf por la ida de la ronda preliminar frente al Belmopan Bandits de Belice. En este juego marcó un doblete para el triunfo por 1-3 en condición de visita. Manfred estableció el récord de ser el futbolista más joven en anotar en la historia del torneo, superando con diecisiete años y tres meses al también costarricense Pablo Arboine, quien había marcado a los veinte años y cuatro meses. El 7 de agosto concretó de penal ante el conjunto beliceño que terminó por sentenciar la serie y el pase a la ronda eliminatoria. En la quinta jornada de liga, de clásico contra Alajuelense jugado en el Estadio Morera Soto, vendría la gran polémica de la temporada, pues, muerde al defensa del equipo local Júnior Díaz en una acción del partido en el minuto 87'. Dado que el hecho no fue percibido por el árbitro, el Tribunal Disciplinario de la Federación Costarricense de Fútbol, apoyado en el video de la televisora, decidió sancionar a Ugalde por dos compromisos ante Jicaral y el Cartaginés. Además debió abonar una multa de ciento veinticinco mil colones. Regresó el 25 de agosto en el empate 1-1 contra Limón. En la siguiente fecha del 8 de septiembre, volvió a concretar un doblete siendo esta vez sobre Grecia en el Estadio Nacional, juego que culminó en victoria por 0-6. A partir del 16 de septiembre, Manfred viajó al continente europeo para efectuar pasantías en los equipos del Benfica de Portugal y Atlético de Madrid de España. Entrenó por un periodo de quince días en las divisiones menores del club portugués y del Udinese de Italia, ya que el equipo español acordó aplazar su prueba cuando cumpliera la mayoría de edad. El 16 de octubre concretó un gol ante el Cartaginés, partido que terminaría a favor de los morados por 1-2. El 21 de octubre se destapó con el primer «hat-trick» o triplete de su carrera tras anotarle a Limón a los minutos 33', 45' y 51'. Sus tres goles le permitieron imponer la marca de ser el jugador más joven del cuadro saprissista que logra esa cantidad de anotaciones en los últimos treinta años. El 31 de octubre, en la semifinal de vuelta de Liga Concacaf contra el Olimpia de Honduras, consiguió el tanto que suponía el 1-0, siendo decisivo para que Saprissa remontase la serie con marcador de 4-1 luego de haber perdido la ida por dos goles de diferencia. En la decimoséptima fecha de liga, de reposición frente a Jicaral, Ugalde fue autor en uno de los tantos al minuto 80' para la victoria por 2-5. El 26 de noviembre se proclama campeón del torneo continental tras vencer en la final al Motagua de Honduras. En la entrega de los premios individuales, Ugalde fue galardonado con la distinción de mejor jugador joven. Terminó su participación en el certamen nacional el 1 de diciembre, con la caída de su equipo en semifinales ante el Herediano. Obtuvo dieciocho apariciones con nueve tantos y puso tres asistencias.

Juega la primera jornada del Torneo de Clausura 2020 el 11 de enero, donde fue titular frente a San Carlos por 80' minutos y salió de cambio por Jean Carlo Agüero en la victoria de visita 0-1. En la tercera fecha concretó un gol sobre el Cartaginés al minuto 56', que ponía el empate transitorio de 1-1. Su club ganó el juego por 1-2. El 26 de enero consiguió su segunda anotación del torneo frente al Herediano en condición de visita. El 9 de febrero, en el clásico contra Alajuelense en el Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, visores del PSV Eindhoven, Beşiktaş y un club de Inglaterra llegaron a observar las cualidades del jugador. Sin embargo, la visoría fue opacada luego de salir expulsado al minuto 8' por dar un balonazo al rival Alexander López. Posteriormente recibió una sanción de cuatro partidos y una multa de doscientos cincuenta mil colones. Durante el periodo suspendido, aprovechó para viajar a Bélgica y realizó una pasantía en el Club Brujas. El 3 de junio se reencontró con el gol tras anotarle a Jicaral. El 29 de junio alcanzó su primer título nacional con Saprissa, luego de superar la serie final del campeonato sobre Alajuelense. El jugador obtuvo diecisiete apariciones, colaboró con tres tantos y puso dos asistencias. El 6 de julio se confirmó su venta al City Football Group, entidad que tiene vínculo con equipos en diferentes partes del mundo. El monto de la transferencia sería de alrededor un millón de dólares.

Lommel S. K.
El 14 de julio de 2020, se oficializa su incorporación al Lommel de Bélgica.

Hizo su debut en la Segunda División belga el 24 de agosto de 2020, por el inicio del torneo de liga contra el Seraing en el Soevereinstadion. Ugalde, con la dorsal «15», entró de cambio por Anass Zaroury y disputó los últimos veintiún minutos de la derrota por 3-5. Convirtió su primer gol de la campaña el 30 de agosto sobre el Club NXT, para salvar el empate de 2-2 al minuto 84'. El 11 de septiembre anotó el tanto para el empate transitorio 1-1 ante el Lierse, donde su equipo terminó triunfando por 3-2. Siguió su buen momento goleador el 27 de septiembre, al marcarle al Deinze en la derrota de local por 1-2. Para la novena y décima jornada, Manfred le anotó nuevamente al Lierse y Club NXT, de forma respectiva y presentándose resultados favorables para su equipo por 3-1. El 29 de noviembre hizo su primer doblete a los minutos 50' y 70' para la victoria por goleada 4-0 ante el Molenbeek. El 24 de enero de 2021 consiguió otro gol sobre el conjunto de Molenbeek. El 29 de enero materializó tres anotaciones de cabeza contra el Deinze. Terminó la temporada con veintidós apariciones, alcanzó once goles y colocó tres asistencias. Su equipo quedó de tercero en la tabla y no pudo alcanzar puestos de ascenso.

F. C. Twente
El 25 de junio de 2021, el F.C Twente de los Países Bajos anunció de forma oficial el fichaje de Ugalde, quien llegó al club en condición de préstamo. El 14 de agosto de 2021 jugó su primer partido oficial contra el Fortuna Sittard de la liga Eredivisie, perdiendo 2-1, Manfred Ugalde jugó 7 minutos. El 1 de octubre de 2021 realizó su su primera anotación con el F.C Twente contra el F.C Groningen al minuto 74' dando por finalizado el empate 1-1.

El 15 de diciembre del 2021, ingresó desde el banco de suplencia para disputar un partido de la Copa de los Países Bajos, entró de cambio desde el minuto 61' mientras el marcador estaba 1-1, al completar los 90' minutos oficiales del partido se jugó la prórroga, Manfred anotó el segundo gol para su equipo al minuto 114' dándole la victoria 2-1 avanzando a la tercera fase de la Copa de los Países Bajos. El 19 de enero de 2022 Manfred jugó la tercera fase junto a su equipo el F.C Twente contra el AZ Alkmaar, ingresó al minuto 45 jugando todo el segundo tiempo, dado por finalizado el compromiso, el Twente cayó derrotado en el marcador 1-2, concluyendo su participación en la Copa de los Países Bajos en tercera fase.

El 7 de agosto de 2022, el F.C Twente inició la Eredivisie, Manfred con una excelente pre-temporada destacada con su equipo fue alineado como jugador titular en el primer partido de la Eredivisie contra el NEC Nimega, Ugalde disputó 81 minutos del encuentro, terminado el partido, el F.C Twente vencía ante el NEC Nimega 1-0.

El 25 de agosto de 2022, Ugalde debutó en los Play-off de la Europa League 2, ingresando al terreno de juego al minuto 81 contra ACF Fiorentina, el partido finalizó 0-0, mientras en el marcador global, el ACF Fiorentina eliminaba al F.C Twente con el marcador 1-2.

Selección nacional

Categorías inferiores
El 23 de abril de 2019, Ugalde fue convocado a la Selección Sub-17 de Costa Rica del técnico Cristian Salomón, para disputar el Campeonato de la Concacaf de la categoría. En los tres partidos de la fase de grupos, Manfred fue protagonista de marcar un gol en cada uno de ellos, sobre los rivales de Panamá (2-2), Curazao (0-3) y Surinam (0-6). El 9 de mayo su selección venció a Nicaragua por 2-1 en los octavos de final, pero tres días después cayó en penales frente a Canadá, por lo que se quedó sin la oportunidad de asistir al Mundial de Brasil de ese año.

El 10 de marzo de 2021, Ugalde fue incluido en la lista final del entrenador Douglas Sequeira, para enfrentar el Preolímpico de Concacaf con la Selección Sub-23 de Costa Rica. Debutó el 18 de marzo como titular frente a Estados Unidos en el Estadio Jalisco, encuentro donde se dio la derrota por 1-0. Tres días después jugó los últimos diecisiete minutos de la pérdida ante México (3-0). Este resultado dejó fuera a la selección costarricense de optar por un boleto a los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio. El 24 de marzo concretó su primer gol del torneo para el triunfo de trámite por 5-0 sobre República Dominicana.

Participaciones en juveniles

Selección absoluta
El 23 de enero de 2020, entró por primera vez en la nómina de la Selección de Costa Rica, dirigida por Ronald González, con el motivo de efectuar un fogueo en fecha no FIFA. El 1 de febrero se dio el juego frente a Estados Unidos (derrota 1-0) en el Dignity Health Sports Park. Ugalde hizo su debut internacional tras ingresar de cambio al minuto 77' por Marco Ureña, utilizando la dorsal «9». Su debut a los diecisiete años y ocho meses significó el segundo más joven en la historia de la selección, donde sobrepasó el de Rónald Gómez y Rolando Fonseca, pero siendo superado por el de Jorge Hernán Monge quien había iniciado a los diecisiete años con cuatro meses.

El 26 de agosto de 2021, Ugalde fue llamado por Luis Fernando Suárez para iniciar la eliminatoria de Concacaf hacia la Copa del Mundo. El 2 de septiembre de 2021 debutó en la Clasificación para la Copa Mundial de 2022 contra Panamá, alineado como titular con el dorsal 9, disputó 61 minutos en el empate 0-0. El 28 de septiembre de 2021, Ugalde manifestó una publicación en sus redes sociales, su renuncia a la selección de Costa Rica, debido a las declaraciones del técnico Luis Fernando Suárez en conferencia de prensa, manifestado al no haber convocado a Manfred al partido eliminatorio contra Jamaica.

Participaciones en eliminatorias

Estadísticas

Clubes
 Actualizado al último partido jugado el .

{| class="wikitable center" style="text-align: center"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Club
! rowspan=2 | Div.
! rowspan=2 | Temporada
! colspan=3 | Liga
! colspan=3 | Copasnacionales
! colspan=3 | Copasinternacionales
! colspan=3 | Total
|-
! Part.
! Goles
! Asist.
! Part.
! Goles
! Asist.
! Part.
! Goles
! Asist.
! Part.
! Goles
! Asist.
|-
| rowspan=4 | Deportivo Saprissa
|-
| rowspan=3| 1.ª
| 2018-19 || |7||1||0||colspan=3|—||colspan=3|—||7||1||0
|-
| 2019-20 || |35||12||10||colspan=3|—||10||4||0||45||16||10
|-
! colspan=0 |Total club !! 42 !! 13 !! 10 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 10 !! 4 !! 0 !! 52 !! 17 !! 10
|-
| rowspan=3 | Lommel SK
|-
| rowspan=1 | 2.ª
| 2020-21 || |22||11||3||1||0||0||colspan=3|—||23||11||3
|-
! colspan=2 | Total club !! 22 !! 11 !! 3 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 23 !! 11 !! 3
|-
| rowspan=4 | F.C Twente
|-
| rowspan=3| 1.ª
| 2021-22 || |25||3||2||3||1||0||colspan=3|—||28||4||2
|-
| 2022-23 || |15||2||0||2||0||1||1||0||0||18||2||1
|-
! colspan=1 |Total club !! 40 !! 5 !! 2 !! 4 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 46 !! 6 !! 3
|-
! colspan=3 | Total carrera !! 104 !! 29 !! 15 !! 5 !! 1 !! 1 !! 11 !! 4 !! 0 !! 121 !! 34 !! 16
|-
| colspan=16 align=left |

<center><small>Fuente:Transfermarkt
|}

 Selección de Costa Rica
 Actualizado al último partido jugado el .''

Palmarés

Títulos nacionales

Títulos internacionales

Distinciones individuales

Referencias

Enlaces externos

 Ficha de Manfred Ugalde en FootballDatabase

Futbolistas de Costa Rica
Futbolistas del Deportivo Saprissa
Futbolistas del Deportivo Saprissa en los años 2010
Futbolistas del Deportivo Saprissa en los años 2020
Futbolistas del United Overpelt-Lommel
Futbolistas del Football Club Twente
Futbolistas de la selección de fútbol de Costa Rica


text:
Kristi Wysocki: "The Death of a Horse Show - Not a Sweet Dream"
Guest columnist of this week is Kristi Wysocki, American FEI 4* Dressage Judge, FEI 5* Para Dressage Judge, a dressage Sport Horse Judge, instructor, and consultant.
Wysocki publishing the following column on her Facebook page in response to the cancellation of the 2020 USDF Dressage Finals.
The Death of a Horse Show - Not a Sweet Dream
Yes, the 2020 USDF Dressage Final is the latest victim of Covid 19. But this final is not the most important victim of this invisible enemy. Let us not forget that yes many horse shows have been lost in 2020, but how do those losses even compare or deserve recognition relative to the human lives lost in 2020.
Chapter 1: Decisions, decisions
Sadly this last week, the President of USDF announced that the 2020 US Dressage Finals to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in November is cancelled. Disappointment is expected, but certainly surprise nor anger should be expected.
But as is the current trend of social media society, the angry, sometimes mean statements and demands being written on facebook have been rampant. The public social media "attacks" aimed at the USDF Executive Board and staff are astounding.
The 2020 Olympics were cancelled and nobody got angry, nobody demanded the IOC find another location, that they were being unrealistic. Everybody realized that it just wasn't going to work. There are athletes, not just in dressage, but in many different sports that won't make it to the Olympics because of the delay. On the other hand, there are rising stars that will make it to the Olympics because of the delay. These are the ups and downs of real life.
Chapter 2: Roles People Play
The USDF Executive Board and Staff along with many other individuals don't ever just decide they don't want to do something. They deserve more credit than that. Imagine how many hours the decision regarding the Finals was discussed; the issues, problems, risks involved in going forward with the show vs. cancelling. Imagine that after the decision was made - did any of them sleep the first night after they finally gave into a vote and made their decision; some of them still might not be sleeping. Perhaps appreciate that the decision was not last minute. It was not made after people and horses were already on the road. It could not have been easy, but that is why they make "the big bucks" to take on problems and make decisions that are not easy and sometimes not popular.
Chapter 3: Armchair Quarterbacks
Now the FB and (probably) other social media platforms full on attack has begun. Excuse me while I digress but why manners, dignity, human kindness, honor, logic are not considered requirements when speaking on FB is beyond me. Yikes people. Listen to what you are writing. Are you saying it out loud before you hit send? Would you use the tone, the words, the demands, the accusations to these people's faces that you have in writing behind a door, in a dark room with only a computer screen or smartphome lit up for light, a 1000 miles away - on these platforms?!?
Chapter 4: Glamorous Job
Do you remember these people are volunteers that didn't sign up for the "Board of Covid Dressage". Do you realize that they got a 0% pay raise on the $0 dollars they are paid to probably increase the time they have spent to help our sport by 5 maybe even 10 fold in the year 2020 and there is no end in sight. Do you realize that the easy route would have been for them to say "No recognized shows 2020. It's not USDF's problem." But no - they didn't give up, against all odds they have facilitated as many opportunities as they could for as many riders to have a shot at USDF recognized competition as possible in 2020. Did everybody get to play - no. But more did than anyone would have guessed 6 months ago. Look at how many wins there have been when there looked to be only losses just 6 months ago.
The glass is more than half full. Yet when seeing some of the comments on FB you'd think there was no glass, much less half empty.
Chapter 5: sympathy Card
So sorry that if you qualified for Finals that you have to wait till 2021 to go. So sorry if you chose to go to a different regional final that IS holding the show and does have significant expenses based on the entries they received that you don't get a refund. Just eight short years ago there were no National Finals. Regionals was the goal. Why is that now considered less than awesome?
Completely Devastated and heartbroken that people (that even those complaining might know) have lost their loved ones forever and our spoiled society of Instant gratification is too caught up in themselves to care. Perhaps a fund raising campaign for the families that lost loved ones could
be started with some of the money that is saved up for the finals that couldn't be. Would you donate your entry fee, stabling fee, saved gas expenses to help one of these families?
Chapter 6: Real Sportsmanship
Not one Olympic rider complained when Tokyo was postponed and there are one or two that may very well have ridden in 2020, but due to horse retirements, etc. will not likely ride in 2021. They didn't complain. They celebrated their journey. They celebrated their partners.
The world around us and the information developing is changing faster than we can keep up with. The CDC, epidemiologists and more are working day and night to get a "grip"
on this disease so people can start to move toward some sort of normalcy again. But no organization, no expert, no fortune teller has said all the answers are here.
We have to wait. We have to have some patience that our lives and the world we live in as we knew them 6 months ago are going to change. We have to sacrifice. Some Big - some little. We have to be good sports.
Epilogue:
During this time of flux - try not to be quite so "It's all about me and I want it now." If you get to go to a show, even if its virtual - be grateful instead of Angry that you don't get to go to Regionals Or Finals because of this complex year. Some people don't get to WAKE UP today because of it. Does that help put it in perspective?
And by the way - Please do send emails to the USDF Staff, Executive Board, President, the show organizers and facilities that were able to hold the shows that you did or did not compete in - And THANK them for all they've done for all of us so that some semblance of Dressage did stay alive during 2020.
Walk a mile in an Executive Board or USDF staff member shoes. Walk a mile in a facility or show management's shoes that chose to take the risk to let you on their property or had to make the devastating call that it just wouldn't work at that location, at that time to hold that particular show. Likely you'll need a new pair of shoes if you walked in their shoes this year. Think about the details of the decisions that have been made. Drop the flippant comments such as "Why don't you just move it". Think about what a statement like that involves. And what they are trying to do - and be grateful you aren't carrying the weight of responsibilities and decisions on your shoulders that they are carrying on theirs. None of them were "read in" on "oh guess what kind of year 2020 is going to be". If they had been, we'd probably have a very limited number of volunteers to walk in those shoes.
Let this experience make us all work together to help make this organization, this sport bigger, better and stronger. If we work together we will survive. If we attack, fight, argue - the sport will be the victim - Do you want that?
Dream of being an Executive Board Member, USDF Staff, Dressage Show Manager, Facility in the year 2020 - not so sure it will be a sweet dream!
-- by Kristi Wysocki
2020 USDF Dressage Finals Cancelled due to Covid-19
It Has Been Decided: Olympic Games in Tokyo Postponed to 2021
Isabell Werth: The Corona Crisis Provides a Moment of Reflection
Corona Cancellations: Amsterdam, Nice, Munich indoors
Mandas and Wysocki to Instruct at the 2017 USDF Sport Horse Seminar
U.S. Judge Kristi Wysocki Reports On FEI Judges' Course at 2011 CDI-W London


ADRIA shares events that may be of interest to the ADR community - both our own events and from other organizations.
If you'd like to add your event to our listings, email marketing@adralberta.com.
ADRIA AGM: Save the Date!
2019 AFMS Conference and AGM: Save the Date!


Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) today announced it will increase travel subsidies to race participants for both TAB and non-TAB race meetings from May 1, 2018.
GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said for TAB race meetings the subsidy would increase from $40 to $60 for the first runner and from $20 to $30 for each runner thereafter.
At non-TAB race meetings the subsidy will increase from $20 to $60 for the first runner and from $20 to $30 for each runner thereafter.
Mr Mestrov said the increase will be paid until 31st December, 2018 as it is subject to review by GRNSW to ensure it aligns with GRNSW's strategic plan and priorities.
"These increases recognise the cost of travelling, particularly for the small owner/trainers who may only have one or two greyhounds," he said.
Mr Mestrov said greyhound racing in NSW is dispersed across a very large area, from Lismore in the north, Wagga in the south-west, to Broken Hill in the far west.
"Over 50 per cent of greyhounds race in more than one region during the year which puts financial pressure on the smaller participants," he said.
Mr Mestrov said a trip from Wagga to Goulburn is a 500-kilometre round journey which equates to about $80 in petrol.
"In 2017, 1830 greyhounds competed in races and did not win any prizemoney," he said.
Mr Mestrov said this was the first in a series of measures to boost the strength of the industry.
"A major review which will set the strategic direction of the industry is well underway," he said.
"Fundamental to that review is to ensure that we not only have an industry that exceeds all welfare requirements, but also one that is sustainable in the long term," he said.


Welcome to North America's largest BMW gathering - Bimmerfest!
If you don't like BMW, look away now. If you do, open your eyes and feast on Bimmerfest 2018!
Like BMWs? Well you best check out this Bimmerfest 2017 Aftermovie then!


text:
Interview: Alia Aldiqs
Interviews | March 22, 2019 |
Image courtesy of Alia Aldqis
Luca Curci talks with Alia Aldiqs during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2019 at Misericordia Archives.
Alia Aldiqs is a British Egyptian artist and a painter. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, from Alexandria University, Egypt. She have taken part in several national and international group exhibitions in Egypt, England, and Saudi Arabia. She have received the best arab expressionist artist in the world award 2018-2019, London Art Exhibition. She have travelled extensively in the Middle East and beyond which has inspired her love of different cultures that too is reflected in her art. Her most recent works explore questions of women's identity and stereotypes transcending cultural perspectives and influences.
Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Alia Aldiqs – Art is a way to express my own feelings, ideas, opinions and to explore questions of cultural and global perspectives and influences.
LC – What's your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
AA – I'm British Egyptian artist, was born in Egypt and graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, Egypt. I have travelled extensively in the Middle East and beyond which has inspired a love of different cultures that is reflected in my art.
LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
AA – The most challenging part about creating my artwork is to translate my thoughts into my paintings that have my feelings and ideas.
LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
AA – Yes, my style has changed over the years when it comes to using strong and bright colours in my paintings.
LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
AA – Oh yes! Totally agree and the theme of the festival is amazing and complimenting the exhibition.
LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the festival's theme?
AA – The body movement in the festival and the way it was presented in a very dramatic and artistic way a long with the light and shad made it so much concerned to the artwork presented in the body language exhibition.
LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
AA – I love its uniqueness and its location.
LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
AA – Yes for sure! By promoting the artists work in Italy and internationally.
Natalie Czech / Friederike Feldmann
Art | January 2, 2020
The double exhibition Natalie Czech / Friederike Feldmann brings together two artistic positions that deal specifically with pictorial and linguistic topics and question how meanings are created. The exhibition in the Maschinenhaus M2 at the KINDL - Centre for Contemporary Art brings selected series of the two artists' works into a dialogical context. In her conceptual photographs, Natalie Czech develops new meanings in the aesthetic interweaving of different levels of text and image. The artist examines the interaction between linguistic and visual information and uncovers poetic potential. In the series Poems by Repetition (since 2017), Czech doubles or multiplies photographed objects and rearranges them, in some cases divided into individual segments. By repeating relevant parts of sentences and words, highlighting them in colour, or covering unimportant elements, she reveals minimalist poems-for example, in the lyrics of Beatles songs. Read more


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Margaret H. Black
Mergers, Acquisition, and Transaction-Related Consulting
IRC Section 280G and Excise Tax Planning and Administration
IRC Section 280G Reasonable Compensation Assessments
Retirement Plan, Nonqualified Plan, and IRC Section 409A Consulting
Executive Compensation Taxation and Reporting
BA, Tulane University
MBA, University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business
"Quantify and know where you stand with respect to all payouts in the event of a change-in-control."
Get in touch with Margaret
(213) 438-6502 Download Bio (213) 705-3814 LinkedIn Email
Commitment To Clients
My clients are usually involved in some level of upheaval, for example, a merger, an acquisition, restructuring, or possible change-in-control. At those times it's important to navigate a maze of technical matters quickly and with precision. My goal is to partner with clients so they feel confident that all of the technical details surrounding executive pay have been addressed, and all possible alternatives explored. This will leave them free to focus on the business strategy and continue to create value for shareholders.
Margaret Black is a managing director in the Los Angeles office and a member of the firm's Technical Services team. She has consulted for over 25 years in the field of tax and over 20 years on all aspects of compensation and benefits matters. Margaret has extensive experience in issues related to corporate acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings, as well as with change-in-control provisions, IRC Sections 280G, 409A, and 162(m) compliance.
Prior to joining Pearl Meyer, Ms. Black served as a principal in the Human Capital Practice of Arthur Andersen. Ms Black holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA from Tulane University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the California Board of Accountancy.
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Poljanica Bistranska – wieś w Chorwacji, w żupanii zagrzebskiej, siedziba gminy Bistra. W 2011 roku liczyła 1261 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Miejscowości w żupanii zagrzebskiej


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Roanoke-Clifton Forge Amtrak Service Enhanced Transportation Study
Amtrak's Cardinal route serves the Town of Clifton Forge with long-distance passenger rail service to New York and Chicago three times per week. Amtrak also provides state-sponsored daily round-trip service between the City of Roanoke and Washington, D.C., with service to the Northeast Corridor. Direct passenger rail or other public transportation does not currently exist between Roanoke and Clifton Forge, making highway-operated modes the most viable option for passenger travel between these two communities. This study examines public transportation options connecting Roanoke and Clifton Forge.
DRPT analyzed existing and possible travel options between the City of Roanoke and the Town of Clifton Forge by evaluating trip time, trip distance, hours of availability, and ridership. Highway and non-highway modes were analyzed.
Forecasts project very low ridership for the transit corridor between Roanoke and Clifton Forge. The ridership projected does not justify the very high capital costs for rail and makes rail transit prohibitively expensive. Commuter bus services present far lower capital costs; however, they do have high O&M costs. The low projected ridership suggests that scheduled bus trips would operate with mostly empty vehicles. Microtransit or demand response service may enhance connectivity in an efficient and sustainable way, meaning the service only operates when there is passenger demand. Capital operational costs for microtransit are significantly lower than other options; however, costs would still be high for the limited number of riders.
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