text:
DIRK'S INFLATION STATION ORIGIN STORY
A Story About Black Cycling Sunglasses
When Mike Wallburg won the lead role of Dirk Doggler in the film Bikie Nights he was in over his head. The movie was expected to be the be-all, end-all depiction of the nitty-gritty world of the 1970s and 80s bike culture, and Dirk, the epitome of bad boy bikers of the golden days, was a role that would surely make or break Mike's career.
It was a far meatier part than any he had previously taken on, and young Mike was a wreck. He couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. He studied Stanislavski, Meisner, Day-Lewis. He lived, breathed, drank, and smoked biking. Still, his performance was not up to snuff, and the studio was dangerously close to giving him the boot.
One day, by chance or by divine intervention of Dionysus himself, Mike was cycling around the velodrome in Encino, and came across the inspiration he so desperately needed in the form of another cyclist by the name of Mark Skids. Skids was a vision in cut-off jorts, a stache that just wouldn't quit, and the most glorious sunglasses Mike had ever seen. Mike broke the ice by complimenting Mark on his sweet shades, and explained the predicament he was in. Mark told him through a heavy exhalation of cigarette smoke that he understood the situation, and would be happy to help coach him.
From that day on, for the next few weeks, Mike and Mark were inseparable. In addition to teaching him bike tricks, observing Mark's arrogance and raw douchebag-ery quickly helped Mike build the framework for the Dirk Doggler character we now all know and love. In their last days before filming began, Mark presented Mike with a pair of smooth black aviators with electric green gradient lenses. These beauties were used in the film and became absolutely iconic.
While the real pair might be in the Smithsonian, we here at goodr have released a near perfect replica in honor of one of the greatest films of all time. Aptly named, "Dirk's Inflation Station," these super stylish shades will make you feel like a king and will have you yelling: "I'm the star. It's my big bike, and I say when we roll!"
BORED? READ THESE
Midnight Ramble at Circle Bar Origin Story
Strange Things Are Afoot At The Circle G Origin Story
Running While High – (14,000 Ft of Elevation)


All we ask is that you love and respect our apartment and take good care of it for us. if using fake tan or hair dye please bring your own towels as these products permanently stain our white towels and linen which are expensive to replace. If towels and linen are soiled and stains cannot be removed then unfortunately you will be charged for replacing these items – we hope you understand. Finally our last request is that you have a fabulous stay and enjoy Nice and the Riviera as much as we do.
We enjoyed our stay very much and Roni was very friendly and welcoming. We can recommend the apartment to anyone that appreciates the good area and short distances to most of the sights in Nice.
As a couple who enjoy peace, quiet and comfort, this apartment suited us perfectly. The only pity is that we won't be able to rent it again as it has been sold.
Location is very central and flat has all you need and is very comfortable. We would like to visit again.


Country Vacations India brings Hyderabad into limelight with several properties that provide the best facilities for every member. One such property is known as the Amrutha Castle, this luxury hotel is located right in the middle of the city. Members can now enjoy this luxury hotel's fine dining and exquisite interiors that are designed to provide comfort and luxury for the members and guests.
This beautiful four star Country Vacations India property is perfect for family outing as well as the official lunches and dinners because of its perfect location. Built in the lines of a Bavarian Castle-Schloss Neushwanstien, the perfect medieval European architectural style that is totally unique.
With several facilities that are perfect for the member or any member from all over India or the world, makes a perfect destination for visiting in the historical city of Hyderabad. This well equipped hotel is very near to the famous Birla Mandir, which is a tourist attraction for many people from all over the country. Amrutha Castle is the best exemplary property among the entire network. Hotels in Hyderabad are known for their influences from the Nizam culture, this is a perfect combination as the hotels can serve the best delicacies and hospitality.


text:
Preview: Tri-City hosts Game #2 of Western Conference Semifinal
Posted 88 days ago ago by Kendall Grayson
Kearney, NE. – The Tri-City Storm host the Des Moines Buccaneers tonight at the Viaero Center in Kearney for Game #2 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Storm hold a 1-0 lead in the best of five playoff series following an 8-3 defeat of the Buccaneers last night at the Viaero Center. Tickets can be purchased online at www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8144. The first 1,000 fans at tonight's game will receive a free Storm rally towel. Storm fans are encouraged to wear white to all playoff games this postseason to create a "White Out" at the Viaero Center. Puck drop for Game #2 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Buccaneers and the Storm is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Tri-City (#1 Seed, 1-0 in Series) hosts Des Moines tonight for Game #2 of the Western Conference Semifinals following an offensive outburst in Game #1 that saw six different players score a goal. Brendan Furry scored three goals in the first two periods for his first career postseason hat trick, and the Storm's first post season hat trick in team history. Brendan Budy, Filip Forsmark, Connor McMenamin, Shane Pinto, and Ian Murphy also scored their first goals of the 2019 Clark Cup Playoffs in the Storm's win on home ice. The victory was Tri-City's first postseason win since capturing the Clark Cup on May 20th, 2016. The Storm hit the road for Game #3 of the Western Conference Semifinals following tonight's game. Game #3 will be hosted by Des Moines on Tuesday at Buccaneer Arena.
Des Moines (#4 Seed, 0-1 in Series) did not give up eight goals in a single game during the 2018-2019 regular season but dropped an 8-3 decision to the Storm last night for the Buccaneer's first loss of the 2019 Clark Cup Playoffs. Multiple teams, including Tri-City, scored seven goals against Des Moines during the regular season, but the eight goals netted by the Storm in last night's game set a new season high for most goals allowed for the Buccaneers in a single game this year. Des Moines' specialty teams allowed a Storm power play goal early in last night's game but responded with one power play goal and two shorthanded goals in the final two periods of the game. Goaltender Roman Durny recorded his 1st loss of the post season in net after stopping twenty of twenty-eight shots in 57:38 of time on the ice.
Today's playoff game is set to begin at 7:05pm CT, and will be streamed on HockeyTV, and Storm Radio. For Clark Cup Playoff tickets, and additional information on the Storm, visit www.StormHockey.com or call 308-338-8144.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Realizing that many of our Berlin fans and visiting international ravers can't always fit in a weekend to party, Tresor opens its doors on Thursdays as a platform and weekday refuge for solid electronic dance music clubbing. Bridging the mid-week humpday and the beginning of the weekend, Foreplay features each Thursday top local and international artists to lock you on the dance floor and deliver the Tresor feeling no matter if you make the weekend or not. Foreplaying the incredible diversity of turntable talent roaming the city and country at the present is the name of the game and tonight's invited artists are Ninette, Footzoom and Fabian Drews.


The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires certification training for individuals offering hazardous materials for transportation on public highways, rail, water or by air. These are considered the 4 modes of transportation and individuals must be certified in order to properly mark, label, package and transport hazardous materials and substances. Labels are required for packages and placards are required for vehicles. The DOT regulations can be found in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In 49 CFR Part 172.101 you will find the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT). The HMT table is the heart and soul of the regulation. The primary purpose of the HMT table allows a person to assign proper shipping names, determine the class and division, and provides guidance for packaging and handling of hazardous materials. Hazardous materials include but are not limited to chemicals, toxins, marine pollutants, hazardous substances, hazardous wastes as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, shock sensitive and temperature sensitive materials.
There are different labels and placards for the 9 different classes of hazardous materials as defined by DOT. Here are the 9 classes of hazardous materials: 1) Explosives, 2) Gases, 3) Flammable Liquid and Combustable Liquid, 4) Flammable Solid, Spontaneously Combustible and Dangerous When Wet 5) Oxidizer and Organic Peroxide, 6) Poison (Toxic) and Poison Inhalation Hazard, 7) Radioactive, 8) Corrosive, 9) Miscellaneous.
There are significant penalties (civil and criminal) for not complying with the DOT regulations. DOT requires function specific training based on the job an employee will be performing. After the U.S. terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), employees must also receive security awareness training that discusses topics such as terrorism. This training must include an awareness of security risks associated with hazardous materials transportation and methods that enhance transportation security. DOT certification training must be refreshed once every 3 years or when there is a change in a job function of an individual.
(5) Operates a vehicle used in the transport of hazardous materials/hazardous waste.


text:
McLaughlin named in Northern Ireland's squad
Michael O'Neill's side face Greece and Finland
Conor McLaughlin has been called into the Northern Ireland squad for the final round of qualifying matches ahead of EURO 2016.
Michael O'Neill's side currently top Group F and are on the cusp of qualifying for the championships in France next summer.
They host Greece at Windsor Park on the 8th October, however Town defender McLaughlin will miss that clash through suspension.
A trip to Finland then awaits them in their final game three days later, as they will look to seal their passage to the finals.
Scottish Under 21 striker Declan McManus has also been called up for his country's round of fixtures, and the Club wish both players well.


Steve Kovach is a tech editor for CNBC.com. Previously, he was a senior technology correspondent at Business Insider. He has a dual degree in journalism and English from Syracuse University.
Apple's settlement with Qualcomm shows it had no choice but to partner with its legal rival.
Steve Kovach, CNBC tech editor, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss Apple and Qualcomm's legal showdown.
Lyft was previously expected to price between $62 and $68 per share.
Facebook is down about 13 percent over the past year and has fallen three straight days.
Pinterest joins other tech companies like Lyft, Uber and Postmates that are all expected to go public this year.
Apple has made several moves in recent months to boost offerings outside the iPhone, such as artificial intelligence and health.
The New York City Council imposed a cap on licenses for ride-hailing drivers, limiting the number allowed on city streets.
Some of Apple's self-driving car employees will now be working more broadly on AI and machine learning.
Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Friday that Apple's technology may have been stolen by the Chinese.


text:
Mahlon Joseph Bilodeau
Mahlon ("Bill") Joseph Bilodeau passed away peacefully in his home on February 14, 2019, at the age of 96, surrounded by family. Mahlon was the fifth of five children of Arthur G. Bilodeau and Alma Berg Bilodeau of Chetek, Wisconsin. He grew up on his parent's dairy farm and attended school in nearby Cameron, WI. He graduated from Cameron High School class of 1939 and went on to business college in Minneapolis. He found a job as an accountant with the Barron County Electric Cooperative in Barron, WI before joining the US Army in 1942. Mahlon served with the IX Corps at Fort Lewis, WA, Camp Young, CA, and Camp McCain, MS. In 1943 he was transferred to the XXI Corps at Camp Polk, LA and Camp Robinson, AK. In November 1943, he married Pearalee Tandberg in Little Rock, AK. A year later, the XXI Corps left for Europe, moving from England to France and then Germany. After Germany surrendered he was assigned to the VI Corps and served until January 1946, when he returned to the US. After the war, Mahlon and Pearalee moved to Minneapolis and started their family, which grew to six children: David (Koko), Ginger (Roger Gramm), Bill (Sally), Patty (David Barosso), Bruce (Deborah), and Gloria (Rich Nystrom). Mahlon first worked as an accountant, and later as a salesman for Allan Office Machines and Burroughs Corporation in Minneapolis and Colorado Springs. In 1963 the family moved to Concord, California where he worked as a banking equipment salesman for LeFebure Company until he retired in 1986. In 1978, after the kids were grown, Mahlon and Pearalee moved to Vacaville, CA. After retirement, they sold their home in Vacaville and traveled the US in a motorhome, while their house in Shingle Springs, CA was being built. In 1988, they moved into their new house, continued to enjoy short RV trips, and watched their family grow as their kids married and 13 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren, were born. Mahlon's loving wife, Pearalee passed away in November 2012, shortly after their 69th wedding anniversary. Mahlon continued to live alone in his house in Shingle Springs, receiving visits from his children every weekend, with help from Visiting Angels and Meals On Wheels. A funeral mass and celebration of Mahlon's life is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 11:00 AM, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3111 Tierra de Dios Drive, El Dorado Hills, CA. His and Pearalee's ashes will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA on Friday, March 29, at 10:00 AM. We are grateful for the care offered by Marshall Hospital staff, Visiting Angels, and Snowline Hospice. Donations in Mahlon's memory may be sent to Snowline Hospice and Meals On Wheels.
Mahlon ("Bill") Joseph Bilodeau passed away peacefully in his home on February 14, 2019, at the age of 96, surrounded by family. Mahlon was the fifth of five children of Arthur G. Bilodeau and Alma Berg Bilodeau of Chetek,... View Obituary & Service Information
The family of Mahlon Joseph Bilodeau created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories.
Mahlon ("Bill") Joseph Bilodeau passed away peacefully in his...
Share and view memories of Mahlon...


text:
Q: Using image morphological techniques, locate the broken locations Can someone please guide the steps/the operation to be performed to construct this image and detect the broken fence position of the Image.

*

*Thresholding the image to a binary image : to convert the input image to a binary image

*Inverting the image : inverting it to get a black background and white lines

*Dilation with SE one unit of the fence structure

*Apply Erosion

*Bitwise-and masks together: retrieve the original back- and foreground the image is inverted by subtracting the bitwise_or from 255

*Constructed Image - Original Image will give us the position of the broken fence

Will this solution work ?

A: Depends what you call locate.
After large horizontal erosion and binarization:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
District Of Delaware Dismisses Suit Against Wireless Technology Company For Failure To Plead Actionable Misstatement
Shearman & Sterling LLP
On November 15, 2021, Judge Richard G. Andrews of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware dismissed a derivative suit against a company that provides hardware, software, and services for wireless technology (the "Company"), alleging the Company violated Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and breached its fiduciary duty by allegedly allowing "unlawful and discriminatory practices to proliferate at the Company." Kiger v. Mollenkopf, No. 21-409-RGA (D. Del. Nov. 15, 2021). Plaintiffs alleged that the Company made misrepresentations in 2019 and 2020 proxy statements about its commitment to diversify its board of directors (the "Board"). The Court dismissed the complaint for failure to plead an actionable misstatement or omission and for failure to plead demand futility.
As the Court noted at the outset of the opinion, "there was no specific event involving the Company . . . that gained public notoriety and precipitated the filing" of plaintiffs' suit. Instead, plaintiffs—shareholders of the Company suing derivatively on behalf of the Company—alleged that certain statements in the Company's 2019 and 2020 proxy statements concerning the Company's efforts to increase diversity were misleading. Specifically, plaintiffs alleged that the company made false and misleading statements or omissions when it (1) stated that the "goal" of its governance committee was to assemble a diverse Board; (2) stated that it would instruct search firms to include racially and ethnically diverse candidates in its pool of candidates for the Board; (3) failed to disclose that the "purpose and effect" of the Company's proxy access rules and term limits was to "inhibit" the nomination and election of diverse candidates to the Board; (4) misrepresented the nature of executive compensation; and (5) failed to disclose failures of oversight related to alleged discriminatory practices. The Company moved to dismiss, arguing that plaintiffs failed to plead an actionable misstatement or omission and failed to demonstrate demand futility.
The Court agreed with the Company and dismissed the complaint. First, the Court dismissed plaintiffs' claims with respect to the Company's statement in its 2019 proxy statement regarding its "goal" of assembling a diverse Board. The Court explained that statements about a company's "goals" constitute inactionable puffery and are subject to dismissal because they involve "subjective analysis or extrapolations."
Second, the Court dismissed plaintiffs' claims with respect to the Company's statement about its governance committee instructions in the 2020 proxy statement on grounds that plaintiffs did not properly allege the challenged statements were misleading. As the Court explained, "[t]he fact that no minority candidate has been elected to the Board in the last six years does not necessarily mean that the Governance Committee did not include or instruct its search firms to include 'racially/ethnically diverse candidates' in its pool of candidates." The Court further rejected plaintiffs' argument that the 2020 proxy statement was misleading because the governance committee had no "intention" of nominating racially and ethnically diverse candidates to the Board. Rather, the Court held that the challenged statement did not state or suggest the governance committee would in fact nominate racially and ethnically diverse candidates, only that such candidates would be included in the director candidate pool.
As to the remaining categories of alleged misstatements, the Court dismissed plaintiffs' claims with respect to the proxy access rules and term limits because it found there is no duty to disclose the "purpose and effect" of proxy access rules and term limits. The Court further dismissed plaintiffs' claims with respect to executive compensation because plaintiffs failed to identify a false statement concerning executive compensation in either of the challenged proxy statements. The Court also dismissed plaintiffs' claims regarding the alleged omission of inadequate oversight because it found that plaintiffs were merely "bootstrapping a federal securities claim to a [state law] cause of action for breach of fiduciary duty," which "is not permissible." The Court added that plaintiffs had failed to "convince[] the Court that their Section 14(a) [claim] based on oversight failures fits within the exception where such claims can proceed in parallel to a fiduciary duty claim."
Finally, the Court dismissed plaintiffs' breach of fiduciary duty claims because the complaint lacked "the particularized allegations necessary to pass muster under Rule 23.1." Specifically, the Court held that plaintiffs' allegations "failed to create a reasonable inference that there is pervasive illegal racial discrimination at [the Company] that the Board either consciously disregarded or tacitly endorsed." Without such particularized allegations, the Court noted that plaintiffs had failed to adequately allege that the directors "face[d] a substantial likelihood of liability on the fiduciary duty claims such that demand should be excused."
Links & Downloads -
Kiger v. Mollenkopf
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Putative Class Action For Failure To Adequately Allege Scienter
District Of Delaware Dismisses Putative Securities Class Action Against Energy Company Based On Failure To Adequately Plead Materiality And Loss Causation
District Of Delaware Partially Sustains Securities Fraud Case Against Automotive Parts Distributor For False Sales Growth Projections
District Of Delaware Finds Successful Section 220 Action Tolled Claims For Alleged Mismanagement
Southern District Of Ohio Dismisses Putative Class Action Against Public Utility Company For Failure To Adequately Allege Misrepresentations
© Shearman & Sterling LLP | Attorney Advertising
Derivative Suit
Scienter
Securities Exchange Act
Shearman & Sterling LLP on:


text:
The Greatest Biscuits in the World
Thom Beckwith February 25, 2013
It's funny and fitting that Madame Proust, in a letter now on display at the Morgan Library, implored her son to share persnickety details about what time he got up in the morning. Another thing the exhibition, which celebrates the hundredth anniversary of Swann's Way, reveals: early drafts of the book used "biscottes" in place of "madeleine."
Thom Beckwith is a staff writer for The Millions. He lives in New York.
Lost Words in Dead Language
Bruna Dantas Lobato February 24, 2016
Recommended Reading: Over at Full Stop, Simon Chandler explores the updated OED.
Bruna Dantas Lobato
Best Original Cave Painting
Thom Beckwith April 14, 2014
We cover a decent number of literary awards here at The Millions, but we, like most magazines, have a tendency to focus on the present. At the LARB, Andrew Nicholls makes up for this by recounting the very first book awards, in which Mooluu's "The Beast Attacked" goes head-to-head with Kurtan the Elder's "Why Half My Face is Missing." You could also read our own Mark O'Connell on why we care about literary prizes to begin with.
Thom Beckwith
Words came in, marked for death.
Emily M. Keeler April 24, 2012
The New Yorker has been hosting a Twitter game show, and this time around the contestants were words and in a macabre turn each word was berated by the audience, the people calling out for the death of that contestant. One word was forced to ultimately bite the bullet and will no longer be welcome in the magazine's next issue. Tragic.
Emily M. Keeler
Slantwise
Kaulie Lewis February 20, 2015
My Ears! My Ears!
Nick Moran May 19, 2012
In a move that could scar you for life, Gilbert Gottfried reads selected passages (Very NSFW!) from E L James' breakout book Fifty Shades of Grey.
Nick Moran
The Girl With the Pigtails
Brian Etling September 28, 2015
Dial G
Thom Beckwith May 20, 2015
"Genius" is a loaded term. Its application usually says more about the person making the judgment than it does about the genius in question. In The Guardian, Sophie Hannah argues that the term isn't used enough to describe one writer in particular: Agatha Christie. You could also read Daniel Friedman on the terrible secret of all crime fiction.
Thee, Compared
Thom Beckwith October 27, 2014
Recommended Reading: Adam Bertocci presents alternate forms for Shakespeare's 18th sonnet.


Service Invoice Template Free Download service invoice template free download excel service invoice template free download templates. service invoice template free download service invoice templates 11 free word excel pdf format. service invoice template free download service invoice templates 11 free word excel pdf format template.


text:
State Route 165 (SR 165) is a rural north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs in the San Joaquin Valley from Interstate 5 south of Los Banos to State Route 99 in Turlock.

Route description

State Route 165 begins at the junction of Interstate 5 south of Los Banos and heads north on a rural two-lane highway known as Mercey Springs Road. The highway crosses the California Aqueduct north of Interstate 5 and enters Los Banos several miles later. It meets up with SR 152 and SR 33, known locally as Pacheco Boulevard. After leaving Los Banos, the highway then runs right through the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and skirts the Great Valley Grasslands State Park to the west while crossing the San Joaquin River. At this point, the highway is known as Lander Avenue and meets up with SR 140 near Stevinson. It crosses the Merced River en route to Hilmar, then crosses into Stanislaus County for a short while, ending at SR 99 in Turlock.

SR 165 in Los Banos is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.

Major intersections

See also

References

External links

California @ AARoads.com - State Route 165
Caltrans: Route 165 highway conditions
California Highways: SR 165

165
State Route 165
State Route 165
Turlock, California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Oh La La Cheri's Diane white lace bra with monowire sheer cups. The high neckline ties in front creating a keyhole design. It also features delicate lace cap sleeves, adjustable straps, and a hook and eye back closure.
Click the button below to add the High Neck Whisper White Lace Monowire Underwire Bra Sheer Plus Size Bridal Brassiere (Size: S-4X) to your wish list.


text:
Research Funded by the UK Taxpayer Should be Published in Open Access Journals
Friday, September 18th, 2009. 2:48pm
Results published on the 9th of September 2009 from the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS), by the Medical Research Council in Cambridge are not openly available.
The UK public fund a large amount of scientific research, both though the research councils and via scientific work conducted by public bodies. Many results of publicly funded research are inaccessible to the vast majority of those who could make use of and build on it. Removing restrictions on sharing and accessing the journal articles which are a key output from much scientific work is an area where a simple change in policy could result in research results becoming much more accessible and having a greater impact on society.
Publicly funded scientists in the UK are currently allowed to publish their work in journals which then charge those wishing to access the articles. The public ends up paying both for the work to be conducted and then again to access the results. UK universities spend many millions of pounds every year on access to research publications which were produced by the universities themselves. This makes little sense as in many cases the publishers essentially take a document from a researcher, host it online, and charge those wishing to download it. The UK Government has given, and continues to give, scientific publishers a license to print money.
I think that the government should insist that the results of publicly funded research are made freely available; I think this would:
Reduce costs to universities, giving them funds to spend elsewhere.
Increase the effectiveness of the UKs research funding.
Improve healthcare provision as doctors and other working in the medical sector gain access to more research results and more evidence on which to base their decisions.
Boost the economy as companies as well as academics would have greater able to access to research outputs.
Breakdown some of the barriers to participation in science in the UK help tackle nepotism, favoritism and cronyism and introduce meritocracy.
Make it easier to assess the value of scientific research and make funding decisions.
There have been many announcements from government expressing an intent to go down the open access publishing route; but in my view little is actually changing, and the change there has been is occurring slowly. I think there is need for clear leadership from Parliament on this and believe the UK scientific, engineering, medical and other research communities would benefit enormously from a straightforward requirement for unrestricted, open access, distribution of research results.
Peer Review and Editorial Boards – Adding Value?
Some argue that publishers add value; one of the key arguments used in defence of the current system is the defence of "peer review". This is the process where a submitted paper is passed to other scientists who are asked for their opinion on aspects such as how interesting the work is, how well it has been carried out, how appropriate it is for a particular journal and if it has been conducted in a scientifically rigorous manner. By asking scientists to do this work, typically for free, publishers get much of the work they are doing in terms of selecting content for their publications done for them at no cost. Peer review is a good concept, and independent comments often result in improvements to the research being adopted prior to publication. This is a good thing.
The best journals pass articles anonymously to carefully selected experts in specific fields for review. More common though among the vast majority of publications is to simply ask the submitting author for "suggestions" of who could review the paper and for it to simply be passed on with no regard to anonymity. Ideally a peer reviewer would not know who a piece of research they were reviewing had been authored by, to illuminate bias and favouritism. I have been at a scientific meeting where those present in a lecture hall were asked who had been given a non-anonymised research article to peer review and about nine out of ten hands went up. In practice peer review isn't all its cracked up to be. After peer review the next step is approval by the editorial board of a journal; typically those working in a particular field will know individuals on boards of journals and will be on such boards themselves. In my experience there is a culture of exchanging favours for friends at this step too. When I have discussed open access publishing with senior academics I have been told a motivation for not following that route is an assurance that they will be published in a hassle free manner by those they know on the editorial board of a particular publication.
While the underlying process of "peer review" is worth retaining, the problem is that the current system of its operation has become sacrosanct among the scientific establishment. I think current system could easily be superseded by a more open publication system which allowed comments and suggested improvements from all with something to contribute. I think that traditional journals' other role of identifying and classifying research results so as to make them easy to locate has been superseded by online technology. It is now easier to apply more meritocratic measures of a publication's value than merely if it has been accepted for publication by a "highly respected" journal, one can look at where it has been cited and if valuable further work builds on its results for example.
Whatever the system it will inevitably be played by those trying to make the most out of the system such as career scientists. There are perceived benefits to having a large number of publications to someone's name so it is common practice for people to exchange "co-authorship" on papers even if they have had no or little involvement in the work. (I've seen situations where junior individuals who actually did the work don't get mentioned as the group leader has already got enough names of authors once all their scientific colleagues they owe favors too have been listed!) We need our scientists to behave ethically, more transparency and openness resulting from a reformed publication system would I believe be a strong driving force which would encourage that.
Access to Journals at the University of Cambridge
When came to Cambridge University in 2001 I found that access to scientific journals was much more restricted than it had been at my previous university – Imperial College London. It was not until 2006 when the University of Cambridge received £400,000 from the Science Research Infrastructure Fund (SRIF) which it spent with publishing company Elsevier that the situation really began to improve. This illustrates the problems faced in accessing information by one of the top research universities in the world in accessing information; things are much worse in poorer institutions. With open access publishing these costs and inequities disappear.
Publishing companies are in a position where they are able to hold institutions to ransom. It was not just Elsevier but many publishers, including Nature and the IEEE that Cambridge University had inadequate arrangements for access to journals from just a few years ago. One reason the situation has improved is that prices charged by publishers are dropping for example the IEEE currently charges institutions $43,995 for access to its journal package, in 2005 it charged $80,000. Even if prices were to half again I think the arguments for unrestricted, open access, publishing would still be valid. Slashing prices and offering schemes such as charging only for articles in the first three or six months after publication show that publishers are responding to public policy, but also that they are taking drastic steps to try and maintain their position, our political leaders should not be duped by them.
An Example – Accessing EPSRC Funded Research Today
Recently, through my voluntary work on mySociety's Freedom of Information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com I came across someone making a freedom of information request for some scientific research results. The request had been made to The Forestry Commission, which is the government department responsible for the UK's woodlands. The work had been led by the government department, carried out in collaboration with UK universities, and largely funded by public money distributed via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
WhatDoTheyKnow user Simon Birkett had asked about work relating to pollutants and urban greenspace in London The response stated that the results had been published in a scientific paper. That paper entitled An integrated tool to assess the role of new planting in PM10 capture and the human health benefits: A case study in London has been published in the October 2009 edition of Elsevier Ltd.'s Environmental Pollution journal. While a member of Forestry Commission staff has offered to send a copy of the paper by post to the requestor they have not released the information to everyone via WhatDoTheyKnow presumably as doing so would presumably be a breach of the copyright in the work which they have probably handed over to the publishing company. The publishing company offer a A PDF version of the publication for $31.50 via their website.
I decided to ask Tony Hutchings, the Forestry Commission's Head of Land Regeneration and Urban Greenspace who led the research why he decided to not to publish the work in a more accessible manner he wrote back to me stating:
The work was predominantly funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The work was published in a high quality, good impact, peer review journal. The Research Councils (as do many funders from both private industry and public bodies) assess the quality of the research undertaken by the impact factors of the papers produced. Through your research background and publication record you might be aware that this impact factor is assessed on the number of citations to papers within the journal normally over a 2 year period. To my knowledge there are unfortunately few open access journals with high impact factors.
The fact that this research was published in this manner and predominantly funded by a research council is interesting as the research councils, nominally at least, have policies promoting open access to research publications deriving from work they fund. Personally I have seen little impact of this supposed policy as publicly funded science has continued to be given to publishing companies to profit from since it was adopted. The EPSRC's "Policy on Access to Research Outputs" states:
"We remain strongly committed to the principles outlined in the Research Councils UK position statement on access to research outputs issued in June 2005. This says that knowledge derived from publicly-funded research must be made available and accessible for public use; must be subject to rigorous quality assurance through peer review; must be preserved and remain accessible for future generations and this must be done in a cost effective way."
I wrote to Dr Sue Smart the EPSRC's Head of Performance and Evaluation who is responsible for the policy to ask for her comments on the publishing decision made by the Forestry Commission. She replied to say:
We believe that our researchers should be able to choose the most appropriate publication routes, which may be via subscription journals (in which case we would expect them to make their article available through an institutional or subject-based repository as well – ie the so-called 'green' option), or via publication in open-access journals (the 'gold' option). This mandate will be introduced in the next 6-9 months but will not be applied retrospectively. We recognise that the choice of publication journal is highly significant to researchers and would not wish to bar them from publishing in the most highly esteemed volumes.
Yet again another promise of "jam tomorrow", perhaps another small step forward will take place in 6-9 months, but there is no reason the general problem could not be tackled today. Dr Smart's response also highlighted what I believe is a major problem, assumptions by researchers that people, especially those involved in funding and employment decisions rely on metrics such as "journal impact factors". Dr Smart wrote:
I'm afraid Tony Hutchings is mistaken in his assertion that we use journal impact factors in assessing the quality of research. It is true that we do use bibliometric analyses as an input to our International Reviews and as an input to internal policy discussions regarding strengths and weaknesses of the research base, but we do not focus on journal impact factors in any of these analyses and certainly not in assessing the quality of individual research projects.
The EPSRC also stated that the Forestry Commission's offer of a paper copy of the research article was: "in keeping with the principles of the RCUK position statement."
Section on openness in my application volunteering myself as an external member of the Cambridge University Council.
This entry was tagged Public Money., Research, Science on September 18, 2009 by Richard Taylor.
← Non-Firearms Officers Account for a Third of TASER Usage Cllr Julie Smith Speaks in Favour of More Spin and Media Management at Lib Dem Conference →
20 comments/updates on "Research Funded by the UK Taxpayer Should be Published in Open Access Journals"
John Cross September 18, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Worth a petition on No. 10 website?
Stevan Harnad September 18, 2009 at 10:10 pm
WHY "PUBLISHED IN OA JOURNALS" RATHER THAN JUST OA?
Here we see again the main reason OA is so slow in coming: The conflation of OA with publishing in OA journals (Gold OA), leaving out the most powerful, fastest and surest way of providing OA, which is to publish in any journal you like, and to make the article OA by self-archiving it free for all online (Green OA).
See: http://bit.ly/3JyQB
American Scientist Open Access Forum
Richard Article author September 18, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Stevan,
With the exception of the title the only mention of "Open Access Journals" in my article is in the quote from the Civil Service Scientist Tony Hutchings.
Most publishers won't let you publish a copy of your article on your website and also agree to publish it in their journals. In any-case that creates a system such as the one we have with the paper I have featured in the article; the author is controlling access and those wishing to access the document have to approach him and ask for a copy. That is not open access in my view.
My comments are in favour of open access publication of all descriptions. I think we need a culture change where there is much greater openness and information sharing. While I think there ought be publication of data on research group websites, institutional pre-print websites etc. I do think that publication of the final results of a publicly funded project ought be in an open access journal of some description or otherwise submitted to an online repository such as pubmed central.
Stevan Harnad September 19, 2009 at 3:43 am
Most publishers have endorsed the posting of their accepted, peer-reviewed drafts in their institutional repository, and that is Open Access (Green Open Access). See http://romeo.eprints.org/stats.php
That is neither publishing in an OA journal (Gold OA) nor the posting of unrefereed, unpublished research. It is Green OA self-archiving of refereed, published research.
Richard Article author September 19, 2009 at 7:28 am
In this particular context then it appears the Forestry Commission are free to post a copy of the paper on their website, or in their FOI disclosure log.
What they're not able to do I suspect is release it to WhatDoTheyKnow.com or place it in an open access repository.
By including restrictions that publication is restricted to institutional, or the author's own sites the ability of someone looking for a publication to be able to find it would not be high. Without freedom to republish and archive the ability to locate an article, and also ensure it is archived and stays available online indefinitely are diminished. I think that we should require UK funded research results be published without restriction on their use so that they can be submitted to free online repositories. Submitting to publishers' licences restricting what can be done with a publication simply maintains their position and business. Theirs is a business which charges the public for information they have already paid through their taxes to create, I don't think the UK taxpayer should continue to support it.
I think it is worth arguing on the basic point first – results of research funded by the UK taxpayer ought be freely available – the UK Taxpayer should demand that.
I have written to the author suggesting he puts a copy of the paper on the Forestry Commission website website, perhaps in a freedom of information disclosure log; or if he can't – let me know what is preventing him from doing so.
Even if this occurs the information is still not free, how it can be used and where it can be published is still tightly controlled by the publisher despite it being information the UK taxpayer paid to create.
Doug September 23, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Very interesting piece, it's impossible to argue against the title of this article. The only part I would take issue with is the part about career scientists.
The pickle that I find myself in is that I'm on a temporary contract at a UK university with very little chance of ever getting a full time position. If I ever get a chance to publish in something like Nature I just cannot afford to pass on it – my job depends on it. Even if I did have a permanent job I'd still have to ferociously compete for funding. It's not being a career scientist – it's surviving.
Hopefully the world's governments and the journals can get this sorted. I just don't think it's fair to ask the players to change the game.
I know from my own experience talking to university staff that they often feel unable to change things for the better because they feel their jobs would be at risk if they did things differently.
At Cambridge University many professors look to the students to change policy as more often they don't have families and mortgages to support so are more able to to take risks. However students are increasingly constrained too and also have a lot to lose.
I agree the solution is for Governments to take action. At the next general election I hope to be able to vote for a candidate who supports research funded by UK taxpayers being made available in an unrestricted manner via open access journals and repositories.
Doug September 24, 2009 at 10:50 am
That's a bit frightening that professors use their students for this. One of my papers as a student is still the crown of my CV as it went in a top journal. Haven't quite matched it since!
You've inspired me to check the copyright of journals I do use. The American Physical Society seems quite good (and they're good journals), you can put pdfs on your webpage, use the preprint servers etc.
All this said, I agree, I'll be writing to my MP and linking them here.
Richard Article author October 7, 2009 at 1:06 am
In response to this article I've been pointed to the International Open Access Week at Cambridge University:
http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/create_change/events.html
I've also made some additional comments as a result of correspondence asking me to comment on the sharing of raw data and other matters:
As someone who has spent time working both in the life sciences and engineering I am aware that timely access to raw data is a very important part of freely sharing the results of publicly funded scientific research. Sequencing and structural data are a great example of how raw data sharing openly can make a huge difference to the progress of research. I think that where possible and practical raw data arising from publicly funded ought be made easily accessible online too; though it is hard to define what this means in a general sense – it has to be done on a field by field basis. Perhaps a good step would be to require all applicants for public grants to consider how they will share their raw data and that could be reviewed by those assessing the application.
There is a deep cultural aversion to data sharing in some areas; I have seen research groups where even when given the tools to enable the easy sharing of data individuals have gone to great lengths to try and retain personal ownership and control over data. From what I've seen of UK academia there is a counterproductive focus on an individual's own independent work and not their contribution to a team effort or the greater good. As with many problems I think the solution starts with education and there's a need to get across the importance of free data-sharing right from the beginning of science education in schools.
I think publication of results in some form at least akin to journal articles; in a centrally searchable manner is in many fields likely to remain important. I do not believe that simply allowing authors to post their work on their own websites or in institutional repositories is sufficient to ensure open access; I believe the publishers are pushing this option as it leaves the opportunity open for them to justify their business model to those (eg. MPs) who do not look into the matter in depth and are dazzled by impressive sounding "principles" espoused by research councils but which have not resulted in substantial enough change. Allowing self-publishing enables publishing companies to argue they are providing a useful service by making information easily accessible and searchable whereas if they did not restrict the way publications can be reused this problem would be solved by distributed, centrally accessible, open access repositories.
If I updated this article every time I wanted to read something I'd already paid for through my taxes we'd be well into the hundreds of comments, but I thought I'd note that over the last couple of weeks there have been news reports about the Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study, so I looked for the results of this study, which has been taxpayer funded to the tune of £2.6m, the key publication appears to be this £60 book.
Other recent "publications" listed on the ESRC website appear to be conference abstracts.
I think this makes a mockery of the ESRC Open Access Policy.
The guardian is reporting the Government are going to announce their agreement with all but one of the recommendations to reform academic publishing made following a review led by Janet Finch.
This is clearly an excellent, and significant, step forward.
It relates to academic articles, so won't stop academics publishing expensive paid for books and presenting results at expensive conferences. It won't necessarily require academics to publish their results at all, there are other options such as commercialisation.
The primary concern raised is charges from journal publishers, hopefully though these will provide an economic incentive to move away from the model of publishing results primarily in journals, and prompt innovation. Rapid publication online, with post publication scrutiny and review by everyone might well be the way to go. Those not able to afford or justify, journal's charges for publication will find other ways to share their results.
I don't think protecting the current activities of UK scientific publishing industry ought be part of the Government's strategy; we should be trying to make the UK the most attractive place for those who will provide services in the field of sharing and disseminate research results in the future to base themselves, be they established companies responding and offering new services, start-ups, or universities.
The government's response has been published and is linked from the following press release:
http://bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2012/Jul/government-to-open-up-publicly-funded-research
We could still see publicly funded research published behind paywalls for up to two years, after which they would be made free, in order to preserve "valuable journals".
Richard Taylor Article author February 25, 2013 at 12:01 am
The Whitehouse has announced that in the USA significant amounts of federally funded research will be made available to the public within a year of publication:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/22/expanding-public-access-results-federally-funded-research
Progress which I hope the UK will follow; and improve on.
Richard Taylor Article author April 29, 2014 at 1:02 am
In April 2014 I asked Cambridge University's Vice-Chancellor about his views on what the university spend on academic publishing:
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/borysiewicz-elsevier-open-access.html
Richard Taylor Article author October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am
UK public funds are used to contribute to the European Space Agency.
The ESA's Rosetta mission is due to land on a comet on 12 November 2014.
The ESA has recently written an article explaining why it is keeping images and other data from the mission secret and only making them accessible to a select academic elite for a period of time, extending to weeks and months, after the material is obtained.
The justification given is that the careers of the scientists involved are being put, by those scientists, ahead of the public interest.
I think if our MPs are to spend public money on research they should ensure the results of that work are freely published and made available to all in a timely manner.
The most recent set of images were released four days after being obtained; so perhaps comments complaining about a delay of over a month releasing previous images are being heeded. (Or perhaps those responsible for the mission blog are in a different part of the vast public funded behemoth from those publishing images from the mission and there is no consistent policy on timely publication.
Richard Taylor Article author April 12, 2015 at 11:01 pm
#LibDem Digital Bill of Rights ideas https://t.co/Qjz9Pfdznz inc. making publicly funded research available to all http://t.co/jMqXFlZuGO
Richard Taylor Article author June 5, 2016 at 10:20 am
Pamela Burnard of the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education recently announced on that she had published a book, the blurb makes it sound quite interesting:
The purpose and impact of the professional doctorate – or EdD (Doctor of Education) – has long been debated. What should it be? Who should do it? Why is it worth doing? How should it be taught? What makes the EdD distinctive, unique and worthwhile?
I would be interested to read the answers to those questions, as would I expect MPs, councillors, those considering working as teachers or as education researchers. I decided to ask Pamela Burnard if the work had been publicly funded, and if so why it wasn't being freely published online, but made accessible via a $43 book. Despite her role within Cambridge University, a public body, Burnard was evasive and unforthcoming when addressing my questions:
@PamBurnard Did you write/compile book while employed paid via public funds? Who gets profits? Why $43 book not post online? @UniCamPrimSch
— Richard Taylor (@RTaylorUK) June 3, 2016
@RTaylorUK @UniCamPrimSch certainly not the authors
— Pam Burnard (@PamBurnard) June 4, 2016
@PamBurnard Only 1/3 Qs addressed, &only partially. Does book make work accessible to eg. MPs, ppl considering career routes? @UniCamPrimSch
@PamBurnard That's not a very full answer. Can you explain how an MP or councillor could access material from the book? @UniCamPrimSch
.@PamBurnard You expect our elected reps to pay to access your publicly funded work? @UniCamPrimSch
.@PamBurnard Do you give anyone who emails you a PDF of the book? Can you get @SensePublishers to note this on their website? @UniCamPrimSch
A tweet from Burnard in which she suggested MPs and others could email her [presumably for a copy], or buy the book, appears to have been deleted. I am shocked not only by the evasive and unforthcoming nature of the exchange, but also by the fact Burnard appears to have deleted elements of it.
Pamela Burnard appears to be an editor of the book which contains contributions from Burnard and others.
Richard Taylor Article author June 5, 2016 at 1:15 pm
The article quoted here is by ex Cambridge MP Candidate Nick Hillman:
Shocked to learn that British civil servants and politicians have no access to academic journals. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/1p3kZiQb1f
— Cornelius Roemer (@CorneliusRoemer) May 26, 2016
The excerpt states:
Policymakers have no access to academic journals. There is no institutional Westminster or Whitehall log-in, so politicians and civil servants generally see less academic research than the greenest undergraduate. When I was a civil servant, my department would go into meltdown if I asked to see an academic paper, as there was no budget for the $30 cost of accessing it online. This is the reason the Higher Education Policy Institute controversially recommended a national licence to enable anyone with a computer in the UK to access previously published research. It is also a key reason why MPs recruit student interns: they bring their log-in details with them.
"UK Parliament does not have access to scholarly literature". Wow.
At the 'Open Access to Research Data' Westminster briefing.
— Mark Hahnel (@MarkHahnel) 9 December 2015
Are you really surprised? @MarkHahnel. Nor do doctors, entrepreneurs, local government. It's only universities 1% of the population @McDawg
— Peter Murray-Rust (@petermurrayrust) 9 December 2015
Something is deeply FUBAR'd when the UK parliament office for science & technology (POST) has extremely poor access to research! #OA
— R⓪ss Mounce (@rmounce) 13 January 2015
@KateTettmar Do you know why https://t.co/yLzPBrQ1gV is behind paywall despite being funded by UK public? Why retailer not ID'd in abstract?
— Richard Taylor (@RTaylorUK) August 26, 2017


text:
/**
 *@api {get} /user/userlist 取得使用者資訊 Request
 *@apiName GetUser
 *@apiGroup User
 *@apiVersion 1.0.0
 *
 *@apiSuccess {String} name 使用者名稱.
 *@apiSuccess {String} info 使用者資訊.
 *
 *@apiSuccessExample Example data on success:
 *{
 *	name:'Jack',
 *	info:'blahblahblah...'
 *}
 */

var ObjectID = require('mongodb').ObjectID;

var db = require('../../db.js').getDB('apidb');

db.open(function(err, db) {
    if(!err) {
        console.log("Connected to 'apidb' database");
        db.collection('accounts', {strict:true}, function(err, collection) {
            if (err) {
                console.log("The 'accounts' collection doesn't exist. Creating it with sample data...");
                populateDB();
            }
        });
    }
});

exports.auth = function(req, res) {
    var account = req.body;

    console.log('auth account: ' + JSON.stringify(account));
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.findOne({name:account.name, password:account.password}, function(err, item) {
        	if(item){
        		res.send(item);
        	}else{
        		res.send({'error':'auth error'});
        	}

        });
    });
};

exports.findById = function(req, res) {
    var id = req.params.id;
    console.log('Retrieving account: ' + id);
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.findOne({_id:new ObjectID(id)}, function(err, item) {
            res.send(item);
        });
    });
};

exports.findAll = function(req, res) {
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.find().toArray(function(err, items) {
            res.send(items);
        });
    });
};

exports.addAccount = function(req, res) {
    var account = req.body;
    console.log('Adding account: ' + JSON.stringify(account));
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.insert(account, {safe:true}, function(err, result) {
        	console.log(result);
            if (err) {
                res.send({'error':'An error has occurred'});
            } else {
                console.log('Success: ' + JSON.stringify(result));
                res.send(result);
            }
        });
    });
}

exports.updateAccount = function(req, res) {
    var id = req.params.id;
    var account = req.body;
    console.log('Updating account: ' + id);
    console.log(JSON.stringify(account));
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.update({'_id':new ObjectID(id)}, account, {safe:true}, function(err, result) {
            if (err) {
                console.log('Error updating account: ' + err);
                res.send({'error':'An error has occurred'});
            } else {
                console.log('' + result + ' document(s) updated');
                res.send(account);
            }
        });
    });
}

exports.deleteAccount = function(req, res) {
    var id = req.params.id;
    console.log('Deleting account: ' + id);
    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.remove({'_id':new ObjectID(id)}, {safe:true}, function(err, result) {
            if (err) {
                res.send({'error':'An error has occurred - ' + err});
            } else {
                console.log('' + result + ' document(s) deleted');
                res.send(req.body);
            }
        });
    });
}

/*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
// Populate database with sample data -- Only used once: the first time the application is started.
// You'd typically not find this code in a real-life app, since the database would already exist.
var populateDB = function() {

    var accounts = [
    {
        name: "Jack",
        password: "1234"
    },
    {
        name: "admin",
        password: "70444999"
    }];

    db.collection('accounts', function(err, collection) {
        collection.insert(accounts, {safe:true}, function(err, result) {});
    });

};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. With a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. In 1086 when the Domesday Book was completed, Finedon was a large royal manor, previously held by Queen Edith. At this time, the village was known as Tingdene. This originates from the Old English words þing meaning assembly or meeting, and Denu meaning valley or vale. Tingdene and the later version, Thingdon, were used until the early nineteenth century, when finally Finedon became the commonly accepted version. The importance of Finedon, at the time of the Domesday Book is clear. With a population of 102, it was one of only four towns listed with a population greater than 50 in Northamptonshire.
Finedon's History Society, founded in 2000, is a group of dedicated local historians who's aim is to record the rich history of Finedon and to keep the town's past alive.
The Society run regular exhibitions.
Unofficial Society Forums @ foot of the page.


After an intense global competition of multiple firms, Texas Central has named international railway company Renfe as the train's operating partner, adding another top-tier industry leader to a project that will revolutionize Texas travel.
Renfe will collaborate with the design build consortium (recently announced the addition of Salini Impregilio as lead) and the technology partners to ensure a holistic, efficient approach for the Texas Central Railroad. The combination of these best in class global experts are setting the foundation for the new industry we are creating in the United States, right here in Texas.
Renfe is one of the world's most significant railways operators, running 5,000 trains daily on 7,500 miles of track. The company is integral to the transport system in Spain, its home base, handling more than 487 million passengers and 19.6 million tons of freight moved in 2017.
As an operator, Renfe's work is focused on providing train passengers with an excellent experience – from how they buy their tickets to safely carrying them down the tracks. Renfe has expertise in everything about operating and maintaining a train system. Significant work is necessary in this phase of the project to determine how the system components (track, bridges, signals, communications, trainsets) will be maintained during operations.
Selection of this operating partner marks another major step forward for the Houston-to-North Texas high-speed railroad, a project attracting interest from deeply experienced firms to bring Texas a new industry that offers a choice beyond traffic-clogged roads and the hassles of airline travel.
Renfe, in partnership with Adif, which manages Spanish railway infrastructure, will provide technical advice to help in the design and construction of the Texas train. They will assist in the further development of Texas Central's operation and maintenance plans, preparing the railroad for passenger service. The operator will run the trains and maintain system components such as the engines, signals and other equipment. They will also oversee development of ticketing platforms and procedures, passenger loyalty programs and other customer-facing passenger services to ensure a safe, comfortable and accessible journey for all.
What is this announcement of an operator for the Texas high-speed train and what does it mean?
Texas Central has chosen one of the world's premiere train operators, Renfe, to assist in developing the plans and procedures necessary to put the Texas high-speed train into service and provide Texans with a safe, reliable and predictable travel choice.
Renfe, in partnership with Adif, which manages Spanish railway infrastructure, will provide technical advice to help in the design and construction of Texas train and assist in the further development of Texas Central's operation and maintenance plans, preparing the railroad for passenger service. The operator will run the trains; maintain system components, such as the engines, signals and other equipment; oversee ticketing, passenger loyalty programs and other services.
Having the operator, the design build and technology teams all on board and able to collaborate is an import step in making sure all aspects of the railroad are integrated and efficient.
Who is Renfe and why/how was the company selected as the operator?
Texas Central invited a select group of the world's top train operators to participate in an international selection process. Through a competition of more than six months involving five companies, Texas Central chose Renfe as the best fit for the Texas high-speed train. Renfe brings to the project wide experience and proven qualifications in high-speed rail service. And, they have experience in successfully deploying trains into markets that are predominately automobile-centric.
What will Renfe's role look like once train operations begin?
As a strategic partner to Texas Central, Renfe will provide technical advice to develop plans and procedures needed to put the Texas high-speed train into service. This work will inform the final design of the train system, as well as construction.
Beyond this phase of work, Renfe could be awarded an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract and become operators of the Texas train, to provide safe and efficient passenger train service to Texans.
What kind of expertise does Renfe have?
Renfe, along with its sister companies of Adif and Ineco, has built and operated one of the world's largest high-speed rail systems in Spain. Additionally, they have recently put into service a new high-speed train line in Saudi Arabia, the Al Hariman line.
Renfe operates more than 5,000 high-speed trains daily and transported more than 487 million passengers last year.
How can we be sure Renfe can operate in a uniquely Texas market?
Renfe and its sister companies bring to Texas extensive experience in both establishing new service and in working with new technologies. This specific expertise makes Renfe the right fit for Texas, since this is the first ever high-speed train service here.
They will collaborate with the design build consortium (recently announced to be led by the addition of Salini Impreglio) and the technology partners to ensure a holistic, efficient approach for the Texas Central Railroad. The combination of these best in class global experts are setting the foundation for the new American industry we are creating here in Texas.
Does Renfe now have equity in the system? Is the company now an investor in the project?
No. Renfe is working under contract for the project.
How is Renfe's work different from the work other worldwide firms are doing on the project?
As an operator, Renfe's work is focused on providing train passengers with an excellent experience – from how they buy their tickets to safely carrying them down the tracks. Renfe has expertise in everything about operating and maintaining a train system.
Significant work is necessary in this phase of the project to determine how the system components (track, bridges, signals, communications, trainsets) will be maintained during operations.


text:
Seven Years' War: The Battle of Quiberon Bay
Print Collector/Getty Images
The Battle of Quiberon Bay was fought November 20, 1759, during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
Fleets and Commanders
Admiral Sir Edward Hawke
23 ships of the line
5 frigates
Marshal Comte de Conflans
In 1759, French military fortunes were waning as the British and their allies were gaining the upper hand in many theaters. Seeking a dramatic reversal of fortunes, the Duc de Choiseul began planning for an invasion of Britain. Preparations soon commenced and invasion craft was gathered for a thrust across the Channel. The French plans were badly damaged during the summer when a British attack on Le Havre wrecked many of these barges in July and Admiral Edward Boscawen defeated the French Mediterranean fleet at Lagos in August. Reassessing the situation, Choiseul decided to push forward with an expedition to Scotland. As such, transports were assembled in the protected waters of the Gulf of Morbihan while an invasion army formed near Vannes and Auray.
To escort the invasion force to Britain, the Comte de Conflans was to bring his fleet south from Brest to Quiberon Bay. This done, the combined force would move north against the enemy. Complicating this plan was the fact that Admiral Sir Edward Hawke's Western Squadron was holding Brest under close blockade. In early November, a large westerly gale struck the area and Hawke was forced to run north to Torbay. While the bulk of the squadron rode out the weather, he left Captain Robert Duff with five small ships of the line (50 guns each) and nine frigates to watch the invasion fleet at Morbihan. Taking advantage of the gale and shift in the wind, Conflans was able to slip out of Brest with twenty-one ships of the line on November 14.
Sighting the Enemy
That same day, Hawke departed Torbay to return to his blockade station off Brest. Sailing south, he learned two days later that Conflans had put to sea and was heading south. Moving to pursue, Hawke's squadron of twenty-three ships of the line used superior seamanship to close the gap despite contrary winds and worsening weather. Early on November 20, as he neared Quiberon Bay, Conflans spotted Duff's squadron. Badly outnumbered, Duff split his ships with one group moving north and the other moving south. Seeking an easy victory, Conflans ordered his van and center to pursue the enemy while his rearguard held back to observe strange sails approaching from the west.
Sailing hard, the first of Hawke's ships to spot the enemy was Captain Richard Howe's HMS Magnanime (70). Around 9:45 AM, Hawke signaled for a general chase and fired three guns. Devised by Admiral George Anson, this modification called for the seven leading ships to form line ahead as they chased. Pressing hard despite increasing gale winds, Hawke's squadron quickly closed with the French. This was aided by Conflans pausing to deploy his entire fleet in line ahead.
A Bold Attack
With the British approaching, Conflans steered for the safety of Quiberon Bay. Littered with a myriad of rocks and shoals, he did not believe Hawke would pursue him into its waters especially in heavy weather. Rounding Le Cardinaux, rocks at the entrance to the bay, at 2:30 PM, Conflans believed he had reached safety. Shortly after his flagship, Soleil Royal (80), passed the rocks, he heard the leading British ships opening fire on his rearguard. Charging in, Hawke, aboard HMS Royal George (100), had no intention of breaking off the pursuit and decided to let the French ships serve as his pilots in the bay's dangerous waters. With the British captains seeking to engage his ships, Conflans' tacked his fleet up the bay hoping to reach the Morbihan.
With the British ships seeking individual actions, a dramatic shift the wind occurred around 3:00 PM. This saw the gale begin blowing from the northwest and made the Morbihan unreachable for the French. Forced to change his plan, Conflans sought to exit the bay with his unengaged ships and make for open water before nightfall. Passing Le Cardinaux at 3:55 PM, Hawke was pleased to see the French reverse course and moving in his direction. He immediately directed Royal George's sailing master to put the ship alongside Conflans' flagship. As he did so, other British ships were fighting their own battles. This saw the flagship of the French rearguard, Formidable (80), captured and HMS Torbay (74) cause Thésée (74) to founder.
Wearing towards Dumet Island, Conflans' group came under direct attack from Hawke. Engaging Superbe (70), Royal George sank the French ship with two broadsides. Shortly after this, Hawke saw an opportunity to rake Soleil Royal but was thwarted by Intrépide (74). As the fighting raged, the French flagship collided with two of its comrades. With daylight fading, Conflans found that he had been forced south towards Le Croisic and was leeward of the large Four Shoal. Unable to escape before nightfall, he directed his remaining ships to anchor. Around 5:00 PM Hawke issued similar orders however part of the fleet failed to receive the message and continued pursuing French ships northeast towards the River Vilaine. Though six French ships safely entered the river, a seventh, Inflexible (64), grounded at its mouth.
During the night, HMS Resolution (74) was lost on the Four Shoal, while nine French ships successfully escaped the bay and made for Rochefort. One of these, the battle-damaged Juste (70), was lost on the rocks near St. Nazaire. When the sun rose on November 21, Conflans found that Soleil Royal and Héros (74) were anchored near the British fleet. Quickly cutting their lines, they attempted to make for the harbor of Le Croisic and were pursued by the British. Proceeding in heavy weather, both French ships grounded on the Four Shoal as did HMS Essex (64). The next day, when the weather had improved, Conflans ordered Soleil Royal burned while British sailors crossed to and set Héros afire.
A stunning and daring victory, the Battle of Quiberon Bay saw the French lose seven ships of the line and Conflans' fleet shattered as an effective fighting force. The defeat ended French hopes of mounting any type of invasion in 1759. In exchange, Hawke lost two ships of the line on the shoals of Quiberon Bay. Lauded for his aggressive tactics, Hawke shifted his blockading efforts south to the bay and the Biscay ports. Having broken the back of French naval strength, the Royal Navy was increasingly free to operate against French colonies worldwide.
The Battle of Quiberon Bay marked the final victory of Britain's Annus Mirabilis of 1759. This year of victories saw British and allied forces have success at Fort Duquesne, Guadeloupe, Minden, Lagos, as well as Major General James Wolfe's victory at the Battle of Quebec.
History of War: Battle of Quiberon Bay
Royal Navy: Battle of Quiberon Bay
French & Indian/Seven Years' War
The Seven Years War 1756 - 63
Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar
The French & Indian War/The Seven Years' War: An Overview
American Revolution: Battle of the Saintes
American Revolution: Battle of the Chesapeake
Napoleonic Wars: Battle of the Basque Roads
Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of Cape St. Vincent
French and Indian War: Battle of Quebec (1759)
French & Indian/Seven Years' War: 1760-1763
Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of the Nile


Standard-duty 30º acute angle snap-off blade for use in a multitude of applications. This blade is made from high quality carbon tool steel for unparalleled sharpness and superior edge retention. Fits most OLFA Standard-Duty Knives. Seven cutting edges per blade strip. 10 blades per pack.


There are many times in a person's life when they really want to look their best. Perhaps it is for a high school reunion or for a wedding, and probably the most popular time for wanting to look good is during swimsuit season. For all of these times, and many more times, most people's focus turns to their stomach and they start thinking about excursuses to flatten stomachs.
People tend to think that a flatter stomach means better looks and most people want to look their best. A flat stomach does go beyond looks however; there are medical reasons why people should concentrate on exercises to flatten the stomach. Medical evidence suggests that people that carry extra weight around the stomach tend to be more likely to develop serious medical conditions, including diabetes. The stomach is also the core of the body, this means that the stronger and healthier the core is, the more likely the rest of the body will be as well. Consider a person with back problems, which is a common problem with many people. These people benefit greatly from doing exercises to flatten their stomachs. This will help improve posture and relieve tension in the back as access weight is removed from the center of the body. When a stomach is flat, it also helps the person to walk taller and straighter, giving the person more confidence and improves their overall looks compared to a person that walks hunched over.
Besides looks and health, another reason why exercises to flatten stomach muscles are popular is because they are easy to do. They can be done practically anywhere, in a gym, at home in front of the television or anywhere else. They also do not take equipment to do. While there are plenty of machines and smaller pieces of equipment all geared for flattening a stomach, they are not necessarily needed to get the same results. All a person needs is some room to lie down and the desire to improve their stomach. There are a wide variety of exercises that target this area of the body, so a person can choose which moves will work best for him or her.
Because this type of exercise is so popular, most workout programs, whether on a video watched at home, a health club or any other program a person follows, will include exercises to flatten stomach muscles, because it is so important to keep them strong and also because of the popularity of this type of exercise. Most people are not interested in simply working on their legs or arms or other parts of their bodies unless they are exercising their stomach as well.
Obviously there are many reasons why people want to flatten their stomach and spend a lot of time doing exercises to flatten the stomach. Whether the reason is vanity or health, it is important to remember that like with all things, it will take time to get the desired results and a person must stick to whatever program they are comfortable with until they have the stomach they want. The good news is that stomach muscles respond very well to even a little exercise, with some exercise and a good healthy diet, most people can see results, provided there is no medical reason why they probably won't succeed.


text:
Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry
Edmund Abaka, George Xorse Kumasenu
Badagry, a lagoonside city in Lagos State, Nigeria, is of tremendous historical significance due to its long history of slave trading, which dates from the early sixteenth century and reached a peak in the 1720s. The city attracted prominent local and Portuguese slave merchants such as Felix de Souza, Domingo Martinez, and Ferman Gomez as pioneer slave merchants in the city. This paper argues that the trade in enslaved persons was a significant factor in the rise of Badagry as a prominent lagoonside city on the coast of West Africa. Today, Badagry is an important historical city because of its trans-Atlantic connections and sites of historical memory that vividly capture, preserve, and tell the story and experiences of the enslaved as essential dimensions of African, African diaspora, and world history. The barracoons, the Vlekete slave market that was, and still is, beside the shrine of the chief priest (Aplogan) of Badagry, the heritage museum, and the "point of no return"at Gberefu beach, constitute some of the remarkable sites of historical memory that still dot the city of Badagry.
African Economic History
https://doi.org/10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
Dive into the research topics of 'Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Historical Memory Arts & Humanities 100%
Remembrance Arts & Humanities 91%
Slavery Arts & Humanities 76%
Slaves Arts & Humanities 37%
Merchants Arts & Humanities 31%
Transatlantic Connections Arts & Humanities 24%
Slave Market Arts & Humanities 23%
1720s Arts & Humanities 21%
Abaka, E., & Kumasenu, G. X. (2021). Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry. African Economic History, 49(1), 104-126. https://doi.org/10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory : The case of badagry. / Abaka, Edmund; Kumasenu, George Xorse.
In: African Economic History, Vol. 49, No. 1, 2021, p. 104-126.
Abaka, E & Kumasenu, GX 2021, 'Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry', African Economic History, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 104-126. https://doi.org/10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
Abaka E, Kumasenu GX. Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry. African Economic History. 2021;49(1):104-126. https://doi.org/10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
Abaka, Edmund ; Kumasenu, George Xorse. / Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory : The case of badagry. In: African Economic History. 2021 ; Vol. 49, No. 1. pp. 104-126.
@article{503d89e1e0634c469a764b4ddb2b7f59,
title = "Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory: The case of badagry",
abstract = "Badagry, a lagoonside city in Lagos State, Nigeria, is of tremendous historical significance due to its long history of slave trading, which dates from the early sixteenth century and reached a peak in the 1720s. The city attracted prominent local and Portuguese slave merchants such as Felix de Souza, Domingo Martinez, and Ferman Gomez as pioneer slave merchants in the city. This paper argues that the trade in enslaved persons was a significant factor in the rise of Badagry as a prominent lagoonside city on the coast of West Africa. Today, Badagry is an important historical city because of its trans-Atlantic connections and sites of historical memory that vividly capture, preserve, and tell the story and experiences of the enslaved as essential dimensions of African, African diaspora, and world history. The barracoons, the Vlekete slave market that was, and still is, beside the shrine of the chief priest (Aplogan) of Badagry, the heritage museum, and the {"}point of no return{"}at Gberefu beach, constitute some of the remarkable sites of historical memory that still dot the city of Badagry. ",
author = "Edmund Abaka and Kumasenu, {George Xorse}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.",
doi = "10.1353/AEH.2021.0004",
journal = "African Economic History",
publisher = "University of Wisconsin at Madison",
T1 - Slavery, remembrance, and sites of historical memory
T2 - The case of badagry
AU - Abaka, Edmund
AU - Kumasenu, George Xorse
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
N2 - Badagry, a lagoonside city in Lagos State, Nigeria, is of tremendous historical significance due to its long history of slave trading, which dates from the early sixteenth century and reached a peak in the 1720s. The city attracted prominent local and Portuguese slave merchants such as Felix de Souza, Domingo Martinez, and Ferman Gomez as pioneer slave merchants in the city. This paper argues that the trade in enslaved persons was a significant factor in the rise of Badagry as a prominent lagoonside city on the coast of West Africa. Today, Badagry is an important historical city because of its trans-Atlantic connections and sites of historical memory that vividly capture, preserve, and tell the story and experiences of the enslaved as essential dimensions of African, African diaspora, and world history. The barracoons, the Vlekete slave market that was, and still is, beside the shrine of the chief priest (Aplogan) of Badagry, the heritage museum, and the "point of no return"at Gberefu beach, constitute some of the remarkable sites of historical memory that still dot the city of Badagry.
AB - Badagry, a lagoonside city in Lagos State, Nigeria, is of tremendous historical significance due to its long history of slave trading, which dates from the early sixteenth century and reached a peak in the 1720s. The city attracted prominent local and Portuguese slave merchants such as Felix de Souza, Domingo Martinez, and Ferman Gomez as pioneer slave merchants in the city. This paper argues that the trade in enslaved persons was a significant factor in the rise of Badagry as a prominent lagoonside city on the coast of West Africa. Today, Badagry is an important historical city because of its trans-Atlantic connections and sites of historical memory that vividly capture, preserve, and tell the story and experiences of the enslaved as essential dimensions of African, African diaspora, and world history. The barracoons, the Vlekete slave market that was, and still is, beside the shrine of the chief priest (Aplogan) of Badagry, the heritage museum, and the "point of no return"at Gberefu beach, constitute some of the remarkable sites of historical memory that still dot the city of Badagry.
U2 - 10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
DO - 10.1353/AEH.2021.0004
JO - African Economic History
JF - African Economic History


Inducing Crohn's disease issues is easier than you'd think. You have to find a food that bothers you, and eat it, and you look for pain and inflammation. Simple as that.
Knowing I had the Pill-Camera to look forward to on Tuesday, we planned on lasagna for Sunday night, because for month's it has been a consistent problem for me. (See Another Week) And, without fail, issues occurred, and it ended up being my last meal until after I swallowed the camera.
I was technically allowed to have food until Monday at noon, but my stomach was still hurting on Monday, much like most of my weekend, so I skipped on my last chance at food, and I regretted it by dinnertime. I was starving.
Not only do you not get food, but after 8 PM you cannot even have liquids or water, and I was dying to have my bottled water at bedtime. Knowing I had to be at Good Sam at 6:30 AM, I got up at 4:45 to 'get ready'. I know, that's a long time, but I do my face, my hair, etc, etc, all WITHOUT coffee. I am slow in the mornings, so without coffee, I lollygag.
This was the first time in a week that I had actually put on my 'full' makeup, and I had to get ready for Def Leppard, too, because I wouldn't have a chance post-capsule.
We got to Good Sam's, and had to wait in their creepy waiting area, and I got to fill out forms with information. Then I got to repeat the information to the nurse, and then repeat it to Dr. H, with lots of questions in between.
Like, Do I know what I'm having done? – Yes, Capsule Endoscopy – although nothing is being done. I swallow a camera, wear a fanny pack, and then return the equipment – the fanny pack and box receiver, not the camera itself.
Do I have other insurance? – No, the VA is my sole provider.
Considering this wasn't my first time, I was an easy check-in for Good Sam's, and I got the consult and camera pretty quickly. With no problems other than Crohn's Disease, the capsule was approved and I finally got to have a glass of water.
I am rather upset at myself for not waving 'Hello' to my doctor before swallowing the camera, and I'm sure Dr. H would have found it funny. I know I would.
Capsule endoscopy #2 Pill camera endoscopy. Mary Horsley.
And, 8 hours later, I got to return the equipment. By this point, my hips are hurting from wearing the heavy belt all day, and my neck starts to get bothered having something rubbing on it all day. You find yourself constantly adjusting everything, but never being comfortable.
You can't move 'too' much, for fear of lodging the camera inside into a funny position.
The last thing I needed was a bowel obstruction to add to my day.
The good thing about outside appointments? I usually get results quicker than the VA would provide. It was literally 24 hours and I was already receiving a call from Dr. H. This is the type of care I expect!
But, Dr. H was not just calling about my results, she was calling to schedule me an immediate x-ray because she was worried about the pill-camera getting stuck, because of my multiple ulcerations in my small bowel and repeat images in the capsule endoscopy video.
It's pretty bad when a doctor calls you worrying about your issues.
I had to tell her that the camera made its reappearance with NO BOWEL OBSTRUCTION. Hallelujah!
According to the Capsule endoscopy, I had multiple ulcerations that would explain my bleeding fits, my stomach pain, and my issues. Capsule endoscopy 2 shows us that there are early erosion's in my upper stomach, with an increase in ulcerations and mucosal changes compared to Capsule endoscopy 1 from 5 months ago. This Capsule endoscopy helps to show more erosion's and 'patchy' areas, consistent with Crohn's disease in my small intestine, specifically my Ileum.
It's so bizarre there are numerous spots of inflammation shown with the capsule, but none of my blood tests, samples or scopes have shown issues.
When I tried to call Dr. R, my GI doctor who I just visited and who scheduled the capsule, I was told he had 'just graduated', and that he would no longer be my doctor. Go Figure, I get to begin again.
So, I was placed with a new doctor, Dr. Wolf, who should be available at the VA for 3 years. I will have a new consult with her on August 25, the soonest appointment available, to discuss medications, the capsule, and the Double Balloon endoscopy.
Hopefully I will have scheduled the Double Balloon endoscopy procedure by that appointment, and hopefully, I can be put on the new medication for my issues.
But, that's another month away, and another month that I get to deal with my issues without relief. Ugh.
For our Infertility Journey this week, See Is ALL Hope Lost, Again?
Check out Pinterest and our Facebook for daily updates!
good luck to you my dear. how are you now? im going through same thing. i enjoy your writing.
Great! I had a really bad year but I am seeing a great nutritionist Dr. Grovit. He has put me on a strict diet and has me on probiotics and an herbal supplement. I am seeing improvements for the last two and a half months.


Welcome to the westernmost village on the Dutch coast – but the inland border of West-Zeeland-Flanders goes a bit further. Next stop, Belgium.
Five hundred years ago, Retranchement was much larger, surrounded by impressive defences. In 1604, Prince Maurits built two forts here, later walled in. Today Fort Nassau still stands, and you can take a walk over the walls.
A small and impressive reminder of those times is the single-nave church – and its pulpit – dating from 1630. It was used by the soldiers lodged in the forts.
The windmill of Retranchement is a corn and hulling mill, in a post mill design. It has stood on the Molenstraat since 1818. A previous mill there, dating from 1643, had been blown over. The very first owner of the new one, a certain Bartolemeus de Vos, had to pay an annual tithe of three guilders for "use of the wind". It can be visited on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer, and at other times by appointment.
Border towns always have their special personalities. Here it's the Triplets of Retranchement: three border posts (poles), each numbered 364. Which one is the real border? Ah, the one in the middle. Lying alongside the watery Zwin area, when the posts were installed, tides and currents still flowed here, making it a bit hard to agree on the border. Solution: multiply the options and establish a consensus. It's what neighbours do.
Among the events featuring regularly in our diary is the Summer Festival. A freelyaccessible afternoon of music. More about this and other events in Retranchement on our Events Calendar.


text:
The first compact, full-color LCD projector was released by Epson in 1989. Several advances have been made since, and in 2005 Mitsubishi unveiled the world's…
The first compact, full-color LCD projector was released by Epson in 1989. Several advances have been made since, and in 2005 Mitsubishi unveiled the world's first pocket projector. It's so small that it fits in the palm of your hand.
Best Nebula projector
Which Nebula projectors are best?
Outdoor summer parties might be well and truly over, but that doesn't mean the home entertainment should stop. Gather up some friends, switch on the popcorn machine, and dish out some eggnog while having an epic movie marathon with a projector.
It's much better than viewing films on a television, as it nearly has the same charm as an old-school film projector. Been thinking of getting a smart projector? Take a look at the Nebula Cosmos Max, and you'll see why it comes highly rated.
What to know before you buy a Nebula projector
The projectors are made by Anker
Although the website and the projectors are sold under the Nebula name, they are made and distributed by Anker Innovations. The company is China-based and has become well-known for its power banks, charging solutions and mobile accessories. You can also find Anker headphones and USB hubs in the U.S.
The models fall into two categories
Anker's Nebula division is solely responsible for projectors. There are several models available in the U.S, and they all fall into one of two categories. The "Go Anywhere" series is focused on portable projectors that can be used where electricity is a bit of a luxury. The "Around the Home" series is geared towards home entertainment, and the projectors are more robust than the former series.
You can watch almost any content on them
Apart from having USB and HDMI connections, the Nebula projectors use the Android operating system. This means that you can download and install various apps onto it, including Netflix, Hulu, ESPN and Disney+. You can even connect a Google Chromecast to the projectors to view all of your favorite streaming options in one place.
What to look for in a quality Nebula projector
Resolution and pixel density
Nebula projectors are made from high-quality materials and components, so you would expect the resolution to match. And in fact, it does, as all but two Nebula projectors have a resolution of 1080p or better. All models also have autofocus, so you know that any content you watch will always have the best clarity.
Throwing distance and size
The throwing distance (or projection size) of a projector is important as it can influence the overall size of the display, the resolution, and the clarity. The projection size is determined by several factors, but mostly the device's brightness. A good quality projector will be able to show a 100-inch display at a distance of 9 feet.
The light source type
Projectors generally come with one of two light sources: Digital Light Processing (DLP) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The latter uses three red, green and blue chips through which the light travels to create the colors, whereas DLP uses a color wheel with microscopic tilting mirrors to project the footage. They are considered to be lighter, portable, and more reliable than LCD light sources.
How much you can expect to spend on a Nebula projector
The cost of a Nebula projector will depend on the series, the capabilities, and the output resolution of the footage. An entry-level projector from Nebula retails for between $200-$300. A fully-featured Nebula projector can set you back between $600-$1,600.
Nebula projector FAQ
Can you connect Bluetooth speakers to a Nebula projector?
A. In most cases, you will be able to connect a Bluetooth device like speakers to a Nebula projector. But of course, the projector needs to have a Bluetooth transmitter for it to work.
What screen do you use with a projector?
A. This will depend on the projector that you have, the brightness and the light source. But in most scenarios, a portable white screen will work just fine. Just keep in mind the room size (if it's not being used outdoors), the seating arrangements and the projector's maximum throwing distance.
What's the best Nebula projector to buy?
Top Nebula projector
Nebula Cosmos Max projector
What you need to know: A fantastic projector for 4K content and surround sound.
What you'll love: The Cosmos Max is best utilized when in the center of the audience, as it has a full 360-degree sound system built in. It can handle content up to 4K resolution and is rather bright at 1,500 lumens. With the built-in zoom, it has a maximum projection distance of 150-inches, which is easily adjusted with remote control. It also features upscaling technology for content that is below 4K.
What you should consider: The hefty price tag puts this projector out of reach for many.
Top Nebula projector for the money
Nebula Capsule projector
What you need to know: A small and portable projector that's perfect for home movies.
What you'll love: The smallest projector from Nebula is no bigger than a soda can. Best used in dimmer environments, it only has a brightness of 100 lumens. It has a resolution of 854×480 (below HD) and features a 5-watt, 360-degree speaker. Thousands of additional apps can be downloaded from the Android app store
What you should consider: The resolution will not be sufficient for those that require a full HD experience.
Nebula Solar Portable Projector
What you need to know: No electricity? No problem.
What you'll love: The solar-powered projector from Nebula is the perfect way to watch films if you don't have a power source. It's not the projector itself that works off the power of the sun, but rather that the built-in batteries are solar-rechargeable. In terms of projection quality, it can project up to 120 inches at a full-HD resolution. It has two, 3-watt, built-in speakers powered by Dolby Digital Plus. It has a little stand that pops out of the bottom so that you can view content at a maximum incline of 13 degrees.
What you should consider: The fully charged battery can last for only three hours when disconnected from Wi-Fi and the volume is set to 80%.