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Justia Patents ApplicatorsUS Patent for Method and apparatus for R-F ablation Patent (Patent # 5,980,516)
Method and apparatus for R-F ablation
Mar 9, 1998 - Medtronic, Inc.
An ablation catheter and a method of performing cardiac ablation. The catheter is provided with a hollow, helical electrode, which is screwed into cardiac tissue at a desired ablation site and connected to a source of R-F electrical energy to ablate the tissue adjacent the electrode. Prior to ablation, a conductive fluid may be injected through the hollow needle, both to provide for cooling of the tissue adjacent the needle and to increase the conductivity of the tissue in the area of the electrode.
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This invention relates generally to the field of devices for cardiac surgery, and more specifically to devices for R-F ablation of cardiac tissue.
The present invention is directed toward treatment of tachyarrhythmias, which are heart rhythms in which an chamber or chamber of the heart exhibits an excessively fast rhythm. In particular, the present invention is directed toward treatment of tachycardias, which are due to the presence of ectopic foci within the cardiac tissue or due to the presence of aberrant condition pathways within the cardiac tissue.
Therapies have been developed for treating tachycardias by destroying cardiac tissue containing identified ectopic foci or aberrant conduction pathways. A variety of approaches have been taken, including application of electrical energy or other forms of energy to destroy the undesired cardiac tissue. As examples, ablation of cardiac tissue has been accomplished by means of radio frequency electrical current, microwave energy, heat, electrical pulses, cryothermy, and lasers. At present, ablation using R-F energy is perhaps the most widely practiced in the context of ablation procedures that can be carried out by means of a catheter, inserted into the closed heart.
Most R-F ablation catheters employ electrodes which are intended to contact the endocardium of the heart, or, in some cases as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,565, are intended to penetrate the endocardium, and enter the myocardium. In general, R-F ablation catheters are effective to induce small lesions in heart tissue including the endocardium and inner layers of myocardium, in the immediate vicinity of the electrode. However, the medical community has expressed a desire for devices which produce larger lesions, to reduce the number of applications of R-F energy (burns) required to effectively ablate the cardiac tissue associated with the tachycardia.
R-F ablation causes tissue in contact with the electrode to heat through resistance of the tissue to the induced electrical current therethrough. The actual extent of heating is somewhat unpredictable. However, temperature tends to rise as the duration and amplitude of the R-F signal increase. Heating of the tissue beyond a certain point can cause dissection or charring of the tissue, resulting in a high impedance between the R-F electrode and the return electrode, which in turn leads to cessation of the heating process, and, in some cases, sticking of the electrode to the charred tissue. One response to this phenomenon has been the inclusion of thermocouple within the ablation electrode, in conjunction with feedback control to modulate the R-F signal to maintain the electrode temperature at a set parameter. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,137.
The present invention is directed toward improving the consistency and efficacy of R-F ablation, and to increase the overall size and extent of the lesions induced by R-F ablation. These goals are pursued by means of an ablation catheter employing a helical electrode intended to be screwed into the myocardium at the site intended for ablation. The helical electrode provides an enlarged surface are as compared to relatively straight or needle-like electrodes for insertion into the endocardium, and also serves to stabilize the location of the catheter during the application of the R-F signal. In addition, there is essentially no bleeding following removal of the helical electrode, so it can safely be placed in multiple locations for mapping and ablation purposes.
An additional aspect of the invention in its preferred embodiment is the provision of a non-toxic, non-arrhythmogenic, conductive solution such as Ringer's solution to the area of the electrode, before and during application of R-F energy. In its preferred embodiment, the helical electrode is hollow, and the conductive solution is applied through one or more apertures in the electrode. The conductive solution injected prior to application of the R-F signal is believed to displace blood in the vicinity of the electrode. Ringer's solution, for example, has a much higher conductivity than blood (approximately 3-4.times.) or cardiac muscle (approximately 7.times.), overall resistance to the induced electrical current is reduced, which is believed to assist in expanding the size of the lesion, by spreading the effective area of application of the electrical current over a wider area. Application of the conductive solution during the burn further assists by preventing overheating of the tissue, allowing for a prolonged application of the R-F signal, extending beyond the point at which burning or charring would otherwise normally occur. Both of these factors are believed to contribute to an increase in the overall size of the lesion produced by application of R-F energy at a particular location.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a catheter adapted to perform the improved method of R-F ablation, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cutaway view through the distal end of the catheter illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate alternative embodiments of the helical electrode of the catheter illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 6 illustrates the associated apparatus for administration of conductive solution before and during application of R-F energy to the helical electrode.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a catheter specifically designed for performing R-F ablation according to the present invention. The catheter includes an elongated catheter body 10, comprising an insulative outer sheath 12, which may be made of polyurethane, teflon, or other biocompatible plastic. A hollow, helical electrode 14 is located at the distal end of the catheter and is coupled to the distal end of an internal tube, running the length of the catheter. At the proximal end of the catheter a fitting 16 is located, to which luer lock 18 is coupled. Luer lock 18 is coupled to the proximal end of the internal tube. A swivel mount 20 is mounted to luer lock 18, allowing rotation of the catheter relative to luer lock 22. Luer lock 22 is intended to be coupled to a source of conductive fluid such as Ringer's solution, and allows for application of the Ringer's solution through the catheter and through electrode 14, while electrode 14 is being screwed into heart tissue. An electrical connector 24 exits fitting 16, and is coupled to electrode 14, allowing for the use of electrode 14 to apply R-F energy to heart tissue. Electrode 14 may also be employed for other related functions such as measurement of electrograms within the heart and pacing of heart tissue by application of low energy pulses appropriate for cardiac pacing. In use, the catheter is advanced to the desired site for ablation, which preferably has been previously identified by means of cardiac mapping in a fashion similar to cardiac mapping presently employed with R-F ablation procedures. The catheter may be guided to the desired location by being passed down a steerable or guidable catheter, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,204, issued to Badger et al., or by means of a fixed configuration guide catheter, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,393, issued to Isner, both of which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Alternatively, the catheter may be advanced to the desired site within a heart by means of a deflectable stylet, as disclosed in PCT Patent Application WO 93/04724, published Mar. 18, 1993, or a deflectable guidewire as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,660, issued to Gambale, et al., both of which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. When the hollow needle 14 is located at the desired location it is screwed into heart tissue by rotating the catheter body. A torque cable within the catheter body provides for 1:1 torque transfer from the proximal end of the catheter to the hollow needle 14.
When advanced to the desired location, luer lock 22 is coupled to a pressurized source of Ringer's solution. An appropriate source is discussed in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 6 below. However, for purposes of the present invention, a source of Ringer's solution capable of delivering 1 cc per minute of solution at atmospheric pressure has been found to be adequate. Delivery of Ringer's solution should begin before or at the time at which the electrode 14 is screwed into the tissue to be ablated. In animal experimentation, the inventors have found that delivery of Ringer's solution for a period of two minutes prior to the delivery of R-F energy assists in producing a larger but still controlled, regular lesion.
After the electrode has been located, and Ringer's solution has been administered for the desired period of time, electrical connector 24 is coupled to an R-F electrosurgical power source, of the type commercially available and employed for cutting an electro-coagulation. The present inventors have employed a Blendtome brand electrosurgical generator, Model No. 755, coagulation setting number 7, cutting setting number 1. At these settings, a prolonged application of R-F energy, e.g., one minute or so, may be employed to produce a large, controlled lesion. Greater or lesser time periods may be employed, however, time periods less than 20 seconds may be counter-indicated, as it appears that the cooling effect of the Ringer's solution, in such shorter R-F application times, may actually decrease the effective size of the lesion.
After R-F ablation, the electrode 14 may be coupled to a cardiac pacemaker, and cardiac pacing energy may be delivered to the lesion site in an attempt to measure the pacing threshold. Pacing threshold may be measured by delivering pacing pulses at differing energy levels, e.g. by altering pulse amplitude or width, and determining the minimum energy level effective to cause a depolarization of cardiac tissue. The inventors believe that the higher the pacing threshold, assuming a relatively homogenous lesion, the greater lesion size. As such, the electrode 14 can be used to derive a rough estimate of overall lesion size. The electrode 14 may also be coupled EKG monitoring equipment to assist in determining whether the tachycardia persists and whether the tissue in the vicinity of the electrode is still participating in aberrant conduction or ectopic activity, associated with the tachycardia.
The helical configuration of electrode 14 is believed to be particularly beneficial in the context of an ablation electrode. Because the electrode is screwed into and completely located within the heart tissue, out of the bloodstream, application of R-F energy is limited to the tissue itself. This differs from traditional R-F ablation electrodes, which simply contact the endocardium, with the result that a substantial portion of the energy applied is dissipated in the blood within the heart adjacent the electrode site. Moreover, R-F energy applied to the bloodstream may cause clotting of the blood adjacent the electrode, and raise the risk of clots breaking loose of the electrode.
The helical electrode also provides a substantially increased surface area as compared to the needle-like electrodes proposed in the above cited Parins patent, and also serves to anchor the catheter reliably during application of the R-F energy. In addition, the helical shape of the electrode prevents the application of conductive solution through the electrode from causing the electrode to be backed out of its insertion site due to hydraulic pressure, as might occur if a straight, hollow electrode were employed. The elongated path defined by the helical electrode also reduces the possibility of leakage of conductive fluid along the needle and out of the heart tissue.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway version through the end of the catheter illustrated in FIG. 1. In this view, it can be seen that helical electrode 14 is provided with an internal lumen 26 which is in communication with the internal lumen of a tube 30. Tube 30 extends to the proximal end of the catheter and is in full communication with luer lock 18, as discussed above, tube 30 may be fabricated of polyimide tubing or of stainless steel tubing. In the present invention, the stainless steel tubing serves as an additional conductor, coupling electrode 14 to electrical connector 24 and enhancing the overall conductivity of the catheter. The use of polyimide tubing, while reducing the overall conductivity of the catheter enhances the flexibility somewhat, and may be beneficial in some cases. It is recommended to apply a steady flow of Ringer's solution through the tubing to electrode 14 during passage catheter through the vascular system to the electrode site, if possible. The flow of Ringer's solution in this case assists in maintaining the patency of the lumen of tubing 30, and prevents plugging of the exit ports of the electrode as it is advanced into the cardiac muscle.
Surrounding tube 30 are two coils 32 and 34, which are wound in opposite directions, to provide a torque cable. In the case of the specific devices employed by the inventors, a torque cable as manufactured by Lake Region Manufacturing Company of Chaska, Minn. was employed, which torque cable is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,421, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Coils 32 and 34 also serve as conductors. As illustrated, tubing 30 is between metal coils 32 and 34 and helical electrode 14. However, if polyimide tubing is used, the coils 32 and 34 will serve as the only conductor and thus will be electrically coupled to electrode 14 by means of welding, soldering or mechanical interconnection. Insulative sleeve 12 serves both to provide a smooth exterior for the catheter and to insulate the metal coils 32 and 34, along the length of the catheter.
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate alternate embodiments of the helical electrode illustrated in FIG. 2. The electrode in FIG. 2 comprises a hollow tube having a single exit port located as its distal end. Electrode 36, illustrated in FIG. 3, corresponds to electrode 14 with the exception that additional exit ports 38, 40 and 42 have been added, allowing for dispensing of the Ringer's solution along the length of the helix. Ports 38, 40 and 42 may be laser drilled, and may be spaced in any desired fashion around the circumference of electrode 36 and along the length of electrode 36. Preferably, it is believed desirable to have ports spaced around the full circumference of the electrode, to provide for an even dispensing and dispersing of Ringer's solution.
Electrode 44, illustrated in FIG. 4 is a second alternative embodiment of a helical electrode corresponding to electrode 14, but with the addition of an insulative sleeve 46, which covers the proximal portion of the electrode. Sleeve 46 limits the application of R-F energy to the distal portion of the electrode. Optionally, additional exit ports corresponding to ports 38, 40 and 42 illustrated in FIG. 43 may also be employed in conjunction with electrode 44. These additional exit ports may be limited to the exposed, uninsulated portion of electrode 44, or may extend along the entire length of electrode 44.
Electrode 48, illustrated in FIG. 5 is a third alternative embodiment corresponding generally to electrode 14. However, in this case, electrode 48 is provided with a thermocouple 50 located in the distal end of electrode 48. Thermocouple wires 52 and 54 extend backwards through the lumen within electrode 48 and are used to monitor the temperature at the tip of the electrode, for use in feedback control of power applied to the electrode as described in the above-cited patent issued to Lennox et al. Only one of thermocouple wires 54 and 52 is insulated, and the other is simply coupled to the interior of electrode 48. In order to employ the electrode of FIG. 4B, an additional electrical connector would have to be added to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, in order to allow connection to the thermocouple wire not connected to electrode 48. Alternatively, both thermocouple wires may be insulated, requiring two additional electrical connectors at the proximal end of the device, each coupled to one of the thermocouple wires. It should be noted that the thermocouple 50 effectively blocks the distal opening of the lumen within electrode 48, so that Ringer's solution will be dispensed only by means of side ports 56, 58 and 60.
FIG. 6 illustrates a pressurized source for Ringer's solution which may be employed in conjunction with catheter illustrated in FIG. 1. A reservoir 100 is provided, which is commercially manufactured by Block Medical Inc., and sold under the brand name "Home Pump". The reservoir contains Ringer's solution and provides Ringer's solution at one atmosphere pressure to flow control 102, via filter 104. Flow control 102 may, for example, provide a flow limit of 20 drops or 1 cc per minute. Flow control 102 is coupled to a second flow control element 104, which, in the experimental apparatus employed by the inventors allows for additional adjustability of flow rates. Flow control 104 is coupled to the luer lock 22, illustrated in FIG. 1, which in turn is in fluid communication with electrode 14 (FIG. 1), allowing delivery of Ringer's solution to the electrode. An electrosurgical generator 200 for providing R-F electrical energy is illustrated in functional block form, coupled to electrical connector 24 and to a ground plate electrode 202 (not drawn to scale). All other labeled elements correspond to those illustrated in FIG. 1.
Wile the embodiment illustrated above requires a second element (e.g. a guide catheter or guide wire) for advancing and positioning the catheter at its desired location, it is anticipated that the basic apparatus disclosed above may also be incorporated into catheters which themselves are steerable or deflectable, similar to R-F ablation catheters presently in clinical investigation. Similarly, it is anticipated that in commercial embodiments, alternative mechanisms (e.g. precision pumps) for controlling the flow of Ringer's solution may be employed. Similarly, while the inventors have employed Ringer's solution, other alternative fluids may be workable as well. As such, the embodiment discussed above should be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, in conjunction with the following claims.
1. A catheter system, comprising a catheter and a fluid reservoir, wherein said catheter comprises:
a catheter body proximal end, a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen;
a hollow helical needle mounted to the distal end of said catheter body, in fluid communication with said longitudinal lumen; and
a fluid coupling mounted to the proximal end of the catheter body, in fluid communication with said longitudinal lumen; and
wherein said fluid reservoir is coupled to said fluid coupling whereby fluid in said reservoir can be delivered through said hollow helical needle.
2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for regulating flow from said reservoir to said hollow helical needle.
3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said reservoir contains a saline solution.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said catheter body further comprises an electrical conductor, coupled to said hollow helical needle.
5. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said reservoir contains a conductive fluid.
6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said catheter body further comprises an electrical conductor, coupled to said hollow helical needle and extending proximally therefrom in said catheter body.
7. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said catheter body comprises a torque transfer member, coupled to said hollow helical needle.
8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said torque transfer member comprises a torque cable, coupled to said hollow helical needle and extending proximally therefrom in said catheter body.
9. A system according to claim 7 wherein said torque transfer member is coupled to the proximal end of the catheter body.
10. A system according to claim 7 wherein said torque transfer member is fabricated of a conductive material.
11. A system according to claim 7 wherein said reservoir contains a conductive solution.
12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said catheter body further comprises an electrical conductor coupled to said hollow helical needle and extending proximally therefrom in said catheter body.
13. A system according to claim 7 wherein said reservoir contains a saline solution.
4026301 May 31, 1977 Friedman et al.
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5003990 April 2, 1991 Osypka
5003992 April 2, 1991 Holleman et al.
5030204 July 9, 1991 Badger et al.
5060660 October 29, 1991 Gambale et al.
5083565 January 28, 1992 Parins
5104393 April 14, 1992 Isner et al.
5122137 June 16, 1992 Lennox
5122138 June 16, 1992 Manwaring
5165421 November 24, 1992 Fleischhacker et al.
5246014 September 21, 1993 Williams et al.
5281218 January 25, 1994 Imran
5353800 October 11, 1994 Pohndorf et al.
5403311 April 4, 1995 Abele et al.
5431649 July 11, 1995 Mulier et al.
5433708 July 18, 1995 Nichols et al.
5437660 August 1, 1995 Johnson et al.
5454807 October 3, 1995 Lennox et al.
5542944 August 6, 1996 Bhatta
9304722 March 1993 WOX
Clinical Research Abstract "Human and Canine Pathological Transmural Myocardial Radiofrequency Ablation Lesions" by Nolasco, May 4-5, 1993, San Diego, CA.
Filed: Mar 9, 1998
Date of Patent: Nov 9, 1999
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
Inventors: Peter M. J. Mulier (St. Paul, MN), Michael F Hoey (Shoreview, MN)
Primary Examiner: Michael Peffley
Attorneys: Reed A. Duthler, Harold R. Patton
Application Number: 9/37,725
Current U.S. Class: Applicators (606/41); Body Inserted Tubular Conduit Structure (e.g., Needles, Cannulas, Nozzles, Trocars, Catheters, Etc.) (604/264); Body Piercing Condit (e.g., Needle, Etc.) (604/272); With Fluid Supply (607/104)
International Classification: A61B 1739;


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Drainage concerns on Eastwood Dr.
Submitted by admin on Thu, 07/20/2017 - 6:32pm
Neighbors to meet with school engineers
Doug Lindner
SOLON– "We want to be good neighbors," assured Solon Community School District Superintendent Davis Eidahl.
He was speaking to residents of Eastwood Drive, a cul-de-sac sandwiched between Solon High School and the district's new intermediate elementary, during a joint meeting of the city council and school board July 10.
Several of the street's residents, including Janet Udelhofen, of 612 Eastwood Dr., presented the joint session with a petition asking the city and school to reconsider how the new school site is draining while under construction.
"We have always had issues in our backyards," Udelhofen told school board and council members. Even a modest rain causes sump pumps to run nonstop, she said, and if the power goes off, the homes flood.
The new diversion plan for Solon Intermediate, she said, to empty two culverts into their backyards, "is most definitely going to cause widespread flooding, damage to property and health issues for us."
Eastwood Drive and an adjacent subdivision, Marshek Court, have experienced storm water issues for decades. The two small neighborhoods are immediately west of Solon Middle School and the former high school football and practice fields.
Udelhofen said the petition included the signatures of 12 residents hoping to revisit the issue.
"You've got to understand that we're a long way from being done, but I know that we have a period of time that we have to take care of between now and hopefully completion and hopefully resolution," said school board member Rick Jedlicka. "Trust that when we first started looking at that location as a possible site, the very first thing we did was talk to the engineers about water mitigation."
Jedlicka said the district asked for the site to be designed not only to alleviate the existing problems but to accommodate the new building as well.
"The question becomes what do we do between now and the time the building is done and hopefully then all the things they designed are working properly because they assured us we were going to be in good shape," Jedlicka said.
Mike Kasparek, the district's building and grounds director, and Scott Kleppe from the city's public works department had been on site, he said, and temporary measures would be taken.
Kasparek said an additional swale would be cut to protect the private residences, and Kleppe suggested grates or screens could help slow the flow of water discharging from the detention basin's two pipes.
Udelhofen asked if the residents of the cul-de-sac could sit down with the district's engineers to gain some assurance about the project.
"Right now we just don't have that level of trust, if you can understand," she said.
Eidahl indicated he would be willing to set up the meeting.
School board member Jim Hauer suggested taking the meeting to the construction area.
"I think sometimes the best way to evaluate it is not sitting around the table and looking at it," he said. "We'll go out to the site so you can point out what your concerns are."
Subsequent to the meeting, Kleppe speculated residents were alarmed by the flow coming out of the discharge pipes after the recent heavy rain.
Kleppe said the overflow from the detention basin, installed as part of the project, runs through pipes under the abandoned railroad bed, emptying into a swale next to the back yards on Eastwood Drive.
The basin is working, he said, but contractors have not controlled the outflow. There was no damage caused to property, he said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home News 'COVID-19 vaccine may not work as well on obese people'
'COVID-19 vaccine may not work as well on obese people'
A new study has shown that coronavirus vaccines may not work as effectively for obese people, who are also 48% more likely to die from COVID-19, local media reported on Wednesday.
The World Bank commissioned the US' University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill to analyze global data from countries including the US, UK, China, France, and Italy.
The study showed that obese people were 113% more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19, 74% more likely to enter intensive care, and 48% more likely to die.
"It is a 50% increase essentially. That's a pretty high scary number. All of it is actually – much higher than I ever expected," UNC's Professor Barry Popkin, who led the study, told British newspaper The Guardian.
"We know a COVID vaccine will have a positive effect on obese people, but we suspect from all our knowledge from tests on the SARS vaccine and the flu vaccine, it will have a diminished benefit compared to the others."
Obesity increases the likelihood of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and inflammation, all of which increase the risks from coronavirus.
Co-author Professor Melinda Beck was quoted by The Guardian as saying: "All of these factors can influence immune cell metabolism, which determines how bodies respond to pathogens, like the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.
"Individuals with obesity are also more likely to experience physical ailments that make fighting this disease harder, such as sleep apnea, which increases pulmonary hypertension, or a body mass index that increases difficulties in a hospital setting with intubation."
Over 40% of Americans and 27% of adults in England are obese, according to government data.
In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched a national anti-obesity drive earlier this year.
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Crystal technology aids development of OPOs
Optical parametric oscillators offer a convenient source of coherent light that can be tuned across the ultraviolet, visible and infrared. Günter Warmbier describes the principle of operation and key characteristics of these useful devices.
The first optical parametric oscillator (OPO) was demonstrated by Giordmaine and Miller at Bell Laboratories, US, in 1965, only a few years after the invention of the laser. Over the next two decades the OPO was subject to detailed theoretical and experimental investigations. However, development was hampered by the lack of nonlinear optical materials with appropriate optical and mechanical properties.
What is an OPO?
This situation did not change until the late 1980s when new nonlinear materials such as beta bariumborate (BBO) and lithiumborate (LBO) became available. With their unique properties (high nonlinearity, wide transparency range and high damage threshold), BBO and LBO are still the materials of choice for many applications. OPOs made from either BBO or LBO crystals provide an all-solid-state light source which combines both high efficiency and high output power with a wide tuning range in the ultraviolet, visible and near infrared.
Besides the need for suitable nonlinear crystals, stable operation of an OPO also requires a high-quality pump beam which has a single transverse mode (TEM00) and is almost diffraction limited. As a result, advances in laser technology have also played an important role in the development of reliable OPOs for scientific applications or integration into technical systems such as LIDAR.
Compact solution
Today, most commercially available OPOs are pulsed systems pumped by Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers operating with nanosecond pulses at a repetition rate of 1-100 Hz. The OPO output has the same repetition rate as the pump laser pulses but a slightly reduced pulse width. OPOs that offer continuous-wave (CW) operation or emit ultrashort (picosecond or femtosecond) pulses are also available.
Tuning range
The tuning range of an OPO depends primarily on the wavelength of the pump laser beam and the type of nonlinear crystal in the cavity. Pumped by the third harmonic (355 nm) of an Nd:YAG laser, the output of a BBO-OPO is widely tunable in the visible and near infrared. For example, by changing the phase-matching angle θ by only 10 ° (23.1-33.1 °) the tuning range of such an OPO can span the visible from 400 to 710 nm (signal wave) and the near infrared from 710 nm to 3 mm (idler wave).
To generate radiation at longer wavelengths, Nd:YAG-pumped OPOs require crystals made from materials such as potassium niobate (KNbO3) or lithium niobate (LiNbO3), which have better transparency in the infrared. With these materials the generation of near infrared radiation at wavelengths of up to 5 μm is possible.
OPO's output
The threshold of an OPO (the pump power at which operation commences) depends on several factors - the length of the crystal, the reflectivity of the mirrors and the wavelength of the signal and idler wave. For a BBO-OPO pumped by 10 ns long 355 nm laser pulses, the pump energy density at threshold is as low as 0.1-0.2 J cm-2 which corresponds to pump pulse energies of 5-7 mJ. The power densities are in the range of 20-40 MW cm-2 and thus well below the BBO damage threshold of several GW cm-2.
Efficiency and output power
Besides the large tuning range, high efficiency and high output power are the other attractions of OPO devices. With pump pulse energies of 55 mJ (easily generated by commercial small size Nd:YAG systems) the BBO-OPO output exceeds 24 mJ. This efficiency of 43% corresponds to a crystal-internal efficiency of more than 50%.
At higher input powers, the output and efficiency increases significantly. For example, for input energies of 300 mJ, OPO output can exceed 150 mJ which corresponds to a total efficiency of 50% and a slope efficiency as high as 60%.
Emission bandwidth
The bandwidth (spectral width of the emitted beams) of an OPO's output depends on the wavelength, the parameters of the resonator and both the linewidth and power of the pump.
For example, consider a 355 nm pumped OPO operating at three times its pulse energy threshold. For such a device, the line-width of a BBO-OPO signal wave increases with wavelength from about 0.2 nm at 410 nm to almost 4 nm at 650 nm.
Many applications require narrowband operation and fortunately, the linewidth of an OPO can be reduced significantly by simple means. One way to achieve this is to use type II "midband" phase-matching and reflect the unconverted pump radiation back into the OPO-crystal. In contrast to broadband type I phase-matching (where the generated OPO beams have the same polarization), in type II phase-matching the polarization of the generated OPO beams are orthogonal. This type II midband operation can enable a linewidth of less than 5 cm-1 throughout the tuning range, which is sufficient for numerous applications such as differential absorption LIDAR or cavity ring-down spectroscopy.
Another convenient method to achieve narrow linewidth operation, which avoids the insertion of lossy wavelength selective elements into the OPO cavity, is injection seeding. The injection of low-power narrowband radiation into the OPO cavity has several benefits.
As well as helping control the OPO's bandwidth and wavelength of operation, the technique reduces the oscillator build-up time and OPO threshold by almost a factor of two. Successful seeding has been demonstrated with low-power pulsed or continuous-wave sources and tunable diode lasers. Pulse energies of a few nanojoules or CW power levels of less than 1 mW are usually sufficient. The bandwidths achieved through seeding are typically less than 100 MHz and can even approach the Fourier limit which is about 10 MHz for 10 ns long pulses.
Over the last decade the optical quality of OPO crystals (like KTP, KTA, LiNbO3 or KNbO3) has improved significantly and new promising crystals (like bismuth borate) have become available. Nevertheless, BBO and LBO are still the most reliable materials for powerful OPO systems.
An exciting recent development is the demonstration of microstructured nonlinear crystals which exhibit very strong optical nonlinearity and can be engineered to operate at almost any wavelength.
These crystals are ferroelectrics (like lithium niobate or lithium tantalate) that have been exposed to a strong electric field pattern to create periodically inverted domains.
The periodic structure provides phase-matching over longer crystal lengths to enable highly efficient nonlinear conversion processes like harmonic generation or optical parametric amplification. The main advantage of these crystals is their high optical nonlinearity and the fact that a proper choice of the periodicity of the ferroelectric domains provides phase-matching at any wavelength within the transparency range of the crystal material.
These microstructured crystals allow the construction of highly efficient, ultrafast (ns, ps or fs) OPOs that are synchronously pumped by modelocked Ti:sapphire lasers, for example. The wavelength of the generated ultrashort pulse trains is controlled by tuning the wavelength of the modelocked pump laser.
With an appropriate microstured crystal (like stoichiometric MgO:LiNbO3) such an OPO generates short pulses in the whole range of 890 nm to 5.4 μm by tuning the Ti:sapphire laser within its operating range of 700-900 nm.
Since the second harmonic of such OPOs covers the gap (500-700 nm) between the fundamental and the second harmonic of the Ti:sapphire laser, they are an ideal supplement to modelocked Ti:sapphire lasers.
Microstructured crystals even allowed the operation of single-frequency CW OPOs pumped by diode laser systems with high spectral and spatial power density. These OPOs have the potential for very compact sources of single-frequency radiation with wavelengths tunable throughout the near infrared.
In summary, OPOs have matured to become reliable sources for widely tunable coherent light. As all-solid-state systems, they are highly reliable, and easy and cost-effective to operate. Due to their unique optical properties they are now used routinely in a large number of scientific and technical applications.
Photonics World
Vision Focus
AR/VR/MR Focus
© 2023 SPIE Europe


Thieves posing as Chicago Department of Water Management employees stole $5,000 cash and three wedding/engagement rings from a 75-year-old husband and wife in their home near 52nd and Meade.
The crime occurred at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, December 27. The wife told police that a man who said he was a water inspector knocked at her door, saying he needed to come inside and check the home's water pressure. She let him in, and he appeared to check the kitchen sink before stating that he needed her to accompany him to the basement to check pressure there.
While they were downstairs, an accomplice slipped in the back door and ransacked two bedrooms. The man posing as a water department worker was described as a Hispanic man age 45, 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, with brown eyes and short black hair, light complexion, wearing a Water Department baseball cap and a blue windbreaker.
Thieves stole a Ford van parked near 53rd and Natoma, near the home of its owner, a 49-year-old man, and ditched it in an alley near 46th and Laramie at 12:20 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29.
Police recovered the vehicle and contacted the victim, who said that nearly $6,000 worth of power tools were missing, along with the van's spare tire.
Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 7. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.
Burglars smashed through a side basement window of a home near 52nd and Normandy and stole a full-length fox-fur coat, a necklace and two purses. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 67-year-old man, at 3 p.m. Friday, January 2.
A 26-year-old woman who had not yet moved into her new home near 56th and Karlov discovered the premises vandalized by thugs who painted gang slogans throughout the interior. She discovered the crime when she entered the home on Saturday, January 3. She stumbled upon the trio of vandals when she arrived, and they ran off with her purse after a confrontation. Police later found some of the purse's contents in alleys east of the home.
The victim described the trio as two Hispanic men age 21-22, and a Hispanic woman age 19-20. The woman was 5-foot-3 and 150 pounds, with blond hair in a ponytail, with a light complexion.
A 46-year-old Oak Lawn man told police he was robbed at gunpoint behind the currency exchange at 4750 South Cicero at 9:10 a.m. Friday, January 2. The victim said he had just come out of the currency exchange and drove around the back to throw out some garbage when the crime occurred. The bandit escaped with the victim's wallet, which contained $189 cash.
The victim said he did not see the robber because he came up from behind and ordered him to look forward at all times.
A 22-year-old West Lawn man told police he was robbed by two men on the sidewalk in front of 4532 West 63rd Street at 12:20 a.m. Friday, January 2. The victim said that he was hit in the back of the head by an unknown object and pushed to the ground. The robbers took a chain from around his neck, but failed to get his cell phone in a struggle, before they fled. They are described as black men age 22-23. One is 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds with black braided hair. The other is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, with short black hair.
Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 814 (see map), come to Vittum Park at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 8. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.
Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 45th and Knox and stole two TVs and a Blu-ray Disc player. The crime was discovered at 3:20 p.m. Friday, January 2 by a 43-year-old West Lawn woman who was checking the premises on behalf of her 66-year-old father, who owns the home and was on vacation in Mexico.
Burglars cut the lock on the back gate of U.S. Trailer Parts & Supply, 4334 South Tripp, and stole an estimated $9,000 worth of truck brake cores. The crime was discovered by a manager at 11:00 p.m. Thursday, December 25. The burglars also succeeded in disabling a security camera, according to the police report.
Burglars pried open the back door of a home near 57th and Karlov and stole an undetermined amount of jewelry and cash. The victim, an 84-year-old woman, told police she was praying in her living room at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 29 when she heard a knock at her front door. By the time she made it to the front door to see who was there, she heard a knock at the back door. The victim moves slowly and with a cane, and by the time she reached the rear door, three burglars who had gained access to second-floor bedrooms ran past her and out the door. She described them as Hispanic men age 25-30.
Burglars pried open the side door of a home near 70th and Keeler and stole a TV, a laptop computer, an iPad and a tablet computer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 37-year-old woman, at 4 p.m. Monday, December 29.


text:
Take 'A' train jazz standard originated from Duke Ellington's letter
Daylight Limited
By Serg Childed
Music Periods: 1930s, 1940s
Composer: Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
Take the 'A' Train is a Billy Strayhorn composition that became a signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is one of the most famous compositions of the swing era.
In 1939, Ellington offered Strayhorn work and sent him money to make the trip to New York City from Pittsburgh. Ellington also instructed Strayhorn to take the 'A' train upon arriving to New York City – the train from Eastern Brooklyn into Harlem and Manhattan. Strayhorn recalled that the song came to him with very little effort, he said it was "like writing a letter to a friend".
The use of a song that is not Ellington's own composition was due to a ruling by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which raised the licensing fees of broadcast use of compositions by its members. The bandleader fought back the ruling by hiring a number of composers from the rival rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. to write a whole new set of songs.
The fact that Ellington used the song as his orchestra's opening theme, making it his signature song, says a great deal about it and his appreciation for Strayhorn. Ellington wrote in his autobiography that Strayhorn "was my right arm, my left arm, and the eyes in the back of my head."
Here is the awesome version by Walter Maynard Ferguson, a Canadian jazz trumpeter:
MAYNARD FERGUSON
Billy Strayhorn redefined jazz with a touch of classical
Great Depression cut short the extraordinary dance life of McKinney's Cotton Pickers


The Clive Teubes Group's vision is to offer the world various top-grade products at superior quality and the right price, to both local and international markets, promoting job creation and development throughout Africa. The Group exports its products globally to various countries including; the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, India, China and Japan.
The company services the essential oils and natural products market from its head office in Johannesburg, South Africa, supported by various factories and several off-site distillation facilities.
Teubes operates to uplift rural communities, improve their quality of life and elevate job creation across the continent. To support this focus, the company is currently involved in many joint venture and financial support programmes, which empower rural communities to cultivate a range of plants for the distillation of essential oils. The Clive Teubes Group supplies technical support and marketing for the oils from these rural production facilities.
The programmes run at both national and regional level throughout Africa. The Group is also involved in community projects in Madagascar, Zambia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Rwanda.
Please see the Certification page for more information about Teubes' product accreditation.
The Clive Teubes Group earnestly fosters long-lasting relationships with both its local and international clients. Operating with an ethos of excellence, the Group passionately delivers to ensure customer satisfaction. Testament to this, many of the clients who supported the Group in the 80s are still loyal customers today.


Would you like to champion a cause this year?
A very Happy New Year to you. Our first chat of 2019 was dedicated to championing a cause. There is no denying the fact that our world needs restoration. And only if we do our bit, take one step at a time, we can do wonders for our planet, our world.
And hence, we asked our beloved community what is the one cause you would champion? From girl education to children's happiness quotient, each cause was noble.
We know that it's crucial to undertake a cause and work towards achieving it. But, why is it important to take up a cause and support it?
And we had to ask out of education, poverty and peace, which cause would you like to champion and why?
And if you are wondering as a blogger, what is the best way to create an impact about a cause this is the section for you.
2) circulating on all social media platforms.
Can we on a micro level be creators of social change? Our community certainly thinks so.
Time for some forecasting. What change would you like to see happening by the end of 2019?
Our first chat session of the year was filled with positiveness and high hopes. We agreed that championing a cause on an individual level is the need of the hour and can definitely be the beginning of a change.
You can go through the entire chat here.
Want to join us on these awesome chats? You can find us every Wednesday at 8:30 PM only on Twitter.


Serving on a jury is an important civic duty. Find out who is eligible for jury duty, how to respond to your summons, and what to expect when you serve. You'll also learn how to prove your jury service and what happens if you miss your date. To confirm if you'll be needed for jury duty, call the Juror Line listed on your summons after 3 p.m. or log in to the Massachusetts Juror Service Website after 4 p.m. on the day before you're scheduled to serve.


text:
Slow food and slow travel are part of a movement to return to traditional ways of traveling and
living for the enjoyment of life that is also more kind to the environment, local populations and cultures.
Jonathon Engels
N L
Walking in Tuscany | Trekking in Toscana | Endless scenic paths to explore
Of all the various modes of travel, the most intimate is also our most natural. Walking in Tuscany allows you an often overlooked and underrated relationship with your surroundings – and here they are truly amazing. Walking forces you to interact, take your time, and truly inhale the world around. Nowhere else on the globe are these intangible benefits more celebrated the famed Italian countryside of Tuscany. Southern Tuscany is an undiscovered jewel, the area provides both a cultural feast and a natural one. A world off the beaten track, where wooded hills, valleys, rivers and lakes frame a unique historical and archeological paradise. From the Etruscans to the Romans and from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to our present times, history of mankind has left, layer after layer, its trace in an incredible succession. It is difficult to find elsewhere so many memories of different eras all together and in such a special setting.
From the artistic capital of the renaissance in Firenze, to the Gothic cathedral spires in Siena, this sprawling region is characterized by rolling hills, storybook vineyards, and unbeatable authentic Italian culture.
Monte Amiata provides a paradise for walkers in the summer, the golden beaches of the Maremma coastline are bathed by a transparent sea and it is regarded to be the cleanest coastline in all of Italy. The hill towns and valleys of southern Tuscany are a wonderful cross-section of Italy's charms, constantly offering striking views of the rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards of classic Tuscany.
Tuscany's varied terrain and climate makes it the ideal location for a variety of outdoor sports. These activities include walking and hiking, cycling, climbing and mountaineering, water sports and horse riding.
The surrounding countryside of Podere Santa Pia offers ample opportunity for recreation. You can tour local vineyards and wineries, embark on walking or hiking tours, bicycle excursions and horseback riding.
Coastal areas have a mild summer and winter climate, whereas moving further inland the weather is increasingly continental. Inland areas experience hot summers and cold winters.
The best time to hike through Tuscany is in the summer and fall.
We made a good selection of the best hiking trails in Tuscany.
walking Map | Montalcino | Val d'Orcia | Pienza
The Val d`Orcia is a vast valley in the province of Siena, situated in southern Tuscany, between Valdichiana, Crete senesi and Mount Amiata. Its name comes from the river that flows through it, the Orcia river, a tributary of the Ombrone river, the most important waterway in southern Tuscany.
This spectacular landscape of Tuscany has long been a source of inspiration for writers and painters. Its green, gentle hills covered with miles and miles of vineyards and olive groves, the ancient walled villages and the Castles and fortresses will make you go back in time and have a taste of its glorious present and past.
The valley embraces the town territories of Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani e San Quirico d'Orcia.
In 2004, Val d'Orcia, was included by UNESCO as world heritage landscape area, with the following reasons: the Val d'Orcia is an exceptional example of how the landscape was redesigned in the Renaissance period to reflect the ideals of good governance and create an aesthetically pleasing pictures. The landscape of Val d'Orcia was celebrated by painters of the Sienese school, which flourished during the Renaissance. Images of the Val d'Orcia and particularly depictions of landscapes in which people are depicted as living in harmony with nature, have become icons of the Renaissance and have profoundly influenced the development of landscape thinking in future years.
Within the Val d'Orcia is a strip of land following the Orcia river between the DOCG zones of Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Here the Sangiovese and Trebbiano-based wines are produced under the Orcia Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) status. Orcia D.O.C. is produced on the territories of Abbadia San Salvatore, Buonconvento Castiglione d'Orcia, Chianciano Terme, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Giovanni d'Asso, San Quirico d'Orcia, Sarteano, Torrita di Siena and Trequanda.
Immerse yourself into the rhythms of la dolce vita on an unforgettable journey through the Val d'Orcia, explore the winding cipress roads and architectural wonders around San Quirico d'Orcia, Pienza and Montalcino with our Hiking Suggestions.
Walking in the Val d'Orcia, stunning landscapes between Monticchiello and Pienza
Nature Reserve Cornate di Gerfalco, Gerfalco, Montieri, Provincia di Grosseto [1]
The Colline Metallifere are a mountain-hill group occupying the central-western part of Tuscany, divided between the provinces of Livorno, Pisa, Siena and Grosseto.
The territory, with the exception of the Poggio di Montieri and Cornate di Gerfalco peaks, both above the 1,000 m, is mostly hilly, with a rich variety of minerary resources, whence the name. The metal resources of the Colline Metallifere were exploited since ancient times by the Etruscans: production reached its peak in the mid-19th century, declining quickly however afterwards. The numerous railways serving the mills are now mostly suppressed.
The Colline Metallifere also include geothermic energy sources, part of which used in ENEL power plants at Larderello and Lago Boracifero. Rivers include the Cecina, the Cornia and the Merse.
Gerfalco is situated in the area of the natural reserve "Cornate e Fosini", (in the Geopark area, too) and it is a perfect starting point for the various trails all around: you can walk on the crest of the Cornate, look for old mines and tunnels, walk to the spectacular Castel of Fosini, or you can just hike around the reserve and enjoy the rural atmosphere of the countryside [2].
Villa Arceno near Castelnuovo Berardenga and Siena, reached by rows of centuries-old cypress trees
The mountain is clothed in a forest of beeches, oaks, firs and chestnut trees, stretching from a height of a thousand meters to the top of the mountain.
The summit of Monte Amiata is 1738 meters above sea level and this extinct volcano today marks the border between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto in southern Tuscany. This is where the territory of the Maremma meets the Val D'Orcia. The Etruscans considered Monte Amiata their Mount Olympus and the fertile land, mineral deposits and thickly forested slopes have been inhabited by a proud and independent people since prehistoric times. The volcanic eruptions finished 180 thousand years ago and many huge boulders still dot the slopes where they landed.
The mountain is an ideal place to discover on foot. A network of hiking itineraries cover both sides of the mountain. The Agenzia per Il Turismo Monte Amiata proposes 34 itineraries of varying difficulty following the old mule trails and traditional paths which make up over 200 kilometers of trekking.
About 12 hours are needed to complete the circle, the Anello dell'Amiata, indicated by the characteristic red and white signs, but there is also a choice of stretches for shorter walks.
Monte Amiata and the Val d'Orcia, view from Pienza
The area of Pitigliano and far to the south of Rome is characterised by tuff stone, a hardened type of volcanic magma. Southern Tuscany was once one of the most important centres of the Etruscans. There are numerous cave-tombs of that period around Pitigliano, caves cut deep into the tuff, that are today used as cellars and sheds. The Tuff Area is named after tufo, a volcanic, porous rock commonly used as a building material. The tuff has been carved over the centuries to build houses, cellars, tombs or used to make "tufi", big square bricks which are typical of the villages and towns of this area of the hills of the Maremma.
To the north are the slopes of Monte Amiata, to the south is the region of Lazio, to the east lie the shores of Lago Bolsena and to the west is the Tyrrhenian Sea. Bypassed by the main toll road system, the character of this area has remained refreshingly genuine and its natural and historical treasures are still intact.
According to the description by Dionysius Halicarnassus, the greek historian, the Etruscans were an ancient and unique people, without no language and lifestyle affinity with other people. The term Etruscan indicates a population that lived in Etruria, between the 9th and the 3rd century B.C. The Etruscan civilization represents one of the most important cultures in Italy. Who wants to get to know the Etruscan side of Tuscany will enjoy the towns and villages that were founded by them. A fascinating journey to Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano and Castell'Azzara, to name a few, on a path of art, history and landscape.
The major centres of this area, which has still not experienced mass tourism, are Pitigliano, Sorano and Manciano. The perfectly preserved necropolises in Sovana and Poggio al Buco, the vie cave (amazing roads carved in tuff that pass through the woods), and medieval villages like Magliano in Toscana contribute to make this area one of the most beautiful in Tuscany. It also boasts naturalistic treasures such as the hot springs and spas of Saturnia, and the hills of the river Fiora, which supplies water to the vast majority of the Maremman villages and towns.
Lake Bolsena is on two sign-posted walking routes: one is the Via Francigena- the well-known medieval pilgrim road which runs from Canterbury to Rome, and the other is a newly- opened route called the " Sentiero dei Briganti",created by the local Tourist Board to take in the most significant areas of natural beauty and historical interest, and funded by the European Union and the Regione Lazio. The Brigands' Path follows the Tuscan-Latium border for about 90 kms from the Nature Reserve of Monte Rufeno to the medieval castle and Etruscan museum of Vulci (Canino).It passes through splendid countryside and archeological sites and ends with views of the Tyrrenian sea. Besides these major routes there are also many shorter walks and trails to places of interest around the lake.
Bolsena is crossed by the Via Cassia, the ancient Roman road which during the Middle Ages became known as Via Francigena. The municipalities of the towns of Acquapendente and Bolsena (located at the border between Latium and Tuscany) have restored (for pedestrians only) the old Via Cassia where it diverges from the current one. Via Francigena walks have become very popular among the residents and the many foreigners who live in the area.
It takes 8 days to complete the final stage in Lazio. The route passes by Acquapendente formerly known as Acquapendentem, meaning, "pending water." to arrive at Bolsena.
Approaching Proceno, modern day pilgrim hikers leave Tuscany, cross into Lazio, and enter a region sometimes known as Tuscia, the heart of Etruscan empire.
Civita di Bagnoregio
The Maremma landscape is varied. Hills gently degrading towards the sea, whose main colours are intense green in spring and golden yellow in summer, with the presence of olive-groves and vineyards and also woods of cork-oaks and flowering ash full of mushrooms if it rains in summer. The fertile plain too is accurately cultivated and studded with the white rural houses. Many pine forests grow along the coast, wide shores of very fine siliceous sand with its characteristic sand dunes rich in Mediterranean macchia, the brush.
Maremma includes 160 km of shoreline. The stretches of sandy and rocky coastline allow all sea lovers to find the perfect place for them. Moreover, the vast pine tree forests which border the beaches of the Maremma are a real naturalistic treasure and so are the few areas where the lagoon and swamp ecosystems have survived urbanization, reclamation or simple draining, such as the nature reserve of the Diaccia Botrona near Castiglione della Pescaia, and the Parco Naturale della Maremma between Alberese and Talamone.
Grosseto can be considered the capital of the Maremma. The area around Grosseto and the coast, with Marina di Grosseto, Castiglione della Pescaia and the small villages that lie in the plain between the city and the coast, represents the heart of the Tuscan Maremma.
Inside the Follonica Gulf, in the Bandite di Scarlino reserve, which is divided by a small promontory from Punta Ala, among a multitude of small caves, you will find Cala Violina. The beach's name derives from its very rare characteristic (it appears there is only one another beach with such a peculiarity) by which, steeping on the sand, the latter will echo back the harmonious notes of a violin.
The Natural Reserve of Diaccia Botrona, near Castiglione Pescaia
In the south, the Tombolo della Feniglia is considered to be the more chic and beautiful beach.
La Feniglia is an enormous sand dune 6-8 km long and 1½ km wide that connects Monte Argentario to the mainland at Ansedonia in the south of the peninsula. The beach is the most famous in the area. A major feature of La Feniglia are the Mediterranean pine trees that run down the centre of the dune providing welcome shade during the heat of the day. There is a road that runs down the middle of the dune, where cars are not allowed.
Tombolo della Feniglia, a forest preserve of stone pine trees runs the length of the beach
Florence, view from Piazza Michelangelo
Florence, the capital Tuscany, is known for its role in bringing Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance era, paving the way for world-changing art, architecture, exploration, politics, and business. The Renaissance first occurred inFlorence and continued to be more pervasive there than anywhere else. The city's economy and its writers, painters, architects, and philosophers all made Florence a model of Renaissance culture.
Most of the major tourist sights in Florence are within easy walking distance of each other. It is possible to walk from one end of the historic center of Florence to the other - North-South or East-West in a half hour. Walking is not only an easy way to get around, it also offers the chance to 'take in' much more of the city life. Be warned though, that electric motor scooters are small enough to fit where cars cannot. They are silent but quick and in the summer they often times travel into the plazas. Some of the streets in central Florence are closed off to traffic, and many more are simply too narrow for buses to get through. Therefore, bus and car tours are not recommended. This is a very small, very compact city that really needs to be seen by foot.
This selection of tours has been put together with a deep passion for Tuscany's history and culture.
1 | A Walk Around the Uffizi Gallery
2 | Quarter Duomo and Signoria Square
3 | Around Piazza della Repubblica
4 | Santa Maria Novella
5 | San Niccolo Neighbourhood in Oltrarno
6 | Walking in the Bargello Neighbourhood
7 | From Fiesole to Settignano
8 | Walk arround the Uffizi Gallery
[1] Foto LigaDue, licenziato in base ai termini della licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione-Condividi allo stesso modo 4.0 Internazionale
[2] Source:Gerfalco: The Wonder of Geology | www.turismomontieri.it


text:
Natural catastrophe
headergoogle
Hawking's predictions that he left in the book after his death
by space · October 24, 2018
Stephen Hawking's latest work, which addresses issues such as the existence of God or the possibility of time travel, was presented on Monday by his children, who tried to finish the book after the death of the British giant astrophysics. Hawking was always asked about the same things, so he began working on Short Answers to Big Questions last year, but did not finish it until his death in March at the age of 76. The book was completed by a family and academic physicist colleagues, taking materials from his own personal archive.
"He was constantly asked about the same thing," says his daughter Lucy Hawking.
Hawking's latest book
In this book, the physicist tried to "give the most accurate, clear, understandable answers that he gave."
"It is a pity that he does not see this now," laments the daughter.
Hawking, chained from a youth to a wheelchair due to illness, devoted his whole life to the mysteries of the universe. The 1988 book "A Brief History of Time" brought him particular popularity. He gained fans outside the world of astrophysics and prompted people to think about the very basics of being. He also left some answers to his questions in his last book.
The ten questions Hawking tried to answer were:
How did it all start?
What is in a black hole?
Is time travel possible?
Can we survive on Earth?
Is there another intelligent life in the universe?
Should we colonize space?
Will artificial intelligence surpass us?
How do we shape the future?
In his book, Hawking says that people have no other option than to leave the Earth, otherwise they risk to be "destroyed."
He says that computers will surpass people in intelligence over the next 100 years, but "we need to make sure that computers have goals that are consistent with ours."
Hawking says that the human race has improved its mental and physical properties, but the genetically modified superhuman race, with its excellent memory and immunity to disease, will surpass the rest.
He believed that by the time people understood what was happening with climate change, it might be too late.
Hawking says that the simplest explanation is that God does not exist, and that there is no convincing evidence of existence after death, although people may continue to live under the influence.
In the next 50 years, according to Hawking, we will begin to understand how life began and, perhaps, we will discover life existing somewhere else in the Universe.
"He was deeply concerned that while problems are global, we are becoming more local in our thinking," says Lucy Hawking. "This is a call for unity, for humanity, to return itself and to challenge the problems that lie before us."
In his final scientific article, Hawking sheds light on black holes and the information paradox; The new work also calculates the entropy of black holes.
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BookBub Ads is a way for advertisers — authors, publishers, agents, and other publishing professionals — to reach millions of power readers via dedicated ad space in BookBub's daily emails.
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If you did not enter a book in Step 2, you will need to enter a URL. If you enter the URL for a region-specific product page on a specific retailer site, your ad will automatically target readers in that region who prefer that retailer.
If you enter a non-retailer-specific URL, you'll need to set your own region and retailer targeting. For example, if you want to target Amazon Kindle readers in all available regions, you would need to select Amazon for each region.
You can choose to target your ad based on any combination of author interest and book categories.
Use author targeting to reach readers who have expressed interest in specific authors. You can select as many or as few authors as you'd like. If you include multiple authors in your targeting, any reader who is a fan of one of those authors is eligible to see your ad. Keep an eye on the audience dial on the right, which will update to indicate your estimated maximum daily reach based on your targeting.
Use category targeting to reach all readers interested in particular book categories and genres.
Combining author and category targeting will limit your audience to readers who have expressed interest in both one of your selected authors and one of your selected categories. This is a particularly good strategy if you are targeting the fans of authors who write in multiple genres.
Tip: If ROI is your primary goal, we recommend using author targeting to reach a very specific audience of readers, increase click-through rates, and maximize your budget. If exposure and scale are your objectives, try using category targeting instead.
Set a schedule: You can either run your ad continuously or over a fixed period of time. If you run your ad continuously, it will serve until you manually turn it off. If you specify a fixed period of time, you can customize the pacing of your campaign.
Set your pacing (fixed dates only): Pacing your budget evenly will spread your spend out across the entire length of your campaign, while fulfilling your budget as quickly as possible means you'll win all the impressions for which you're the highest bidder regardless of your end date. This means your entire budget may be spent before your end date.
Set a budget: Enter the amount you are willing to spend in total (if running a campaign with fixed dates) or per day (if running your ad continuously). The minimum total budget for a BookBub Ads campaign with fixed dates is $1. For a campaign with continuous ads, the minimum daily budget is also $1.
Next, determine which bidding strategy you'd like to use: cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM). With both bidding options, you're bidding against other advertisers on the platform who are trying to reach the same readers that you've targeted with your ad.
CPM bidding: Choose how much you're willing to pay per 1,000 impressions, where one impression is one opened email. You will win impressions for the audience you're targeting if you are the highest bidder for that audience (your ad's click-through rate won't affect the number impressions you win). For that reason, CPM bidding can be preferable to advertisers looking to increase a book's exposure to a specific audience (e.g. as part of a branding exercise).
To learn more about the advantages of each bidding strategy and details about how they work, read our guide to the BookBub Ads auction model.
Lastly, name your ad. The ad name is visible only to you in your dashboard. An example naming convention could be: [Book Title] – [Retailer] – [Date].
Once you're finished, you can save the ad as a draft or click Continue to enter your payment information and launch or schedule your ad. BookBub Ads update in near real time, so you can start an ad at any time. If you have any questions about BookBub Ads billing, please refer to these FAQs.
Click Ads in the top navigation of your dashboard to access ad reporting. Impression and click counts update hourly.
You can also edit your campaign whenever you'd like, or create multiple ads to simultaneously target different audiences. BookBub's auction ensures that advertisers never bid against themselves.
Tip: If you see that you are not getting any impressions, your bid is probably too low for the segment you're targeting. Increase your bid or change your targeting to get more impressions.
Do you have any questions about running BookBub Ads? Let us know in the comments below!


text:
Andrew Bajadali (* 1. Mai 1973 in Sacramento) ist ein ehemaliger US-amerikanischer Straßenradrennfahrer.

Andrew Bajadali begann seine Karriere 2003 bei dem US-amerikanischen Radsportteam Ofoto-Lombardi Sports. In der Saison 2005 gewann er eine Etappe beim Mount Hood Classic und er konnte die Gesamtwertung des Boulder Stage Race für sich entscheiden. Ab 2006 fuhr Bajadali für das Jelly Belly Cycling Team. In seinem ersten Jahr dort gewann er die Gesamtwertung der Tri-Peaks Challenge Arkansas. Im nächsten Jahr gewann er dort eine Etappe und verteidigte seinen Gesamtsieg. Außerdem wurde er Erster der Gesamtwertung beim Redlands Bicycle Classic. Seit 2008 fuhr Bajadali für das US-amerikanische Continental Team Kelly Benefit Strategies. 2009 entschied er die Gesamtwertung bei der Tour of Thailand für sich.

Erfolge – Straße
2005
 Gesamtwertung Tour of Utah

2007
 Gesamtwertung Redlands Bicycle Classics

2009
 Gesamtwertung Tour of Thailand

Teams
 2003 Ofoto-Lombardi Sports
 2004 Ofoto-Lombardi Sports

 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009
 2010
 2011
 2012

Weblinks

Radsportler (Vereinigte Staaten)
US-Amerikaner
Geboren 1973
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Spin Sorceress slot is a long-expected product from Next Gaming. The developer has high hopes for the newcomer and stirs up the interest to its introduction. They use the fantasy theme in the winter landscapes where the main hero Witch of Spins will follow players during the process of making bets.
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Do you want to open the fantasy world of big wins? Just choose mentioned video slot and play it for free or real money.


text:
Q: simple html dom to exclude paragraph with class I have this code and i want first paragraph as output I tried to filter with paragraph but I am getting second paragraph
I am only interested in first paragraph text.

this text i want.

       this text i dont want.

I tried this but it is giving second paragraph
  foreach($html->find('div.bq_fq_lrg p[0]') as $e)

The $html variable is an instance of SimpleHtmlDom
I am getting the content of the paragraph like this:
 $op1 = $e->innertext . '
';

A: You can use the ! in attributes to get that particular value. Consider this example:
include 'simple_html_dom.php';
$html_string = '

this text i want.

       this text i dont want.

';
$html = str_get_html($html_string);
foreach($html->find('div.bq_fq_lrg p[!class]') as $value) {
    echo $value->innertext; // this text i want.
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Shaler defeats McKeesport, celebrates 1st playoff win since '12
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | 12:05 AM
Shaler's Mekhi Reynolds battles against McKeesport's Justin Todd during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.
McKeesport's Deamontae Diggs goes up for a shot between Shaler's Luke BeBout (left) and Justin DeSaba during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.
McKeesport's Deamontae Diggs competes against Shaler during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.
Shaler's Matt Bendel competes against McKeesport during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.
Shaler's Mekhi Reynolds competes against McKeesport during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.
It's been awhile since this kind of celebration was heard inside Shaler's locker room.
Seven years, to be exact.
"There was a lot of jumping, dancing and singing," said junior Mekhi Reynolds, who scored a game-high 25 points Monday night as No. 8 seed Shaler defeated No. 9 McKeesport, 76-60, in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game.
The playoff win was Shaler's first since 2012.
After enduring a stretch of disappointing seasons, the Titans (16-7) advance to face No. 1 Mars in the quarterfinals. Senior Matt Bendel added 21 points and senior Brennan Fugh had 15.
"Even the coaches came in dancing and singing," said Reynolds, who scored 12 fourth-quarter points and went 6 for 6 from the foul line in the final two and a half minutes.
Shaler is only three years removed from a 2-20 season in 2015-16, the team's first under coach Rob Niederberger. The Titans went 3-19 a year later and 8-13 last season.
This 16-point win over a solid McKeesport lineup proved just how far the Shaler program had come. Deamontae Diggs led McKeesport (10-11) with 20 points.
"They're excited but they expected it," Niederberger said. "We've worked hard. We came in here three years ago and this program was in dire straits. If you look at this group of seniors, they won four games as a freshman team.
"Now they're a playoff winner."
The key was forcing McKeesport into outside shots and then limiting Diggs' offensive rebounds. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 14 first-half points with a handful of layups and second-chance baskets to fuel McKeesport's fast start.
The Tigers led 25-22 after the first quarter, which included 10 lead changes.
But Shaler's defense clogged the middle better in the second half and forced McKeesport to shoot from outside. The Tigers went 11 for 32 from the field after halftime, including 5 for 15 from the 3-point arc.
"We had to pack in and not let them beat us off the dribble," Reynolds said, "we knew they'd get hot a little bit. But if we could contain them, we'd get the win."
Shaler stretched its 35-32 halftime lead to 13 points less than 2 minutes into the fourth quarter.
"I think they're a very athletic team, but I didn't think they were a great shooting team," Niederberger said. "In the first quarter they just came out smoking. We saw that (fast start) when they played Penn Hills. We saw that in the first quarter when they played Albert Gallatin. We knew (we had to) just withstand the run."
Shaler finished the first half with its own 9-0 run and then outscored McKeesport, 21-16, in the third. Early in the fourth, a 3-pointer by Reynolds and a 3-point play by Fugh gave Shaler a 61-48 lead with 6 minutes left.
The victory earns Shaler a third matchup with section foe Mars. The Planets won the two regular-season games 68-62 and 76-53.
"Both teams don't like each other too much," Niederberger said, "so we'll be ready to go."
Tags: McKeesport, Shaler


I've talked a lot about crochet, knitting and baking in this blog, but after eight posts, I still haven't really talked about anything astronomy-related. Looking through some old pictures, I noticed a photo taken by the telescope at the Bishop's University Astronomical Observatory, where I used to work over the summers. I didn't take the picture myself, but I did combine the images taken with three different filters in order to create this colour-composite image, the first I'd ever attempted.


text:
Home Op-Eds Incompetence or Doing Politics?
Incompetence or Doing Politics?
by Matthew Rothschild
I don't know who Tom Ridge thinks he's kidding, but when he said on Tuesday that his department of homeland security "doesn't do politics," it was hard to take him seriously.
Especially since on Sunday, when announcing the terror alert, he praised President Bush for his stewardship of the war on terror.
Hey Tom, you can't have it both ways.
Now I don't know what to make of these terror alerts.
But I do know that these guys in the White House "do politics" whenever they breathe.
And I do know that they've got two bad habits: incompetence and dishonesty.
I just don't know which one we're dealing with here.
It could be incompetence: They just may not have gotten their story straight the first time they gave us the news, and they had to backtrack.
But forgive us for being at least somewhat skeptical.
At one previous alert, Ashcroft said he had serious evidence of a terror threat, and he hadn't even informed Ridge, who said it was nothing new once he heard about it.
And beyond that, here's an Administration that lied to us about the intelligence they were using as a basis for launching the Iraq War and that talked about rolling out the propaganda for the war as if it were a new product.
Credibility is a non-renewable resource. And these guys have used theirs all up.
Opinion National Security Republicans
Matthew Rothschild
Prior to joining the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign at the start of 2015, Matt worked at The Progressive magazine for thirty-two years. For most of those, he was the editor and publisher of The Progressive. This article first appeared in the Wisconsin
Read more by Matthew Rothschild


Costs, promotions, designs, and availability could differ. Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, A single with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire saga, the searing appreciate story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide. With wry wit and difficult fashionable italian furnishings uk online furnishing store uk-earned wisdom, popular on the internet character and founder of founder Rachel Hollis aids readers break free of charge from the lies maintaining them from the joy-filled and exuberant life they are meant to have.
NEW YORK Times BESTSELLER • An all-new, official prequel novel to The Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard Entertainment's subsequent expansion to the critically acclaimed World of Warcraft videogame. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate appear deep into the souls of folks who have to reckon with the past although moving forward-with hope and discomfort-into the future. Both occasions I could not obtain what I was looking for and when I asked an employee, they also could not locate what I was hunting for, secure to say Lowe's does not sell even the most standard of property tools.
This stirring adore story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of 3 people who are at as soon as bound and separated by forces beyond their handle. #1 NEW YORK Occasions BESTSELLER • Lee Youngster returns with a gripping new powerhouse thriller featuring Jack Reacher, a single french style toilet rugs classic and parisian or french nation of this century's most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes" (The Washington Post). In Christian's own words, and via his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James delivers a fresh point of view on the appreciate story that has enthralled millions of readers around the globe.
Costs, promotions, types, and availability could vary. From renowned cardiac surgeon and acclaimed author Dr. Steven R. Gundry, the companion cookbook to New York Occasions bestselling The Plant Paradox, offering 100 uncomplicated-to-adhere to recipes and 4-color photos. SaveOn® provides totally free printable coupons near you for the restaurants and firms you appreciate. In a land exactly where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing.
Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One particular with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire saga, the searing adore story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide. With wry wit and difficult-earned wisdom, popular on the internet character and founder of founder Rachel Hollis aids readers break cost-free from the lies keeping them from the joy-filled and exuberant life they are meant to have.
Listings of the hours and addresses of regional creating supply stores, such as Lowe's Residence Improvement in Lubbock, TX, along with facts about landscaping supplies. Adore Story was supported by five singles: "Box Chevy V", "Till It's Gone", "Whiskey in a Bottle", "American You" and "Very best Friend" featuring Eminem. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne a kid is lost in the twilight between life and death and a determined lady undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear.
Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, A single with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.


Fretting is a special wear process that occurs at the contact area between two materials under load and subject to slight relative movement by vibration or some other force. During fretting fatigue, cracks can initiate at very low stresses, well below the fatigue limit of nonfretted specimens. This article describes the mechanisms of fretting and fretting fatigue; stress analysis, modeling, and prediction of fretting fatigue; fretting fatigue testing; and fretting prevention methods. Three general geometries and loading conditions for fretting fatigue, along with their remedies, are reviewed.


text:
Q: Fade in elements on scroll / page load I am working on a site where I want the content to fade up and in on scroll to it being in the viewport. I have the code below working well on scroll - but would like to enhance it in 2 ways which I can't seem to work out how to acheive what I want...
Firstly, I want this function to fire on page load so if the page is scrolled on load - the items that are in view should fade and animate into view - currently they dont.
Secondly - Is there a way to finese this code a little to specifiy the % of the element that needs to be in view before the animate and fade in animation occurs?
function fadeInDivsOScrollToo() {
$('.fade-in').each(function() {
    var top_of_element = $(this).offset().top;
    var bottom_of_element = $(this).offset().top + $(this).outerHeight();
    var bottom_of_screen = $(window).scrollTop() + $(window).innerHeight();
    var top_of_screen = $(window).scrollTop();

    if ((bottom_of_screen > top_of_element) && (top_of_screen < bottom_of_element) && !$(this).hasClass('is-visible')) {
        $(this).addClass('is-visible');
    }
});

}
$(window).on('load', function(){ fadeInDivsOScrollToo(); });
$(window).on('scroll', function(){ fadeInDivsOScrollToo(); });
$(window).on('resize', function(){ fadeInDivsOScrollToo(); });

with CSS:
.fade-in {
  opacity: 0;
  transform: translateY(20vh);
  visibility: hidden;
  transition: opacity 0.8s ease-out, transform 1.2s ease-out;
  will-change: opacity, visibility;
}

.fade-in.is-visible {
  opacity: 1;
  transform: none;
  visibility: visible;
}

A: Don't worry - ended up binning this approach and using Waypoints instead.


text:
MT Buys Petersburg Newspaper
The parent company of The Moscow Times has bought a controlling interest in the weekly St. Petersburg Press and will relaunch the newspaper with a new name, design and publication schedule, publisher Derk Sauer said Friday.
The first issue of the new publication, to be called The St. Petersburg Times, will appear April 23, Sauer said. There will be two issues a week with the Tuesday paper concentrating on business and finance and the Friday issue emphasizing entertainment and leisure.
The St. Petersburg venture marks the first move by Independent Press, which owns The Moscow Times, beyond the Russian capital but it will not be the last, according to David Randall, managing director of the company.
"This is a first step in our expansion beyond Moscow and we intend to take many others." Randall said. "We will in the future be exploring other major cities both within and without the CIS."
Sauer, the publisher of Independent Press, said: "We saw room for growth of the paper so we decided to buy controlling interest."
Gregory Kunis, a co-owner of the St. Petersburg Press, which began publication in 1993 and became the largest English-language newspaper in Russia's second city, welcomed the move.
"We're all very excited," he said. "We realized that we'd get resources not available to us so far, such as experience, knowledge of publishing and some money."
Both Randall and Kunis said they expected an improvement in the quality of the newspaper.
"We're investing heavily in equipment there and we'll be redesigning the paper in time for the relaunch," Randall said, adding that some of the same features and international news articles will run in both the Moscow and St. Petersburg papers.
In another development in the English-language newspaper field in the former Soviet Union, The Baltic Independent and The Baltic Observer weeklies have merged to form The Baltic Times. The first weekly issue of the paper published in Riga appeared March 21.
Previously the Independent was published in Tallinn and the Observer in Riga. In their last separate issues, the two papers said in a joint statement that the merger was "a natural marriage" and was intended to provide "expanded coverage of local and international news from all three Baltic countries."


text:
The Atari VCS Console Is Still Launching Later This Year
Alex Walker
Published 6 months ago: July 7, 2020 at 9:31 am -
Filed to:atari
atari vcs
Image: Atari
Remember how Atari was making a new console? Well, despite the coronavirus and a less than convincing PR campaign, that's still going ahead. The Atari VCS is finally launching in late November.
The cost? Only a cheeky $US389.99.
Image: Atari VCS
Apparently still confident of making some sales in the same window that the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are launching, and the backdrop of the worst global recession since the Global Depression, the Atari VCS is launching in late November or mid-December, depending on whether you're buying from Walmart, GameStop or Atari direct.
On the off chance that you could get the Atari VCS shipped direct to Australia, you'd still be paying a minimum of $557 plus whatever the shipping costs would be.
Having raised a few million through Indiegogo, and delayed by a year after swapping to a Ryzen-based dual-core APU, the box runs off a custom Linux kernel powered by an AMD Raven Ridge 2 APU. There's 32GB of eMMC fixed storage, an internal M.2 SSD slot, 8GB RAM that can be upgraded, Ryzen Vega graphics, four USB 3.1 ports (two on the front and back), and USB and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard support.
The box supports Twitch streaming, Skype and Discord, in case you wanted those on your Atari console.
As for games, there's "100 free Atari classic console and arcade games", as well as the recently released Missile Command: Recharged. The Atari dashboard has access to Anstream Arcade, a subscription service that enables access to 2000 more classic retro games. More usefully, the PC Sandbox mode of the Atari VCS allows you to run games from your PC libraries, or even just to boot the console as a low-end desktop PC.
At that stage, I'd still argue a NUC might be better value than the Atari VCS. But those who grew up with the Atari and idolised its legendary game library might appreciate the versatility here. It certainly makes it a little bit clearer who the Atari VCS is actually for, which was one of the problems that plagued the console since its original release.
There's no Australian stockists for the Atari VCS just yet, and there still isn't a full list of the third-party games available on the console. Atari announced that developers like Nvizzio (the recent Rollercoaster Tycoon remakes), Petroglyph (Grey Goo, Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection) and Eden Games (Gear.Club Unlimited, Test Drive Unlimited 2, F1 Mobile Racing) were supporting the console, but that's not exactly a tantalising offering. There's also the potential for game streaming, but given my experiences streaming games in optimal local network conditions through TVs, Steam Link and the Nvidia Shield, I wouldn't be buying a console based off that.
You can find more on the Atari VCS on the official website.
Alex Walker is the editor of Kotaku Australia and is known for his work covering video games, industry issues, technology and esports. He has written for ABC Technology & Games, games.on.net, PC Powerplay, Techly, Gizmodo Australia, Lifehacker Australia and more.


text:
Home Crime Police nab several men with "Molotov cocktails"
Police nab several men with "Molotov cocktails"
…drugs, illegal motorcycles unearthed during raid in Linden
Several alleged arsonists were nabbed by the Police after ranks swooped down at the premises they had gathered in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and discovered multiple homemade incendiary bombs called "Molotov cocktails".
A number of other illegal items were also unearthed during the Police raid.
According to a senior Police source, most of the suspects are between the ages of 20 and 25, and had been wanted by the Police for recent crimes involving torching a motor vehicle and setting houses afire.
Reports are that the Police operation commenced at 06:00h on Thursday and lasted some six hours.
When ranks arrived at the location where the men had gathered, the Molotov cocktails, along with small amounts of illegal narcotics were in their possession. The men were immediately arrested and taken into Police custody.
Meanwhile, two of the suspects were charged with illegal possession of motorcycles.
The motorcar that the men are believed to have torched belonged to ex-Policeman Teon Allen, also called "Spoil Child", who Police had issued a wanted bulleting for on September 4.
The press release had announced that Allen was wanted in connection with attempted murder and some five days later after Allen turned himself into the Police, his vehicle was torched while parked at a location at One Mile Wismar, Linden.
It is alleged that the suspects arrested on Thursday are a part of a "gang", while Allen belonged to another. The torching of the vehicle is said to have been as a result of a turf war between the two gangs.
When contacted on Saturday for an update on the matter, Commander of E Division (Linden-Kwakwani), Ramesh Ashram, was reluctant to comment on the issue.
He referred the publication to contact the Guyana Police Force's Public Relations Officer for any information about the detention of the suspects.
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