INVENTERY is a brand I was introduced to within the last 18 months when founder/owner Jeffrey Cheng reached out and asked if I'd like to review some of their models and I was certainly impressed. Even being a one man band, Jeffrey has designed and executed some top notch products that I think pen folks would enjoy.
This time around INVENTERY was kind enough to send me some samples of their newest product that they call the mechnical pen and pencil which, in essence, is a retractable barrel that has interchangeable ballpoint and pencil capabilities which is actually pretty awesome.
Now, I've seen quite a few machined pens in my day, but rarely do you see any that have swappable parts quite like this. There are multipens on the market, but they tend to use expensive D1 refill that have low ink capacity. This kind of solves for that. Although, not quite as convenient as a multipen, it allows for similar flexibility.
For all of the INVENTERY lineup, Jeffrey has chosen to use brass as his base material although the pen can be had in three different finishes: raw brass, Onyx (black coating), and polished chrome. Oddly enough out of the three the polished chrome is probably my favorite… it has a sleek, uniform design that I love.
If sensitive to weighty pens, the brass adds some obvious heft but the pen and pencil barrel only comes in at 1.6oz which is a lightweight when compared to a lot of brass pens on the market. While it is weighty, it is very comfortable to me.
To someone that has been around pens for a long time and has used a lot, you do notice some trends in the market of brands using similar mechanisms and parts to execute their designs. The brand Schmidt is well known in the pen world for nibs and refills, but they also make several "off the shelf" parts that creators can adapt into their designs.
For the pen experience they are using the internal plastic click mechanism (they use the metal, nickel version on their Mechanical Pen + Stand version that many are familiar with) and for the pencil, the Schmidt Feinminen-System which has it's own built in clicker.
Both mechanisms have an audible and satisfying "click" associated with them. Not crazy loud, but satisfying for sure. The knock piece at the top is machined from brass and finished to match the barrel which provides a nice, seamless look to the overall experience.
Being a metal barrel pen there may be hems and haws about the use of a plastic mechanism, but I've seen the metal ones break down too. Over time I've grown not to worry as much about it, especially when the product is pretty affordable and of good quality. I anticipate with "normal" use this pen will last quite awhile.
The experience of swapping the mechanisms out is pretty easy, but takes some thought about the steps. Not quite as simple as popping in a new refill, but doesn't require any additional tools which is good.
The knock piece unscrews from the internal mechanism wherein there is a spring in between. This spring initially puzzled me (as there is a spring at the tip to create the needed tension already), but its sole purpose is to make the knock "button" stay in the upright position at all times. Super interesting design choice and very deliberate. For kicks, I tried the pen without the spring and sure enough it works fine, but the button stays depressed until un-clicked. So, if you ever lost that spring… not entirely the end of the world!
That last comment was somewhat in jest, but is completely true. Out of one barrel Jeffrey has created a seamless experience that are both excellent without wiggle or sketchiness of any kind which is pretty fantastic.
The Feinminen-System mentioned above comes standard with a threaded tip which INVENTERY took full advantage of. The pencil piece screws in easily to the tip which makes it sturdy and stable while writing. No movement. This is one of the details that I enjoyed a lot about the product. I wasn't sure that Jeffrey would have done that, but when I found out I was really pleased. Just end to end this product feels really well thought out.
The clip is affixed to the pen via the top ring near the knock. Made from steel, it is strong! It has flex to allow it to separate from the barrel, but would take a lot to bend. Although, personally I wouldn't clip it to anything thicker than a jeans pocket in fear it might permanently spring out.
Branding on the pen is subtle (the kind I like) and is found in only two places. There is a small etched "I" logo on the knock, and the word "INVENTERY" etched under the clip out of sight. In addition to the logo under the clip the pen also includes the serial number which is a nice touch.
For the Mechanical Pen and Pencil Jeffrey opted to do a kickoff with an Indiegogo campaign and the prices start at just $42 (future retail of $60) for the single barrel with the two options. For what you get, this feels like a fantastic price.
Thanks again to Jeffrey and INVENTERY for sending these over for review!
Special thanks again to Pebble Stationery Co for providing a set of their Tomoe River pocket notebooks for me to giveaway!
The winner is… Cheryl P!
Congrats, Cheryl. Connect with me via the Contact page and I'll get you prize sent out!
Notebooks, in all of their shapes and sizes are a really important piece in the pen aficionado's day to day. Actually "paper", in many ways, is almost more important than the pen… without it, the pen would be useless.
I tend to stick to the same products over and over in my own paper using habits, but I often get the chance to try new things which I always enjoy.
I was recently contacted by Lois Ho of the Pebble Stationery Co, a small business that has a love for writing and fine writing related products. They were kind enough to send me two sets of their dot grid Tomoe River paper pocket notebooks to try: one set for me and another to give away! Special thanks to them.
My personal preference tends to be towards things that are simpler; less flashy. Upon receiving the Pebble books they definitely fit the bill. Their design is clean and simple (maybe even boring to some), but I like them.
The packaging is simple, just a plastic sleeve to keep them protected and a cream colored "belly band" with the details and branding. Debossed on the cover is the name Pebble Stationery Co as a subtle accent.
The covers are made of a pressed card stock that has a "fibrous" texture. Along the lines of a craft style, but in a light gray.
The inside covers are a soft blue (nice contrast) and have a space for your personal details as well as a note from Pebble about their mission.
As far as binding, the books are sewn (vs staples), and the outside cover is glued overtop.
Pebble opted for a gray dot grid, which is actually my favorite, and nicely matches the exterior cover for some design continuity.
With all good things there are tradeoffs… Tomoe River paper allows the ink to "float" on the page with each stroke which helps with the crispness of the lines. More porous paper absorbs more of the ink and disperses it through the fibers… allowing it to dry faster, but at a lower visual quality.
Tomoe River requires a really long dry time to completely avoid smear/smudges. If you use broad fountain pens, it may take a long time. As shown in my testing, even with my medium architect nib on a Pilot Vanishing Point is at the greater than 2 minutes mark for drying. (tested with Iroshizuku Kon-Peki).
The paper, of course, performs beautifully with my pens, but if meant to be a place to store quick "pocket" notes, the dry times aren't ideal for jot and go type scenarios.
Price wise, the Pebble books aren't too pricey considering they are using Tomoe. A two pack is $9.99 USD, and shipping in the US is $6. So out the door of about $8 each isn't crazy.
The bottom line is that these are well made, beautiful books in my opinion and for someone looking for an "upgrade" in pocket books for their fountain pens these might be a good fit. Special thanks to Pebble Stationery Co for sending them!
- To enter, leave a comment below (limited to one entry per person; no cheating!): What is the most recent "new" pen you've used lately? What about it did you like or not like?
- I will arrange the entries in numerical order and randomly select a winner. The winner will be announced on the blog on Saturday, March 16th and will need to connect with me within a week to claim their prize.


There are 62 top-rated endodontists in your area and 971 to avoid.
Business Description: There is 1 doctor at this site. Surgery is performed at this site. http://www.abgd.org/docs/verification.htm.
Business Description: Office is only open on select Saturdays. http://www.abgd.org/docs/verification.htm.
Business Description: Our family-focused dental practice has served the Glen Ridge and Montclair areas for over 60 years, with Dr. Dionne heading the practice for over 20 years. We are committed to delivering cutting-edge dentistry and achieving the best results for each patient. Well informed patients are the core of our practice and we provide educational tools to ensure that our patients can become knowledgeable about the methods available to achieve optimal dental health.
I have the highest anxiety when it comes to dental work. I have had terrible childhood experiences which have followed me into adulthood. I have been a patient of Dr. Stearns for almost 20 years. I have the most gentle cleanings and always leave feeling super refreshed afterwards. I have had to have a few cavities filled over the years and the experience is always pleasant. Dr. Stearns gives painless injections which is always a plus! I would never go to another dentist and dread the day that he retires. I refer him to all my friends and family.
It was excellent and their work is quality. I actually had a permanent bridge placed in. I would tell people to go to him. I hardly experienced any pain at all. The office is clean and neat. His staff is very concerned. He is very prompt and fair. His prices with insurance are excellent. He has an excellent beside manner.
He is excellent, excellent, excellent. He did a perfect job. If I had more money to have more done I'd go. He connects well with other dentists with referrals and treatments. He monitors the treatment and relevance procedures to the best health for my mouth.
Can't do better than this!


Disney just debuted a more detailed look at the upcoming live-action Aladdin film. Directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes series), the film is in line with 1992 animated film of the same name. John August has co-written the screenplay with Ritchie.
The clip features — the classic blue Genie, played by Will Smith. But its CGI looks detailed work.
The teaser begins with a stunning shot of a moonlit desert, and we see people riding on camels trundling across it. The orchestral arrangement of the classic theme music plays in the background. Marwen Kenzari's villainous Jafar asks Aladdin to hand over the lamp.
Agrabah, the location of the story, is a thing of beauty in the teaser. The city looks crowded, lived-in — in short, like a real city. Some achievement this, making a city's CGI believable in shots. Great efforts by Disney. Naomi Scott's Princess Jasmine appears with her pet tiger Rajah padding behind.
The film is presently in post-production, it is certain that the final look will be enhanced, character animation is from the last decade.


Duong, L. D., Nam, G.-Y., Oh, J.-S., Park, I.-K., Luong, N. D., Yoon, H.-K., Lee, S.-H., Lee, Y., Yun, J.-H., Lee, C.-G., Hwang, S.-H., and Nam, J.-D. (2014). "High molecular-weight thermoplastic polymerization of kraft lignin macromers with diisocyanate," BioRes. 9(2), 2359-2371.
A high molecular-weight thermoplastic lignin-based polymer was successfully synthesized by adjusting the degree of polymerization while inducing linear growth of lignin macromers via methylene diphenyldiisocyanate. The thermoplastic lignin-urethane polymer was desirably achieved in a narrow range of reaction conditions of 2.5 to 3.5 h at 80 °C in this study, and the molecular weight of the resulting lignin-based polyurethanes (LigPU) reached as high as 912,000 g/mole, which is far above any reported values of lignin-based polymer derivatives. The thermal stability of LigPU was greatly improved by the urethane polymerization, giving the initial degradation temperature (T2%) at 204 °C, which should be compared with T2% = 104 °C of the pristine lignin. This was due to the fact that the OH groups in the lignin macromers, having low bond-dissociation energy, were replaced by the urethane bonds. In dielectric analysis, the synthesized LigPU exhibited a softening transition at 175 °C corresponding to a combinatorial dual process of the dry Tg,dry of the lignin macromers and the softening of methylenediphenyl urethane chains. This work clearly demonstrated that a high molecular weight of thermoplastic LigPU could be desirably synthesized, broadening the lignin application for value added and eco-friendly products through common melt processes of polymer blend or composites.
A high molecular-weight thermoplastic lignin-based polymer was successfully synthesized by adjusting the degree of polymerization while inducing linear growth of lignin macromers via methylene diphenyldiisocyanate. The thermoplastic lignin-urethane polymer was desirably achieved in a narrow range of reaction conditions of 2.5 to 3.5 h at 80 oC in this study, and the molecular weight of the resulting lignin-based polyurethanes (LigPU) reached as high as 912,000 g/mole, which is far above any reported values of lignin-based polymer derivatives. The thermal stability of LigPU was greatly improved by the urethane polymerization, giving the initial degradation temperature (T2%) at 204 oC, which should be compared with T2% = 104 oC of the pristine lignin. This was due to the fact that the OH groups in the lignin macromers, having low bond-dissociation energy, were replaced by the urethane bonds. In dielectric analysis, the synthesized LigPU exhibited a softening transition at 175 oC corresponding to a combinatorial dual process of the dry Tg,dry of the lignin macromers and the softening of methylenediphenyl urethane chains. This work clearly demonstrated that a high molecular weight of thermoplastic LigPU could be desirably synthesized, broadening the lignin application for value added and eco-friendly products through common melt processes of polymer blend or composites.
Lignin is the most abundant and renewable organic resource next to cellulose as a potential raw material for being unitized in polymer blends and composites (Feldman et al. 1986). The structure of lignin is a three-dimensionally crosslinked phenylpropanoid polymer linked by ether bonds between monomeric phenylpropane units. Lignin constitutes 20 to 30% of the weight of wood (Bonnini et al. 2005). Since there is a low decomposition temperature of lignin at around 80 to 120 oC (Kubo and Kadla 2008), the blending temperature has to be kept as low as possible when using synthetic polymers including PP, PE, epoxy, etc. (Pouteau et al. 2004). In order to enhance thermal stability, lignin has been chemically modified by various methods using -OH groups in lignin via deacetylation, esterification, urethane reactions, etc. (Feldman et al. 1986; Yoshida et al. 1987). However, most lignin by-products in the pulping industry are not used desirably as value-added materials, but are still wasted by being burnt as fuel (Lora and Glasser 2002). Wide utilization of lignin for higher-value applications is limited by the crosslinked thermosetting nature of lignin macromers, its poor thermal stability, and low molecular weight (ca. 2000 to 4000 g/mol) (Fenner and Lephard 1981). Thus, there is a need to achieve high molecular-weight thermoplastic lignin-based polymers ensuring melt processes at elevated temperatures (Bonini et al. 2005; Binh et al. 2009; Evtuguin et al. 1998).
The glass transition temperatures and bond-dissociation temperatures of the pristine lignin, usually measured in the form of wood, are practically low at around 80 oC to 120 oC (Tg,wet), above which odors and fumes usually are released. In this temperature region, the pristine lignin macromers are softened, resulting in a major reduction in the elastic modulus (Salmen 1984), and the thermal dissociation is accelerated by the formation of phenolic radicals from OH groups in lignin (Velmurugan et al. 2009). If the pristine lignin is to be thermally processed at elevated temperatures, their Tg and thermal stability should be enhanced (Jain and Glasser 1993; Wu et al. 2002; Nadji et al. 2005). Although some progress has been made on these issues through various polymerization techniques incorporating lignin macromers in polycaprolactone (Hatakeyama et al. 2002), polyester (Hatakeyama et al. 2002), polyurethanes (Evtuguin et al. 1998; Hatakeyama et al. 2002; Yoshida et al. 1990; Nakamura et al. 1992), phenolics (Feldman et al. 1986), urea (Feldman et al. 1986) etc., the thermoplastic nature and molecular weight were not clearly confirmed (Nakamura et al. 1992; Thring et al. 1997). Since the pristine lignin contains multiple OH groups, ca.>10/mer, it is difficult to avoid the crosslinking reactions completely in these polymerization reactions to achieve high molecular-weight thermoplastic lignin-based polymers (Hatakeyama and Hatakeyama 2011). Therefore, it is believed that a fundamental understanding of the processing-property-structure relationship of the lignin-based polymerization is needed to enable the development of thermoplastic lignin-based polymers.
Among various polymerization methods with lignin macromers, the lignin-based urethane polymerization has been investigated using different diisocyanates, different reaction conditions, and different ratios of functionalities (Bonini et al. 2005; Yoshida et al. 1987; Evtuguin et al. 1998; Nakamura et al. 1992; Thring et al.1992; Hatakeyama and Hatakeyama 2011). The ratio of -N=C=O to -OH in lignin was investigated by measuring Tg of the lignin-based polyurethane (Thring et al.1992), but only a few previous studies have reported the thermoplastic nature or molecular weight of the resulting polymers, e.g., 15,096 g/mol (Bonini et al. 2005) and 39,000 g/mol (Yoshida et al. 1987), using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent for GPC measurement. Using oligoethylene oxidediisocyanate at the polymerization temperature of 60 oC for 8 h, the glass transition temperature of the resulting lignin-based polyurethane was measured within a range from -45 oC to -28 oC, which may well be in the liquid state at the room temperature (Evtuguin et al. 1998). In addition, the weight loss (2 wt%) of the above lignin derivative occurred at around 95 oC to 130 oC, which is not high enough for practical application of blending in melt processing.
Since the lignin macromers contain multiple functionalities of -OH (>10/mer), the lignin-based polyurethanes (LigPU) could be easily cross-linked during polymerization, depending on reaction conditions and the activities of diisocyanate. The cross-linked LigPU would have thermosetting characteristics that would preclude its melt-processing. Herein, the focus was on identifying the specific reaction conditions for synthesizing thermoplastic LigPU derivatives at high molecular weights (Mw). Using methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and kraft lignin macromers, it was found that the molecular weight of LigPU was critically affected by the reaction time and temperature in a sensitive way, beyond which it became either a low molecular-weight LigPU or a three-dimensionally crosslinked one.
The black liquor containing lignin was obtained from Moorim P&P, South Korea; the company used a broad range of leaf trees imported from Vietnam and Thailand. The N'N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) (C4H9NO) (99%) was obtained from Junsei Co., Japan. Methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (MDI) (98.0%) was supplied by Sigma-Aldrich Co., USA. Stannous octoate (2-ethylhexanoic acid tin (II) salt) (95%) was purchased Sigma-Aldrich Co., USA. Deionized (DI) water was used in all experiments.
Extraction of Kraft Lignin from Black Liquor.
For the extraction of kraft lignin from black liquor, 1400 mL of pristine black liquor (pH=12) was mixed with 250 mL DI water and purged with carbon dioxide gas for around 3 h at 60 oC (Luong et al. 2011). After treating with 2000 mL of 0.2 M sulfuric acid, the pH of the solution was reduced to 9, and thereupon the lignin began to precipitate. In the next step, 1000 mL of 0.2 M alum was quickly added to reduce the pH to around 4 with vigorous mechanical stirring at room temperature. The precipitate was then washed, filtered, and vacuum-dried (Luong et al. 2011).
Extracted lignin in the amount of 10 g was dissolved in 350 mL DMAc at 50 oC for 40 min. MDI was added drop-wise in 100 mL of DMAc (15 wt%) and the NCO/OH ratio was adjusted to 1.0, which was calculated based on the molecular weight and chemical structure of methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and the lignin. The MDI/DMAc mixture was then added to the lignin solution at room temperature. Subsequently, the stannous octoate (0.01 wt%) was added slowly to the above mixture under vigorous stirring (Bonini et al. 2005). The reaction mixture was held at 80 oC for 2.5 h, 3.0 h, and 3.5 h with mechanical stirring. The mixture was then cooled down to room temperature, washed several times with a mixture of acetone and DI water to remove impurities, and finally, freeze-dried to a constant mass.
The FT-IR was analyzed using a Bruker IFS-66/S spectrometer, within the range 4500 to 500 cm-1.
The weight loss was measured within a temperature range from 40 oC to 600 oC at a heating rate of 10 oC/min in N2 using a TGA- 2050, TA Instrument Inc. The pristine lignin and LigPU samples were heated to 80 oC for 24 h and kept in the environmental condition for 24 h before measurements.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was studied with a DSC TA291 from 40 oC to 350 oC at a heating rate of 10 oC/min in an N2environment.
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to measure the molecular weight of LigPU using AT-400 (Ltd NS2001P). The column set was calibrated using polystyrene (PS) standards in DMAc solvent. The DMAc flow rate was 1mL/min. Operation of the chromatograph was controlled by original computer software MultichroTM data by Yullin Technology.
The glass transition temperatures were determined using dielectric spectrometer (Novocontrol GmbH, CONCEPT 40) at different frequencies in 10 Hzto10000 Hz from 25 oC to 220 oC at a heating rate of 3 oC/min in nitrogen.
The LigPU samples synthesized in different conditions are summarized in Table 1. Figure 1 compares the FT-IR spectra of the pristine lignin, MDI, and the synthesized lignin-based polyurethane polymerized at 80 oC for 2.5 h (LigPU2.5). As can be seen clearly, three IR spectra show a medium-weak peak of the benzene ring vibration at 1408 cm-1. The peak at 1673 cm-1 in LigPU2.5 spectra represents the stretching of the C=O bond in urethane groups (-NHCOO-) and ester groups, and the peak at 1602 cm-1 is assigned the N-H bond stretching of urethane groups. Thus, it is confirmed that the -OH groups in lignin macromers reacted preferentially with isocyanate to form urethane chains.
The peak at 2926 cm-1 corresponds to the C-H bond stretching of methyl or methylene groups; this peak also appears in the spectra of both pristine lignin and synthesized LigPU2.5. The strong and broad peak at 3364 cm-1 in LigPU2.5 spectra is a characteristic peak of N-H groups.
The spectrum of the synthesized LigPU2.5 shows a strong peak of a C-O bond at 1300 cm-1, which is regarded as formation of the NHCOO bond. In addition, the peak at 1510 cm-1 is attributed to the complicated vibrations including H-N-C=O amide II combined motions, which confirms that the urethane reaction took place successfully between the OH groups in lignin and CNO groups in methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (Bonini et al. 2005). Figure 1 also shows photo images of the pristine lignin and the LigPU2.5 powder. As can be seen, the pristine lignin was dark brown but LigPU2.5 was light brown.
Figure 2A exhibits the synthesis pathway of LigPU, where the -OH groups in lignin react with the -CNO groups of MDI to create new urethane bonds and, therefore, the lignin macromer units are connected together. Figure 2B-a shows the black-colored mixture of kraft lignin and MDI before polymerization. After polymerization, the synthesized lignin-based polyurethane becomes a pale-brown color as precipitated by washing with water/acetone solution (Fig. 2B-b). Then, the precipitate was finally collected by filtering and drying to become the pale brown powder, as shown in Fig. 2B-c. Figure 2B-d shows three bottles of the LigPU 2.5, LigPU3.0, and LigPU3.5 dissolved in DMAc, each exhibiting completely-, partially-, or hardly-dissolved status of solutions, respectively. This demonstrates that the solubility of synthesized LigPU samples is inversely proportional to polymerization time or molecular weight.
The LigPU solution (5 wt%) was spin-coated on a glass substrate exhibiting a yellow transparent thin film (Fig. 2B-e). This confirms that the thermoplastic LigPU was successfully synthesized, allowing the solution-based thermoplastic wet processes. It is believed that this could open a new era of lignin application for being used widely as biodegradable eco-friendly thermoplastic materials.
Table 1 summarizes the molecular weight results for pristine lignin and synthesized LigPU materials. The pristine lignin showed Mw and Mn at 5400 g/mol and 1800 g/mol, respectively, which gave a Mw/Mn(MWD) ratio of 2.8. With the LigPU2.5 synthesized at 80 oC for 2.5 h, the Mw and Mn were changed to 724,000 g/mol and 588,000 g/mol with MWD of 1.2, respectively. For 3.0 h, the Mw and Mn of the LigPU3.0 increased to be 912,000 g/mol and 694,000 g/mol, respectively, giving an MWD value of 1.3, as confirmed by the GPC eluograms (Fig. 3). When the reaction time was extended to 3.5 h, the synthesized LigPU3.5 did not dissolve in any solvents, demonstrating that the lignin macromers were cross-linked to become a three-dimensionally connected thermoset polymer.
Note that the polymerization temperature 80 oC for all samples.
Figure 4 compares the TGA thermograms and the derivative curves of the pristine lignin and LigPU2.5. In order to compare the thermal stability of the pristine lignin and the LigPU2.5, in this study, the initial decomposition temperature (T2%) is defined as the temperature where 2% weight loss occurs. Figure 4A clearly shows that the initial decomposition temperatures of the pristine lignin and LigPU2.5 (2 wt%) were 104 oC and 204 oC, respectively. This means that the synthesized LigPU2.5 had a superior thermal stability compared to the pristine lignin.
The derivative spectra in Fig. 4B show that the maximum rate of thermal decomposition was at 441 oC with 71% and 340 oC with 20% of weight loss for the pristine lignin and the synthesized LigPU2.5, respectively. This suggests that the lignin macromers efficiently participated in the process of the numerous crosslinking and condensing reactions to form a high-molecular polymer. Furthermore, when the temperature reached over 400 oC, the pristine lignin lost more than 95% of its weight, but LigPU2.5 maintained over 50% of its weight (Table 2). This significant difference also indicates that the synthesized LigPU2.5 had a substantially improved thermal stability. Overall, it is confirmed that common melt processes of polymers and composites can be carried out with LigPU because the thermal stability is ensured in the processing temperatures around 200 oC.
*T2% and T10% represent the temperature where there is 2% and 10% weight loss, respectively; Tmax is the temperature corresponding to the maximum rate of weight loss; Wmax is weight loss (%).
Figure 5A shows DSC thermograms of the pristine lignin and LigPU2.5. In spite of repeated DSC experiments, the glass transition temperatures were not clearly identified, but several broad valleys and vague transitions were observed, some of which were not often reproducible in the repeated DSC experiments. This seems to be due to the nature of the randomly distributed functional groups and conformational or configurationally irregularity of lignin macromers (Song et al. 2007).
where ε0 is the absolute permittivity of free space, εu and εr are the unrelaxed and relaxed permittivity, respectively, τ is the molecular relaxation time, σ is the ionic conductivity, and f is the frequency (Hz).
Fig. 5. DSC thermograms of the pristine lignin and the LigPU2.5 (A), dielectric responses of permittivity (B) and loss factor (C) measured at 10 Hz frequency as a function of temperature at a heating rate (3 oC/min). Note that the ε' and ε'' of pristine lignin in Fig. 5B and 5C were reproduced from our previous in work (Duong et al. 2013) for a clear comparison with LigPU2.5 polymers.
The DEA analysis data of the pristine lignin was reported in a previous paper (Duong et al. 2013), and herein it was reproduced for comparison with the LigPU. Figure 4 shows the permittivity (ε') and loss factor (ε") at 10 Hz comparing the pristine lignin (Duong et al.2013) and the synthesized LigPU2.5. As can be confirmed, ε' and ε"of LigPU2.5 were completely different from that of the pristine lignin. The LigPU2.5 presents a single transition in a relatively broad range of temperature of 150 oC to 200 oC (centered at 175 oC), exhibiting a large increment for ε' and ε" from 2.0 to 6.4 with the temperature. It is believed that this transition corresponds to the typical thermal relaxation of molecular softening, which is usually observed in most amorphous thermoplastic polymers. Taking the midpoint of the softening transition temperature of the synthesized LigPU2.5, the softening temperature may be regarded as 175 oC. Afterwards, ε' and ε" decreased with the temperature ranging between 200 oC and 250 oC, meaning that the material became stiffened as temperature increased.
The real part of the CEM (M') operates like a mechanical elastic modulus and the imaginary part CEM (M") like a mechanical storage modulus as a function of temperature (Binh et al. 2009). Accordingly, M' usually decreases with increasing temperature, providing an abrupt inclining change at the transitions. For this reason M' is often used for analysis of the complicated and overlapped transitions of the inner most layers of polymers (Song et al. 2007).
Figures 6A and 6B show ε' and ε'' of LigPU2.5 as a function of temperature at different frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 10000 Hz under the dynamic heating conditions. In Figs. 6A and 6B, the transitions or peaks appear at different positions at different frequencies due to the viscoelastic nature of the LigPU polymer, which confirm the dependence of softening temperature on frequency due to the viscoelastic nature. It is considered that the molecular weight of LigPU2.5, Mw=724,000 g/mol is high enough to exhibit long-range molecular relaxation (Duong et al. 2013). Over 190 oC, it is interesting to note that ε' and ε'' of LigPU2.5 began to decrease with temperature, seemingly due to additional crosslinking. In fact, Figs. 6A and 6B support the results in Figs. 5B and 5C, presenting the softening temperature represented by different frequencies.
The glass transition or softening transition temperature has been measured by ε' and ε" and further analyzed to calculate the energy of activation for the given relaxation processes (Duong et al. 2013; Mijovic et al. 1993).


Most kids Oliver's age are obsessed with Spiderman, Superman, Batman and Ironman. However according to 6-year-old Oliver "I don't need Superman, Spider-man or Batman." all he needs? Police Officers. Oliver convinced his parents to set up a stand to treat all of his local heroes in the area to donuts and lemonade!
Oliver has had over five different police officer uniforms because he uses his uniforms any chance he gets. I have seen kids loosing their cool at Disneyland when they meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse, however I have yet to see a kid jump up and down when Police officers show up to hang out over donuts and lemonade. Over 100 Police officers showed up to have donuts with Oliver and his friends and family.
According to Officer Down Memorial Page 106 Police Officers have died in the line of duty in 2017 alone. Hopefully this morning full of admiration, donuts, lemonade, and smiles helped make the police officers day. Now if only we could have as much enthusiasm as Kansas native Oliver Davis has when it comes to going into work!


text:
Louise's Bons Mots
On the occasion of our dear Countess's retirement, W looks back on three decades of her wit and wisdom.
by Louise J. Esterhazy
ON DESIGNERS The thing about old fashion designers…is that they don't just fade away—they die alone. —April 2002
Karl Lagerfeld: Does he wear gloves because his fingernails are dirty, or because he bites (his nails, I mean)? —February 2006
[Stefano Gabbana is] the tall one with the hair, which is now a white-blond crew cut that makes him look like a woodchuck from Miami. —May 1994
ON SOCIAL LIFE Who today would rather read about society ladies like Nancy Cunard and Gloria Guinness, fast as they were for their times, when they can read things about Roseanne that once would have been confined to gynecological offices? —November 1995
It was a challenge to walk out [of Hubert de Givenchy's 30th-anniversary party] with my dignity…after being called to a fashion show by a security guard with a bullhorn, hurried down a tunnel to dinner and having entrées hurled like baseballs, in a crush of more than 900 people.… The dinner was a culinary tragedy. Thank God we could wash it down with champagne. —May 1982
ON THEATER I turned on WQXR for some soothing classical music, but the announcer was reviewing a play downtown—a monologue about the vagina. I think I blacked out momentarily from the shock. When I came to, the reviewer recounted how the biggest laugh…comes when a lady goes swimming and loses her clitoris in the sea. Ha-ha-huh? —April 2000
[Les Misérables] was the most wretchedly boring experience I've ever had in the theater. —September 1987
ON MARRIAGE Don't hesitate to marry for money. It's as acceptable in modern New York as it was in Renaissance Italy. And don't be afraid to marry often. —September 1987
[My husband,] Mousey Esterhazy, as he was known, was the cutest little thing. He stood a little more than five feet tall, without his lifts, and he had this wonderful waxed mustache and high squeaky voice. He wasn't my first choice, but he wasn't my last either. —December 1986
ON CELEBRITIES If I made clothes, I'd be embarrassed if the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Madonna, Sharon Stone or Formerly Prince wore them. —January 1995
Donald Trump…can make even a Savile Row suit look cheap. —November 1995
To me, [Nicole Kidman] looks like an overdressed kangaroo. —March 2004
ON STYLE I say, let's have happy clothes. You could reply that's frivolous in this troubled world, but do you really think dressing like an existential nun with suicidal thoughts is going to solve Bosnia? —February 1996
Fashion editor Suzy Menkes—jogging in a repulsively shimmering jogging suit, tons of jangling bracelets and bloated sneakers in the Hamptons—really ought to know better. —January 1995
ON TRAVEL If you want a snapshot of fashion today, just look at the way people dress on airplanes—shorts, sweatpants, T-shirts, sandals. And I'm talking about business and first class.… Soon people will just arrive naked and slip right into one of those fold-down beds. It will make it quicker to join the mile-high club. —May 2001
As a foreigner, I'm now required to be fingerprinted by Mr. Ashcroft's security forces every time I enter the U.S. But I've never, ever given my finger to anyone—and since I have to take off my Manolos anyway to go through security, I give the agents my big toe. —October 2002
I once flew down to Santo Domingo with darling Oscar de la Renta in a plane he'd borrowed from a jeans manufacturer that had no facilities.… You should have seen the rush to the toilets as soon as we landed; a man in uniform there said he thought it was the U.S. Marines, until he saw me. —January 1994

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is a unique monitor style shop because one side is left open for cost effective covered storage. The design compliments the country setting using the traditional red and white color combination. 2' Roof overhangs on all sides gives an upgraded classic look. A 14' tall overhead door is centered and designated for the truck/camper storage.


This is a high-quality, Unique Camel keychain!! This item is made of alloy which is done in white/silver tone plated with Clear Rhinestone crystals. these crystals are sparkly and are set in amazing beautiful art Camel. Show the detail and refined handicraft on this beautiful keychain, is sure a real eye catcher.


text:
Q: How to build a predicate which references an entity from a relationship? I need to make a predicate with an Entity with a relation to another entity to a relation with another entity. Is this possible? I have the following entities:
Entity: BOOK
Entity: AUTOR
Entity: SCHOOL

And these relations:
BOOK -> relationAutor <- AUTOR
AUTOR -> relationSchool <- SCHOOL
SCHOOL -> attribute "country"

So, I need to filter/fetch some BOOKs, from a specific country. Because I have some relation from the entity BOOK to the attribute country (from the entity SCHOOL) through the entity AUTOR, I tried to concatenate this predicate:
NSString *pred = [[NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"relationAutor.relationSchool.country IN %@",[countries valueForKey:@"country"]]predicateFormat];
predicateFormat = [predicateFormat stringByAppendingFormat:@" AND (%@)",pred];

But my code crash:
Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: 'unimplemented SQL generation for predicate : (relationAutor.relationSchool.country IN {France})'

Is what I'm trying to do even possible? And if it is, how would I build such a predicate?

A: You cannot combine predicates by string concatenation. If you need a predicate that is the "AND" combination of 2 (or more) other predicates, use NSCompoundPredicate, e.g.
NSArray *countries = @[@"France"];
NSPredicate *pred1 = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"relationAutor.relationSchool.country IN %@", countries];
NSPredicate *pred2 = ... // other predicate

// pred = pred1 AND pred2:
NSPredicate *pred = [NSCompoundPredicate andPredicateWithSubpredicates:@[pred1, pred2]];

See also the documentation for predicateFormat:

The string returned by this method is not guaranteed to be the same as
  a string used to create the predicate using predicateWithFormat: etc.
  You cannot use this method to create a persistent representation of a
  predicate that you could use to recreate the original predicate.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


One thing John Waite has come to understand during his illustrious career in music, is that you live and learn best the hard way. Accept that there can be no highs without lows, no gain without loss, and certainly no love without pain.
Take nothing for granted, maintain your integrity. Then, at least, you give yourself every chance of going the distance. ?That?s basically been my approach over the years,? says the British singer/songwriter. ?Sticking to my guns, never being afraid to go the hard way - that?s the only way I know. It makes success that much sweeter. Bottom line, it?s more honest ? and, besides, I?ve never wanted to become a rock?n?roll caricature.? Without question, this positive, honest outlook and his sense of self-worth in an often fickle, cutthroat industry have been key to John Waite?s staying power.
Three decades have passed since a restless, wild-eyed teenager from northwest England first packed his bags for London to follow a passion for music. Though he has enjoyed chart-topping records and sellout concerts around the world, John Waite?s hunger has never diminished. ?When I took my current band out on the road to play a few gigs this summer, the energy both onstage and from the audiences was fierce,? says Waite. ?Initially, we thought we?d just go out for a short while before heading into the studio to record a new album. But then I realized that I was having such a phenomenal time playing in front of people that the next record could wait. That?s how I am these days. If something feels right, then just do it.?
Revitalized and re-energized by his return to live performances, Waite has taken this opportunity to release ?The Hard Way? - a terrific new collection of recordings. The song list comprises a delightful selection of tunes old, new, borrowed, and blue. Hit ?play? on your CD player or click your iPod and the fun starts straight away with an infectious pop rocker, ?The Hard Way.? Listening to this opening cut provides an instant flashback to the raw energy of Waite?s very first group, The Babys. ?Music can have a real timeless quality - and, really, it?s all about energy,? says Waite. ?It?s very natural when you first start out to having that great outburst of relentless youth. If it?s in your soul, then you never lose the energy. Experience teaches you a few tricks, but energy is key. It?s what keeps you pumped. To me, ?The Hard Way? is as raw and vital as anything I was doing when I first started...only it?s way better!?
Inspired by British blues-based bands like Free, the Small Faces, and Humble Pie, it was during the desperately cold winter of 1975 that John Waite and the Babys cut their rock?n?roll teeth rehearsing and playing gigs on the London scene. Two years later, a combination of hard work, sheer persistence and a great sense of adventure, brought the band success in America. By ?78, with two albums under its collective belt and a Top 40 hit with ?Isn?t It Time?,? The Babys released their third album which spawned the chart smash ?Every Time I Think Of You...? Flash forward six years and the title of that latter song would provide the immortal opening lines to what is undeniably one of the all-time greatest pop/rock ballads, ?Missing You.?
John Waite had cut five albums with The Babys before moving to New York to go solo during the early 1980s. His first album, ?Ignition,? boasted the MTV/rock radio staple ?Change.? Alas, strong tunes for a second LP elicited negative response from the record label. In the summer of ?83, Waite decided he wanted out - at least for a while - and left the bright lights for the ?rolling English fields, pastures, meadows, oak trees...and the local skinheads!? A year later, back with a new record on a new label, John Waite was smiling again. On September 22nd, 1984, he found himself at Number One on the hit parade with ?Missing You.? The song topped the international charts. Twenty years on, this classic remains a radio staple around the globe. ?An unbelievable experience at the time - and still something I?m very proud of,? he says. John will delight fans with a brand-new acoustic version of ?Missing You? (a bonus cut on his latest album.) However, he has always refused to live off the glory of one song. ?It?s always so sad to see people spend the rest of their careers just trying to repeat the formula,? says Waite. ?It?s all too easy, but really it?s a miserable compromise for an artist. Again, I?d rather go the hard way and keep pushing into new areas.?
In the late 1980s, John Waite released a couple more solo albums before returning to the top of the charts during a two-album tenure with the pop/rock super group Bad English. The band?s No. 1 single ?When I See You Smile? sparked sellout concert tours and a succession of Billboard Hot 100 hits. But when the group?s spark was gone, Waite packed his bags and returned to life a solo songsmith. During the Nineties and early Zeroes, John has refused to live on former glory. He prefers to balance his life between singing on stage, composing and recording honest, heartfelt solo albums. He has written and recorded several songs for Hollywood movies. For kicks (and perhaps ?honor? as a diehard Beatles fan), he even enjoyed a brief stint on a recent Ringo Starr concert tour. Not one to be deterred by the changing face of the music industry, John Waite is content in simply being true to himself...and his art. ?Clearly, this is the best path to follow,? he says. ?I?m not into recreating the past or living on my laurels. I obviously feel blessed to have enjoyed a lot of success but that?s not the most important thing to me. Life?s a journey, not a destination. I still like to challenge myself. It may not always be the simplest approach. So, I guess I really am more drawn by - how shall we say? - the hard way.? John Waite has plenty to offer on his new album, ?The Hard Way.? Beyond the addictive title cut lie some terrific pop/rock tunes particularly ?Always Be Your Man? (?a love letter to New York?) and ?Keys To Your Heart.? A longtime Bob Dylan fan, John has also recorded a delicate version of Mr. Zimmerman?s classic ?Girl From The North Country.? Meanwhile, fans of Waite?s tender vocal moments will be mesmerized by his updated version of ?Masterpiece of Loneliness,? a poignant tune that first appeared on his much underrated solo outing, ?Figure In A Landscape.? ?Every record I?ve ever made is kind of a reflection of where I am at the different periods of my life,? says Waite. ?I like the fact that this new collection bridges a few gaps. The decision to stay on the road will allow me even more time to prepare for the next album, too. People sometimes ask me to differentiate between the various things I do - writing, recording, live work. But, in the end, it?s all just one big experience and I?m still loving every aspect of it.?
2006-09-27 - John Waite European Tour Dates In Nov.


text:
\section*{Appendix I: An explanation of Eq.~(\ref{closedevolutionequation})}
I discuss here the time-dependent Hamiltonian of a closed quantum system, $H(t)$$=$$H_s$$+$$H_1(t)$. This Hamiltonian, $H_s$, is assumed to have discrete eigenstates and eigenvalues: $H_s|n\rangle$$=$$\epsilon_n|n\rangle$. According to the TEM scheme~\cite{Campisi2011}, one may define the exclusive work as $W_{TEM}$$=$$\epsilon_n$$-$$\epsilon_m$, where$\epsilon_i$, $i$$=$$m,n$ denotes the energy eigenvalues of $H_s$ that are measured at the beginning and the end of the nonequilibrium process. The CF of the PDF of the work is $\Phi(\mu)$$=$$ {\rm Tr}[K_{t_f}(\mu)\rho_s]$, where
\begin{eqnarray}
  K_t(\mu)=U^\dag(t)e^{i\mu H_s} U(t) e^{-i\mu H_s},
\end{eqnarray}
$U(t)$ is the time-evolution operator of $H(t)$, and  $\rho_s$ is the thermal density matrix of the bare system, $H_s$. One way to calculate $\Phi(\mu)$ is to directly solve $U(t)$. An alternative method involves determining an evolution equation about $K_t(\mu)$. However, there is no such closed equation about $K_t(\mu)$ with respect to the time, $t$. This problem may be circumvented by introducing
\begin{eqnarray}
K(t';\mu)=U(t')U^\dag(t_f)e^{i\mu H_s} U(t_f)U^\dag(t')e^{-i\mu H_s}.
\end{eqnarray}
It is obvious here that $K(0;\mu)$$=$$K_{t_f}(\mu)$ and $K(t_f;\mu)$$=$$I$. Interestingly, this new operator satisfies the following closed evolution equation about the backward time, $t'$,
\begin{eqnarray}
\partial_{t'}K(t' ;\mu)=-i[H(t'),K(t';\mu)]-
K(t';\mu)i[H(t'), e^{i\mu H_s}]e^{-i\mu H_s}.
\end{eqnarray}
If the bare system is composed of the aforementioned combined system and reservoir, and the interaction term, $V$, is assumed to be negligible, I arrive at Eq.~(\ref{closedevolutionequation}).

\section*{Appendix II: Several key formulas used in deriving Eq.~(\ref{eqinteractionPicexpandR2})}
The decomposition of the operator $S$ implies that
\begin{eqnarray}
S_{I\mu}(t)=\sum_{\omega} S(\omega )e^{-i\omega (t+\mu)}=\sum_\omega S^\dag(\omega) e^{i\omega(t+\mu)}.
\end{eqnarray}
Substituting these into Eq.~(\ref{eqinteractionPicexpandR}) and performing RWA, I obtain
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{details}
RHS&=&\sum_\omega S(\omega)S^\dag(\omega) K_{0I}(t';\mu)\int_{0}^{t_f-t'}ds e^{i\omega s}\langle  R_{I}(0)R_{I}(-s)\rangle_r\nonumber\\
&&-\sum_\omega S(\omega)K_{0I}(t';\mu)S^\dag(\omega) e^{i\mu\omega}\int_{0}^{t_f-t'}ds  e^{i\omega s}\langle R_I(0)R_{I\mu}(s)\rangle_r \nonumber\\
&&-\sum_\omega S(\omega) K_{0I}(t';\mu)S^\dag(\omega) e^{i\mu\omega}\int_{0}^{t_f-t'}ds e^{-i\omega s}\langle R_I(0)R_{I\mu}(-s)\rangle\nonumber\\
&&+\sum_\omega K_{0I}(t';\mu)S(\omega) S^\dag(\omega) \int_{0}^{t_f-t'}ds e^{-i\omega s}\langle R_{I{\mu}}(0)R_{I\mu}(-s)\rangle_r.
\end{eqnarray}
If the correlation functions decay very quickly, these integrals can be approximated using one-sided Fourier transforms by replacing the upper limit $t_f$$-$$t'$ with infinity. Furthermore, it is useful to rewrite these one-sided Fourier transforms using the positive double-sided Fourier transforms $\gamma(\omega)=\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}e^{i\omega s}\langle R_I(0)R_I(-s) \rangle_r$~\cite{Breuer2002}:
\begin{eqnarray}
\int_{0}^{\infty}ds e^{i\omega s}\langle  R_{I}(0)R_{I}(-s)\rangle_r&=&\frac{1}{2}\gamma(\omega)+\frac{i}{2\pi}{\cal P}\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}\frac{\gamma (\Omega)}{\omega-\Omega}d\Omega, \\
\int_{0}^{\infty}ds e^{i\omega s}\langle  R_{I}(0)R_{I\mu}(-s)\rangle_r&=&\frac{1}{2}\gamma(\omega)e^{i\omega\mu}+\frac{i}{2\pi}{\cal P}\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}\frac{\gamma (\Omega)}{\omega-\Omega}e^{i\Omega\mu}d\Omega,
\end{eqnarray}
where $\cal P$ denotes the Cauchy principal value
of the integral. After a simple rearrangement, I obtain Eq.~(\ref{eqinteractionPicexpandR2}), where the Lamb shift term
\begin{eqnarray}
H_{LS}=\sum_\omega S^\dag(\omega) S(\omega)(1/2\pi)P\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}{\gamma(\Omega)}/(\omega-\Omega)d\Omega.
\end{eqnarray}

{
\section*{Appendix III: Proof of Eq.~(\ref{heatequality})}
Two key observations are used here. First, Eqs.~(\ref{characteristicfunheatforward}) and~(\ref{characteristicfunheatbackward}) are in fact valid for any initial density matrix that is diagonalized in terms of the energy basis~\cite{Esposito2009,Liu2014a}, e.g.,
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{equalityrandommatrix}
E_C[e^{i\mu Q_{QJT}}]={\rm Tr}[F_0(0;\mu)\rho_C]={\rm Tr}_0[\hat\rho(t_f;\mu)].
\end{eqnarray}
The modified reduced density matrix $\hat\rho(t;\mu)$ still satisfies Eq.~(\ref{Silaevevolutionequation}) but with the initial density matrix of $\rho_C$. Second, by applying the detailed balance condition about the rates and $S(-\omega)$$=$$S^\dag(\omega)$, one may find
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{propertyL}
\breve{\cal L}_{t'}(i\beta)(\rho_C)=0.
\end{eqnarray}
With these two facts, I can easily prove the equality by using the backward equation~(\ref{heatevolutionequation}) or the forward equation~(\ref{Silaevevolutionequation}). For the former method, I need to evaluate the following expression:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{proveheatequality}
\partial_{t'}{\rm Tr}[F_0(t';\mu)\rho_C]&=&-{\rm Tr}[\breve{\cal L}^\star_{t'}(\mu)( F_0(t';\mu))\rho_C]\nonumber\\
&=&-{\rm Tr}[F_0(t';\mu)\breve{\cal L}_{t'}(\mu)(\rho_C)]
\end{eqnarray}
Clearly, by substituting $\mu$$=$$i\beta$ into the above equation, performing an integral on both sides from time $0$ to $t_f$, and applying the terminal condition $F_0(t_f;\mu)$$=$$I$, I immediately obtain the identity,
\begin{eqnarray}
{\rm Tr}[F_0(0;i\beta)\rho_C]=1.
\end{eqnarray}
According to Eq.~(\ref{equalityrandommatrix}), I may then prove Eq.~(\ref{heatequality}). However, it is also easy to arrive at this equality if one applies the forward equation~(\ref{Silaevevolutionequation}). I first re-express Eq.~(\ref{equalityrandommatrix}) as
\begin{eqnarray}
{\rm Tr}_0[\hat\rho(t_f;\mu)]={\rm Tr}[\breve{ G} (t_f,0;\mu)[\rho_C]],
\label{transformingCF }
\end{eqnarray}
where the superpropagator $\breve{G}(t_f,0;\mu)$ equals $T_- \exp\left[{\int_0^{t_f}}\breve{{\cal L}}_{\tau}(\mu)d\tau\right]$.  Choosing $\mu$$=$$i\beta$ and examining Eqs.~(\ref{equalityrandommatrix}) and~(\ref{propertyL}) again, I re-obtain the equality~(\ref{heatequality}). The reader is reminded that these discussions are also able to verify the validity of the work equalities~\cite{Liu2014,Liu2014a}.}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
gulli.com war ein Webportal, das sich mit Themen der Internetnutzung beschäftigte, unter anderem mit Computersicherheit, Netzpolitik, Filesharing, Anonymität, Datenschutz und Urheberrecht.

Das Angebot richtete sich an Computernutzer und Einsteiger. Neben dem Forum und einem Nachrichtenticker bot das Portal verschiedene Dienste an, darunter eine Topliste (Webkatalog mit Abstimmsystem), einen Subdomain-Dienst, eine Whois-Abfrage und spezialisierte Suchmaschinen.

Am 25. Mai 2018 wurde gulli.com eingestellt und die Domain zum Verkauf angeboten. Gründer Randolf Jorberg gab wenige Wochen später den Rückkauf von gulli.com bekannt.

Geschichte
Die Website gulli.com wurde am 6. November 1998 von Randolf Jorberg gegründet. Neben Cracks und Seriennummern fanden sich auf der Seite auch politische Artikel. Um die Anonymität der User zu gewährleisten, wurden keine IPs gespeichert. Dies wurde bis zuletzt beibehalten.

Im Januar 2000 kam das Webforum gulli:board hinzu. gulli.com betrieb von April 2000 bis Juni 2013 zwei Server, später nur noch einen im IRC-Netzwerk german-elite.net. Liberty wurde nach der Übernahme der gamigo advertising GmbH offline genommen und der #gulli Channel von den IRC OP des german-elite.net umgeleitet. Somit hat gulli.com derzeit keinen Channel und auch keinen Server mehr im german-elite.net.

2002 folgte ein kompletter Relaunch der Seite, die seitdem bis Februar 2008 von Jorbergs fliks-it solutions GmbH in Bochum betrieben wurde. Eine Untergrund-Suchmaschine kam hinzu.

Der Newsticker der Seite wurde seit Januar 2005 redaktionell gepflegt. Nach einem zweiten Relaunch der Seite im Oktober 2005 entstand im Dezember ein mittlerweile eingestellter Wikipedia-Mirror mit eigener Einstiegsseite sowie ab 2009 ein IT-Glossar, der auch szenerelevante Begriffe beinhaltete. Am Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Soziologie der Technischen Universität Dortmund entstand 2005 in Kooperation mit gulli.com die Rubrik "Warez" im Portal jugendszenen.com.

Seit August 2006 bot gulli.com einen NFO-Service, welcher von German NFO Source (GNS) betrieben wurde. Der Filehoster gulli:share wurde am 28. September 2007 auf der Auktionsplattform eBay angeboten und erzielte einen Preis von 6.850 Euro. Der Käufer trat jedoch vom Angebot zurück, der Dienst verblieb bei gulli.com.

Seit dem 28. Dezember 2007 hatte gulli.com einen Mail-Dienst angeboten, der auf Google Apps aufsetzte. Zum 23. Mai 2015 wurde dieser Dienst aus Kostengründen eingestellt.

In Folge weiter andauernder rechtlicher Probleme wurde am 25. Februar 2008 der Verkauf der Seite angekündigt. Seither wurde gulli.com vom österreichischen "Gulli Community Verein" betrieben und verwaltet. Dies sollte zunächst für die Nutzer von gulli.com keine größeren Veränderungen mit sich bringen. Am 8. August 2008 wurde jedoch bekanntgegeben, dass aus rechtlichen Gründen der Großteil der Börse sowie die One-Click-Hosting-Plattform gulli:share zum 11. August 2008 geschlossen werde.

Innerhalb weniger Tage nach Schließung der Börse entstanden zahlreiche gulli.com-Klone, von denen jedoch einige bereits nach wenigen Tagen wieder verschwanden. Im gulli-Forum kündigten die Betreiber an, gegen Projekte mit dem Namen "gulli" rechtliche Schritte einzuleiten. Seit 2003 ist gulli eine beim deutschen Patent- und Markenamt eingetragene Wortmarke.

Die früheren Betreiber von gulli.com, Richard "Korrupt" Joos, Randolf "gulli" Jorberg und Axel "LexaT" Gönnemann, brachten im August 2008 mit gulli wars ein Buch zur Geschichte von gulli.com heraus, das unter einer Creative-Commons-Lizenz freigegeben ist. Darin werden Geschichten rund um die Gründung der Seite, die juristischen Konflikte und weitere Details wiedergegeben.

Im Oktober 2008 übernahmen Valentin Fritzmann und die Inqnet GmbH mit Sitz in Wien das Portal. Am 21. Oktober 2009 wurde es einem erneuten Relaunch unterzogen. Die Topliste für Warezseiten wurde abgeschafft. Zeitgleich verlegte man den Standort der Server nach Wien.

Am 1. Juli 2013 wurde das Portal aufgrund rückläufiger Nutzerzahlen an die gamigo Advertising GmbH, eine Tochterfirma der gamigo AG mit Hauptsitz in Hamburg, verkauft.

Am 25. Mai 2018, am Tag des Inkrafttretens der DSGVO, wurde das gesamte Angebot von der gamigo Advertising GmbH eingestellt und die Domain zum Verkauf freigegeben. Wenige Wochen später gab Gründer Randolf Jorberg auf seinem Blog bekannt, gulli.com zurückgekauft zu haben. Die Website enthielt noch keine Inhalte, dieser Zustand besteht seitdem fort. Die ursprüngliche Ankündigung steht auch fast 4 Jahre später auf der Website.

Board
Zum Portal gulli.com zählt das gulli:board. Das Board umfasste am 16. Juli 2013 insgesamt 13.250.239 Beiträge von 1.174.231 Benutzern zu 1.452.723 Themen.

Im Jahr 2008 schloss die Administration aus rechtlichen Gründen wiederholt den Bereich Audio Börse des gulli:boards. Nachdem der Gulli Community Verein das Board übernommen hatte, wurde sie vorübergehend wieder geöffnet. Am 11. August 2008 wurden mehrere Teile der Börse nach einer dreitägigen Read-Only-Phase aufgrund von Konflikten mit Rechteinhabern erneut geschlossen. Auch die File-Hosting-Plattform gulli:share wurde geschlossen.

Wenige Tage nach der Übernahme von gulli.com durch die gamigo Advertising GmbH kam es 2013 zum Einschnitt in der Moderatoren-Crew im Board, worauf einige von ihnen das unabhängige ngb.to gründeten. Am 28. Juli 2018 zählte es 881.040 Beiträge von 9.448 Benutzern zu 34.510 Themen.

Kritik und rechtliche Konflikte
Die Seite gulli.com war zu ihren Anfangszeiten aufgrund illegaler Inhalte öfter im Konflikt mit Softwareherstellern und Verwertungsgesellschaften und nur unter ständig wechselnden Adressen erreichbar.

Den Betreibern wurde außerdem vorgeworfen, Dialer an ihre Nutzer zu verbreiten.

Ab 2005 drehten sich Rechtsstreitigkeiten vermehrt um kritische oder verunglimpfende Forenbeiträge. Beispielsweise wurde im Forum von gulli.com die Preispolitik der Euroweb Internet GmbH kritisiert; nach Angaben von Gulli.com zwang Euroweb daraufhin den Plattformbetreiber mit einer Einstweiligen Verfügung bei einem Streitwert von 70.000 Euro und Verfahrenskosten von 2.800 Euro dazu, entsprechende Forenbeiträge zu entfernen. Dies erzeugte Kritik unter Bloggern und auf anderen Websites.

Weniger öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit erhielt ein späterer Konflikt mit dem Strukturvertrieb Herbalife, der im Februar 2006 um die Löschung eines Forenthreads aus dem Jahr 2000 bat, um nicht mit Scientology in Verbindung gebracht zu werden.

Siehe auch
 boerse.bz

Literatur

Weblinks

 Günter Berger: Hacker haben zocken gelernt. In: Die Tageszeitung, 27. Juni 2002.
 Gemeinsame Pressemitteilung von PayPal und gulli.com, 28. Januar 2011

Einzelnachweise

IT-Website
Onlinemagazin
Netzkultur
Webforum
Deutschsprachiges Medium

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
This entry was posted in Government Interpreting, Healthcare Interpreters, interpreter services, Limited-English Proficiency, News and Updates, Notice on March 19, 2020 by Kimberly Scamman.
As organizations experience an increased need for language access due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are reminded that when emergencies strike, emergency preparedness and response are critical for public safety. Responding to notices and other critical information can be stressful for everyone, but it can cause even more strain for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations.
Access to professional interpreters and translated materials are key to public health and safety during a crisis. Why is language access crucial?
25.1 million people in the United States (over the age of 5) are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP), meaning they have reported speaking English less than "very well".
There are more than 350 languages spoken in U.S. homes
1 in 5 U.S. residents speaks a language other than English at home
Approximately 35 million Americans are hearing impaired.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in the United States
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 Cases in the U.S. (Updated March 19th, 2020)
Poor planning to provide language support for LEP and Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations can lead to loss of crucial information, misinformation, late delivery of information and communication gaps. A breakdown in language access, especially during a national or state-level emergency, threatens public safety for the entire community.
Government agencies, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide qualified interpreters to ensure effective communication.
How can we ensure proper communication with the Limited English Proficient and Deaf and Hard of Hearing during emergencies?
Emergency preparedness and training are key. Language Access Planning benefits the entire community. Taking action to anticipate, and to respond to, the needs of LEP and Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities helps emergency management plans succeed.
Here are 4 important levels of emergency response for government agencies to consider:
Understanding Language Needs in the United States
Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in the United States with 40.5 million speakers (2016).
According to the 2016 American Community Survey, languages spoken at home with over 1 million speakers (over the age of ) include:
Spanish – 40.5 million
Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese) – 3.4 million
Tagalog (including Filipino) – 1.7 million
Vietnamese – 1.5 million
Arabic – 1.2 million
French – 1.2 million
Korean – 1.1 million
Learn about language diversity in the 15 largest metropolitan areas of the United States here.
Interactive Map of Languages: 3 Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken in Your State
How Comprehensive Language Access Programs Positively Impact Government Agencies
1.) Lowers costs by maximizing resources and cutting down on time and resources spent dealing with miscommunication errors.
2.) Achieve and enhance government compliance and regulatory compliance with relevant legislation:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
Affordable Care Act (ACA), Section 1557
Fraud, Waste and Abuse Act (FWA)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Natural Disaster and Border Contingencies
3.) Increases the efficiency and productivity of public services
4.) Aids in a positive response to disaster preparedness and public safety
5.) Promotes community integration in immigrant, refugee, and LEP communities
6.) Increases staff adoption and reduces staff frustration
7.) Enables government agencies to build a higher level of trust and satisfaction with the communities they serve
Emergency Preparedness: The Telelanguage Difference
Many of our competitors resell our rare languages, as they're unable to provide our range of languages on-demand. In addition, our technology uptime is the best in the industry. Two examples of our surge volume capacity involve Hurricane Matthew and the Level 3 internet outage – both in 2016. During these two events, we had competitors whose systems failed. We were able to reroute their calls through our servers and data center, seamlessly, to avoid disruptions in service.
In February of 2018, one of our competitors experienced a large, regional outage. This competitor happened to be the primary vendor on a large State of Texas contract that we were a secondary vendor on. During the outage, all of the calls were rerouted to us. At the time, neither our client's management or administration were aware of the outage, until we brought it to their attention. Our client was so impressed with our coverage of this event that they have since moved us to a primary role within the contract. This has had a snowball effect in being awarded additional large contracts within Texas over the last several months. This flexibility and security provide us a 99.999% uptime, and our customers complete peace of mind.
Language Access Solutions: Telelanguage Can Help
Skilled and professional interpreters help government agencies to overcome language and cultural barriers to ensure effective communication is taking place and everyone is understood. Telelanguage has extensive experience in multiple areas that require the use of government interpreters, and we provide telephonic, on-site and video remote interpreting to our clients at the levels of Federal, State, County, Municipality, etc.
Our U.S. based interpreters are:
Medically Certified
9-1-1 Trained
Nationally Certified
Court Qualified
Comprehensive Language Support Services Available 24/7, 365 Days a Year:
Telephonic Interpretation Services
Video Remote Interpretation Services
On-site Interpretation Services
Language Access: We Serve Your Industry
Healthcare (Hospitals, Private Practices, Clinics, Telehealth, Emergency Medicine, etc)
Police / Fire / 911
Telecommunications (Call Centers, Help Desks)
Travel / Tourism / Hospitality
Legal / Judicial
Education (K-12, Higher Education)
Why Telelanguage
Certified and Skilled Interpreters: You can trust that the voice on the other end of the line has the professional training to provide the quality service you need. Telelanguage interpreters are industry-certified, superior-trained and 100% U.S. based.
Fast Connections: Whether it's a scheduled meeting or an unexpected call, we understand that our clients cannot wait on hold. When you need quick access to an interpreter, Telelanguage offers the fastest connect times in the industry (average 7 seconds).
Global Access: On-demand interpreter services connect you to a professional interpreter wherever you need them – no matter where you are in the world. You'll always have access to a professional interpreter.
Quality Language Support: Telelanguage offers more than 300 languages so you can rest assured that you will be able to communicate effectively in any language.
No Monthly Minimums: With one low per-minute rate, you can access an interpreter at any time. You will only pay for the minutes you need with absolutely no hidden fees or minimums.
Telelanguage offers extremely competitive rates that are all-inclusive of training, implementation, reporting, invoicing, and the highest quality, U.S.-based interpreters. Our over the phone interpreter rates start as low as $0.55 per minute.
Getting Started with Telelanguage
Telelanguage makes the implementation of language support services easy for your agency and for your staff. All auxiliary and support materials are available for free, and we offer free cultural awareness training to aid staff in communicating effectively with patients of different cultures and languages. Support is available 24/7, 365 days a year so you never have to worry. Telelanguage has your language access and support needs covered. We will tailor a plan to meet the specific needs of your agency to improve the quality of your language services.
Download the Free White Paper!
Learn more about the importance of offering language services as an organization. Download the Free Whitepaper: Connecting Humanity Through Technology
5,000+ interpreters ready to communicate in over 300 languages. Since 1991, Telelanguage has helped government organizations at the level of Federal, State, County, and Municipality to improve language access programs through high-quality language interpretation and translation services.
Telelanguage provides federal, state, and local agencies a better way of communicating in the event of an emergency, and in emergency preparedness planning. Join the government organizations we help every day who trust Telelanguage as their dedicated language services partner! Contact us for a free quote and demo.
Try Our Services at No Charge. Find out if you qualify!
Certified medical interpreters ready to speak in over 300 languages
Call Telelanguage today at 888-983-5352
Professional interpreter services available 24/7, 365 days a year
← Benefits of Over the Phone Interpreting Services Telelanguage Provides Reliable Language Services During COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic →
How COVID-19 Has Reshaped the World of Translation and Interpretation Permanently
Why Government Translation Services Are Vital for Modern Communication
Emergency Response Plan – How Prepared Are You
What Are the Top Languages Used In the U.S.?
Effective Communication with Afghan Immigrants
Becoming an Interpreter
Document Translating
Face to Face Interpretation
Global Interpreter Platform
Government Interpreting
Healthcare Interpreters
Insurance Interpretation
Interpreter Certification
Interpreter Management
Interpreters and Translators
Language Access Regulations
Language Access Spotlight
Legal Language Services
Limited-English Proficiency
Medical Interpreting
Mobile Health Interpretation
On-site Interpreting
Over the Phone Interpreting
Telelanguage Team
Telephonic Interpretation
Transportation Language Services
Working with an Interpreter
Written Translation
zoom remote interpretation
© Copyright 2022 Telelanguage | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Sitemap


text:
the river flow
A man from Xingu dances
flowing with other groups,
during the Indigenous National Festival.
"What will be left of the Xingu river for the people of Xingu?
from Amazon Watch
Brazil's state dam company, Electronorte, is moving ahead with plans to build one of the Amazon's most controversial development projects - the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River in the state of Pará. The Belo Monte dam replaces an old proposal for hydroelectric construction on the Xingu, abandoned over a decade ago in the face of massive international and national protest."
Marcadores: Belo Monte, Brazil, development, environment, Festa Nacional do Índio, Indigenous National Festival, Indigenous People, Kuikuro, Povos Indígenas, Xingu People
100 eyes and "The Human Condition" projection
night sun future


Please click the Download Help button below if you need assistance downloading the poem.
There are so many wonderful things that happen to children when they hear, read, and memorize poetry. We encourage you to dive into it with your kids and reap those benefits.
Whether you love it, hate it, or have already read it to your children but don't know why, here's why reading poetry with your children is so great.
Poetry fills the mind with new ways of communicating ideas, thoughts, and feelings. For children, who are daily learning and growing in this ability, that translates to both academic and emotional benefits.
If you need further help, please see this detailed tutorial on our other site.


The preparation involves baking or broiling the eggplant so it gets a smoky taste, before whizzing it with olive oil and tahini. Most of the time involved in making this easy and delicious dip is the waiting for the eggplant to char in the oven. After that, it's just your blender standing in between those roasted eggplants and the baba ghanoush you're going to dip that pita in.
Most recipes will char the eggplant directly on an open flame or broil them in the oven. Uhh ... my smoke detector is much too sensitive for either of that, so I opt for the slow but sure way to achieve the desired 'roastiness' with nary a hint of blackened bit to set off the alarm. Yes, many a recipe have been adapted over the years so as not to wake the neighbours. So if you want to save a couple of minutes, do char the cut eggplants on the gas burner using tongs, or place them under the broiler. Whatever works for you to get a deep dark brown tint on the skin.
I was on a Mediterranean roll lately and made baba ghanoush, hummus and tzatziki, and enjoyed it with pita bread. And what a light yet satisfying lunch it made on a hot summer day!
1. Preheat the oven to 230C or 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Wash, then cut eggplants in quarters. Pierce them with a sharp knife in the thickest part of the flesh.
3. Place the eggplant chunks in the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning them over once around the 15 minute mark.
4. When sufficiently browned, remove from the oven and immediately place a foil on top to steam the eggplants, this makes the skin so much easier to peel off.
5. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and when safe to handle, remove the skin and place the eggplant chunks directly in your blender.
6. Add the remaining ingredients: garlic, tahini, olive oil, sumac, some salt and pepper, then blend till however smooth or coarse you prefer.
7. Taste and adjust. You may need more salt than you think.
8. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with a bit of paprika, and strategically position that sprig of parsley. (You are going to take a picture of it, I assume).
One bite with a pita bread and you'll wonder why you bought these from the store all those years. Ahem ... speaking from experience, of course.


That's nothing, did you see the pic of the bears we saw Sunday At the The Stand "With A View" cache?
If that little guy is in your backyard, I'm coming to visit - you have GREEN grass!!
As for those bears - sad to see them fighting - they were getting along just fine when I was there previously.


I bought an Ultimo 4k a week or so ago, to replace a Duo2.
It has a twin FBC tuner with a feed to each input, these feeds come from a universal octo lnb. Both tuner A and B are set to 28.2E, C to H come up as automatic and I can record 8 channels at once.
However, if I record a channel even if only for a few seconds, I cannot then access tuner settings. I get 'recordings are in progress or coming up'. Same if I try to reboot, I get the same warning but I can override this one. There are no timer recordings coming up for several hours, there are none in progress and I have tried tweaking the tuner settings but I always get this if anything has been recorded.
I don't get the message if I try to delete deleted items, unless recordings are actually in progress.
However, if I record a channel even if only for a few seconds, I cannot then access tuner settings. I get 'recordings are in progress or coming up'.
Do you really mean tuner settings (menu/setup/tuner) or are you just trying to access another service/channel?
Yeah, menu/setup/tuner config/tuner setup/tuner A gives me the recordings in progress message if I have had a recording. In all other aspects the tuners seem fine.
Not having used an FBC tuner before I'm not sure the settings are correct. These are what I am using.
Tuner B is set up the same as A, C to H come up as automatic. Could the lnb be the problem? It feeds the Ultimo, a Duo2 and a SkyHD box. No problems with any of those but they don't use FBC tuners.
I've nothing like you setup, but had a slightly similar problem which was fixed by using different timeshift settings (to disable it).
Thanks, but I tried disabling timeshift and it made no difference. I have tried a few different tuner settings as well. The only way I can get into any of the tuner settings is a gui restart when there is nothing being recorded and no timed recordings are coming up. As soon as it's recorded something I get 'Recording(s) in progress or coming up' when I try to access any of the tuners' settings. Same message if I try to reboot or go into deep standby. I don't get the message if I try to permanently delete items in the trash can though, which I should do if the box thinks something is being recorded, surely?
I'll try a different pair of feeds from the lnb and unplugging the Duo2 and the SkyHD box, see if that does anything when I have time.
Why would you want to change tuner settings if a recording is taking place?
It is by design that we block changing tuner config if a recording is taking place. The idea is you set your tuners correctly and do not go into it again.
Why are you trying to change your tuner setup? This is a set and forget item configured at the time of loading the image.
Tuner B is set up the same as A, C to H come up as automatic.
FBC tuners are the same as other tuners. You configure them to the signal they have access to. Your configuration is correct. Advanced is more prone to errors, but don't worry about it as you have it correct.
The 6 leaf tuners should be left as FBC automatic. They will operate in "loop though" mode.
Could the lnb be the problem? It feeds the Ultimo, a Duo2 and a SkyHD box. No problems with any of those but they don't use FBC tuners.
Apart from not being able to change the tuner configuration when a recording is taking place, are you having any other issues?
By the way, you can do more than 8 recordings.
Last edited by abu baniaz; 18-01-19 at 01:45.
You don't need to have timeshift enabled for this to be an issue - just that value (somehow) being set.
A recording isn't taking place though. The problem occurs if anything has been recorded and is finished and there are none coming up. Even recording something for a few seconds and stopping it stops me accessing the tuner settings.
I first noticed it through the warning when I tried to reboot that recordings were in progress, when there weren't, nor were any coming up. Then I wondered if I could go into the tuner settings and I couldn't.
What about streaming to another device?
All other aspects of the tuners are fine. Crossepg doesn't use tuners C to H for some reason. Reboot/shutdown gives me the same warning but I can over ride it so it's not really a problem, more an annoyance.
CrossEPG and ABM will not use the leaf tuners.


The centre uniform consists of a yellow and black T-shirt with black shorts or scungees, or a black and yellow body suit. Centre uniforms should be worn at all centre events and MUST be worn at ALL Association carnivals and Championships. On registration with the centre, age patches and registration numbers will be supplied and must be sewn on to the front of the Centre T-shirts or body suit.


The family occasionally spends time at Fun House in the town center. Kids get to enjoy the different games and machines of the place. Some of the machines give out tickets equivalent to 1 point per ticket and can be used to redeem items in the counter. We managed to accumulate more than 1, 500 points and exchanged it for some items available in the counter.
One of the items we were able to get was this Patrick Star Pillow. Our son watches SpongeBob SquarePants show and he knows and have fun watching Patrick, the good friend of SpongeBob. It was hubby who saw the pillow displayed in the glass cabinet of the counter together with some items. The pillow can be exchanged with 1, 260 points. We checked on it and we decided to get it.
The Patrick Star Pillow is really great from the outer to inner material. Its body is colored with blue and white circles to reflect water and the bubbles. Patrick Star's image is well made with his pants on. The inner and outer part consists of polyester fiber that is why it is very huggable. Overall, from the color to material the family loves Patrick Star Pillow. My son carries the pillow beside him as he sleeps.


Caring For Care offer a huge range of training that can be delivered at your premises at a time and date to suit you.
Your training will be delivered exclusively by healthcare professionals all with extensive experience within the sector.
Price start from equivalant to just £16.66 plus VAT per person.
Follow the link below for more information on our courses.


text:
Scholars & Alumni
Meet George
The GAF Story
Board of Governors & Staff
Fellowships & other educational programs
GAF Honour Roll
Australian Catholic University
The Gordon
Swinburne University
Earthwatch Institute
GAF Stories
'I have discovered that my passion lies in the environment sector and in assisting the next generation to discover, grow and feed their passion in this field.
'My decision to study Biomedical Engineering was further enhanced when I developed an EMG controlled robotic claw and Heart Rate Monitor as a project in Digital and...
'It's a surreal experience to go from participating in the Student Challenge to now be organising and watching children and adults participate in expeditions similar to the...
Simone has been kicking some serious goals, having made the transition from playing state and national netball to playing for Essendon in the VFLW.
'I hope that studying medicine will enable me to begin work as a rural doctor.
'Travelling to Alice Springs as on optometry student was both enlightening and eye-opening (no pun intended).
'I first got involved in community work when I was studying my Certificate IV in Youth Work. '
International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI)
Daniel's GAF fellowship led him to establish Cinespace, a non-profit dedicated to collaborating with filmmakers and communities to create greater diversity on screen and behind the scenes.
Donate The scholars and fellows supported through the GAF-funded programs are committed to their studies, to giving back to the community and to doing their utmost to uphold the investment that has been made in them. If you would like to invest in the education of some talented and dedicated young Australians, please make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking on Donate or contact us on 03 9650 3188 for other options.
© 2019 The George Alexander Foundation. All rights reserved.


Preventive drain line and sewer line maintenance methods can help avoid many types of sewer line blockages. Remember that your home is like any other thing that requires periodic maintenance to keep its good appearance, and avoid problems due to wear and tear. As a homeowner, you will need to check such routine items as your garage door opener, air conditioning system for leaks, heating system for energy inefficiency, integrity of your roof, and insulation, just to name a few. Your house drain and sewer line are no different.
One thing that's very easily overlooked is the drain and sewer lines in your home. Your drain system has the potential to cause nasty and unhealthy problems that can lead to expensive repairs. But many homeowners fail to recognize early symptoms of trouble, and to do proper sewer line maintenance. To make things easier, here are some of the most common problems with sewer and drain lines, and easy preventive steps you can take.
When tree roots have made their way into the sewer line, it is difficult to control how fast they grow and the damage they do. The problem starts when roots find a crack or hole in the pipeline; they find a source of water and moisture to keep the tree growing and nourished. Until the crack or hole is repaired, tree roots will be continuous and a recurrent problem.
• Prevention: Removing trees planted anywhere near the sewer line is good idea, but even the roots of far away trees can reach the pipeline. The best way to prevent this issue is to use copper sulfate crystals to create a poisonous zone around the pipe. Roots cannot penetrate the chemicals.
Trees with shallow roots have their own drawbacks. Trees with shallow roots are more easily blown over by strong winds, and tend to do more damage to paved area such as sidewalk cement. So following a proper sewer line maintenance tip can have it's drawbacks as well.
Grease, oil, and fatty substances can accumulate inside the sewer line and cause blockage. Even most household soaps fit into this category. Those substances are most likely introduced from the kitchen sink where you routinely toss away foods, etc. It is impossible to find out how much grease is in the line unless you use a sewer camera or remove a section of the drain pipe.
• Prevention: Grease stoppages can be prevented by installing a grease receptor under sink. Fat, oil, and grease are lighter than water. The grease receptor is designed to only allow water to escape to the sewer line, while FOG stays inside the receptor, and not in your drain line. This is a good preventive method, but the best way is not to pour any fatty or oily substance into the sink. You can also keep the drain clean by occasionally pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by extremely hot water.
Some foods are not oily, but the size also counts. Large pieces of food, such as a piece of meat, or a clump of potato peels, can easily block the sewer line. Although these objects do flow down into the kitchen sink itself, remember that they may not not fit through the drain of the sink's trap, no matter how much water is flowing. Even if the sewer line is a reasonably large diameter, there still may not be enough pressure to push an object such as a chunk of meat.
• Prevention: If you have to throw away meat or any large pieces of food, grind it up in small batches so they easily flow with slow water. A good idea is a grinder built into the sink – which is very common nowadays. Even better is to throw away meat into the garbage disposal, not into the sink. Onion peels, banana peels, corn husks, artichoke leaves, and any fibrous foods should not go into the sink. Sometimes good sewer line maintenance means just using good common sense.
Sewer lines take all the dirt and debris not only from the kitchen sink, but also from the yard drain areas as well. Water from the yard enters the drain area carrying dust, leaves, and debris, creating a muddy sludge. Similar to anything else, the mud can accumulate causing blockages, and sometimes flooding the affected area.
• Prevention: One of the most effective ways to keep large debris from entering the yard drain area is to use grates, with a fine drain screen on top of the grate. Periodic cleaning of the drain catch basin also reduces the chance of mud accumulation in the sewer line. This should be a routine part of good sewer line maintenance.
Sanitary sewer lines are designed to accept human waste, and other closely associated items. It can tolerate toilet paper of course, but only when disposed of properly. For example do not throw a pile of toilet paper clumped together at the same time. If you throw anything else such as female hygiene products, or accidentally flush a hard object, the sewer line will struggle to accept them, and get them through the entire drain system. Some baby wipes and diapers are marketed as flushable, but history have proven that to be not quite so.
• Prevention: Do not flush anything that a sewer line is not designed to accept. It includes paper towels, dead fish, facial tissue, toys, cigarette butts, and diapers. If you think some of those items are in the sewer line, hydro-jetting will help to flush them down.
If you notice slow drainage, it can be a symptom of a collapsed sewer line because of settling of the ground, or the sub base under the pipe itself. In some rare cases the building itself may have settled. Slow drainage is an early symptom, which means the damage is mild or easily repairable. Sewer lines can collapse for a variety of other reasons as well.
• Prevention: There is no way to prevent settling of the earth, but you can prevent further damage. An effective way is to run a sewer camera to figure out the exact location of the problem before it worsens. A sewer camera is not a piece of equipment for amateurs. You will need to call a professional plumber to do the job. Fixing a small problem may not be urgent, but it can save you from an expensive and more extensive repair down the road.
After a storm, the city drain lines can get overburdened, and therefore there is always a possibility of sewer backwater. Because of this, the drain lines cannot properly run from home; in this case, backwater is not uncommon. The city drain lines are also filled with raw sewage and various debris. Once the city sewer is back to normal, the drain lines from home will also back to normal but the debris is left behind, along with a corresponding health issue. Every remaining physical object carried by the backwater into the house drain can also cause a blockage afterwards.
• Prevention: We cannot blame Nature for giving us storms, but you can prevent backwater by installing a backwater valve in your home's drainage system. When installed properly, all branches of the plumbing system are protected. Our parent company, Joseph L. Balkan Inc, is expert in the installation of sewer valves. To get rid of the actual leftover debris and sediment, you will need to hydro-jet the sewer line after the storm.


text:
MaxSpace
Movie Review: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Now that's what I call a summer movie!
By Max Weiss | July 19, 2018, 6:10 pm
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is hardly a great film—heck, it's barely a good one—but I spent nearly its entire running time with a big dumb grin on my face. It delivers on its trailer's promise: It's a breezy, sun-kissed, romantic romp filled with good vibes, gorgeous scenery, and ABBA songs. What's not to like? To some people, a summer film means car chases and super heroes. To me, it's a film like this: the cinematic equivalent of a juicy beach read.
It's been 10 years since the original and Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is now fulfilling the dream of her mother (Meryl Streep)— to turn their Greek island villa into a hotel. As we approach opening day, Sophie reflects on her mother's life and, in particular, her three suitors who have now become Sophie's unlikely trio of fathers (if you recall, Sophie decided not to take a paternity test, instead choosing to have an unconventional family with three dads). So the film toggles back and forth between carefree young Donna (Lily James), arriving in Europe—first France, then Greece—and Sophie's present day preparations for the hotel as she waits for two of her dads and her mom's best friends to arrive. (Pierce Brosnan's Sam already lives at the villa.)
One of the great pleasures of the film is watching the young actors offer their takes on their older counterparts. James makes for a confident, sparkling Donna—she's not doing a Streep impression, per se, but she exudes a similar irresistible charisma. Other standouts are Jessica Keenan Wynn doing a crack Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Hugh Skinner, bumblingly brainy and geekily charming as a young Harry (Colin Firth). War Horse's Jeremy Irvine is almost handsome enough to be a young Sam—hey, it's a compliment!—and, as the younger version of Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), tow-headed Josh Dylan looks like the missing Skarsgård brother.
Without a doubt, you've got to suspend your disbelief to appreciate the film. For example, as someone pointed out on Twitter: Donna's two besties have sported the exact same haircuts since the late 70s, a bit of stunt styling to make the young actresses more closely resemble their older selves. (Donna's other best friend, Rosie, is played by Julie Walters as a pixie-haired adult and Alexa Davies as a pixie-haired young woman; both Tanyas have severe bobs.) The timelines are completely messed up, too: If Sophie was conceived in 1979, that would make her nearly a 40something now, while Seyfried is actually 32. You also have to believe that Cher—yes, that Cher—is old enough to play Donna's diva mother, Ruby, even though in real life Streep is 69 and Cher is 72.
But hey it's a giddy musical, not a statistics class—just go with it and you'll be fine. Andy Garcia is also on hand flexing his new persona—the foxiest silver fox who ever foxed (he's playing the manager of Sophie's hotel). His name is Fernando, which will be meaningful to the ABBA fans in the house.
On top of its message of acceptance and its sneaky feminism (no one judges Donna for bedding three guys in a row), my favorite thing about the film is how defiantly silly it is. All the actors, from the old pros to the cool new kids, just allow themselves to be goofy as hell. Some can't really sing or dance, but that's the point—this is an all-inclusive party.
MaxSpace Arts & Culture
Max Weiss is the editor-in-chief of Baltimore and a film and pop culture critic.
Radcliffe Jewelers Engaged Couple of the Month: Thy & Alex
Meet Radcliffe Couple: Thy + Alex
Baltimore Gets Very Own Walk of Fame
Hampden's newest attraction is a John Waters Star Walk.
Movie Review: Booksmart
A pair of besties finally let their hair down in Olivia Wilde's whipsmart debut.
Barbara Bourland Discusses Feminism and the Art World
We talk to the author of Fake Like Me.
Baltimore Native André De Shields Wins First Tony Award
De Shields gave a shout-out to Charm City in his acceptance speech for his role in "Hadestown"


Seashores to Sea Floors-the Ocean Biome is an outstanding and comprehensive digital textbook that gives detailed information about oceans. It harnesses the iPad's capabilities for education in a way that few other apps can match.
Seashores to Sea Floors-the Ocean Biome is an extremely high-quality app that will amaze students, parents and teachers alike. Its capabilities allow adults to completely individualize the experience for a huge range of students, and learners can only benefit from the outstanding multimedia presentation. The app's lessons showcase the iPad's capabilities and make it easy for nearly anyone to access the content. Plus, it keeps detailed records for each student. Who could ask for more?
If your student needs to study the oceans for science class, or simply enjoys learning about the topic, then this app is high on the list of options to consider. It features clear and well-organized lessons, engaging and fun text, and outstanding multimedia tools that enhance the content. It includes definitions of tough words, interesting facts in each section, interactive maps, and more. The app can track student progress, keep individualized bookmarks, highlighting and notes, and send test results to teachers or parents. Adults can also access supplemental materials and related lesson plans on the developers' website for free.
Teachers and parents alike will appreciate this app's adjustable reading level feature. The text and test levels can be adjusted to cover grades 1 through 8, while still maintaining educational integrity and focusing on the core concepts. Most students learn this material in science class between grades 3 and 5, so it can be adapted to every level between struggling student and gifted. Find this feature in the Levels section when the textbook is open. You can also turn on other accommodations in the Settings section, including manipulating the text size, setting tests to be read aloud, or turn on voice recording for essay test answers. This app is perfect for meeting the needs of a wide range of students.
While this app isn't really intended to be a toy, it is very engaging and fun to use. Its interactivity and adaptability really shine, and it will grab the attention of most students with the different multimedia features. It includes interesting facts and an interactive map feature that offers a lot of detail that is not included in the text.
This app may seem a little pricy, but it is well worth the expense. Think of it more as a textbook or a workbook, and you'll get the picture. Its interactivity and adaptability really are outstanding features that make the investment worthwhile, especially if you work with students who need access to simplified or above-average complexity. You can also set the app up to keep records of student use and to send test results automatically so you can keep track of what's going on.
Seashores to Sea Floors contains no in-app purchases, no outside advertising, and no links to social media. The only concern is that the Settings tab is not protected. This area allows access to reset options such as the read-aloud option, turning test images on or off, or changing the text size. The section also includes a link to DropBox and the teacher's email address.
One problem of note: if the link to DropBox is activated, then canceled, the user is not always returned to "Blades," but sent to another app in the series, "Pines to Vines," if that is available on the device.